California legalized recreational marijuana use on Jan. 1, 2018. Since then, dispensaries and other cannabis-related businesses have rapidly embraced billboard advertising with remarkable focus and efficiency—traits not typically associated with traditional stoner stereotypes.
All jokes aside, the reality is that marijuana is a multi-billion-dollar industry. As CBD products and other legalized cannabis offerings continue gaining mainstream acceptance, this sector represents a massive financial opportunity.
Billboards advertising marijuana have become ubiquitous, especially in California, where they dominate both high-traffic highways and quieter streets. Every day, it seems new cannabis billboards are going up, saturating the state’s advertising landscape. Over time, we expect this trend to expand nationwide as marijuana advertising regulations evolve and become more standardized. Currently, states impose various restrictions on cannabis advertising, including limits on language, imagery, or outright bans. These regulations stem from marijuana’s federal classification as a Schedule I controlled substance, creating a patchwork of guidelines across the country.
As the legal environment matures, these restrictions are likely to loosen, paving the way for more creative and eye-catching marijuana advertising. However, for now, many cannabis billboards take a conservative approach, reflecting the controversial nature of the product. Advertisers appear to prioritize discretion, avoiding provocative designs that might alienate potential customers. Staying under the radar seems to be the prevailing strategy—for now.
To showcase the current state of cannabis billboard advertising, our team has captured more than a dozen examples from Los Angeles. These billboards illustrate the approaches brands are taking in this first wave of marijuana advertising. We’re sharing them to inspire your own campaigns or to help you decide what direction not to take for your billboard design.
1. Arts District Cannabis Collective
This billboard combines information with practical value. The prominent arrow immediately draws attention to a rare urban luxury—free parking. That feature alone can be a significant selling point for potential customers.
The rest of the billboard keeps it simple and effective. The graphic in the corner clearly identifies the ad’s purpose, with the universal cannabis leaf symbol leaving no doubt about the product. On the left, the collective’s name is prominently displayed, reinforcing brand recognition and making it easy for viewers to remember.
2. Black Market Killer
The concept behind “Black Market Killer” is both clever and amusing. This campaign is a bold statement from a legitimate operation aiming to shift consumers away from street dealers and toward its dispensary. It’s refreshing to see such directness and honesty in the messaging.
The campaign taps into a growing trend: consumers actively seeking legal, polished alternatives to marijuana’s illegal street origins. By embracing a straightforward approach, this billboard acknowledges the transition while appealing to an audience ready to embrace the modern, regulated cannabis industry.
3. The Cure Company
The Cure Company aligns itself with the concept of marijuana as medicine, aiming to position its brand as a medical necessity for patients seeking cannabis. This approach resonates with consumers who value the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and view it as an integral part of their wellness routine.
The billboard’s bold green color and large, clear text effectively grab attention. However, the accompanying imagery appears somewhat difficult to discern, which might dilute the overall impact. A sharper or more prominent visual could enhance the message’s clarity and appeal.
4. Dosist
Dosist positions itself as a therapeutic cannabis option, focusing on the medical benefits of controlled dosing. The billboard’s design emphasizes this by showcasing the product, which resembles a medical device. This approach is a deliberate effort to destigmatize cannabis use by framing it within a healthcare context.
By promoting “dose-controlled” therapy, Dosist targets an audience that may not currently use cannabis but is intrigued by its potential benefits. This messaging is particularly effective for individuals who value precision and reliability in medical products, making the brand more accessible to cannabis newcomers.
Ready to run a cannabis billboard campaign? DASH TWO helps marijuana and cannabis brands navigate outdoor advertising regulations and launch campaigns that get noticed.
Request Quote5. Eaze
If you don’t get this reference, then you’re not in Eaze’s target audience, and the cannabis delivery service probably doesn’t want to reach you. If you must know, “Do it for the gram” refers to doing something cool so you can post a photo of yourself doing it on Instagram.
Is getting cannabis delivered to your home gram-worthy? That may be debatable, but Eaze proves it’s comfortable with youth culture by pulling out the well-worn phrase. And the little social media icon of your spot and the delivery route is fun.
6. Erba
Erba, a Los Angeles-area cannabis dispensary, adopts a simple and sophisticated approach reminiscent of premium lifestyle brands like Tommy Hilfiger. The clean design of this billboard effectively conveys a sense of elegance and professionalism.
The billboard highlights the variety of brands Erba carries, showcasing its wide product selection while maintaining a polished, uncluttered appearance. This minimalistic presentation is a smart choice for appealing to an audience that values quality and sophistication in cannabis products.
7. Grassdoor
We could probably spend one very long post writing about how cannabis companies come up with their names. Grassdoor offers cannabis delivery (get it?). Putting an attractive woman showing off her abs on the billboard does not relate to that service at all, but it’s a classic advertising tactic to grab attention and probably works. This fresh-faced young woman also looks nothing like the stoner stereotypes we mentioned earlier … which is definitely intentional.
8. Herbarium
Here we see another instance of melding Gen Z slang (“trap shawty”) with advertising, and this also features a throwback to the Eminem song “The Real Slim Shady.” It doesn’t tell you much about Herbarium or what it offers, though, aside from the little marijuana symbol. Since this sits atop a building and it’s kinda hard to see at long range, maybe that’s enough.
9. MedMen.com
This billboard sets an exciting tone. It invites you to “witness history” and plays on the theme of a new day dawning for marijuana users. That positions the company as visionary and pioneering — two things most companies like being associated with no matter what they sell.
10. Muncheez
Muncheez has a cute name, for sure — this app lets you find cannabis delivery in your area. The company chose a mobile billboard to advertise, a good way to target multiple parts of the city with drive-throughs. The messaging is simple but appealing, giving the viewer a first-glance understanding of the app’s capabilities.
11. Nugg Club
“Think higher” makes a fun play on words: getting high, of course, but also a higher class of delivery. Nugg Club aims for a more sophisticated cannabis delivery crowd with this simple billboard.
12. Puffy Delivery
There are so many cannabis delivery services in LA, it’s tough to stand out. This one doesn’t make any promises or really deliver much branding, though the unexpected color combination does catch the eye. Very few pot billboards embrace light pink.
13. Select Better
Pot strains have such fun and catchy names. Why not put them on a billboard and make that the amusing gist of the billboard. It works for Select Better, which highlights different names in playful phrases urging people to buy its pot.
14. Bionic Bee
Sex sells. No further analysis needed for this billboard for an organic cannabis vaporizer.
15. Tikun
The uncomplicated, impactful phrasing on Tikun’s billboard gets to a recurring theme among pot evangelists — it’s all-natural, so it must be good for you. Plus, research! The rest of the billboard doesn’t distract from the theme.
16. Tyson Ranch
Is that—? Yep, that is the back of Mike Tyson’s head, advertising the cannabis made by his very own company. That storyline/distinctive head are definitely bizarre enough to stand for themselves in the creative. You are probably loading the page for Tyson Ranch right now, aren’t you?
Undoubtedly pot billboard ads will evolve well beyond these early examples, featuring better creative and more fully formed ideas. For now, simplicity and a little sass are in. We’ll show you whatever comes next — or, if you’re ready to put up your own marijuana billboard, get in touch with us to learn more.
