The pandemic made me question my place in pot so I joined the team at Reason

COVID is officially over. Last month President Biden signed a resolution to terminate the national emergency related to the pandemic and just days ago the World Health Organization declared an end to the global health emergency. After three years it’s beginning to look like life before COVID, but for many people life has changed forever. I’m one of those people.

During Covid, I saw the cannabis community I know and love transform into something I never fathomed. It’s no secret I was skeptical of government mandates. However, the backlash I faced for speaking up broke my spirit. The wrath of cancel culture impacted my income. I watched women bully women for beliefs in medical freedom. I felt anxiety every time I opened social media. I simply couldn’t do this anymore.

The pandemic and subsequent erosion of freedom made me feel like I need to use my voice for more. I set a goal to get at least one paid gig in the political realm and it turned out to be so much more. In September 2021, I went from pot to politics and joined the team at Reason.

How could I go from pot to politics?

Founded in 1968, Reason is a libertarian magazine that covers civil rights, politics, culture and so much more. I first discovered the Reason Foundation, which publishes their content, over a decade ago while working in politics in Los Angeles. The foundation publishes in-depth policy research on issues like the drug war, education and infrastructure. I’ve always been drawn to the Reason Foundation by their use of facts, and their news reporting is no different.

What I love about Reason is their bipartisan criticism of both sides while also being a voice for libertarians. If you’re a disillusioned Democrat or Republican and looking for alternative sources, I highly recommend Reason. In today’s divisive media climate, they are a refreshing voice of, well, reason. So when I saw they needed a digital marketing specialist, I felt like my prayers had been answered.

A voice of Reason

Reason advocates for free minds and free markets. They cover topics including the drug war, criminal justice, school choice, government, spending, sex work, crypto, free speech and more. Their content appeals to a broader audience, and unless you’re a close-minded communist, there’s probably something on Reason‘s site you’d agree with.

I appreciate our team’s diversity of thought. Sure we might all be libertarians but some are right leaning, some are left leaning and a few are little black pilled. It feels good to be part of a group that embraces free speech and rejects cancel culture.

Finally, one of the things I enjoy most about this shift from pot to politics is how much I learn every day. From reading news articles for social media to learning new skills, like video editing and livestream production, I amass knowledge that carries over into other aspects of my life, including cannabis. I’ve learned so much and it gets my creative juices going again.

Don’t worry cannabis community, I’m not gone for good

For a while, I felt some apprehension to announce my transition. I worried about haters reporting Reason‘s account, even though visiting their page might force them to learn something. At first I felt this weird ego death of Cannabess, as if somehow working in politics meant I was no longer active in pot. But in reality, joining the team at Reason reignited the passion I feel for this plant and shifted the way I view myself as Cannabess.

Our policy research impacts legislation. Influential cannabis activists, and even Joe Rogan, share our content. Reason is out here changing minds, and I see it in my own community. I’d be crazy to walk away from what I’ve built the last eight years, especially since Reason provides such valuable information for the industry.

Best of all, since joining Reason I can be more selective about the brands I work with. I no longer fear canceled contracts over political differences. I no longer need to police my speech. And I definitely don’t give a shit about liberal women misinterpreting my politics, especially when they still follow me from client accounts anyway.

In hindsight, I’m thankful for the last three years. COVID pushed me outside my comfort zone, motivated me to set goals and provided an opportunity to expand industries. While it didn’t seem like it at the time, the pandemic helped make pot fun again.