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

[Vicious]

I promised myself i'm going this year.

[AK Infinity]

There's something so very beautiful about hoping, trying and achieving.

Stay green.

[The Grim Reefer]

Well what can i say,long time reader, returning newbie lol, seems a fitting post to begin with again, we had a brief encounter before {link} but having setbacks in initial grow starts, i stopped reading here as it only annoyed me more to get entranced by a grow diary or story, reach the end and burn back into frustration. Have started growing though much to my delight, am about a month through, will start posting about that when i recieve my digital camera. So i wondered back here, read up that old cannibus cup thread and became interested as i remembered the shared dissapointment. So i read up your threads, and eventually became enthralled in this masterpiece. Sorry for the brief introduction and mini hijack of thread, back to the point.

Before embarking to the cup id never visited the dam, and like you im assuming had heard tales of its weed from friend and foe. What i found though was uterly dissapointing. Now id consider myself a seasoned toker, but still i had friends foretelling my future of whiteys, bewilderment, and unconciousness, who had visited before. What transpired however was arriving at the first coffee shop skinning my first joint, sitting back after a few puffs and wishing id smuggled some of the stuff i could get back home. Now i spent a week there, so as you got to know some of the staff of shops and found a few nice strains of weed (and hash). Tell me; did you try the hash "Triple X" i found it in amnesia, but i think it was from the grey area ? I was absolutely delighted reading the encounter with zach as it occured to me more than once that alot of friends were high off of a placebo effect of being in the dam rather than high quality bud.

I wont re-iterate my own argument of why the cup was shite, ive already posted that, and i dont think literary art can be painted better than this story which encompasses everything good to bad, and awakens the imagination opening it to dream of possible personal outcomes for each cherished memory, as if they were our own, i found myself often fading back to my own trip, the details bringing out previously forgotten forrays into the cultural kaleidoscope that is amsterdam. 16 pages, 4 hours and 5 joints later i come to this reply button, hazy as it might be, to thank you for forgotten memorys and reopened dreams.

What i was thankful for though was the cannibus cup got me off my arse and over to experience the dam, i plan on returning to the netherlands quite soon but only briefly stopping by the dam and instead venturing out into the reality outside the dam. Not that i wasnt blown away, i truly was, what a city culturaly! But it made me want to get to know the real people as i like you had a few stolen moments in coffee shops or bars, fleeting glimpses into peoples inner thoughts before they got called away or distracted by something unfortunate.

Truly a smoke worthy smoker you are ak, youve reaffirmed my want to learn more about this beautiful plant. Looking forward to your posts.

[AK Infinity]

Great post bro, you captured a lot in there. I agree with you about the Cup and the Coffee Shop scene. So many smokers trick themselves into thinking that they're smoking da kind but are instead puffing away at their heightened expectations. The world is too big too impossible for us to think so small. The truth is... There is far more about Amsterdam that can be absorbed than just the THC. We must demand more than a mere expectation, we have to demand more of our material selves.

If smokers really want the best buds they're going to have roll up their sleeves, take a risk, and grow their own.

Stay forever green.

[bandit420]

I remember this thread...such a good read. What's next AK? The people want more!

[andrewreynoldsx]

Your account of this adventure is eloquent, entertaining, and enlightening to say the least. I must thank you for sharing your experience with GC and me. +Rep And I wish you nothing but positivity on your future adventures....
Andrew

[AK Infinity]

Originally Posted by bandit420

I remember this thread...such a good read. What's next AK? The people want more!

I'm trying to frame in my own mind where I want to go next, but you can be sure that GrassCity will be a part of it, thanks again for your words.

Originally Posted by andrewreynoldsx

Your account of this adventure is eloquent, entertaining, and enlightening to say the least. I must thank you for sharing your experience with GC and me. +Rep And I wish you nothing but positivity on your future adventures....
Andrew

I truly appreciate your post, thank you very much.

[Smokey_mctoke]

She said that there was nothing available but she had a "friend" that she could check with about a room if I didn't care if it had stars. FUCK THAT DOLL!

I declined her offer and hit the streets.

I didn't get the "if it had stars" part. Please elaborate... thank you

[AK Infinity]

Originally Posted by Smokey_mctoke

I didn't get the "if it had stars" part. Please elaborate... thank you

I was referring to the rating of the hotel, she was talking about me downgrading to a place that wasn't nearly as good and at that time I wasn't having it. I wanted a decent room where I could just come back after a long day of toking and chill in comfort.

[wahman]

nice man. this has got to be one of the most enjoyable threads I have ever read. I actually read every post and response all the way through. + REP

[AK Infinity]

Thanks a lot bro, I really enjoyed writing it and hope to work on similar projects in the future. Sigh, if there were only more hours in a day.

[Scapris]

AK you still down for the blog spot at AboveTheIgnorance? Let me know buddy, i've got the site nearly finished. You have an amazing talent and I know you will go far with this. Any stories you have, reports, views, ideas, anything can be posted here. And you know why? Cause you are one of the few writers that keeps me reading with my little adhd ass haha. keep going strong man.

If you have AIM my name is "Ihavecabledude"

peace,
-Mark

[Madvillainy]

I'm spending a semester in the Netherlands next year, I plan on making the Cannibus Cup also.

[me7922]

very enjoyable read my friend! definatley looking forward to the next awesome thread!

[karvapeikko]

I have to say that this is probably the only thread I've read from beginning to end. So kudos on that! On to my points...

You started out in high () hopes of what the Cannabis Cup could offer. Yet, after you'd seen the whole ordeal you weren't satisfied... understandable. By reading this thread with all the comments and your insight, a reader is able to make conclusions on certain events. Seems to me that all these growers are out to benefit themselves, as you say. Human greed steps into the picture and, as a result, no one is getting the full benefit of the cause. To support the claim, the natives seem to agree with you (Zach and the grower) and they seemed cool. It's a great skill to be able to absorb people into conversation, and you seemed to have no difficulty in the matter.

Yet many seek to go to Amsterdam because of its lenient laws against cannabis. I live in Europe and quite close to the Netherlands. I could pay 80 bucks for a flight ticket and be there in a matter of a couple of hours, yet I have not done so. I've wanted to read about what goes on in the Coffeeshops as well as in the back alleys. There seems to be lots of trade between growers and shops, and then the shops disguising their product to benefit themselves yet again. To lure tourists into Amsterdam is no hard feat, especially for those that want to go and toke up big time Yet I cannot blame the system for doing what they do, as we are all in it to survive. The same happens in every country in every market... products are disguised from what they really are to attract buyers. If everyone knew what the Coffeeshops are really selling, then I bet the tourists would rather get some weed off of their dealers in their home countries.

Also, with increasing publications of works in the art of Cannabis, people are beginning to take advantage of the system. Many see an open opportunity and stick their foots through the threshold to become a part of the system. This way dealers, growers and bigger factors can and, most likely will, play the people underneath them. What a shame it is, but I've learned to accept it. Hence, I don't buy weed anymore, but I don't grow either. I have a mutual way of acquiring my herb, and let's leave it at that What seemed to really open my eyes about Amsterdam through this report (don't mind me calling it that, do you? This seemed more like a spiritual guide of some sort...) was the fact that it's an ordinary city, with the exception that Cannabis is decriminalized. Does that fact change the whole concept of traveling from across the world to see the city's shops? I guess you expected the Cup to be something of a spiritual trip, but unfortunately you were let down. At least you seemed to take everything in with quite an open mind and enjoyed the trip overall.

Great read, +rep, and I hope my points seem somewhat clear I'll be looking forward to more threads and posts from you.

Indeed, stay high

I guess I oppose of politics in Cannabis. Making something sacred and mind-altering into something dangerous and negative is something I cannot accept, ever. For now, peace and keep toking!