Post-Puff Puff Press Pondering
Cannabis arrests, weed suppositories, and down-ballot voting, oh my!
The Puff Puff Press Podcast tapped me to be a guest on their Halloween episode this past week and it was no tricks, ALL treat!
For the uninitated, each week Puff Puff Press spotlights cannabis news stories and cultural insights from the perspectives of 5 brilliant veteran industry journalists: Jackie Bryant, Rachelle Gordon, Ellen Holland, Sara Payan, and Brit Smith. I picked a story, rolled a joint, then settled in with Sara, Brit, and Rachelle for a lively and informative hour-long chat that I haven’t stopped thinking about.
For those feeling curious after listening, here’s more to ponder…
NORML.org dropped the news that according to 2023 FBI data, marijuana arrests outpace other drug-related arrests in states where cannabis is illegal. More than half of all drug arrests in Iowa, Louisiana, and Nebraska were cannabis-related. In Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming (that’s 10 states, y’all) more than 40% of drug arrests were for cannabis. Not only that, weed arrests are also still happening in legal states — to a much lesser degree, yes, but 1 arrest is far too many.
Look, most Americans believe the plant should be legalized, yet these states continue to follow the drug war playbook. Election day is pretty much hours away at this point, so here’s a reminder: down-ballot voting is crucial. There’s a whole lot happening in local elections that need our attention, like choosing city council members, mayors, and judges that support cannabis legalization and social justice reform. So for the citizens living in those states that are doubling down on cannabis arrests, might be time to vote out the elected officials supporting these decisions. They do work for you, after all.
And then, how’s this for a small world: we also covered cannabis suppositories on the podcast which, you know, can be a lot to take in (no pun intended). But I’d written about this very subject 5 years ago for the Bold Italic! What Happened When I Made Cannabis Suppositories was written in collaboration with my friend Penny Barthel — aka The Cannabis Gardener — who also happens to be a nutritionist and recipe maker. Cannabis suppositories are rarely talked about, but they can be such an amazing and accessible way to experience the plant’s medicinal benefits, particularly for those who experience mentrual pain, uncomfortable sex, or are unable to ingest medicine orally. Making them is pretty easy and we even get into the math behind dosing, so give it a read and a try if you’re feeling inspired!
And thanks again to Puff Puff Podcast for having me on the show!