Dude, Whatever You Do, Don't Mention Weed......WEED! WEED!
I'd like to start this essay with the following disclaimer (not that this really matters): I do not smoke, nor have I ever smoked pot. I don't smoke anything. I have enough weirdness going on inside my head without the use of mind-altering chemicals that I don't need to add to it. I want all of my thoughts to more-or-less come from me (or wherever it is exactly that they come from), and I want to be in full control of them at all times (or as much as they allow me to be in control). You know, I don't drink either, but now I'm just getting off-topic, so back to the weed.
As I mentioned mere sentences ago, I have never partaken in any sort of pot-smoking activity. I have, however, come to the conclusion that I am allergic to weed. Here's how I reached this brilliant deduction. I go to concerts. Specifically, I go to metal concerts. At metal concerts, there aren't pre-teen girls with strawberry-scented perfume. At metal concerts, there aren't signs saying "I *heart* somebody." At metal concerts, there is weed. Lots of it.
For the few days following every concert I go to, I sneeze, my throat is sore/raw, and so on. I feel fine otherwise (i.e. I don't feel like I have a cold or something), except for the seasonal-allergy-like symptoms that I exhibit. I'm fine during the show, but then it's like I have my hayfever for three days after a concert. Maybe I should try taking something for it sometime.
Granted, some of the throat issues may come from the general smoke-filled air along with any yelling or singing I may do, but I believe it goes beyond that. For instance, I don't have problems in other smoky environments. I never had any problems when I was roofing. I never had any problems when my partners smoked when I was a mover. I don't have any problems when coworkers smoke around me. I don't have any problems at Christmas parties or anything like that. I routinely burn incense with no difficulties. So I don't think it's the general cigarette smoke. I think it's the weed. I really do believe I'm allergic to it. I have seasonal allergies, so I don't think it's entirely outside the realm of possibilities (I'm not positive, though, exactly how I would ever find out for sure).
I started developing this allergy idea during the last three concerts that I went to (Metalfest, Tool (not exactly metal), and Opeth). My clothes smell like weed after the concerts. The venues take on that hot and humid skanky post-concert funk of smoke, sweat, beer, body odor, and weed. Hell, the Rave, a place I had not been to before last week for Opeth, smelled like weed before the show, and I think it permanently smells like that. At Metalfest last year, a girl was sitting in a dark corner lighting up her pot pipe. An "Event Staff" member came up to her, asked her what it was, she showed him, he nodded, smiled, and motioned "OK," and he continued on and started talking to and smiling to his partner. The girl continued lighting up with no further interruptions. So, you see, pot use is prevalent.
I'm digressing a bit, and I shall continue to do so. I mentioned earlier that I have never smoked pot. There is no real reason for this (other than my now-presumed allergy to it). I have no problems with the illegal aspect of it. In fact, I believe marijuana laws should be repealed, but that's not a topic for this essay. I am, however, concerned about the random drug test policy of my place of employment. I do wonder if it's possible to submit a positive drug sample through second-hand smoke, such as from a concert. Hopefully I'll never find out, but I'm not going to stop going to concerts. I hereby end this digression.
I'll now bring things around into some kind of a half-assed conclusion. Though I have never smoked pot, and I have no first-hand experience to draw from, my metal-concert experiences have led me to believe that I am allergic to weed. Every concert results in sneezing, etc. for the few days following the event. I certainly won't stop going to concerts, so as I continue to rock out, I guess I'll just continue to sneeze.
Originally written:
May 25-26, 2003
Put online:
May 26, 2003
Discussion:
N/A
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