Thanks to Lex Pelger and his superb weekly roundup of all things cannabis
More at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460326001437
Highlights
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Cannabis retail surveillance is crucial to inform regulations and enforcement.
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We examined marketing and regulatory compliance among US cannabis retailers in 2025.
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We found youth-appeal marketing, health claim, and discount restriction noncompliance.
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There were also compliance gaps with state required warning signage.
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Results reinforce the need to strengthen cannabis retail regulations and enforcement.
Abstract
Cannabis retail surveillance is crucial to inform regulations and enforcement efforts. This point-of-sale audit study examined marketing practices and compliance with age verification rules, required signage, and marketing restrictions among 161 cannabis retailers in 5 US cities in states authorizing nonmedical cannabis retail (Los Angeles [LA], California; Las Vegas [LV], Nevada; Denver, Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Seattle, Washington) in summer 2025. Descriptive and bivariate analyses characterized retailers overall and across cities. Overall, 84.5 % of retailers requested age verification upon entry (range: Seattle = 43.3 % to LV = 100 %); 8.1 % never verified (range: LV/Denver = 0 % to Seattle = 26.7 %). All 5 states required pregnancy-related warning postings/brochures, observed in 64.6 % (less often in LA = 30.8 % and LV = 46.9 %). Nevada and Oregon required signage prohibiting on-site consumption, observed in 51.6 % overall (LV = 81.3 %, Portland = 86.7 %). California and Washington required signage indicating negative impacts on children/youth, posted in 42.2 % (LA = 20.5 %; Seattle = 80.0 %). All 5 states restricted youth-oriented packaging, found in 24.2 % (more often in Denver = 53.3 % and LV = 40.6 %). Other targeted populations (based on advertisements/promotions) included veterans/military (12.4 %), senior citizens (9.3 %), LGBTQ+ (8.7 %), and racial/ethnic minorities (7.5 %). Colorado, Oregon, and Washington prohibited health claims in advertising, found in 65.8 % (Denver = 40.0 %, Portland = 40.0 %, Seattle = 70.0 %). California, Colorado, and Washington restricted outdoor business signage, identified at 36.6 % overall (LA = 18.2 %, Denver = 7.7 %, Seattle = 40.0 %). California, Oregon, and Washington restricted discounting, identified in 93.8 % (LA = 92.3 %, Portland = 96.7 %, Seattle = 86.7 %). Further, 39.8 % promoted online ordering, 33.5 % curbside delivery, pick-up, or drive-through options, and 13.7 % home delivery. Given compliance-related issues with many regulations (e.g., required signage, prohibitions on youth-oriented marketing, health claims), states’ cannabis retail regulations and enforcement must be strengthened.
