And once I went off on my own, it really also became something where it's like, “What do I have to lose? Nothing.” Because guess what? It's like, everyone is posting pictures holding their wine glasses and those cheers-ing boomerangs. Once it became legalized, then it was like, “Okay, now I'll really go hard.” It was never something I hid, I was just conscious of what I posted before - given that I was also working for other outlets at the time. A huge part of it is that I live in New York, so once it was decriminalized here, then I went further. In terms of me sharing, it naturally came out the more it became normalized in the media. Shapiro: Were you ever worried about being vocal about cannabis on social media?Ĭohen: Not really. I think there are some really incredible players in the artisan edible business and that is where the attention needs to be - not infusing it into your appetizers, entrees and desserts. Small-batch brownies, cookies, gummies - that’s it. But I think cannabis-infused luxury edibles are everything. I don't want to enjoy a beautiful meal and then be high 45 minutes later and be hungry all over again. I want to be high and enjoy a beautiful meal. Shapiro: Is cannabis-infused cooking something that you're looking to expand into?Ĭohen: No! I'm very adamantly against it … infused cooking … stupid. I just think that there's something very meditative about the cooking process that being high helps accentuate. But yes, I do like to be high preparing food just because I want it to enjoy the full-blown effect by the time the meal is done. I think it naturally brings out these hedonistic tendencies - I really just love where my mind wanders in the sense of creating things in the kitchen around what we're craving in those moments that we typically often wouldn't think about in a sober state.Ĭohen: in all scenarios. is a wonderful place to start from whenever you're going anywhere creatively to have a little bit of calmness. Shapiro: How does cannabis play a role in your adult life now?Ĭohen: I think it's the ultimate de-stressor. But the second I started smoking weed, it was very immediate, like I thought, “This is the best thing in the world.” So I never really got the hype around it. I have a weak Jewish stomach, and it’s always just destroyed me and made me feel terrible. Jake Cohen: I was and it was something that was pretty easy to connect because I've always had a kind of a not good relationship with alcohol. Jake Cohen in a L’Chaim tie-dye tee from the Instagram meme account Tokin’ Jew Emil Cohen Shapiro: What’s your cannabis origin story?