cannabisnews.com: Even Where MJ Is Legal It’s Hard To Advertise function share_this(num) { tit=encodeURIComponent('Even Where MJ Is Legal It’s Hard To Advertise'); url=encodeURIComponent('http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/29/thread29265.shtml'); site = new Array(5); site[0]='http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+url+'&title='+tit; site[1]='http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit.php?url='+url+'&title='+tit; site[2]='http://digg.com/submit?topic=political_opinion&media=video&url='+url+'&title='+tit; site[3]='http://reddit.com/submit?url='+url+'&title='+tit; site[4]='http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+url+'&title='+tit; window.open(site[num],'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=620,height=500'); return false; } Even Where MJ Is Legal It’s Hard To Advertise Posted by CN Staff on April 05, 2018 at 16:12:49 PT By Rachel Siegel Source: Washington Post USA -- As the cannabis industry grows, generating an estimated $10 billion in annual sales, states are increasingly approving medical marijuana programs and passing adult-use laws. But for marketing agencies, marijuana dispensaries and cannabis brands, advertising the pot brings its own hurdles.Online platforms with prime advertising space like Facebook and Google do not allow drug, or drug-related promotions on their sites, leaving a large share of marijuana advertising to blogs and podcasts, newsletters and print media. And while experts say Facebook and Google — which control the lion’s share of digital advertising in the country — are unlikely to change their policies until pot is legalized at the federal level, and television and radio come with their own sets of rules, industry members are left to navigate a complex web of state-by-state regulations. “You would think that Facebook and some of these online platforms are the ideal platforms for these products because you can target only legal states, target only people over 21,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “We would gladly follow those guidelines.”According to Facebook’s policy, ads cannot promote the sale or use of illegal, prescription or recreational drugs. That includes images of recreational or medical marijuana — even in places where the drug is legal.A Google spokeswoman said marijuana ads are not allowed on the site because the drug is still illegal at the federal level. The policy applies to all Google ads, as well as other sources like in-app ads and video ads.Twenty-nine states and the District have medical marijuana programs, and eight states plus the District have adult-use laws on the books, according to the National Cannabis Industry Association.Olivia Mannix, founder and CEO of Cannabrand, a cannabis marketing agency, said she has pushed back on Facebook and its policy, arguing that many patients who could benefit from medical marijuana can’t easily access the information they need. As for the companies Cannabrand works with, Mannix said her team has to think out of the box to reach online customers without targeted ads.That can include engaging people with wide followings on social media, or even a marijuana-themed Emoji keyboard that feature cannabis products and brands.“You really need to be strategic and creative to get followers because you can’t just put an ad out to get followers,” Mannix said.Smith said Facebook has rejected or taken down cannabis-related ads and posts inconsistently and that requests for an updated advertising policy have gone unanswered. In one instance, Smith said the Facebook blocked an advertisement for an event in which members of the National Cannabis Industry would lobby politicians in the District on marijuana-related issues.Facebook did not return a request for comment.A number of trade publications cater directly to the marijuana industry, like High Times and Marijuana Business Magazine. But broader online, television or radio restrictions often relegate marijuana advertising to outlets like billboards, said Mark Bartholomew, a professor at the University at Buffalo who focuses on advertising law.But even that approach carries certain contradictions. For example, billboards often carry their own laws as to images that can’t be featured, or what percentage of viewers must be adults.“It’s like if 71 percent of viewers have to be of adult age, which is really hard to figure out in contrast to the digital world where you can figure this out pretty quickly,” Bartholomew said. “It’s interesting that dispensaries are being forced to use these traditional forms of advertising.”Bartholomew said there’s reason to expect advertising norms will change as the marijuana industry becomes more mainstream. After all, ads including sex and violence were much less common 20 or 30 years ago, he said.The cannabis company MedMen recently debuted a new campaign, “Forget Stoner,” that photographs figures from athletes to grandmothers to tear down the “stoner” stigma of marijuana users. BJ Carretta, MedMen’s chief marketing officer, said the reach of such campaigns would only be magnified with access to radio or video platforms that are now off-limits.“Imagine the first company to come out creatively with a really impactful 30-second commercial nationally on a prime-time television show or a Sunday major sports program,” Carretta said. “There’d be a lot of buzz about that.” Rachel Siegel is a national business reporter. She previously contributed to the Post's Metro desk, The Marshall Project and The Dallas Morning News.Source: Washington Post (DC)Author: Rachel SiegelPublished: April 5, 2018Copyright: 2018 Washington Post CompanyContact: letters washpost.com Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ URL: http://drugsense.org/url/CRgwbJQbCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #15 posted by Hope on April 24, 2018 at 21:06:53 PT Your grandfather was a wise man. And that's a profound and beautiful truth he gave you there..."and sometimes you have obligations to mankind". [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Had Enough on April 24, 2018 at 12:57:03 PT A tremendous amount... Yes Hope...A tremendous amount...honored to be able to it...My dad...He was elected Fire Chief of a very small local fire dept...way back in the late 1950's...Here we were talking about that around 1996 or so...He told me he didn't even want the job...When I asked him why he did it...this was his response...""Somebody had to do it...and due to my military experience I was the most qualified person to get the fire department up and running...so they volunteered me""Then he had this last line...""and sometimes you have obligations to mankind""That was the last we talked of that...and he was giving me a message...I remember it like it was yesterday...and probably always will...So he did it for a few years... acquired 2 fire trucks and other fire department stuff...organized the fire drills to train how to use the stuff...and set up a maintenance schedule for the equipment...then he handed it over to the next guy... We moved shortly after that...I remember going out on the fire drills with those guys...even went out on some fire calls...something that wouldn't be tolerated in this day...I was really young then... Kept the fire trucks on his property by the hard road...They had Fish Frys and Turkey Shoots to help raise coin for the equipment...And no they didn't shoot at turkeys :)...they shot at paper targets and the winners took home fresh turkeys donated from the local butcher shops...Yep...Last Man Standing ...been that before...probably will be again...not to be an easy task...at all...but sometimes necessary...as an obligation to mankind... [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on April 14, 2018 at 08:59:22 PT Jose I'm not sure about the dogs... but I remember Jose being from New Mexico and being someone who studied horoscopes. I think. He crosses my mind every once in awhile, too and I wonder if he's ok. Hopefully, he is.Some of us have to have gone on and shed the mortal coil somewhere along the way... but I'm struck by how long-lived so many of us are. I like that Willie song you posted... Last Man Standing. That's good! I can certainly identify with it, too. I don't want to be the last man standing.... on second thought... maybe I do.You hang in there, Had Enough. That may be your part... last man standing. Seems like there may be lots of responsibility goes with that job. I love you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Hope on April 14, 2018 at 08:48:06 PT Oh my gosh... Black dogs. Black German Shepherds. I remember now. I was thinking we had talked about how people don't like white dogs as much as they do other colors. It was black dogs. Duh. And that you were fond of the black dogs for that very reason. I thought about it... I really did... but went with the white dogs... because I'm fond of black dogs, too... and tangle that with the memory that we spoke about people not favoring black dogs... well... there ya go. No excuses. I get memories wrong sometimes. I did remember that they were German Shepherds. I think I remember that. Did you find a home for your old friend's dog? I hope so. And again, I'm so sorry about that sad turn of events and losing your friend. That was so hard for you. I can only imagine. Yes. It's been a while since that phone call that did mean so much to me, Had Enough. Thank you, again. It's amazing that I am living such a normal life now. Got over and through all that trauma, too. Even the chemo brain and peripheral neuropathy are improving now. I usually say the chemo brain is improving now... right before I can't find the door I walked in. Lol! Funny... but true. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Had Enough on April 13, 2018 at 13:37:43 PT Dogs... Someone else had the white ones...I think Jose Melendez...???Black German Shepherds are the ones we've had...Still have the one we got for my brides therapy...she is 12 now...and now my therapy dog...???...:) [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Had Enough on April 13, 2018 at 13:30:50 PT Phones... Yes Hope...I remember that call...There is a pizza joint right there...next time I go there I'll check if that phone is still there...It's more like a one-armed bandit...:)Boy time has surely flown by... [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Had Enough on April 12, 2018 at 12:17:30 PT On second thought...Maybe I do... Hope...This tune came on shortly after the one you posted...I remember when his bus got stopped...Willie Nelson - Last Man Standinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk55FA6_xkM [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Hope on April 11, 2018 at 13:59:50 PT Oh my! Oh my. Oh my. That truly is a lot of "Stuff", sweet and dear old friend. A lot. It's Not Something You Get Over, But It's Something You Get Through - Williehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtx-pxjX8A [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Had Enough on April 11, 2018 at 13:04:04 PT It's okay Yes...okay...New Years Eve I went to check on a lifelong friend of about 55+ years...Found him in his bed...He had been there for 6 weeks...Went in the bedroom twice...His dog was very protective of the back bedroom...It was just dark enough not to see and the light didn't work in the room when I hit the switch...I normally have a flashlight on me but had left it on the table at my place...I did have a flashlight on the phone but it is not very bright...I knew something was terribly wrong there...I called the sheriff's office...a very cool deputy showed up...we went back through the house with his flashlight and found him...The deputy was concerned about the dog... so when we got to the bedroom door I held the dog at bay and told the cop I was between the dog and you so you won't get bit and to bring his flashlight in there...I was keeping the dog cornered when he shined the light on the bed and said there he is...He was less than a foot from me...and that was the third time in that room...found out later that the light switch was hooked to a ceiling fan and it was too dark to see the light cord hanging from the fan...We used to hang out at all the hot spots back in the day...cruise the boulevards...built hot rods together...we were best man at each other's weddings...we went camping and grouper fishing 40 miles out in the Gulf...he always ran our sound system and helped us load in and out when we had the band cranking... the very best and oldest friend...He had no next of kin...I handled the funeral arrangements with another mutual old friend he went hunting with...we spread his ashes up at a hunting camp where several other people have had their ashes spread....a very cool place out in the woods by a small lake...and some very cool people who hang out up there...it's like one big family up there...people I never met up there gave me a very warm welcome...I was offered to hang out up there but I came back home instead...If not I might still be up there :)...Still have a small amount of ashes left to spread about at an island we used to camp and hang out at...He had just retired about 3 years ago from the same job he had for about 45 years...Haven't been doing much of anything since...just now getting back to whatever might be normal again...Just wanted FoM & Hope to know that your efforts to help others are still in full force...When ever I need to be centered after being knocked out of balance...that concert does it for me...It kinda like helps to bring closings to things...works for me...And I do thank you for your concern...there's no place like home... :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Hope on April 11, 2018 at 10:20:04 PT I love me some Had Enough! Please be ok! I've loved your stories of Bride, your white dogs, your high seas adventures. I love you!I love that when I was in the hospital at death's door with a beaucoup of blood clots near my heart you called me from a pay phone in Florida and we talked all evening. You must have had a wheelbarrow full of change you kept feeding that phone. We talked for ages and you blessed me so much. Is there anything we can do? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on April 11, 2018 at 08:20:24 PT Had Enough Stuff? Like Hope asked are you OK? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 11, 2018 at 08:18:51 PT Had Enough That makes me smile. I absolutely loved the Freedom of Speech Tour with CSNY. We saw it 2 times. We saw the last performance of the tour in Pittsburgh, Pa. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on April 10, 2018 at 21:28:25 PT Had Enough More stuff? Are you ok? I mean really ok? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Had Enough on April 10, 2018 at 21:16:06 PT Stuff FoM...just wanted to let you know and to thank you...I'm listening to that Crosby Stills Hash & Young - Toronto-7-10-2006...that was posted here back then...That concert has always been a good & soothing listen when needing music therapy...it always works...and always think you and this place where it came from...Been through more stuff again...Crosby Stills Nash & Young kick ass...Thanks again...and Peace to you...Hope...You too ... :)... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on April 05, 2018 at 16:54:01 PT Shucks Schmucks. Many companies do all sorts of dubious things yet they still are willing to persecute cannabis and people who use the relatively safe, God-given plant for all sorts of similar rationalizations.Along with the internet issues revealed above, imagine this;Ski areas in Colorado (and probably every other RE-LEGALIZED state) do not allow cannabis in any way, however they will sell skiers booze 1st thing in the morning, before lifts even open. &&& they have people who wind up dead due to hitting trees!!! (That may not be from drinking and skiing of course, however, that is a very real and serious problem at ski resorts; 2 or 3 at lest at Breckenridge alone this season) Their rationalization in part is because they lease federal land for their ski area to exist and it's against fed law...There's always the ability to rationalize screwing You'r neighbor for the sake of money. Money is far more important that "loving one another" to those who screw. But hey, We've come a long way, We're still going forward. It's legal in a number of states and the schmucks are getting shut down one after another.And that's what they are on their BEST DAY.SCHMUCKS.& so advertising will have to wait. Shucks. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment