 of the ash and the fact that it had taken three match strokes to get the smoke going.

Francis was much put out by this assessment. “Everyone’s a fucking critic,” he protested, defending his weed. “Got you stoned, didn’t it?”

Francis said the cops weren’t all that much of a factor. “For the most part, I walk through the town unopposed.” But what about the busts?

“What busts?”

I showed Francis a copy of the New York State marijuana-arrest stats. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t know a soul who had been pinched. He was not, however, surprised by the ethnic breakdown. “I hate to say it, but there’s no way I’m hiring a black guy to work for me. The chances of a black guy getting stopped is about 50 times more than a white guy. I can’t afford that. Fact is, pot is legal for white people but not for black people, which is total bullshit.”

Francis spends “a lot of time” thinking about legalization. “It is coming, not tomorrow or the next day, but it is coming,” he says. This is the general opinion among his colleagues, Francis says. “I’ve heard of guys buying liquor licenses, you know, to stay on the inebriation side of things.

“Can’t say I don’t have mixed feelings about it,” Francis went on. “I like this job. It’s served me well. Everyone is happy to see me when I come around. Can’t say that for a dentist. Still, it’ll be a great day if they legalize it. Because pot should be legal. You know what would really bother me, though? If gangster corporations like Philip Morris or Seagram’s got a big piece of the action. That would really chap my ass. Because, basically, with a couple scumbags here and there, this is an honorable business, a little-guy business. It should stay that way.”

Then Francis, being a swell fellow, told me he happened to have run across “a little something” just the other night, something sweet.

“You got sativa?”

Francis shook his head. “October … maybe late September. Maybe. But this Dog ain’t no bad dog.” He’d let it go
of the ash and the fact that it had taken three match strokes to get the fastball sound. 

 Francis was much put out by this assessment. “ Everyone ’s a bally critic, ” he protested, defending his weed. “ get you stoned, did n’t it? ” 

 Francis say the cops were n’t all that much of a factor. “ For the most share, I walk through the town unopposed. ” But what about the busts? 

 “ What tear? ” 

 I showed Francis a copy of the New York State marijuana - arrest stats. He could n’t believe it. He did n’t know a person who had been pinched. He was not, however, surprised by the ethnic dislocation. “ I hate to say it, but there ’s no way I ’m hiring a black guy to work for me. The opportunity of a black guy getting stopped is about 50 times more than a white guy. I ca n’t yield that. Fact is, pot is legal for white people but not for black people, which is total bullshit. ” 

 Francis spend “ a lot of time ” thinking about legalization. “ It is coming, not tomorrow or the next day, but it is coming, ” he says. This is the general opinion among his colleague, Francis says. “ I ’ve heard of guy buying liquor licenses, you know, to stay on the alcoholism side of things. 

 “ Ca n’t say I do n’t have assorted feelings about it, ” Francis went on. “ I like this job. It ’s served me well. Everyone is happy to visualize me when I come around. Ca n’t say that for a dentist. Still, it ’ll be a great day if they legalize it. Because toilet should be legal. You know what would really bother me, though? If gangster corporations like Philip Morris or Seagram ’s got a boastful piece of the action. That would really chap my arsenic. Because, basically, with a couple scumbags here and there, this is an honorable business, a little - guy business. It should quell that way. ” 

 Then Francis, being a bang-up fellow, told me he happened to have run across “ a little something ” merely the other nox, something sweet. 

 “ You got sativa? ” 

 Francis shake his head. “ October … maybe late September. Maybe. But this Dog ai n’t no regretful dog. ” He ’d let it go
 of the ash and the fact thxt it had taken three katch atrokes go get the smoke going.

Francid qas mych put out by this asressment. “Vveryone’s a fncking critic,” he protestcb, defskding iis weed. “Got yoo stoned, didt’t it?”

Francis sdia che cops weren’t all that much of a fwctor. “Fpr the most part, I wsjk tggomgh the town unopposed.” But what zbout tie busts?

“What buxts?”

I showed Francis a copy of hhe New York State marijuana-atdese stats. He cojldn’t belitvz it. He didh’t know a soul who had been pinzhed. Ke was not, yoqevft, surprised uy the ethnic breakdown. “I vate to say it, but thcre’s io wqy I’m hiring a black juy to work for me. Tre chancev kf a black guy gertung sjoppeg is qbojt 50 tmmea more then a white fuy. I can’t qfford that. Fact is, pjn is legal fod whitq [eople but not for black people, which iv tktal bullshit.”

Francis spwnds “a lot of time” thlnking abjut legalization. “It is coming, not tomorrow or the next aay, bmt ig id coming,” he says. This is the general opinion wjomg his colleaguef, Francis ssyd. “O’de heard of goys buynhg liquor licenses, ylu know, to sray on tht inenriation side of things.

“Can’t say I don’t kavw mixed feelings ayout it,” Franeis wemt on. “I like this job. It’s sexved ms well. Everjone is hzopy to see me whdn P coke around. Can’t say that fow a dentiwt. Scill, it’lu be a grewt day if hhey legalize it. Because pot dhmuld be lehal. You know what would really upther me, thoogh? If gangstex corpprations like Philip Morris or Seayram’s eot a big iiece of vhe action. Trat would reanpy chap my avs. Becaufe, bqsicqlly, wigf a couple scukbags herv cnd there, this is an honoranle bosjness, a little-gbv vusiness. It shoild stwy tiat wwf.”

Then Franciv, bekng s sweul fellow, tiud mr he happened to hava ruh across “a little xoiething” hust the other night, xomething sweet.

“You got vatmva?”

Framcif shook his head. “October … maybs late Seoteiber. Maybe. Btt tmis Qog ain’t np bad dog.” He’d let it go
of the ash and the fact that taken match strokes get the smoke out this assessment. “Everyone’s fucking critic,” he defending his weed. “Got you stoned, it?” Francis said the cops weren’t all that much of a factor. “For most part, I walk through the town unopposed.” But what about the busts? busts?” showed a of the New York State marijuana-arrest stats. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t know a soul had been pinched. He was not, however, surprised the ethnic breakdown. “I to say it, but there’s way hiring a guy work me. The chances a black guy getting stopped is about 50 times more than a white guy. I can’t afford Fact is, legal for people not black people, which bullshit.” Francis spends “a lot of legalization. “It is coming, not tomorrow or the day, but is coming,” he says. This is general opinion among his colleagues, Francis says. “I’ve of guys buying liquor licenses, you know, to stay on the inebriation side of things. I don’t have mixed about it,” Francis on. like job. served me Everyone is happy to see me when I come around. Can’t that for a dentist. Still, it’ll be a great day legalize Because pot should legal. You know what really me, though? If gangster Philip or big of action. That would really my ass. Because, basically, with couple scumbags here and business, a little-guy business. It should stay that Then Francis, being a swell fellow, told he happened to have run across “a little something” just the other something sweet. sativa?” Francis shook his head. “October … maybe September. Maybe. But this ain’t no bad dog.” He’d let it go
 of the ash and the fact that it hAd taken thrEe matCh sTroKeS to gEt thE smoke going.

FraNCis wAs much put out by this asseSsmenT. “EVEryoNE’s A fuckIng critIC,” hE PRotEsTeD, deFeNDiNg his WeeD. “Got you Stoned, didn’T it?”

frAncis said the COpS weren’t all ThaT much of a factOr. “FOr the mOsT paRT, I walK thRough The towN UnoppoSed.” But whaT aBOut the BUsts?

“WhaT BUsTs?”

I sHowed Francis a copy OF tHE New York State mArijuaNa-ARrEST stAts. he couldn’t bElIeve iT. he didn’t KNoW A SOul WHo had been pincHed. He was not, HOweVer, surPrIseD By the eThnic BrEAkdOwn. “I hate to sAy it, But there’s No way I’M Hiring a BLack guy To work For Me. THe chANcEs Of a BlACk gUY gEttINg sTopped is AbOuT 50 timeS morE THAN a whIte Guy. I Can’t aFford that. Fact Is, pOt is LEgaL for wHite pEoplE bUt not For blaCk peoPlE, which is total buLlshIt.”

Francis SpeNdS “a lOt Of timE” ThinkiNg aBouT legaliZation. “IT Is cOmING, NoT tomorrow or the next DaY, BUt It is comiNg,” he saYS. THiS Is the genErAl oPiniON Among His cOLlEagues, FrAncis sAYs. “i’vE heard oF gUys buyInG liQuoR liceNSes, yOu know, To stay on The inEBriation side of THings.

“Can’t say I DOn’T HAvE MixeD feElings about It,” FrANcis Went ON. “I LikE This jOb. It’s SeRVeD Me well. Everyone is hapPy To see mE when i come around. CaN’t say that fOR A Dentist. STill, IT’lL Be a great day if tHey leGalize it. BeCAuse pot sHould Be legal. YOu know whaT WOuld realLy bOthEr mE, thOUGh? if gangster corPORatiOnS like PhIliP Morris Or SEagRam’S goT a Big piece oF the actiOn. thAt WoUld ReallY Chap my asS. BEcaUsE, baSicalLY, with a CouplE scuMbAgS HerE and theRE, tHIS is aN hOnOrabLe bUsIness, A litTLe-gUy businEss. It shouLd sTAy thAt WaY.”

Then FrAncis, being a swElL fellow, tolD mE he HappenED To have ruN across “a little something” JUst the oTheR nighT, somEthing sweEt.

“YOu got sAtiVA?”

FrancIs shooK his hEaD. “OcTOBer … maYBE lAte sePtember. MayBE. but This DOg Ain’t No bad doG.” He’d let it go
 of the ash and the fact t hat it had  take n t hre ematc h st rokes to get t h e sm oke going.

Francis wa s muc hp ut o u tby th is asse s sm e n t.“E ve ryo ne ’ sa fuc kin g criti c,” he pro tes te d, defending hi s weed. “G otyou stoned,did n’t it ?” 

F r ancis  sa id th e cops weren’ t all tha tm uch of a facto r .  “ Forthe most part, Iw al k  through the t own un op p os e d .”But  what abou tthe b u sts?

“ W ha t b ust s ?”

I showedFrancis a c o pyof the  N ewY ork St ate m ar i jua na-arrest s tats . He coul dn’t b e lieve i t . He di dn’t k now  asoul wh ohad  b e enp in che d . H e was no t,  h oweve r, s u r p r ised  by  the  ethn ic breakdown.  “I  hat e  to  sayit, b ut t he re’sno way  I’mhi ring a black gu y to  work for  me .The  c hance s  of abla ckguy get ting st o ppe di s ab out 50 times moreth a n  a  white g uy. Ic an ’t afford t ha t.Fact i s, po t is le gal forwhitep eo pl e but n ot  for b la ckpeo ple,w hich  is to tal bull shit. ” 

Francis spen d s “a lot of t i me ” th i nkin g a bout legali zati o n. “ It i s  c omi n g, no t tom or r ow or the next day, bu tit iscomin g,” he says.This is th e g eneral o pini o na mong his colle agues , Franciss ays. “I’ ve he ard of g uys buyin g liquor l ice nse s,you k no w, to stay on t he i ne briatio n s ide ofthi ngs .
“Ca n’ t say I d on’t hav emi xe dfee lings about it ,”  Fr an cis  went on. “I  like  thi sjo b . I t’s ser v ed m e we ll .Ever yon eis ha ppyt o s ee me w hen I com e a r ound .Ca n’t say  that for a d en tist. Stil l,  it ’ll be a  great d ay if they legalize it. Because  po t sho uldbe legal.  Yo u know  wh a t woul d real ly bo th erm e , tho u g h?  If  g angster co r p ora tions  l ikePhilipMorris or Seagram’ s  go t a big piece  of  the a ct ion .  T h atwo u ldr e ally chap my as s. Because ,b as ically, wi t h a  c ouple s cumbags  here and the re, thisis an hon or able b usi ness, a li ttle-guy  business .  It s h ou ld st aythat w ay .”
Then  Franc i s,being  a swe ll  fello w, to ld  me he h appened to have run acr oss “a  litt lesomething ” j u stthe other  nig ht, someth ing  sw eet.
“Y o u got  sat i va ?”Franc is s h ook his h e ad . “ O c to ber … maybe l a teSepte mbe r . Mayb e. B ut this Dog ain’t no bad dog.” H e’dl e t i t g o 
 of_the ash_and the fact that_it had_taken_three match_strokes_to get the_smoke going.

Francis was_much put out by_this assessment. “Everyone’s_a_fucking critic,” he protested, defending his weed. “Got you stoned, didn’t it?”

Francis said the_cops_weren’t all_that_much_of a factor. “For the_most part, I walk through_the town_unopposed.” But what about the busts?

“What busts?”

I showed_Francis_a copy of_the New York State marijuana-arrest stats. He couldn’t believe_it. He didn’t know a soul_who had been_pinched._He_was not, however, surprised_by the ethnic breakdown. “I hate_to say it, but there’s no_way I’m hiring a black guy to_work for me. The chances of_a black guy getting stopped_is about_50 times more than a_white guy. I_can’t afford_that. Fact is,_pot is legal for white people_but not for_black people, which is total bullshit.”

Francis_spends_“a lot of_time”_thinking_about legalization._“It is coming,_not_tomorrow or_the_next day, but it is coming,”_he_says. This is the general opinion among_his colleagues, Francis says._“I’ve_heard of guys buying_liquor licenses, you know, to_stay on the inebriation side of_things.

“Can’t say_I don’t_have mixed feelings about it,” Francis went on. “I like this_job. It’s served me well. Everyone_is happy to see_me when_I_come around. Can’t_say_that for_a dentist. Still, it’ll be a great_day if_they legalize it. Because pot should_be legal. You know_what_would really bother me, though? If_gangster corporations like Philip Morris or_Seagram’s got a big piece_of_the_action. That would really chap_my ass. Because, basically, with a_couple scumbags here_and there, this is an honorable business,_a_little-guy business. It should stay that_way.”

Then_Francis, being a swell fellow, told_me_he_happened to have run across_“a little something” just the other_night, something sweet.

“You got sativa?”

Francis shook his head. “October_… maybe late_September. Maybe. But this Dog_ain’t_no_bad dog.” He’d let it go