I've known

Bob Freeman

since our college days. And while you can't say he's not a bright, nice guy, one thing has never been at issue: The guy's never been hip.

I still remember him at parties talking the ear off anyone who would listen -- a trippy yet wonkish guy named Joe Bene was often on the receiving even at Moravian College, as I recall -- about politics or history or policy. The rest of us were trashed, but Bob was dealing soberly with big issues. I assume it was good practice for what he does now, as the wonk's wonk still doesn't miss a moment to dissect a mundane fragment of long-forgotten lawmaking that somehow touched his legislator's desk in Harrisburg.

But in a highly entertaining, raucous meeting on Tuesday of The Express-Times editorial board -- our boss Joe Owens was fired up before his butt even hit the chair -- Freeman was caught off balance on more than one occasion. This wasn't a civil discussion, which is why it was fun, as voices raised and charges flew with the base premise of the meeting being to discuss the Pennsylvania budget.

Democratic legislators from Northampton County Joe Brennan, Rich Grucela and Freeman made some reasonable points at times but at other times seemed terribly out of touch with the non-Harrisburg world.

When quizzed on the state's reliance on sin taxes -- video poker is the latest targeted cash cow -- the discussion turned to legalizing marijuana and prostitution, regulating it, taxing it and, for lack of a better word, benefiting from it.When asked directly if we should legalize pot, Brennan began talking about separating violent from nonviolent offenders in prison and the other legislators seemed to like the direction that would take them -- into talking about prison funding. That's not what you were asked, I interrupted. Would you support the legalization of marijuana in order to pour more tax money into the state budget?

Freeman's voice took on a suddenly high pitch and he went off on cocaine addicts running through the streets -- I can only assume he meant if marijuana were legalized. Refer madness, I guess. It sounded like something out of sixth-grade health class. Better to scare than make aware.

As I said, my College Hill neighbor has never been hip. It was a remarkable if momentary slip of the usual Freeman middle-of-the-road, calm, composed mask.

But let's deal with the cocaine crazies for a moment. Marijuana as a gateway drug.

I know a bit about gateway drugs and how they become gateway drugs. You can consider this a true story. You're buying dope from a friend who has been pretty reliable and you're not shy about dumping some bucks on an ounce or two a month. You get to know the guy, you hang out some and he says at a party that hey, you want to try some coke? It's a friendly exchange. No money switching hands. Sure, you say. Why not? So you do. And once you try coke, marijuana seems pretty boring. And it can go from there.

Anyway, the point is the gateway was the dealer, not the initial drug. You tried it because he made it available. You probably wouldn't have gone looking for it. And for someone with an addictive personality, a drug such as coke can make you pretty crazy.

Consider the alternative. You go into a state store and you buy your ounce of premium pot. It costs a bit more, because it's taxed and regulated, but it's purity isn't in question. And while the clerk may suggest a nice Merlot for the bong instead of water, he's probably not going to suggest cocaine. It's not on the menu and the guy likes his state job with all its perks.

And the odd thing about Freeman and his outburst is Bob can tell you a lot about beer or wine. Which is not a complaint because it's been legal since 1933. But what Bob might not get is you're far more likely to buy some coke in a bar to offset the depressing effects of alcohol than you are to seek out coke if you smoke a joint at home. It would be far too much effort if you were stoned already.

It's the same reason people who seldom smoke cigarettes smoke them while drinking. The kick from the nicotine balances the downer of booze. Coke and drinking also go together because both, in controlled amounts, make you appear more social. Toking up at home or even in a smoke shop would simply make you introspective and eventually hungry.

But should we ban booze to keep people from snorting coke? Ain't gonna happen. And, anyway, we tried that. The bad guys made all the money and there was no guarantee the hooch didn't come from your neighbor's car radiator.

So, Pennsylvania -- if it really wants to save a ton of money on prisons, cut down on the gateway drug problem and score a ton of tax cash -- should legalize, tax and regulate marijuana. Make the smoking age 18 and get ready for a surge in sales of Grateful Dead music on iTunes.

What a long, strange trip it's been.