IMO 03 – Yes, I Smoke Weed. No, I’m Not That Kind of Stoner
A Brief (and Hopefully Legally Sufficient) Disclaimer
This article contains opinions, anecdotes, and light sarcasm from a full-grown adult who uses cannabis responsibly. I’m not a doctor, a lawyer, or your mom. Please consult professionals (the kind with degrees) before making health decisions. Also, if your idea of moderation is eating an entire tray of mystery brownies from your cousin’s garage grow, that’s on you.
Use responsibly. Laugh freely. And maybe don’t forward this to your boss.
Yes, I smoke weed. And I use edibles. Because I use cannabis in different ways for different reasons.
Or cannabis, if we’re being proper. And let’s be proper—because that’s part of the point, isn’t it?
No, I’m not a burnout. I’m not an underachiever. I’m not 22 and living in my parents’ basement watching Planet Earth with dilated pupils and a half-eaten sleeve of Oreos on my chest. And I don’t have a collection of bongs named after cartoon characters. (Although I do appreciate a well-named bong.)
I’m a grown-up. A professional. A partner, a parent, a person with responsibilities, deadlines, bills, and an affinity for grocery store rotisserie chicken. I have a calendar app and I use it. I floss. Sometimes.
And yes—I use cannabis. But like most things in my life, how I use it depends on what I need.
Different Forms, Different Functions
Quick Fact: According to a 2022 Gallup poll[1], 16% of U.S. adults say they currently smoke cannabis, while more than double that—around 36%—have tried it at least once. And edibles? Sales of edibles now make up nearly 20% of all legal cannabis product purchases in the U.S., according to BDSA market research[2]. Prohibition still exists: only four states—Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, and Wyoming—maintain full prohibition of cannabis for both medical and recreational use.
In my opinion, there are a few major ways to consume cannabis. There are certainly more, but broadly speaking, we can break it down into a handful of categories that most people start with or stick to.
First, the most iconic method: smoking. Whether it’s a joint, a pipe, or a bong, smoking flower is fast-acting, social, and ritualistic. I usually reach for it when I want something immediate or communal—something to mark the shift from “work” to “not-work.” It’s the grown-up version of putting your phone on Do Not Disturb and lighting a candle. Just with more terpenes.
Then there are edibles, which have exploded in variety—from baked goods to beverages to sophisticated confections. But for simplicity and consistency, let’s talk about gummies. Most days, I reach for an edible because I like structure. I like consistency. I like knowing exactly what’s going into my system, how it’s going to feel, and how long it’ll last. A well-dosed gummy can take me from anxious spreadsheet troll to confident creative unicorn in under an hour. Guru might be a stretch—but at the very least, I stop trying to rewrite the same sentence 14 times.
Now, there are other methods out there—vaping (liquid or dry herb), dabbing, wax, tinctures, sublinguals, even topicals. These options can be great depending on your preferences, needs, and experience level.
Pro tip: If you’re just getting started, stick to the basics—flower and edibles. And make sure your edibles come from a licensed dispensary so you know the potency and can dose responsibly.
Each form has its place. Each one plays a different role. And none of them define me.
Did you know? The onset time for edibles is typically 30–90 minutes, but the effects can last 4–8 hours—making them ideal for extended relief or a full evening of chill. Smoking, on the other hand, kicks in within minutes but fades faster[3]. That’s not anecdote—that’s science.
Dexter Co Exists for the Realists
I created Dexter Co because I couldn’t find myself in what the world was offering. Not in the Reefer Madness horror show, and not in the neon-lit weed-bro universe either. I needed a third lane—one where cannabis could be smart, stylish, and human.
Where people could say, “Yeah, I eat cannabis—but I also run a business, drive carpools, and color code my fridge.”
I wanted a space for people who aren’t trying to check out. We’re trying to check in. To soften the edges, sleep a little deeper, manage anxiety, or enjoy our lives a little more—with intention. Whether that’s through a joint or a low-dose edible.
Dexter Co is cannabis culture for the rest of us.
- The consultants who pop a gummy to decompress after their tenth back-to-back Zoom.
- The parents who take one puff before bedtime stories.
- The caregivers, creatives, and yes, the skeptics—who realize cannabis doesn’t have to be one-size-fits-all or all-or-nothing.
We’re already out here. You just don’t know we use cannabis.
Because we’re not the kind of stoner you expect.
Normal Doesn’t Mean Boring
The stoner stereotype is lazy—not just in what it depicts, but in how much it leaves out.
We’ve come a long way legally—cannabis is now legal for adult use in 24 U.S. states and Washington D.C., and medically legal in 38 states[4]—but culturally, the narrative still needs help. The public image of a cannabis user hasn’t evolved much since the ‘90s.
But we know better. Cannabis has matured. So have we.
Today’s cannabis is clean, precise, and professional. It’s formulated, tested, and tailored. And its users? We’re no longer trying to “get high.” We’re trying to feel better, sleep deeper, or laugh a little more freely without needing a cocktail or a vacation to do it.
Reclaiming the Image, One Form at a Time
- It’s the grandma who uses a mint before yoga.
- It’s the couple who keeps infused chocolate in the fridge next to the oat milk.
- It’s the professional who finds peace with a low-dose edible and a walk around the block.
This is what cannabis looks like now. No tie-dye required.
And the more we tell our stories, the less power the old stereotypes hold. That’s what Dexter Co is all about.
Why Cannabis Works for Me
- Edibles are my weekday go-to. They offer quiet consistency.
- Smoking is for winding down or turning up the connection in conversation.
None of it is about checking out. It’s about checking in—on myself, on others, on the life I actually want to be living.
So Yes—I Use Cannabis. In the Ways That Work for Me.
Cannabis helps me be more patient, more creative, more present. And the form I use depends on what I need.
I’m not that kind of stoner. I’m a grown-ass adult with options—and a preference for good design and responsible dosing.
I’m the kind who shows up for his life—with the right tool for the moment.
Coming Up Next…
Next up in the series: IMO #4 – What Cannabis Means to Me (And Why It’s Not About Getting High)
We’ll explore the deeper emotional, social, and personal value of cannabis—beyond the buzz. Because for many of us, this plant isn’t about zoning out. It’s about tuning in.
Footnotes
[1] Gallup. (2022). "Marijuana Use Edges Up to 16% of U.S. Adults." Link
[2] BDSA. (2023). Cannabis Market Trends Report.
[3] National Library of Medicine. (2020). "Pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids." Link
[4] National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). (2024). State Medical Cannabis Laws. Link
