I thought it was mind-blowing when, a few years ago, dispensary billboards starting appearing on our northern California highways. But today’s junk mail included, for the first time, a packet of coupons for $10 off your first order, or $1 off on a set of pre-rolls.
We don’t even have to go back to the 60s. To go from college, in the late 90s, when Amsterdam was some sort of mythic land (“they have menus you can order off of!”), and your strain was whatever you got in a ziplock bag, to now, where’s it “double reward point Wednesdays” and “50% off your first order” (here in red state Florida!*), it is truly surreal.
*I lived in Colorado for 4 years and reluctantly returned to my place of birth. One allows adults over 21 to buy product at their discretion. The other requires you to get on a registry, based on a certified diagnosis (anxiety), provided you pay an annual fee. Can you guess which is the Democratic state and which is the Republican state?