“That is my witness statement. The story of global decline during a single lifetime.”
As I sit down to write this, Kendrick’s new album ironically comes on and the first words I hear is “I hope you find some peace of mind in this lifetime.” It’s safe to say, as Attenborough nears the end of his lifetime, his peace of mind is far from reach.
The documentary consists of a gut-wrenching 77 minutes of dreamlike snapshots of the planet contrasted with apocalyptic projections of where the natural world is headed. Spoiler: major doom ahead if we keep our current course. As the viewer, we’re tasked with understanding how preserving biodiversity is the crucial element to sustaining the delicately balanced system of nature that supports all life on Earth. We also come to understand that the human race very much meets the mark as an Endangered Species.
Let’s break this biodiversity thing down in the simplest terms possible.
Nature has been working hard for billions of years to build the highly sophisticated, delicately balanced, interlocking system that makes our world go round today. Biodiversity has become the key ingredient to ensuring the system remains in equilibrium. For this system to also be self-sustainable, every species on Earth must do its naturally selected part to work in harmony and sustain one other.
Turns out, the human race opted out of this agreement the more and more we came to benefit from the system. Instead of finding ways to remain harmonious with our surroundings as we progressed as a civilization, we decided that the natural world worked for us.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s pretty incredible that as humans, we’re the only species on this planet who can pass our ideas down from one generation to the next, hence our exponential growth. But we’ve got to give credit where credit is due: we’ve only gotten as far as we have because the natural world has provided conditions and resources needed.
We exploited the system. We took from the delicately balanced world however we wished, wiping out entire species and habitats with no regard.
“Back then, it seems inconceivable that we, a single species, might one day have the power to threaten the very existence of the wilderness.”
Unfortunately, our excessive propensity to exploit everything we encounter, combined with our unparalleled intelligence has allowed us to dodge disease, predators and food insecurity, positioning our species in a problematic impasse: There are too damn many of us.
“We seem to have broken loose from the restrictions that have governed the activities and numbers of other animals.”
Throughout the documentary, a bleak running tally periodically informs the viewer of the shifts in population size, biodiversity loss and atmospheric carbon, corresponding with each stage of David’s career. Each time we progress through the documentary and the numbers creak into place in alarming increments, the dread seeps in. We’re very much meant to be alarmed by the breakneck pace of destruction set in motion by the “accomplishments” of the human race.
To drive his point home, Attenborough draws our attention to three major parts of the natural world that are crucial to its proper function and are facing extreme threat due to human activity: forests, coral reefs and the polar ice.
“We have overfished 30% of fish stocks to critical levels. We cut down over 15 billion trees each year… We’re replacing the wild with the tame.”
Overfishing, rising ocean temperatures, and other human-induced climate changes are putting a huge strain on our coral reefs, which normally serve as hotspots for biodiversity. When they were filming Blue Planet in the late 90s, Attenborough’s film crew witnessed a white-out of the reefs and quickly realized that they were looking at the skeletons of dead coral. They realized that “the ocean was starting to die.”
Deforestation practices have stripped away our #1 technology relied upon for locking away harmful carbon emissions from wreaking havoc on our atmosphere. Rainforests are a crucial habitat for maintaining biodiversity, harnessing energy from the sun, and providing oxygen and moisture on a global scale. I was surprised by my own reaction to watching these living, faceless creatures die their chainsaw-induced deaths: I felt sick to my stomach as I took in the footage of the thoughtless clearing of colossal, thriving trees for monoculture farming. Don’t get me started on the lone orangutan, once swinging from the canopies of a healthy forest and later shown climbing a single skimpy tree in search of a shrinking supply of sustenance.
As someone who shrivels up when temperatures drop below 50 degrees, I was fairly surprised to learn that the Arctic serves as a thriving hub for biodiversity. The Arctic’s snowy surface works wonders when it comes to reflecting sunlight and heat back from the Earth, helping us stay cool, calm and collected. As global air temperatures climb, the ocean absorbs the extra heat and in turn, our glaciers are rapidly melting away. We’ve lost a whopping 40% of our glaciers in just 40 years.
One point that David is clear about, which strangely left me with some semblance of hope, is that the Earth has a powerful ability to restore itself after catastrophic destruction, whether or not us humans are around to bear witness. With a proven track record of recovery from five mass extinctions, Attenborough explains how nature fights back: Life has always found ways to rebuild itself, but our species is one that may be missing from future iterations.
“A sixth mass extinction event is well underway. This is a series of one-way doors bringing irreversible change.”
Imagine it: Instead of visiting dinosaur exhibits on class field trips, the next all-powerful lifeform that comes to replace us will be visiting human museums, ooing-and--ahhing at the human replicas peering at them from behind the glass.
Ok, I’m high. Back to saving the human race.
David finally gives our hearts a break when he tells us that we’re not entirely doomed, despite the slew of devastating facts he’s just made us painfully aware of, never to be unknown. He tells us that biodiversity can save the day and that if we do our part to “rewild the world,” we could be sitting pretty in 100 years. *Cue hopeful music.*
We must take measures to decrease the human population size. Every species reaches a max population size that can be sustained with the natural resources available; humans are no exception. The ways of achieving this are arguably pretty reasonable: raising people out of poverty, providing more access to healthcare and education, especially for women; and creating better opportunities for life.
“The trick is to raise the standard of living around the world without increasing our impact on that world.”
We must harness the power of natural, renewable energy to fuel our lives and stop the burning of fossil fuels. We’ve managed to produce as much carbon emission in 200 years that previously took us 1 million years of volcanic activity to produce. Yikes.
The alternative seems like a pretty win-win scenario for everyone involved (minus the oil companies): we harness power from sunlight, wind, water, geothermal and we never run out of energy. Did you know that we receive 20x the energy we need to sustain life-as-we-know-it every single day from sunlight alone? Morocco has already made moves to get smarter about its energy, generating 40% of its electricity from a network of solar power plants and setting itself on a course to export renewable energy in the near future.
Our oceans are key to reducing carbon in the atmosphere, and, once again, biodiversity is the key to maximizing efficiency. Ironically, those who overfish without regard for the marine habitat they’re extracting from are hurting their own opportunity to thrive, as a healthy habitat means a bigger catch.
Take it from Palau, a tiny island who made a big push to restore its dwindling fish stocks. By creating no-fish zones, they helped fish populations build back to healthy levels and beyond, spilling over into open fish zones and making local fishermen and the reefs below extra happy.
“Estimates suggest that no fish zones over one third of our coastal seas would be sufficient to provide us with all the fish we will ever need.”
A return to wilderness depends largely on what foods we add to our grocery carts. Attenborough makes it plain ‘n simple: “The planet can’t support billions of large meat-eaters. There just isn’t the space.” The farmland and resources required to produce meat on a large scale has taken a chunk out of our planet’s remaining wilderness. It’s time to return the land to the wild.
I appreciate David's positive perspective on this shift that “we are completing a journey:” humans started as hunter gatherers, as it was the only sustainable option; once again it’s becoming our only sustainable option. Countries like the Netherlands have dedicated themselves to finding creative solutions for producing more food using less land with systems like stackable hydroponics.
“We need…to move from being apart from nature to a part of nature once again.”
For some, it may feel like it’s asking a lot to sacrifice their right to eat a hamburger whenever they damn please. I’d say the alternative doom scenario we’re headed for might take the cake. That's just me.
Healthy forests are our best bet for keeping carbon under control and locked away from causing harm to our atmosphere. They also play a fundamental role in maintaining the delicate balance of biodiversity.
Ideally, we'd follow Costa Rica’s lead. When their logging industry got out of control and wiped out their rainforests from 75% of their land to a measly 25%, they offered grants to local farmers to replant native trees. 25 years later – voilà: their rainforest doubled, back up to covering 50%. If we could apply this on a global scale, we would surely be in a comfier place as a species.
“A Life On Our Planet” seeks to reposition our narrative – that this planet exists to support human life first and foremost (did you catch Attenborough’s subtle dig with the title “A Life on Our Planet”?) – and to show that, in fact, our very existence as humans relies on our ability to care for the natural world and protect what biodiversity remains.
“This is now OUR planet, run by humankind for humankind. There is little left the rest of the living world”
We’d like to say thank you to Mr. Attenbourough. Thank you for dedicating your lifetime to exploring the intricacies and bewildering beauty of the natural world. Thank you for thoughtfully warning us of the catastrophe that’s coming for us by showcasing the beauty that’s at stake. Thank you for instilling confidence in us that nature is wise enough to balance itself out whether or not we are able to ease the strain we’re putting on the planet. Thank you for giving us hope that we have a chance to bounce back if we can find ways to protect the biodiversity that makes the Nature Machine function at peak performance.
Thank you for reminding us, with this compelling witness testimony of yours, that “in this world, a species can only thrive when everything else around it thrives too.”
We may not all have the pleasure of observing the rapid loss of entire species firsthand. Without the work of people like Attenbourough, we may be led to believe that this is all happening on a less-than-significant scale, but his work demonstrates that in the grand scheme of Earth’s existence, it’s happening at an incredibly rapid pace.
In the end, I’m hopeful that Attenborough may “find that peace of mind in this lifetime.” There are actionable solutions to our current situation, mainly using our power as human beings to benefit the entire system, not solely ourselves. Maybe you’re already taking action to advocate and fight against climate change in the small ways you can as an individual. Or maybe it takes the wisdom of a highly dedicated and well-traveled 93-year-old man and a cross-stitching of beautiful species mixed with catastrophic scenes to understand that it’s time to make a change.
You can watch the full movie on Netflix here.
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✓ Taking a nice hot shower to start your morning off right.
✓ Enjoying a fresh salad made from veggies grown locally.
✓ Jumping into a lake on a hot summer day.
What do all of these refreshing, wholesome activities have in common? They're all rewards of the hardworking water system that keeps our world thriving, of course!
It's safe to say that we get to regularly enjoy the perks of water (namely, staying alive, healthy and clean) without thinking much about the finite resource that makes it all possible. But in recognition of World Water Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate all that water does for us while drawing awareness to the issues surrounding water in 2022. This year, the UN has highlighted one part of the water system that often goes unnoticed: groundwater.
Groundwater lives underground in the little nooks and crannies of our planet’s aquifers. It feeds our springs, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands, and is replenished by rain and snow seeping into the ground. We rely on this vital resource for nearly all of our liquid freshwater: our drinking water, our sanitation, our agriculture and our industry. It also keeps our ecosystems alive and happy.
In essence, life on Earth wouldn’t be possible without groundwater, and it is quite literally a prerequisite to the future of human existence on Earth (read: surviving climate change and overpopulation). NBD.
Groundwater is invisible, but its impact is visible everywhere. Out of sight, under our feet, groundwater is a hidden treasure that enriches our lives.
As in, it supplies us with nearly half of all drinking water and our food systems depend on it. Groundwater depletion is largely driven by irrigated agriculture, which uses 43% of the global supply of groundwater to satisfy needs for basic global food security. Aquifers are vital water sources to dry, arid regions that undergo long periods without rainfall.
It’s finite.When aquifers are continuously drained of groundwater faster than rain and snow can replenish them, they face a dried-up, depleted existence. Like any other finite resource, groundwater has the potential to be exploited and overused very easily, which is currently the case with our agricultural industry’s groundwater consumption habits. Add in the destabilizing conditions caused by climate change and rapid urbanization and we’ve got a very delicate situation on our hands. As the population grows and new global consumption patterns come into play, demand for groundwater is rapidly growing.
It’s polluted.Highly permeable by nature, polluted groundwater sources can cause huge risks for the surrounding environment and restoring the aquifers to a usable status is no simple task. When it does become tainted, places without reliable access to clean water are impacted most severely, as we know groundwater can often be the only reliable option for clean drinking water. Clean water is a basic human right, despite the fact that over 2 billion people currently lack access. This is often a result of poor agricultural practices that start at the surface and seep underground.
It’s shared.Underwater aquifers obviously don’t fall neatly within city, county, state, or country borders, making it more difficult for the government to regulate and assign ownership. According to International Shared Aquifer Resources Management (ISARM), 468 transboundary aquifers exist worldwide, though only a handful are governed by international agreements. 75% of the world’s largest aquifers under stress are transboundary, which has the potential to lead to intergovernmental problems down the road as resources become more scarce.
It’s invisible.As a resource that exists beneath the surface of our realities and within the gaps of our knowledge, it’s just as easy to lose sight of groundwater itself as it is the local actors who are consuming it with little oversight. It’s largely left unprotected by inefficient governance, which leaves it up to us as individuals and as a community to make good decisions about how we consume water and interact with the land around us – which *shockingly* doesn’t always lead us where we need it to. Many water-scarce countries who have allowed groundwater pumping for irrigated agriculture have created a reliance on this weakening and declining water supply, heightening the consequences even more.
With everything going on in the world right now, tackling a global issue as expansive as groundwater protection can feel pretty out of reach. Thankfully, organizations like charity: water, Living Water International and Thirst Project are working hard to protect the right to access clean water, including groundwater. Donating money or time volunteering to organizations like these could be a great way to take action with this knowledge and give back to groundwater.
Groundwater may be out of sight, but it must not be out of mind.
We can also have a substantial impact on the quality of groundwater in our every day lives! As we hydrate, shower, eat, and move through our lives, water is working hard for us whether we realize it or not:
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In honor of National Hot Sauce Day, we watched this short documentary made by Griffin Hammond that dedicated 34 minutes to uncovering the surprisingly heartwarming story behind everyone’s favorite spicy ‘rooster sauce.’
]]>One hot sauce in particular has advanced in popularity and become an American staple and social phenomenon in its own unique way: sriracha.
In honor of National Hot Sauce Day, we watched this short documentary made by Griffin Hammond that dedicated 34 minutes to uncovering the surprisingly heartwarming story behind everyone’s favorite spicy ‘rooster sauce.’
Huy Fong Foods, creator of the famous 'rooster' sriracha that we all know and love today, was founded by David Tran – a man who fully embodies the American Dream.
Tran arrived in the U.S. at 30 years old with next to nothing to his name after being pressured out of Vietnam by the government following the Vietnam War. Tran and his family, along with 3,300 other Vietnamese people with ethnic Chinese roots, were sent away to Hong Kong on a freighter, and they sat stranded in the harbor for a month as “Frozen Ducks’ before being allowed to land by the British.
Soon after, he was relocated to the U.S. and ended up in LA, where he found himself sharing his national dish, Pho, with fellow Vietnamese immigrants. He was inspired to make a sauce that would enhance the dish using simple ingredients: chili peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. When he began selling it to local restaurants, Tran was encouraged to make his recipe more mild to be easier to sell in the U.S. Of course, he kept with his original recipe and now people go crazy for its perfect balance of heat. When he officially set up shop in 1987, he decided to dedicate his company’s name, Huy Fong Foods, to the ship that carried him out of Vietnam in 1978.
Huy Fong's sriracha has since progressed into an icon of pop culture – without any official marketing or advertising. As Tran will tell you, there’s simply no time to think about advertising when bottles are flying off the shelves. However, you can find plenty of imagined ads from sriracha-crazy fans out there.
As the world's favorite hot sauce, Huy Fong's sriracha brings in over $150 million in revenue. The company's success has remained untouched through periods of economic distress, and sales have continued to climb. Tran has declined offers from outside corporations looking to buy him out and remains steadfast in his mission to create a lasting business that will sustain his family for generations to come. Huy Fong has always been about the people, not the profits. In this spirit, Tran has always aspired to keep the price low to stay true to his mission to be accessible to all.
I try to do something for my chile friends whether they have money or no money - David Tran
Watch the short documentary for yourself on Amazon or Apple TV and let us know what you think. You can also get some behind the scenes move magic with the director's cut for free here.
Empire Glassworks has always been a full-service glass studio. Our origins are rooted in jewelry and decor, specializing in art pieces, like glass figurines and wedding cake toppers, since the 1960s. We have maintained our network of glass blowers and artists throughout the years to maintain our legacy of top quality, hand-crafted products.
Fast forward to 2021: We are now offering custom, functional glass art to honor any special occasion, weddings included.
We're thrilled to offer options that will help make your cannabis-friendly wedding an unforgettable experience for both you and your guests, from personalized centerpieces to take-home wedding favors.
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There’s a lot happening in the world right now. From a pandemic to extreme spikes of weather, it sure feels like the world as we know it has left the room. With everything we’ve got on our hands as global citizens these days, there's one bumbling issue that the survival of our planet, ecosystems, and the human race itself depend on: the conservation of bees. What better day to learn more about these magical little creatures than on National Honey Bee Day?
]]>There’s a lot happening in the world right now. From a pandemic to extreme spikes of weather, it sure feels like the world as we know it has left the room. With everything we’ve got on our hands as global citizens these days, there's one bumbling issue that the survival of our planet, ecosystems, and the human race itself depend on: the conservation of bees. What better day to learn more about these magical little creatures than on National Honey Bee Day?
Bees do wonderful things for us, including pollinating about 80% of our planet and consequently about ⅓ of the food we eat. A single colony is powerful enough to pollinate about 300 million flowers in a single day. Not to mention, they bring in about $10-15 billion for U.S. economy. That's a lot of green.
For perspective, here's a photo via Whole Foods that shows what our produce sections would look like without bees:
The magic happens when they go searching for nectar. When they crawl down to the flower's nectar supply at the base of its petals, they naturally collect pollen with their fuzzy bodies along the way. As they buzz along from flower to flower, the pollen is transferred and the flowers are happily on their way to reproducing.
We like to think it goes a little something like this:
@skinnty_ Do it like it’s your Bee day , Do it like it’s your Bee day 🐝🌸 #beetok #beemovie #beekeeper
♬ Contains music from Live Your Best Life - Á
Sadly, native bees have been in decline for several decades.
The rise of urbanization and monoculture farming has lead to habitat destruction for wild bees; less green spaces means less flowers and thus, less nectar to consume. Sadly, it turns out honey bees may be contributing to the problem.
Honey bees were imported by European colonists around 400 years ago as a livestock animal, used for creating honey and for pollinating crops. While they help pollinate many of our crops and produce a delicious sweetener enjoyed throughout the world, it seems that the farming of bees for honey has lead to competition with native bees for the shrinking supply of nectar. Honey bees also contribute to the pollination of invasive species in many areas, which has lead to further destruction to native ecosystems.
It turns out, supporting the honey-making industry isn’t bringing about the type of conservation we may have thought it did.
Before we started looking into it more, we were under the impression that supporting the local beekeeper by purchasing more locally-made honey and beeswax-based products was contributing to the conservation efforts. Little did we know, it could actually be contributing to the problem.
We certainly aren’t out to tear the honey bee down on its official day of celebration, but we do believe in educating ourselves and our community to become better global citizens. Here are a few actions we can take as individuals to help out our native bee friends:
And don't forget to check out some of our in-stock products that celebrate our favorite pollinators - we donate 5% of each bee-themed purchase to Greenpeace’s Save The Bees project!
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No matter what day of the year, it's never a bad time to celebrate National Avocado Day. To commemorate our favorite spiky fruit this year, we wanted to learn more about the avocado industry and become more informed consumers.
We watched an episode of Netflix’s docuseries, Rotten, called The Avocado War that clued us in on the crop's darker side. (Highly recommend watching it for yourself.)
Here’s what stood out to us:
What it means for all of us
Ultimately, while the avocado industry faces risks, we don't think canceling avocados is the answer. Here's what we're taking away from the docuseries as we celebrate National Avocado Day:
The more we can bring attention to the human rights issues faced by those bringing us the delicious ‘green gold,’ the more we can fully enjoy the fruit of their labor.
Keep the celebration going by adding some of our community's favorite pieces to your collection:
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30mL Dripper Diamond Quartz Cleaner
She may not know it yet, but a clean bowl makes all the difference. This all-natural, biodegradable cleaner is the perfect entry-level option for cleaning out your mama’s bowls. Made from 100% plant-derived ingredients, this stuff gets glass clean fast, especially if you heat it up a little first!
For some people, the potent smell of sweet mary jane can take some getting used to. Help mom get rid of unwanted smoke odor residue to keep the vibe right with these delectable candles. With 7 different scents to choose from, you can customize the candle to your mom’s favorite aroma!
Who wouldn't want to wear a tiny avocado around their neck? This is a great gift for moms who support your consumption habits but choose not to consume themselves… or for moms who reach for avocados when they have the munchies!
Porcelain Water Pipe by Ceramic Smokeware
These handcrafted, aesthetically pleasing pipes are a perfect artisan piece for moms who want to upgrade from a dry pipe to a water pipe. These are a truly unique gift, as they are handmade in limited quantities in Salt Lake City, UT with non-toxic, lead-free materials and bright pops of color. These babies sell out quick, so scoop one now before they’re gone!
No mom should be using a toothpick, bobby pin, paper clip, or any other non-designated object to clear the ash from her bowls. Grab her one of these little ice cream cone pokers just in time for summer!
Groovy Journey Mandala Dab Mat
Help your mama keep her sesh station clean and add a pop of color to her space while she's at it. This mat can cushion your mama’s glass pieces from hard surfaces, be a safe zone for sticky dab tools, or serve as a launch pad for your consumption goodies, whether its flower, wax, or both!
Ooze Traveler Smell Proof Crossbody
This discreet, smell-proof bag will help your mama feel confident leaving the house with her stash. The minimalist design is bound to match her look, no matter her style, and the carbon lining keeps odors in so she doesn’t have to worry about drawing unwanted attention.
Mini Rig - Strawberry Cough Shampoo Bottle
Extra gentle and tear free! Bring on the nostalgia with the ultimate stoner gift that a 90s kid could give their maternal counterpart. It’s bound to bring on flashbacks to the early days that will have your mom feeling sentimental while she’s enjoying her favorite terps!
BENJI Premium Glass Tray Rolling Kit
Now you can supply mom with some Benjamins without emptying out your wallet! This stylish kit includes a modern glass rolling tray, a pack of $100 bill rolling papers, and a set of 3 cones, as well as a protective box to keep it safe in storage. Everything your mom needs to feel like a boss the next time she’s rolling up for her and her 420-friendly friends.
These elegant joint tips will elevate your mom's session experience and help to cool down the smoke for smoother hits. They're hand-blown in Seattle by Danielle Guthrie, so you can feel good about supporting a female glass blower in your mom's honor.
iDab Mustard Yellow Banger Cap & Dabber
Your mom is bound to thank you for adding this iDab piece to her collection! These 2-in-1 dabber caps are equally convenient and easy on the eyes. The pointed tip allows for easy scooping, and the carb cap allows her to control the airflow for the ultimate experience of flavor and smoothness.
This stylish tray is the perfect option for your on-the-go rolling needs. The magnetic lid secures your flower in place when you’re on the move, so you can throw your tray in your bag and pick up where you left off easily. The lid easily snaps on to help you avoid spilling your precious goods while you’re on the road, far from your dispensary.
If you ask us, these kits were specifically designed for road trips. Complete with papers, filters, a rolling tray, and a funnel for easy distribution of your flower, these are a must-have for your adventures. There’s even a built-in grinder made from recycled plastic in case yours is out of reach!
Nature dabs are the bees knees, but lugging your bulky torch and serving up your terps without making a mess is less than ideal. Enter: the trusty Dab Cap. Grab your favorite rig and a vape pen and boom - you’ve got a no-mess, no-fuss nature dab!
These grinders truly hold the power to the flower. SLX keeps it simple to deliver a reliable, consistent grind every time, so you'll never be slowed down by sticky buds.
Keep your car and your Airbnb’s smelling fresh with this travel-sized odor eliminator. Veil's special formula, complete with organic essential oils, breaks down cannabis smoke on a molecular level so you can fly under the radar when lighting up. A must-have for any kind of indoor consumption!
The only thing worse than dirty glass is the job of cleaning it. We highly recommend using Piece Water in with your favorite on-the-go water pipe to keep your glass resin-free while you’re on the road and avoid messy, make-shift clean up jobs.
Keep your dabbers, atomizers, and bangers squeaky clean with these easy-to-pack iso wipes. They’re extra durable so you can keep your stash bag and your car clean from terp residue.
Nothing kills the vibe quite like a clogged bowl, and when you’re road tripping the last thing you want to do is find a random object under your seat to clumsily unclog your glass with. We’ve all been there, and we’re not going back now that we have Smojo Smoke Screens in our lives. These small-but-mighty stainless steel screens keep your glass cleaner and your grass smoking smoother.
]]>Pro tip: Check out the movie Marijuana Menace for context and a good laugh.
Today, our social spheres continue to be affected by this stigma, from silly, distorted depictions of 'lazy stoners' in pop culture, to the nonsensical banning of cannabis-related content on social media. This outdated way of thinking can have a variety of repercussions, such as social pressures discouraging cannabis consumption, policies that limit access to the plant, and the disproportionate incarceration of BIPOC.
In the face of these outdated ways of thinking, some visionaries have set out to build cannabis brands around modernized values of fostering connection, creating quality experiences, and social progress. They are challenging the misconception that consuming cannabis does not go hand in hand with wellness, productivity, style, and safer communities. Ultimately, it’s brands like these that have the power to bridge the gap between cannabis culture and mainstream thinking, contributing to the ecosystem of social progress through legalization and decarceration. We’ve put together a list of a few of our favorites forging ahead and leading the industry.
What: Founded by Jay-Z, Monogram is a new brand based in California offering a luxury, premium cannabis experience with its flower and prerolls.
Why: Although the brand already presents itself as a thought-leader with stylish packaging and proprietary strains that are distinguished through its own numbering system rather than strain names, it’s the way they’ve taken a stance for social change and criminal justice reform that stands out to us. Monogram has placed ads with powerful messages relaying the hypocrisy of the War on Drugs in cities throughout the country.
Product Pairing: Zen Bonsai Mini Rig
What: Stoned & Toned is a fitness platform designed specifically with cannabis lovers in mind.
Why: This brand challenges the “lazy stoner” stereotype with its entire existence by promoting cannabis as a tool for movement and mind-body wellness. It’s no wonder it was founded by one of the OG cannabis lifestyle photographers, Morgan English aka @thiscannabislife, who has been challenging the cannabis stigma with her bright, clean content since 2016. Each class is 30 minutes long and starts off with a strain or product recommendation to compliment your sweat session.
Product Pairing: Mini Rig - Large - Black Water Bottle
What: Braindings offers CBD tinctures & gummies made from organic hemp grown in Colorado.
Why: Another brand whose message for social change is just as strong as its product offering, Braindings is “the first cannabis brand to redistribute 100% of proceeds back down to the community.” They started an Artist Label Program which distributes 50% of all sales back to the artist who poured their hearts into designing the packaging, an innovative and powerful way to spread art while helping people access their cannabinoids. The other 50% you ask? Those remaining proceeds are donated to causes that are driving positive change for the community. Not sure about you, but we’re sure dreaming of a world where more business models look like this!
Product Pairing: Gumball Machine Carb Cap
What: Political Potheads offers apparel and accessories with powerful messages
Why: In a moment when change abounds, we’re grateful to have brands like Political Potheads encouraging people to stay politically active and building a community around social activism, especially as it pertains to the War on Drugs. Founded during the pandemic lockdown by another influential voice in the cannabis space, Kaya Miller aka @behighbeyou, Political Potheads is for those who feel just as strong about living in an equitable society as they do about smoking the best weed. The brand also redistributes 10% of all sales made to The NORML Foundation, an organization taking action to advance cannabis legalization and restore justice to those affected by the policing of the plant.
Product Pairing: Bowl Piece - Space Cruiser
What: LYTE Herbals sells organic CBD + lavender prerolls in beautiful packaging.
Why: LYTE had the pleasure of launching in March, right at the start of a global pandemic. Lucky for all of us, the fact that world shut down didn’t stop LYTE from bringing its hemp prerolls to the world. Harnessing the power of the hemp plant combined with the aromatic properties of lavender, their pre-rolls offer a natural solution for people looking to quit smoking and has received countless positive testimonials from people looking to find an alternative to nicotine. We love how their prerolls can be disguised as cigarettes so that we don’t have to fear judgment while driving - they’re our favorite remedy for traffic woes! We also love to support a women-owned and LGBTQ-owned business.
Product Pairing: Avocado Alligator Clip
What: The Boutique offers a highly-curated selection of luxury cannabis accessories and wellness products with the intention of promoting inclusivity, sustainability, transparency, and quality.
Why: The people at Stoned Fox have put their editorial eyes to work to launch a new shop of consciously-curated brands and products. Aside from the ridiculously beautiful curation of products, our favorite feature of the Boutique is the ability to ‘shop by vibe’ to help canna-curious consumers find their way when exploring new cannabis products that especially cater to female consumers. Just like how a new pair of running shoes can make you feel instantly faster, sometimes having the most aesthetically pleasing gear for your sesh can make your high even better.
Product Pairing: Dry Pipe - Boba Ice Cream Bar
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