There was a time when purchasing cannabis meant calling a dealer and meeting at an undisclosed location. There wasn’t a menu to observe or choose from. No picking up the jar wafting the aromas to get an idea of the potency… Just some guy who looked like he hadn’t bathed in days, trying to convince you that his product is “gas.”
Now, you can pull up an app to have your cannabis delivered or pre-order and walk into a brick and mortar to pick up your, in P.C. terms: “medication.”
From pre-packaged pre-rolls and THC-infused drinks, to gummies and tablets, my, how the times have changed. As an 80’s baby who grew up in the shadows of the D.A.R.E. era, this is a huge shift.
I still remember my first drag. I was with my cousin on the streets of Detroit. In his mind, me being a California native automatically meant that I partook in the consumption of the “devil’s lettuce.” So there I was, standing outside with my cousin and his friend, peer-pressured into taking my first hit of the good ganja. Three hits. That’s all it took, and I was absolutely toasted. Then came the side effects. The paranoia set in, then the munchies. My ears were ringing, and I was hearing sounds, not realizing that my senses were just as high. I’m in the backseat trying to make sense of it all as we head back to my Aunt’s place. I didn’t know it then, but future-me would eventually become a religious user of cannabis.
Fast forward to today and my relationship with cannabis has matured completely. The paranoia I used to feel has been replaced by intentional relaxation. There is no more going outside to hide from relatives and family members. Instead, it has become a part of my everyday routine, from ‘Wake n’ Bakes’ to that final session right before bed to wind down for the night. Cannabis has become my assisting agent when I am unable to sleep, in pain, or simply looking to socialize with friends. With so many benefits, it is truly amazing—and a bit frustrating—to think about the heavy stigma society has placed on this plant.
As the stigma slowly fades and legalization spreads, I think about how far both the plant and I have come. We have gone from being side-eyed and ridiculed to moving into the light of mainstream wellness. Cannabis is no longer a teenage rebel; it’s a legitimate tool for health, connection and peace of mind. It has changed my life in ways I could have never imagined.
The evolution of this amazing plant is ever-changing, and the future has never looked greener.
