Massachusetts MMJ dispensary launches billboard campaign

In what is perhaps a Massachusetts marijuana milestone, a medical cannabis dispensary unveiled a billboard advertising drive in Boston and other cities on Monday.

New England Treatment Access, which operates two dispensaries in the state, bought space on four billboards for the campaign, The Boston Globe reported.

Two of the billboards are in and just outside Boston – close to the company’s dispensary on the city’s border with the well-to-do town of Brookline. Another two are on the Massachusetts Turnpike about 20 miles from New England Treatment’s location in Northampton.

Using black and white letters on a bright green background, the billboards simply ask a question – “Why Wait For Better Health?” – over the tagline “Premier Medical Marijuana Dispensaries” and include the company’s two locations, website address and logo.

New England Treatment spokesman Norton Arbelaez told the Globe the billboards target potential patients who currently obtain marijuana through unregulated channels or those who are considering getting patient cards but haven’t yet, according to the Globe.

Through Aug. 31, roughly 40,000 patients were registered in Massachusetts, but Arbelaez believes there are as many 120,000 qualified patients, according to the newspaper.

The company’s billboard campaign follows recent successful attempts by U.S. marijuana businesses to utilize mainstream media platforms.