$_COOKIE in snippet is empty in 2.1.1 - update: workaround

Does anyone know why I can’t read my cookie in a snippet anymore, in this 2.1.1 install? $_COOKIE is empty... There has to be a new method.
MODx session is not good enough, i want my user to see his stuff without login in after closing his browser for a year.

workaround:
in snippet cart: include($modx->config[’base_path’].’assets/components/cart/hash.php’);
in assets/components/cart/hash.php: <?php $hash = $_COOKIE[’hash’]; ?>
in snippet hash: <?php
$hash = $_COOKIE[’hash’];
/* $_COOKIE is empty inside, try hash.php outside */
if ($hash=="") {include($modx->config[’base_path’].’assets/components/cart/hash.php’);}
if ($hash=="") {$hash = md5("modx".mt_rand());}/* make new hash, set with js */
return $hash;