Our Take: Modern Cannabis Lifestyle
Cannabis has long been used by humans for its medical benefits, psychological benefits, and spiritual uses. The ways cannabis has infused itself into our art, culture, writing, music, and more are many. Beyond the use to inspire creation there is also the simple act of enhancing our social experiences.
Alcohol is often thought of as the most social drug, gathering people in bars, speakeasies, music venues, and clubs across the world. An argument can also be made for the social aspect of caffeine consumption at cafes, coffee shops, and restaurants globally. But cannabis too has seeped into many of these gathering places over time. It has been a mainstay of American life for over half a century. People consume cannabis together at concerts, art exhibitions, on hikes, and before movies. In many ways, cannabis is just as much a social drug as caffeine or alcohol.
Many people who used to be able to enjoy a session with friends find themselves anxious and paranoid consuming cannabis around other people. While this may be a sign of more anxious times, it’s also likely that the type of cannabis being consumed is the culprit. Back when mystery joints were more readily passed around parties, no one had to ask, “Is this strong?” or, “What strain is this?” because, generally speaking, cannabis was weaker in THC potency twenty, thirty, and certainly forty years ago. Yes, at Woodstock too, the “grass” you smoked was probably around 4% THC.
That’s not to say passing a joint around a party isn’t a common occurrence in 2023, but more and more people are nervous about cannabis. While we’re all for careful consumption, cannabis can be a wonderful connector. Why miss out? It can open our minds and soothe our spirits. It can connect us not only to each other but also to the natural world. It’s power when shared is that it can spark laughter, joy, and creativity. It can be a way for us to relax with each other, not just alone at home on our couches.
Cannabis use has and will continue to change much as it continues to be legalized in state after state. With this legalization, the lifestyle around the product will morph and enrich. It will have a greater impact on our culture when the stigma is lifted. It’s important to say, the stigma of cannabis is unfairly distributed, burdening mostly those who are already burdened by additional oppressions. To lift this stigma, those who have the privilege of not being judged for their use need to extend that non-judgement to all and include everyone in this industry. We need to lift each other up. We need to expand our ideas of what a cannabis user looks like, how they might choose to enjoy cannabis, and educate ourselves on how to help those still burdened by legal and legacy persecution.
When the stigma can be lifted and people can be free to consume without judgement we can then leave room for these deeper conversations. Conversations about access, about potency, about the importance of uplifting those who were most negatively effected by the war on drugs. This is not an easy feat but a necessary one.
