38 NOVEMBER 24-30, 2022 westword.com WESTWORD | REAL ESTATE | RENTALS | HEALTH WELLNESS | SERVICES | EMPLOYMENT | ADULT | MUSIC | CLASSIFIED | A S K A S T O N E R BY HERBERT FUEGO Dear Stoner: I’m going broke trying to keep up with all of these strain drops. Why are they all sold in eighths and quarter-ounces, though? Why don’t we see more sample packs? Cassie Dear Cassie: Because you keep buying them. There are a few regulatory reasons why sample packs are a real pain in the ass for cannabis manufacturers, including rules that mandate separate tracking and packaging for each different strain and product. And as long as popular growers are selling out of quarter- and half-ounces of expensive fl ower, why would they bother with sample packs? I’ve come across the occasional pheno- hunt box of three different grams of fl ower or a hash sampler with a variety of half-grams. They’re few and far between, though, and cost way more than the already expensive weed you’re currently buying. Being a big fan of cannabis and all of its smells, fl avors and effects is a pricey hobby, and all pricey hobbies require discipline. Find an affordable middle-tier grower you can count on, and save the hype-beast weed for special occasions. Dear Stoner: Why don’t any states put the legal age for marijuana use at eighteen? I can die for the military but not smoke weed? M-Kat Dear M-Kat: This is a common argument re- garding age limits that’s been employed against everything from tobacco restrictions to profes- sional sports, but be angry at the military draft instead of cannabis laws. While I don’t agree with all age limits (or fi ghting in wars straight out of high school), lines need to be drawn somewhere for substance use. Those lines are usually based on science and politics rather than freedom of choice, though not completely. Established science shows that human brains continue developing until the mid- to late twenties, and cannabis use can impact that development. Even most pro-cannabis folks won’t put up a fi ght against that informa- tion. You could argue that the age restrictions should be even higher, but pot policy is a mix- ture of politics and science — and corruption, but that’s harder to pinpoint — with a sprinkle of freedom, so cannabis age limits usually follow those established by alcohol. (Medical marijuana use is allowed for patients under 21, but that’s intended for the sick and suffering.) Dying in a war before smoking your fi rst joint is indeed a shit hand, but that hypothetical tragedy isn’t enough to change either age limit. Hey, at least you’re old enough to vote. Send questions to [email protected]. WARNING: Use of Marijuana Concentrate may lead to: 1. Psychotic symptoms and/or Psychotic disorder (delusions, hallucinations, or difficulty distinguishing reality); 2. Mental Health Symptoms/Problems; 3. Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) (uncontrolled and repetitive vomiting); Cannabis use disorder / dependence, including physical and psychological dependence Programmatic Cannabis Network Organic & Local SEO • Website Design Social Media Management • Print Media Get started today with a FREE Digital Audit. marijuanamarketingxperts.com
