Got an email this morning from the Washington State Liquor Control Board with clarifications about I-502 advertising.

You can check out the rules here: Frequently Asked Questions About I-502 Advertising

I remember when things started up there was a lot of confusion about whether stores, growers and processors could even use social media.

That’s probably why I continue to get calls almost every day asking for contact information for Vancouver’s two marijuana retail stores.

Just for the heck of it, here’s that info again:

New Vansterdam:
(360) 597-4739
6515 E Mill Plain Blvd
http://newvansterdam.com
Facebook Page
@NVansterdam on Twitter

Main Street Marijuana:
(360) 828-7737
2314 Main St.
@mainstmj on Twitter
Facebook Page

The new rules seem to clear the way for companies to advertise in publications (cough hint cough), create their own merchandise through a separate business (who wouldn’t want a CannaMan hat?), advertise on bar coasters, offer farm tours, publish newspaper inserts and, of course, use social media.

Ramsey Hamide, a manager at Main Street Marijuana, said he was glad to hear about the change.

“I’d love to throw a billboard up on I-5,” Hamide said. “We’re excited to see the new guidelines and we plan on pursuing advertising.”

No doubt, there will be some complaints about marijuana companies and stores advertising in public areas – and there are still some rules in that regard so that children are not encouraged to use the product.

But if the marijuana industry is to parallel the liquor industry in Washington, and if liquor stores and brewers can advertise and sell merchandise, than this is a good step toward that parity.

I wonder if we’ll see some billboards and ads pop up in unincorporated Clark County and other areas where there’s a ban.

(Queue evil laugh)

Cheers!
-SueVo (sue.vorenberg@columbian.com)