Top marijuana officials in multiple states are taking steps to make sure that visitors who are in town to watch World Cup games understand local cannabis laws.
In Massachusetts, the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) is rolling out a public information campaign to educate soccer fans about where they can legally purchase marijuana, along with reminders about how to celebrate with it responsibly.
“Our goal is to make sure both visitors and residents alike avoid committing any dangerous plays this summer while enjoying the festivities surrounding the World Cup by understanding how to consume responsibly,” CCC Chair Chris Harding said in a press release. “The Commission is committed to our public education mandate, so we encourage fans to take advantage of our resources—and in particular MoreAboutMJ.org.”
CCC Executive Director Travis Ahern pointed out Massachusetts was the “first state on the East Coast to open adult-use cannabis retail stores in 2018, but legalization is still a novel concept to many nations around the world.”
“For those soccer fans who choose to visit the Commonwealth to enjoy the World Cup and experience everything our state has to offer, we hope they will do so safely and responsibly,” he said.
In New York, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is similarly putting out public messaging to help make sure tourists who are visiting to watch World Cup matches understand the basics of the state’s marijuana laws,
“We certainly don’t want to see any adverse events,” John Kagia, OCM’s executive director, told The New York Post.
“It’s really important to access the legal market in a responsible manner,” he said. “Be mindful and respectful and good neighbors. Be discreet. We want fans to be particularly mindful that there are young families with children at these events.”
“We have great cannabis products in New York,” Kagia said. “They should not travel with cannabis outside the state.”
