Coffeehouse Culture, Page 3 (PC)

VIDENCE confirming that
the cannabis conspiracy
theorists (Coffeehouse
Culture among them) might be
right continues to mount. In the
spring it was revealed that the
World Health Organisation had
suppressed a positive statement
regarding cannabis use which
researchers had included in the
first WHO research paper into
dope in 15 years.
InIn a leak to New Scientist
magazine by members of the
expert panel that drafted the
report, it was revealed that the
WHO had buckled under
pressure from the US National
Institute on Drug Control and the
UN International Drug Control
Programme (also dominated by
US interests). It is said that the
ICPD warned the WHO that it
would be playing into the hands
of groups campaigning to legalise
cannabis if it included the positive
statement in the report.
InDespite the knee-jerk reaction
from the WHO, the statement
censored from the report is hardly
over the top. It merely states that
in comparisons with alcohol,
cannabis comes out as the better
alternative. In five out of seven
tests comparing long term
damage to health cannabis fared
better than alcohol.
InMore needling to the WHO
was the explanatory statement
that accompanied the research
comparisons. This said that the
comparisons were not made to
promote one drug against another
but 'to minimise the double
standards that have operated in
appraising the health effects of
cannabis.'
nThe leaked information puts into
question the integrity of the World
Health Organisation and high-
lights its use as a tool of
repressive US policies.
InThe New Scientist story
appeared in the issue of 21st
February, 1998. The story was
prominently covered in The
Times.
InBACK TO TOP

VOTE RIGGING SCANDAL;
AMSTERDAM SHRUGS ITS
SHOULDERS
READ THIS STORY IN
PRINTABLE PLAIN TEXT

As most of the judges were heading home for Thanksgiving
after a more than usually successful Cannabis Cup news broke
on Dutch TV that a vote rigging scam had been discovered.

ONE OF AMSTERDAM's best known and most successful
coffeeshop chains has been stripped of one of its cups as a result of
an exercise in vote rigging that has left many within the coffeeshop
community confused or merely questioning the credibility of the
Cannabis Cup. Greenhouse, owned by Arjan Roskam, won and
then lost the Hashish Cup. Also stripped of their medals were
second and third prize winners: Rokerij and Het Kruydenhuys. As
a result of the swift exit of the three
top prize winners, the hash entered

Arjan Roskam, owner of the
Greenhouse
Picture courtesy of the Greenhouse

initially provoked a knee-jerk
reaction that was rather less than
benign, after a few days Dutch
pragmatism took over producing a
more mellow response. Most
coffeeshop entrants expressed
disappointment that the most
successful (and fair) Cannabis
Cup should have been marred
by the unethical actions of some
competitors. The most quotable
comment on the cup came from
the man with the strangest sense
of humour in Amsterdam,
Michael Veling, owner of
Cannabis-Café de Kuil. He said:
"I hope that if High Times are
going to produce written rules
for voting and lobbying they
remember to prohibit physical
violence as a means to influence
voting. If they don't I will
simply assume that it is perfect-
ly ethical and fair to beat the
judges into a pulp in order to get
their votes."
On a more serious note, plans
are underway for a number of
coffeeshops to petition High
Times with a list of suggestions
for improving judging procedures
for next year.
Among other cup winners this
year were Sensi Seeds (Sativa
and Best Expo Booth) and
Paradise Seeds (Indica).
The cup attracted more than
2000 of the nicest people.

For more on Greenhouse business
ethics, see the Coffeehouse
Creeper, page 5.
BACK TO TOP

IN THE SAME ISSUE AS its story
on the WHO, the New Scientist
also included a wide-ranging
nine-page report and a hard-
hitting editorial on cannabis.
The prominently featured
editorial, headed 'Let's be
adult about this', established
its stance with a subhead
saying: 'Politicians will just
have to bite the bullet -- dope
will be decriminalised.' In a key
paragraph, the editorial
highlights the fact that 'no
great disaster has befallen the
Netherlands' and suggests
that it would 'take a perverse
mind to twist the data from
Amsterdam into an argument
for continued prohibition.'
INExtending this and other




WHERE BUSINESS STARTS WITH THE LETTER 'C' Guaranteed Not To Harm Your Unborn Baby
WHAT'S ON THIS PAGE NAVIGATION BOX EDITORIAL: Hi! Or Do We Mean 'High'? \| OLD NEWS: Conspiracy Corner -- The Cannabis Conspiracy Confirmed \| NEW NEWS: Cannabis Cup Vote Rigging Scandal -- Amsterdam Shrugs Its Shoulders NEW NEWS: The Haarlem Shuffle OLD NEWS: New Scientist Backs Cannabis \| HOME GARDENING: Green Finger ADS: Katsu; Rookies \| Further Reading Guides \| Go To Contents \|Go To Next Page (Page 4)
xxx
EEDITORIAL			X	E
Hi! Or Do We Mean, 'High?' READ THIS STORY IN PRINTABLE PLAIN TEXT Probably both. We hope you are celebrating this first edition of the Cannabisness section in the same way as us -- with a good piss-up down at the local bar. If not, you are probably one of those antisocial individuals doing society a service by systematically reducing their brains to green slime. If that sounds like you, you are definitely a Cannabisness reader. If dope will get you through times without money better than money will get you through times without dope, the Cannabisness section will be no substitute for either. But we can't help that. Our aim is to give you something to read while you are waiting to see the addiction counsellor. But seriously, folks (oh, bugger!), Coffeehouse Culture is NOT a dope journal. Honest. There is more to life than dope, so we have been told. However, anyone who ever got high on life alone probably had no idea what being high was about. Life is not something that you want to try without dope. Likewise, dope should not be used without some kind of life in attendance. So, as we were saying, er . . . . Oh yes! Coffeehouse Culture is not a dope journal. If, by now, you do not know what Coffeehouse Culture is all about, we can only offer you our sympathetic understanding. And if you do know you are probably so bored with us telling you that you'll be pleased to hear that we seem to have forgotten (possibly forever). The Cannabisness section does not have particularly lofty ideals. Let's be honest. We all smoke dope because it is fun. OK, so it does give us a certain je ne sai quoi at ambassadorial dinners but essentially it is all for the fun of it. And that is what the Cannabisness section is all about. Fun. But not just fun. We intend to make you suffer for the few morsels of pleasure we give you. There will be serious examinations of new aspects of dope smoking, news, views, blues and shoes. There will even be a resident interior design consultant to advise on window hangings and soft furnishings for the dope-smoker-about-town's pad. What more could you ask? Smokestack El Ropo's magic pot pot? Mmmm. Well, we'd all like that. But, like us, you can dream on. And on. And on. BACK TO TOP			X	IN THIS THRILLING SECTION • Primo • • Dreamo • • Schemo • and the other Marx Brother, whose name we can't remember On page 4 • ROLL BRITANNIA Pt.1 • Let the Good Times Roll Things have changed in the UK. In the first part of this three part special report, we examine what's gone down • Anti-drugs Policy Pt.1 Some mistake, surely? •••••••••••• On page 5 • The Coffeehouse Creeper They seek him here, they seek him there He's in a coffeeshop somewhere •••••••••••• On page 6 • Rocky Road We hit the trail(ers) and encounter some hard travelling. BACK TO TOP
xxx		X	X	X
ECONSPIRACY CORNER		ECANNABIS CUP '99
Despite the fact that this and the other New Scientist story on this page (New Scientist Backs Cannabis) were old news when we originally published them, we have no conscience about using them again here. If you smoke dope, you need all the positive reinforcement you can get. It is as simple as that. THE CANNABIS CONSPIRACY CONFIRMED READ THIS STORY IN PRINTABLE PLAIN TEXT VIDENCE confirming that the cannabis conspiracy theorists (Coffeehouse Culture among them) might be right continues to mount. In the spring it was revealed that the World Health Organisation had suppressed a positive statement regarding cannabis use which researchers had included in the first WHO research paper into dope in 15 years. InIn a leak to New Scientist magazine by members of the expert panel that drafted the report, it was revealed that the WHO had buckled under pressure from the US National Institute on Drug Control and the UN International Drug Control Programme (also dominated by US interests). It is said that the ICPD warned the WHO that it would be playing into the hands of groups campaigning to legalise cannabis if it included the positive statement in the report. InDespite the knee-jerk reaction from the WHO, the statement censored from the report is hardly over the top. It merely states that in comparisons with alcohol, cannabis comes out as the better alternative. In five out of seven tests comparing long term damage to health cannabis fared better than alcohol. InMore needling to the WHO was the explanatory statement that accompanied the research comparisons. This said that the comparisons were not made to promote one drug against another but 'to minimise the double standards that have operated in appraising the health effects of cannabis.' nThe leaked information puts into question the integrity of the World Health Organisation and high- lights its use as a tool of repressive US policies. InThe New Scientist story appeared in the issue of 21st February, 1998. The story was prominently covered in The Times. InBACK TO TOP		VOTE RIGGING SCANDAL; AMSTERDAM SHRUGS ITS SHOULDERS READ THIS STORY IN PRINTABLE PLAIN TEXT As most of the judges were heading home for Thanksgiving after a more than usually successful Cannabis Cup news broke on Dutch TV that a vote rigging scam had been discovered. ONE OF AMSTERDAM's best known and most successful coffeeshop chains has been stripped of one of its cups as a result of an exercise in vote rigging that has left many within the coffeeshop community confused or merely questioning the credibility of the Cannabis Cup. Greenhouse, owned by Arjan Roskam, won and then lost the Hashish Cup. Also stripped of their medals were second and third prize winners: Rokerij and Het Kruydenhuys. As a result of the swift exit of the three top prize winners, the hash entered
		by the coffeeshop placed fourth in the original count, Dutch Flowers, was elevated to first position and duly received the cup. Er . . . .congratulations, guys. THE news of the vote rigging, which was featured on Dutch TV and received considerable domestic press coverage, was a disappointing end to an otherwise successful Cannabis Cup. For the first time this year, coffeeshop owners were responsible for judging the seed company and hash competitions. The general view among cup regulars and entrants was that the judging procedures and restraints on ostentatious expenditure on 'promotional' activities were far fairer than in previous years. The new judging procedures were introduced this year in response to coffeeshop complaints that the 1998 Cup favoured those who invested most in 'freebies' for the judges. Seven of the nine cups awarded in 1998 were taken by Greenhouse. In a statement issued a week after the end of the cup, High Times Editor and cup founder, Steve Hager, dismissed the cheating as 'confusion about what was proper and improper' because there were no written rules about how ballots should be filled out. 'Next year,' said Hager, 'we plan to have written rules concerning voting and lobbying for votes so problems like this will not reoccur.' Revealing rather more than anyone wished to know about High Times' attitude to the ethics of the Cannabis Cup, Mr Hager expresses his regret that the vote rigging scandal became public. Although asked to comment on his disqualification and loss of the Hash Cup, Arjan Roskam had nothing to say. Other coffeeshops, however, were less tight lipped. Although news of the disqualification		Arjan Roskam, owner of the Greenhouse Picture courtesy of the Greenhouse initially provoked a knee-jerk reaction that was rather less than benign, after a few days Dutch pragmatism took over producing a more mellow response. Most coffeeshop entrants expressed disappointment that the most successful (and fair) Cannabis Cup should have been marred by the unethical actions of some competitors. The most quotable comment on the cup came from the man with the strangest sense of humour in Amsterdam, Michael Veling, owner of Cannabis-Café de Kuil. He said: "I hope that if High Times are going to produce written rules for voting and lobbying they remember to prohibit physical violence as a means to influence voting. If they don't I will simply assume that it is perfect- ly ethical and fair to beat the judges into a pulp in order to get their votes." On a more serious note, plans are underway for a number of coffeeshops to petition High Times with a list of suggestions for improving judging procedures for next year. Among other cup winners this year were Sensi Seeds (Sativa and Best Expo Booth) and Paradise Seeds (Indica). The cup attracted more than 2000 of the nicest people. For more on Greenhouse business ethics, see the Coffeehouse Creeper, page 5. BACK TO TOP

THE HAARLEM SHUFFLE The Way Things Used To Be READ THIS STORY IN PRINTABLE PLAIN TEXT The 1st Annual Haarlem Hemp Happening took place just a week after the Cannabis Cup and what a different affair it was. Organised by the Haarlem's Global Hemp Museum and coffeeshop Willie Wortel Workshop, the two day event was without razzmatazz. Indeed, in every way it was as understated as the Cup had been overstated. Slickly organised and smoothly run, the event had a pleasantly village fete atmosphere to it with lots of good vibes. An estimated 1000 people visited the show, many of them travelling the 20 kms from Amsterdam to do so. A small town with many coffeeshops, Haarlem is regarded by many smokers as a place that retains many of the more benign, less commercial aspects of cannabis use. BACK TO TOP

One of Amsterdam's Best Kept Secrets Eerste van der Helststraat 70 The Connoisseurs' Choice for Smoking Pleasures and the best Conversation The Real Amsterdam Experience Trams: 16, 24, 25		READ THIS STORY IN PRINTABLE PLAIN TEXT To grow great grass must be one of the world's most satisfying horticult- ural achievements. Seeing a plant develop from a seven stone weakling into a Charles Atlas with attitude, watching that juicy bud grow juicier, seeing the globules of THC sparkle in the evening sodium light -- these are a few of our favourite things. MMaybe it is so satisfying because it is not as easy as it looks. Sure, anyone can grow a grass plant. Like, anyone can make rope. But growing a plant that goes down in your personal book of great moments takes time and skill. Get the formula right and magic will prevail; get it wrong, or get just one factor wrong, and at least you'll have something to string yourself up with. MThe Docker, however, recommends NOT hanging yourself. "Hanging
Damn! The predictions are being fulfilled before they have even been made NEW SCIENTIST BACKS CANNABIS READ THIS STORY IN PRINTABLE PLAIN TEXT IN THE SAME ISSUE AS its story on the WHO, the New Scientist also included a wide-ranging nine-page report and a hard- hitting editorial on cannabis. The prominently featured editorial, headed 'Let's be adult about this', established its stance with a subhead saying: 'Politicians will just have to bite the bullet -- dope will be decriminalised.' In a key paragraph, the editorial highlights the fact that 'no great disaster has befallen the Netherlands' and suggests that it would 'take a perverse mind to twist the data from Amsterdam into an argument for continued prohibition.' INExtending this and other		yourself," says the not so good Docker, "can seriously impede the flow of smoke to the lungs and is therefore a big 'No, No!' Far better," he says, "to seek kindly succour in the hands of Coffeehouse Culture's home gardening columns." MAlthough we pay him good money to say that sort of thing, he is right, you know. MCannabis is a plant that inspires a deep affection (verging on obsession) like no other and the Netherlands is where that affection has been given free rein. For over three decades, Netherlanders have been growing, developing and refining the most loveable qualities of this simple but versatile weed into a Green Goddess that, today, dispenses the most profound blessings. On the way to developing this botanical masterpiece, the Dutch have acquired a reservoir of knowledge and experience that covers every conceivable aspect of the horticulture, processing and use of the product of their labours. And all that knowledge and experience is right here. In a world where		'everyone's an expert', when it comes to grass, in Holland, everyone is. Where else would you find professional cannabis consultants? All that knowledge and experience right here at the tips of Coffeehouse Culture's fingers. But, hey, why should we divulge the secrets of growing great grass? MThe answer is simple. We want you to get good and stoned. Yeah! MSo this is the deal, Coffeehouse Culture aims to bring you the best advice that is around. Whether you are a new grower or an old hand, you will find tips, tricks and expert wrinkles from the greatest of Holland's Master Gardeners. Sure, we will be regurgitating all the stuff you can get in the books but with that vital added ingredient --- practical knowledge. MSo stick with us as we lead you up the garden path and into the shelt- ered area behind the potting shed for a crash course in knowing, growing and blowing. BACK TO TOP \| FURTHER READING
themes over the nine page report, the New Scientist explores the whole issue of cannabis in a well-reasoned and even-handed fashion. INIn the six-page lead feature, headed 'A safe high?', the New Scientist places cannabis' bad press firmly in the United States' court. 'Cannabis faces serious charges from the US government,' says the feature, before telling us to make up our own minds. NTaking on the claims made against dope one by one, the NS feature starts its explor- ation by discussing the effects on attention, memory and learning ability. In a key statement it says that even		when test subjects had smoked 10 joints a day for more than 30 years, 'their ability to learn and remember lists of words is only mildly impaired.' INLater in the article it goes onto refute the addiction hypothesis, the suggestion that smoking dope can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue and that it causes long- term changes in the brain. NWinding up its report in an equally positive fashion, the New Scientist looks at 'The Dutch Experiment.' Clearing the way for a more reasoned approach to decriminalisation, the article shows that Holland	X	is well behind the market leaders in the smoking tables with under 15% of the population using cannabis. (Top of the smoking pops this time around are: Denmark with over 30%, the USA with over 25% and the UK with over 20%.) Pointing out that Dutch teenagers get the highest scores in the world in international science and mathematics tests, the article concludes: 'If there are any serious problems caused by legalising marijuana, then twenty-plus years of the Dutch experiment has not revealed what they are.' NBACK TO TOP

		Making the world a smaller (and friendlier) place The Rookies Bar & Coffeeshop Korte Leisdewarstreet 145/147

FURTHER READING GUIDE Our Personal Recommendations in association with Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
GREENFINGER Unable to wait for Amsterdam's GrassMasters to spill the beans? Impatient for your first crop? Desperate to restructure your life around a watering regime? We can help -- with a little co-operation from Amazon.co.uk -- as we bring three of the most popular growbooks.
MARIJUANA GROWER'S: INSIDERS GUIDE By Mel Frank This is the growing guide the Coffee- house Culture gardening team used when they had a production facility in the UK. It was a constant source of reference and never let them down. A little heavy on the electrics and little vague on the techniques, it remains one of the most popular growbooks. You need, however, to be on top of all the factors. UK READERS CLICK HERE US READERS SAVE $3.99	xx	MARIJUANA GROWER'S HANDBOOK: The Indoor High Yield Guide By Ed Rosenthal And this is the one everyone else used. Better on the newer technology like EC meters and what they should say. Some swear by one author and some by the other. Whichever guide you buy, you will certainly get enough information to grow plants of which to be proud. Franks seems to have a slightly more organic approach than Rosenthal. UK READERS CLICK HERE US READERS SAVE $3.99	xx	INDOOR MARIJUANA CULTIVATION By Jose Cervantes And this is the other one people seem to use. Not much I can tell you about it except that I have seen many people buy copies in shops in Amsterdam. If you are thinking of growing some plants, a grow book is a crucial investment but nothing will spare you the toil, tribulations and worries or be any substitute for a totally committed and caring approach to your plants. UK READERS SAVE £1.49 US READERS CLICK HERE
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SEE PAGES 2, 4, 6, 11, 16, 17 AND 21 FOR MORE FURTHER READING GUIDES
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