It’s no surprise that the vast majority of my interactions—be they electronic or IRL—are with people, businesses, and organizations that you could describe as “pro-cannabis.” A lot of them are employed in the industry, in both the recreational and medical fields, and might have financial interests in the biz as business owners, investors, or employees. Or they’re medical patients who use cannabis to relieve any number of physical and psychological ailments and conditions. Or they’re simply consumers—people who partake of cannabis in its many forms to enhance, enrich, and increase the enjoyment levels of their professional and personal lives.
Most of the other people I come into contact with may not have any financial or personal stakes in legalized cannabis, but they have no problem with those who do, and recognize that the people who produce, provide, and partake of cannabis are their neighbors, friends, children, parents, and partners—not strung-out addicts, violent cartel members, or whatever probably racist stereotype the anti-cannabis industry has put forth for decades. Even non-users can recognize that a legal and regulated recreational program generates tax revenue and creates jobs, and not feel the need to limit access to cannabis, or ostracize and punish its users and producers.
But this column and my other work occasionally exposes me to people who feel differently, and their concerns and fears (emphasis on “fears”). My recent takeaway is that people who don’t support growing access to legal cannabis around the country are afraid of the many, many horrible things that’ll happen when that access is established.
