US House Approves Bill to Allow MJ Advertising on TV and Radio
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would allow the advertising of recreational cannabis on television and radio. The bill has now been sent to the Senate for consideration.
Media Outlets May No Longer Be Penalized for Cannabis Advertising
Under current law, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the authority to revoke the licenses of TV and radio stations that advertise products banned at the federal level, such as marijuana. This can happen even if the media outlet is promoting cannabinoid products in states where cannabis is legal.
As a result, cannabis companies have been limited to promoting their products in print publications, online, and through billboards. The new bill aims to change this by prohibiting the FCC from revoking the licenses of broadcasters for advertising cannabis in regions where it has been legalized.
Industry Reaction to the Proposed Change
Alex Siciliano, spokesperson for the National Association of Broadcasters, commented on the news: “For too long, TV and radio companies have been stuck in a regulatory deadlock due to conflicts between federal and state laws. Passing this bill is an important step toward giving cannabis advertising the same status as other products.”
Senate Approval Remains Uncertain
Many in the media industry welcomed the move to lift restrictions on cannabis advertising. David Donovan, president of the New York State Broadcasters Association, emphasized that media operations should be governed by state, not federal, law. In his view, if a state government has legalized marijuana sales, sellers should be able to advertise their products on TV and radio.
However, Republicans control half of the seats in the Senate (50) and have traditionally opposed efforts to relax regulations on recreational cannabis. Donovan expressed concern that the bill could fail in Congress despite strong Democratic support. Additionally, even if the bill passes, the ban on cannabis advertising would only be lifted for one year (from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023), as the measure is part of the appropriations package for the 2023 fiscal year.