I’ve been staring at half-written articles these past few months and getting nowhere. Since the most common writing advice given to me is “write what you know,” I figure that is most likely my best bet to get those creative juices flowing — along with a nice sativa hybrid. So once again I am writing about my slice of heaven: the incomparable Wreck Beach, located at the furthest western tip of Vancouver, BC. This time, I’m writing about Wreck Beach with kids — my kids!
Every February for the past six years I’ve descended upon the Taboo Naughty but Nice Sex Show here in Vancouver. Usually as one of my alter egos, Pennie Belle. Always with Bonerattle Talent as entertainment in various different capacities, or with Pin-up Perfection photography as live model and promo girl.
Many of my friends are also there as either staff, vendors or attendees. Most are dressed to the nines, or dressed very little. There are themes and outfit changes. It’s kind of a big deal for a lot of us.
Vancouver, BC, or Vansterdam as we affectionately call it around these parts, is a stoner’s dream to both live in and visit. That makes it a great city for Twelve High Chicks to host our M.O.M. Cup, February 24–26, 2017. You are coming to it, right?
Vancouver has an array of diverse lifestyles, but one of the common denominators is being chill; we don’t live to work, we work to live. Our landscape here — with mountains on one side and ocean on the other — is so beautiful with its beaches, rainforests, and beautiful architecture that it’s hard not to feel in awe of one’s surroundings. And our varied nightlife is full of art shows, craft beer, and alternative events.
It’s not a boring city, and there are a lot of novel things to do — particularly from a stoner’s viewpoint. Here are some stoner tips if you’re visiting Vancouver for the first time to attend the M.O.M. Cup … or are coming at any time.
I’ve been banned from crossing into the USA since May 2016. So instead, my friend Dixie and I went on a different trip, to BC’s Sunshine Coast. It may not have been the trip we had planned but we still got to have our getaway — and some really rare one-on-one time — doused in a cloud of pot smoke.
I get asked all the time what it’s like to attend and judge a marijuana competition. Well, I haven’t been around long enough to say what they’ve been like over the years. Also, I’ve only checked out local events thus far. But I was a judge at Kush Cup 2016 — the second time for the Kush Cup — and it did not disappoint.
When I start writing a piece, I sometimes try to come up with a working title that sums up what I am trying to get across. Helps me figure out the tone I am going for. A few I came up with for this one included “Lie Lie Lie: Border Crossing,” “Silver Linings: At Least the Border Guy Was Cute If Someone Has to Look at My Nude Selfies,” and “Hardened Criminals.” I went with the most straight-forward though, “Why the Fight Against Prohibition Matters.”
I have been known to attempt to self-medicate my problems away. I have done ever since I was able to find someone old enough to hit the liquor store for me and I discovered that smoking pot helped me forget my problems. Now, before you shut down this article because that sentence put booze and marijuana in the same category, hear me out: when it comes to mental health, self-medicating with marijuana and alcohol are comparable.
I adore the Overgrow Canada movement. The message is powerful and peaceful: overgrow Canada with cannabis. If people have the courage to grow cannabis plants in their front yards, window sills, and parkways, we show our leaders that we are no longer waiting while people’s lives are destroyed by pointless criminal records but black market activities and shady grow operations continue. Overgrow Canada is a revolution I can get behind. It feels like an art project: how beautiful seeing all those plants growing in the wild could be.
“I think pot should be legal. I don’t smoke it, but I like the smell of it.” - Andy Warhol
As you may know, I was never keen on 4/20 celebrations being on the Vancouver Art Gallery grounds. It drove me nuts that the most prominent art institution in Vancouver had its grounds disrespected, and even worse, that they had to close their doors for the day. There are other reasons that I am glad the location is changing for 2016, but those two are big ones. Still, I already wrote that article. This one is about what happens inside the gallery, which I think is pretty awesome. And certainly lends itself to blazing beforehand.
I have two kids: a daughter who is seven and a son who is six. I am a single parent with split custody of them. And I am a recreational pot smoker. When my children were small, I didn’t worry over what I would tell them about weed. As a new stoner parent answering kids’ questions, I wasn’t ashamed of my use and I knew that I would be frank with them about it.
But as they get older they become more and more curious about it, and their questions are more direct.
I really love my life, I have great friends, great kids, and a great boyfriend. I have a stable home, I eat healthy foods, even my pet is well cared for. I am able to be playful and creative in the workplace. And then I get the icing on the cake: playing laser tag with my co-workers.
We’ve been working on an upcoming show for pot.tv called Toking Tuesdays. It’s based on doing fun things but with a healthy mix of protest. A pretty great gig if that’s your deal — and it’s mine.
On October 19th, Canadians will — or at least should — head to the polls for our federal election. It is an intense fight: As of this writing the three top parties seem to be neck in neck if the polls can be believed. And there has been mudslinging, dirty tricks, and low blows from all sides. Not many people are happy about their electoral choices or the changes made to voting procedure, and so there is a lot of noise about strategic voting.
