Another holiday season is here, and with it another round of public service announcements from regulators in states that have legalized marijuana, aimed at advising people on how to stay safe amid the law and the merriment.
It’s become a trend in recent years, with states increasingly using anti-stigma education-based messaging to help cannabis users better understand the laws — especially around impaired driving — while also offering advice on how to avoid abuse.
This year, cannabis regulators in New Jersey and Virginia published blog posts about holiday social media and consumption practices.
“The holidays are a time for food, fun, laughter and connecting with the people who make life sweeter,” said the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC). “And as more New Jersey adults choose to enjoy or give the gift of legal cannabis throughout the season, NJ-CRC has launched its second safe use campaign, SMART, to help keep the celebrations (relatively) stress-free.”
The acronym stands for “Safe, Considerate, Conscious, Responsible and Thoughtful.”
“SMART 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 around,” officials said.
“Whether you’re a host, a guest, a first-time weed buyer, know your way around a dispensary, or can walk around with one hand, being SMART helps everyone relax and enjoy the season,” the state blog post. he says. “Be safe. Be considerate. Be mindful. Be responsible. Be thoughtful. Be SMART this holiday season.”
In X, the NJ-CRC stressed that people who use marijuana in compliance with state law should not drive after using cannabis, make sure marijuana products are away from children, and exercise caution.
The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA), meanwhile, shared a post stressing the importance of understanding the state’s unique marijuana laws, particularly when it comes to “gifting.”
Possession of cannabis under current Virginia law, as well as no commercial giveaways. But there are certain policy parameters to consider lawmakers look to 2026 to establish a retail market under a pro-reform governor.
“While ‘adult sharing’ of cannabis between persons 21 and older is legal in Virginia, this term applies only to specific circumstances. Other exchanges may be illegal and subject to penalties. Common illegal exchanges are known as ‘gifting schemes,'” the CCA policy states.
“Giving someone cannabis as part of the sale of another good or service, such as a sticker or seminar” is not legal, he says.
Several other states—from California to New York—have also historically introduced public education campaigns around the holiday in recent years.
One in three Americans say so their vacation “pre-game” routine involves using marijuanaaccording to a new survey.
This past November, the mainstream media also picked up on a trend that has long been practiced in the cannabis community: “cousin walk”, a pre-Thanksgiving game (and usually pre-dinner) tradition for some, where young people who usually arrive at a meeting will escape for a cannabis break before the party starts.