Easter Could Go To Pot This Year Since It Falls On 4/20

Since Easter Sunday falls on the same date as the cannabis-centric “hangover holiday” known as 4/20 this year, many people in the cannabis industry are praying that it leads to big sales of sinsemilla and other strains.

Although combining a religious holiday with one devoted to getting really, really stoned might seem like a weird match, Peter Barsoom, CEO and co-founder of 1906, a cannabis company specializing in wellness, sees symmetry.

“Let’s call it the resurrection of smart cannabis. Chocolate bunnies with Chill,” he told HuffPost. “There’s something poetic about celebrating renewal and elevation on the same day.”

Erick Rodriguez, vice president of The Cannabist Company, agrees that “both holidays are about connection, whether that’s family, faith or community,” and says “there’s space for both.”

He added that while the calendar marks “a rare overlap,” he thinks “maybe that just makes it all the more memorable.”

David Craig, the vice president of marketing of Illicit Gardens, Missouri’s top-selling chain of dispensaries, said that his company is definitely taking advantage of 4/20 falling on the same day as Easter.

“It really is a once in a lifetime crossover: Stoner Christmas meets actual Easter,” Craig remarked. “Our dispensary group is leaning into the candy aspect by doing a ‘Golden Ticket’ event, where 10 jars from our Illicit brand line will feature a golden ticket inside the lid, with each winner getting $1,000 worth of product, a merch package, a tour of our facilities, as well as being entered into a raffle for $5,000.”

Paul Yau of the New York-based Travel Agency brand of cannabis stores thinks the calendar coincidence is a “mixed blessing” for the businesses like his.

“On the one hand, we know store traffic will be a bit down because of folks spending more time with family,” he said, before noting that sales jumps are common before long weekends. “Frankly, it’s in part because of [people] wanting some product to help get them through all the family time.”

But since Easter is a religious holiday, many people in the bud business aren’t sure combining it with an event devoted to getting stoned is appropriate.

Elad Kohen, CEO at The Flowery, a chain of dispensaries, told HuffPost that he thinks “4/20 and Easter are probably better off getting the respect they deserve separately,” but was quick to add, “To each their own!”

Marrianne Cursetjee, CEO of the Oregon-based cannabis brand, also emphasized the importance of recognizing the beliefs of others, whether they be about religion or cannabis consumption.

“While cannabis is consumed by every demographic, men, women, religious, secular, I think it’s important to respect everyone’s beliefs,” she told HuffPost. “It’s also tricky since many secular Easter events are focused on children, and keeping that separation between adult-use cannabis and children is important.”

Still, Zack Squier, who runs Squier’s Specialty Elixirs, a cannabis beverage company, thinks the potential benefits of cannabis at Easter outweigh any potential problems.

“When you combine the two, the sparks fly ― the food tastes better and your uncle’s jokes actually start to get funny,” he told HuffPost.