Oppose Exposing Kids to Cannabis Billboards and Marketing

Dear Senator,

Please oppose Assembly Bill No. 1302 Commercial cannabis billboards: placement restrictions (AB-1302), a bill that will roll back protections against highway cannabis billboards that expose kids to advertising. This bill should be defeated because it is an inadmissible amendment violating the clearly stated intent and purpose of Proposition 64. Mr. Michael Colantuono, a widely respected legal expert, reviewed the issue and concluded: 

"AB 1302 exceeds the Legislature’s authority because it contravenes AUMA’s purpose to prevent billboard advertising of cannabis on an interstate or on a state highway which crosses the California border. Any expansion of that authority violates AUMA’s plain language and exceeds the Legislature’s authority."

Allowing cannabis businesses to advertise or market on billboards or similar advertising devices along State and Interstate highways will break promises made to those who voted to pass Proposition 64 which contained a prohibition on highway billboards; Californians were told the state would implement the nation’s strictest child protections, including advertising restrictions. In 2019 the state attempted to lessen these Prop 64 legal protections through regulations that were subsequently deemed illegal by the courts because they also violated the intent of Prop 64. In contrast, twelve other states prohibit billboard advertising of cannabis.

The industry is keen to advertise on billboards because it works. Billboards are effective tools for increasing youth initiation and addiction. Youth exposure to outdoor advertising of cannabis, alcohol, or tobacco products increases youth interest in, use, and positive perceptions of those products. The research is clear. While other advertising can limit advertising placement where youth are likely to be exposed, there is no way to allow outdoor advertising without risking youth exposure. Children and teenagers on their way to school or play on a highway with a cannabis billboard will be exposed to this advertising every day.

Furthermore, cannabis use increases motor vehicle crashes and fatal crashes on the very highways in question. This has been confirmed in numerous studies from the National Academies of Sciences 2017 report to this year’s Insurance Institute of Highway Safety report on the issue.

Lastly, harms and medical expenses associated with increased cannabis use include accidents, low birth weight, addiction, psychosis and exacerbation of schizophrenia, and all imply substantial and preventable costs to state coffers and to California families.

We respectfully request that you respect the promises made to California voters and oppose AB-1302 to better protect our children and youth. Allowing safer, legal access to cannabis does not require exposing kids to its marketing or increasing public expenditures to address the resulting health impacts.