Cannabis vs. drinking

I had to be pushed by our team to green light this month’s cover story. I didn’t want the Advocate to be seen as endorsing increased marijuana use (or drinking, for that matter.) But of course, media writes about all sorts of topics every day and it doesn’t signal endorsement.

I guess I’m just Yesterday’s Man when it comes to pot smoking. Put it this way. If I walked into one of the many weed shops that now dot every town and city across the country, I wouldn’t even know what to say for my order.

“Hi, I’ll have one cannabis please.”

I mean, gummies were what I got as a kid if there was treat money left over from buying a bag of chips. Brownies were Little Debbie, not for relaxing Debbie Downers. And joints? Those are the things I find so sore lately.

And, if I’m being blunt, edibles are just anything I might consume for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Back in high school, I guess I was a little naïve. I didn’t know anyone was using The Cannabis or other drugs. I admit I heard the word “acid” a lot on my high school bus, but I just thought they were a bunch of science kids talking about homework.

I’ve heard some people say cannabis is a “gateway drug” to things more nefarious. With zero data to back this statement up, I confess to believing that some people are just more predisposed to addiction.

From what I’ve observed, though, it’s not exactly a motivational tool, being a Weed Man. This signals way too much relaxation. It’s anti-ambition.

But I suppose ambition is not the only goal in life. C.S. Lewis once said, “Ambition! …If it means the desire to get ahead of other people… then it is bad.”

For me, it’s not about getting ahead of others – but it is being able to get out of bed.

As for drinking, the other focus of this month’s cover story, I’m only an occasional social drinker. If I’m home alone, I won’t touch the stuff – with one exception. Election night. (I know, you thought I’d say Super Bowl or something, but I don’t follow baseball.)

I guess an election beer is my way of celebrating democracy. Watching the red, blue and orange bars or numbers move up and down is exhilarating. (It’s more fun to watch swing ridings of course; observing this mono-coloured riding is about as fun as watching my grass grow.)

As a Gen X’er, moderate-to-not-so-moderate drinking was certainly the norm growing up, at least on a weekend. Many of us learned it from our parents or even television. Today, I think it’s great that Millennials and Gen Z’ers are having just as much fun at juice bars. They’re asking for gut health lemonade and knocking back wheatgrass shots. And at closing time, just before the juice bar packs up for the night, they’re making romantic arrangements to have a nightcap together – pumpkin spice smoothies.

It’s true, I know nothing about the allure of The Cannabis. From social observation, I sometimes wonder if I’m the last one standing.