State Marijuana Regulators Share Tips On How To Stay Safe And Legal Around The Holidays

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.”

Wishing you a holiday season filled with love, happiness, and good vibes. If cannabis is a part of your celebration, keep it away from kids, use in moderation, and don’t drive high. pic.twitter.com/iTRWhB3nAG

— New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (@NewJerseyCRC) December 22, 2025

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.”

Planning to give the gift of green this year? (wink*wink*)

Before you do, make sure you’re doing it legally.

We break down legal adult exchanges of cannabis: https://t.co/ELOe9YUjNVpic.twitter.com/VCGNmDF91f

— Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (@Virginia_CCA) December 4, 2025

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.

One In Three Americans ‘Pre-Game’ With Marijuana Before Family Holiday Gatherings, Survey Finds

About one in three Americans say their holiday “pregame” routine involves using marijuana, according to a new survey.

The poll from the Freeman Recovery Center looked at a variety of ways the use of alcohol and other drugs intersects with with the holiday season, when family get-togethers and financial stress from gift giving tend to come to a head. As it turns out, a sizable portion of Americans are using cannabis to decompress.

“Because holiday celebrations are so ingrained in American culture, it can be challenging to pinpoint what exactly exacerbates substance use behaviors around this time of year. However, we wanted to figure out why,” the center said.

The survey of over 1,000 respondents “revealed that for many, substances like alcohol weren’t just part of holiday parties, but a way to endure the season,” it said.

About half of Americans said they “pre-game” before holiday family gatherings. Alcohol is the most common choice at 51 percent, but cannabis now comes in second at 31 percent—including 43 percent of Gen Z and millennials. Another 12 percent said they used psychedelics before family events.

For people with a substance use history, that increased: 68 percent used alcohol, 50 percent consumed cannabis and 26 percent opted for psychedelics.

“Despite financial stress being a common experience during the holidays, not every generation turned to substances. For example, 42 percent of Gen X and 68 percent of baby boomers said they had not used substances to cope with holiday financial pressure,” the center said. “On the other hand, millennials reported the most self-medication when faced with financial stress, with 54 percent  using alcohol and 45 percent using cannabis.”

The data on cannabis usage during the holidays isn’t especially surprising, as more than half of American adults report having use cannabis, according to a 2023 Pew poll from this summer, and 23 percent said they consumed marijuana in the prior year.

When it comes to holidays specifically, mainstream media outlets this past November 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.

Photo courtesy of Martin Alonso.

As More Americans Choose Marijuana Over Alcohol, Mainstream Media Notices The ‘Cousin Walk’ Thanksgiving Tradition

For the cannabis community, a Thanksgiving “cousin walk”—an annual outing where younger adults take a break and share a joint before the holiday feast—has been around for years. But if you get your news from some in the mainstream media, you might assume it’s a new trend.

That the stoner tradition is finally reaching the pages of outlets like The Wall Street Journal this season is one of the latest examples of how marijuana culture is being normalized—albeit gradually in much of the mainstream press.

Here’s a sampling of cannabis-related headlines from national outlets in the days leading up to Thursday’s holiday:

• The Wall Street Journal: “This Year’s Thanksgiving Surprise: Half of the Guests Are Stoned”

• Bloomberg: “Cannabis Is In, Booze Is Out at This Year’s Thanksgiving Table”

• The Independent: “What is a ‘cousin walk’—and are you hopping on this Thanksgiving tradition?”

• Morning Brew:Pre-Thanksgiving strolls are firing up weed sales

“What started as a subversive activity among dedicated stoners has mushroomed into a full-blown tradition. Like every other holiday, it’s gone commercial,” the Journal reported. “With marijuana legal for medicinal use in 40 states and recreational use in more than half of those, the industry is seizing on the popularity of the pre-turkey toke to boost business.”

“Hiding the activity from disapproving kin—as much as a person reeking of weed can—is part of the fun for participants,” it says. “It can be a two-way act: some of those familial squares know exactly what’s happening outside even if they act like they don’t.”

The article also referenced Instagram posts from the New York-based cannabis dispensary Gotham that’s marketed a marijuana pre-roll pack called “Cousins Walk” ahead of Thanksgiving. The retailer described the cousin walk tradition as “a secret society that meets once a year.”

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While mainstream media sources might be on a steeper learning curve when it comes to covering cannabis, there is a through-line that touches on a more timely trend: Adults are increasingly choosing marijuana over alcohol. And on a holiday like Thanksgiving—where the appetite-enhancing qualities of cannabis become especially relevant—that trend is on full display.

Recent polling shows that younger Americans are increasingly using cannabis-infused beverages as a substitute for alcohol—with one in three millennials and Gen Z workers choosing THC drinks over booze for after-work activities like happy hours.

Another survey released last month found that a majority of Americans believe marijuana represents a “healthier option” than alcohol—and most also expect cannabis to be legal in all 50 states within the next five years.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching amid these consumer trends, it appears likely that more cousins could be spotted briefly departing their hosts’ homes for the annual stoner sojourn.

Last year, multiple states—as well as federal officials in the U.S. and Canada—issued reminders about their marijuana laws ahead of Thanksgiving, with some urging adults to consume responsibly if they plan to partake the holiday—and others warning people to avoid traveling across the border with cannabis.

Photo courtesy of Martin Alonso.