AVOIDING PARANOIA, AND JOINT-PASSING ETTIQUETTE

Making It Legal, Avoiding Paranoia and Joint-Passing
Etiquette

What's all this about Dan Malloy wanting to decriminalize marijuana?

It's true, he's for it. In Gov. Malloy's 2011 Budget Address last
week, he alluded to decriminalization as a means of saving money --
which was a smart approach. There are many good reasons to
decriminalize, but the one that will be most universally accepted is
the one that affects the state's wallet.

"Despite the reforms of the past decade, we are still spending money
we don't need to spend imprisoning people who, if given access to the
treatment they need, would pose no threat to any of us," he said.
"There are simply too many people who've been arrested or jailed for
minor, non-violent or drug offenses who, if given access to
alternative forms of punishment would take advantage of that
additional chance to choose a different and better path."

Right on, brother.

That's how you raise a potentially controversial subject without
ruffling too many conservative feathers. With tact like this, we'll
have medical marijuana in no time, too.

I can't smoke because I get paranoid every time I try. What am I doing wrong?

We've touched on the whole paranoia thing in previous columns, but
let's dig a little deeper. Last time we talked about maybe trying a
different strain. You don't drink a Natty Light and then declare that
beer doesn't treat you well. Mix it up and try some other varieties.

But I'd say the main issue here, as with any mind drug, is providing
the appropriate set and setting. If you were holed up with Tim Leary
doing LSD in the '60s, that's what he would've told you, and it still
holds true today.

The "set" refers to your mood and expectations. If you think you're
going to be paranoid, then you're going to get paranoid. If you are
uneasy or unsure or unhappy, then that's going to carry over into
your stoned state. The drug alters your consciousness, but you're
still the one steering the ship. Don't expect the drug to work
miracles... you've got to do some of the work too.

"It's all in the mind," as George Harrison said in "Yellow Submarine."

Train yourself to take control of your own brain. Will yourself to
have a good time. You have that power. Be confident.

The "setting" is the environment, both physical and social. If it's
not a safe, comfortable place, and your company sucks, then yeah, you
might get paranoid. If you're in a happy, warm place surrounded by
good friends, then you're going to have a better experience.

What is proper joint-passing etiquette in Connecticut?

There's no real answer to this.

Predominately, I find that most Connecticut smokers take a single hit
and then pass it along to the next person in the circle. But this is
just what I've experienced personally, with the people I've smoked with.

Other times, it can be OK to take a couple of hits before handing it
over -- puff, puff, pass.

Everyone's got their own rituals, and when smoking with a new crowd
it's always best to observe what they do and follow suit. And it
never hurts to ask if you feel you're not sure what to do. Different
parts of the world, and parts of the country, and even parts of your
own neighborhood can all have their own customs and flavor.