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5 things to be thankful for

Published on April 19, 2019 by David Wylie

Annual 420 events are often draped in the toga of protest.

However, on the eve of the first 420 post-legalization in Canada, here are five things for which to be thankful.

Normalization
It will still take a bit of time, but cannabis culture will become part of everyday life for everyone. This is no less than a social revolution, ending the stigma that has been a thorn in the side for too many decades. People are investing in pot stocks, finding gainful legal employment and partaking in public.

Pardons
No longer will possessing pot give you a criminal record. The war on drugs has ruined lives and the federal government is working on making that right by moving on a plan to make pardons free and fast. However, we side with Kelowna-based cannabis company DOJA in calling for expungement.

Research
This is a boom to the big brains among us. Scientists who have been restricted for decades can now openly study cannabis and its effects. They are looking at everything, from sex to concussions, from to anxiety to pain relief. We are on the cusp of many cannabis breakthroughs.

Consumer rights
We now have access to all the rights afforded consumers in a legal market. That means cannabis consumers have a right to product safety, proper packaging and labelling, anti-competitive practices (including price fixing and misleading advertising), and privacy. It’s important we stand up for these rights.

Choice
Not everyone was always privileged enough to know a friend with weed. Now rather than asking random people on the street, everyone can access cannabis from a variety of producers and a variety of stores.

Nothing is perfect, especially the current regulations governing cannabis. There is so much more that needs to be done. For those wanting a more glass-half-empty vibe, here’s a list of 10 reasons to protest cannabis policies.

READ MORE: Here’s a list of places to spend 420 in Kelowna, Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.