Westword

Mondo Times editors    Boulder Colorado USA

Posted at 3:46pm on Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Marijuana Critic Wanted at Westword

Media Life's Diego Vasquez interviewed Westword editor Patricia Calhoun on October 19, 2009:

"It just may have been the most enticing job posting ever, certainly to a subset of stoners. "Do you have a medical condition that necessitates marijuana? Do you have a way with words? If so, Westword wants you to join the ranks as our freelance marijuana-dispensary reviewer."

Since then, Westword, the Denver-area alternative weekly, has received hundreds of resumes from potential reviewers, a surprising number of whom are actually qualified candidates (the rest are just high).

Calhoun talks to Media Life about her prospective candidates, all the attention, and how to keep laughing amid a media storm.

So, did you ever expect this job posting would generate as much attention in the media world as it has?

We knew that it would get a lot of attention from readers, based on our past coverage of the medical marijuana issue. But this much national (and international) attention? No.

How many applications have you received?

Upwards of 300, we think -- oddly (or not), this project has resulted in an unusually high percentage of people getting stuck in our spam filter.

About what percent of the applications would you say are viable?

Ninety percent, which is going to make this very tough.

Must one be an actual stoner to perform this job?

Nope.

Will there be, ahem, drug testing for this position?

We probably should -- and give extra points to anyone who tests positive."