Another holiday season has arrived—and, with it, another round of public service announcements from regulators in states that have legalized marijuana that are aimed at advising people about how to comply with the law and stay safe amid the merriment.
This has become something of a trend over recent years, with states increasingly using the annual occasion to promote messaging focused on education over stigma to help cannabis consumers better understand the laws—particularly around impaired driving—while also offering advice to prevent overindulgence.
This year, cannabis regulators in New Jersey and Virginia have put out holiday-themed social media and blog posts about safe consumption practices.
“The holidays are a time for food, fun, laughter, and connecting with the people who make life sweeter,” the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) said. “And as more adults in New Jersey choose to enjoy, or gift legal cannabis during the season, the NJ-CRC has launched its second safe-use campaign, S.M.A.R.T., to help keep celebrations (relatively) stress-free.”
The acronym stands for “Safe, Mindful, Aware, Responsible and Thoughtful.”
“S.M.A.R.T. is an easy way to remember the basics of responsible cannabis use, especially when travel is constant, roads are chaotic, homes are busy, and curious little ones are wandering,” the officials said.
“Whether you’re a host, a guest, a first-time weed shopper, someone who already knows their way around a dispensary, or can roll up with one hand, being S.M.A.R.T. helps everyone to relax and enjoy the season,” the state blog post says. “Be Safe. Be Mindful. Be Aware. Be Responsible. Be Thoughtful. Be S.M.A.R.T. this holiday season.”
On X, NJ-CRC emphasized that people who use marijuana in compliance with state law should not drive after using cannabis, ensure that marijuana products are kept away from children and practice moderation.
Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority (CCA), meanwhile, shared a post stressing the importance of understanding the state’s unique marijuana law, particularly as it concerns “gifting.”
Possession, as well as non-commercial gifting, of cannabis is permitted under the current law in Virginia. But there are certain policy parameters to keep in mind as lawmakers look to 2026 to establish a retail market under an incoming pro-reform governor.
“While ‘adult sharing’ of cannabis between people 21 years and older is legal in Virginia, this term only applies to specific situations. Other exchanges may be illegal and can carry penalties. Common illegal exchanges are known as ‘gifting schemes,’” the CCA’s guidance says.
“‘Gifting’ cannabis to someone as part of the sale of another good or service, like a sticker or seminar” is not legal, it says.
Several other states—from California to New York—have also historically publicized public education campaigns around the holidays in recent years.
About one in three Americans say their holiday “pregame” routine involves using marijuana, according to a new survey.
Mainstream media outlets this past November also picked up on a trend that’s long been practiced within the cannabis community: the “cousin walk,” a Thanksgiving pre-game (and usually pre-dinner) tradition for some where the typically younger adults at a gathering will sneak away for a cannabis break before the feast begins.
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