Former National Journal-er and DC resident, Taylor West has gone, well, west. She took a break fighting the good fight for Colorado’s marijuana legalization at the National Cannabis Industry Association and sat down with us to tell us what she’s learned, what rocks in Denver and what she misses about DC.

Read thoroughly- Taylor was so cool, we had to make this a Famous 6.

1. What do you miss about DC? How’s brunch? And, do you now love Peyton Manning?

Really only one thing, but it’s a big one – my friends. Some of my favorite people in the world live in and around D.C., and I miss getting to see them anytime I want.

[Brunch is] everything you love about brunch in D.C., but cheaper and with green chile.

Not gonna lie – I’ve joined the bandwagon. How can you NOT respect what [Peyton Manning has] done with the Broncos? Those neck surgeries were supposed to end his career – two years later, he sets single-season records for touchdowns AND passing yards? Come on.

2. What has surprised or struck you most about living out West?

It’s not the most original observation, but it’s a true one: here, no one really cares what your job is, and there’s certainly no reason to talk about it when you’re not on the clock. You’re a lot more likely to bond with people at a concert, on a ski slope, or around a campfire than you are at a cocktail reception. And that means you’re a lot more likely to end up with friends who approach work (and life) really differently than you do.

There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious or invested in a career, and plenty of people here are. But you also spend a lot of time around people who are making themselves quite happy by focusing on life first and career second (or third…or eighth…). And I have to admit – it’s hard not to start seeing that as a better way.

Also, the absence of humidity is the single best thing that’s ever happened to me. (Sorry, Ryan – you’re a close second.)

3. Do you or do you want to ride a miniature horse to work?

Those guys are a little small for riding, but I’m thinking a miniature-horse-towed skateboard is just the ticket. Denver has a pretty good set of bike lanes, so that could definitely work.

4. Has your perspective on communications changed since you left National Journal or DC?

The longer I’m away from Washington, the more painful it is to read statements and quotes written in classic D.C.-ese. We know people don’t really talk like that, but it’s like comms people in D.C. (absolutely including myself when I was there) have some weirdly formalized script that we just can’t bring ourselves to deviate too far from. Now that I’m back in a job that includes some D.C.-directed communications, it’s going to take serious vigilance to keep myself from slipping back into the habit.

5. Do you see marijuana crossing the big divide and being legalized or decriminalized nationally?

I do, although probably not for a little while yet. This is an issue where the voters are leading the electeds, and the states are leading D.C., so we’ll likely see state-by-state progress for a few more years first. That said, support for legalization is already at 58% nationally. People get that a regulated, revenue-producing, legal cannabis market makes way more sense than a criminalized, underground one.

6. What’s your favorite hashtag, lately?

Well, it’s not a hashtag exactly, but Lizzie O’Leary recently suggested “reading David Brooks” as a new euphemism for consuming marijuana. I’m in full support of that.