The Dog Days of Summer brought Kansas City and the entire state of Missouri into the national and global spotlight, attracting World Cup fans and giving the cannabis industry opportunities to showcase itself with class and sophistication. Many brands held watch parties( see page 14), and dispensaries awarded soccer fans with various World Cup special offers.
Kansas City was World Cup central, hosting some of the top teams that also allow cannabis use in their counties. England / UK( medical use), Argentina( medical use), the Netherlands( fully legal), and Algeria( medical purposes with authorization). However, Algerians needed to keep their cannabis in Missouri, because their host state, Kansas, frowns on cannabis crossing its state lines.
Who can forget the Netherlands soccer fans parading through KC in a sea of orange? More than 35K turned out for the Dutch orange walk through downtown to the FIFA Fan Fest at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. It’ s possible some of the orange marchers may have stopped at a downtown dispensary before the long march. Cannabis is fully legal in the Netherlands, and Missouri dispensaries welcomed the Dutch fans. Just say’ n!
As we approach the tail end( pun intended) of the Dog Days of Summer, which runs from July 3 to August 11( typically the hottest part of summer), we’ re reminded that summer’ s end is unfortunately fast approaching. Rats! I like summer— not built for winter. Nevertheless, the year is zooming by, so we must soak up summer while it lasts.
According to the Old Farmer’ s Almanac,“ The Dog Days of Summer” is far more than a modern saying; the phrase comes from ancient Greek and Egyptian skywatchers who noticed that the brightest star, Sirius, rose with the Sun during this period. For centuries, this hot part of summer has carried both astronomical meaning and layers of folklore, often viewed as a time of drought, disease, or unrest. Well, that’ s not good!
I prefer the belief that this period of intense heat coincides with the heliacal rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, part of the constellation Canis Major. Ancient civilizations noticed the star appear in the eastern sky just before dawn in midsummer. Although the star has no actual effect on Earth’ s temperature, the lore surrounding Sirius has endured for thousands of years. Farmers watched the skies and adjusted planting and harvesting schedules based on this superstition. I’ m a dog lover, so the“ Dog Star” theory and hot weather suit me best.
Speaking of the hot summer months, check out page 16 for this month’ s“ HOT Budtender Picks Fresh from The Expo” featuring new products to enjoy poolside. Check out page 12 for Ask Leah’ s article,“ What are the 10 Most Popular Cannabis Concentrates in Missouri, and How Do You Consume Them?” And there’ s plenty more within these pages to keep you entertained while you stay cool in the A / C.
Remember to shop only at state-licensed dispensaries for your cannabis products, not convenience stores or gas stations. It’ s reassuring to know that the products sold at dispensaries are lab-tested, and now, more than once, assuring consumers that the purchased products are safe.
Enjoy the Dog Star, summer, and stay cool!
6 August 2026
From
Bill Cromwell, Publisher
TheEditor
, Editor-in-Chief
The Dog Star
Since 2019
TM
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