Dear Cannabis Community: High Hopes and Louder Voices for 2025

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Dear Cannabis Community,

As 2024 burns down to the last ember, it’s time to take stock of the year we’ve had—a year filled with small victories, frustrating setbacks, and the undeniable growth of our movement. We’ve seen progress where we least expected it, but we’ve also faced resistance from the same forces that have fought to keep cannabis in the shadows for decades. It’s been a year of contrasts, and the road ahead demands that we stay united, loud, and unyielding.

President Biden made headlines with his federal pardons for simple marijuana possession, a long-overdue step that gave hope to thousands. He also ordered a review of cannabis’s Schedule I classification, something we’ve been demanding for years. But let’s be honest—this doesn’t erase the fact that cannabis is still federally illegal, and the promised expungements and decriminalization haven’t materialized. Grading his performance? It’s a C- symbolic gesture, sure, but far from the substantive change he campaigned on. It’s a reminder that the fight for true reform won’t come from half-measures.

This year also saw other moments that defined the cannabis landscape. California, long seen as a leader in legalization, passed baffling restrictions on THC-infused hemp products. While it might have been intended to protect the market, it only added more layers of bureaucracy, pushing smaller players out of the game. Meanwhile, corporate cannabis giants continued their creep, often prioritizing profits over the culture and community that built this industry. These moments of hypocrisy and greed highlight why we must stay vigilant.

But let’s not lose sight of the wins. State by state, legalization continues to move forward. Communities are growing stronger, reclaiming cannabis from decades of stigma and injustice. Every local grower, every small dispensary owner, every advocate who challenges the status quo—they’re the real heroes of 2024. They remind us that this isn’t just about getting high; it’s about justice, equity, and a shared belief in something better.

Looking forward to 2025, we need to make one thing clear: cannabis reform doesn’t happen without us. The corporations won’t fight for fairness, and the politicians won’t act without pressure. It’s on us to amplify our voices, challenge the lies of biased studies, and call out policies that hurt our community. Every post, every vote, every conversation matters. We’ve built something incredible, but it’s time to take it further.

Let’s make this the year we push harder for federal legalization, equity in the industry, and protections for the small businesses and individuals who are the lifeblood of this culture. Let’s demand that lawmakers listen, not just to us but to the undeniable truth about what cannabis can do—for health, connection, economy, and society as a whole.

We’ve got the momentum. Now it’s time to use it.

From all of us at Pot Culture Magazine, thank you for standing with us, for refusing to be silenced, and for keeping this culture thriving. Wishing you a safe, joyful, and beautifully lit New Year. Here’s to a greener, louder, and more defiant 2025—let’s spark real change together.

Stay bold, stay loud, and stay lit,
Pot Culture Magazine

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