Dirty Pictures (Shulgin Documentary)

Below is a link to Dirty Pictures, the new Ann & Sasha Shulgin documentary.  Please support these lovely people by donating or buying the DVD.  

http://www.novamov.com/video/z7afhb7j612al

Walmart: The Walmart of Meth

World's Dumbest Criminals will have to fight PeopleofWalmart.com for this one....

It's a chilly Sunday afternoon.  Like so many other Bible Belt dwellers, 45-year-old Wal-Mart shopper Alisha Halfmoon is milling through the aisles of her favorite hangout when she begins taking products from the shelves and building a makeshift meth lab...inside the fucking store.

According to KJRH:

"She's been arrested before for the manufacture of methamphetamine. While speaking with some of the firefighters on the scene she made statements that that's what she was doing that she was attempting to obtain these chemicals and was in the process of trying to manufacture methamphetamine. However she said that she was not very good at it," said police officer David Shelby.

You can say that again.

If this isn't proof positive that meth causes brain damage, nothing is.   Mary would run around Wal-Mart stark-ass naked with cowbells tied to her nipples before she would attempt to set up a meth lab in a public venue.  Not only is it illegal, it's downright tacky.  Was this lady raised in a BARN or something?! 

Oh.

Reference:

KJRH.com: Woman Arrested After Trying to Make Meth Inside S. Tulsa Walmart

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/tpd-respond-to-meth-lab-inside-s.-tulsa-walmart

Dope Jams: Sippin' On Some Syrup

"Sippin' On Some Syrup" by 3 6 Mafia.  From the album, When the Smoke Clears (2000).

Just Say Know Gets Practical

If you follow this blog, you already know the importance of harm reduction.  But where can you find affordable testing kits, scales and other harm reduction equipment?

Introducing Mary's Shop of Horrors:  an online store designed with smart psychonauts in mind.  We have everything you need for safer use, including clean syringes, vaporizers, digital scales, detox kits and more.  Browse products, check customer reviews and make purchases all from the comfort of your home.  We accept all major credit cards and payments from your checking account.  If you're not satisfied with your purchase, you can return it for a full refund in most cases.  What's not to love?

We also carry general accessories like herb grinders, glass screens, pipes and papers.  Our store is located to the right of this post.

Happy shopping!

♥,
Mary Microgram

Synthetic Drugs Act Hits House of Reps

Looks like Christmas is coming early for gangsters, dope pushers and cartels this year.  

H.R. 1254—also known as the Synthetic Drugs Act of 2011—is set to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives sometime in the coming weeks.  The bill would ban a long list of chemicals from the cannabinoid, stimulant and psychedelic classes.  Like recent bills of its kind, the Synthetic Drugs Act will place currently-legal chemicals in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act alongside heroin, crack and other “hard” drugs.   

Nevermind that there’s literally ZERO medical research to determine whether these drugs meet the Schedule I criteria of “dangerous and addictive with no medical value”.  I mean, who cares if they're not addictive, have caused virtually no deaths and could one day be found to cure some deadly disease?  They’re evil, and they must be stopped.  Think of the children.   (Fun fact:  most of these substances would be completely unknown if not for drug prohibition, which makes safer alternatives illegal, scarce and notoriously impure).

A few of the more well-known substances covered by the bill include JWH-122, 2C-E, ethylone and 2C-I.  There are many others. 

You can track the progress of the bill here. 

Book Review: No Speed Limit: The Highs and Lows of Meth

Click to buy "No Speed Limit"

No Speed Limit: The Highs and Lows of Meth takes a somewhat controversial stance on what is currently known as America's #1 drug epidemic--methamphetamine.   While it doesn't glorify or promote meth use (far from it), the author goes to great lengths to debunk some commonly held myths that are generally accepted as fact by laywomen like you and me.  The result is a captivating, frightening and emotional story whose ending has yet to be written. 

The book opens with the author doing something both brave and stupid:  indulging in meth—a drug he’d long since given up after a not-so-successful run several decades ago.  The result is the startling realization that today’s meth is far more potent and “scary” than that of the ‘70s and ‘80s. 

From there, we’re taken through a high-speed history of meth, from the discovery of ephedrine in the 19^th century to the meth labs of today.  Perhaps the most disturbing factoid is that meth and other amphetamines are THE most widely-prescribed class of drugs in the history of American pharmacology.  As stated on page 92, “By 1958, the legal production of amphetamine pills had reached an astonishing 3.5 billion, enough to supply every person in America with twenty standard doses."  Yikes.  We also see the role meth played in World War II, fueling brutality on all sides in Hitler’s army, the Japanese kamikaze missions and the American effort. 

This book covers a lot of ground, debunking meth myths while introducing us to the human toll of meth use in America.  While its format is somewhat chaotic, each section offers enough information to satisfy the reader’s curiosity while leaving something to the imagination. 

RATING:  **** of *****

Laugh Attack: Spuiten & Slikken

Spuiten & Slikken is a Dutch TV show in which the host tries a different drug every week and reports the results.  It's sort of like America's Funniest Home Videos, complete with the sitcom-esque laughter in the background.  It's refreshing to see how other cultures view drug use and puts into perspective how militant the U.S.'s attitudes really are.  Sure, we have Intervention and Celebrity Rehab, but those shows aren't exactly lol-worthy now are they? 

Not sure why he's painted black in this one, but I LOL'd.  This is the "Speed" episode by the way :) Hit the CC button for subtitles.   

NAACP Calls for an End to the Drug War

Times they are a-changin'...at a snail's pace it seems.

You won't hear it from mainstream news, but last week the NAACP made a 180-degree turn regarding its views on the drug war.

From the Miami Herald:


Said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous in a written statement, “These flawed drug policies that have been mostly enforced in African-American communities must be stopped and replaced with evidence-based practices that address the root causes of drug use and abuse in America.” 

While this may seem like a no-brainer, the NAACP is arguably the nation's most conservative Civil Rights organization, making their paradigm-shift a pretty big deal.  If you aren't convinced of the drug war/racism link, consider this:  Even though blacks make up only 1/3rd of all crack users, more than 80 percent of those sentenced for crack-related crimes are black.  Despite this inconvenient truth, our president, who at one point denounced the War on Drugs and was widely supported by Black voters (and happens to be Black himself), is furthering the system put in place by our one of our nation's most corrupt leaders (Richard Nixon) in 1970. 

As more people wake up to the fact that the drug war is not only a massive failure but a suppressive, one-sided attack on humanity, expect the level of anti-drug propaganda to increase along with it. 

To quote Obama in 2004: "The War on Drugs is a complete failure." 

 Takes one to know one.

Amy Winehouse Dead at 27

Amy Winehouse in her younger days

R&B/pop songstress Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment on Saturday, July 23rd.  While the cause of death has not yet been determined, drugs and/or alcohol are suspected to have played a role.  Her most recent tour in Belgrade was cut short due to her intoxication and inability to perform.  Winehouse has publicly struggled with drug and alcohol addiction since her rise to stardom in 2007 with her hit song, "Rehab," from the album Back to Black.

With her untimely death, Winehouse joins other musicians including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain in the "27 Club": artists who died at the tragically young age of 27 due to drug overdose.   

Just last month, Mary featured Winehouse in her "Faces of Meth: Celebrity Edition" piece, which listed stars who have battled amphetamine addiction.  Despite the lighthearted tone, there is nothing funny about drug addiction.  Whether you enjoyed her music or not, please take this situation for what it is: an opportunity to evaluate your own habits and learn about safer drug use.  Or better yet, stop using altogether.

Amy will be deeply missed by friends, family and fans around the world.

Dope Jams: "Purple Pills"

"Purple Pills" by D-12.  From their 2001 album, Devil's Night.

The Controlled Substances Act: A Visual Guide

Click here to embiggen

Here's an interesting visual aide featuring all the drugs in the Controlled Substances Act.  Taken from Sasha Shulgin's latest Facebook post (yes, the Sasha Shulgin).  

Marijuana Decriminalization in Miami Beach

In the midst of a pill mill media frenzy, Florida could be getting some good news on the drug front—marijuana decriminalization.

According to the Miami New Times, a Miami Beach pot legalization group known as Sensible Florida collected 9,000 signatures for a measure that would let smokers off with a $100 fine instead of jail time.  That’s double the number of sigs needed to get the measure on the ballot.  While this is not Florida’s first attempt at decriminalization, it is the first to draw high-profile celebrity support and aggressive local campaigning.  (Among its public supporters are Alfred Spellman and Billy Corben, director and producer of the hit documentary Cocaine Cowboys). 

While full-on legalization is the ultimate goal, any change involving more sensible drug laws is a step in the right direction.  A change we can breathe in. 

UPDATE:  The Miami Beach City Commission has refused to place the issue on the November ballot, citing the law's possible "unconstitutionality".  If at least 4,300 of the signatures are verified, a citywide vote could take place to pass or fail the new law.  The question is, when? 

Bath Salts Banned States

     1.  "My state recently banned bath salts.  What exactly is a "bath salt" and which drugs are included in the ban?"

     Bath salt is a catch-all term referring to a group of synthetic compounds with similar pharmacological effects.  The very definition of "bath salt" varies from state-to-state, making the laws difficult to interpret.  For the sake of this review, we'll define "bath salts" as follows:

*Mephedrone//MDPV//3-FMC//4-FMC ("flephedrone")//BK-PMMA ("methedrone")//methylone//butylone. 


2.  "What happens to a drug, and its users, after a ban?"

Banned chemicals go into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act along with hard drugs like heroin and crack.  It then becomes illegal to possess, sell or manufacture said drug for any reason.  Anyone caught doing so will be treated as if it was heroin or crack--often facing heavy fines, hard time or other forms of indentured servitude.


3.  "Which states have already enacted bath salt bans?"

~STATES WITH ACTIVE BANS~

WA:  Mephedrone, MDPV

OR:  All except 3-FMC

ID:  ALL

UT:  ALL

WY:  ALL

NM:  ALL

ND:  mephedrone, MDPV

KS:  ALL

OK:  All except butylone

AR:  All except butylone

LA:  All except butylone

MS:  mephedrone, MDPV

AL:  All except butylone

GA:  mephedrone, MDPV, 4-FMC, BK-PMMA, methylone

FL:  mephedrone, MDPV, 3-FMC, BK-PMMA, methylone

KY:  mephedrone, MDPV, methylone

WI:  mephedrone, MDPV

WV:  mephedrone, MDPV

VA:  mephedrone, MDPV

NJ:  All except butylone

PA:  All except butylone 
IL:  MDPV (All cathinones?)

4  Are more bans on the way? 

Yes.  See below.

~STATE BANS AWAITING ENACTMENT~ 

IN, TN, NC, TX

***Absence from this list does not imply that a substance is legal.  Check your local and state laws before purchasing bath salt drugs.  

In addition to state laws, several Federal bills have been proposed to make bath salts illegal at the national level.  You can track the status of each bill below: 

H.R. 1254--Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011 

s. 605--Dangerous Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011

H.R. 1571--Combating Dangerous Synthetic Stimulants Act of 2011

s. 839--Combating Designer Drugs Act of 2011

s. 409--Combating Dangerous Synthetic Stimulants Act of 2011

I will attempt to update this list as I hear of new bans.  If I've left anything out, please contact me and I'll correct it ASAP.  And remember:  ignorance of the law is no defense for breaking it!  Not in a court of law, anyway.  Staying informed is the key to freedom in a police state such as this. 

Be Safe Kiddos,

Mary Microgram

Skin-Rotting Substance Found in U.S. Cocaine

If you think the Russians--with their flesh-eating krokodil--have a monopoly on drug-induced skin diseases, think again.  We have yet another gangrenous scandal to report, this time involving cocaine.

According to Science Daily, cocaine users have been coming down with a strange skin condition known as purpura, or purpling of the skin.  The disease is thought to be caused by levamisole--a substance added to cocaine by drug dealers as a bulking agent.

Once used to treat cancer, levamisole is rarely prescribed to humans today due to the risk for serious side effects (see rotting ear above).  Its main use is in veterinary medicine, where it is administered to livestock as an anti-worming agent.

Science Daily reports that levamisole was detected in about 30 percent of cocaine samples confiscated in 2008 and a whopping 70 percent in 2009.  For all you statistical geniuses out there, that's a huge increase.  Phenomenal really.  This unfortunate situation hits even closer to home than the horrific krokodil story and is poised to affect thousands, if not millions, of Americans.

Call me a preachy Patty, but it has to be said:  gruesome complications like these could be completely sidestepped by ending the drug war.  While the strange skin condition is caused by levamisole (NOT cocaine), mainstream media will likely blame it on cocaine itself, finding yet another excuse to spew forth vile propaganda.  Until governments and health agencies take back control of street drugs, people will continue to suffer needlessly as a result of drug impurities, abstinence-only drug education and other state-inflicted issues. It's time we stand up and demand smarter drug policies in America.

Obama, won't you lend us your ear?



References:
Science Daily: Contaminated Cocaine Triggers Decaying, Dying Skin

Rare Drug Profile: Jenkem

Scientific Name:  Feces, urine (methane).

Effects:  Auditory/visual hallucinations.

Description:  Jenkem is a hallucinogenic substance made from fermented human excrement.  The active compound is methane gas, which produces symptoms like dizziness and hallucinations when inhaled.  While Jenkem is a real phenomenon among poor Zambian children, reports of an American jenkem epidemic have been debunked as a hoax. 

Methods of Ingestion:  Inhalation.

Side Effects/Risks:  Fecal/oral contamination, hypoxia.

Sample Trip Report:  "It lasts about an hour.  With glue, I just hear voices in my head.  But with Jenkem, I see visions.  I see my mother who is dead and I forget about the problems in my life." (BBC News) 

References:

BBC News: World: Africa Children High on Sewage

Krokodil: The World's Most Dangerous Drug

If you thought jenkem was bad, you ain't seen nothin' yet.  Meet krokodil, a drug that's arguably the most gruesome byproduct of drug prohibition since it began.  Simply typing the drug’s name into Google images produces an onslaught of stomach-turning pictures of rotting flesh (you’ve been warned).  So what is this monster drug and who is using it?

Krokodil is a slang term for homemade desomorphine—a heroin-like drug that is made from a caustic mixture of codeine, paint thinner, gasoline, hydrochloric acid and red phosphorus.  The name comes from the Russian for “crocodile” and refers to the green, scaly appearance of the skin after injecting the drug.  Understandably, most chronic users don’t survive longer than two or three years and often end up with permanent disfigurations.  Because of its high acidity, krokodil often causes gangrene and amputations, even after only one use. 

So who the hell is desperate enough to use this drug?  Short answer: poor Russians.  In Russia, where heroin has become scarce in the past few years, krokodil has become a growing trend due to the easy availability of OTC codeine.  According to Time magazine, somewhere between a hundred thousand and 1 million people were thought to be injecting the drug in 2010. 

Needless to say, krokodil and other deadly imitation drugs would not exist if not for drug prohibition.  By making safer drugs (in this case, heroin) illegal, we open the doors to an endless array of Frankendrugs like krokodil.  This situation is another frightening example of how far we humans will go to alter our consciousness, providing further proof that addiction will never be "defeated" within our species--drug war or no.  Suddenly, 'Just Say No' doesn't sound so extreme.   

Faces of Meth: Celebrity Edition

The word "meth" often evokes images of toothless rednecks, burly biker gangs and other unsavory elements of society.  The "Faces of Meth" ad campaign, which showcased the drug's Progeria-like effects in all their scab-encrusted glory, is burned into our nation's collective psyche as a warning against meth abuse.  While the folks featured in the ads were everyday trailer trash like you and me, anyone can fall prey to "the Devil's Drug."  Even celebrities.  Especially celebrities.  And so it is in the spirit of accuracy and equal representation that I present to you--Faces of Meth: Celebrity Edition.  

Fergie

 Fergie, lead singer of the Black Eyed Peas, has publicly copped to using meth before her rise to international stardom in 2001.  In an interview with People Magazine, she refers to meth as "the hardest boyfriend I ever had to break up with."  The Dutchess beat the addiction using a combination of hypnotherapy and soul-searching.  Let's just hope it didn't phunk with her heart.

Andre Agassi

 As stated in his autobiography, tennis great Andre Agassi used meth for "a year or so" during his reign as tennis champ in the late '90s.  His secret remained concealed even after failing a drug test, which was discarded when he claimed to have "unwittingly" taken the drug.  Sounds like a bald-headed lie to me.

John F. Kennedy

 One of America's most beloved leaders may have been more doped up than the lot of us.  Along with steroid injections for Addison's disease, JFK received daily doses of amphetamines, Demerol, Methadone, Ritalin, Miltown, thyroid hormone and various barbiturates.  And yet he was still more competent than every president who followed him.  All in a day's work for a true American hero. 

Jodie Sweetin

 As the charming middle daughter on Full House, sitcom sweetie Jodie Sweetin shocked the world when she confessed her addiction to meth; which she details in her memoir, UnSweetined.  While she claims to be sober today, Sweetin admits using ecstasy, meth and cocaine during her 2009 sobriety tour.  How rude. 

Amy Winehouse

 Once ranked among R&B greats like Macy Gray and Sarah Vaughan, singer Amy Winehouse spiraled out of control with the quickness after releasing her 2007 album, Back to Black.  While her exact drug arsenal is unknown, it's safe to assume that one or more amphetamines played a role in the downfall of her career.  And her teeth.

Adolf Hitler

From violent aggression to suicidal paranoia, no one embodies the effects of meth better than Adolf Hitler.  Like JFK, the Fuhrer received daily injections of multiple drugs, including Pervitin--a meth pill abused by soldiers on all sides of WWII.  By the end of his evil reign, Hitler exhibited many classic signs of meth abuse, including premature aging and Parkinson-esque hand tremors.  Wie Bezaubern.

Heidi Fleiss

Notorious Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss has done her fair share of meth, as seen in exhibit A (her face).  Along with ex-hubby Tom Sizemore, she appeared on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew after being busted on drug charges in 2008.  Fleiss has since quit speed, divorced Sizemore and lives in Pahrump, NV with her 20+ parrots.  A fairy tale ending fit for a queen.

---Mary Microgram

Senator Schumer Targets Drug Dealing Website

 
Lookit, kids!  It's Charles Schumer, the dude who waged a widely publicized war on "Bath Salts" a few months ago.  The senator is now setting his sights on Silk Road, an eBay-like website dealing in illicit drugs. 

From Wired.com:

"Silk Road, a digital black market that sits just below most internet users’ purview, does resemble something from a cyberpunk novel. Through a combination of anonymity technology and a sophisticated user-feedback system, Silk Road makes buying and selling illegal drugs as easy as buying used electronics — and seemingly as safe. It’s Amazon — if Amazon sold mind-altering chemicals."

To all of my well-informed readers, I ask this question:  How many of you had ever heard of this website before Schumer's rant?  Despite Mary's heavy involvement in the online drug discussion community, Silk Road is news to her.  Just like bath salts, Silk Road has gained mainstream attention via stories like this...and just like bath salts, online drug dealing will thrive in spite of (because of?) politician tantruming.  The question is, on what scale?  I'd like to personally thank Senator Schumer for helping ensure the growth of the online drug trade, which eliminates at least some of the dangers of street-corner deals.

You can thank him here.



Source:

Wired.com: Underground Website Lets You Buy Any Drug Imaginable

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/06/silkroad/

Rare Drug Profile: Ethchlorvynol (Placidyl)

Scientific Name:  Ethchlorvynol

Effects:  Depressant (sedation, intoxication, slowed breathing).

Description:  Ethchlorvynol, better known by the brand name Placidyl, is a now-obsolete depressant drug with barbiturate-like effects.  Chief Justice William Rehnquist was addicted to the drug for nine years before his death.  Placidyl was discontinued in 1999 due to its high risk for side effects and abuse.

Method of Ingestion:  Oral.  Available in 100, 200, 500 and 750 mg. doses.

Safety Precautions:  May cause respiratory depression, unconsciousness, coma, cardiac arrest, addiction or death. 

Sample Trip Report:  "On several occasions after taking Placidyl 750's I remember the following day drifting into the wildest vivid dreams and saying some off the wall shit that would have people around me in tears! I guess I'd slip into REM for just a few seconds, but a few seconds of REM seems like an hour! I turned a girlfriend onto one and remember her screaming "pass the fucking butter!!" while she was passed out. I woke her up and she thought she was at the dinner table eating corn-on-the-cob!!! I guess I probably went through withdrawals at times, but I didn't realize it because those words weren't spoken in those days." (Bluelight)


Source:

Erowid.org: Ethchlorvynol Vault
http://www.erowid.org/pharms/ethchlorvynol/ethchlorvynol.shtml

Dope Jams: Cocaine

"Cocaine" by Eric Clapton.  From his 1977 album, Slowhand.

Florida Law Requires Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients

Florida sets a dangerous precedent with its new law requiring welfare recipients to undergo drug testing to receive assistance.   

From Reuters.com:

"The measure makes Florida the only state to test all recipients of the federal program known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, according a Washington-based public policy group that says other states have chosen less obtrusive ways to monitor drug use.

The new law, a version of which was struck down by a federal court in Michigan in 2003, requires recipients to pay for the tests before qualifying for benefits and periodically after they receive them.

The law was one of Scott's campaign promises. Supporters say it will help ensure that taxpayer money is used to get families on their feet and not to fuel drug habits at state expense.

"While there are certainly legitimate needs for public assistance, it is unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction," Scott said in a statement released after he signed the bill during a visit to Panama City.

"This new law will encourage personal accountability and will help to prevent the misuse of tax dollars."

Beginning July 1, recipients who test positive for drugs would be denied benefits for a year. A second failed test would result in a three-year ban.

In two-parent households, both adults would be tested. Benefits to children could be awarded to a third-party recipient, who must also pass a drug screen.

The law will not affect the federal food stamp program.

Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and Florida Legal Services, said they will decide in coming weeks if they plan to file suit against the law on the grounds that blanket drug tests are unconstitutional.

Federal law allows states to screen for drug use under the TANF program, which provides a maximum $300 a month cash assistance to needy families. The program, which replaced traditional welfare in the mid 1990s, has a 48-month lifetime cap on benefits.

Other states have studied the issue and decided testing all recipients was not cost effective, the Washington-based Center for Legal and Social Policy said in a study released in January.
Most states have drug assessment programs that do not include urine or blood tests. Some require drug tests from recipients who have been convicted of felony drug crimes.

During debate about the law, critics pointed to a pilot testing program in Florida that was shut down in 2001 after it showed no significant difference in drug use between welfare recipients and the population at large.

"The wasteful program created by this law subjects Floridians who are impacted by the economic downturn, as well as their families, to a humiliating search of their urine and body fluids without cause or even suspicion of drug abuse," said Howard Simon, executive director of ACLU Florida, in a statement."

While Mary does not support the use of welfare money to purchase illicit substances (who DOES?), she detests the invasion of privacy even more.  Drug use does not necessarily indicate a). addiction or b). use of taxpayer money to purchase drugs.  (Consider that marijuana stays in your system for up to a month after use, in which case sharing a joint with a friend could result in an empty cupboard for your kids weeks later.)  One frequently overlooked detail: the new law does nothing to prevent alcoholics and smokers from receiving welfare despite their collective cost to society, which is greater than that of all illicit drug users combined. 

America already requires drug testing for jobs and organ transplants.  What's next?  At this rate, we could be facing drug tests just to receive medical care, public education or worse.  I urge you not to sit idly by and wait for that day to arrive.  It may not be as far off as you think.  

Source:

Reuters: Florida To Test All Welfare Recipients for Drugs
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/31/us-florida-welfare-drugs-idUSTRE74U6W320110531

Stoner Events Guide--June 2011

June 2-5:  Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival--Ozark, AR

http://www.wakarusa.com/

June 5:  World Environment Day

June 9-12:  Bonnaroo--Manchester, TN

http://www.bonnaroo.com/

June 16-19:  Telluride Bluegrass Festival--Telluride, CO

http://www.bluegrass.com/telluride/

June 21:  First Day of Summer

June 24-25:  Electric Daisy Carnival--Las Vegas, NV

http://www.electricdaisycarnival.com/

June 25-26:  Gay Pride Festival--San Francisco, CA

http://www.sfpride.org/

June 29-July 3:  Summerfest--Milwaukee, WI 

http://www.summerfest.com/flash2011/

Should I Try MDMA?

QUESTION:

My bf got ahold of two molly capsules last weekend and wants me to take it with him.  I've read everything i can find about ecstasy and think I'm ready to take the plunge! :)  I'm a little nervous but still think it will be fun.  Any last minute advice, i.e. fun things to do?  Reasons I shouldn't do it? (no health problems that I kno of) THANKS MARY!


---Anonymous 


ANSWER:

Thanks for your question, Anonymous.  I commend you for doing your research and giving it careful consideration beforehand.  Way to not die.

It sounds like you're not 100% sure you want to try MDMA, in which case it would be better to wait.  Before trying a new drug, Mary advises people to ask themselves a few basic questions:

1.  What is the end goal of using the drug?  (What do I want to take away from the experience?)
2.  Are there any other ways to achieve the goal that don't involve drug use?
3.  Am I prepared to handle a really bad trip?
4.  Am I prepared to handle a really good trip?  (Overwhelmingly positive experiences can make everyday life seem dull by comparison, leading to abuse and dependence.)

If you decide to use MDMA, it's important to take the proper precautions. Start with a low dose, choose a comfortable, safe environment and do not combine MDMA with other drugs (including alcohol).      

As for activities, many people enjoy sensory experiences like listening to upbeat music, eating Pop Rocks or receiving massages.  Dancing is fun too, but make sure to drink plenty of water or an electrolyte-rich sports drink to prevent dehydration.  Some users like to take MDMA at parties or other large gatherings; others prefer more intimate settings.  The activities you will enjoy depend largely on your reasons for using MDMA in the first place (see Question 1 above).

In the end, you have to make the final call on whether MDMA is worth trying.  Even if your boyfriend loves the drug, there is no guarantee that you will, too.  And remember, you're not infringing on his rights by abstaining, but he would be infringing on yours by pressuring you to do something you're not ready for.  Just a thought.


*Sidenote:  If you're under 18, I strongly suggest waiting until you're older to try MDMA, as not much is known about its effects on the developing brain.  Like any drug, MDMA can be habit-forming and becomes less safe the more it's used.  Why not wait until later in life to take those risks?  After all, the drug known as "ecstasy" is not going away any time soon.


Your Majestic Maven of Molly Magic,

Mary Microgram

Bromo-Dragonfly Deaths in Oklahoma

Cody Weddle, 20, was arrested for supplying the deadly dose.

Yet another reason to avoid large doses of unknown drugs--

"OKLAHOMA CITY -- Seminole County authorities said a second person has died after taking the drug first thought to be 2C-E at a home in Konawa last weekend.

Andrew Akerman has been listed in critical condition since taking the drug, but authorities said he died Friday morning.  Investigators said eight people took the powerful hallucinogenic, which has similar effects to ecstasy, at a home in Konawa on May 7.

After chemical analysis of the drug, officials now believe the actual substance was another powerfully-hallucinogenic designer drug know as Bromo-DragonFLY.

Stacy Jewell, 22, died after taking the drug. The other seven were injured. The young adults obtained the drug from Cody Weddle, 20, who, investigators with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said, bought the drug off the Internet. He was arrested on a first-degree murder complaint in Jewell's death, but the D.A.'s office said they are still deciding what charges they plan to file."

This story is close to Mary's heart because of her personal ties to Oklahoma...and research chemicals.  While accidents like this are rare, the fact remains that--short of reagent testing--there is no way to be sure a given drug is what it claims to be.  This goes for street drugs as well as "legal" drugs like 2C-E and MDPV.  If you don't own a test kit, the best alternative is to start with a miniscule dose when taking a new batch of drugs.          

Source: 

News on 6:  Second Victim Dies After Taking Designer Drug in Konawa

http://www.newson6.com/story/14641463/second-victim-dies-after-taking-designer-drug-in-konawa?clienttype=printable

Dope Jams: Dr. Greenthumb

"Dr. Greenthumb" by Cypress Hill.  From the 1998 album, IV.

Rare Drug Profile: Bromo Dragonfly

Scientific Name:  1-(8-bromobenzo[1,2-b;4,5-b']difuran-4-yl) -2-aminopropane

Effects:  Hallucinogen (visuals, changes in mental perception, mild stimulation)

Description:  Bromo-dragonfly is a potent, long-acting synthetic hallucinogen with phenethylamine-like effects.  First synthesized in 1998, this rare specimen is best known for its role in a gruesome case of gangrene in a (Swedish man) and other deaths around the world.  Despite its catchy name, bromo dragonfly is best avoided by all except the most experienced psychonauts.  

Methods of Ingestion:  Active in microgram doses.  Usually taken orally in doses ranging from 100 mcg. to 1 mg.

Safety Precautions:  Vasoconstriction, gangrene, seizure, accidental overdose, death.

Sample Trip Report:  “This trip progresses like a steam wheel...heavily, huffing, puffing. This trip is forced out of my brains, I taste iron in my mouth, sometimes I'm a little bit scared...about everything, and nothing. Maybe not scared but worried, or something like that….I seem to be unable to form logical sentences in Finnish. :D Constructing sensible sentences is a hard work for me.

I CAN NOT compare this to shrooms or LSD. Sure we are in the same universe, but in entirely different planet, solar system or galaxy. I’m worried about the physiological effects of this drug. If this would not be a research chemical I could just let go and enjoy the experience. I think my body temperature rose at the beginning since I was really cold all the time... Then again I was cold just minutes ago, so maybe it's just FUCKING COLD in here!?! :D At least my sense of humor is still working. Sometimes I feel itchy, and my kidneys feel strange, but then again, they feel strange sometimes when I eat shrooms. Is this just my imagination?”

Source:

Erowid.org: Bromo-dragonfly Vault
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/bromo_dragonfly/bromo_dragonfly.shtml

Stoner Events Guide--May 2011

May 1: May Day

May 5: Cinco de Mayo

May 27-30: Sasquatch! Music Festival--George, Washington

http://sasquatchfestival.com/

May 28: Santa Cruz Blues Festival--Santa Cruz, CA

http://www.santacruzbluesfestival.com/

May 28-29: Carnaval San Francisco--San Francisco, CA

http://www.facebook.com/sfcarnaval

May 30: Memorial Day

How Do I Get a Medical Marijuana Card?

QUESTION:

Long story short, I used to smoke weed daily until my friend got busted last month.  I haven't smoked since then and feel nervous all the time, can't sleep, ect. but am to paranoid to toke . I live in Montana where medical mj is legal but don't know anyone who gets it.  Can you tell me how to get a medical marijuana card?  I really want it by the end of this year if not sooner.

I have really bad social anxiety and ADHD if that helps?  Thanks!!

---Anonymous 


ANSWER:

Dear Anonymous,

Sorry to hear about your friend.  While your paranoia is probably unnecessary, caution is certainly warranted when using an illegal drug.  I'm no legal expert, but avoiding arrest definitely falls under the category of "harm reduction" which I know a thing or two about :) 

Before going on, let me warn you that a medical marijuana card is not a magic shield against prosecution.  Lawmakers determined long ago that marijuana is addictive, dangerous and has no legitimate medical use, hence its placement Schedule I.  Even with a medical card, you can get into serious trouble if you're caught driving under the influence or carrying more pot than your state law allows. 

As for obtaining a license, the process varies from state-to-state.  Here is a basic overview to get you started:

1.  Research the qualifying conditions in your state to see if you meet the requirements.  Norml.org provides a detailed breakdown of the symptoms and conditions eligible for treatment with marijuana. 

2.  Schedule an appointment with a marijuana-friendly physician in your area.  When discussing your symptoms, be as honest and thorough as possible.  Focus on the ways your condition impairs your daily functioning, different treatments you've tried and anything else you consider important.  Your doc may also look at medical records and other data, so lying is not a good strategy. 

3.  Fill out the application form and send it in along with any additional fees or identification required by your state.

4.  While waiting to receive your card, make use of your time by researching your state's mmj laws.  The number of plants you're allowed to have and other details are more than strong suggestions--violations can result in serious legal trouble. 

*Additional Tips:

DO:  Take a symptom log to your doctor's appointment.  No need to write a novel; a few sentences about the severity and duration of your symptoms (date and time optional) is enough.  The benefits of a symptom journal are twofold--it helps you remember important details while showing your dedication to finding a solution. 


DON'T:  Show up to your appointment late in full hippie regalia with weed and Cool Ranch Doritos on your breath.  Doctors don't take kindly to drug-seeking "laymen" who insult their medical intelligence with poorly-crafted lies. No need to wear a suit and tie, but do make an effort to be clean, on time and prepared for your appointment.

Mary Microgram

 

Rare Drug Profile: Coleus

Scientific Name: Coleus blumei, pumilus

Effects:  Mild hallucinogen (visuals, enhanced dreams, euphoria, sedation)

Description:  Coleus is a brightly colored plant used traditionally by the Mazatec Indians as a substitute for Salvia divinorum. While its active components have not been identified, users report effects ranging from nothing at all to highly visual psychedelia with euphoric overtones. 

Methods of Ingestion:  Between 50 and 70 large leaves.  Can be eaten whole, smoked or brewed into tea.

Safety Precautions:  None known, though nausea may occur at higher doses.   

Sample Trip Report (from Erowid.org):  “At this point I was excited because it was starting to kick in. After the next 10-15 minutes I started to feel extremely happy, and my body was all FUZZY (that’s the only way to describe it). All I could do was smile, and the whole time I felt like laughing, but I couldn’t. I just had that pressure feeling in my throat like when I’m about to laugh. on top of that, EVERYTHING had an aura (a glowing color around the object), and everything had a different one. And to my eyes, my skin looked blue and green around the edges of my limbs.”


Source:


Erowid.org:  Coleus Vault
http://www.erowid.org/plants/coleus/coleus.shtml

Flashback: The First Bicycle Day

Because of its close proximity to 4/20, Bicycle Day tends to get overlooked by many in the counterculture community.  Not this year! 

In this excerpt from LSD: My Problem Child, scientist Albert Hofmann describes the moment he discovered the psychoactive effects of LSD, which also marked the first recorded acid trip in human history: 

"Last Friday, April 16,1943, I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory in the middle of the afternoon and proceed home, being affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away...

By now it was already clear to me that LSD had been the cause of the remarkable experience of the previous Friday, for the altered perceptions were of the same type as before, only much more intense. I had to struggle to speak intelligibly. I asked my laboratory assistant, who was informed of the self-experiment, to escort me home. We went by bicycle, no automobile being available because of wartime restrictions on their use. On the way home, my condition began to assume threatening forms. Everything in my field of vision wavered and was distorted as if seen in a curved mirror. I also had the sensation of being unable to move from the spot. Nevertheless, my assistant later told me that we had traveled very rapidly. Finally, we arrived at home safe and sound, and I was just barely capable of asking my companion to summon our family doctor and request milk from the neighbors.

In spite of my delirious, bewildered condition, I had brief periods of clear and effective thinking—and chose milk as a nonspecific antidote for poisoning."

Source:  Hallucinogens.com
http://www.hallucinogens.com/hofmann/child1.htm

Dope Jams: "Easy Skanking"

Easy Skanking by Bob Marley.  From the 1978 album Kaya.

Opiates Most Widely Prescribed Drugs in U.S.

Sound the alarm; it's a painkiller panic!  In the wake of the South Florida pain clinic scandal comes this timely account published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  

From Science Daily:

"Prescriptions for hydrocodone and oxycodone account for 84.9 percent of opioid prescriptions.  Over ten years, there has been a fivefold increase in admissions to substance abuse programs for opioid addiction.  Penn Medicine researchers are already looking into possible solutions to address these issues."

Translation:  Legitimate pain patients can expect a fivefold increase in untreated pain as doctors turn them away for fear of losing their license.  Oh well, there's always heroin. 

Source:

Science Daily:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110405161906.htm