tfs

How about a little food for thought on a Tuesday afternoon?

Earlier this month, England’s House of Commons Science and Technology Committee released a 179 page report titled Drug Classification: Making a Hash of It (Note: links to .PDF). The report brings up very interesting results, and will most likely have an effect on how drugs are classified in the UK.

This is a definite step in the right direction, because it applies scientific measurements of physical and social harm when devising which substances are the most dangerous to the general population. In the real world, politics play a major role in how and what are classified as the most dangerous drugs with the harshest penalties.

Hopefully, this intelligent approach to drug classification will have a trickle down effect on the United States and it’s politically fueled stance against marijuana. Another important thing to note is that Alcohol and Tobacco both place ahead of Cannabis in these scientific studies. When looking at a graph of this detail, it puts into context the dangers of un-regulated subtances (solvents, tobacco, alcohol, etc…) side by side with illegal substances.

[via The Scientific Activist]

Kiwi-Strawberry is a common flavor these days and Da Bomb Blunts has arrived with their version of this smooth combo. As expected, the scent is almost dead on target – a healthy dose of strawberry with just enough kiwi in there to balance it all out.

This level of quality does not transfer to the flavor though, because there isn’t much in the first place. Still, you will notice a hint of smoothness added to the taste. Leaf texture and rollability are all top notch, making this latest offering a good buy when looking for a complimentary blunt to a chill evening.

Smell is heavily intertwined with memory and the emotional recall of events. One thing we all know about the green is its powerful and pungent odor. As much as we all love smelling freshly burnt herb, having that smell hang around the next day isn’t too pleasant. And in some cases, for you stealth smokers out there, you need to mask the odor almost immediately. If only there was an air freshener made specifically for weed smokers!

In steps Orange Chronic – the homegrown in California, all natural air freshener. This non-aerosol based deodorizer boasts, on the label, immediate results and up to 600 sprays per bottle. tFS decided to put these claims to the test by experimenting in open rooms, closed rooms, leather cars and non-leather cars. The conclusion is that Orange Chronic is a powerful air freshener with a great citrus scent, but not the end all and be all that it’s built up to be.

In open air tests, the OC did a great job – completely removed all odors in the first 2 sprays and the smell did not linger. In closed tests, the room and non-leather car interior, you could still smell some heavy dank hiding in the air. These tougher conditions took at least 2 rounds of spraying to completely remove the aroma, and the next day, the chronic smell still lingered.

Orange Chronic is about as good as it gets when it comes to specifically tailored air fresheners, but I’m still hoping for something that delivers 100% on the removal of dank smells. Still, this is a step in the right direction, and supporting a local company that manufactures a strong product is the right way to go.

The combination of berry and brandy creates a winner out of these Juicy Jay’s papers. They measure 3″ x 1.75″ and contain 50 leaves. Just as flavorful as Peaches & Cream, these papers give off a blueberry tang on your tongue and a similar bite in your lungs.

The brandy offsets the sweetness, creating a nice blend that will stimulate all of your taste buds. Smoke-ability is generally above average with Blackberry Brandy as tFS has yet to find any with a bad batch of glue. If you’re a fan of powerful flavors, Juicy Jay’s has done you right on this one.

Juicy Jay’s Green Apple papers give you a decent smoke with some extra style. The papes are decorated with small green apples (surprise), measure 3″ x 1.75″ and come with 24 leaves. The aroma is pretty similar to summer apples and an added sweet taste make these papers true to their name. Glue quality is average, as there is always the chance of a bad batch, and the burn quality is pretty average too. Overall, this is a nice paper to use once in a while, but nothing to get excited about.

Welcome to the first installment of a re-occurring series for tFS – the Top 10. Kind of trendy? Probably, but there’s some cool shit out there and this is as good a way as any to show it all off.

This week’s Top 10 is devoted to the odd & unusual products out there. Yes, everyone knows about bongs, blunts, papers, grinders, scales and whatever else you see at the local headshop. Today, however, we’re looking at the random, unusual, eccentric and even completely useless products that are floating around the smokosphere (you heard it here first). What started out as basic products for enjoying the simple pleasure of smoking has morphed into one-offs and completely unique products that manufacturers hope will get your attention.

Seriously though, I never have and I doubt I ever will see someone shooting at the local pub with these dart flights. This is an example of creating a product for the wrong age demographic, but still, it’s nice to know they exist.

I don’t have to tell you that civil liberties are something reserved for and expected by Americans. We pride ourselves on them and that our country represents rights for the common individual, not the King, Queen, or President only.

The problem is that these liberties are slowly eroding. This is another thing I don’t have to point out. Pick up a newspaper or magazine, read the news online, or talk to some current students. Random drug tests, un-announced searches, and other supposedly protective measures are being taken more and more frequently by schools. The latest, and most troubling, doesn’t come from America but its ally overseas – England.

A British school has launched a pilot program where students as young as 11 are subjected to random drug tests – a project that has generated interest in Washington and fed a civil liberties debate on both sides of the Atlantic.

Eleven years old? Seriously? Well, at least this is only hapenning in England…

The White House drug czar says similar tests aren’t far off in the United States. “This (drug testing) is a public health measure,” Walters told The Associated Press.

Guess not. Will a line ever be drawn to regulate how young we can start testing children for drugs? Why not test infants? We can catch them when they’re young, before the pressures of 6th grade really get to the next generation.

What public and school officials don’t realize, is that bringing up this drug testing issue earlier and earlier for students puts the idea of drugs in their mind. They will become curious and want to see what all the big fucking deal is about. What are these drugs? Are they really as bad as people say they are? Maybe I’ll try for myself and find out…

As an adult, you should be able to make your own decisions about what you do and do not put in your body. As a child, you should be educated and protected by competent parents. It should be as simple as that. Anything beyond this scope, besides the obvious signs of intoxication while at school, are overstepping the boundaries of a government to police its own population.

I think it’s time to start manufacturing tFS pre-natal drug test kits…

If something has a distinct flavor, Juicy Jay’s is going to find a way to turn it into a rolling paper, and here we have a perfect example. Who can resist anything that tastes like marshmallows? In this case, we have the same issue as with the fudge papers. They smell and taste only reminiscent of marshmallow, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

These Jay’s papers match up with the rest of their kin by measuring 3″ x 1.75″ and containing 50 leaves per booklet. The burn is even, the glue is strong, and the papers have marshmallows on them. If you’re looking for something different that isn’t going to mess with the taste of your smoke, this is a nice change of pace.