Our bodies produce compounds virtually identical to those found in the cannabis plant through a network called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This fascinating system helps regulate mood, memory, appetite, sleep, immune function, and more — all in service of maintaining homeostasis, or internal balance. “The ECS is critical for almost every aspect of our moment-to-moment…
The cannabis scene in Austin, Texas has been elevated with the addition of cannabis boutique and lounge, Cozy Canna. Located on the corner of W 4th and Lavaca, Cozy’s dark brick exterior with neon canna leaf is contrasted by the shop’s bright green and pink interior. Walking into Cozy feels like walking into CannaLand. To the left, a budtender bar with a knowledgeable team ready to help you discover your next favorite flower strain. To the right, a very cozy smoking lounge and extensive boutique featuring a thoughtfully chosen line of hemp-infused wellness items, elegant accessories and canna-inspired clothing. Located in the back, a colorful bar with a neon Cozy sign, serving up alcohol-free, canna-infused drinks and packages including an array of smoking experiences.
It still feels quite surreal to enter a canna-forward space in Texas, especially in a crowded area like downtown Austin with the Capitol located a few streets away. After spending quite a bit of time going through the gorgeous collection of curated items, I was happy to connect with a budtender who walked me through the ideal strain for a chill evening in a public space. After I decided on the Apples and Bananas strain, a hybrid indica strain with caryophyllene and limonene terpenes, I enjoyed the preroll in the safety of Cozy’s lounge.
Cannabinoids including CBD and THCA have been legal in Texas since 2018 under the Farm Bill, which legalized hemp and its cannabinoids on a federal level. Since the 2018 Farm Bill, cannabis-centric dispensaries, shops and lounges have been opening throughout the state, offering an alternative outlet for people to find healing through plant medicine.
Cozy Canna currently has three locations – Cozy Fourth in Austin, Cozy Georgetown and Cozy Hutto. Cozy Fourth is open Sunday from noon to 10pm, Monday through Wednesday from noon to 9pm, and Thursday through Saturday from noon to midnight.
The cultural and commercial growth of the cannabis plant in modern society has been an intriguing, and frustrating, process to witness. The hemp industry…
As any cannabis user who shares their experiences via popular online social media platforms, the inevitable happened this weekend: my account was disabled.
Thankfully when it happened, I was elevated (surprised?) and I was happy in my surroundings, happy IRL, so the digital inconvenience was merely a shrug.
While I am not surprised that my account was disabled, I am surprised that my original response was to merely appeal the decision with Meta and continue to censor myself even more so I wouldn’t lose my invisible space on this virtual planet of likes, comments and shares.
So this experience has led me to the question — why do we allow Big Tech to censor us, and come back? And we come back quieter. QUIETER. This is even worse. Having to silence ourselves at risk of social ostracization, and for some, a punch to our bank account.
The easy answer may be many of us may feel we do not have another choice. Instagram and TikTok have monopolized the social media industry and both platforms are strongly against cannabis. Yet we are in the cannabis industry, we want to connect and build our businesses, our brands, so what do we do? If we continue to allow censorship time and time again, are we saying we’re okay with it?
Texas has so many strong cannabis advocates. Advocates who fight and who do not stand in line with others, awaiting for mass approval. I feel through support on other platforms, we can begin to stop fearing the Big Brother aspects of the tech industry and the childish slap on the wrist when we smoke some herb.
I’ve created a Discord server for the Texas cannabis community with hopes that we can find solace on a more private platform and not fear that at any moment all that we have built can be taken from us.
You can’t deactivate community.
What happens when we’re all censored? We change the game. We change the landscape. We mustn’t forget we hold the control.
I have also decided to use this platform, this website, far more often. It’s exciting as if I am back to the days of LiveJournal and Tumblr where humans would write and write and create and share. It feels more personal and I am finding it more comforting writing this at midnight then scrolling through IG. To more late night writings where you have to go out of your way to read what someone has to say.
xoxo, canna chill
TLDR: Have a cannabis account.
I fear my depression is returning. When I awaken, my eyes feel glazed, my heart beats slowly, and all I wish is to close my eyes until the next morning sun. Maybe then I will open my eyes to a brighter day. Walking to the fridge to fill my empty glass with water is a task, opening my front door to step out into the world feels almost impossible. Thankfully I have a partner who helps me during these times, one who puts my needs first, but the burden is heavy and I wish to do my part to heal the parts of myself only I can heal.
As someone who wishes to create healing retreats for others in which we find peace and solitude together, I find myself hesitant to write these words, but healing from depression and speaking of it is very important, I feel. For the sadness causes you to feel so completely alone, with nothing to look forward to, nothing to take you from this place of emptiness that wallows in your stomach, causing a painful ache.
But we do have social media. We have television. We have movies. We have socially acceptable vices that we place in front of us when our emotions are moving downward. Bad day at work? Your favorite show is waiting. Feeling alone? All your friends Instagram stories are within your fingertips.
But these are mere band-aids that do not begin to heal any part of the actual problem. Our addiction to technology and our mindless consumption of material that is not thought-provoking in the least, is leading us into this world I fear to be a part of.
I’d like to end on a happier note. At the beginning I mentioned healing, holistic retreats together, and this is something I truly want to manifest and am working towards. Perhaps the depression and anxiety I have felt my whole life is teaching me how to help other heal from such paralyzing ailments.
Today I went on Instagram Live via @canna_chill! I was chillin’ on my porch and had an idea I’ve had many times before which was to get on live, smoke it up and talk about meditation and breathwork – connect. However, this day, I put my idea into action and set up my bedroom for a quick smoke sesh, chat + guided meditation. What I expected to only be a 10 minute live ended up being over 20 minutes due to engagement with the audience! After the 10 breath guided meditation and an additional hit, I felt sky high.
However, about, maybe an hour or so later, perhaps even sooner, I began to feel down. The high of connecting with other beings and successfully working towards a future goal had dissipated and I was left with a numbness, just staring at the far north wall in my bedroom. What I had accomplished no longer felt like anything at all. And it fucking sucked.
The day continued into the evening and the numbness remained. Around 9 p.m. I took a shower and rediscovered Rainbow Kitten Surprise and my happiness was restored. Now when I ponder of the events of today, I feel happ(ier).
But that’s emotions, man. We’re always ebbing and flowing, going through the ups and downs, and it will never end. It’s equilibrium. It’s everything.
If you didn’t catch the IG Live, no worries at allll. You can find it here. I plan to do it much more often because in the midst of the live, in the present moment, I was happier than I had been in a while.
Thank you to everyone who joined!
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Hi(gh), my name is Alyssa + I am a cannabis advocate residing in San Antonio, Texas.
July 18, 2025
February 7, 2025
May 29, 2024
