HELENA, Mont. — As Bob Marley music wailed in the next room, the makeshift clinic hummed along like an assembly line: Patients went in to see a doctor, paid $150 and walked out with a recommendation that they be allowed to buy and smoke medical marijuana.

So it went, all day, at a hotel just blocks from the state Capitol that was the latest stop of the so-called cannabis caravan, a band of doctors and medical marijuana advocates roaming Montana that has helped thousands of patients apply for medical marijuana cards from the state.

Here’s another link to the whole article. Leave a comment if you want to see more macro budshots.

“‘In the grand scheme, it has not been successful,’ Kerlikowske told The Associated Press. ‘Forty years later, the concern about drugs and drug problems is, if anything, magnified, intensified.’” Well I’ll be damned. But, of course, there are the dissenters…

“‘To say that all the things that have been done in the war on drugs haven’t made any difference is ridiculous,’ Walters said. ‘It destroys everything we’ve done. It’s saying all the people involved in law enforcment, treatment and prevention have been wasting their time. It’s saying all these people’s work is misguided.’” Uh, Mr. Walters? That’s exactly what we’re saying. But don’t take my word for it! Read the entire article, and pass your own judgement, here.

I am inevitably going to fail, as I am admittedly extremely biased towards the responsible use of drugs. I believe that almost any drug can be used responsibly, and if everyone was thoroughly educated on them, it would be much more common that people could do so. Drug education could also have loads of other positive effects, of course, including a reduced stigma, further research, and better addiction assistance, but that’s another topic entirely.

So without further delay, let’s begin!

For our purposes, I’m going to have three categories. The first is mostly non-addictive, low risk drugs, the second is moderately addictive/some risk, and the third is high addiction potential/high risk drugs.

First you’ll see the name of the drug, with nicknames next to it in parenthesis. Next will be the medical use, if any. Then addiction. I’ve rated addiction as follows: low means that most people cannot be addicted, and if they do, withdrawals will be relatively moderate. Moderate addiction means that most people can become addicted with frequent use/abuse of the drug, and withdrawal will usually be fairly uncomfortable, lasting a few days. Extreme means that the drug is highly addictive, and can take hold of a user within one or two uses of the drug. Withdrawal from these is very difficult, and can be accompanied by fevers, nausea, diarrhea; the works. Overdose potential is just to give an idea of how careful you should be with administration of the drug. Effects are a brief description of the psychoactive effects. You can find more detailed experiences of some drugs right here on Stoner Culture.

This list is mostly based on my experiences, or experiences that I have seen, and research I have done over the years. It is in no way reflective of every user, and as with any drug I highly suggest taking your own steps to ensure safe use of them. Keep in mind your own experiences, and your own limits.

1st Category

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Drug:

-Cannabis (marijuana, pot, weed, dro, shwag, etc)

Medical use:

-Low–it can be used for for minor pain relief and insomnia, but is banned in most states.

Addiction potential:

-Low-most people will have no trouble quitting, some may experience mental addiction. Any withdrawal symptoms will generally be mild and disappear within 2-3 days

Overdose potential:

-None. It is physically impossible to overdose on cannabis.

Effects:

-Can vary from an upper to a downer to a psychedelic. Read the rest of this wonderful site to learn more. Lasts an hour or so, depending on other factors.

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Drug:

-Lysergic Acid Dithylamide (LSD, acid, blotter, etc)

Medical use:

-None. Some research has been done showing promise of some psychiatric use, but there is not enough information at this time. It is banned in all states.

Addiction potential:

-Low–most people will actually be discouraged from frequent use, and the tolerance is so steep that it becomes nearly unusable after a few consecutive days

Overdose potential:

-Extremely low/none. There have been no confirmed LSD overdoses, and in most cases it would take absurd amounts of LSD to reach the LD50. It is feasible to do so, though.

Effects:

-Psychedelic trip. Altered perceptions of reality and visual patterns/coloring are common. Usually lasts about 6 hours for the peak, but the entire experience can last anywhere from 6-15 hours.

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Drug:

-Mescaline (peyote, san pedro, etc)

Medical use:

-None. As with other psychedelics, not enough research has been done to have any conclusive evidence.

Addiction potential:

-Low–most people will actually be discouraged from frequent use, and the tolerance is so steep that it becomes nearly unusable after a few consecutive days

Overdose potential:

-Extremely low/none.

Effects:

-Psychedelic trip. Altered perceptions of reality and visual patterns/coloring are common. The peak usually lasts anywhere from 6-10 hours, and the entire experience has been reported to last up to 3 days.

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Drug:

-Psilocybin (magic mushrooms, shrooms, etc)

Medical use:

-None. As with other psychedelics, not enough research has been done to have any conclusive evidence.

Addiction potential:

-Low–most people will actually be discouraged from frequent use, and the tolerance is so steep that it becomes nearly unusable after a few consecutive days

Overdose potential:

-Extremely low/none.

Effects:

-Psychedelic trip. Altered perceptions of reality and visual patterns/coloring are common. Usually lasts 4 hours for the peak, but the entire experience can be anywhere from 4-10 hours.

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Drug:

-DXM (tussin, robotrip, etc)

Medical use:

-Moderate–used as a cough medicine.

Addiction:

-Low to moderate–most users will have no addiction, but it can be addictive to some especially if used frequently. The tolerance has a long recoup time, however.

Overdose potential:

-Low. It would take a significant amount of DXM to overdose. You would need approximately 5 times the normal trip dose to overdose in most cases.

Effects:

-Dissociative with some psychedelic properties. Nausea will sometimes be present. Visuals and different perceptions of reality are common. Usually lasts about 4 hours.

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Drug:

-Nitrous Oxide (hippy crack, laughing gas, etc)

Medical use:

-Moderate–occassionally used in dentistry to anesthetize patients.

Addiction potential:

-Low to moderate–it is fairly addictive in the short term, and with consistent use can be fairly addictive.

Overdose potential:

-None

Effects:

-Pain killer with some psychedelic properties. Usually a huge boost of well being.

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Drug:

-Dimethyltryptahmine (DMT, spice, etc)

Medical use:

-None.

Addiction potential:

-Extremely Low–most people will actually be discouraged from frequent use, and the tolerance is so steep that it becomes nearly unusable after a few consecutive uses

Overdose potential:

-None.

Effects:

-Intense, short acting psychedelic. Visuals and different perceptions of reality are common. Usually lasts about 15-30 minutes, and the entire experience lasts up to an hour and a half.

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Drug:

-MDMA (ecstasy, x, rolls, candy, etc)

Medical use:

-Low/none–MDMA was once prescribed by psychiatrists for a number of experimental reasons, including marriage counseling and depression. It is now banned in all states

Addiction potential:

-Low to moderate–Some people can become addicted to MDMA, and it is a relatively dangerous addiction. Brain damage is rare, but not unheard of in some situations.

Overdose potential:

-Low–The main issue with MDMA is forgetting what you’re doing and over– exerting or dehydrating yourself. However, you can overdose on extremely high amounts, and it can induce high heart rates, blood pressure, and panic attacks.

Effects:

-Intense euphoria. Tactile senses are heightened, as are most other senses. Usually lasts about 4-5 hours.

2nd Category:

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Drug:

-Low intensity opiates (hydrocodone, codeine syrup, vicodin, watson, codeine, etc)

Medical use:

-Moderate–Can be used for mild to moderate pain

Addiction:

-Moderate–With frequent use most users will become physically or mentally dependent. Withdrawal will usually be fairly difficult, but in some cases can be extreme

Overdose Potential:

-Low to moderate–It would take a huge amount of hydrocodone to overdose, however most pills have acetaminophen which is toxic in high doses. Doses as high as 4 grams are generally considered safe as far as one time uses, but prolonged uses can lead to severe liver damage.

Effects:

-Pain killer, usually inflicts a feeling of warmth and well-being in the user. Usually lasts about 6 hours

—

Drug:

-Benzodiazepine (xanax, valium, bars, etc)

Medical use:

-Moderate–Can be used to treat anxiety and panic attacks. In rare cases it is prescribed for insomnia

Addiction:

-Moderate–With frequent use most users will become physically or mentally dependent. Withdrawal can range from less difficult to extreme

Overdose potential:

-Low–It is difficult to overdose on benzodiazepines alone, but combined with alcohol or opiates it can be very dangerous. Also, at high doses most people experience blackouts.

Effects:

-Removed inhibitions, usually inflicts feelings of well-being and comfort. Usually lasts about 8 hours

—

Drug:

-Amphetamine salts, Dextroamphetamine (adderall, concerta, etc).

Medical use:

-Moderate–Can be used to treat ADD/ADHD, or to help focus.

Addiction:

-Moderate–With frequent use most users will become either physically or mentally dependent. Withdrawal is usually not extreme.

Overdose potential:

-Low to moderate: High doses of amphetamines can cause high heart rates and blood pressure, which combined with exercise can lead to heart problems in the short term.

Effects:

-Increased focus, sometimes a sense of well-being is inflicted. Usually lasts about 8 hours

—

Drug:

-Alcohol (booze, beer, liquor, etc)

Medical use:

-None.

Addiction:

-Moderate to high–With frequent use most users will become either physically or mentally dependent. Withdrawal can be extremely dangerous, and it is one of two drugs that has a potentially deadly withdrawal (the other being barbiturates).

Overdose potential:

-Moderate–it is very possible to overdose on alcohol, and relatively easy if you are an unexperienced drinker.

-Effects:

-Downer, usually with sedative effects and decreased inhibitions. Usually lasts about 4 hours.

—

Drug:

-Tramadol (ultram, trammies, etc)

Medical use:

-Moderate–Mild to moderate pain killer

Addiction:

-Moderate–With frequent use most users will become either physically or mentally dependent. Withdrawal is usually not extreme.

Overdose potential:

-Moderate–The biggest risk with tramadol is taking too much and inducing a seizure. If you stay within a lower dose, you should be completely safe, but if you have a history of seizures or plan on taking a significantly higher amount than normal, I would recommend against it.

-Effects:

-Pain killer, the user will usually feel a heightened sense of well–being, and will be put into an overall good mood.

3rd Category:

——————-

Drug:

-Morphine or intense opiates (heroin, oxycodone, smack, etc)

Medical use:

-Moderate–Can be used for intense pain, usually for very brief times after traumatic injury

Addiction:

-High–Addiction can be sparked with very low use, and will usually result in extreme withdrawal. Addiction will vary depending on which method of ingestion is used.

Overdose potential:

-High–It is fairly easy to overdose, especially for experienced users who take a break and whose tolerance may have dropped without their knowledge.

Effects:

-Very strong pain killer, usually inflicts intense feelings of warmth and well- being in the user. Can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on method of ingestion.

—

Drug:

-Cocaine (white, coke, crack, etc)

Medical use:

-Limited–some analogues like novocaine can be used as a localized anesthetic, but are fairly rare and usually single use

Addiction:

-High–Addiction can be sparked with very low use, and can result in extreme withdrawal. Addiction will vary depending on which method of ingestion is used.

Overdose potential:

-Moderate to high–Due to variance in quality, it is sometimes easy to overdose on product that is much stronger than expected, especially in high doses.

Effects:

-Removed inhibitions, extreme sense of well being. Usually lasts about 30 minutes to an hour.

—

Drug:

-Methamphetamine (speed, meth, etc)

Medical use:

-Limited–in very rare cases it can be prescribed for ADD under the name desoxyn.

Addiction:

-High–addiction can be sparked with very low use, and will usually result in extreme withdrawal. Addiction will vary depending on which method of ingestion is used.

Overdose potential:

-Low to moderate–as with all amphetamines, high heart rates plus a desire to achieve can lead to short term heart problems

Effects:

-Rush of energy and desire to accomplish things. Usually gives the user a sense of well-being and happiness. Can last anywhere from hours to days.

—

Drug:

-Datura Stramonium (jimson weed, angel’s trumpet, etc)

Medical use:

-None

Addiction:

-None

Overdose potential:

-Extremely high–it is nearly impossible to properly estimate a dose, as one seed can contain anywhere from no active chemical to enough to overdose on. Overdoses are extremely common.

Effects:

-Deliriant. Can last for days, the user will usually not realize that he or she is a part of reality. The vast majority of experiences are extremely unpleasant and hospitalizations are not uncommon.

I hope this list can be of use to some people, as drug information is usually sparse, incomplete, and unreliable. I plan to update this later on, and provide more information.

-Lotus

If you like these budshots, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment! We’ll have more exotic strains for you later if you stick around.

One thing is for sure, I’ve done a lot of drugs. I’ve done some drugs that most people probably only know about in a mythical sense, and some people probably haven’t even heard of! In this article, I’d like to share with you all my experiences with these drugs, and which ones I like, and dislike, the most. I’ll try to order them from most enjoyable to least enjoyable, but since drugs are such complicated issues, it wont be perfect.

The list:

-LSD: Goddamn I love this drug. I could write books on this particular psychedelic, and still have things to say about it. The entire experience always astounds me. My entire perception of reality, from sight to sound to touch to taste to logic and everything in between, is twisted and molded into unfamiliar but still recognizable forms. It’s the cheapest psychedelic usually, and for the price of a gram of weed, you can have a 6-10 hour journey through your own mind. No trip is complete without music, and my god I don’t know what I would do without LSD and music in my life.

-Cannabis: Following a close second is cannabis. Cannabis is incredible because it can range from a slight little mood elevator, to a full fledged psychedelic, depending on how much you take, and the method with which you take it. It’s great enough that I can use it every day, without concern of addiction, and I never tire of it. It helps with my insomnia, and the general boredom of every day life. Truly the miracle drug.

-MDMA: Also known as ecstasy, this drug induces exactly that. I have had limited experiences with this psychoactive, but I plan on getting much more acquainted with it in the future. Everything from tactile sensations to music is enhanced, and life just seems worthwhile.

-Opiates: Sometimes I think I like opiates a little too much. These would probably be closer to the top of the list, if it weren’t for the addictive properties. They are amazing, though. I love popping some Vicodin and listening to music, going to a concert, playing music, or really doing just about anything. The one other problem I have is the motion sickness that plagues me every time I drive in a car. Oh but it’s all worth it to feel that warm glow that you only get from a nice opiate buzz.

-DMT: What a wild ride this little chemical is. I’ve done it alone, with weed, with opiates, with psychedelics, and it always seems to outdo itself. My friends and I call it a little burst of acid, and I love the occasional DMT experience. All that plus the fact that it’s a little chemistry experiment makes this drug one of my favorites.

-Nitrous: Whippits, as we call them, are a great way to pass the time. I love everything about these, and invested in a little whip cream dispenser to make things easier. Like DMT, you can apply to essentially any drug, and have a multiplied experience. It has a little minute long psychedelic experience, with ego death almost a certainty. Just as wonderful a drug as I could ask for. The only thing that puts it lower on the list is the addiction, cost, and headaches from extended use.

-DXM: This drug is my fall-back. If I can’t get a hold of any “real” psychedelics, and I’m feeling the urge to trip, it’s always nice to run up to the CVS and pick up a couple bottles of the ‘tussin. I’ve spent many a mile robo–walking around my neighborhood/parks, and it’s always fun to experience the slight visuals and strange feelings of a robo–trip.

-Adderall: This drug is alright, on occasion. The hyper-focus effect, along with the desire to “get shit done” makes this a useful drug more than a fun one. The most fun I’ve had on adderall was playing Rock Band for about 3 hours, constantly owning the expert songs. Incidentally, that was also the last time I’ve played Rock Band…

-Alcohol: This is a pretty “meh” drug for me. Some people think alcohol is just the bees knees, but I really don’t get it. It’s alright if there’s absolutely nothing else to do, but really it just isn’t that fun. I’ve never had a hangover, either, and if I did I would probably never use it. However, it does remove all social inhibitions, and it makes everything hilarious. It does have its uses. Not beer, though. Beer can suck a dick.

-Psilocybe mushrooms: I’ve had a couple experiences with shrooms, but they were nothing spectacular. The experience was fairly uncomfortable both times, with fairly unspectacular visuals. I plan on trying them again, so I’ll save my final judgement till then.

-Salvia: This drug can either be the most enlightening, or the most frightening. It’s like a five minute dream state that feels like a lifetime. I’ve had good experiences, bad experiences, and just plain weird experiences. I’m usually down to do some salvia, but it’s just such an unpredictable drug, it’s getting stuck near the bottom of my list.

-Benzodiazepines: Xanax or Valiums, pick your poison. I have no real issue with them, they just bore me. It’s like fast forwarding through life, and I want to savor every second I have conscious on this planet. I suppose some of the effects are somewhat desirable; they make me feel pretty good, and music and food are generally more enjoyable, but they make me feel fairly…dumb. That plus the fast forward effect make these a very rare use for me. I’ll usually turn down the offer of benzos unless for some reason I really feel compelled.

-Cocaine: Holy shit I have discovered a new “least favorite” drug. I first tried cocaine a few days ago, and man did it suck. Let me walk you through what happened… First, I snort the coke  (obviously), which was actually the best part. It felt all cold and soft, and cleared my sinuses right out! So I chilled out for a minute, waiting for the effects to take place. About 3 minutes in, I start feeling really anxious, and since we were doing it in a bathroom, I thought I was getting a bit claustrophobic, which happens to me sometimes on drugs. So I go outside where we were hanging out, and sit on the tailgate of my friend’s truck. Immediately I start feeling really light-headed. My hearing goes really muffled and distorts, and my vision becomes “pixelated” and blurry. On top of all this, I start sweating fucking bullets (I hardly sweat at all even if I’m exercising outside in the 100˚ Texas summer). My friend notices something is up and asks me if I need to go inside. I do, and after sitting in front of a fan for 5 minutes, I feel fine. The effects of the coke were really uncharacteristic, too. I was very relaxed, and felt slowed down. All in all, something I would never do again.

Well, I think that about sums up my list. Drugs have done some amazing things for me over the years, and I wouldn’t trade anything for the experiences I’ve had (figuratively, if someone offered me a million dollars you can damn well bet you’d never see my anecdotes on this site again!). Feel free to comment on experiences you’ve had, or how much you think my experiences suck!

-Lotus

Nobody can fully prepare you for what you’re going to experience on a psychedelic, so you must keep that in mind at all times. Remember that there are risks of permanent mental issues, but they’re fairly low. If your family has a history of schizophrenia, or you believe you have latent mental issues, I would highly discourage the use of any psychoactive drugs (this includes marijuana, psychedelics, etc).

Once you’ve decided that you want to take the step into a psychedelic world, you should always know that you will come back out of it. It can be an overwhelming experience sometimes, but it won’t last more than a few hours, so try not to freak out and think it’ll never end. I’ve personally gone through every type of trip, from the confusing, to the magical, to the hilarious, to the downright terrifying (some of which I’ve documented right here on Stoner Culture). I’ve come out of every single one of them, and usually better than I went in.

Alright, so you’ve accomplished the most difficult part of any psychedelic adventure, and decided you’re going to do it and procured the necessary chemicals. What comes next is totally up to you. I prefer to have a meticulously planned trip, with activities, alternate activities, and things set up for me to avoid any type of involved thinking during the actual trip. I love playing guitar, so having an amp set up and ready to go is a must. Anything else, including recording equipment, art supplies, video games, etc, I prefer to have ready to go before I dose. Some people just like to go where the trip takes them, with no planning. Again, it’s totally up to you.

As far as dosing, it’s difficult to know how much to dose. With LSD, I’ve had single hits that were plenty to handle, and two hits that were fairly underwhelming. I usually start out with one, wait about an hour, and use my judgement as to whether I should re-dose or not. Some people prefer to take it all at once, again it’s totally personal preference.

With LSD, I usually like to take it by sticking it under my tongue for about 5 minutes, then swallowing the material. I don’t think it particularly matters, however, as I’ve swallowed them immediately and tripped just fine. With shrooms, I usually just eat them slowly, breaking them up into pill sizes, then washing them down with water. They taste kind of nutty to me, and even though I’m extremely picky when it comes to foods, I can stomach them no problem. Some people can’t stand the taste, and prefer to grind them into smoothies or some other type of drink to make them easier to go down. Mescaline is difficult, as it comes in such a wide variety of methods. If it’s a pill, just take it. If you’re extracting it, I’d recommend extracting it as much as possible, as the goo tastes absolutely terrible. As far as DXM goes (and some people would even count this in the psychedelic category), I usually prefer the drinkable kind. The pills work fine, too, but when you take a lot of them they all burst and disrupt your stomach more so than the liquid form.

With most psychs it will usually take no less than fifteen minutes, and no more than an hour to kick in. Other extenuating circumstances can drastically affect this time, however. I recently took some acid, then went mountain biking, and it took two hours to fully kick in. My hypothesis is the adrenaline slowed it down, but who knows? Just be patient, and give them a few hours before you fully blow them off as bunk.

During the actual trip, there are many activities that are appropriate, but you should keep in mind that your mind is in a fragile state, and treat it as such. I would avoid any movies or even video games that are overly violent, and probably not watch anything involving serious topics, like news stories (that doesn’t sound any fun, anyway). Any really colorful visually appealing shows should be great fun.

Music is usually indescribable. Get a nice set of headphones, or a nice set of speakers, and blast whatever music you usually enjoy. You’ll find that music is far more spiritual than usual, and it may be difficult to find something you can stick with. I usually like psychedelic rock (go figure), and some choice favorites are Jimi Hendrix, Tool, Pink Floyd, Mars Volta, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, and the Smashing Pumpkins.

I would fully recommend having a “trip sitter,” someone who you trust, that will be able to keep an eye on your during the trip. Ideally this person will be an experienced tripper, with a fairly laid back attitude, who is excited to help you on your journey. It’s an amazing benefit to have someone to drive you around (something that is highly discouraged to do by yourself while you’re tripping), and generally help keep you grounded in reality. Especially on your first trip, I would suggest having a friend around to help you out. I have tripped alone, and it’s usually just not as fun as tripping with people.

While taking other drugs to supplement the experience, like cannabis, nitrous, MDMA, or DMT can be fun, I would suggest waiting until you are fairly experienced and comfortable with the psychedelics before attempting this.

The final suggestion you should take into consideration is tripping in a comfortable environment. Keep in mind that while tripping in an outdoor setting can be really fun, you’re also usually miles away from a safe place. You don’t want to have a freak out and then require a 45 minute transport to a safe area (as I once did, and wrote about on this site). As far as tripping in public areas (like concerts or movies) I would recommend against it at first, but only you will know whether or not you’re ready. Once you’re tripping you’ll be able to tell whether or not you’re a social butterfly, or you’re like me and you’d rather just sit in a fairly isolated area and jam to your favorite tunes.

Psychedelics are probably my favorite drugs, even if I don’t use them more than a fraction as much as other drugs. They’re absolutely the most intriguing activities I’ve ever been a part of, and they never cease to amaze me. Use them with discretion, don’t overdo it, and you’ll be just fine. If you have a good mindset, and a good place to trip, you should have an incredible experience that you wont soon forget.

I have 30 other shots in my collection like this one. They are all of exotic buds, and are all HI-RES! Leave a comment if you’re interested in seeing some more top notch macro budshots.

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“Fourteen states have legalized medical marijuana, beginning with California in 1996, and the District of Columbia followed suit this month. The laws allow chronically ill people to buy marijuana with permission from a doctor.

But many of these states passed their laws without working out the details. And they weren’t ready for the boom in pot shops that occurred this past year after the Obama administration announced it wouldn’t prosecute medical marijuana users.

In some places, law enforcement officials and civic leaders are complaining that there are too many marijuana dispensaries, that buyers and sellers are falling victim to robberies and break-ins, that driving-under-the-influence arrests are on the rise, and that the pot is being sold indiscriminately and winding up on the black market.”

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What are your views on the growing medical marijuana industry? Leave us a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!