rules for the ganja

Between pot smokers there have always been some unspoken rules, folkways if you will. These rules are understood in every situation where pot is being used. It has come to my attention in the resent days that many of the newer pot smokers haven’t learned this proper etiquette. I don’t know if it’s because they don’t care and are selfish (I don’t know how anyone can smoke pot and be selfish but whatever) or if it’s because they just haven’t been keen enough to notice that these rules exist. So I have developed a small list of rules that every pot smoker should know to ensure that no one gets shunned or ridiculed just because they haven’t learned proper etiquette.

• When entering a situation where pot is involved don’t just automatically assume that you can smoke it. If you get yourself worked up over whether or not you can smoke you may make some stupid decisions or say some things that maybe interpreted the wrong way.
• Sometimes when people get really high they hang on to the bowl for a while because they forgot that they have it. This is completely ok every once in a while, don't let it become a habit. It is not ok to just hold out your hand and demand the bowl. You must ask nicely for it.
  
• This goes along with the first one. If you enter a situation where there has been pot smoking and a packed bowl is sitting down somewhere DO NOT! Whatever you do pick up the bowl and smoke it without at least saying “do you mind if I hit this dude?” Would you just come up to someone and take a bite of their puddin’ or just take one of their e pills just cause they have enough to share?? NO and pot is no different! It doesn’t matter how close of a friend you are with this person, it is not your pot, it is theirs and they might not want to share.
• If you enter a situation where pot is involved and the person who owns the pot doesn’t share with you, don’t get an attitude. Remember that though sharing is a great thing to do for others, It is their pot and they don’t have to share if they really don’t, want to or if they are running low. Whatever the reasoning is, they have the right to not share.
• If you are at a party and you have pot that you are going to smoke, don’t get angry when someone asks you if they can have some. People are going to ask you if they can have some. So if you don’t like sharing and/or have a hard time telling people “no,” then do yourself a favor and go somewhere private to smoke. You have the right and most decent people will under stand.
• If someone tells you that you can not share their pot with them do not ask them “why?” That is just rude. They have their reasons and as dumb as they may be they told you “no” and that’s the end of it.
• If you are at a person’s house and you all have smoked pot together do not go through their kitchen in search of food. Would you want them going through you freezer and taking your last Popsicle?
• If you are the owner house in which everyone is smoking at have some food that people can munch on. It doesn’t have to be a lot, it can just be candy or gun. At the very least make sure your house is within a block of a place where one can get munchies. E.g. 711, a gas station or grocery store. Note: this doesn’t count for a party of 15 or more.
• If you bring pot to share with people, the person who owns the bowl is the one who gets to pack it, unless they ask you if you want to pack it your self.
• This may seem self explanatory but, if you bring pot to share assume that there is not going to be any left when you leave. So, don’t bring more pot then you are willing to lose. Note: don’t consider it a loss, think of it as an investment. The people that you shared your pot with will most likely share with you in the future.
• Don’t be completely greedy. Learn how to share at least every once in a while. You don’t want to get a reputation in the pot community as “the one who does not share.”
• Just because someone smokes pot in their house regularly, it does not mean that when you come over you can just light up anywhere you want. For some reason they might not want anyone smoking in their house that day. For all you know they may be having a friend over that is not so cool with smoking. So do yourself a favor and ask first.
• Another rule that may seem like common sense but alas I have seen people fail to comply with this everyday folkway. Now when you are at a party where there is a community bowl going around make sure that you do not leave any traces of your saliva on the bowl! I cannot stress this enough. Either wipe your lips before using the bowl or wipe off the mouth piece before you pass it. This is not the most sanitary thing to be doing and people don’t need to be reminded of that.
• This next rule is something that many people just forget about. If a friend of yours goes out of their way to hook you up with pot it is your duty to offer to smoke them up when the deliver the goods. I’m not taking about offering to smoke up your dealer. I’m talking about when a casual friend picks up some for up out of the kindness of their heart. It would be in your best interest to offer a bowl them at the time of the deal, otherwise they might decide to screw you over or even worse not help you out at all anymore.
• Try to keep the bowl going around the circle in the same order. Let’s say that the bowl was going clockwise and the person to my left gets out of the circle then I would pass the bowl to whoever the person to their left was.
• Don’t complain about the quality of the pot at a party. Some people can’t find decent sources or cannot afford dank nuggets. They are sharing at that is the least they can do.
• Don’t be one of those people who just go around and smoke other people’s pot. You need to at provide every once in a while.

The following rules are not necessarily smoking etiquette but I thought I should throw them in because I have had a problem with them or people I know have had a problem with them.

• Just because the owner of the house is ok with pot being used does not mean that you can just break out with any drug that you want. Don’t cut start cutting lines of crystal on their table without asking first. Some people take this very seriously and you don’t want your fucked up ass to end up calling a cab home.
• Try as hard as you can to not make a mess at the party. If you do make a mess e.g. spill bong water or puke, clean it up yourself.
• Don’t get angry at people who make messes. It really just goes with the territory of having people over at your house. Now if they are making messes on purpose you have every right to kick them out.
• Do not do deals in someone’s house with out asking. Many people do not want that kind of shadiness in their house. Futhermore, it is not appropriate to come over to a person’s house with even the intent of selling with out asking. It is extremely rude to assume that people are ok with distribution in their house.
• It is not ok to invite people over to party without asking first, unless this is a public party (a party at a house is never a public party). Especially, people that are shady or that the hosts are not familiar with. It is also not ok to give them directions and then when they get to the party ask if they can come over. This puts the host of the party on the spot and it is one of the rudest things you can do.
• If a friend of yours throws a really great party at their house, do not tell people that weren’t there about what was going on there. Don’t tell them who was at the party as well. Parties where illegal drugs were being used do not need to be public knowledge, nor do the people who were participating.
• If a party is at a house it is not your right to be able to wander in to any room that you want to. Kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms and usually where people are allowed, though some parties may just hold the party in section of the house, such as the basement. Bedrooms are generally a no no. This is not a black and white rule but make sure you ask before you just waltz right in to any place you want to.
• Some dealers may want to be your friend as well as your supplier. Others may just want nothing to do with you other then a simple transaction every once in a while. Your dealer does not have to be your friend and it would be in your best interest to be sensitive enough to pick that up. If you sense that they are a strictly business type of person, don’t peruse in the direction of friendship or you might find they have changed their number and forgotten to tell you.
• Something else that could make your dealer change his number on you is by giving it to other people. Before giving out your dealer’s number to other people make sure that he is ok with that. Some dealers are really paranoid and giving out their number without asking them first could really upset them.
• If you are out with a few friends and happen to run in to your dealer say hello to him and nothing more. Do not talk about making deals in front of people that your dealer doesn’t know and don’t tell them who he is either. It is not cool to put someone out there like that.
• Let’s say that you are at a party and find some drugs on the ground that are not the kind that you like to do. It is not a good idea to sell these drugs to a friend who does like to do them. To the other people it makes you really look cheap and shady. The people that you give them to will forever be grateful and will be more likely to do you favors in the future.

These are rules for the general population and exceptions can be made. Unless you and a friend have verbally agreed to a something different these rules pretty much stand.