As the clash between unlicensed cannabis businesses and the regulated market continues in California, the Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) is rolling out a new campaign in an effort to sway unlicensed producers and their customers into the legal system.
The BCC announced the launch of a statewide campaign on Friday urging consumers to purchase cannabis from licensed retailers only, and warning businesses to become licensed if they have not done so already.
The “Get #weedwise” campaign will be utilizing a variety if advertising avenues, including social media sites and billboards, touting the risks of buying tainted products from unlicensed, untested sources.
“This public education campaign is the first to focus on educating consumers about the differences between cannabis purchased from licensed retailers and that from illegal businesses,” says BCC Chief Lori Ajax. “We believe that this campaign will directly impact consumer safety by clarifying that only cannabis purchased from licensed retailers has met the state’s safety standards while sending a clear message to unlicensed businesses that they need to get licensed or shut down.”
The multilingual campaign will caution consumers that foreign materials such as mold, chemicals, and even fecal matter can be found in untested cannabis products.
The campaign will include alerts to warn unlicensed companies that cannabis and cash may both be seized if their business is discovered.
As part of the campaign, the BCC is also urging consumers to verify the legal status of a company at CApotcheck.com.
