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Governor Phil Murphy, who has led a successful crackdown on recreational marijuana in New Jersey, has added his name to a new federal effort to encourage marijuana users to buy weed from legal establishments instead of the street. .
He is the first elected official to participate in a national initiative launched by the US Cannabis Council, marijuana trade associations, and several drug companies – some of which are owned by minorities. The name “Buy Legal” is designed to encourage marijuana users to buy weed from licensed, certified, and taxed businesses, rather than illegally from consumers.
“Like many other products, cannabis is not immune to the ongoing illegal market, which is a huge problem for consumers,” Murphy said. “This program will help protect the strength of the local drug industry, which is determined to do business in a safe and responsible manner, and to protect the safety of consumers when investing to communities.”
One of the concerns is that the illegal street market, also known as the “traditional market,” continues to do business, hurting legal entities and making it difficult for more of them to open. Hence the call for consumers to support organized businesses, especially small business owners trying to gain access to the legal market. While several legal black and brown dispensaries operate across the country, none exist in the Garden State — and it could be months before licensed operators can open their doors. .
“Cannabis consumers need to know where they can buy high-quality, safe and proven cannabis products, and the small number of cannabis-business owners who deserve the resources that the project of the country like this to encourage consumers to shop at their business,” said Khadijah Tribble, CEO of the US Cannabis Council, a vice president of Massachusetts-based Curaleaf, the largest cannabis operator in New Jersey, and one of the largest in the country.
Linda Mercado Greene, owner and CEO of Anacostia Organics in Washington, said legal businesses can be hurt if the user is harmed by illegal weed.
“The consumer may not be able to know what is in the illegal product, and if someone is injured by an illegal product, it will sow distrust in our industry, and ultimately the drug industry will suffer. licensed,” he said.
That said, even standard products come with some security risks. In New Jersey, the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission keeps a running tab of information submitted to regulators. Earlier this year, Curaleaf and another multinational operator, Green Thumb Industries, were cited by the government for safety violations including improperly sold weed to patients with faulty packaging and labeling, and others.
The “Purchase Legal” initiative comes before midterm elections where voters in five states will join 19 other states and the District of Columbia to legalize recreational weed. .
Small business owners said this program could give them a boost.
“To create the right opportunities for generational goods in our society, we need to do things like this,” said Al Harrington, a native of New Jersey and a 16-year veteran of the National Basketball Association. including the New York Knicks, and the CEO of Viora Signature. “Right now it’s important to educate consumers on the importance of buying regulated, safe products.”
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Jonathan D. Salant and up to jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him i @JDSalant.
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