Preface
We’ve all experienced those intellectual debates we’ve had with our friends after a joint session, discussing the existence of aliens or the cause of consciousness. We would think intensely about topics and arrive at unique conclusions hitherto unnavigated. We’d feel as though we could keep up with the best of the philosophers had we been back in ancient Greece, minus the pederasty. We neither do nor are fuck boys like Socrates (Word to Childish Gambino). Whether it’s a few puffs of the Stiiizy or long bong rips, marijuana can alter your brain function and consequently your perception. You’re able to exit your sober mindsets and normal thought patterns; you drop priorly held beliefs and possibly come to new conclusions. Yep, that one girl actually didn’t fall asleep at 7pm. I’ll see you in the gym.
Ganja can even change one’s mood. I personally see this in the swings of my music taste with the switch of temperaments. When I’m sober, I’m getting hyped up to the likes of BabyTron, Kanye, and Ken Carson, whose song “Hell Yea” has granted me the power to hit many PRs in the gym. But when Mary Jane whispers sweet nothings in my ear, I am compelled to rummage through my Caucasus Mountains Spotify playlist, littered with rock and love songs from Adele, Twenty One Pilots, and Avicii. I unleash my secret side, to which no one’s privy. I jam out to All The Things She Said and Say It Ain’t So by my lonesome.
Albeit in a short-lived state, one should productively utilize the included change in perspective to explore the many realms of life. One can create art. Or, one can intricately delve into designs and systems. There’s even the opportunity to bask in the glory of nature and contend with one’s comparably small existence into an ever-expanding universe. I think everyone should try marijuana at least once in life, even just to explore a different mindset. They can use the plant to remind themselves that they aren’t stuck. They can potentially see past their limitations towards new paths to follow in life.
Background
An avid user of weed to widen my creative floodgates, I desired to honor the plant by producing a high comedy show. Dubbed the Heads in the Clouds Comedy Show, each guest would be blessed with complimentary favors: a pre-roll, some 5mg edibles, and a THC-infused tea. Held within the penthouse lounge of the weed museum THC NYC, this event had the added benefit of on-site consumption; the guests could smoke indoors during the show. Cannabis brands Maxwell Snacks, 5 Boro Cannabis, and The Strong Roots Collective sponsored the event and set up vendor tables at the venue. In high spirits, I had a lineup of 10 comics that I sourced and vetted to be funny to take the stage. And for any victim of the munchies, I had the bar decked out with snacks for purchase. When presented with the opportunity to include alcohol within the inventory at the bar, I declined, aspiring to keep the show purely revolved around weed. I maintained my stance, even after some tips and some warnings that high comedy shows aren’t viable. A comic told me that high audience members have trouble catching the joke quickly. Never having an issue perceiving jokes when I’m high, I selfishly dismissed this, thinking this wouldn’t befall me. I find everything funnier when I’m high. Surely, everyone else must do as well, right? And as the night of the event came about, the consequence of my obduracy hit me like an edible after you talk shit about its strength: “This edible’s not hittin’.”
Outcome
Everyone and their mother was on Pluto. With all the free cannabis products the audience members consumed, they were way past the sweet spot and fully in catatonic mindstates. The pregnant silence after some jokes was so tangible that some comics couldn’t help but mention the low energy of the crowd, with one comedian Sureni characterizing it as a “hostage situation.” Some comedians, succumbing to the stoned stares of the audience, ended their sets earlier than the agreed 10 minutes. Luckily, Sureni Weerasaken, as seen on Netflix is a Joke Fest 2024, took the stage and revived some hope for the production like she was the Avatar, but rather than a Make-a-Wish kid with tats, think of a Sri Lankan Ariana Grande. Alas, the show missed its full potential. From my dreams of uproarious laughter erupting throughout the lounge came in reality a score of scattered chuckles and terse exhales through the nose. At the end of the show, multiple people approached me to declare their enjoyment of the event. When questioned as to the lack of laughs, they said that they were laughing internally. One friend who had brought his own alcohol was one of the few audibly laughing. It was one of the few, unique circumstances where being an alcoholic would have been a fantastic idea.
I erred in other ways besides from not procuring alcohol. I had rented out an expensive, large space, expecting 200 guests, only to end up with 60 guests. This was a poor business decision. I had confidently backed myself, aiming for the stars. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, a smarter businessman would have validated demand with cheaper shows held at smaller venues, such as bars and dispensaries.
Analysis + Recommendations
Juxtaposing my sober reasoning with my high, confident intuition, I can’t help but think of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The amiable doctor Dr. Henry Jekyll was a fictional literary character who created a potion to separate out all the evil in him personified as Mr. Edward Hyde, a cruel, self-interested, and violent murderer. Invoked by the Devil’s Lettuce, my own arrogant and stubborn “Mr. High” bled my pockets. $8,000 went up in a cloud of smoke. But, ball up top. Additionally, by forgoing any debate involving the inclusion of alcohol, I robbed the attendants from fully enjoying the experience. No one can deny the wide breadth of the stoner’s creativity, but one would be remiss to accept it wholly as the truth. Although a new, fresh perspective, it should also be subject to the same considerations and critiques of your sober thoughts.
This case study of Heads in the Clouds Comedy Show should be viewed as a message to all who are pursuing something larger than themselves. Learn from my mistakes and reap the rewards of open-mindedness. Trust yourself and proceed boldly, but ensure that your decisions are thoroughly vetted. Analyze the circumstances at hand and through a surgical process of logic and reasoning, carve the best path forward. I doubt that your initial beliefs are all accurate. Hear all arguments, so that you can see all facets of the situation before filtering for valid points. And when discussing these ideas with others, don’t present answers. Come first with questions so that constructive discourse is encouraged, and then you all can reach the answers together.
Media References:
"IV. Sweatpants" by Childish Gambino
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde