After spending the past two 4/20s in lockdown, the infamous cannabis-related holiday is finally coming back, and things seem bigger than ever. There is a lot to keep track of this year, from festivals and promotions to new flower restrictions, and as a seasoned Florida 4/20 veteran, I’ve dialed in a few of the best ways to celebrate the holiday that we all know deep down is our favorite.
Celebrating with Friends
The first few months of social distancing were manageable, but I started getting the itch to be involved in the community again after a bit. While there was a fair share of virtual events and smaller, more intimate gatherings during the lockdown, there is something extraordinary about being around a large group of cannabis users.
If being around a bunch of chill, down-to-earth people who love the plant just as much as you do seems like your thing, there are many fun festivals throughout the state of Florida that are worth checking out. You can easily find ones near you through social media or by asking your local dispensaries if they are participating in any.
If you aren’t into large crowds – I understand. Even though cannabis-related festivals are usually much more laid-back than your average event, they can still be a lot to navigate. Rather than trying to combat crowd anxiety, inviting a friend or two over for a sesh or attending a virtual event are other great ways to still celebrate with fellow pot-smokers.
Stocking Up
Personally, my favorite part about 4/20 is all of the sales and promotions throughout the industry. Usually, about a week or so leading up to the holiday, and sometimes a few days after, companies will have various deals that are almost impossible to say no to. You can find great sales on smoking devices, apparel, accessories, and even cannabis products.
However, it’s been tricky to buy in bulk ever since the newest restrictions put out by Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) began limiting FLMMJ Patients’ flower usage. As a result, this year, we have to think a little outside of the box with ways we can medicate for 4/20.
One great way to channel your inner stoner this 4/20 is by getting a little creative and experimental with how you use your products. My favorite way of kicking off the 4/20 celebrations is baking a ton of edibles. Of course, this could be because my favorite childhood holiday memories are of baking with my mom, but regardless, I tend to go above and beyond for 4/20.
Infusing your treats at home might seem intimidating with having to decarboxylate the flower and straining the remains. Still, there are a ton of new products out there that eliminate those steps. For example, all of my 4/20 treats were infused with some of Fluents Extracts or their new Agave Nectar this year. These products contain already activated cannabinoids, getting rid of the decarboxylation process and making infusions as simple as mixing them into your recipe as is.
Suppose edibles aren’t your thing, there are still plenty of other ways to have some fun without compromising your flower allotment! Try infusing a joint or a bowl with a bit of extract, or indulge in an at-home spa day with infused lotions and bath bombs!
Most Importantly, Giving Back to the Community
While there are so many ways to indulge in the 4/20 holiday festivities, we can’t forget that not everyone is as lucky as we are to be celebrating. Currently, there are 40,000 people incarcerated for non-violent cannabis charges in the United States. If you’d like to be a part of the change to help free those prisoners, there are plenty of organizations such as 40 Tons, Cage-Free Cannabis, and Last Prisoner Project that you can support.
In addition to those imprisoned for non-violent cannabis charges, thousands of military veterans could benefit from having safe access to cannabis in their state. As a result of the federal restrictions, the VA is limited in the type of cannabis-related care it can offer. Organizations such as Balanced Veterans Network, Weed for Warriors, Veterans Walk and Talk, and OperationEVAC are doing what they can to help veterans gain access to cannabis within their community.
There are so many ways you can have fun and take advantage of the holiday this year. Get together with some friends, attend a cannabis event, take advantage of promotions, go overboard with infusions, and give back to the community. Whatever you choose to do, as long as you’re having fun while doing it, there is really no wrong way to celebrate the best holiday there is!