Jake: Washington health department warns World Cup tourists — Our weed is no joke

After Friday’s dominant 2-0 U.S. win over Australia at Seattle Stadium, you might understand why some Australian fans are looking for a way to dull the pain. And the Washington State Department of Health wants to make sure they do it safely.

The department has issued formal guidance warning visiting foreigners to be careful with our cannabis products. Apparently, they’re stronger than what tourists are used to, and ER visits have already ticked up with the influx of World Cup visitors.

We want everyone to have a good time — but stay safe, folks. Still, I can’t help but find it a little funny that an official government agency had to put out a warning about our powerful legal (and otherwise) drugs. Only in Washington. Also, they’re handing out free condoms, but that seems like a different article.

Beyond the weed warning: World Cup fans are stealing the show

But honestly, the weed warning isn’t even the best story coming out of this tournament. The social media content from fans experiencing America for the first time has been pure gold and so positive.

The Japanese fans have been incredible. Not only did they clean up their entire cheering section after the match, because of course they did, but the videos of them discovering Texas barbecue might be the most wholesome content on the internet right now.

The Scottish fans have made quite an impression on the East Coast. Apparently, they drained Boston dry of beer, which I would have told you was physically impossible. Boston is a heavily Irish city, and I have to wonder if this is some long-simmering Scottish payback. All in good fun, of course.

And the Norwegians. God bless the Norwegians. People of my blood. The videos of them doing their enthusiastic rowing impressions are everywhere, but my personal favorite was a group of them sitting in a straight line, pretending to row up a moving escalator.

Yes, there’s always the debate about whether the World Cup ever actually pays off financially for host cities. Historically, probably not. But right now I’m not thinking about ROI. I’m thinking about how much fun I’m having watching these matches with my kids, and about the video from today’s postgame at Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), the entire 70,000-strong U.S. crowd singing as one, John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

That was something.

Go USA.

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