It’s human nature to create small communities where people of similar cultures and interests congregate, like Little Italy, Chinatown, Little India and most recently, Oaksterdam. A hybrid of sorts, Oaksterdam is Oakland California’s version of drug-friendly Amsterdam. Within a nine-block area you’ll find legal marijuana dispensaries, pot paraphernalia stores, and even their own cannabis college. When enough people are passionate about a cause, they can create change. Slowly, baby step by baby step, these people will make marijuana legal.

This got that little hamster wheel in my mind spinning. If those people could create a place where they could enjoy a controlled substance that improved their quality of life, even though it’s illegal, I should be able to do the same thing.

I’m going to create Cheesesterdam! A nirvana with block after block of illegal cheese dispensaries where people with a doctors prescription (wink, wink) can get their water crackers on young, unpasteurized, outlawed cheeses that make grown women sob. I’m talking about Camembert, Epoisses, Fourme d’Ambert, and on and on. We could have a school that teaches illegal cheese making techniques and call it Curds College. Our football team would be the fighting Cheesemongers and our cheerleaders would be big boned girls with pom-poms made from string cheese. Our team could kick Oaksterdam College’s ass because you know they’re totally baked and could care less if they make a touchdown. Although this school rivalry may prove deadly. The Oaksterdammers would get the munchies, and most likely eat our mascot, Stinky the wheel o’ stilton.

Even though I don’t smoke pot (although you never know, one day they could grow bud that tastes like cookie dough) I think it should be legal. Why should the government care if after dinner I want to take a bong hit or spread some Colommiers on a baguette in the privacy of my own home? I’m grateful I can create change because if enough people ban together we can eventually enjoy marijuana and/or cheese by choice, not by legislation. I don’t want to get political, but hands off my skunk bud and my stinky cheese.

I’m grateful I can create change.