MMJ: Smuggling is Colorful

Ngaio, I’ve protested with you. I’ve laughed at your comedy. I’ve spent time with you at local fundraisers. But I never noticed that you are racist until today. We all know that Mexican cartels are a big criminal issue and the largest drug smugglers in the world. How is pointing that out weird and racist? In my time in the Peace Corps in the Solomon Islands the locals always described people based on looks. Each group of islanders look different and that was how they described each other. Never in a racist way. It seems racist is a term used only by racists. You lost credibility with me. I’ll pass on your column from now on. Forget me bringing friends to your shows. - White dude, if it matters

Thanks for supporting cannabis law reform. Thanks for coming to my shows. Thanks for joining the Peace Corps. Thank you for learning how to say “Oon-Guy-Yo.” I appreciate that. However, I’m not sorry if I hurt your feelings by pointing out that Mexicans aren’t the only ones smuggling marijuana in America. Everyone smuggles weed. Black people. White people. Mexicans. Thai folks. Cops. Everyone. Yet people of color go to jail for marijuana four times more often. When the DOJ studied Ferguson, they found that white people were more likely to have contraband in their cars, yet were less likely to be searched or arrested. Don’t forget: Marijuana prohibition was started by a racist (search “Harry Anslinger racist quotes”) and perpetuated by racist ass Tricky Dick Nixon. Trying to single out Mexicans for distributing weed like they are the only ones involved is a racist stance. So if you have fallen prey to the idea – an idea promoted by drug warriors still trying to use racism to justify their very existence – that Mexicans are the problem, then you are in fact behaving in a racist manner. We aren’t in the Solomon Islands. This is America.

What should I do to celebrate 4/20? - Hy S. Funk

Um, smoke pot? Seriously, 4/20 is on a Wednesday this year so I suggest you take the whole week off of work and work your way up from the High Times Cannabis Cup in San Bernardino April 15-17 to the 4:20 at 4/20 celebration in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. On the way up you can stop at various California cannabis clubs and speakeasies and pop-up sessions. Or you could fly out to Colorado and take a tour (http://coloradohighlifetours.com).