Having recently gone back to my motorcycling ways after a hiatus of a few years, I find myself re-amazed by two things:
First, I'm astounded by the sheer number of people I see (and smell -- more on that later) smoking weed while driving. TONS. Almost every time I take out the Bonneville, I notice people smoking pot. Granted, San Francisco loves to smoke out, what with our 44 "legal" prescription-only cannabis clubs (and let me tell you, there's an epidemic of "insomnia" and "muscle aches" in this city). I was at 14th and Mission the other day and there was a pimped-out Pontiac in front of me. I watched the driver and his female companion smoke nearly an entire blunt over the course of a few blocks. I could hardly believe the dude could keep it on the road, let alone above 15 miles per hour.
Second, I can't believe how easy it is to sniff out a hot-boxed car while riding down the street. In fact, I usually smell someone smoking weed before I see them. You'd think that a car rolling along and the wind rushing by my helmet would cover up their stoner deeds, but no -- I'm here to tell you that smoking weed in cars leaves a strong whiff of smoke in the air that's especially easy to detect by motorcyclists. Be warned, in case you're firing up and there's a bike cop in your vicinity. Not that he'd probably care in this town, but I'm just sayin'.
Comments (10)
YOu drink a few beers and drive right? So whats the difference in that and smoking a blunt? It's actually probably better to do the latter than the former...
Posted by Me | May 10, 2005 9:08 AM
Posted on May 10, 2005 09:08
If I saw someone drinking a beer while driving, I'd take down the license plate and report them to the police - and I'd feel good about doing it.
I'd do the same for those smoking a joint.
Posted by Raphy | May 10, 2005 10:39 AM
Posted on May 10, 2005 10:39
I don't know if this post came across as some sort of anti-weed rant. Just pointing out the phenomenon, is all. Take it for what you will.
And, no, "Me," if I'm driving, I never get even *close* to the legal limit.
Posted by BK | May 10, 2005 10:52 AM
Posted on May 10, 2005 10:52
You know that your reportage is straight down the middle (fair and balanced, even) when a pro-pot person *and* Raphy both have beef with it.
Posted by JW | May 10, 2005 3:12 PM
Posted on May 10, 2005 15:12
Good call.
Posted by BK | May 10, 2005 5:56 PM
Posted on May 10, 2005 17:56
all this talk has made me stoned and thirsty. let's all get messed up and ride bicycles. we can get shithoused and ride up and down the Valencia corridor like mobile village idiots.
Posted by christopher campisi | May 10, 2005 8:14 PM
Posted on May 10, 2005 20:14
I think that this post is a word to the wise. Afterall, is it really worth it to risk an arrest, or any of the other dire consequences of driving high, either on drugs or alcohol?
Posted by mom | May 11, 2005 2:02 AM
Posted on May 11, 2005 02:02
I noticed early on in my stoner career that smoking joints leaves the most scent, and thus evidence, on your clothes, car, whatever.
Pipes aren't nearly as bad, but they can still stink up the car.
I became, in my later years, a big fan of the one hitter. You not only smoke way less dope (and, as my friend Christ says, after a certain point, you don't get more high, you just get less dope), but you can smoke them anywhere (libraries, hospitals) and as long as you hold in the hit until the smoke is gone, no one's the wiser.
Aren't you all glad I got clean? It means that I have lived long enough to impart my drug wisdom to a new generation.
Posted by Grampa | May 11, 2005 2:23 PM
Posted on May 11, 2005 14:23
Gramps, it's part of your DNA at this point. If you ever have offspring (assuming that you have none already), they will have drug instincts equivalent to the ability of foals to get up and run within minutes of birth.
Posted by JW | May 11, 2005 2:47 PM
Posted on May 11, 2005 14:47
People who smoke weed don't seem to care-about much other than SMOKING WEED.
B-O-R-I-N-G...
Posted by DirtyJase7734 | May 12, 2005 10:31 PM
Posted on May 12, 2005 22:31