I've been using craigslist since I lived in San Francisco back in the 1990's -- remember them? -- and think Craig Newmark is a credit to our culture. Maybe one of those Presidential medals of honor someday, like under President Jenna Bush. Or, for those with more tender sensibilities, President Chelsea Clinton.
(Pop survey: Will there ever be another President from the Bush family? In our lifetimes? Do you believe there will be Presidents after W?)
Craig fought through legal means to keep his name. His list has not only helped hundreds of thousands of people to move, sell stuff fast, and buy cheap software, it was a posting place for missing persons photos after Katrina and 9/11.
Now it seems to be bringing relief from our long national nightmare, per this Seattle Times article:
"I'm not too concerned about getting caught," said Eric, a Bellevue, Wash., man in his early 30s who peddles pot online through craigslist.
Local and federal law enforcement officials said they're aware dealers like Eric are turning to craigslist and other Web sites to sell pot, but the amounts sold are generally so small they're not very concerned.
Eric, who spoke on the condition that his last name not be used, says he doesn't make much of a profit - if any - but sells enough marijuana so he can smoke for free. He sells small amounts - usually an eighth of an ounce, which brings in $30 to $40. Most clients are friends or friends of friends, Eric said.
But as some customers have moved away or no longer want to light up, he's found replacement demand online.
Dude, where's my latte?
Eric scans craigslist for ads placed by people who are seeking pot. More often than not, he'll find someone posting an ad looking for marijuana using code names like "Mary Jane," "MJ," "the sticky icky," "the chronic" and "420."
Or "Mike Durgin". Or "books". Or, maybe, "The Skunk".
Recently, however, Eric posted an ad on craigslist indicating he was willing to trade marijuana for sexual favors from women or money from men. Men who offered up a woman for sex would get a discount.
"It's not prostitution," he said, noting he had completed a few transactions in response to the ad. "It's like a date, just weed instead of dinner."
DUUUUUDE! Way to puncture the hypocrisy of the bourgeoisie!
And wah-hay cheaper than taking her to Fatburger.
Craigslist isn't the only Web site pot smokers are using to find marijuana. One, WeBeHigh.com, hosts user-contributed pages for many world cities, including Seattle, that detail where to find marijuana dealers.
Ah, pornijuana. Click on any country to see their stash. That's why browsers have Bookmarks.
The DEA is more concerned about Oxycontin, morphine and Ritalin freaks and dealers on the net, and these pot dealers haven't been making conspicuous fortunes this way, and especially not Eric if he's just giving it away in return for youknowwhat.
Still, it's a felony, and we should thank these brave young men and their technologican enablers. We're talkin' public service:
One dealer who lives in Seattle's Montlake neighborhood said his customers feel more at ease "making a connection" online than on the streets.
Another man from West Seattle, who was recently offering a quarter-ounce of marijuana for $75 - "the good stuff," he said - thinks his clients would rather e-mail a dealer back and forth for a few days to make sure they're legit than risk meeting someone and having the deal go awry.
"You never know what's going to happen," he said. "You could easily get robbed or beat up if you run into the wrong people."
Kinda like dating these days anyway, feeling each other out online. "Whoa, you love hobbits, too!"
But I'll bet hitting the paper will ultimately be bad for business, oh well except maybe in Seattle, because somewhere you just know some cop'll come busting down the door for political gain (feds) or to snatch that bag before you can flush it down your lo-flo toilet, Eric, and bogart that ganj for themselves, bite the bud. Or maybe there's increased pressure on craigslist itself to 86 your 420.
Which would be a shame. Because this country doesn't function well off its medication.
Yes, nice dreams, America. You need 'em.
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