Thursday, October 22, 2009

Roll up, roll up - Colorado newspaper seeks marijuana critic

The Westword newspaper in Denver is looking for a correspondent to review Colorado's hundreds of legalised cannabis dispensaries and their products.

By Guy Adams

The Westword newspaper in Denver is looking for a correspondent to review Colorado's hundreds of legalised cannabis dispensaries and their products. Photo / APIt sounds like the best job in journalism, provided you can be bothered to turn up for work: a Denver newspaper is advertising for a marijuana critic to review Colorado's hundreds of legalised cannabis dispensaries and their products.

The appointment of the nation's first professional "pot correspondent" comes amid progress towards ending prohibition of the drug.

This week, the White House told federal prosecutors to stop pursuing certain users and vendors in the 14 states where it is permitted for medical reasons.

More than 120 applications for the job have already been received by Westword, a weekly newspaper with a circulation of 100,000 owned by the prestigious Village Voice group.

Whoever eventually gets the job will be paid to write a weekly column entitled "Mile Highs and Lows".

"More and more people are having the opportunity to use marijuana for whatever illness they have," Joe Tone, an editor at the title, told the Associated Press.

"So we want to be a place they can come to find out which place is the best, the cleanest and the closest."

The reviewer will be expected to rate the service, and ambience in the outlets that he or she reviews, said Tone.

They are also required to help readers negotiate the often bewildering variety of marijuana products on sale.

There will certainly be demand for an impartial guide to medical marijuana stores.

Thousands have sprung up across America in recent years, but they vary wildly. Some are run-down operations; others are comfortable, cafe-style venues where customers can buy food and drink, and enjoy acupuncture and massage.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10604749

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