Washington State cannabis industry committed 328 marketing violations in five years, with many targeting minors
Analysis of 328 cannabis marketing violations from 183 Washington State businesses found violations most common online and near stores, with community members equally likely as regulators to identify violations, especially those targeting minors.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 328 violations from 183 businesses, most occurred in online content or directly in front of cannabis stores. Community members were as likely as the state regulatory agency (WSLCB) to identify violations. Community reports focused on content appealing to minors, while regulators focused on ad location and size violations.
Key Numbers
328 violations from 183 businesses across two time periods. Community members and WSLCB officers identified violations at similar rates. Very few violations were reported by competing cannabis businesses.
How They Did This
Retrospective analysis of all Washington State cannabis marketing violations from October 2014-September 2015 (immediately after legal market opened) and May 2017-July 2019. A codebook based on state advertising regulations was used to categorize violations.
Why This Research Matters
As the cannabis industry matures, marketing violations, especially those targeting youth, remain a significant concern. Community monitoring appears to be an important complement to regulatory enforcement.
The Bigger Picture
The pattern of marketing violations in Washington's cannabis industry mirrors challenges seen in alcohol and tobacco regulation, where commercial interests and public health protections frequently conflict.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only Washington State data. May not capture all violations (only those identified and reported). Two non-continuous time periods. No data on enforcement outcomes or whether violations were corrected. Cannot assess actual impact on youth.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are violation rates decreasing over time as the industry matures?
- ?Do violations lead to actual increases in youth use?
- ?Would stricter penalties reduce violations?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 328 violations from 183 businesses; community key in identifying youth-targeting content
- Evidence Grade:
- Comprehensive analysis of regulatory data, though limited to identified violations and one state.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022 with data from 2014-2019.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Industry Marketing Violations in Washington State, 2014-2019.
- Published In:
- Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 83(1), 18-26 (2022)
- Authors:
- Carlini, Beatriz H(7), Garrett, Sharon, Firth, Caislin(3), Pinsky, Ilana
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03744
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What types of cannabis marketing violations were most common?
Violations most frequently involved online content and signage near cannabis stores. Community members tended to report content appealing to minors, while state regulators focused on technical violations like ad size and placement in public spaces.
Do cannabis companies market to children?
While not necessarily intentional, community members identified numerous cannabis marketing violations involving content that could appeal to minors. This highlights the ongoing tension between commercial promotion and youth protection in legal cannabis markets.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03744APA
Carlini, Beatriz H; Garrett, Sharon; Firth, Caislin; Pinsky, Ilana. (2022). Cannabis Industry Marketing Violations in Washington State, 2014-2019.. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 83(1), 18-26.
MLA
Carlini, Beatriz H, et al. "Cannabis Industry Marketing Violations in Washington State, 2014-2019.." Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 2022.
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Industry Marketing Violations in Washington State, ..." RTHC-03744. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/carlini-2022-cannabis-industry-marketing-violations
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.