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Cannabis Marketing Compliance Basics

Compliance/App Store Requirements

Cannabis marketing is one of the most heavily regulated kinds of advertising there is, and the rules change from state to state. This is a plain-language overview to help you spot the big issues. It is not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for checking your own state's rules or talking to your compliance resource.

Know Your Audience

The cardinal rule of cannabis marketing is that you don't market to minors:

  • Keep your messaging in front of adults. Many states expect you to reasonably ensure your audience meets the legal age (commonly 21+ for adult-use, 18+ for medical).
  • Age-gate your channels. Your app and site already age-gate (see Age Gating in Your App and Site), and the audiences you build in DopeHub are made up of your existing customers, not the general public.

Where You Can Advertise

Most mainstream ad platforms restrict or outright ban cannabis advertising, which is exactly why owned channels matter so much:

  • Channels like Google Ads and the big social networks generally prohibit cannabis ads, and accounts can be suspended for trying.
  • That pushes the real work to channels you own and control: your app, your site, in-store signage, and your opted-in push, SMS, and email lists. These are the backbone of compliant cannabis marketing, and they're exactly what DopeHub is built around.
  • Only send SMS and email marketing to customers who have clearly opted in.
  • Make opting out easy, and honor every opt-out promptly.
  • See Growing Your Opted-In Audience for how to build these lists the right way.

Watch What You Say

  • No health or medical claims. Don't say or imply a product cures, treats, or prevents any condition.
  • Be careful with discounts and promotions. Some states limit how, or whether, you can advertise deals, prices, and giveaways.
  • Some states require specific warnings or disclaimers on cannabis advertising.

The Big Caveat: Check Your State

Cannabis rules are set state by state and they change often. What's fine in one market can be prohibited in another. Before you launch a campaign:

  • Check your state's current cannabis advertising regulations.
  • When in doubt, run it by your compliance or legal resource.

DopeTech gives you compliant tools to reach your customers, but you know your market's rules best, and the responsibility for what you send is yours.