Analysis/Opinion, Marijuana LegalizationMay 27, 2016 by Irfan Ahmad

Why the NFL and Other Major Sports Should Eliminate Marijuana from its Drug Discipline Programs

Want to hear a who’s who of famous professional athletes, of celebrity sports stars who have dominated the sports world?
Let’s narrow such a list down to exceptional competitors that have more than being world championship caliber athletes in common, athletes who are headed to the Hall of fame in many cases in their individual sports. Let’s try a list filled with Randy Moss, Tim Lincecum, Le’Veon Bell, Michael Vick, Chris Webber and Mark Stepnoski. All exceptional sports stars, all dominating at their positions and in their leagues.
But why stop there?
How about Josh Gordon, Michael Phelps, Ricky Williams, Mario Chalmers, Nate Diaz of the UFC, and Abby Wambach from the dominating U.S. Women’s Olympic soccer team? The list goes on and on and on and could for a long time. So what, other than being exceptional world class athletes, do all of these sports stars have in common?
All of them are or have been marijuana users.
Absolutely all of these famous athletes were suspended by the NFL or MLB or the league they were in, or they were fined or ran into a problem with their sport’s drug policy or the legal system over marijuana use. Some simply admitted to using marijuana after their playing days, a violation that would have got them suspended when they were playing and could keep them out of their rightful place in the Hall of Fame. That in fact was the case for Mark Stepnoski, whose advocacy of marijuana legalization has caused him to be barred from his high school’s Hall of Fame in Pennsylvania, a State on the verge of legalizing marijuana.
So what is the big deal with marijuana use by professional and world championship caliber athletes in this day and age? No league, not the NFL or MLB or the NBA or the OIC test for alcohol use, and marijuana is healthier than alcohol, and it is legal for medicinal purposes in 24 states and the District of Columbia, with many more states likely to legalize soon.
So what is the argument against marijuana use by athletes? That it is a performance enhancing drug, that marijuana gives competitors an edge?
It is hard to believe that any major sport, be it the NFL or Olympic Committee or any other major sports governing body, could claim that marijuana use enhances a player’s performance. That’s just funny right there. Why would someone be charged for driving under the influence, or impaired driving, if they drive while under the effects of marijuana if it improved your focus and your wherewithal? Even in states where marijuana is legal, it is still illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana, so that cannot be the answer. Sports regulating bodies cannot possibly confuse marijuana with steroids or human growth hormones or any other drug designed to give an athlete an edge.
So what is the NFL, the NBA, MLB, and every other major sports league’s problem with marijuana use by its athletes? Perhaps they punish for marijuana use because it is illegal? That can no longer be the answer in this day and age. Again, in half the country already medical marijuana use is legal with more states lining up to legalize marijuana use. Four states allow for recreational use of marijuana now, and again, more states are lining up to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes.
The fact is, major sports leagues like the NFL and MLB (which allows its players to use extremely unhealthy tobacco products) have antiquated marijuana rules attached to their drug policies, and it is time for a change. All major sports leagues should eliminate marijuana from its drug discipline programs. Josh Gordon, a young, Pro Bowl caliber receiver for the Cleveland Browns, is on the verge of losing his livelihood and has lost more than a year of productive playing time for simply using marijuana. Guys like Randy Moss, The “Honey Badger” TyrannMathieu and Randy Gregory have slipped many spots and even many rounds in the NFL draft because of their affiliation with the use of marijuana.
Slipping a spot in the first round can mean the difference in millions of dollars, slipping several rounds or out of the draft all together can mean many millions of dollars. At some point a disgruntled player or agent is going to sue a major sports league over income loss from using a drug, marijuana, which is legal in many states and in most countries around the world.
Forget that, think of the good marijuana can do for many of these athletes. There is a reason that marijuana, a non-performance enhancing drug, is legal for medicinal use in almost half the country already, because it is an effective and safe pain killer. Think of all the bumps and bruises Tom Brady, Bryce Harper, Lebron James, and pro fighters and hockey players around the world must endure during a long grueling, professional season. There are 162 games in an MLB season, 82 games in an NBA season and 16 hard hitting NFL games, plus pre-season and playoffs, in the NFL. Certainly the relaxing, pain killing, safe usage of marijuana can benefit the men and women who endure such long, intense seasons.
Perhaps it will take the suspension of a serious marquee player like a Peyton Manning or a Lebron James for leagues to recognize that marijuana doesn’t belong next to steroids on any sports league’s drug policy. Maybe it will take a lawsuit by someone who tests positive because they were around someone legally using marijuana, who knows? Whatever it takes, it is certainly time for the NFL and other major sports leagues to remove marijuana from its drug discipline programs.
Image credit: Espn.

Analysis/OpinionMay 20, 2016 by GGG

3 Ways to Enhance Your High

Here’s three simple, cheap (mostly free!), and sensible ways to enhance your weed experience.

1. HEMP WICK

Consider this: when you spark up, you’re inhaling everything in the immediate vicinity, including the gas from the lighter. I notice the taste right away, and it can cause a stomachache or a headache if you inhale too much. A Zippo lighter may help cut down on fumes, but if you want to be burning only what’s in the bowl, pick up a bundle of hemp wick. RAW ™ hemp wick seems to be popular and well-reputed.

Immediately, you should taste the difference, and how purely you can experience the unique flavors and aromas of your bud. To use the wick, ignite one end with a flame, then use the burning wick to light your joint/blunt/bowl (like a matchstick, but with no sulphur). Hemp wick is usually made with 100% cotton hemp and a coating of beeswax. The burn is slow, so the rope goes a long way. It’s a very worthwhile and cheap (around $2 a bundle) investment if you want to bring new dimensions to your cannabis experience.

2. HOT WATER

You may think you’re doing your lungs a better favor by using a water pipe over a spoon, but not necessarily. The idea is, the water filters and cools the smoke to be less harsh in the lungs and throat. Partly true! The smoke is cooled to some degree, and I certainly enjoy putting ice cubes in a water pipe to cool it further. However, I recently learned that using hot water pulls out more tar and gunk from your weed than cold water. The effects are a bit like a steam shower–though the smoke is hot, it’s moist, soothing, and better-tasting (if it tastes really rank, clean your bong, dude). Maybe even hot water and a squeeze of lemon juice would be delightful.

One thing I notice with using hot water, less coughing. It’s so much easier to breathe deeply, really feel the parts of my lungs expanding and where I’m not pushing to sit straight enough. The hit ends up being bigger, and the exhale is so much smoother. Speaking of breathing…

3. BREATHE DEEPER

Increase the amount of breaths you take before and after you toke. Cannabis, used properly, opens your lungs, airways, and strengthens the bronchi. Your cough should be deep, with intent, and they’ll pull up anything that shouldn’t be there. Don’t force yourself to cough, though. Your whole experience should be fluid.

Empty and fill your lungs a few times before a hit, trying to take in even more oxygen than the breath before it. Expand your chest, alternate breathing through the nose and mouth. Find a good rhythm for yourself, then at the bottom of an exhale, light your cannabis and inhale (at the same time, if you can manage). Breathe slowly, allowing your lungs to fill with smoke. You’ll be surprised to hear–holding the hit doesn’t actually get you higher. You might, from oxygen deprivation, feel more light-headed. The truth is, the first few seconds are the best, and all you need. After that, the smoke cools, changes flavor, loses the magic.

After you inhale, “hold” for a few seconds (better yet, keep inhaling oxygen after you pull), then breathe out every last bit as evenly as you can. If done with patience and awareness, you should feel high with no adverse affects; no coughing, spluttering, accidental throat burn. With this method, you allow your lungs to be better filters, and you’ll get some deep cleaning done while you chill out.

Analysis/Opinion, ListMay 6, 2016September 12, 2020 by Ben Neal

20 Great Books to Read While High

In a post from last year, entitled 15 Best Things To Do While Stoned (which has become a fan favorite here at Weed Reader, check it out if you haven’t already!), I mentioned that one of my favorite things to do is get high and read.
I mean, reading is great anytime. Books can take you to another time and place, another world. They invite you inside the mind of another human being, to see the world from their perspective and experience their thoughts and ideas as your own. It’s like being a mind reader, only you can still read books even after the author has been dead for centuries.
And as with so many things, it’s even better when you’re baked.
Anyways, after rattling off some of my favorite authors, I casually and half jokingly threw out the possibility of making a list of my favorite books to read while high. And — surprise, surprise! — some of you guys loved the idea.
So for all you lovers of reading while stoned, here ya go! 20 of the most amazing, inspiring, entertaining, mind-expanding books ever written. Enjoy 🙂

Fiction

1. Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo

This is #1 on the list because it might be the single greatest book I’ve ever read. Set in France, in the revolutionary period after the fall of Napoleon, Les Miserables tells the story of Jean Valjean, and his transformation from a petty thief and hardened criminal into a humble saint, and the loving guardian of a little orphaned girl.
It’s not what you would call an “easy read.” It’s loooooooong, and it’s sprinkled throughout with French words and names and places, which constantly trip up my clumsy American tongue. On top of that, the author frequently departs from the narrative in order to give lengthy dissertations on French history and society, human nature and civilization, and many other topics, including religion, prayer, poverty, crime, slang, etc. And these tangents often go on for so long that you forget what the hell was going on in the story when you left off!
But these challenges only make me love it all the more. I’ve read it through 3 times, all 1400 pages of it. The story is so good, and the writing so poetic and insightful, that I lose myself in it’s passages, and I am moved, inspired, uplifted and transported, over and again.
(Bonus: if you like this, also check out Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.)

2. Pale Fire, by Vladimir Nabokov

Nabokov is most well known for his controversial novel Lolita. But this one is his masterpiece, in my humble opinion. Pale Fire defies explanation and categorization. It features an epic poem by the fictional John Shade. After Shade’s murder, his manuscripts are edited and published by his neighbor and colleague, Charles Kinbote — who completely hijacks the text with his rambling Index and footnotes, which tell the fantastic story of an exiled king and a eunuch assassin…
It’s a wild ride which will have you turning back and forth from poem to commentary, scratching your head and wondering, “What’s really going on? And how the hell did he do this?!”

3. On the Road, by Jack Kerouac

This classic Beat novel is Kerouac at his finest. It’s inspired by his real life, the larger-than-life personalities of his friends (including Neal Cassady, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder), and the years they spent hitchhiking and traveling back and forth across America — and the drugs, jazz, sex, love, loneliness and self discovery they find along the way.

4. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

A true American novel, The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of the Tom Joad and his family. The unlucky Oklahoma farmers lose their land during the Great Depression, and are forced to migrate to California seeking work. The novel is not only a moving story, it’s a powerful lesson on American history, and a profound meditation on labor and human rights, and how they clash with the impersonal forces of the economy and corporate interests.

5. The Prophet, by Khalil Gibran

A prophet and wise man named Almustafa has lived for man years in a foreign city, and is preparing to board a ship that will carry him home. On his way out of town, he is stopped by a group of locals who are sad to see him leave. They proceed to ask him many questions about life and death, love and friendship, prayer and religion, good and evil, and so on. His answers are breath-taking in their depth, beauty and brilliance.
Gibran’s masterpiece is short, poetic and an absolute pleasure to read. It is one of my all time favorites, that I come back to again and again.

6. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkein

And speaking of coming back again and again, The Hobbit gets the prize for being the book I have read through more times than any other. More than a dozen times, actually. It is of course the story of the reluctant burglar Bilbo Baggins, and his adventures with Thorin Oakenshield and company. And unlike Tolkein’s more famous work, The Lord of the Rings, this tale is short, light-hearted and fun to read. I first read it when I was a child, and I still love it to this day. I read it allowed to my son and he enjoyed every minute of it.

7. Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert M. Pirsig

While the title makes it sound like an instruction manual for New Age bikers, it’s actually a novel. And a terrific one at that! It tells the story of a father and son on a motorcycle trip across the country. Along the way you find out that the father was a former college professor who had a complete mental breakdown, and follow along as he recounts his old life, revisits the philosophical conundrums that drove him insane, and tries to heal the rift in his personality — and the rift it created between him and his son.
This classic novel is a slow and thoughtful read, that will make you look at life in a whole new way.

8. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey

This psychedelic classic was immortalized as a movie, starring none other than Jack Nicholson. But the book (as is often the case) is even better than the film adaptation. Inspired by Kesey’s time spent working as an orderly in a mental institution — as well as his liberal use of LSD and other psychoactive substances — this book tells the story of Randle Patrick McMurphy, a troublemaker who fakes insanity and ends up confined in a psyche ward. It’s an entertaining and mind-bending read, all the more so after a little toke.

9. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein

One of the timeless classics of Science Fiction, this novel tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a child raised by Martians and brought back to Earth 25 years later. His Martian upbringing gives him a unique perspective… not to mention incredible psychic powers, which everyone has on Mars. He struggles to understand — and eventually rejects — human culture, and eventually founds a new church to teach Martian language and philosophy, in an effort to save the Earth and it’s people.
(Bonus: if you like this, check out Heinlein’s other books, like Job: A Comedy of Justice. Or anything by Douglas Adams, or Richard Bach.)

10. The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut

The problem with including a Vonnegut novel on this list is: how to choose which one? Dark, funny, devastatingly clever… the man is simply one of the greatest authors ever to write in English, and he has penned at least a half dozen of my favorite books of all time. Cat’s Cradle, Slapstick, Deadeye Dick, Breakfast of Champions, the famous Slaughterhouse Five… all of them deserve a spot. But in the end I decided on The Sirens of Titan, because, well…
Screw it. Read ’em all. You can thank me later.

11. The Ocean At The End of The Lane, by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman has a gift for capturing the magic, mystery and immensity of the world as seen through the eyes of children. This book, which is sort of like a fairy tale for grown ups, tells the story of a man who pays a visit to the countryside where he grew up. A visit to his old neighbors stirs up long lost memories of supernatural events from his childhood.

12. The Bone Clocks, by David Mitchell

Let me say this outright: Mitchell is a genius, a wizard with words, and one of the finest storytellers I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.
And The Bone Clocks is perhaps his best work yet: a twisting labyrinth of a novel, told from the perspectives of several different characters who all find themselves caught up in a war between immortals, and an epic struggle between good and evil. It contains several references to his past works, which, while not necessary to understanding and enjoying the story, make it worthwhile to read his other novels first (such as Ghostwritten, Black Swan Green, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, and Cloud Atlas).
Seeing how these stories all share one universe — which exists inside the author’s mind — and the threads that connect all these stories through time and space, gives you a much greater appreciation for the depth of his creative accomplishment.

Poetry

13. Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

One of the first poets to completely throw out rhyme and meter and embrace free verse, Walt Whitman ushered in the modern era of English poetry. His poems, which celebrate Nature, life, friendship, sexuality and the human body, and many other themes, are all collected and published in one volume, his life’s work, Leaves of Grass. It’s a literary treasure, and a must-read for any and all lovers of poetry and the great outdoors.

14. The Gift, by Hafiz (translated by Daniel Ladinski)

The 14th century Persian poet and mystic known as Hafiz (or Hafez) is one of the most celebrated literary figures in his native Iran. His poems dealt with the mystical theme of union with God, the Beloved. In this volume, Daniel Ladinsky brings the poetry of Hafiz to life for English readers, with playful metaphors that are true to the spirit of the original verses, yet relevant to a modern, Western audience.

15. The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks

Another Persian poet and Sufi mystic, Rumi is perhaps the most well known to us in the West. In The Essential Rumi, Coleman Barks takes these classic 13th century verses and reinterprets them in a way that is fresh, inspired, and accessible to us today. Drawing from the Qur’an, hadith (the recorded sayings of Muhammad, peace be upon him), and even gossip, stories, and scenes from the local bazaar, Rumi weaves together in his poems the essence of Sufi spirituality, and the perennial philosophy of mysticism.

16. New and Selected Poems, by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver is one of the most successful and best-selling American poets of all time. She is one of the finest Nature poets in any language, and most of her work is heavily inspired by the birds, plants, animals and wild scenes she encounters on her daily walks through the woods. Her poems are both simple and profound, praising the wild heart of the world and reminding us to look, and see, and appreciate the awesome beauty that surrounds us.
(Bonus: if you like this, check out the poetry of David Whyte.)

Philosophy & Spirituality

17. Be Here Now, by Ram Dass

It is no exaggeration to say that this book changed my life. I stumbled across it at a time in my adolescence when I was desperately in need of some spiritual direction and guidance… and, voila! It appeared.
This book tells the true story of Dr. Richard Alpert, his experiments with psychedelics, his journey to India in search of a guru, his meeting with Maharaji Neem Karoli Baba, and his metamorphosis into Ram Dass (“servant of God”). This classic text introduced to me to yoga, meditation, and Eastern philosophy, and saved me from the dark pit of depression, nihilism, and mindless consumerism.
Thanks, Ram Dass. I owe you one.

18. The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

This short and easy to read book presents the spiritual teachings of the ancient Toltec shamans, distilled into four simple agreements: 1) Be impeccable with your word. 2) Don’t take anything personally. 3) Don’t make assumptions. 4) Always do your best. The author brilliantly illustrates how making these commitments to yourself can help you take your personal power back from others whom you have let control you, and from the culture into which you were born, so that you can begin to be your authentic self, and live the life you truly long to live.

19. Nature, Man and Woman, by Alan Watts

Alan Watts is one of the greatest minds of the last century, and one which has had profound influence on me, and how I think, and see the world, and live my life. Perhaps his most well known book, The Way of Zen, is a brilliant and lucid exploration of Zen Buddhism, it’s philosophy, practices and implications for living, and one I highly recommend to anyone interested in Eastern culture and religion. But his masterpiece, as far as I’m concerned, is Nature, Man and Woman, a sort of Taoist critique of Western thought, which exposes the falsehoods upon which our culture is founded and shows us a more holistic way of experiencing life and the universe.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

20. Essays, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

What to say about Emerson? He is the cornerstone of the Transcendentalist movement in the 19th century, and one of the most beloved and influential thinkers in American history. His essays (especially “Self Reliance,” “The Over-Soul,” “Nature” and “Circles”) are literary classics that still resonate today. They continue to be a source of inspiration for me, and I would recommend them as a “must read” to anyone interested in philosophy, American history, or the art of communicating deep, complex thoughts via the English language.
So, there you have it. My personal favorites. What are yours? Tell me in the comments below… I’m always looking for new reading material 😉

Analysis/Opinion, Culture, Marijuana LegalizationApril 20, 2016 by GGG

Happy Holidaze, Weed Readers!

Happy 4/20!

But wait… what does 4/20 even mean? Why do so many folks in (and out) of the cannabis culture, reference this number to no end but couldn’t tell you what it meant?

For most, it’s used as code– using 420 to reference cannabis was believed to have originated as a police code, then adopted as a counterculture. Other users believe the reference was started by the band, The Grateful Dead. Word of Deadhead meetings, aka Grateful Dead concerts, was spread through flyers. One story in particular mentions a flyer bearing the info, “We are going to meet at 4:20 on 4/20 for 420-ing in Marin County at the Bolinas Ridge sunset spot on Mt. Tamalpais” (source).

The apparent truth of the origin story is, ‘420’ was a term established in the early 70s by a group of high school students from San Rafael, CA. They called themselves The Waldos, and still do. Well before any states had legalized cannabis, one might need to go by an alias, or at least be very careful about where and when they did their smoking. Their group name was coined in reference to the statue they’d meet as, as well as the number alluding to the time

So while the term was established by a group of high schoolers, it’s obviously made it’s way across the country and other parts of the world, as a catch-all term for cannabis culture. As I said, the uprising of cannabis counterculture in the 90s and its use of ‘420’ was helped along by The Grateful Dead and its fan base. Members of The Waldos had close relations with the Dead, so really, each part of the origin story does have some truth to it. Each piece of lore or information ends up weaving together to form a more complete envisioning of how the notion of ‘420’ started.

Regardless of where the term came from, people take great joy in being able to reference (though no longer that subtle) their activities or culture in ways others can recognize. For the most part, the culture developed off the back of the phrase is pretty harmless. (Though let me say, hearing “heheh, 420, man” anytime the clock changes over, gets old.)

Most people celebrate the “holiday” by spending it with their friends, consuming plenty of cannabis, and for some, it’s become a political opportunity to advocate for legalization. Many cities, especially in states where cannabis is legal, tend to have some sort of gathering to observe the day, often at universities or parks. If it interests you, do some searching and see what’s going on in your area. If not, find your own way to celebrate! Have your first bowl or joint outside, share it with friends, or make someone’s day and hide some nuggets in easter eggs!

Whatever you decide to do, be smart, and be safe. Know the laws of your town/state on cannabis before you go lighting up on the sidewalk. Know your rights if you’re stopped by police! The perception and reputation surrounding cannabis users is something important, if we want to get any closer to legalization, or in general, acceptance of its use in everyday life. So, act accordingly–your cannabis use does not relieve you of being respectful or having some awareness!

All in all, let tomorrow be a day of celebration, relaxation, and feeling grateful that such a wonderful plant exists. Happy holidays!

–-hope this is what you guys meant, it’s not that polished but feel free to edit what you don’t like!

Image credit: gettyimages.com

Analysis/OpinionApril 19, 2016 by WeedReader

The Ultimate 420 Gift Guide

420 is without a doubt one of the world’s most famous unofficial holidays. And not just because it’s a great excuse to get high, watch Netflix, and binge-eat curly Cheetos with your friends (although that’s certainly a part of it)…
As any true cannabis enthusiast will tell you, there’s a lot more to it than that, and it’s something you truly have to experience to understand. 4/20 (despite its hazy origins) is a day for all cultures, all personalities, all subspecies of stoner and cannabis connoisseur to come together as one in celebration of a plant that has gifted and improved the lives of so many, despite being shunned and misconstrued by so many more.
The reality is you don’t have to be a cannabis expert to participate, you don’t even need to consume cannabis at all. But chances are you know someone who does, and maybe you’d like to impress them with a thoughtful, 420-inspired gift to symbolize your acceptance and appreciation for them and the plant. Well, read on, as you’re about to discover the best 420 gifts you could possibly give. Of course, I’ve broken them down by category to make things easy for you.

CONSUMPTION & GROWING DEVICES

FLOSSTRADAMUS SOURCE ORB XL WAX VAPORIZER

The pioneering Chicago Trap/Bass duo has teamed with up with SOURCEvapes, one of the industry’s leading manufacturers, to create the most powerful wax pen vaporizer on the market. While the price is a bit steep ($120), it’ll be the only portable you’ll ever need. Crafted from the purest Grade 1 titanium and quartz, the Source Orb XL is the ideal 420 gift for your refined cannabis enthusiast wanting the purest taste and experience. With revolutionary triple coil atomizers the vape pen can hold over a half gram of concentrated oils, has five airflow settings, adjustable voltage battery, and dabbing tool—which all fit inside a compact and convenient travel case. You’ll be able to sneak this into their next show and rep your love for the HDYNATION.

VOLCANO CLASSIC VAPORIZER

Considered the Rolls Royce of vaporizers, Storz & Bickel’s Volcano desktop unit is renowned the world over for its unparalleled performance, smooth taste, low maintenance—and hefty $500 price tag for a device that resembles a Vicks steam inhaler. But once you’ve taken a hit it’s easy to understand how this continues to be such a popular model. The hits are so smooth and clear it’s hard to tell if you’re medicating or inhaling air. If you’re short on cash I’d opt to split the cost with a friend or roommate since you’ll most likely being using it among good company anyway. It also comes with the option of choosing the Easy Valve or Solid Valve kit, though I believe all you need is the former which includes five balloons (each should last about five months), a cleaning brush, filling chamber, liquid pad, screen set and hot air generator. It’ll be worth it.

PATRON BOTTLE WATER PIPE

These thick glass Patron bottles have been refurbished into beautifully handcrafted water pipes available in two distinct styles, regular (water pipe) and hookah. Personally I’d recommend the hookah as the experience is always more communal and conversational, perfect for a 420 group sash with friends and loved ones on this upcoming high holiday. They’ll be sure to trip out (if they aren’t already) at its ingenious design and craftsmanship, which supplies ample space to hold your favorite smoke without any seepage. The 750mL makeshift smoking device comes complete with an interchangeable four-foot hookah hose, ceramic bowl and is made to order. Enhance your living room décor and make this unique piece a conversation piece at your next pot party.

NANO DOME INDOOR GROWING KIT

Give the gift that keeps giving as you grow a few of your own plants in the comfort of your own home. This mini greenhouse comes with a 7” dome, fluorescent light fixture that stays warm but not hot, adjustable lighting and a reflector allowing constant air flow. It’s small enough to lodge in any discrete locale and powerful enough to blossom a mini bounty without the hassle of costly upkeep. Retailing for about thirty bucks it’s an affordable junior operation and great practice for future horticulture operations should this hobby become a passion. Get back to nature; cultivate a practical crop you can use in everyday life and share with friends.
ACCESSORIES

BLACK ROCK SAFETY CASE

The Black Rock Safety Case has been built not only for the methodical marijuana user on the go, but to disprove the popular misconception that all users are irresponsible stoners. This durable, odor proof case has been field tested to withstand the elements. At first glance its sleek design makes it look like just another phone or eyeglass case, but after further inspection you’ll note the plentiful space to keep your stash safe and discreet. For twenty dollars more the case comes loaded with a vape, joint or pipe kit containing (depending): two 1g pebble containers for buds or concentrates, a stainless steel grinder card, rolling papers, pipe, poker, and lighter. If you like convenience and tend to get forgetful after medicating this case is well worth the $50.

THE CRIPPLE CREEK DAB PACK

Colorado Stashbox puts a lot of effort into their rustic, hand crafted 7” X 7” dab box, available in two distinct styles/woods: Colorado Aspen, more of a pale brown, and Beetle Kill Pine, an earthy red (my personal recommendation). Inside it has carved compartments that include a medical dab mat, titanium dab tool and blue, yellow and green 7mL silicon jars. The box’s simplistic design doesn’t require hinges or latches and is made with their detachable, air tight lid which also functions as a rolling tray. For just seven dollars more you can truly personalize this gift by having it engraved. This is perfect for the dabber who appreciates craftsmanship, color and design. And in honor of 420 all products are currently 10% off, so don’t wait and order yours today!

THE BULLDOG SWING GRINDER

A grinder is an essential medicating tool, and I believe this one is the best available. Made in Amsterdam, The Bulldog Swing Grinder is a durable metal four-piece grinder with sharp teeth, a translucent lid, and a unique crank arm that moves easily and quickly requiring little energy. The circular grip provides extra control when milling your herb into a fine, fluffy powder and the see-through top allows you to judge how coarse you want it. It’s also easy to clean and comes with a kief collecting compartment for use in a medical emergency or rainy day. Some might argue $25 is an unnecessary price for such a basic utensil, but it’ll last forever and help you get the most out of your herb.

RAW XXL LAP TRAY

Based on the design of original CLUB rolling tray, RAW’s 20” X 15” Lap Tray combines quality, space and stability. Its concave design, curved corners and high sides assure your precious herb won’t spill and provides plenty of room to keep all your medical marijuana paraphernalia together in one place. You’ll no longer need to search for a magazine or textbook to find a flat, stable surface. The built-in foldout legs also make it perfect for rolling blunts in bed or on the couch. Made from thick metal, it’s strong enough to double as a lunch tray so if you’re a multitasker like me you can roll a smoke with your meal while catching up on your favorite shows. This is an often overlooked but essential purchase.
ORGANIC PRODUCTS

ACESO HERBAL SPARY SUPPLEMENT

Dixie Brands’ Aceso (named for the Greek healing goddess) spray products have unlocked hemp’s medicinal powers by combining them with all natural, immune enhancing ingredients to help you reach your full potential and find relief from daily stress, aches and anxiety. Each bottle contains 335mg of cannabinoids (5mg of CBD per spray) and is available in three distinct flavors: Calm has hints of lavender and grapefruit; Soothe contains notes of cinnamon and cherry; Wellness has bursts of lemon and orange. A $70 price tag for such a small bottle could deter some, but why put a price on your health? It’s already proven to be so effective it’s been approved in New Zealand to combat Tourette’s Syndrome. Simply push and spray six times a day and swallow.

ORGANIC COTTON HEMP TOTE BAG

This handmade, light beige market bag is designed to make your shopping experience as convenient as possible. Measuring 18” X 18” it has an attractive hand stamped lavender moth patch, wide straps that rest easily over your shoulder without drag or discomfort, and includes a large pocket for keeping your wallet, smart phone or additional bags. Made from hemp/organic cotton muslin fabric the tote is environmentally safe, light enough to take to the beach and strong enough to carry the groceries, a trend which has quickly grown in popularity here in California where disposable paper and plastic bags are taxed. Invest in a beautiful, reusable product that’ll pay for itself within the month—but hurry, they’re selling out fast so buy yours ASAP!
FOOD/COOKING

CANNABIS TRUFFLE CHOCOLATES

Baking can be too much work and isn’t for everyone, so if you want a different chocolatey THC treat Liquid Gold Delights will satisfy you and your sweetheart’s sweet tooth. While there are countless gourmet chocolates on the market these High Times Cannabis Cup winning truffles actually live up to the standard. They’re handmade and come in packets of four individually wrapped 25mg pieces, available in mint, cinnamon, raspberry, orange, caramel, espresso, and dulce de leche. The Mint and Raspberry Meltaways are just as delicious as they are ornate, so much so you almost don’t want to eat them. Each piece is an edible work of art detailed with abstract shapes and color patterns reminiscent of a Jackson Pollock. GFarmLabs also makes equally tempting chocolate bars, confections, and cherry cordials. Just take note, you’ll need to be a medical marijuana patient or live in a recreational state to get your hands on these.

CANNABUTER AND CANNAOIL

Whether you buy it or make it yourself, cannabutter and cannaoil are one of nature’s greatest gifts. I recommend unsalted MariButter and their extra virgin MariOil (available in 8 & 16oz containers). They’re tasty on their own, moderately strong (25mg per ounce), and will leave you feeling warm, full and fuzzy from head to toe. I use the butter for creamy dishes, soups, and desserts; the oil for salads, seafood, and light pastas; both for searing and braising. Before making anything you should understand the products’ dosage so test your tolerance with a piece of bread and a spread or drizzle. Be patient with its effects which should kick in anywhere from a half hour to an hour and a half. And, if you insist on wine with your meal, limit it to one glass and do not mix with hard alcohol. After crafting your first delicious dish you’ll wonder why you never combined these two before.
CANNABIS EDUCATION

CANNABIS COOK BOOK

What better way to profess your love for someone this Wednesday than making them a delicious, THC-infused gourmet meal? Or baking them a batch of cannabis sweets? Think of HERB: Mastering the Art of Cooking with Cannabis as The Joy of Cooking for marijuana foodies; you can make simple and amazing dishes right from your own stash! Containing hundreds of delectable and colorful recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and desserts, this text tackles the herb like any other organic ingredient. Chefs Melissa Parks and Laurie Wolf also provide easy extraction techniques, tips on making your own butters and oils along with a comprehensive understanding of strains and their varied effects on our mind and body. Remember you don’t have to be a veteran chef to whip up a tasty dish, so don’t be afraid to try; kitchen experimentation is always a fun bonding experience. Just be sure not to be overly medicated around the stove or oven and take the proper precautions.

Phoenix Tears The Rick Simpson Story chronicles the activist’s uphill battle to champion cannabis as a medical miracle after confirming in 2003 that hemp plant extracts can not only cure cancer, which he himself had until homemade cannabis oil cured it, but also treat a wide range of illnesses. Despite this book’s overwhelming testimony neither the government nor the medical community will openly recognize its life saving properties. If you want to learn the truth, debunk misconceptions, and understand why marijuana should no longer be a Schedule 1 drug, read this book. It’ll make a believer out of you, regardless of your position. You can also purchase Rick’s signature oil with your doctor’s recommendation here, though only available to California residents.
CANNABIS-INSPIRED APPAREL

420 COOKING APRONS

If you’re baking or cooking with butter or oil, you definitely need some kitchenware to handle hot grills, pots, pans and to protect your hands. Priced at only $27 these vibrant full body aprons are made from a 65% polyester/35% cotton blend and available in red, white, green, black, and blue with a variety of marijuana themed prints suited for every mood and occasion. In honor of the holiday I say go for this “I Heart 420” graphic print. Each apron has an adjustable drawstring and split front pocket for holding your grilling utensils, condiments or other culinary enhancing items. Take it a step further and match your apron with a chef’s hat for a coordinated look. This would make a great gift for the cooking cannabis connoisseur in your life.

T-SHIRTS

Regardless of your medical intake preference, every cannabis user must show his or her pride and have at least one weed themed piece of apparel in their closet. While there are countless inspired designs, these three satirical tees pictured above are my favorites and will sure to bring compliments from cannasseurs and non-users alike. Retailing between $8 and $10 they’re a bargain, available in eight colors, made from 100% cotton, come in sizes small to 3XL, and are machine washable. I recommend washing them inside out at cold temperature and not putting them in the dryer since the print will eventually fade or crack. Don’t be ashamed to wear it publicly and show your support for the cause!
420 PROMOTIONS & DEALS

$20 OFF DELIVERY & A FREE DOMINO’S PIZZA

For residents of California, there’s plenty of deals around the corner, whether they come from your dealer down the road, or a legitimate, licensed medical cannabis dispensary. I personally prefer the latter, as having my marijuana use protected by law sits well with me, and dispensaries (although not all) are notoriously more upscale than your dealer’s living room. Luckily, sourcing cannabis from a real dispensary isn’t as hard as you might think. It’s actually gotten incredibly easy thanks to Nugg, a “Grubhub meets cannabis” site that lets patients view menus of nearby dispensaries and place orders online for delivery.
As if getting your cannabis delivered to your door wasn’t enough, they’re putting on an incredible 4/20 promotion — $20 off your first delivery plus a FREE Domino’s Pizza with EVERY order! That’s right: free food for that inevitable munchy moment and a cash discount on all your essential 420 purchases, all day and night. Now I don’t know if the company is working with Domino’s directly or not, nor do I care, they’re bringing me free pizza. And the best part? Nugg works with dispensaries all over California, so no matter where you are, stay there. In fact, don’t even get up at all this 4/20 if you don’t have to, let the party come to you. I lied, that’s not the best part. The best part is that even if you don’t have a doctor’s recommendation for medical marijuana, it’s no problem! You can get one 100% online from the comfort of home through NuggMD, which lets you video-chat with a licensed California doctor to get your recommendation in ~10 minutes for just $40.
To claim the $20 off deal and your free pizza, Nugg’s website instructs new users to signup with the promo code “PIZZA” and include what type of pizza (medium, 1 topping) in the comments section at the checkout screen on your order!

BAIT X ADIDAS SNEAKER

BAIT retail has collaborated with Adidas Skateboarding to produce the medicinal inspired Stan Smith Vulc “Happy” variant. Made from natural hemp, the detailed stone patterned and colored shoes have contrasting touches of green, red, sky blue, and yellow along with suede heels and hidden tongue compartments to protect your emergency stash and cash. There’s also the option to have your laces in matching stone hemp, black or white, though I wouldn’t recommend changing their rustic look and keep them as pictured. These are so limited and in-demand that you must create a BAIT account just to win a chance to purchase the $120 pair, so hurry! Those lucky few are already being notified as they ship out on 4/18 then will be available on 4/20 at their seven West Coast stores. A must have for any weed loving sneaker head.

GRASSCITY.COM 420 SALE

The self-proclaimed “world’s best online headshop” continues its annual 420 sale with 20% off all their products (excluding vapes and papers) and free, fast shipping on orders over $100. Choose and compare from a large selection of pipes papers, bongs, bubblers, dab and oil rigs, vaporizers, grinders, accessories and anything else weed friendly; no discount code needed! Knowing the holiday might put a hole in your pocket and your memory, they’ve extended the sale until 4/30, so you have an extra ten days and no excuse not to pick up some cool gear.

Analysis/OpinionNovember 21, 2015September 12, 2020 by Ben Neal

My Love Affair with Mary Jane

I was just a teenager when we first met. Too young for the start of a life-long romance, I know… but sometimes love blossoms in the most unlikely places.
Like many teenagers, I was shy and socially awkward. My parents were recently divorced, and I was bouncing back and forth between two houses and living out of a duffel bag. And, like many teenagers, I was more than a little bit bitter about it.
I was depressed. I was a pessimist, a cynic, a jaded youth; and being unable to find any meaning, purpose, or joy in life, I had withdrawn into my own private darkness.
And then along came Mary Jane…
Okay, so it may be a stretch to say that cannabis cured me of depression and turned my life around, just like that. But honestly, in retrospect, it kinda seems like it. Getting high was an epiphany for me, a defining moment. I can divide my life neatly into B.C. (before cannabis) and A.W. (after weed).
In the years since that first toke, marijuana has been a constant companion, a friend and lover, teacher and guide who has unveiled to me the depth and beauty and mystery of the world… and myself.

I think it all started with music.

Before cannabis, music for me had been more of a social statement than anything else; a declaration of how angry and rebellious I was, a sign of what clique I belonged to. But after a few hits, every preconceived notion I had about music — what I liked, what I didn’t like, and why — all flew out the window.
For the first time, I was really listening, with rapt attention, and what I heard was a revelation. For the first time, I was really hearing every note, every silence, every movement. For the first time, I could really feel the emotions behind the song; I could feel the soul of the artist.
I embarked on an epic exploration of music, from cool jazz and doo-wop, to fusion and funk and psychedelic rock, to disco and electronica, country and pop. I wanted to hear it all, to swim through those vast universes of sound and soak up whatever secrets lie within.
And music was only the beginning…
Movies became a whole new phenomenon. Smoking a joint helped me to tune into the finer and more subtle elements of comedy, drama and storytelling; to really let go, and forget myself, and be transported to other worlds; to laugh with joyous abandon, and to be moved by emotions and longings so powerful they brought tears to my eyes.
Under the mind-expanding influence of cannabis, and the wise tutelage of my high school English teacher (thanks, Mrs. Negaard), I developed an appreciation and love of literature and poetry that is still one of my greatest joys in life. Shakespeare, Whitman, Emerson, Frost, Yeats, Thoreau, Melville and Hemingway, Steinbeck and Dostoevsky, Kerouac and Vonnegut, all suddenly came alive for me — in large part because of the curiosity, openness and insight of cannabis intoxication.
My first clumsy poems and essays were were written while stoned out of my mind, and so were many of my best since then. Marijuana helped me find my purpose, my path, the art that has become my career and livelihood.
If it weren’t for cannabis, I wouldn’t be writing today.
Getting high revealed to me what it means to be a writer, to be an artist. It showed me the power of words. It showed me what art is, what beauty is, and how art and creativity is one of the only things capable of fulfilling the deepest longings of the human spirit.
For the first time, I didn’t care about fitting in, being cool. My eyes had been opened to new possibilities, new frontiers. The world that had seemed so cruel and hopeless now shimmered with promise. There was beauty, and humor, and meaning, and joy to be found everywhere, if you knew how to look for it.
Cannabis showed me how to look for it.
It also showed me how to stop looking, stop worrying, stop trying so hard to get somewhere else, to be someone I’m not. It showed me how to relax, and be still, and just breathe, and enjoy the moment, and be myself. Cannabis helped me to realize who I am, deep down; beneath all the roles I play, and the masks I wear.

Like Marley said, “When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself.”

Before cannabis, I was lost. Mary Jane opened my eyes, awakened my passions, inspired my creativity, and gave my life purpose and meaning and direction.
It’s been more than fifteen years since that first toke, and our love affair is still going strong. My longest relationship, by far.
She still brings out the best in me, my child-like playfulness and curiosity. I still turn to her for inspiration, guidance and relaxation; when I’m reading, or writing, or meditating.
And sometimes we just curl up on the couch and watch a movie together. I want nothing more than to grow old together, and live happily ever after.
That is, if I don’t get arrested. The love we share is still illegal in most places, so there’s always that risk…
But you know what?
She’s worth it.

Analysis/OpinionNovember 7, 2015September 12, 2020 by Ben Neal

15 Best Things To Do While Stoned

A bag of your favorite sweet, sticky herb… check. Lighter… check. Pipe, bong, rolling papers… Check, check and check. You’re ready to kick back, smoke up, and…
And then what?
That might seem like a silly question, but it’s not. Sometimes it’s hard to think of something fun to do when you’re baked, and if you’re not careful you could end up zoned out on the sofa, watching infomercials (been there, done that), or whatever mindless show might be playing on the TV.
And that, my friends, is a waste of time — and a waste of perfectly good weed.
I know that cannabis makes everything better (well, almost everything), even infomercials and dumb ass sitcoms. But if you really want to get the most out of your high, you’ll need to get a bit more creative than that.
I also know that once you light up, and the buzz sets in, it can be hard to get motivated. Some of us need some inspiration, and little bit of a kick in the ass, in order to get off the couch and get active.
So here’s some inspiration for you — a list of activities that perfectly complement and accentuate the effects of cannabis, and make getting high a magical, sensual, and unforgettable experience. Here are my 15 favorite things to do while stoned.

1. Listen To Music In The Dark

Okay, so this one is completely obvious and unoriginal. Guilty as charged.
But come on, I can’t put together a list like this without including the #1 way to spend your “high time.” Being stoned, alone in the dark, listening to music with your headphones on or your stereo turned up obscenely loud, is nothing less than a spiritual experience.
You can feel the bass vibrating in your cells, and see colorful patterns conjured up on the back of your closed eyelids, shifting and dancing in time with the song. You can leave the whole world behind and lose yourself in lush and vivid inner dimensions; you can be moved to tears and laughter, and have life-changing epiphanies, as the music ebbs and flows and unveils deeper layers, and hidden meanings.
It’s some good shit.
Bonus: check out our kick ass list of 20 great songs to smoke to. You’re welcome.

2. Watch A Movie

Just like cannabis can help you lose yourself in music, it can also help you to immerse yourself in a movie. So much so that you forget who your are, and where you are, and are just completely carried away by the story, the characters, the drama…
But not all movies are created equal.
I know that when you’re stoned, even Troll 2 can be entertaining. I once got high and laughed my ass off watching the Spongebob Squarepants movie (Omg, their facial expressions!), so I get it.
But being high is good for so much more than a few cheap laughs. It’s a chance to go deeper, and explore the more creative/indie/experimental side of film making. It’s a chance to be moved, to expand your mind, maybe even have it blown wide open.
And yeah, a good laugh doesn’t hurt either.
Guess what? We’ve got a list of movies too. If you need some ideas, it’s a pretty good place to start.

3. Take A Walk Outside

Pretty simple, right?
Get stoned, go outside, and look around you. You will notice, and really appreciate, the beauty and immensity of the world. It gives eyes to see all the amazing thing that we usually just pass by without noticing. It helps you to get your mind out of it’s usual rut, and look at your life from a higher perspective. (Pun intended.)
Bonus points if you go to a park, or take a hike through the woods. Get away from the city, the crowds, the traffic, etc. and surround yourself with Nature. Double bonus points if it’s raining or snowing.
Seriously, if you haven’t played in the rain, or made snow angels in a while… it’s about time.

4. Go Swimming

Get high and go to the beach, or a water park, or even an indoor pool. (If you can afford to smoke weed, you can afford a membership to the YMCA.) This is always a good time, but when you’re high, it’s a sensual delight. The feel of the water on your skin, the sensation of floating, being weightless… simply awesome.
Plus, it’s a pretty good workout, so it’s good for you too.

5. Ride A Roller Coaster

And speaking of parks… you’ve got to ride a roller coaster high at least once in your life.
As you know, marijuana makes everything more vivid and intense. And it just doesn’t get much more intense than plummeting down the first steep drop of a massive roller coaster at 70+ mph, wind whipping you in the face, screaming at the top of your lungs…
Really let’s you know you’re alive.
Pro Tip: instead of smoking, try some cannabis edibles, like these Ooey-Gooey Chewy Pot Cookies. The high will last much longer that way.

6. Make Some Art

Weed is to art what steroids are to weightlifting. Only, you know, without the side effects.
The point is, there are few things better than getting high and getting creative. Get out your paints and brushes, and make a colorful mess. Get out some crayons and color (I like mandalas). Or just make some sketches or doodles (ever heard of Zentangle?).
Not into visual art? That’s alright. Try some creative writing. Get a pencil and a spiral notebook and just write — poetry, journaling, spinning fantastic tales, whatever comes into your mind.
Don’t consider yourself an artist? Maybe you just haven’t found your medium. Keep trying new things. Don’t expect perfection — that comes with practice. Forget about how “good” it is, and just have fun with it.

7. Jam Out

Making music is one of the most fun and rewarding things to do, anytime. Period.
But being high takes it beyond the stratosphere. You feel the vibration, the music pouring through you, shaped and formed by your hands, like making sculptures out of sound… there’s nothing like it. It’s magical. It feels like you are literally making magic…
Like you’re a fuckin’ wizard.
Don’t know how to play an instrument? Hey, no better time to learn than right now. Seriously, it’s not as hard as you might think. Practice every day and you’ll be amazed at how far you can get in six months.
It develops focus, discipline, coordination, confidence, and so much more. Plus it’s so good to look back a year from now and see how much you’ve learned, and what you’ve accomplished. Makes you feel like you can do anything.
And of course, it’s really fun too. What are you waiting for?

8. Exercise

Working out while you’re high is amazing. It can be anything: yoga, push ups, jumping jacks, tai chi, jogging, bike riding, mountain climbing, whatever. It just feels so good to move, and be active.
Being stoned makes you so much more attuned to your body. You are super aware of your breathing, your heartbeat, the burn in your muscles. The rush you get from a good work out can really complete your high, and make you feel like a million bucks.
Caution: don’t push yourself too hard, too fast. You can get a major head rush that might knock you on your ass. Also be sure and stay hydrated.

9. Meditate

When you’re high, it’s so easy to just close your eyes, and drift away. That can be a good thing — if you know how to do it right.
Meditation is proven to be good for you in countless ways: it lowers stress and boosts your immune system; it helps relieve anxiety and depression; it boosts your confidence, creativity and productivity, improves your relationships, and it just makes you an all around better, kinder, happier human being.
It can also be boring as hell.
But not when you’re high.
Smoke a little green, then sit down, relax, and close your eyes. Just watch the thoughts as they drift through your awareness. Don’t judge them as good or bad, don’t get caught up in them, don’t even identify them as “your” thoughts. Just watch them like you would a movie — a bizarre, interactive, virtual reality movie.
Relax, deeper and deeper, and just let go of every bit of stress, tension, judgment, and attachment. Eventually your thoughts quiet down, and you become aware of the vast, deep, silent awareness that lies behind them…
And that’s you.
That’s what you are — not your mind, not your thoughts, not the anxious, insecure, constantly-gibbering voice in your head. You are the peaceful, silent, consciousness beneath it all.
Liberating, isn’t it?

10. Have A Deep Conversation

When you’re done transcending your ego and tuning into the One Cosmic Consciousness, you might want to find someone to talk to about it.
Having deep talks while stoned out of your mind is just the best. Assuming, of course, that you have friends that you can have deep talks with.
Friends with whom you can sit and ponder the meaning of life and the mysteries of the universe. Friends that like to get really high and talk about God, and aliens, and how everything is energy, and all that jazz.
If you don’t, you need to get some new friends.

11. Read A Book

Yep, I’m one of those nerds. I actually read books. The kind made out of paper.
And you know what? There is nothing better than smoking a joint and then curling up on the couch with a really good book. You can lose yourself in the story, leave “reality” behind for awhile and go inhabit other worlds.
You can learn a lot, increase your vocabulary, expand your mind, and have a good time doing it.
I’m a big fan of poetry (Walt Whitman, Mary Oliver, e.e. cummings, David Whyte, Rumi and Hafiz) and fiction (J.R.R. Tolkien, Orson Scott Card, Kurt Vonnegut, David Mitchell, Greg Egan, Phillip K. Dick; even classics like Les Miserables, The Grapes of Wrath and Moby Dick). There’s also some non-fiction authors I really like, such as Alan Watts, Steven Pressfield, Ram Dass, Thoreau and Emerson…
Next time you get high, head down to the library and check out anything from that list. You won’t be disappointed.

Check out our List of 20 great books to read while high.

12. Try New Food

Yeah, everyone likes to eat when they’re high. But don’t settle for fast food, or a gas station burrito. How lame can you get? Plus, it’ll make you fat. And give you diarrhea.
Seriously, it’s just a bad idea.
When the munchies set in, try something new and different. Never eaten at a Korean restaurant? Well, tonight’s the night! Or you could sample some Bosnian, or Indonesian cuisine… the weirder the better. Or go to the grocery store and buy the most exotic fruit you can find, like a dragon fruit or an African cucumber.
Bonus points if you can track down a rambutan — just because they’re awesome. Even the name is fun to say. “Rambutan.” Rolls off the tongue.
The point is to be adventurous. Broaden your horizons. Explore the culinary possibilities…

13. Take A Shower

A nice hot shower is the perfect way to unwind and release your tension and stress. And also the perfect cure for any pot induced paranoia.
The heat, the steam, the feel of the water running over your skin… it’s delightful at anytime. But when you’re stoned, your nerve-endings are buzzing and your senses are sharpened, and the warmth and moisture of the water are intensified into a tidal-wave of relaxation and bliss.
And it’s the perfect precursor to #14…

14. Give And/Or Get A Massage

Speaking of relaxation and bliss, have you ever gotten a massage while stoned? Mmmm… it’s delicious.
Being high helps you to relax and loosen up, of course. So when a skilled pair of hands goes to work on your muscles, the stiffness and tension just melts away, and you basically become a big, fleshy puddle. In a good way.
And giving someone else a rub down is almost as good as getting one yourself. Best of all, do both. Call up the one you love, and tell them you’ve got a surprise in store. Set the mood with some incense and candles and music. Get high together and give each other slow, deep, thorough massages…
And before you know it, you’re on to #15.

15. Have Sex

Getting high and gettin’ it on — the ultimate sensual experience.
Sex is pretty great anytime, high or not. You can lose yourself in the throes of passion, the heat and sweat and friction and pleasure, even when you’re stone cold sober. But when you’re high, it’s a holy communion.
Remember what I said about buzzing nerve endings and hyper-sensitivity? Yeah. Exactly.
Every little kiss and lick and nibble, every squeeze and thrust and grind is intensified, sanctified, electrified. Lovers merge and blend together, no longer two separate people, they become one motion, one dance, one body — tingling, wet and throbbing.
And when the big moment arrives, hold on for dear life.
When you’re high, an orgasm is a full body explosion, a volcanic eruption of pleasure so powerful it’s almost painful. Your mind is obliterated by the sheer force of it, and all that’s left is the white hot brilliance of pure bliss, like you’ve come face to face with God, if only for a moment.
Sigh…
Sorry for going off the poetic deep end on you there. That’s just what weed does to me. Besides, if I’m exaggerating, it’s not by much.
And if you are a single person, don’t be discouraged. You can always take matters into your hands. It might take two to tango, but you can get high and get your rocks off all by yourself 😉
Well, there you have it; my favorite things to do while stoned. What are your favorites? Did I miss anything? Tell me in the comments below!
Too long to read? Watch all these point in this video: Best Things To Do While Stoned.

Check out 8 Things NOT to Do When Smoking Weed With Your Friends

Analysis/OpinionJune 15, 2015 by James Bradrick

My Uncle Sam’s a Pot Farmer

Did you know that Uncle Sam grows weed?
Yep!
At the University of Mississippi in Oxford MS, under armed guards, high tech digital surveillance and dozens of locked doors and gates a government funded program is set to produce 650 kilos of pot this year.
Numbers like this can mean little until put into perspective. So, if you were to put a gram of reefer into a rolling paper and twist it up, you’d have a healthy looking joint. How many of those would 650 keys make?
650,000 doobies. That’s a lot of research.
The program, under the direction of Mahmoud ElSohly, has been in operation since 1968. It is charged with growing quality controlled marijuana for ‘research purposes.’
The question is, why is OUR government spending OUR tax dollars to provide those 650,000 joints to researchers?
Franklin Roosevelt once admitted that; “the real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the larger centers has owned the Government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson.”
Big Business.
Business is afraid that if weed is not prohibited it would result in Business not ‘earning’ profits on a scale that they think they should.
Does this surprise you? It shouldn’t.
Together the pharmaceutical industry reported profits of $300 billion last year.
And the health care industry, another $1.7 trillion. The end result?
Physician and medication error along with adverse effects from drugs and surgery accounts for over 200,000 deaths per year in the US. Which makes the healthcare system the third leading cause of death in the US. Only cancer and heart disease are more deadly.
What did they researched to attain those noteworthy stats?
Money has been making the world go ‘round for a long time now. It’s time for a change.

What to do about it?

Quit supporting it. And start voicing your objections.
While this was written from a North American point of view, experience in other cultures suggest that governments get by with what they do because it’s tolerated. If the majority of people want government supervision OUT of their personal lives then nonviolent civil disobedience can help make change happen.
Begin to take responsibility for yourself. Ask yourself why it is necessary that YOU become the one of every four that will die from cancer this year. Then go searching for answers. You find what you look for.
Finding the answer is only the beginning. Information must be acted upon. Even if it makes life awkward.
Life became awkward for Rosa Parks. But because she had tied feet on the day a police officer ordered her to give her bus seat to a white person, the world is now a better place.
The Gallup Poll reports that 58% of Americans favor legalizing weed. The flame of change is now in our favor and we have the opportunity to turn it into a raging wildfire. All we need do is act.
It is time to get big business out of government. And government out of our personal lives.

Where to start?

Reform. Sign every petition you can that supports legalizing weed.

The Marijuana Policy Project, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform are three groups to research and support. They need funding. Help if you can.

In 2011 a documentary film entitled “Breaking the Taboo” was released to a worldwide audience via YouTube. The focus of the film is the global effects of the war on drugs. Here are more than a few statistics, taken from the documentary, to piss you off.
Since Nixon declared war on drugs in 1971 $2.5 trillion of your tax dollars have been spent on that ‘war’. Over 44 million Americans have been arrested. And according to Human Rights Watch 60,000 persons, in Mexico alone, have died as a direct result of this ‘war’.
The US has the largest prison population in the world – 2.3 million Americans are behind bars. 500,000 for drug related crimes.
If global drug commerce where a political entity it would have one of the top 20 economies in the world with an estimated yearly net income of $320 billion. Yes that was billion.
If drugs that are now illegal were taxed at a rate similar to tobacco and alcohol they would generate an estimated $46 billion in tax dollars.
Legalizing drugs would save the US an estimated $41 billion a year in costs associated with enforcing current laws.
Are you black or hispanic? If so, you should be pissed. These 2 groups use illegal drugs at about the same percentage rate as whites but are between 2 and 5 times more likely to be arrested, convicted and imprisoned.
In a December 2012 feature article on CNN titled “War on drugs a trillion-dollar failure”, Richard Branson asked;
“How would our society, our communities and daily lives improve if we took the money we use running a police and prison state and put it into education and health? Treating drugs as a health issue could save billions, improve public health and help us better control violence and crime in our communities. Hundreds of thousands of people have died from overdoses and drug-related diseases, including HIV and hepatitis C, because they didn’t have access to cost-effective, life-saving solutions.”
(CNN)
Not to mention the hypocrisy of the US government engaging in activities that are prohibited for its citizens. For profit.
Sobering facts. And a travesty of civil and human rights.
Our interconnectedness as a society of over 7 billion people adds to the complexity of arriving at reasonable and effective solutions to this issue. Creativity and a new commitment to humanity over business is needed. And the role of government as ‘babysitter’ and ‘moral advisor’ must be rethought.
Archeologists tell us that weed (cannabis) has been used recreationally since 3000 BC. There are now over 7 billion of us. Weed is not a threat to human existence.
I urge you to live life to the best of your ability. And allow others the same right. Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated. And leave society better for your having passed this way.
Strive for the decriminalization of all adult activity that harms no other.
Starting with weed.

Analysis/OpinionApril 27, 2015 by Ben Neal

Is the U.S. Finally Changing Marijuana Policy?

Since the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, cannabis has been classified by the U.S. government as a Schedule 1 narcotic. Which means that it is considered a dangerous and highly addictive substance with no known medical use. In recent years, scientific studies have repeatedly found that cannabis does indeed have powerful medicinal qualities, casting doubt upon that dubious Schedule 1 classification.
But Uncle Sam has always made a point of ignoring that evidence… until now.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently updated their official position on medical marijuana to say:

“The FDA has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as a medicine. However, scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to two FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form. Continued research may lead to more medications.”

An article by Mike Adams, which was published on many major cannabis sites, goes so far as to say that the government admits that pot kills cancer. While I can find no evidence of that, it is a promising sign that the NIDA is using such pro-cannabis language on their official website.
The President has also voiced his support for medical marijuana. In an interview with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Obama was quoted as saying, “I think carefully prescribed medical use of marijuana may in fact be appropriate, and we should follow the science as opposed to the ideology on this issue.” He also expressed his support for decriminalization, saying, “The more we treat drug abuse from a public health model, and not just from an incarceration model, the better off we’re going to be.”
Well, if we put aside the fanatical War on Drugs ideology and follow the science, I don’t see how we can possibly justify continued prohibition. There are countless research and case studies which demonstrate the healing properties of marijuana. Dr. Gupta, who has become one of the biggest champions of the medical marijuana cause, tracked down many of these cases in his documentary series WEED:

Marijuana is beneficial in treating chronic pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, nausea, appetite disorders, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, addiction, insomnia, and even cancer. This is not speculation—it’s proven by science, and by real people whose lives have actually been saved by cannabis.
A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress called the CARERS Act (which stands for Compassionate Action, Research Expansion, and Respect States) that would re-classify marijuana as a Schedule II substance, and open the doors for more research, medical use, transport across state lines, and hopefully help solve the current banking problem faced the cannabis industry. The bill is currently being considered by a Judiciary Committee, and if passed it would mark a new age in United States drug policy—one determined by reason, not by fear.
Subscribe to Weed Reader to stay informed on this issue. Make sure you are registered to vote in your district, and contact your Senators and Congressmen! Let ’em know that you support the CARERS Act, and encourage them to do the same.
Together, we can change U.S. marijuana policy, and make sure that this natural, herbal medicine is available to all those who need it.

Analysis/OpinionMarch 14, 2015 by Ben Neal

I Believe In Cannabis

I believe in cannabis.
I believe that it’s medicinal properties far outweigh those scant few risks that haven’t yet been debunked by scientific research. I believe that, whatever negative side effects there may be from smoking weed, they are far less harmful than those of the pills you see advertised on television every 15 minutes. And I believe that more and more medical applications will be discovered with time.
I believe that cannabis prohibition has done more harm than cannabis itself. Making marijuana illegal creates a black market for a plant which could be grown in anyone’s garden, making it possible for hustlers and gangs to profit from what should be freely available for all. It turns peaceful, law abiding people into “criminals,” who are then harassed and persecuted, handcuffed and thrown in jail. Every day, innocent people have their careers and their finances destroyed, their families torn apart, and their lives turned upside down, just for kicking back and smoking a little grass.
I believe that the urge to get high is normal and natural, felt by all people, and indulged in a variety of different ways. Some people drink beer to feel good, others prefer wine or coffee. Some people go jogging or rock climbing; others go out dancing, or eat a pint of ice cream. Everyone has something that they do to relax and make themselves feel better, whether it’s yoga or television, prayer or rock music, sex or shopping.
I believe that most people who condemn marijuana haven’t even tried it, and are merely afraid of what they don’t understand. Those same folks all probably have their own way of “taking the edge off,” which is likely more harmful and addictive than cannabis, just not against the law.
But I am not afraid to try anything: cigarettes and booze, drugs and pills, yoga and chanting, prayer and meditation, music and dancing, fasting and feasting… I’ve done it all. I have found that compared to many of the “approved” substances – like alcohol, tobacco and anti-depressants – cannabis is a relatively harmless way to catch a buzz. It may not be as healthy as a good work out, or a good fuck, for that matter, but it makes them both more fun. And it’s certainly a lot better for you than compulsive eating or shopping, or zoning out in front of the TV.
Getting high helps me to be a healthy, sane and active member of society. Smoking this herb makes me feel more alive. It makes music sound better, and food taste better, and the tedious routines of everyday life just a little bit more exciting. It helps me to appreciate art and poetry, and the beauty of nature. It energizes my mind and body, and inspires me to think for myself, to ask deep questions, and ponder the wonder and mystery of existence. It stimulates my creativity, and makes my writing more lively and interesting.
I believe that smoking a joint while taking a walk outside is absolutely one of the best and most pleasant things a person can do, anytime, night or day, rain or shine. Your worries and stress just melt away, replaced by a joyous, innocent curiosity about all the little things we tend to overlook. It awakens a sense of awe and gratitude, a sense of connection to and harmony with the natural world.
I believe that the “cannabis state of mind” can contribute to our happiness and well-being, as individuals and as a society. I believe it can inspire great works of art, therapeutic personal insights, and brilliant technical innovations in all fields of human endeavor (both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were pot smokers). I believe that being high shows us the benefits of slowing down and “taking it easy,” and that it can help us find contentment and meaning in a world out of balance.
I believe in cannabis.
I believe that the philosophical ramblings of stoners everywhere (myself included) are worth reading and contemplating. There really might be whole universes within the atoms of our fingernails. The world is much more strange and intricate, more amazing and beautiful than we realize – and I believe that cannabis can help us to see and appreciate it more fully.

Analysis/Opinion