Your Google Ads campaign for that premium, lab-tested CBD cream just went live… and instantly got disapproved. Cue the facepalm. You’re staring at that dreaded red banner, wondering what you did wrong—and how to get those ads back up before you lose more sales.

Fear not! In Long Beach—where city licensing rules cross paths with Google’s hemp policies—one tiny misstep can derail your entire campaign. But once you know the playbook, you can breeze through approvals and keep those CBD topicals flying off the shelf.

Ready to turn “Ad Disapproved” into “✅ Campaign Live”? Here’s exactly what you need:

1. Long Beach Cannabis Advertising Regulations

1.1 Licensing Requirements (No License, No Ads!)

Every dispensary in our beachfront city must hold two licenses:

1. City of Long Beach Dispensary License (Economic & Property Development Dept.)
2. CA MAUCRSA License (State Cannabis Regulator)

🔗 Verify both on the LB City Licensing Portal and the CA Cannabis Portal—you’ll thank yourself later!

1.2 Local Ad Restrictions (Keep It Legal & Classy)

• No minors allowed: Every ad asset must scream “21+ only” (think pop-up age gates).
• No wild health claims: Ditch “cures anxiety” for “may help support calm.”
• Lab-Tested badge required: Prominently display “THC ≤ 0.3%” on your creatives.

1.3 Buffer Zones for Outdoor Ads (Stay 1,000 ft Clear)

Long Beach code demands billboards, posters, murals be at least 1,000 feet from:

• Schools
• Parks & Playgrounds
• Daycare Centers

2. Google Ads Policy for Hemp-Derived CBD

2.1 What’s Allowed

• Product: Topical hemp-derived CBD (≤ 0.3% THC)
• Geo: Ads limited to California, Colorado, Puerto Rico

2.2 What’s Disallowed

• Ingestibles: Gummies, tinctures, edibles
• Full-spectrum cannabis (above 0.3% THC)
• Paraphernalia: Pipes, bongs, vapes
• High-inducing language: No “get high” claims

2.3 Certification Prerequisites

1. Fill out Google’s CBD application in your Ads account.
2. Earn LegitScript certification (the only third-party Google trusts).

3. Getting LegitScript-Certified (Your Golden Ticket)

3.1 Why It Matters

LegitScript is Google’s sole recognized certifier for hemp-CBD advertisers. Flaunt that badge—it fast-tracks approvals and builds customer trust.

3.2 Step-by-Step Application

1. Prep your site:
   • Clear lab reports
   • Age-gate (“21+ click to enter”)
   • Footer disclaimers linking to testing certificates
2. Submit to LegitScript:
   • Turnaround: 2–4 weeks
   • Annual fees: ~$1.2K–$2.5K
3. Upload to Google Ads:
   • Go to Policies > CBD Certification
   • Upload your approval letter

4. Structuring Compliant Google Ads Campaigns

4.1 Landing Page Strategy

• Educational Gateway: Blog-style pages explaining benefits vs. hard sell
• Age-Gate Pop-Up: “21+ only” splash screen
• Cert Badge: Prominent LegitScript logo near the headline

4.2 Geo-Targeting & Demographics

• Target Long Beach ZIPs: 90802, 90803, 90804, 90805, 90806
• Exclude under-18 audiences in demographic settings

4.3 Campaign Types & Ad Formats

• Search Campaigns: Ad groups per product (e.g., “CBD Pain Relief Cream”)
• Display Campaigns:
  • Affinity audiences: Health & Wellness, Alternative Medicine
  • Custom intent: “topical CBD cream” searchers
• Remarketing:
  • GDN banners to past site visitors
  • Exclude recent purchasers

4.4 Sample Ad Copy Snippets

• Headline 1: “Lab-Tested CBD Cream—0.0% THC” • Headline 2: “Long Beach’s #1 Hemp Topical (21+ Only)” • Description: “LegitScript-Certified CBD Cream. Supports Muscle Relief. Shop Local.”

5. Clever Workarounds for Policy Hurdles

1. Educational Funnels: “How CBD Works” blog posts (with HowTo schema) as your ad landing page.
2. Generic Benefit Pages: Soft-sell topical benefits; reserve checkout for post-consent.
3. Partner Resources: Advertise trusted local wellness blogs, then funnel users back.

6. Real-World Case Studies

Denver Dispensary Wins

• Search: 4 ad groups, each product-focused
• Display: 3 affinity + 2 custom-intent segments
• Outcome: 75% ad approval, 18% lower CPA vs. national avg.

Portland CBD Shop

• Educational Gateway → +35% Quality Score
• Local Influencer Creative in Display → +20% CTR

7. Compliance Checklist & Flowchart

Checklist
Before you hit “Launch,” make sure you’ve ticked off every item:

• Licenses Verified
  • City of Long Beach Dispensary License is active
  • California MAUCRSA license is current
• LegitScript Certification
  • Badge displayed prominently on your site (header or hero)
  • Click-through link to your LegitScript profile
• Age-Gate in Place
  • Splash screen requiring visitors to confirm they’re 21+
  • All content remains hidden until they click “Enter”
• Product Compliance Labels
  • Every product page shows “Lab-Tested THC ≤ 0.3%”
  • Any ingestible or full-spectrum mentions removed
• Ad Creative Review
  • Headlines steer clear of unsubstantiated health claims (use “may help support”)
  • No imagery of paraphernalia (pipes, bongs, vapes)
• Geo-Targeting Settings
  • Campaign limited to Long Beach ZIPs (90802, 90803, 90804, 90805, 90806)
  • Demographics exclude anyone under 18
• Outdoor Buffer Compliance
  • All billboards/posters sit at least 1,000 ft from schools, parks, daycares
  • Buffer-zone proof (map screenshots) documented
• Policy Applications Submitted
  • Google Ads CBD policy application form completed
  • LegitScript approval letter uploaded to your Ads dashboard

8. Monitoring & Maintenance

• Monthly Audits: Review policy alerts & Search Term reports
• Annual Renewals: Lab tests & LegitScript recertification
• Appeals: Use “Policy details” in Ads to submit corrections

9. Conclusion & Next Steps

That’s your roadmap to CBD ad bliss in Long Beach. Here’s your game plan:

1. Verify licenses today.
2. Prep your site and apply to LegitScript.
3. Launch compliant campaigns and watch your sales skyrocket.

Need a hand? Grab your free CBD Ads Compliance Audit →

FAQ (Rich Snippets Ready)

Q1: Can I run ingestible CBD ads in Long Beach?
No—you’re limited to topical, hemp-derived products (≤ 0.3% THC).

Q2: How long does LegitScript take?
Typically 2–4 weeks, depending on submission completeness.

Q3: My ad was disapproved—now what?
Click “Policy details,” fix the issue, then appeal within Google Ads.