At a recent get-together, friends of mine who are very much cannabis enthusiasts voiced fears about legalization and whether their children could get their hands on cannabis more easily if it were legal. While I could hardly believe what I was hearing (I asked them, “How many black-market marijuana sellers are going to ask your children for ID?”), it reminded me how stigmas surrounding cannabis consumption, although slowly crumbling, still remain.
As much as the cannabis industry has evolved in recent years, I am still perplexed by the number of people who are unaware of what is happening with legalization, who are confused about its benefits and various positive impacts on society, and by the number of states, counties and municipalities that continue to cling to prohibition.
This tells me that the cannabis industry should remain focused on education and outreach. Not only do we need to educate those who fear marijuana’s negative stigmas, but we also need to educate those who do consume as well as newcomers. The more we educate these groups, the more likely they will understand and be able to explain accurately the benefits of medical and adult-use cannabis to others, continuing to nudge cannabis into mainstream culture.
In this issue, this is an ongoing theme.
In the cover story (p. 52), Green Light’s Sonny Langdon had to plead his case about how “good” cannabis can be for the community. And now that he’s successful, he can (and does) give back generously.
Our guest interview (p. 28) delves into Berkeley Patients Group’s and
Then there’s education that makes consumers more comfortable
This industry is still in limbo, and prohibition is long from over. As Jamie Cooper writes on p. 50, “... the moment you start a marijuana business, you must become an advocate.” And everything, from how you treat every single customer who walks through your door to how you interact with local and state authorities and your communities, plays an essential role in that.
Noelle Skodzinski, Editorial Director | [email protected]
