Odilia Underwood
Pleasure Was Always Political: Cannabis, Sex, and the Systems That Control Both
For more than a thousand years, systems of power have policed pleasure — what people feel, what they consume, and how they connect. Cannabis never ex… For more than a thousand years, systems of power have policed pleasure — what people feel, what they consume, and how they connect. Cannabis never existed in isolation. It was grouped with sexual liberation, psychedelics, and music movements, then c… For more than a thousand years, systems of power have policed pleasure — what people feel, what they consume, and how they connect. Cannabis never existed in isolation. It was grouped with sexual liberation, psychedelics, and music movements, then controlled under shared narratives of risk, morality, and public health. Those narratives were shaped by politics and social control, not science. And they still echo through modern clinical guidance, … For more than a thousand years, systems of power have policed pleasure — what people feel, what they consume, and how they connect. Cannabis never existed in isolation. It was grouped with sexual liberation, psychedelics, and music movements, then controlled under shared narratives of risk, morality, and public health. Those narratives were shaped by politics and social control, not science. And they still echo through modern clinical guidance, regulation, and consumer messaging today. This session traces the linked history of stigma across cannabis, sexuality, and other consciousness-altering substances, then connects those patterns to the systems our industry operates inside right now. Commercialization and even federal legalization won't rebuild trust, structure, or clinical credibility on their own. Real progress demands a data-driven lens. Built for cannabis executives, operators, and investors, this talk confronts an uncomfortable tension: pleasure is now both commodified and controlled. We'll examine what happens when those forces collide, and what it would take to build systems that genuinely support safe, effective use. Expect a candid look at cannabis policy reform, cannabis social justice, and the cannabis market trends rewriting demand. Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
