It’s Thursday night, I’m sitting on a bus with smoke swirling around me, laughter filling the space, and smooth keyboard music setting the tone for the evening. I look to my left and am offered something; “it’s a rosebud joint” someone says from an undisclosed area of the bus. It’s too smoky to see who said it, I only can make out their huge smile. I take the smallest hit, I don’t need much with the smoke surrounding me, inevitably aiding in my journey to Stoned Town.
I look to my right, a group of strangers turned friends through the power of cannabis are giggling up a storm. One of them proclaims through laughter, “I haven’t done this since college, why did I ever stop?” I look in front of me at my perfectly cooked steak. I ordered the steak with pureed squash, crispy potatoes, brussel sprouts, and mushroom au jus. It’s saving me as the munchies kick in. The giggling troupe to my right are ordering sides of french fries and desserts in a desperate fashion, something that tells me they too are experiencing the munchies.
This experience is one curated by High Society, an experiential marketing agency focused on creating consumption events. The agency is made possible by co-owners Bri Duffy and David J. Macomb, who started the business in 2023. For their most recent event, High Society welcomed influencers and prominent members of the Rhode Island community to the soft opening of their newest creation, the High Society Cannabus. Those in attendance included Hell’s Kitchen contestant Brynn Gibson, musician Tye Cooper, and the team at HyperGlow, just to name a few.
A yellow, full-sized, converted school bus, lovingly nicknamed the Skoolie, creates space for cannabis users to partake in the activity they love, sparking up and getting high. The bus is spacious with benches installed on either side and a small mock fireplace providing heat. Duffy tells me that they plan on adding trays to make eating food easier. Activities planned for the Cannabus include bong painting classes, comedy shows, bingo nights, cocktail-making workshops and more. The possibilities are endless in this weed-friendly mobile.
Troop is one of High Society’s main partners, and this event was no different. The culinary minds behind Troop created a menu for the event, with options including butter chicken, stuffed acorn squash, banh mi sandwiches, and more. Dinner came out right as food started being on everyone’s minds, thanks to puffing the magic dragon for some time. The Cannabus was parked in Troops parking lot, making bathroom runs and ordering more cocktails easy, though there was waitstaff on the bus to tend to your every need. Music flooded into everyone’s ears, courtesy of keyboard player Big Walt. I watch him playing the keys, looking cool as a cucumber as the clouds of smoke circle him.
As people shuffle one-by-one off the Cannabus, hugs are given and genuine goodbyes are shouted out. “I’ll see you at the next one” people say as they head back out into the cold. I stay seated, someone lights up another joint while another puts in their second order of french fries. Wanting to stay in the Skoolie for a little while longer but knowing I must return to reality, I start to gather my things. Stepping off the bus with a full belly, goodies in my bag courtesy of Aura of Rhode Island Dispensary, and a newfound appreciation that I was born in a time where cannabis is so normalized.
It might not be so normalized without people like High Society pushing the boundaries on what is considered a normal Thursday night. We are all living in a time where cannabis isn’t considered the Devil’s Lettuce anymore. In fact, we’re in a time where the skunk-y plant is often celebrated. Those that find joy in a joint now also can find a community to share in that joy, thanks to 4/20 friendly events like these. For more information on upcoming events go to highsocietyri.com. •
Photo by Tess Lyons
