Marijuana fans are a laid-back group. Generally, we believe in “live and let live.” But, at the same time, we need to talk to some of you. See, maybe nothing is wrong with being a certain type of stoner, but some of you might enjoy life a whole lot more if you broke free of some stereotypes and embraced a more balanced kind of smoking lifestyle. We’re not talking about smoking any less — we’re talking about smoking better, and ditching some of those bad college-stoner habits that are bringing down your buzz. You can do you, but if you want our advice, these are the things that marijuana smokers need to stop doing.
Buying cheap gear
It wasn’t so long ago that marijuana was illegal. Maybe that’s why so many of us are inclined to buy cheap, low-quality gear — maybe we’re still thinking about the days when every piece was only a distant siren sound away from being thrown into the woods.
But we’re sure that you never broke the law, even back in the day (right?), so there’s really no reason for you to still treat marijuana accessories as disposable things. People invest in decent wine glasses and whiskey glasses, so why shouldn’t we smokers invest in brand-name Heady glass and other high-quality products? The fact is, we should!
Letting that gear get gross
Maybe it’s because it’s cheap. Maybe we figure we’d rather buy a new piece than clean your old one — and then we forget to do either. Or maybe we are just lazy. Whatever it is, it needs to change. No adult should be pulling out a discolored bubbler or a bong full of old water when it’s time for a smoke sesh.
Get yourself decent gear, and then learn how to clean it. Keep it nice and clean so that you can be proud when your friends come over for a smoke session. And if it’s just you, hey, don’t you deserve a nice clean bong, too?
Wearing your weed on your sleeve
You’re not literally wearing your weed on your sleeve, of course — but why are there still weed fans out there who feel the need to let their smoking define their entire wardrobe? Marijuana is great, but it’s no substitute for a personality — or a sense of style. Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t wear awesome hippie-influenced clothes. You can and should incorporate your personality into your personal style. But it does mean that you shouldn’t just buy every single shirt you find with a pot leaf on it. Contrary to what some people think, it is possible to smoke without advertising it with every piece of clothing we own.
Breaking the law
Once upon a time, the laws surrounding marijuana in this country were extremely unjust. In some places, they still are. There’s a lot that you can (and should!) do to fight against those unjust laws and for the rights of smokers, particularly those to whom our system is especially unfair, such as members of minority groups.
But one thing you should not do is break the law. That helps nobody. In states where marijuana is legal, such as Colorado and Washington, the laws left on the books regarding marijuana are, by and large, good ones. They prohibit things like smoking and driving, or smoking around children in school zones. Those are good laws. And when marijuana smokers break those laws, they act irresponsibly and make the rest of us look bad.
If you want to change laws in your area, join an activist group like NORML. But be careful about your own behavior while you wait for laws to change, and don’t ever break the sensible and important laws protecting people in states where marijuana is legal. Doing so is just a bad idea.