Cannabis Insiders Smoke Out 420's Biggest Trends And Challenges

Saturday is an important day for cannabis enthusiasts.

People in 41 states where marijuana is legal for either recreational or medicinal use will be celebrating 420 this Saturday, which is akin to "hangover holidays" such as the popular American festivities of St. Patrick's Day and Cinco De Mayo, but centered around cannabis instead.

Imagine this: The atmosphere infused with the delightful scent of high-quality cannabis, accompanied by joy and companionship," according to former professional wrestler Ric Flair in an interview with HuffPost. "420 signifies more than just smoking; it's an exploration into intensified peacefulness and a celebration of life's extravagances: dressing up, showing off, riding luxurious limousines, and travelling by jet!"

Flair, akin to numerous famous personalities, has his personal range of cannabis products. To mark the occasion of 420, he will be endorsing his brand of weed at a dispensary situated in Valley Glen, California.

At the same time, Mike Tyson, who used to be an athlete but now sells marijuana, will be participating in a 420 event in Times Square, New York.

You do not necessarily need to be a famous person with a customized marijuana brand to enjoy 420. This is what Lauren Fontein believes. She is the creator of The Artist Tree, which is a string of cannabis shops and a consumption lounge situated in California.

Fontein mentioned that, besides deals, her establishment located in West Hollywood will include a dab bar where a host is present, a bong bar, a place to tie-dye, and a live show featuring the cast and creators of "Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical." There will also be cocktails inspired by the cannabis theme.

However, there are individuals who choose to mark the occasion in a more subdued fashion. According to Autumn Shelton, who works for Autumn Brands, a cannabis company based in California, 420 can be seen as a "stocking up holiday," with customers replenishing their supply of tried and trusted weed, as well as being more adventurous and willing to experiment with new products.

However, Shelton also notices some intriguing coincidences with the date 420 this particular year.

Shelton explained to HuffPost that there are three reasons why this year's 420 celebration is special. Firstly, it falls on a Saturday, making it more convenient for people who work during weekdays to make use of the 420 deals. Secondly, the year 2022 is a palindrome year, which means the date looks the same when read forwards or backwards. Finally, there are now a total of 24 states that have legalized recreational marijuana, as well as 17 more states where it is only allowed for medicinal purposes.

"If you love numbers as much as I do, then you'll notice that the number of recreational states, 24, is the same as the current year! Do you think it's a coincidence?"

Despite the significant advancements made since Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana in 2012, the cannabis sector continues to confront obstacles from different directions.

According to Jessica Benchetrit, who works for Green Thumb Industries, if there are no medical or adult-use cannabis programs, then the illegal market will grow and become the only way to get cannabis. This means that people who buy cannabis illegally won't have the same guarantees about the quality and safety of the product that they would have in a legal market.

According to Benchetrit, many individuals are unaware of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, resulting in a deficiency of knowledge.

She stated that normalizing the use of the plant has been difficult due to the unsuccessful War on Drugs, even though there are numerous medical benefits associated with it.

Even experts within the marijuana industry are expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in changing federal laws about cannabis, despite the fact that legal marijuana is becoming more and more commonplace in American society.

Caleb Counts, the CEO of Connected Cannabis expressed that the industry has been given empty promises for a long time. He mentioned that discussions on initiatives such as the SAFE Banking Act, rescheduling efforts, and federal legalization have been ongoing for more than ten years, but there has been no real progress or change.

Counts is advocating for the appointment of delegates, both at the state and federal levels, to oversee the safe use of cannabis, its proper regulation, and equitable taxation. Additionally, these representatives would be responsible for removing obstacles that are currently hindering business ventures in the cannabis industry, including the interstate selling of cannabis products.

Despite changes in regulations and attitudes towards cannabis each year on April 20th, there are certain aspects that remain constant, as observed by Christopher Louie from Made In Xiaolin, a brand that focuses on cannabis and lifestyle.

"Consuming a large amount of flower through smoking remains a prevailing trend on the 420 celebration," stated Louie.

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