Connecticut Billboard Advertising Legal Cannabis In Massachusetts Draws Protests

Weedmaps has put up another billboard in a state where cannabis remains prohibited, this time in Connecticut, according to a story by NBC Connecticut.

The billboard, located on the side of Interstate 91 in North Haven, Connecticut, reads: “Weed is legal in 60 miles.” Technically, the billboard is not violating any laws because it is advertising the Weedmaps app. Weedmaps conducted a similar campaign in Arizona, informing people about the availability of cannabis in Colorado and Washington.

Some Connecticut residents, however, are angry about the billboard. Connecticut has a medical cannabis program but not an adult-use program; it is still a crime to bring cannabis across the border from Massachusetts — or any state, for that matter. The billboard attracted enough attention that dissidents came out for a rally in front of the media company that owns the billboard.

Another billboard was placed four exits further down the highway towards Massachusetts that reads, “Treatment is closer.” It was placed there by an addiction treatment center in New Haven called Turnbridge.

The billboard is still posted along Interstate 91 and doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere for the time being.

Some Connecticut lawmakers are working to bring cannabis regulations to their state but opposition in the capital remains. Voters in the state strongly approve of overhauling cannabis laws, but Connecticut is not a state with rules allowing voter ballot initiatives so any significant change will have to come from elected officials.