In 2024, we're going hard...

We're over here cranking in the new year as Senior Editor for Leafly.com. 

We're adding 1,000 strains to the Strains Database again this year.

We're doing hundreds of branded flower ratings to become the Wine Spectator of cannabis.

And we're assigning, editing, and writing over 100 new posts or refreshes for Leafly News.

And we got our whole travel budget approved. On deck: Barcelona in March, 4/20 in April, and trips to Maine, and Michigan when it warms up.

I'm making my first custom mylar bag the Weed Report's NoteBag™️ with Conor Buckley, organizing an art opening, and planning an SF Weed Week with 7 nights of 7 strain releases at 7 SF stores. 

Ultimately, I think my new goal is to win the first Pulitzer Prize for cannabis criticism.

So we'll be cranking. Here's what you missed in December:

We gave Leafly Strain of the Year to Permanent Marker, and it slayed.

Here's some podcasts about it:

• Great Moments in Weed History: BAKE TO THE FUTURE: The Year in Weed + 2024 Predictions
• The Smoking Spot: Leafly's Strain of the Year with David Downs
• Because Cannabis: Leafly 2023 Cannabis Strain of the Year Announcement

What I'm loving smoking this month:

• Maine Trees - Blue Lobster
• Ridgeline Farms - LANTZ
• Dallas Buyers Club - Mike Larry OG cross; Rainbow Runtz

What I'm reading/re-reading: 

• Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life by Arnold Schwazenegger.
• Moby Dick by Herman Melville
• The Scapegoat by Rene Girard
• Plutarch's Lives by Plutarch
• Democracy in America by Alexis DeToqueville

What I'm playing:

• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Super Mario Wonder
• Grand Theft Auto Online

Keep up with me each day on @davidrdowns on X and @daviddowns on Instagram.

OK, back to work.