UPDATED: Rhode Island Governor Signs Bill to Allow Cannabis Dispensaries to Advertise on Billboards

Editor's note: This article was updated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, to reflect Gov. Daniel McKee signing the legislation into law.

Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee signed legislation into law June 19 that will allow adult-use cannabis retailers to advertise in-state on billboards until the newly appointed Cannabis Control Commission pens regulations for the industry, according to Providence Business News.

The state’s General Assembly passed the bill last week, allowing cannabis businesses to promote their products through new avenues of advertising.

Under the former law, the state of Rhode Island did not allow local dispensaries to use billboards to advertise. However, Massachusetts medical and adult-use dispensaries can place cannabis advertisements on billboards along Rhode Island highways.

The measure, H 5829, now permits Rhode Island regulators to implement rules related to cannabis advertising.

“The prohibition on advertising for our state’s cannabis products has put this young and growing industry at a significant disadvantage when competing against our neighboring states’ cannabis operations,” said Sen. Jonathon Acosta, a supporter of the measure. “Seeing advertisements for Massachusetts cannabis products right in the middle of Providence is an inequality that this bill will rectify, allowing our own state’s businesses to grow and flourish.”

Editor's note: Senior Digital Editor Melissa Schiller contributed to this story.

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