Thanks Blayze for introducing me to the term "hot boxing," Miguel for telling us about your pot plant Lupe, and Marsha for your "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"-like tale of liberation through weed.
Thanks for all the invitations to meet in Amsterdam to light up with some really good sh*t. Thanks, Mooli419, for telling me about cannabutter. (Is it cholesterol-free?)
As "research," the comments of course are unscientific, simply anecdotal. But with over 500 responses, a few things seem clearer than ever:
If there's a compelling reason for smoking weed to remain illegal, no one (the government least of all) has offered it. It's hard to see how smoking pot - in moderation, of course - is worse for you than drinking. I am completely unqualified to write about addiction. But it certainly sounds like smoking ganja (why did that word never come up?! or is it hopelessly outdated?) has brought stress relief, not to mention plain old fun, to many many people.
That's not to dismiss the stories of people whose lives were wrecked by their own abuse of marijuana - or heartbreakingly, as in the cases of Wayne, Tonyatardtacular, and Lizzie (#66) the abuse of marijuana by those around them. But I have to wonder if weed was really the root of the problem. As Drat (#113) cheerily put it:
"It isn't pot that makes some of the people that smoke losers. Its only that there are a lot of losers in the world. Many of them don't smoke pot. Whatever you do make it your own decision. Then you can't blame everyone else like losers do!"
(I hasten to add my praise for those former "losers" who wrote about the depths they sunk to abusing drugs, before pulling their lives together. But if it hadn't been weed, would it have been something else?)
Those voting "Yes" for me to get baked far outweighed the "No" respondents in our non-binding vote. And their reasons were often compelling. Among the "Yes" voters:
"I could be wrong but it may make you wiser in the long run although completely stupid while doing it." - Steve Seivers
"Smoke weed today! Your career will thank you tomorrow!" - Finnstoned
"People who haven't smoked pot usually live boring lives, sucks to be you!" - Vic
(Among the no-voters, one standout was Elizabunny's tale of finding a roach in her husband's old yearbook and freaking out that the roach would somehow rat her out and get her disbarred.)
And now for my decision...
Allow me to invoke the great entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. and the words he once sang: I've Gotta Be Me.
There's a reason why I've come this far as an NBBCer. (I tried to find a tape of Sammy singing this song on YouTube to post here. Alas it does not exist yet.) Part of who I am is someone who's never smoked pot.
Yes, as reader Ami pointed out, taping hundreds of hours of VH1's I Love [insert decade here] might have been easier baked. (Is that how Michael Ian Black and Hal Sparks got more air time?!!!). Yes, Sammy Davis was a pill-popping boozehound who sang a song called "Candy Man," so I sound like a jackass invoking him.
Yes, maybe pot would give me more insight into myself and help me to understand some of life's mysteries - like what the chick below is trying to say:
But I'd be smoking primarily for the wrong reason: to fit in, to catch up. As for relaxation, I can find other ways, though I'm skeptical about yoga. (I've met a lot of passive aggressive yoga people.) Besides, I have other priorities currently. Right now on my to-do list:
- I'm trying to learn a song for every one of our fifty states. Not official state songs, which I loathe. (God, how I hate "Maryland, My Maryland.") I mean songs like "California, Here I Come," "Alabamy Bound," "Back Home Again in Indiana," and "Moonlight in Vermont." If anyone can offer suggestions for other states, please weigh in. All genres welcome. The state just has to be a focus, not necessarily part of the title. (So "Country Roads" counts for West Virginia.
- I'm trying to read the Bible cover to cover. I've tried this before but always run out of steam before the end of Deuteronomy. (Clearly written when Dietary Law books were all the craze.)
- I'm planning on returning to gymnastics class to learn once and for all how to do a back flip. (I sustained an injury trying to do it in 6th grade. I want to overcome the fear.)
- I should really improve my Spanish.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 8)
16. Post-Script:
I just listened to what that chick on the YouTube video had to say. Not only is the statistic she was addressing among the most dismaying things I've heard all month, but her abysmally empty-headed answer... I'm at a loss here. Sadly, I bet she can't even blame her absent-brained-ness on too much reefer before the show. Proof positive that if/when you finally jump into the green pool, and if/when you find yourself a little less coherent, there will always be a plethora of smoke-free citizens significantly less mentally-adept than you at your worst.
I hope she didn't think Iraq, South Africa, and Asia were *parts* of the U.S....
lin at 5:38AM on Aug 27th 2007
17. The state of Pennsylvania is lucky. They have the Pennsylvania Polka, which has a beat, and you can dance to it.
ciocia at 6:06AM on Aug 27th 2007
18. Mo- What humor, intelligence and eloquence you display. These are three things you would lose a great deal of it you started smoking pot. Smoking weed would probably just make you a ranting pontificator that begged for Cheetos in each blog.
Your eccentric individuality is why I dig you so much. You, my friend, have made Huey Lewis, and the News, modern day pop prophets. In your case, "it's Hip to be Square."
TTFN,
Teacherlady
teacherlady at 6:38AM on Aug 27th 2007
19. Mo-
How funny, rational, and eloquent you are...
three things you would be less of if you chose to smoke pot. On weed you'd probably just be a ranting pontificator who begged for cheetos in each blog post.
Your ecclectic, individualism is why I dig you so much. You've proven Huey Lewis and the News to be modern day pop prophets...
In your case, "It's Hip to be Square."
TTFN,
Teacher Lady
Teacherlady at 6:39AM on Aug 27th 2007
20. aside from the gymnastics thing, our goals are pretty similar...as for a ny song..try Carnivore: ground zero brooklyn....rock on rocca..rock on!
chrisjr at 7:03AM on Aug 27th 2007
21. Cindy: "Lets start out by saying that sucking up smoke and burning your lungs would make MJ bad for you to begin with..."
Well, yes, it's a good idea to cool the smoke and filter it...
You don't mention cancer explicitly, but I'd like to point out that there is no evidence that smoking cannabis causes cancer. Researchers looking into this were very surprised to find no linkage since there are known carcinogens in cannabis smoke. It turns out that THC (the active ingredient in cannabis smoke) appears to arrest the development of tumors. See for example
http://www.qmul.ac.uk/news/newsrelease.php?news_id=175
Joe Bob at 7:37AM on Aug 27th 2007
22. Mo - Didn't the man-boobs scare you just a little? My ex-boyfriend was a lean guy, but he sure did get them!
chris at 8:06AM on Aug 27th 2007
23. Mo, I am glad you made your decision based on your needs and wants at this time. I am 100% behind your choice.While I am very happy with the choice you made, want to mention that marijuana was the catalyst that sent the other members of my family spiraling. There was never alcohol or drugs in my Mom's house until the year 1984(spermie was sprung from the Fed Pen).While I personally do not partake in either drugs or alcohol, I do not condem or look down on those who do.Each and every individual is responsible for their own actions and if those actions include drinking or doing drugs then far be it from me to tell them any different.I also feel that there are a lot of people who play the name game un-necessarily. There is no need for a smoker or drinker to make disparaging remarks about non smokers or drinkers and vice versa. As far as my family, I am disappointed in how my brother (missing for almost a year now) and my sister(in yet another compromising relationship) have turned out.It doesnt change the fact that I love them both dearly and I miss the sweet, intelligent, funny people they used to be. Anyway, let me wipe my tears, pull myself up by the bootstraps, gather my thoughts and get ready for work. Mo, I hope you have a great day and kudos to making what I think is a wonderful decision. In friendship and respect...Lizzie
Lizzie at 8:06AM on Aug 27th 2007
24. Dear Mo.
But of course, you've gotta be you. That's the whole point!
So: it's like I said, no point at all being ashamed one way or the other. Smoking pot is a personal decision, just as much as any other -- going to college, moving away, etc- and it's cool to do what you feel you must.
About #4 on your To-Do list: I am glad to help. Estoy a tu disposición. Practica conmigo tu español cuando quieras.
Lupe says Hi! ;)
A hug, and
Spain reads you, Mo.
Miguel Cane at 8:22AM on Aug 27th 2007
25. Great decision, Mo!
Kentucky Rain, Elvis Presly, 1970
E at 8:52AM on Aug 27th 2007
26. For Kentucky, there is a song called "The Bluegrass Country" by the Del McCoury Band.. For Indiana, there's a song called "The Indiana Sun" by White Hassle.. Both are incredible songs.. Also, there's a song by Archer Prewitt called "O, KY" (He's in a band called the Sea and Cake, one of my favorite bands, and a KY native).. Anyway, take care.. And by the way, I'm a fan of the green, and agree it shouldn't be illegal.. However, I think 30 is probably a little old to decide to start! Whatever you do, don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk..
Nathan at 9:02AM on Aug 27th 2007
27. Mo,
Good choice not to try drugs! If you want to read the bible from Genesis to Revelation, try Jeff Cavins, Walk through the Bible. It is a great way to read the entire bible and is fun too. We have used it at my church and I have gained so much from the study. God bless!
clalexander at 9:08AM on Aug 27th 2007
28. "Driving in Massachusetts." A song about navigating the Bay State's terror inducing rotaries.
"What the hell is a rotary/their kindness is killing me ..."
elizabunny at 10:02AM on Aug 27th 2007
29. Good for you Mo! You didnt give in to overwhelming peer pressure! Now if only our teenagers could make such thought-out and positive decisions while still feeling they are rebelling, we would all be better for it!
Sassyandi at 10:03AM on Aug 27th 2007
30. I'm not a pot smoker either. Mostly because I don't want to turn out like my pot smoking friends who are boring and childlike in their emotional underdevelopment.
But if you're looking to learn a song about my home state, Louisiana, you can't go wrong with "Monroe, Louisiana" by Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown.
Brian at 10:04AM on Aug 27th 2007