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REFERENCE TITLE: marijuana; advertising; restrictions |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
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HB 2179 |
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Introduced by Representative Bliss
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AN ACT
Amending section 36-2859, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to marijuana.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Subject to the requirements of article IV, part 1, section 1, Constitution of Arizona, section 36-2859, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
36-2859. Advertising; restrictions; enforcement; civil penalty
A. Only a marijuana establishment or nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary may market, promote, sponsor, advertise or authorize advertising for marijuana, products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, intoxicating cannabinoids or marijuana paraphernalia in accordance with restrictions imposed by this chapter.
A. B. A marijuana establishment or nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary may engage in advertising but may not do any of the following:
1. Advertise marijuana or marijuana products to individuals who are under twenty-one years of age, including advertising:
(a) With names that resemble or imitate food or drink brands that are marketed to children.
(b) With images or likenesses of toys, cartoons or animated or fictional characters, including Santa Claus, that are designed to appeal to or encourage individuals who are under twenty-one years of age to consume marijuana or marijuana products.
(c) With images or visual representations of the consumption of marijuana or marijuana products.
(d) With the potency or tetrahydrocannabinol levels of the marijuana or marijuana product.
(e) In a way that primarily appeals to individuals who are under twenty-one years of age such that the advertising has a special attractiveness to individuals who are under twenty-one years of age beyond general attractiveness for individuals who are at least twenty-one years of age.
2. Advertise at, on or within airports, public transportation shelters, public buses, public trains, public shuttles or public trams.
3. Advertise electronically, via social media or on a website, unless at least 73.6 percent of the audience is expected to be at least twenty-one years of age.
4. Advertise any health-related statement or statement regarding the effects of marijuana consumption on health that is known to be untrue.
5. Unless at least 73.6 percent of the audience is expected to be at least twenty-one years of age, Sponsor any sporting event with acknowledgment that includes images of, visual depictions of or references to:
(a) Marijuana, including the leaf or bud of the marijuana plant.
(b) Any marijuana product.
C. All advertising must contain the following conspicuous and legible warning: "Do not use marijuana if you are under twenty-one years of age or pregnant. Keep marijuana out of reach of children." All printed warnings must occupy at least ten percent of the advertising area and must be in black font on a white background.
D. A billboard advertisement under this section is prohibited within one thousand radial feet of any child care center, church, substance abuse recovery facility, public park, public playground or public or private school that provides instruction to students in preschool or kindergarten programs or any of grades one through twelve. A person that violates this subsection, on notification by the attorney general's office, has thirty days to comply with these requirements. For circumstances beyond the control of the billboard operator that may prevent removal within the prescribed time frame, the advertisement must be removed as soon as safely and legally practicable. A person that does not comply with this subsection is subject to the civil penalties and disciplinary action prescribed in this section.
B. E. An advertising platform may host advertising only if all of the following apply:
1. The advertising is authorized by a marijuana establishment or nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary.
2. The advertising accurately and legibly identifies the marijuana establishment or nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary responsible for the content of the advertising by name and license number or registration number.
3. The advertising contains a printed warning that complies with subsection C of this section.
C. F. Any advertising under this chapter involving direct, individualized communication or dialogue shall use a method of age affirmation to verify that the recipient is at least twenty-one years of age or older before engaging in that communication or dialogue. For the purposes of this subsection, that method of age affirmation may include user confirmation, birth date disclosure or other similar registration methods.
D. G. It is unlawful for an individual or entity other than a marijuana establishment or dual licensee to do any of the following in a manner that is not authorized by this chapter or rules adopted by the department pursuant to this chapter:
1. Facilitate the delivery of marijuana or marijuana products.
2. Solicit or accept orders for marijuana or marijuana products or operate a platform that solicits or accepts orders for marijuana or marijuana products.
3. Operate a listing service related to the sale or delivery of marijuana or marijuana products.
H. A marijuana establishment or a nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary that violates this section, on notification by the department or attorney general's office, has seven days to comply with the requirements of this section.
E. I. A marijuana establishment that violates is found to be in violation of this section by the attorney general is subject to disciplinary action by the department pursuant to section 36-2854, subsection B. A nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary that violates is found to be in violation of this section by the attorney general is subject to disciplinary action by the department pursuant to section 36-2816.
F. J. In addition to any other penalty imposed by law, an individual or entity other than a marijuana establishment or nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary that advertises marijuana or marijuana products in violation of this section or otherwise violates this section shall pay a civil penalty of $20,000 per violation to the smart and safe Arizona fund established by section 36-2856.
K. This subsection may section shall be enforced by the attorney general.
L. For the purposes of this section, advertising does not include a communication that is targeted only to the established customer base of a marijuana establishment or nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary.
Sec. 2. Effective date
Section 36-2859, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, is effective from and after June 30, 2026.
Sec. 3. Requirements for enactment; three-fourths vote
Pursuant to article IV, part 1, section 1, Constitution of Arizona, section 36-2859, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, is effective only on the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature.