Marijuana .... The New National Sport.

Permit me to use your columns to make the following observations. I hope they will draw some critical comments as they are very much my own ideas, and past experience has shown me that original thought commonly benefits greatly from the scrutiny of others.

Over the last twelve months it has struck me that not only is the smoking and eating of cannabis becoming a much more widespread and frequent event, but also the number of occasions on which users and non-users talk about this drug and others is phenomenal. Further, I have noticed how once this topic is raised it is difficult, even for an experienced conversation-tilter such as myself, to get people to talk of other things.

My first reaction was to think all this was the result of novelty. But no, I have observed several people over periods of time recounting the same experiences and expounding the same cannabinol thoughts again and again and again. On all but a few of these occasions the ravers were mostly or completely un-stoned.

The other probable explanation is that they find the topic interesting. I would agree. This is the most likely answer. But on thinking of similar much-talked-about-phenomena, the only one I could seriously consider, at least so far as New Zealand kulture is concerned, is rugby football.

Once this analogy entered my mind it was no mere feat of courage to continue to entertain it, let alone publish it in this way. For surely, no red-blooded (as from getting kicked when down on the paddock floor) New Zealander will appreciate "hippies" [unclear: be] Contrariwise, no head [unclear: esting] that shit is [unclear: ne] for the rugby he/she [unclear: be] at through childhood. [unclear: il] repercussions must [unclear: or] social truth. And so [unclear: pars are am].

Reading my papers and watching my TV has informed me of an accusation levelled at rugbyites during this time of national (almost national identity, haha; I refer, of course, to the tour) crisis. Some would have us believe that a number of rugby enthusiasts hold their sport to be the highest principle, the greatest "goal" (haha) in life. I am very tempted to agree. Now this is where the analogy extends itself. Amongst marijuana users there is also a certain number who appear to place shit above all other things; love, peace, justice, sex, property, ambition, others etc. etc. all take second place by at least a length to marijuana and suchlike. These users show a selfishness and lack of concern and responsibility comparable only to Jack Sullivan, and possibly Richard Milhouse Nixon—but that's another analogy.

Well, there you have it. Please let me know what holes you find in it or if you think it has any merit.