Cannabis Wellness
From Illegal User to Legal Patient in 40 Years Plus , Buds on a Budget … by Jay Richardson , contributing writer
As this November issue of goes to press in mid-October , we do not yet know the results of the November 8 election . The fate of Amendment 3 , the first initiative that gives Missourians the opportunity to legalize the adult use of marijuana , still hangs in the balance . As I write this , I am hopeful and optimistic . By the time you read this , you and I will either be elated or extremely disappointed . I have been waiting for this moment for over forty years and through nine presidential terms . When I smoked my first joint in 1976 , Gerald Ford was in the White House . Now Joe Biden is president , it ’ s 2022 , and for the majority of Missouri residents , not much has changed . That harmless little joint in your pocket currently remains illegal and can ruin your life if you get caught with it . The stakes of this election are very high .
For the last three years , I have been a legal ( patient ) user and licensed cultivator of medical marijuana . I try to be a good citizen who obeys the law and is an active participant in my community . For the 40 years before that , I was classified as a criminal and a social pariah who should be avoided at all costs . I was ineligible for most high-paying jobs and risked imprisonment for most of my adult life . The only thing that has changed is the law . I am still doing what I have always done , but now it is legal . The fact that I use and grow cannabis ( for medical use ) is now an interesting topic of conversation . Dinner companions , who would have shunned me as a worthless stigmatized pothead in the past , now find that asking me questions about my weed garden is fascinating . I am still adjusting to the culture shock . As we approach legalization , part of me is happy and saying it is about damn time . Another part of me is somewhat bitter and melancholy . How different would my life have been if these archaic and unfair laws had been changed 40 years ago ?
Over the past few decades , I have had many jobs and vocations . I have worked in Ad sales , installed satellite dishes , and made pastries and desserts in a gourmet restaurant . For over a decade , I pursued a career in show business as an actor , comedian , and writer . I toured throughout the United States as a comic and had numerous small parts in movies , commercials , and television shows .
As the years passed , many things are now different . Hairstyles , clothing , and attitudes have changed . In my personal life , there have been many changes as well . New jobs . New relationships . New locations . I went to school in southwest Missouri and have lived here for the last 20 years ; however , I have lived all over the United States — big cities , small towns , and secluded cabins in the woods . The one thing that has remained constant is my use of marijuana .
I will be the first to admit that my early years of use had nothing to do with medicine , and I could in no way be categorized as responsible . I smoked at inappropriate times and places and took chances that now seem very foolish . The fact that I have no arrests or any legal
44 November 2022
When I smoked my first joint in 1976 , Gerald Ford was in the White House .
consequences for my behavior is through nothing but pure luck — I count my blessings every day . Many friends have not been as lucky .
My use of the “ plant ” has changed as much as the plant itself . The Mexican weed we consumed in the 1970s had an average THC content of around 2 %. Today , it is not unusual to see 30 % or more in the buds we have available . Four decades ago , we couldn ’ t have imagined these amazing concentrates , such as shatter , that have lab tested certifications of over 80 %. What will you kids think of next ? I can hardly wait !
Smoking marijuana should not be considered a recreational activity . It can certainly be used to improve other recreational activities — sports and leisure-type , but just sitting around and consuming simply for the sake of “ getting high ” is destructive at any age . That is why I ’ m glad that Amendment 3 calls for “ adult-use ” instead of “ recreational ” marijuana .
As a senior citizen , marijuana is helping me to stay alive and allowing me to be productive . Complications from a stomach disorder caused me to lose 50 pounds and left me in constant pain . Conventional medications , which did not address the cause of my issues , created more harm than good in side effects . They also did nothing to relieve my misery . Good old fashion weed , pot , cannabis , marijuana — whatever label you want to place on it is the only thing that did the trick .
My medical complications left me unable to work and placed on disability . A limited income and the high price of marijuana led to the risky decision to starting a small indoor garden . Thankfully , I was able to get away with it until I became a legally licensed “ medical patient ” cultivator . It had been 20 years since I had grown plants , but my previous experience taught me a lot of tricks that allow me to have high-quality buds without spending the money that can go into many other people ’ s efforts .
I imagine some of you are also on limited incomes or think that growing marijuana and making your own edibles is too complicated . In future issues of this magazine , I hope to share some of the knowledge I have gained as a home cultivator and show some shortcuts to having your own dispensary quality cannabis products , while spending a small fraction of what you could . Consider it as buds on a budget . In the meantime , don ’ t forget to get out and vote .
Jay Richardson has participated in cannabis culture for more than four decades and has witnessed its evolution from illicit street drug to respected medical treatment closeup . Jay , now over 60 , has developed medical conditions that cause chronic pain and is currently benefiting from skills he picked up over the years as a home gardener and confectioner to treat his pain . He is happy to share these uncomplicated and affordable techniques in cannabis cultivation and edible projects .