Connecticut House Passes Bill to Regulate Cannabis Advertising & Gifting

Connecticut lawmakers on Tuesday passed legislation to regulate cannabis-related advertising in the state, eliminate cannabis gifting, and allow physician assistants to write medical cannabis recommendations.

The advertising bill passed the House 98-48, the Westerly Sun reports, and would ban ads from out-of-state cannabis operators, prohibit Connecticut licensees from using the cannabis plant in advertising, bar ads on illuminated billboards between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., and prohibit any cannabis-related advertising within 1,500 yards of a school or house of worship.

The bill was amended to remove criminal penalties associated with the practice and language was added to expressly allow social gifting – which medical cannabis advocates said was often essential for some patients to access their medicine, the CT Mirror reports.

State Rep. Mike D’Agostino (D) said the measure is meant to reign in the practice of commercial gifting – the exchange of cannabis with the purchase of another often overpriced product – rather than individuals giving one another cannabis for free.

“You can gift to your friends and relatives. You can host a brownie party at your house.” – D’Agostino via the Sun

D’Agostino said the billboard rules stem from lawmakers from both sides of the Connecticut aisle “sick of seeing … billboards with cannabis leaves played across them.”

In addition to allowing physician assistants to write medical cannabis patient recommendations, the bill also seeks to eliminate fees for medical cannabis patient renewals and new registrants beginning in 2024.

The bill still requires Senate approval before moving to the governor.