Assemblyman Keith Brown (R,C-Northport) has introduced legislation (LBD 11694) that would regulate cannabis and cannabis product advertisements on television and radio in New York State. The bill aims to close a loophole in the current cannabis law and establish meaningful penalties for licensees who violate advertising regulations.
“Television and radio are among the most powerful advertising tools available, and that makes them incredibly dangerous when it comes to promoting substances like cannabis,” said Brown. “We’ve seen the devastating effects that tobacco and alcohol advertising have had on generations of young people. Now is the time to ensure cannabis doesn’t follow the same path.”
Under the legislation, the Cannabis Law would be amended to explicitly ban TV and radio advertising of cannabis products. It would also enhance enforcement by introducing civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, with license revocation or denial upon a third offense. Brown said the bill empowers the Office of Cannabis Management to ensure fair due process for violators while enforcing these protections.
Numerous studies show that kids are especially susceptible to advertising due to underdeveloped critical reasoning skills, Brown noted. A report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that nearly 60% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders reported recent exposure to marijuana advertisements, an alarming statistic given the known correlation between ad exposure and increased usage among teens.
“Advertising works, that’s why companies spend billions of dollars on it. But when it comes to addictive or impairing substances, its power becomes a public health threat,” said Brown. “We’ve banned cigarette ads from TV for good reason. Cannabis should be no different.”
This legislation responds to mounting public concern and scientific evidence. Studies have shown that 96% of in-market consumers became aware of a product through media advertising. Fifty-six percent of those consumers said TV ads were the most important drivers in their awareness of a product.
Radio ads are just as influential, Brown said. Fifty-five percent of radio listeners said that they were more likely to click on a social media link for a product or service if they had first heard about it on the radio. “Given this impact, restricting cannabis advertising on these platforms is a necessary step to prevent normalization and early use among young people.”