by Alesha Wilson, M. Ed.
Certified Cannabis Therapy Consultant
HOW MARIJUANA HAS EVOLVED THROUGH THE YEARS.
Cannabis. It has no political agenda. No gender, ethnicity, or religious overture. It’s a plant that happens to carry the answers to many problems… if we know what questions to ask. The question that seems to keep popping up lately is, “Is weed stronger today than what our parents smoked in the 60s and 70s?” That sounds like a winning question. After all, stronger usually means better, eh? While it will most likely go undisputed that the THC levels of today’s cannabis are quite higher, I’m not so sure it answers whether the weed is better. For consumers seeking to relax and heal, the THC level is not necessarily the target focus. In an “Old Weed vs New Weed” interview, Steve-O (from MTV's series Jackass) asked Tommy Chong (one of America’s weed icons) how the weed of today compares to the past. Steve-O seemed surprised to hear that Tommy declared yesterday’s weed as “The best” given the documented strengths of today’s weed. It may be a hard question to answer, but I wonder, “Was it the overall experience that made marijuana in the 60s and 70s the best?” We might not be able to clone the exact weed of the past, but we may be able to create better experiences while consuming cannabis. Furthermore, we may be able to pin down what is keeping some consumers from reaching consistent and optimal effects. First, let’s take a look at how to initiate the experience. Given that I was born in the early 70s, it would be impossible to share from a consumer’s perspective, but I can offer my recollection of the environment and the sense of unity observed during that time. One of the differences that really stands out, is the importance of utilizing the five senses. A majority of consumers who buy flower seem to have bridged the generation gap by using their sense of taste and smell. Some consumers still grind and roll their own weed, further enhancing their experience. If you click on that Lava lamp, burn some incense, and fill the room with Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” you might design an evening your parents would be proud of. The second thing that stands in the way of a natural experience with cannabis, is the number of distractions we put up with. Our parents didn’t deal with dings and tones from messages, emails, and social media. They didn’t take selfies of themselves and immediately post them online. We all know that picture post doesn’t end there. It usually leads to an hour of searching or commenting on what others are doing, essentially engaging in brain activity designed for work. That’s great if you are working – not so great when you want to relax or focus on creativity. With all of the distractions, it’s no wonder consumers think they need stronger weed with higher doses to achieve the desired effects. 21
JULY 2022
thechronicmagazine.com
