Even without the deplorable Kathy Griffin, CNN was still able to send off 2017 like only they can: With a reporter riding the so-called ‘CannaBus’ through Denver, Colorado, wearing pot leaf earrings, and helping stoners take bong rips.
With less than two hours until midnight, New Year’s Eve Live co-hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen wanted an update from reporter Randi Kaye who was partying with potheads. “I want to go to Randi Kaye. She's joining us again along with – well, she's in Colorado where I guess recreational marijuana use,” Cooper stated before getting crassly cut off by Cohen. “She's surrounded by weed,” Cohen announced as he wondered if she picked up his order.
“It's doing great! I'm definitely earning the nickname Kush Kaye, that's for sure,” Kaye enthusiastically shouted while sporting a pair of large pot leaf earrings. And with great gusto she declared that she came prepared and brandished a gas mask equipped with an orange bong where an air-filter would be:
So listen, I came prepared this year. I thought maybe I would bring a gas mask with me, so I wouldn't get that contact high. But look at what's on the other end of the gas mask. Yes, a bong! And of course, they couldn't stand to see a bong that didn't have any cannabis in it, so you actually put it in the bong.
While Cooper was burying his face in his hands in obvious embarrassment, Kaye handed the contraption off to one man who she urged to take a rip and lit for him:
UNIDENTIFIED STONER: Yeah, we packed it. We packed the bong.
KAYE: You packed it. Okay, now. So now, you're going to celebrate a little New Year's early?
UNIDENTIFIED STONER: I'm going to be honest with you, I've never hit one of these before.
KAYE: Yeah right.
“I don't think this is really what a gas mask is used for, but, wow! Okay! This is New Year’s Eve Denver style,” Kaye yelled.
Cooper made a point of letting viewers know that what Kaye was taking part in was legal where they were, as he was visibly embarrassed by her (probably because he knew reports like this were coming). He also wanted more details about the “puff, pass, and paint” party the “CannaBus” was headed to. He was also shocked by the bus his colleague was riding and compared it to the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test bus.
Kaye’s highly detailed explanation of the event they were headed to involved her repeatedly saying they would “puff, pass, and paint.” She was also worried about Cooper and Cohen being able to see her through all the weed smoke.
“And the best thing is, we're going to make these cannabis-infused cocktails. So things are going to get really crazy. Oh, what? Oh, and look at this! Cannabis infused wine, right here. Imagine that. See, all kinds of fun stuff happens on the CannaBus,” Kaye gloated.
Welp, This is CNN.
Transcript below:
CNN
New Year’s Eve Live
December 31, 2017
10:11:08 PM EasternANDERSON COOPER: I want to go to Randi Kaye. She's joining us again along with – well, she's in Colorado where I guess recreational marijuana use –
ANDY COHEN: She's surrounded by weed. Did you get me the –
COOPER: She's on a pot bus, basically. How's it going, Randi?
RANDI KAYE: It's doing great! I'm definitely earning the nickname Kush Kaye, that's for sure. Oh, yeah! Come on. Everybody knows what Kush is. So listen, I came prepared this year. I thought maybe I would bring a gas mask with me, so I wouldn't get that contact high. But look at what's on the other end of the gas mask. Yes, a bong! And of course, they couldn't stand to see a bong that didn't have any cannabis in it, so you actually put it in the bong. [Cooper covers his face in embarrassment] You filled it up. And you don't want –
UNIDENTIFIED STONER: Yeah, we packed it. We packed the bong.
KAYE: You packed it. Okay, now. So now, you're going to celebrate a little New Year's early?
UNIDENTIFIED STONER: I'm going to be honest with you, I've never hit one of these before.
KAYE: Yeah right. [Cooper again covers his face] I don't think this is really what a gas mask is used for, but, wow! Okay! This is New Year’s Eve Denver style.
COOPER: This is legal in Colorado!
COHEN: I know! I’m moving to Colorado.
KAYE: It is legal. It is very legal here. Wow! But we are making our way to a puff, pass, and paint party. Anderson, go.
COOPER: So just explain, you're on a bus, right? It's a bus with moving lights, it's like the electric Kool-Aid acid test bus.
(…)
COOPER: Where are you heading next to? Some sort of paint party?
KAYE: I hope you can see me through the smoke here. It's a puff, pass, and paint party. So, you puff, then you pass, and then you paint. So, everyone has their own canvas. Puff, pass, and paint. And the best thing is, we're going to make these cannabis-infused cocktails. So things are going to get really crazy. Oh, what? Oh, and look at this! Cannabis infused wine, right here. Imagine that. See, all kinds of fun stuff happens on the CannaBus.
(…)
KAYE: The CNN handbook says do not imbibe on live TV.
COOPER: I’m all behind that.
COHEN: But what about Don Lemon, has he seen that?
COOPER: I don’t know.
(…)
