Text your customers within Connecticut’s cannabis advertising rules

Connecticut has an adult-use and medical cannabis program

Retail licensing and advertising rules are enforced by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. For billboards, social media and other channels, see our cannabis advertising rules beyond texting.

These Connecticut rules bear on texting customers

Adult-use discounts and promotional offers may only be advertised inside the store, through a delivery service or on the store's ordering website, and the law also restricts marketing to cellular phones, content appealing to people under 21, and therapeutic claims.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-421bb(b)(3) prohibits advertising by internet, mobile application, social media or other electronic communication unless the establishment has reliable evidence that at least 90 percent of the audience is reasonably expected to be 21 or older.
• The Department of Consumer Protection states that the advertising restrictions apply to all advertising methods, including electronic communications such as emails (Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-421bb (DCP guidance)).
• Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-421bb(b)(4) prohibits advertising or marketing directed at location-based devices such as cellular phones unless it is through an app installed by an owner 21 or older with a permanent and easy opt-out feature and age warnings.
• Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-421bb(c) requires advertisements from a cannabis establishment to contain a specific underage and child-safety warning.
• Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-421bb(b)(15) prohibits advertising or marketing a discounted price or promotional offer for non-medical cannabis except within the store, through a delivery service, or on the store's website where cannabis may be ordered.
• Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-421bb(b)(1)(A) prohibits advertising that targets or is designed to appeal to individuals under 21, including toys, characters or cartoon characters.
• Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-421bb(b)(5) prohibits advertising that claims or implies curative or therapeutic effects or other medical claims, subject to limited exceptions.
• Conn. Gen. Stat. 21a-421bb(b)(14) prohibits operating a website advertising cannabis unless it verifies that users are 21 or older.
• The Department of Consumer Protection states that cannabis establishments must keep a log of all advertisements, including a copy and the medium, location and date range of dissemination (DCP adult-use policies and procedures (DCP guidance)).

Start with consent, your store name and an opt-out line

• Text only people who opted in, and keep the record of when and how they did. Our guide to SMS opt-in and consent for dispensaries covers what to record.
• Put your store name first and an opt-out line on every text.
• Keep product details, prices and offers on an age-gated page rather than in the text, and check the wording against our list of banned words in cannabis texts.

Sticky SMS, by Sticky Cards, the loyalty and marketing platform for cannabis dispensaries, files your 10DLC registration with The Campaign Registry, with no charge for the number or the registration, and most stores are live in 1 to 2 days. How Connecticut’s rules apply to your program stays with you and your counsel.

Work with Sticky Cards in Connecticut

• Run a dispensary, CBD or vape shop in Connecticut? Book a demo to see Sticky SMS.
• Run a texting agency in Connecticut? Sticky Cards is looking for expert texting partner agencies in Connecticut. Email support@stickycards.co to talk about working together.