Attending cannabis events is usually a happy experience for me. I’ve always loved immersing myself in the vibrant cannabis community, learning about new products, and connecting with fellow enthusiasts. However, my recent attendance at Chicago’s Brunch of Stoners event turned into an unexpected nightmare that left me heartbroken.
In April, my husband and I purchased two VIP tickets to the Brunch of Stoners, a cannabis consumption-friendly event we were excited to attend for 420, the big holiday. The event promised brunch with a variety of workshops, including one by Bonsai Bakery where we had the chance to plant and take home our very own ruderalis cannabis plants. We happily planted two little green companions and named them “Cheech and Chong,” thinking they were destined to be soulmates.
Shortly after bringing our new plants home, I noticed spider webs forming all over them. At first, I thought tiny jumping spiders had found their way into our apartment and laid eggs in our plants. I diligently tried to destroy their webs, hoping my efforts would eradicate the pests. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a much larger problem.
As an Ojibwe woman, strawberries hold special significance for me. The full moon of June, known as the Strawberry Moon, is a time of ceremony and celebration. I had bought a beautiful strawberry plant for our new apartment, eagerly anticipating the day I could partake in this sacred ritual. But before I could enjoy even a single berry, the mites spread and killed my beloved strawberry plant. I was devastated.
The infestation didn’t stop there. One by one, my other ferns and plants began to die slowly. Our apartment, once filled with lush greenery, was turning into a plant graveyard. The situation took an even worse turn when my husband, while attending another cannabis event with coworkers, met a woman selling similar ruderalis plants. After explaining our predicament, she informed us that we were dealing with a spider mite infestation. These pests were likely introduced to our home through the plants we received from Bonsai Bakery.
Armed with this knowledge, we tried everything to save our remaining plants. We washed them with soap, sprayed them with neem oil, and separated them from each other. Unfortunately, it was too late. The damage was done. By the first week of July, I had to throw out all of our plants. The heartbreak was immense. All that remained were nine empty pots and the echoes of my once-thriving plant sanctuary.
We learned the hard way that bringing home plants not raised from seed can be a risky endeavor. Spider mites are relentless and can devastate entire greenhouses if given the chance. If you have other cannabis plants at home, these pests can absolutely destroy them.
While the Brunch of Stoners event was a great experience in many ways, it ultimately cost me dearly. The woman my husband spoke to mentioned that Bonsai Bakery most likely knew about the infestation but couldn’t do anything about it without halting production and throwing out all their plants. It was a sobering realization.
I reached out to Bonsai Bakery on Instagram, and they assured me that their plants were in perfect health when they left the greenhouse, but they couldn’t guarantee what happens during transportation to the venue and ultimately to the customer’s home. This was an important lesson in seed to grow processes versus transplanting young plants.
Despite this unfortunate experience, I remain passionate about the cannabis industry. It’s a new and growing field in Illinois, and we are all learning and evolving together. The lessons I’ve learned from this experience have made me more cautious, but they haven’t dampened my enthusiasm.
In the end, I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this community. We must all stay vigilant and learn from our experiences, no matter how difficult they may be. And as I look forward to rebuilding my plant sanctuary, I carry the hope that next year’s Strawberry Moon will bring a fresh start and new beginnings.
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