ADA Compliance for Cannabis Websites: 10 Tips

Here’s a quick guide to make your cannabis website ADA compliant:

Add alt text to images
Enable keyboard navigation
Use good color contrast
Create clear, consistent navigation
Add captions and transcripts for multimedia
Design accessible forms
Make text resizable without breaking layout
Give users enough time to interact
Use clear page titles and headings
Implement ARIA landmarks and attributes

Tip	Why It’s Important	How to Do It
Alt text for images	Helps screen readers describe images	Add brief, accurate descriptions
Keyboard navigation	Allows use without a mouse	Ensure all functions work with keyboard
Color contrast	Makes content readable for all	Use high contrast between text and background
Clear navigation	Helps users find information easily	Keep menus simple and consistent
Captions/transcripts	Makes multimedia accessible	Provide text versions of audio/video content
Accessible forms	Ensures everyone can submit information	Use clear labels and instructions
Resizable text	Helps users with visual impairments	Use relative font sizes
Enough interaction time	Accommodates different user speeds	Allow users to extend time limits
Clear titles/headings	Improves navigation and understanding	Use descriptive, hierarchical headings
ARIA landmarks	Helps screen readers navigate	Add roles to key page sections

Making your cannabis website ADA compliant helps avoid lawsuits, improves user experience, and ensures equal access for all customers.

What is ADA Compliance for Cannabis Websites?

ADA compliance for cannabis websites means making sure these sites are easy to use for people with disabilities. This is based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which says public spaces, including websites, should be open to everyone.

For cannabis websites, ADA compliance is important because:

It helps avoid lawsuits
It makes the site usable for all customers
It’s often the only way customers can buy products or get information

Many courts use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 to decide if a website is ADA compliant.

ADA Compliance Basics	Why It Matters for Cannabis Sites
Make site easy to use for all	Avoid legal issues
Follow WCAG 2.1 guidelines	Reach more customers
Ensure equal access	Often the only way to buy products

To make a cannabis website ADA compliant, you need to:

Add text descriptions to images
Make sure the site works with keyboard-only use
Use colors that are easy to see
Create clear and simple navigation

By doing these things, cannabis businesses can make their websites open to everyone and stay out of legal trouble.

Key Steps for ADA Compliance
Add image descriptions
Enable keyboard navigation
Use high-contrast colors
Create simple navigation

1. Provide Alternative Text for Images

Accessibility

Adding alternative text to images helps make your cannabis website usable for everyone, including people who can’t see well. This is key for cannabis businesses because many customers might use screen readers to browse your site.

Compliance with WCAG

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 say all website images need alternative text, or alt text. This text should briefly describe the image so screen readers can tell users what it shows. By adding alt text to all your images, your site will follow WCAG rules and be usable for people with disabilities.

How to Add Alt Text

Adding alt text to images is easy. Most website builders let you add alt text when you upload images. There are also tools that can help you find and fix missing alt text on your site.

Tips for Writing Good Alt Text
Keep it short and clear
Describe what’s in the image
Don’t repeat nearby text

When writing alt text:

Be brief: Use a short, clear description.
Be specific: Tell what’s in the image.
Avoid repeats: Don’t use the same words that are already next to the image.

Accessibility

Keyboard navigation is key for making cannabis websites easy to use for everyone. It helps people who can’t use a mouse or have trouble moving to browse your site using just their keyboard. This is important for cannabis businesses because many customers might need this feature to use your site.

User Experience

Good keyboard navigation can make your site better for all users. It helps people find what they need quickly, even if they don’t use special tools. This can make people stay longer on your site and maybe buy more.

Following WCAG Rules

The WCAG 2.1 rules say that all parts of a website that you can click or use should work with a keyboard. This includes menus, forms, and buttons. By making sure keyboard navigation works well, your cannabis website can follow these rules and be open to all users.

Easy to Set Up

Adding keyboard navigation is not hard. Most website builders already have this feature built-in. You can also use tools to find and fix any problems. It’s a good idea to test your website to make sure it works well with a keyboard.

Tips for Good Keyboard Navigation
Make tab order logical
Keep navigation clear and the same throughout
Use ARIA labels to help screen readers
Test your site with online tools

When setting up keyboard navigation:

Make sure the tab order follows how the page looks
Keep navigation clear and the same on all pages
Use ARIA labels to give more info to screen readers
Use online tools to check if your site works well

3. Use Good Color Contrast

Easy to See

Good color contrast helps everyone see your cannabis website better. It’s especially helpful for people who have trouble seeing colors. The rules say the difference between text and background colors should be big enough. For normal text, it should be 4.5:1. For big text, it should be 3:1.

Better for Users

When colors are easy to see, people can read your site better. This means they might stay longer and buy more. Good colors also make eyes less tired.

Following the Rules

To follow the rules, use a tool to check your colors. You can find free tools online, like the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker. These tools help you pick colors that work well together.

Easy to Do

Fixing color contrast is not hard. Many website builders let you change colors easily. You can also use online tools to check and fix color problems.

Tips for Good Color Contrast
Use a color checking tool
Pick colors that are easy to see together
Make sure normal text has a 4.5:1 contrast
Make sure big text has a 3:1 contrast
Check your whole website for color issues

When fixing your colors:

Use a tool to check how well your colors work together
Choose colors that are easy to see
Make sure your text is easy to read against the background
Test your whole website to find and fix any color problems

Easy to Use

A clear and consistent navigation menu helps everyone use your cannabis website, especially people who use screen readers or only keyboards. When your menu is easy to understand, all users can find what they need quickly.

Better for Users

When people can easily find what they want on your site, they’re more likely to stay and buy things. A good menu can also help more people visit your site and buy your products.

Following the Rules

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) say that menus should work for everyone. This means screen readers should be able to read them, and people should be able to use them with just a keyboard. By following these rules, your website will be open to all users.

Simple to Set Up

Making a clear and consistent menu is not hard. You can:

Make your menu simple
Use the same menu on all pages
Check your site with online tools to find ways to make it better

Tips for Good Navigation
Keep menus simple and the same on all pages
Make sure screen readers can read menus
Allow keyboard-only use
Use clear words in your menu
Test your site often to find problems

When setting up your navigation:

Use simple menus that look the same on every page
Make sure people who can’t see can still use your menus
Let people use your menus with just a keyboard
Use easy-to-understand words in your menu
Check your website often to see if it’s easy for everyone to use

5. Add Captions and Transcripts for Multimedia

Easy to Use

Adding captions and transcripts to videos and audio on your cannabis website helps everyone use your content. This includes people who can’t hear well. Captions show the words spoken in a video. Transcripts are written versions of what’s said in a video or audio file.

Better for Users

Captions and transcripts help all users. People can watch videos with captions when it’s noisy or they don’t have headphones. Transcripts let users quickly read what’s in a video or podcast.

Following the Rules

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) say websites must have captions and transcripts for videos and audio. This makes sure everyone can use your site. By adding these, your site follows the rules and works better for all users.

Easy to Do

It’s not hard to add captions and transcripts. You can:

Use tools or hire people to make captions and transcripts
Put a link to the transcript near your video or audio
Use auto-caption tools on sites like YouTube

How to Add Captions and Transcripts
Use tools or hire experts
Add transcript links near videos
Try auto-caption tools
Check captions match the audio
Test to make sure they work

When adding captions and transcripts:

Make sure they match what’s said in the video or audio
Put transcript links where users can easily find them
Check that captions show up at the right time in videos
Test your captions and transcripts to make sure they work well

6. Design Forms for Accessibility

Easy to Use

Making forms easy to use on cannabis websites helps everyone, including people with disabilities. Use simple HTML form controls, clear labels, and group related items together.

Better for Users

Good forms make websites easier to use. Clear instructions and a logical layout help people fill out forms quickly. This is important for cannabis websites where people look for specific products or information.

Following the Rules

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) tell how to make forms easy to use. This includes:

Adding labels to form fields
Making sure forms work with keyboards
Giving clear instructions

By following these rules, cannabis websites can make sure everyone can use their forms.

Simple to Set Up

Making forms easy to use is not hard. Here’s how:

Use basic HTML form controls
Add clear labels to form fields
Group related form items together

These steps help make forms that work well for everyone.

How to Make Forms Easy to Use
Use basic HTML form controls
Add clear labels to form fields
Group related form items
Make sure forms work with keyboards
Give clear instructions for filling out forms

When making your forms:

Keep them simple
Use clear words
Make sure they work for people who can’t use a mouse
Test your forms to make sure they’re easy for everyone to use

7. Make Text Easy to Resize Without Breaking the Site

Easy to Read

Making text easy to resize helps people who have trouble seeing. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 say that users should be able to make text 200% bigger without breaking the site.

Following the Rules

To follow WCAG rules, cannabis websites should let users zoom in on pages. Most new web browsers can do this. By letting users make text bigger, cannabis websites make sure everyone can read their content.

Better for Users

When users can change text size, they can read the site better. This is important for cannabis websites because people need to read about products and how to use them. When text is easy to read, people stay on the site longer and are happier with it.

Simple to Do

Making text easy to resize is not hard. Here’s how:

Steps to Make Text Resizable
Use flexible layouts
Use relative sizes for text
Make sure images can get bigger too
Test the site by zooming in
Check that everything still works when text is big

8. Give Users Enough Time to Interact

Easy for Everyone

Giving users enough time to interact with your cannabis website helps everyone, especially people who need more time due to disabilities. This makes sure all users can use your site without feeling rushed.

Better for Users

When users have enough time, they feel more relaxed using your site. This can make them happier and more likely to stay on your website.

Following the Rules

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) say websites should give users enough time. This means letting users control how much time they have and offering other ways to help if they need more time.

Easy to Do

It’s not hard to give users more time. Here’s how:

What to Do	How It Helps
Let users change time limits	Users can set their own pace
Warn users before time runs out	Users know when they need to finish
Offer help for those who need more time	Gives users another way to get help
Let users pause and start again	Users can take breaks if needed
Save user input automatically	Keeps user work safe if time runs out

When adding these features:

Look for parts of your site where users might need more time
Add ways for users to get more time or help
Test your site to make sure these features work well

9. Create Clear Page Titles and Headings

Easy to Understand

Clear page titles and headings help everyone use your cannabis website. They’re especially useful for people who use screen readers. When titles and headings are clear, users can easily find what they need on your site.

Better for Users

Good titles and headings make your site easier to use. They show how your content is organized, which helps users find information quickly. This can make people stay on your site longer and come back more often.

Following the Rules

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) say that page titles and headings should be clear and easy to understand. By following these rules, you make your cannabis website easy for everyone to use.

Simple to Do

Making clear titles and headings is not hard. Here’s how:

Use simple words in your titles and headings
Don’t use vague titles like "Home" or "About Us"
Use header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to show how your content is organized
Keep your titles and headings the same style across your website

By doing these things, you can make your cannabis website easier for everyone to use.

Examples of Clear Titles and Headings

Here are some good examples for a cannabis website:

Page Title	Heading
"Cannabis Products: Flowers, Edibles, and More"	"Our Cannabis Products"
"About Our Cannabis Store"	"Who We Are and What We Do"
"Contact Our Cannabis Team"	"Get in Touch with Us"

These titles and headings are clear and tell users what to expect on each page.

10. Use ARIA Landmarks and Attributes

What Are ARIA Landmarks?

ARIA landmarks and attributes help make websites easier to use for people with disabilities. They tell screen readers and other tools how a website is set up. This helps users find what they need on your cannabis website.

How They Help Users

ARIA landmarks make your site easier for everyone to use. They help people find information quickly and move around your site easily. This can make people want to stay on your site longer and come back more often.

Following Website Rules

Using ARIA landmarks helps your cannabis website follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These rules say websites should be easy for everyone to use.

Easy to Add

Adding ARIA landmarks is not hard. You just need to know some basic HTML. By adding ARIA roles and attributes to your HTML, you can make your site work better for all users.

Here are some ARIA landmarks you can use on your cannabis website:

ARIA Role	What It Does
`role="banner"`	Marks the top part of the page
`role="navigation"`	Marks the menu part of the page
`role="main"`	Marks the main content of the page
`role="complementary"`	Marks extra content that goes with the main content
`role="contentinfo"`	Marks the bottom part of the page

To use these:

Add the role to the right part of your page
Make sure you use them in the right places
Test your site to check if they work well

Conclusion

Making your cannabis website easy for everyone to use is important. It helps all customers find your products and services. By following the 10 tips in this article, you can make your website better for everyone. This is not just about following the law, but also about being fair to all customers.

Today, having a website that everyone can use is a must. When you make your site easy to use, you can:

Benefits of an Easy-to-Use Website
Reach more customers
Make your business look good
Stay ahead of other businesses
Avoid getting sued

Don’t wait to make your website better. Start now to make sure everyone can use your cannabis website.

By using these tips, you can:

Make your website easier for people with disabilities
Help more people find your website
Show that you care about all customers
Avoid problems with the law