Cannabis Coffeeshop Journal 2017 rolls up a crop of writing, carefully defocused through a lens pointed at cannabis coffeeshops in Amsterdam, and cannabis culture worldwide. The shorter pieces are paraphrased from published news items in the Netherlands. The writings gloss social, scientific, political and psychological perspectives on cannabis mixed with some light hearted tips and useful advice. Presenting comparisons between some cannabis tolerant states and municipalities. Highlighting local and international developments with a focus on production, transport and distribution regulations from different regions. There are millions of rave reviews about cannabis increasing appreciation and depth perception of art, among other positive attributes. Synesthesia, or sense of mixing between music and painting, dance, film, food and literature are experiences often reported cannabis consumers. I hope these writings produce a similar meeting of the senses. For the most part the writings were created in 2017. Some pieces may seem like they were written while high, which is true, but please let me explain something that author Robert Anton Wilson taught with regards to writing while inebriated with cannabis. He would advise...first write it out while stoned, next sober up and write it out straight. Repeat. In a similar fashion he would add, edit the work stoned, and edit the work straight, also repeat this process. Wilson proposed, and I can second this technique for creating a healthy balance of mind, and a unity in opposites subtle forces dancing across the page. I am eternally grateful and fortunate to have experienced life in Amsterdam, and America, around coffeeshops and creative cannabis culture. For many people Amsterdam is a highly sought after city to live, and to work in a cannabis coffeeshop here is a sought after job. Although the comments 'Man, you've got the best job in the world" became tiresome after 8 years on minimum wage, under maximum capacity. It's not an easy job by any means, a busy coffeeshop requires extra patience from staff and diligent management. Criticism within these writings are cast in hope that new dialogue can be ignited, and some other voices can be heard in the drugs debate and the coffeeshop debate here in Holland, and further across the world to meet with the emerging cannabis friendly territories of 2018. Please keep in mind what Marc Emery has said, and many other cannabis advocates in Canada echo, that the new laws that will enable some people to consume cannabis are in effect recriminalizing cannabis. Creating more laws and regulations than there currently exist on the law books, and handing the means to production, transport, and distribution to the centralized state controlled government authority, otherwise called a state monopoly. It remains to be seen how the Canadian government will handle the re-criminalization of cannabis in 2018 and how other nations will choose to adopt the only decision that makes sense, economically, socially, psychologically, medically. Free the weed! I hope you can forgive any errors and allow me some flights of imagination now and then to help counterbalance the somber tone of the news. Thanks to Dutchnews.nl, New Scientist, De Geldlander, Leafly, AT5, NL Times, Expatnews, Associated Press, CNNBS, Parool, The Financial Times, University Of Dallas Texas, Google News Services and Google Translate for assistance in my research. Now, light up, lighten up, kick back and get a roll of this. -Steven Pratt. Amsterdam, 20/09/2017.
About the Author: "Steven Pratt, is a native of Stourbridge UK now an Amsterdam resident who plays drums, spins vinyl, writes novels and literary and cultural commentary, maintains a flock of websites and works in various other art forms without visible restraint.--John Sinclair.