Let’s not be coy. Given that 45% of Americans over age 12 have used marijuana in their lifetime, per the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services’ annual drug use survey, there’s a very good chance that you, dear reader, are not new to cannabis. What you likely haven’t experienced, statistically speaking, is the act of walking into a store, handing over some cash and strolling off with a bag full of marijuana, giving a friendly nod to the police officer at the door as you go. Since the first retail pot shops opened for business in 2018, the legal marijuana market has exploded. Today’s cannabis offerings are more plentiful, more diverse and more specialized than ever. Instead of settling for whatever your cousin’s boyfriend’s roommate happened to have stashed in his sock drawer, consumers can now pick and choose their perfect marijuana experience from form to flavor to potency. That amount of choice is exciting, but it also can be intimidating. At The Herbalist, our goal is to make some sense of this frantically expanding new industry, offering a look into cannabis culture for old hands and curious newcomers alike. In our debut issue, we’re focusing on the very basics: how to buy marijuana in the state of Massachusetts, legally, discerningly and with confidence. We hope you’ll join us for future issues as we journey deeper into the world of legal cannabis. Kimberly Kirchner Editor, The Herbalist
Spring 2019
The Herbalist • 3
