DEAR READER,

The politics of legal weed in Massachusetts have become unbearably stupid over the last week. Almost like the stereotypical stoner in a heated debate, they’ve meandered in and out of consciousness, quoting half-truths and giggling in between, but never really answering the question or making a valid point. Thankfully, the New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN) is this weekend, and Gov. Baker and Mayor Walsh have been invited to attend as guests in hopes they might walk away with a newfound respect and understanding for harm reduction drug policies and the future of the billion dollar legal cannabis industry. But don’t hold your breath.

In the meantime, this week’s masters of font have whipped together another round of award-winning arts and entertainment content, including Jake Mulligan’s interview with the director behind Green Room, Jeremy Saulnier; a deeper look into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist by Chris Ehlers; and a bona fide indie star on the rise, the duo SALES, by Nina Corcoran. Of course, Chris Faraone also steps into the fray with a look at the new book Boy With A Knife and youth incarceration.

All of this amazing content and more is wrapped around the official program guide and speaker schedule for the aforementioned NECANN expo that we neatly stuck in the middle, so when you’re done learning about the new things, we hope to see you this weekend and help you learn more about the next things.

Jeff Lawrence, DigBoston Publisher + Editor

OH CRUEL WORLD

Dear Marathoner, 

I am well aware that nothing on this earth can stop you from being obnoxious about your athletic prowess. Not people leaving the room when you start telling your equally boring and self-congratulatory tales about the 5K races you spend weekends running like a giant tool, and not even the fact that blowhard dildos like you have become a cultural laughingstock, your Facebook feeds ignored because you’re always groveling for money and producing grotesque sweaty finish line pics. So, why am I writing this if it’s become cliche to rag on your kind? Because after an entire week and then some of having everyone from your family to newscasters pretend that you’re awesome, I think you ought to know that deep down none of us can stand the sight, sound, or smell of you.