Economic Matters panel debates loosened ad limits in proposed cannabis advertising overhaul

Sen. Pam Bittle, sponsor of Senate Bill 594, told the Economic Matters Committee that the measure aims to clarify and make predictable Maryland’s advertising rules for licensed cannabis businesses while balancing public-health safeguards and market realities. “Senate Bill 594 endeavors to balance public health safeguards while acknowledging the struggles both newly awarded social equity licenses and operating cannabis licenses have competing in the market saturated by unlicensed and illegal sales,” she said during her opening remarks.

The bill would set numeric limits on exterior signage (the sponsor referenced proposed caps such as 900 square inches for exterior signs and 1,200 square inches total), allow certain identity claims on signs—like “woman-owned” or “veteran-owned”—and require a statutory method for determining audience composition, including a threshold that at least 85% of the audience be over 21 for an advertisement to be permitted. It also directs the Cannabis Administration to promulgate regulations by Jan. 1, 2027 to accept attestations for event sponsorships and…