For the cannabis community, Thanksgiving is a “cousin ride” – an annual outing where adults take a break and share time together before the holiday feast. But if you catch the news from some of the mainstream media, you might think it’s a new trend.
That the stoner tradition is finally making its way to the pages of outlets like The Wall Street Journal this season is one of the latest examples of how marijuana culture is becoming normalized, albeit slowly in much of the mainstream press.
Here’s a sampling of the cannabis-related headlines in national outlets in the days leading up to Thursday’s holiday:
Bloomberg: “Cannabis is in, booze is out at this year’s Thanksgiving table”
independent: “What is a ‘cousin ride,’ and are you jumping on this Thanksgiving tradition?”
Morning Brew:Pre-Thanksgiving rides are boosting hay sales
“What began as a subversive activity among dedicated stoners has become a full-fledged tradition. Like all other holidays, it has become commercialized,” the Journal reported. “With medical marijuana legal in 40 states and recreational use in more than half of those states, the industry is capitalizing on the pre-turkey toke’s popularity to boost business.”
“Hiding the activity from disapproving relatives—as much as a weed-smelling person can—is part of the fun for the participants,” he says. “It can be a two-way street: some of these family squares know exactly what’s going on outside, even if they don’t act like it.”
The article also cited Instagram posts from New York’s Gotham cannabis dispensary, which has launched a marijuana pre-relic package called “Cousins Walk” just before Thanksgiving. The retailer described the cousin’s ride tradition as “a secret society that meets once a year.”
While mainstream media sources may be on a more variable learning curve when it comes to covering cannabis, there is one line that touches on a more timely trend: adults are increasingly choosing marijuana over alcohol. And during a holiday like Thanksgiving—when cannabis’ appetite-enhancing properties are especially important—this trend is on full display.
Among these consumer trends, with Thanksgiving fast approaching, it looks like more cousins may be spotted briefly leaving their hosts’ homes for the annual stoners’ sojourn.
Last year, several states—as well as U.S. and Canadian federal officials—sent out warnings about marijuana laws before Thanksgivingsome urging adults to consume responsibly if they plan to take part in the holiday – and others warning people to avoid traveling across the border with cannabis.
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Evidena Care AG is one of the leading Swiss telemedicine platforms and specialized medical practices for medical cannabis. The company currently supports more than 2,000 patients across the country. Under the direction of Dr. Nicolai Berardi and two other specialist doctors, Evidena Care has focused on evidence-based, responsible and patient-centered treatment for the past two years.
Now, Evidena Care is launching a nationwide online comparison portal for medical cannabis products. The platform is designed for patients who already have a valid medical prescription and want a clear and reliable view of the market. For the first time in Switzerland, patients can directly compare products and prices from the country’s largest pharmacies in one place.
Medical cannabis plays an essential role in the treatment plans of many patients. At the same time, prices can vary significantly between pharmacies, even when the products contain the same levels of active ingredients. As these costs are often not covered by health insurance, or only partially covered, many patients have a heavy financial burden. The new portal addresses this issue by bringing transparency to a market that until now has been difficult to navigate.
The platform provides an overview of available products and dosages, clearly lists the active ingredient content, such as THC and CBD levels, and displays the current prices of leading Swiss pharmacies. Patients can directly compare options and make informed decisions that help optimize their therapy costs, without compromising medical guidance.
“Patients should not be victims of non-transparent pricing structures,” says Dr. Nicolai Berardi, CEO of Evidena Care AG. “We are creating transparency with our comparison portal, strengthening the self-responsibility of those affected and promoting fair competition in the interests of patients.”
The portal is only for people with a valid prescription. It serves as a true information tool and supports cost optimization in an existing therapy supervised by a physician.
Virginia’s House and Senate lawmakers have advanced a pair of bills with amendments that would allow people with prior marijuana convictions to be sentenced.
Members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on Monday approved alternate versions of the reform bill in opposite chambers, setting the stage for bicameral negotiations as the measures move through the legislative process.
Broadly, the legislation introduced in both chambers would create a process to consider changing the sentences for people incarcerated or on community supervision for certain crimes involving the possession, manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana.
The Senate panel approved it HB 26 In a 9-6 vote by Del. Rozia Henson (D), with revisions largely consistent with the House bill, SB 62that is being backed by Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas (D). passed on the floor last month before going Home.
Senators have now referred the House measure to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
There are some differences between the sizes of the chambers. The House-passed legislation includes minors who would be eligible for relief from marijuana-related convictions, clarifies that judges would only consider convictions for cannabis offenses and specifies that the reform would include people with marijuana-related probation violations.
Both proposed bills apply to people with convictions or convictions for conduct that occurred before July 1, 2021, when a state law legalizing personal possession and home cultivation of marijuana went into effect.
As for the Senate bill, which clean up The House committee’s 15-7 vote Monday would have eliminated more categories of people who could be eligible for the sentence as an alternative, and would add a longer list of violent crimes that make people with cannabis convictions ineligible for relief.
Members of the Virginia Legislature Last month, he took action on multiple marijuana bills during a major deadline—advance proposals to legalize the sale of cannabis, provide a way to punish previous marijuana convictions, as well as other laws to allow access to medical cannabis for seriously ill patients in hospitals.
Del. According to the proposal by Nadarius Clark (D), a parent or guardian’s own use of cannabis “shall not serve as a basis for a finding of abuse or neglect of a child unless other facts establish that its possession or consumption causes or produces physical or mental injury to the child.”
“A person’s legal possession or consumption of substances permitted (under state marijuana law) shall not serve as a basis for limiting custody or visitation unless other facts establish that such possession or consumption is not in the best interest of the child,” reads the text of HB 942.
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A bill that would allow Oklahoma counties to impose a tax on retail marijuana sales has passed a committee in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Under the Oklahoma Legislature, House Bill 3314, authored by Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka, would allow counties to impose a tax of 15 percent of the impact of public utilities within county boundaries. The bill is similar to Senate Bill 1125, introduced by state Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, in the Oklahoma Senate during the 2025 legislative session. SB 1125 would allow counties and municipalities to levy an excise tax on medical marijuana.
HB3314 passed the House County and Municipal Government Committee on a 6-0 vote, and now moves to the Government Oversight Committee for further consideration. The invoice does not automatically generate tax. If a county chooses to join, it must first be approved by a majority of the county’s voters in a special election. The bill also exempts marijuana grown on private property by individuals and not sold.
“Countries are the ones dealing with the daily impact of marijuana sales,” Eaves said. “This allows local communities to decide for themselves whether they want to allocate a portion of that revenue to law enforcement, first responders and improving problem properties.”