Well friends, this has been a most eventful weekend for yours truly. At the Boston Freedom Rally pre-party at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA this past Friday, I was unexpectedly presented an award (by my colleague Danny Danko) for Best Rally Video for the potcast I shot and edited (with the help of my beloved Vegas Price, of course) from last year's rally entitled "No Cuffs For Cannabis."




The next day, I got to speak on stage at the 20th Anniversary Boston Freedom, and met some amazing people, including one woman who told me very sincerely that her son and many other young people she knows look up to me, that I'm making a difference and that "what you say matters." That same day, the Wall Street Journal's "Speakeasy" blog published an interview with me regarding pot in the media, which was then picked up on another news site MEDIAITE.COM.




Then on Sunday, I had the incredible honor of visiting Dr. Lester Grinspoon and his wife at his beautiful home outside Boston. Dr. Grinspoon is a Harvard professor of Psychiatry and author of Marijuana Reconsidered (1971), the first serious text to examine the medical qualities of cannabis from an objective, scientific perspective—and thus, one of the biggest icons of the marijuana legalization movement. But despite this, he seemed almost more excited to meet me, telling me that he found the column I'd written about meeting his son in Amsterdam to be one of the most well-written stories he'd read in HIGH TIMES. Needless to say I was incredibly flattered. His wisdom, warmth and hospitality are greatly appreciated.

Finally, on Monday Vegas and I visited Salem for the first time and spent the day taking in all the witchy history and fun the town has to offer. As a Wiccan high priest, there was little information amongst the various tours and museums that I didn't already know. However, the re-enactments provided a stark reminder of what can happen in a society when misinformation, prejudice and hysteria (particularly in the names of God and "morality") are allowed to dominate the public conversation (yes, I'm talking to you, you Town Hall nutballs!). Being at the Witch Trial Memorial on the day before the anniversary of their executions (which also happened to be the day before Mabon / the Autumn Equinox) was a sad and sobering moment. But most of the day was great fun, and to top it all off, both our waitress at the restaurant we ate at and  our tourguide at the Salem Witch Village turned out to be fans of my work and HT! Too cool...

In all, I was both honored and humbled to have my journalistic talents recognized so many times and in so many ways in just a few days time. My sincere thanks to all of you who follow my work, both in the magazine and online. I shall endeavor to remain worthy of your attention and accolades.