Analysis: Legal Cannabis Associated with Less Alcohol-Related Pedestrian Fatalities

Younger generations are also beginning to veer away from alcohol in favor of cannabis and psilocybin, and new research shows that state-level cannabis legalization laws may be even more influential regarding alcohol use and its associated risks.

According to a new study published in the journal International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences Research, the adoption of legal cannabis laws on a state level is associated with reductions in the number of alcohol-related fatalities involving pedestrians.

The study was conducted by two Florida Polytechnic University researchers, who examined the relationship between cannabis legalization and frequency of pedestrian-involved fatal crashes between 1985 and 2019. The study used data from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Cannabis Legalization and Pedestrian Fatalities: An Ongoing Question

The authors point to the potential benefits of cannabis law liberalization beyond its therapeutic potential. They reference the growing literature showing an association between medical cannabis laws and decreased traffic fatalities, citing the evidence that the decline was due to substituting cannabis for alcohol. 

Moreover, they reference the mixed evidence as to whether alcohol and cannabis are substitutes or complements in consumption, with some states seeing an increase in alcohol use after legalizing cannabis and others the opposite.

The analysis of overall pedestrian fatalities, those involving alcohol and legal cannabis laws revealed a number of findings. Similar to previous research, the study found that medical cannabis laws were followed by a statistically significant reduction in overall fatalities and in daytime fatalities involving alcohol; nighttime fatalities involving alcohol also saw a decline, though it was not statistically significant.

Following recreational cannabis laws, the study similarly found a statistically significant decline in alcohol-related daytime fatalities and a decline in nighttime alcohol-related fatalities that was not statistically significant. There were no apparent changes in daytime or nighttime non-alcohol-related fatalities related to either medical or recreational cannabis laws.

Affirming the Alcohol Substitution Hypothesis

Researchers referenced the expectation that recreational cannabis laws might have larger impacts than medical cannabis laws, though they suggest that a state’s permissiveness toward cannabis use is generally well-captured by the presence of medical cannabis laws, resulting in fewer differences between states with medical cannabis laws only and both medical and recreational cannabis laws.

The study notes that this can be a complex topic, given the lack of available data on recreational cannabis laws. It’s further compounded by different histories, policies and norms state-by-state, even if they all share a common thread of legal adult-use cannabis. They admit that recreational cannabis laws could even be shown to lead to more pedestrian fatalities “under some sets of circumstances.”

“As of 2019, we find liberalization has been associated with lower pedestrian fatalities, not higher. Further, the pattern is consistent with the alcohol substitution hypothesis,” the researchers conclude. “Specifically, the induced decline in alcohol related fatalities following liberalization is large enough to more than compensate for any additional fatalities due to marijuana consumption.”

Other Reasons For U.S. Increase in Pedestrian Fatalities

The authors also point out that, while state-level cannabis laws were associated with lower pedestrian fatalities, pedestrian fatality rates in the U.S. as a whole began to rise in 2009. They similarly pointed out that the data did, in fact, coincide with cannabis liberalization in the U.S., though a 2018 study similarly examining the increase of pedestrian fatalities over a 10-year period didn’t explicitly blame cannabis or high drivers.

In fact, the report highlighted that the use of cell phones could be a possible cause for the country-wide increase, referencing a 236% increase in active smartphone use from 2010 to 2016. In tandem, the number of cell phone-related emergency department visits increased during this period.

The report also noted that a number of other factors can impact the number of pedestrian collisions and deaths. Specifically, lower fuel prices, good weather and better economic conditions can all translate into more miles driven and walked.

The post Analysis: Legal Cannabis Associated with Less Alcohol-Related Pedestrian Fatalities appeared first on High Times.

Illegal Synthetics, Amanita Hemp Cup Products, Cannabis Music Banned – The Cannadelics Sunday Edition

Welcome to our weekly newsletter, The Cannadelics Sunday Edition, emailed to our subscribers every Sunday morning 11am est, with the main items of the week. This week we look into Illegal Synthetics, new Amanita mushroom Hemp Cup products, Cannabis music and media getting banned, Cannabis tourism in Uruguay, Trainspotting, Argentina hemp laws, Amanita beginners guide and types of hangovers and more.

As always, In addition the weekly digest, the newsletter comes with few of our Deal Of The Day offers. As always, the best Cannabis and Psychedelic products are reserved for our readers, so subscribe today or use the sign-in form below:


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The Cannadelics Sunday Edition (2/26/2023) – Illegal Synthetics, Amanita Hemp Cup Products, Cannabis Music Banned and more

Hi,

Welcome to the Cannadelics Sunday edition, going out every Sunday with the top stories from the cannabis and psychedelics industries. This week we have a mixed bag of stories as well as a few deals from our deal-of-the-day segments.

Thanks for stopping by!


DEAL OF THE DAY

Amanita HHC Gummies

Amanita HHC Gummies

Be a part of history by trying out the latest Cannadelic additions to the 2023 High Times Hemp Cup – the new Amanita HHC gummies and Amanita HHC joints, both featuring psychedelic mushrooms. High Times has never before included these types of products in their hemp cup, making this a groundbreaking event. 

Of particular interest are the more potent offerings, such as the Amanita HHC Amanita gummies and the Amanita D8 joints. The HHC gummies stand out for two reasons: they feature HHC (hexahydrocannabinol), a simplified version of THC, and they’re a rare combination of gummy and chocolate. 

If you’re curious to try them out, CLICK HERE and use the “cannadelics” coupon code to save 20% on your order. 

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

This week we have a pretty even mix of both cannabis and psychedelics news. Among this stories, we have one explaining the DEA’s clarification on Illegal Synthetics. We’re also covering a recent ban on cannabis themed music and media in the Dominican Republic, a federal judge’s rule on cannabis and guns in Oklahoma, new Amanita mushroom products in hemp cup and so much more!


Illegal Synthetics:

Illegal Synthetics: DEA Reiterates That Synthetic Cannabinoids Are Illegal

Illegal Synthetics: DEA says synthetic cannabinoids are illegal
Illegal Synthetics: DEA Reiterates That Synthetic Cannabinoids Are Illegal

This debate has been raging on for years- are synthetic “hemp-derived” cannabinoids federally legal or not? Some claim vehemently that they are, while others remain skeptical. However, a recent statement from the FDA offers us some clarity, claiming that synthetic cannabinoids are in fact, illegal, even if they are hemp-derived. 

Continue reading »


Amanita Mushroom Products at 2023 High Times Hemp Cup Kits

Amanita Mushroom Products at 2023 High Times Hemp Cup Kits
Amanita Hemp Cup products
(Screenshot from https://hthempcup.com)

The 2023 High Times Hemp Cup is introducing a new product to the competition – Amanita Hemp Cup products that contain muscimol from Amanita muscaria mushrooms, combined with popular cannabinoids. The Amanita Hemp Cup products include gummies and pre-rolled joints containing muscimol combined with HHC, Delta 8 THC, and CBD.

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Dominican Republic Banned Cannabis Themed Music & Media

Dominican Republic Banned Cannabis Themed Music & Media
Dominican Republic cannabis

While most of the cannabis-related news stories these days show different regions relaxing regulations against the plant, some places, are heading steadfast in the opposite direction. Take the Dominican Republic, for instance. Not only are they not even considering any type of cannabis legislation, they actually took things a step further and banned cannabis themed music and media.

Continue reading »


Uruguay Working Toward Cannabis Tourist Industry to Fight Black Market

Global cannabis tourism
Global cannabis tourism

Although it often flies under the radar in many discussions on the subject, Uruguay is the world’s oldest, legal recreational cannabis market. If we follow what happens there, it can give us a good indication of what may transpire in other legal markets throughout the world. Currently, Uruguay is working on bolstering the cannabis tourism industry in order to thwart the still-thriving black market. 

Continue reading »


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Additional Reading:

A few more articles for your reading pleasure, such as the 2023 farm-bill, medical cannabis, salvia, Delta 9 vs Delta 8 etc.

Trainspotting: The Truth about Scotland and Heroin

trainspotting heroin / Illegal Synthetics
Trainspotting: The Truth about Scotland and Heroin

When Trainspotting, written by the Irvin Welsh and directed by the equally wonderful Danny Boyle, was released in 1996, people knew that they had a nuanced and well-thought-out film about heroin addiction on their hands. Trainspotting forced its way into many viewer’s ‘best films of all time’ list and rightfully so. But why did a movie about a group of Scottish friends dealing with drug and life issues become such a cult classic? Perhaps, simply, because told the sad truth about opioid addiction.

Continue reading »


Amanita Muscaria Beginner’s Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Amanita Muscaria Beginner's Guide
Amanita Muscaria Beginner’s Guide

Amanita muscaria, also known as Fly Agaric, is a fascinating old world mushroom that has recently grown in popularity due to the fact that it is very loosely regulated compared to other types of psychedelic mushrooms. If you’re a beginner looking to try Amanita Muscaria, it’s crucial to take the necessary precautions before consuming it, as all good things comes with responsibility and any drug can be problematic when used incorrectly.

Continue reading »


Clearance sale: 50% off THCO carts, disposables, gummies, tinctures and dabs

New Argentina Hemp Law Expected to Widen Domestic and Export Markets

New Argentina hemp law in place, Illegal Synthetics
New Argentina Hemp Law Expected to Widen Domestic and Export Markets

With the help of activist groups like Mama Cultiva, Argentia forced its way into the medical cannabis market. Now, Argentina making even bigger moves by opening the doors for increased hemp production for both domestic and export markets. The announcement for the implementation of the Regulatory Agency for the Hemp and Medical Cannabis Industry (ARICCAME), came out on January 25th, with its first working group to start immediately.

Continue reading »


Why All Types of Alcohol Cause the SAME Hangover?

Alcohol hangover, Illegal Synthetics
Alcohol hangover

Some people swear that certain alcohols produce different types of hangovers, similar to the way the produce different drunk effects. While that may be true for certain people, it’s more of a matter of personal body chemistry rather than the alcohol itself. As a matter of fact, scientific literature indicates that all alcohols actually result in the exact same hangover. 

Continue reading »


DEAL OF THE DAY

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NEW PRODUCTS:

Amanita HHC Gummies & Amanita Delta 8 Joints

Amanita Delta 8 Joints
Amanita HHC Gummies & Amanita Delta 8 Joints

Get ready to experience the latest addition to the 2023 High Times Hemp Cup – the Amanita Mushroom products featuring muscimol from Amanita muscaria mushrooms, combined with popular cannabinoids. These products are sure to give you a unique and exciting experience, producing psychoactive effects that will transport you to another world. 
Among the offerings are the Amanita HHC gummies and Amanita D8 joints, both featuring rare and potent combinations. 
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Keep Yourself Informed

All the latest from Psychedelics and Cannabis - Illegal Synthetics
All the latest from Psychedelics and Cannabis

For all the latest from Psychedelics and Cannabis, follow our Telegram Channel.

 Get our daily updates


News from the Week:

*** Coco Puffs – What’s the Deal with Mixing Cannabis and Cocaine?

*** What’s The Deal with Shoddy Vape Carts Lately?

*** Worse Than Fentanyl? New Opioid Isotonitazene Deepens Opioid Crisis

*** 2023 Farm Bill Under Construction: What to Expect For Hemp

*** Does A Medical Setting Affect Psychedelic Treatment?

*** How Legal Cannabis Affects Pharmaceutical Sales


llegal Synthetics, Amanita Hemp Cup Products, Cannabis Music Banned – Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this week’s review. We work hard to find and verify the best products, so we may include affiliate links to support the maintenance and development of this site. 

Best, 
The Cannadelics team 

*** Disclaimer: As the legality of cannabinoids and psychedelics changes between state to state, you should always check with your local authorities first.

The post Illegal Synthetics, Amanita Hemp Cup Products, Cannabis Music Banned – The Cannadelics Sunday Edition appeared first on Cannadelics.

Mushrooms Legality, Psychedelics Funding, Cannabis Industry Mass Layoffs, and more – The Cannadelics Sunday Edition

Welcome to the Cannadelics Sunday Edition, our weekly newsletter sent to our readers every Sunday morning with the leading stories of the week. This week the main articles were about Mass layoffs in Cannabis industry, Psychedelics funding, Global Mushrooms Legality, Psychedelics events, Cannabis use disorder, Drunk experiences, drugs in Cuba and more

In addition the main stories of the week, each newsletter also includes three attractive deals, from our Deal Of The Day section. As always, the best Cannabis and Psychedelics offers are reserved for our subscribers, so subscribe here or use the sign-in form below.


 Keep yourself updated with the latest Cannabis & Psychedelic stories, such as the global mushrooms legality and more: 
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The Cannadelics Sunday Edition (2/5/2023) – Psychedelic Funding, Global Mushrooms Legality, Cannabis Industry Mass Layoffs, and more

Hi,

Welcome to the Cannadelics Sunday edition, going out every Sunday with the top stories from the cannabis and psychedelics industries. This week we have a mixed bag of stories as well as a few deals from our deal-of-the-day segments.

Thanks for stopping by!


DEAL OF THE DAY #1:

25% Off 5g Disposable Vape (5 Gram)

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Take advantage of our deal of the day and save an extra 25%, using the Delta25 coupon code. 

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THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

This week we have a pretty even mix of both cannabis and psychedelics news. A few popular topics explore psychedelic funding, global amanita muscaria legality, cannabis industry struggles and mass layoffs, and more. Scroll down for these articles and many others!


What Happened in the World of Psychedelics Funding Last Year?

Psychedelics funding, Global Mushrooms Legality
What Happened in the World of Psychedelics Funding Last Year?

One of the trending developments over the last year, is the newfound level of growth and acceptance of psychedelic drugs. One way to determine this growth is by looking at how many states and cities are updating legislation. Another way is by seeing how much money is being raised by different companies and investors. Spoiler alert, it’s a lot… read on to learn about the exact figures.

Continue reading »


Global Mushrooms Legality:

Global Mushrooms Legality: here in the World are Amanita Muscaria Illegal?

amanita muscaria illegal - global mushrooms legality
Global Mushrooms Legality: here in the World are Amanita Muscaria Illegal?

Global mushrooms legality: With Amanita muscaria mushrooms growing in popularity, especially during the last couple of months, many people are wondering if they’re legal to possess in their region. Luckily, in most cases the answer to this is a resounding yes, since only a handful of areas have any type of legislation against these shrooms. But if you live in one of the following five places in the world, then you’re out of luck on buying them legally.

Continue reading »


What Psychedelics Events You Need to Attend in 2023 (Global Edition)

global psychedelics events
What Psychedelics Events You Need to Attend in 2023 (Global Edition)

As the world grows increasingly eager to learn more about psychedelic drugs and their healing properties, we’re seeing a sharp rise in related events where industry professionals can gather with inquisitive consumers to discuss all the most important aspects of this budding market. We’ve already covered some of the more anticipated events going on in the U.S. this year, and now we’re following up with the top 5 global psychedelics events taking place in 2023.

Continue reading »


Psychedelic vs Psychoactive – What’s the Difference?

psychedelic psychoactive, Global Mushrooms Legality
Psychedelic vs Psychoactive – What’s the Difference?

If you read about drugs often, you’ve probably come across the terms “psychoactive” and “psychedelic” quite frequently. Although many publications use them interchangeably, that is incorrect and there are some key differences between the two. The broadest way to describe it, is that all psychedelic drugs are psychoactive, but not all psychoactive drugs are psychedelic.

Continue reading »


DEAL OF THE DAY #2:

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Delta-9 THC Chocolate
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Additional Reading:

A few more articles for your reading pleasure.

Is Cannabis Use Disorder Really a Thing?

Can cannabis use lead to a disorder?
Is Cannabis Use Disorder Really a Thing?

The general consensus on cannabis has always been that it’s not really addictive. And that’s definitely true to an extent; we can say without a doubt that it’s not physically addictive and does not cause any type of illness or symptoms of withdrawal when someone stops using. That being said, can it be mentally addictive? That’s what the medical community aims to answer by exploring the possibility of “cannabis use disorder”.

Continue reading »


Do Different Alcoholic Drinks Cause Different Drunk Experiences?

alcoholic drinks
Do Different Alcoholic Drinks Cause Different Drunk Experiences?

There are hundreds of different types of alcohol, and many people swear that certain types of liquor produce different types of drunk effects. For example, one that immediately comes to mind is tequila. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard someone say that tequila makes them ready to fight. On the flip side, many believe that whiskey offers an extra-confident drunk experience. Some will argue that there’s no logic behind this, that it’s simply the amount of alcohol within the drinks and the speed at which you metabolize them. But maybe there’s more going on here.

Continue reading »


Mass Layoffs Continue in Cannabis Industry

Global Mushrooms Legality, Mass Layoffs
Mass Layoffs Continue in Cannabis Industry

One surefire way to know if there are problems within in industry is by looking at the hiring patterns. When an industry is doing well, more jobs open up and salaries improve. When an industry is struggling, jobs are lost and pay gets cut. For several months, mass layoffs have been going on in the cannabis industry, signaling major problems with few possible solutions.

Continue reading »


My 2 Week Cuba Experience: Is It really the Anti-drug Capital of the World?

cuba anti-drug
My 2 Week Cuba Experience: Is It really the Anti-drug Capital of the World?

Cuba is a beautiful, underrated, and very misunderstood country. This country hosts every type of terrain one could imagine, making it perfect for hiking, camping, and wildlife photography. There are some amazing beaches to lounge at and soak up the scenery. And if you want to get a feel for 1950s American cars, then Cuba is the perfect place for a vacation. However, if you’re the type of person who likes to get high on vacation, then this little island is a place you may want to avoid.

Continue reading »


DEAL OF THE DAY #3:

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Tropical Kush extra strength gummies
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Best Deals On Amanita Muscaria Gummies

Global Mushrooms Legality, Amanita Muscaria Gummies
Best Deals On Amanita Muscaria Gummies

Finding legal psychedelic products is not an easy task, as most of them are illegal to buy or to use. However, while Psylocibin-based magic mushrooms are only making their first steps to become legal, Amanita Muscaria mushrooms are already 100% legal.  These great legal mushrooms offer you a safe entry to to the world of psychedelics.

TIP: Use code Delta25 and get 25% Off and Free Shipping when you buy 3 or more Bottles

Best Deals On Amanita Mushroom Gummies


All the latest from Psychedelics and Cannabis
All the latest from Psychedelics and Cannabis

For all the latest from Psychedelics and Cannabis, follow our Telegram Channel.

 Follow Cannadelics News


News from the Week:

*** Meet Psilomethoxin, the Love Child of Psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT

*** The Positives and Negatives of Magic Mushrooms

*** 5 Weirdest ways to Consume Cannabis

*** Salvia: Tricks of Use for the Best Experience

*** The Lowdown On Syria As The New Captagon Narco State

*** Why is Everyone ‘Shelving’ their Drugs?

*** Global Mushrooms Legality


We hope you enjoyed this week’s review. We work hard to find and verify the best products, so we may include affiliate links to support the maintenance and development of this site. 

Best, 
The Cannadelics team 

*** Disclaimer: As the legality of cannabinoids and psychedelics changes between state to state, you should always check with your local authorities first.

The post Mushrooms Legality, Psychedelics Funding, Cannabis Industry Mass Layoffs, and more – The Cannadelics Sunday Edition appeared first on Cannadelics.

Myth or Truth: Do different Alcoholic Drinks Cause Different Drunk Experiences?

Have you ever wondered why different alcoholic drinks will make you feel a different kind of drunk. Why does beer chill you out but gin makes you angry? Why does wine cause you to have deep chats but vodka makes you sad? Some will argue that there’s no logic behind this, that it’s simply the amount of alcohol within the drinks and the speed at which you metabolise them. But maybe there’s more going on here. Maybe there’s more in the science that differentiates alcoholic drinks than we think. As always, we’re going to delve into the truth and flesh it out. Let’s go. 

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol – whether we like to hear it or not – is technically a drug. So don’t think you’re not taking drugs when you sip on that vodka and coke. You are. Alcohol, or ethyl alcohol, is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that can produce a range of effects on the brain and body, depending on the type of alcohol consumed and the amount consumed. Other drugs that join the depressant or downer club include ketamine or GHB. These kinds of substances are known for specific effects:

  • Reduced anxiety
  • Relaxed feelings
  • Slowed reaction time
  • Reduced inhibitions
  • Enhanced mood

Sound familiar? Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that is widely consumed in various forms around the world. It is produced by the fermentation of sugars or starches, which is a process that occurs when yeast or bacteria consume the sugars and produce alcohol and carbon dioxide as by-products. The alcohol content of beverages can vary greatly, with some containing only a small amount, while others have a high concentration.


Thank you for stopping in. Head over to the Cannadelics Weekly Newsletter for direct updates; and get access to awesome deals on cannabis buds, vapes, edibles, smoking devices and equipment, cannabinoid compounds, and some psychedelic products! Go get high responsibly!


There are several types of alcohol – many will experience them all in one evening – but the most commonly consumed form is ethyl alcohol, or ethanol. Ethanol is the main active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and spirits. It is responsible for the intoxicating effects that are associated with drinking alcohol.

Legality

Alcoholism causes 140,000 deaths in the US every year, yet it still remains a legal substance. On the other hand, cannabis kills essentially 0 people every year and there are still several states yet to legalize it. So why is alcohol dealt with differently to other drugs? The Conversation writes:

“The main reason why alcohol remains legal in the U.S. – despite mounting evidence of the harm it can cause – is that banning it a century ago failed… Prohibition initially helped reduce alcohol consumption. But it also bolstered the illegal liquor trade. This practice, called “bootlegging,” created new problems.”

This theory makes sense, until you consider that there is a black market for all illegal drugs. So why have substances like cocaine or ecstacy been legalized? Nonetheless, due to the fact that alcohol is illegal basically everywhere in the world, it has meant that money has been within the industry for a long time. In fact, the global market worth of the alcohol industry hit 1.45 trillion dollars in 2021. Where there is money, there is innovation, hence why there are so many different kinds of alcoholic drinks. Not only are there varying types of alcohol, but there are also hundreds of brands. It is no surprise, with all of the diverse options, that people start to wonder if one alcoholic drink can cause different effects than another. But is this just a myth?

Different Alcoholic Drinks, Different Effects

There are several theories both for and against the theory that different alcoholic drinks can cause different effects. Some believe it’s a placebo and psychological, whilst others claim there’s truth to it.

Reasons in Support

Different types of alcohol can cause different experiences due to variations in their chemical structures, metabolism, and effects on the brain and body. Ethanol, the type of alcohol commonly found in alcoholic beverages, is a simple molecule consisting of a hydroxyl group attached to a carbon atom. The molecular structure of different types of alcohols, however, can vary greatly. In addition, the way that alcohol is broken down in the system can also affect the experience it produces. The rate at which it is metabolised can vary depending on a person’s liver.

If alcohol is absorbed quicker, this could manifest itself as a different drunk experience. With less intense drinks – such as beer – we tend to drink more of it. This can be quite a dehydrating experience, needing to consume more to get drunk. This can trigger tiredness or a more relaxed feeling. Spirits, on the other hand, have a higher percentage and thus are usually drunk slower. The intensity of the higher percentage drinks can cause more energy. Suddenly, alcohol becomes a stimulant, rather than a depressant. Perhaps this is why Tequila makes you crazy but Fosters makes you sleepy?

Reasons Against

Let’s be honest here, ethanol is ethanol. Alcohol is alcohol. How can there really be different effects from different alcohols? Whilst there has been limited research into this, the mainstream school of thought is that the theory is a myth. Instead, scientists prefer to think about the idea of expectancy. Dru Jaeger writes:

“Expectancy is a psychological term for a predictable relationship between an external stimulus and our response to it. At its simplest, your expectation of what will happen can shape your experience of what happens. So what you expect to happen when you drink can change what actually happens in practice.”

A recent study of 30,000 people found that people attach different emotions to different alcohols. However, these are believed to be caused by this idea of expectancy. Throughout life we find reasons to believe that different drinks make us feel differently – this is based on certain factors. Ultimately, it’s our mindset. Like with the set and setting idea and psychedelic drugs, how we feel before drinking can dictate our experience. If we drink wine when we’re relaxed, it’ll probably make us feel more relaxed. If we drink spirits to go out, we’ll probably feel energetic. If we drink beer to chill out, we’ll probably feel sleepy. You see what’s happening here? The alcohol itself isn’t changing, but the way we feel towards it is. The Conversation writes: 

“The direct effects of alcohol are the same whether you drink wine, beer or spirits. There’s no evidence that different types of alcohol cause different mood states. People aren’t even very good at recognising their mood states when they have been drinking.”

It seems that the evidence is pointing towards this theory being a myth. It’s a bit like people saying that different sweets cause different sugar highs. Of course there are foods that have more intense portions of sugar, but this doesn’t mean that it’s causing an entirely alternative experience. The mixture of varying levels of alcohol, alongside this idea of expectancy, is what gives people the impression of a different kind of drunk. With this in mind, it’s not the alcoholic drink that is different, it is us. 

Final Thoughts on different alcoholic drinks

I myself have wondered at points why some alcoholic drinks do seem to give me different – let’s say – vibes. I’ve experienced feeling chill on wine and beer, but more energetic on spirits. Although, at the same time, now that I think of it, I’ve also experienced having intense arguments after a bottle of red wine. I also remember first drinking beer and feeling invincible.

It seems that it isn’t the alcohol that is changing, it’s my attitude towards it. Thus it seems that the theory has been deemed a myth, doesn’t it? Although, on the other hand, if we believe it to be true, then doesn’t that make it true? In other words, if our attitudes towards different alcoholic drinks can change how we feel they affect us, then maybe that’s enough to give a bit more credit to this theory. Who cares what’s causing it? It’s still happening, right?

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From the Archives: Grass in the Joint (1981)

By Evan Dawes

I hadn’t seen David since I got sent down. He was waiting in the visitor’s room, looking like he was afraid he’d catch bad luck. We went through the preliminary how-you-beens, then I asked him if he’d brought me anything to smoke. He started. He reminded me of the many signs he’d driven by after passing the prison entrance that declared it a felony to bring alcohol, firearms or drugs onto the reservation. “And besides,” he said, “this is a prison. I mean, after all… uh, drugs? In the joint?”

I figured I’d have to show him how it was done. I indicated another prisoner a dozen yards away busily chatting with a pretty young woman. “Keep your eye on him,” I told him. “He’s about to go with something.” And sure enough, not ten minutes later, we watched him shove his arm down the back of his pants and rummage around. The second time this happened Dave asked me what was going on.

“See, he palms the balloons out of his ol’ lady’s bra, picks his shot when The Man isn’t lookin’, and keesters ’em, one at a time.”

Balloons? Keesters? “Yup” I grinned. “Up the ol’ rooty-poop chute, quick as a wink. No muss, no fuss, Burma Shave.”

Still tentative, Dave asked what the guy’s chances were. Did this happen often, or was it a one-shot deal?

“Just business as usual,” I assured him. “It’s probably weed, ‘cuz that’s the biggest seller. But that guy—I nodded at another inmate a bare ten feet away—he’ll be bringin’ in smack. Rougher crowd, y’know.”

Almost any high you can buy on the street is for sale in the yard too: pot and hash and ludes and smack and booze and glue and speed. Sometimes even a bit o’ the blow. LSD, too, if you’re of a mind. What’s more, The Man knows it. I was initially leery of writing about prison traffic, fearful I would be treated as an informer—by both inmates and authorities. And this article is definitely not intended to teach prison officials how to more effectively impede the flow of drugs into their institutions. But very few schemes escape the notice of prison officials for very long anyway usually due to the widespread use of informants. What is so heartening to the schemers, and frustrating to the officials, is that, short of a complete overhaul of the security systems in most prisons, there is little or nothing that can be done to stop this.

Most prisons in the United States follow a basic order of priorities: House the offender securely (which is to say “lock his ass up tight so society can sleep at night”); offer training for the offender so that he can return to society as a “productive member,” though oftentimes training programs are merely a guise to secure ever-larger budgets; and—more important to the prison officials than anything else—never ever allow the offender to use drugs to escape the tedium and monotony of his imprisonment.

About half of the drugs that enter most prisons come in through the visiting room. It should logically follow, therefore, that where there is no physical contact between the prisoner and his visitor, the likelihood of drugs being introduced into that prison is severely reduced.

The procedure at the Texas Department of Corrections, for example, prevents physical contact—but not smuggling. There inmates sit on one side of a room-length table and their visitors sit on the other. Guards sit on elevated platforms at each end of this table. Partitions above and below the table ensure that nothing is surreptitiously passed from visitor to con. The only time this restriction may be breeched is when the visitor buys a soft drink or some fruit juice for the prisoner. The visitor who is sharp eyed and nimble fingered may be able to slip something into the opened can without being seen before handing it to the guard to pass to the prisoner. If so, the “lucky” convict in Texas may go back to his cell having drunk a couple of ‘ludes or maybe some acid. Plainly though, the circumstances hardly conduce to a good high.

Thankfully most prisons are not afflicted with so great a degree of paranoia as the TDC. In New Hampshire, for instance, the visiting policy permits “limited contact”: Inmates and their visitors are separated by an ordinary table, fingertips touching; an embrace is allowed at the beginning and at the end of the visiting period. At the end of the visit the prisoner is not skin-searched—but merely frisked—and his shoes are inspected. Prisons in Washington State conduct visiting in much the same manner, except there is no separation by a table; the prisoner and visitor sit facing each other, holding hands if desired. Again, only a pat-search at the end of the visit.

All California prisons have contact visiting. The word contact is here given a very wide latitude. As one prisoner at the California Men’s Colony near San Luis Obispo (site of Timothy Leary‘s Weathermen-abetted escape) tells me: “Hell, man, babies have been conceived in the visiting room here.” That’s close contact.

Clearly the opportunities to smuggle drugs in situations such as these are almost infinite.

You cannot simply arrive at a prison with a baggie full of marijuana and hope that your convict friend will be able to take it from there. Recently I spoke with a man who had just been released from [name of institution deleted to prevent any harassment of the men there upon disclosure of this information]. His wife packaged pot for him to smuggle back into prison after she visited each week. First, she cleaned all the seeds and stems out of the grass. Then she stuffed an ordinary balloon with cleaned weed until it was about an inch in diameter, making sure to pack it tightly. After tying the balloon closed, she wrapped it in still another balloon and sealed that one, too. He explained that stomach acid is sometimes strong enough to eat through one or even two layers of balloon, so whenever she brought him any substances other than pot, she always gave it at least three wraps. (His caution is understandable. Careless packaging has been responsible for the death of many cocaine and heroin smugglers outside, and the same danger lies for the unsuspecting convict who swallows or keesters a poorly wrapped balloon from an otherwise well meaning friend.) He told me of one prisoner who OD’d right in the visiting room: “Man, he just nodded out and never came back! That’s why I always emphasized to the ol’ lady how important it was to be careful. She always did good, though, God love her. She knew those little balls of pleasure would keep the frown off my face—and they did!”

Adding to the supply feeding high-hungry cons are guards who pack—though it should be stressed here that probably less than 25 percent of the drug traffic in any given prison originates thusly. The reasons a guard would hazard his livelihood, and possible prosecution if discovered, in order to introduce drugs into the place where he works are many: the need for supplementary income, the excitement of risk, and sometimes just plain friendship or compassion. Relates a former California convict: “In ’71 I was at Soledad. Yeah, George Jackson, the Soledad Brothers, the whole thing was happenin’ then. Me, I was just lookin’ to get high. About this time I got in real good with this Chicano guard. After a few weeks o’ listenin’ to him talk about all the dope he was smokin’, I hit on him to bring me somethin’ to smoke, too. At first he was hesitant, but I kept drivin’ on him till he broke down and brought me some grass. What he’d been smokin’ was shit Mexican—he only paid fifteen dollars a bag for it—so after a couple o’ weeks I offered to have my brother send him a quarter-pound of some real kickass; he’d keep an ounce and bring me the other three. Once it arrived and he got a taste of that good, rich Colombo, it was all gravy after that. Until I left the ‘Dad in ’75, ol’ Paco kept me fat. What he didn’t know was that I was selling some o’ them ounces for tall bucks. A forty-dollar bag from my brother brought almost two hundred on the yard. Hell, a balloon the size of an English pea went for five dollars; figure it out for yourself.”

Prisoners who have no family or friends depend on what they can buy or trade for inside the prison. In some institutions the medium of exchange is cigarettes or coffee. Some inmates trade hobbycraft items, such as leatherwork, or paintings. Some men receive visits only from their parents and can get only money from them. As easily as drugs can be smuggled in, green can be smuggled in also. Green will usually net you a larger amount of drugs than an equal value in cigarettes or oil paintings.

Convicts often find the U.S. Postal Service to be the most reliable courier. Most people know that postage stamps are good for more than ensuring that a letter is mailed. Similarly LSD (and in some cases, heroin) can be dissolved and stationery soaked in it prior to mailing. Green can be stashed in greeting cards. The inventiveness of the correspondent is the only limitation.

Many maximum and medium-security prisons have camps nearby for men who are approaching release. These camps seldom have fences and the men there are, in many instances, free and unsupervised. At the federal prison near Lompoc, California, the laundry for camp inmates at one time was done inside the maximum facility. Since the drug situation at the camp has always been very relaxed, the men there had ample opportunity (until the scheme was discovered) to secrete drugs for those inside in their cleaned clothing.

In every institution there are men who receive what is termed “controlled” medication, usually various forms of downers: Thorazine, Dilantin, Mellaril, Prolixin and phenobarbitol. It takes very little practice to learn to palm these pills, which can then be saved up for a real bang or sold.

However, the most ingenious system for copping inside that I’ve ever heard is used by my friend Nick, who is a prisoner in one of the larger prison systems on the East Coast. A few months ago he called me in California and asked—in an informal code we use—if I could send $50 to an address he gave me. I agreed, and as the conversation unfolded, I learned that the money would be going to the family of another convict who received regular visits. As soon as the money arrived, this man would give Nick a prearranged quantity of pot. I put the money in the mail the next day and my friend was smoking later that week. I’ve since done this three or four times for him. What did Nick get for the $50? About a quarter ounce of marijuana. Not much, to be sure, but it is, after all, a prison. And from what he told me, this is about the going rate there.

Far and away the drug of preference in the yard is pot or hash, followed next by downers, then speed, then heroin. Cocaine is almost last, not for lack of desire, but because of the corresponding problems of price and availability. Coke simply is not worth the extravagant cost to most convicts, when the same amount of goods or green will net you a much larger amount of marijuana or hash. (One of those times I mailed money for Nick, he received three grams of hash for $50. And that was a bargain! Usually hash goes for $25 to $30 a gram, he told me.) LSD is also a low-preference drug. While a bit o’ the blow heightens the senses and makes enjoyable an otherwise apathetic day, acid often sharpens the perception of being imprisoned, mutating routine mediocrity into apprehension and paranoia.

Even booze and glue, the bastard children of the drug subset, find a market inside. At any time, in most prisons, someone will have a batch of homebrew going. It’s never very strong, packing about the same alcoholic punch as wine—but in sufficient quantity even prison vintage produces one hell of a buzz. To concoct alcohol, very little is needed that cannot be obtained through regular channels inside a prison. Except yeast. Because of its scarcity many convict brewers make a starting mixture of raw-fruit and raw-vegetable pulp, which is mixed and allowed to ferment for two to three days. This kicker is then added to a premixed base of fruit pulp or juice, sugar and water. The base determines how the end product will taste; however, the choice of fruit is more often the result of availability than desire, since most batches of ”pruno” or ”raisin jack” or “orange wine” are prepared for effect more than taste. Once the kicker is added to the base mixture, the fermentation of sugar into alcohol begins. Within five to seven days, depending on the ingredients, a liquid is produced that is anywhere from 10 to 20 percent alcohol (again, depending on the base). A sizable portion is usually strained off for immediate consumption at this point, fresh fruit pulp and sugar water added, and the whole thing started over. However, neither that step nor a starting mixture is necessary if yeast is available.

The advantage to using yeast is that it cuts the time factor, often critical in a prison setting, by about one-third. In place of actual yeast, a fistful of raw dough may be dissolved in warm water and used immediately in place of a kicker. No matter how well hidden the container, though, smell is the worst enemy of convict pruno makers, who usually “cook up a batch” five gallons at a time. In some cases, a vent hose is forced behind the trap in a toilet and the fumes safely exhausted. Or a sponge soaked in a deodorant can be placed over the vent hole on the container itself, thereby masking the giveaway odor. Inventiveness and ingenuity however, are on the convict’s side. Rarely does The Man bust more wine than is drunk.

I have been told by men at several different institutions that many guards nowadays are reluctant to “beef” you—write a disciplinary report—for reefer. But the same pot-lenient guards will seldom give you a pass for alcohol. Because of its reputation for producing monsters from mild-mannered men, prison-brewed hooch is feared more by staff than any other drug. Witness the brutal bloodiest at New Mexico’s Santa Fe prison in February 1980. Documented evidence now points to a batch of raisin jack as the trigger—although not the cause—of this riot.

Way down on the list of preferences— somewhere between “Fuck that shit!” and “You must be crazy, sucker!—is glue, or any of the petroleum distillates containing toluene or carbon tetrachloride. An interesting aside, which comes from the Federal Penitentiary at McNeil Island, Washington (now closed), is that, of the Indian prisoners there, glue was the drug of preference. Considering its status with the general population, the reader may draw his own conclusions.

Prisons create their own drug market. Drugs bring a sense of relief—relief from boredom, escape from the “dead zone” (as Stephen King calls it) of enforced numbness that encases a man in prison like an insect embedded in amber. Of course, set and setting figure into this to an extraordinary degree in prison.

Virtually all prisons are constructed so that the housing units consist of either multitiered rows of cells, or a dormitory. In most instances, the line officer patrols periodically checking for prohibited behavior and making his presence known to maintain order In the conflict between the desire to get high in a relaxed and comfortable setting—one’s own “house”—and the necessity for precaution in order to prevent a trip to The Hole, the very expenditure of energy to reconcile one with the other detracts from the fullness of the high. Conversely, in a situation where set and setting are complementary an otherwise meager high can blossom into something memorable. Most prisons have a yard where, even under the watchful eyes of the guards in the towers, the careful convict can easily blow a joint with little or no danger of being caught.

Another place of relative security is the auditorium or gymnasium when a movie is being shown. Rarely do guards venture into this area after the lights are dimmed and in many prisons there is a tacit understanding between staff and inmates that smoking will be condoned as long as there is no violence. In the words of one prisoner: “When you know The Man isn’t interested in busting anyone during the flick, it makes getting high there just that much sweeter.”

A good deal of the violence in most prisons is drug related, and although much of this can be attributed to the traffic in heroin, no category of drug is blameless. Because of the ridiculously inflated prices of drugs, and the corresponding scarcity of money or resources available to the average convict, conflicts inevitably arise. In the early ’60s, at the California Medical Facility near Vacaville (which presently houses Juan Corona and Charles Manson), one of the heroin dealers inside the joint was found out to be a rat, supplying information to The Man in exchange for immunity. One day shortly after a visit, he was attacked and killed in his cell. Wasting no opportunity in their bloody business, his attackers slit open his stomach and scooped out the balloons he had earlier swallowed. In 1975, a prisoner at Joliet State Prison in Illinois had his eyes gouged out by a man to whom he owed money for drugs. After he fingered his assailant and was locked up in “protective custody” he was gang-raped for becoming a snitch. Seldom, however, are methods this unusual employed. Most often the offending party is dealt with swiftly and lethally. Convicts have a name for it: steel poisoning. As recently as 1980, in the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kansas, an inmate was stabbed to death because he failed to pay for less than a half ounce of marijuana. The medical report stated that his head was “almost severed from [his] torso” because of the “number and intensity of [his] wounds.” Obviously prison is no place for the deadbeat.

The other side of this coin is that if there were no drugs available at all, the strain of living day to day with so many others in such a butthole-to-bellybutton environment would quickly breed just as much and perhaps even more violence than the drug-related kind. About the only solution that would not create more problems is for the prisons to dispense drugs on demand. Since this is hardly in the works for the near future in any U.S. prison, most inmates will have to be content with whatever schemes they are using presently.

Sometimes I can’t help but marvel at the convoluted maze set up to assure a delivery of drugs. The following story comes to me from a man who is presently incarcerated in one of the federal government’s maximum security prisons: It seems in late ’79 a guard at one of the federal correctional centers (jails) near a major metropolitan area was flashing his paycheck around, taunting the inmates with how much he was sucking up from the government teat. In revenge, one of these men was able to successfully snatch this check right out of the asshole’s shirt pocket without being seen. As soon as the loss was discovered, the entire facility was locked down and every inmate and his cubicle was searched. Nothing was turned up. A few weeks later this check was successfully spirited to the previously mentioned prison. From there it was smuggled out and mailed across the country to a major department store to be cashed. (Uncle Sam’s checks are as good as gold anywhere in the country for up to 90 days.) After being cashed, 60 percent of the original amount was sent back to the convict’s confederates, who used this money to purchase a kilo of marijuana that was then smuggled into the prison. Uncle treated all around. Justice could never have been more poetic.

High Times Magazine, June 1981

Read the full issue here.

The post From the Archives: Grass in the Joint (1981) appeared first on High Times.

Snowed In? Fun Drugs to Ease Your Winter Blues 

Winter is in full swing and that means different things for different people. For some, it’s a cozy time to decorate, bake, prep for the holidays, and enjoy other seasonal activities. For others, it’s time for winter athletics like skiing, snowboarding, and ice fishing. For many, winter is simply boring and depressing. But by and large, it’s a time to chill out and stay inside. To spice things up a bit, some people like to get high when they’re stuck in the house, and that’s perfectly fine. So, what are some of the best drugs to use on a cold winter day? Let’s take a closer look.

Winter is on my head  

“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.” A quote from Victor Hugo, and one that I couldn’t agree with more. I prefer warm weather anyway. I’ve never been partial to cold and snow, so as soon as that cold midwestern winter finally settles in, I’m already dreaming of spring – blossoming flower buds everywhere you look, warm sunshine peeking through the treetops, snakes and turtles coming out of their winter brumation, and an overall feeling of happiness and revival in the air as everyone begins to ramp up their outdoor activities.  

However, as much as I love those warmer months, there’s still something explicitly magical about winter. The cold cloudy air collides with the bare bones of the empty landscape and it’s so quiet you can hear every crackle and movement around you. And not to mention, nothing really beats being the first person to walk through a soft, sparkly patch of fresh snow.  

Winter is also seen as a time of relaxation and renewal, as well as a period of rebirth as we transition into a new year. That’s a big part of why the winter solstice used to be such a grand celebration. From a spiritual perspective, winter removes the noise and distractions from our lives and offers us a time to rest, recuperate, and emerge back into the rejuvenating light of spring.

All that said, there are still some limits to how much a person can enjoy winter, I mean, it’s freezing after all. Winter blues, or Season Affective Disorder (SAD), a real thing, as lack of exposure to vitamin D can lead to a type of temporary depression that affects roughly 10% of the US population throughout the fall and winter months.  

As a landscape and wildlife photographer I spend a great deal of time outdoors year-round, but I definitely scale it down in the winter (time to ‘rest’) which means I need to find alternative forms of indoor fun. Aside from binge watching Netflix and Hulu, reading a book, or scrolling endlessly on social media, another sure-fire way to make sure I’m entertained at home is with drugs. Nothing crazy (you certainly don’t want to roll into spring with a new substance addiction), but some weed and psychedelics, even the occasional drink or two can add an element of excitement to an another otherwise routine night in.  


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Winter drug use 

It’s a relatively well-documented fact that rates of drug use and subsequent overdoses skyrocket in the winter months. Additionally, areas with extended periods of cooler weather (“cold states” and “cold countries”) tend to have higher rates of day-to-day drug and alcohol use. Addicts are more likely to be inside, at home, and possibly alone when they use drugs in the winter. If they overdose, under those circumstances, it’s more likely they’ll die (as compared to overdosing while out and about, perhaps in public or at a party or social gathering with friends). 

There are several reasons for this. For one, the winter months force people indoors more so than any other time of year. While inside, addicts are more likely to have time on their hands to use drugs, much in the same way that many people tend to exercise less and eat more during the winter. By itself, the additional time spent indoors is a risk factor. 

Add to that, the risk of overdose is greater in the winter. And that’s not just because of the higher rates of use (although that is obviously a major contributing factor), but also because of how our bodies function in colder climates. A Brown University study has linked cold weather temperatures with higher overdose rates, compared to the rates during warmer temperature days. Average temperatures of 52 degrees or more had a 25% lower rate of death by opioid overdose than on days with freezing temperatures. Scientists theorize that this phenomenon is linked to the human lung’s response to cold weather, in conjunction with the lung’s compromised state when using opioids, alcohol, and other depressant substances.  

Let’s take a look at Alaska, as that is one of the most extreme examples of cold weather I can think of, with their long weeks of endless darkness and temps that regularly fall into the negative 30s. Alaska has a somewhat prominent reputation as a state with substance abuse problems, and studies/surveys over the years confirm that.  

report commissioned by Alaskan officials showed that despite Alaska showing some similar drug-use patterns as the rest of the US, Alaskans were among the highest per capita users of substance abuse. Furthermore, Alaska has alarmingly high rates alcoholism and suicide. And what was possibly the most disturbing statistic came from a 2019 report commissioned by the State of Alaska which stated that “nine out of the ten leading causes of deaths in Alaska can be associated with substance misuse.” That’s an overwhelming 90 percent of deaths that can be attributed to either a substance overdose, health issues related to long-term substance abuse, or an accident that occurred while someone was under the influence.

Research states that Alaskans were found to commonly use a large variety of substances including alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamines, and prescription medications. Alcohol was the most commonly abused substance though, and accounted for 20-25% of all deaths in the state, and these stats have held true since the 1990s.  

Other “cold countries” like Greenland, Russia, and the UK (the last of which only recently lost its status as one of the colder nations), also have high rates of drug abuse, and even what are considered colder and gloomier states see the same patterns, with some of the highest numbers of drug abuse and overdoses in states like Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont.  

Cannabis

When it comes to getting high, weed is the go-to option for many people (myself included). I smoke every day, but I have noticed that I smoke more in the winter months when I’m hanging out at home without much to do. A nice hot cup of coffee, a good book, and a blunt is a pretty decent way to spend a cold morning indoors. Whether you choose to smoke it, vape it, dab it, or bake it into some edibles, getting stoned is always a fun lazy-day activity. Not to mention, it’s one of the safest, most functional, and most widely accepted ways to get high, especially these days now that the majority of states in the US have either medical or recreational weed available to the public.  

Psychedelics

If you want to kick things up a notch, consider psychedelics. A midday mushroom trip is a great option for breaking up the monotony. If you’re in the mood to party, you can chill throughout the day and opt for some MDMA in the evening. Or if you have a lot of time to spare, perhaps an LSD trip is more up your alley? Over my years of experimenting with drugs, and psychedelics in particular, I would say that I’m more partial to shrooms. Not to mention, it’s much easier to adjust the dose with mushrooms than with other substances. You could eat a stem or cap if you just want some good adventurous vibes throughout the day, or you could take a heroic dose and take off to another planet, and everything in between.  

Alcohol  

Although I’m not much of a drinker myself, who doesn’t enjoy a few social drinks now and again? Gathering a few friends at the house, putting on some good music and having a few drinks is always a fun way to spend an evening. Or just having a little kickback with your roommates, significant other, or whoever else lives with you is another fan favorite. During the winter, if you’re in the mood for both hot beverages and getting buzzed, you can opt for one of many spiked winter drinks – like mulled wine, spiked apple cider, spiked coffee, and the list goes on. However, it’s worth noting (and I can’t stress this one enough), if you choose to drink at a friend’s house, do NOT drive home until you are sober. Don’t be the irresponsible a**hole that takes away someone’s everything.

Final thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our short list of drugs to cure your winter boredom. Of course, there are many other drugs that people choose to do when they’re stuck in the house with nothing going on, but most of them are dangerous, addictive, and illegal. Alcohol, although not the safest, is legal and socially acceptable everywhere, and cannabis almost so. Psyshcedelics are following the same path as cannabis, but at a seemingly faster rate. And the latter two (cannabis and psychedelics) are about as safe as recreational drugs can possibly get.  

What are your preferred substances of choice for a cool day in? Drop us a line in the comment section below, we’d love to hear your thoughts.   

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The post Snowed In? Fun Drugs to Ease Your Winter Blues  appeared first on Cannadelics.

The Best Drugs to Consume with your Family this Christmas

Whilst Hollywood movies and optimistic advertisements will show Christmas to be a joyous time full of excitement and love, in a matter of fact for a lot of people that couldn’t be further from the truth. For most, Christmas is a time for awkward family interaction, drinking far too much alcohol, and receiving too many socks as presents.

But what if there was a way to mix it up this year? What if there was a way to turn the whole holiday season on its head? What if there was a way to take recreational drugs with your family this Christmas? Of course it’s unlikely that your grandma is going to want to have a puff on a joint for the first time since the 60s this year, but let’s imagine – in a hypothetical universe – which drugs would be the best to really shake things up. Let’s go. 

Disclaimer

As the holiday season approaches, many families will be looking for ways to relax and enjoy time together. One option that some people may consider is using drugs to enhance their experiences. However, it’s important to remember that not all drugs are safe, and some can be dangerous if not used responsibly. Here are a couple things to be aware of if you are genuinely considering the option of substances this year. Firstly, it’s important to understand that not all drugs are legal.

In many places, the use of drugs like marijuana, ketamine and MDMA are illegal and can result in serious legal consequences if you are caught with them. You wouldn’t want your uncle or auntie to be taken away in a police car on Christmas day. That doesn’t sound very Christmassy, does it? Even some prescription drugs, like painkillers and tranquilizers, can be illegal to use without a valid prescription. If you are considering using drugs, it’s important to make sure that they are legal in your area and that you are using them responsibly. Grazza writes:

“‘Tis the season for excess, and indulgences of all sorts. During the festive period, alcohol consumption increases, with UK addiction charity Addaction estimating it goes up by 40% in December and that 14% drink more than what they intended. Figures for drug use at this time of year are hard to come by, but if promotional WhatsApps from drug dealers are anything to go by, it very much increases.”

Although, on the other hand, it’s unlikely that the authorities are going to come and knock on your door on the 25th of December on the off chance that your cousin is racking up a line of ketamine. Unless, of course, that your family already has issues with substance abuse, in which case, perhaps spending your Christmas doing something else is probably a better idea. If you do decide to use drugs, it’s important to choose ones that are safe and that won’t put you or your family members at risk. Some drugs, like alcohol and marijuana, are relatively safe when used in moderation, but others can be addictive and can cause serious health problems if used improperly.


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Hopefully you sense the tongue in cheek attitude of this article, rather than take it completely literally. Although for many people their ‘family’ at Christmas is just their friendship group, those who they love, and these are the sorts of people that you may take recreational substances with often. Nonetheless, we’re going to be looking at which drugs – if used hypothetically or perhaps even in reality – would be the best to take with your family (whoever that includes) at Christmas. Let us know what you think. Here we go. 

Alcohol 

How about alcohol? Well, alcohol is of course a drug and if you don’t believe that then you’re being brainwashed by the establishment to only believe that illegal substances could ever be construed as drugs. Therefore, it’s probably true that you’re already planning on taking drugs with your family this Christmas – grandmother included. A beer here, a glass of vino there, perhaps even a rum and coke deeper into the evening – alcohol offers the perfect amount of social lubricant in order to make an anxious experience into an enjoyable one.

It makes the Christmas games easier, it makes the conversation go to places that it wouldn’t if you were all sober, and it even makes sleeping easier at the end of the long laborious day. However, it’s important to keep track of the amount you drink, as it can be very easy to forget. On Christmas it can be traditional to start consuming alcohol from the morning onwards, so make sure you and your family eat enough in order to counteract the alcohol. Another issue with alcohol as a drug for Christmas is that it will give you an awful hangover the next day – especially if you have a lot of it.

Whilst the 25th may be easier to stomach, the 26th most certainly will not be. Nonetheless, alcohol has evidently stood the test of time, and is a great way to bond with your family – if used responsibly and in moderation. So perhaps keep it traditional: stock up the cupboards with alcohol and make sure there’s lots of games to play. A favorite of mine is Cards Against Humanity – that is always a laugh. 

Cannabis 

Now let’s turn our attention to cannabis. How would a family Christmas with a spice of marijuana be? Well, again, it’s probably likely that many families this year will share a spliff on 25th of December, but it isn’t the most traditional option. Cannabis, when used in the right way, can increase euphoria, mindfulness, playfulness and relaxation. If there were ever four words that could perfectly encapsulate an ideal Christmas then there they are. In fact, cannabis and Christmas may go hand in hand in a more religious way too. The Guardian writes:

“Jesus, with his long hair and good vibes, is frequently identified as 420-friendly. It’s been speculated that the the oil he used to anoint the sick and perform miracles may have been cannabis oil”

Jesus aside, it is important – like with any substance – that everything occurs in moderation. Taking too much cannabis and throwing a whitey is never enjoyable, and would be far less so if done in front of your nearest and dearest. However, this brings us to another point. Cannabis consumption has moved beyond the overpowering joint or bong hit. If your family were to all enjoy weed, they could also take advantage of easily consumed edibles. A batch of hash brownies with a light amount of cannabis would do very little, but may add just that extra element of chill to proceedings.

Picture this. You look around and, all of a sudden, your family is no longer arguing. They are talking in depth about existential topics and genuinely listening to one another for a change. Perhaps the music and food is being thoroughly enjoyed in a way that it never has before. Everyone’s senses are enhanced and it’s almost as if your whole family are children once more and Christmas has a new found magic. This is what a cannabis Christmas might look like. 

Harder Drugs 

What about harder drugs? Well, as mentioned before, let’s assume that you’re not going to be sent to jail for consuming these substances. But, nonetheless, a Christmas peppered with any hard stimulants, depressants or psychedelics would definitely be interesting. Whether that is in a good way or a bad way – who knows? Any hallucinogens would, such as acid, probably would freak out the majority of the family. In fact, it may be hard to get back from an experience like that.

Uncle Sean is suddenly chatting to the bookcase and Aunt Mildred is convinced that the Turkey is looking at her funny. Although if you’re in a family of psychonauts then this could be a genuinely beautiful chance to unite as one in your love for these kinds of drugs. If your Christmas was inspired by the likes of MDMA or cocaine, then there would definitely be a lot of love, hugs and conversation. Although the comedown the next day would probably make you hate yourself.

In one day you would probably tell every single family member that you love them, and would probably also come up with around 50 different app ideas. However, it’s unlikely that much food would ever be eaten as stimulants aren’t substances for appetite. Ketamine is also another option, although Christmas is usually weird enough without the need for horse tranquilizer. Although, a little bit would probably help with any anxiety. 

Activities

Whatever you do decide to do with your family this Christmas, be it drugs or sobriety, here are some activities that work for any occasion and substance:

  • Go for a walk or hike in a nearby park or forest.
  • Watch Christmas films.
  • Bake cookies (THC-infused or not).
  • Play board games.
  • Have a family photo shoot.
  • Go ice skating or sledding.
  • Have a family talent show. 

Conclusion

This was a brief look at what Christmas might look like on various substances. Whilst this season can be hard and not always as joyous as Hollywood makes it out to be, remember that it’s only a day and you don’t always have to stick to traditions. Who knows? Perhaps a drug themed Christmas this year may be enough to bring the joy back. But what do you think would be the best substance to take with your family this year? Let us know.

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Study Shows Youth Increasingly Choosing Cannabis Over Alcohol

A study of cannabis use among young people in the US has increased by 245% since 2000 while youth use of alcohol decreased over the same period, according to the results of a study published this week. The study, which was posted online by the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Toxicology, tracked the incidence of misuse and abuse of alcohol, cannabis and other substances by young people reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS) from 2000 through 2020. An analysis of the data identified 338,000 instances of intentional abuse or misuse of all substances among American children aged 6 to 18 during the period studied by researchers.

More than 80% of the reported ingestions of substances occurred among youth from 13 to 18, with a majority (58.3%) of cases reported among males. More than 32% of instances resulted in “worse than minor clinical outcomes.”

The research shows the changing trends in substance misuse and abuse among young people over time. In 2000, the largest number of alcohol misuse cases was reported, with the total steadily decreasing year over year since then. In contrast, the prevalence of reported cannabis exposure cases remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2009, then steadily increased starting in 2011, with a more dramatic spike in cannabis exposure cases between 2017 and 2020.

“Ethanol abuse cases exceeded the number of marijuana cases every year from 2000 until 2013,” Dr. Adrienne Hughes, one of the authors of the study and an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, said in a statement.

However, after that point, the apparent relative popularity of the two substances among young people had reversed.

“Since 2014, marijuana exposure cases have exceeded ethanol cases every year, and by a greater amount each year than the prior,” Hughes said.

The research showed that all types of cannabis have become more popular among young people. Marijuana edibles showed the highest monthly increase in use compared to other forms of cannabis, suggesting that many young people are eschewing smoking marijuana and switching to alternative cannabis products. 

“These edible and vaping products are often marketed in ways that are attractive to young people, and they’re considered more discrete and convenient,” Hughes said.

The researcher noted that young people may also perceive alternate forms of cannabis consumption as safer than smoking, but some studies have shown that this perception may not necessarily be accurate.

“Compared to smoking cannabis, which typically results in an immediate high, intoxication from edible forms of marijuana usually takes several hours, which may lead some individuals to consume greater amounts and experience unexpected and unpredictable highs,” said Hughes.

Spike In Cannabis Use Concurrent With Legalization Efforts

The spike in youth cannabis use since 2017 coincided with continuing successful marijuana policy reform efforts across the US. Including the results of the 2022 midterm elections, when Maryland and Missouri voters opted to legalize recreational marijuana, a total of 21 states have legalized adult-use cannabis. The authors believe that while these legalization efforts have been restricted to adults 21 and older, the increased availability of a variety of cannabis products may make it easier for young people to access marijuana and may have contributed to the perception that cannabis is safe.

“Our study describes an upward trend in marijuana abuse exposures among youth, especially those involving edible products,” Hughes says. “These findings highlight an ongoing concern about the impact of rapidly evolving cannabis legalization on this vulnerable population.”

The study also identified high levels of over-the-counter medication abuse among young people. Between 2001 and 2016, the highest number of drug abuse cases related to dextromethorphan, a commonly used over-the-counter cold and cough medicine. Oral antihistamines were also among the most misused substances in the study. Deaths from drug misuse were rare, occurring in only about 450 cases (about 0.1%) identified by the study. Substance misuse deaths were most common among teenagers 16 to 18 and occurred more often among males than females. Deaths from substance use among young people were most common following the use of opioids. 

The researchers also identified 57,488 incidents of substance misuse involving children aged 6 to 12. However, these cases didn’t usually include over-the-counter or illicit drugs but instead involved substances such as vitamins, plants, melatonin, hand sanitizers and others.

In their conclusion, the authors of the study wrote that the data from the NPDS “highlight an ongoing concern about the impact of rapidly evolving cannabis legalization on this vulnerable population.”

Limitations of the research include the data set being restricted to exposure cases classified as abuse or misuse. “It’s possible that additional misuse or abuse cases were classified otherwise and thus were missed,” the authors wrote.

The study states: “Trends in intentional abuse and misuse ingestions in school-aged children and adolescents reported to US poison centers from 2000-20,” was published online by the journal Clinical Toxicology on December 5.

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U.S. Youth Ditch Alcohol for Cannabis in Record Numbers, Study Says

American youth are smoking pot more than ever before, but according to the same data, they are dropping booze habits at the same time—begging the question if society is better off as a whole.

The findings were published Monday in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Toxicology, pinpointing precisely 338,727 instances of intentional abuse or misuse amongst American children aged 6-18. Americans did a fairly good job of keeping drugs away from young children, however, as most of the cases involving smaller children 6-12 were accidental and usually involving over-the-counter items such as vitamins and hormones.

Among American youth, cannabis use rose 245% since 2000 in the U.S., while alcohol abuse has steadily declined over the same period. “Young people are ditching alcohol for marijuana,” Neuroscience News reports.

“Ethanol abuse cases exceeded the number of marijuana cases every year from 2000 until 2013,” stated Dr Adrienne Hughes, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University, one of the authors of the study. “Since 2014, marijuana exposure cases have exceeded ethanol cases every year, and by a greater amount each year than the prior.” 

“These edible and vaping products are often marketed in ways that are attractive to young people, and they are considered more discrete and convenient,” says Hughes.

Researchers pointed out what most of us already know: that problems associated with cannabis usually involve edibles that take hours to creep up.

“Compared to smoking cannabis, which typically results in an immediate high, intoxication from edible forms of marijuana usually takes several hours, which may lead some individuals to consume greater amounts and experience unexpected and unpredictable highs,” says Hughes.

Researchers noted 57,488 incidents involving children aged just 6 to twelve, but they were cases involving vitamins, plants, melatonin, hand sanitizers, and other typical household objects.

A slight majority of cannabis ingestions were noted in males versus females at 58.3%, and more than 80% of all reported cannabis exposure cases occurred in teens aged 13 to 18.

The report illustrates how drugs fall into and out of favor over time. Dextromethorphan—the most reported substance over the study period—peaked in 2006, but has fallen out of favor among American youth.

Youth alcohol abuse peaked over 20 years ago back in 2000, when the largest number of abuse cases involved exposure to ethanol. Since then, child alcohol abuse has steadily declined over the years.

Cannabis cases, on the other hand, remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2009, with a rise in cases beginning in 2011, and a more acute rise in cases from 2017 to 2020.

The same pattern can be seen as fewer American youth are drinking alcohol. Changes in the types of cannabis products that are being consumed is also apparent. But the rise in unpleasant edible experiences is a concern for the team of researchers.

“Our study describes an upward trend in marijuana abuse exposures among youth, especially those involving edible products,” says Hughes.

“These findings highlight an ongoing concern about the impact of rapidly evolving cannabis legalization on this vulnerable population.”

The findings are not exactly conclusive: Previous, federally funded data dismisses the theory that legalization measures have a correlation with increased teen use of cannabis.

A study published in November in the journal American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that cannabis legalization “was not significantly related” to “the probability or frequency of self-reported past-year cannabis use” by teens. It also found that “youth who spent more of their adolescence under legalization were no more or less likely to have used cannabis at age 15 years than adolescents who spent little or no time under legalization.”

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From the Archives: La Grande Chartreuse (1987)

By Bernard Garfinkel

The first thing you notice is the color, a particular and lovely translucent green, the green of a deep tropical sea, of a primeval planet steaming in the sun, yet modern, too, a glowing neon, a Ferrari green. It is, of course, the color to which the liqueur Chartreuse gave its name. And, amazingly, the color of Chartreuse is of its essence. It’s the power of suggestion, probably, but there’s no escaping the feeling that it tastes green, and this is part of its pleasure. Like the coral of a boiled lobster shell, the green of Chartreuse is unique; it signals the liqueur itself, somehow telegraphs to the mind before the first sip that spiky, sweet, spicy and complex taste.

Chartreuse has been called the “best liqueur in the world.” Certainly, it’s the most expensive, and the most potent as well—110 proof, while other liqueurs range from 50 to 96. (There is also a yellow Chartreuse, considered by most aficionados not to dwell on the same level of delight as the green. Its proof is 86.) This alcoholic power has, in recent times, given rise to advertising campaigns extolling its 55-percent spiritous content in phrases such as “green fire.” Then, too, there’s more than a hint of the aphrodisiacal in its legend. The secret blend of ingredients that mysteriously combine to give Chartreuse its special flavor and color has been described as having magical and sexual powers, of being associated with ancient gods of fertility and desire.

Yet the liqueur is made by an extraordinarily devout band of monks of the Carthusian order, whose ascetic life of isolation, silence, fasting, chastity and prayer is regarded as the most difficult and demanding vocation in the Roman Catholic church. Originally produced as a healing potion, a medicine with tonic powers for digestive and other ailments (a function it still serves for some), Chartreuse has become, you might say magically, a healing flow of money for the monks, whose hermetic lifestyle in the Monastery of La Grande Chartreuse in the hills near Grenoble in southeastern France is as expensive to maintain as that of a yacht-collecting Greek tycoon.

Chartreuse has, in fact, come to represent, like Coca-Cola, a business secret of enormous value, and since the latter half of the nineteenth century, when it achieved worldwide commercial success, it has been a frequent target of industrial espionage and high-powered chemical analysis aimed at stealing its well-guarded formula or breaking its lucrative code. To no avail. Although dozens of imitations—from the Japanese Chartreuse Morozoff to La Princesse des Chartreux— have surfaced from time to time, all of them, like the imitations of Coke, have failed by a greater or lesser measure to duplicate the real thing.

There’s no doubt that Chartreuse is a highly complex compound. It is made from 130 different herbs, plants, and spices. Many of these are found in the Alpine hills near the monastery and gathered by local laborers paid by the monks. Others are shipped in from around the world. Perhaps Crick and Watson, the scientists who “cracked” the DNA and RNA molecules, could take Chartreuse apart and label precisely its components and their proportions. But other scientists have tried and failed. All that they’ve been able to do is identify some of the herbs and plants it contains.

Frank Schoonmaker, the renowned wine expert, listed the following as “probably” present in green Chartreuse: lemon balm, hysopp, peppermint, genepi, angelica seed and root, thyme, balsam, purslane, arnica blossoms, cinnamon and mace. Yellow Chartreuse has a different formula, but, Schoonmaker reported, it undoubtedly contains a high proportion of coriander. No other liqueur approaches the complexity of Chartreuse. Benedictine, for example, contains 30 herbs and spices, and the Italian liqueur Strega (which means “witch”), made by the Benevento family from a secret formula for the past 110 years, has 70 ingredients.

The ingredients in Chartreuse are blended and prepared according to the ancient formula that was given to the monks in 1605. According to the Carthusians, the donor is unknown but probably “a French alchemist.” According to another account he was the Marshal d’Estrees, a friend of King Henri IV. In any event the gift was ignored for some 150 years, until Brother Gérôme Maubec, “a clever apothecary,” managed after 27 years of experimenting to translate the formula for “an herbal elixir of long life” into a consumable potion. In the ceiling over the six copper stills are trapdoors that open and close at the whim of the brewmasters. When the monks have finished preparing a batch of herbs, a trapdoor above a still opens suddenly, a pipe descends into the still, and the herbs cascade down into the vat. Then the pipe is drawn upward again, there is a muffled whump as the trapdoor closes, and the secret mixing process continues above. On days of special religious observance at the monastery, the brewmasters do not appear at the distillery, and if the company’s workers have no ingredients from the previous day in the distilling vats, they busy themselves with other work, or they do nothing.

Chartreuse has been described as having magical and sexual powers associated with ancient gods of fertility and erotic desire.

Maubec’s work was carried on by a fellow monk, Brother Antoine, who produced in 1764 an elixir de table and an elixir de santé, stronger and darker. The elixir de table is present-day green Chartreuse. The elixir de santé is still sold in Europe as a tonic (take two or three drops on a lump of sugar), its alcoholic potency weighing in at a formidable 136 proof. (This elixir is not allowed into the United States because it is deemed a “patent medicine.”) A century after Maubec and Antoine, Brother Bruno Jacquet compounded the yellow variety.

Following the perfected formulas, the ingredients for Chartreuse are prepared and proportioned in secret ways and, as we shall see, in a private place from which all but monks are excluded. The flavoring compound is then mixed with honey and a brandy base and the result distilled six different times, during which further ingredients are added.

We should, at this point, distinguish between brandy, fruit and flavored liqueurs and herb liqueurs such as Chartreuse. Brandy is a distillate of grapes or other fruits. Grape brandy (from wine) is normally known as cognac, after the district in France that produces what is generally regarded as the world’s best. Other fruits give their names to brandies: apples (Calvados), plums (Quetsch or Mirabelle), raspberries (Framboise). Flavored liqueurs are known in the trade as “infusions.” They’re produced by steeping fresh fruit in neutral spirits or brandy, then sweetening and filtering the result, and this process gives them more fruit flavor than the brandies. Among the flavoring agents are mint, coffee beans, anise and various fruits—apples, blackberries, cherries and oranges, among many others. Finally, there are the herb liqueurs such as Chartreuse, Strega, Benedictine, Galliano. These are known in France as liqueurs jaune (yellow) even when they’re colorless. They’re made by steeping herbs in brandy or spirits, then sweetening, coloring and distilling the results.

In France the herbal liqueurs are often referred to as monastic liqueurs because so many of them were first made at monasteries by religious orders. But today Chartreuse is the only liqueur still made by monks. In contrast, Benedictine, supposedly first made at the Benedictine abbey at Fecamp in France, no longer has any connection with the order.

As the guardians of their secret formula, the Carthusians are faced with a major problem in security, and their solution would do justice to the CIA. Chartreuse is made at a distillery in the village of Voiron, a few miles from Grenoble and the monastery. The secret formula and Maubec’s translation of it repose in a vault at the monastery.

Access to the formula, as in the best intelligence organizations, is doled out on a need-to-know basis. At any given time, only five monks are allowed to know. Three of them are the monks who prepare the ingredients at the distillery. The other two are the director of the monastery and his assistant. In the best tradition of corporate and intelligence-agency security, the five men are not allowed to travel in the same vehicle, and, in fact, even the three monks are not allowed to ride in the same car over the winding mountain roads from the monastery to the distillery, since they have no “backup men” to do their job. Only when a monk begins to reach what is estimated to be the last few years of his tenure as a “brewmaster” is a younger replacement trained.

At the distillery, top security is maintained. While Chartreuse is made by the three monks who prepare the formula, the rest of the process—distillation, bottling, labeling, marketing and distribution—is in the hands of a production company with which the Carthusian order is associated for this purpose, the Campagnie de la Grande Chartreuse. Its employees, needless to say, are not in the know. Consequently, at the distillery there is a white-painted staircase leading to the second floor, and only the three Carthusian brewmasters mount its steps.

Back at the monastery, the brewmasters pursue exactly the same silent and solitary life as their fellow monks. The Carthusian order was founded in 1084 by St. Bruno on a desolate mountaintop near Grenoble called Chartreuse (which translates as “wilderness”). In the years since, other Carthusian monasteries have been established throughout Europe (Stendhal’s Charterhouse of Parma was one), all following St. Bruno’s original dedication to an hermetical life. A recent report put the present number at 26, housing some 800 brothers.

La Grande Chartreuse is the headquarters monastery of the order, and its director is the head of the entire order. At Chartreuse, the 32 monks live for the most part isolated from each other as well as from the outside world. They come together only for religious services and when groups of 10 or 15 stroll through the countryside. Only on these woodland walks do the monks converse with each other. Inside the monastery, they follow their vow of silence. (At the distillery, the monks converse with each other and outsiders when necessary.) Their cells are on two levels, the lower one for work, the upper one for prayer and meditation. Besides a bed, the rooms contain nothing but an altar, pew, workbench and stove. The monks no longer wear hair shirts, as they once did, but dress in cowled robes of white serge. In the main they still follow the ancient order’s strict dietary requirements, never eating meat, fasting on bread and water three days a week, eating once a day otherwise (except on feast days). They have no radios, TV or newspapers, nor in fact any contact at all with the outside world except for a brief visit from their families once every five years.

Their monastery is an extensive cluster of buildings that house, in addition to monks, lay brothers who take care of the domestic work. It is surrounded by a 14-foot-high wall, more to keep the world out than the monks inside. On a typical day, they retire at seven in the evening, wake up at two in the morning for meditation and prayer, attend vespers and matins at nine, 12 noon and four in the afternoon. In between, they work in their cells, mainly at writing.

This devoted existence is supported in all of the monasteries by the income the Carthusians receive from Chartreuse, which is now regarded to be in excess of $4 million a year, based on a royalty of close to 25 percent on each bottle the monks produce.

But even with the beneficence of this income, the order has experienced a good deal of travail. In 1903, with the passage of a new religious law in France, the Carthusians were expelled from the country, the second time they had experienced that fate, the first being immediately after the French Revolution. This time they settled in Tarragona, Spain, where they built a new distillery and continued to produce Chartreuse.

Meanwhile, the French government and its platoon of chemists attempted to divine the secret of the liqueur. The product they marketed as their best guess won few converts, and ultimately the company set up to replace the Carthusians was on the verge of bankruptcy. Finally, in 1940, the Carthusians were allowed to return, given back their monastery and distillery and permitted once again to produce the original liqueur.

As for what might seem to be an inconsistency between their strict religious vows and their purveyance of one of the world’s strongest drinks, the monks take a philosophical view. Recently, the Reverend Père at the Chartreuse monastery commented on this question by saying: “After all, we have to live. And can one truthfully say that Chartreuse contributes to alcoholism?”

One does, in fairness to the monks, have to conclude that less expensive, less refined beverages undoubtedly contribute more. And beyond that, there is the incontrovertible reality that brandy and liqueurs have been traditional in European life since as early as the thirteenth century, regarded at the least as bracing tonics and often as medicinally therapeutic, hence the name given to them—aqua vitae, eau de vie, water of life.

And, of course, were the Carthusians to stop making Chartreuse, they would simply be taking one of the world’s great drinking experiences away from us, removing from modern life one more superior product that would no doubt be replaced by an inferior substitute, more than likely an artificial one like so many of the other liqueurs that have swamped the market, made not from natural fruits and herbs but from alcohol, chemical flavorings and copious amounts of raw sugar, the whole aged for all of 90 days.

Chartreuse, in contrast, is aged longer than most other liqueurs, for up to four years (the premium VEP variety is aged for 15 years); and, as its label proclaims, it is “entirely natural.” It is this natural condition, in fact, that according to its American distributor, Schieffelin and Company, has led to what might be termed a mini-boom in Chartreuse drinking. It began in southern California, where nature-hungry students took to drinking a concoction they called Swampwater: pour a shot of green Chartreuse in a tall glass, fill with pineapple juice, add ice and a squeeze of lime.

Happy to go along with a trend, Schieffelin began to promote Swampwater party kits, complete with napkins, postcard invitations, Swampwater mason jars and inflatable plastic alligators. That put Chartreuse in the modern world, along with Galliano, which had previously made its collegiate debut in the Harvey Wallbanger.

The Carthusian brothers were happy to go along with this, inasmuch as it represented a whole new market for their liqueur, which previously, in America at least, had a more corporate-boardroom, gourmet image. (This image still applies. For his famous $4,000 meal at the Paris restaurant Drouant, won at a public television fund-raising auction, New York Times food writer Craig Claiborne chose, as one dish, duck with Chartreuse.) The Carthusians did draw the line, however, at advertising efforts to further the fame of Swampwater in “sexy” magazines such as Playboy, and Chartreuse now reaches its college market in Cosmopolitan, People, Glamour and Essence.

And Swampwater aside, Chartreuse, like other liqueurs, can do marvelous things for food, in addition to fulfilling what I consider to be its main function in life as a soul-stroking after-dinner toast to a memorable meal. Try it on ice cream, add a dash to chocolate sauce, pour it over fruit or cake. Less to my taste but favored by many gourmets is its addition to cooked dishes—Claiborne’s duck, a veal scallopini or a baked filet of sole with cream sauce, to mention just a few.

In any event, finish off your dinner by holding a glassful up to the light, observe its strange and sensual green depths and sip slowly of its therapeutic essence, first having toasted Brothers Gérôme and Antoine, who labored in the Lord’s vineyard for your pleasure. And you might give a moment’s silent thought to the brothers in Grenoble, who are only allowed to drink their magical medicine once a year, at Christmas feasts.

High Times Magazine, October 1978

Read the full issue here.

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