Welcome to “Rolling Stoned”! The idea behind this newsletter, which will arrive in your inboxes every two weeks, is to consolidate my various bylines in one place under the (possibly faulty) assumption that some folks might want to read them.
Also, sometimes you get to see something like this in print and you just want a place to put it, you know?
Illustration from “How a Group of Marin Teenagers Created 420” (Marin Magazine; art by Chris Whetzel)
For me, social media these days feels like the opposite of the way you’re supposed to build an immunity to snake venom. Instead of getting stronger with each day that I needlessly scroll through death tolls and insipid sniping, I feel worse. Thus, in hopes of reducing the amount of time I need to hawk my stories on Twitter, Facebook, etc., my plan is to primarily share them by means of this newsletter.
For those who don’t know me, I report on cannabis, music, comedy, literature, drag, and some other stuff too. I’ve spoken with Willie Nelson, shadowed a pair of urban explorers, and penned love letters to drag queens and baseball legends.
For the past four years, I’ve also written a weekly column in San Francisco Weekly called “Chem Tales,” which focuses on the weed industry. Some of those columns are best left forgotten, but there are others I remain ferociously proud to have written. While I promise not to stuff each dispatch with stuff from long ago, subscribers should expect a little “from the archives” content from time to time too.
Basically, expect a few stories focused on the legal cannabis industry and a smattering of arts and culture stories as well. If subscribers want to write in with questions about cannabis, I’d also be quite happy to answer them in subsequent newsletters!
Another thing I’m really excited about is sharing some of my interview audio recordings. It won’t happen right away, but if this thing gets a little momentum, there are definitely a few gems that I would love to let everyone in on. A certain voicemail from Jeff Goldblum comes to mind…
Interviewing Jordan Peele and Keegan Michael-Key at Oakland’s Cat Cafe in 2016 (photo by Adrian Spinelli)
Lastly, one of my favorite parts about being a freelance journalist is getting to amplifying the incredible work being done by my colleagues and peers. Have you read Jeff Weiss on Thundercat? Have you seen this amazing animated short film recounting the time Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter on acid? If not, I’ve got you covered. Expect a few links to stuff I’ve read and loved in each newsletter too.
There might be playlists or other things as well, but at least for now, as these awful pandemic days persist, I’d simply welcome the chance to share the work I’m still lucky enough to see published.
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably my father, but either way, thank you! I’m going to send the first “Rolling Stoned” out on Friday, May 15. Future installments will arrive every two Fridays after that.
Also, there’s going to be like a ton of references to The Simpsons. I wanted to call this stupid thing “From Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Zack” at first. You’ve been warned.
In the meantime, tell your friends?
I’ll always follow you Zack ❤️
I will be a loyal subscriber even though I may not know of everybody you reference - I'm looking forward to learning and enjoying!