By William Hyde
April 20th has long been accepted as the de facto cannabis holiday. The symbolism behind 4/20 has been a powerful ally and war cry for activists and supporters of cannabis reform. During times of prohibition, it has given the community cause to come together make some noise.
Now that cannabis reform is beginning to make headway across the nation, we have even more reason to celebrate. If you don’t want to wait until next year to rally behind a significant cannabis “holiday,” here are five other days throughout the year when you can light up in celebration of cannabis and how far our community has come.
February 1st: CBD Day
February 1st should serve as a celebration of cannabidiol, the cannabinoid also known as CBD. CBD holds great promise for advancing cannabis as medicine. Specially bred strains with a CBD:THC ratio of 2:1 or higher are sought after for their medicinal properties, with some strains reaching upwards of 25:1. To appropriately pay tribute to the benefits of CBD, we’d recommend vaporizing high-CBD strains like ACDC or Harlequin. Afterwards, spend your day resting, relaxing, and focusing on personal wellness through meditation, yoga, and other restorative activities.
June 18th: Jack Herer’s Birthday
In commemoration for all of the energy and effort put in by cannabis activists throughout the decades, we propose observing the birthday of Jack Herer. Affectionately named “The Hemperor,” Jack was a devoted marijuana activist and author. He fought tirelessly to emphasize cannabis as one of our most valuable resources and reinforce the ways in which our earth and society can benefit from hemp. To honor Jack and all of the others who have pushed the plant forward, we suggest smoking some Jack Herer, the sativa-dominant strain bred by Sensi Seed and named for the man himself.
July 10th: Oils and Concentrates Day
Everybody knows about 420 but in recent years concentrates, cartridges, and dabs have taken center stage. “OIL” flipped upside-down reads “710,” so July 10th is quickly becoming the connoisseur’s ceremony to honor oil. The day is a great excuse to dab your favorite concentrates with your friends, but it’s also an opportunity to commemorate the advancements in hash making technologies that modern cannabis laws are encouraging.
October 5th: Commemorating the Victims of Prohibition
On October 2nd, 1937, the United States enacted the Marijuana Tax Stamp Act which effectively outlawed cannabis. Three days later, on October 5th, the FBI and the Denver police raided the Lexington Hotel and arrested Samuel R. Caldwell and Moses Baca. Caldwell and Bacca are recognized as the first citizens convicted of selling and possessing cannabis. Both men served the entirety of their sentences, with Caldwell dying shortly after his release from four years of hard labor. In respect to those who have risked their freedoms fighting for the personal right to grow and consume cannabis, we should all roll one up to remember the lives and families distressed by prohibition.
November 6th: Legalization Day
Without a doubt we should be celebrating the momentous first doors that opened for legal, adult access to cannabis in the United States. On November 6th, 2012, Colorado and Washington both passed recreational cannabis laws establishing and recognizing cannabis as a regulated industry in America that has gone on to spark an international debate on drug reform. To memorialize the shift towards legitimizing marijuana, 11/6 should be celebrated by visiting your local dispensary or traveling to a state with legal access in an effort to support the businesses that help us enjoy our right to consume cannabis.
These are just a handful of days to celebrate the cannabis plant (as if you needed any more), but really any day that cannabis can increase your quality of life should feel like a win. We hope you had a happy and safe 4/20 holiday. If you’re looking for more cannabis-friendly events, visit the Leafly Events Calendar to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood.
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