Written by Craig Kaminer

Photo by Joe Martinez

I’ll never forget the night my father caught me smoking marijuana in the late 1970s. The feeling of guilt, shame, and defiance all still ring true, but my parents were resolute that I would never again get an allowance for fear that I would spend it on what they were so against. That didn’t necessarily dissuade me from doing what high school kids do, but I got a part-time job after school and remember not liking how disappointed my parents were with me. Despite being a good kid, my parents felt betrayed and I felt misunderstood. After all, they did take Valium, Xanax, and other sedatives to manage their daily life stressors, but that discussion was never on the table.

As my kids aged into adulthood, they asked what I thought of marijuana, did I ever try it, and how would I look upon them if they did? I thought about it for a month before answering, but when I did, I told them exactly how I feel, then and now. I told them that I preferred that they don’t drink alcohol, smoke anything or use drugs. But, if they were going to, they should know that I believe more personal and family crises were caused by alcohol and drug use, so that in my mind, marijuana was the least awful. Not sure that advice would win me parent of the year but it was honest and given only after careful consideration.

Fast forward to 2021. Cannabis is legal in 36 states for medicinal use, 15 states for adult recreational use, and in all 50 states for non-altering strains of CBD. Despite more than 2.4 million people having been incarcerated for possession of cannabis from 1970 through 2020 -- not to mention my grounding and lost allowance -- it appears that maijuana use is now broadly accepted as a plant-based remedy with thousands of studies over the same period demonstrating its many uses and efficacy.

I understand that my story in this issue may surprise some, but I hope it shows what is happening in Missouri and Illinois as well as the fully capable business people behind this budding (pun intended) industry. While growing, manufacturing, or dispensing cannabis is still against federal law, Missouri and Illinois have granted licenses to reputable and well-funded businesses systematically making what was once illegal and shameful into a new, respected, and responsible industry.

My first visit was to Ascend in Illinois which dispenses both medical and recreational products because I don’t have a medical license. The storefront is beautiful, thoughtfully designed, and there is a team of very knowledgeable and helpful sales staff. The experience, in fact, was better than any in Aspen, Colorado. While I smoked more marijuana in high school and college than I have since, I quickly realized the “industry” has matured significantly since my friends and I purchased poor quality, uncontrolled substances smuggled from Mexico. Today’s cannabis is stronger, more aromatic, comes in many shapes and sizes, and is engineered for patients treating chronic illnesses, seniors seeking pain relief from arthritis, and a long list of other legitimate uses. There are often lines to get into these dispensaries and the mix of people is fascinating. You can bump into your grandparents, parents, adult children and their friends, and neighbors who you wouldn’t have thought ever used it.

My second scouting visit was to the BeLeaf’s operations in Earth City. As a Missouri holder of 10 licenses, BeLeaf grows, manufactures, and dispenses medical cannabis. Its impressive operations include three facilities consisting of approximately 180,000 total sq. ft. in the three BeLeaf cultivation facilities, labs to synthesize THC from plants into oils, waxes, chewables, salves, and patches. One of its founders, Mitch Meyers, is an old marketing friend from her days at Anheuser-Busch where she created and managed the award-winning campaign of Spuds MacKenzie and I was a young exec at Fleishman Hillard. The BeLeaf operation is world class, professional, and employs highly paid botanists, engineers, and food scientists. This is a far cry from the days when I traveled to the South Bronx to buy a nickel bag from someone who was sketchy at best.

We’re planning to explore the category of medical and recreational cannabis products this year to educate our readers, showcase this growing industry, demystify the uses and benefits, and reveal the luxury purveyors in our area. We plan to approach this much the way we do fine wines, with experts and business execs discussing the nuances of what’s new, and of course, commentary from our readers.

The revelation to include this in our editorial mix came when my mother, an 85-year-old widow living in New Jersey, asked if I could buy her some cannabis to see if it would help with chronic pain in her knees and shoulders, insomnia, and hopefully to reduce her use of opioids to combat the aches of older age. I laughed when she asked, considering I never really got over my harsh punishment for trying pot, but I realized times have changed and seniors are a growing segment of this expanding industry. I have asked for my back allowance with interest, but that’s a subject for another day.

In addition to our feature on cannabis, we have interviewed supermodel Devon Windsor on the imminent birth of her first child, her swimsuit business, and growing up in St. Louis. Also, we have a great profile of jaw dropping-night time photography by J. David Levy, a stunning feature on convertible sports cars, and some great points of view.

We hope you will find this issue visually compelling, mind expanding (or altering), and a reflection of what makes St. Louis great. The fact that mask restrictions have been retracted and people are attending events, concerts, parties, weddings, and celebrations is much to cheer about. Enjoy.