OCEAN CITY, Md. - Ocean City leaders this week approved two advertising-related changes, allowing cannabis sponsorships for certain over-21 events and opening the door for all Maryland casinos to advertise on the town’s municipal buses.
Town officials say the decisions are separate, but both reflect how Ocean City is adjusting its policies as state laws and business needs continue to evolve.
On the cannabis side, the City Council agreed to allow sponsorships and advertising for qualifying over-21 special events, as long as promoters follow state law and local guidelines. City Manager Terry McGean said the town now views cannabis in a similar way to alcohol when it comes to event sponsorships.
“The council is looking at it, essentially as the same as alcohol,” McGean told WBOC.
McGean said the shift follows recent changes in Maryland law, where cannabis moved from being illegal or restricted to medical use to legal for recreational use in recent years. He said state rules still place limits on where cannabis-related advertising can appear, including requiring that these promotions only be tied to events where at least 85% of attendees are 21 or older.
That means major festivals such as Sunfest and Springfest would not qualify.
Matt Odachowski, a promoter behind OC Rock and Ride, pushed for the policy change. In a statement to WBOC, he said he first noticed cannabis advertising was prohibited in the event contract and asked the town to reconsider that rule last year.
Odachowski said the sponsorship option was important because his wife and daughter own and operate Positive Energy Dispensary in West Ocean City. He said his family’s involvement in the cannabis business was shaped in part by his father’s experience with Parkinson’s disease.
“I believe his quality of life would have been better had he been able to get cannabis access earlier in his diagnosis,” Odachowski said in the statement.
He also said sponsorship and advertising are about “visibility and education,” not promoting consumption.
On the casino side, town leaders voted to allow all Maryland casinos to advertise on Ocean City’s municipal bus fleet. McGean said Ocean Downs had previously been given special treatment as the local casino and was the only casino allowed to advertise on the buses.
But after Ocean Downs stopped advertising, McGean said town leaders believed it was reasonable to open that space to other casinos in Maryland.
“When Ocean Downs chose not to participate, we felt, okay, well, open it up to the other Maryland casinos,” McGean said.
McGean said town leaders do not see either move as a major shift in Ocean City’s identity as a family resort. He said the town is still trying to protect that image while responding to legal and cultural changes at the state level.
“As times have changed, again, to some extent, we need to change with them,” McGean said.