Sticky Green |
Posted by FoM on March 31, 2002 at 13:21:08 PT By John Griffin Source: NOW Magazine The Netherlands -- I am beyond vacationing in Holland. When weeks have turned into months, one must be creative to meet the basic requirements of survival. In France you can pick grapes, in the Okanagan there are apples, and in Egypt there's work on watermelon farms. In Holland, if you're lucky, there's cutting weed in commercial-scale growing operations. I still can't see past my own wall of paranoia to sit on a park bench and spark up a fat one while families stroll by on a Sunday afternoon. But here I am, in the upper reaches of a walk-up in a neighbourhood with tidy gardens and cobblestone streets, meeting my future employers. This isn't usually the purview of foreigners. After all, grow operations are illegal in Holland despite the lenient pot laws. I'm here thanks to a friend. My employers appear regular enough. One works a day job and plays in a band for fun. The other used to be an insurance salesman but has now gone underground. I have very little contact with him. He's a little paranoid, having spent some time in jail for past marijuana transgressions. I marvel at the row upon row of black pots bursting with full-grown plants and the web of tiny tubes that feeds them. The sheer power of the lights make me squint. My instructions are very clear. Don't ever open this door for longer than a few seconds -- the smell travels too quickly and the bright grow lights, sometimes visible through windows in the next room, may raise suspicion. Never be loud enough for the neighbours to hear me. No pocketing buds for personal use. Shower every night before leaving to avoid ending up smelling like a plant and attracting unwanted attention. And oh, yeah. The back wall is false and leads to another room with a window -- just in case, I suppose, the need arises for a quick exit. I soon learn that "cutting" is an art. You must first understand the essence of the plant before you end its life. The right time arrives when the outer leaves start to yellow and fine, sticky, coloured threads grow from the flowers. This point, when THC levels are at their peak, only lasts a few short days, and if you miss it, weeks of toil and thousands of Euros go swirling down the drain. Once the plant is "cleaned," the tedious process of trimming back the leaves that squeeze their way through the small spaces within the bud must be undertaken. Even though these tiny, frail leaves are coated white with glistening potent crystals, you must trim them back to make the bud appear less scraggly. Buyers, you see, prefer the manicured look. These tiny leaf clippings may then be collected to produce moderate- quality hashish. Ours went into the garbage. I learn, too, that getting high through osmosis is inevitable -- even with the rubber gloves I'm given to perform my horticultural duties. In the heat generated by the lights, I'd often find myself slowly spinning in circles in my chair -- even while sitting still. And, oh, the laughter. Though it's often lovely when the mind wanders, a high mind sometimes takes you to places you don't want to go. Like, to the fact I could go to jail for this. Here in the Netherlands, the legalities and punishment associated with marijuana can seem vague at times. Holland is filled with "brown" cafés where it's legal to purchase and smoke marijuana, but the cafés are only allowed to have 500 grams at any given time, and individuals no more than 5 grams. There are shops where it's legal to buy and sell paraphernalia. Yet it's illegal to grow pot, even though some growers claim income from pot and write off their expenses on their income tax. Proposals, meanwhile, are being made to toughen jail sentences for pot offences. Foreigners like me risk deportation or worse, which makes my appointment with Dutch immigration -- I had earlier inquired about a work visa -- a source of high anxiety. Getting the smell of pot off my body is no easy task. There's a trick -- coating my hands with olive oil, followed by scrubbing with sand to break down the THC. To make sure, I shower again when I get home from my shift. And again the next morning before my appointment. I wash and scrub my hands at least 10 times before heading out the door, adding a little perfume for good measure. The wait in the tiny reception room feels like hours. I start to sweat. Paranoid visions of handcuffs float through my head. My cheeks feel hot as the officer assigned to me takes a chair at a desk narrow enough for my scent to reach his nose. What kind of work do I do? It's taking forever. I feel his eyes on me. I swear he can read my mind, but suddenly he smiles and wishes me luck before shaking my sweaty hand and showing me out the door. I have another cutting shift to get to. John Griffin is a pseudonym. Note: Even in Pot Heaven Holland, my job tending Buds makes me paranoid. Newshawk: puff_tuff Related Articles: Drive-Ups To Feature Weed Dutch Model for UK Drug Laws Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
Comment #23 posted by FoM on April 01, 2002 at 14:57:50 PT |
You're welcome. That's a song that you can't forget after you've heard it. It's like Alice's Restaurant. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #22 posted by el_toonces on April 01, 2002 at 14:07:31 PT:
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FoM -- I never heard Prine until just now......I was missing out big! Thanks, M [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #21 posted by el_toonces on April 01, 2002 at 14:05:38 PT:
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Some excellent links in these comments, links I never knew about before...........keep them coming!:) With much gratitude, El [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #20 posted by FoM on April 01, 2002 at 13:57:01 PT |
The Bob Marley Program was very good. I even cried at the end because his life was only just beginning but his music and spirit is stronger then ever. The High in Cannabis. My opinion. When I read your comment I thought of these words so I went and found them to post. The smile is where the THC is isn't it? The smile is healing in itself. Feeling ok and not being totally stressed out and with a little grin on your face is good medicine. I sure think so.
Illegal Smile
When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad Chorus:
But fortunately I have the key to escape reality http://www.jpshrine.org/lyrics/songs/jpillegalsmile.html [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #19 posted by el_toonces on April 01, 2002 at 13:47:01 PT:
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If this was posted after 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, it must just be that it was already April 1st in Holland? I am so bummed I missed the VH-1 thing on Bob, though.......we should have a media e-mail alert listserver to transmit e-mails when such treats are coming......:) [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #18 posted by el_toonces on April 01, 2002 at 13:37:17 PT:
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"Researchers Aim to Develop
Marijuana Without the High"? The word "marijuana", whose etymology I have only just recently become fully acquainted with thanks to Doctor Russo's prompting, almost requires a "high" since the term requires (if not heavily connotes) euphoriant or intoxicating properties..... Cannabis without the "high"? That makes sense. I could even sell that to the older people I see at the pool in the morning. Resembling the cast of "Cocoon", many of these folks swim to ease symptoms of arthiritis and other ailments and I have heard them talk of "medical marijuana". They are all afraid of its 'metnal effects' from what I can tell, but they do wonder if such a thing might help them with their illnesses. How does one answer such a question posed by a person who fears what he seeks? El El [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #17 posted by goneposthole on April 01, 2002 at 08:07:12 PT |
sandbar [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #16 posted by overtoke on April 01, 2002 at 06:37:54 PT:
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"The chemical composition of cannabis and its active ingredients allow for its transdermal delivery. For instance, the primary active ingredient of cannabis is THC, which is effective in vito at very low doses. Due to its high liphophilicity, THC exhibits strong tendency to bind to tissue and protein, making transdermal application possible. Fatal misuse has also been a concern in previous transdermal applications, but cannabinoids are rarely fatal when overdosed. Furthermore, THC is rapidly metabolized in the body, such that concentration levels of the chemical in the bloodstream decreases rapidly if administered through traditional methods. In contrast, a transdermal application allows for small dosages of THC to be administered over an extended period of time, thereby allowing the concentration levels of the chemical to remain relatively steady in the bloodstream.
" http://www.farmacy.org/edu/patent-patch.html [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #15 posted by overtoke on April 01, 2002 at 06:33:16 PT:
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It will create hundreds of thousands of jobs CUTTING BUDS!! :) [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #14 posted by boppy on April 01, 2002 at 05:53:12 PT |
I can remember back in the 70's when guys would tell me that the pilots who flew contraband up from Columbia would get intoxicated just from the smell coming from the shipment that they were carrying. I laughed at that and wondered why I couldn't do that by sticking my nose in the bag that I had just bought. Wild, wacky stuff! [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #13 posted by qqqq on April 01, 2002 at 00:00:27 PT |
...I remember in high school,,when my cousins girlfriend got pregnant from accidently touching sperm. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #12 posted by lineman on March 31, 2002 at 23:41:32 PT |
> I learn, too, that getting high through osmosis
> is inevitable -- even with the rubber gloves I'm given
> to perform my horticultural duties. Cointelpro. > In the heat generated by the lights, I'd often find > myself slowly spinning in circles in my chair -- even > while sitting still. And, oh, the laughter. More cointelpro. Kind of obvious. Take standard pot growing article, add a couple sentantces from the feds, republish. Your tax dollars at work. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #11 posted by Jose Melendez on March 31, 2002 at 21:11:30 PT:
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I am also skeptical that plain THC will be exciting as I feel that the entire spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids of whole cannabis are key to the therapeutic effects. Well I for one am thrilled to read those words, Doctor Russo. Because as I mentioned earlier, I have this low cost inhaler that makes me feel... well, good. Do you think I might get better results by heating the essential oils, or is that only useful for the THC? [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #10 posted by Ethan Russo MD on March 31, 2002 at 19:27:03 PT:
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Dr. Stinchcomb is presenting at the Clinical Cannabis Conference in Portland. We will see what she has to report. I am skeptical that enough THC will be absorbable transcutaneously to do the job. I am also skeptical that plain THC will be exciting as I feel that the entire spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids of whole cannabis are key to the therapeutic effects. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #9 posted by Jose Melendez on March 31, 2002 at 18:57:30 PT:
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from: http://www.cannabis.net/potsup/
[ Post Comment ] |
Comment #8 posted by Jose Melendez on March 31, 2002 at 18:40:27 PT |
From: http://www.naihc.org/hemp_information/content/nova_report/part2.html ...It may validly be assumed that, with an octanol/water distribution coefficient of 6,000 (Agurell et al. 1986), i.e. a strong lipophilic tendency, only a small amount of THC permeates the skin-and is systemically absorbed only on a small scale-when administered in an oily base, such as in cosmetics containing hemp oil. Based on experimental evidence obtained for other chemicals with known physico-chemical properties, the transdermal systemic bioavailability of THC thus is likely considerably less than the oral systemic bioavailability. Corresponding experimental studies should be conducted that quantify the exact rate of skin permeation. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on March 31, 2002 at 18:06:45 PT |
Here I go again. I respectfully defer to Dr. Russo's expertise on this subject, but there have been at least two transdermal thc patents approved recently: From: A transdermal structure is provided for delivering cannabis chemical(s) to one's bloodstream. The structure comprises a backing layer which carries the cannabis chemical(s). The chemicals are contained in a film on the backing layer or within a cavity formed in the backing layer. Alternatively, an opening in a secondary layer that overlies the backing layer may be used to create the cavity. The structure is applied to one's skin so that the cannabis chemicals are in contact with the skin. A polymer material which is mixed with the cannabis and placed in the cavity or a membrane over the cavity may be used to control the flow of cannabis chemical (s) into the bloodstream. In an alternative embodiment, a porous material impregnated with cannabis chemical (s) may be used to hold the chemical(s) in the cavity. Because of the relatively slow transdermal flow rate of cannabis materials, it is preferred to utilize permeation enhancers in conjunction with the cannabis carrier or reservoir matrixes or skin contacting adhesive layers.As for: a high mind sometimes takes you to places you don't want to go. Like, to the fact I could go to jail for this."...huh? He could indeed go to jail for it... I think it was an interesting article that addresses the issue of enforcement-related paranoia. :) just my opinion... [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #6 posted by FoM on March 31, 2002 at 18:05:08 PT |
goneposthole that's ok. I deleted my comment because it was too harsh for me. Look at this! I got it on now! Hendrix will be on the next hour then! Bob Marley Legend Legend is that rarity among ultimate albums, a compilation. But when the guy you’re compiling is Bob Marley, you’ve got a best-of disc bursting with more great tunes than several careers combined. Nine million Marley lovers can’t be wrong. We asked his wife, band-mates and fans how he touched their lives, too. http://www.vh1.com/insidevh1/shows/ultimate_albums/legend/ [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #5 posted by goneposthole on March 31, 2002 at 17:47:20 PT |
The foreigner in Holland working a job that involves illegal activity. He has to sweat it out at the Dutch immigration office. Jeesh, tell me another one. Here in the Good Ol' USofA, dead terrorists are given visas. That's a good one, too. Sorry about the vulgar slang, FoM. fokken (Dutch): to breed [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #3 posted by goneposthole on March 31, 2002 at 16:00:55 PT |
Mind control going on here and it really pisses me off. I say fuck drugs, smoke cannabis. [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #2 posted by dddd on March 31, 2002 at 14:46:51 PT |
..to understand where this guy is coming from or going to...?....I mean let's take this gemstone excerpt from the article; "In the heat generated by the lights, I'd often find myself slowly spinning in circles in my chair -- even while sitting still.
And, oh, the laughter. Though it's often lovely when the mind wanders, a high mind sometimes takes you to places you
don't want to go. Like, to the fact I could go to jail for this." [ Post Comment ] |
Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on March 31, 2002 at 14:30:54 PT |
I learn, too, that getting high through osmosis is inevitable -- even with the rubber gloves I'm given to perform my horticultural duties. THC patches don't work because the molecule is simply too big to be administered transdermally. [ Post Comment ] |
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