Vapor pens give weed smokers subtle cover
The psychedelic reggae-rock band Simply Stoopid is the umpteenth music act to play Vegas this summer that advocates legal marijuana and attracts many psychedelic fans.
The Ocean Beach, Calif., group performs Friday at the Cosmopolitan hotel's Boulevard pool. (Tickets: $35.)
Singer Miles Doughty says that as the group travels a changing America, he's seen more acceptance for marijuana by people, generally.
"An outdoor concert is hit-or-miss on acceptability from local law enforcement, but the grip is slowly loosening up on different marijuana things," Doughty said.
Nationally, he's witnessed the rise of the subtle vapor weed smoker, those who puff on vapor pens, which don't burn weed but rather vaporize cannabis, much as e-cigarettes allow smokers to do their thing without exhaling smelly, second-hand clouds.
"So many people do the vape pen, and (police) really don't even mess with people, because electronic cigarettes look just like it," Doughty said.
If you've been on the Strip lately, you know exactly what he's talking about. Tourists are vaped out, and there's no way of knowing by sight what they're inhaling.
In order for law enforcement to bust people smoking cannabis vapor pens, they'd have to "shake down all kinds of people" puffing on nicotine vapor pens, Doughty said.
Doughty wants people to keep making reasoned arguments for legal marijuana.
"All we can keep doing is to talk about the positivity of it, and the necessity, basically, of using tax revenues (from legal marijuana) to clean up our schools, and clean up our streets, and even help law enforcement and the fire department. You can create a better world" through marijuana, he said.
Legal or not, Doughty isn't stopping.
"I'm a recreational user, so I'm going to do it anyway," he said.
Slightly Stoopid is touring here with the Dirty Heads ("My Sweet Summer") while promoting their eighth album, "Meanwhile... Back at the Lab."
Contact Doug Elfman at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman. Find him on Twitter: @VegasAnonymous.
