In Indiana, the drugs that nearly destroyed my life were perfectly legal. Doctors administered them through IV lines while I lay in hospital beds: morphine, fentanyl, Dilaudid. I wasn’t chasing a high. I was a patient, and I trusted the system.

Between 2014 and 2019, my life became a revolving door of hospital admissions. I would arrive sick and in pain, get stabilized with powerful opioids, begin to feel normal again, and eventually be discharged. For a while, things would seem fine. Then something would go wrong, and I’d end up right back where I started—another ambulance ride, another hospital bed, another IV line delivering the same medications.

At the time, I didn’t question any of it. I believed the hospital was helping me. No one ever explained how dependency could develop quietly underneath the surface. I thought I was just dealing with an illness that kept returning.

Looking back now, the pattern seems obvious. At the time, it didn’t.

When the Pattern Became Clear

The opioid cycle doesn’t always announce itself. It builds slowly until one day you realize your life revolves around it.

During those years, I watched the opioid epidemic claim people around me—friends, family members, a brother-in-law, cousins, my best friend’s son. Some overdosed. Others disappeared from the lives they once had. I didn’t think my story belonged in the same category. I wasn’t buying drugs on the street. I wasn’t trying to get high. I was a patient.

But by 2019, I was exhausted in a way that sleep couldn’t fix. That’s when I finally started to question the pattern—not just the illness, but the cycle itself. By then, the physical and emotional toll had caught up with me. There were nights when the weight of it all felt unbearable.

One afternoon, I was sitting at home, overwhelmed and crying harder than I can remember. My granddaughter Melody was about two-and-a-half years old. She didn’t understand addiction or hospitals or fear. She just saw her grandpa crying.

She walked over, climbed into my lap, and sat there quietly until she fell asleep. In that moment, a thought hit me that stopped everything: how could I leave this child behind?

She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. That moment forced me to face what I had been avoiding. If nothing changed, the cycle I was trapped in was eventually going to kill me.

The Illegal Alternative

Not long after that, cannabis entered my life. In Indiana, cannabis was still illegal. Possession alone could bring legal consequences. At the same time, I had spent years legally receiving some of the most powerful opioids available inside hospitals.

That contradiction didn’t make sense to me.

Still, I approached cannabis carefully. I wasn’t trying to make a statement or chase a high. I was looking for a way to stabilize my life and step away from a cycle that had defined six years of it. Slowly, things began to change.

My sleep improved. My anxiety eased. My body and mind began to settle in ways they hadn’t in years. Most importantly, the revolving door of hospital admissions slowed—and then stopped. Cannabis didn’t erase the past, and it wasn’t a miracle cure. But it gave me something I hadn’t had in years: a way forward.

The drugs I trusted were legal. The plant that helped me was not. The first time I tried cannabis wasn’t dramatic. There was no party, no sense of rebellion. It was quiet. By that point, I had spent years being treated with medications that carried serious risks, all administered under medical supervision. Yet the plant in front of me was the one considered dangerous.

I approached it the only way I knew how—carefully. Not to get high. Not to prove a point. Just to see if it could help me steady myself long enough to step off the cycle I had been stuck in. Looking back, that moment didn’t change everything overnight. But it changed the direction of my life.

The Conversation We Still Avoid

Today, Indiana remains surrounded by states that have moved toward cannabis legalization or medical programs—Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, even Kentucky—while it continues to treat the plant as if the national conversation hasn’t changed.

Meanwhile, the opioid crisis hasn’t gone anywhere. There is no single solution to addiction. Recovery is complicated and deeply personal. But ignoring tools that may help people reduce harm doesn’t solve anything either. I’m not claiming cannabis is the answer for everyone. What I know is simpler than that.

For years, I trusted a system that kept pulling me back into the same cycle. The thing that finally helped me step away from it was something my state still considers illegal. Today, I’m still here. Many people I knew during those years are not.

I still get to hold my granddaughter. That’s reason enough to start having a more honest conversation.

This article is from an external, unpaid contributor. It does not represent High Times’ reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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Sometimes hitting pause means staying present, not zoning out — and that’s where Urmawm comes in. Life can feel relentless, but finding balance doesn’t have to mean losing focus. Enter Urmawm  (pronounced “Your Mom”), a brand of low-dose gummies, balms, and tinctures formulated with hemp-derived CBD, THC, and supportive botanicals for those looking for functional […]

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When you hear the phrase “cannabis tourism,” what comes to mind? A party bus with smoke billowing out of open windows? Scaling the side of a grassy hill to get a glimpse of the cannabis promised land? Perhaps hitting a joint and then gently descending into a child’s pose? All of these are correct. Cannabis-related tourism has evolved quite a bit since the early days of legalization.

When Colorado voters passed adult use in 2012, people from all over the country flocked to the Centennial State to experience something they never had before—consuming cannabis legally. Early cannabis tourism experiences experimented with ideas, which commonly consisted of taking patrons to dispensaries where they could shop and then providing a safe space for them to consume their purchases, which was usually inside a tour bus or an outside venue.

This brand of tourism exists in other markets as well, such as the craft beer market. People sign up for pub crawls where attendees can sample and purchase unique brews. Craft beer tourism also includes dinners with menus to highlight the flavors of the hops, tours of breweries where the beer is being made, as well as art gallery and music events where local, craft beers are showcased. There are even athletic events like Beer Mile, which incorporates both running and beer consumption in competition. So, what does that mean for the future of cannabis tourism?

Experiencing the Culture

Certain regions in California are known for their wine culture. Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara counties draw millions of people annually who enjoy leisurely strolls through the vineyards, artisan cheeses, and world-renowned wine. It’s a whole lifestyle. Similarly, Kentucky draws bourbon aficionados seeking the finest aged liquor.

While still in its infancy, the cannabis sector of tourism has immense potential. The famed Emerald Triangle of northern California, including Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity counties, has a storied and rich history of cannabis cultivation and culture going back decades. Much of the production and cultivation of high-quality cannabis, as seen with today’s most popular strains, took place in those hills. While the stringent framework of cannabis legalization and the opinion of some who believe that cannabis grown outdoors is inferior (as if!) has taken its toll on the economic viability of production in this region, the history and stories are unmatched.

Furthermore, the craft, legacy genetics, and regenerative cultivation techniques applied by farmers in the Emerald Triangle produce cannabinoid and terpene profiles that are complex, therapeutic, and unique to the region. (Here’s a tip: the next time you visit your local California dispensary, ask for something grown outdoors in the Emerald Triangle. You’re welcome.)

Farm tours, farmers’ markets, and cannabis farm-to-table style dinners are just some of the offerings that could be featured in cannabis tourism. However, regulatory barriers like not allowing farmers to sell directly to the consumer or making it difficult to establish a tasting room in the small towns that dot Highway 101 have limited the realization of culture-driven cannabis tourism.

Wellness Focused

Cannabis yoga was one of the first wellness activities to overtly pair wellness with consumption. Truthfully, many of us have been getting high before experiencing yoga, massages, meditation, and painting for as long as we can remember. However, the concept of marketing these activities with cannabis only surfaced after legalization. While the places where people can publicly smoke cannabis are limited, even in legal states, opportunities to openly consume at private facilities like yoga studios or outdoor venues make them a popular choice among the wellness crowd. As the normalization of cannabis use continues, these offerings may be less in the camp of cannabis tourism and more under the umbrella of wellness in general.

Culinary Delight

Pairing and integrating cannabis with food is a perfect match, even when many of us, while in the throes of the munchies, have made some suspect food pairing decisions.  I recall one particular night when I was convinced that the peanut butter and easy cheese sandwich I had made was a culinary marvel. Still the fact remains that cannabis has the potential to enhance not only our appetites but also the experience of eating.

Furthermore, like pairing food with wine, the flavors and aromas in cannabis can complement food as well, elevating both the cannabis, the meal, and you! There are two main types of cannabis dinners. The first pairs food with specific strains of cannabis to compliment the flavors and aromas of both and to guide the consumer through the meal in the context of the effects of cannabis. The second infuses meals with THC or other cannabinoids, which puts the focus on a high that evolves throughout the experience. This type of cannabis tourism is very popular among consumers. In the 2023 Consumer Survey from New Frontier Data, 73% of respondents said they would like to attend an infused dinner.

The Future of Cannabis Tourism

Cannabis tourism once focused squarely on giving people who live in illegal states the chance to buy and consume cannabis without fear. As more states have continued to change their laws and more people have access to legal products, not only in their state but also in the neighboring ones, the offerings have shifted to include cannabis as a component of another activity, including cannabis in the context of dining as well as opportunities to experience and learn about legacy cannabis culture. There are many more emerging opportunities in the cannabis tourism space. To learn more about what’s trending, check out the Cannabis Travel Association International at cannabistravelassociation.org.

This article was originally published in the March 2024 issue of High Times Magazine.

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At the auspicious time of 4:20 p.m. on April 20, 2023 I’m in a state of supreme zen, floating on my back within a mineral pool heated by underground hot springs to 85° F. With my shades pointed upwards at the warm springtime sun, I feel absolutely euphoric as tension dissolves from my body. It’s only in the absence of the tightness and stress I’ve been holding that I begin to feel the impact of the weight I’ve carried with me on the drive from Oakland all the way to the top of the Napa Valley. This 4/20, I’m incorporating the cannabis plant as one element of a full holistic jump towards joy. A new company, Cannescape, is hosting an overnight event in wine country that spotlights the best of California’s famed agricultural bounty and cannabis is on the carte du jour.

While weed-infused dinners are not uncommon in the Golden State, their grey area legality in terms of cannabis consumption means they are often hosted at private homes or event spaces. Founded by San Francisco-based travel writer Chelsea Davis, Cannescape is breaking boundaries in the tourism industry by pairing cannabis cuisine with legendary hotel properties. Her first event, held in February, took place at the Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco, a spot that’s hosted rock ‘n’ roll royalty. Her second event took place on 4/20 at Dr. Wilkinson’s resort in Calistoga, an area known for its mineral pools and volcanic mud baths. When we speak prior to the 4/20 event, Davis is on the heels of a press trip to a luxury hotel in Fiji.

“I have a good sense of what I appreciate as a traveler and when I’m going to a property or a great dinner,” Davis says. “I feel like my background in writing about hospitality, travel experiences, and great dinner events has really helped in terms of planning these events.”

Upon arriving in Calistoga and soaking in the pool, I head to my hotel room to prepare for the Cannescape dinner. I grew up in Solano County, which borders Napa County, and have fond childhood memories of spending time with my mom and brother in Calistoga. In fact, the first time I stayed at Dr. Wilkinson’s was with my mom a few years back. Since then the hotel, which was originally founded in 1952, has undergone a renovation. The property kept its emblematic neon sign and the pools are the same, but it now has a midcentury modern look designed to appeal to a younger demographic.

Out front on the city’s main street under the neon there’s another sign reading, “Where wellness meets happiness.” On the property are directional makers pointing to “detox” and “retox.” Once the producer of crops like walnuts and prunes, the Napa Valley is now known as one of the most famous wine producing areas in the world. Calistoga fully embraces its place within the iconic wine growing region, but it’s an unusual place to host a cannabis event as the city does not allow commercial cannabis cultivation or adult-use dispensaries.

“Obviously there are a lot of people who are against [cannabis], who are kind of very set in their ways. They think it’s going to tarnish Napa Valley’s reputation,” Davis says of hosting a weed event in wine country. “There’s a lot of push and pull, but I think ultimately when I was trying to figure out a company idea that was also relevant and something that people were interested in, I was betting on this only continuing to grow in terms of a feasible tourism industry.”

The idea for Cannescape was sparked through Davis’s background in tourism and travel, more specifically her social media work for the Napa Valley Cannabis Association.

“Napa is known for its incredible wine experiences, beautiful vineyards, fine dining, very luxurious experiences, but they also want to cater to a younger demographic and this demographic wants more experiences,” Davis says. “So not just fine wine, but obviously something that makes California unique is the fact that cannabis is legal.”

California cannabis law dictates that only licensed dispensaries can sell THC infused-food and beverages. To work around this restriction, the dinner at Dr. Wilkinson’s is composed of CBD-infused dishes and does not include smoking.

“Most hotels have rules against smoking and that’s just an extra layer of complications that I’m trying to avoid right now,” Davis explains.

Upon heading to the glass-enclosed event space where the CBD dinner will be held, I realize I’m still a bit early and join in a yoga class that’s happening in the grassy area in front of the hotel lobby. The Cannescape overnight is happening in conjunction with Calistoga Wellness Week and I’m taking it all in. After forming what feels like an instant friendship with another guest attending the dinner, we join in another one of the Wellness Week activities and make scented candles together. Next we head to the six-course meal, which is being presented by a connection Davis made through her writing, chef Solomon Johnson. Johnson won the fourth episode of Chopped 420, a cannabis cooking competition produced by the Food Network. After he and his business partner chef Michael Woods started the Pan-African take-out restaurant, the Bussdown, out of an Oakland ghost kitchen, they opened OKO, a restaurant located in Oakland’s famed Tribune Tower. When I speak to Johnson he’s in his home state of Maryland where he is working to open a restaurant within a food hall.

“I’m not a cannabis chef and I try to remind everyone that, you know, I am just a chef who loves cannabis,” Johnson says. “I look at it like any other ingredient in my pantry.”

Johnson sees himself as an advocate of plant medicine. Microdosing is a key concept behind his CBD dinner.

“We’re going to make sure everyone is mindful of their consumption…Too much of anything is a bad thing obviously,” he says. “Being mindful and intentional about how you medicate, why you medicate, and when is an important part of growth as a cannabis consumer.”

The dinner event begins with a presentation from some of the event sponsors. That includes author and certified sommelier Jamie Evans, the Herb Somm, speaking about cannabis and wine pairings. During her presentation Evans passes around wine glasses filled with different botanicals, including cannabis, to showcase terpenes—aromatic elements present in both cannabis and wine that contribute to their taste. Stephanie Honig, board president of the Napa Valley Cannabis Association, speaks to the group about her experience promoting cannabis in a region known for wine. Honig is also the director of sales and communication for her family’s business, Honig Vineyard and Winery.

“We all want the best thing for Napa,” Honig tells me in a phone call prior to the 4/20 event. “We’re third generation, our family business, and have four kids and want Napa to be successful and valuable and prosperous in the future obviously, but we just disagree on what that looks like. For some vintners or some Napa residents it’s really about sticking to wine exclusively. To me it’s looking at, you know, there is no other industry that doesn’t look at consumer trends and adapt to some extent.”

Most of the people who visit Napa Valley are Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, Honig explains, noting that the region needs to look towards attracting a younger demographic in order to remain successful.

“We’re losing [young tourists], we’re losing them to places like Mendocino and Lake County where they can go and have an experience of going to a winery, but also going to a brewery and having great food and going to a cannabis garden and having a diverse experience,” Honig says. “Napa has had double digit success for the last 20-30 years and it’s amazing, but I don’t believe in hanging your hat on that. I think you really just need to move forward and look at what’s next.”

During the 4/20 event Honig says she believes low-dose cannabis beverages can be an alternative or additive to alcoholic beverages. The Cannescape dinner reinforced this idea by beginning with non-alcoholic cannabis aperitifs from Artet. Next, myself and the other diners jumped into Johnson’s meal. Each course incorporated 10.5 mg of CBD, but we were all also offered a side dish containing 30 mg of THC-infused avocado oil to add to our dishes as we pleased. Highlights of the dinner included a black bean soup with a tempura cannabis leaf crisp and a crab tart with maltaise sauce and caviar. The whole experience felt decadent and by the end most of the dinners were smiling and sedated by the effects of the CBD.

“Think about [CBD] not being psychoactive, but being more relaxing, it’s a notable difference and I think that’s part of the education process,” Johnson says. “A lot of people at this dinner may be first timers and they may not have experienced the quote unquote ‘medicated’ feeling so I think it’s great. It’s like the kiddie pool, you know what I mean?”

Johnson says participating in dinners like the one hosted by Cannescape are a “powerful social experience” that should include educating diners so they can break down the stigmas associated with cannabis. It’s also a chance to boost tourism dollars in the local economy.

“Having this opportunity to work with so many iconic spaces is fueling the fire in a way that we would not have been able to do on our own had we been trying to provide this service without them. But it’s also a symbiotic relationship in the sense that these spaces don’t always get booked out,” Johnson says. “Whether people want to admit it or not we are in an economic crisis where people are very smart with their money in the Bay Area just in general.”

After the dinner, I part ways with cannabis entrepreneur and activist Amber Senter whose company Landrace Origins provided the coffee during the next morning’s two-course CBD-infused breakfast. Senter spent her 4/20 holiday getting a massage at the resort’s spa and was headed to Washington, D.C. the next day for the National Cannabis Festival. We both agreed that the Cannescape event was one of the classiest 4/20s we’ve ever experienced. “Wellness” is a buzzword that gets thrown around often in both the cannabis and travel industries, but the magic point of ultimate relaxation arrives when you combine cannabinoids with other healthy habits like eating fresh food, participating in physical activities like yoga or taking in the waters of natural mineral springs.

“We’re premiering a new section of cannabis tourism which includes fine dining with travel and cannabis-infused dining,” Davis says.

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Fighting stress and anxiety is easier said than done! Find out which mushrooms and adaptogens can help you feel like yourself again.

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Leafly asked Dr. David Bearman, a leader in cannabinoid medicine, if it’s safe to smoke or consume cannabis before and after a surgical procedure.

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Direct CBD Online is a convenient online storefront that offers incredible CBD products and accessories, delivered to your door.

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App-powered patient-to-clinician partnerships with integrated care & products have arrived thanks to EO Care.

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Today, Martha Stewart CBD unveiled Martha Stewart CBD Wellness Topicals—the company’s first venture into the topical market. In 2020, Stewart launched the company under the Canopy Growth umbrella, with high expectations.

Stewart’s brand already sells gummies, oils and softgels infused with full-spectrum CBD, before launching the new CBD Wellness Topicals. The new topical products have specific applications for different results, including Super Strength CBD Cream designed for muscle recovery, Sleep Science CBD Cream designed for better sleep and Daily De-Stress CBD Cream designed for stress management. The CBD skin care market was projected to hit $1.7 billion by 2025, according to Million Insights.

The formulas were created by Stewart in partnership with Marquee Brands and Canopy Growth Corporation. The company doesn’t skimp on the active ingredients, providing “market-leading levels of CBD,” along with co-actives and proven-to-work aroma-technology formulated specifically for each need.

Vice President of Skincare & Topicals at Canopy Growth, Dr. Anna Persaud, says the topical line is great for the CBD-curious, especially if they have a specific goal. “We worked with Martha to create products that improve daily wellbeing in specific ways, addressing muscle recovery, sleep support and stress management, and with proven to work formulas featuring market leading levels of CBD, the line offers the perfect starting point for anyone new to CBD,” Persaud told High Times.

Stewart believes that most problems at home have simple, yet effective solutions—including when it comes to skincare.

“I believe that living well can be simplified by focusing on practical and effective solutions, which is why I created this line of CBD Wellness Topicals with the Canopy Growth team,” stated Stewart. “I am thrilled to help improve our customers’ daily lives through proven formulations that make wellness accessible and convenient, with offerings that address muscle discomfort, sleep deprivation, and stress.”

Using full-spectrum CBD, combined with other co-actives and aromas, you’re more likely to see results versus CBD-only products. Generally speaking, full-spectrum CBD products contain multiple cannabis plant extracts, including essential oils, terpenes and other compounds.

“I believe that living well can be simplified by focusing on practical and effective solutions, which is why I created this line of CBD Wellness Topicals with the Canopy Growth team.” – Martha Stewart

The 2018 Farm Bill changed the way CBD products are regulated, and it didn’t take long for the hemp-derived CBD industry to take off. Stewart’s team waited patiently for the laws to unfurl at the federal level.

Stewart solidified her audience long ago. For decades, young, crafty homemakers followed Stewart’s advice—almost religiously. “While the company she founded continues to thrive,” the Academy of Achievement writes, “Martha Stewart has had more influence on how Americans eat, entertain, and decorate their homes and gardens than any one person in our history.”

Martha Stewart CBD Wellness Topicals are formulated with US-derived broad-spectrum CBD, with competitive levels of CBD and competitive price-per-mg of CBD, versus competitors. The products will be available for purchase in 20mL, 50mL and 150mL sizes.

Below is a rundown of the new products that are available:

Martha Stewart CBD Wellness Topicals

Super Strength CBD Cream for muscle recovery, featuring powerful co-actives, including magnesium and ginger.

• 150 mL (7500 mg CBD) – $99.99
• 50 mL (2500 mg CBD) – $44.99
• 20 mL (1000 mg CBD) – $24.99

Sleep Science CBD Cream for better sleep, featuring aroma-technology essential oils, including lavender and vetiver.

• 150 mL (3000 mg CBD) – $89.99
• 50 mL (1000 mg CBD) – $39.99
•  20 mL (400 mg CBD) – $19.99

Daily De-Stress CBD Cream for stress management, featuring aroma-technology essential oils, including neroli and ho wood.

• 150 mL (4500 mg CBD) – $79.99
• 50 mL (1500 mg CBD) – $34.99
• 20 mL (600 mg CBD) – $19.99

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A first-of-its-kind study could blow the roof off of stigmas and myths about cannabis and high athletic performance.

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