[Music]

Reefer Songs of the 1920s-1940s

Something that isn't discussed a lot, but should be, is the prominent amount of songs involving subjects of drugs, liquor and partying. I'm not talking about modern songs. As we all know most modern, pop songs from these days involve these things constantly, but using these subjects in music is not new!

Since 1910, song subjects steadily became more open to taboo subjects. During the beginning of the Jazz era, main society disapproved of the dancing, clubs, and music heavily. Flappers, Jazz musicians, etc. were discouraged. But, the artists of this time were already being shamed for simply having a part in the lifestyle, so when it came to decisions of subject matter for their music, many taboo subjects were explored. Actually, in my observation the songs of this time involving taboo subjects are more genuine and sincere about the artists' relationships to drugs, alcohol, and nightlife. Modern artists focus on glamor, unrealistic situations around taboo subjects that are inspired from fictional movies and tv shows. Actual experience and expression is put on the side in favor of fame-catching, attention-grabbing subjects.

The songs from the 1920s to 1940s drew inspiration from how the artists were living their lives. The artists of the early 1900s understood the ups and downs of drugs and alcohol, as well as the understanding of how society can suppress random things for illogical reasons.

So, without further ado I present to you some songs from the early 1900s having to do with REEFER.


Gertrude Michael's "Marahuana" came out in 1934. Gertrude was an American tv, film, and stage actress.

Why I LOVE it:

+ the broadway-style ballad rhythm.

+ Gertrude's control over her vocals is impressive as well as her decisions of what notes/words to lengthen.

+ There is a genuine understanding of the helpful benefits of marijuana that comes through in this. Relaxing, easing depression and anxiety, etc. all are implied in the song lyrics and her tone.


Why I press 'Skip' sometimes:

+ It gets very loud (as broadway-type songs often do) towards the middle and I always have to turn down my headphones.


LINK: Gertrude Michael - Marahuana

Rosetta Howard's "If You're A Viper" is a song a friend recommended to me. Apparently, a Viper would be the past version of a Stoner now a-days.

Why I LOVE it:

+ soft, warm jazz instrumentals

+ calming, yet intriguing vocals and lyrics

+ beautiful trumpet work

Why I press 'Skip' sometimes:

+ the quality is very grainy (as is the problem with a lot of older music)

+ There are many other versions of this song, including Fats Wallace 1943 cover which sometimes I prefer since it is in better quality to listen to.


LINK: If You're A Viper - Rosetta Howard


Larry Adler's "Smoking Reefers" from 1938 is a delightful song.

Why I LOVE it:

+ clever, truthful lyrics

+ calm mood

+ the interaction between the vocalist and piano aids to a soothing, classical flow.

Why I press 'Skip' sometimes:

+ again, the quality of this song is extremely grainy.

+ it can be boring when starting out.


LINK: Smoking Reefers - Larry Adler

Harlem Hamfats "Weed Smoker's Dream" from 1936 is a brilliant song! It combines exotic trumpet patterns, great bass and drums beat but doesn't overpower the jazzy vocals.

Why I LOVE It:

+ exotic trumpet and clarinet patterns.

+ steady, consistent bass/drums through the song.

+ Jazzy, smokey male vocals.


Why I sometimes 'Skip' it:

+ If I'm not in the mood for early 1900s music.


LINK: Weed Smoker's Dream - Harlem Hamfats

Don Redman & Orchestra's "Chant of the Weed" from 1931 starts off so sweet but then transforms into a more liberated feel with hints of more haunting/intriguing sounds thrown in here and there.

Why I LOVE it:

+ It clearly comes from personal experience.

+ The story that is told purely from instrumentals.

+ I could see it as a soundtrack piece for a historical movie.

Why I press 'Skip' sometimes:

+ If I'm not in the mood for instrumental music.


LINK: Chant of The Weed - Don Redman & Orchestra

I want to thank, warholsoup100 from youtube. Many of the early 1900 songs about drug use are there thanks to this user. They have many, many more uploaded on the account. If you want to find more music like this, go browse in warhol's uploads.

Lastly, I'll end with the upbeat "Marihuana boogie" by Lalo Guerrero (~1940s). This one is more well known because it ended up in a film soundtrack.

Shout Out

This is a Shout Out to one of my dearest friends over in Maui.

On a side note, looking forward to the premiere of Pan Am tonight. I may even do a review on it.

[Strain Review]

Strain: Purple Widow
[Sativa-dominant ~70/30 or 60/40]

Dispensary: The CPC

Donation: $10/gram.

Smell: A strong, attractive flower smell. Similar to wet bark or fresh rosemary, it an extreme mix of earthy and flowery. I would wear it as a perfume. (Also, The CPC's clinic smells like Purple Widow). 

Looks: Larger, expansive leaves that aren’t tightly compacted so the buds have room to breathe. Powder-like crystals cover the leaves. A grey-green with some faded orange/brown coloring. 


Taste: Like the smell, I enjoy the taste. It’s a blend of heavy, yet attractive like a nice smelling cigar. 


Method of Ingestion: Vapor Balloon.

Toker's Tolerance: Med-High. Daily Vapor-user.

Buzz Type: A soft body buzz combined with an uplifting energy. It instantly relieved my morning nausea. I was able to function at about 75% productivity (80% sober), and didn’t find anything especially difficult to accomplish. 

The come down is subtle and usually gently sets me down in a generally happy mood. This is a great strain for depression. 

Buzz Length:  2 hours or so. 


Overall: I would classify this buzz as a gentle sativa with a calm, yet unobtrusive body high. It’s a high-class strain and I would recommend it to my friends and family.  

Suggested For: This is a great strain for in the morning when you’re first getting going. If you have about 3 hours before leaving the house, it’s perfect. Smoke this, and then do whatever you want and slowly feel yourself begin to appreciate life just a little bit more. Also great for the digestive tract!

First Fall Day In Seattle [Music]

I listen to a lot of music. So, why not share my love with others?

So here's my First Fall Day In Seattle  music list...

We start with 'You Don't' by Tricky on the beautifully haunting Maxinquaye album.
Why I LOVE it:
+ urban, psychedelic sound
+ expressionistic, poetic lyrics.

Why I press 'Skip' sometimes:
+ repetitive/boring if listened to too much
+ bold, demands attention when played.


LINK: You Don't - Tricky

Next, we have 'Flutter' by Bonobo that I have from The L Word - Enhanced album.

Why I LOVE it:
+ soft, subtlety world-inspired
+ calming, yet uplifting
+ smooth, psychedelic tones.

Why I press 'Skip' sometimes:
+ becomes repetitive fairly fast
+ can cause drowsiness


LINK: Flutter - Bonobo

Now, there is 'Queen of Boredness' by Kinny on the thoughtful album, Idle Forest of Chit-Chat.

Why I LOVE it:
+ smooth blend of vocals and music
+ sassy, thought-provoking but not pressuring lyrics
+ attractive, female vocals
+ underlying beats are consistent and have me tapping my foot through-out.

Why I press 'Skip' sometimes:
+ very heavy vocal/lyrics
+ if I want to listen to instrumental.


LINK: Queen of Boredness - Kinny

After that, my list has about two Sublime (Santeria, Pawn Shop) and four Slightly Stoopid tracks, which I will sum up with...

Runnin' With A Gun is one of my favorite Slightly Stoopid tracks. Every time I listen to this track, usually in the car on the most chillax album, Everything You Need, I literally relax. My muscles let go of tension and my eyes always droop. I've gotten through many night drives on the interstate with this album and I always have to listen to this track, no matter what.

Why I LOVE It:
+ soothing, echoing effects that surround the listener
+ beats I can get lost in
+ comforting vocals
+ super chill sounds

Why I sometimes 'Skip' it:
+ I don't.


LINK: Runnin' With A Gun - Slightly Stoopid

** And with that marvelous piece is Today's First Stoned In Seattle Music List!!!! **confetti**

Roe vs. TeleTech

On June 9, 2011, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that TeleTech, a Colorado-based company, is within its rights for firing a woman after her drug-screen test tested positive for cannabis. But, that woman was an authorized medical marijuana holder. 


Jane Roe, fired in 2006, sued and lost on an 8-1 vote. The court stated that even with a valid medical marijuana authorization and with no evidence that she was working while impaired, the company was still within its rights for firing her. 

A case of employment discrimination against medical marijuana users practically getting thrown out in favor of a company, how could it happen? Well, according to the court, the laws weren’t clear enough. 

Afterwards, Michael Subit, Roe’s attorney, pointed out that voters need to work on modifying the current medical marijuana law to protect employees’ right to use mmj outside of work.

The lone Justice that spoke out for the rights of medical cannabis patients argued that voters’ intent in passing the 1998 medical-marijuana law was to protect patients prescribed cannabis for medical purposes. 

TeleTech’s director of marketing communications wrote this statement to The Colorado Independent: “...we are pleased with the Supreme Court of Washington’s ruling in the case of Jane Roe vs. TeleTech. The Court’s decision in TeleTech’s favor protects the rights of our U.S. employees to work in a safe and drug-free work environment.”

Safe? Let’s take a step aside and critically think about this. What if Jane Roe hadn’t been fired? What if TeleTech saw the drug result, validated her authorization, and since her use of medical marijuana did not interfere with her ability to work, let her keep her job. This does not change the work environment to be unsafe. I highly doubt Ms. Roe would have caused any trouble. In fact, she probably would have appreciated her new employer caring about her and her medical issues. 

The director goes on to mention that maintaining a drug-free environment protects client’s customers’ confidential information. Mr. Director is taking generalizations about “drugs” and applying it to abstract consequences. This use of fear to try and convince people that TeleTech is the one in the right is disgusting.


Luckily, this attitude isn’t shared by many people around Washington State. This case has shown that not many people agree with TeleTech. There is a small minority that think it is alright to fire someone for using medical marijuana at home. That’s because it isn’t. 

Since this case isn’t about Roe being impaired or using medical cannabis around work time, it is a case about Jane Roe’s status as a Medical Marijuana Patient. According to this decision, WA courts have made Jane Roe into an example that having the label of Medical Marijuana Patient means that you don’t deserve honest work. 

But, wait... Let’s take a moment to see what other states have been thinking about the subject. Well, in Colorado, the home base for TeleTech, a Coors employee, Paul Curry, was fired for testing positive for medical marijuana. Unlike Roe, he won the unemployment case against Coors. 

The statement from Curry’s attorney, Rob Corry, discussing the case in Washington, highlights some reasons why the case in Washington failed: 

“My comment on the Washington case: The Roe case out of Washington is easily distinguishable from Mr. Curry’s action to be brought in Colorado, as Ms. Roe did not assert a claim for discrimination based upon disability, and that will be our chief claim in Mr. Curry’s case. Moreover, Colorado’s Constitution has stronger protections for medical marijuana patients than Washington statutes, and Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws are more solid precedent.”


Now, every Washington citizen that is a Medical Marijuana patient has to fear for their employment status. They have to worry that the label of ‘medical marijuana’, despite its legality, might get them fired. Companies need no other reason. A employee could be doing the best they can and be ready to work hard, but that drug-screening test will automatically shut down their opportunities. The worst part about it is that patients with medical marijuana often have it because it gives them a quality of life where they are actually able to go work. 

In my opinion, this whole court ruling is based off of ignorance and fear. The Justices chose the safe way and threw the mess onto “the voters”. The voter process requires a mass amount of energy, time and resources. By the time this whole issue is sorted out, thousands of people could be fired out of discrimination for medical marijuana patients.