Northern Roots

By Elizabeth Sage

Growing up in Northern Minnesota, I developed a deep love of and appreciation for nature. Despite not realizing it at the time (because kids!), I was immersed in a lush tapestry of lakes, pines, fresh air and every manner of woodland critter imaginable. The ecosystem of plants and the environment became ingrained deep in my soul. There is a rhythm that flows through all of nature, and once you get the beat in your heart, it keeps pumping and only gets louder when surrounded by similar vibrations.

In high school, my first two jobs were in greenhouses, and my heart and hands have never strayed far from nurturing plants. It was there I began to understand the dichotomy of foliage. It’s so easy to grow a plant but VERY difficult to grow a good plant. Something that holds true in cannabis cultivation as well.

Back in 1995, when I tried cannabis for the first time, it was entirely illegal everywhere in the United States. Shortly after, California became the first state to establish a medical cannabis program (thanks to Proposition 215, Brownie Mary and the need to care for AIDS patients). Cannabis became a saving grace for thousands of people for whom Western medicine had failed or disenfranchised them. There was a community aspect to cannabis care in the early Prop 215 days that will likely never be duplicated. People grew MEDICINE for their neighbors and friends in need! Despite there still being many restrictions and unethical practices, they persevered, and their sacrifices paved the way for medical programs in 37 states and adult use/recreational cannabis in 24 states today, including Minnesota!

When I traveled to Northern California (where this movement has been quietly thriving ever since Richard Nixon defied the Shafer Commission and classified cannabis as a Schedule 1 narcotic with no medical benefit) and learned from the people who have risked life and limb to keep this plant relevant, it really resonated with me. I think we owe something to the plant that we have denied it for many years.

I became a certified ganjier (cannabis sommelier) because I wanted to learn how it worked in my body (and everyone else’s). What I learned was so much more. Just how many non-intoxicating uses there are for the plant is mind-boggling! In my years since becoming certified, I have been a woman on a mission to normalize and destigmatize cannabis. To educate people about the PLANT, with easy-to-understand analogies and digestible pieces of information surrounding the mystery of how cannabis works. And Minnesota has been an amazing place to do it. There are a lot of uneasy feelings around cannabis but so much curiosity too!

When I turned 18, I voted for Jesse Ventura in my first-ever election because he advocated for cannabis legalization. That was it. My sole reason to cast a vote … because 18! Last summer, when it became legal in Minnesota, it was such an honor to meet him in person. I shook his hand and thanked him for his efforts 27 years ago.

I also featured him on a panel I hosted this fall about unlikely advocates for cannabis. He sat next to a cannabis nurse (yes, that’s a thing!) and a former police sergeant who could no longer conceivably prosecute low-level cannabis crimes when he knew firsthand from his use of CBD for PTSD how effective they could be at managing pain and inflammation. He told us how cannabis had transformed the quality of life for his wife and how he risked his career and reputation to illegally transport cannabis from Colorado to help his loved one find relief. I hear him say that, and I can’t help but think that no one should have to go through all that to get medicine from a plant we can all (legally here in Minnesota) grow ourselves.

He stands up in front of crowds and tells his story. And it isn’t a pretty story, nor an easy one to tell, but he does it all the same. Most people you meet in cannabis have a story as to why they use it, but you might be very surprised if you listened to those stories and knew firsthand the incredibly beneficial changes it has made to many lives.

People often ask me why I use cannabis. And honestly, the best answer I can give people is that I feel better when I do. My body has less pain and inflammation. My mood is much more flexible and able to adjust to all the challenges of life, motherhood and being an entrepreneur. I use it when I need a moment of reflection or relaxation, when I want to wake up and when I want to sleep. See, it’s not one-size-fits-all, and it takes some time to find your modality and dose!

You may be wondering, if cannabis is legal in Minnesota, why are only beverages and gummies available? And shouldn’t they be sold at dispensaries? The short answer lies in the 2018 Farm Bill. Most people, even in an ag-centric state like Minnesota, don’t pay attention to legislation pertaining to farming. Changes were made to distinguish between hemp (containing less than 0.03% THC) and marijuana (containing more than 0.3% THC). This led to confusion, and in 2022, a law passed allowing the sale of under 50 mg of edible or topical cannabis products, provided that THC came from a hemp plant. This process, involving expensive and time-consuming extraction methods, adds to the complexity.

Our legislature then took the bold step to legalize ALL cannabis! As of August 1, 2023, you can grow your own, consume it and gift it, but there are no legal avenues for buying and selling cannabis flower, concentrate or high-potency marijuana-derived products. Note that there are plenty of places that are selling it, but if they are doing so illegally and without certificates of analysis (COAs) on products, I will not consume them. I want to know where my cannabis comes from, and so should you!

We are currently in the rule-making stages, with hopes of issuing provisional licenses for cultivators to begin planting this summer and selling these products in the fall. A number of things are slowing down the process, but it is mostly politics. Never underestimate the ability of a politician to slow down progress for “perfection.” Regardless of the timeline, it will happen.

Now that we understand the situation, let’s talk about why Minnesota is so amazing! Legalizing cannabis here not only allowed low-dose cannabis but also made it available virtually everywhere without societal meltdown. It’s a testament to successful integration into normal society. Without really trying, we became the test case for the nation, and the big results coming out of it? We didn’t devolve into a decrepit, drug-addled society. In fact, if you look at the significant reduction in alcohol-related incidents, you will see a correlation to the implementation of cannabis beverages.

The way our body processes cannabis beverages is much different than how it processes alcohol, and that is a place I think we should lean into a little more as a society. Cannabis beverages can be created to have a quick activation and deactivation time. Unlike alcohol, you can customize your experience with different products and milligrams, which allows you to titrate up to your minimum effective dose. The rule of thumb is start low and go slow. You can always take more, but you can’t take less!

 

Are you starting to wonder how we can make Minnesota cannabis something that people are excited about and seek out? There are many similarities between Minnesota’s economic drivers and cannabis. We have the infrastructure, the equipment and the drive! We need the OK from the lawmakers, and we need skilled and knowledgeable cannabis professionals to grow, process and sell our fine Minnesota craft cannabis. As an agricultural crop, cannabis presents numerous opportunities, particularly in tourism. Being surrounded by prohibition states makes Minnesota a prime candidate for cannabis tourism. With potential for significant economic growth, the possibilities are endless.

I have been to many a legal state to see what they are selling. Since anything other than hemp is still illegal, each state is regulated 

with its own set of rules and regulations, with different ways and amounts of selling. I joke that we don’t have one cannabis industry, but rather 37 cannabis industries in a trench coat. But in all seriousness, until the federal government deschedules cannabis, we are going to be overtaxed and over-regulated simply because they can.

So until we have some licensed adult-use dispensaries, we can take advantage of all of the low-dose hemp products that our market has been churning out over the last 24 months. This can be a very confusing process and, quite frankly, overwhelming. In the next issue, we will dive much deeper into the hows and whys of consumption. I will also break down the types of products available and how to pick one that is made of quality ingredients, fits your budget and, most importantly, makes you feel amazing!

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High! I’m Elizabeth Sage, a Certified Ganjier, Entrepreneur, Geriatric Toddler Mom, and Trash TV Junkie. I’m all about bringing the plant to the people (in all modalities) and growing cannabis professionals for the new industry landscape. I also have a weekly newsletter you can subscribe to and #sageagainstthemachine with me each week while I share stories from my life and leave you with some Sage Advice to guide your week.

Instagram: @thesageganjier @sageadvice.mn

LinkedIn: @ElizabethSage.