Issue XIX
420 Paint night, a few MA updates, plus two new segments.
Welcome to the 19th edition of Burn After Reading! This is my newsletter on cannabis (and other things). You can check out last week’s issue here, and if you haven’t subscribed yet, please do.
Plus, not one but TWO new segments.
CCC Update: (Globe and BBJ editorials)
Quick hits:
New England
National / Rest of U.S.
International
Upcoming New England / Virtual Cannabis Events
WELCOME DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK:
🆕 1930’s REEFER SONG OF THE WEEK:
I think a lot of people are vaguely aware that cannabis use was a part of jazz culture in the 1930’s, but I think most don’t realize how many songs about it there is.
In fact, there’s so many songs about weed from the 1930’s that it’s basically an endless source of content.
Song: Light Up by Buster Bailey and His Rhythm Busters.
This track was released as a single and recorded on December 7th, 1938, just over a year after the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 took effect.
Colloquial terms for cannabis used:
Jive (1)
Cig (1)
Best of the Lyrics:
(Spark up!)
Now get you dig goin’
(Flame up!)
I say that's the thing
(Light up!)
Don’t let that man get ya
Just puff on your cig and blow those smoke rings
Full lyrics here.
Original song:
🆕 Poll of the Week:
Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson made the news this week after complaining about someone in the front row smoking weed at their concert in California.
From CelebStoner:
“I would just ask for a tiny bit of respect,” Dickinson said. “If you want to go get completely stoned out of your fucking mind, go out the back and do it, alright? Otherwise, you’re going to end up like this fucking knucklehead here going, 'Ugh'... One fucking idiot out of 10,000 people. He's got a big ass as well."
Dickinson, 64, referred to band founder/bassist Steve Harris, 66, as "poor old Steve" because "he absolutely fucking hates marijuana and the smell of it, alright? So when he’s trying to play bass, it fucks him up. It fucks me up. I’m a singer, alright? So, duh.
"There’s so many people smoking so much fucking dope down here, I’m amazed you can even see."
My gut reaction was to call this guy a nerd, but upon further reflection, maybe that’s a bit harsh. The cooler way to handle this would have been for Bruce to reach down and ask for a hit, only to stomp out the joint out on the stage (now that would be METAL.),
Obviously if you’re at a Dead and Company or Snoop concert, no one is going to take issue with you lighting up a joint, but perhaps it’s not kosher if the band isn’t down with it, or if the act isn’t really known for an association with weed.
(Ultimately, the cooler way to handle this would have been for Bruce to reach down and ask for a hit, only to stomp out the joint out on the stage. Now that would be METAL.)
So I ask my readers: Is it okay to smoke weed at a concert? If so, should it only be for acts that are known to be 420-friendly? Should you go to a spacious corner of the venue rather than the front row? Is it only okay outdoors?
What should be the weediquette here? Vote in the poll, and send me your thoughts on social media.
CAT OF THE WEEK: Jimmy!
Jimmy is a brewery cat at Redemption Rock, a little slice of heaven in my neighborhood here in Worcester.
Jimmy can be a bit of a menace, so you won’t find him out in the taproom much during operating hours, but occasionally you’ll spot him rolling around in the grass next to the parking lot behind the building.