To the Unseen Judges and Silent Gatekeepers

There’s a pattern I’ve noticed — one that’s whispered, not written, but felt deeply by many of us who live outside the “approved” margins.

I know who some of you are. I see how the gatekeeping works. I feel the tension in rooms where smiles hide judgments, and assistance quietly disappears the moment someone like me speaks too freely, lives too differently, or chooses a medicine you wouldn’t.

Yes, I use cannabis.Legally. Consciously. And without apology.

It’s part of how I manage trauma, clarity, creativity, and energy in a world that has often denied me access to more conventional means of wellness and rest. I’m not “on drugs.” I’m on purpose.

So if your issue with me — or people like me — is wrapped up in old stereotypes, class-based puritanism, or coded prejudices (whether you're a peer, a program coordinator, a secretive senior, or a model minority hiding behind a polite facade), let me say this plainly:

You don’t get to decide my worth based on your comfort zone.

Gatekeeping access, resources, or respect because someone doesn’t fit your quiet ideal of “clean” or “deserving” is an act of subtle violence — and it’s not just unethical. It’s unsustainable.

I’ve built my life, not just in spite of struggle, but with radical transparency. I don’t lie about who I am, what I need, or what I’ve been through. That’s a strength — not a strike against me.

So if you’ve ever withheld support, ghosted a collaboration, or judged from behind closed doors — ask yourself: Was it really about merit? Or was it your own bias dressed up as “concern”?

I’m not here to beg. I’m here to build.

And if you can’t stand next to someone like me without discomfort, then maybe you’re not as “progressive” or “spiritual” as you think.

To those who see me fully — thank you.

To those who still squint through filters of respectability — evolve.

With sovereignty, clarity, and lawful self-regard,

Tufani Ar[t]chetype

Legal Cannabis User | Oracle Artist | Real One