The 2000s will always be remembered for the advances made in the battle to legalize Ganja. But there were some other interesting developments over the decade that helped make this a pretty stoney 10 years.

The lead in wasn’t bad either as the 90s saw a major revival of the Weed Culture, as hippies, punks, reggae and protesters all made comebacks and Alternative Rock and Hip-Hop made their own pushes for the acceptance of ganja. Prop 215 (Medical Marijuana in CA) had been passed in 1996: enter the New Millennium.

We saw athletes performing at their peak and toking ganj like madmen. We saw cops eating pot brownies and going crazy, we saw a boom in medical marijuana dispensaries in California and a city in Colorado outright legalize it. We saw Obama order his drug-warriors to ease off medical marijuana and an all-out drug war at the Mexican border claiming lives daily. We got enough signatures in California to possibly vote in 2010 on all out decriminalization, so its been an active 10 years for a group noted more for their snack attacks and couch time than productivity.

The Decade started out bad for all Americans, early on we got 9/11 and for marijuana activists there was the decision in United States vs Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative where it was decided that the US law superseded California law, although the group has gone on to be the largest issuer of medical marijuana cards in Cali.  Moving right along.

Athletes went to the stoners as well with three major uncovered stoners. First Rickey Williams, Heisman Trophy Winner and NFL running back for the Miami Dolphins, tested positive three times for ganja in the mid 2000s. Eventually he announced his retirement from the NFL and played in the Canadian Football League where there are no substance abuse policies. Williams has returned to the NFL, tested positive again, and been a pretty decent player too. Perhaps more surprising than Williams sacrificing two years of his career for ganja was a photo of one of the greatest Olympians of all time ripping a fatty bong hit after winning eight Golds in Beijing. Michael Phelps got snapped with a pretty sweet glass bonger in hand. He got the typical sponsorship droppings, issued an apology and moved on. Two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants also was pulled over with a sack of herbs. He was cited and sent on his way. Nobody really cares.

Legally, weed moved closer to legal status as many DEAs and law enforcement announced weed calls were to become of least priority, Obama stopped dispensary raids in a move toward States Rights. A group in California has gathered enough signatures for their Tax and Regulate Initiative to possibly be on the ballot in 2010, and this ain’t just for sick people. The decade also saw an explosion of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries throughout California. In one of the boldest moves of the decade, the Colorado town of Breckenridge voted to legalize weed outright, although it is more symbolic as both state and federal law still make it legal. A decade long drop in teen use also leveled off, scaring some while seeming pretty natural to others. NRML continued its growth and a California mother told the world she gives her autistic son pot cookies to make his brain work better.

In Business economist Milton Friedman signed a pro-dope report and Richard Branson, of the Virgin companies said he would sell it through his company. George Zimmer of the Men’s Warehouse has also donated money to support various research and advocacy groups. I guarantee it.

"I'm not a great pothead or anything like that… but weed is much, much less dangerous than alcohol." - Johnny Depp, 2001

Entertainment in the Decade was rife with reefer. On the internet meme scene is the Cop who called 911 after eating pot brownies. This re-enactment captures the drama of the actual 911 call. Woody Harrelson’s outspoken stance on pot, among other things, stood out as he toked it up across America on an advocacy tour. In 2003 Woody’s good pal Matthew McConaughey met the police at the door of his Texas home naked with a pair of bongos following noise complaints, he was stoned, obviously. Also in 2003, Tommy Chong got nine months for selling bongs. In 2005 Sting took a stand against UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s plan to reclassify weed to a more controlled level. A few other folks got in on the joint circle this decade including the much maligned Jennifer Anniston and her ex-beau Brad Pitt, Amy Whinehouse (obviously), Johnny Depp dropped knowledge and one of the top rated shows of the decade featured Mary Louise-Parker as a dope slanging mom in Weeds.

Stoner of the Decade

 The next decade is looking good unless Obama screws this liberal thing up, so hang in there and keep on tokin'.