UK’s First Educational Cannabis Advertising Campaign

LONDON–For the first time ever, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) & Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) has approved an educational cannabis message to be advertised in the public domain – a big step forward for the existing cannabis industry due to extremely restrictive advertising rules around cannabis. Launching this week in multiple prime Central London locations including Westminster, Trafalgar Square, and Oxford Street – the campaign is on display for 2 weeks.

This news welcomes a new chapter of growth for cannabis companies, as figures have shown the industry is worth £690m in 2021, while fighting through an already challenging environment.

Opening the door for advertising

“For years cannabis companies have struggled to make any footprint through paid advertising, with very few brands able to have their campaigns cleared even globally. Confidence is starting to grow however, with the ASA & CAP allowing us to officially submit, and challenge old restrictions currently stopping the rest of the industry, we are confident of a new wave of growth for the space,” said Marwan Elgamal from THC ® & Endo.

“Allowing these new forms of advertising media helps the communication of complex ideas to become ‘intelligible and comprehensive’, by breaking the psychological shackles disallowing potential consumers the right to make well informed decisions,” said Helaku Whyles from Endo Agency.

YouGov polling data has shown that the UK is now broadly in support of cannabis legalisation, with 53% in favour, 32% in opposition and the rest undecided. London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, recently said he wants to have experts ‘examine the latest evidence’ to see whether the decriminalisation of cannabis would benefit the capital and country at large.