Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Disclaimer: This article in no way advocates the use of marijuana or any other drug. It is simply a look back at the history of pot in Somerville as told by those who remember. It is meant for the adults who grew up with marijuana in Somerville.

Did you ever think you’d see day that pot stores are popping up everywhere including our dear old Somerville? Did you ever think you’d be able to buy pot legally in Davis Square? There’s a couple of medical marijuana dispensaries in Somerville and some regular dispensaries coming.

Buying pot in Somerville used to be an adventure. You got it on the street corner, or you had your own “guy.” The whole process was risky business. Maybe you had to go up the dealer’s house, or meet him someplace to make the deal. There was always the chance of getting busted. Sometimes we would drive into the Projects for “bones.” We were always scared of running into the cops. Some pot sellers made deliveries. Getting busted with weed used to be a serious offense. Plus, we’d get our butts kicked by our fathers.

Buying weed has become almost as easy as buying milk and bread. Growing up in Somerville we all have pot stories. Some of my friends helped me remember.

Back in the day, kids sold bones or joints (marijuana cigarettes) in the halls of my junior high and when I was up the high school (smokin’ in the boys’ room). You would walk by a group of students and a voice would say, “Three for five!” That was a good deal as long as they weren’t “pinnahs.” That meant the joints were skinny like a pin, thus, pinners. That may be an original Somerville word along with “fatties,” which were … anyone, anyone? Fat joints. Smoking a fattie would give you the munchies fast. Then you’d eat everything in sight.

There was a pot dealer in every park in Somerville and on just about every street corner. He or she was very popular. They had to endure heavy risks as the cops were always hovering. As I said before, getting busted with weed was a threat hanging over anyone who was a pot user back then.

Today, I get whiffs of marijuana smoke all over the place because everyone’s smoking and toking. It also has a huge medical following. I actually get a kick out of it when I get a whiff of second hand pot because it brings back memories of when I was a hippie hanging around on the Cambridge Common or behind the high school.

I quit smoking cigarettes long ago but I still don’t mind the occasional smell of cigarette smoke either. It reminds of all the bars, posts and clubs we used to frequent growing up. For what I did to my nose in the 80’s, I’m surprised I can smell anything. I took my sons to an Alice Cooper concert when they were younger and they asked me what the strange smell was. I said, that’s marijuana, and I better never smell it on you guys!

I remember buying a bag of bird seed from a guy up Powder House Park. Another time I bought a bag of oregano. We joked that the guy who sold it to us “took the taste you love in food and put it in marijuana!” By the way you can now get a variety of pot edibles like gummies and chocolate bars. That was the risk you took.

The pot deals had to be so quick that sometimes you just had to stick it in your pocket and take off in case the boys in blue were near. I don’t know how many of those corn cob pipes we bought at Robbins Smoke Shop in Davis Square. Pipes could be improvised out of toilet paper rolls and tin foil, empty soda cans and even an apple. You could always buy rolling papers in every convenient store. Remember Cheech and Chongs’ album Big Bambu that came with a giant rolling paper (see photo)? And don’t forget bongs. Remember the Head Shops?

In the 70’s me and three friends would pitch in and buy an ounce of grass, for 20 bucks, smoke it all night, and still take some home. But because of a mean case of the munchies, we’d hit The Venice Cafe or The Continental for some pizza before going home. Yeah, weed makes you eat.

The late 60’s and throughout the 70’s was when us Baby Boomers were introduced to pot. We never thought we’d live to see the legalization of marijuana. There was always talk of it but it seemed like a pipe dream, literally.

There are high taxes involved when you buy marijuana at a recreational dispensary like the ones coming to Somerville soon. Go figure. There’s no tax if you have a medical marijuana card that costs $200. Basically any adult can get one. It’s quite a racket. Most tokers have cheaper, easier ways to get their weed. The people who swear by the medical benefits of marijuana and CBD products can get it easily at the dispensaries. It’s become quite the interesting little plant.

Many members of my generation are still smoking weed today. I got a kick out of remembering words like pinners, fatties, bongs and don’t forget, the munchies.

Our city government had to okay the weed stores to come to Somerville so it must be okay! They are very smart up there at 93 Highland Ave. They should actually gather a bunch of willing hippies, give them some good pot, and let them scrape and repaint City Hall. Of course they’d have to also throw in lunch which could get very expensive for a crew with the munchies. I’ll pass though. I get dizzy on ladders.

We have everything in Somerville. A new high school, new bridges, the green line extension and now the green grass stores. Somerville rocks … and rolls … joints. Lol!

And now I will end with a song appropriately titled One Toke Over the Line Sweet Jesus, One Toke Over the Line.