January 8, 2023

Just a Run of the Mill Pot Smoker

The sheer variety of extracts, smokables, edibles and concentrates is baffling.

I’ve learned, (the hard way, as usual) that I prefer plain ol’ flower and maybe if I’m splurging, pre-rolls. (but nothing infused!) None of these distilled and altered states of an already powerful drug for me. They’re just too potent. For me.

My shrink and I have been working on changing my perception of (at least my) cannabis usage. I’ve toiled with and struggled to quell the scoundrel inside, the part of me that enjoys sneaking off to sneak-a-toke, literally. I feel like I am getting away with something. She compares cannabis usage to drinking a beer, or binging on caffeine. I do agree with her, I’ve treated myself with cannabis, my panacea, for my entire adult life. But I’ve remained closeted about it, I suppose I must admit, in shame.

Now that weed is legal for adult use in 21 States and medically recommended in 37 States as of this posting, and, after seeing my LinkedIn feed become more peppered with colleagues and true pros in the industry; folks literally risking so much to break out of the green-closet so to speak — (here’s an SFGate article about it!), I am finally coming around to my shrink’s point of view.

It’s taken seven years of therapy, personally. Not to mention a cultural shift, a political movement and a lot of (fun) civil disobedience. (Good Trouble!) Now I guess I’m proud to say I’m just an average citizen, holding my job, holding my own, stayin’ lit. Just a run o the mill pot smoker.

Maybe it’s those youngsters, constantly vaping those flavored cartridges…those unafraid newbees trying all the crazy infused and distilled styles, literally acting like kids in candy stores, yea, those guys are the ones deserving my scrutinous shameful and harsh judgements. Cautionary tale over here. Ask me about it anytime!

Cannabis Curious

Stone Cold Sober

Adult-Use, Because Words Matter

About the author

Sista Smoke

Smoking weed is SistaSmoke's most well-developed hobby. Used to be, she would drive down the 280 freeway while grinding, packing and smoking a bowl - or roll her own from start to finish at 80mph. She’ll be the first to tell you, it's all in the knees. Sistasmoke is kind and generous with her weed but at the same time: discreet. You would only know she smokes if someone you had already smoked with had invited you to the party. Back in the day, SistaSmoke was shacked up with a dope grower, and medicinal weed had not yet been legalized, so she's used to being in the closet. SistaSmoke has a shrink who is encouraging her to feel less shame about her weed habit, because it is an important daily ritual and, well, she is in good company. After all, it's legal - to some degree either medically or recreationally, in all but South Dakota and Idaho. Many states are moving toward decriminalization, as well. Morning, noon and night, SistaSmoke is typically partaking. Before leaving the house, before getting in the shower, while waiting for the ferry, in preparation for a zoom call. SistaSmoke feels better when she is always toking, smoking, joking, higher spirits, invoking. Sistasmoke had a conversation with a coffee barista at the farmer's market a while back. Barista said that he'd been on a jury that dismissed the charges against a chronic weed smokin’ driver who'd been up for DUI. The jury felt that he'd proven his consumption habit was such that if his driving was erratic that day, it certainly wasn't because of his weed habit - er, that the weed did not adversely affect his driving. How To prove that one, Sistasmoke wondered aloud. Barista wasn't clear in his answer, or SistaSmoke couldn't retain it cause her short term memory is super short. SistaSmoke is working on changing the narrative of being an addict to staying open minded, staying in learning mode. Weed is a big enabler for SistaSmoke in that way, as in, oops! That was fun, oops, let's try again. Oops, this is gonna take practice, oops let's do it again. Laugh it off, don’t take it so seriously. Seriously. Lighten up. SistaSmoke wishes there weren’t such a stigma surrounding weed usage. Que the bong hits, Bill and Ted’s excellent adventure, Wayne’s world, half-baked, you name the Cheech and Chong mainstream reference. SistaSmoke is about to be fifty, years of age, that is. She is starting the second half of her life way too early but with a fire lit under her to make space in her brain for the new stuff by writing down all these other stories! Clear the way, empty it, dump it - get it on paper, or out in the ether, as it were. SistaSmoke likes talking about herself in the third person. SistaSmoke is tryna hone a voice, develop a style and a point of view, hence; this blog. Follow along and pipe in if you wanna. Lurk if that’s more your style, SistaSmoke doesn’t judge. Or, she tries not to at least. She’ll be the first to confess her shortcomings, so you don’t point them out. SistaSmoke collaborates with her brother, the multimedia-producer and holder of a Master of Arts in Interactive Journalism. He edits, inspires, promotes, maintains, and was the establisher of this blog to begin with. SistaSmoke is forever grateful for the tight bond between herself and her baby bro. SistaSmoke also writes another blog, (link) another another moniker. (link)