March 16, 2014

Who is tempted by Colorado pot tourism?, Part 2.

In the comments to the previous post, where I asked what all the attention to Flight 370 was distracting us from, Left Bank of the Charles said:
Why is Althouse inviting trolling on her own blog? To distract from the fact she is in Ogallalla en route to Colorado, where she no doubt wants to test the new products that were the subject of her previous post. Spring break indeed!
I've already blogged about how if we go to Colorado again, people will say that. Here, back on January 2, in a post titled "Who is tempted by Colorado pot tourism?"
As you may know, I'm a travel skeptic, and these potrepreneurs and "Highlife Tours" only heighten my aversion. Imagine these guys wrangling you with a crowd of shambling boomers and bullshitting about the fine varietals of local weed. But you could put together your own road trip to Colorado. In fact, Colorado is the main place I've headed on my personal road trips, even before I married Meade, who has family in Colorado. Despite our lack of general enthusiasm for travel, we do drive to Colorado, and now when we drive to Colorado, as we will again soon, you're going to think we're pot tourists.
Much more at that link, including my oft-stated belief that we are not free to use marijuana until it is no longer a federal crime. That is, the law as it is now only unfairly, unequally burdens those who either believe rules must be followed or are so afraid of the government that it's not enough that the states have de-criminalized and the feds have said they will refrain from enforcement. That's an exquisitely special form of oppression.

As for Meade and me, this week, it's spring break and as travelers by car, we can decide where to go at the point when the weather forecasts firm up. There are other places where we could see driving — Bayfield, New York City, Austin, West Lafayette — but the path to Colorado was clear.

15 comments:

Michael K said...

" the law as it is now only unfairly, unequally burdens those who either believe rules must be followed"

How about trying not to be stupid ?

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

Suuuuuuuuuure

However you entertain yourselves, have fun and be safe.

Michael P said...

As I understand it, people who hold government security clearances have been specifically warned about marijuana, and that using it (while it is still illegal under Federal law) could adversely affect their eligibility for a clearance -- so there's another group who are notably less likely to consume it in states that have relaxed their laws.

SGT Ted said...

“I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” -Robert Heinlein

Ann, you concern yourself entirely too much with rules at the expense of Liberty.

Bob Ellison said...

Professor, I encourage you and Meade to visit the Gread Sand Dunes National Park if you haven't already. It's out of the way of most driving routes, but it's an incredible place, especially for photographers.

The Crack Emcee said...

"When we drive to Colorado, as we will again soon, you're going to think we're pot tourists."


Most people are lazy thinkers, passing as clever.

Translate this sort of silly assumption to how they think about blacks and you can see the problem - they know nothing and want to write life-changing laws based on that fact.

Living outnumbered, amongst hostile white Americans, is a trap,...

Anonymous said...

Comedy Stage Open Mic Night Comic says:

Last summer I decided to get out of the basement awhile -- it was either that or clean it (laughter) -- so me and my friend Trevor went on a road trip. Being that neither of us actually own a car, there were some obvious difficulties in the beginning (laughter). Finally, Trevor's parents let us borrow their second Suburu -- yes, two Suburus: do I even need to explain that Trevor's parents are lesbians? (laughter) -- so -- anyway -- off we went...

Rule number one: no matter how much junk food you buy for the trip it will all be gone in the first hour. Even if you aren't stoned (laughter). Actually, I'm making a guess on that last part (laughter), haven't tried it out yet, myself. Rule number two: after the first hour it is probably best to drive with the windows open for awhile (laughter), the second-hand smell of Nacho Brown Doritos can get rather pungent in a closed environment (laughter). Yeah, you know what I'm talking about: total sensory Ass Cheetos, after the trip the back of my underwear was orange (laughter).

Where was I? Oh, yeah -- rule three: don't pick up hitch-hikers. Now I've heard that advice before, but I've also seen 'art' films where it actually turns out pretty good for all involved (laughter). So we picked up this hitch-hiker chick -- she had a guitar case, so how harmful could she be? (laughter) Her name was Sunflower -- I didn't ask if her parents drove a Suburu (laughter) -- and she was a song-writer. Note that I didn't say she was a GOOD song-writer (laughter): we spent the next two hours listening to her strum guitar in the back-seat and sing about all the ex-boyfriends she should've stabbed (laughter). I'm generalizing of course: some ex-boyfriends she wanted to set on fire (laughter) -- that was the upbeat song (laughter), kinda catchy, almost. She also told us she had herpes so we shouldn't be thinking about having sex with her: I thought that was mighty considerate for her to point out (laughter)...

So Trevor and I thought it was a good time for a rest stop -- all the Big Gulps of Mountain Dew have to go somewhere (laughter) -- and we pulled over at a McDonald's. Say what you want about their food, they have clean bathrooms. At least until a guitar chick hitch-hiker with herpes takes care of her business (laughter) -- incidentally, another reason why I'm grateful to be able to piss standing up (laughter)...

Now, I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow we managed to leave Sunflower behind at that McDonald's (laughter): alright, you're right, we ditched her and her guitar and ran back to the car like frightened schoolchildren (laughter). Being that that was enough excitement for us, we decided to turn around and head on back home; of course, we first stopped at a gas station to buy some Doritos and Cheetos and Mountain Dew, it was a long trip back (laughter). Thank you, you've been great...

Anonymous said...

"rules must be followed"

Which is why neither Harriet Tubman nor Anne Frank would have been allowed to enter the Althouse home.

Heartless Aztec said...

My daughter is a digital resource librarian for a major law university in Washington D. C. Deb and I are car vacationing and visiting as we travel. First up through Charleston, that most English of American cities, over the ferries to the Outer Banks. Home through Monticello dusted un snow tomorrow and the horse country of Virginia. The Shenandoah Valley is truly one of the most beautiful places in America. Jefferson Pools - Google it. Road trips are the coolest. Hate airlines.

Smilin' Jack said...

That is, the law as it is now only unfairly, unequally burdens those who either believe rules must be followed or are so afraid of the government that it's not enough that the states have de-criminalized and the feds have said they will refrain from enforcement.

That is, it burdens those who lack intelligence and/or courage. But life imposes many burdens on such people; what's one more?

The Godfather said...

If you'd gone the other way on I-80 you would have come to the George Washington Bridge and gone into New York (if Chris Christie let you). I've been to Denver and I've been to New York. Other than the Brown Palace and the Buckhorn Exchange, I don't know why I'd go to Denver.

caplight45 said...

There's always Kansas City on your return trip. I'll leave the back light on.

caplight45 said...

Crack: "Most people are lazy thinkers, passing as clever.

Translate this sort of silly assumption to how they think about blacks and you can see the problem - they know nothing and want to write life-changing laws based on that fact."

Well said. Though I think you shouldn't talk about the Democrat Party that way.

Unknown said...

If you come back on I-80, stop in Kearney, Neb. Half-a-million sandhill cranes should be in attendance, and the Great Platte River Road Monument (museum) across the Interstate is kind of fun, too.

Left Bank of the Charles said...


Mentioned on Althouse
makes my week.