Provoked By 'Got Weed?' Ad, NY GOP Lawmaker Presents Bill Prohibiting Cannabis Billboards

New York Assemblyman Scott A. Gray (R) presented new legislation last week seeking to ban roadside cannabis advertisements, first reported by Hudson Valley 360.  

The bill, A08200, titled “Roadside Cannabis Advertising Prohibition Act,” would establish a civil penalty of $1,000 for the first offense in regards to placing a “roadside signage” for the sale of marijuana or marijuana products on a highway, road, or other vehicular pathway, and a subsequent fine of up to $2,500 for each day that a violation continues. 

See Also: New York's $83M In Legal Weed Sales, More Shops & Licenses: Is The Rollout Stabilizing?

Under the proposed legislation, licensed dispensaries and retailers could still place billboards on their premises, so long as the “signage only identifies the business.” The ad should not be readable on the highway, road, or other vehicular pathway. 

Gray was motivated to propose his bill, when he saw a large billboard in his district with a pronounced “Got Weed?” advertisement, looking vastly similar to the “Got Milk?” campaign aimed at youth, according to Assemblyman’s legislative justification attached to the bill.

“Numerous scientific studies have shown serious effects from marijuana on teenagers' brains, and this legislation will ensure that products are not advertised in a harmful way, while protecting the rights of authorized establishments to have signage acknowledging the location of their venue,” Gray wrote. “This legislation does not prohibit the signage for retail operations, rather specific product advertising.”

Gray is not lonely in his vision of cannabis billboard-free roadways, as two years ago, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill that would have allowed cannabis billboards along interstate freeways and state highways that cross state borders. 

NYC Regulator To Authorize NYPD To Close Down Illegal Stores 

Meanwhile, the regulators in the Empire State’s capital, The Big Apple, are figuring out a way to deal with quite a few illegal cannabis shops popping put on every corner. On Thursday, City Council Majority Leader Keith Powers introduced a new legislation that amends the city’s Nuisance Abatement Law (NAL), making it faster to close down illegal establishments, reports CBS News New York.

If the cops or somebody else walks in and they find that they're actually selling illegal products, they will for the first time have the ability to close that business down and padlock it," Powers said. "They're going to be able to walk into a store now and padlock the store if they're found to be selling illegal products."

Now Read: NY Lawmakers Warn Landlords Are Liable For Illegal Cannabis Operations On Their Property

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Photo: Benzinga edit with images by Wikimedia Commons, Terrance Barksdale via Pexels, and Josy Dom Alexis from Pixabay