yeah, honestly, I think the fact that they smoke weed makes the husband's epiphany at the end less meaningful...

...I've already alluded to it in a couple posts but I feel his change in the end would have been more profound without the pot!!

I totally agree with that. It makes me wonder whether that had something to do with him having the epiphany in the end..

and I'm like you...I liked the story. I just felt the drug use detracted from the bigger meaning...

...I liked the whole idea of a blind man opening the eyes of someone who was prejudice/racist.

and who was in many ways blind himself

By the same token though, I don't feel like the husband would have been open to Robert's suggestion if he wasn't under the influence.

From what I know about drugs (from psych class!), one joint for 3 people won't get you especially high, just promote feelings of relaxation.

i feel like the joint and his wife sleeping are the only things that finally brought him to accept robert so i found that part important

That's true, it could have led to their interaction, but I don't know if the weed was completely necessary. I think the story could have

had the same meaning without it, even if it does make it a little more effective to some readers.