“That’s the thing about people who smoke weed,” said a friend to me recently. “They are some of the most laid-back, easygoing people I’ve ever met.”
We were talking about how people who have just consumed cannabis behave compared to those who have consumed alcohol. And within the context of that particular comparison, I absolutely agreed.
But recently, I’ve found the exact opposite to be true. And after conversations with others in the cannabis industry, I’m beginning to rethink my position. Because there is some truly fucked-up behavior going on, and it’s not helping anyone.
It wasn’t always like this—and by “always,” I mean prior to July 1, 2015, when Measure 91 went into effect. Sure, up until then, there were the normal squabbles and ego fits you might expect, but they remained pretty low-key. (“Bro, I grow weed waaaay danker than that trash, bro.”) (“Bro, that pound was light by eight grams. Eight grams, bro.”) (“I think his weed has bug feces all over it.”)
I started to notice a strong uptick in trash talk once dispensaries started selling to adult recreational buyers. No great shock—where there is money to be made, people don’t always behave at their best.
But then I started seeing some truly vitriolic postings on social media. People began attacking groups and individuals, in strings of increasingly hate-filled diatribes. The blocking of other profiles started to rise.
A wholesaler I know was asked by a potential client if the trim they carried had been blasted with butane prior to sale, explaining he’d heard from three individuals in Southern Oregon that was the case. The individuals in question had a beef with one of the wholesalers, and had taken to spreading false rumors about their products.
And some other people I’ve spoken to had experiences so hateful and disturbing that they asked I not share what they endured.
I’ve been immune, thankfully, until two weekends ago.
