JOINT PERSPECTIVE: DECADE BEFORE DABS
I started at Northeastern University in 2003, and it seems like a million years ago since I first stepped into White Hall with a backpack and a Ziploc full of some good-good. Back then, the most fire weed that was available was that stick-to-your-fingers, pretty-ass purple haze (or “piff,” as we used to call it). I think it was coming out of NYC at the time.
Fast-forward to 2017, and I still (proudly) smoke as much weed as I did during my sophomoric days at NU. But I’m in a different place now. Fourteen years ago, I used to sling grams to support my weed habit. Now I peddle paraphernalia to college students. I guess things haven’t changed too much.
To relive my college days, I often take up invitations to kick it and “blaze” with some of my younger friends who I meet at my Kush Groove shop. I get to smoke their weed, they buy my products, it’s a great exchange. Honestly, 99 percent of the time their weed is as good or even better than mine.
As for what has changed dramatically … A decade before dabs were introduced to my universe, back when my Northeastern email address gave me exclusive access to an early version of Facebook, things like concentrates and wax weren’t part of the daily lexicon of an East Coast pothead. Today they are. Current college students and the Lil Yachty generation are more familiar with THC concentrates than your average scientist. Sure, some of that can be attributed to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, aka the highest-profile Dabbin’ Santa around, but most of the credit goes to the extremely wide access that young people have to innumerable products, education, and plant derivatives.
I sent a text around to some college-aged homeys to get a sense of what smoking weed in school is like today, whether you are living in the dorms or off-campus. Here are their responses, edited into printable English:
How are you getting your weed on campus?
Friend #1: “Weed is strictly prohibited on campus so I sneak it in or leave it at a friend’s place.”
Friend #2: “Kids sell it on campus so it’s accessible 24/7.”
Friend #3: “Student near campus sells to me.”
Are you having issues with smoking?
Friend #1: “Yeah, we received an email a month ago saying regardless of laws, no smoking in dwelling.”
Friend #2: “Neighbors complain but landlord doesn’t bother me smoking in my apartment.”
Friend #3: “Landlord approves.”
What’s the vibe like smoking on campus?
Friend #1: “The vibe on smoking is cool. Most friends know I smoke.”
Friend #2: “Smoking on campus isn’t common. You have to go through discipline office and pay a fine.”
Friend #3: “Everyone does it.”
Have you tried edibles or concentrates? Do you have easy access to them?
Friend #1: “I’ve tried concentrates.”
Friend # 2: “I’ve tried edibles but prefer smoking blunts. Harder to find a good pack of frontos than edibles.”
Friend #3: “Yes, limited.”
To put things into perspective, in my day I got weed from a friend on campus, never really had too many issues with smoking inside my apartment (when I lived off-campus), and never tried concentrates or edibles until I was about 25 years old. More food for thought I guess.
Marcus Johnson-Smith is the co-founder of Kush Groove and the founder of Clearwater Branding. You can follow Marcus on Instagram and Twitter @mjohnsonsmith and at his website: marcusjohnsonsmith.com. Send your letters and questions to: marcus@digpublishing.com.
MARCUS JOHNSON-SMITH
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