The State of Rhode Island and Pretty Dank Plantations // GQ.com

The state that began as Roger Williams’ noble settlement based on “freedom of conscience” for all people was recently named  the 16th Worst State in America in GQ. How did the most progressive of the 13 colonies become so deplorable? The same way Amy Winehouse derailed her career: drugs. The state is #1 in the nation for consumption of illicit drugs, and the most consumed drug is, to borrow a phrase from Cypress Hill, “that skunky, funky, smelly green shit.” According to a 2003 report by the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC), nearly 50% of teenagers in Rhode Island had used marijuana at least once and 7.2% of the whole adult population (over 12 years old) had used the drug in the past 30 days–almost 3% above the national average. Furthermore, all of these statistics were collected before the state’s legalizing of medical marijuana in 2006, which legalized possession for “caregivers and patients” without violating state laws. Though specific studies have not been conducted recently, one can only imagine the new law sparking an increase in marijuana use. More info about RI’s love affair with marijuana after the jump. [Read more →]