Whenever the latest and greatest version of something comes out, people line up around the block to get their hands on it. Often times, the release of a 2.0 item comes with upgrades and improvements. Since this concept is so popular when it comes to electronics, can it also apply to people?
Consider the concept of the Stoner 2.0, a topic that’s near and dear to our hearts. Society often uses the term in a negative way. What would it look like if we actually embraced this side of ourselves?
A Look Back in Time
The origin of the term stoner is slightly unclear, although the internet tells us that people in the 1930s started using this word to describe someone who was drunk. It was first recorded as a single word in print in Hepcats jive talk dictionary in 1945 before evolving into a reference for someone who was high on weed in the ’70s. Typically used in a derogatory way, calling someone a stoner often had a far deeper meaning than just a rude insult.
The idea of a stoner extended into an entire lifestyle, albeit a stereotypical one. Stoners were often unemployed, mooched off of others for money, food, and of course weed, and tended to have a rather unkempt appearance. Although some individuals did prove this phrasing to be true, for the most part, it was used maliciously.
Stoner 2.0
We’ve come a long way since the 1970s, as politics, social justice, and of course cannabis have all changed dramatically. Now, pot is becoming far more acceptable by those who don’t consider themselves to be on the fringes of society. The result? The word “stoner” is taking on a new meaning.
In today’s day and age, people can hold down a well-paying job, care for their children, own a home, and get blazed every night of the week if they so choose. Business owners, the mom at your neighborhood PTO meeting, and even your pastor just might all be stoners. We like to call this the next generation of potheads, also lovingly referred to as the Stoner 2.0.
Overcoming Negativity
Many people still think the word stoner has a negative connotation. Unless you are part of the Stoner 2.0 movement, it can be hard to wrap your head around the fact that you can be high — often — and still function in society. As they always say, knowledge is power, and it falls on everyone to spread the good word of weed far and wide.
Consider chatting with your closest friends and relatives who don’t know that you smoke weed and let them know that the assumptions that come along with cannabis use just aren’t true. If you’re challenged, you can flat out ask them if they see you as any less of a (insert appropriate noun here) and see what they say.
If you’re not feeling that bold, that’s okay too. Simply knowing that you can embrace being a stoner and that the term can have a whole new meaning is enough for people. Try using the term Stoner 2.0 and see what kind of reactions you get — we’ll bet that society is slowly growing more and more open to this idea.