By James Bridges | Herbage Magazine
We show up to remember why the hell we started.
We may flex our best buds or hang banners with our logos flapping in the wind, but we show up because this is where we find our people.
Small-town pop-ups and even the biggest festivals in the state are a huge part of a movement that refuses to be tamed. These are reminders that this culture wasn’t built in an office with spreadsheets, suits, or credentials. Our cannabis culture was built in garages, barns, backyards, sweat & tears, and connections with people who believed in the plant before the world gave them permission to. The bad with the good…
Every joint passed and smiles exchanged, it all means something there. You can feel it in the music, the laughter, the smell of resin and bong rips hanging in the air. These moments are proof that Oklahoma’s cannabis scene is more like a big tribe. We run into friends and acquaintances from the industry. We welcome new faces without judgment or expectations.
Contests and festivals give the growers, the makers, the artists, and the believers a place to be seen and experienced. To be recognized for their grind. If you’ve survived the storms this industry’s thrown at you, you’ve earned your spotlight and then some.
The trophies are simply metal and glass. The real prize is connection. The nod from someone who knows the hustle, same as you. A hug from a competitor who feels more like family than the gangster fighting for territory down the street. The understanding that you’re part of something bigger. Something that matters. Which, by the way, you are.
These festivals keep the soul of Oklahoma cannabis alive. They bridge the OG cats who risked everything with the new generation learning to grow and evolve into something we all hope to be even better. The soul guides our culture where it lives best. It’s up to us to continue steering that wave.
Remember who you are and why you keep showing up.
See you at the Cowboy Cup!