Seymour Kindbud - Dr. Kindbuds Weed-O-Pedia

G etting high on weed is fun. It makes music more entrancing, movies and television shows funnier or freakier, video games more challenging, food and drink more appealing, and sex more amazing. When youre high, you think a little deeper, you laugh a little more. You find nature and the supernatural more awe-inspiring. All of your senses feel more attuned to the subtle stimuli around you that at other times go unnoticed. Youre relaxed yet ready to deftly swerve to avoid any hassles that come your way.

Sometimes, youve surely noticed, your mind wanders when youre high. You can get to ruminating and pondering. And in all that thinking, you eventually get around to questions like how weed gets you high, when did people figure out it was so enjoyable to smoke, who decided it should be illegal, what are the greatest weed-influenced songs, shows, movies and books, and why the number 420 became code for getting high. My friends and partying partners have their own theories about these questions and many others, which often provoke intense, if sometimes ill-informed, debates when were kicking back and passing a joint.

After one very impassioned discussion that resolved nothingblame short-term memory loss that I cant even remember what was the bone of contentionI decided to go find the answer. On the Internet, I came across quite a few answers to the question I was researchingthe problem was, the answers contradicted each other and I knew our dispute about the subject would linger long after the joint had been roached.

Thats when I realized we needed a definitive source, an encyclopedia we could turn to for answers. So I set out to research everything I could find out about the Cannabis plant, its habits and effects, its long association with people and its current status as both medicine and illicit substance around the world. I went to expert sources and sought out the facts on all the scientific or historical matters. I checked in with experienced cooks for recipes and dug up the plans for of the most inventive smoking devices. And I consulted with many friends and acquaintances, and a critic here and there, to come up with the list of best movies, songs, TV shows, and more for stoners. Youre now holding the product of all that research. And its my hope that it answers your questions and leaves you feeling enlightened.

The book is organized by subject (rather than alphabetically) so you can browse through those areas that interest you now and find information youre searching for later. Each chapter covers a wide range of topics addressed in the order in which my mind took methat is, not necessarily in an indisputably logical pattern. Entire books have been written about some of the topics, but all of the entries here are shortyou should be able to finish each one between hits. Ive also dropped in a lot of nuggetsinformation nuggetsjust right for sharing with friends. And I hope you do. Like really fine bud, high-quality info should be passed around.

One more thought: In the sections on Cannabis as medicine and your health, I tried to let the science speak for itself and relied as much as possible on credible, peer-reviewed research. I avoided as best I could imposing my opinions or personal views in those areas and in the legal section, too. Im a devout believer in sharing unbiased information so that all people can come to their own conclusions. But I also want to take the opportunity here to share my conclusions.

The novelist Merry Prankster and LSD pioneer Ken Kesey appeared on the Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder in 1981. The host asked Kesey if he felt any residual effects from all the LSD he had taken in the 1960s. After a quick, fun answer, Kesey looked sincere for a moment and said, You dont get anything for free... everything bruises something... so you trade off. This comment struck home for methere are undeniable benefits of using non-addictive, mind-expanding drugs, including genuine conscious-raising as well as fun times. But those benefits dont come without some cost to the user, even when those costs are not easily discerned.

All my research and experience leads me to believe that use of Cannabis by mentally and physically healthy adults has significant benefits for their psyche and overall well-being. Its value as medicine has been and continues to be documented. And so far science has not yet identified any long-term physical or psychological harm that results from adults enjoying Cannabis.

That said, smoking anything can put a strain on your respiratory system. And frequent Cannabis use has been known to dampen ambition and productivity and often leads to an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle and excessive snacking.

Yet I am confident that if you otherwise take care of your health and make a conscious effort to prevent getting high from becoming a way to avoid responsibilities and lifes experiences, it can be a lot of fun and in many ways adds richness to your days. In other words, getting high can make your life better if you manage it wisely. So, puff on!

H umans relationship with the cannabis plant dates back to before people could write. The earliest civilizations recognized all of its values: as fiber, food, and medicine for body and soul. Cannabis has been used ever since as an intoxicantritually and recreationallyin many regions of the world. Along the way, it has been associated with many strange tales and wild misbehavior. Ive laid out its story in chronological order, but feel free to skip around and see where your mind leads you.

The Dogon are a tribe of cliff-dwelling people living in the African country of Mali. Until the 1930s, they were almost completely isolated from the outside world and, therefore, retained their ancient culture and beliefs long after most other people adopted one of the major religions.

Anthropologists who studied the Dogon people in the 1970s learned that tribal legends connected them to Sirius, the very bright star often called the dog star. Though they lacked the knowledge and the tools of modern astronomy, the Dogons knew Sirius has a larger twin that is invisible to the naked eye, and celebrated a ritual on the completion of the twins 50-year orbit cycle. Their awareness of the invisible star and duration of its orbit is hard to explain. The Dogon believe that a race of mermaid-like beings, called Nommos, visited them eons ago and gave them knowledge of the solar system.

The Dogons, like some other African tribes, use Cannabis in their rituals and in their daily lives. The root of the word cannabis meant dog (as in canine ) and bi means two. Those facts have led some to the conclusion that Cannabis is the two dog plant that came from the two dog stars, brought to the Dogon people by the Nommos when they visited thousands of years back. This myth has been circulated by a variety sources, but it has not been documented as part of the Dogons belief system.