Breaking the Law Every Day

Jesse Walker | May 2, 2003

I'm back from a short trip to New York City, where I'm happy to report that at least some natives are treating the new anti-smoking rules with all the discourtesy they deserve. Tromping 'round the Lower East Side with me yesterday, my friend Sarah casually pointed out one smoke-easy, where tobacco is surreptitiously permitted, and mentioned that others were springing up around town.

In still other bars, she added, one response to the ban on smoking tobacco has been to break out some weed instead. Not that that's any more legal. I get the impression that it's the sort of thing that would go on in the Lower East Side anyway.

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Tim|5.2.03 @ 3:13AM|#

Anyone got the address of these Danish bars in NY? :)

|5.2.03 @ 3:28AM|#

dude, it's that element of danger that the chicks go for, you dig?

|5.2.03 @ 5:03AM|#

viva la revolution!

|5.2.03 @ 9:04AM|#

"smoke-easy", I love it. I bet McSorley's is still supplying their own signature ashtrays. Bloomberg needs a good in-yer-face shamin'...not to mention a good $12 cigar.

ZZ-Bottom|5.3.03 @ 1:13AM|#

Wadda-ya mean, "Bloomberg needs a good in-yer-face shamin'... not to mention [a bad 12-cent cigar.]"

He's the very one rooting for NY to break out the weed instead. Can't you see where this insanity is heading?

|5.4.03 @ 11:49AM|#

Think we could open a smoke-easy here in the People's Smokeless Republic of Delaware?

fyodor|5.5.03 @ 11:41AM|#

The weed thing is fascinating. It reinforces the notion that when victimless activities are made unlawful, other unlawful activities, including those often considered more "serious," find an opening in the spaces where the prohibition is resisted since these spaces have in effect become red light districts. In this case, I personally don't find smoking weed any more serious than smoking tobacco, but too often the more serious crimes are those that actually do claim victims....

|5.5.03 @ 11:56AM|#

I've always wondered whether the anti-smoking movement would end up bolstering the reform of drug laws, be creating a class of laws for non-prohibited "controlled" substances. It would provide a great comeback to the "People will be smoking weed everywhere" accusation. "No they won't, it'll be just like cigarettes."

JD Weiner|5.5.03 @ 12:27PM|#

I had an idea the other day which I'd love to put into practice. I saw outside a restaurant a tin can labelled "Put butts here", and I thought, that's it! - ashtrays with Bloomberg's face on the bottom! Stub out your butt on Mayor Mike's mush! I hereby release this idea into the public domain, of course...I only wish that cafepress did ashtrays.

omnibus bill|5.5.03 @ 12:52PM|#

I'll see you guys later. I'm going to step out for a quick heater...

Woronoff Melissa|9.10.04 @ 12:23AM|#

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