Pubdate: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA) Copyright: 2008 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writealettertotheeditor Website: http://www.times-standard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051 Author: Donna Tam, The Times-Standard Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Humboldt+County GROWING UP A STONER IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY CAN BE HARD While many young and old alike in Humboldt County may be partaking today in the annual marijuana celebration of April 20 -- also known as "4/20" -- there is at least one person who won't being joining in. Her name is Pamela Stoner, the only "Stoner" listed in the 707 area code phone book. "I joke around that I come from a long line of Stoners," Stoner said, adding that she gets many raised eyebrows and curious glances when her last name is said out loud in a public place. People often try to get a good look at her to see if she's high. "The funny thing is, I don't smoke it," she said, adding that she tried a little as a teenager, but didn't like it. She's teased all the time by people of all ages. "They're always asking me, 'Do you live up to that name?'" Stoner said. Stoner, who grew up in Humboldt County, said she is used to the jokes and the gibes. She gets at least a couple of pranks calls each month. In fact, she said she would have hung up on the Times-Standard's call if she hadn't seen the newspaper's name on her caller ID. In junior high, Stoner said she used a different last name to avoid the teasing, but as she got older she got over it. Now the good-natured Stoner can even throw in a joke or two of her own. "It's too bad I wasn't named Mary Jane," she said laughing. As for "4/20," although there are several theories on the origin of the term, the Wikipedia Web encyclopedia says high school students in San Rafael in 1971 would meet after school at 4:20 p.m. to smoke cannabis. The term became part of the group's salute, and was popularized by fans of The Grateful Dead in the late 1980s. By extension, April 20 has evolved into a counterculture holiday, often coinciding with Earth Week. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake