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Guide · Spoke

How much does cannabis advertising cost? (2026 benchmarks)

By Highfloor Media
Last updated
cannabis

Cannabis advertising in 2026 ranges from a few hundred dollars per month for small in-store and email-only programs up to seven-figure annual spends for multi-state operator brands. The benchmark CPMs by channel: bar TV $25–$60, programmatic DOOH $8–$20, programmatic display through cannabis SSPs $3–$10, CTV $25–$50, rideshare in-vehicle $10–$25.

Cannabis advertising cost — 2026 benchmark ranges

Cost per channel for cannabis flights. Ranges reflect Highfloor-observed pricing across priority markets in 2025–2026.

$0$15$30$45$60
Curated bar TV (per CPM)
$25$60
Programmatic DOOH (per CPM)
$8$20
Programmatic display via cannabis SSPs (per CPM)
$3$10
Rideshare in-vehicle (per CPM)
$10$25
CTV cannabis-friendly streamers (per CPM)
$25$50

Cost by channel

ChannelTypical CPMMin monthly spend
Bar TV (curated)$25–$60$1,500
Bar TV (mass self-serve)$15–$30$500
Programmatic DOOH$8–$20$2,000
Programmatic display (cannabis SSPs)$3–$10$1,000
CTV (cannabis-friendly)$25–$50$3,000
Rideshare in-vehicle$10–$25$1,000
Direct mail$0.50–$2 per piece$500
Email/SMSFractional per send$200

By budget tier

  • $2K–$5K/mo: small bar TV venue cluster + retargeting display + email
  • $5K–$15K/mo: full metro bar TV + cannabis programmatic + email
  • $15K–$50K/mo: bar TV + programmatic DOOH + display + CTV + email
  • $50K+/mo: multi-channel multi-metro stack with all layers active

What drives cost

Geography (high-cost metros: NYC, LA, SF, Boston). Daypart (sports primetime > daytime > overnight). Vertical-specific compliance (cannabis-eligible inventory commands a premium over generic). Creative production (custom production adds $5K–$50K depending on quality). Measurement and attribution layer (panel data subscriptions, custom MMM work).

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What's the minimum I need to spend on cannabis advertising?

Practical floor is around $2K/month for a meaningful campaign — below that, signal noise overwhelms attribution and venue density doesn't reach the audience reliably. In-store, email, and SMS can run on much smaller budgets but those are CRM/retention channels, not acquisition.

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Fifteen minutes. Map your current channels and budget against what Highfloor runs across bar TV, programmatic, and rideshare. You'll leave with a directional recommendation. No pitch.

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