The Weedmaps billboard in question. (Credit: Haverhill City Councilor Colin LePage)
HAVERHILL, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Haverhill City Council wants the Cannabis Control Commission to weigh in on a marijuana-related billboard hanging downtown.
Weedmaps, an app that helps users find nearby marijuana retailers, has a large billboard atop a building at Essex and Locust Streets.
Haverhill City Councilor-At-Large Colin LePage says the billboard is in violation of state law. He points out that advertisements for cannabis are supposed to be aimed at a primarily over-21 audience, while this one hangs over a bus stop.
"Everyone can see these billboards, so it's not an audience that is just 21," he said. "The problem is who can see these, how they're influenced by them, and there's CCC regulations that stipulate that they shouldn't be able to see these things.
LePage doesn't want the industry shut down; Haverhill has two pot shops, and he notes customers need to be 21 to use them.
"If you're over 21, I'm sure folks will find out where these stores are," he said.
Now, the council has asked the CCC for guidance.
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WBZ NewsRadio's Karyn Regal (@Karynregal) reports