Green Gears Spin Fast - The Cannabis Industry is Booming - So why is it STILL illegal?

The Cannabis industry is booming, And Wall Street is investing, and yet the wheels of government refuse to spin. This lack of action isn’t particularly surprising to anyone, but when you see so much growth in a new market you’d expect politicians to start to give to this new special interest(or at least try to placate to). In this piece, we’ll look at why we are all still waiting and why wall street isn’t.

Quite a bit in the last few years has changed with regards to Marijuana. Twenty-four states have medical. Four states and the district of columbia* have full decriminalization. The Senate Appropriations Committee renewed its commitment to protect states with medical marijuana. Yet sixty bills, some with lengthy cosponsors, sit unvoted, or go to die in committee. Our government isn’t in line with itself or its constituents. Why do they drag their feet? Most likely our next president will favor a change in marijuana policy, while we wait people continue to be sent to jail for what fellow Americans enjoy with leisure. Prohibition especially in the current environment is a disgrace to justice because it sends a mixed message. If I cross the border of Colorado into Kansas with five joints, that could be considered a felony distribution charge with a minimum of 14 months probation with a maximum fine of $300,000. For crossing a line; for going home and seeing my family and hypothetically forgetting about my home state’s draconian drug policies.

Cannabusiness is on the rise and investors are on the move. Unfortunately for the nation, because of the lack of federal policy change, this growth is concentrating in the states that have wisely chosen to cash in first. But recently the green rush has caught the eye of bigger fish. Viridian is a Capital Advisory Group that hosts events around the country and has an office in the heart of NYC, and a symbol on the exchange. Its Advisory board is a broad group of both Marijuana business insiders and big business behemoths that have held key positions in Fortune 500 Companies like Merrill Lynch and Gatorade.

These investors understand risk, and if they can hop on board the green train then maybe this industry will stand the test of time. I feel like decriminalization is just around the corner, why don’t we go ahead and turn the page? If you agree please contact your representatives and governors and tell them to enact common sense marijuana reforms on a state level, and to support national efforts as well.

*While the District has decriminalized marijuana they do not have a process in which to legal purchase or sell marijuana.

For more information, please visit: http://www.monroeblvd.com/

Why There Is No Such Thing As A Stoner Girl

Reading marijuana-devoted websites can be both educational and frustrating. The frustrating part begins when people who are in charge of attracting more visitors make up silly meaningless listicles, like this one that claims to provide 17 reasons to date a girl who smokes weed. Of course every girl who smokes weed will click on this. And some of them will also forward the link to their boyfriends, so it works. 

I need to say that I highly respect the High Times magazine. It is probably the most important media outlet for drug culture of the 20th century. They still do quality journalism, although they have some competition now. But can’t they do better than trying to imitate Buzzfeed? 

Really, this GIF idea is not even working for them: number 17 has a Chris Brown Smokes Up Rihanna GIF. And look what the caption reads: “The couple that smokes together, stays together.” The troubled story of Rihanna and Brown’s relationship was covered by tabloids, so anyone who is interested is free to read up some TMZ archives. 

Besides that, Buzzfeed is not a model cannabis-covering media. They have been harshly criticized for promoting a lazy unfocused stoner stereotype. 

But the real problem is in the message. We criticize mainstream media for cultivating the aforementioned pothead stereotype. We know that anyone can be a stoner, and, frankly, we prefer to call it ’a cannabis enthusiast’ or something like that. So why do we support creating a stereotype of ‘a woman who smokes weed’? There is no such thing. There are women who smoke weed, and not all of them are relaxed chicks who are open to threesome experience (as number 11 implies) and have cool friends (or any friends.) 

Some of them are stay at home mothers who relax by getting high when the kids are asleep. Some of them are career women who use marijuana to deal with daily stress. Some are students who use daytime strains to feel energized at their part-time jobs. Some are creative professionals who have mastered the art of high brainstorming and stoned planning. Each of them is unique. 

Another issue is over-sexualizing marijuana smoking. There are whole websites dedicated to erotic photos of women who smoke weed. And this piece of infotainment also implies that sexy stoner chicks wear stockings (you can keep joints in them!), are good with their hands and tongue, and love to try new things. It is not a secret that in stoner humor women are often shown as sexually attractive ladies who like weed, but don’t know where to buy or how to smoke it. 

Meet my friend Helen. She’s a photographer and a digital media professional, she’s in her mid 20s, and she smokes weed several times a week. She is definitely a high-maintenance young woman; her jewelry is perfectly organized, her looks are very thought-through. She will not laugh at your jokes if they are not funny. Helen prefers smoking through a bowl. 

And this is my friend Maria. She is in her late 30s, but if I asked you to define her age basing on her looks, you would probably say 31-32. Maria knows how to roll a spliff and how to run a company. She is happily married and she has a teenage son. Before the recent recession in Russia, her career had been thriving; she’s now a freelance translator, and a successful one. 

Diana works as a waitress in a cafe that belongs to a famous designer. Sofia is a researcher at a biotech lab. Jessica is a radio host and TV producer. They are all normal women, not some mythical relaxed sexy chicks. The society would have done a very good job if it stopped treating women who smoke weed differently than other women. Cannabis consumption does not define us.

For more information, please visit: http://www.monroeblvd.com/