A few of the members of the NSCC ventured into the city proper to support the Cannabis Society of Boston and their Toasty Tuesday networking series at the Liquid Art House. After a few seconds of shaking off the cold, I was met with warm and friendly greetings from the gathering. The Cannabis Society is a member-based organization that is "dedicated to creating events around marijuana's social, medicinal and creative properties". After a few self introductions, I found myself deeply engaged in conversation surrounding the future of the cannabis business industry. The state is busily crafting a framework for for the retail sale of recreational cannabis but the individuals building a niche within this emerging industry are still gripped with concern. It is truly unfortunate that the will of the people is being manipulated by a couple of closed-minded elected officials.
All-in-all the Cannabis Society provided a fantastic venue for the exchange of knowledge between many of the players in the local cannabis community. We were fortunate to have a space to identify connections for the continued growth of our industry. One of the unfortunate consequences of prohibition is secrecy. Conversations regarding cannabis cultivation between perfect strangers were uncommon prior to legalization and it is obvious that many are still reluctant to exchange all of the details of their efforts. As the prohibition of cannabis comes to a demise, we have to remind ourselves that Normalization will take time. The days of "not talking on the phone" and worrying about undercover cops are gone but the uneasy lasting effects of prohibition are still around.
The healing process will take a while. By networking together, we can begin to wash away the stain of the failed policies of our past. If a networking group of this type does not exist in your community make the effort to organize one yourself. Meet up and talk story. The fading anxiety of a failed war on drugs will eventually wash away if we all step out of the shadows and build unity. I would like to extend a warm "Mahalo" to the Cannabis Society for their continued efforts of creating connections within our community.
I also came out to the Toasty Tuesday held by the Cannabis Society and it was a pleasure to be there and a great experience as always. Yes there was a different sensation in the air in light of the recent actions of our elected officials, but with legalization coming into effect not a month earlier it seemed like people had little trouble rejoicing.
ReplyDeleteI have been to past Cann Society events and all of them have been full of electricity and a wonderful spectrum of amazing people, and this one was no different. From walking in the door 'till the end of the night I was meeting people from the medical field, education, legalization, growth and cultivation, large scale business people, and people who worked locally and decided to come check out what's going on. People of all sorts coming together with a common idea, that Cannabis has a right place in this world, and that the world coming to realize this offers us a unique opportunity. As a grower and a medical marijuana patient, this honestly feels something like home or maybe a peak at heaven.
While there I got to meet up with close friends and tell some good stories, share an excellent experience with some new people too, and walk out the door with new friends and new hopes for the future. Johnny Ryan was one of the amazing people I got to shake hands with that night. He shared with me his vision for the North East Cannabis Club, a marvel of an idea I can do nothing but support, especially after getting to experience yet another amazing Cannabis Society event, where new information and opportunities are buzzing around the air for anyone to come and snatch them.
Events like this create a new hope for people seeking it, a better future for the state, and help spread the idea of opportunity globally. With more Toasty Tuesdays and outstanding Cannabis Society events to come, and the first North East Cannabis Club event rapidly approaching, I urge anyone, marijuana people and non-marijuana people alike, to get out there and get into the fastest growing and most dynamic industry of our modern day.
-Ricky Morant