Montana Loosens Proposed Cannabis Advertising Restrictions

Montana’s Department of Revenue (DOR) has revised the state’s regulations for cannabis advertising, according to the Montana Free Press. The restrictions previously proposed over the summer, which caught many in the Montana cannabis industry by surprise, included strict sign size limits and required placards to include a warning about the plant’s habit-forming potential and other concerns. Another proposal had sought to ban dispensary advertising altogether, according to the report.

The Montana Cannabis Guild’s President and CEO Pepper Petersen said in August that the now-scrapped rules were a “radically conservative interpretation of the law.” He said the Guild had been prepared to sue the DOR to block the restrictions.

Under the new rules, dispensaries can advertise and market their brand but can only specifically advertise cannabis products in online ads. The warnings on the signs are no longer required. However, dispensaries will have to comply with local sign ordinances. Finally, cannabis-related websites must have a “Are you 21 and older?” question to enter and social media accounts must be private and display a note that only those 21 and older may follow the account.

“These are a lot more reasonable. They have addressed a lot of our concerns.” — Petersen, via the Montana Free Press

The public has until September 20 at 5:00 pm to comment on the new guidelines.

Montana is still “on track” to open its adult-use cannabis system by the January 1, 2022 launch date, according to the report.