Put on your red, white, and blue: it’s time to spark up more than just the grill this July 4th.

It’s the birthday party of the century and it better be celebrated as such. And no, we’re not talking about getting a DUI and setting off illegal fireworks.

What’s a more patriotic way to throw down for the big 250 than with the plant cultivated by George Washington himself (cannabis, yes, it’s cannabis). Sure he reportedly had different intentions for its usage but hey, a grow’s a grow, and Mount Vernon was certainly popping off.

So here’s to life, liberty, and the pursuit of getting baked. This country was built on a homegrown revolution so let’s pay homage to the independent spirit that brought us to where we are today.

250 Years of… Rebellion

The founders of our country looked at the most powerful empire in the world and said “nah”. That takes some serious courage. A lot of tea was brewed in Boston Harbor, a revolution ensued, and here we are today.

That defiant energy has never really gone away. It showed up again during Prohibition. The Great Gatsby, anyone? Speakeasies popped up on every corner. Pharmacists prescribed whiskey for everything from anxiety to influenza. Safe to say that the individual’s pursuit of liberty and happiness was not deterred.

And yes, just like practically everything else, even America’s 250th birthday can be tied right back to cannabis. Jump forward in history to 1970 when cannabis was made illegal at the federal level, thanks to the Controlled Substances Act. Did that make it go away? Not even close. It showed up in home grows, tucked away in basements and backyards through decades of the war on drugs. Activists never stopped pushing for legalization, state by state, against every possible headwind.

So, recreational and medical purposes aside, cannabis use is really just a very patriotic act of revolution. To get into the proper birthday spirit, how about some Layer Cake to go around?

250 Years of… Homegrown

Alongside rebellion, what is more American than DIY culture? You see it from the Arts and Crafts movement with the country’s long history of quilting, to our ability to can practically everything (yes, canned alligator is a distinctly American product).

Long before home grows were a thing, Americans were already out back with their hands in the dirt. Victory gardens were a government-encouraged staple of both World Wars, with citizens growing their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs in backyards and public parks to keep the country fed.

And then, throw back to rebellion and prohibition, there’s always moonshine. When it was no longer legal to produce commercially, that didn’t stop the people from whipping up some nice, strong bathtub whiskey and gin.

Later, we saw the rise in modern homebrewing. Remember 2015 when practically every hipster had some kind of barely drinkable beer bubbling off in their basement?

Call cannabis cultivation another mark of the very American DIY tradition. A Victory Garden, of sorts.

History Lesson Over. Time to Celebrate. 

With history’s most important highlights under our belts, it’s obvious that the most American thing to do this 4th of July is to get stoned! How convenient that national pride happens to intersect with one of our favorite pastimes.

And considering that here in D.C. we’re at the heart of the celebration, you better believe that it’s gonna be a good 4th. Here’s where we’ll be (patriotically baked) and enjoying the city’s finest fireworks and food.

DC fireworks shows with monument views: OK, this is obviously a must-do. Fireworks on the National Mall? Epic. Watch DC’s top fireworks shows light up the city’s iconic monuments with this list of viewing spots.

Live country music at the Wharf: Grab your quilted finery, moonshine (JK, please don’t), and get ready for some real American spirit with “Fourth at the Wharf”. Bonus perk? Fireworks views enjoyed right from the stages.

The Great American State Fair: Opens on June 25th and spans from the Capitol to the Washington Monument. Think music, carnival rides, food and craft from every state. Lore on lore. This is certainly July’s biggest event. On the fourth itself there will be performances and yes, D.C.’s biggest fireworks show.

And don’t think we’ve forgotten the patriot’s favorite companion. Naturally, there’s nothing better than some good ‘ol American cannabis to pair with each and every event.

Long summer days mean more sun-dappled hours to enjoy Independence and our Maryland-given right to get high. Soak in the red, white, and blazed summer spirit with some Sweet Watermelon Hybrid Chews. Feeling extra festive? Pop the proverbial bday bubbly with a deep pull from our Pink Champagne Vape. Lay back in that freshly-cut National Mall grass and let the fireworks show rival the patriotism of a perfectly-balanced full-body high.

Here’s to a fire rotation for the revolutionary spirit of our Founding Fathers!

WEED THE PEOPLE