I’m Sure that many of our regular readers will initially take umbrage at the Zen Buddhist saying quoted above—from these cannabis cultivators' point of view, grass hardly grows by itself. The herb requires high-pressure sodium lights, carefully calibrated nutrients and an unbelievable level of care and attention to flourish during this time of prohibition, which is why HIGH TIMES has been reporting on the ins and outs of how to grow your own for over 30 years.
Marijuana-law reform may have been set back a hundred years by the recent devastating incident in Mayerthorpe, Alberta [James Roszko, who grew marijuana, shot and killed four Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers on March 3.—Ed.], but blaming marijuana is nonproductive and ill-advised.
This Super Skunk clone was grown organically under a 400-watt metal-halide Hydrofarm Daystar with Agrosun Gold bulb. I also used FoxFarm and Earth Juice nutrients with GreenFuse Bloom Stimulator. The frosty cola above has been dried and made ready for smoking.—Mr.
LEARN HOW TO TELL WHO'S POT-FRIENDLY-AND WHO’S NOT FRIENDLY-IN A CROWD.
PHYSICAL APPEARANCS
VERBAL CUES
CULTURAL REFERENCES
LEADING QUESTIONS
THE DIRECT APPROACH
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“So, do you ever, you know, uh, like to have a smoke?” It doesn’t matter if you're talking to a coworker, a new friend or even a potential love interest—marijuana can be a tricky subject to broach. Many people live a double life when it comes to Mary Jane, keeping her a secret from all but a few like-minded buds.
A READER WRITES TO RELATE THE DANGERS OF FAULTY JAY-DAR.
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I personally know of two college roommates who were matched up randomly freshman year and spent the entire first semester hiding their heavy-duty pot-smoking from one another. In fact, I was one of those roommates, and my roommate was the other.
OBVIOUSLY STONED DUO MAKE DARING WILDLIFE RESCUE, GET BUSTED FOR POSSESSION.
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There's an old saying that no good deed goes unpunished, and unfortunately the sad tale that's about to unfurl offers no exception to that rule. In this case, two good friends who should have been patted on the back for their heroic efforts ended up getting arrested instead.
"The noble search for truth has been hijacked by a growing army of conspiracy theorists," writes editor-in-chief James Meigs in Popular Mechanics' March issue, which featured a cover story titled "Debunking 9/11 Lies." The article covered several easily disproved theories that began spreading on the Internet after the disaster, the most prominent of which were that no plane hit the Pentagon and that the Twin Towers were demolished by explosives.
CIVIL WAR WRACKS A FORMER HIPPIE HAVEN AS MAOIST REBELS TRADE HERB FOR ARMS.
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JOSEPH R. PIETRI
I first traveled to Nepal in 1970, when pot and hashish were legal and could be purchased in government-licensed shops. In those days, the capital city of Kathmandu represented Nirvana for the world's marijuana smokers—the end of the now-famous Hippie Trail that started overland from Amsterdam or London through Europe to Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, before finally reaching the end at New Road (known to this day as Freak Street!).
MAJOR LEAGUE STARS SWAT CONGRESSIONAL SOFTBALLS DURING STEROIDS HEARING.
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The House Government Reform Committee recently spent a couple of working days enjoying an extended meet-and-greet with some of Major League Baseball's biggest stars of the '90s, including Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Curt Schilling.
ORUG-ADDICTED DRUG WARRIOR GETS A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE.
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"I just remember how ecstatic I was when I found it, former District Attorney Richard James Roach told The New York Times in February, describing not a crucial piece of evidence that would lead to a criminal conviction, but a crucial piece of overlooked evidence he could pocket and later take to the barn behind his house to get high off.
1 HUNTER S. THOMPSON Our tribute to Dr. Gonzo begins on page 58. 2 PANAMA RED Rumor has it that Red’s back in town. 3 EDDY LEPP HIGH TIMES Freedom Fighter of the Year suffers another federal raid and vows to keep on growing. 4 SICK DAYS Go ahead, take the day off.
Calling all achievers: Roll your way to this annual celebration of all things Big Lebowski, including a special appear ance by Jeff Dowd—the real-life Dude who inspired the classic Coen Brothers comedy. tebowskifest.com August 17-23 PSYTOPIA Jamaica A seven-day psychedelic festival featuring an incredible array of speakers, bands and multimedia freak-outs.
Is your bong collection worth more than your car? Do you carry at least five different brands of rolling paper at all times so you can choose among them depending on your mood? Have you ever refused to hang out and smoke a friend's weed simply because you had better weed waiting for you at home?
I was in the City of Sin when my mother called to tell me that Dad had just gotten out of surgery. Mom sounded exhausted and in need of support, so I hopped the first train home. called Dad's hospital room from onboard and was pleased to hear him answer the phone.
I have been lying to everyone I've ever loved or cared about, including you. I admit that what I have done is wrong and that I have slim to no chance that any of you will forgive me, let alone smoke with me ever again. But I can live the lie no longer.
Dirty martinis and filthy minds prevail at Screw magazine's relaunch party.
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BOBBY BLACK
"Stray Cat Strut" synchronistically shuffled itself onto my iPod as I emerged from the subway station and sauntered over to the Tainted Lady Lounge in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—a trashy yet classy pin-up-themed bar, decorated with a plethora of paintings and old photos of bare-breasted beauties from before you were born.
Austin is one of the few places in America where the counterculture flowered. Despite being Located in the heart of Texas, Austin boasts more headshops and stoners per capita than probably any city save San Francisco. It has great music, cheap beer and incredible Tex-Mex food.
it' completely normal for a band to change,to mature with age, evolve over time, steep in brown liquors, random women and various types of drugs. But who knew it could all happen so fast? And, more importantly, why in the world would you want it to?
For many years, I have taught my simple organic method of indoor growing at overgrow.com as BushyOldGrower. "BOG" is also short for "Bonanza of Green," which is my simple two-room system. My method of Elevated Double Potting evolved from an accidental discovery.
Holland's largest legal. psychoactive-mushroom farm was founded by two broth ers—Ali and Murat—who've never personally sampled their own psychedelic produce. "We don't have time for it," Murat explains, although he and his partner did take time out to guide HIGH TIMES through a tour of Procare's 45,000-square-foot facility, which includes an office, a laboratory and a nursery capable of producing 770,000 pounds of fresh mushrooms per year.
Other than green, purple is the most common color in living marijuana. Triggered by seasonal temperature changes (just as trees change color in the fall), the vibrant hues of the mature pot plant are also the result of genetics and the creativity of the cultivator or breeder.
On the wall of my office, directly across from my desk, hangs an amazing photograph, a treasured possession presented to me by my dear friend, the late Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, in appreciation of the small role I played in keeping him out of prison as the 1980s came to a close.
Hunter had just finished breakfast as the sun wiggled over the horizon. I was perched across from the outlaw journalist at his sprawling Colorado ranch when he said, "One thing I've always been very good at is choosing friends." We were having the kind of stripped-to-the-essence conversation that you wish could last forever.
HUNTER S. THOMPSON WAS A BRILLIANT JOURNALIST—WHEN HE ACTUALLY COMPLETED AN ASSIGNMENT.
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PAUL MEASSNER
HIGH TIMES founder Tom ForÇade and gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson shared a few things in common—like suicide. Ah, but while they were alive, they were both dedicated dopers and enthusiastic adventurers. One time, Forçade phoned me on behalf of Thompson, who wanted to invite me onboard a yacht he'd rented in order to cover the 1970 Ameri ca's Cup yacht race in Rhode Island.
Liberace's grinning, lipsticked visage sits atop a freestanding marquee on the corner of Tropicana and Spencer in Las Vegas, directing tourists towards the Liberace Shopping Plaza-home of the Liberace Museum, where devotees of the late entertainer can gape at the celebrated jewels and wardrobe that earned the flamboyant pianist the title "Mr.
I'm building a 4' x 6' x 7' growroom. Will one 600-watt high-pressure sodium light be enough? I'm using Fox Farm fertilizer and soil. How hard will it be to keep humidity levels low here on the Texas Coast? JB Texas Gulf Coast Dear JB, With just 168 cubic feet, your best bet is to let the air conditioner control temperature and humidity.
Growers frequently use the term "phenotype" incorrectly to describe only basic sativa-or indica-like qualities. In reality, phenotypes can be much more than just these oversimplified traits. What does "phenotype" really mean? I consider phenotype as the observable/qualifiable/quantifiable representation of a given trait.
Advanced Nutrients (AN) has taken plant food to another level. While many companies produce excellent nutrients, only AN provides plants with total nutrition. Their cutting-edge products incorporate the latest plant-science technology to utilize macronutrients, amino acids, hormones, vitamins, enzymes, yeast extracts, microbes, beneficial bacteria and fungi.
The latest in circular growing systems, GI Grow eliminates the possibility of dripping liquid onto plants and lights. Nutrients feed from the top utilizing a unique injection technology, as opposed to the typical bottom-fed dip-and-soak method. This innovation also provides increased oxygen to roots. The units are expandable, so a 144-plant unit can be upgraded to a 240, and a 240 to a 336. The 144-plant system utilizes a single 400-watt or 600-watt lamp. The 240 and 336 units can be used with dual 400-watt or 600-watt lamps;. 1,000-watt lamps can be used in the 336, but only if air-cooled well. All of the units use 3" x 3" x 2.5" rockwool, coco slabs or cubes. Price: 144-plant unit, $3,000; 240-plant unit, $3, 900; 336-plant unit, $4,600. Contact: West Coast Growers, (888) 924-4769, westcoastgrowers.com.
West Coast Growers
Schwagg Baggs
$350
Several companies market products that separate resin glands from trimmed pot leaves to make hash. Whether you call it "water hash," "bubble hash" or full melt," ice-water-extracted trichomes pack a serious punch of almost pure THC. Easy to use and durable, the eight-bag kits from Schwagg Baggs utilize straps to keep them firmly secured to your buckets to provide several different grades of medicinal-quality hashish. Commercial growers love the 33-gallon kit for larger loads. Turn your trash into stash. Price: 5-gallon set, $350; 33 gallons, $500 plus shipping. Contact: Nature's Medicinal Cooperative, (661)392-9353 or mail blank money order to P0 Box 11956, Bakersfield, CA 93389.
West Coast Growers
Guardian Angel
$16.90
Difficult to diagnose and even harder to reverse, root rot caused by bacteria and fungus can ruin a whole hydroponic cannabis crop. Root rot makes seemingly healthy plants wilt and fall over and infests tubing, pumps, growing media and reservoirs. Guardian Angel protects roots by disabling harmful germs throughout your grow system, whether hydro or soil, and even helps root cuttings. Put an angel in your tank and watch the roots bounce back and thrive. Price: 500 ml., $16.90; 1 liter, $3 1.30; 4 liters, $93. 14. Contact: Just'n Tyme, (866) 703-0609, justn-tyme.com.
West Coast Growers
HOT-AIR VALLOON
$129.99
Here at the HIGH TIMES research facility, we get many vaporizers sent to us, each seeking to dethrone the mighty Volcano—but few ever come close. An interesting exception, the Valloon from Vriptech scores immediate points for its innovative glass-to-glass design that markedly improves upon the flavor of the vapor. The Valloons unique and versatile assembly allows it to be used with a standard Steinel heat gun (standing up or as a converter) to make almost any water pipe into a vapor-cooling delivery device. Even Volcano owners can upgrade their units and experience less "smoky" balloons with this fully compatible apparatus. Growers and pot snobs alike use the Valloon to sample their cannabis in its full aromatic splendor. Keep all of those hints of sandalwood or lemon fully intact with the Valloon. Price: $129.99 (heat gun not included). Contact: Vriptech, vriptech.com.
Crimes of Indiscretion Marijuana Arrests in the United States
A NEW REPORT UNDERSCORES THE FOLLY OF THE DRUG WAR.
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ALLEN ST. PIERRE
The NORHL Foundation recently released a comprehensive county-by-county marijuana arrest and use analysis. The report concludes that federal marijuana laws which rely primarily on criminal penalties and law enforcement are an ineffective policy tool to control the sale and use of marijuana.
Judie Niskala got her start in marijuana activism as a sophomore at Southwestern University. My friends and I were sitting in a coffeehouse complaining about the country's marijuana Laws,' she recalls, "so we decided to do something about it."
At the 2005 National NORML Conference in San Francisco, conversation ran from gossip to game plan. Curiously, most of the attendees were either over 50 or under 30, and a full 12 percent of the overall attendance came from NORML chapters on college campuses in Florida.
Right around dusk on a warm summer evening, this girt I know called and said that she wanted to go for a road cruise and get high. She had to sneak out because her parents are strict and ask a lot of questions, even though she obviously does whatever the hell she wants when she's away at college.
Is marijuana an aphrodisiac? Will the next governor of California be a potlegalizing porn star? What kind of fan makes plaster casts of rock stars' most private members? Why can't the same woman advocate on behalf of both marijuana reform and legalized prostitution?