Toward A More 420-Friendly Future

As we celebrate the unofficial holiday of all things cannabis, we reflect on the progress the community and industry have made. We also look forward to what we hope the near future looks like when the world is more 420-friendly.

Over the last decade, legal cannabis has seen arguably the most progress here in the U.S. This decade-long progress was helped greatly by voters in Colorado, who chose to legalize adult use in 2012. Since then, we have seen much advancement in cannabis law reform, and as a result, a major evolution in the way the plant is consumed.

For as far as we’ve come, however, we still have some work to do. In no particular order, are just a few of the areas in which we believe we could see positive change happen within the cannabis community and industry.

Continued Cannabis Policy Reform

At the beginning of April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bill H.R. 3617, a cannabis decriminalization and deschedulization initiative. The bill is called the MORE Act, Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act.

While the MORE act still has yet to pass within the legislature, we see it as a decent step in the right direction. However, cannabis advocates have been fighting to end the war on drugs for decades.

Better Cannabis Banking and Financial Services

Another federal legislative effort that was recently passed is the SAFE Banking Act. If eventually written into law, this bill would give cannabis brands legitimate access to banking accounts and other financial services.

Few, if any businesses in other industries face the banking-related challenges that those in the cannabis space do. It’s time for the financial sector to catch up with the demand for cannabis, which is not going anywhere but up.

Fair Cannabis Taxes

Depending on the state you’re in, the taxes you pay for purchasing retail cannabis may be higher than any other product you purchase. Why is this the case? If cannabis is recognized as medicine by the majority of states in the U.S., why is it still lumped in as a sin tax? In a more 420-friendly future, we hope to see cannabis taxed fairly, like any other cash crop.

Better Patient Access

Of course, adding a medical cannabis program in a state where one never existed is a good thing. However, some states are still significantly lacking the access to the plant medicine that patients need. In a more 420-future, we hope to see patients given access to the healthcare they need: affordable treatment and medicine every step of the way.

Expungement of Prior Cannabis Convictions

In 2020, an estimated 40,000 Americans were still incarcerated for cannabis-related 'offenses'. This is absolutely unacceptable, especially in states that have legalized the sale of adult-use cannabis. In a more 420-future, we hope we will see not one single person locked up for simple possession and consumption of this incredible plant.

Ending the War on Drugs for Good

For over 50 years, the failed War on Drugs has been a plague on the American people. After Nixon ramped up the fervor and rallied the proverbial troops against what they deemed illegal drugs. Make no mistake: the main target in the war on drugs has always been cannabis.

"The war on drugs is more harmful than any illegal drug could ever dream of being. And make no mistake: the main target in the war on drugs has always been cannabis."

In a more 420-friendly future, we hope to see the war on drugs end for good. We hope to see taxpayer money otherwise spent on the drug war spent on education, infrastructure, and healthcare. We hope to see law enforcement focus on the real criminals, not cannabis consumers or addicts of hard drugs that seek treatment. The war on drugs is more harmful than any illegal drug could ever dream of being.

Public Consumption

When you purchase an alcoholic beverage in a restaurant, you expect to rightfully enjoy this beverage at the establishment. Generally speaking, smoking tobacco cigarettes in public is legal and socially acceptable, why should cannabis be any different? This is such an acceptable thing that it goes without even a mere thought for most people, especially those not in the cannabis sector.

420 comes only a few weeks after St. Patrick’s Day. Generally speaking, getting drunk on St. Patrick’s Day remains more socially acceptable for most Americans than consuming cannabis on 4/20. Why is this the case? This is despite the fact that multiple studies show that consuming cannabis in moderation is safer to consume than alcohol.

But cannabis advocates have been making the case that if consuming the plant is legalized in your state, why should adults be forced to hide it? Consumption lounges are a decent start, but a more 420-friendly future would mean consuming cannabis without shame or fear of persecution. This brings us to our final point.

Drop the Stigma for Good

Last but not least, a more 420-friendly future means dropping the stigma surrounding cannabis consumption for good. As informed, conscious consumers, we can do our part, however small that part seems.

We can help support sustainable, quality brands that pride themselves on transparency. We can do our part to shed the stoner stereotypes by consuming responsibly and supporting others in the cannabis community.

Onward and Upward: A More 420-Friendly Future

The above-mentioned ways we can move toward a more 420-friendly future might seem a bit out of reach. However, we’d like to again remind you how far we’ve come in just the last decade since Colorado legalized adult use in 2012. In 2032, we will very well see all of the above goals reached, and then some.

HashDash Supports the Evolution of the 420-Friendly Community

We hope you found value in our article on a more 420-friendly future. Did you learn something, or have anything to add? Let us know, we are @hashdash on all platforms, except for Instagram, where we are @hashdashdotcom.

To future celebrate the 420 holidays, be sure to check out our article from the last 420. We cover the story of where the term 420 originated and found its way into the vernacular. You might be surprised where this seemingly random number actually came from.

Check back to our blog often, because we post fresh content regularly!

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Thanks for reading! Please celebrate the 420 holiday responsibly. Always treat this incredible plant with the respect it deserves.