“Puff, puff, pass” has been the golden rule of stoner culture since the beginning of time. Many friendships have started, and many beef has been squashed, by two people coming together, rolling a fat blunt, and coming together on common ground. However, in the last year or so, sharing cannabis is something we’ve all done less. Hell, some of us haven’t smoked with anyone else since 2019.
Since the world started to open up again, all the headlines have been about how people are going to interact after being restricted for so long. What’s reasonable or expected depends on who you ask. Returning to the office, if you’re lucky enough to have worked from home? Unreasonable. Partying at a festival body to body with thousands of others? Seems legit. Mask mandates are lifting and while some people have already thrown their stash of face protective wear away, a lot of people are still wearing them. However, what I’m really wondering about and don’t hear being discussed, is how (or if) the way we do cannabis will change. Will passing the blunt become old timey faux pas? Are edibles going to become the standard? There’s no way to tell, and I don’t think we’re going to know for a while.
One of the best things about weed is the community. We have our own language, and our own ever evolving subculture. Cannabis is inherently social, and it’s one of the things that make it so appealing, and that hasn’t stopped, even under pandemic conditions. Smoke seshes just went digital like everything else. Although, I’m not going to lie to you. These days I’m not really trying to share my shit with strangers. Does that make me a bad stoner? Selfish? Maybe. However, that’s where I’m at right now.
Pre 2020, I was all about vibes. Vibe check came back cool? You’re my friend’s homeboy and you want to chill? The more the merrier. However, after more than a year and a half of limiting my social interactions, I’m admittedly enjoying the spoils. I’ve had so much to myself, and except for a few times, I haven’t shared my shit with anyone new in recent memory. We’re a long way from the miles long lines to dispensaries and the constant discussion of whether cannabis dispensaries should be considered “essential”. We know that shit is essential, but since it has all but moved to the mainstream, I do wonder if people will be over sharing in an effort to collectively move on.
Cannabis is more mainstream than ever, it’s actually mind-blowing when you think about it. More people are open stoners than ever before. Cannabis livestreams and smoke with me’s led by celebs on your social media drug of choice are happening every day, and 10 years ago that would be grounds for losing their career. Just this April, a cop was named guilty in the murder of a victim of the war on drugs, and sales of legal cannabis soared. This year was the highest single sales day for cannabis ever recorded. In the five days around the holiday, sales of legal cannabis reached more than $370 million. Even cannabis reform inched along with the passage of the SAFE Banking Act, which gives cannabis companies access to banking services. In person smoke outs resumed. A bunch of shit has changed, and it’s only going to change more in the years to come.
For now, I’m probably going to stick with edibles when I’m in social situations. Most people won’t say no to a cookie or brownie, and I won’t look like an asshole if I pass on passing the blunt. Micro dosing cannabis drinks seems like a good option too, because who is going to ask to share your drink? Well some people might, but you get the picture. How are you ?planning to switch up how you share? Are you planning to get back in the swing of things or try new ways of sharing? Sound off, let us know.
