I don’t smoke weed, instead I watch internet programming about marijuana. You know those Yule log videos? It’s kinda like the moment where the non-homeless learned their thermostats then watched TVs with fireplace images. While I would like to believe that this is funny…

Weed internet is flouring because medical marijuana opened the door for weed investors who can overpower previous monopolies.

I read High Times’ website because you're either gonna learn about the changing weed laws or read well-written news stories that are often funny because weed is the subject. I don’t smoke weed. I’m trying to figure out how to ride this economic wave. I never sold weed because I didn’t want to open my home to potheads.

Most weed dealers work 120-hour work weeks at commission rates from their living spaces. Allowing complete strangers who just want drugs into my home doesn’t appeal to me.

I’ve decided to write articles about social weed culture from the vantage of someone who doesn’t smoke, but understands music writers exist in the new legal weed economy.

Free Press honors community activists

It's Free Press community awards time -- where the newspaper has the privilege of rewarding real grassroots activists with plaques and praises. All are invited to join us on Monday night, November 4 at Ace of Cups, 2519 North High Street, for a night of free food, local music and celebration. Our longtime supporter Donna Mogavero will be heading things around 8pm. See page 15 for details.

Dancing, punching cop

So, Officer Johnson -- the dancing cop -- was exonerated by other cops, many who couldn't dance. Local media like TV4 is infatuated with Johnson. He and his fellow cops still need to explain why they showed up two hours late at the wrong house on a call about shots fired. And why, while holding a shotgun, did Officer Johnson punch Jonathan Robinson, the innocent father of kids who were present, and then falsely arrest him. Fellow police officers not only know of Johnson's propensity for dancing, but also for a level four use of violence by punching citizens (he's done it before).

Let the people judge

Hardly anyone wants to be on the Columbus School Board. This year, five of the seven slots are up for election but there are only six people running. The sad state of the Columbus City Schools has suppressed interest in serving on the Board for many.

The State Board of Education has given Columbus Schools a series of annual grades of “F.” Had they gotten just one more “F” this year, the State would have appointed an outsider to run the schools, removing the Board from any meaningful power. Two incumbents on the Board saw that coming and decided not to run for reelection. However, by providing tutoring to 26 kids who were most at risk, the school administration gamed the scoring system and got a “D” grade for this year.

Gaming the system has always been an activity undertaken by the school administration to make the schools look as good as possible. When I was on the Board (thirty plus years ago) the Superintendent announced Columbus had a 92% graduation rate! When I asked how they got that statistic I was told 92% of the students who started their last year of high school got diplomas.