Cannabis & Capitalism: The Winners and Losers of Legalization with Christa (& the Green Rush Cocktail)

This week, Christa and I discuss the winners and losers of cannabis legalization. While people of color suffered most from the criminalization of marijuana in the US, the plant’s legalization for medical and recreational use has deprived these same people of the opportunity to participate in this newly-legalized industry. Instead, rich capitalists and corporations have managed to dominate the market, crushing small mom and pop grows during the rapid push to decriminalize the drug. Do you remember Christa from our Infrastructure Bill episode? Christa is pursuing her master's in urban geography with the goal of working for sustainability and equity in city planning. THE GREEN RUSH COCKTAIL:This is an herbaceous, savory drink that combines the vegetal, citrusy, and earthy flavors of cannabis and pairs them with ingredients that compliment those notes. Gin Mare is a Spanish gin that combines rosemary, thyme, basil, and olives and is the perfect pairing for the flavors of cannabis flower. La Quintinye is a Pineau des Charentes-based vermouth that also lends to the same verdant flavors along with Chartreuse Verte. Lastly this drink is balanced with fresh lime juice and a small amount of simple sugar syrup. Adding the cannabis tincture is optional but it adds the flavor and THC needed to truly make this a cannabis cocktail.  Green Rush45 ml Gin Mare 15mlLa Quintinye Blanc Vermouth8mlChartreuse Verte22mlLemon Juice 8mlHoney Syrup High-quality Absinthe4-8 dropsCannabis TinctureFresh ThymeAdd gin and thyme to a shaker and muddle. Add remaining ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake well with ice cubes. Take a coupe and rinse it with absinthe. Take a small amount of absinthe and swirl it around the glass to coat and drink the remaining liquid. Fine strain the cocktail into the coupe and garnish with a sprig of thyme. Glassware:  CoupeGarnish: Thyme sprig ABV: 24%Cannabis Tincture.5 gCannabis flower75ml High proof Grain Alcohol like Everclear (96% ABV) or high-proof spirit (over 50% ABV)Roughly break apart cannabis flower and add both ingredients to a glass container and let sit for up to five days in a dark place. Agitate the mixture every day. Fine strain into a dropper bottle and label.Shelf stable indefinitely. Yield: 2.5 ozSupport the showCocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalismFollow us on Instagram and TwitterSome episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!