Some call it the devil’s lettuce, some call it flowers, and some keep it simple and call it weed. No matter your word, one thing’s for sure: marijuana is legal in Washington and we love it. But only if you’re 21, of course.

This edition of Mint is in honor of 420, the celebrated marijuana holiday. I had no idea why this specific date was so important to pot culture, so I had to do some research. Turns out it dates back to a group called the Waldos in San Rafael, California, in the 1970s. The group of high school students met at 4:20 p.m. to search for an abandoned cannabis crop they had heard about, and eventually called this meeting plan “4:20 Louis,” which would be shortened to 4:20.

This name then spread through a story in High Times about the Waldos, and then apparently the Grateful Dead picked up on the phrase “420,” and it’s stuck with us ever since. At least that’s what Wikipedia and a site called “Herb” told me, so take it with a grain of salt and just accept that April 20 is marijuana day.

I must say that I personally do not take part in smoking pot often. I have not enjoyed the effects of pot as much as the effects of alcohol, so I steer clear. My first time smoking I became a useless blob, and my brain didn’t know how to handle the over-stimulation.

My boyfriend tucked me into bed and put on The Hunchback of Notre Dame, my second favorite Disney movie, but it was too dark and scary for my high brain to handle. So he switched to Tarzan, which was a little better.

Basically, the movie was just there for me to listen to, because I couldn’t get myself to move enough to actually see the TV. I proceeded to listen to Phil Collins sing that great soundtrack and explored the inner workings of my mind, and it was terrifying. Moral of the story is, marijuana does not mix well with me, so I’ll stick to my cheap wine.

My sob story aside, I have seen some interesting developments since the legalization of marijuana in Washington. Like the fact that there are three pot shops all in the same block of Pullman. And how we seem to think that Pullman can support five pot shops. Which we probably can. It is a college town, after all.

Many pot lovers will say there are two strains of weed that have two very different effects: sativa and indica. And beyond that, different strains can have different effects on your body or your thought process. Some are great if you want to relax and watch a movie, while others are better for smoking during a hike.

Maybe one of my favorite things about marijuana culture is the glassware. There are a few glass shops in the area, including Glassphemy. This shop is pretty great, with some amazing products, some of which they make right in the store. My favorite is this wasp bong. Or maybe it’s a pipe. Honestly, I have no idea, my cannabis knowledge is limited. But’s it’s a wasp. And it’s big, and it’s colorful and it’s amazing.

There is even a cannabis culture in Moscow, despite marijuana being illegal in Idaho. This upcoming Saturday brings the annual Moscow Hemp Fest, featuring all things hemp and no things weed, if you know what I mean.

But the best part about this edition is, it gives us the excuse to get high and write about it. Well, a certain 21-year-old here at the Evergreen got to have a little smoke and watch “Reefer Madness,” a famous movie about the devil’s lettuce from back in 1936.

No matter what your view is on marijuana, you can’t deny that it’s a part of college culture. So, naturally, we need to dive into that smoky pool for this week’s Mint.

Jennifer Ladwig is a senior communication major from Washougal. She can be contacted at [email protected].