Massachusetts Lawmakers Debate Statewide Cannabis Advertising Ban

Several recent legislative efforts in Massachusetts and at the federal level focus on regulating advertising for health-related products including prescription drugs, cannabis, and tobacco. At the federal level, Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Maxine Dexter, and Ilhan Omar introduced the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act, which aims to ban all direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising to reduce drug costs and promote trustworthy medical information. In Massachusetts, lawmakers are debating multiple bills to tighten cannabis advertising restrictions, including proposals to ban billboard advertisements to protect youth, while some industry-backed bills seek to loosen restrictions to help businesses compete with multi-state operators and intoxicating hemp products that face fewer rules. Current cannabis advertising laws prohibit ads where the audience is less than 85 percent adults aged 21 and older, but enforcement challenges have been noted. Additionally, Massachusetts is considering a pioneering Nicotine-Free Generation law that would permanently ban tobacco and nicotine purchases for residents born after 2006, although this has faced local opposition due to concerns about cross-border sales. Collectively, these efforts reflect growing concerns about balancing public health, youth protection, and business interests in advertising for drugs, cannabis, and nicotine products.