Welcome at Cannabis Now Magazine Issue 42 – November-December 2021

LAST WEEK I FOUND MYSELF in New York City taking a series of canna-centric meetings. First up, I sat down with the new CEO of a former west coast-based investment company We talked shop in their new Times Square office, a cross-country move symbolic of cannabis’ shifting presence. Later that evening, just north of the city, I shared celebratory cocktails with an ex­clusive gathering of investors, executives and industry players. And the next day, after more meetings, I was finally able to close out my 48 hour visit touring a new immersive weed experience on Sixth Avenue.
Dashing into the 4:20 a.m. ride-share for my flight headed back west, I asked myself, ”Is this what the new normal feels like?” The energy and focus on the flower seem stronger than ever in the Big Apple. For years, these marathon business trips were the norm for cannabis executives; however, more often than not, the action was almost entirely on the west coast. I must say, it was exciting to observe the Green Rush’s arrival in the east. I could feel the change in the air.
Many in today’s industry preach the need to normalize can­nabis in order to move into a new post-prohibition era. But, what’s normal?
Over the years, I’ve learned that normalization – that is, the de-stigmatization of cannabis – is only advanced by those la­beled as the doers, the activists, the movers and the shakers. These motivated groups are the ones planting new genetics, starting new businesses and pushing the limits of art and culture. Some of them are new to cannabis, and some bring a lifelong relationship with the plant. What these cannapreneurs have in common is a shared belief in the power of cannabis and its ability to change the world we live in for the better.
Jim Belushi, a relative newcomer to the cannabis space, is reaching a mainstream audience thanks to his long, successful career in Hollywood. Now, with the second season of his Discovery Network docu-series, “Growing Belushi,” which gives viewers an inside look at his canabis farming venture, he’s intro­ducing a large audience to the world of legalized weed.
Art is also driving the new normal. Look at the amazing work created by both photographer Marvin Lee Stohs and artist Savina Monet – two Pacific Northwest creatives who are at the top of their game, exploring new ways to communicate the beauty and relevance of pot. Stohs takes a maverick approach to capturing unseen aspects of cannabis through a microscope, while Monet creates activist-inspired collages of weed, often juxtaposing the plant with Technicolor images of influential change-makers.
For many years the industry has understood the special relationship and similarities between cannabis and psychedelics. Now more than ever, the masses are starting to micro-dose with magic mushrooms alongside cannabis. Madison Margolin, the co-founder of DoubleBlind (one of my favorite non-cannabis magazines), relays to our readers the importance of psilocybin’s healing power.
Regardless of what your normal is, we’re all entering a future more focused on a holistic approach to health. It’s a mindset and way of living tl1at dictates how we tl1ink, recreate and interact witl1 the earili and our fellow man. I so look forward to wa tcl1ing can­nabis and other powerful plants play a significant role in building this healtluer road ahead. And I’m trilled to have a front row seat to witness tl1ese passionate people create tl1e change that’s coming. Can you feel it, too?*

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