I ride the DC Metro to work. Sometimes people sit next to me who smell like pot. I don’t care if they do, and there’s no way in hell I’m going to report them… not for that, anyway. Still, I dress conservatively, and I don’t want them on edge about it. I want to signal “it’s cool, I don’t care.” Is there a hand gesture? A small, tasteful lapel pin? Those I’ve seen are either tacky or only about medical marijuana. And scrawling pot leaves in my copy of F. A. Hayek’s The Constitution of Liberty, just casually where they can see it, strikes me as inappropriate somehow.
Pot Culture Watch
Jason Kuznicki is a research fellow at the Cato Institute and editor of Cato Unbound. He's on twitter as JasonKuznicki. His interests include political theory and history.
Burt Likko 
Will Truman 
Teacher 
Mary 
James K 
Jaybird 
Borat: “I do a picture, only small, of the Tishnik Masacre. Where many Uzbeks…crushed!”
Kindly Gray Hippie: “How did you feel when you drew this?”
Borat: “Very proud!”.
KGH: “I’m just listening with sadness…a little sadness for your people…?”
Borat: “Yes…no, it is not sad. It is us who do the kill!”
When in doubt,
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Just announce in a loud voice: “Just so you know, I am not a narcotics officer. Don’t worry, my marijuana enthusiast friend! I am what you might like to call “hip” to “reefer”.”
@Rufus F., Make sure you use really outdated terms for cannabis too.
@Aaron, “Grass” will put everyone at ease.
@Jaybird, HA! This is the best comment thread we’ve had in a while.
Jason, which line do you take?
@Scott, the Orange Line, of course.
Just……. act normally? I mean, when people find out you’re gay do you want them to act all weird around you or tell you about how they’re “cool” with being gay? They have a gay uncle that they’re uh not really close with at all! (who doesn’t)
@Aaron, I just want them to know that the usual assumption about people who dress conservatively is out the window.
It doesn’t have to be a conversation-starter. In fact, I’d prefer that it wasn’t, because (a) my train ride is very valuable reading time and (b) I doubt they’d be interested in talking about Hayek anyway.
You should ask this on Reddit in /r/trees, the marijuana subreddit.
Maybe one of those little green marijuana leaf pins?
@North, I’ve not been able to find one that wasn’t either medical-related or in poor taste. Green enamel and/or titanium would be ideal. But just look what I’ve got to choose from.
@Jason Kuznicki, Yuck, not appealing, still if you are more specific… for instance try replacing lapel with leaf in Google you’ll find plenty of tasteful little green pins that I suspect would be discreet but clearly indicate your position vies a vies the weed.
I’ve seen one of these before on the 70 northbound: http://www.americasmartshop.com/images/ma02.jpg
Luckily, I can’t think of a single marijuana user in the city who would care what a “conservatively dressed” guy on the subway thinks about marijuana use one way or the other. Especially one who feels the need to assure us all that he wouldn’t turn someone in for a victimless and harmless “crime”.
@Max Socol, eh, well, okay. Maybe I’m being a bit self-conscious. I just didn’t want to contribute to any paranoia. I’ve been there, and it’s not fun.
Also, just being able to signal, or to out yourself as pot-tolerant, is a political statement I value. Even if they don’t care.
There are other signifiers you can use that are not pot related at all.
Wear a Ron Paul button. If that makes you uncomfortable, a button that says “I stand with David Kucinich because David Kucinich stands with me.”
A button that says “VEGAS” with the S crossed out and an N written over it with sharpie would also signal that you’re down.
You don’t have to communicate anything weed-related. Just communicate that you are a member of an out-group. We’re all in this together.
Maybe a nose ring?
I ride the bus into work everyday. The couple beside me are constantly doing the ‘nasty’ and consequently have the odor de love about them. I don’t mind at all! Is there some way I can signal my approval of their efforts to quench their animal-like lusts while I’m trying to read American Conservative?
@Bob Cheeks, Maybe a nose ring?
@Bob Cheeks,
False analogy much?
@Jason Kuznicki, Daily!
Easy, Jason – just wear a roach clip!
I want to signal “it’s cool, I don’t care.”
Then may I suggest… not caring.
It’s easy, once you put your mind to it. (Or is that backward? It’s easy, once you don’t give it any mind at all?)
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