As humans, we struggle with moderation. Whether it’s food, social media or exercise, we are often driven by the desire to feel good, and the fear of how we will feel when we stop. This can plunge us into a pride-shame cycle where we tie these behaviors to our own worth. For example, if I choose oatmeal for breakfast I am 'good'; if I choose hash browns, I am 'bad'. Rather than assign value to these choices, I encourage mindful consumption. This means awareness without judgment.
Awareness around our habits can help us keep behaviors in check, without the pressure of a reward-punishment dichotomy. I argue that reward-punishment does not work, because we often reward ourselves with more of the behavior we are trying to curb and punish ourselves in the same way. For example: I only spent 10 min on Facebook this morning, so I am going to allow myself to binge it later on tonight. Or, I spent so much time on Facebook this morning that I feel bad about myself and will self soothe with more social media time.
Breaking out of this cycle and instead using mindfulness and awareness, is a way to curb unhealthy habits and become more of the person we want to be. I use this model to talk about the mindful consumption of substances like cannabis and alcohol and provide tools for recognizing and changing unhealthy habits without placing judgment on yourself, increasing the chance for meaningful change.
As access to legal cannabis continues to grow, many people who have never consumed, or whose consumption was decades ago, are considering cannabis as an alternative to alcohol and prescription medications. The regulated industry has introduced a wide variety of product options and, especially for newer consumers, this can be overwhelming. There is a scene in the movie Moscow on the Hudson with Robin Williams where, after living in Communist Russia, he comes to the US and visits a grocery store. He is emotional and overwhelmed by the varieties of coffee he can choose from. This is similar to the experience that many people have visiting a dispensary for the first time.
In this talk, I review what consumers need to know to maximize the benefits and reduce the harms associated with cannabis use. Coming from a place of science rather than propaganda or marketing, I review the chemistry of the plant, the ways to consume and their associated risks and benefits, and the research available on the medical uses of the plant. This talk is delivered in a fun and easy to understand format, and is full of actionable insights for those looking to incorporate cannabis into their lives.
The Drug War was never about controlling drugs. It was always about controlling people. And while many doubt the utility of the Drug War in 2023, its origins are an important lesson on racism, social control and the use of the law to continue the marginalization of certain groups. If we are to move forward with our eyes open to the ways that the powers that be use laws to suppress the success of minorities in America, examining the Drug War playbook is a crucial step. In this talk I will cover:
The Drug War is one of the longest running examples of institutional racism in America, and talking about it can provide a playbook for creating meaningful change.
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