As I sat in the cockpit of my Tie Fighter, cruising across the state of Connecticut, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of exhilaration. I had a joint burning between my fingers, the smoke filling the cabin with a hazy, dreamlike quality. The rebel spirit was coursing through my veins, and I was ready to take on whatever the universe had in store for me.
My mission? To meet with the Wildebeest who was waiting for me. I know this creature, he’s a valuable ally in journeys through the weedverse. As I soared through the air, the Tie Fighter’s engines roaring, I couldn’t help but think that this was what freedom truly felt like.
When I finally reached the Wildebeest’s ship, I was greeted with a blast of energy that nearly knocked me off my feet. The creature emerged from the vessel, his eyes glowing with a fierce intelligence. We exchanged nods, and I knew that we were going to make a great team. With the joint still burning in my hand, we set off into the depths of space, ready for whatever adventures lay ahead. The rebel spirit was alive and well, and I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Soon enough, we reached our destination: the Mohegan Sun Casino. We landed the ship on the roof, where a special area had been reserved for VIP attendees of the XPOCANNA. As we stepped out of the ship, we were greeted by a sea of flashing lights and thumping music. The rebel spirit was alive and well in this place, and I knew that we were in for a wild ride, we needed to pass a security check point in order to enter the expo. The Wildebeest was stopped by a burly security guard. “Sir, I need to check your bag,” the guard said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The Wildebeest didn’t bat an eye. “Sure thing, my good man,” he said, handing over his bag with a smile.
As the guard rifled through the contents of the bag, the Wildebeest said “Just disregard the large bag of marijuana.”
With a nod of thanks, the Wildebeest and I made our way through the checkpoint and into the expo.
I was expecting to be hit with a wave of weed smoke and the sounds of a bustling weed expo. Instead, what greeted me was the unmistakable aroma of nothing. I looked around, confused, wondering if we had somehow stumbled into the wrong event.
But no, this was definitely the right place.
The rebel spirit that had been coursing through my veins just moments before suddenly fizzled out, replaced with a sense of disappointment and frustration. I had been so hyped up for this event, so ready to embrace the wild and wacky world of weed expos. And now, I was left standing in a sea of people sipping on CBD wine and munching on orange licorice.
We were ready to be immersed in a world of sensory delights and potent marijuana strains. But what we found instead was a desolate wasteland, a barren expanse of dull booths and vapid vendors. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, a surreal landscape devoid of any of the vibrant energy that I had come to expect from a true cannabis event.
As we made our way through the crowd, I tried to find some sense of excitement in this unexpected turn of events. I sampled some of the CBD treats being offered, trying to appreciate their unique flavors and such. But try as I might, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Without the weed, without the wild rebel energy that I had been expecting, the expo just felt flat.
As we wandered through the aisles of booths, my heart sank lower and lower. There was no weed to be found, no sweet smell of fresh buds to tickle my nostrils. Instead, we were met with an endless array of pipes and t-shirts. I felt like I had been transported to an alternate universe, one where cannabis had been outlawed again and all that was left was a sad, hollow shell of an industry.
But just as I was about to give up hope entirely, a glimmer of light appeared on the horizon. A vendor, hidden in the corner of the event, beckoned me forward with a sly grin. “Psst,” he whispered, “I’ve got something special for you.”
I followed him into the shadows, my heart racing with anticipation. And there, hidden in the corner, away from the prying eyes of the event, was a true treasure trove of marijuana delights. The vendor had upped the ante, bringing out strains that were so potent and rare that they could only be found in the deepest corners of the cannabis underworld.
For a moment, I forgot about the disappointment of the event and lost myself in the blissful haze. The patios are great here, lovely seating by the Sky Tower and a bar right inside. It was a moment that reminded me of the true power of cannabis, the way it could bring people together and open up new worlds of experience.
As we continued to stroll through the sea of boring, a glint of white metal caught my eye. It was a small booth tucked away in the corner, almost hidden from view. The sign above read “Kushley Ionizer: The Ultimate Odor Eliminator.”
Curious, we made our way over to the booth. An older man sat behind a table, surrounded by bottles and tubes of various shapes and sizes. “What’s this all about?” the Wildebeest asked, eyeing the man skeptically.
The man grinned. “This, my friends, is the Kushley Ionizer,” he said, holding up a small black box. “It’s the ultimate odor eliminator. It gets rid of any smell, no matter how strong.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What kind of smells are we talking about?” I asked.
“Any kind,” the man said confidently. “Smoke, weed, sweat, garbage, you name it. The Kushley Ionizer will get rid of it in seconds.”
The Wildebeest looked skeptical. “Sounds too good to be true,” he said.
The man chuckled. “I know it sounds crazy, but it really works. I’ve had growers come to me in tears, thanking me for saving their crops from the smell police. I’ve had chefs come to me, desperate to get rid of the smell of fish and garlic from their kitchens. This little box has saved lives, my friends.”
The Wildebeest was sold. “How much?” he asked.
The man named his price and the Wildebeest left the booth with his very own Kushley Ionizer. Which works above expectations by the way. Kushley has very cool stuff.
As the smoke from our illicit stash began to dissipate after another trip to the patio, we found ourselves stumbling into a small seminar room tucked away in the back corner of the event. It was there that I saw an old friend and colleague of mine from the dispensary days, Brian Essenter, standing at the podium and preparing to give a presentation on the differences between Connecticut’s medical and recreational cannabis programs. He was also accompanied by Ann Marie Luisi and Michele Vallee who are well known advocates that work within the cannabis industry and are experts in their fields.
Brian was a pharmacist by trade, but he had always had a passion for cannabis and its medicinal properties. Over the years, he had become an expert in the field of dispensary, even traveling the country to speak at conferences and educate others on the benefits of this powerful plant.
As I took my seat in the audience, I felt a sense of pride for my old colleague Brian. Here he was, standing in front of a room full of people, using his knowledge and expertise to spread awareness and understanding about the true potential of cannabis.
And as Brian began to speak, you could hear his deep passion and dedication to the cause in his voice. He spoke eloquently about the importance of providing safe and effective access to cannabis for all those who needed it, whether they were suffering from one of the chronic conditions, or was simply looking for a good buzz.
In that moment, I realized that this was what the event was really about. It wasn’t just about getting high and partying with fellow cannabis enthusiasts. It was about education, about building a community of like-minded individuals who shared a common goal: to make the world a better, more compassionate place through the power of cannabis.
As we stumbled out of the seminar room, still high and in awe of Brian’s passionate presentation, I found myself thrust into a strange and surreal world of flashing lights and booming music. It was an award show for the best cannabis and edibles. It was a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie, except the star of the show was weed.
As the MC took to the stage and began to rattle off the names of the nominees, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. Even though I had never tried any of the products on the list, I knew that this could be a pivotal moment in the history of cannabis culture in Connecticut.
And then, as the winners were announced, a wave of applause and cheers swept through the crowd. It was moments of triumph, and moments of validation for all those who had dedicated their lives to creating the best possible cannabis and edibles.
At this point, my head was spinning and I knew I needed to take a break. The Wildebeest and I decided to throw in the towel and head to one of my favorite seafood spots, Summer Shack. We were all feeling a bit hungry and parched from the events of the day, and we knew that the delicious seafood and refreshing Bloody Marys would be just what we needed to recharge.
As we arrived at the restaurant, we realized there was a bit of a wait for our table. But this didn’t faze us in the slightest. In fact, we saw it as the perfect opportunity to break out a few more joints before our meal.
As we sat outside, smoking and laughing and watching the passersby, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. All of the stress and anxiety of the day had melted away, replaced by a warm and fuzzy feeling.
And when we finally sat down to our meal, it was like a revelation. The fresh seafood and bold, spicy flavors of the Bloody Marys were the perfect antidote to our weary bodies and minds. We laughed and joked and savored every delicious bite and sip, feeling grateful for the simple pleasures of life.
As the meal came to a close and we prepared to head home. It had been a day full with some surprises and adventure. It was also a reminder that, no matter where our journeys take us, the most important things are the meals, joints, drinks, and laughs that we share along the way.
As we left Summer Shack, feeling full and content. The food and the company had done wonders for our spirits. But we knew that it was time to bring the day to a close. But before we did, we had one more thing we wanted to do. We jumped back into the ship of the Wildebeest and took off into the night sky, heading for a quiet spot where we could indulge in a few more joints before the day was over.
As we hurtled through space, the stars streaking past us in a blur of light, we lit up our joints and took deep, satisfying puffs. Without a word, we lit up a few more. As the smoke swirled around us and the stars streaked by, I couldn’t help but wonder if this industry would ever get its soul back. It doesn’t matter though, we still have ours.
