So, I get done teaching class this morning, and two of my students are arguing. One says to the other, “ask him.”
“Bomani, what’s 4:20?”
Oh buddy…
I’ll tell you, if you don’t know, what I told him. 4:20 is today’s date, but it’s an imaginary holiday for weed smokers of the world to celebrate what they do. For no particular reason that I know of, the smoke dogs all get together and just get high all day.
Let’s get something straight…no matter how much you smoke weed, smoking weed is just something you do. It’s not a way of life, thereby not needing a commemorative day.
But if you get high so often and love it so much that you think a holiday is in order, chances are that you get high every day. So, if you get high every day, do you really need a day to pause and get high? Doesn’t that just make this like any other day?
But let’s get into this more…
Kids were walking around with 4:20 t-shirts, which I’m sure count as probable cause for a search of your car…well, when you’re black, anything’s probable cause, but even white boys gotta have their shit looked through with one of those on.
(BTW, I went to get something to eat at this point in the composition of this post, and I saw a white couple walking down the street and holding hands while the man carried a triple beam balance. In the words of Aden Darity, “thank you for calling 1-800-GET-INDICTED.”)
The local chapter of NORML even had free food in the Pit on campus today. But here’s the thing…they weren’t up there smoking weed. Now, the Pit isn’t close to any dorm. What smoker is about to get high, then just make a hike or catch a bus for the food? I’m convinced that pizza delivery at non-meal hours is totally subsidized by the laziness caused by smokers. Wasn’t the smartest thing for NORML to do.
Look man, get as high as you want. I’m actually okay with marijuana legalization because no one has nor will stick me up to buy a dub sack. Weed smokers ain’t hurtin me, so I’m not trippin.
But get it right–this is not a lifestyle. One of my students explained that 4:20 is like Christmas. When I asked him why smokers need a holiday, he said, “why do you need Christmas to tell your family you love them?”
Interesting, but no. Weed ain’t family. Smomking is not a culture. It’s about getting a lift. Do what you do, but keep it in perspective. If it’s that crucial for you, go knock someone up and have kids.
At least the critters would be something to live for.
4 thoughts on “Happy Holiday?”
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After reading two of your articles on espn.com about Carolina I had to stalk you all the way to your blog. I really like your writing (I laughed out loud at the paragraph on Quentin Thomas).
Also after “Bomani, what’s 4:20?” I half-expected their rationale to be “he’s black, he’ll know about this kinda stuff.”
Hey, just FYI, 4/20 is “National Smoke Out Day” where cigarette smokers are supposed to put down the butts for a day. A weed smoker found “smoke-out day” funny and decided to promote it as National Weed Smoking Day. And hence, it was born
Having been around my share of weed smokers and sellers I feel obligated to comment on this topic.
I don’t see the point of having a weed holiday. I am a professional drinker and I do NOT need a special day to drink. I do not need a reason to drink. All I need to drink is an opportunity. If I have it I will take it. I am sure the same thing applies to real smokers.
As long as the dudes don’t bother me or anyone else let them smoke till they look like the Mortal Kombat character of the same name.
C-Dogg 6:66 – Beware the bark, fear the bite
I laughed when I read this…Two things:
1) I had a similar experience after one of my students heard “Candy Shop”:
Her: “What’s a nympho?”
Me: “Um…”
Thanks, Fiddy…
2) When I was in high school, I learned that 420 was (or used to be) the police code for marijuana (you know, like 187 = murder?)…and when i got to college, i celebrated 420 like any other red-blooded (red-eyed?) smoker…i skipped class and got blown…I’m older and wiser now, but damn, i miss them days 🙂