2008 Woodie Awards
Chasing the 'high' life
Issues of legality don't deter some student smokers
Michael Stone
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Features
The driver reaches for the ignition, and the engine lets out a loud roar with a clockwise turn of his right hand. It doesn't hold my ears' attention for long. The engine's noise is quickly subdued by speakers, blaring Metallica's "Master of Puppets."
I have no idea where the three of us are going, but a particular destination isn't the purpose of our drive. To be blunt, the purpose of the drive-for the two men in the front seat-is to "get high."
It's obvious they're anxious to achieve that purpose. Most of their conversation during the drive revolves around marijuana.
"You ever smoked the resin before?" the driver, who wants to be referred to as Malik, asks.
"Well, I've laced a cigarette with it," the passenger, who prefers to be called Pickles, responds.
They proceed to joke about past "highs," run-ins with police and good deals they've gotten in the past.
Their desire for marijuana seems like a hummingbird's desire for nectar.
The drive is short, lasting no more than five minutes. We park at an apartment complex close to campus, so close that some of the dormitories are within sight.
"I know that guy smokes, and that guy and that guy," Malik says, pointing at different parts of the apartment building. "They all usually have some preh-ty dank [stuff]."
He grasps the key in the ignition and turns it counter-clockwise. The engine stops, but the music continues. He reaches for the console between himself and the passenger. He grabs two objects out of a compartment-a pipe and a plastic bag.
"Man, I gotta learn those Spanish flash cards sometime tonight," Pickles says. "It's all those verbs. Ya know, the weird Spanish words."
The driver seems apathetic toward the passenger's need to study.
He's too busy preparing the marijuana to be smoked.
He moves the substance in between the tips of his fingers and pieces of it fall like snow onto a piece of paper torn from a notebook. He grabs the opposite ends of the paper, pulls them together and pours the marijuana into his pipe.
I have no idea where the three of us are going, but a particular destination isn't the purpose of our drive. To be blunt, the purpose of the drive-for the two men in the front seat-is to "get high."
It's obvious they're anxious to achieve that purpose. Most of their conversation during the drive revolves around marijuana.
"You ever smoked the resin before?" the driver, who wants to be referred to as Malik, asks.
"Well, I've laced a cigarette with it," the passenger, who prefers to be called Pickles, responds.
They proceed to joke about past "highs," run-ins with police and good deals they've gotten in the past.
Their desire for marijuana seems like a hummingbird's desire for nectar.
The drive is short, lasting no more than five minutes. We park at an apartment complex close to campus, so close that some of the dormitories are within sight.
"I know that guy smokes, and that guy and that guy," Malik says, pointing at different parts of the apartment building. "They all usually have some preh-ty dank [stuff]."
He grasps the key in the ignition and turns it counter-clockwise. The engine stops, but the music continues. He reaches for the console between himself and the passenger. He grabs two objects out of a compartment-a pipe and a plastic bag.
"Man, I gotta learn those Spanish flash cards sometime tonight," Pickles says. "It's all those verbs. Ya know, the weird Spanish words."
The driver seems apathetic toward the passenger's need to study.
He's too busy preparing the marijuana to be smoked.
He moves the substance in between the tips of his fingers and pieces of it fall like snow onto a piece of paper torn from a notebook. He grabs the opposite ends of the paper, pulls them together and pours the marijuana into his pipe.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 10
NashvilleStandUp.com
posted 4/16/08 @ 11:30 PM CST
"Super High Me" is a film featuring comedian Doug Benson that explores the current situation with medical marijuana in California and the United States, specifically focusing on the conflict between federal and state law and the explosive growth in medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles over the past two years. (Continued…)
news across the neocon empire
posted 4/17/08 @ 3:36 AM CST
This is probably the worst article I have read in sidelines. Haven't you folks got anything better to do than to write crap like this?
Anon
posted 4/17/08 @ 4:16 AM CST
Crappy attempt at gonzo journalism wrapped in self-serving righteousness. Stuff like this doesn't help the drug reform movement, it only hurts it. So, quit publishing crap like this if you're trying to be pro-reform. (Continued…)
Brother Breeze
posted 4/17/08 @ 12:31 PM CST
Mr. Stone,
Did you really believe that no one would notice the bias in your article? I congratulate you on your style and delivery. I truly enjoyed reading your article. (Continued…)
Ben Banneker
posted 4/17/08 @ 2:57 PM CST
Before too many criticism's surface, or claims of what type of portrait this article tries to paint, as a character in this story - I feel obliged to add that Malik is by no means a mere underachieving pothead. (Continued…)
BL
posted 4/18/08 @ 12:49 PM CST
Immaculately put, Brother Breeze! You expressed what my heart and mind felt so strongly to say. Kudos.
Ali Saleh
posted 4/19/08 @ 2:26 AM CST
I was a student at MTSU during 1982-1987. my number was 000-99-8397 REcently, I particpated in a movie production shown on you tube
type in Arabian night - SAEA
and enjoy
Craig
posted 4/19/08 @ 4:04 PM CST
This is the worst article I have ever read.
Jessica
posted 4/22/08 @ 1:38 AM CST
I agree... worst article i have ever read, a waste of SIX pages, and a definitely waste of time to read it. The fact that Sidelines would publish this is appalling. (Continued…)
Post a Comment