For the Culture By The Culture
California just raised taxes on legal cannabis by 26%, threatening to wipe out the small businesses and legacy growers who built the market. This feature breaks down how the policy is pushing operators out, fueling the illicit trade, and revealing the hypocrisy of a state that once championed cannabis culture but now treats it like a cash cow. This is economic betrayal in real time.
The DEA is dragging its feet on cannabis rescheduling despite over 43,000 public comments and a formal Schedule III recommendation from HHS. What’s the hold-up? This deep-dive exposes the legal limbo, political stall tactics, and why America’s weed policy is still frozen in time.
Increasing tariffs and trade policies are driving up prices for cannabis accessories, impacting consumers who face strategic price hikes disguised as inflation. Major corporations pass these costs to customers while small producers struggle. The industry’s silence on these issues highlights economic manipulation, urging consumers to support local brands and demand transparency.
The Ann Arbor Hash Bash, held annually since 1972, symbolizes the ongoing fight for cannabis rights and culture. Headlined by Tommy Chong in 2025, it embodies protest and celebration against restrictive drug laws. The event attracts diverse generations, emphasizing the fight for freedom and autonomy amid the commercialization of cannabis culture.
Cannabis culture is at a turning point. This month's cover reflects the tension—progress on one side, resistance on the other. As legalization faces a new wave of scrutiny and misinformation, the future isn’t guaranteed. It’s being shaped now, by the people paying attention.
In a bizarre twist of bureaucratic brilliance, the DEA has reclassified marijuana as a leafy green vegetable—officially adding it to the American food pyramid. From salad bowls to school lunches, the War on Drugs just got edible. Satirical? Yes. Unbelievable? Barely.
