All About Cannabis in Canada

Health

That time when the B.C. Premier and Seth Rogen quipped on Twitter about COVID and pot

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Cannabis consumption inserted itself in to a light-hearted exchange this week between B.C. Premier John Horgan and Canadian comedian and pot advocate Seth Rogen. And what’s more, the province’s top politician was pretty much OK with it.

Horgan called out to Rogen and Ryan Reynolds to help preach social distancing.

The resulting Twitter exchange helped shine a light on a fresh and frank guide to having fun during the global pandemic, which has some pretty straight forward advice on consuming cannabis.

Seth Rogen got into it, tweeting:

“People of British Columbia! Please do not go out to parties and BBQs and other large gatherings! The COVID is still out there! It’s more fun to hang out alone and smoke weed and watch movies and TV shows anyway! Do that instead! Thank you!”

The premier thanked Rogen for the endorsement, pointing out to the B.C. Provincial Health Officer’s “Good Times Guide”

“Thanks, Seth,” the premier tweeted. “Pretty much what Dr. Henry was going for here: goodtimes.gov.bc.ca

The provincial health officer hasn’t been shy about giving out advice on how to stay safe during the global pandemic. Here’s one of her guidelines that truly cannabis focused.

“Don’t pass around snacks, drinks, smokes, tokes, and vapes,” it says. “Now is not the time for sharing anything that’s been in your mouth.”

Reynold responded to the premier with a hilarious spoof voice message where he at first denies being qualified to give medical advice, and then basically goes off the rails, involving his mother, David Suzuki and a few others.

Here’s a full transcript of that voice message:

“Oh. Uh, Hey, uh, Premier Horgan, Ryan Reynolds here. Uh, I got your message about the thing. Uh, I’m not sure that’s a great idea, frankly. People don’t, I don’t think they want medical advice from guys like me. No, sir. Um, unless it’s plastic surgery, which a lot of people don’t know this, but I used to be Hugh Jackman. You know, young folks in BC. Yeah. They’re they’re partying, um, which is of course dangerous. And they probably don’t know that that thousands of young people aren’t just getting sick from coronavirus that they’re, they’re also dying from it too. Uh, and of course it’s terrible that it affects our most vulnerable, you know, B.C.’s, that’s home to some of the coolest older people on earth. I mean, David Suzuki did he lives there?

“My mom, I mean, she doesn’t want to be cooped up in her apartment all day.

“She wants to be out there cruising Kitsilano beach, looking for some young 30 something, Abercrombie burnout to go full Mrs. Robinson on. She is insatiable, but here’s the thing.

“I hope that young people in BC don’t kill my mom, frankly, uh, or David Suzuki or each other. Let’s not kill anyone. I think that’s reasonable. Uh, and you know, but I just, I, I don’t think that I’m the guy to deliver this message. I love parties. I mean, my favorite thing to do is just sit alone in my room with a glass of gin and the first 32 seasons of Gossip Girl, that’s a party. Threw my shoulder out the last time I did that.”

And for the record, here are the COVID-19 guidelines on the goodtimes.bc.ca website.

Feeling sick?

Stay home.

If you’re even a little sick (runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, or fever), don’t pass it on to your friends. Hang out another day.

Hang out with people you know.

And always designate a “contact keeper” to keep track of who you’re with and their contact info.

Don’t pass around snacks, drinks, smokes, tokes, and vapes.

Now is not the time for sharing anything that’s been in your mouth.

Stay outside.

Hang out with friends outside, not inside. It’s safer for everybody. Keep your distance from other groups.

Hang out in small groups.

The smaller your group, the safer you are. If you’re going out to bars or restaurants, respect the six-person table maximum.

Give space.

Keep 2m (6ft) distance if you aren’t in a person’s bubble. Respect people’s boundaries and ask for consent before you get close.

Clean your hands often.

Soap, water, 20 seconds or alcohol-based hand-sanitizer – easy! It’s one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others.

Pay attention to mental health.

It’s OK not to be OK. Check in with how friends are feeling and offer support.

Hooking up?

Do it safely.

Take a pass if your partner has any COVID-19 symptoms. Use protection like condoms or dental dams to reduce transmission risks for COVID-19 and STIs