A Town Called Kush (and Other Quirky News Stories)

The story of the town named “Kush”
 

One morning, in Moffat – a tiny town in Colorado – a man rose with an idea: let’s name our town after the one thing that’s had a major impact on our lives and economy over the last few years: cannabis! (specifically, the slang term “kush”) 

To make his dream a reality, Mike Biggio put the name change forward as a suggestion at a town hall meeting. And so a debate among the townsfolk was ignited. Some shared personal stories of how Mike’s own company, Area 420, had directly provided them with jobs and an income. Others lauded the geographical benefits of their small town – from the good climate to masses of open space – that makes it so perfect for cannabis cultivation. Still others were completely against the idea, wanting to protect the town’s “history, heritage, and identity.” 

Alas, I cannot deliver a punchline for this story  – I can only draw attention to the ongoing debate. But I await the conclusion with bated breath. 

Is the word “marijuana” racist?
 

According to this article, there are no easy answers. Queen Adesuyi, a senior national policy manager of the Drug Policy Alliance, explains, “The word was used in a political way to stigmatize the plant and the people associated with the plant. Where we see the actual harm of the use of the word ‘marijuana’ is in the federal legal code, because it was intentionally used to align the plant with Mexicans, and Mexican-Americans, in order to incite xenophobia and bigotry. But the word itself is not a slur.” 

In short, it depends on the context – and the article concludes that “‘marijuana’ is a problematic, complicated word with a problematic, complicated history” and branding the word as simply racist without considering its history is overly simplistic. Language is important and ever-evolving and the words we use to describe cannabis should reflect that. 

The dawn of a new cannabis compound?
 

Now, I imagine that those of you who partake are all responsible cannabis consumers, but if you do find yourself having gone a tad overboard (it happens to the best of us), take a peek at these helpful tips to counteract the cannabis high.

Meanwhile, those consumers wanting to avoid the feeling of being too high altogether have recently been checking out the new kid on the block: HHC. Known for delivering a more gentle and soothing high, hexahydrocannabinol is making waves in the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Pride
 

In honor of Pride Month, why not check out this list of 14 LGBTQ+ cannabis companies? 

I recently watched It’s a Sin – a rather harrowing TV mini series about the AIDS crisis in the 1980s – and, as it turns out, cannabis has been of tremendous importance to the LGBTQ+ community over the years. As this article highlights, cannabis emerged as a helpful tool for combating some of the worst complications and symptoms of HIV/AIDS at a time when other treatment options were non-existent or limited.

Cannabis Japonica
 

Last week, I mentioned that the Japanese Ministry of Health recently began discussions surrounding medical cannabis legalization. Coincidentally, I stumbled across the news that the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum of Barcelona is currently displaying a Japanese-themed exhibit dubbed “Cannabis Japonica” and described as a “fashionable journey through Japan’s cultural ties with the cannabis plant.” 

If any of you happen to be in Barcelona whilst this exhibit is displayed (until February 2023!), and feel like sharing your experience, shoot me an email at: [email protected]. 

^{Image credit : Collage collated from Unsplash.com}