Pubdate: Thu, 28 May 2015
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2015 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Katie Shapiro

MARIJUANA MANNERS

The Great-Granddaughter of Etiquette Empress Emily Post Clears the Air on Pot

The unspoken rules of the "puff, puff, pass" ritual - including all 
of the steps it takes to toke up - are obvious to those who already 
partake. But for those just now starting to explore the world of 
cannabis, there's a lot to learn.

The etiquette surrounding marijuana use has long been in play, even 
from traditional experts on manners. The Emily Post Institute was 
talking about how a host should handle marijuana as early as 1982. 
The "Party Preparations" section of "The Complete Book of 
Entertaining from The Emily Post Institute" explained:

"Another problem that many hostesses face today is that of the guests 
who want to smoke marijuana. If the hostess approves of the practice 
and is untroubled by the fact that it is illegal, of course she has 
no problem. But if she does not approve and is concerned about people 
breaking the law in her home, she should say so firmly. The moment 
she sees the first joint being lighted or passed around she should 
tell her guests that she's sorry if she's being a spoilsport, but she 
doesn't want people smoking in her home where she would be held 
responsible if the illegal use of marijuana were detected. Then 
rather than letting the group continue to sit and chat, she should 
get some lively games or activities under way to distract them."

Pretty liberal social etiquette for the early '80s, no?

And according to Lizzie Post, great-granddaughter of Emily Post, 
author and spokeswoman for The Emily Post Institute,

"our society is - and has been - more forgiving about a joint than a 
cigarette at the table," Post said.

Lizzie Post was born and raised in Burlington, Vt. She's rooted there 
still (and a University of Vermont graduate, too), so the subject of 
cannabis was never as taboo as it was in other parts of the country - 
and perhaps as a result, she has always categorized pot alongside alcohol.

"Like anything else, don't assume everybody does it," she says. "Wine 
as a hostess gift is just so ingrained in our culture, and the same 
thing could one day happen with pot. At its core, etiquette is a 
behavior that affects two people, and smoking pot is obviously 
something that affects people."

Now that marijuana is more accepted at formal social occasions, 
questions are becoming more common on how to integrate cannabis with 
class. According to a recent study conducted by online legal 
marketplace Avvo among residents of Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and 
Washington state, 44.6 percent say they'd consider bringing a bag of 
pot to a dinner party instead of a bottle of wine - and Coloradans 
are the most open to this idea (with 49 percent in support).

"Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado and 
Washington in 2014 and additional states implementing medical 
marijuana laws, the social acceptance of marijuana is gaining 
momentum," said Leigh McMillan, Avvo's vice president of marketing. 
"With increased entrepreneurial interests, states' desires for new 
tax revenues and five more states considering legalization measures 
on ballots in 2016, that level of mainstream support will likely only 
continue to grow."

As it becomes legal in more states, marijuana is something The Emily 
Post Institute is considering for its Emily Post's Etiquette 19th 
Edition. Until then, Post has exclusively shared these five starter 
tips for best pot practices at a party.

Do you know for sure your host smokes pot? If they do, it's 
appropriate to bring as a gift. Remember: Since it's a gift, your 
host doesn't have to smoke it with you, or even that night. A small 
glass jar or a pre-rolled joint or two makes for a classic presentation.

Is your new boss on the guest list? Is it dinner with your best 
friends? Whether as a guest or as a host, always be sure to ask 
permission and where your host would prefer you to smoke, just as you 
would with a cigarette.

Just like with alcohol, unless it's a gift, feel free to take your 
pot and glass with you when you leave.

Unlike wine, pot rarely messes up a menu. But never feel obligated to 
include it as part of the meal - or even the entire evening - if it's 
presented.

Be respectful of those who don't smoke. Remember that even if the 
host is comfortable with it, some other guests might not be as 
pro-pot, so keep it casual and try not to let smoking turn into the 
main event for the night. While it may turn out that only a couple of 
you smoke, your offer should be to all guests at the party. Just the 
same way you wouldn't serve wine or dessert to only a couple guests, 
you should make sure there is enough pot for everyone to join in. 
Always be inclusive; sneaking off to smoke with just one or two other 
guests is not appropriate.

"Just because (marijuana) was illegal before, doesn't mean there 
wasn't etiquette and courtesy surrounding it," says Post. "It's all 
very common sense stuff, but it's definitely something that can 
divide or bond a group of people."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom