Pubdate: Thu, 07 May 2015
Source: Westword (Denver, CO)
Column: Ask a Stoner
Copyright: 2015 Village Voice Media
Contact: http://www.westword.com/feedback/EmailAnEmployee?department=letters
Website: http://www.westword.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1616
Author: William Breathes

WILLIAM BREATHES PUTS DOWN THE POT PIPE

Dear Stoners: Time flies when you're having fun. Time flies even 
faster when you're half-baked and have the greatest job in the world. 
After two-plus amazing years of answering your (often hysterical) 
questions about cannabis and five-plus unforgettable years as the 
nation's first newspaper cannabis critic, I've decided to hang up my 
bandanna, sunglasses and Rockies hat and put down my critic's pipe.

It's all gone by in a flash, and I'm ready to slow things down.

There are several reasons I'm bowing out, but in the end it really 
comes down to time: I just didn't have the time to devote to 
marijuana coverage that the beat deserves. On top of that, I found 
myself wanting more time with my family (and with toddlers, that 
rarely involves pot), and increasingly interested in things outside 
of the amazing (and often frustrating) world of cannabis culture and 
news. What is important (to me, at least) is that I get to spend more 
time at home with my family.

The time came for me to make a choice, and while it wasn't an easy 
one to make, the time is right.

Am I done with cannabis? Not at all. I've been in love with Mary Jane 
for more than twenty years, and she's still going to be a part of my 
life. I just won't be telling you about the ripe, pungent, rubbery 
tartness of my Sour Diesel in a dispensary review at westword.com or 
answering your questions about cannabis in this space every week. I 
will still be nerding out over amazing cannabis, though, growing a 
few plants and enjoying the freedoms we've gained over the past few 
years to the fullest.

I feel sad and excited to move on. Westword has been a great home for 
me, and I've always felt lucky to write for the paper I've admired 
for as long as I can remember. It's hard to leave home. But even as I 
leave, I'm proud about what we've built here at Westword, and proud 
to know that the paper, the bimonthly Chronicle and the website will 
keep up the amazing coverage we've established over the past half-decade.

Mostly, thanks to all of you for reading. It's why any reporter does 
what he does, and I've been a lucky man to be able to keep this 
community informed.

It's been the time of my life.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom