Cannabis Patient/Author/Speaker/Advocate/Founder/Curator of 501c3 nonprofit Cruel Consequences Portraits of Misguided Law at cruelconsequences.org Va NORML BOD VB Cannabis Advisory Task Force
Societal standards are how this healing plant got demonized. This post really resonated with me as a medical cannabis patient who, for me, cannabis is not just medicine. I do like to have fun too. Society often shames people like me for having fun. But why? Just because I’m an adult medical cannabis patient, doesn’t mean I’m not entitled to joy in my life just like how society encourages children who are patients to be able to run, play, and have joy in their lives. There IS joy and fun in cannabis and no one should be shamed for it. I spend a lot of my time thinking about and fighting the stigma and stereotypes of marijuana consumers. I created my nonprofit Cruel Consequences: Portraits Of Misguided Law cruelconsequences.org to work at breaking down the stigma of cannabis consumers who were criminalized. I shared these stories with legislators and the public and continue to educate this way. Recently, I put these stories in my first book, The Human Cost of Marijuana Prohibition. I’m working on a second book that I hope shows that medical cannabis patients are fun while adult use consumers also are very knowledgeable and serious about the plant. I’m looking for 50-100 cannabis consumers of all demographics. If you are interested in being interviewed for my next book, please email cruelconsequences@gmail.com
When I was a kid, along with my family's consumption, this is what represented weed for me. It was fun, silly, chill, and not a big deal at all. Even back then I knew this type of "stoner" stuff was just an act. But today, much of the fun can sometimes be missing in this space. People word-police, complain, and get into their feelings about certain things we call the plant. Some folks (mainly new to the plant science-y types) think that everything has to be so "professional" so we don't hurt the legalization push. And that for us and this plant to be accepted into its rightful place into society, we should consume for certain reasons or act a certain way. I've got news for you, that's not how this works! We do this our way, because conforming to societal standards is the death of creativity and joy. People are so focused on running their business and making money that they forget why they wanted to be a part of the industry to begin with; and if it's money, you're in the wrong place. We have always been a subculture with our own way of doing things, regardless of lame folks expressing their displeasure. If legalization to you means losing your sense of humor, you can miss me with that. So please, bring the fun back to weed, I need to laugh at something other than my bank account and disrespectful messages in my DMs. #cannabisculture #cannabiscommunity #cannabisindustry
