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Committee approves bill to bar medical symbols in medical-marijuana advertising
Summary
HB 1353 would prohibit cultivation facilities and dispensaries from using a caduceus or other medical/pharmacy symbols in advertising or on buildings; sponsor and members debated definitional limits and whether clinics should be included.
A representative identified in the record as serving District 91 presented House Bill 1353, a joint bill sponsored by Senator Bledsoe, to prohibit cultivation facilities and dispensaries from using a caduceus or other symbols commonly associated with medicine or pharmacy in advertising, on buildings or billboards.
The presenter said the goal is to prevent cannabis-related businesses from appearing to represent a medical endorsement. Committee members asked for clarification about what constitutes a caduceus or similar medical symbol and whether symbols are copyrighted; the presenter said she did not know whether such symbols are copyrighted and noted that clinics are not currently included in the bill but could be in the future. A committee member described the caduceus as the cross with snakes commonly associated with the practice of medicine.
After discussion, the committee approved the bill by voice vote.
Why it matters: the measure addresses visual cues and advertising that proponents say could mislead consumers about medical status; the bill raises definitional and enforcement questions that lawmakers acknowledged during the hearing.
