Hot Wax

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The Impossible Dream

At the end of April, an outfit called The Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance held a meeting in Edinburgh. There are, of course, Tobacco Control Alliances for the rest of the UK, but it’s only really the Scottish one I can talk about.

Their fundamental aim is to totally eradicate tobacco use from the face of the country, if not the face of the planet. This is a big aim, but one can’t help but feel it’s also a bit of a pipe (ha!) dream. I know a couple of the movers and shakers in the STCA, which is why I’m privy to what goes on at their meetings.

Anyhow, the STCA have a vision of a tobacco-free Scotland, and as part of their ongoing crusade have decided to focus on cannabis users. It’s pretty much an accepted fact that probably 99% of all users are dope smokers, by which we mean that they mix their cannabis with tobacco and smoke it in a joint.

Much as our friends in The Netherlands intended (and to some extent have succeeded) in creating a distinction between cannabis and the other drugs, and thus separating the toking population from users of “harder” and/or more dangerous drugs, the STCA have decided that they want to separate cannabis from tobacco. Essentially, let users carry on doing their thing, but take tobacco out of the equation. And they believe that they’ll actually be able to do it.

My two STCA insiders and I agree that, from a harm reduction angle, this is an excellent idea in principle – and let’s be very clear: there’s no way anyone could fault such an aim – but in actuality there is absolutely no way that this is ever, ever, going to happen.

The basic principles of Harm Reduction are moreor-less as follows: we accept that (some) individuals are going to use drugs, and therefore the “experts” (whatever that means) have a moral obligation to educate potential and current drug users in the correct ways to use their drug or drugs of choice more safely; or less harmfully, if the two aren’t the same thing.

This means that whether or not the expert in question considers use of a particular drug, or a particular drug using practise to be right or wrong becomes totally irrelevant, as the wellbeing of the user takes precedence. In the harm reduction game, one’s personal baggage really has to be left at the front door.

The STCA members mean well and have the most laudable of intentions, but the problem is that very few of them have smoked a cigarette, let alone a joint, and so they really don’t know what it is they’re setting themselves up against. Their personal antipathy towards tobacco is blinding them to the fact that, for millions of tokers, the tobacco kick is an intrinsic part of the overall experience of getting stoned. Even individuals who don’t regard themselves as tobacco smokers and who would never dream of smoking a cigarette for its own sake understand this.

From what I’ve been told, the STCA have not, at time of writing, actually thought about what may be presented as viable alternatives to the good old baccy and blow joint. Maybe at some point they’ll take the time to ask some tokers. We suspect we know what the counter arguments will be: eating it is too unreliable and takes too long to kick in; smoking straight grass is expensive and wasteful; herbal mixtures are generally not very pleasant, and vaporizers and what have you aren’t exactly what one might call portable.

And of course, as most members of the STCA are not themselves tokers, they can never understand the social aspects and the sheer pleasure of sharing a joint with friends and acquaintances. If only for this reason alone, theirs is an impossible dream.

Dr. John Dee

Any comments on this column, feel free to contact me at: dimethyltryptamine777@hotmail.com

New GroWell shop in London

GroWell Hydroponics, the UK’s biggest hydroponics retailer has recently opened its second showroom in Fulham, London. Having been at the forefront of the UK hydroponics market from the very beginning, GroWell have finally given in to customer demand for a London outlet. The new store opened its doors to the public on the 31st of March and at over 3000 square feet has already set a new standard for London grow shops. London growers will be impressed by the wide range of products that will be on offer through the new GroWell shop as it will stock all of the products in the GroWell mail order catalogue. The new shop is located at 1 Royal Parade, 247 Dawes Road, Fulham, London, SW6 7RE. It is within easy reach of the M25 and M4 and is just down the road from the Chelsea Football Club stadium, Stamford Bridge. Initially the new shop is open 5 days a week – Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm – but should be open 7 days a week from September.

Company News

Growell Hydroponics & Plant Lighting Ltd. 1 Royal Parade, 247 Dawes Road (A3219), Fulham, London SW6 7RE. Tel 0845 223 5063, Fax 0845 3455175 Website: www.growell.co.uk

Hy-Fan table fan

The Hy Fan table fan is a high-quality ventilator with a host of possibilities and great ease of use. The ventilator is equipped with a motor that is quiet as a whisper, fitted with a large, sturdy plastic blade (diameter: 30 cm) that is protected by a safe, metal grill. This table fan has three speeds and can be set to ventilate static or rotating.

Hy-Jumbo Net

A marvellous product, even if we say so ourselves. Ideal for use in the drying of your harvest. Made of a white synthetic material and metal rings. Eight layers high (20 cm high per layer) with a diameter of 58 cm, it has plenty of room in it. It is just a question of unwrapping it, sticking it up, and hanging it up. Simple, quick and sturdy. Drying out your crop is and will always be something that needs doing with care, but that should not cost you too much time. Quick drying can only be done is there is sufficient air ventilation. The Hy-Jumbo Net is well ventilated from below as well as above thanks to its high air permeability. The metal edges make the Hy Jumbo Net into a functional, solid unit. And when you don’t need your Hy-Jumbo for a while? No problem - just fold it up and all that will be left will be a compact and easy to store package.

Hy-Heating Mat

There are many varieties and sizes of heating mats, something that can often be a bit confusing for growers. Furthermore, most of them are terribly expensive and not waterproof. That’s why Hy-Supply has introduced the new Hy-Heating Mat. Available in two sizes: 98 cm x 98 cm and 198 cm x 98 cm. Thanks to their sizing, these mats precisely fit in an ebb-and-flow tub or ‘Danish’ bases of 100 cm x 100 cm or 100 cm x 200 cm. That enables them to be waterproof, low in energy usage, equipped with a good temperature regulator and they are kite mark certified. The temperature of the heating mats can be varied between 17 Co and 24 Co. The mats are ideal for use when establishing a new grow. The clones adjust quicker to their new environment, come in to bloom earlier and thereby deliver a decent saving of time.