Bill could ban pot billboards throughout California

C.A.P.S. General Manager Wen Dolphin said green is usually not an issue at the Palm Springs medical marijuana dispensary, thanks to advertising and word of mouth.

“We’ve been doing a big jump into doing more advertising, and we’re in the process of putting up billboards,” Dolphin said. “And now, we might be re-thinking that.”

The reason, Dolphin said, is due to Assembly Bill 64.

A proposal that lawmakers said could change current methods of advertising pot, and address the issue of advertising around children.

“What we’re doing here is continuing with the will of the voters who passed Proposition 64 by 57 percent as it applies to adult-use advertising, and apply that also to the medical side, as well as to unlicensed entities,” Assembly Member Rob Bonta said.

The bill would ban any marijuana advertising on billboards both on interstates and state highways across California.

“It’s clearly not appropriate to have marijuana advertising on such a heavily traveled, roadway area,” Assembly Member Tom Lackey said. “We don’t want kids seeing that constant level of advertising, and wanting to try and use marijuana before their 21.”

Other dispensaries like SunGrow in Desert Hot Springs said they expected a similar bill to follow Proposition 64, which included measures to outlaw advertising on highways and interstates crossing state lines.

“It’s not a surprise at all,” SunGrow Business Development Director Adam Sanchez said. “So, we basically want to adjust now the marketing and promotion, to really make it more towards the healing, the medical, and to do what’s in the best interests of all of the residents and the community.”

While dispensaries like Dolphin’s said they and others will continue to grow, with high hopes under potential new laws.

“We won’t have the ability to say, ‘Next exit, turn here for your next joint,” Dolphin said. “Which definitely is going to impact. I don’t think that we’re going to see a massive difference, but I think we deserve our first amendment right.”

Bonta said the bill would also include a $3 million grant to California Highway Patrol to help find ways to come up with testing people under the influence of pot while driving.

The bill would also allow for protection of intellectual property, and businesses to restructure as for-profits.