Cannabinoids are a neurosystem (a system in the brain), for modulating and regulating various adaptive states that naturally occur. Some of these states are things like noxic reactions, exercise, pain and pregnancy. They, as a class of compounds, naturally occurring, and synthetic, produce effects ranging from anti-nausea, analgesia to more prominent psycho-active features like euphoria, and sedation.

Many very commonly consumed items contain Cannabinoids. A woman’s breast milk contains oleamide, which is a hunger and sleep inducing Cannabinoid.

Eggs and milk, cheese, chocolate, red meat, and a large variety of common seeds, nuts, fruits and plants contain either Cannabinoids, or what are called “Cannabinoid-like”, which means they have slightly different but similar effects.

There are two Cannabinoid receptors known, and in this authors opinion, one or even two more, given the vast array of subjective effects. The CB1 receptor produces a high, the CB2 receptor is more related to medical and body effects. The exact mystery of the synergy and nature of cannabinoids is really unknown.

There is also FAAH inhibitors, which block the breakdown of anandamide (our bodies suspected to be most preferred Cannabinoid neuro-transmitter). Paracetamol and chocolate have these properties, which contribute to the effects of each.

Omega oils, such as fish oil, soy extract, are also Cannabinoid precursors.

Not only are these possessed of remarkable medical qualities like other Cannabinoid related substances, but a good intake helps boost the functions of the system, leading to slightly better pain tolerance and other benefits.

Cannabinoids are remarkable neuro-protective agents, with one of the most potent anti-oxidant effects known to man. This gives them a range of potential benefits above and beyond there normal brain function. (Rats without Cannabinoid receptors in their brain actually age 30% faster, and cancer inducing agents are 95% less cancerous when THC is co-administered)

While there is a lot of mystery still about these substances, and even their role in brain, and science has only really started studying them, there is clearly a lot of importance in this brain system.

In summary, Cannabinoids are vital, medically complex and useful, and very common. Cannabis is no-where near the only plant with Cannabinoid properties, and your supermarket and body is full of them. Now, think about this the next time you’re in the supermarket, buying food!

I got asked to do a review on the new Tai High Hawaiian haze - no need to ask there, lol! But without being told they’d changed the formulae *chuckles* ....Well, I picked it had changed, which I am quietly chuffed about, and it is indeed quite different feeling from the old formulae. A unique and well put together offering. So here were my impressions:-

Smell/Taste: Has changed since first release. Now it smells just like cooking spices, perhaps tarragon with a hint of nutmeg, subtle. Savoury and enjoyable, and not overpowering either. The new taste is pretty awesome design for the savoury side of things smoke-wise – even in a joint, it’s a mellow flavour.

Appearance: Fine but not too fine, no seeds, no real stalks, 99.9% just easy smoking leaf - very good looking medium, easy to use.

First Hit, One word, Starting with H, Noun: Headspace. (First trial with a little tobacco, to see how it goes in a mull, smoked in pipe)

Trippy in the head, slightly mellow also; in the head. At first little body effect, extremely rapid shift then to body relaxation, and mental mellowness. It’s wavy -energetic fading to calm. Some, euphoria, but other characteristics more prominent. There is a quick initial shift from trippy, to mellow, and then in sort of planes out for a much longer period, with gentle waves.

Very interesting unique qualities. Stronger than earlier release. Been ages since I’ve had any kind of canna smoke, so will need to retest…..seems more “open” to set and setting and initial mind state. Seems could be relaxing for “explorers”, or those with experience with drugs, and a little more revealing/intense for “day-trippers”, i.e. complete novices to drugs – but it’s also not a heavy weight like the old Tai High Bubble Berry, so it’s not going to blow your brain into space either. Nice middle ground really.

I had a full sense of surroundings, no confusion, but the inner emotional feelings internally are very noticeable. Fades over long period, about half an hour to an hour, subtley, to an ease and mellowness. It’s like having a light jog with your mind, that leaves you just right afterwards, fully balanced.

Overall initial reflections, after one smoked legal joint (medium/small, not a phatty): There is a reasonable level of tolerance to the trippy effects on second use as suspected, very relaxing, and yet uplifting, though again, unique. Perhaps like a little an ”uplifting” & trippy indica. No mong, but leaves you both calm and energized.

Not massively euphoric like strong indoor weed, but has more than plenty to offer of other great Cannabinoid qualities, along with a bit of that too. It’s definitely less mongy/stone-over and anxiety inducing compared with illegal weed……some major pluses and

-also –

Creativity and juices of the "thought engine" kind generally seem to be through the roof. Ideas and musical inspirations abound. This really is a pretty damn good Muso’s smoke, and philosophers “Stone”. A good one to yak with some mates about Star wars or some shit!

So, Hat’s tipped to the Tai High design team that put this together! :)

Tai High Hawaiian Haze is only available in some states of Australia, check your local laws. If it's legal in your area, you can buy it -

HERE

I think maybe, we all know or feel somehow, deep down, that something lies “down the rabbit hole” (inside the mind's eye, in the "heart"). Alice in Wonderland, I beleive, is one of those great, clear stories, about just this journey within.

And already, in this article, I have mentioned a part of the story, at the very first moment of this epic, that holds some rather interesting symbolism. According to many cultures, legends, dream books and stories, the white rabbit is a symbol of fertility, purity and creation.

Alice was following the rabbit, who perhaps represented that aspect of herself (as all the entities inside the story also represent aspects of herself, and mind itself). It is as if the whole story was a dream, even before she entered the hole.

I think the easiest thing to do to understand any given metaphor, if its isn’t clear, is to look it up in a dream dictionary, whether it’s a vision from a "trip", a feeling of the heart, or a dream, or character in a story – symbols are universal in meaning, and I think, these symbols actually quite unambiguous, unlike everyday language can be.

The first main mental event, in this story, according to this analysis, is with the “drink me/shrink me” potion that shrinks Alice down to a size where she can fit through the door. This can be seen as a metaphor for the ego. The ego must be realised and released if we are to catch up with purity. We need to “Shrink” our sense of self, to enter into the portal of the unbiased reality.

The Cheshire cat shows us how if we cling to tightly to the joy and purity, it fades from view. This clinging to joy reminds me of happy hardcore in the 90s. Or equally overly "sunshinely" new age sentiment. Like a desperate grab at joy and peace. The mind must rest in the centre, not reach out to grab, least what we grasp becomes intangible.

The rabbit echoes this same sentiment with the words “I am late, I am late, for a very important date”. This is like the mental balance of meditation or tai chi, music or other techniques ;), that allows us to balance the ego, so we can fit through "the door".

By the time we  get to the tea party, the ego starts to feel as if its losing ground to stand on, like a wide open space has replaced solid ground(mentally), hence the mad hatter –the desperate attempt to name or grasp, or put a hat, on what the reality is that we are exposed to, without the “comfort” of the ego. Whether on drugs or not, interestingly use the word "trippy" for this state of mind ;)

There a great deal of divine, mind, or life metaphors in this fabulous story, in this authors opinion, but the simplest is that of the queen of hearts – therein lies the secret, the simple secret, to pour love out, abundantly, and this allows us to finally become free, free of ego. Of course, this journey is not mere metaphor, it perhaps represents a new way of viewing reality, like blinders or coloured glasses are taken away, and true vision is found. Like seeing for the first time.

Of course it’s kind of the same story as the matrix, but one can find such symbolism I believe, anywhere in life.

Now many might read this, and think I have used too many drugs! Actually, I am 100% sober as I write this (although I had some coffee that might still be in my system). And I am getting more into mild stuff like herbal teas, so there!

And I am fairly sure tripme members, AND those who are experienced with inner mind in general (hell, if your clever, you don’t need training wheels to open that flower, as the Buddhists would put it), get what I am refering to with this article either way, so heck with it, if some don't get what I am on about!

In fact if you have found these things out via drugs, my advice would be, don’t let the drugs do all the work – taper off those training wheels, work towards to stopping even, and also recognize that there are non drug training wheels, like Indian sutra’s, tai chi, exercise, life itself & music, in my opinion, can help train and carry the mind.

If you need a drug to see the divine or real, or a training wheel, you arent "there" yet.

If you let the drugs do all the work, you can end up in a terrible hole, just like if you lean on any other part of life too hard, such as love, food, TV, computer games. Variety is the spice of life, as they say. My advice for a great training wheel to taper down, after drugs, is music. Music is like the pulse of the universe, as im sure us bass bin freaks will all attest. (And yes, I do realise the irony of this sentiment, on such a forum, but hell, needs saying from time to time, too). I am fond of that saying, moderation in everything including moderation :)

(Incidently “don’t let the drugs do all the work “ the title of a great Noisia song).

As the election looms closer, and the labour party slip lower and lower in the polls, I have started considering doing something radical: voting ACT.

I absolutely loathe national, big government, social restrictions and old fashioned outdated morality. That’s why I can never vote national or labour.

But because Don Brash has recently started campaigning on the basis of looking at legalising marijuana, finally putting ACTs social liberalism foot forward instead of being cowardly with their ideals, it seems like an excellent chance to give them just that mandate in government to hold back nationals nonsense, and perhaps start some meaningful debates.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am NOT fan of conservatism, social or economic. But if given the choice between having a say, versus no say, if labour still majorly lags behind in the polls, come election time, I have decided its time to make my vote count anyway.

This is in fact a rather big opportunity. No NZ political party has ever been given a true socially liberal mandate. This would a first, seeing as brash has decided to man up, and put their values on the table, I think, it’s time we cash in on the opportunity and foil Nationals plans to turn us all into Judaeo-Christian monks and rural serf farmers from the 14^th century! (ie regressive and oppressive).

At the very least, Id like you to consider not voting dogmatically for your normal party this election, if the polls remain the same, to vote smart, think about the huge opportunity this represents – the first NZ party that gets in on social policy mandate alone!!

(Which would also mean their economic say would be minimized, or none at all, win win IMO)

If this first time swing vote, if it happens, were picked up afterwards by the media, this in fact could even lead to cross party alliances between greens and ACT, where money is the argument, not ideals, essentially changing NZ politics forever. (As well as the immediate effect of stopping nationals nonsense in its tracks, and maybe even ending first past the post type major party selection all together)

PS Don’t get me wrong I always vote green, and I will be next election for sure, and this one if labour has a hope in hell. (Sorry greens if I don’t vote for ya, gotta vote for the greater good!!! :/)

Free the drugs, free the people!

"The police and the courts spend some $100 million of taxpayer money a year enforcing this prohibition of a drug, believed by many people to be less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol. Is there really any point to this?" - Don Brash