Back in the early 1970's I smoked a lot of pot (again, as told in Dream Weaver ). I had chosen a college in Philadelphia to feel what the city was like, and by the end of the first semester, I knew - and absolutely hated it. I was miserable, and at the same time discovered that my next-door neighbor in the dorms had smuggled a large stash of hash oil out of Morocco the summer before. He had a pot party going that never stopped, and when I entered his room second semester, neither did I. This would eventually lead to me leaving the school, before I flunked out, to hitch the country.
So I know a lot about cannabis, and that is why the sudden surge towards legalization interests me. I have no ax to grind, being neither pro nor anti. After bathing in the stuff for nearly three years, I have little desire to use it again - although if legal, I would grow some, because I like farming - but couldn't care less if others do. But there is something about pot that a lot of the "squares" - those who haven't a clue about it - don't know, and the pot heads aren't talking about, for a reason. It does not have to do with the tendency of pot to reduce your drive to success - it does for many, including myself back in the city - but everyone knows that. It has to do with what the high does with consciousness.
Cheech and Chong go "Oh, wow, far out!" in their camp 1970's movies, and it all seems about getting stupid, but that's not it at all. As most regular smokers or takers know, the high often takes one to different ways of thinking, some that are far and away from the norm. One begins to experience synchronicity, or the actions of the cosmos on the individual. One connects dots in events that may or not be paranoia, but are very strange and convincing indeed. One's attitude towards society changes perceptively - the rest of them, the squares, appearing to not have a clue. Regular work seems pointless. Poverty, as long as it is comfortable, seems fine, and not because one has lost initiative, although that may happen too, but because, from the altered state of consciousness, getting ahead seems ridiculous.
In short, it can change how one thinks about the world, and this new thinking is not in concordance with the goals of mainstream America.
Back in the 70's, we believed that pot was improving in quality, with sinsemilla coming in at about the time I got out of using it. What I have heard now, however, and once by a guy who grows legal medical marijuana, is that the new stuff is 20 times the potency of the old stalk- and- seed weed. 20 times! Back in the day, one could cook a batch of brownies and experience a large dose of THC - which seemed remarkably like the psychedelics (of which I also had experience). Truth is, it IS a psychedelic (as is, by the way, very strong concentrations of nicotine - which is also toxic near such doses). America is unaware of this, although it is aware that drugs such as LSD are dangerous to the fabric of thought of our society. And so is pot, used regularly in its current strength. Given a large enough distribution through society - as would come with legalization - it would profoundly change society. Alcohol, while dangerous, does not do that. In fact, alcohol works hand-in-hand with our society, as does coffee and as did cigarettes. But not pot.
And so I find it interesting. It seems general legalization is around the corner and few really know the significance. Many pot users feel it would bring a more peaceful society, which might be true, albeit a poorer one. One wonders, though. In Somalia, they use ghat regularly, a narcotic of sorts which I don't know much about, but it has certainly not brought them peace. Afghanistan has opium - 'nuff said about that. And hashish was first made famous by the Hasheeshens (sp), who used it before murderous attacks on soldiers and merchants alike. So what it would do here is up in the air - except that it would do something.
It may be that "it," the high, needs a proper container - that is, a sacred meaning in the high to make it worthwhile. That would be my guess. Psychedelics have been used for the good for thousands of years under such contexts, while in America, they quickly wasted a portion of American youth in the 60's. If I had advise to give - and I am not expected at the next Pot Conference any time soon - I would suggest such a thing. Work out, among thoughtful users, a sacred protocol. Use the rituals Native Americans have for such things as peyote, as well as other worthy sacred concepts. Turn that spaced-out high into a door rather than an individual experience of the weird -which, as we see, might lead to anything. Then, who knows? Against all societal prognostications, it might actually work out for the best for us all. But in any case, legalization is going to bring a change a lot larger than most think. Fascinating. FK
So I know a lot about cannabis, and that is why the sudden surge towards legalization interests me. I have no ax to grind, being neither pro nor anti. After bathing in the stuff for nearly three years, I have little desire to use it again - although if legal, I would grow some, because I like farming - but couldn't care less if others do. But there is something about pot that a lot of the "squares" - those who haven't a clue about it - don't know, and the pot heads aren't talking about, for a reason. It does not have to do with the tendency of pot to reduce your drive to success - it does for many, including myself back in the city - but everyone knows that. It has to do with what the high does with consciousness.
Cheech and Chong go "Oh, wow, far out!" in their camp 1970's movies, and it all seems about getting stupid, but that's not it at all. As most regular smokers or takers know, the high often takes one to different ways of thinking, some that are far and away from the norm. One begins to experience synchronicity, or the actions of the cosmos on the individual. One connects dots in events that may or not be paranoia, but are very strange and convincing indeed. One's attitude towards society changes perceptively - the rest of them, the squares, appearing to not have a clue. Regular work seems pointless. Poverty, as long as it is comfortable, seems fine, and not because one has lost initiative, although that may happen too, but because, from the altered state of consciousness, getting ahead seems ridiculous.
In short, it can change how one thinks about the world, and this new thinking is not in concordance with the goals of mainstream America.
Back in the 70's, we believed that pot was improving in quality, with sinsemilla coming in at about the time I got out of using it. What I have heard now, however, and once by a guy who grows legal medical marijuana, is that the new stuff is 20 times the potency of the old stalk- and- seed weed. 20 times! Back in the day, one could cook a batch of brownies and experience a large dose of THC - which seemed remarkably like the psychedelics (of which I also had experience). Truth is, it IS a psychedelic (as is, by the way, very strong concentrations of nicotine - which is also toxic near such doses). America is unaware of this, although it is aware that drugs such as LSD are dangerous to the fabric of thought of our society. And so is pot, used regularly in its current strength. Given a large enough distribution through society - as would come with legalization - it would profoundly change society. Alcohol, while dangerous, does not do that. In fact, alcohol works hand-in-hand with our society, as does coffee and as did cigarettes. But not pot.
And so I find it interesting. It seems general legalization is around the corner and few really know the significance. Many pot users feel it would bring a more peaceful society, which might be true, albeit a poorer one. One wonders, though. In Somalia, they use ghat regularly, a narcotic of sorts which I don't know much about, but it has certainly not brought them peace. Afghanistan has opium - 'nuff said about that. And hashish was first made famous by the Hasheeshens (sp), who used it before murderous attacks on soldiers and merchants alike. So what it would do here is up in the air - except that it would do something.
It may be that "it," the high, needs a proper container - that is, a sacred meaning in the high to make it worthwhile. That would be my guess. Psychedelics have been used for the good for thousands of years under such contexts, while in America, they quickly wasted a portion of American youth in the 60's. If I had advise to give - and I am not expected at the next Pot Conference any time soon - I would suggest such a thing. Work out, among thoughtful users, a sacred protocol. Use the rituals Native Americans have for such things as peyote, as well as other worthy sacred concepts. Turn that spaced-out high into a door rather than an individual experience of the weird -which, as we see, might lead to anything. Then, who knows? Against all societal prognostications, it might actually work out for the best for us all. But in any case, legalization is going to bring a change a lot larger than most think. Fascinating. FK
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