As marijuana is increasingly commercialized, with more states continuing to legalize it for medical and recreational use, we must not repeat past mistakes from the commercialization of nicotine and alcohol products that have harmed countless young people. Without proper protections, commercialization normalizes use, increases exposure and access, and emboldens industry to target young users, risking their health and increasing their chances of addiction.
To prevent and counteract these risks, it is crucial to limit youth exposure to advertisements for marijuana.
Research on alcohol and nicotine product advertising, as well as limited research on marijuana product advertising, demonstrates that exposure to advertising is associated with increased youth use of those products. Voluntary standards that aim to limit alcohol advertising to adult audiences and avoid programs that target youth are clearly inadequate to limit youth exposure, as alcohol ads are pervasive on television, including on sports broadcasts and other programs watched by young people. Similarly, when nicotine vaping ads were allowed on television and radio, they served to normalize vaping, skirt restrictions and encourage behaviors associated with the recent catastrophic youth vaping epidemic.
To prevent a repeat of past mistakes and limit harm to youth, we encourage you to send a letter to your senators urging them to oppose the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Advertising Act, which would permit radio and television stations to accept advertising for marijuana products if the station is licensed in states that have legalized marijuana and permit such advertising.
Marijuana advertising should not be allowed on television or radio, even within programs ostensibly targeted at adult audiences.
