As More Americans Choose Marijuana Over Alcohol, Mainstream Media Notices The ‘Cousin Walk’ Thanksgiving Tradition

Thanksgiving cannabis trend. Say it out loud like a headline and it lands with the weight of inevitability. The so-called “cousin walk” — that annual step outside to inhale some perspective before the bird hits the table — isn’t new, but America finally seems willing to admit it exists. This year, mainstream outlets are catching up: the buttoned-up suits at The Wall Street Journal clocked how many guests return to the gravy boat a little sunnier, while Bloomberg called it straight: cannabis in, booze out. Even The Independent offered a primer, and Morning Brew took note of pre-Thanksgiving strolls juicing sales. The shift isn’t scandal; it’s normalization — cannabis culture stepping out of the shadows and into the dining room, where the pies cool and everyone pretends they don’t smell anything. Call it marijuana policy reform as experienced at the dinner table, with a side of cranberry sauce.

Why now? Because adults are choosing marijuana over alcohol more often, and holidays are where that decision gets pressure-tested. THC drinks have become the civilized detour for people who want a light lift without the hangover, the slurred speeches, the next-day fog that makes Friday feel like a penalty box. The appetite nudge doesn’t hurt either; Thanksgiving practically begs for a mellow edge. You can frame it as wellness if you want: fewer calories than cocktails, less social volatility than whiskey, and for a lot of folks, a kinder landing. The Thanksgiving cannabis trend is less rebellion than harm reduction, a quiet recalibration of what it means to celebrate without losing the thread. And the market follows: cannabis-infused beverages, low-dose edibles, terpene-led pre-rolls — the new bar cart is a mini-fridge and a childproof tin.

The cousin walk itself is a ritual. Coats on. Breath visible. A quick hello to the neighbor’s lawn flamingos. A shared lighter that’s seen better days. Then the brief return, cheeks pinked by cold air and laughter. Some aunts know; they clock the smiles and say nothing. Others are already plating seconds. Retail has gotten in on the joke, of course: Gotham in New York pushed a cheeky “Cousins Walk” pre-roll pack, complete with an Instagram wink (see it here). That’s the story of cannabis in America in one scene — an old insider tradition wrapped in fresh packaging and sold to a public that increasingly prefers a calm buzz to a sloshed bender. Etiquette evolves too: dose low, stash responsibly, respect the house rules, and maybe light a candle by the door. Everyone gets dessert.

Zoom out and the cultural thaw runs into policy’s brick walls. Legal cannabis revenue surges and holidays amplify demand, but the system is still a patchwork quilt stitched with contradictions. In one corner, momentum builds: Florida Marijuana Campaign Is ‘Confident’ Legalization Measure Will Make Ballot, With 1 Million Signatures Despite State Roadblocks. In another, the stakes go national: Supreme Court Schedules Closed-Door Meeting To Discuss Marijuana Companies’ Case Seeking To Overturn Federal Prohibition. States keep tinkering: New York Governor Signs Bill Expanding State Medical Marijuana Program—With New Rules On Home Grow, Possession Limits And More. Yet the money pipes clog: Marijuana Banking Bill Is ‘On The Back Burner,’ As Congressional Lawmakers See No Indication It’ll Advance Soon. That’s the maddening duality: a Michigan cannabis market here, a federal prohibition there; booming holiday sales against a backdrop of cash-only headaches, punitive taxation, and compliance mazes. Normalization gallops while policy limps, but the finish line looks closer now than it did a decade ago.

So handle the cousin walk like an adult. Know your local laws. Don’t drive. Don’t cross state lines with product. Keep edibles away from kids and pets. Hydrate, eat, and if you’re introducing someone new to THC, treat it like hot sauce: less is more, especially before the mashed potatoes. The Thanksgiving cannabis trend isn’t about flaunting rules — it’s about living better within them, nudging culture toward sanity while the law catches up. If your holiday table is swapping stemware for cans and pre-rolls, you’re not alone; you’re part of a larger recalibration of how Americans choose to unwind. And if you need a reliable place to stock up for the season, you can find what you’re looking for at our shop: https://thcaorder.com/shop/.