COUNTERCULTURAL IDEAS

Why I’ve Never Smoked a Joint

No, I’m not as sheltered as you might think

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My friend’s SUV sped through the countryside, en route to our next destination on a treasured girls’ weekend. In this midlife season, I enjoy a tight-knit group of friends whose get-togethers dot my digital calendar.

Like close friends everywhere, the conversation bounces among topics easily, and our thoughts had just alighted on weed.

“I was at a party in college, but I only tried it once.”

“I took the joint when they passed it around, but I didn’t really inhale,” another friend giggled.

“I’ve never tried marijuana,” I said. My voice had no judgment, and my friends nodded, also refraining from judging me. They may not have fully understood, but they weren’t as shocked as others have been.

Origins

To understand why I’ve avoided this smoky touchstone, let’s go back to Louisville, Kentucky in the 1980s.

First Lady Nancy Reagan was on our family’s singular TV, her earnest face imploring us to “Just Say No.” So it’s as simple as that. My mind was made up about marijuana.

Kidding. My parents were Democrats, and Nancy didn’t hold that much influence. But my…