Song DedHIGHcation

My day off wasn’t  going too great, but my luck changed when I received a comment on the More NORML Than Imagined article. Signed, “<3 M + P”, I couldn’t be happier to find out that 10 days into starting my blog, Margot and Pepper from www.potcouture.com had already read it. 

Ganja Gods, please ensure this isn't a prank! Dylan's song goes out to all the lady stoners who I hope to work with in future endeavors.

Secret Stiletto Stoners

From my own experience of chilling at The Lounge, even all the guys I sesh with discuss the unwanted  “sausage fest” environment. Finding female stoners in cannabis culture isn’t very often. When I found a video on youtube titled “Stiletto Stoners: Women Who Smoke Pot”, I was immediately intrigued for their positive fashion-weed opinions.

After watching the clip you’ll notice that ABC emphasizes the fact that before the very first interview begins, the stiletto stoner woman specifically asks for her identity to remain anonymous.  As soon as this is announced, it’s hard for me to take this segment seriously. Hiding the identity of this woman using voice-overs and shadows, it displays her as taking advantage of the benefits of marijuana, but isn’t willing to stand up for something she engages and believes in.

Mystery Marijuana Smoker

In another article I wrote about the Women’s Alliance for NORML and Pot Couture, I explained that, “When someone who is considered a positive influence openly smokes marijuana, then another false rumor against cannabis is proven wrong.”  Mystery marijuana smoker should take a clue from the women of NORML, because her own points validate that using marijuana on a daily basis does not have any negative impact on her life. 

Did you know...

· 7. The age and density of the hemp patch influences fiber quality. If a farmer wanted soft linen-quality fibers he would plant his cannabis close together. 

Marijuanna Wintour

Recently, I heard a rumor about a connection between Anna Wintour and Bob Marley, and I needed to confirm the details. Just by chance, the source of the information ended up being the book, Front Row Anna Wintour: The Cool Life and Hot Times of Vogue’s Editor in Chief, a book we sell at my work.

Jerry Oppenheimer, the author of the biography explains, “Anna had fallen for someone unlikely: a dreadlocked, ganja-smoking, black Rastafarian”.

Through a mutual friend, Anna received back stage passes to a Manhattan concert of Bob Marley and The Wailers. Alida Morgan, a friend of Anna, recounts this memory in Front Row:

“Anna riveted, and she’d go out every night after the concerts with the band to have dinner, go on the town. When she came back we said, ‘Anna, you look exhausted.’ She had these purple circles under her eyes. She says she didn’t have an affair, but she had this revelation and felt she had a mystical experience. I said, ‘How come I’m not invited?’ But when Anna found something that good, she wanted to keep it to herself. I don’t think anything moved her as much as Bob Marley.”

It would be my new life goal to session with Anna Wintour, considering I've already played in her clothes.

Always look to the bright side of the sun,

Puffy

Song DedHIGHcation

As I am chilling, listening to Snoop-a-loop, I got to thinking about some memories of smokin’ a blunt. My girl, Sarah P passed me my first blunt, and she’s also the first positive example of marijuana I've been influenced by. Working and studying hard, while staying consistent through all of her stoner days, she’s been able to accomplish waay more than most. Every sesh I think of you, and without your positive influence, I probably wouldn’t even have this blog to begin with. 

"Pfft, you don't love me, you just love my doggy style."

On High Times, Snoop gives great detailed photos on how to roll a blunt. 

Check it out! http://hightimes.com/entertainment/ht_admin/6806?utm_source=rss_home

 

Did you know...

·       6. In the 1930s, Congress was told by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics that many Polish-Americans still grew pot in their backyards to make their winter “long johns” and work clothes, and greeted agents with shotguns for stealing their next year’s clothes.

More NORML Than Imagined

As I learn more about marijuana and inspiring people involved in the movement, the great number of people fighting for their rights and making a difference already impresses me. Focusing on positive connections between cannabis culture and fashion, I came across the NORML Women’s Alliance. Recently, these women involved in working to reform marijuana laws, and the creators of the first pro-pot online magazine for women were featured in an editorial photo shoot. Along with images of the women styled by fashion industry professionals, an interview also explains that the entire point is a “high-style photo shoot designed to reframe the perception of the marijuana legalization movement, and the stereotype of those involved.”

When someone who is considered a positive influence openly smokes marijuana, then another false rumor against cannabis is proven wrong. These women represent that, and Pepper from Pot Couture explains that, “There’s still this idea that supporters of marijuana reform are on the fringes of society, but that’s just not the case. Marijuana is as mainstream as it gets, and these women are proof.” 

Check out these ladies at http://potcouture.com/ and http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=8059

Always look to the bright side of the sun, 

Puffy

WEIRD ORGIES, WILD PARTIES, UNLEASHED PASSIONS!

A negative stigma against marijuana and its effects already exists in North America. Despite all the factual information, tons of people have made up their minds: marijuana is harmful to users.

A silly vintage propaganda poster 
actually caused more harm with prohibition since 1937.

At work, a woman starts complaining to me that every fashionable knee-high boot doesn’t fit around her calves, because everything is only made for “super skinny girls”. Agreeing that the majority of boots don’t usually fit, I explained that fashion is a very shallow minded industry.

It took me years of learning about fashion to understand that there is way more innovations worth developing, yet the mindset is stuck on the stick thin model on the runway. Clearly held back by her own insecurities, the woman tried to argue with me, ”In fashion, if you are even a size 10 or 12, there is nothing for you.”

Gaultier's runway model.

It’s really pathetic when you witness individuals self-sabotaging themselves. In defense, I told the woman that for the entire time I’ve been in the fashion industry, up until this summer, I have been a size 10 or 12. Nothing about this industry held me back, because I understand that it takes unique people to achieve change and so few are willing to address these issues within the fashion world.

When the majority’s freedom is held back because of a state of mind, “thin models can only be fashionable”, then it’s a regression toward happiness, especially when we wear clothing everyday, and fashion affects self-esteem negatively. If you don’t agree with the way fashion feels, don’t let it control you and stand up against it: speak up!

Gaultier and I own matching Gossip t-shirts!
Beth Ditto is an obvious fashion inspiration for all. 

Everything about this discussion reminded me of prohibition.  Too many women believe they cannot express themselves through fashion, because they are not thin. It’s obviously not true, just like all the propaganda against pot.

I know I am in heaven when my eyes 
are as red as the devil's dick!

Prohibition involves the law, and the only way to reverse it is to vote. Similar to fashion, in prohibition you cannot expect change to happen unless you are willing to try yourself. Marijuana is still illegal, and it takes changing the law to legalize it. It’s clear that more people need to vote in favour of cannabis, but first we must change minds, before we can change laws.

Always look to the bright side of the sun,

Puffy

Herer's Message:

Educate Yourself.

Jack Herer: The Hemperor

When smoking pot in public, I follow the very simple rule that I will only toke up if I feel relaxed. When bad vibes and a heated area describe the situation, I will wait it out until I am ready, especially if I am alone. Before I even sparked the “secret goal” joint in New York, I was trippin’ about the consequences if the police caught me. My family would be furious and worried, plus we had plans to see the Broadway show immediately after my walk.

Reminding myself that I constantly worry, I lit the joint and walked down a side street. Yet again, not a single person pestered me while I got my smoke on. Fearing for no reason, I laughed off my anxiety and skipped down the street to grab some gum before meeting up with the family.

Standing in line at a convenience store, high as fuck, an extremely familiar man walks in.  Looking through a glass case of smoking paraphernalia, I make a point to chat with this man “Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude. You seem awfully familiar, what is your profession?” When I say I was high as fuck, for that moment, my body possessed me and I was using new words like, “profession”. 

A friendly stranger, Jack Herer.

Delighted, the man responded that he was flattered I asked him, because he felt the exact same thing about me. “Are you in academia, or in the music industry?” I assured him that I had only arrived in New York a few days before from Canada, and that I am not involved in either academics or music.  Nothing about this encounter should have been memorable, yet a month later I am still thinking of him.

As soon as I got back from my trip, I told my family and friends about this odd man I suddenly had the urge to communicate with.  Weeks went by, and I continued blazing and brainstorming ideas for Puff Puff Pashmina. Scrolling through a website of pro-pot quotes, I came across an image of a major American marijuana activist, Jack Herer. Oddly enough, he looks identical to my friendly stranger from New York.  His name popped up again that week when I was curious about which strain I had tasted.  Considering Herer passed away, it would be impossible to bump into him, unless he was actually a lovely ghost.

Missing the mark completely, I didn’t really look into Herer’s work until now. Reading about him, Herer was the “Santa of Sativa”, because he wrote The Emperor Wears No Clothes, the #1 best-selling hemp book of all time, which proved the positivity of marijuana. He makes a $100 000 bet to prove him wrong on the fact that, “If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the Greenhouse Effect and stop deforestation. Then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world’s paper and textiles; meeting all of the world’s transportation, industrial and home energy needs; same time… And that substance is—the same one that did it all before— Cannabis Hemp… Marijuana!”

This book changed my life. 

Coincidentally, Jack Herer was actually from New York, the exact place where I thought I bumped into his spirit. Even if that man I met has zero connection to Herer, if it wasn’t for his appearance, I wouldn’t have looked further into him. Eventually finding a complete factual collective for marijuana, and an icon for the pro-pot movement. 

Always look to the bright side of the sun,

Puffy

Song DedHIGHcation

Every Tuesday members of Toronto Hash Mob host The Mernahuana Show, a live ustream video show with all the Vapor Central shenanigans you can handle. Tune in at 4:20 for all the action.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-mernahuana-show

This show is often the highlight of my week, and unfortunately I will be unable to make it this week. Enjoy boys!

One of my favourite blazin’ tunes by one of the show’s special guests, Mookie Wilson. 

Did you know...

·       5. Homespun cloth was almost always spun, by people all over the world, from fibers grown in the “family hemp patch.” In America, this tradition lasted from the Pilgrims (1620s) until hemp’s prohibition in the 1930’s.

Ganja Party Pooper

 Style.com is the most extensive and up-to-date site for fashion news with the best images. While hitting some super silver haze and filling in on fashion info, I came across this article that describes Marc Jacobs’ latest runway show after-party. From the footage of his previous parties, aspects of it can get pretty wild, because Jacobs’ likes things “fucked up”. Details of this party include Lil’ Kim and Terry Richardson as celebrity guests, M.I.A as the DJ, and quite a few of the images from the party shows guests drinking champagne. This party couldn’t get any better, until the article’s author says, “…wafts of, dare we say, marijuana smoke in the air”. When Marc Jacobs’ doesn’t mind a sesh at his after party, then neither should the journalist.

Interesting party guests.

Selma Blair in polka dots.

Marc Jacobs and Lil' Kim

Coincidently, Style.com then posted a news article on a new study that proves, “alcohol is more harmful to users and to wider society than heroin or crack, and all three are far more harmful than cannabis, ecstasy, or magic mushrooms.” The study was classifying substances in categories such as: mental damage, contributions to crime, costs the economy, and harm to communities. Of course Alcohol scored as being the most harmful at 72, even compared to heroin at 55, crack at 54, and Miss Mary-Jane at 20.

Illegal or not, dare we say we would much rather smoke marijuana than drink alcohol ever again? 

Song DedHIGHcation

This dedHIGHcation is for Demon, my best bud from college. When LuDA sings about putting a towel under a door and rushing to grab snackies, he is perfectly describing last year for us. Everyday I take a moment to be thankful I didn’t get evicted from residence for my pot-shenanigans. 

Did you know...

·       4. The original, heavy-duty, famous Levi pants were made for the California ‘49ers out of hempen sailcloth and rivets. This way the pockets wouldn’t rip when filled with gold panned from the sediment. 

High is the New Couture

Living in the stoner lifestyle, I made a secret goal for this trip: try and smoke ganja at least once. There isn’t ever a point where weed is necessary, but I do dig everything much more when I am high. To smoke even a little pinner in New York would be a challenge, because not a single family member on the trip smokes pot.

There have been a few significant times where I have convinced myself that poor choices were caused by being high on marijuana. This eventually led to the thought of taking a break, because marijuana was “negative”.  Considering people who don’t smoke weed still make bad decisions, we’re all responsible for our own choices. It’s silly to use a plant as an excuse as to why you haven’t been able to accomplish even the smallest goals. You prove yourself; don’t let false facts prove you.

Going to New York for the first time is really exciting for fashion fiends. Think of all the inspiration I could absorb while on vacation. When I returned to Canada, the smoke break would allow me to accomplish my goals. My expectations were to find really unusual styles that I haven’t seen in Canadian streets yet, like fucked up and still cool. Disappointed by the seldom style, I joked with my family that I hoped all the fashion geniuses were still sleeping from a night of hard partying. 

Just by coincidence, my aunt’s friend who moved to New York invited our family over for a party.  She hadn’t stayed in touch with him for over 20 years, but over the phone he told her that he worked for Vogue Magazine. My first thought was that he is probably the mailroom guy.

Always wearing sunglasses, I hope that
Anna Wintour is covering her red eyes!

Instead, I met a group of party guests who would change my life forever. Everyone at the party was involved in arts, fashion, or interior design, but had become successful in New York. When the host started talking about his boss Anna, I knew that he was referring to Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief. He is actually her tailor, and has been for over 15 years. Easily, she is one of the most influential people in fashion, and naturally my jaw dropped to the ground.

The host heard that I studied fashion, and brought me into his studio to show me certain pieces. Among Anna’s rejections, in an old light pink box, he pulled out an antique couture Christian Dior dress from 1957.  This is the ultimate fashion fantasy of playing dress-up in luxury couture.

Christian Dior 1957

Playing dress-up in the studio

One particular guest came to me like a ganja guardian angel when he lit up a spliff and passed it to me. With my family sitting around me, I accomplished my secret goal. I took a hit, and before exhaling asked him, “Isn’t fashion the best high?” He responded with, “Honey, High IS the new couture.” Feeling connected to this friendly stranger, I explained that I came to New York in search of some new inspiration.  Marijuana relaxed the guests into confessing that my style is so unique that I am my own inspiration, and that anything I can think, I can create. They told me I was wasting my time living in Canada, because New York City needs my aesthetic. 

The most expensive Chanel jacket I've ever seen,
modeled by the most exciting man I've ever met.

A smoke break and fresh inspiration wasn’t what I needed, I just needed to believe in myself and know that marijuana is a positive substance. Whenever I doubt either, the ganja guardian angel will remind me of the truth. 

A bright parade in New York.

Always look to the bright side of the sun,
Puffy

City Lights Blogger

Every one of my jobs has been a retail position up until this point.  There’s this predetermined stigma about retail with the customer service aspect of the job: working directly with people kind of sucks. Spending four years in high school, every weekend, while working at the Tim Horton’s “drive-thru” window lead me to believe that. It was an absolute emergency that those people receive their coffee immediately.

If you work in retail, remember that even in our work environments, we are able to meet great people. Individuals are friendly, and individuals are rude. This makes work fun, because I constantly chat with customers who usually have something in common with me. All people can actually teach us lessons when we least expect it.

Forest City Fashionista is a great example of someone I met while working. She was looking through the men’s footwear section while I grabbed a pair of eggplant-purple high top sneakers with gold details for her. Through bits of info she shared, I knew she was visiting Toronto from London for her birthday, and the previous night she went to see a ballet. Her lifestyle is blogging about interesting street fashion, which she also agrees is a great way to meet people.

Curious, I asked her how long she had been living in London for. When she answered about 20 years, I mentioned that maybe she knew a place called City Lights Book Store. Marc Emery, a major marijuana activist operated this used bookstore for 17 years, and was her boss for two of them. Being the highlight of my shift, I enthusiastically explained how inspired I was after learning about the progress of the movement from Emery’s involvement to end cannabis prohibition. The friendly stranger bond is now forever connected between us. 

While I was cashing her out, she asks me about my necklace.  My talisman, or bling, is my most prized possession: a birthday gift I found myself in Kensington Market, from over 100 years old from North East Afghanistan made by the Turkmen tribe. Whoever wore this necklace in the beginning most likely smoked some great hash too. Impressed by the story, Forest City Fashionista asked if she could take photos of me for an article. As she showed me a smiling image of myself on the camera’s display, I told her about Puff Puff Pashmina, and her advice was to write what I want about how I feel.

Being a stoner, I am able to embrace the benefits of marijuana when it allows me to perceive a situation in a different way. Without acknowledging the value of meeting new people, even dreaded customers, Forest City Fashionista would never have inspired me to write this post.  

A few days ago, Forest City Fashionista actually wrote an article about me:

http://www.forestcityfashionista.com/2010/12/fracshion-of-regular-price.html

Song DedHIGHcation

Everyday I buy munchies from the Shoppers across from The Lounge. One particular employee always happens to wait on me while I reek of marijuana smoke. Tonight was the very first time in months that he commented on it, usually he refers to me as "Miss" a lot. He Joked that when he's baked, he would enjoy the munchies mutually. We started chatting and promised him that if he were to visit The Lounge for a session, people would be friendly. This dedHIGHcation goes out to all friendly strangers who make the world go ‘round.

Did you know...

·   3. Hemp is softer than cotton, warmer than cotton, more water absorbent than cotton, has three times the tensile strength of cotton and is many times more durable than cotton.

-

Mary-Jacobs Ads

Anyone is the fashion world understands the amount of influence and power someone as successful as Marc Jacobs has. Emerging during the grunge period in New York and designing a collection in the style, Marc Jacobs was fired from Perry Ellis after his first runway show. Without being discouraged, Marc became extremely successful by creating his own brand, and becoming the Creative Director for Louis Vuitton in 1997.

The style aesthetic between all advertisements for Marc Jacobs is a similar dream-like, fair, delicate tone. Usually featuring a haunting pale model or popular celebrity and cohesive brand font, Marc has truly made an impression in the fashion world.

With this much credibility, I was impressed to find two pro-pot advertisements that fit in with Marc’s branding. One features busted up nugs of marijuana waiting to be rolled up into a blunt wrap, and the 

other is an actual dime bag with Marc Jacobs’ logo printed on it.  One can’t help but wonder what flavour of blunt he’d prefer to smoke.

          

Curious if this was a valid advertisement for the designer, I continued searching for any proof. Unfortunately, there isn’t any confirmation, but I will still give Jacobs the benefit of the doubt that he’s this cool of a guy. Either way, he’d probably still dig these Louis Vuitton monogram inspired “logo” bongs.

Always look to the bright side of the sun,

Puffy

Did you know...

·       2. For hundreds, if not thousands of years (until the 1830’s), Ireland made the finest linens and Italy made the world’s finest hemp cloth for clothing with hemp. 

Song DedHIGHcation

The best partner in crime I could have possibly hallucinated would be Christopher Robin. When I was a kid, about 7 years old, I remember listening to Sublime on 89x radio station. The sound was quick, and fun. Every time I hear Sublime, I think of my childhood, and there's nothing wrong with the warmth of our childhoods. Christopher Robin and I use Toronto as our playground. 


Come to think of it,why were there always stones beneath the grade school jungle gyms? If it was for safety, to be honest a patch of grass would be a much more suitable cushion.

Puff Puff Pashmina

When marijuana is represented in any media form as a positive substance, it becomes a gradual advancement for the movement against prohibition. This is what I realized immediately after taking my first bong toke of the week. Horror stories about harsh penalties for marijuana from American friendly strangers forced me to take a long smoking break while I visited New York City with my family.

Both Broadway shows I saw had different cast members at various times discuss their love of marijuana while smoking up. To be honest, I found about 10 roaches in my purse, which I accidentally passed through customs with. Hesitant to bring them back to Canada with me, I did what any loyal weed smoker would do: pull the roaches apart, roll them into a doobie and smoke it on a side street before seeing the show. When the main character told the audience to never let good weed go to waste, I knew I made the right decision to smoke my New York City joint by not wasting that kush.

I couldn’t be happier to understand how a positive representation is actually changing the audience’s perception. Marijuana in a Broadway show is something I least expected; yet it proves that optimistic views on ending prohibition are in unusual places frequently.

When I know that the benefits of marijuana out weigh the negatives, it’s bullshit to hear reasons against it like, “Don’t smoke marijuana, it’s illegal.” In comparison, examples of legal substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and inhalants prove to be much more harmful to a user’s health, and could even lead to death.  It is impossible for any amount of marijuana to actual kill someone.  Even if enjoying weed is considered “bad”, which people already think, it is about our freedom to choose. When smoking cigarettes is like paying the government to slowly kill you, I would much rather pay a friend to ensure I have a relaxed, fun time. Even when the facts defend themselves, our choice is still controlled by the government.

First hand, I can tell you that studying fashion in college and being a stoner was the shit. My grades proved that when you are baked for assignments, you ignore the doubt and distractions, which leads to more ideas and creativity. Unique style always is my aesthetic, and enjoying marijuana while playing with fashion allows you to appreciate and notice patterns, colours, textures, and silhouettes. Visual merchandising, my favourite area of the fashion industry, needs to be original, innovative, and even strange for it to create more sale opportunities, thus making the retailer successful. Any window display I have created, I would make a point to smoke up before brainstorming. Marijuana didn’t give me the brilliant ideas, it only quickened the process and gave me the freedom to explore potential window displays.  If smoking pot doesn’t actually give you good ideas, then it cannot give you bad ones either. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own choices.   

When your moral compass swings in a certain direction, you know that you have no choice but to do the right thing. Watching two Broadway shows that were both pro-pot only reinforces that many of these examples probably exist in my unexpected world of fashion. Puff Puff Pashmina is the only source of media that I have access to. Using a blog as a collective of anything I learn involving marijuana and finding positive representations will be my little contribution to the movement. This is for anyone who thought their dreams weren’t possible just because they just wanted to Puff Puff Pass. 

Always look to the bright side of the sun, 
Puffy

Song DedHIGHcation

Dedications are an odd concept, where they honor positive influences in our lives. What if the negative influences actually end up inspiring us more? 

This first dedHIGHcation is for all the negative influences in my life that made a difference, especially the police for their behavior and the government for their lies. 

Did you know...

1. Until the 1880’s, and 20^th century for most of the rest of the world, 80% of all textiles and fabrics used for clothing, tents, bed sheets and linens, rugs, drapes, quilts, towels, diapers, and even flags were principally made from fibers of cannabis.