In taking a break from the daily pandemic/political rants, I have another rant about a behavior that has become so annoying and prevalent everywhere I go. The strain of weed, AKA "skunk weed", is the most vile smelling drug ever. You can now get high from sitting behind someone at a red light imbibing, in a drive thru, in parking lots, in major retail stores waiting in line and other assorted places.
This strain of weed is so potent that the smoke stays in hair, clothing and on the children who are present when it's being smoked. If it's smoked in a car before going into a store, it literally suffocates everyone around them in the store. All the employees who now go out to their car on breaks and smoke is making it difficult to even be in close proximity to them.
Unfortunately, "parents" smoke it in the car while driving with their children with the windows barely cracked. When they open the door, visions of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" come to mind.
The weed of yesteryear was potent, but had a distinct smell that wasn't unpleasant. On any given day you see stoned parents who reek while they drag their kids around while completely ignoring them.
Thanks Chattanooga for allowing me to get high for free.
Cheri Taylor
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According to Dr. Barry Sample, senior director of Science & Technology at Quest Diagnostics, shares his expertise in an effort to clear the air on this topic. He said, “There are no published, peer-reviewed studies to date that indicate, even with today’s increased concentrations of THC in marijuana, that someone would test positive due to ‘passive’ or ‘incidental’ exposure at events such as parties or concerts.”
The National Institute on Drug Abuse concurs, reporting that it is unlikely that secondhand marijuana smoke could give someone a contact high after examining research that measured factors such as drug potency, hours of exposure, and room ventilation.
So, Ms. Taylor, the users of cannabis may reek, and you may smell their exhaled smoke or vapor, but you certainly are not getting high for free.
Dwayne Cales