OPINION: Lights, Camera, Cannabis!

Written by Greta Hyland

Whether we like it or not, we might just be living in the era of Marijuana. Midterm elections saw recreational and medical marijuana legalized in Oregon, Alaska, Guam, Part of Maine, and Washington D.C., following the lead of Colorado and Washington. Like federal judges striking down gay marriage bans across the country, marijuana is sprouting up one state at a time. It is not far-fetched to believe the debate will come to Utah eventually. With Mesquite City Council approving a grow operation and taking applications for a dispensary, it is literally right over the hill. And according to Richard Secrist, Mesquite City Services Development Director, someone submitted an application for a dispensary, and it was approved.

I asked him if he thought Nevada would legalize marijuana to which he replied, “Eventually. People are already collecting signatures to get it on the ballot.” He went on to say that he wasn’t sure if Mesquite would ever legalize recreational marijuana, and wasn’t sure if it would even be a good thing, but said that the medical benefits of marijuana are well documented. He explained how it makes sense to regulate the sale of it because growing marijuana for medical purposes is a highly technical process. “You definitely don’t want people doing it in their homes,” he said.

Secrist went on to explain how children with epilepsy take a marijuana oil prescription which stops their seizures and clears up other symptoms as well. This marijuana oil is produced from a type of marijuana plant called Charlotte’s Web, grown by five brothers in Colorado through a non-profit organization called Realm of Caring. Charlotte’s Web is low in THC, the compound that produces marijuana’s psychoactive effects, and high in CBD, a compound believed to reduce seizures in those suffering from certain forms of epilepsy. The plant is named after Charlotte Figi, a young girl who was the first epilepsy patient successfully treated with the strain.

Clearly, this is not the type of marijuana production we associate with the sixties. But of course, it is going to take some cultural tweaking and perception changing if is to be accepted science by the mainstream.

And it is slowly happening, at least in the legalized Cannabis state of Colorado. Out of Durango, CO., 4CornersTV.com, an online video network, is going to be airing an informational, online program called Green Light, that is all about the recreational cannabis industry. The programs will be weekly 3-minute long clips that will cover the diverse aspects of the industry such as growing the marijuana plant, shopping at a local dispensary, and the appropriate dose of marijuana edibles. The host, Erin White Sinberg, uses an interview style format to deliver informational and humorous content each week.

Green Light is covering the rather controversial topic that will be dealt with by explaining the industry, its forerunners, and products in an entertaining and convenient online way. Green Light will run every Thursday at 2pm, but can be viewed at any time on the website after the episode airs, so you will never miss a show and never have to set your DVR.

“It’s a fun challenge,” Green Light host Erin White Sinberg explained when asked about hosting the show. “The Cannabis industry continues to evolve; however, it seems the general perception (think ‘reefer madness’) has not. Our aim is to educate and inform the audience by presenting Cannabis and the industry as it is, without judgment, and also to make the show fun and entertaining without relying on standard, over-used, and outdated stereotypes.”

According to the show producer, Sarah Healy, “Cannabis has become an entrepreneurial endeavor complete with gadgets, paraphernalia, and business strategies to fuel the multifaceted industry. She says that everyone, from college students to retirees, is interested in this new revolution and wants to learn about it.

“Green Light is expected to push some limits,” says Healy, “Some will ultimately disagree with the content due to their feelings about legalization, but others will learn a lot about the chemistry involved and about the people holding the reigns, as the industry is largely run by chemists, biologists, and business people, not hippies hanging out in their basements. These professionals have invested significant time, energy, and resources to make the plant available to patients and customers and we look forward to sharing these findings with our audience members during the season.”

While this show is about recreational use, I’m sure it won’t be long before more educational programs start to appear. So whether in our regional neighborhood or in our very homes online, marijuana is popping up everywhere. If you want to learn about the cannabis industry, look no further than the short segments done each week on 4CornersTV; and watch out, if Mesquite will allow a medical marijuana dispensary, it’s not too far-fetched to believe Utah might too. It is a money maker after all, so to those who state the economy is king, marijuana could walk the talk. And it most certainly would bring much needed revenues to Utah schools, all without increasing taxes or selling off of our pristine land to the fossil fuel industry. It’s something to think about for sure.

Opinion Editor’s Note: Richard Secrist is the author’s father.