Harlequin

Posted by Kristy Ambrose

This sativa-dominant strain is derived from some famous vintage names in genetics. Old favorites like Colombian Gold, Thai, and Swiss varieties came together to make Harlequin. A private breeding program in Switzerland was experimenting with breeding cannabis plants for hash production, and Harlequin was one of the results. The ratio is heavily tilted towards the sativa at 75% to 25%, with the influence from the Nepalese indicas also integrated into the breeding process holding their ground.

It is relatively low in THC, but very high in CBTs to the point of being almost 2:1. The strain fell out of fashion during the years when strains found favor for their THC content, or how fast they got you high. Now that the power of CBT to treat pain and epilepsy are being rediscovered, Harlequin is enjoying a resurgence. It’s ideal to treat pain without having powerful psychoactive effects.

Harlequin has a sweet, earthy smell, a fruity taste, and a look that is stereotypically sativa-like. Buds are thick with red, orange, and purple hairs, which show as an even pattern on a whole plant. This mimics the checkered costume of classical Italian clown Harlequin, which is where the strain gets its name.

Grow Your Own Info

Even though Harlequin is a sun-loving sativa with notoriously heavy top colas, it’s also a nice indoor grow. Small, dime size flowers appear fairly early and are usually thick with crystals.

Flowering Time: 60 to 70 days for an indoor grow, slightly longer for an outdoor crop depending on your climate zone and local weather patterns.

Yield: A dense, relatively small bud heavy with trichomes, typical of cannabis plants high in CBD.

Grow tips: Harlequin is relatively easy to grow, and is recommended for beginners and intermediate growers. The early flowering is offset by a drawn-out curing time, which can be as long as three weeks. The tops of the plants often need extra support as they do get quite heavy.

References:

CannabisSearch.com, “Harlequin Strain.” 2015-2016; http://www.cannabissearch.com/strains/harlequin/

Leafly.com, “Harlequin Strain Information.” From http://www.leafly.com/sativa/harlequin

Marijuana Grower’s Headquarters, “Harlequin.” By Rambo, July 24th, 2012; marijuanagrowershq.com/harlequin/

Maurice Sand [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASAND_Maurice_Masques_et_bouffons_01.jpg

The Cannabist, “Harlequin (Marijuana Review).” By Jake Browne, September 29, 2014; http://www.thecannabist.co/2014/09/29/harlequin-strain-marijuana-review-high-cbd/20055/

The Paper Chase

Posted by Kristy Ambrose

I started smoking weed at the age when most people stop. I was in my early 20s and living in Victoria. Even back in the mid-1990s, Vancouver Island was very cannabis-friendly. The compassion clubs and head shops had yet to open, but the attitude on the street and especially at my school was one of peace and tolerance. The hippie diaspora had touched British Columbia deeply, and the capital city of was no exception.

My first experience was with joints. The old fashioned, classic, roll it on your lap while sitting on the stoop after class, joints. Maybe that’s why I still prefer that method. As much as I love the artistic beauty of a nice glass bong or a well-carved pipe, it always comes back to papers. Now that we don’t have to whisper about it, as if smoking weed is something to be ashamed of, let’s talk about the best papers to use and where to get them.

There are a million different kinds of papers out there. Depending on where you’re shopping it might even be more. All papers are not created equally, however. You can make “rolling paper” out of anything, and there are all kinds of jokes about smoking your exam paper or your least favorite book. Who doesn’t like to take a few pages out of Leviticus as an offering to the cannabis gods?

Seriously, though, think about what you’re doing, which is burning something and inhaling it. Anything on that paper ends up in your lungs and eventually your bloodstream. So, what’s the best kind of rolling paper to use, and the worst, and why?

The Worst – Clear, Scented, and Dyed Papers

If what you eat should be free of artificial flavors, chemicals and dyes, then the papers you choose should be the same. As fun and attractive as those novelty papers are, they should stay that way, as a novelty. It’s not just a health issue, either. There are several reasons to avoid certain types of papers.

Let’s start with clear papers. Wow, are these ever cool! You can see the weed as you smoke it! Why doesn’t everyone use these?

Clear papers do have some advantages. They burn slowly compared to other papers and are easier to roll because of their thickness. And why are they so thick? Because they are made of celluloid. The manufacturer will use the word “celluloid” in their advertising because using the more colloquial term would equal a PR nightmare, plastic. To be specific, the same stuff they filmed movies on before digital media.

Burning plastic is dangerous anyway. Imagine smoking it? That can’t be good. Use them for a party or a night out, but avoid them if you’re a regular smoker.

As I became a more experienced cannabis consumer, I discovered something interesting. Cannabis tastes good. Messing it up with something scented takes away part of the experience. I know folks that are so serious about this that they refuse to even use filters.

Scented and dyed papers often go hand in hand and contain many of the same chemicals and additives. You have to admit, those little cartoon coconuts and varying designs are extremely cute. It feels like that nostalgia of “scratch and sniff” especially when you come across more unique flavors like marshmallow or absinth. For a themed occasion, the right kind of scent or color is a lot of fun. Imagine the theme for a wedding reception or a gender reveal event, for example.

On the other hand, if you want the taste of marshmallows, then just go buy a bag. Absinthe is great, so go drink some. We’re smoking cannabis here.

Papers that come in silver and gold are often in the same hand, but combine celluloid and a complex dye process. Again, fun as a novelty but do you really want to burn that and inhale it?

The Best – Natural, Thin, Unbleached

Natural means just that. Free from dyes, colors or artificial flavors, put together from a base ingredient that also contains no additives. Be careful of this as well – just because a paper is simply white doesn’t mean it’s free from chemicals or artificial ingredients..

The best papers are made from natural ingredients like hemp. Rice paper is also a nice choice. Focus on the addition of chemicals or plastics when choosing your papers, and stay away from them.

Thickness in general is a matter of taste, and the pun is intended. Yes, thicker papers are easier to roll. I’ve never used a machine, but if you do, then you might want something more durable. The more paper there is to smoke, however, the more of that extra material gets in your lungs. The thinner, the better.

A good guideline to use is to gauge how transparent the paper is. If it’s translucent, that’s the ideal paper. Clear means you’ve got a paper made of plastic and opaque means you’ve got extra material to inhale.

If you’re confident in your rolling abilities, there are papers that are “ungummed.” These are so natural that they don’t even have a sticky strip. As inconvenient as that might seem, it is the ideal choice.

The classic papers that most people come across are the standard white ones. These are often labelled as “classic.” Again, good old marketing. These are bleached, which is just as bad as being dyed.

Zig-Zags for example, are the classic white bleached papers, but even this brand has seen the light and offers an unbleached version. The folks at Zig-Zag are a little touchy about the connection the brand has with cannabis smokers, and their products are officially intended for use with tobacco. During Prohibition these were always marketed as “cigarette papers” to avoid any legal entanglements.

As the organic weed craze escalated in the early 2000s, and legalization became an inevitability, other brands rose that were developed specifically for cannabis. These include Elements, RAW, OCB, and Smoking Black. Most of them include several natural varieties with names like Natural, Organic, Unrefined, and the like.

These companies have based their whole business model on their organic varieties of papers. Raw (my personal favorite) actually uses this concept in the name of their company. Natural hemp is the main ingredient in their papers, and I’m a big believer in hemp as an alternative to other materials, like wood pulp.

It’s not just about your personal health, it’s also an environmental issue. The overuse of paper is a real environmental concern. A tree should not have to die so we can enjoy a nice smoke. The boreal forest that I grew up in is under serious threat partly because of the laws against industrialized hemp.

Using trees to make paper is insane, never mind completely unnecessary, and that actually has more to do with the criminalization of cannabis than any public health concern.

Chemicals, dyes and artificial flavors don’t belong in your food or your joints. Roll if you want to. Stay medicated and stay healthy while you do.

Illustration, Cannabis sativa, 1800s. Permission granted to use under GFDL by Kurt Stueber.

The Ultimate Guide to Hybrid Strains of Cannabis

Posted by Kristy Ambrose

Even if you’re new to the world of marijuana, you’ve probably heard names like Skunk #1, NYC Diesel and White Widow. These are just some popular examples of hybrid strains of cannabis.

Thanks to hybrids, you don’t have to choose between marijuana that is strictly indica or sativa. Today, most of the cannabis strains you encounter are of the hybrid variety.

What is a Hybrid Strain?

There are two basic types of cannabis plants: indica and sativa.

Sativa strains are notorious for making users feel energetic and happy. Cannabis indica, on the other hand, is generally considered relaxing and mellow.

The vast majority of cannabis strains are hybrids, which means they combine the best properties of both kinds of cannabis. They are deliberately crossed by cannabis breeders to include properties of both indica and sativa strains.

A Question of Dominance

Some hybrids are balanced evenly, with a 50/50 split on both the indica and sativa side. These are called balanced hybrids. Not very many hybrid strains of cannabis are evenly divided.

Most hybrid strains of marijuana are indica dominant or sativa dominant. These types favor one side over the other and you can choose based on your personal preferences.

If you want more of an energetic, cerebral high, but with some of the added benefits of an indica to relax your body, then you would choose a sativa dominant. Those who would prefer more of a physically relaxing experience but a milder buzz would enjoy an indica dominant.

This is not only an interesting challenge for cannabis breeders, but creates a myriad of choices for consumers with varying preferences..

By My 420 Tours – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69349115

The Science and the Effects of Hybrid Cannabis

The idea behind creating hybrid strains is more than just combining two different types of weed. Anyone can put a seed in the dirt for fun. Professional breeders use complex knowledge about genetics and Mendel’s laws of inheritance to create plants that win awards and become internally renowned.

Sometimes hybrids are created to make a cannabis plant more hardy, increase production or control their size.

Cross a tall sativa with a shorter indica so the plant can grow indoors. Indica genetics will take the cerebral edge off a powerful sativa and give it a more mellow effect, or thicken the resin and make the plant more suitable for making cannabis products such as hash or budder.

There are literally thousands of different combinations and possibilities.

Canadian growers like Jordan of the Islands have a reputation for crossing tall sativas with shorter indicas. This gives the plants a tougher edge to grow outdoors in the northern rain forest or shorter height so the plants can stay indoors. The practice has resulted in some stellar hybrid marijuana strains like God Bud and Blue Shiva.

The Roots of the Hybrid Strains

photo: http://trimready.com

Cannabis indica and cannabis sativa trace their origins back to two major regions; modern day India and Central Asia. Marijuana aficionados from around the world have worked with these two basic elements to create thousands of modified final products.

Modern travel and tourism have also been a big contributor to the many new hybrid cannabis strains. Cannabis tourism and global seed sales are now mainstream industries and are a subculture onto themselves.

These are a few international locations that have been the most influential to the creation of the vast majority of today’s hybrid cannabis strains.

India

The medical use of cannabis has always remained legal in India and several states recreational use used to be permitted, but the authoritarian government of Modi has restricted the practise.

The history of the cannabis plant traces some of its earliest origins to India where it was (and continues to be) celebrated in festivals, used in food, and forms an integral part of Ayurvedic medicine. Plants that originated in India are indica dominant.

Thailand

We’re not sure what drew the tourist trade here first, the breathtaking landmarks or legendary stories about the Thai Stick strain. Either way, this south Asian paradise has given the world some of the most impressive hybrids with an emphasis on sativa strains. Until a brutal crackdown that started in 2003 (courtesy of Prime Minister Thaksin) Thailand was a safe and tolerant haven for cannabis users. Today, even more so, thanks to legalization.

Hawaii

A mix of rich, volcanic soil and a humid tropical climate means an ideal growing area for potent sativa strains. Maui Wowi and Kona Gold are just two of many famous plants that trace their ancestry back to Hawaii and the surrounding islands. Many of the oldest strains that have been historically cultivated on these islands have been lost or gone extinct. Others have simply been pushed out by foreign imports.

Mexico

“I got the plug on Oaxaca.”

The lyrics in Childish Gambino’s song, “This is America” contain a reference to the state of Oaxaca in Mexico’s southernmost region in regards to drug trafficking. Mexico’s association with marijuana is deeply ingrained in North American pop culture. The sunny slopes of Mexico are ideal for sativa dominant hybrid strains, and plants from south of the border include famous names like Acapulco Gold and Mexican Sativa. Mexico is ahead of the curve when it comes to legalizing medicinal marijuana and CBD, but the cartels still use cannabis as a cash cow.

Afghanistan

The indica side of the marijuana hybrid strain has its earliest origins in Afghanistan. The Kush family of marijuana strains, a group of hybrids with an indica dominant lineage, traces its history here. Legend has it this is also where the first varieties of hashish were developed, which is likely given these varieties are heavy in resin.

Consuming Hybrid Strains of Marijuana

Yet another great thing about hybrids is their versatility. You don’t have to choose based on effects alone. Modern breeders have created varieties that taste, smell, smoke, vaporize or cook exactly the way you want.

Whatever your preference, from advanced vaporizers to that classic hand-rolled joint, there’s a type of cannabis hybrid for you. Other forms of cannabis that are currently available include extracts and oils along with a wide variety of edible products.

Medical users that need to be discreet but also require frequent use and quick results can use their hybrid of choice with a small portable vaporizer. Those who are handy in the kitchen can either buy cannabis-infused cooking oil or follow a handy recipe to make their own.

The Most Popular Hybrid Strains of Cannabis

Some of the most notorious hybrid strains of cannabis are associated with interesting urban legends. Many notable hybrids are attributed to the work of modern breeding companies and have won global awards. They are famous as ancestors of other types of marijuana, leading to a whole new generation of strains.

Occasionally the names of the original breeders and exact genetic background have been lost to the ages. Some strains of hybrid cannabis become so popular and prevalent that their genetics essentially become part of the public domain.

Here are a few interesting stories that you might hear or share at the local Compassion Club. The following strains are famous for their notable pedigree, appearances in popular culture and their contribution to other modern strains.

White Widow

An indica-dominant strain from India’s cannabis cradle was crossed with a potent Brazilian sativa, and the result was the iconic White Widow. This hybrid strain was bred in the Netherlands more than 20 years ago with from plants had origins in the Kerala Mountains of southern India.

The other “whites” like White Rhino, for example, have a similar lineage. The White Widow shines with a thick layer of frosty, sticky trichomes, hence its name. The high is energetic and sustaining but also has a pleasant relaxing effect, with a 60/40 balance that’s heavy on the indica.

Skunk #1

Skunk #1 could be one of the first strains to be bred and grown on a professional level, the genesis of what would become a billion dollar industry. It was so well-known and widely consumed that virtually all types of cannabis were simply referred to as “skunk” back in the 1970s and early 1980s. The strain itself was often known only as #1, which was specific enough given its massive popularity and notorious aroma.

A hybrid originally bred by the Dutch company Soma Seeds the 1970s, Skunk #1 hovers in the neighborhood of 65/35 indica dominant. Skunk mixes the best of several strains from all over the world, including Thai, Afghani and Mexican, but it’s exact origins and family tree are unknown.

Jack Herer

This is a name you’ve heard spoken with reverence in any community that consumes and uses the cannabis plant. Jack Herer is a hybrid named after the author of a book called The Emperor Wears No Clothes which is a comprehensive collection of myths, history and facts about cannabis. Like the book, the strain is an ideal choice for those that are not yet familiar with cannabis but would like to learn more.

Jack Herer is another creation from across the pond, this time from renowned breeder Sensi Seeds based in the United Kingdom. It’s one of the few truly balanced hybrid strains of cannabis with an even 50/50 in terms of sativa versus indica effects. The Dutch authorities have acknowledged its medical uses and the strain has won several awards and competitions.

OG Kush

A lasting testament to the brilliant growers and breeders of California, the myriad of choices with “Kush” in the name can be traced back to this famous strain. Many in the current industry compare its modern influence to the vintage Skunk #1 of the bygone hippie days, especially in the sense that it lent its name to so many other strains and even grew to be another word for weed itself.

Legend has it that the original breeders were based out of Florida, then moved their operations to Los Angeles in the 1990s. OG Kush appeared on the market in 1995 before taking the cannabis world by storm at the turn of the century. Other famous Kush names include Bubba and Lemon. Virtually all varieties of Kush are known for being close to balanced, with a slight favoritism towards the sativa side at about 60/40.

Pineapple Express

Made famous by the film of the same name, Pineapple Express was already one of the more popular hybrid strains in Holland before it appeared on the silver screen. The name itself is a clever callback to the famous parent plants, with Hawaiian on the sativa side and Trainwreck on the indica side.

The original breeders are unknown, but the folks at Barney’s Farm in Amsterdam currently offer an auto-flowering variety. Although the combination is not far from a balanced hybrid at 60/40, this strain is recognized for its energetic and long lasting high which which is often associated with stronger sativas. It has a distinctively fruity taste and smell.

Juicy Fruit

Another significant contribution to cannabis culture from Sensi Seeds, Juicy Fruit, a.k.a. Fruity Juice, is the product of two heavy hitters. This hybrid strain is the product of a classic Thai sativa and an old-school Afghani indica. It’s very close to a balanced hybrid like its compatriot Jack Herer, but leans slightly more to the sativa side with a 55/45 split.

The story of how Sensi Seeds perfected this particular plant is an adventure that literally took decades. The plants were difficult to isolate and finally breed into a plant that could grow under almost any conditions and present such a typical example of both parents. The exotic taste and smell recall this hybrid strain’s exotic heritage.

Himalayan Gold

The Kashmiri Mountains of Nepal and Northern India are home to some of the oldest cannabis genetics in the world. India is home to the indica variety and Nepal has contributed to the sativa side. It makes logical sense that this geographical area would be the first to combine the two.

Sonmarg Valley in Kashmir, By Biswarup Bhattacharjee – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49795885

Nobody is sure who succeeded first, but we do know that a strain called Himalayan Gold was making headway into cannabis culture as early as the 1960s. Various companies have bred different versions that include some feminized varieties.

The indica side of Himalayan Gold is the dominant influence at 60/40, but it can grow to sativa size, about five feet, if it’s grown outdoors.

NYC Diesel

This hybrid strain is also known as Soma Sour Diesel, a reference to the breeder that created the strain. Amsterdam based Soma Sacred Seeds currently sells the classic version of this now-famous strain. It has won nine Cannabis Cup awards, two of which have been first-place showings.

NYC Diesel is a what happens when modern cannabis breeding goes truly international. It was originally developed in New York, a cross between a classic Mexican sativa and an Afghani indica, touched by every corner of the planet. The strain is on the sativa-dominant side at 60/40 and is known for a distinctive fruity smell.

God Bud

God Bud distinguished the breeders of Canada’s West Coast as some of the best in the world when the practice was still fairly new north of the border. It was the flagship strain of the original developer, BC Bud Depot, which also developed strains like Blue Dream and Girl Scout Cookies.

God Bud is hard to find in its pure form today, but is the basis for several of their other notable hybrid cannabis strains. The genetics are a mix of Hawaiian sativas and some of South Asia’s most powerful indicas, making this an indica dominant hybrid. This is one of the less-balanced entries on our list, with a 75/25 division.

Thai Lights

You’ve also heard this cannabis variety referred to as Thai Stick, another famous classic that dates from the hippie days. This sativa dominant hybrid strain is only available through certain Canadian seed banks.

The exact genetics come from the mountains of northeastern Thailand, an area known for its sativas, and the notorious indica-dominant hybrid strain Northern Lights.

The plant is close to balanced at 60/40 favoring the indica side. Like most plants that come from Canadian companies, the plant is designed to grow indoors and does well in smaller spaces.

Are Marijuana Hybrids Right for You?

Browsing the many different types of cannabis strains and finding the right one for you can feel overwhelming.

Do you need to stay focused while medicating? Choose a hybrid that’s indica dominant but with a strong sativa pedigree.

Are you using cannabis to relax after work but still want to stay active? A hybrid strain of marijuana that favors the sativa side is an ideal choice.

Are you looking for something can combines a benefit like pain relief with a happy, social feeling? Try a balanced hybrid strain that combines both recreational and medical effects.

Consider discretion, safety and security when choosing both your ingestion method and your preferred hybrid strain of cannabis. Take your time and enjoy everything hybrids can offer.

Exploring Vancouver:

Posted by Kristy Ambrose

Places To Visit In South Granville

A recent visit to Vancouver reveals how much the city has changed…and how much it hasn’t

It’s part of a neighborhood called South Granville, a few blocks that represents just a section of one Vancouver’s major streets. Granville is one of the city’s major arteries and stretches several kilometers south, from the dense core of downtown to the Arthur Liang Bridge, which leads to the airport.

Some of Vancouver looks different, but a lot of it still looks the same. This part of town always smelled like freshly cut grass and old money, so compared to places like the West End, not a lot has changed on South Granville. I didn’t spend a lot of time in this neighborhood when I lived in Vancouver, so it was interesting to explore a new (well, new to me, anyway) part of town. It’s walking distance from Granville Island and on several convenient bus routes, so not only is it pedestrian friendly, it’s easy to hop on a bus and explore other Vancouver neighborhoods.

I discovered that Vancouver transit is a lot less annoying when you have no schedule and have nowhere to be. Just goes to show, like we always used to say, that the system is built for tourists and always has been.

Muse Cannabis

Canada is one of the few countries that has legalized cannabis use, and the industry that has popped up in the last tens years is impressive. Some might say the commercialization has gone too far, and they’re right, but this beats the holy shit out of dodging the RCMP. Given that I have to do the old-school dealer bullshit back in Mexico (not exactly illegal here but that’s another post), I appreciated this.

Muse has three locations throughout the city, and all of them are upscale cannabis retail sales, the very pinnacle of Canadian legalization. In keeping with the aesthetic of this particular neighborhood, Muse on Granville resembles a restored 19th century library. The wooden shelves are lined with various cannabis products and there’s a cozy sitting area in front of a fireplace near the front door. This is where my partner chills out while I spend a silly amount of time browsing the wares, which range from edibles to flower to pre-rolls.

Yes, the prices are rather high, but holy mother of god, of course you’re going to pay top dollar for weed that’s 35% THC, and that’s not even close to the maximum number. I highly recommend you splurge on a few pre-rolls and chill out in a nearby plaza to enjoy some Vancouver weather.

Sushi Umi

Located at the lower end of this stretch, a block away from the stately class of Muse, Sushi Umi also has a quaint little patio in addition to a glowing wood dining room. There are only three tables out there so it’s kind of a secret. The weather was so damn nice this week that we ate outside on both visits.

There’s a great selection of all the rolls – Dynamite, California, and BC, just to name a few. There are also the usual fun ones, like Rainbow and Caterpillar. My personal favorite is the Dragon Roll, which is basically a Dynamite Roll with grilled unagi on top. The menu includes raw oysters, when they’re in season, in addition to all of the best Japanese appetizers. I love the seaweed salad.

Meinhart’s Fine Foods

They aren’t kidding. The main entrance opens up to the deli. Good luck getting past that shiny stretch of mouth-watering goodies. This is an upscale location, just like the sign says, and it shows in the products. This whole store could be just the deli and they’d do just fine, but there’s a whole store of upscale edibles to discover.

When people talk about Vancouver being for the wealthy and pretentious, this is what they mean. Even the junk food is represented by designer name brands. They do a lot of gift boxes and catering, and it feels like the grocery store is an extension of the bigger operation in the background. Those gift baskets aren’t cheap either, you can check on the website. But for now, it’s just damn fun to browse the fancy snacks and fresh flowers.

Small Victory Bakery

The heigh ceilings and low-hanging light give Small Victory Bakery the feel of a rustic warehouse. The interior design of this place is as impressive as the rows of bread, pastries, and gigantic ovens. It has a rustic tone of brick and metal that reminds me of a place you might see in Gastown.

We’re in line for bread, and there’s a whole selection of succulent loaves. It seems like the kind of place where you’d by chunks of hearty products, so the variety of small, delicate pastries might take you by surprise. There’s seating inside and out, and coffee is also on the menu, which includes food items for brunch and lunch. So much avocado toast, it makes us laugh.

The Breakfast Table

I’m a fucking pig for eggs benny in any form, so I’m focused on that part of the menu. They’ve got six different varieties, in addition to the Asian-inspired Classics section that includes Japanese, Korean, and Thai dishes. Thanks to my partner, I get to experience the sweet side of the menu that includes fresh fruit and quinoa.

Nobody is sure why this space is so noisy, but it’s always crowded, which might have something to do with it. It’s no wonder from the menu, which is fun, creative, and from what I experienced, delicious. You’ll probably be too busy filling your face to talk anyway.

Williams Sonoma

There are several classy gift shops along this stretch of Granville Street, and this is one of the swanky ones that focuses on the kitchen. It’s huge, and they’ve got everything. Plenty of food items, too, but stuff in jars and cans you often put in a gift basket. This is the kind of place people get registered for weddings and showers and such.

The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We look a bit scruffy but nobody gives us the side-eye. There were a few nice things inspired by Mexican art that were amazingly beautiful. Great for uncommon stuff like garlic peelers and tea cozies. Lots of souvenir type stuff too, if you’re looking for a new mug or magnet.

Ian Tan Art Gallery

It’s only two rooms, and there aren’t any tours or a gift shop, but if you’re thinking of making an investment in local art this is one of the best places to look. The artists are from Vancouver and some of my personal favorites included local subjects and the city skyline.

The style of art is contemporary, but the subjects can range from still life to abstract. Exhibits include paintings along with sculptures and unique media like glass art.

Fire & Flower Cannabis Co.

A similar design to Muse up the street, with the glass cases and elaborate displays, this store has a more utilitarian feel. It’s located on a busier and less expensive part of Granville, and caters to commuters and tourists as much as neighborhood folks.

This might be why it feels more modern. It’s only a few blocks down from Muse but the vibe is entirely different. Just as friendly, but with less glowing wood and plush seating. There are no places to sit and commiserate or enjoy the atmosphere. Time is marijuana these days.

Sushivan

Combine your cannabis shopping with a bite to eat at Sushivan, which seems to do most of its business during the busy lunch hours with local office workers or folks taking a break between bus transfers. It looks like a small place, but it’s a big kitchen with an equally expansive menu.

You’ve got all the roles and nigiri sushi, as usual, along with bowls of noodles and rice, but there are also a few Korean dishes on the menu like the ramen and soup. I had a side of kimchi every time we came here.

Mazahr Lebanese Kitchen

To be fair, Mazahr Lebanese Kitchen is on West 11th Avenue, just off Granville. This could be some of the best tea I’ve ever had, but that’s often my experience when it comes to Middle Eastern cuisine. The tea is just as good as the food. I had the house tea, Mint with Mazahr, and it was exceptional.

I get falafel because I love chickpeas in all their forms. The atmosphere is busy but also serene, which is a nice combination for a quiet dinner and decent conversation. There’s an outdoor patio but it’s more popular during lunchtime, when it’s still light out.

Honorable Mentions

Shopper’s Drug Mart

A much a Canadian icon as Tim Horton’s or Bombardier, Shopper’s might have started out as a pharmacy but is now a grocery store, department store, and post office. This one has a decent snack section, complete with all the crazy chip flavours I know and love from back in the day. Despite rumors of certain brands going enshittified, so I’m pleasantly surprised that Lay’s Salt & Vinegar still has the same old bite.

Granville Park

There’s a whole city block of green space here if you count the adjacent Lawn Bowling Club and the Vancouver Tennis Club. This part is designed for kids and dogs, with playgrounds for each group, plus a big open field with a couple of picnic tables. The dog park is off-leash and has a variety of seating, greenery, and features to keep Fido busy. It’s a lot of fun to watch the mix of rescue mutt and expensive purebred pets cavort together over wood chips and underneath lush saplings.

Measuring Marijuana

Posted by Kristy Ambrose

We’ve all heard expressions like dime bag, eyeballing it, or pre-rolls, but what does that actually mean? How much is a gram of marijuana? How much is an ounce of weed? Not only how much should I spend, but what does that amount actually look like?

Now that cannabis consumption has become a part of the economic mainstream as a publicly traded commodity, we can stop talking in funny codes and obscure slang words to express amounts and prices. If you can buy weed stocks, you can follow your investment using common weights and measurements.

These are questions that consumers ask about the products they buy and it’s time to provide some answers.

How Much THC? Strong, Medium, and Mild Levels

These days there are so many different types of cannabis available in just as many forms that weight is no longer the deciding factor. THC level or growing method, like organic versus hydrophobic, can also determine the price. Cannabis laws still vary widely between countries and regions, which also affects prices.

An interesting example of how this works is the difference between the price of cannabis grown indoors instead of outdoors. Indoor grows were developed as a response to the need for stealth and secrecy, and take considerably more capital and labour to construct. Therefore a type of cannabis grown indoors is generally priced at a more expensive level than outdoor strains of the same weight.

Growing a crop using hydroponics results in a crop with a higher than average THC level. Strains of marijuana with a higher THC level are more costly than weaker strains. Concentrates are sold in smaller units but are often much stronger than buds or edible products.

Another new factor today is the growing popularity of CBD. When buying for CBD content as opposed to THC levels, prices tend to change. CBD is still a fairly new phenomenon and is almost exclusively placed in the medical marijuana category. It is often specially produced by only a few dedicated growers.

How Much Cannabis Is That, Anyway?

Marijuana is typically sold according to weight, in either grams or ounces. We’re not sure how the metric units got mixed up with imperial ones, but it might have something to do with the size of a kilogram.

Measurements based on smaller, Imperial standards are more portable. A full kilo, which is 1000 grams or more than two pounds, might work out to a small hay bale. Remember, this is when your smuggling ability was a factor in buying and selling cannabis. Now that you can buy legal marijuana of course, it’s a different ball game.

Today, weights follow the same tradition. Cannabis sales start in grams and them move into Imperial measurements. You’ve heard this expressions before. Each of them refers to an ounce as the default unit of measurement.

There are several different ways to determine how much a gram is if you’re not comfortable making an estimate and you don’t have a scale. Several free apps are available that can turn your smartphone into a scale so you don’t have to guess anymore.

Check the internet for simple scales you can build at home with little more than a few common pieces of office supplies. Another handy life hack is to keep in mind that a cap from a water or soda bottle typically holds a gram of weed.

Here’s a short glossary of the most common expressions.

Gram. The smallest unit of measurement in which cannabis is sold. Think of two small joints or one fairly fat one, and that’s how much a gram of marijuana looks like.

2 grams. Dispensaries that sell cannabis online in Canada and the United States measure in two gram units. Actual weed prices vary from province to province and state to state.

Eighth. Literally an eighth of an ounce, or three and a half grams. This size is very commonly purchased and the media often uses the “eighth” and the gram measurement as a frame of reference.

Quarter. Seven grams, or a quarter of an ounce. If you cook with your cannabis, you are likely buy in larger sizes like “the quarter”. This is the minimum amount required to start cooking budder and other cannabis-infused recipes.

Half. Also referred to as a “half O”, this size is often associated with both cooking and making concentrates. You’re getting roughly fourteen grams at this bulk-buying stage.

Ounce. There are 28 grams in an ounce, which is the same amount required in most budder cooking recipes. If you like making budder or infusing oils and other beverages with cannabis, buying in this size is a good investment. Oddly enough, we’ve found the question of how many grams in an ounce of weed answered incorrectly all over the internet!

Quarter Pound. 113 grams of marijuana is ideal for a long term supply for conventional smoking accessories. It’s also a good amount for infusing food and beverages and making smaller amounts of concentrates. You should be getting into serious discount territory at this point in the ball game.

Half Pound. You’ll hear this unit referred to as a “half pounder”. 226 grams of cannabis is a healthy supply but be prepared to pay in excess of $1,000.

Pound. 455 grams of cannabis is just as impressive as it sounds. Outside of medical use, making concentrates, or bulk purchases, marijuana is rarely sold in this size.

Times have changed and there’s no longer a need to buy pre-weighed bags from your friendly neighborhood dealer. Virtually all dispensaries will sell by the gram in any unit you choose but this can vary widely depending on your location.

Do I Buy an Ounce or a Gram to Smoke, Eat, or Vape?

Let’s not forget about other pertinent concerns. Everyone has a different method of consumption, and that is a deciding factor in the amount of pot you buy. For example, does a vaporizer consume the same amount of marijuana as a conventional pipe?

The following guides are based on average sizes as opposed to party or fun sizes. Certain guidelines are applicable across a variety of smoking traditions. Evenly ground cannabis burns better and lasts longer than weed that is crumbled by hand.

A gram of a pure Kush strain might be more expensive, but it will get you higher faster than an eighth of more common cannabis flowers.

Joints and Blunts

A joint is rolled using an average sized paper and is contains about 1 gram of cannabis, or a simple dime bag. A blunt is essentially a cannabis cigar, rolled either using a hollowed out store-bought cigar or a separate casing like a tobacco leaf.

Blunts tend to be at least twice as heavy, containing a minimum of 2 grams of cannabis, but as they are often hand-rolled to an individual’s taste this can vary.

Pipes, Bongs, and Waterpipes

This covers such an incredible variety of smoking accessories and paraphernalia. Some pipes are built for show while others are meticulously designed to be the best handheld smoking devices in existence.

Standard pipes and bongs are built with a bowl to hold a gram of cannabis, but there are literally thousands of different styles. Water pipes are intended to accommodate several people and have larger than average bowls.

Vaporizers

What was a fairly complicated, expensive, and cumbersome tabletop machine two decades ago now comes in various streamlined versions. You can still buy an old-school, multi-person vaporizer that fits in with your living room like an appliance, or you can invest in a discreet and efficient hand held version.

Advances in vaporizer technology offer you both options and everything in between. If you can afford a vaporizer upfront, this is the ideal method for getting the most from the smallest amount of weed.

Rules of Thumb for determining an Ounce of Marijuana and How Many Grams of Marijuana are Needed

At last, the time has come when marijuana consumers can use conventional weights and measurements. Not only how much should it cost, but how much marijuana do you need, for what and why?

How much is a gram of cannabis? Is it enough to pack the bowl for the night? Just remember our lid of a pop bottle reference.

How much is an ounce of marijuana? Can I make a week’s worth of cannabis budder with that amount? Depending how much cannabis budder you like to use… probably!

Or – if you’re more creative – would half a pound be enough for Christmas stocking stuffers in eighths and quarters for everyone on my list? Depends how many stockings you are stuffing. As long as mine is one of them – I’d say go for it!

How to Make Stovetop Cannabutter

Posted by Kristy Ambrose

It’s easy to learn how to roll a joint or pack a bowl, but how do you make pot infused edibles?

Edibles are still a bit of a mystery even to experienced cannabis users.

Everyone has heard a story about “space cakes” or “hash brownies.” The field is opening up to include candy and sweets, infused oil and pastry. The most renowned and varied recipes for cannabis-infused edibles are for pot cookies.

Why Marijuana Edibles?

Marijuana edibles shouldn’t be confused with hemp products, which are not psychoactive. Hemp is part of the cannabis plant family but is an industrial product used for textiles, food, even building materials.

People choose to consume their cannabis in edible form for a wide variety of reasons. Edibles present a healthier alternative to smoking, and they have a different effect than other types of consumption.

Now that we can buy legally, it’s easier to do research and use exact measurements – of both product and the THC level, when it comes to cooking with cannabis. How strong was the marijuana, and how much of it had been used? You can also determine the dosage from the strength of the “cannabutter” that was used in the ingredients.

DIY Pot Cookies

There are several reasons that consumers of marijuana edibles would choose pot cookies. The “baked goods” category of marijuana treats contains some of the easiest and dependable recipes for fun snacks and deserts we all recognize.

There’s plenty of variety for anyone who gets bored with one type of cookie or has specific dietary needs that are difficult to buy or find commercially.

For cooks or bakers, it’s a fun and easy way to infuse cannabis into your career or hobby.

Cookie recipes are simple, with ingredients that are easy to find and mistakes that are easy to cover up or correct.

Marijuana treats in cookie form are commonly one dose per cookie. The phrase, “take half and see how you feel” is usually associated with pot cookie consumption.

Pot Cookies and “Cannabutter”

“Budder” or “cannabutter” are the nicknames you’ll hear associated with the product that comes from infusing butter with marijuana. This is the classic combination of butter and cannabis.

The marijuana concentrate that started the modern “dabs” trend was also given the name “budder” but the two are nothing alike and shouldn’t be used interchangeably. That “budder” that you see on the menu at your local “Compassion Club” isn’t the same thing you use to make pot cookies.

If you’re going to learn how to make pot cookies, it is essential that you get to know this indispensable ingredient. Budder is easy to make. It can be made from the leaves and stem of the plant but is much more potent if the flowers are used. It’s also the base ingredient for several other marijuana treats.

Cooking with budder has several advantages. Those who regularly bake or cook with cannabis often use cannabutter for the sake of convenience. You can substitute it for regular butter in virtually any recipe.

Any oil or lipid can be infused with cannabis if you use the right technique. Butter is one of the most common household lipids. Not everyone has a bottle of olive or coconut oil on their shelf, but you can find all the butter you need at corner store.

The Art of Decarboxylation

Also shortened to “decarbing” The process is fairly straightforward. Butter is melted, infused with some cannabis, then cooled into a solid state to be used later.

The stovetop method requires more vigilance than the more popular oven method. Beginners should cook with strains of less than 10% THC, not only so they waste less valuable bud if they make mistakes but because novices often misjudge potency and dosage. Understanding what sort of sativa strains or indica strains you’re dealing with is also key.

Every recipe for cannabutter is exactly the same and requires only two ingredients, unsalted or salted butter (this depends entirely on preference) and dried, ground cannabis flowers. Vegans can use alternatives such as margarine or coconut oil and get the same result.

Melt the butter in a saucepan once it simmers, add the portion of cannabis. The ratio of one cup butter, to half a cup of cannabis is the general rule of thumb, and the mixture needs to be stirred at least every ten minutes on a medium-to-low heat. It’s a fairly labor-intensive activity that requires your strict attention. (Note: try not to sample the base product before making pot cookies.)

When it’s ready depends on how much you’re making. You need patience, as the process takes at least 40 minutes in most cases. A good guideline is to wait until the budder turns a dense, waxy, green color. The mixture needs to be strained of plant matter before being used, but at that point you can use it in melted form or put it in a mold and return it to the fridge for later.

If you want stronger, more concentrated budder, use more cannabis and less butter. For a less potent mixture, use more butter and less marijuana. Strength varies depending on the strain of cannabis you use, too.

What Kind of Pot Cookies Should You Make?

The crowd pleasers like sugar cookies, chocolate chip, peanut butter all require regular butter that you can substitute with cannabutter.

There are some rare entries or more complex cookie recipes for more ambitious bakers if you want to push the limits when it comes to marijuana cuisine. Make infused oils or drinks, or learn how to cook with cannabis extracts like hash.

This niche category of the vast and delicious universe of baked goods has a myriad of variations. Even if you’re not into edibles, it’s good to know how to make pot cookies and their base component, cannabutter.

Great with coffee, a healthy snack or with colorful icing, there’s a pot cookie out there for everyone. Once you know how to make the secret ingredient, cannabutter, you can make virtually any kind you want.

People have been making marijuana treats for as long as they have smoked and grown the kind herb. Recipes and ideas for infusing food with cannabis are ancient and still used throughout the world. That includes the colorful and varied world of pot cookies.

The Emerald Circle

Posted by Kristy Ambrose

Full disclosure – I wrote this almost 20 years ago now, and even though cannabis is now legal in several US states and on a federal level in Canada and Germany, it’s more important than ever that the Drug War ends.

The current US administration is filled with alcoholics that are using the Drug War as a pretext to kill people of color. Those boats getting blown up in the Eastern Pacific aren’t too far away from my own doorstep.

How many people has the White Empire killed using fentanyl as an excuse? Meanwhile, the Sackler family walked free after agreeing to a meager settlement.

END THE DRUG WAR NOW.

The Emerald Circle

It’s been 79 years since the Marijuana Tax Act was passed in 1937. Recent decades have shown some progress and finally, the facade of Prohibition is starting to fall apart.

The Canadian legalization process took decades but was ultimately successful and recent rulings in Mexico have opened up the road to nationwide legalization. Success in the United States has mostly been at the state level. Efforts of anti-Prohibitionists to counter this alarmist and misguided social policy with facts, studies and logic are finally reaching the federal government.

As legalization progresses, what is the next step? Further education of the general public? Decades of misinformation have taken their toll. “Reefer Madness” continues to be a stumbling block to the commercial success of cannabis.

Proponents of cannabis legalization are heavily focused on the results of their efforts. The movement focuses almost exclusively on a result, the legalization of marijuana.

Instead of trying to break or damage the Prohibitionist ideology, the legalization movement should build another ideological system. This competing system will empower marginalized groups by demonstrating what they all have in common and appeal to even the most reefer-mad voter.

The Why, Not the What

Logically, the lies that prop up Prohibition should be successfully countered by the truth and hard facts.

Prohibitionists don’t care about the truth or the facts. They continue to ignore them. What exactly do they care about, and why?

Prohibition advocates are more focused on the efforts they make to achieve the result. This is why they are not affected by the logical assertion that “Prohibition simply doesn’t work.” The results of Prohibition are not as important as the efforts made towards achieving that end.

It is the effort that drives the Prohibitionists, not the result, and this effort relies heavily on a system of belief that will never be swayed by facts.

“It’s not WHAT they do. It’s WHY they do it,” Simon Sinek asserts in his TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action.

This lecture is more about marketing and product positioning than civil disobedience, but Sinek uses inspirational civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to help illustrate his point. His “Golden Circle” is constructed based on what motivates people and why.

It’s the why that’s important, not the what.

When a Prohibitionist sees the green marijuana leaf, it is not a literal depiction of a plant to their eyes. It is a symbol their worst fears. Some common, non-specific fears are fairly obvious, like the fear of terrorism or poverty.

Other more intangible fears include the fear of competing ideologies. For example, environmentalism stresses a world that is not human-centric. Socialist policies stress the good of the group as opposed to the individual.

The leaders of the Prohibitionist movement insist that marijuana is the source of many, if not all, of these real or imagined threats. The anti-Prohibitionists have this backwards. Most of the dialogue of the anti-prohibitionist starts with the “what” – the legalization of marijuana, which is the ultimate goal.

But why are we doing it?

The Circle Template

We can view the Prohibitionist ideology of fear in a simplified form using Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” diagram as a template.

Why – to protect you from all the bad stuff in the world (crime, poverty, terrorism, sickness, sin),

How – by doing everything we can to eradicate this plant, which is the source of your horrors, and punish anyone who touches it,

What – marijuana prohibition.

As overblown as the “why” claim sounds, it succeeds by appealing to the most basic and childlike needs and desires of every human being alive. It simplifies complex problems and blames a single, outside entity for them, real or perceived.

The “why” encompasses the purpose, cause and beliefs of the Prohibitionists.

Because without marijuana Prohibition protecting us, terrorists and criminals would swarm over society in days, leaving us completely powerless. We just can’t take that chance!

Another fringe benefit of the fear factor is that it gives the Prohibitionists the impression that they are constantly being attacked by these malevolent and insidious forces, which justifies their aggression against their opponents as a form of self-defence. This is how Prohibitionists justify harassing otherwise harmless people who are clearly not criminals.

This also explains why a Prohibitionist can rationalize their own personal pot use. The effort to eradicate marijuana certainly won’t include them. They don’t include themselves in any of the groups typically associated with marijuana (liberals or “leftists”).

The Legalization Movement needs its own Golden Circle. We need to recognize and use our own powers rather than work within the framework the Prohibitionists have built.

Breaking Prohibition doesn’t mean only the legalization of cannabis. It will empower the entire human race. And that means everyone. Inclusion is important because Division is one of the Prohibitionists’ favorite weapons (they keep it right next to Fear in the Authoritarian toolbox).

Emerald Circles

The Emerald Circle is about inclusion, improving the quality of life of everyone, and freedom from fear, anger and exclusion. Historic context is also important, as the Prohibitionists bristle at the thought of a world that existed without them.

In a very broad sense, this is one all encompassing form the Emerald Circle can take.

Why – to improve the quality of life for every single human being on this earth,

How – reducing and even eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels by discovering and developing alternative fuel resources, eliminating corruption in police and government, saving millions in taxes and fees and delays in our court processes related to overcrowding and lack of funds, etc. (pretty much everything that farmers, doctors, economists and hippies been trying to say for the past 90 years),

What – LEGALIZE IT.

The Emerald Circle is just as supernatural in its claims as the Prohibitionist counterpart. However, every one of these things is possible with legalization even if in a tangential way.

It makes more sense to break down the Emerald Circle into specific categories and apply it to different ideologies. For example, for those concerned with factory farming or GMO seeds and crops the Emerald Circle would focus on a different aspect of Prohibition.

Why – improve food production, availability, affordability and quality,

How – lift the restrictions against hardy and versatile crops that farmers are currently not allowed to seed, grow or cultivate,

What – LEGALIZE IT.

The message is a positive one that focuses on inclusion, empowerment and appeals to those that are concerned about the quality of their food or, on a more extreme level, afraid of starvation. Groups like Monsanto use the fear of starvation and unemployment to coerce both farmers and consumers into accepting factory farming and genetically modified crops. Nor does Monsanto allow its customers to choose what they grow.

The message of the Emerald Circle is diametrically opposed to the one that Monsanto and their supporters use. It empowers instead of bullies. It encourages self-sufficiency as opposed to relying on corporations to curate our food supply.

Here’s another example that demonstrates the wider appeal of this philosophy.

Why – lessen the costs associated with health care while at the same time improving quality and delivery,

How – by allowing patients to use natural and holistic alternatives that are scientifically proven to be effective against a variety of ailments and have been quality produced and tested by experts,

What – LEGALIZE IT.

Concerns about the cost and delivery of health care are serious issues, so this appeals to anyone. This includes any and all patients (remember, inclusion is important) but can be applied to chronic patients that also need expensive prescriptions over long periods of time.

In this instance, we include anyone who is concerned about the costs in a general sense as well as the side-effects of prescription drugs that are distributed via the health care system and the ulterior motives of the companies that produce them. Government and insurance companies play on the fear of removing health care entirely when they insist that they must make cutbacks or increase premiums under the guise on improving or even saving the system from total destruction, depriving the frightened and vulnerable of a world entirely without health care.

The Emerald Circle combats this feeling of helplessness and empowers patients and doctors alike instead of threatening them.

One more example and perhaps the most poignant considering the driving forces in North American politics these days.

Why – eliminate our dependence on petroleum,

How – by researching and developing alternative forms of clean and renewable energy sources of plastic and other petroleum based products,

What – LEGALIZE IT.

This includes hemp, of course, but can apply to virtually any alternative fuel source. Hemp is an option for replacing petroleum either as a bio-diesel or an ethanol fuel.

This counters the alarmist claims of petroleum advocates who claim that without oil we would all have to go back to living in caves, appealing to the basic human fears of poverty or material loss. The general understanding is that petroleum is so important that we simply can’t live without it, even though we did so and thrived as a society and species for many thousands of years.

Just like the Prohibitionists who insist that making plants illegal is a normal practice and is common throughout human history when the contrary is true.

Fighting this false ideology that has been the Prohibitionist gravy train for almost a century by trying to challenge it with facts may seem like the obvious answer but it has proven to be futile. A competing ideology, one that uses the opposite tactics (inclusion where there is division, empowerment where there is helplessness) and appeals to positive human emotions instead of negative ones can succeed where raw data has failed.

The Emerald Circle is not a marketing ploy or a psychological trick. It is the natural evolution of normalizing cannabis. The Legalization Movement needs to remind humanity of the positive things they were capable of, and will be again, in a world without cannabis Prohibition.

References

Hemp Ethanol Saves the World: http://hemp-ethanol.blogspot.com/2008/01/economics-history-and-politics-of-hemp.html

“Mexico: February 22 Recreational Marijuana is Legal.” The Mazatlán Post. Last modified February 17, 2019. https://themazatlanpost.com/2019/02/16/mexico-february-22-recreational-marijuana-is-legal/.

Simon Sinek, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

“The Emperor’s Wears No Clothes”, Jack Herer, AH HA Publishing, 2007.

US Legal, Inc. “Marijuana Tax Act Law and Legal Definition.” Legal Definitions Legal Terms Dictionary | USLegal, Inc. Accessed April 16, 2019. https://definitions.uslegal.com/m/marijuana-tax-act%20/.

The Emerald Circle

Posted by Kristy Ambrose

Galileo expected the telescope to quickly make believers in the Copernican system out of all educated persons, but he was disappointed. He expressed his discouragement in a 1610 letter to Kepler: “My dear Kepler, what would you say of the learned here, who, replete with the pertinacity of the asp, have steadfastly refused to cast a glance through the telescope? What shall we make of this? Shall we laugh, or shall we cry?” It became clear that the Copernican theory had its enemies.

…

In the 1633 trial of Galileo Galilei, two worlds come into cosmic conflict. Galileo’s world of science and humanism collides with the world of Scholasticism and absolutism that held power in the Catholic Church. The result is a tragedy that marks both the end of Galileo’s liberty and the end of the Italian Renaissance.

From: law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/galileo/galileoaccount.html

Advocates of marijuana legalization are feeling frustrated these days. For almost a century, marijuana prohibition has endured despite every effort of the anti-Prohibitionists to counter this alarmist and misguided social policy with facts, studies and logic. As anti-Prohibitionists as fond of pointing out to their opponents, it’s insane to do the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result. So, if proponents of legalization would take their own advice, what is the next step in what seems to be a perpetually losing battle?

“Legalizers” (for lack of a better word at this point) are heavily focused on the results of their efforts. The legalization movement focuses almost exclusively on a result, the legalization of marijuana. Instead of trying to break or damage the Prohibitionist ideology, the legalization movement should build another ideological system to compete. This competing system will empower more marginalized groups by demonstrating what they all have in common with anti-Prohibitionists and appeal to the last of the most reefer-mad voter.

Logically, the lies that prop up Prohibition should be successfully countered by the truth and hard facts, but this is an oversimplification. Prohibitionists don’t care about the truth or the facts. What exactly do they care about, and why? Prohibition advocates are more focused on the efforts they make to achieve the result. This is why they are not affected by the logical assertion that “Prohibition simply doesn’t work.” The results of the Prohibition are not as important as the efforts made towards achieving that end. It is the effort that drives the Prohibitionists, not the result, and this effort relies heavily on a system of belief that will never be swayed by facts.

Every lie the Prohibitionists tell themselves and the rest of us about pot aren’t really about pot at all. Every myth about cannabis for recreation or medicine that Prohibitionists use is connected to a bigger picture, and ideology driven by very basic human emotions, the greatest of which is fear. Fear is the endless well from which Prohibition drinks, and this is one way of explaining why the Prohibitionists are conditioned to react with screaming hysteria in the face of even the calmest resolve.

When a Prohibitionist sees the green marijuana leaf, it is not a literal depiction of a plant to their eyes. It is a symbol of all their worst fears, common fears that are shared by most people. Some common, non-specific fears are fairly obvious, like the fear of terrorism or poverty. Other more intangible fears include the fear of competing ideologies (ie, environmentalism, which stresses a world that is not human-centric) or self-knowledge (which can be psychologically painful). The leaders of the Prohibitionist movement insist that marijuana is the source of many, if not all, of these real or imagined threats.

“It’s not WHAT they do. It’s WHY they do it.” So says Simon Sinek in his video, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” This lecture is more about marketing and product positioning than civil disobedience, but Sinek uses inspirational civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to help illustrate his point. His “Golden Circle” is constructed based on what motivates people and why. The anti-Prohibitionists have this backwards. Most of the dialogue of the Legalizers starts with the “what” – the legalization of marijuana, the ultimate goal. But how do we get there, and why should anyone care?

We can view the Prohibitionist ideology of fear in a simplified form using Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” diagram as a template.

Why – to protect you from all the bad stuff in the world (crime, poverty, terrorism, sickness, sin)

How – by doing everything we can to eradicate this plant, which is the source of your horrors, and punish anyone who touches it

What – marijuana prohibition

As overblown as the “why” claim sounds, promising all but a chicken in every pot and eternal youth, it succeeds by appealing to the most basic and childlike needs and desires of every human being alive. It also simplifies complex problems and blames a single, outside entity for them, real or perceived, and allows Prohibitionists to absolve themselves of any personal responsibility in their actions to rid the world of this vermin.

Another fringe benefit of the fear factor is that it gives the Prohibitionists the impression that they are constantly being attacked by these malevolent and insidious forces, which justifies their aggression against their opponents as a form of self-defence. This is how Prohibitionists justify jailing otherwise harmless people who are clearly not criminals, like journalists or protesters. This then spills over into totally fictional threats like “the gay agenda” or “the war on Christmas.”

The “why” encompasses the purpose, cause and beliefs of the Prohibitionists. Without marijuana Prohibition protecting society, terrorists and criminals would swarm over society in days, leaving us completely powerless. We just can’t take that chance! This also explains why a Prohibitionist can rationalize their own personal pot use; they don’t include themselves in any of the groups typically associated with marijuana (e.g., environmentalists, “hippies”, youth) so the effort to eradicate marijuana certainly won’t include them.

The Legalization movement needs their own golden circle. We need to recognize and use our own powers rather than work within the framework the Prohibitionists have built. Breaking Prohibition won’t just result in the legalization of cannabis. It will empower the entire human race. And that means everyone. Inclusion is important for the Legalizers because Division is one of the Prohibitionists’ favorite weapons (they keep it right next to Fear in the Authoritarian toolbox).

In a very broad sense, the Emerald Circle can look like this…

Why – to improve the quality of life for every single human being on this earth,

How – reducing and even eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels by discovering and developing alternative fuel resources, eliminating corruption in police and government, saving millions in taxes and fees and delays in our court processes related to overcrowding and lack of funds, etc. (pretty much everything that farmers, doctors, economists and hippies been trying to say for the past 90 years),

What – LEGALIZE IT.

The Emerald Circle is just as supernatural in its claims as the Prohibitionist counterpart, and therefore equally unbelievable in nature. It makes more sense, especially if the Legalizers expect to include everyone, to break down the Emerald Circle into specific categories and apply it to different ideologies. For example, for those concerned with factory farming or GMO seeds and crops….

Why – improve food production, availability, affordability and quality,

How – lift the restrictions against hardy and versatile crops that farmers are currently not allowed to seed, grow or cultivate,

What – LEGALIZE IT.

The connections to the bigger picture here include industrialized hemp as well as any seed that has been genetically modified or restricted for farmers to use, like certain types of corn. The Legalizers stand firmly in solidarity with another group, one that opposes genetically modified crops and factory farming but has the same ideological goals. The message is a positive one that focuses on inclusion, empowerment and appeals to those that are concerned about the quality of their food or, on a more extreme level, afraid of starvation. Groups like Monsanto use the fear of starvation and unemployment to coerce both farmers and consumers into accepting factory farming and genetically modified crops. Nor does Monsanto allow its customers to choose what they grow. The message of the Emerald Circle is diametrically opposed to the one that Monsanto (and their supporters) uses. It empowers instead of bullies. It encourages self-sufficiency as opposed to relying on corporations to curate our food supply.

Another example that demonstrates the wider appeal of this philosophy;

Why – lessen the costs associated with health care while at the same time improving the quality and delivery,

How – by allowing patients to use natural and holistic alternatives that are scientifically proven to be effective against a variety of ailments and have been quality produced and tested by experts,

What – LEGALIZE IT.

Concerns about the cost and delivery of health care are serious issues, so anything that can appeal to anyone. This includes any and all patients (remember, inclusion is important) but can be applied to chronic patients that also need expensive prescriptions over long periods of time. In this instance we not only include Legalizers, but also anyone who is concerned about the costs in a general sense as well as the side-effects of prescription drugs that are distributed via the health care system and the ulterior motives of the companies that produce them. Government and insurance companies play on the fear of removing health care entirely when they insist that they must make cutbacks or increase premiums under the guise on improving or even saving the system from total destruction, depriving the frightened and vulnerable of a world entirely without health care. The Emerald Circle combats this feeling of helplessness and empowers patients and doctors alike instead of threatening them.

One more example and perhaps the most poignant considering the driving forces in North American politics these days;

Why – eliminate our dependence on petroleum,

How – by researching and developing alternative forms of clean and renewable energy sources of plastic and other petroleum based products,

What – LEGALIZE IT.

This includes hemp, of course, but can apply to virtually any alternative fuel source. However, no plant is more versatile than hemp when it comes to replacing petroleum, either as a bio-diesel or an ethanol fuel. In fact, Prohibition as we now know it began when the owners and investors of the petroleum industry (which was barely out of its infancy by the 1920s) realized they couldn’t complete with hemp on a level playing field, and played on the racial and moral fears of a naive population to demonize its close cousin, cannabis. This counters the alarmist claim of tar sands “fanbois” who claim that without petroleum we would all have to go back to living in caves, appealing to the basic human fears of poverty or material loss and the general understanding that petroleum is so important that we simply can’t live without it, even though we did so, and thrived as a society and species, for many thousands of years. Just like the Prohibitionists who insist that making plants illegal is a normal practice and is common throughout human history when the contrary is true.

The Emerald Circle is not a marketing ploy or a psychological trick. It is the natural evolution of the anti-Prohibitionist movement. The Legalizers need to remind the human race of the positive things they were capable of, and will be again, in a world without Prohibition.

References

Hemp Ethanol Saves the World: http://hemp-ethanol.blogspot.com/2008/01/economics-history-and-politics-of-hemp.html

Simon Sinek, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

“The Emperor’s Wears No Clothes”, Jack Herer, AH HA Publishing, 2007.