The Colorado House gave tentative approval on Friday to a law expanding restrictions on medical cannabis advertisements, according to an Associated Press report.
The restrictions introduced in House Bill 1363, which prevent retailers from directing medical marijuana advertisements at patients under 21, have been described as a commonsense safeguard. Similar restrictions already exist for recreational cannabis, and the bill was drafted at the request of Colorado’s Department of Revenue.
The Colorado cannabis industry doesn’t appear to oppose the tightening of the rules. “It really just harmonizes the medical law with what is in the recreational law,” said Kevin Fisher, co-owner of the Rocky Mountain Remedies cannabis retailer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. “The last thing we want to do is market to kids.”
The Colorado Press Association, however, have announced their opposition to the legislation. They argue there is no evidence that marijuana advertisers have ever targeted their efforts on minors, and also argue that defining what is and what isn’t considered appealing to children can be overly complicated.
“It’s the basic concept of it’s a violation of commercial speech under the First Amendment,” said Greg Romberg, a lobbyist who works for the CPA.
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