“Cannabis flower power its influence in the sixties”

The decade of “revolution of social norms in clothing, music, drugs, dress, sexuality, formalities, and education” and “irresponsible excess, flamboyance, and decay of social order, due to the abundance of drugs'' (Roger, Morgan). Definitely two opposing viewpoints. In the article ‘Cannabis Flower Power & Its Influence in the Sixties’, The Cleveland School of Cannabis describes how the 1960s era of peace, love, and flower power was a means of exploring new ways to experience pleasure, and that new way was: marijuana. But keep in mind, back in the 1960s, cannabis was very much illegal, punishable with a minimum sentence of 2-10 years with a fine of up to $20,000. Whereas today 20 states fully legalize recreational and medical marijuana, 32 states decriminalized marijuana, and 50 states allow medical marijuana. This ‘hippie weed’ was being illegally imported. With the amount of time it took to reach consumers, it had become less potent, and plain old. The cannabis THC levels you would get from these plants would be no more than 5% whereas today the ‘milder’ stains come in at 10-20%, 5x stronger. “Simply put, without the sixties’ flower power, we wouldn’t have legalized cannabis today.” (CSC) Since the 1960s, the use of cannabis medically and recreationally has become way more widespread and almost ‘normal’. In my SHP, I aim to help destigmatize the use of cannabis and help our indigenous relatives begin to see this medicinal plant AS medicine and AS its intended purpose, with its impact on society. This moment in time was a defining aspect in cannabis culture and pushed the plant's social acceptance. 

‘History of cannabis; The history of the cannabis plant’

In this article ‘History of cannabis; The history of the cannabis plant’ from the University of Sydney's Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, an overview of the origins of cannabis sativa is established. The usage of cannabis originated in central Asia and Western China.  “The first documented case of its use dates back to 2800 BC, when it was listed in the Emperor Shen Nung (regarded as the father of Chinese medicine) pharmacopeia.” (UOS). The medicinal properties of cannabis have been used since its origin, compared to nowadays the plant has been constantly slandered since then. Cannabis’s intended use was for healing properties, and therapeutics. The therapeutic purposes have also been found in Hindu, Greek, and Roman texts. In 2800 BC cannabis was mentioned in Emperor Shen Nungs Pharmacopeia and this is believed to be the first documented usage of cannabis. University of Sydney says, “The ancient Hindus thought the medicinal benefits of cannabis were explained by pleasing the gods such as Shiva.” Serving Shiva allowed for the application of cannabis in religious activities to appease the gods, this would heal them, such as taking away their fever and body aches. Following these historical events, in 1841 William Brooke O’Shaughnessy from India, introduced cannabis to western medicine with his knowledge of a case where cannabis stopped convulsions in a child. In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act went into effect. In 1996, California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis. More recently, in 2017 Australia legalized medical cannabis and in 2017 CDB was found to reduce seizures in childhood epilepsy. 

Feature Documentary "Ride with Larry"

In the documentary “Ride with Larry '' the usage of medical cannabis is applied when improving the life performance of Larry Smith, a Parkinson's patient, as he bicycles across South Dakota. In these clips, I by far enjoyed part 3 the most because of the interaction between Larry and his friend. The documentary gives a very clear raw view of how other patients can inform and educate other patients. Larry's friend who helps him administer the medical cannabis was very calm, reassuring and provided a safe area for Larry to try this drug. “Don't try to communicate, just relax” (Ride with Larry) are some calm affirmative words used to ease Larry into the new medication. The endocannabinoid cannabinoid system is helpful and almost important in regulating impaired motor activity. Larry here was provided with relief of very visible symptoms. His face was relaxed and his fingers could extend and contract as easily as ever. Larry was happy. The smile across his face showed he was amazed, he was able to calm down, and feel control over his life. Clarity. “Isn’t that amazing” Larry's friend chimes in. “Hands were rock steady, Dyskinesia left”, another woman in the room says. “A person like me could use marijuana” (Larry) With open mindedness, you will just have to try it. Be optimistic. New treatments come out everyday and we don’t question them as much as we do with natural plant medicine that is ALSO backed with many studies. A good comparison would be the hesitation about the covid vaccine (man-made) and hesitation about medical marijuana (natural plant medicine). 

The “Ride with Larry'' documentary helps my SHP by directly showing the medical relief in a patient and most importantly with how we can use this plant with one another to help, educate, and brighten someone's life. A really good quote that I can paraphrase is “medical cannabis did not cure my diagnosis, but gave me control over it” (TedTalk). This quote has stuck with me since the first time I heard, and since then, the power of medical marijuana became evident. Man made medicine such as opioids lead to death more than cannabis, and are more easily regulated and accessible, but are given to patients with an already weakened immune system? Something about that really throws me off. You can see in the video, how little he uses to medicate himself, and the intense relief it brought. When it comes down to medicating, I really like the analogy of what sounds better, taking maybe a 10mg, or half of a 10mg gummy, or taking 5 pills on a daily basis? The overwhelming happiness that fell upon Larry's face when he could use his hands and function to the best of his ability again was heartwarming. These are the stories we need to hear more of in the media to in return ‘decolonize’ the mindset around medical cannabis. 

A New ‘Indigenous Cannabis Association’ Aims to Unite America’s Tribes Around A Medicinal Plant That’s Always Been with Them” 

In “A New ‘Indigenous Cannabis Association’ Aims to Unite America’s Tribes Around A Medicinal Plant That’s Always Been with Them” by Joan Oleck, the unity of Indigenous tribes is displayed and gaining recognition through their efforts in working their way up in the Cannabis Industry. The article makes the connection of “Indigenous Day” being adopted rather than “Columbus Day” to how cannabis should be accepted the same way, since it was around longer than Europeans and the Americas discovered the plant. 

In the current era of many Indigenous voices being heard and recognized, one plant that has been here for centuries still continues to be silenced despite the activist efforts made to reduce the stigma behind marijuana. “A true history of the plant will help facilitate truth and reconciliation for our Indigenous communities ro reclaim plant healing and sacrament,” Mary Jane Oatman, Executive Director of the ICIA states, to share her support to reduce the stigma around this plant, and doing this by education and embracing the plant in Indigenous communities. They tackle the mindsets we have been conditioned to surrounding marijuana and address how this instilled connotation has led to negativity not just surrounding marijuana, but in many aspects of our life. This is simply because as Indigenous people, we correlate real history with our own cultures history and that is what some of us mostly know. Personally, I was not raised where cannabis was talked about as a healing plant, I was taught it was bad, it was not going to get me anywhere good in life, but this was my mom’s fixed mindset passed down to me, and I plan on changing this generational stigma. 

‘Good moms and dads sometimes smell like weed’: How the marijuana stigma nearly destroyed one New York mother

The “old-fashioned” views on marijuana are still insanely present today which almost caused Kimber Arezzi, mother to a non-verbal autistic son, to lose her family and everything she had worked for her entire life. Kimber Arezzi who has been working in the cannabis industry since October 2018 shares, “ Legal weed that is recommended to patients. Everyday I teach how the plant can create a myriad of different medicines. Each medicine may help life look a little better as your body feels a little better, “ because she recognizes the unique value of this plant. The stigma surrounding her career field, caused those who worked at her son's school to send CPS 4 times to her house for being “too stoned” to provide for her child. She was absolutely devastated and in shock that this situation ever had to occur, but ultimately defended her son and his mental disabilities, herself, her career, her family, and of course to defend the cannabis plant. 

Hearing about this story shattered my heart. This is horrible. The effects felt from part-taking in an adult recreational activity, and in medicinal healing have been more negative than positive. Kimber Arezzi is an advocate, she is a new inspiration to myself. Not only did she work hard to provide for her son and take care of him, she catered to her son's special needs, neuropathy, non-verbal autism, which can be very draining and frustrating for many parents and guardians. Kimber never backed down from her cannabis usage and experience with the plant and showed how proud she was to understand and feel the benefits. “When the agent asked if I used marijuana, I proudly answered, ‘Every single day.’” (Arezzi). This is exactly the reality we need to stray away from. The agents that arrived were also very uniformed on marijuana and Arezzi had to pull out medical records, her medical card, her husband's medical card, both of their caregiver cards just to prove they were allowed to carry cannabis and handle each other's prescription per the NYS regulations. The stigma does not affect just the way we view a person, the stigma controls their life, it threatens their peaceful means of life.  We can see here how Kimber’s mentality loses its strength, CPS cases, losing her husband. Arezzi was walking on a runway of eggshells. This is not a healthy way to live your life, looking over your shoulder, and feeling the need to constantly validate your perfectly legal actions. 

Freckled Foodie & Friends (Podcast) Episode: The Stigma of Cannabis Culture with Vic Styles

In this podcast the host Cameron Rodgers sits down with Vic Styles, CEO of Black Girl Smoke and Good Day Flor. They share their thoughts on the stigma surrounding cannabis and their experiences with it as they grew up to indulge and take part in using marijuana and other products. They talk about how alcohol is a normal social indulgence and the acceptable surrounding drinking as an activity compared to staying home with your friends and getting high as a good time. “Alcohol is okay, but DON’T do drugs” Cameron Rodgers recalls what he dad used to say to her. Today, she remembers that phrase because it has led to her change of  perspective today. On the other hand Vic Styles used marijuana more growing up because her mom viewed it as a medicine and used it for the medicinal benefits. Her mother was very supportive of marijuana legalization and decriminalization, but Vic would hide her usage from her very high ranking office father. It is a personal choice, weed or alcohol, and no one should be shamed either because in the end they both can alter your mental state and have risks. “I thrive, but there is so much stigma around it.” (Rogers)

“Suddenly, mommy wine culture is acceptable, but once I start talking about taking an edible at night people think I’m like the worst mom in the world, so, a lot needs to be done.” (Rodgers). Here Rodgers starts the convo off with how the stigma has placed a negative label on her, just because she said a simple phrase. This supports the claim that cannabis has been demonized throughout history and ‘taboo’ to bring up. They talk about how those people of color, minorities, and women talking about and advocating for a plant that does not have a voice, will bring this change. Ultimately this will be more powerful as they take back the plant that was rooted in their history, their social culture, and community.  We need a more growth mindset from the nation's current fixed mindset on marijuana. Tackling alcohol and pressures to drink was another thing we needed to bring attention to. Rodgers and Styles discuss how they have been pressured to drink saying ‘it's legal’, and the funny looks they have received alongside the instant judgment they’ve faced after deciding to drink and going to smoke instead. This acceptable activity of drinking is okay, everyone knows alcohol is okay, AS long as you’re 21, but marijuana is a hard drug, gateway drug. Vic Styles says weed is a gateway drug, you do not see people moving onto meth and heroin after smoking, but it opens a gateway to new mindsets, new perspectives on the world around you, and self discovery in a sense. “Caffeine is also a drug. Sugar is also a drug.” (Styles)

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Action Plan 2