I’ve never smoked legal pot. The last time it passed through my lips it was contraband. October 31, 1989. That’s also the last day I drank an alcoholic beverage.

How weird is it that a recreational drug that is against Federal Law to possess or distribute is a booming business? Part of the answer is easy. If people want something, someone will sell it to them. So it’s always been a thriving market, one that we used to only let criminals exploit. Though I wasn’t paying attention after 1989, I’m pretty sure everyone who wanted pot got it. More than a few went to jail. If you sold it, you were a drug dealer.

Now it’s perfectly legal in certain states, maybe all of them soon. Perhaps it’s time to remember one of the pioneers who took the arrows for your freedom.

A scant 15 years ago… Tommy Chong Of Cheech and Chong served 9 months in a federal prison, and paid a fine of $20,000. The Feds seized $103,514 and all his merchandise when they raided his business. How much Kush did he have? None. He was selling bongs on the internet, remember? The government spent 11 million on the operation to take him down.

Wow.

If you ask me he’s like the Martin Luther King of Pot. Recreational friendly States should have a holiday honoring him. Make 4/20 “Tommy Chong Day!”. We haven’t had a new holiday in far too long. Every city should have a Tommy Chong Boulevard.

If you’re reading this stoned, I should point out that’s a really dumb idea.

Federal Government and the States have always decided what laws to enforce, and when to look the other way. So even if it seems odd and a little naughty to stop into your local recreational dispensary, don’t worry. The braided hippie chick who takes your cash and hands you some certified-organic, low-fat, high-CBD brownies may be breaking federal laws.

But she’s not alone.

Federal laws are routinely broken and with few or no consequences. We just don’t talk about it much. Money Laundering, Human Trafficking. Don’t forget the Big Pharmaceutical companies dumping opiates on our population.

In 2016 alone, (according to the CDC), Opiates including Vicodin and OxyContin killed more Americans than the entire Viet Nam war. Overdoses now take more lives than Breast Cancer. We can’t blame Mexico or Columbia’s drug lords. Pablo Escobar didn’t do it. This one’s on us. Drugs that kill people have always been big business. Protected big business, if you know your history. I don’t want to harsh your buzz. Watch the show Narcos. Now picture it with old white men in suits and ties.

I guess it’s about time we gave a pass to a drug that mellows you out and makes you giggle and enjoy eating.

Oops I just spaced. I was going to mentioned the big banks we bailed out 10 years ago, and all the crimes they got away with…

Yeah I know Wells Fargo was just slapped with a billion dollar fine for abusing customers and charging them for bogus accounts. They sold unnecessary loan insurance, and charged phony fees. It was all not only unethical but quite illegal. Part of why this is such a huge story is that this kind of penalty almost never happens.Sounds great, if you don’t look closer.

No one was arrested. No executives marched out in handcuffs.

It’s a traffic ticket.

Wells Fargo said the settlement would result in the $5.9 billion in first-quarter profits it reported last week being reduced by $800 million. This must be terrible for Wells Fargo. They only get to make 5.1 Billion this quarter. Oh, and part of why this bank got nailed is that Trump Tweeted about it! So he will get credit for standing up for the little guy! PT Barnum would be proud!

Tommy Chong lost it all and went to prison. Tommy served his sentence at the Taft Correctional Institution from October 8, 2003 t,o July 7, 2004.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.