High on heels: 'Today' introduces us to 'Stiletto Stoners'

Since writing about the pop culture mainstreaming of marijuana, I've kept a keen interest in how the subject is treated on TV, and on my way out the door this morning, I heard "Today" show hosts Meredith Viera and Matt Lauer bantering about an upcoming segment about young, pot-smoking career women.

The segment (see below) dubbed them "Stiletto Stoners," which struck me as a brilliant, catchy tag -- and one that's almost sure to become a pop culture meme along the lines of "metrosexual," "Chardonnay Liberal" or "Wise Latina" -- indeed a visit to the website stilettostoners.com promises "Website on its way."

The term was coined in an article in the October issue of Marie Claire by Yael Kohen, and I tip my wordsmith's cap to her genius.*[UPDATED].

The only problem is, the snappy sobriquet leaves out the guys -- and let's be honest, no one's done more to blaze the trail for pot smoking professionals than the boys. What should Matt and Meredith (and the rest of us) dub the upwardly mobile XY chromosomes who, like their high and heeled counterparts, unwind at the end of the day with a joint instead of a gin and tonic? "Button-down Bakers? "Necktie Tokers"? 

I'm sure the perfect answer's out there in the ether somewhere. Feel free to post your suggestion in the comments section.

-- Adam Tschorn

*[UPDATED: In the original version of this post, I had yet to reach Kohen to confirm the term originated with her. She's since returned my call and verified that indeed she and the folks at Marie Claire coined the term.]

Illustration: Jon Krause / For The Times

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Comments

[PA Yippy]

I've always preferred the term "yippy" which is a combination of "yuppy" and "hippy". It is also gender neutral.

[Joe]

Why dont we just legalize pot already?

Everyone that wants to smoke already is, the money could go to legit businesses instead of cartels, we currently waste billions of dollars a year on prohibition (as if prohibition has every worked before), and we have by far the highest incarceration rate of any developed or undeveloped country in the world.

[RACFISH]

I love the article for bringing out the truth on pot smoking. I am a 55 yo proffessional male whos been smoking pot since I was 13 yo.I dont drink liquor or pop (legal) pills.Yael is correct about certain aspects in smoking pot. I am sorry I ever really started pot. I am addicted to marijuana and have tried quitting countless times with no long term success. You all talk about it like its a new hobby thats cool to do.Take it from the original long time stoner. "DONT TRY IT ". I love the euphoric feeling I get from pot but hate the long term effects that eventually will happen. Like mind loss,or excessive eating ie the "Munchies".I munched my way to 320 lbs at one point.I have no short term memory at all. I am extremely moody and snap in a heartbeat.I tend to get lazy once I've smoked a lil.I still smoke today and really wished I never started.

[Sharon]

Legalize, Legalize .......
It's about time that people realized the truth about marijuana.
Legalize, Legalize ........

[sugaree]

I didn't see the piece on Today but...
Like Racfish I have smoked pot since about the age of 13/14 - though I wouldn't necessarily recommend that age cohort for use, and admittedly I am an unrepentant advocate of/for the use of psychedelics - though haven't taken any since 84, I dont particularly care for alcohol and I loathe tabbacco...There have been long stretches, sometimes for a year or more where I didn't smoke pot simply because I didn't have any. However...
I am tired of the false premise that 'drugs' (mairjuana in particular) are in some special category that requires quaranteen due to categories of consequences...Everything we do on this earth has consequences;
One too many bacon cheese burgers and you're a walking heart attack, one too many drinks and you're a guided missle on the roadway, one too many tackles on the football ball field/punches in the ring and you're a walking case of alzhiemers/parkinsins, one too many ciggaretts and you're a walking case of cancer/heart disease...
I will attest to the idea that pot should not be smoked everyday, however I am an adult and I along with others can and do regulate my smoking behavior just as millions of others regulate their drinking behavior, or suffer the personal or perhaps legal consequences...
We are THE contry with the largest percentage of our population incarcerated, in this case for non violent offenses... Where a thugish legal system is using pot smokers as human chip$$$ in order to turn the building of prison$$$ into a comodity on the New York stock exchange...
It will be legal someday, the question is; How many lives of law abiding, decent citizens will be ruined by the thugish legal system because the other 'drugs' good citizens take (caffine, tabacco, alcohol) have a corporate sponsor...

[sugaree]

PS I am also four square against the use of ANY white powder drugs and have never tried them a)because I didn't want to and b)because I knew better...

[Frank Luna]

Excellent Article! and Yes!, I saw the report on the Today Show. WHERE CAN I MEET SUCH WOMEN ? Do they have Union Meetings & get togethers ?? If there are such places, CONTACT ME!!!! again, Excellent Article!!!!
Sincerely,
Frank Luna
Tucson, AZ.

[Troll In]

Joe, yeah they do a great job regulating alcohol and cigarettes so they can't get to little kids. Let's just add pot to the list, they'll do a GREAT job with that too. Forget the fact that DUI's are so bad now you can call 911 and report them!

RACFISH, these idiots will never understand. They're so caught up in the "man" holding them down they're completely irrational. Let's not forget they've most likely forgotten any counter-points to them by the time the person is finished typing!

Sharon, and what might that truth be? Are you too stupid to have even taken a simple psychology or biology 101 class at your local community college? Artificially releasing hormones in the brain to feel "good" ruins their ability to function normally. But hey, what's logic and reason to a completely irrational fool?

Also, no wonder the LA Times has an all-time low subscription count. People want to hear news, not this stupid useless drivel.

[Coe Parker]

i call them normal people. we don't have names for all the people that unwind with a drink, why should we make up funny names for people who smoke weed. That is pretty much anyone these days anyway, we need to legalize and tax. period!

[Kat]

I am a 46 year old female Yippy that has abused a number of different drugs and alcohol in my lifetime. Pot isn't one of them. I do not feel addicted to it in any way even though I smoke a joint every night to relax from the stresses of the day.
I honestly feel it is a safer option to me than a bottle of wine or 6 pack of Bud which reduces my inhibitions and affects motor skills. You can't overdose on pot either. I firmly believe that this country could benefit financially from legalizing it.

[adreenuh]

haha I love how both girls totally ignore the question they are given..

[Cole]

Right on Joe! It's a silly game they're playing and it's gone on for way too long already. Pot isn't harmless, but neither is cheese. The first wave of prohibition of cannabis was brought about to drive the Mexican population out of the southwest states during the depression. How can a supposedly equality-driven administration (as our current one claims to be) allow this historical gesture of out and out racial discrimination to continue during their watch?

[adreenuh]

I don't think it should be legalized because the people who want it are already getting it..& it's going to cause problems because it's going to back fire just like the prohibition...how did that work out?..now we have drunk drivers killing people on the road...."Oh I know! now let's have blown drivers on the road!" hahaha no!..yes when your high you think about stuff more thoroughly but that doesn't mean your thoughts are clear.

[Jeff]

I love my Stiletto Stoner. Best person in the world to toke up with. Love you Ash!

[Sugar]

i'm going to have to disagree w/ RACFISH. you did not munch your way to 320lbs by pot alone. there was something else going on, and may perhaps be going on in your life that made you get that way. extremely moody and snappy?? can't remember things?? excessive eating?? these are signs of depression. you don't have to exhibit all the signs of depression to have it. it affects different people in different ways. maybe it's time to see the DR. try some zoloft. it works wonders. as for quitting?? if you really wanted to, you could. i bet you kept your piece or papers around and your friends number...just in case. laziness?? that's a state of mind. if you were feeling lazy in the 1st place, that's how your going to feel afterward; but now, maybe you can take a nap. :) i never tried pot to be cool. i tried pot b/c i wanted too. i'd rather smoke than do anything else (drug wise), trust me on that. i'm cool,(well, @ least i've been told a few times ;) ) but, not, b/c i smoke pot. i'm cool b/c i'm cool. pot does not define you. it just makes dealing with some people a whole lot easier. :) & i say all of this with the utmost respect.

as for the article...awesome :)

[Jeff]

Dang RACFISH, sucks to be you. I know many your age that have been smoking about the same number of years that don't have the problems you speak of. If you can't quit it's because you never really wanted to, and the fact that you let yourself slip to 320 lbs, do to the "Munchie's," gives us a little more insight to your self perception, motivation, and determination. You may be a professional but your deff not an expert.

[Anita Blunt]

I think that there is a lot of truth in what RACFISH wrote. I am a 30 year old public school employee and I started smoking at 26. I agree that my short term memory is now a memory and that I've gained a good 20 lbs "munching" and being nothing short of a potato that resides on a couch. On the upside, the first year I began inhaling, I lost a total of 90 lbs going from 260 to 150 and I became more studious and hungry for knowledge. The point is, cannabis makes lazy people lazier, dumb people dumber, and things that don't matter forgotten. You just have to learn to adapt to your ever opening mind. Don't blame the marijuana for lack of focus or motivation. A lot of successful, intelligent, and active people inhale frequently. Barack Obama, Albert Einstein, and Michael Phelps come to mind....

[JMFcelli]

exactly, marijuana helps more than its hurts, if used correctly and responsibly! the only reason people are brainwashed into it being bad is because the government makes it illegal.

[the advocate]

Marijuana should be legalized! If used in moderation of course, it is a very effective way of treating various kinds of illness, and it is also a very enjoyable recreational thing. Unlike alcohol, when someone becomes high on marijuana, in most cases are very calm and violence is the last thing on their mind. Currently the laws in place put money in the hands of criminals, cartels, and possibly even terrorists. That money could be recirculated back into our economy which it is in dire need of. Over half the prison population are marijuana offenders. It cost the goventment and states more money to keep a prisoner in prison than it does to put children through public school. (talk about money talks, bullshit walks). Just the very fact that it is a plant which grows in soils the world over should be nature's evidence that yes, humans where ment to smoke pot. If your a skeptic, buy a ten dollar joint, go home sit back and relax, light up and think. I dare you to sit there and think about marijuana and how you feel during and after smoking. When i do this, i find that i am immensly intouch with my thoughts.

[Brenda Shoop]

Most "side-effects" that are being discussed here are clearly related to the strain of cannabis being ingested. Remember the "one pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small"? Well, it's the same with cannabis.
Some strains enable me to focus on and solve complex problems, or say, work outside in the heat all day. Others make me want to curl up and take a nap. So, they're like coffee in the morning and a glass of wine at night.
You guys just aren't using the right strains at the right times. And that's another problem that prohibition has caused. Lack of variety and consistency in the product you are buying. If you could go into an establishment and know what you are getting every time consistently, I'll bet you wouldn't be having these so-called "side effects."
Thanks for the article!
Oh, and you don't have to call me anything, just puff and pass.