The absurdity of marijuana prohibition in the United States is on full display today in The New York Times. On the one hand, we have the national “newspaper of record” publishing a long, mouth-watering and entirely non-critical article about “haute stoner cuisine” in the restaurant industry. On the other hand, we have an article on their Web site reporting that a professional basketball player for the NBA’s New York Knicks was arrested last night for marijuana possession.
Beneath a headline, “Marijuana Fuels a New Kitchen Culture,” the Times explains that marijuana use is rampant throughout the restaurant industry – but that isn’t a bad thing.
“Everybody smokes dope after work,” said Anthony Bourdain, the author and chef who made his name chronicling drugs and debauchery in professional kitchens. “People you would never imagine…
“There has been an entire strata of restaurants created by chefs to feed other chefs,” Mr. Bourdain said. “These are restaurants created specially for the tastes of the slightly stoned, slightly drunk chef after work.”
But what is apparently a bad thing is someone actually using marijuana outside of this exclusive restaurant culture. This is the message sent by the screaming headlines in the Times and elsewhere about the arrest of Knicks star Wilson Chandler. Ironically, he was arrested at almost the exact time the restaurant article appeared online.
We are at a crazy time in history in which marijuana’s popularity in an ever-expanding segment of the populace has advanced far ahead of more traditional segments of our society’s acceptance of it. We look forward to the day when traditional society — and our lawmakers — catch up. Fortunately, that day is being forced upon them whether they like it or not.
is it every where i look that i see hypocrisy or is it just me and my absurd point of view
I love all the comments in all the paper articles around the nation related to stories on cannabis. The majority of the comments are right-on regarding the outdated laws. Educated people are realizing cannabis is not a narcotic. People have grown tired of the stygma around this topic and it shows in their comments. The comments sections always complete the story for me, and bring truth to it. Excellent comments about the ball player being normal because he’s not a “picture perfect image of a person that the church or the medial thinks we want”. I would hope someone that age is enjoying life. Even better to enjoy it with a safer product.
People that smoke enjoy good food? i never knew that. it must suck so bad to be in the NBA and have millions of dollars to get all the best weed in the world and you cant smoke. You put your body through hell day in and day out not to mention the stress and pressure of being on basketballs biggest stage. And they arent allowed to use a theraputic herb that they obviously enjoy. Its funny how they are allowed to drink (which would have a hugenegative impact on their play) but they cant use weed. sooooooo sad
i read both articles about the basketball player and it seemed to be just reporting the facts. i think you might be overreacting
the only people that seem to look down on the marijuana usage are the family and the NBA
How ignorant is too ignorant for this country. Professional athletes smoking pot again! Anthony Bourdain is an advocate? How dare we watch these shows and sports on TV. Could it really be true that marijuana isn’t that bad for you? I mean it’s not like someone could really play a pro sport and still perform after using marijuana. Seriously America it makes black men want to fornicate with white women and makes other go on murderous rampages!!!
LOL!!! Let this be an example America! POT IS NOT BAD! Only if we could get a global confession of all the great people throughout history that have used marijuana! Maybe all of the ignorant politicians and prohibitionists could see the light!
Just another arrest that should EXEMPLIFY the ridiculousness of prohibition! Professional athletes (usually more fit than 99.9% of people in the world) can smoke a little weed and not become debilitated in the absolutely grueling tasks they perform!
WAKE UP!
Oh yeah, weed has made me a better chef over the years too!
Steve,
I enjoy reading your blogs and articles. It seems as though the media outlets have taken a very odd stance on the marijuana issue. What I’m referring to is the way they make a joke of the reform battle that pro-marijuana advocates are putting up. Almost as if they feel that somehow prohibition is wrong, but trying to change it is just silly.
I watched Marijuana Inc. on CNBC the other day, and I was upalled about how uninformed people really are. The host acted like she was objective, but clearly she had an anti-marijuana sentiment.
I wish there was a way to bring this issue to light for everyone so they could see just what the government marijuana prohibition is doing. It’s not even remotely a dangerous substance to begin with until you put it in the hands of smugglers, cartels, dealers, and black-market profiteers.
Steve,
It’s also very dangerous in the hands of the Drug (enforcement) Warriors, from Customs to the DEA to your state and local police.
OMG..another star athelete ‘arrested’ for minor possession. Give me a break, theses people (pro atheletes) win gold medals, championships, whatever and they still enjoy cannabis. If anything, this event further debunks the myth that cannabis use makes you lazy, unproductive and an all around failure at life. Face it, if you were a lazy f*** to begin with before you get high, you’ll just be a lazy f*** when you are.