UO sends cease-and-desist letter to local marijuana dispensary

The University of Oregon has sent a cease-and-desist letter to a local marijuana dispensary over its use of university trademarks.

TJ’s Dispensaries, located near 10th and Willamette streets and established in 2008, offers a free top-shelf gram of marijuana to customers who show a Ducks ticket stub within 48 hours of game day. 

The business was advertising the deal online and in signs posted around Eugene with images of the Oregon Duck mascot and the university’s ubiquitous “O” logo.

UO’s Associate Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy Lauren Miller Stanfield told Lookout Eugene-Springfield on Wednesday that the university recently became aware of TJ’s use of UO trademarks, and “promptly issued” a cease-and-desist letter requiring the business to stop using university marks.

“The University of Oregon has not entered into any licensing agreement with TJ’s Dispensaries,” Stanfield said.

Brian Staffa, owner of TJ’s on Willamette, confirmed to Lookout that as of Saturday, Nov. 1, he has responded to UO’s letter and agreed to remove university marks from the TJ’s website as soon as possible, as well as take down signage and other publicly visible information.

As of Sunday, the image of the Oregon Duck advertising the deal on the dispensary’s website has been swapped with a more generic duck wearing sunglasses. 

“While I understand the legal team is just doing their job, it’s a shame when a small business like ours is squashed by the big guy in an attempt to connect with the local community and offer something of value to U of O fans aged 21+,” said Staffa, who has owned the business since October 2024.

He added: “We’re extremely limited in what we can do from a marketing and advertising lens, so we thought we’d go with a tried and true ticket stub promotion; a win-win for everyone. The U of O doesn’t see it that way, unfortunately.”

He said the dispensary is still keeping the deal for customers who bring in a ticket stub to any UO event, no matter what sport. Staffa said the dispensary has been “pleased” with response to the deal.

“We’re trying to provide our local community with something fun that could enhance someone’s overall event experience,” Staffa said. 

The university tightly controls use of its name, logos and trademarks through its licensing and brand management offices. 

Per its rules, manufacturers and providers wishing to use the university’s name, seal and “various trademarks, collective membership and service marks” on products or services must enter into a trademark licensing agreement.

Unless formal written approval has been granted, UO does not endorse, sponsor or partner with external parties through the use of its “name, logos, campus images or photos of buildings and grounds” in ways that could imply an endorsement or sponsorship of a company or its products.

“Unauthorized use constitutes infringement, which can lead to legal action against the infringer,” UO’s website states.

Rules explicitly state that UO will not approve the use of its name or marks to promote controlled substances.

Carol Keese, UO’s vice president for communications and chief marketing officer, told Inside Higher Ed in August 2025 that university brands represent their “thought leadership,” research portfolios and athletic programs.

“There’s no greater measure of affinity than the degree to which your alumni or your fans or your aspiring students and families want to put your institution’s name on their bodies as a form of branded merchandise,” Keese said. “That’s a huge measure of affinity, of loyalty, of emotional connection.”

A local T-shirt designer received a cease-and-desist from the university in 2015 for his “Shout” t-shirt that used the yellow “O.”

Students who make UO-themed crafts have recently taken to online forums like Reddit to ask if their creations too closely resemble the university’s marks; commenters warn that the university takes their branding policies seriously.