Imagine smoking a joint with your family this Thanksgiving, the same way you'd drink a nice Pinot Noir. Sounds fun right? It would certainly make Settlers of Catan more exciting, not to mention your grandmother's stories about goose population management by the lake at her retirement home. Speaking of your grandmother, when was the last time you had a chill conversation with her about smoking weed? Maybe this is the year to take an interest in who she was as a younger woman. We're willing to bet she's got some good stories. And who knows, you might end up having the least boring Thanksgiving ever—the Thanksgiving you got stoned out of your head with your Mémé.
Today, almost half the states in the U.S. have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. We're already starting to see significantly less stigma surrounding medicinal and recreational pot use. So, if the thought of getting high en famille doesn't freak you out, here's a few tips to broaching the subject and making sure everyone has fun and feels safe.
The first and single most important thing to consider here is: Do you want to get high with your grandma? Take some time to think this through. If the answer is yes, ask yourself, "Am I putting her at risk in any way?" This is your call. Please be responsible and err on the side of caution. And if you're worried about the smoking part of smoking weed, you can always use a vaporizer. So, how to make this happen?
Nine ways to be a holiday pace-car, not a race car
1. Start with a Few Talking Points
Ignore old rules about not discussing politics at the dinner table. They're the perfect way into a normal and respectable conversation about drugs. If you live in Colorado or Oregon, count yourself lucky, this will be a lot easier. If not, ask everyone if they think their home state would ever take the legalize plunge. Discuss Rand Paul's stance on decriminalization or what they think can be done to rectify the staggering number of Americans serving long prison sentences for non-violent drug charges. Hell, ask them if they think Putin smokes pot. This is your in.
2. Take the Temperature of the Room
Make a mental note of their responses. If everyone seems uncomfortable or angry, you might need to abandon ship. But if grandma waxes poetic about the time she met and courted Allen Ginsberg, congratulations! You can move on to the next level.
3. Take the Pressure Off
Like in all good yoga classes and first dates, you want to establish trust. Do this by making some jokes, telling a funny story about eating a whole jar of Nutella in bed and waking up with the spoon stuck to your face and chocolate all over your sheets. Watch the wisdom teeth episode of Broad City. Watch any episode of Broad City. Once everyone is crying fat tears of hilarity, tell them you might have some weed in your coat. Or, if you're feeling especially bold, ask if they want to learn to make pot brownies.
4. Keep It Positive
Don't be disappointed if your grandma isn't down to light up. Count this as a day of learning more about each other—a victory in anybody's book. If you do end up stoned with your grandma on Thanksgiving, make sure you tell her how much fun you are having. Make her feel like the most badass grandma that ever was. Then give her the biggest piece of the pumpkin pie.