ISMOKEHERB.CO.UK | ISMOKE MAGAZINE
Transcription
ISMOKEHERB.CO.UK | ISMOKE MAGAZINE
ISMOKE ISMOKEHERB.CO.UK | ISMOKE MAGAZINE - THE VOICE FOR CANNABIS USERS NATIONWIDE T E G I www.igethigh.co.uk H IG H The Daily Mug www.dailymug.co.uk www.ismokeherb.co.uk EDITORIAL | NUFF SAID Welcome to the third issue of ISMOKE Magazine. The ISMOKE project started August 8th 2010 when I created ISMOKE.TK and began posting about my favourite herb as ‘Nuff Said’. I originally just intended to post about cannabis-related stories and media I found on the internet, but my blog soon grew into much more. As I read and researched cannabis in great depth I realised the injustice of its prohibition when it has no recorded fatalities in human history and is also a medicine of great use to thousands of people in Britain, possibly millions around the world. I began posting my views and opinions, actively protesting against cannabis prohibition in the UK. I made friends with other Cannabis activists such as Peter Reynolds, Jason Reed and Cure Ukay, and joined them in the fight to raise awareness for the cannabis campaign. ISMOKE.TK developed into ISMOKEHERB.CO.UK, now getting thousands of new viewers from all over the world each week. On the site you can find regular posts on cannabis, photos, strain reviews, stoner music, important videos, stoner comedy and a forum, as well as an archive of informative cannabis blog posts going back to last August. ISMOKE | 4 Editor Nuff Said Contributors Nuff Said Jason Reed Peter Reynolds Cure Ukay Clark French Alun Buffry Chris O’Keefe Rhys Morgan Cockroach Kain Derrick Elro ISMOKE Magazine was launched from the success of ISMOKEHERB and with help from my featured authors, without whom the magazine would not have been possible. Each issue is growing with new writers sharing their views on cannabis and how the subject is treated in our society and more and more features aiming to teach you everything you need to know about this benevolent herb. Other websites introduced to the ISMOKE Network last month are dailymug.co.uk and igethigh. co.uk. So sit back and chill while you read through the magazine. I hope you enjoy it – a lot of work goes into every single issue. If you have any suggestions for how I can improve it in any way, or would like to write an article, please email me: nuff@ismokeherb.co.uk So what do I have planned for the future? I hope to keep growing ISMOKE and raising awareness to fight cannabis probitition. Soon you’ll be able to purchase ISMOKE Grinders and other smoking paraphernalia, and I’ll use the funds to develop ISMOKE even further. – Watch this space! Keep Toking Contact nuff@ismokeherb.co.uk www.ismokeherb.co.uk www.facebook.com/imnuffsaid If you have any queries about ISMOKE Magazine, or would like to place an advertisement, please contact nuff@ismokeherb.co.uk Image disclaimer: I have tried to give credit for photographs used. If I have missed anything please let me know - This is promotional material not intended to breach any copyright laws. PAGE 04-05 | EDITORIAL By Nuff Said PAGE 09-11 | Cannabis in the News PAGE 12-15 | 420 By Nuff Said PAGE 16-19 | WHY ALCOHOL IS LEGAL AND CANNABIS STILL ISN’T By Rhys Morgan PAGE 20-23 | AN INTERVIEW WITH KAIN DERRICK PAGE 24-33 | STRAIN REVIEWS PAGE 34-41 | BUD REPORT PAGE 42-47 | SSSH! DON’T TELL ANYONE By Jason Reed PAGE 48-49 | THE FUTURE OF CANNABIS IN BRITAIN IS CLEAR By Peter Reynolds PAGE 50-53 | MARIJUANA MYTHS By Cure Ukay ISMOKE MAGAZINE PAGE 54-55 | YOU LOVELY STONERS PAGE 56-59 | MUSIC: ISMOKE INTERVIEWS ELRO RAPS PAGE 60-61 | CANNABIS: LEGALISE & UTILISE PETITION PAGE 62-63 | MILLION MARIJUANA MARCH PAGE 66-68 | ISMOKE REVIEWS: Vaporiser Special PAGE 71 | HOW TO BECOME A MEDICAL CANNABIS GROWER IN COLARADO By Chris O’Keefe PAGE 72-73 | CANNABIS FEAR FACTOR: STOP THE LIES, REEFER MADNESS By Denton Ramsay PAGE 74-77 | A WORD FROM COCKROACH PAGE 78-79 | CLEAR: A ONE ISSUE PARTY? By Clark French TABLE OF CONTENTS I SMOKE HERB Cannabis FORUM ismokeherb.co.uk/forum CANNABIS IN THE NEWS Each issue we will feature a Cannabis in the News section, split into three parts - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly where we will give a brief summary of how and why cannabis has been in the news, and whether it has been given a fair portrayal. If you have any news-worthy stories for the next issue, please email them to nuff@ismokeherb.co.uk the good: Independent Irish MP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan forced to stop smoking Cannabis in Ireland but continues to fight for its legalisation. grow cannabis. An astonishing 74% (3107 people) said he was right to grow it, whilst only 11% (406 people) said that he was wrong. 7% (302 people) said they don’t care, and 5% (221 people) that he shouldn’t have admitted it. So these figures show that 86% of the people that voted in one way or another are not opposed to Ming smoking or growing cannabis. Please join the We Support TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan group on facebook here: http://on.fb.me/gp0rEn Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan is a independent Irish MP who actually speaks up against cannabis prohibition. The Wikipedia article on Ming states that he recently won a seat in the 31st Dáil in the Roscommon–South Leitrim constituency in the 2011 general election. The good news section of the site was of course going to be about Ming admitting that he smokes cannabis and even grows his own, so as not to fund organised crime. But developments have meant that Ming has had to give up smoking in Ireland, to remain an MP and keep his family safe. It is good, however, that he will continue to fight its prohibition – something we need more people, especially MPs to start doing in Britain. It seems as if we are still in the dark ages when it comes to cannabis. How long will it be before our ‘Great’ Nation realises the potential benefits, both economically and medically of this wonderful plant? TheJournal.ie recently ran a poll asking whether people thought that Ming should be allowed to ISMOKE | 9 CANNABIS IN THE NEWS the bad: Man Gets 1 Year Prison Sentence After Being Beaten Up and Forced By A Gang To Grow Cannabis Read the article: http://bit.ly/hOsOgZ The Star has recently reported on a man who has been jailed for 12 Months after being forced to grow cannabis for ‘hardened criminals’. The article states that the man had previously been growing cannabis for himself before getting involved with the people who forced him to grow it on a larger scale. His stepfather, who turned a blind eye because of the situation, also got a sentence, although it was suspended by the judge. The Star states: “They were well developed plants of the skunk variety. The yield was in the region of 4kg with an estimated street value of £40,000… Mr Gould said Harris, aged 46, of Atlantic Crescent, Low Edges, became aware of what was going on but turned a blind eye. Rebecca Stevens, defending him said: “He found himself in an impossible situation. He was terrified having seen the injuries that his son suffered at the hands of those who were responsible for this and genuinely believed his son’s life would be in danger.” Renshaw, of Low Edges Crescent, Low Edges, was jailed for a year and his stepdad received a year suspended for two years and 200 hours of community service” It seems like the judge wanted to make an example of the situation. At the end of the article, The Star quotes that Judge Roger Keen QC said: “Word has to go out ISMOKE | 10 that this sort of offending will not be tolerated.” I feel that the sentencing is pretty steep, especially considering that the grower was forced to do so – hopefully Britain will wake up and realise that inflicting sentences such as this won’t do much good for our Nation. The police should be helping him get out of his situation rather than criminalising him and his father, and locking him in prison for something he was apparently forced to do. CANNABIS IN THE NEWS the ugly: The Sun Sprouts Propaganda Which Would Make The Daily Mail Proud I saw the front page of the Sun on 29th March and thought I’d make a rare allowance and buy a copy to read what it had to say on the matter of judges wanting to abolish prison sentences for people caught with less than a certain amount of drugs in an article entitled “Off Their Heads”. garbage. The article itself doesn’t focus on cannabis specifically, but the picture states enough misinformation to instill fear into the yet undecided and harm our plight to end cannabis prohibition. If only we could get everybody in the country to look at the real facts and figures surrounding cannabis. That would do unimaginable good for our cause. Fat chance of a tabloid ever publishing such an article though, ay? The article concentrates on plans to focus on larger dealers, abolishing sentences for people caught with certain amounts of different drugs, and replacing them with things like community service. It follows the usual scare tactics you would expect from your average tabloid newspaper, stating figures and statistics in a way which make you think that such a move would reduce our good country to ruins, before stating: “The Sun Demands an end to Soft Justice.” The scariest thing is, judging by previous elections, what The Sun wants, The Sun seems to get. It infuriated me. The most shocking lies and propaganda were to be found in the accompanying photo (see below) absolutely rubbish estimations of cannabis prices and – this is the worst bit – stating the same old propaganda that it can “trigger mental illness”. When I first read the article I thought it was stating that an eighth could trigger mental illness, and I’d bet thousands of people skimming the article may interpret it in the same way. For the picture alone, this definitely takes the biscuit and rightfully deserves its spot in the ugly section of ISMOKE News. The article was written by Graeme Wilson, the Sun’s deputy political editor. It pains me to think that masses upon masses of people will see the picture of a cannabis leaf with propaganda posing as statistics saying that 3.5 grams cost between £10 and £20 (I wish) and the same old commonly debunked rumours that it can trigger mental illness (See Rhys Morgan’s article for the statistics on Cannabis and mental health) and believe it when it’s absolute ISMOKE | 11 4:20pm is my personal little celebration each and every day (when I’m lucky enough to be at home). I roll a spliff and spark it at twenty past four, standard. Some people see it as a good time to have their first smoke of the day; I just see it as a good time to have another smoke! I have come to realise that not a lot of people in Britain seem to know much about 420, or where it comes from. Indeed, its link to the cannabis community is well-known, although its origins may not be. Here’s a bit of history for you: Back in 1971 a group of five friends at San Rafael High School were known as the Waldo’s (due to their choice of smoking spot – a wall outside their high school). They started using “420” as a code word, signalling that they would meet and smoke cannabis at 4:20pm after school had finished. They of course had no idea that it would grow into what it did, becoming such a massive part of cannabis culture. Now cannabis smokers worldwide celebrate the 20th April as a cannabis holiday, something else we seem to fall behind on in Britain. Hopefully I can raise enough awareness through ISMOKEHERB and ISMOKE Magazine to change that, so that next year we can celebrate April 20th properly. 420 ISMOKE | 12 They do things a lot bigger in the USA, and currently 4/20 is no exception. There are massive celebrations at various locations across the country, including the photograph you can see on the next page from Wikipedia, showing a panorama of the 2010 4/20 cannabis event at University of Colorado (http://bit.ly/gz67Rw). The 420 holiday has the potential to really expose the safety in numbers we have as cannabis smokers. If there were thousands of people smoking at the same time and in by Nuff Said ISMOKE | 13 the same place, or indeed locations all over the country, what could anybody do to stop them? The One Big Smoke Campaign was sadly a failure, as for some unknown reason the founder stopped promoting it and it petered out. There are rumours of threats from the police instilling fear and causing him to abandon the event, although I don’t know what actually happened. All I know is that peaceful protests like One Big Smoke need to start happening more often. We have a community of millions, and I’m sure everybody that smokes knows other people that smoke so if we put our minds to it we can really make a change. April 20th 2012 would be a perfect day to all get together for the biggest cannabis protest the country has ever seen! Let me know how you plan to celebrate 420 this year! Please email nuff@ismokeherb.co.uk and let me know of any mass celebrations/general smoke-ups, as I’m sure I can be persuaded to attend one... Well coincidently I’ve just finished this and the clock has hit that magical time.. I’m off to smoke some herb. Keep Toking But back to this year, and I’ve set myself more modest goals: I have booked the day off, and plan to make hash cakes, smoke all day and watch a few of the following films: • • • • • • • • • • • Friday, Next Friday, Friday After Next Any of the Cheech and Chong Films Pineapple Express Grandma’s Boy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Half Baked Super High Me (or Supersize me) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle Trainspotting How High ISMOKE | 14 ISMOKE | 15 Why Alcohol Is Legal and Cannabis Still Isn't By Rhys Morgan Seeing as I'll be preaching to the converted here, I won't go into the historical details of the war on marijuana started in the 20s in the states, but I'll discuss peoples opinions on the matter at the moment. The general public, for the most part, are rather indifferent to the cannabis situation as it doesn’t affect their lives at all, or so they think. They get told it makes people go crazy, may have used cannabis or at least tried it at some point and found it made them feel a little strange, possibly paranoid and it seems logical to them that continued use could lead them to go bananas, just like the Daily Mail said. So, keeping the drug illegal seems to make sense as they have no emotional drive to legalise it and are slightly concerned that increased use would lead to a higher incidence of schizophrenia and psychosis. Better to be safe than sorry. One point worth bringing up here is that the psychological debate only arose relatively recently, in comparison to the 70+ years since the drug was made illegal. The obvious question being “well, what reason did they give in the first place then?”. Suffice to say, the reasons given were completely fictitious and the movement for prohibition was fueled by money and racism. This is already very well documented, so I won’t go into it here. Most politicians will fall into the description above. With regard to the psychosis/schizophrenia debate, a very simple point needs to be made: In the last 30years, cannabis use has increased dramatically, as has the strength and availability of the plant. Over the same period of time, incidences of psychotic illness have remained static. If there was a causal link between the two, then surely as cannabis use dramatically increases, we’d see a noticeable increase in incidences of psychotic illness. According to the Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs report, 1 in 15,000 cannabis users could develop a psychotic illness (although already having been predisposed) triggered by cannabis use. This basically means that if the entire population smoked cannabis, then during a lifetime there would possibly be 4000 ISMOKE | 16 more people in the UK suffering from a psychotic illness. Based on current usage, it implies that cannabis may trigger the onset of psychotic illness in less than 400 people in the UK in a lifetime or 5 people each year. And it is very important to note that we’ve had to use the terms “may”, “possibly” and “could”. We also need to bear in mind that we are talking about triggering these conditions in those already predisposed, so even if cannabis can trigger these conditions, when removed it is likely that something else will trigger the condition during a lifetime. I have only chosen to address the alleged mental health issues of cannabis here because, quite frankly, it is the only anti-cannabis argument that holds even the slightest weight. Effects on fertility are acute and short term, in that a person is only affected whilst cannabis is in their blood stream. Essentially it’s as if sperm are stoned and they don’t do their job properly. As far as cancer is concerned, cannabis is one of the few substances known to man that can cause a tumor to regress. All studies which compare non-smokers, tobacco + cannabis smokers and cannabis alone smokers, show that smokers of tobacco have 20x the chance of developing lung cancer than non-smokers. Smokers of only cannabis have very slightly smaller chance of developing lung cancer. Studies where THC is injected into animal tumors have had a very positive effect on either reversing, halting or slowing the reproduction of cancerous cells. I’m not even going to address the point that cannabis users often smoke with tobacco because if you don’t see the irony in that statement, you truly are a lost cause. Now to alcohol. The public are generally aware of the risks involved with alcohol use. Not the risks that are unproven and still debated, but the very real, understood risks of harm caused by chemical addiction, sclerosis, heart & liver problems, etc. 5,000 to 10,000 people die in this country each year directly due to alcohol consumption. That’s not to mention the impact it has on casual and domestic ISMOKE | 17 violence, accidents, depression, suicide attempts, etc. So, to conclude, the known and very real deaths caused by the use of alcohol each year, by far outweigh the number of predisposed schizophrenics or psychotics whose condition could be triggered early by cannabis use even if EVERY MEMBER OF THE POPULATION SMOKED CANNABIS. Bare in mind, it hasn’t been firmly proven that cannabis will trigger either condition - there just appears to be a casual, currently considered non-causal link. There is no comparison between 5,000 deaths and 5 incidences of an onset of psychotic illness. So we’re left in a position where the advocate for cannabis prohibition needs to justify why the entire population above the age of 18 should be allowed to use alcohol but no one should be allowed to use cannabis, even though the former is much more dangerous on a case by case basis and also appeals to a wider audience. My basis for the statement on higher demand for alcohol is simply that everyone I know who doesn’t smoke marijuana does so because they don’t enjoy the feeling, not because of it’s legal status. I can think of very few people I know that don’t drink, other than for religious reasons. Also, if you look at the use of cannabis in countries such as the Netherlands where it is declassified for personal use and widely available, the prevalence of use is dramatically lower than that of alcohol. This seems like a logical place to point out that alcohol use was already massively higher than cannabis use when the legalisation “debate” began. It’s not as if we started prohibiting the use of certain drugs and suddenly there was a boom in usage of the remaining legal ones. More to the point, tobacco and alcohol were in wide use already, presumably also amongst politicians, so prohibiting them was a non-starter. So how does the prohibitionist justify the current state of affairs? As far as I can tell it goes back to the same point - that they simply don’t enjoy the use of cannabis. Cannabis users are in a minority of around 5-15% of the UK population, depending on where you get your stats from. I haven’t looked up alcohol use but I’m going to assume it’s somewhere in the 80-90% bracket of the adult population. I can’t really work out how the internal thought process would go, possibly something like this: "um, I like alcohol, keep it legal." "but it's really dangerous, people are going to die!" "yeah, but I like it and it's my right to take it." "but other people like cannabis, don't they have rights?" "fuck 'em!" This is why in every public statement from the government, when asked will you discuss or debate the legaslation surrounding cannabis use, usually given with a huge list of reasons for legalisation and comparisons drawn between alcohol use and cannabis use, they can't even respond with a structured point or answer questions directly. The answer is always the same. "Cannabis is a harmful drug and we have no intention of legalising it". No mention of why continued alcohol use is fine, nor any reference to solid evidence showing the harms of cannabis. Gordon Brown springs to mind with his ludicrous statement about "this lethal version of it [cannabis], skunk". From other politicians we sometimes get one of the most ironic statements of all time, which usually goes something like this "We already have enough of a problem with alcohol and tobacco, we don't want to legalise another harmful drug and add to the problem". Bottom line is, we're left with a bunch of lawmakers who don't enjoy the effects of cannabis, yet know absolutely nothing about it and when given the chance completely discard any evidence, making the decision that the minority of the population who do enjoy the effects of cannabis should not be allowed to use it, because they don't happen to like it. That, my friends, is known as discrimination and would not be tolerated against any other minority. Read Rhys’ Blog: http://bit.ly/fIzbtV “Cannabis is bad, make it illegal.” “What about alcohol?” ISMOKE | 18 Photo: http://bit.ly/evXqcx ISMOKE | 19 Kain Derrick is the cannabis activist responsible for the short documentary “Its Not Just a Plant” featured on www.ismokeherb.co.uk - ISMOKE Magazine caught up with him to ask him his views on the herb: Please give a bit of background about yourself for our readers, who you are, what you do etc. Hello fellow tokers, my name is Kain Derrick. I'm a 22 year old film-maker/Cannabis Activist from the UK, currently studying at The University of Plymouth. I have made short documentaries and commercials. Some people might remember me from my support with the Jack Herer, Museum and the Hemporium Kickstarter Campaign. How long ago did you start smoking cannabis, and when did it become a passion of yours? I started smoking cannabis when I started university, just 3 years ago, and it slowly progressed into a passion. I found that once you start learning and educating yourself not just about cannabis but about prohibition, the drug war and its history in general, it becomes more addictive than the substance itself. I then started incorporating my knowledge into my media work and it evolved from there. What caused you to start smoking, and how has it since enhanced your life? I come from a beautiful family of five, and everybody in my family are smokers (Tobacco) of course. Throughout the whole of my life up until 3 years ago I was the only non-smoker in my family. I was completely against it and thought it was disgusting. Then I discovered cannabis. A substance worth smoking - I had first tried it as a kid around the age of 14 or 15. I had some amazing times and got the nickname ''Casper'' for a while due to the massive whitey I had. It has definitely enhanced my life, It enables me to be much more creative with my work, but it has also opened my mind in general. I look into things much deeper, once you learn how much effort has gone into hiding the truths behind cannabis it makes you question everything in life. What is your favourite type of cannabis? Any type of Cheese, Power Plant, N.Y.C Diesel...ANYTHING TASTY. That is such a hard question. I will however name a few favourite Coffee Shops: Hill Street Blues - Amnesia Haze.... Amnesia Coffeeshop - Topp Dogg....Grey Area - Chiesel.... Barneys - Tangerine Dream...Greenhouse - Hawaiin Snow. What is your favourite method of consuming cannabis? There is nothing better than rolling a nice spliff and Sinking a Bucket (Gravity Bong) ISMOKE | 20 An Interview With Kain Derrick ISMOKE | 21 What do you think is wrong about British society today? I love Britain...but I think the public are greatly misinformed. My mission is to change that. If you could change one thing in British society what would it be? Bring in education about cannabis at schools. What are your thoughts on the laws on cannabis in Britain? They are morally wrong, and it is the patients who actually need cannabis that have to suffer. As well as those that are facing prison and get a criminal record for simple possession. Which is far more damaging than cannabis itself. How would you change them? It would be a bit cliché to say LEGALISE CANNABIS. I think the first thing that needs to be put into order is a medical system. and decriminalisation. Where is your favourite place in the world, and why? Thailand...a little island called Tonsai Bay. It's paradise...simple as that. ISMOKE | 22 Are there any useful links and/or resources which you can tell our readers in reference to cannabis? There are so many it is hard to pick one as they are all so relevant to our knowledge. But if you go to www.kainderrick.com you will find many useful articles and links as well as my videos. Where do you see cannabis legislation in five years time? Unchanged How long (if ever) do you think it will be before Britain accepts cannabis for medical and recreational use? I think as soon as it is legitimately recognized in the USA we will follow....It is a sad truth. Hopefully my work will cause a stir and I can cause a revolution haha. Fingers crossed eh. And Finally, please tell our readers why you love cannabis. ‘’The Smell....The Taste’’ that’s something me and my friends say whenever we get a fat sack of Chronic and stick our heads in the bag. What is not to love? ISMOKE | 23 Strain Reviews: By Kush Guy Strain: Pineapple Express Genetics: Californian Indica / NYCD G13 Labs Pineapple Express is awesome! Unheard of Quality, Great Yield, Fast Flowering, Highly Resinous, Potent mentally and physically, Incredible taste, & feminized. What more can you ask for? Pineapple Express are highgrade cannabis seeds that were previously extremely rare. True smokers appreciate its delicate and sweet characteristics. These seeds are superior quality and all have been thoroughly tested. Once cured the skunky pheno buds start to take on much more of pineapple smell and taste. I found the pineapple express to be good for back pain/ nerve pain and also insomnia. Its great if you grind a bit up in a pan with some milk and Horlicks it will knock you out for sure. The unknown genetics from the breeder lead me to think that it’s a mostly Indica hybrid which is lacking in Sativa. Maybe that's the reason why it’s great for insomnia. Overall i’d rate the strain: Taste:7.5 / 10 Strength 7 / 10 High: Mostly Indica ( very moorish ) Calculated Active Cannabinoids CBD: 0.75% Extreme caution is advised CBN: 0.18% strong fruity fragrance. THC: 13.6% CBC: 0.14% Of the 2 pheno’s we have tried, THCV: 0% one certainly has a pineapple essence whiles the other has a much more old school skunky presence. However the ISMOKE | 24 Total Active Cannabinoids: 14.67% (source: http://www.fullspectrumlabs. com) ISMOKE | 25 By Chris O’Keefe (thecannablog) Jack Herer Genetics: Secret Haze (Sativa Hybrid) A real heavy smoke that somehow tastes smooth, Jack Herer provides a subtle floral flavour for the pallet following a citrus kick. This sativa hybrid takes away some motor function almost immediately but leaves you focused and clear headed. Acting as a mental stimulant and muscle relaxer this strain is uplifting like most sativas, good for anxiety and depression making you very relaxed without fogging up your thoughts. Lasting for about 2-3 hours this strain is good for the afternoons and evenings especially if you have had a long day. ISMOKE | 30 ISMOKE | 31 Headband Genetics: OG Kush x Sour Diesel x Master Kush (50s/50i) A very smooth yet spicy smoke which has a sour hash flavour undertoned with some earthy textures. Headband started with a hard hitting cerebral high then mellowed out into a full body relaxation that lasted a long time. Slowing both your body and mind this strain was great for pain relief and muscle relaxing. Good for stress/depression. The Church Genetics: Swiss sativa X Skunk X Super Skunk X Northern Lights (Indica dominant) The church starts off very smooth with a wood texture; not pine flavored but tastes similar to how fresh sawdust smells. The high was slow - almost a creeper at first - subtly relaxing your body but then turning into a hard cerebral stone. Should calm you down and provide a quality sleep aid lasting about 4 hours. This plant when grown and put into flowering is unique, producing tall dense colas that had the texture of silk or felt when touched. ISMOKE | 32 ISMOKE | 33 BUD REPORT: COCK’S DNA KUSHBERRYxSKUNK Report Scenario: 3gram pure blunt smoked to the sounds of various funk Link to grow diary: http://bit.ly/fNP5YX Strain and Seedbank: DNA genetics - Kushberry X Skunk – indica70% / 30%sativa - parentage: OG Kush x Blueberry X Heirloom Skunk Number of grows or years growing: 1st soil grow. 3rd over all Growth Equipment & Location: BnQ john innes soil in 30 ltr storage boxs in gro-drobe with 400w hps. Nutes/Feed: only fed in flower – bio bizz bloom and ionic boost Weeks of veg: 4-ish Weeks of flower: 10wks 4 days from 1st pistils. Colour of trichs at time of harvest: 85%milky/15%amber Drying time: 5 and a half days - soil was left to dry for 8 days prior to chop - all fan leaves taken off a week The High: 10/10 - I know a 10 seems a bit generous but let me explain why i give this strain a 10/10. It’s one of those rare smokes that can give you everything!! For example if you roll a modest joint because you have shit to do, then it can help you get through the menial tasks with a grin on your face while you whistle and dixie. But if it’s a bed time/after work knockout bifter you’re after, add just a little bit more to the rizla and get ready for a beat down from Madame Berry herself!! Light that badboy up! and you soon notice by the 3rd puff!! a state of euphoric calmness steadily creep up on you like the spirit of Mary Jane herself dipped her pimp knuckle in baby oil and backhanded that big grin onto your face with all the softness of an Andrex puppy’s wetbits..... “oh yeh, for sure” you want to hear some music, but nothing too loud or up-tempo! Madame Berry wants you to relax now... and you will do what your told! 3 puffs left and i realise I’ve been wrapped up in a narcotic blanket of Kushty smoothness...”beware of her cock” says the voice in my left ear “hahah yes” i think back..”yes.... how right you are” nice and warm says my face to my nose I think I’m ready for bed.. or very possibly an unexpected bud-nap… Length of buzz: 9/10 - Impressively long lasting buzz – with the way this grinds up I’m putting about 0.5 in a typical spliff – and I’m yet to smoke one top to the end – I feckin love weed that puts me in my place. I’ll spark one up, smoke half, about 40 minutes later when i remember i have a j on the go, i look at the ashtray with trepidation... wicked Good comments: What more can i say? I love this strain! before chop - yes it was properly dry. (ask budbud007) Bad Comments: I never germinated two of them Dry Yield: 74 grams... or just over 2 and a half Oz Curing time: 12days Grow Comments: Was My 1st scrog grow and it responded well to both topping and all the bending and stress that goes with a scrog so impressed in general all round with this strain – ticks every box for me and i will definitely be growing this again one day! Bud Density: 7/10 - Pretty solid A great all-rounder! And deceivingly strong – I would recommend it to anyone.. Bud Appearance: For roughly the last 4wks of flower she was getting pretty consistent night temps of 12/14c- lights on temps were a regular 26/28c, meaning an on/off temp drop of around 14/15c!! – i didn’t bother trying to warm the drobe up because the RH at lights off with temps around 12/14c was looking good at a constant 30% (ya’ know....if it’s just about still working, don’t try and fix it kinda thing) so that started at about week 4 of flower and I then began to notice at around week 6 the underside of quite a few leaves had gone purple in colour, then as the days went by the blue/purple had started to show on the tips of some calyxes and top and bottom of some sugar leaves on the bud..... The end appearance is nice dark green nugs with covered in brown hairs with some purple caylxs buried inside the buds near the stems. Grindability: 8/10 - Expands rather than reduces in the grinder – good stuff Smell in veg: 3/10 - Almost unnoticeable unless disturbed Smell in flower: 7/10 - Smelled of blueberry/raspberry/blackcurrant and cherries all the way through flower, Though not a zesty or citrus fruit, but a deeper, more sweet fruity smell that seemed to warm my stomach every time i had a whiff – in fact she’s a really nice plant to just sit and smell. She’s definitely got a decent enough stank to warrant a cf (as always) but it’s not that traditional dank skunky smell, but more subtle and aromatic and so a very small grow (1 or 2 plants) could be disguised without a cf and some ona blocks/oil burners etc without too much panic. Smell after curing: 7/10 - Really nice blues smell best describes a jar/bag of this freshly opened. Taste: 9/10 - Really, really juicy tasting stuff this Kushberry – it’s got two of the best quality’s from the skunk world – The hash-ness from the OG Kush is a perfect match for the mellow flavour that comes out from the blueberry genes. I have two beans of this Kushberry left and it’s definitely a keeper if you like a hard hitting classic blueberry smoke. ISMOKE | 34 ISMOKE | 35 So, I’m a medical user of cannabis right? Many who read this article will be bored of knowing that of me; many will assume I’m tantamount to a stuck record on the subject given I prattle on like an obsessive town crier with attention deficit disorder. Yes, I am indeed a medical cannabis user, oh yeay, oh yeay. Point is, I know myself that I’ve become a one trick pony, I have found myself missing the character that I once was; “I used to have a life you know.” This has become my personal mantra, I fear, one day it will become: “During the war…” jam sessions, or a nice surf on Bondi Beach; oh no, for me it’s the halls of the house of commons, it’s trawling thought the news each day; it’s reading the lancet and BMJ weekly. When - and how - in the name of Peter Hitchens’ opinionated tallywacker did that happen? One thing that has become increasingly apparent to me is; the more you study cannabis to clear the name of the conceptualised evil that it has now become to the intellectually stunted, the more it decreases the enjoyment of the experience that cannabis can hand you. I have long pondered the causation issue of cannabis related harms. With cannabis, you are extraordinarily susceptible to environment. Nowhere can this be seen more than in Amsterdam and California. Due to the acceptance of cannabis, a soothing place can be found for those that use; the antipode of this would be the UK. Having to constantly engage with ignorance, and to be the brunt of lazy stigmas, well, it can be easy to get drawn into the negatives of cannabis simply due to perpetuated onus and compounded witlessness. I have become consumed by politics and the mundane in my personal search for legitimacy. As tragic as it is, the biggest thrill I have had in many a year is when Bob Ainsworth MP challenged the Government on drug policy, and indeed, the latest arse kicking in the House of Lords where upon a gaggle of Lords showed the current drug policy up for what it is; an utter sham and fallacy. Before cannabis, I used to be the wildcard, I had personality. Now, I find I bore even myself due to how serious I’ve become. At what point did cannabis culture consume me? And tragically, I don’t mean ‘culture’ as in hippy campfires and ISMOKE | 42 Every so often, I have to take time out to literally smell the flowers. I have long said from my self confessed amateurish philosophical mind; “Don’t analyze things too much as you will lose focus of the bigger picture.” And you know what, I fully agree with what that man says… even if I am just actually agreeing with SSSH! DON’T TELL ANYONE By Jason Reed ISMOKE | 43 myself, but shh, don’t tell anyone or else I will look as mad as a dog in a bungalow. Besides, I have so many personas that I’m not sure if this does actually count as psychosis now; but do we care?! When I first tried cannabis, I had many a giddy experience. Nothing too outrageous, I’ve never woken up in a skip per se, but I have found religion; or at least, made peace with religion. It was an early experience of cannabis that made me reach this conclusion - I shall digress if you‘ll permit: After smoking a bit of quality hash, and feeling pretty good within my own skin for the first time in about 15 years, I remember listening to an excessively loud surround sound system and thinking Santa Claus was on the roof. To my defence, it was on the lead up to Christmas, so it was feasible. Ever since this point, (not that I needed much persuasion) I’ve fully believed in the existence of Father Christmas. AND WHY NOT? Moreover, on this particular philosophical evening, I found God. He wasn’t residing on the roof like Chris Cringle, oh no, that would have been insane. No, I rationalised it all out. It’s simple; you never see Santa and God in the same room do you?! And, if I believed in one, then I must believe in the other by my own remit. So, that’s religion solved, moving on. What is the point of this desultory ramble exactly? Well, the moral of this story is that I have never discussed my cannabis use in public. I have never let anyone into the private inner sanctum of my solace. I have purposely kept my experiences of cannabis to myself. Why? Because of the work I do in raising awareness of prohibition, I have always felt I could not let on what goes on behind closed doors. Don’t get me wrong, I’m far from ashamed, but try relaying the fact that you nearly ended up in casualty due to a tenuous wii accident on cannabis and maintain a serious relationship with those you are trying to convince cannabis is not an evil substance. The minutiae that leads a prohibitionist to a disquieted path of ignorance is vast; pitfalls and traps are preset by the inner fabric of apathetic society. The UK has a real stigma against chemical induced euphoria; unless you’re pissed off your very tits on alcohol, then you should not be enjoying yourself chemically. That’s complete fact with no research or basis, and it’s completely true. I also have tried to maintain a position of - how shall we say - dignity? If I were to present some of the more outlandish writings of my avidly fuelled finger tips, then once more, it would almost certainly be held against me by the overtly cynical. I have been unwell since the age of 8, again, this is pretty much public knowledge now. But, what isn’t known is that I did not tell a soul of my illness for 20 years. I fully kept it secret. Why? Because I quickly found that the UK does not understand empathy. In fact, how I’m not a jaded and bitter old hound that bites anything that passes close to it’s perimeter of snarl, then… I have no idea how to finish that sentence as it goes. Forgive me. What I’m saying is; I have seen the severe side of inhumanity too often, and as a result, I am about as guarded as an individual can legally be without being induced as a full fledged cave hermit called Dougy. It has always been easier to appear rude and offish than to be honest about my health. In a land of stiff upper lips and looking down noses, everyone has advice; everyone thinks they know better, and everyone thinks they are better. If you’ve not been locked in long term illness and British purgatory, then I can’t relay what it’s like ISMOKE | 44 to fight for your own life with furious bystanders kicking you in the nuts as you do so. I wish I was over egging this scenario to make glib points, but I know I am not alone in the treatment I have received from a significantly large portion of the British public. So, consequently, I kept myself to myself, and a hard callousness developed on my personality for self-preservation’s sake. I’m sounding bitter you agree? Well, no, as it goes; I’m a full optimist and think the best of everyone until proved wrong. If I am to be tarred with the same brush as everyone who is lazy, then I’m not going to replicate or perpetuate this apathetic mindset. I refuse to be twisted into bitterness just because that’s been my experience. When I took up arms in the war on drugs, I made a definitive decision to disassociate with first person experiences of cannabis. I came into cannabis comparatively late in life, I was 25. I often see medical users on telly saying; “I use cannabis, but don’t think of me getting high, it doesn’t work like that, I’m not one of those, I use it just a little to take the pain away.” That’s fine, I fully agree. BUT, tones make up subtext, and the tone behind these disclaimer soliloquies smacks of; “I’m not enjoying this, honest ‘gov, I don’t want to enjoy it!!! Forgive me!” People were unaware that I had been trained in Kyokushin karate from the age of 5. Most people’s sponge years were taken up with learning to read & write. My informative years were equated with learning one of the hardest martial arts ever to have been constructed. This taught me more selfdiscipline and fight than the average person could ever fathom. I’m not boosting my own ego in that, it’s with respect to Kyokushin that I say these things. It was ironic in later life, (when I had been trained in such a martial art and was on course to be the youngest black belt in the UK; and being only one belt away from that achievement when I fell ill) to receive glares and sniggers that I was a lazy person because I was ill… well, it took all the willpower in the world to not turn to the dark side. Only a certain amount of times your name can be sullied due to the hand fate dealt you and it not strike a resonating chord due to venomous tongues. This is why I hid illness, and this is why I have learnt many a life lesson that I carry with me now. I am fully aware of the cynical, and I assume this will be the default position of a generic UK citizen. As much as I agree cannabis is a great substance to titrate with, and for me, most of the time, I tend to use only to take the pain away and not to get high; it also should not be taboo to imply that you enjoy your medication. I have long seen it as a full embarrassment to society that pleasure in medicine is in existence. If you’re ill, you should take your bitter pills and lump it, should you not?! Being a non-drinker, non-caffeine user; and no outlawed substance has ever been ingested due to the fact I have a very odd body and will be turned into an alien named Gerald or something similar, cannabis is the only substance that has ever worked in my body… other than codeine. So, is it criminal that I hold my hands up that I actually enjoy cannabis? Is it morally wrong that I can feel a self empowerment over my own life for the first time in my life? Is it repugnant to suggest that I have a hobby in cannabis where drinking culture fulfils the need in the average British citizen? While dignified Britain rips itself apart each weekend due to fuelled frenzy and binge drinking that is now accepted as culture, it is my monkey on the back to suggest that I like cannabis and enjoy the company it gives me. It is a fundamental ISMOKE | 45 part of an average person’s life to go to the cinema, I haven’t been for a very long time; I’ve never been with my partner of 6 years. Why? Because unless you want me jumping up like Zebedee on the wrong side of an electric shock to the clackers, you do not want me sitting next to you in the cinema. I will fully fidget and be the bane of the audience’s night. With cannabis, and with cannabis as an excepted part of society, I could afford myself the luxury of seeing a film with my girlfriend due to the fact my limbs will not scream in a symphony of pain. Am I a public enemy for this? Current law suggests that I am. While the world needs a liver due to alcohol abuse, and 10 000 die a year, it is for those of us who use a plant that cannot kill to receive 5-14 years in prison. Why such a heavy penalty for us? Why such judicial reprisals for me? Because I like to use it once a night whilst looking at the stars and permitting myself to dream into the cosmos. This is where I find my own brand of hope. What a fiend I am. Pride is a fragile thing for anyone, and I have had to guard mine with some vigour. I have become overtly public with my situation just so ignorance can be dispelled in favour of understanding. Dignity is now a luxury that I don’t feel I’m afforded; I know the same is felt by other medical users who also campaign. These people have gone above and beyond the parameters of human endurance and receive little other than chastisement. Sometimes, medical users even receive a negligible backlash from within the cannabis community. But that’s a ramble for another day. “Bugger you, I have the chance to enjoy life, I am to grasp that with every fibre of my inhibited being, and live how anyone has the right to.” - To answer my self proposed quandary; I don’t know if I will open up and show the real me all the while a conservative public image is to be maintained for campaigning’s sake. Will it be too late by then though, will I have lost myself due to stigma? Will I be sick of cannabis due to my immersion in it? In this war, and as I look down the ranks at fellow braves who put themselves in the firing line because they cannot witness injustice, I salute them, I honour them, and I thank them. Is it for this generation to see change? One day, can I retire as an old war horse and forget about the battles that we all endured, or will it be too late by then and shell-shocked characters will never heal? Shall I challenge the Home Office to a game of football at Christmas? Will Santa, or God - dependent who’s working that night - deliver presents to all the little children as I have a kick around with James Brokenshire? Will Santa deliver my dream of an uninhibited & unrestricted life of full liberty? Until then though; shh, don’t tell anyone I enjoy it a little bit will you? www.ismokeherb.co.uk/aboutjason www.homegrownoutlaw.blogspot.com jason@ismokeherb.co.uk To conclude what has become my cathartic approach to cannabis journalism, I simply explain why I feel I’ve lost my character a tad, I relay the woes of campaigning, and I hypothesise on the media intervention if it were to become public knowledge of the very real societal and pleasurable aspects of cannabis medication. With a few years of cannabis use under my belt, I have still never indulged in any social activity whilst under the influence. I have become almost too guarded within my own skin in my conquest to protect the sanctity of cannabis’ image. At what point - I wonder aloud - do I throw caution to the wind and say; ISMOKE | 46 ISMOKE | 47 The Future Of Cannabis In Britain Is CLEAR Last Thursday, 24th March 2011, the latest ballot of the membership of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance closed. By a two-thirds to one-third majority the members voted to adopt a new constitution and to change the party’s name. From that moment on we are known as Cannabis Law Reform or CLEAR. ment of £10 towards campaign funding but money will not be an obstacle to anyone joining. Please show your support for our campaign and join CLEAR. Within the next few days we will launch a membership drive with the simplest way to sign up being payment by text message. We have moved away from the use of the word “legalise” because it is interpreted as meaning a free for all. It scares people, particularly politicians and the media and we, as a party, now understand that these are the people we need to influence if we are to advance our cause. We will be fielding candidates in council and parliamentary elections all over the UK. We do not expect to win many seats but we intend our campaign to be given the respect and attention it deserves. We will seek electoral pacts with other parties who are prepared to sign up to our aims. If you would like to stand as a candidate, please get in touch. We also need voluntary workers all over the country. We have also refined and sharpened our aims and objectives. They are now simple, direct and clear: 1. To end the prohibition of cannabis. 2. To promote as a matter of urgency and compassion the prescription of medicinal cannabis by doctors. 3. To introduce a system of regulation for the production and supply of cannabis based on facts and evidence. 4. To encourage the production and use of industrial hemp. 5. To educate and inform about the uses and benefits of cannabis. Medicinal cannabis is our spearhead. We seek an end to prohibition for everyone but we demand immediate provision for those who need cannabis as medicine. It is an obscene and evil shame on our nation that so many who suffer are in fear of arrest and prison for using a medicine that transforms their lives. We will build a new and effective brand and campaign. We are reasonable, responsible, respectable members of society from all walks of life and professions. We are discriminated against by an irrational and absurd policy. Cannabis is a wonderful thing. It is relatively harmless but it is a psychoactive substance and needs to be respected. It’s medicinal value is unparalleled but it also offers wonderful recreational, spiritual and creative nourishment. The relatively young science of cannabinoids now explains why cannabis has been treasured and used by mankind since the dawn of time. Prohibition is a ridiculous policy. The truth about cannabis is clear. ISMOKE | 48 By Peter Reynolds We intend to build a substantial membership. Annual subscriptions have been cut to £5.00 and for concessions £1.00. We ask everyone to make a pay- We have exciting campaigns on the way that communicate the scientific truth about cannabis and demolish the scare stories and prejudice that is so widespread. We will never let another ridiculous tabloid story pass without challenging it. We will not allow our political leaders to get away with untruths and propaganda without calling them to account. We will campaign for an end to the ludicrous waste of law enforcement resources on cannabis and for a regulated system of production that will exclude organised crime and the evils of violence and human trafficking that prohibition causes. We will educate users about cannabinoid content, different strains, varieties and methods of use. We will promote regulation to ensure quality, safety and restriction of sales to adults only. We already have solid data that proves a tax and regulate regime in Britain would produce a net gain to the economy of at least £6 billion per annum, freeing up police to concentrate on real crime and massively reducing the harms caused by prohibition. Despite the fact that most people in Britain have used cannabis to no ill effect and that between two and ten million people have it as a regular part of their lives, the cannabis campaign has failed to make any real progress. Now is when that changes. The future of cannabis in Britain is CLEAR. We will release more details about our campaign in the near future. The truth about cannabis is CLEAR. www.ismokeherb.co.uk/aboutpeter www.peter-reynolds.co.uk ISMOKE | 49 MARIJUANA MYTHS Each month, Cure Ukay will be debunking the cannabis fiction that is deeply seeded within the UK media. This section is designed to inform and educate you, so that when the time arises to defend our Holy Herb you will be prepared beyond your opponent’s intelligence. “It’s no secret, all cannabis smokers are lazy, good for nothing, scroungers. Contributing to society is one of their weaker skills and if possible they try to avoid work at all costs.” It’s OK. I’m only joking. Sorry if you thought that The Daily Mail’s Peter Hitchens’ latest article had found its way into this month’s MARIJUANA MADNESS!!! Of course, this issue I thought I’d take the time to address the Lazy Stoner Stereotype. You know, the one that sits at home all day and doesn’t do anything other than watch Jeremy Kyle and dream that one day they will sit on that stage and talk to the man himself. The number of stories that I have seen on trashy TV shows such as the previously stated excuse above, where the sobbing mother sits in the chair and reels off the standard ‘James-Brokenshire-esque’ scenario about her son, how he was the brightest child in the class and from a very early age he showed great promise... but then along came cannabis. His attitude changed very quickly and he ISMOKE | 50 ISMOKE | 51 became a different person. More often than not this turns out to coincide with becoming a teenager, the age group in society that are notorious for being both a bit lazy and a bit grumpy. Most of the time I’d have to agree, sitting around all day eating junk food, playing the latest COD day after day while smoking pot sounds like a terrible waste of life...unless you’re the one smoking pot, shooting the bad guys (in all its modern HD glory that is), whilst satisfying your munchies. The thing is, this happens whether people use cannabis or not. Cannabis smokers aren’t lazy but some lazy people smoke cannabis. Coming into contact with cannabis isn’t going to make such dramatic changes as claimed by the tabloids, government AND Jeremy Kyle. I’m not going to lay here in my bed with a bong under my arm and tell you that cannabis doesn’t have those relaxing effects because we all know it does. My personal opinion on this matter is a little more in-depth. I blame prohibition for what they’re blaming on cannabis. The organised criminal gangs that grow cannabis on a large scale want to be able to get the most out of the free electricity they have stolen by by-passing the meter, so they look for a specific genus of cannabis, more commonly known as a strain, that yields the largest amount of bud to deliver the largest amount of profit. This means that most growers take the Indica option as it better suits their needs: a shorter flowering time so that they can get the product on the street much faster; a larger yield so there is a lot more of the product in the same amount of space and not to mention the narcotic like effects that Indica induces. Weekl y i nsight canna ful bis po dcast s: Indica is usually the choice of medicinal users that require relief from chronic pain, the analgesic properties coupled with its lack of toxicity make it a no-brainer compared to the menu of Opiates that the NHS are willing to offer you for the same desired effect. Indica is only one side of the story though; there is of course Sativa too! The cannabis plant that makes the story turn a little on its head... Surely ISMOKE Magazine wouldn’t be published if all of its writers were lazy stoners? Be sure to read next month’s issue to see what removing prohibition could do to the opinion of cannabis in the Britain. www.ismokeherb.co.uk/aboutcure www.cureuk.podomatic.com CURE UK.PO DOMA TIC.CO www.cureuk.podomatic.com M ISMOKE | 52 ISMOKE | 53 ISMOKE | 54 You Lovely Stoners... ISMOKE | 55 : C I S U M E K O ISM S W E I V R E T IN S P A R O R EL ISMOKE | 56 ISMOKE | 57 This month, ISMOKE spoke to Ian Llewellyn-Rowe, also known as Elro Raps. You’ve been generating a lot of well-deserved hype for your youtube videos, what got you into rapping and into the comical style you’ve become known for? I did stand up comedy for a couple of years, and I also started writing rap music, but never really combined the two on stage, so I just whacked them on youtube and here we are now! I guess I just like trying to write in a different way to others. “Police are not for me really.” What do you think about the current laws surrounding cannabis in the UK? I think it’s a bit ridiculous really, that police can come and hassle you when you're not even bothering anyone but yourself. It’s ridiculous. Police are not for me really. Would you ever consider moving out to the states where you could get a medical card? What sort of music do you listen to and enjoy I'm not that desperate lol, I don't like to smoke it most? too much anyway cos if I smoke too much, I just I'm hip hop through and through to be honest. become even more lazy and unproductive and But I also love reggae, dance, grime… almost an- lazy, that’s just my personality anyway so I don't ything, although I don't listen to much rock. blame cannabis, but I try not to smoke too much too often. What’s the best thing about what you do? Making a crowd buzz, and meeting people that How long have you been rapping for? you've never met who are big fans, that's always I'd say 2 years or so, but not particularly seriousa big buzz. ly. Only seriously the last 6 months or so. Where’s the best place you’ve been to? Oohhhhh, Umm, I'd probably say Ibiza… I went there this summer with my mates and had an unbelievably good week partying in the sun. That place is dreamland. So, do you smoke cannabis? I've been known to… When did you get into it, and what do you like best about being high? I guess lots of my mates smoke it and then I just tried it, and enjoyed it. I like how creative and weird (in a good way) I am. Me and my mates come up with stuff that people would never even contemplate. It’s also relaxing if you’ve had a long day. Do you remember the best experience you ever had while high? I couldn’t really pick one particular one out, there’s so many good ones. Although watching the Streets live in Bristol after a spliff was pretty damn good. ISMOKE | 58 Ever been to Amsterdam? I haven’t What in your opinion is the best track you've done? In terms of listenability, probably "My Eyes Are Red" (pretty fitting eh lol), I just messed about with beatboxing and vocal layers and people seem to find it catchy and listenable which makes me very happy. People appreciating my stuff, and saying things like "I always smoke a spliff to your song" gives me tingles. What’s your favourite 8 Bars of your own? Hmmmmmm, my favourite… I was pretty proud of my bars about randomness. They seem to be popular too, I don't really know to be honest, I'm proud of them all, I try not to put any bars out there if I'm not buzzing about them. And finally, please tell us where we can find you online You can find me on youtube by searching elro or elro raps. My youtube is www.youtube.com/comedyilr my twitter is @elroraps my Facebook fan page is "Elro Raps" and my normal Facebook is "Ian Llewellyn-Rowe" ISMOKE | 59 ISMO KE ACTIV ISM Cannabis: Legalise and Utilise Petition To: World Governments and Leaders WE DEMAND: We believe the possession and use of cannabis (also known as marijuana, hemp) ought to be a matter of choice and not of law. - that the possession, cultivation and use of pure cannabis (marijuana, hemp) and its products be free from prosecution. We believe that the prohibition of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) possession, cultivation and supply to adults is against the public interest. - that all laws treat all cannabis (marijuana, hemp) users equally and that the same level of consumer protection be available as there is on other consumables: quality control, hygiene, weights and measures. We believe that the prohibition of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) possession, cultivation and supply to adults contravenes Human Rights. We believe that the prohibition of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) possession, cultivation and supply to adults inhibits the use of a beneficial resource. We believe ending of the prohibition of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) possession, cultivation and supply to adults is a vital step that should be taken worldwide to benefit the people and their environment. We call upon the Governments and Political Leaders of all the Countries of the World to: - hasten the ending the prohibition of the cannabis (marijuana, hemp) plant, its cultivation and supply for the good of the peoples of this world, on a local, national and international level. - secure the release of all prisoners convicted only of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) offences and to ensure that all criminal records for cannabis-only offences are expunged. - encourage public and private research into the many beneficial uses of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) including industrial, social and medical uses for the good of the people. - halt all criminal and civil prosecutions for the possession or cultivation of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) for use as a social or private relaxant including its uses as a sacrament or in religious or other ritual and any use that the user considers to be beneficial to them, so long as no harm is done to others, their property of their Rights. ISMOKE | 60 - that high priority be given to the cultivation of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) for the express purpose of the localised production of virtually cost-free fuels through the process of pyrolysis on cannabis biomass, and as a source of fibre and hurd. - that provision be made to enable the setting up of public establishments where the use of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) is permitted. - that provision be made to enable the setting up of outlets for the legal supply of cannabis (marijuana, hemp) . - that at least the same level of protection be given to the cannabis (marijuana, hemp) consumer as is given to the consumers of other commodities: weights and measures, quality etc. - that all prisoners presently held only on cannabis (marijuana, hemp) convictions or charges be released from custody without delay and that all criminal records for cannabis offences be expunged. - that sufficient cannabis (marijuana, hemp) be produced and made available for "medicinal use" for those that need it, at low cost and free of taxation other than taxation on profits - "medicinal use" being any use found to be of benefit. Sincerely, The Undersigned Sign it here: http://bit.ly/hPhEyp ISMOKE | 61 Global Million This is a movement I was only made aware of last year, just in time to start organising, as far as I know, the first Million Marijuana March in Cardiff, Wales. The GMM/MMM is a worldwide protest against local and international cannabis prohibition laws, that takes place on the 1st Saturday in May each year. It was originally started in Toronto and New York back in 1999 by a chap named Dana Beal and since then has grown to include over 300 cities annually, stretching from the aforementioned North American cities, as far as Amsterdam, Tokyo, Manila, Copenhagen, Mexico City, Brighton and Dunedin, just to name a handful. The marches are an important event in the calendar of any pro-cannabis / anti-prohibitionist for many reasons. Firstly, having us all demonstrate together on the same day shows a sense of unity which is often lacking in the cannabis community. One only has to look at the number of like minded groups on Facebook or the rest of the internet to see how many people are singing the same hymns but from different sheets. Just off the top of my head we have The Legalise Cannabis Alliance (recently re-branded as CLEAR), NORML UK, 420 UK, Frank-Dont-KnowJack, as well as a number of different marijuana tea party groups and events. All of which are perfectly respectable organisations, as far as I know, but it's just a shame they're so scattered. Having a march brings us all together, and not just in an online forum where words get misconstrued. It's a great way of opening doors between groups, and sharing skills, information and let's face it, tactics in what is an ongoing battle. It also lets people know that there is a movement, there are organisations working hard to get the issue legitimised and that they're not alone in the struggle. The other unmissable benefit is the impression these events can give to the spectator. Seeing that several hundred or (said wishfully!) several thousand people in your home town feel passionately enough about the issue to take to the streets and march, chant and rally their way through town may change a lot of minds about the subject, or at the very least get people thinking and talking. This alone in the UK is a step forward. The nature of the protests can also be a bit of a ISMOKE | 62 Marijauna March 2011 surprise to people - obviously there’s a lot of tie dye, dreadlocks and green smoke, but the chirpy, fun loving, non-anti-social nature of the protest is a breath of fresh air compared to what's seen at a lot of marches and protest. Following the above, if we here in the UK can make the protests big enough, it pretty much guarantees some media attention and hopefully some words of reason printed or (again, said with a hint of wishfulness) broadcast, from the mouth of someone that has a clue what they're talking about. This can get the "on the fencers" who are crucial in this debate, to understand not only the truth about the alleged harms caused by the plant but also the wider picture of the costs of cannabis prohibition and the harm it causes. These marches do bring media attention in the States and Canada, which in turn leads to TV debates. This is the step forward we're crying out for in this country. So, take a look at the websites below and find your nearest Million Marijuana March, or if there's nothing close enough, start your own. As the organiser of the Cardiff marches, I have to say it's really not that hard: Start a Facebook group, invite everyone you know and post it on every pro-cannabis group, forum or website you can find. Then, just keep emailing the members to invite their friends etc. You'll be gobsmacked by the number of people getting in touch to offer help. Get some flyers made (you'll no doubt have loads of offers from people willing to design them for you) and get out to club nights and gigs flyering, stick them in pubs, coffeeshops and anywhere you can. My event has grown to almost a thousand in less than a month and I'm no one special! This year, organisation for Leicester, Cardiff, and Birmingham is well underway, as well as a 420 event on April 20th in Hyde Park, London, so get involved and get the UK stuck into the struggle! By Rhys Morgan Canada’s Million Marijuana March 2010 Links/References: http://cures-not-wars.org/wordpress/ http://www.globalmarijuanamarch.com/ (this one's currently down, but keep checking) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Marijuana_March http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137598619602596 Find Your Nearest March: Birmingham - http://on.fb.me/gsSlE7 Cardiff - http://on.fb.me/hqTLTb Leicester - http://on.fb.me/idCEXt London 420- http://on.fb.me/eDOnRi ISMOKE | 63 S W E I l V a i E c e R p S E r e K O oris ISM ust-have m e m o s l feature any feedback l i w e w d ue Each iss ent. Sen co.uk m i p u q e b. smoking uff@ismokeher to n riza A | e m e r t Q-Tower Ex HomeGrownOutlaw The Volcano has dominated the high end vaporiser market for some time. Some find the Volcano a bit priced out of the market and would like a good alternative. The Q-Tower Extreme presents an excellent substitute to the Volcano - arguably; and in many cases - a superior product. The Q-Tower comes with multiple options, this is perhaps the biggest selling point to this vaporiser. With a Volcano style balloon option, or a hookah style whip alternative the Q-Tower gives you two for the price of one; most vaporisers are limited in options, the Q-Tower hands both styles of vaporised ingestion to the user. The balloon option is perhaps not as superior to the Volcano, but it does the job, it’s easy, tidy, and it works incredibly well. The whip option is a toker’s favourite, a lazy tug on the tube and you’re away. How can anyone resist? The Q-Tower also has all the digital heating options you could wish for. Set the temperature setting to tailor your needs. Want a light experience, ISMOKE | 66 Vap then put the temps to a low setting. Want to fly? Then heat up on the high temperature settings for an interesting time! A great feature to say the least. Equipped with fan options too, the Q-Tower offers an almost bong like experience. Three variable settings means the fan can force the vapour lightly, or with some stringent effort - dependent on preference of course. Alternatively, use with the whip option without the fan, and you can just lazily puff until you’ve had your fill. As ever, with vaporisers, the taste of the herbs cannot be beaten. A buffet of flavours will be presented to any herbalist who wishes to indulge in the healthier style of ingestion. The Q-Tower has many features, options, and pieces to the kit. The box will contain; a very swish stirring wand, two herb chambers, a remote control! (yes, a remote control - although, this is for novelty’s sake in many ways) A replacement whip and mouth piece, balloon and extra bags, and perhaps the biggest selling point… a potpourri chamber! Yes, you heard it here first, it comes ready to handle ALL you potpourri needs. Draw backs to the Q-Tower Extreme? Well, there are not many, in fact, it’s hard to discover any flaws. This very well thought out vaporiser is a little gem; the price is perhaps quite competitive compared to the rivals. Although not the market leader as yet, the Q-Tower is certainly to threaten the Volcano’s dominance, and rightly so. To top it all off, the Q-Tower has a blue hollow glow from an under lit unit. A great piece of kit, superb looking, and a very good investment. ISMOKE | 67 Iolite Portable Vaporiser The Iolite is the top league of portable vaporisers. This butane filled pocket device is the leader in portable vaporisation. Easy to use, highly effective, and frankly cool looking, the Iolite offers little in the way of options, but you simply don’t need fancy features when something works this well. Simply fill the butane canister, load up the simple herb chamber design, click the button and wait a few second for the device to heat. Place the straw to your lips and lightly breathe in the vapour. Simple. There are a few minor gripes that do come with the Iolite, but certainly nothing that would prevent would be buyers from enjoying the handheld machine. For instance, most Iolite users have not managed to find a can of butane that does not spew from the Iolite when trying to fill it up, so be careful. can stick the screwed straw into the herb chamber, these can often result in breakages if forced. Spares and a healthy manufacturing guarantee means you won’t have to worry about breakages too much though, customer service is very good with the Iolite. Don’t let these insignificant little problems put you off though, the Iolite really is a superb toy for any herbalist. The taste when using a vaporiser is second to none, you’ll never experience flavour like it. The Iolite is also discreet enough to use on the move. With a small hiss like sound when heating up, the device can easily be disguised. With it’s own carry case and extra straw attachments, the Iolite is an all singing all dancing vape that will satisfy portable needs as well as more rooted endeavours. Plus, it can get you as high as a kite, or lightly crisped, what more can you say? HomeGrownOutlaw Also, never hold or pass the Iolite by the straw; the herb chamber will fall off. Perhaps a safety clip would be a prudent measure in subsequent models? The price is perhaps just a little on the expensive side. Once used, try not to remove the threaded straw from the device until it has been warmed a little. The Iolite tends to build up a little residue and Photo: CannabisCulture Magazine ISMOKE | 68 ISMOKE | 69 State How To Become A Medical Cannabis Grower In Colarado This piece was done by our friends over at TheCannaBlog.com who have some amazing content on growing quality meds. side: What are the skills needed to become a grower? 1) 2) 3) 4) Good work ethic and organization skills Strong analytical thinking and creative problem solving skills Experience working on contracts Knowledge on growing techniques and plant care I work at the MMJ Center a few days out of the week to help educate people about growing medical marijuana. I get quite a few people asking “how do I get a job as a grower?”This is a fairly easy question to answer. I would say that as a medical marijuana patient who wants to start growing for your centre, you need to grow a few of your own crops. By doing this it will help you build a portfolio of grows before looking for work as a grower. This way you can show your potential and increase your knowledge base. Being a grower is a lot of hard work! The best way to get into the industry would be to start as a trimmer or bud-tender. Once you have some experience see if you can apprentice under the current grower. It is a lot easier to learn from somebody who already has the knowledge than trying to piece it all together yourself. There is a lot of information on the internet and books on growing, but they do not even come close to shadowing an experienced grower. This will cut down the learning curve and ensure you are doing everything right. I can say here in Colorado you will have a harder time becoming a grower if you are just starting out. This is because of the new regulation that forces medical marijuana centers to grow 70% of their own product and only allowing them to get the other30% from other medical marijuana centers. Other states are not as tight with their regulations. As I said before it is better starting off growing your own, but be sure to check out your local laws before doing so. If you are interested in learning more about growing medical marijuana, please check out TheCannaBlog.com. We have a lot of great high resolution bud pictures, videos, and grow tips! ISMOKE | 71 Denton Ramsey State side: “Cannabis Fear Factor: Stop the Lies, Reefer Madness; Legalize It!” The more and more I read, learn, and become enthralled in this hot box topic called “marijuana legalization,” the more and more I get frustrated. In fact, it’s straight-up infuriating. Many (and likely, most) Americans have no clue whatsoever about the history of cannabis and its eventual prohibition. To steal a line from X-Files creator Chris Carter, “the truth is out there.” It’s in print too. To make a long story short, our government has been lying to us for years, shoving a handful of BS reefer madness down every orifice possible, whenever possible. Let’s stop the lies and take a fearless step in the right direction by standing up for our right to free speech. It’s time to legalize cannabis in America. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again. Legalize marijuana, and numerous “drug war” problems go away. Here’s an even better idea: let’s end this continually failing war on drugs and turn to what President Barack Obama claims is a better choice: rehabilitation clinics. Let’s stop putting non-violent drug offenders behind bars and get them into clinics where they can get help and clean up instead. Let’s quit labeling cannabis consumers as criminals. And let’s change the way this country thinks about ISMOKE | 72 and views this God-made plant called cannabis. To be honest, I hate the word “marijuana;” mainly because it’s a coined-term by politicians meant to strike fear in white Americans and to associate the “loco weed” with Hispanics. Denton Ramsey, Clifford Deuvall, Danny Danko, and Rafiq Mustafaa. Sadly, some things never change in that regard. To this day, a majority of those arrested and incarcerated for pot are black or Latino; yet research proves that Caucasians smoke cannabis more than both African Americans and Hispanics. Wake up, America! I hope and pray this rose-colored goggle view of cannabis ends soon. It gives me hope knowing there are now 15 states (along with the District of Columbia) in this United States of America with legal medical marijuana. And it gives me even more hope that a handful of states have complete cannabis legalization possibilities on upcoming bills. Let’s get cannabis legalized in just one state for now. Baby steps will lead to a domino effect in this war against a plant, and those who decide on a safer alternative in cannabis. Alcohol and tobacco kills thousands annually. Cannabis kills no one; never has and never will. Look at the facts, ladies and gentlemen. Then, follow your heart and do the right thing as an American citizen: legalize cannabis. ISMOKE | 73 Hello ISMOKE readers! S’pose I better start at the start eh..... The name is Cockroach, most know me simply as Cock! But please don’t let that put you off. I was born on the 7/3/2010 on a forum called ThcTalk and I’ve lived there amongst some of the UKs finest! happily ever since. I have to confess (before you get any further and realise yourself - hehehe)...I’m not a writer! And I don’t really know what I’m doing here to be honest... I’m just a silly bugger with a keyboard and too much spare time..... As you will soon to find out. Also, I must plead not guilty to being a medicinal cannabis user, thankfully I’m not of ill health like the many unfortunate medicinal users who actually need cannabis for a better standard of life like my good man Outlaw, who’s actually done a few pieces for ISMOKE... You might know him as Mr Jason Reed? (fame and/ or vaporiser must’ve gone to his head because he doesn’t speak to me since being on TV with that murdering bastard! Martin Fowler!!!)...... anyway I might not be ill.....but I’m sick in a completely different way :D A raging Ganjaholic is what I am, and I have been since I was about 14/15 years old, I’ll probably have cannabis in my life forever as far as I can see now – but people and circumstances can change, plus I never liked saying never about anything really, so don’t hold me to that ok...... actually that’s just philosophical bollocks..... I’m gonna bake ‘til i die. Quite seriously though.. If Weed could fuck you up nearly as much as alcohol then I fear I’d be worse than this guy!... http://bit.ly/hpzaWL I showed you that video above because as I sit writing this tale, I’m just two days fresh from the hospital after failing miserably to stave off my latest case of self-inflicted Gastritis. What a shitter that is I can tell you That was the 3rd time I’ve had it in two years..... Always after drinking alcohol and not always after a big drinking session either, The 2nd time I had Gastritis all I drank the night before was ISMOKE | 74 literally half a bottle of lager with a meal, and the next day I woke up and began to throw up in 10/15min intervals for roughly 12hrs straight... and that’s how it’s gone every time. I wake up. I puke around 10/15 times in an hour. And while I’m testing how far I can spit my intestines across the room I sound something like the Amityville cookie monster in mating season! It’s not long after this point where I really do think I’m going to die! So I beg Cockalina(my better half) to phone the ambulance and off to the local hospital I go, all ready for the usual... which consists of stuff like.... A Word From Cockroach A temperature gun being shot in my ear every 10 minutes, repetitive interrogations from various different Nurses, Dr’s and Consultants all asking me the exact same questions (NHS not quite heard of pen and paper yet it seems), And that inflatable armband that measures my blood pressure taking forever and a day to actually take a reading (which must have been inaccurate because they came back 10mins later and did it all over again)...oh and the Saline drips in my arm and anti-sick jabs to the buttocks. Can I just take this moment to say that “Jabs” is such a small, almost too-soft word.. What an understatement man! I can tell you right now a jab in the arse feels more like a flaming arrow of pain, shot from the Devil’s own gas powered Cross-Bow aimed directly from hell just to make you scream like Michael Jackson at a Justin Bieber concert... or possibly Justin Bieber at a Michael Jackson concert? Depends on how sick you are. Anyway like was saying this was my 3rd time in my local hospital for Gastritis and so for that reason, they had a few new tricks they wanted to show me..... Like how many times a really soft spoken, but at the same time totally unsympathetic Caribbean nurse can totally piss off a sick person by saying “you drank too much beer” – arrrghhhh!!! I thought to myself...”are you serious woman? I mean you don’t see Jeremy Clarkson doing German TV’s version of X-Factor with French subtitles do you? ...No you don’t that’s right!! That’s because he hates both X-Factor and Germans “ A raging Ganjaholic is what I am... I’m gonna bake ‘til I die ISMOKE | 75 equally as much as French caravans! Therefore he would obviously go into work and make everyone’s life a living hell...Why? Because he would hate his job just like an unsympathetic nurse working in a hospital with sick people would!!!!..... ok i was understandably irritable at the time and i only said it in my head so I’m not a complete asshole. The nurse’s next trick was the “groin swab” – I’d never heard of that one before! She said it was something to do with MRSA, though i suspect she just wanted to make my day even worse! It was painless but quite degrading all the same.... Nothing compared to the next trick though. A new Dr came in and said if the vomiting didn’t stop in say 2 hours they were going to put a camera in my gut and see what was occurring... please bear in mind here, that this was after I had gone through 3hrs of Nurse “you drank too much beer”, 3 Saline drip bags, 2 sick jabs in the arse and just been carted off to my shiny new “overnight” room for analysis. As I’m sure you can imagine, After just hearing the words “Put a Camera in your gut Mr Cock” it couldn’t have got any worse right? Well obviously I should have known better: “also Mr Cock we’ll need to look at your back passage” ..... “my back passage?...really?” “yes Mr Cock it wont take a second....its not painful, it might feel slightly uncomfortable but only for a second or two” “Painful? ....You said you wanted to look at my back passage” The Dr sighed and had that look on his face that said.. “cmon mate, you really think i want to be here putting things in your arse?... Work with me here will ya” “Ok doc what do you need to do?” “Ok 1st you will feel some cold gel” “fantastic “... i thought...... “just brilliant” “Then we’re going to insert this swab for just a few seconds and after that we’re done” ISMOKE | 76 “ ” Alcohol is pure evil and Cannabis is far from it. Again I thought...“Oh Wonderful”, then i saw the swab and thought: ”why didn’t i just get feckin stoned instead of going to the pub?” But what I actually said was this: ”Look doc, I’ve had a bit of an accident down there due to the vomiting” He seemed unsurprised and undeterred.....“its fine Mr Cock I’m sure I’ve seen worse before” I politely declined.....“No really doc its a proper mess mate”...and as I glance over to the shower at the far side of the room I say.... “Could I possibly get a towel and clean myself up a bit 1st?” “Ok Mr Cock the nurse will get you a towel and i shall come back in a little while and we’ll get it done ok” He obviously thought I was trying to get out of it… Well of course I bloody was I’m not going to lie, but I actually did fire off a few dud skid missiles in my pants while vomiting and therefore I got in the shower and cleaned myself up. 10mins later I get out of the shower and back in to the bed feeling much much better all of a sudden - its strange how imminent anal penetration can make 12hrs of vomiting seem trivial. 20mins pass and I still feel dodgy but hadn’t thrown up in the time the Dr had been gone so was thinking “you know I might actually swerve this” Just then the door knocks and in comes the doctor swinging his swab of anal indignity about like some E’d up samurai at a jungle rave. “Hello Mr Cock how are we feeling now” “well I’ve been in the shower and haven’t thrown up since you left, so I think I actually feel like I could be ok to go home now” That same sigh and look from the doctor again........“Ok well before that Mr Cock let’s just get this done and hopefully find out what’s going on with you ok” I mumbled really, really quietly....”mmm yeh well crack on then.” “What I need you to do is lie down on your left side, take your trousers below the knee and pull your knees as close to your chin as you can.” just because my beer goggles think they’ve seen her on Jeremy Kyle..... And that, ISMOKER’s, is the last detail I wish to remember/share, The rest has been locked away in that place where you put those never again to be remembered memories, like your mother mooning your in-laws through a police van window at the christening celebration of your child.....(for the record... I don’t condone religion in any way, shape or form!....or mooning!....I just said that for effect) Answer this: Does cannabis actually do any harm to anyone else apart from the user? What I will tell you is that I did squeal like a Piglet,. twice! Once when the gel went on and another big squeal when the swab went beyond the brown abyss. Now there is a moral to that story and the short version is this: Alcohol is pure evil and Cannabis is far from it. Think about it - the only reason I had my cherry broken was because I wanted to watch a football game live on sky in the pub, and i don’t have sky because I’m below the poverty line. Still though I’m not the kind of person to go to a pub and just drink Cola or orange juice.. When in Rome, right? The point is this – If there was a cannabis dispensary or a “coffee shop” with sky, next to the pub? Where would you go? I know for a fact if there was the choice of alcohol or cannabis, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you about my projectile vomiting, arse jabs from hell and anal indiscretions of the embarrassing kind. And let’s not forget the 12 odd hours of Dr’s time I wasted simply because it’s ok for me to buy pints of poison! The real joke is some bastard’s making a killing from it, all while killing millions. You know what’s coming next don’t you? (I hate being predictable) I can’t remember one single time, not one massive weed smoking session, when cannabis alone has ever made me want to punch somebody unjustly! Or helped me end up in a cell for the night so I could “sleep it off ”. Not one time at all when cannabis has influenced me to have sex with a really ugly bird And by harm I mean at worst...Somebody passing out on the couch and waking up on a one man mission to murder all and any snacks that dare cross their path - “Well that’s awful isn’t it? You could end up being a cereal killer?”... Or possibly forgetting to do something not very important at all.... because if it was really important. You would’ve remembered it, stoned like a 1950s American government test monkey or not. Stupidly funny, but at the same time not, if you know what i mean? Just to summarise this drivel at last, I can’t pretend to offer the same medical arguments as my mate Outlaw or shoot from the same political angle as that other good fellow Mr Peter Reynolds...whom I plagiarise daily on Facebook by the way.... I just applaud them both and all the other real, proper activists of cannabis in the UK. Me I’m just a stoner pissed off at having a swab rammed up his arsehole because ultimately the government of the UK are ignoring cannabis users and creating more problems than they are solving by not having a cannabis dispensary or coffee shop next to your local pub. I’ll be going to the upcoming cannabis rally in Hyde Park this May 7th for sure! I’m ashamed to say it will be my first ever cannabis rally… I’ll be wearing a cockroach suit so come find me and say hello (police officers need not apply ) And that’s about it! Cheers for reading stoners... and just in case you wish you hadn’t... I’ll leave you with this “If at any time you look within and feel like a failure, like you can’t do anything right, or that everyone is stronger, faster and more prepared for life than you are remember this: Remember that once upon a time! You were the fastest, strongest, most prepared sperm out of approximately 120,000,000 other love bullets in Daddy’s artillery! Nice one...... Cock ISMOKE | 77 CLEAR, A ONE ISSUE PARTY? A vote for the CLEAR is not a one issue vote, cannabis legalisation covers all aspects of political legislation. This is what cannabis legalisation means for the different aspects of British society in the forefront of voters’ minds and on the main political parties manifestos every year. Crime • • • • More police time to spend on the streets to fight serious and violent crimes. Freeing up of prison services – allowing space for serious criminals to serve longer. Major reduction on court times, saving valuable time and money. Possible reduction of violent crime as much is alcohol based, and cannabis legal isation would promote harm reduction by making the choice a free one, instead of pushing people to the more dangerous of the two drugs. Health Cannabis is proven to be an effective treatment for many diseases and ailments. For many of these ailments it is the single most effective treatment and the introduction of Sativex in the UK testifies to the beneficial effects of cannabinoids on multiple sclerosis. Even opiates such as morphine and drugs that can kill you are offered to people dying of horrible diseases, why not a plant that’s proven to have beneficial effects with little or no side effects? It certainly hasn’t killed anyone in recorded history Less time spent in hospitals for patients medicating with cannabis • • • warming by our oil based consumption. By Clark French Harm reduction Could lead to less tobacco smoking – the number one killer in the UK No gate way to hard drugs that prohibition creates (Dutch cocaine use at 2% with decriminalisation of cannabis, America’s at 15% despite some of the harshest drug laws) Unemployment The legalisation of cannabis brings with it a whole new industry creating much needed jobs for British citizens from across the whole country, jobs would be created in the following sectors: • Medical Cannabis dispensaries • Medical cannabis growing facilities, so patients know they are getting a safe and regulated product. • Hydroponic shops • Head shops that sell cannabis related products • Tourism • Seed and genetic companies • Cannabis based education – “Canna-college” • Coffeshops/cannabis clubs • Media - magazines, films, documentaries, Television, books etc • Manufacturing. – toys/games/ paraphernalia CLEAR would also strive to see the introduction of hemp as a staple of the British farmer which could help to alleviate the damage done by global Education Studies show that cannabis use early on in children can be damaging to some aspects of their development – this is why a system of regulation needs to be put in place. As it is much easier for a 15 year old to buy cannabis from a dealer then it is for them to buy alcohol from a shop – simply because of regulation: • • Reduce the harm to young people Increase awareness of the dangers of using at a young age, similar to the warnings of cigarette packets. The money saved and earned through a new cannabis/hemp industry could be spent on healthcare, infrastructure and education, creating a better future for all. There is already evidence of this in California, where the cannabis industry is already worth $14 Billion in sales each year, almost double that of the second biggest revenue generator – Dairy. With the legalisation of cannabis the cuts themselves could be CUT Clark French www.ismokeherb.co.uk/aboutclark www.clarkfrench.wordpress.com clark@ismokeherb.co.uk Economy An estimated 6 million people use cannabis in the UK – the UK cannabis market is big business for increasingly violent and dangerous criminals. With legalisation Billions of pounds would be taken out of the hands of these criminals and put into the budget by a system of regulation similar to alcohol and tobacco: • • • • • Creation of cannabis based businesses – paying taxes to the treasury Similar tax system to petrol, alcohol and cigarettes, UK TAX is added to the cost of the product. Possibly adding billions to the treasury. Net Vat increase from cannabis and cannabis based products Budget savings from Law enforcement, Court fees, Prison costs, healthcare/NHS costs, reduction in alcohol related crime such as vandalism. Billions of pounds can be created to help our failing economy Freeing up of hospital beds Reduction in hospital waiting lists Some patients can once again work when they previously couldn’t. ISMOKE | 78 ISMOKE | 79 THCtalk.com is a Cannabis discussion forum which was established in May 2007. The website has now grown to a forum with over 16,500 members and 515,000 posts. The forum is hosted in Amsterdam Holland and is soley focused on everything Cannabis, including Cannabis growing. Included in the website is a Gallery with over 66,000 cannabis related photos, including bud shots and fully grown specimens of all your favorite varieties. We have recently also included a movies section which contains dozens of useful videos and help resources for anyone wishing to start growing our favorite plants. A review section has also recently been added that allows you to post a grow and smoke report. We also have a shop to offer you great value seeds and alsorted smoking paraphernalia. Sign up for free today at www.THCtalk.com P U D N A R T O S F O Y R U G I T H R TO E K M S O A C N N B A S I Keep Toking... © COPYRIGHT 2011 ISMOKE PUBLISHING