Author: Toni Allen | Last update: Jan 24, 2024
The most popular online advertising providers (like Google AdWords & Facebook Ads) are not available to cannabis related businesses. So, I’ve put together this list of cannabis-friendly advertising networks and online marketing resources.
I’ve divided the page into display, native, and affiliate networks, though there is some overlap between these categories. Keep reading or use the table of contents to navigate.
Cannabis-Accepting Affiliate Networks
Affiliate advertising networks connect advertisers (merchants) to publishers (affiliates) through a common platform. Instead of paying for clicks or impressions (CPC or CPM), you pay publishers commissions on sales or leads (CPC or CPL).
If you are looking to advertise your cannabis or CBD products, these affiliate networks are great options for connecting to publishers and getting your products and services in front of the right people.
The following affiliate networks accept CBD and cannabis-related advertisers:
ShareaSale.com – ShareaSale is one of the largest, longest running, and most reputable affiliate networks allowing CBD and cannabis-ancillary advertisers. They offer advanced tools like datafeeds, deep linking, and coupons that are especially helpful for ecommerce sites.
GreenAffiliates – Marijuana marketing affiliate platform that is a newcomer, but seems to be growing. Current advertisers include seedbanks, accessories and CBD brands. I’ve made a few small commissions, but still too early for me to give them a positive recommendation.
Impact – This is a huge & well-respected advertising network that allows some CBD and cannabis accessory products. Advanced tools for merchants such as discount codes, pixel tracking, and product datafeeds are available. Worth looking into for any serious publisher or advertiser looking for publishers, imo.
CJ.com (aka commission junction) huge affiliate network with some of the biggest brands across a range of industries, and allow CBD and some cannabis accessories advertisers.
CBDAffs – This is a CBD-only affiliate advertising network with thousands of affiliate partners. However, after a few years, I have made no sales or two-tier commissions — so I’m skeptical. They publish very little information about their history or team, so I can’t recommend at this time from personal experience. If you’ve had success (or not) with CBDAffs please comment on this page and let us know!
Katalys/RevOffers – Accepts CBD and cannabis ancillary merchants and connects them with vetted website publishers. When they started as RevOffers, they specialized in CBD performance-based affiliate marketing… however they rebranded to Katalys in recent years to cater to non-cannabis advertisers. I have never made any sales or super-affiliate commissions from them as RevOffers or Katalys, so I am still skeptical of this network and can’t recommend at this time.
Clickbank – Clickbank is another longtime affiliate network that has allows cannabis-related information products and CBD brand advertisers. I’ve been with Clickbank for years, and they’ve been around forever — but don’t think I’ve made any sales.
For my personal recommendations: I believe ShareaSale.com and Impact are the best options for advertising CBD and cannabis-related products. ShareaSale has the most comprehensive set of tools and streamlined interface, and Impact offers advanced tools such as discount codes, pixel tracking, and product datafeeds.
However, one of the other networks might work best for you. Do your research before committing to an affiliate network to see if they suit your needs.
Native & Display Advertising Networks
Native advertising means the ads blend into the user experience. This is accomplished in all sorts ways varying between elegant and annoying. Most often you’ll see ads blended in as “related articles” or infographics with a style that matches the website they are featured on.
Display advertising is most often banners, videos, modal windows, etc. generally bought on a CPM or CPC basis. Sometimes display & native advertising are inter-changeable terms.
Here are the top cannabis-friendly native & display ad networks:
Mantis Ad Network – Mantis is a cannabis-specific ad network. Self-serve display, mobile, native, video, and re-targeted ad campaigns available. Publishing partners include the Food Network, Leafly, and WikiLeaf.
Minimum first deposit is $250. Out of any native ad service, this seems like the most advanced & non-spammy. I gave them a trial run a few years ago, and reported my findings in this full review.
Adsterra Advertising – Offers advertisers a variety of display ad formats including banners, pop-unders, social bars and more. Has self-service option. I have only just signed up as a publisher and advertiser, but not tested their platform yet. If you have experience with Adsterra, please comment below about your experience.
Outbrain.com – Outbrain is the biggest native advertising network, and allows promotion of CBD products and cannabis-related investments or stocks in a variety of formats.
Monthly minimum spend is about $300. See full details about cannabis adverts in their advertiser guidelines.
I am currently giving them a try and find the interface buggy. My screen jumps around so I’ve given up on “getting started quick”, and am researching outbrain preparing a few campaigns, and might reach out to one of their reps for advice to make sure I am within their advertiser guidelines.
Taboola – You are sure to have seen Taboola ads before. You may also like…accompanied by stock photos and click-baity headlines. CBD and cannabis is not on their list of prohibited content, though I’d recommend checking in with them before starting a campaign to be sure.
HealthyAds – Accepts all types of CBD Advertising across their network of health websites offering programmatic & highly targeted campaigns. (I don’t have any experience with them or know of their reputation to offer an opinion of this network.)
FAQs
Which Networks Specialize in Cannabis Advertisers?
Although all the networks listed above accept cannabis-related advertisers, the follow networks only work in the cannabis niche.
- Mantis Ad Network – Self-serve display, native, and video ad options. Re-targeted ad campaigns available. $250 minimum to start.
- GreenAffiliates – Small affiliate network of cannabis & CBD offers including grow equipment, CBD brands and a few cannabis seed companies.
- CBDAffs – Large, CBD-only affiliate network (cost-per-sale / lead) with thousands of publishers.
What are the restrictions on cannabis and CBD advertising?
While recreational marijuana is legal in Canada and parts of the United States — as a regulated substance, advertising and marketing is not straight-forward. Even CBD, which is broadly legal and available in the United States, is subject to special advertising regulations, especially when it comes to health claims.
The United States and Canada have a few broadly similar rules. Generally these include:
- No showing consumption of the product.
- No showing the cannabis products without an age verification.
- No health / medical claims.
- No advertising to minors.
However, laws vary from country to country, state to state — and regulated & enforced by the FTC and FDA in the United States. In Canada, there is very little room for branding as even cartoon characters or celebrity endorsements are strictly forbidden consult the Cannabis Act for the details.
Also see our illustrated guide to Cannabis Advertising in Canada and guide to online and offline advertising for cannabis retailers.
Have a suggestion for an advertising network I’ve left out of this list? Let me know in the comments below or get in touch through twitter @thcaffiliates Thanks!
How did your test with Taboola go? Did they let you run the program? Is it something you recommend?
No luck with Taboola, had too many issues with set-up and gave up.
Hey,
I am an digital marketing agency. I have a new client that produces CBD oil, in bottles, cookies for dogs and soon edibles for humans.
Which platform would you suggest for the best bang for their low budget?
We are used to bidding $X 1000 impressions. We will be doing banner and video ads.
Do you have any stats or case studies of any CBD advertisers?
Do you know anything about YouTube advertising for CBD products.
This client produces high quality from the CO2 process. Best tasting, very mild with no flavoring all natural. They also are one of the very few who produce a 3000 mg product. 900, 1800, 2400 and 3000, plus 30 and 60 mg large dog cookies.
Thank you.
Native ads are a good place to start, imo. You can test your ad copy and images and see what performs well (at low cost),
then you can use that knowledge to build your display, email, social, etc.