Thursday, February 24, 2011

Top 5 Drug-Friendly Events in the U.S.

Okay, so the title's a little misleading.  With the exception of #2 on the list, none of these events allow drug use...technically.  Of course, not everyone who goes to these mind-blowing gatherings uses drugs, but for those who do, these 5 life-changing events are the height of hippiedom, the Mecca of moreishness,  the pentacle of COOL, man.  Read on.   

#5--Lollapalooza. 


Created in 1991, this 3-day, 8-stage music festival takes place in Chicago during the summer months.  Attractions include live comedy and dance performances, political/non-profit groups and all the music your ear drums can withstand.  Past performers include Cypress Hill, Beastie Boys, 311, Kanye West, Radiohead, Snoop Dogg, Tool, Kid Cudi, Eminem, the Black Keys, Soundgarden and Metallica.


#4--Bonnaroo. 



Founded in 2002, this 4-day music blowout takes place on a 700-acre field in Tennessee.  Includes a barrage of food and drink vendors, unique crafts and a giant ferris wheel.  Alumni include Jurassic 5, Tori Amos, Weezer, Bassnectar, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Jay-Z, deadmau5, Dave Matthews Band, Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones, Jimmy Cliff and the Marley Brothers. 


#3--Rainbow Gathering. 


Founded in 1972, this seven-day campout takes place on National Forest lands across the U.S. and has hosted up to 30,000 attendees in a single year.  Activities include a silent meditation on the 4th of July and plenty of other impromptu happenings.   This non-commercial counterculture event is one of the few in which alcohol use is not permitted except in designated areas.  Imagine that.


#2--Cannabis Cup. 


The first High Times Cannabis Cup took place in 1987 and recurs annually in Amsterdam each November.  For a fee, attendees pay to be "judges," earning the right to sample hundreds of strains of marijuana and hash as well as the latest paraphernalia.  Features comedy, live music and plenty of other blissed-out revelry.  The Cup has grown in recent years, with an all-time "high" of 2,300 judges attending in 2008.


#1--Burning Man. 


Set in the harsh climate of Nevada's Black Rock Desert, this week-long blowout has it all--crazy costumes, Transformer-esque art cars, 24-hour music and nudity.  Lots of nudity.  Drugs are like currency, being "gifted" in exchange for food, clothes and of course, other drugs.  The "Man" is ceremoniously burned on the second-to-last night, followed by the Temple Burn on the event's final evening.  Since its creation in 1986, Burning Man has grown legendary proportions, with over 51,000 attendees in 2010 alone.  Its motto of "radical self-reliance" is taken very seriously by Burners, who take extra care to pick up after themselves and "leave no trace".  In Mary's opinion, Burning Man is one event all drug enthusiasts should experience before they go to that big ganja field in the sky. 

PrimeTime Special Edition: Ecstasy Rising


Hosted by the late Peter Jennings, this PrimeTime special contains some of the most fair and honest information of any MDMA documentary out there.  A must-see for anyone curious about trying ecstasy.  (Part 1 of 5 from Youtube)

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Q&A: What is the Shelf-Life of LSD?





QUESTION:

Hi 'Mary,' 


I'd like to know if lsd can become ineffective,  or harmful,  over time.  Like, what is the shelf life? 


Supposing a person had put it aside,  for a rainy day.  Putting aside being in 1972.  The lsd being really premium (when new) blotter acid,  originally made in sheets about 5 rows by about 30 rows,  on some sort of paper. No change in appearance. 


Filling in some spaces, this is from a fellow who has always loved rainy days. My sister and I used to take some blankets and hot chocolate out to the garden shed, so we could hear it better,  sitting on a work table looking out the windows,  the garden and beyond that some fields. 


Thanks for your work on this corner of the truth.

---Anonymous


ANSWER:

High there, Anonymous.  You sound like an awesome trip buddy.  Mary also thinks rainy days are the bees knees, right up there with meteor showers and tropical sunsets.  Now onto your query... 

To sum it up, there is no set shelf-life for LSD.  Its staying power depends on the original quality of the drug and the method in which it is stored.  According to Erowid.org, blotter acid can last for many years when kept in a dark, airtight container in a cool and dry location. 

Heat, light, air and moisture are the biggest enemies of LSD potency, so you'll want to keep it out of sunny windows and other hot spots.  Acid degrades gradually at room temperature, so cold environments like the fridge or freezer are best for long-term storage.  To prevent condensation, allow frozen 'cid to thaw at room temperature before opening the container.

A dark glass bottle with a tight lid is ideal for preserving LSD.  Foil and plastic--though not usually airtight--are suitable for short-term storage of three to six months.  While aging does not create harmful compounds in LSD, decades-old Lucy like that mentioned in your post is likely to be significantly weaker than when it was manufactured in the '70s.

Hope that sheds some light on your question.  (But not TOO much light....or heat.)

Your Loquacious Leader in Lucy-Laced Literature,

Mary Microgram



References--

Erowid.org:

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Bath Salts Drug Craze Hits U.S.


"A growing number of states are moving to ban a new synthetic drug known as "bath salts" that can cause severe side effects, including paranoia, hallucinations and sometimes violent behavior."

                                                                                                 -----USA Today


Welcome to the big scary world of bath salts--a new drug craze sweeping the nation.  These so-called bath salts are actually synthetic drugs known as mephedrone and MDPV that are marketed as bath products, plant food and other inedible items to obscure their real purpose:  getting people high. 

Blitzed, 

Blown, 

Blasted. 

Secret's out. 

While there have been reports of psychosis and other severe side effects in bath salt users, these stories are rare and usually involve a combination of irresponsible dosing and underlying mental illness. 

Undoubtedly there is a newsworthy story here, but is it the one we're being told?  While these mind-altering drugs can cause grave harm and even death, most of the tragedies surrounding bath salts are the result of factors other than the drug itself--all of which are totally avoidable.  

Epic Fail #1--High-profile distribution.  Bath salts are sold in public venues like gas stations and convenience stores across the country, where every 15-year-old and his kid brother can buy a pack for himself and his "homies".  Common sense suggests that selling drugs to children--legal or otherwise--is a bad idea.  Kids are prohibited from buying alcohol or tobacco products, so why are business owners stocking their shelves with amphetamine-like drugs and selling them to minors?

Epic Fail #2--Irresponsible labeling.  Bath salt drugs are marketed in a most reckless manner by profit-driven manufacturers who forgo ingredients lists in lieu of cutesy names like "Vanilla Sky," "Ivory Wave," and "Trippin' Balls".  Despite a total lack of regulation, all dietary supplements are required to display a list of ingredients on the label according to FDA guidelines.  Even ephedra--the over-the-counter supplement that killed baseball player Steve Bechler in 2004--was held to this standard.  How can bath salt users determine a safe dose or avoid dangerous interactions when they don't even know what they're taking?  The result is an unnecessary game of Russian roulette that puts lives at risk with every snort, sniff and swallow.

Epic Fail #3--Lack of public knowledge about safer methods of drug use.  The "Just Say No" approach is the intellectual equivalent of abstinence-only sex ed, which is a piss-poor model in terms of effectiveness.  Many times, the things left unsaid by drug educators do the most harm by creating a vacuum of knowledge to be filled with speculation, myths and misconceptions.  The idea that a drug is safe because it's legal is one example, but there are many others.  And it's not just teenage zombies who are spreading disinformation--the media is leading the pack with inaccurate and patently untrue statements about the risks of bath salts.  Early coverage was marred by confusion as reporters misidentified the drugs as actual bath and body products, which speaks volumes about the degree of ignorance surrounding the issue.

For those curious, here's a list of states that have already placed bath salts in Schedule I, making them illegal to possess or distribute.  You've been warned:

*North Dakota

*Hawaii

*Louisiana

*Florida

*Huntington, West Virginia

Currently, at least three other states including Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky are working on legislation to ban bath salts.


Peace Out, Stay Salty--

Mary Microgram

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Monday, February 14, 2011

Q&A: Depression Dilemma--Stick with Subutex or Treat with Tea?





QUESTION: 

I am on subutex at the moment. It does a DECENT job of my depression. Just decent. I got on them because of a poppy tea habit of a few years. 

I have to to say that in those two years, two years filled with confidence, a great sense of well being, no dark clouds, confidence, I made some of my lifes BEST decisions. I started a business that I NEVER EVER WOULD HAVE STARTED without me being of poppy tea. NEVER. ………EVER. But, cause I saw life as a POSITIVE, I went for it, and now, for the first time in my life, I make more than I need….MUCH more. My marriage also got better during this time, at least the part where my wife would constantly complain about me being depressed, down, negative, not a “fun” person.

But, for some reason, I wanted to quit. Can’t really remember why. I know getting the poppies was a pain. Seeds all over the place. Not being able to travel…..I do know one negative was that I got sleepy driving and got into an accident. THAT in itself was the biggest thing for quitting.

Now, Im blue, a downer, a dark cloud following me. Somedays, I just sit there and actually talk to myself. “I have NO REASON to be depressed. None. My marriage is sort of saved, I THROW MONEY away…….Im healthy. My family is healthy…..WHY AM I SO DEPRESSED??

I am really thinking about getting back on tea. And having the subutex for travel, etc.
Any thoughts??


PS. Other buzzes, drinking, coke, etc…does NOTHING for me. I can take em or leave em. A tea buzz is different. Its almost NOT a buzz at all..,…..to me. I don’t like the “nods”, so my buzzes tend to be on the mild side, i guess.


---Nck 



ANSWER:  

Mary understands your predicament very well, Nck.  A little too well in a lot of ways, but that’s neither here nor there.

The bottom line is this:  Without a degree in psychology and personal knowledge of your situation,  I'm in no position to suggest one treatment over another.  What I can do is help you weigh the pros and cons of poppy tea vs. the path you’re currently on to give you a clearer idea of what you want to do. 

Because of the serious nature of depression, treatment should be sustainable in terms of cost, effectiveness, and accessibility.  The first factor—cost—depends heavily on your dose and frequency of use.  Has your pod habit ever become unaffordable due to ever-increasing doses?  If so, you’ll likely find poppy tea an increasingly ineffective and costly habit--one that cannot continue on an upward trajectory forever.
Secondly, consider your sources for poppy tea.  How reliable are they?  The “gray area” legal status of pods makes them subject to random targeting by the law enforcement, which could restrict future access in the event of a crackdown.  Price is subject to the whims of vendors and growers, while unforeseeable events like lack of internet access could impede your ability to obtain your medicine.  What steps could you take to ensure steady access to poppies?  And what are your backup options if access becomes restricted in spite of your efforts?      

Finally, how manageable was your poppy tea use in the past?  (It counts to be honest with yourself here).  Opiates are a highly addictive class of drugs—the more you use, the less effective they become until eventually they don’t work for your depression at all and you're taking them just to prevent sickness.  If you’re serious about using tea to help manage depression, Mary suggests taking a measured dose of tea at the same time each day and not using at any other time for any other reason.  You wouldn’t double drop Prozac to deal with a hard day; the same should go for pods...right? 

In terms of long-term health risks, poppy tea is no more dangerous than other opiates and may be even less harmful due to its unique mix of naturally occurring alkaloids that act as a safety net against overdose (to a degree).  Standard depression and anxiety meds like SSRIs can also cause side effects and long-term health issues, making them unsuitable for many patients.  The biggest risks of poppy use are tolerance and addiction, which can make depression symptoms 100x worse.  As long as you bear this in mind and remain honest with yourself about your patterns of use, poppy tea can remain a viable option in your arsenal against depression.

Your Precocious Pal in Poppy Prose,

Mary Microgram

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Welcome to the New Home of Just Say Know!

Hey friends!  Mary Microgram's blog has moved to its new home at Blogger.com.  Same content and user-friendly format, new look.  Please send your drug-related questions to Mary here or at her email address:

truthaboutdrugs@gmail.com

Peace, Love and Safety!

Mary Microgram