Head Tale

1. I briefly thought of doing a list of “10 of My Fondest Memories of Pot” for this post. But since it feels weird to talk about something I did that was very common within my circle of friends but illegal (even if it’s now legal), I’ve decided to hold off on that list for now.  (Uhm, also my mom and mother-in-law read this blog so that’s part of the decision.  But my mom also found a roach in my pocket when doing laundry after I was out to a party while in college so she’s probably not 100% surprised to learn that I occasionally partook either!) 😉
2. If they couldn’t make it happen for July 1 as originally planned, having pot become legal on the anniversary of Gord Downie’s passing is a memorable alternate option.  Little bones indeed!
3. It’s weird that so many people are acting like this a groundshaking change for society.  Technically, humans have been using pot for 12,000 years or so.  But in terms of being widely available and commonly used, that’s probably since when, the 1960’s at least? If society didn’t implode after Woodstock, it isn’t going to implode now.
4. With that said, it’ll be nice that a huge number of people – mostly people of lower socioeconomic status and without the privilege of say, white college-educated librarians – won’t be ending up with criminal records for something that’s basically no worse than alcohol or tobacco.
5. Of course, there is still lots of fear about “reefer”.  Just the other day, I overheard someone sharing that old chestnut: “Pot is a gateway drug!”  I wanted to speak up and say “Sure, if the gateway is to ketchup chips!” But the reality is that studies have shown marijuana actually might be a gateway drug – but not to cocaine and heroin like so many people imply – but actually to two already legal but highly addictive substances, alcohol and nicotine!
6. Marijuana, widely used for a variety of medicinal purposes, was recently found to help heal broken bones.  Wish I knew that this summer!
7. It’s disappointing that Saskatchewan the highest pot prices of any province in Canada.  If one goal of legalization is to squeeze out the black market, having prices that are 2x to 4x what street pot costs simply isn’t going to do it.
8. Also, due to various regulatory delays and our lovely conservative government dragging its feet, plus the time to prepare for those who did get a license (obtaining inventory, signing a lease, doing renos, etc.), not one pot shop was open in Regina today and people had to go out to Pilot Butte (10 minutes outside Regina) if they wanted to purchase pot (which I admit I briefly thought about doing, if only to be part of the opening day excitement!)
9. I said I won’t share my favourite pot stories.  Part of the reason is that one of my favourite stories is about the first time I ever tried pot which very indirectly involves a fairly high placed Conservative politician whose hypocrisy on weed and other social issues continues to anger me to no end.  (What would a post about legal pot be without one point that’s sort of hazy and vague?) 😉
10. While I’m glad that Justin Trudeau kept his election promise to legalize marijuana, I’d have preferred if he kept his promise to bring in electoral reform a lot more.

Metafilter has some commentary about today’s big news.