State of the Union
No, not that union, but the state of the cannabis industry mirrors that of America.
Happy New Year, friends!
The first week of 2021 was one to remember, but I can’t bring myself to rehash it. Just know I hope you’re taking care of yourself and finding some peace and calm.
Many of you responded to the last newsletter. Thank you! You expressed that you like the educational, personal hybrid style of the newsletter. I thought I would stick with that, but I think I’d like to explore a different direction, at least for a little while. Substack isn’t great for visuals, and I’d like to improve my writing, so I’ll be using this space to process my experience in the cannabis industry. Bear with me.
Why I’m exploring a new direction
In such a short time, I’ve witnessed dispensary culture change due to covid-19, watched New Jersey activists fight to get a better social equity deal, and had numerous friends experience the systemic firing of BIPOC budtenders in IL, and that’s just to name a few unsettling things. I don’t want to promote cannabis consumption without providing the full story. Access to cannabis does not come without strife and struggle. Often, the people who experience that pain look just like the people who experienced it during the war on drugs. Add to that the fact that as a Black woman in this space, I have explored what it would mean to let the “public” aspect of this platform go. The reality of that what that means isn’t lost on me. Cannabis work is not my full-time job, and I’m glad because if it was, I might not even be able to entertain the idea of “walking away.” If I can’t bear the negativity and systematic exclusion, how can we expect those with fewer resources to do so? How can we address the existing representation issue if the few BIPOC folks in the space are alienated and/or leave the space in favor of their mental health and overall happiness? I don’t have the answers, but I’m not giving up. I hope that by documenting what I think contributes to that culture, together we can uncover how we might shift it and create the culture we want to partake in.
At the end of 2020, I did some reflecting on the goals of Up in Smoke and who it’s for. I landed back where I started…it’s a safe space for those new to or curious about cannabis to learn and share experiences. The latter part is quite open-ended, but that’s the point. You don’t have to be a consumer to learn and help remove the stigma. That said, many of my followers are consumers, and they lend experience that I don’t have, which is great for increasing our shared understanding. Sharing what you know is cool; flexing your knowledge to belittle others, not so much. This “know it all” attitude makes people feel unwelcome and runs them out of the space. Unfortunately, this is one of many pervasive issues in the cannabis industry, so today, I want to start with a state of things as I see them.
Before we dig in, I want to clarify my use of the word “consumers.” When I say consumers, I’m not referring to the stale term for shoppers, but rather, people who consume cannabis in one of its many forms. I don’t like to say smokers because not everyone smokes. If you have another word you use, please let me know because I like options.
Ok, let’s get into it.
Ideologies that set the industry back
These are just a few ideologies and arguments that I have found to stifle progress and meaningful dialogue about cannabis culture.
California and the PNW are the centers of the cannabis universe.
While they may lead the pack in terms of market maturity and product variety, California and the Pacific Northwest aren’t representative of the cannabis industry. The cannabis shopping experience in these locales varies greatly from that of the average consumer because they have access to lab results and strain profiles. In contrast, most cannabis consumers are doing good to know the name and classification of their flower.
Operating under the assumption that the baseline of cannabis knowledge on the west coast is the same nationwide is a mistake that results in a one-size-fits-all approach that only meets connoisseurs’ needs. I wouldn’t call excluding a huge swath of the population a great marketing strategy. Every state outside of California, Oregon, and Washington has a ways to go in terms of consumer education and product variety. Even those states have municipalities that don’t allow dispensaries. There is a whole population of people waiting to learn about cannabis, but the obsessive focus on hyper-engaged consumers in one region of the country creates a missed opportunity, at best, and is exclusionary, at worst.
Cannabis consumers want to do their own research.
They don’t. The same way I don’t have to know everything about coffee to know what drinks I like, most people don’t have a desire to know cannabis science, and that’s fine. Despite knowing many smokers in high school, I didn’t know any of the medicinal benefits of consuming until I was 25. Even then, it took me a few years to give myself permission to learn about the plant. The stigma makes people, myself included, afraid to ask their questions, so the industry should be meeting people where they are and atoning for any gaps in understanding via packaging, marketing, and customer service. People don’t want to hear jargon; instead, they want digestible information, in laymen’s terms, in contexts that make sense.
Producing content for IG has taught me that less is more. On the contrary, brevity often removes nuance, but that’s not my intent. My goal for the year is to break down the fundamental topics of cannabis into digestible bites. By the end of the year, I will have taught an “intro to cannabis” course via IG posts.
It’s just a plant
To me, this is a dog whistle. People who say this often follow up with, “weed and politics don’t mix,” and I couldn’t disagree more. Should weed and politics have mixed? No! Did they? Yes, and now it’s on those of us who love the plant to do the work to disentangle the two, or at least use the political aspect to empower those most impacted by the plant's politicization. The history of cannabis in America cannot be forgotten. Still, people seek to deny systemic racism in the industry, typically to avoid addressing their complicity. If cannabis weren’t political, it wouldn’t be a Schedule 1 drug, and thousands of people wouldn’t be locked up for possessing it. Let’s not diminish the plant’s history, power, and the stigma associated with it. It is our responsibility to make the space better than we found it. It’s the least we can do as thanks to the universe for providing a plant that helps heals so many people in so many ways.
Wrap Up
The cannabis industry, like probably every other industry, is a microcosm of this country, but it doesn’t have to be. The cannabis industry isn’t a pie. There is enough knowledge, product, and opportunity to go around. While access to these things isn’t equitable, the people most worried about ‘losing their slice’ are often the most privileged. More people knowing how to heal themselves is better for all of us. More people meeting their potential and improving their health should excite us. These are my beliefs and values, the forces driving the work I will do this year.
The Roll Up
Sativa, indica, what’s the difference?
The only pre-workout I need, GO drops by 1906.
Last week was b-a-n-a-n-a-s, so I reviewed a heavy indica, Banana Cookies.
Your girl is finally partnering with a bong brand, Mota Glass. Use code UPINSMOKE to save 15%.
Letting things go…Up in Smoke.
I’m starting the year letting go of expending my emotional energy on people who don’t deserve it. I care deeply about creating an inclusive community, but what I won’t and don’t have to tolerate is a lack of respect, empathy, and willingness to listen/read. Our space can be inclusive, while I maintain a boundary of blocking anyone who isn’t trying to “get it.” A few days ago, I mentioned in my story that I’m a recovering people pleaser, and I meant it. I struggle with knowing someone has misunderstood me or disagrees with me, as it causes anxiety and sadness. That said, trying to convince people who don’t want progress is a pointless and poor use of my emotional energy, so I’m working to conserve it.
I feel clearer about my purpose than I ever have, and I’m so happy you decided to join me on this journey. From the bottom of my heart, I hope this year is what you need it to be.
Wondering what I need this year? More eyes on my work, so please tap that heart button so more people learn about my newsletter. Have a friend you think might enjoy this? Please share it with them. Please share it on Twitter, Facebook, and wherever else you think makes sense.
All my best,
Datrianna
Such a good read! Thank you for your work!
i started smoking at 10 im currently 15 but i lovee to smoke