With New Jersey on the brink of legalizing adult-use marijuana, marketers are preparing to jump into the industry. But legalization will come with restrictions on marketing, especially when it comes to kids, and that will present a challenge. It’s something cannabis marketing adviser Stella Morrison is closely monitoring.
“The bill as it’s written will not allow certain imagery that appeals to children, which has a broad range. We know from other states that bright colors can be a part of this, cartoon characters can be a part of this,” said Morrison, who heads the marketing company CannaContent.
In fact, advertisers would have to prove that at least 71.6 percent of their advertising audience is over the age of 21.
“A lot of it is common sense. Are you going to take out a billboard near a school, or a karate studio, or a Chuck E Cheese, right?” said Morrison.
Morrison, like many others in the cannabis industry, is embracing the challenge of marketing within the state’s restrictions.