“Cannabis Conversations” Public Education Campaign Includes Public Service Advertisements on Television, Radio, Transit, Billboards, and Social Media with Two More Phases to Follow This Spring
Campaign Builds on the Office of Cannabis Management’s First Public Outreach Effort Conducted Earlier This Year through Virtual ‘Cannabis Conversations’
“Cannabis Conversations” Public Health Campaign Informs New Yorkers About the State’s New Cannabis Law
Public Education Campaign Reflects a New Approach to Educating the Public on the Facts Around New York’s Cannabis Law, Including Information to Help Protect Youth and Keep Roads Safe
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced “Cannabis Conversations,” New York State’s first public health education campaign on cannabis to inform the public on the state’s Cannabis Law, including who can consume, where to consume, and how to consume safely. This wide-reaching campaign will provide parents and caregivers with tools to protect youth, remind New Yorkers of the risks of driving while impaired by cannabis, and other messages to help keep New Yorkers safe and healthy as the new industry develops. These messages will be distributed in English and Spanish through public service advertisements on television, radio, transit, billboards, and social media.
“With the ‘Cannabis Conversations’ campaign, we’re following through on our commitment to provide New Yorkers with the information they need to safely navigate the new Cannabis Law,” Governor Hochul said. “Education is the best tool to keep New Yorkers healthy as we continue to ramp up this safe, inclusive, and equitable industry.”
Public service advertisements for the “Cannabis Conversations” campaign will start today and run for approximately three months. Today’s launch is centered on a 30-second, overarching message that highlights: New York State legalizing cannabis, but only for adults 21 years old and over; not driving under the influence; keeping second-hand cannabis smoke away from other people; locking up cannabis and storing it out of reach of children and pets. As part of the campaign, additional messages will be introduced in the future to reinforce and expand on these concepts. Pictures of advertisements here and videos of the advertisements in English and Spanish are available here.
The campaign builds on the Office of Cannabis Management’s first public-outreach effort also called “Cannabis Conversations,” where the OCM held virtual outreach sessions in 10 regions across New York and an 11th session in Spanish.
New York’s Cannabis Law focuses on public health and is grounded in the principles of public safety, social justice, and equitable economic development designed to help undo the harm caused by cannabis prohibition. As part of this public policy shift, the law requires public health education campaigns that inform New Yorkers of the new law and the impact of cannabis use on public health and safety.
Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said, “‘Cannabis Conversations’ is our first public health campaign as we make sure New Yorkers have the initial information they need to stay safe and healthy. We have learned from other states and are excited to amplify these important messages across the State. Meanwhile, we’re hard at work building this new industry, and as it continues to evolve, so, too, will our public education efforts with future campaigns tackling a growing range of health and safety messaging.”
According to New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Mary T. Bassett, The new ‘Cannabis Conversations’ campaign provides people with the facts and educates them about the new law. As cannabis becomes more widely available as a legal recreational product, its safe use is an important message.”
