Arriving at Cannabis
People come to Cannabis for different reasons.
Marisa: I nostalgically recall smoking Pakalolo for the first time at a reggae concert at Waimanalo Beach Park. This fond memory was ages ago, but Pakalōlō, the Hawaiian word for marijuana, has had a long history in the islands. Many articles point to the appearance of the word Pakalolo in the Hawaiian Language Newspaper, Ka Nonanona, as far back as the 1842. Across Hawaii and other native cultures, Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes and applications such as rope, fabric, paper, etc. By the late 1970s, Hawaii became famous for strains like Kona Gold, Maui Wowie, and others. I actually recall both my grandmother and mother growing Pakalolo plants in their gardens, which demonstrates Hawaii’s overall open attitude toward the plant.
Pat: I was exposed to Cannabis early on too. As part of Thai culture, my mother would cook with Cannabis on special occasions - adding it to soups/stews for both flavor and effect. Having access to Cannabis through family and friends helped normalize usage of the plant for me.
Growing up in a pro-Cannabis setting has influenced Pat and I to appreciate and enjoy Cannabis throughout our lives. We hear countless positive stories of how the plant has improved people’s health, mental wellness, and spirituality. We hope society and legislation continues to normalize the safe use of Cannabis so everyone can arrive to Cannabis if they choose to.
In our product development work to create Auntie Aloha’s Cannabis-infused gummies and by talking to many customers and budtenders, we recognize that Cannabis is not a one-size fits all. People come to the plant for different reasons that include stress, anxiety, mental wellness, chronic pain, lack of sleep, lack of appetite, PMS, sexual health, and other issues. Others simply prefer Cannabis over alcohol or prescription drugs. Each person reacts differently to the Cannabis they consume. All of these factors make Cannabis such a powerful and complex plant to understand. Our hope through our products and education is to help eliminate the stigma around Cannabis and to enable customers to enjoy what the plant has to offer.
References:
https://leafmagazines.com/learn/history/cannthropology-pakalolo-in-the-pacific/
https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/02/pakalolos-long-history-regulated-future-in-hawaii/