U.S. Cannabis Council Launches ‘Buy Legal’ Campaign

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is featured in a new U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC) ad campaign calling on consumers to “Buy Legal.” The campaign kicked off Thursday during the Black CannaBiz Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana.

In a statement, Murphy said it is “an honor” to be the first elected official to participate in the campaign.

“Since adult-use cannabis became legal in our state in 2021, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission has established a well-regulated adult-use cannabis market that has catalyzed economic growth in our local communities and established minimum standards for safe products. But like many other products, cannabis is not immune to the persistent illegal market, which poses a serious risk to consumers. As states like New Jersey continue to refine a regulatory framework for adult use of cannabis, our local businesses and consumers would greatly benefit from the resources that the Buy Legal campaign provides. This campaign will help protect the ability of local, regulated cannabis enterprises to continue to do business in a way that is safe and accountable, and protect the safety of consumers while reinvesting in communities.” — Murphy in a statement

Al Harrington, the former National Basketball Association player and founder and CEO of Viola, is also participating in the campaign, which he said “comes at such an important time in the cannabis industry.”

“To truly create equitable opportunities for generational wealth in our community, things like this must be done,” he said in a statement. “Now more than ever it’s imperative to educate consumers on the importance of buying regulated, safe products.”

The founding members of USCC’s Buy Legal campaign include Anacostia Organics, American Trade Association of Cannabis and Hemp, Canopy Growth, Columbia Care, Cresco Labs, Cronos Group, Curaleaf, DC Cannabis Trade Association, Holistic Industries, Jushi, Native Roots, PAX, TrueGreen, Viola, and Wana Brands. The founding members hope to recruit a broad range of legal cannabis businesses to implement the Buy Legal seal across e-commerce, in-store, and at industry conferences and events.