Cheeky Businessman Charges 100 euros for Lessons on How to Smoke a Joint

On February 26th a law was passed allowing Washington DC residents to grow, smoke and give away limited amounts of marijuana. The state thus joined the list of locations in the United States - along with Colorado, Oregon and Alaska - that have recently chosen to support users. While some generate useful employment and create new opportunities thanks to this progress, others prefer to exploit of the situation to offer courses available only to those with very deep pockets.

Such is the case with Ryan, the founder of the “DC School of Mary Jane,” which organises workshops to, purportedly, educate the region's citizens on everything they need to know about grass. Among other things, at this school one can learn to smoke cannabis regularly, whether by “vaping” or in other ways. The price tag: $100 (about 92 euros) for each class, given to groups of 1-4 people. Users who have tried it report that it is not that difficult, such that the investment is not only excessive but perhaps unnecessary as well.

But that´s not the end of the story. The founder explains that their aim is to also dispel the myths surrounding cannabis, which means debunking prejudices that have built up over decades of misinformation and stigmatisation. Therefore, at each workshop the instructor explains, in addition to how to consume grass, how to acquire it, and even what its benefits (physical and mental) are.

The organisation is made up local people seeking to “educate” their neighbours. They claim to offer the benefits of their experience from having travelled, experimented with the plant, and learned first-hand about studies on it. They say that they have amassed a wealth of knowledge, and want to share it with others. Therefore, they ensure that the workshops offered are designed by professionals who understand cannabis-related legal issues, applications, practices and culture. But surely many believe that being informed about everything related to marijuana should be a right rather than a privilege.