KIVVIT RELEASES NEW REPORT ON HOW STATES HAVE ADDRESSED LEGALIZATION CONCERNS, ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH NJ CANNABUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Asbury Park — Kivvit today released a new report that details how states around the country have addressed issues of concern regarding cannabis legalization.  While it provides a roadmap for dealing with these concerns, the report also addresses some popular misnomers about cannabis and what legalization truly means.  A copy of the report, entitled “Legalize It: How States Have Dealt With Roadblocks To Cannabis Legalization”, is attached.

“Legalization is an issue whose time has come in New Jersey,” said Maggie Moran, Managing Partner of Kivvit. “By conducting this extensive and comprehensive research, we wanted to show how other states have directly handled concerns from the community and lawmakers.  In most instances, these solutions are a matter of sound public policy and of ensuring the correct information is being shared with the community and its representatives.”

The report looks at a dozen issues that have been raised in the nine states where recreational cannabis has been legalized.  These range from practical measures on edibles to dispelling misnomers around traffic safety.  The report also addresses some of the incorrect information that is being used to link legalization to issues like homelessness and opioid addiction.

Kivvit also announced today that they will be working with the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) to help bring cannabis legalization to New Jersey.  The NJCBA has been the state’s leading trade association and advocacy group on the issue, providing a variety of services and opportunities for the public and lawmakers to be educated on cannabis.

“These are certainly exciting times in New Jersey,” said Scott Rudder, President of the NJCBA.  “As we move forward in the discussion of what a regulated cannabis industry should look like in the Garden State, it is important that we dispel outdated myths of what cannabis is and is not.  The fears that many people had in states that have legalized cannabis have not come to fruition and through our partnership with Maggie and the team at Kivvit, we now have a greater ability to share these facts on a much larger scale.”

“Scott has been working tirelessly on legalization, providing critical education opportunities for elected representatives,” said Moran. “We are proud and excited to be joining this effort with his organization.  Working together, we plan on providing the necessary information and resources for people to understand the benefits of legalization and what it means for New Jersey.”

The NJCBA will be hosting an educational event for local officials this coming Tuesday, February 20, from 9am-12pm at the War Memorial in Trenton. Members of the media are invited and encouraged to attend.  Further information is available here.

About Kivvit

Kivvit is an award winning independent public affairs and strategic communications firm, with over 70 staff members across five offices: New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Miami.  The firm reported 2016 revenue of more than $19.9 million, ranking it #18 nationally in O’Dwyer’s 2017 PR Agency Directory.  Kivvit has extensive experience in the area of drug policy reform, having previously worked with the New York Drug Policy Alliance to legalize medical cannabis and with Privateer Holdings. Kivvit also worked on the New Jersey campaign to bring greater attention to, and address the stigma of, opioid and heroin addiction in the state.  To learn more and see what Kivvit does, visit Kivvit.com and follow them @TeamKivvit.

About The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association

The NJCBA mission is to promote jobs and growth in a sustainable and responsible cannabis industry. Starting with the pioneers in the medical cannabis market to the emerging players in the adult-use space, the NJCBA’s focus is to make certain that decision makers and regulators understand and respect the needs of the CannaBusiness community and that our community remain responsible corporate citizens. Scott Rudder is a former Republican state legislator, mayor, veteran and current government affairs executive.  In addition to his government and political leadership roles, Scott led Business Development efforts for Lockheed Martin Corporation with a focus on energy systems and radar programs.