The Day After

Last evening the NSCC held it's first Networking Social at the Witch Dr Glassblowing Studio and Gallery in Salem, MA.  My intention in forming this group was to educate the public on the joys of recreational cannabis with a strong effort toward normalization. Our expectations were reasonable and we were far from disappointed.   The guest count rose rapidly within the first half hour and our well planned agenda was quickly tossed aside.   My intent was to give the group an update of the state of the cannabis union in the Commonwealth but that proved to be completely unnecessary.  The participants in our networking event were both incredibly aware of the new laws and widely experienced consumers(and growers) of cannabis.  Many of the guests were more than happy to break out there own strains for inspection and trade.

The variety of strains that were passed around our show-and-tell table were as diverse as the faces in the crowd.  There was a beautiful representation of all that the private grow world has to offer.  Mason jars of well-cured cough varieties that when opened left a lasting bouquet of citrus and earth and berry.  Carefully rolled ziplock bags were removed from puffy winter coats and ceremoniously laid out for display.  A large solo cup filled with canna-lollipops was on stationed on the counter for everyone to dig into.  Concentrates, cookies, oils and edibles were out and in the open to be discussed and shared.   The highlight of the evening was the active trading of cannabis between the experienced growers in the room.  I was able to bear witness to nug after nug of perfectly manicured cannabis changing hands in a free form fashion.  At the end of the night, myself and Jay from Natural Solutions sat down and shared a near etherial king-sized cone of a five strain salad mix(Orange Sky, Mazar Al Sherif, Amherst SD, Blue Dream and Gorilla Glue).

This first night of legal, recreational cannabis was an absolutely monumental experience and I am so excited to be part of this evolution(if not revolution) here in New England.  The NSCC is poised to support all facets of the use of recreational cannabis going forward and we hope to see you at our next event.

As Prohibition Wanes

Tomorrow morning when Massachusetts stirs from it's nightly pause, things will be a tad bit different.  This shift will be brought on by the decriminalization of cannabis in all forms for adults over the age of 21.  At first glance, this change should be of little consequence to majority of folks who do not find pleasure in the consumption of this wonderful plant, but to the roughly 900,000 state residents who regularly enjoy a toke this is a monumental moment.

The prohibition of cannabis has created a immense amount of undue stress and anxiety to those who willingly broke the law in the past.  Gone are the days of being in a constant state of fear while riding around with a $20 bag in your glovebox.  In the rearview mirror are those moments of doubt and shame felt while smelling of freshly burnt Blue Dream, OG Kush or Sour Deez in line at the grocery store.  All but eliminated are the fears that come from the sound of a distant helicopter in the September air.  It will take some time before we realize that we are welcome to spark one up after a hard day's work without worrying if the kids might catch us out in the garage.  The legacy of living under the constant threat of my local DARE program getting my kids to rat me out is history.

Now is the time for all of us pause and reflect on this victory.  Let the meaning sink in for a moment and realize the weight of this change but understand that we are not out of the woods yet.  Although you will be free to move from point A to point B within the borders of the Commonwealth, you are still subject to federal prohibition.  The powers that be have made their allegiances to big Pharma and Big Oil crystal clear and cannabis is certainly an enemy to their bottom line.  As long as our federal government ignores the benefits of this plant we will still be subject to a baseline threat to our medicine.

So take a moment to rejoice freely and openly.  Let the freedom wash away the guilt and emotional strain brought about by the negative propaganda of failed war of drugs.  Be a gleaming example for the next generation by being an ambassador of respectful and responsible consumption.   On the eve of legalization, I wish you all the kindest of times in the days to come.

An introduction to the North Shore Cannabis Club

With the legalization of recreational cannabis is Massachusetts only a few days away, we at the North Shore Cannabis Club are ramping up our efforts to act as an informational conduit to the community at large.  We realize that there are many of you who have questions surrounding legalization and we are here to help. Some of the topics that we will cover in the upcoming weeks include:

• Instruction on the safe use of cannabis  

• Legal/Legislative process review

• Growing technologies(indoor vs. outdoor) 

• Cannabis edible cookery

• Business development in the Cannabis Industry

• Massachusetts Market Quotations(State-wide Cannabis Price Index)

The culture of Cannabis has evolved immensely over the last decade and a number of new products, applications and technologies have come on to the market.  Let the NSCC be your guide for all things "Cannabis in the Commonwealth".  We have our first Networking Social on December 15th from 7pm-9pm at Witch Dr. in Salem.  This event is designed as both a celebration of the successful Yes on Question 4 ballot initiative as well as an effort to move toward the NORMALIZATION of recreational cannabis.  Please like our Facebook page for updates.  We look forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming events.