Where I came from, pot smoking is as illegal as heroin selling.  I’m not talking about Memphis (for once).  In the 90s, I was a teenager.  Growing up as the target during the War on Drugs wreaked havoc on my psyche.  I wasn’t anywhere near the drugs themselves but honestly, I have PTSD anyway.  America was so thorough during that war they not only attacked people using drugs but made sure to inoculate demographics that might use drugs.  Particularly upper middle class youth in red state private schools that were taught to hinge their entire identity on what college you can get into.  The subconscious campaign was so effective it prevented me from wanting to even take drugs that could have helped me, like antibiotics and antidepressants.

Fortunately I started yoga in my 20s and therapy in my 30s.  The combination helped me defeat old demons and develop a way to embrace life for all its glorious flaws.  I broke old patterns and demolished ruts I’d stuck to since my teens.  In that time I learned that smoking pot is not a bad thing.  Anyone attempting to perpetuate the myths of Reefer Madness and other 20th century stigmas is fighting a losing battle.  They sound like those fundamentalist Christians that insist dancing is a sin.  Hearing people call it dope again makes me want to do PSA where an egg is your mind.  Cracking it open into hot skillet, the voice-over states, “This is your mind after you open it up and decide to use it.”

I know I have good taste but didn’t know why until now.  What do Penny Arcade, The Venture Bros., Dead Soldiers, Iyengar yoga and Karen Finley all have in common?  I like them because they’re smart.  I don’t settle for easy or average.  Getting my interest requires significant intelligence and, ideally, craftsmanship.  So when I say legal cannabis is a good move for America, I don’t say it lightly.  Medicinal and therapeutic uses abound, my favorite part is how accessible it is.  Once the War on Drugs holdouts get over themselves it’ll be a relief.  If legalizing gay marriage is any kind of harbinger, society should catch up with the truth about pot smoking by this time next decade.