3 Historical Occurrences Where Weed Might Have Led to a Better Outcome
While there’s no way to go back in time and change what has happened, it certainly would be nice to have the chance to go back to a few pivotal points in mankind’s timeline and change a few things for the better. Who wouldn’t like to go back in time and give Attila the Hun a spliff and tell him to relax a bit? Tell the mad Hun to smoke up and just let the stress ease from his body, save a few thousand lives in the process and channel all the anger into something more productive like civilization building.
Perhaps if Lee Harvey Oswald had a few tokes off of some relaxing herb he would have never went up into that book depository, let alone pulled the trigger and taken the life of JFK. Instead of being so wound up over the Cuban crisis he might have worked to import cigars and weed from the island nation instead of killing a promising young Commander in Chief in JFK.
Unfortunately we can’t go back in time, but we can look at a few points in history and easily see how the use of weed might have made humanity and our history much better off. Here are three points in our history where a little bit of weed use could have benefited mankind, and the world might just be a better place today had it been smoked.
The Boston Massacre Could Have Been Stopped By Weed
The United States was going to separate from the British Empire sooner or later anyway, it is the nature of the American to rebel against authority and Britain was so far removed, powerful or not it just logistically didn’t make much sense. So while the war might not have been averted, the Boston Massacre itself likely could have, and then who knows, maybe a gentlemanly solution could have been reached. The British Sentry that got spooked by a forming mob was completely stressed out. It was cold and the troops that assembled were nervous. Also the mob was angry but had no real means or intention to attack the Redcoats. Had a nice relaxing peace pipe full of some primo weed been passed around, the stress would have dissipated and 5 wasted lives could have been saved.
The French Revolution: On Weed Eating Cake Would Have Sounded Like a Good Idea
Of course there was a lot at play when the French Revolution erupted, as the masses were tired of being ruled by a monarchy that claimed royalty or superiority over the people. Perhaps the overthrow of royalty, which was really a good thing, would not have been avoided. People have a right to govern themselves and no one is born superior to anyone else. But the violent upheaval of the French government might have been avoided, along with many beheadings and the bloody storming of the Bastille. The country was fiscally broke and King Louis and Marie Antoinette would likely have been evicted and cast from power, but if the mob had smoked a few nice, relaxing joints, they might not have gotten so upset when the last Queen of France said “Let them eat cake!” They might have simply taken her up on the invitation, which the mob misunderstood as an insult anyway. Cake, after all, is pretty tasty when you have the munchies.
Hitler’s Rise to Power
This one is most intriguing. Hitler was an evil wart on the backside of history. He caused millions of death, maybe more needless deaths than any people on the planet. He was an angry little man, all wound up, who suffered from syphilis, and many other anger issues and disorders. Starting with Adolph himself, smoking weed on a regular basis would likely have reduced his stress and anger, and made him less dangerous and vile of a person. It certainly would have treated some of the pain he dealt with, which made him excessively agitated, and likely some of the distorted thoughts that ran through his head would have been softened, forgotten or lost. But the biggest likelihood is that if the German people were routinely smoking pot, they would have laughed so hard at the crazy little angry, herky-jerky man, he never could have risen to power in the first place. What person, good and high, could take such an angry, goose-stepping, radical nutty fascist seriously?
Video Links:
Hitler & Marijuana
Legalized Weed May Actually Reduce Crime
Best Vacation Destinations for Those Who Enjoy Weed
Want to Get Away and still be Able to Enjoy Weed?
As the United States is starting to catch up with the rest of the civilized world by finally starting to legalize marijuana, a natural drug that has many medical as well as casual benefits, many people are becoming more open and vocal about their enjoyment of weed. There’s nothing wrong, after a long day at work, of relaxing with a joint in the comfort of your own home, and as it becomes legalized, more and more people are starting to recognize the joys and benefits of pot. So, when you get one or two or three weeks to take a vacation, travel and kick back, why wouldn’t you want to find vacation spots where you can relax and enjoy weed at the same time.
Weed is certainly safer for you than drinking alcohol, and on a vacation who doesn’t like to kick back and have a good time. That is the whole point of a vacation after all, to relax and have fun. So why not find a vacation destination that welcomes pot smokers, a place where you can have the best of all worlds and get away from it all for a few fantastic, unforgettable weeks. Here are the 5 best vacation spots for weed smokers.
5 Best Weed Vacation Spots
- Paradise Island, Bahamas
We end this discussion with the name right off the bat. With name Paradise Island nothing more needs to be said. Still, the island lives up to its name, especially if you are a weed smoker. Weed is readily available and it is some of the most famous weed in the world. The beaches are gorgeous and the water is clear and warm. What more could you ask for? Besides, how could any time spent in the Bahamas be a bad thing?
- Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver still has marijuana laws on the books against selling and intent to sell, but recreational use is legal and you can buy different breeds of weed all over the Province in small amounts. So long as you only keep small amounts you can have a great time. It is beautiful country with plenty of great cities and rural areas to explore, and it is, after all, the birthplace of the 420 movement and 420 day!
- Denver, Colorado
If you’re staying in the United States or visiting the United States for a vacation and you want the most weed friendly vacation spot you can find, Colorado is the place to go. There’s great skiing in the winter and hiking, camping and water sports in the summer. Most importantly weed is legal and the weed tourism industry in Colorado is thriving. There are even weed friendly real estate rentals and weed tours!
- Amsterdam Netherlands
Amsterdam is the original vacation destination for the chronic pot lover or even the casual smoker. Walking along the scenic waterways, smoking at the pot bars with waterfront views. You can even smoke weed in most cafes in Amsterdam as they sell pot right on the premises. You are allowed 30 grams for your own private use. Amsterdam has long been the mecca of pot smoker getaways, and is simply a beautiful city that anyone can relax in and enjoy. It’s just a major bonus that pot is legal and even celebrated in Amsterdam.
- Jamaica
If you asked most anyone what island or nation or place that they thought of when you mention weed or pot, the vast majority of them would name Jamaica. The reggae music, the laid back atmosphere, and the vast majority of inhabitants smoking pot on a daily basis make it the ultimate destination for any pot loving vacationer. Throw in the white sandy beaches, the great weather and the crystal blue waters and you have a great destination for anyone. But let’s be honest. Kingston is the capitol of the pot universe. If you have any questions about the myriad of joys and possibilities for a pot smoking traveler, always head to the birthplace of Bob Marley. You can’t go wrong there.
Alternative Weed Vacation Destinations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKomN99X6eQ&feature=youtu.be
Weed Tours in Colorado
Jamaican Vacation
image credit: imgur.com/6HnkynQ
Stoners are some of the coolest people you'll ever meet
20 More Great Songs to Smoke To
Everyone knows that good weed and good music go together like peanut butter and jelly, like cake and ice cream, like cookies and milk… like it was meant to be. In a previous post, 20 Great Songs to Smoke To, I listed many of my favorite songs to listen to when I’m high. The list has become a favorite here at Weed Reader, and I thought it was about time for another installment.
Because there’s a whole wide world of music out there, and 20 songs doesn’t even scratch the surface!
But before we dive into the tracks, a word about my criteria. First of all, these are NOT songs about weed, or getting high. Those are a dime a dozen, and generally not that great. Rather, this is a list of really good songs, that don’t necessarily have anything to do with weed, but which really come alive for you when you’re “under the influence.”
Other than being great songs, I have two rules for what gets included in this list. Rule #1: variety. I have tried to pull from different genres and cultures — from classic rock and jazz to modern hip hop and electronica — in order to create a rich and eclectic playlist. I have also chosen only one track from each artist, for the same reason.
Rule #2: depth. These are not simple tracks, that give up all their secrets at once. Each of these songs has layers upon layers, and you can listen to them over and over again and keep discovering new meanings, metaphors, and subtle movements that stir up new thoughts and feelings. Some are funky and soulful, others are more ambient and “trippy” — but all of them require your rapt attention in order to fully appreciate.
So with that said, let’s get to the good stuff. Here, in no particular order, are 20 more great songs smoke to. So put on your headphones and turn up the volume, relax, lay back, light up and enjoy 🙂
1. Anoushka Shankar — “Burn”
2. Hieroglyphics — “Let It Roll”
3. The Mahavishnu Orchestra — “Lotus On Irish Streams”
4. Robert DeLong — “Global Concepts”
5. Yes — “Heart of the Sunrise”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9yW-3vFxA0
6. Talib Kweli — “The Perfect Beat (ft. KRS One)”
7. Jefferson Airplane — “Wooden Ships”
8. David Bowie — “Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing (Reprise)”
9. John Frusciante — “Unreachable”
10. Tool — “Lateralus”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDlC7oG_2W4
11. Shpongle — “Divine Moments of Truth”
12. D’Angelo — “How Does It Feel?”
13. Witchcraft — “An Alternative to Freedom”
14. Joanna Newsom — “Sawdust & Diamonds”
15. King Crimson — “Epitaph”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUaWhZXN08g
16. Led Zeppelin — “Since I’ve Been Loving You”
18. Ali Akbar Khan — “Lullaby”
19. A Tribe Called Red — “R.E.D. (ft. Yasiin Bey, Narcy and Black Bear)”
20. Weather Report — “Mysterious Traveller”
That’s all… until next time! I hope you enjoyed the music. What are some of your favorite songs to smoke to? Give me your suggestions and feedback in the comments below!
Stress can pull you down, but weed can lift you right back up
What is a weed?
When you hit the bong too hard and can't hold it
Haters gonna hate. Stoners gonna bake
Recreational Marijuana might be hurting Medical Marijuana
There are now multiple states with recreational and medical marijuana. How is recreational marijuana impacting the medical marijuana community? The number of recreational users is on the rise. Meanwhile, in states with recreational marijuana, medical marijuana users are dropping. We look to a report by GreenWave Advisors for answers.
So far, the report shows medical marijuana patient numbers dropping in states with recreational marijuana. Some people think this is because people were falsely reporting medical conditions just to obtain weed. For example, someone could claim chronic pain and fake until the doctor recommends medical marijuana. It’s worth noting, chronic pain is the most common qualifying condition.
Furthermore, when retail marijuana becomes available it’s the number of chronic pain patients that declines the most. According to the analysts’ report, patient counts dropped in Oregon, Colorado, and Washington D.C. States like Washington don’t even count their patients so we don’t know if numbers dropped there.
Arizona has recreational marijuana on it’s November ballot. There’s already a decrease in the number of medical marijuana cardholder applications. The number dropped a whole 73% in May. GreenWave believes that it is “in anticipation of a favorable election outcome for recreational use.”
With laws that take away medical marijuana users right to bear arms, it’s no wonder people would rather wait on recreational marijuana. The pain of applying and paying fees to get pretty much the same weed you could get at a recreational location could have lowered the number of applicants as well.
GreenWave also believes that as long as cannabis remains a schedule 1 drug, doctors will be hesitant to recommend it to patients. This isn’t helping the already decreasing number of medical marijuana patients.
The report also predicted that states would begin to combine the regulation of the recreational and medical marijuana markets. The report explicitly states, “Redundancy in oversight and enforcement mechanisms will be recognized as costly and confusing.”
Fortunately, the report doesn’t believe this is the end for the medical marijuana market. If marijuana becomes rescheduled doctors will become more involved with the medical market. GreenWave believes this will lead to a revival of the medical market. In fact, many doctors in states where it is legal still refuse to recommend marijuana due to its federal status.
The way the markets work in states with both medicinal and recreational marijuana is raising questions. There is no substantial difference between recreational and medicinal marijuana. However, the two are being sold for different prices in different markets. In states like Arizona that have a 15% tax rate on recreational marijuana and a 6.6% tax rate on medicinal might not see as much of a decrease in their medical marijuana communities.
Similarly, Colorado hasn’t seen a huge decrease in medical marijuana sales. In CO medical marijuana is only taxed at 2.9 percent. While recreational marijuana is taxed at a whopping 27.9 percent. People in states like Colorado and Arizona might still have the incentive to fake chronic pain. It’s nice that patients who need marijuana don’t get taxed too hard but that might change if GreenWaves predictions come true. Then, the two markets would merge and everyone would be paying the same prices for the same product.
Photo: katherine_hitt/Flickr
