It seems like every part of life has an elite group that is invitation only. How do you get an invite though? I guess it depends on which special group you’re trying to be a part of. In primary school we are introduced to the idea of cliques and are taught to separate ourselves into groups based on specific personality traits or hobbies we enjoy. In secondary school it gets even worse. At that point, if you’re not in a specific clique there can be consequences, and it can often feel like there’s no redirecting once you’ve shown interest in any one thing.

Eventually, we find ourselves pulled further and further from human connection unless it looks just like us. Sure, there’s a select few that have crossed cliques, but in general, once you’ve been a part of one type of group you are pretty much a divergent if you attempt to show interest in anything different. Isn’t it weird how we intentionally limit our experiences?

I used to naively think that when we graduate high school the only elite groups that would exist would be the Illuminati and their A-list celebrities. Naive, I know. I was always the kid who wasn’t defined by any specific group. I guess most people would consider me a loner, but I always viewed myself as diverse. I connected with people on a direct level, but was never really invited to the group events. People connected with me when they were pulled away from their cliques, but as soon as the group was together, I was back to feeling like an outcast, even if the entire group connected with me on a one-on-one basis. 

Does this speak to the reality of the cannabis space? Abso-freaking-lutely! We won’t discuss the internal war between Big Pharm Cannabis and Legacy Cannabis right now, but let’s discuss, for a moment, the invitation-only mindset that each one has. It seems that as soon as you’ve had any sort of interaction with one or the other you are instantly thrust into that clique, with or without your consent. 

While it's completely natural to want to be surrounded by like-minded individuals, it’s also vital that we are not limiting our human connections to just the group we are marginalized into. Each holds a vital space, but if there continues to be an invitation only mindset amongst each respective space, they will completely counteract the value that they themselves hold. It’s counterproductive and does harm to those who are trying to learn about the healing components of cannabis. Remember, a good portion of cannabis users aren’t experts and are still helping break the stigma. They hold a vital space, too, and providing a unified front to educate and heal is truly important.

I know that it’s far too naive to think that a collaboration between the two big cannabis cliques would come naturally, but am I too far off to consider that it is possible to one day find that the two have come to a higher purpose together? It reminds me of co-parenting after being freshly divorced. Sometimes it takes a LOT of mediation, communication, collaboration, and comprehension for the two to function properly. So far, it seems to me that the legacy space represents the maternal side of the theoretical divorce. They have compassion for healing properties and perfecting recipes to provide their cannabis families with the most impeccable experience. They deeply care that it’s their heirloom traditions that are being passed down. 

On the other side of the spectrum, Big Pharm Daddy is very financially-minded. He’s firm and makes decisions that will protect his family as well. The issue is that neither Legacy Mom nor Big Pharm Daddy are treating one another like family.

I, personally, once again find myself the loner of the group. The orphan. I don’t have any legendary, harrowing legacy tales to root me deep into the origins of the plant, nor do I have any industry-trained certificates to garner me respect amongst Big Pharm agents. I am simply a Naive Newbie. While I have a few stories in either world that I’ll share along the way, I still find those experiences to be personal connections and never truly a full invite to the clique. So, pardon me while I hold space for myself in both worlds as I explore all that this plant has to offer. 

You are cordially invited to join my invitation only experience, created especially for all my fellow Naive Newbies, while I navigate the plethora of knowledge that emerges from my dysfunctional relationship between my Legacy Mom and Big Pharm Dad. I ask that you treat the Naive Newbie with the same patience, understanding, and support that those kids who have healthy functioning families have. 

If you want to be the Naive Newb’s awesome Auntie or Unc in the interest of teaching, mentoring, or otherwise collaborating, please feel free to reach out.