Text your customers within Rhode Island’s cannabis advertising rules

Rhode Island has an adult-use and medical cannabis program

Retail licensing and advertising rules are enforced by the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission. For billboards, social media and other channels, see our cannabis advertising rules beyond texting.

These Rhode Island rules bear on texting customers

Ads must carry the universal symbol, license number and a 21+ and medical patients statement, and may not make therapeutic claims, appeal to children or encourage excessive consumption; no rule specific to text messages was found.

• The advertising medium must target an audience reasonably expected to be at least 85 percent aged 21 or older (560-RICR-10-10-2, section 2.8(C)).
• Websites and online media advertisements must be accessible only to people 21 or older (560-RICR-10-10-2, section 2.8(B)(2)(a)(i)).
• Permitted media include print media and direct mail, plus other media approved by the Commission (560-RICR-10-10-2, section 2.8(B)(2)(c), (e)).
• Required content: universal symbol, license number and an ages 21+ and medical patients statement (560-RICR-10-10-2, section 2.8(B)(3)).
• No curative or unproven therapeutic claims (560-RICR-10-10-2, section 2.8(B)(4)(a)).
• No images, symbols, wording or fonts that could be attractive to children (560-RICR-10-10-2, section 2.8(B)(4)(c)).
• No content encouraging excessive consumption, and no pairing with alcohol or nicotine content (560-RICR-10-10-2, section 2.8(B)(4)(g)-(h)).

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 Rhode Island’s rules apply to your program stays with you and your counsel.

Work with Sticky Cards in Rhode Island

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