Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers,

There’s something about the depths of winter that sparks inward reflection. In this season of short days and cold nights, less distractions allows us to actively leave behind what no longer serves us to welcome the rebirth of spring, and in turn, the rebirth of ourselves. Through intention and self-love, we can choose to address cyclical patterns, relationships, or thought processes to better understand who we are in our very core. Just like cannabis, we too can grow in the wintertime, but it takes great care and dedication to ensure we emerge fruitful at the vernal equinox.

This February edition is a reflection of love in all of its forms. Love for one another, love for our sacred cannabis plant, and love for ourselves. For us here at the magazine, February is more than the overtly commercialized Valentine’s Day. You’ll see no heart shaped candy boxes or dozens of red roses in these pages. What you will see is raw and unfiltered: It’s the love of an adoptive father on the Compassion Trail, eloquently described by Mike Robinson. It’s about love for oneself, through the poetry of Casey Renteria, or the all-encompassing love of a kind Universe by Guy Borgford.

It is through this theme of self-reflection that we address the diversity of our beloved community. Just as cannabis is grown in hundreds of varieties, the love for the plant is held by individuals of all different backgrounds. In an industry plagued by a tumultuous and racist history, respecting and embracing this diversity is paramount. On page 22, you’ll find an interview with veteran and famed television host, Montel Williams, as he describes his foray into the cannabis industry as a patient, business owner, and advocate. You will meet cannabis chef, LaWann Stribling, sharing one of her favorite recipes on page 28. In this edition’s Women of Weed, you will meet Maya Gillian and Sahir Al Salam, speaking about their experiences as women of color working in cultivation. It’s with love that we highlight BIPOC community members this Black History Month and in every edition.

As we confront the new year, we are delighted that our community responded en masse to love. All of our contributors deeply resonate with our cause, as well as with our desire to use the powerful emotion of love as a tool for change. You will read about these experiences and learn that spreading love in our colorful cannabis community means many things: uplifting craft growers, embracing consumption in all of its forms, helping ill family members, and facing our own biases. It’s with great pleasure that we share our deepest love for the plant with you, our readers, and our ever-growing community of stoners all over the world.