"To Infinity and Beyond," My Smoke Report of the 20th Annual Cannabis Cup (2007)

[AK Infinity]

I was out a little earlier than usual that Sunday morning; I wanted to get a jump on the day since my time in Amsterdam was drawing to a close. I visited several Coffeeshops that morning, but I ended up going back to The Coin for another of their fabulous White Widow joints.

The Coin
Warmoesstraat 37

With a joint in pocket I walked along the streets headed to Lost in Amsterdam to do some writing, the plan was to hit the Red light District to get some idea about what went on there, besides the obvious. I stopped in at an Internet Cafe to check my emails and as I descended the steps I saw perhaps one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen in my life. She had thick black swirls of curls that draped just beneath her shoulders. Her skin was smooth and soft like the kind of hope that I wear on my sleeve, I was absolutely transfixed and captured. She finished her business at the counter and left, but my beating heart, followed her. Still...

I stepped up to the counter, and muttered, "My dear God," under my breath. The man behind the counter hearing me replied, "I know huh?" He knew what I was talking about without a moment's hesitation. He went on to explain that the woman was Bulgarian and was part of a larger group of Prostitutes that lived on an entire floor of a hotel not very far away. She was so very beautiful that even my words can't begin to capture her. She looked so young and lively, I couldn't understand why she had chosen the life she had, but why does anyone do what they do? I didn't have any special insights into her life experience so I witheld any judgments and just drooled.

I don't pay for play but she would've been the only one that could've given me reason to doubt my resolve.

[The Red Light District]

After a productive morning of cataloguing my spirit and smoking a lot of weed, I disembarked from my meditation and headed for the Red light District. One thing I was struck by as I walked passed the windows with women in them was how very beautiful many of them were. Some were standing, or sitting but there they were for the right price. Occasionally I'd see a gentleman or two with their heads inside the doors brokering some sort of deal for pleasure. I tried to imagine what life was like for these women and what they had to deal with from nameless strangers.

It's legal there so I'm trying to bust anyone's balls--no pun intended--but damn, how carelessly we flush beauty down the drain, and suck out its color and call it commerce. The streets seemed dirtier around that area and the sex shops lined the streets and allyways like street lights dimming under the onset of guttural gutter passion. Honestly, it didn't hold any special interest for me so I took one more walk around and lost myself in the City hoping to find some good buds to toke on. [Note: If sex is what you're after and you've got a few euros to throw at it, I would strongly reccommend getting an escort. They will come to your hotel or place of choice and look a lot better/cleaner than the ladies of the Red Light District. Pure Senses, Pleasure Escort, Women of the World and so on.]

[djb1z]

nice dude very nice

[AK Infinity]

Originally Posted by Southern_Smoke

Ak it is interesting how you say legalization would have to almost be attached to another issue in America for dream to become reality. This is a very good point i haven't thought of before. I suppose you are right. In the US we would probably have to have a small central gov with a lot of states rights and laws that allow you to do pretty much what you want on your own land...and i think smoking, growing, and drinking falls under this category along with other things.

If only we had a smaller central government, maybe that would address a lot of issues facing our community, or maybe it's the perceptions of the ordinary person that needs to be adjusted? I find the open hypocrisy of alcohol and tobacco to be very troubling indeed. Two of the worst scourges of humanity are legal and freely available to everyone, including children and all society can do is turn a blind eye to the death statistics, while raising a heavy hand to marijuana. This mentality can only be battled on the same front that it marches on. We as smokers have to rise to the occasion and demonstrate what we are willing to do to address this.

Originally Posted by djb1z

nice dude very nice

[Green Ganja]

Originally Posted by AK Infinity

If only we had a smaller central government, maybe that would address a lot of issues facing our community, or maybe it's the perceptions of the ordinary person that needs to be adjusted? I find the open hypocrisy of alcohol and tobacco to be very troubling indeed. Two of the worst scourges of humanity are legal and freely available to everyone, including children and all society can do is turn a blind eye to the death statistics, while raising a heavy hand to marijuana. This mentality can only be battled on the same front that it marches on. We as smokers have to rise to the occasion and demonstrate what we are willing to do to address this.

i think for weed to ever be legal we need a smaller central government. and more states to get Medical Mary Jane. and so on and so fourth. and more people will want it legalized and the congress will start hearing this around election time and push for it. to stay in office. But it will definetley happen during my life time hopefully in my mid 20s -early 30s . thats my prediction but only fate knows what will happen.

[AK Infinity]

Originally Posted by Green Ganja

i think for weed to ever be legal we need a smaller central government. and more states to get Medical Mary Jane. and so on and so fourth. and more people will want it legalized and the congress will start hearing this around election time and push for it. to stay in office. But it will definetley happen during my life time hopefully in my mid 20s -early 30s . thats my prediction but only fate knows what will happen.

What you're saying is more likely wishful thinking than it is any real possibility. Medicinal marijuana itself is under siege because of abuses to the system. I think it's only a matter of time before the Federal Government steps in and bans it all completely, which is why I'm advocating that we as a community check ourselves before they do. If people see that we're as serious and dedicated as they are we might see some movement in the right direction, but until we're bold enough to take such actions we'll constantly be the focus of bad press.

A smaller central government is an aspect of the solution but IMHO the problem is much more profound than that. We have to confront the abusers ourselves and lead by setting a different example. Not as exciting as a revolution but I believe the effects can be longer lasting.

[emagdnim13]

Originally Posted by AK Infinity

If only we had a smaller central government, maybe that would address a lot of issues facing our community, or maybe it's the perceptions of the ordinary person that needs to be adjusted? I find the open hypocrisy of alcohol and tobacco to be very troubling indeed. Two of the worst scourges of humanity are legal and freely available to everyone, including children and all society can do is turn a blind eye to the death statistics, while raising a heavy hand to marijuana. This mentality can only be battled on the same front that it marches on. We as smokers have to rise to the occasion and demonstrate what we are willing to do to address this.

Could not agree more.

Giving the federal government power over all 50 states is only hindering improvements on the local level, because the feds don't know what's going on in each town, county, and city...they only see the big picture, where people only matter in the millions, and dollars are only spent in the billions.

[gnomegrown]

Originally Posted by emagdnim13

where people only matter in the millions, and dollars are only spent in the billions.

eloquently said my friend

[AK Infinity]

"When such men, who are beyond hope and fear, begin in their dim minds to see the source their woes, it may be an evil time for those who have wronged them. The weak man becomes strong when he has nothing, for then only can he feel the wild, mad thrill of despair."

~Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - "The White Company"~

I walked around the city with my Ipod flooding melodious harmonies of hope through my ears. The sky began to clear up to reveal the not oft seen blue that had hidden itself behind a mask of gray skies, gray skies, gray skies where rain and lovely gloom abide. There was a crisp chill in the air but it didn't bother me, I was bundled up like a hot dog in a bun; so hot dog why the fuck are you so hot anyway?

The streets slowly began to fill with frenzy, controlled perhaps, a bit contrived maybe but there they were and so was I. My life had been a demonstration of sheer force of will because by all rights I should be dead, but here I was flourishing like a fish in the ocean. I can clearly remember being written off as a teenager and hearing all the doors of hope closing in front me, the slam of of hard metal doors, SLAM. I can still feel the gauge marks of handcuffs and the spinning red and blue lights of police cars sounding their sirens. One of the worst feelings in the world is knowing that no one believes in you anymore, when they've made their peace that you will never amount to a goddamn thing, and their eyes communicate the pity of a wasted life.

In my darkest moments I made the connection between my deepest desires and the heart I never knew I had The light of realization came on like a flood. I didn't completely understand what was happening to me, and to be honest I still don't but like mighty Antaeus of Greek myth that gained his strength from the earth as long as he remained in contact with it, I arose and grappled with my demons, and from their bleached bones I built a life.

[AK Infinity]

[What did it feel like to smoke a joint in this Coffeeshop? Good.]

Feels Good
Oudezilds Voorburgwal 36

This is a Coffeeshop that I'd visited before in my post "Ruminations from Infinity - Part 1," and it happened to be on my route so I went in and had a smoke. I wasn't particularly interested in their menu because I had hashish and weed on me, this time I was actually only interested in their coffee. If you've been with me this long into the story it will go without saying, but be discriminating about your marijuana selections, don't let the fact that it's tolerated over there deter you from being picky. Fuck, alcohol is legal in the states but you don't see people buying whatever they can get their hands on just because it's available everywhere? [Okay that's not totally true but it's close.] In others words, all I'm saying is don't get caught up in romanticism to the point where you'll just be happy to buy anything.

[Here comes the smoking weed part.]

I lit up a joint and breathed about as deep as delicious, I kicked back on one of their benches, thought about marijuana and how its ministered to my soul--HALLELUJAH. Ahem, it starts like this---------------->basically I was one of your--it hurts me to say this--typical potheads. I sat around a lot playing video games with my friends getting amazingly blazed on those hazed maze of memories woven into a glaze. [Don't you dare say "laughing labyrinth," don't you fucking dare.] I gotta get back to this whole light thing that I keep saying in my posts. A light came in on me one rainy day. I was having the worst fucking luck getting dealers to answers their fucking phones or even getting them to call me back. I think I just got tired of the whole cycle of getting my weed, running out, and tracking down a dealer.

[Change is the essence of life.]

I couldn't believe it didn't occur to me before then, heh, I guess I was too fucking stoned all the time to give very much thought to anything. I basically got onto the Internet and hit every growing site there was. I didn't clog up the forums with questions that were easy answered if I availed myself of the search button. I read and grew, making a lot of mistakes along the way but still growing no matter what still hoping, still, still, still... I eventually evolved to the state of organic appreciation. Marijuana cultivation IMHO is an art form. Some artists are quite prolific and crank out a lot of work, while others obsessively create rare masterpieces. When I started growing it was as if I had lived in the darkness all my life but then was suddenly exposed to the beautiful day. I've held a high standard because of this and as a result smoke really good buds.

I could rattle on about this all night but you get my drift. Expect more, always, please just do that for you. You may find that what you thought was light was merely an illusion and the real substance was beyond your knowledge.

[blazinsince92]

this is an absolutely amazing insightful, entertaining, and spirutual thread i turely appritiate the time and effort u put in to this thread

[AK Infinity]

I had one more day left in Amsterdam and the night was all around me. I cracked a Heineken and sat by the window looking out at the neon intermixed with the rooftops--stoned. You know the air was cold, it was always cold at that hour of the night. [Note: I'm going to briefly time travel back in time to 11-18-2007.] I promised that I would talk about opening ceremonies at some point, and I guess that was the time I happened to be thinking about the Cannabis Cup.

Opening ceremonies were scheduled for the November 18, 2007 but what I was soon to find out was that this event was poorly coordinated, from the buses that never appeared anywhere on time to what Coffeeshops would be participating. I wish I could recall how many times I heard, "well what do you expect from an event run by stoners?" What an incredible cop out, IMHO that statement is insulting and complete bullshit. There are lots of stoners that are functional and that have integrity, traits which were sorely lacking at the Cup.

I showed up in front of the Hotel Victoria at noon as was listed in the official High Times Program. No buses showed up where they were supposed to be. There were large crowds of judges standing around wondering what was happening and I was one of them. And one of the kickers was that they scheduled the "pickup" to the Power Zone on the same day of a huge parade that blocked off the streets. About a block away I spotted what would be one of the buses we'd be using for the events the next several days, so I and a few others walked to the bus. The driver was away for a few minutes but when he returned he claimed not to be associated with the event at all, a fact that was flatly disproved when he showed up to pick judges the next day.

At that point I made a decision to skip opening ceremonies and explore the city myself, fuck the Cup and all those lazy ignorant bastards associated with it. As I said in previous posts I was tempted to drop out of the Cup altogether but I stuck it out.

[11-19-2007, 2:05 PM The Cannabis Schlup]

Miss High Times babbling about, oh, nothing.

I'm not into dro, but this looked like an interesting product.

I would liken my nonparticipation in the opening ceremonies to a boycott of sorts. Over the years I've grown steadily impatient with people that can't handle their weed, and that act like bloody idiots after they take a toke. If you're going to bill your event as the best and biggest of its kind in the world, but then behave as if you can't find your own ass with a magnifying glass, well then, in my mind you have a serious problem.

I went to the Cup the next day--the 19th--primarily motivated by a desire to cover it for GrassCity more than any personal need on my part. I caught the "Baked Show" with Bobby Black, who was a short stout little man and editor of the High Times magazine. I wasn't particularly impressed with any aspect of the show, in that it was mostly uninformative and when the guests were getting interesting the show would abruptly end. One guest he allowed to stay on longer than was necessary was Miss High Times. She's a cutie pie, no doubt about that, but the words that came out of her mouth were strangely reminiscent in depth of those uttered by Miss South Carolina. Honestly, I didn't understand much of what she said. But the Cup was an excercise in decadence and greed, what could be coherent about that except the dollar signs?

I closed my book and lit it up a joint. I had one more full day left in Amsterdam and I tried to stay focused on that.

[AK Infinity]

Originally Posted by blazinsince92

this is an absolutely amazing insightful, entertaining, and spirutual thread i turely appritiate the time and effort u put in to this thread

When I read words like this I'm left with little else but to say thank you so much brother, just thanks.

Stay green.

[AK Infinity]

"We have not the reverent feeling for the rainbow that a savage has, because we know how it is made. We have lost as much as we gained by prying into the matter."

~Mark Twain~

[Undeniably I sighed as my last day in Amsterdam had come, ugh, motherfucking ugh, ugh...] I laid in bed till around nine or so before I got up and headed out into the city for some pastries and a smoke. My Amsterdam trip had energized my tired soul-------------->[oh you weary boy just keep on truckin' to the top those steep stretching stairs ya been a climbing]----------->

I was feeling inspired so I headed to Lost in Amsterdam to reflect and organize my thoughts. I sat at the bar because the area I usually like to write in was being worked on, DAMN. I lit up my spoon and had a coffee. I'd visited so many coffeeshops during my stay that they all swirled into each other in like a brume of sweet confusion.

Whilst humble AK was sitting sucking up his smoke a sharply dressed fellow came into the establishment--for the sake of his anonymity I'll call him Zach. He was a native Amsterdammer that was basically following his morning routine of coffee and a joint. He sat down in the seat next to me and we struck up a conversation. A few minutes into it he broke out joint that he claimed was pure Haze, and he further claimed that he got it from some little Coffeeshop where he had the hook up. He lit it up, took a few puffs, and passed it to me; I quickly sucked it into my lungs. The smoke tingle on its way down my throat and as I exhaled the flavor was remarkable, I'd liken it to sweet pine or sandalwood or something spicy. I have to admit that the taste was unlike anything that I'd tried up to that moment.

We talked for some time buying each other beers and reducing his joint to a blackened roach. He said that he'd worked in a Coffeeshop for seven years and that some of the practices of the shops were unethical. I pressed him further to give me an explanation on this point. He said that much of the named strains on the menus were not the weed that was advertised. Since shops are willing to buy from anyone, any weed they have, it's no guarantee of the type or the quality, but shops advertise it as another product entirely. This explained a lot in my mind about the quality and why much of it had been so poor. What I thought was sour Diesel could have in actuality been Big Bud or some other kind of mediocre high yielding strain.

Zach said that he routinely dealt with the growers and altered strain names to appear more attractive on the menu. I was a little taken aback by his honestly, but I guess the truth slides a lot easier off of the tongue when it's greased with booze. His