history
The history of marijuana, including political resistance and social advancements.
History of the Opium Wars
In the 24th of May, 1839, perhaps in honor of Queen Victoria's birthday, the sun rose confidently over London and shone steadily throughout the day, uninterrupted by the clouds which plague even the best of English weather. But Lord Auckland, Governor General of Britain's colonies in India, received bad news from China as he was dining in the customary splendor of the occasion at Simla. In a determined attempt to finally end Britain's opium trafficking in China, the Chinese Imperial commissioner of Canton, Lin Tse-hsu, was holding the British trading community and the British Government’s Superintendent of Trade, Charles Elliot, hostage in their factories outside Canton. The ransom was to be 20,000 chests of opium. Thus began the Opium Wars.
San Francisco's Marijuana Supermarket
Okay, I confess. I was once a customer at the once famous San Francisco Big Top marijuana supermarket. I wasn't the only one. At east 5000 or 6000 other people in San Francisco could make the same claim including Paul Krassner, Tim Leary, the Tubes and an 80 year old shopping bag lady. So it was hardly an exclusive club.
Randy CobernPublished 8 years ago in PotentHistory of Drugs in Soap Operas
Soap operas and drugs have more in common than most people would imagine. For one thing, they both can be addictive and have equal viewers to users. For another, the soaps pioneered the subject of drugs in their shows. Conservative housewives who watched the original soaps have witnessed in recent years, between tear jerks: people slipping pills in other people's drinks as if they were ice cubes; accidental (and not so accidental) drug trips, drug dealers, deaths by overdose, cocaine addictions, drug treatment centers, stolen prescriptions, and more, much more, as the world turns.
Potent StaffPublished 8 years ago in PotentHow to Prepare Kava Kava
Found on South Pacific islands, Kava has acted as a sedative for islanders. Used in religious ceremonies and for medical treatment, Kava has a similar impact on brain waves the way certain medicinal sedatives like valium. It produces a calm feeling but decreases in potency over repeated use.
Most Ridiculous Anti-Drug PSAs
There are great ways of selling the message "Stay away from drugs, kids!" but anti-drugs public service announcements, or PSAs, really aren’t it. Ridiculous and hysterical, you can only take these seriously if you’re already high. And, if you’ve ever settled down to an evening snickering at Reefer Madness, then you’ll already know just how hysterical a piece of finely crafted drug propaganda can be. Just remember that the makers of these videos hoped, and even expected, that you’d take them all utterly seriously.
Biggest Weed Busts Ever
Not surprising that the biggest weed busts ever occurred in the first 15 years of the 21st century. As the global cry for legalization hits its highest note, so too does an anxious criminal element that is at risk of losing employment. With manufacturing facilities, farms, and dispensaries popping up throughout the states that have already legalized marijuana, illegal distribution is maximizing what is a short life span for career pot dealers. Perhaps this is the final crescendo of big weed busts as the legalization movement continues to grow.
Frank WhitePublished 8 years ago in PotentFamous People in History Who Smoked Weed
History repeats itself and that's a good thing if you are a marijuana advocate. History is filled with individuals without whom there would be no legalization effort today. Many of the most famous people in history who smoked weed were famous not for their smoking, but for their contribution to cannabis culture.
Craziest Cannabis World Records
Of the thousands upon thousands of people that strive to set world records each year, only a handful succeed. From the world's largest ball of yarn to the world's largest fingernails, people have thought of some incredibly unique ways to get their names into the record books. This statement stands true for connoisseurs of cannabis as much as it does for anyone else. While the following categories don't all appear in the Guinness Book Of World Records, the craziest cannabis world records have been well documented to set a very high bar for any competition to come.
Potent StaffPublished 8 years ago in PotentDope Dealer Days
In 1963 I took my first hit of LSD, which in a way saved my life, since it stirred in me a desire for adventure that forced me to move out of the nest and away from the Bronx. The Bronx I left is now virtually gone, save for the few ghosts that remained out of fear. Most of my old Bronx ghetto friends from the dope dealer days are now either burnt out zombies, in prison, or dead.
Randy CobernPublished 8 years ago in PotentHow a Siamese Abbot Cured Opium Addiction
For decades, Chamroon Pachandra was feeding a mysterious and ancient Siamese herbal mixture to those who wanted relief from the “Opium Devil,” and 30,000 ex-addicts swear to its amazing power.
Potent StaffPublished 8 years ago in PotentDangers and Delights of Shrooms
Psilocybin mushrooms are nature's own psychedelic, more visual in their hallucinations and smoother and shorter-lasting in their effects than LSD. The principal genera of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms can be found growing wild in most parts of the world, or can be cultivated with relative ease in the home. Their possession and use aren't technically illegal in Florida based on a 1978 case, Fiske v Florida, which ruled that wild picked psilocybin mushrooms weren't illegal. The police can still arrest you, but supposedly this case can help your case.
Potent StaffPublished 8 years ago in PotentHistory of LSD
“I feel like I’m part of a gathering of the most exquisite rascals of the age!” Ram Dass exclaimed at a colloquium in 1977 at the University of Santa Cruz entitled “LSD—A Generation Later,” featuring the man who discovered the king of the psychedelics himself, Dr. Albert Hofmann. With dozens of acid aficionados attending, it was the first time to get public record of the thoughts and feelings these masterminds had on what could be considered a miracle drug.
Frank WhitePublished 8 years ago in Potent