CANTA ISSUE 7, 2020

Rāhina, Te tekau mā toru o Hōngongoi

CONTRIBUTORS

Samantha Mythen

Roshanah Masilamani

Liam Donnelly

Conor Jones

Asher Etherington

Lily Mirfin

Tori McNoe

Talisker Scott Hunter

Romy Gellen

Leo He

Ella Gibson

Michael Freeman

Eilidh Huggan

Nic Cain

Spanky Moore

Lewis Hoban

Emmanuel Sferios

Srishti Mukherjee

Estelle Miller

EDITORIAL

So, I drew a bit of a blank when I sat down to write this; exhausted from day three of teaching lil 6-year-olds how to ski, the night before this edition of CANTA was set to go to print. I was huddled up in a burrito of blankets in the only cosy room in my flat – the living room — with the heat pump on constantly. The background noise was Twilight and the giggles of my flatmates, all exclaiming at Bella’s thoughts on Edward — “How is she into him!?” “Oh my god, she is such a 17-year-old!” “The angst is so real, they’re such emo teens”. So, mind blank and utterly distracted, I begin watching Twilight too, hearing Edward say to Bella, “You are like my personal brand of heroin”.

Spurred on by this utterly moving and poetic love language, I Googled “drug quotes”, and subsequently found this goodie: “I bought shoes from a drug dealer ... I don’t know what he laced them with but I’ve been tripping all day”.

Now I’ve got your attention (& have hopefully made you laugh, or at least a cringy giggle), let’s talk a little bit more about drugs. This edition of CANTA is all about drugs. We’ve filled it with information and stories, working with rad people and organisations, such as the NZ Drug Foundation and Know Your Stuff. Get clued up on the upcoming cannabis referendum. Learn about the long history of music’s dance with drugs. Become informed about the numerous drugs you may encounter throughout uni. If you are choosing to be curious, the best possible thing you can do is educate yourself beforehand.

Be smart.

Stay safe.

Have fun.

Look after your mates.

Look after yourself.

Arohanui, Sam xxx

NEWS LOCKDOWN’S LEGACY

Fears have been raised over a spike in drinking and mental health issues in Aotearoa, fuelled by COVID-19-induced anxiety.

A new health and well-being survey reveals an increase in alcohol consumption for some people, and a deterioration in mental well-being in younger age groups during lockdown.

The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) survey, conducted over the course of Alert Level 4 lockdown, investigates the impact of COVID-19 on alcohol consumption and mental well-being, among other effects.

In response to the concerns, more resources are going towards a multi-agency action plan to target alcohol-driven issues.

Created in partnership with the Canterbury District Health Board, the Police, and the Christchurch City Council, the Christchurch Alcohol Action Plan (CAAP) aims to cut alcohol harm across the community.

Newly appointed CAAP co-ordinator Hayley Edgerton says that alcohol harm not only affects an individual but is also “greatly amplified by the impact on family and friends, along with the wider community”.

“While some members of the community reported a reduction in alcohol use during lockdown, according to an HPA study, one in five individuals reported increased levels of alcohol use — often with the justification that it helped them to relax or

switch off,” she says.

Fewer opportunities for socialising and reduced income are said to be some of the major contributing factors to alcohol and well-being issues.

“A sudden loss of face-to-face contact with family, friends, and co-workers, coupled with the fear of the unknown have put a lot of pressure on people.”

However, there is worry that coming out of lockdown will have further consequences.

Edgerton says that “there is real concern that these behaviours will continue or increase — especially with post-lockdown easier access to alcohol and its accepted status as a drug of choice for many”.

The HPA survey also shows that mental well-being is worst in the 18-24 age bracket group, with 60 per cent reporting at least some level of psychological distress during lockdown.

Furthermore, it says that “49 per cent have felt nervous, anxious, or on edge since lockdown”.

Almost half (48 per cent) of the survey respondents also report “a loss or reduction in income for themselves and/or a member of their household as a result of COVID-19, with [the] most impact among those aged 25-49 years (62 per cent live in households negatively impacted financially)”.

GUN VIOLENCE SURGES IN THE U.S.

On the 2nd of July, a man wakes from his slumber to hear gunshots rain from the streets. On this day, in Chicago, 15 people were shot and three were killed.

It was just two weeks ago, on Father’s Day weekend (the 21st of June), that a three-year-old was killed during a shootout. It is reported that more than 90 people were shot, with 14 fatalities across multiple incidents on that weekend. David Brown, the head of the Chicago Police Department, blames “drugs and gangs” for the incident.

During a protest over the killing of Breonna Taylor, in Louisville, Kentucky, saw one person dead and dozens injured after a gunman opened fire on the crowd of protestors on Saturday the 27th (US time). On the same day, an exemployee, Louis Lane, opened fire at the Walmart distribution centre in California, killing one person before being fatally shot by police.

This has become the new normal for the US, as gun violence becomes more frequent as the years go on. The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that in the month of June,

gun violence surged more than 40% in New York alone — making June one of America’s deadliest months.

This comes as mass protests break out over police brutality, sparked by the killing of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks, with calls to defund the police. While many state departments are debating whether to transfer funds from the police to the education and social welfare sectors, some have pushed back as they don’t see “how reducing police present will stop violent crimes”.

However, Mayor Lori Lightfoot argued that “No amount of policing, no superior crime strategy can address these private moments where adults allowed children and teens access to deadly weapons”.

Giffords Law Centre to Prevent Gun Violence argued that gun violence could not be solved by increasing police presence or arming them, as that will just increase distrust and make the public uncooperative. In turn, this will ultimately cause more harm than good.

DRUG INDEX DRUG INDEX DRUG INDEX DRUG INDEX

By: Roshanah Masilamani

This guide is intended for educational purposes only, and Canta does not encourage recreational drug use. It is important to note that no drug use is safe, but this guide hopes to provide information for those who decide to use. For those intending to use drugs, please do your own research and use with caution. If you find yourself in a bad situation on drugs, stay with a friend and call 111, or get support from the venue. Be honest with medical professionals about what you have taken, and how much, as it will make it easier for them to help you. Check out the recently launched site, High Alert (highalert.org.nz), which is a national early warning system where you can check to see if there are any known bad batches of substances going around.

DRUG: LSD

Also known as (AKA): Acid

History: Lysergic Acid Diethylamid (LSD) was first synthesized in 1938 by chemist Albert Hofmann, who was intending to produce a blood stimulant. It was synthesised from ergotamine, a chemical derived from a grain fungus that typically grows on rye. In 1943, Hofmann ingested LSD and discovered its hallucinogenic effects. Because of its similarity to a chemical present in the brain and in certain aspects of psychosis, LSD was used in experiments by psychiatrists through the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Free samples were distributed during this time, leading to widespread use. These experiments continued until the United States officially banned LSD in 1967, however it continued as a popular recreational drug, spurred by counterculture enthusiasts. In Aotearoa, LSD is illegal and classified as a Class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, although recreational use is common. Trials for micro-dosing LSD were approved last year.

What it looks like: In its pure form LSD has no colour, odour or taste. It is typically taken orally via squares of absorbent blotting paper, known as tabs. LSD can also be taken as a sugar cube or in gelatine.

Taste: Pure LSD is tasteless. Assuming you are taking a tab, it will probably taste like paper. Be wary if there is a bitter taste as this indicates that the LSD is synthetic — if in doubt, remember the phrase: “if it’s bitter, it’s a spitter”.

What to expect: LSD is a hallucinogenic drug which produces powerful psychedelic effects. An LSD trip will vary greatly from person to person; however, its main effects include altered thinking, visual hallucinations, and a distorted sense of time. You may sense and feel more and become aware of things normally filtered out by your mind — visual, auditory, sensory, and emotional.

Duration: LSD generally takes 20-60 minutes to take effect; wait at least 2 hours to feel the full effects before deciding whether to take anymore. The primary effects of LSD last between 6-8 hours. For many people, there is an additional period where you are no longer tripping but there is a noticeable difference from everyday reality and it can be difficult to sleep.

How to take SAFELY: LSD is generally accepted to be nonaddictive and relatively non-toxic. However, it is a powerful chemical and therefore should be taken with caution. LSD is active at very small quantities and a single dose of LSD can vary widely in strength. A 100-microgram dose (depends on

the batch but generally half a tab) is a good starting point if you have never taken LSD before and should provide a calm experience. For a first trip, it is advisable to have a friend act as a ‘shepherd’ or trip-sitter — someone who is sober and who can look after you during your trip. For all hallucinogens, it is about “space and place”, meaning if you are in a bad headspace or not in a safe environment, you are less likely to have a good time. Avoid using cannabis or other hallucinogens (especially if you are wanting to calm down to sleep) as it can be synergistic — which in this case is likely to be overwhelming.

Short-term effects: In the beginning stages of onset, LSD is likely to cause feelings of anticipation or anxiety. As the effects become stronger, a wide variety of perceptual changes may occur; non-specific mental and physical stimulation, pupil dilation, closed and open eye patterning and visuals, changed thought patterns, feelings of insight or confusion, and quickly changing emotions (happiness, fear, giddiness, anxiety, anger, joy, irritation).

Things to look out for: In general, the effects of LSD stop once the trip has concluded. However, some people have spoken of having long-term psycho-emotional effects. Beyond that, some have experienced significant changes in their personality and life perspective —both positive and negative.

Drug: MDMA

AKA: Ecstasy, Molly

History: Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a chemical stimulant created in 1914 by Merck, a German pharmaceutical company. However, the first recorded human ingestion of MDMA wasn’t until the 1970s when it was rediscovered by Dr Alexander Shulgin. Psychiatrists heralded MDMA as “penicillin for the soul” and a “low calorie martini”, using it to limit the psychological defences of patients. By the mid-80s, MDMA grew in popularity and was known as ecstasy, frequently sold in pills that also included amphetamine. It has since remained a staple party drug, primarily due to its effects of increased sex drive and euphoric energy. Despite little evidence of MDMA-related harm, the substance was banned by the US Drug Enforcement Agency in 1985, and Aotearoa followed suit in 1987. Evidence shows that MDMA is only mildly addictive, and to date, there have been only three MDMA-related deaths in Aotearoa.

What it looks like: MDMA comes in pill or powder form. Ecstasy powder can look like white/grey crystals. Generally,

people ingest MDMA in a capsule, though some swallow it in liquid form or snort the powder.

Taste: MDMA has a bitter and unpleasant taste, most notable when snorted or rubbed into gums.

What to expect: MDMA is chemically similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens, producing feelings of increased energy, pleasure, emotional warmth, and distorted sensory and time perception. MDMA increases the activity of three brain chemicals:

- Dopamine: produces increased energy/activity

- Norepinephrine: increases heart rate and blood pressure

- Serotonin: affects mood, appetite, sexual arousal, and other functions. The release of large amounts of serotonin likely causes the emotional closeness, elevated mood, and empathy felt by those who use MDMA

Duration: When taken orally, MDMA usually takes about 30-60 minutes to take effect; shorter if snorted. MDMA’s effects last about 3-6 hours. Effects such as fast heartbeat, anxiety, and insomnia may also be felt for a few hours after you stop feeling high.

How to take SAFELY: MDMA makes you feel like moving so there is an increased risk of overheating, exhaustion, collapsing, or dehydration — drink around 250ml of water per hour and take regular breaks to cool down to mitigate this. Avoid using MDMA if you are on anti-depressants (MAOIs or SSRIs) as they act on the same areas in the brain making the effects unpredictable and dangerous. MDMA is best taken orally, as snorting can be harmful to the nasal passage and reduces your body’s ability to get rid of the drug if you have used too much. It also results in a more intense but significantly shorter high that puts more stress on your body. Use a small amount initially if it is your first time using, and make sure you weigh it rather than visually measuring — 80-100mg is a good starting point (use less if you are below average weight). Avoid re-dosing as it is unlikely to enhance positive effects and increases the risk of neurotoxicity and feelings of a comedown. You’ll find that your jaw begins clenching; chew gum or suck on a lollypop to protect your cheeks. Wait a few weeks between using to ensure your body and brain have time to recover, including rebuilding up stores of serotonin.

Short-term effects: People generally experience feelings of energy, intensity of feelings, confidence, happiness, sexual arousal, dehydration, teeth grinding, overheating, and reduced

appetite. Most people experience these effects in waves and describe it was ‘rolling’ with the highs and lows, which level out over time. Too much MDMA can make you confused, anxious, feeling like vomiting, and even hallucinate. If you are feeling overwhelmed, let someone know, get some fresh air in a quiet space, and have a sugary (non-alcoholic) drink. Call 111 if things don’t improve or someone is losing consciousness.

Long-term effects: After use, most people experience a comedown over the next day or two, sometimes lasting a week. This comes with feelings of low energy, difficulty sleeping, feeling irritable and mildly depressed, and having difficulty concentrating and sleeping.

Drug: Cannabis

AKA: Marijuana, weed, pot, dope (too many to count)

History: Cannabis is a psychoactive drug derived from the Cannabis Sativa plant, used for both recreational and medicinal purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, however is now commonly grown throughout the world. The first recorded human use of cannabis is at least the third millennium BC, although archaeological evidence suggests it was earlier. The main psychoactive component of cannabis is THC, which acts on specific brain cell receptors and produces the high effect. Cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in Aotearoa — by the age of 21, 80% of New Zealanders have tried cannabis at least once. Currently, cannabis is criminalised for recreational use (B class for processed and C class for unprocessed), although medicinal cannabis was legalised earlier this year. New Zealanders will have the chance to vote on legalising cannabis on the 19th of September in the upcoming referendum.

What it looks like: Cannabis can be used as a dried plant, resin, or oil form. It most commonly sold and bought as small bushy green nuggets.

Taste: This will differ depending on form and strain, and it is difficult to quantify the taste —essentially, cannabis tastes like it smells.

What to expect: The potency of cannabis depends on its concentration of THC, which is higher in resin and oil than in the dried plant. Cannabis has mental and physical effects, including euphoria, altered states of mind and sense of time, difficultly concentrating, impaired short-term memory and body movement, relaxation, and an increase in appetite (munchies).

Duration: Onset of effects is felt within minutes when smoked, and about 30-90 minutes when eaten. The effects last for 2-5 hours, depending on the amount used.

How to take SAFELY: There are several ways to get high, including smoking (via a bong, joint, pipe etc.) vaping, eating, and oil. Each has its own appeal and everyone has their own preference. In general, eating or CBD oil is preferable as smoking and vaping can cause harm to your lungs. Cannabis is fairly safe and there is no risk of overdosing, but can still result in unpleasant experiences. Be cautious with your consumption as too much cannabis at once can result in the user “greening out”— causing nausea, sweats, head spins, paranoia, and sometimes vomiting. If you’re a first-time user, be aware that cannabis affects everyone differently; stay calm, avoid drinking, be around people you trust, and make sure your pantry is well-stocked for when the munchies hit.

Short-term effects: When smoked, the THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. Almost immediately, the user will begin to feel high. The effects of a cannabis high will depend on the strain; indica will cause a “body high” whilst sativa will cause a “head high”. In general, cannabis will cause feelings of relaxation, forgetfulness, hunger, creativity, happiness, confusion, and sometimes paranoia. Other effects include heighted senses, an altered sense of time, mood changes, impaired reaction time, and mild hallucinations. Many people use cannabis for pain management and attest that it reduces discomfort, particularly for menstrual cramps. Physically, cannabis can affect body movement and cause bloodshot eyes.

Long-term effects: In general, cannabis does not have lasting effects. If you are an occasional user, then you may feel mentally foggy the next day, however will likely have no notable long-term effects. For regular/daily use, however, there is increased mental and physical risk. In particular, regular use of cannabis has been shown to cause long-term harm to the user’s lungs (if smoking), mental capacity, and mental health, among other things. This is exacerbated by sustained use during youth — when people begin using cannabis regularly as teenagers, the drug may impair thinking, memory, and learning functions long-term. In saying this, cannabis research has been historically underfunded (or funded by anti-cannabis lobby groups) so the effects of cannabis are still uncertain.

Drug: Magic Mushrooms

AKA: Shrooms, mushies

History: Magic mushrooms are wild or cultivated

mushrooms that contain psilocybin, a naturallyoccurring psychoactive and hallucinogenic compound. Psilocybin is considered one of the most well-known psychedelics, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations. Studies have shown that when used in controlled settings, psilocybin can act as an antidepressant, however these studies are ongoing and therefore should be treated with caution. As well as depression, psilocybin is being studied as a treatment for migraines and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In Aotearoa, magic mushrooms are illegal and classified as a Class A drug, however are still used widely for recreational use.

What it looks like: Magic mushrooms are fungus, and grow naturally on the land like other mushrooms. It is therefore important to ensure you are picking the correct mushrooms — do your research properly first if picking your own. Magic mushrooms are often dried and eaten by being mixed into food or drinks (such as tea), although some people eat freshly picked magic mushrooms.

Taste: Pretty much like regular mushrooms, only not delicious.

What to expect: Magic mushrooms are hallucinogenic drugs, meaning they can cause you to see, hear, and feel sensations that seem real but are not. The effects of magic mushrooms are highly variable and are often influenced by environmental factors, such as where you are, who you are with, and your current mental state.

Duration: The effects take 20-40 minutes to begin and can last up to 6 hours — the same amount of time it takes for psilocin to be metabolized and excreted.

How to take SAFELY: Many poisonous mushrooms look similar to magic mushrooms, which makes it easy for pickers to mistakenly ingest non-magic shrooms. People have fallen severely ill or even died from this, so only consume magic mushrooms that have been verified as non-poisonous. While magic mushrooms are often sought out for a peaceful high, shrooms have been reported to induce anxiety, frightening hallucinations, paranoia, and confusion in some. As such, it is recommended first-time users have a friend act as a shepherd during the trip, and avoid using anything else at the same time. As with all hallucinogens, be aware of your surroundings and don’t use near cliffs, water, or other dangerous settings.

Short-term effects: Magic mushrooms can cause euphoria, energy, introspective experience, nervousness, excitement, and a closer connection to the environment. Due to the intensity of the high, many users may feel overwhelmed or

paranoid, however this will ebb and flow throughout the trip. The physical effects can include dilated pupils, drowsiness, headaches, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and nausea. Mental effects include distorted sense of time, place and reality, hallucinations (visual and/or auditory), have introspective experiences, paranoia, and psychosis.

Long-term effects: More research is required on magic mushrooms, and there is no current evidence that suggest they have long-term effects. However, some users report lasting personality changes, both positive and negative, as well as “shrooms flashbacks” long after the trip.

Drug: Amphetamine/ Methylphenidate (for example: Ritalin)

History: Ritalin is a prescription medicine that comes as either tablet pills or capsules. It is a stimulant drug designed to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Ritalin is a prescription-only medication in Aotearoa, and it is illegal to possess or use without a prescription. Ritalin was first made in 1944 and was approved for medical use in the United States in 1955, where it remains one of the most commonly prescribed medications. On a broad potency scale of nervous system stimulants, Ritalin falls somewhere between caffeine and amphetamines. In recent years, Ritalin has been misused for non-prescription use, such as a study stimulant and as a recreational party drug.

What it looks like: Ritalin comes in small pills, about the size and shape of aspirin tablets.

Taste: It has a bitter taste.

What to expect: As a stimulant drug, Ritalin can make you feel very ‘up’, awake, excited, and energised, but they can also make you feel agitated and aggressive. Within the first hour of consumption, users will begin to feel alert and energised, with heightened senses (auditory, smell, visual). When taken with alcohol, Ritalin has a similar effect to MDMA or other party drugs.

Duration: Ritalin comes in both immediate release and extended release, and takes around 20-30 minutes to come into effect. The effects of Ritalin last about 3-6 hours, depending on the dosage.

How to take SAFELY: When taken as intended, and under supervision of the prescribing physician, Ritalin is generally viewed as safe. If intending to take recreationally, be mindful of dosage and regularity of use. Stay hydrated and remember to eat throughout usage, as Ritalin is an appetite suppressant.

Short-term effects: The primary effects of Ritalin are increased alertness and activity, feelings of euphoria, and talkativeness. Physically, it can cause altered heart rate, chest pain, headache, raised or lowered blood pressure, and nausea. Ritalin typically suppresses the appetite, and can also cause you to feel agitated, panicky and cause insomnia and a psychotic episode (this is a mental state when you can see or hear things which aren’t there and can have delusions), which can lead you to put your own safety at risk.

Long-term effects: Taking high doses of un-prescribed Ritalin can give rise to a number of negative effects, including mood and personality changes, and patterns of abuse, tolerance, and addiction.

Your time starts, now!

By Asher Etherington

So, 69 days until the sun sets on September 19th and you’ll have all cast your votes in the 2020 General Election and the accompanying referenda. Nice. Hopefully you spent those 69 days doing your best to lobby your flatmates, friends, family, Tinder hook-ups, begrudging co-workers, Uber/Ola drivers, checkout assistants, random passers-by and professors, because those wanting to change NZ’s archaic drug laws cannot sleep on this issue.

There is no single, well-organised, and coordinated YES campaign. The YES lobby is made up of various disparate organisations with varying slickness and reach — such as Norml NZ, Make It Legal NZ, NZ Drug Foundation, YES2020, The ALCP (you should follow them all) — and of these, really only the NZ Drug Foundation has mainstream media credibility and reach. It’s for this reason that it is vital for all those who want the law to change to get shit done. I suggest you start by scoping out your communities for:

A) Sympathetic though apathetic folks who have not enrolled to vote. Get them to enrol!

B) People who don’t know that you use cannabis, who may vote NO, but who you reckon upon learning of your vice may regard the YES option more warmly. “Hey, mum, you know how I’ve nearly completed my degree, have fulfilling relationships with my peers, and am in good health? Well, you should know that I occasionally use cannabis, and that under the current law that makes me a criminal.” NOTE: this one works better if you actually have your shit together and are not a stereotypical stoner. I love you guys, but the nay-sayers do not. Stereotypes, please focus on getting your unenrolled work-mates to enrol and vote!

C) People who are open to learning about the issue and have not made up their minds, or who are thinking of voting NO because they think that will protect young people from using cannabis. Engage with these people and bring them the facts (you can refer to the interview with Professor Boden for such things)!

D) Lost causes. Don’t waste time on folks who have their blinders securely bolted up, who would never vote YES. Such discussions, at least for me, often end up in the awkward position where I realise they would happily lock me up for possessing a plant. These people are a tyrannical minority who ought not to have time wasted on them.

SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER:

The referendum is not asking people whether cannabis is good or whether people should use cannabis, but merely, in our current situation where 80% of adults have tried cannabis, whether we should try our best to control its use (R20, licensed sellers, regulated products, a focus on health).

Currently, under prohibition, record numbers of people use cannabis. It looks to me like prohibition has failed to deliver on the one job it had.

Cannabis use in young people tends to decrease where it has been legalised overseas, and tends to increase in the boomer demographic.

You can buy a lethal dose of alcohol at 18 for $30 nearly anywhere in the country. You cannot physically consume a lethal dose of cannabis, short of choking on it.

Half of you are proof you can get blazed frequently and still get through uni.

Most people who are thinking of voting against the referendum believe that legalised cannabis will result in worse outcomes for people, particularly the young. They are not insane or evil, they just have the facts wrong.

I’m not sure what else to say other than God-speed and go get ‘em!

- Getting medical help after using illicit substances will lead to you being arrested.

- Cannabis does not affect your ability to drive safely.

FACT

False – St John does not arrest people. To quote Sue Gullery, Clinical Manager at St John NZ, “We don’t treat [overdoses] as a potential crime; we treat them as a supposed poisoning. We would only involve police — and this is across the board — if there was a suggestion of a crime taking place or that our safety or that of any individual was at risk.”

MYTH MYTH

- You can tell what a drug is by looking at it.

False – Really? Are you high or something? Being stoned absolutely affects your reaction time, your propensity to be distracted, your depth perception, and your decision-making. While driving drunk may be worse, driving high is also unacceptable and dangerous.

DRUG

False — The only way to know exactly what’s in a drug you intend to take is to use various test kits to pin-point what the substance is. Know Your Stuff is operating a drop-in testing station on the 15th of July at The XCHC, so say ‘Know’ and test your shit.

MYTH

- You can drink alcohol on MDMA and be fine — great, in fact.

MYTH FACT FACT FACT

False — Your liver will be stressed by trying to metabolise ethanol as well as MDMA. While the MDMA is stimulating you, your drinks are depressing you. This means you spend more on your substances while experiencing less of the positive effects of each while being at an increased risk of experiencing the negative side effects of both and from their competition within your liver.

Further reading

Websites:

DanceSafe.org

KnowYourStuff.nz

DrugFoundation.org.nz

TripSit.me

Erowid.org

GlobalDrugSurvey.com

Podcasts

Drug Positive

YouTube

PsychedSubstance

Your Mate Tom

MYTHS

MYTH

As soon as you consume an addictive substance you will become addicted.

FACT

False — Addiction is not simply a chemical reaction which occurs in your brain. Addiction is reliant on the formation of patterns of behaviour associated with the pharmacology of a drug. While heroin is the most addictive substance on earth, the majority of adults who try it do not become addicted, with 1 in 4 developing an addiction.

- Snorting lines is no more dangerous than oral ingestion.

False — When you insufflate drugs you risk damaging the sensitive mucous-membranes in your nose. Your stomach, by comparison, is more robust. Further, snorted drugs enter your bloodstream immediately, which exposes you to the harmful effects of any adulterants which might enter your blood alongside the drug you intend to take. Oral ingestion on the other hand will direct your drugs to your liver first, before your bloodstream, giving it the opportunity to intercept any harmful substances before they can hit your brain or your other organs.

MYTH

- Smoking cannabis with tobacco gets you higher.

FACT

MYTH MYTH

False — You like smoking chop because you like nicotine. You should consider healthier ways to manage your nicotine addiction.

Recreational drugs can cure your chronic illnesses.

FACT FACT

False — While recreational drug use can be done positively, many claims about disease being a product of a disordered mind/misaligned chakras have entered the fringes of drug-popularising communities. There is no evidence that tripping and getting stoned every weekend can cure myriad chronic conditions, nor any mechanism for how they could. Cannabis can be helpful for pain management and specific conditions (though accurate cannabinoid content information is vital for such application), and psychedelics, MDMA, and ketamine have shown exceptional promise in mental health interventions and end-of-life care, but crucially these effects are seen under clinical conditions with the application of trained psychotherapists. Mind-altering substances can absolutely change lives for the best, but they are not cure-alls and must be approached with a sense of caution and respect.

Cannabis Regulation & Public Health

by Make It Legal Canterbury

Joe is the Director of the Christchurch Health and Development Study. He trained as an experimental social psychologist and worked in the US, UK, and Australia, before coming to New Zealand. He was awarded a Gold Medal for Research Excellence in 2017, and has been appointed by the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor to the Expert Panel on Cannabis. ‘Make It Legal Canterbury’ were fortunate enough to score an interview with him.

Hi Joe, thank you for sitting down to talk with us today. Recently you wrote an article on cannabis research collected as a part of the Christchurch and Dunedin Longitudinal Study. Can you tell us a bit about the findings of that research, and why it led you to support legal regulation?

The focus of the paper was to talk about research methodology involved in longitudinal studies, to show that these results are generally more reliable. Because we collect repeated data at regular intervals, we’ve collected a great deal of data on the childhood and adolescent factors which may have affected these individuals in their life course pathways, and we’re able to use the data to build causal models of cannabisrelated harm. We’ve published a number of studies about the mental health effects of cannabis use; with increased risk of depression, psychotic symptomatology, suicidal behaviour, but also cannabis dependance, and the social harms such as Amotivational syndrome where people are less likely to get a degree and more likely to experience periods of unemployment, if they’re younger and heavier users of cannabis. We wanted to convey to the public about the robustness of this research, but

also to give them an idea of how much of this research has come out of a New Zealand context.

So, despite those harms you still see legal regulation as the right step to take? Or a better way to manage those problems?

Yes that’s correct, that’s exactly correct. All of the harms we’ve observed are in the context of cannabis being prohibited. Firstly, we’ve found that 80% of the cohort had used cannabis, so clearly the effect of the prohobition law doesn’t stop people accessing the drug. We also found that, of people who had been arrested or convicted of a cannabis offence, 95% didn’t reduce their cannabis use levels, and some actually increased use. This means that having the force of the law applied to you does not actually stop you being involved in it. Thirdly, we found that Māori cohort members were three times more likely to be arrested or convicted of a cannabis offence, which means that the law is being applied in a racially-biased way. Those three things show a law which is not fit for purpose, is not discouraging cannabis use, is not deterring people who get involved in the justice system, and we have racial bias in policing and court proceedings. Clearly this is not the approach to make. Furthermore, a barrier to treatment is the stigma surrounding the illegal nature of cannabis, which makes it difficult for people to access treatment for cannabis dependence or other related problems.

Do you think the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill will address these issues, or some of these issues which have been raised in your research?

I think it’s an excellent start. There are certainly aspects which need to be treated, but myself and a number of other public health researchers have been involved in consultation with the Ministry of Justice in the development of this Bill and much of what we’ve suggested has been put in. I think one of the key aspects of it is the R20 age. There are arguments around that age limit, but we’ve been arguing that younger use is associated with poorer outcomes, and if you’re able to control the access to cannabis for younger people, as we’ve done successfully with access to tobacco, then you’re really going to reduce a lot of these harms at the population level.

Could you talk to us about the links between cannabis and mental illness? Will we see a big increase in mental illness, assuming the referendum passes and the law is changed?

That’s assuming that the law change would cause more people to use cannabis and in a harmful way. I don’t think that’s true for several reasons. We know that cannabis is not a good lifestyle-drug, meaning it’s not a thing that you can be using

all the time and still carry out your daily activities without interruption. In no place in the world have we observed, where cannabis has been either decriminalised or legalised, that there has been huge increases in use. Use is relatively stable and where it does increase tends to be in older age groups with people who had used cannabis previously in life but stopped, maybe because of their work commitments or their family. When it’s legalised they feel able to do it again and remember how much they enjoyed it. This group is less vulnerable and therefore increased use is low risk. Those who are higher risk and more vulnerable are young people with developing brains that we really would want to keep away from this.

Sure, that makes sense. What then do you think the impact of changing the law will be on our health system?

I don’t see how there would be much of an impact at all. There may be some improved outcomes for that relatively small group of people who are regular cannabis users, because they may feel more inclined to perhaps get treatment for cannabis dependance, or they may wish to get treatment for any lung issues for example, because they feel more comfortable speaking to their doctor about it. I wouldn’t expect there to be any real increase in terms of rates of admission to psychiatric wards or any explosion of health issues. It’s worth noting that over the long period where THC content was increasing, we didn’t see a contemporaneous increase in mental health problems.

I tend to agree with you there. I think the narrative around cannabis and the problems which people may have with it could shift quite a lot in a legal environment, where people do feel much more open about getting support if they need it.

One of the biggest problems in this area, and with any illicit drug but particularly cannabis because it’s so commonly used, is the stigmatisation of people who use drugs for what we call recreational purposes, and I see legalising cannabis as a step toward removing that stigma.

Much has been made about the 15% potency limit that’s a part of the Bill. Do you think the government has got the number right there?

Roughly correct I’d say. As I understand it, this is going to be open to debate and submissions around this issue if the referendum passes, and it may be adjusted. What we would advise the Ministry of Justice, and have done, is not to revise it to be too low. For example, the allowed THC limit for government-provided cannabis in Uruguay is, I believe, 10%, which is not satisfactory for many people who like to use

cannabis because that’s too weak. They’re used to a much more potent product, so, in order to satisfy the goal of taking this illicit market and not growing it, but moving it over to the licit sphere, then you have to provide them with a product which will be acceptable to them.

Some people ask us on our Facebook page, “why does the Government want to legalise cannabis when they also want to be smoke-free by 2025?” What do you say to those people, or that point?

Well it’s worth keeping in mind that smoke-free 2025 is an aspirational goal, and there’s never the assumption that we will be completely non-tobacco consuming by 2025 (5 years from now) and it will definitely not be the case that the government is going to be banning tobacco. What we’re trying to do is discourage the smoking of tobacco, and of course it does seem a little bit counterintuitive that we will have another product on the market to smoke, however, it doesn’t feature in the Bill at the moment but there is allowance for other products, like the vaporising of cannabis flower. Also there’s the development of edible products that will be both acceptable to the marketplace and well-developed and well-tolerated, and something that people would like to buy. Moving away from actually inhaling very hot smoke into your lungs, and trying alternative means of delivery.

A legal market surely means better education for people around those different delivery methods and their harms as well. We don’t really talk about those at the moment do we?

Exactly, and you see for example in the US where cannabis shops have opened and have been required to provide advice and education around these things, that this is a major aspect of this; trying to get people away from smoking, into the smoke-free side of cannabis consumption.

What should we expect in regards to young people using cannabis if it becomes legal?

Well, again, the goal is moving the illicit-market to the licitmarket, and for example, in one year Canada managed to move half of their market from the black-market to the licitmarket, and in Colorado it took about 5 years to move 80% of the market over, so it’s gradual but it means that over time you will have most suppliers of cannabis in the country being actual retail outlets where ID is required for purchase, where they won’t be serving intoxicated people, they won’t be serving alcohol or other drugs. A much safer experience with ID means that underage people have these barriers placed in

front of them. If they’re not 20-years-old it’ll be that much harder to buy cannabis. It’s worth noting, in Canada in 2018, the statistics showed that for the age group 15 to 17, about 19% reported using cannabis in that past year. For 2019 that age group dropped to 10%, which could reflect the movement of a large segment of the market into the licit sphere where they’re not allowed to buy it.

The Bill sets a limit of 14g per day that people can buy. Do you think that that’s the right amount?

I think it is, because it’s likely that a lot of people who are going to want access to legal cannabis live in places where they will have to drive some distance to get it. You might imagine that certain localities are not going to either have the resources to, or may decide not to have a cannabis retail outlet in their town or region or area. They’ll likely be concentrated in the major centres, plus some of the outlying centres, so you can imagine that with no mail order there’s going to be a number of people who will have to drive some distance, and would probably really only want to do that fairly infrequently, so I think it’s a good trade-off in terms of access for people who are remote. I don’t think it will be terribly abused that much in cities where people will have good access to shops, as they will here in Christchurch, because 14g is actually still quite a large amount of cannabis, and if you’re using that much in one day you should probably see your GP.

What issues surrounding the referendum and the Bill do you think people are not really talking about. Is there anything that you would like to see discussed more in the lead up to the referendum?

Well I think it’s really important, and the Helen Clark Foundation has emphasised this point, that, irrespective of how you feel personally about cannabis, on the 18th of September people will be using cannabis. On the 20th of September (the day after the referendum) people will be using cannabis, irrespective of what happens. It’s not about whether you think people should use cannabis, because they’re going to, irrespective of how you vote. So it’s not a vote about whether we should use it, it’s about whether we should address the reality of cannabis use. It’s here to stay, and people are going to use it. Do we give people a better alternative that keeps them out of the justice system, is safer, and will protect children?

Psychedelic Therapy & Your Brain

by Estelle Miller

We are in the midst of a mental health crisis. One in five New Zealanders will experience mental illness or significant mental distress at some point in their life. Prescriptions for antidepressants have nearly doubled in England over the past decade. Suicide rates are heartbreakingly high — a 2018 report estimates around 20,000 New Zealanders attempt to kill themselves each year. Billions of dollars have been pledged toward treatment options that are only sometimes successful, and not generalisable to the wide range of mental illnesses that exist. However, recent research investigating the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicines has shown significant promise towards lessening this crisis.

You might think “Psychedelics? Why would illegal substances that have been around for so long be useful for treating mental illnesses?”. Well, research into these compounds actually began in the 1950s and 60s at which time hundreds of scientific papers were published demonstrating the potential benefits of psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”), LSD (“acid”), and mescaline, in depressive, anxious, obsessive, and addictive disorders. Unfortunately, research came to a halt in 1967 as a result of widespread and misguided recreational use, which led to the criminalisation of these compounds under schedule I of the UN Convention on Drugs. Only recently has psychiatry seen a resurgence in the interest and use of these compounds in mental health treatment, in what has been aptly called the ‘psychedelic renaissance’. Studies are increasingly being sanctioned by governments across the world, in addition to psychedelic research centres (that have recently opened up in places such as the UK—Imperial College, London—and the US—Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore).

Current Research

Research in the 2010’s has primarily focused on treating alcohol addiction, depression, and death-related anxiety in terminally ill cancer patients, using double-blind randomised controlled trials. For example, a particular study in which psilocybin was administered to patients with life threatening cancer found that 82% of its participants reported increased life satisfaction or well-being up to six months post treatment. Patients also reported that the experience helped them come to terms with their own mortality. Another study looking at psilocybin therapy to treat alcoholism found that relative to baseline, participants’ percentage of heavy drinking days substantially decreased, and this was sustained at least 36 weeks post-treatment. A recent literature review found positive and enduring effects of psychedelic therapy on depression measures across several different studies. Interestingly, the more mystical a participant’s experience is rated appears to correlate with reduction in depression at 6-month follow up. Further, even in healthy patients, psilocybin and LSD treatments have been shown to increase general well-being.

Researchers at Imperial College London have recently completed a trial comparing traditional depression treatments (SSRIs) to psilocybin therapy, and are in the process of writing up the results. Although they can’t give much away yet, the study’s leading researcher has said that “preliminary analysis indicates game-changing results”. In the future, researchers are geared up (excuse the pun) to next look at how psychedelics might help those with anorexia, Alzheimer’s, OCD, PTSD, and smoking addiction.

How Do They Work?

Basically, the structure of psychedelic molecules tends to resemble the structure of the serotonin molecule — a key hormone involved in regulating the emotional processes of our brain. Because of this, psychedelic molecules bind to serotonin receptors within the brain, primarily the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) found in the cortex (i.e., the “thinking” part of the brain). This receptor is thought to be involved in brain plasticity, learning, unlearning, and change. By interfering with this receptor, psychedelic molecules cause a disruption of one’s usual neural processes with many downstream effects. An area that is significantly affected is the default mode network (DMN) which is thought to be the seat of one’s “self”, which might be overactive in mental illnesses such as depression. It is hypothesised that when psychedelics disrupt the DMN, rigid thoughts and behaviours attached to mental illnesses like depression can dissolve. Robin Carhart-Harris, head of Imperial College’s Centre for Psychedelic Research, captures this nicely in his entropic brain theory. Robin theorises that psychedelics dysregulate cortical activity, which can be thought of as increasing entropy (randomness/disorder). This leads to a collapse of normally highly organised activity in the DMN, and a revision of previously entrenched beliefs and destructive thought patterns. A helpful analogy is to think of the brain as metal, and that increasing entropy through psychedelic use is like increasing the temperature of the metal, which results in greater malleability. This malleability sets newly formed patterns in place, which remain when entropy decreases and the metal cools.

Psychedelics work in a different way to classic depression and anxiety medication, by encouraging “active coping” in the user, radically revising their beliefs, revisiting and reintegrating past trauma, dealing with stress, and the like. On the other hand, drugs such as SSRIs promote “passive coping” in the user, by muting and tolerating negative feelings, rather than dealing directly with them. This is not to say SSRIs and other medications do not have their place in mental health treatment, but when someone does not benefit from them, psychedelic therapy might be a viable alternative.

New Zealand Research

In New Zealand, a trial was recently completed looking at the effect of ketamine on depression, which found that most of the volunteers’ symptoms of depression fell by 50 percent or more within a day of the session. A trial has recently been approved to look at the potential benefits of micro-dosing LSD (giving people a subperceptual dose of LSD). All of this research is being led at Auckland University by Dr Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, who played an important role in some ground-breaking psychedelic brain imaging studies at Imperial College in London. Muthukumaraswamy comments

on micro-dosing, “At the moment there’s not a lot of rigorous scientific study of this, in fact, is really no rigorous scientific studies”. One purpose of the micro-dosing study is therefore to ascertain if this practice leads to long-term positive effects, as many have claimed. All psychedelic drugs are currently illegal in New Zealand, with harsh penalties for possession, use, and cultivation. However, Muthukumaraswamy states that the micro-dosing trail was approved because, “in New Zealand, you’re allowed to prescribe schedule A drugs to people,” provided the prescription is tightly controlled. Indeed, this is no small undertaking for volunteers of this study — “We’re going to be prodding them and probing them, making them do tasks, sticking electrodes all over them and putting them in scanners. We’ll be studying them for three months and they’ll have to come into our lab for pretty much five full days,” Muthukumaraswamy says.

As an ardent psychology nerd, the psychedelic renaissance is both fascinating and very exciting, as psychedelics could hold the potential to hinder the path of ever-growing mental health crisis, as well as shine a light on the neurobiological basis of consciousness, the unconscious, and the self. Given how promising current research has been, the next few decades may bring a wealth of innovative discoveries for psychedelic therapy, applicable to mental health crises in New Zealand and across the world. I hope history has taught us a valuable lesson about the censorship of scientific research that will not result in the same mistakes of the 60s being repeated.

DISCLAIMER: it is important to stress that the above findings were obtained under well-controlled and supportive therapeutic settings. Participants are heavily screened before partaking, and meet with therapists before, during, and after the experience to foster trust and integration. As such, it may not be wise to take a psychedelic drug yourself outside of a therapeutic setting and expect that your mental illness will be cured. Psychedelics carry significant legal and psychological risk when used improperly, so it is essential that research on the safe use of these substances continues.

If you are interested in following this research and/or learning more about it, here are some resources:

Imperial College Centre for Psychedelic Research - https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ psychedelic-research-centre/ Johns Hopkins Centre for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research - https:// hopkinspsychedelic.org/ Heffter Research Institute - https://www.heffter.org/study-publications/ The Beckley Foundation - https://beckleyfoundation.org/ Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) - https://maps.org/ Entheos Foundation (New Zealand based) - https://entheos.org.nz/ Book: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence by Michael Pollan, 2018.

Thanks to Asher Soryl for his contributions to this article.

The Psychedelic Renaissance

by Ella Gibson

“Turn on, tune in and drop out” said the late Timothy Leary; epitomising a countercultural wave that catapulted psychedelic use ultimately into prohibition. Albert Hoffman first discovered the psychedelic properties of Lysergic acid dimethylamide (LSD) in 1943 and quickly introduced the drug for the sole purpose of clinical use to the USA. Early research was done in pursuit of aiding alcoholics, facilitating psychotherapy and enhancing creativity for elite artists that pined for a resurgence of their creative juices. Yet the usage of this psychedelic did not stop within the clinical realm as they seeped into general populace. This is where most people would associate psychedelic use with; the hippie era, which popularised the prevalence of peace and love, The Beatles, and Woodstock. That era was unfortunately drawn to a halt due to protest against populace use. Research funding eventually ceased in 1980. The 20th century ended with only a handful of authorised researchers with limited outlooks for the drug’s potential. Many thought that that was the sole resolution for psychedelics; that their presence was left behind in the 20th century, defining an alt-civilisation and nothing beyond that.

In 2014, Rick Dobson, an American psychologist restored optimism in the clinical capability of LSD. Evidence in this 2014 study was presented showing that LSD can have therapeutic benefits in treating anxiety. Dobson described this as “a proof of concept” in pursuit of breaking “these substances out of the mould of the counterculture and bringing them back to the lab as a part of a psychedelic renaissance”, hence this article’s title. What may shock people the most is that a study of how LSD micro-dosing (the action of taking very small amounts of the drug) can aid depression and addiction treatment has just been given the green light at the University of Auckland. It happens to mark one of the world’s first extensive studies on this topic. How has this drug been able to stand the test of time after such extensive scrutiny and return with a new brashness to relieve future generations? The war on drugs, the hippie movement, cultural influences and the drug’s position today contribute to this query.

A psychedelic drug is a drug in which their primary effect is to

trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness and psychedelic experiences. Drugs such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline, and DMT are classified as psychedelic. What is striking is that most people would rarely associate these substances as potential remedies to aid mental illnesses. This is ironic given the original deemed purpose for LSD. As mentioned before, recreational use of these drugs endorsed the hippie movement. A movement with the sole motivation of peace and love in a time of quite the contrary. The Vietnam War sent troops from the USA to endure acts that definitely do not fall under a peaceful category. The powerful effects that could be encountered through the taking of a psychedelic drug were cultivated greatly in this hippie counterculture. Transcendent experiences on LSD and other psychedelics shaped alternative pathways of thought in how the world should be ordered. Therefore, the taking of the drug revolutionised the hippie message to a dimension beyond the known reality. By turning on, tuning in and dropping out, as Timothy Leary would often refer to the LSD consumption as, one could access an entirely new floor of consciousness.

Rather than passively accepting the violence enacted by authorities, the hippie movement combined with enlightening psychedelic experience, protested brutality. Influential personalities such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd,

and the Grateful Dead shared their advocacy through their musical cultural expression. Their sound illustrates how LSD could transform their art. When The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967, the third track Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds has been commonly perceived as a disguised title for LSD. This seemingly calm hippie movement encountered an abundance of criticism. Reasons of drug addiction, the end of the Vietnam War, and the maturing of the hippie population are some of the many incentives that contributed to the decline of the prominent hippie culture. The criminalisation of LSD in 1970 as a result of its explosive use led it to become a schedule 1 illegal drug in the USA. In New Zealand, LSD has been classified as a Class A drug since 1967 under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Because of the common association between psychedelics and the hippie culture (fundamentally a movement of government revolt), funding towards clinical use spiralled out almost entirely in 1980. The fact that President Richard Nixon considered Timothy Leary as “the most dangerous man in America” at the peak of the hippie counterculture did not help its preservation. Was this the end for psychedelic research?

The renaissance of psychedelic research has always been in the works of psychopharmacology (the scientific study of the effects of drugs on the mind and behaviour) ever since its legal constraint. But just recently has it surfaced to a societal awareness. LSD has forever undertaken rises and falls of its presence, both recreationally and clinically. However, today we are standing upon a peak of its clinical prevalence. After 35 years, 2009 observed the first clinical LSD human experiments at MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). Statistically, findings showed that LSD created significant reductions in anxiety after two LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions. This presents scientific fields with a new promising sense of hope for its clinical development.

Yet it is common to wonder whether societal perception could deter its practice. As many people reach a conclusion that psychedelics may benefit psychopharmacology and other areas, there still remains a lot of doubt and controversy. History suggests that permitting psychedelics in clinical practice may result in chaos. But this new wave of promising prospects and studies suggest alternative outcomes. Outcomes that could virtually save society from the mental illness crisis are attractive and cutting edge. Will drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, and anxiety be alleviated by psychedelic medication? Could psychedelics like LSD be the psychological commodity that will cure people from psychological trauma? Will we see an uproar in another hippie counterculture? Only time will tell, but psychedelic research has internationally inflated and it should call for a means of real excitement.

Disclaimer: Do not feel that from these findings that you should partake in your own psychological studies, as these have been obtained through professional clinical environments.

CENTREFOLD

CENTREFOLD

ARTWORK BYSrishti Mukherjee

The Drug User’s Manifesto

Drug users, listen to the podcast “Drug Positive”.

by Asher Etherington & Emmanuel Sferios

How many of you have heard of DanceSafe? Well, they’re the organisation supplying the reagent testing kits which Know Your Stuff use to test your pills and powders whenever they set up (and I hear there’s a drop-in coming up soon on 15 July).

DanceSafe is an OG drug harm-reduction organisation, founded in 1998 in San Francisco by Emanuel Sferios, before its chapters spread throughout the US and Canada. Two years ago, Sferios started a podcast called Drug Positive, which contains some of the most compelling and accessible drug “risk reduction and benefit enhancing” information I’ve consumed.

Below are some excerpts from the debut episode “The Drug User’s Manifesto”, calling drug-users to arms to focus on drugpositivity and the elimination of harmful stigma. I think it perfectly encapsulates a vision many of us share.

The Drug User’s Manifesto

From time immemorial, in every tribe and civilisation on Earth, our human ancestors drank the spirits of fermented fruit, consumed the colourful visions of sacred herbs and mushrooms, chewed the leaves of stimulating plants and shrubs, and sipped the somniferous sap of the opium poppy. Indeed, human consciousness has evolved for more than 200,000 years in direct relationship to plants, the empathy and compassion we feel towards others, our awareness of the divine and the transcendent love that permeates and in-dwells all manifestation, our intelligence and the network of neurons in our brains containing receptors for hundreds of naturally

occurring compounds. All these bind us inseparably to what we today refer to as psychoactive drugs. Yet, something has gone wrong.

An empire of ignorance has emerged on the planet, founded on materialism and greed, and in less than 100 years, has banned nearly every healing and celebratory substance we use; denying us our natural birth-right, the ability to commune and evolve with nature, and with ourselves. Only Alcohol, Tobacco, and the coffee bean have managed to survive this onslaught, perhaps because they allow us just enough stimulation and escape to deal with the drudgery and stress of our overworked lives. Yet the demand — indeed, the necessity — of drugs in our lives has meant their so-called “war” is a failure. 100 years later, and all our ancient medicines and many new ones are still among us.

Prohibition cannot stop the spread of drugs — it never will. But it has dispossessed many of us from the communal rituals with which we once partook of them, moderately and with intention. Indeed, the misuse and abuse of drugs has risen dramatically under prohibition; as a result of the isolation, shame, and stigma it engenders. Prohibition also means that now we are forced to risk our lives to obtain drugs, we risk our lives to criminal gangs and cartels. We risk our lives and freedom to ignorant police and prosecutors and politicians, who use drug prohibition to imprison their political enemies and the minorities they fear.

Around the world, our communities are besieged by drug gangs and cartels, as well as the authorities designated to fight them.

Both sides feeding off each other in a corrupt system where there are no good-guys or bad-guys — just victims of this needless, fabricated war. And we risk our lives to adulterated, unregulated drug-markets. From fentanyl to levamisole to PMA; over 60,000 of us (USA) die each year from the poisons added to the drug supply by profit-seeking criminals, and the corrupt government officials who protect them. We must rise up and end this catastrophe of prohibition.

We are drug users. We are everywhere. We are your children, your parents, your doctors, your teachers. We have a right to alter our consciousness. We have a right to be free from unregulated, poisoned drug markets. We have a right to be free from the criminal violence inflicted upon us. If we or our children get into trouble with drugs, we have a right to compassion and respect. We are not criminals. We do not deserve to be in prison for using drugs. We know the so-called “war on drugs” is a political ruse, maintained to uphold the power and profits of the few. It does not protect us. It does not protect our children. We demand drug policies based on science and public health. We demand decriminalisation and legal regulation. We demand an end to the drug war. We demand an end to prohibition. We demand this and we will not stop until we win.

Emanuel Sferios on drug-positivity

So, what do I mean by “Drug Positive”? Well, the name Drug Positive is based on the name “Sex Positive”. The sex positive movement is really a harm reduction or risk reduction movement that embraces positive sexuality; from issues like STI prevention, to the all-important consent. It’s about creating a healthy, responsible culture around sex. And so, what we want to do is do the same thing for drugs. Drug use, like sex, can be very fun and very positive. Negative stuff does happen, and we’re trying to reduce that obviously, but to do that successfully we have to first and foremost acknowledge and promote the positive side. Have fun, be responsible, be respectful, be safe, have clear intentions. What do you want from a given drug?

How can you maximize the benefits and reduce the potential risks? It all goes hand in hand.

You know, if we go back to the AIDS crisis of the 80s — and I was a teenager back then, and had friends who died, like many people — you can trace the beginnings of what’s called “social marketing”. Social marketing is like regular marketing, but instead of trying to get a population to buy your product, you’re trying to get them to change their behaviours for the social good, say, for public health. And it began with the AIDS crisis, really, when the gay community realised that to stop the spread of HIV, they needed to get people to start using condoms. But to do that, they realised you can’t just use scare tactics. You can’t just say “use a condom or you might die from AIDS!”. You have to use real marketing strategies; you have to make the idea of using condoms fun and sexy. So, they created ads showing sexy guys with condoms negotiating safer sex and all that.

I always thought of DanceSafe in the same way from the beginning. I made the messaging positive – acknowledging the benefits of drug use, never condemning or judging, but rather trying to make responsible and safer drug use, cool. Always test your drugs before you take them, know the proper dose, use in moderation — less is often more. Don’t pressure others to take drugs if they don’t want to. Be cool, be responsible. So that’s why we’re calling this podcast “Drug Positive” — it’s okay to use drugs.

The drug war is wrong. Psychoactive drugs have benefits, and the more you realise that, the more you shed the internalised stigma and shame put upon you by drug-war culture, and the less likely you are to misuse drugs. The drug-war manifests the very misuse and abuse of drugs it pretends to be preventing, and we need to end it.

You can find ‘Drug Positive’ at DrugPositive.org or via your preferred podcast app, and can visit DanceSafe.org for detailed drug harm reduction information.

A Brief Reference Guide For Magic Mushroom Hunting

By Anne Onymous

There are quite a few psilocybin containing shrooms around, but the most common you’ll find here is the hardy wood-loving Psilocybe subaeruginosa. You should know, in New Zealand it is illegal to cultivate or prepare (meaning to collect, or to dry out in an oven on the lowest fan-forced setting with the door ajar until cracker dry, or to seal in a container with desiccant in a cool, dark place for long term storage) any mushroom containing psilocybin. In fact, psilocybin is a Class A controlled substance, in that Parliament believes it poses “a very high risk of harm” to individuals and society in it’s misuse. The Government officially regards psilocybin to be: highly dangerous, highly addictive, and of very little or no therapeutic benefit. Of course, that’s all bollocks. Psilocybin is one of the safest, non-addictive psychoactive substances on the planet, with a great potential to be used therapeutically to treat PTSD, depression, cluster headaches, and death-anxiety.

Anyway, mother nature’s government-subverting mycological Class A fruiting-bodies are recognisable by a few key features:

1) golden, sombrero shaped cap

2) white, fibrous, moderately thick stem

3) distinctive blue bruising of the white stem (and cap)

There are other psilocybes which have similar - but not identical - features to the sub (which all also bruise blue), and there are shrooms which bruise blue, but which look nothing like a psilocybe. So, while bruising is not sufficient for an ID, there are no blue-bruising shrooms which look like psilocybes. When you have an ensemble of positive features plus the blue bruising you probably have the goods, though getting a second opinion from someone more experienced is always important.

Keep It Green!

Why Voting To Legalise Cannabis This Year Is Actually A Really Good Idea

By Lewis Hoban

Marijuana, the devil’s lettuce, the dank Kush, da herb, the shticky icky, the good ganja, Mary Jane (like the one in Spiderman? Not really, this one’s a plant!). Call it what you want, it’s very popular. In fact, it’s so popular that many countries have realised outlawing it has only created a black market and therefore have decided to regulate sale. Just look at Canada — they made $186 million after the first year in excise taxes on cannabis products alone. As of late, New Zealand is set to also reconsider whether or not they want to get in on the legalisation. With that in mind, here are some important facts:

It’s a simple yes or no question, kinda

From what we can tell, you’ll simply be given the option of supporting or disagreeing with implementation of the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill. We recommend you look it up online and skim through the PDF yourself, but here’s the gist of it:

You have to be 20-years-old to both buy and possess products containing cannabis, and you’re only allowed to have a maximum of 14 grams on you at all times.

You would be allowed to grow at least two cannabis plants on your property, with a specific limit of four per household. You can only smoke/ingest cannabis products in your homes, in accordance with the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990. You can’t buy it online; you have to go down to the shops in person and wait in line like all the rest of us entitled zoomers.

The Government would make sure you’re doing it safely

As much as that sounds like a rejected quote from George Orwell’s “1984”, it’s not as menacing as it sounds. Under the current system weed is grown and sold as part of a black market — users have no real guarantee over their own personal safety if they chose to get wrapped up in a bad crowd (like those sketchy kids who loiter outside the Countdown and constantly ask you for bus money even though they’re on scooters). The Bill is mostly about introducing regulation, meaning that all cannabis products, joints or otherwise, have to pass through a government-approved set of regulations. You’d be buying it from the shops, not from that guy who never takes his hoodie off and has questionable views about women. Additionally, there wouldn’t be any large-scale advertising. In fact, there will be the same sort of anti-smoking ads that we already have on ciggies, as well as a massive rollout of drug safety education. It’s a lot easier to talk about once it’s, y’know, not illegal. Speaking of —

It’ll change our justice system for the better

Last year alone a whopping 5,740 people were charged and sentenced for dealing and/or possessing marijuana. You don’t need a law degree to understand having an offence on your record blacklists you from prospective jobs, and having to go

to jail for simply having a baggie on you will do irreparable damage to the lives of our whānau. Prison cells that should be used to contain violent criminals are instead full to bursting with young offenders on petty drug charges. One of the biggest planks of the new Act is decriminalisation, by way of simply making it legal to carry and use, virtually eliminating a massive factor that helps to further systematic poverty.

It’s not going to be a gateway to harder drugs

Believe you me, I’ve heard this argument time and time again from concerned parents. To paraphrase one in particular, if we let our kids start smoking weed, how long until we legalise cocaine?! To this I offer the same reply — us kids aren’t really interested in drugs, and the percentage of us doing them are plummeting year by year. Granted, this data set also shows teens and young adults are smoking less, drinking less, and having less sex. The only thing we appear to be doing more is getting more depressed. But that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms that the Green Party have been trying to crank open for a while. Although they’d be decriminalising and regulating it, the Government would still like it if you didn’t drop everything and start puffing the bud. In fact, they’re making sure of it by promising massive aid packages for education around it, so not only will young adults finally be able to talk about weed without their parents shrieking like banshees and *demanding* you tell them which one of those kids at school was peer pressuring you, but will also educate about the consequences of dependency, behavioural alteration, and psychosis. Under the new law, marijuana will be just as regulated, if not more so, than tobacco.

It’ll bring in the other kind of green stuff

I brought up the part about Canada making a buttload of money through excise tax on cannabis products earlier on, so you’ll be pleased to hear New Zealand would probably be getting the same cash bump, if we play our cards right. As sellers would have to be federally regulated, that leaves a whole lot of income going into the government that can then be used to improve our roads, schools, hospitals, whatever. That money would stop changing hands until it inevitably finds its way to gangs, who, according to the Ministry of Justice, are massive suppliers, and instead make a positive change in our communities.

So, if you really want to help make a difference instead of perpetuating the endless cycle of arrests and refusing to talk about the big bad drugs, have a sit down with your parents, who more than likely care a whole lot more about voting than you or your mates, and try and hash this out. Heh, hash. Get it? Because it — ah forget it, I was never that funny to begin with. Just make sure you convince people you know to get on board. Together, we can change this country for countless future generations with the simple tick of a ballot box.

Fake Cocaine and Fake News: Iconic Drug Moments from Film and Literature

By Lily Mirfin

There are scenes in movies and descriptions in books that make the same drug seem completely different. These mediums can be responsible for glamorising the use of drugs but can also depict the havoc they can cause an individual. These are the most memorable scenes and depictions of drug from a few different decades for your viewing and reading pleasure.

“The Wolf of Wall Street” Directed by Martin Scorsese

I had a strange fascination with this movie when I was a teenager. It was weird for all involved. Once I was watching this movie in the living room of my parents’ house, younger than I could have legally viewed it. In all fairness, my parents had raved about this movie so much that I just had to see it for myself. Who can forget the Quaalude scene?! These narcotics have a fascinating history — they were initially created as a prescription-only drug, and were then widely abused that their manufacture was subsequently banned. Since then, the finite number of Quaaludes has slowly dwindled, but during the 70s and 80s they were still widely available. Take a watch of The Wolf of Wall Street for copious amount of money, cocaine, and naked women. The absolutely foul language and volume of drugs depicted in this movie is astounding. The 1980s excess might be a bit much for you but it really is a 5-star movie. Although, the movie does glorify drug use and fraud to a worrying extent, is still a great watch.

“Go Ask Alice” by Anonymous

Go Ask Alice was a cornerstone of adolescent urban legends and myth. This ‘true story’ of a teenager who got addicted to drugs in Reagan’s US was a complete hoax fabricated by a Mormon therapist named Beatrice Sparks. Sparks was trying to convince kids to “Just Say No” — Nancy Reagan must have absolutely fizzed this book. A fun read if only for the melodramatic fauxteenage moments. I read this book as a preteen and took it all as absolute fact. Researching the hoax literature published in the 1970s and 1980s makes me realise how lucky we are to live in an age where we can proclaim something to be fake news. Go Ask Alice was as fake as it can get.

“Face It: A Memoir” by Debbie Harry

This book was one that I was looking forward to reading over lockdown. I was supposed to read it right before a trip to New York but COVID-19 put a stop to that sneaky trip. So, I did what I could and lived vicariously through the words of Debbie Harry. This book, whilst entertaining, ended up revealing things about musical icons that I was just fine not knowing.

Debbie goes from dropping acid with the man, the myth, the legend himself, Timothy Leary (go on a Google search if you haven’t heard of him) to doing cocaine with Bowie — this book does not hide anything about her past. A fun read that shows how prevalent drugs were in the music scene and what an enormous influence they had on the pop culture produced in this period.

“Just Kids” by Patti Smith

Patti Smith, the godmother of punk, keeps it real but simultaneously poetic. The drug use depicted in this book is very different from the drug use depicted in Debbie Harry’s memoir. The interior life of the Chelsea Hotel described in this book is reason enough to give it a read. The hotel was filled with all kinds of behaviour, drug use being one of them. There is a strange crossover in “Face It” where Patti Smith is mentioned. Read these books one after the other for the ultimate 1970s New York vibes. Not as glamorous as Harry’s book but deserves just as much, if not more, hype than it’s had in the past.

“Pulp Fiction” Directed by Quentin Tarantino

If you haven’t seen it, pretend like you have, no one will be able to tell. Tarantino has done something bizarre; he’s made heroin and cocaine seem like cool accessories. Most of us acknowledge that this really isn’t true, but every drug scene in this movie seems like some form of normal weekday activity. Until the overdose that is — that scene is gnarly to say the least. Like any Tarantino movie, weird things are glorified; drug use being no exemption. This film is rightfully a classic but in all honestly, I don’t quite get what all the hype is about.

“Trainspotting” Directed by Danny Boyle

This is the complete opposite of Pulp Fiction. This movie hits hard; it has its funny moments and is a 90s classic, but it really is a dark watch. It does not glamorise drugs at all and gives them a less-than appealing aura. This was some more of my lockdown entertainment and caused some strange dreams for sure. Whilst some of the books and films I’ve mentioned are guilty of glorifying drug use, this one goes so far in the opposite direction. There is a very graphic montage of heroin use that is not for the faint of heart. This movie is excellent and has remained relevant since its release. “Trainspotting” is far better at showing a potential reality than “Go Ask Alice” is. It is far cooler than that strange ‘true story’ too.

Heroes of New Zealand

By Michael Freeman Green

Fairies

We live in an all-round wonderful place. From towering mountains to serene rivers winding through native bush, our country has astounding natural beauty and the communal spirit to match. Heroes of New Zealand aims to highlight those members of our communities who go underappreciated but embody the attitude that makes New Zealand the greatest country in the world.

No one wants cannabis legal more than those who need it. I’m not talking about your flatmate who loves doing cones; I’m talking about those in pain who need the reprieve that medicinal cannabis offers to live their daily life. There are members of our community, who at great personal risk, have been and continue to provide these people with the lifechanging drug they need. They are known as the green fairies.

By the age of 21, a whopping 80% of New Zealanders are reported to have tried cannabis, proving that our country has a deep relationship with the drug. Most people use cannabis recreationally, but it can also be used to treat a range of conditions. Studies have shown that cannabis has numerous health benefits when used correctly from helping relieve chronic pain to regulating seizures, and in many territories the use of medicinal cannabis is already legal. In New Zealand, medicinal cannabis was legalised on April 1st, but the industry is small and those who need the drug may not always have access, which is where the green fairies come in.

The green fairy movement is a loose collection of growers/ sellers who provide medicinal cannabis to those who need it but cannot wait for the bureaucracy of the legal channels. The one approved cannabis product in the country, Sativex, is not subsidised by the government meaning the price can be unrealistically high, and to be prescribed this product requires a specialist to sign off which increases wait times exponentially. Many cannot afford the cost or afford to wait for their prescription to be approved and therefore turn to other means which can provide them the treatment they need.

But what separates the green fairies from old mate Gav at the tinnie house down the road? Are they not just drug dealers who use the pretext of supplying those in need to get away with their nefarious money-making schemes? The green fairies do not wish to sell to those who smoke recreationally and require proof of a medical condition before they will sell to you. This proof, in the form of a doctor’s note which states the condition and the fact that cannabis will not interfere with other treatments, is sent to a gatekeeper of sorts, who then pass on the customer’s information to a green fairy. The seller will then contact the potential customer, ensuring their own safety, as they are still technically committing a crime. While numbers are hard to find, the network currently has a few thousand members, both sellers and patients, and is still active to this day.

The green fairies do not actively try to hide their existence. To do so would make it harder for those who are looking for help to access their product. They sit in a legal grey area; committing a crime according to the law but morally doing the correct thing by helping those in pain with a non-addictive (at least not chemically) drug which has proven health benefits. This moral and legal divide came to a head in February 2019 when Rose Renton, at the time the unofficial leader of the green fairy movement, was discharged without conviction for the crime of cultivating 58 cannabis plants. While according to the law of the land this should carry up to 7 years in jail, Rose was let off as the judge felt a conviction may impact her chances of becoming a medical cannabis supplier in the future.

Rose was let off as the judge in her case recognized that her actions were morally right, but illegal due to outdated laws. These laws have now been changed, but with large amounts of regulation and red tape those who need cannabis as a treatment still have a lot of hoops to jump through, and the green fairy movement is still an easier way for many to get life-changing treatments. The referendum in September on the legality of both medicinal and recreational cannabis will, if it passes, allow private citizens to grow two cannabis plants in their own homes (maximum of four plants per household). This will give sufferers of chronic pain the ability to cultivate and consume their own medicine, and will allow the otherwise law-abiding green fairies the chance to make a legal business out of their operations.

Fame, fortune, or even recognition for their efforts is not what motivates the green fairies to do what they do. They break the law, not for personal gain but to help others in their communities who are suffering due to the prohibition of a plant with the properties to help alleviate their suffering. This selfless attitude and willingness to risk their own livelihood to help strangers in need makes the mostly anonymous green fairies heroes, and they should be treated as such. So, in September get out and vote and change the archaic laws that force these heroes to commit a crime, when all they want to do is help those Kiwis in need.

The green fairies were contacted for comment but did not respond (and no, I’m not telling you how to find them)

Michael Freeman

References: https://www.police.govt.nz/advice-services/drugs-and-alcohol/ cannabis-and-law https://www.dlapiper.com/en/newzealand/insights/ publications/2020/04/from-seed-to-shelf---the- growth-of-new-zealandsmedicinal-cannabis-market/ https://www.healtheuropa.eu/healthbenefits-of-cannabis/92499/ https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/info/ drug-index/cannabis/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_New_Zealand_ cannabis_referendum https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/09/ the-green-fairies-illegally-supplying-we ed-to-kiwis-with-health-problems.html

Club Noticeboard

The Investment Society

Since being established in 2014, The Investment Society has grown to be New Zealand’s largest university investment club. In 2019, we were recognised at the UCSA Supreme Club Awards as Best Academic Club and the overall Supreme Club. We host a number of competitions, workshops, academic tutorials, networking events, and social events to get young people interested in investing!

Our biggest event of the year is coming up on Friday 31st July, — the Beer, Wine, and Spirits Stock Exchange. This event promises to be an unforgettable night of fast and furious fun as the prices of drinks fluctuate throughout the night simulating a real-life stock exchange.

With your ticket, you’ll receive enough “Wolf Bux” to set up a prime beverage portfolio and enjoy delicious food and a great night out at the most innovative event at UC in 2020! There will be highs, there will be lows, but rest assured — everyone will end up beating the market this time around!

Check out our Facebook page (The Investment Society) for more information.

PRESIDENT’S PIECE

It goes without saying that a congratulations is in order, I believe. You have very successfully navigated some really tough circumstances and helped us, as an Executive, bring to light some really insightful feedback and changes as a result.

The time is coming when we will all be back together once again, and you are probably wondering what has been on the radar for us here at the UCSA!

Firstly, what can you expect in the near future?

Re-O Week is happening BABAY! We are so excited to bring you a full Calendar and if you haven’t got tickets yet, there are NOT many left so let us know.

We engaged with Know Your Stuff and they will be present in the City on the 15th of July. Given this is the Drugs issue, we should definitely mention it here!

We’re LISTENING. We’re currently working on a virtual way that you can get your suggestions to the UCSA faster and if you don’t have a suggestion, you can up-vote or down-vote the ones you do or don’t want to see.

One word: Advocacy. Expect this space to take a front seat because post-COVID, we are going to be engaging with you more than ever. Office hours, surveys — you name it, it’s coming.

Financial Assistance is something the University have been given funding from the Government to address — over the next wee while keep an eye out, because we know post-COVID that things might be a little different for you, and we’re here to help — so ask!

As always, I could go on forever. Remember to check out the News section on the Website to keep up to date with the happenings of the UCSA.

This week, we thought it was timely to introduce you to our superwomen who oversees all wellbeing and equity here — Georgie!

Stay safe and we will see you soon.

EXEC PIECE

Tell us everything we need to know about you in one sentence: Grateful, Energetic, Only kidding about this acrostic poem. I’m a 3rd year BCom kid, majoring in Finance and International Business, who is always up to attend a cheeky event and meet more of the UC community!

What is your role on the exec? Equity and Wellbeing Rep.

Where is your favourite place to eat on campus? The Foundry ofc! Where else can you get a cheeky eggs bene for less than $10 with your V plate (might be exposing my Auckland side here)?

What is your goal for the year? In a simple sense, my goal is to make the student experience just that little bit better. Something I’m really passionate about is inclusivity and making sure that all students feel like they belong (always super important!).

What do you want to be when you grow up? Hopefully someone working in the finance realm, crunching a few numbers but also getting to meet knowledgeable people who challenge the way I think.

What are you working on now? One of the committees I’m currently sitting on at UC is the Equity Reference Group (watch this space) as well as general duties of the role!

What is your best tip to make the most out of uni? Would 100% just have to say get involved! Join as many things as you can and make the most of this blinkin’ fabulous opportunity we have to be at a place like UC. Go to lots of events, join a club exec (or start your own), and ensure that you’ll have memories from Uni that extend further than sitting in a lecture or studying in EngCore (not that we shouldn’t do those things, but I think you can pick up what I’m putting down).

Why do you want to work on the exec? I wanted to work on the exec because it’s such a cool opportunity to get your say in so many things that happen at UC and see more of the ‘behind the scenes’ that go into ensuring our papers and everything else at Uni is working seamlessly. It’s exciting that we actually have the ability to influence things we aren’t happy about so the student experience can continue to improve.

Kia Ora E hoa!

COLUMNS

Stuff & Other Drugs

The phenomena that is, our addiction to consumption by

Eilidh Huggan

Shooting up wish-lists, snorting up likes, and dealing out the latest trends — we are a generation of consumers addicted to the rush off acquiring stuff. How long can we keep this up? What are the consequences? When will we overdose? And who is to blame?

There are so many questions about the social responsibilities and ethics that surround our consumer addictions, but they are rarely addressed for reasons of maintaining the ever so important economic growth. Our current society, specifically in the Western world, is founded on a profit-driven economy. Beginning in the 1850s with the development of consumer capital in America, there has been an intentional push from industries to shift consumer demands from “needs” to “wants”. The sole purpose being to create a constant desire for us to always “want” more, which in turn pushes up capital profits.

Today we are facing constant exposure to the manipulative techniques and mass-marketing campaigns. We have been led to believe that our self-worth is defined by what we buy, and what we can’t. Those who have more money are able to buy the “latest” and the “best” products and are given a higher worth within the society we have created. This leads to those in less privileged positions being left behind. In New Zealand there are 1 in 7 households living in poverty and in a global context, 74% of the worlds’ population live in multidimensional poverty.

Department of Spiritual Engineering

Spanky Moore

When my wife was a little kid, her family owned a beagle named Jake. Jake was a nice enough dog, but every now and then, when the apple tree in their backyard was laden with apples, Jake would dig a big hole, collect up the apples, and bury them. Then, two weeks later, he’d dig them up again after they’d fermented and he’d consume them until he was well pissed, and then he’d jump up and down on the trampoline, howling at the moon, until he’d finally throw up and sleep it off for the day.

I guess one of the challenges with drugs of any kind (booze, drugs, food, porn, gaming, exercise) is how grey the way people use them can move from pleasure (when we choose to take something) into addiction (when we struggle to cope without that something). I’ve worked with plenty of

Let’s put this into context. I’m sure you can all remember the joy that was “mufti-days”. The hype that lead up to it, the always forgotten gold coin donation, and of course, the adored anxiety of deciding what you were going to wear. There was always the subconscious judgment of other people and the type of person they were based on what they choose/ had to wear when they weren’t confined by the limitations of school uniform. Who has the latest Vans? Nike socks? Pieces from the newest Glasson’s’ collection? And the even bigger question, who doesn’t? The whole construct of consumerism is exploitative. It involves spending money, which is a resource not evenly spread between societies. It separates those with purchasing power as better than those without it. It creates false binaries further than “rich” and “poor”, stretching into what we define as “cool” and “uncool”, “third world” and “first world”, and “powerful” and “powerless”. It creates a constant challenge for us to keep up and fuel our addiction, because if we can’t keep up, we are excluded from the very place in which we live our lives.

The capitalistic creation of consumerism has created more than just the issues of cultural and societal divisions as a consequence of fuelling our ever-growing addictions. The environmental impacts of our demands and decisions has created a world where our resources are becoming increasingly depleted. However, the nature of consumerism has minimal-to-no concern about the long-term effects on our environment. A 2015 study into the environmental effects of producing the goods and products we buy daily concluded that as consumers, we are responsible for more than 60 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and up to 80 percent of global water use. This includes the food we eat as

UC students who’ve found themselves in the addiction boat, and it’s really tough. Usually they find themselves in that self-destructive space because they’ve started to use drugs as a way to cope with a whole bunch of emotions that they have no desire to feel, and they want to numb the pain. What they don’t bargain on is that their chosen substance doesn’t just numb their bad feelings, it numbs the good ones too — and after a while they begin to stop feeling anything.

It takes profound courage to realise these things you once loved may not be serving you anymore, and that you are now serving them. But if you feel like you’re starting to identify more with Jake than you’d like too, and you’re sick of feeling numb, drop me an email sometime. I’d love to hear your story.

Spanky.moore@canterbury.ac.nz

Entertainment

By: Ella Somers

FILM: Midsommar

No one has ever thanked me for recommending Midsommar to them, but that’s not going to stop me recommending it to everyone I know because even if it is one of the most horrifying, terrifying, and revolting films I’ve ever seen in my life, it’s also REALLY GOOD. Considering I can count on one hand how many horror films I’ve watched willingly in my life, I was really surprised by how much I managed to enjoy Midsommar, even though I was an absolute mess by the end of it. My favourite thing about the whole film (besides it having Florence Pugh in it) is that it successfully managed to bring both horror fanatics and horror avoiders (AKA me; I wear the badge with honour) together to appreciate what a masterpiece Midsommar is, before going our separate ways again. My least favourite thing about Midsommar is the nightmares it’s given me and the fact I can’t look at flower crowns or cliffs without feeling sick. I mean, what more could you want from a film than Florence Pugh, cult antics, flowers, gore, sunshine and magic mushrooms? Throw in lots of tears, screaming and hyperventilating (literally me the whole time watching it) and Midsommar is the perfect film for you. 8 Florence Pugh’s out of 10.

BOOK: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of those authors that I talk about so much and whose books I try and push on every single person I meet. Daisy Jones & The Six was my tied favourite book of 2019 (I love my book children equally, okay) and just *clenches fist* I want everyone to pick up this book. Daisy Jones & The Six drags you through the late 60s and all of the 70s in the famous years of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll (when older baby boomers were having the time of their lives, ahem). The book follows Daisy Jones, an up-and-coming rock singer, and The Six, a band also making waves on the rock ‘n’ roll scene. After Daisy joins The Six, rock ‘n’ roll and the world will never be the same again. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing is the most immersive I’ve ever read, and the way she writes different decades, points of views, characters, and even SONGS, and never drops the ball once … I have to stan. The book is being turned into a TV series which I’m very excited about, but disappointingly Florence Pugh isn’t in it (I would actually combust if she was). 10 Florence Pugh’s out of 10.

PODCAST: Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of Drug Addiction

TV SERIES: High Maintenance

I only came across this show when myself and my two braincells were trying to find something to fit in with the theme of this issue. I wasn’t expecting amazing things when I started watching it, but I ended up being completely hooked and binged the first season in one go. High Maintenance follows a weed deliveryman called ‘The Guy’ and throughout the series he remains somewhat of a mystery; instead, each episode focuses on his quirky customers. This show is the perfect series to binge as the episodes are short and sharp, and every episode features a completely different cast of characters and storyline, making it almost never boring. Some of the episodes were a bit hit-and-miss, but the good episodes were so good that I wanted to re-watch them as soon as I’d finished them. 7 Florence

Pugh’s

out of 10.

Because I have the attention span of a gnat, podcasts are so hit-and-miss for me that I’ve almost given up trying to find ones that I genuinely enjoy anymore. But after trawling the dusty corners of the Internet for a drugs podcast that didn’t make me grind my teeth or want to burn from my brain five seconds after starting one, I found it in the form of Dopey: On the Dark Comedy of a Drug Addiction. This podcast is something I’d recommend popping on in the car or somewhere you can listen to each episode all the way through without being interrupted. It’s one of those podcasts that starts on one topic and then by the end of the episode has covered about ten different other things which I really, really enjoy in a podcast. Each episode has different guests and they all have really interesting stories about the complexities of drug addiction. 7 Florence

Pugh’s out of 10.

Music, Mythology, and the Medicine Cabinet

By: Talisker Scott Hunter

Substances and music riff off of each other better than Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Slipping a party pill (or two) on a night out is known to generate levels of euphoria that supersede the combined serotonin hits of Rush Hours 1 and 2 ... combined.

That drugs make music better, and vice versa, is a timehonoured truism. 20,000 years ago, when man could neither read nor write, it’s likely our distant ancestors cut shapes to the beat of a deerskin drum while high on shrooms.

Brain-numbing highs also have deep ties to spiritualism. From Athenians seeking to answer the threat of Persia to Roman emperors looking to explain their deep-seated sadism (the answer? Inbreeding), men and women from across the ancient world consulted the oracle at Delphi as a means of contacting the divine.

A high priestess at the temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece, sat atop a fissure in the earth’s crust. The Pythia, as the priestess was known, spent each consultation inhaling volcanic gases so as to better hear the gods and interpret their messages.

Moreover, it’s believed that the bark of the acacia tree contains trace amounts of DMT — a powerful psychedelic. In the Hebrew bible, it was a burning acacia bush that spoke to Moses with the voice of God.

There’s also the cult of Dionysus, the god of wine, ritual madness, and ecstasy (the feeling, not the drug, although he’d likely be the god of both). Festivals in honour of Dionysus were debaucherous, immoral affairs. They featured strong wine, feverish dancing, and, it is said, psychedelics. In mythology, whenever Dionysus rolled through town, women would enter into a trance. They’d flock to the forest at sundown and dance wildly until dawn. Sound something like a rave to you?

In 1967, millennia after the last festival to Dionysus, the tradition continued. 100,000 people from around the world flocked to the San Francisco suburb of Haight Ashbury during the so-called “Summer of Love”. In the midst of this ‘ghetto of Bohemians’, Harvard University instructor Timothy Leary and his colleague Richard Alpert bought and repainted a disused school bus. From ‘the magic bus’, the soon-to-be-sacked academics generously distributed LSD. The Grateful Dead, The Who, Janis Joplin, The Animals, and Jefferson Aeroplane were a few of the bands drawn to Haight Ashbury by the allure of that veritable sea of trippers.

Between the 15th to the 18th of August 1969, Max Watkins saw half a million people descend upon his 600-acre dairy farm. For 3 days, despite heavy rain and the total absence of security, facilities, fences, and ticket booths, festivalgoers experienced the debaucherous 3-way intersection of mankind’s favourite trio. What self-respecting history

of drugs, music, and spirituality could omit Woodstock? Woodstock — that byword for free love, flower-power, music, mud, Mary-jane, and the medicine cabinet in its sordid entirety.

It almost didn’t happen. Investors cancelled the project four months prior, as town after town refused to host the festival for fears it would attract hordes of ‘moral degenerates. Two weeks prior to the festival’s opening, the New York town of Bethel gave its approval. This miniscule window left organisers with barely enough time to prepare. Sanitation, first-aid, food, and clean drinking water; all were yet to be organised when Woodstock Ventures opened the gates, expecting no more than 50,000 attendees.

Traffic clogged any and all roads leading to Watkin’s farm. The gridlock was so intense and long-lasting that most simply abandoned their cars to travel on foot. Amidst the confusion, three women gave birth.

On the festival’s second day, word travelled among the performers that someone had spiked their limited water supply with LSD. Roger Daultry of The Who claimed to be tripping balls (his words, not mine) when his band began its 5:00 am set. Carlos Santana, who wished to be coming down for his 8pm set, took a generous amount of mescaline with lunch. Santana recounts peaking at around two o’clock and hearing someone say “if you don’t go right now, you’re not gonna go on.” See below.

The Hindu guru, Swami Satchidananda, was asked to give the opening address. He preached a message of harmony and inner-exploration, of internal peace and freedom. It’s said these words set the tone for the weekend and thus helped avert what most observers had anticipated to be a catastrophe.

Tributes to Woodstock abounded the second the last notes ended. Woodstock closed a decade, encapsulated a culture, and defined a generation. It is the undisputed don of all music festivals, in no small part thanks to the sordid trio of music, worship, and drugs.

To Dr Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), the drug-addled communal dance party, like worship, is another manifestation of our desire to connect to something otherworldly, as well as to one other.

Humans long to arrive at a state of transcendence. We’ve sought this escape down many avenues: ritual madness, dance, storytelling, and self-exploration. Music, worship, and mind-altering substances are but a few of the vehicles by which we’ve chosen to travel these roads; if history tells us anything, we’ve put some decent miles on them.

Music

By: Nic Cain

Station to Station –David Bowie (1976)

People often remember David Bowie for ‘that one album with the lightning bolt on the cover’ or ‘that one movie where the outline of his bulge is burned into your memory.” However, I would argue that one of his more iconic moments was “the album that was made in a haze of cocaine, milk, and bell peppers.” This is Station to Station.

STS is arguably most effective as a character study; a jaded reflection of a Bowie consumed by not only emotional aloofness, but the paranoid delusions that a dependency on cocaine had instilled in him. This is largely reflected in the beautifully hypocritical nature of the lyricism — tracks like ‘Word on a Wing’ demonstrating an artificial air of salvation, whilst the title track opts for more of an explosion of nihilist anger and delusional frenzy. However, behind the sleek union of funk and kraut rock that ultimately gives the album both an American and European feel, there is a clear aura of desperation, exemplified in Bowie’s cold croon of “Wild is the Wind” as well as the panicked wails of “Stay”. Ultimately a hard one to describe in 200 words, give it a listen yourself!

Come Together –Drugs and Rock Music

Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘N’ Roll: the trifecta that has essentially informed the contemporary ideals of the cultural zeitgeist for several decades. However, while these aspects have informed the landscape of popular music for a good 54 years, the methods in which they have culturally informed this aforementioned landscape has consistently evolved. Indeed, rock music has always proven to be quite a malleable genre, even since its beginnings, and the way drugs were integrated into the genre’s identity is a clear example of this.

Starting at the point where rock music and drugs began to truly cross over, the 1960s, one is easily able to see how the contemporary attitudes seen in historical events like the

summer of love and the free love movement (just generally a lot of love in the 60s) informed how drug usage inspired that era of rock. If we look at everyone’s favourite boyband turned big deal, The Beatles, the latter half of their discography is riddled with drug usage, largely through the usage of LSD — one only needs to watch Yellow Submarine for about five minutes to see the truth in that. However, this drug-riddled influence was not touted as a status symbol that bolstered the ego; rather it was a celebration of the vivid, almost childlike escapism it provided through the surreal imagery it granted. Tracks like “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” are a huge example of this; lyrically the song is a clear indication of the surreal and technicolour environments that one would commonly expect from the stereotypical LSD experience, however the song is supposedly inspired by a child’s painting, as well as the works of Lewis Carroll. Other artists weren’t afraid to embrace literary influences either, with many prominent groups taking the works of Tolkien and giving it a psychedelic tint. Led Zeppelin did this most notably through the track “Ramble On” when directly referencing the character Gollum, and Pink Floyd gave Tolkien, and even Kenneth Grahame, several nods throughout their debut album, ‘The Piper at The Gates of Dawn”. Other artists opted instead to create their own visions of fantasy of future, as seen through such artists as Jimi Hendrix (1983…A Merman I should Turn to Be) or even an early David Bowie (Cygnet Committee).

However, this playful innocence would soon be subverted by the early 1970s. When psychedelic and prog rock were out, Glam Rock was in. Many people sweep glam rock under the rug when it comes to addressing the history of rock, which to me makes very little sense. This genre, and its various acolytes, defined the notion of modern celebrity worship, as well as bringing back the materialism that the previous decade had rejected. Through this attitude of materialism, drugs simply became another commodity acquired by that week’s figure of admiration. Drugs would then practically disappear from 80s mainstream rock altogether, with the worldwide fight against drugs present in the decade practically banishing them into the realm of the musician’s private life. While the impact of drugs in rock music has wildly fluctuated throughout the years, no one can deny the effect in had in rock’s landmark years.

Kevin - doesn’t take phone into bathroom. Le chef de les raddlers (@theraddlers). “No, i’m originally from Sri Lanka”. Says he’s 6ft. Can’t swim. What a catch. (@luci?)

Matt - screams in fridge. Creator of the Cuddle Roster^TM. Can’t take his own advice. “No i don’t get asian flush”. Private school boy who studies engineering and commerce. On the sva.

Beth - recently completed the coast the coast. Will have a cup of tea with your parents. Opposes cups being on top shelf. Peace.

FLAT FAMOUS FLAT FAMOUS FLAT FAMOUS FLAT FAMOUS FLAT FAMOUS FLAT FAMOUS FLAT FAMOUS

Alyce - ”Completed F45, @Park Ranger for a tripe shot macadamia latte, led an SVA meeting today, check my instagram to see where i went in the weekend, wanna catch up at 5:30am?” Says “na, its actually pronounced Elise” and “wholesome” like it’s her job.

Jack - biggest fear is tomato sauce. Secret to @ slimshadyfit is Tabasco sauce and peanut sandwiches. Birks. Surf. Doesn’t know what a shirt is. Halloumi.

Sam - Resident hustler, singer and world changer. Bringing something to life in 9 months... a PhD. señor guapo Mr Mayor.

FLAT FAMOUS

PHOTO CRED: JAVA KATZUR

One Side

Well here we are, a lucky dip blind date, I never thought I’d actually be on one!

So, I was pretty nervous for this date I’ll admit. Simply because it’s Christchurch, and I’m gay, so I was pretty sure whoever my date was, I would’ve either seen or met them already. I arrived early for the date, in hindsight I don’t know why I did, but nerves yanno. It was especially pointless to be early considering my date was pretty late, so I was getting sympathy looks from people because I looked like I had been stood up. But eventually my date arrived, and I pretty much knew they were my date as soon as they arrived because I recognized them from Grindr.

Frankly I was just relieved I didn’t recognize him because of a one-night stand or something. His lateness was easily forgivable because of how cute he looked, he had put in a real effort and I very much appreciated it. A great shirt and sweatshirt combo, he was giving those ‘sweet and innocent but could wreck you in the sack’ kind of vibes.

After apologizing profusely for being late, we went straight to ordering food because we were both hungry af. After that came

The Other Side

Shout out to the gay boys out there, I’m out here representing toniiiiiiight! The pressure was on, I was hoping to show that Team Gay could be more than sleazy Grindr hook ups, which was about all the success I have had in recent years tbh. I may have over thought the whole thing, and ended up being fairly late due to multiple wardrobe changes.

I was actually quite nervous, made worse by the worries that my date could be a former hook up. The odds of that are reasonably high, considering that I’m gay, and in Christchurch. When I arrived, I was relieved to see a reasonably attractive individual sitting alone that I hadn’t had previous interactions with, phew! He complimented me on my outfit, so my lateness wasn’t entirely in vain thank goodness. I apologized for being late and we got straight to it. Conversation flowed pretty well. It didn’t take us long to establish the fact that we both had similar political leanings. Let’s just say if a national supporter had heard our conversation they probably would’ve ripped their own ears out.

the generic Christchurch chat, aka: “What school did you go to?” It’s boring and predicable but at least it gets the ball rolling. After that, the conversation rolled smoothly, we talked about heaps of different things; the upcoming election, our favourite shoes, how the last few seasons of Suits were very disappointing. We were having a great time!

When the food arrived I was very pleased to see he wasn’t a slow eater. I have a habit of eating very quickly, I’ll admit I’m not a tidy eater, but thankfully he wasn’t either. We then discussed our shared hatred of slow eaters and how annoying they are. We discussed our post-date plans and we both had friends in town, so we decided to share an Uber into town. Which I was very happy about because I was gonna take any excuse to extend this date for as long as possible.

Once in town we exchanged details and I suggested maybe we could link up later in the night. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Not all hope is lost though, we’ve still been talking heaps since the date. Fingers crossed there’s a round 2.

We had both been previous Suits fans up until the last few seasons. Time was flying by and I was laughing heaps. Humour goes a long way, so he was doing alright. After viciously expressing how much we disliked slow eaters for what seemed forever, we realized the date was basically coming to an end. I was having a pretty good time, so I asked what else he had planned for the evening. He said he had some friends in town, conveniently my flatmates were in town so I suggested we share an Uber to town. There was some minor thigh touching in the Uber which was kinda sexy. Once we reached town we swapped numbers, but unfortunately parted ways, finishing with a bit of an awkward hug.

He suggested we meet up later which I was keen for. However, town, tequila, and I don’t mix very well and I ended up going home a couple hours later very drunk and vomiting out the window of an Uber. So meeting up with him again did not happen. We’ve been texting a bit though, and there might be another date. I’m not sure yet though, it depends if he’s nice about me in his Lucky Dip write up.

OPENNOW ATTHEHUB, HORNBY

Broken News

‘My Food Bag’ diversifying to ‘My Baggie’ for O-Week

Masterchef winner Nadia Lim’s meal-kit home delivery service, My Food Bag, is releasing a new option right in time for O-Week.

The new option, called ‘My Baggie’, is targeted at students and is being released right in time for O-week festivals throughout the country.

The ‘My Baggie’ bag is said to contain “locallysourced organic MDMA for a great pinging experience”.

Use the code PINGA for 40% off your first My Baggie delivery.

Paula Bennett Running in UCSA Election

Paula Bennett has announced her retirement from politics, with plans to run for the UCSA Presidency.

“After 15 years in politics, I’ve decided to uproot my life and try go for a position where I can make some real effective change.”

Bennett is expected to put up a tough campaign, with the focus being on her main policy of abolishing student allowance.

She is expected to be the only candidate running who does not have horde of church members helping her.

‘Law Students Lives Matter’ Movement Big Failure

A movement started in order to garner attention for students studying law has gone down like a lead balloon.

The ‘Law Students Lives Matter’ movement was established by a cohort of Canterbury law students who realized not enough attention was being paid to them.

“Current world events have taken a lot of attention off us law students, we’ve established this movement to remind people that we are still here, and we’re still better than everyone else” said the Lawsoc President.

However, the movement has caused controversy and failed to gain momentum due to the fact law students only really matter to themselves.

HOROSCOPES

AQUARIUS KETAMINE

(JAN 20 - FEB 18)

Effective dose: 0.55mg/kg insufflated (up ya nose), you can also inject it intramuscularly, but you’re definitely not sophisticated enough to pull that off safely, so don’t try.

LD50: 600mg/kg.

TAURUS

DIMETHYLTRYPTAMINE (DMT)

(APR 20 - MAY 20)

Effective dose: 20-40 mg for a common dose, 60mg+ for a high dose.

LD50: unknown for humans, 32 mg/kg intravenously in rats.

LEO METHYLPHENIDATE (RITALIN)

(JUL 23 - AUG 22)

Effective dose: orally 20-100mg, nasally 5-75 mg. Higher doses are associated with more intense effects, so take it easy.

LD50: 190mg/kg orally in mice.

SCORPIO MDMA

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

Effective dose: your weight in kg, plus 50 = total dosage in milligrams. If you weigh 100kg your dose would be 150mg, and regardless of your weight you shouldn’t exceed 150mg. Also, don’t snort lines. Taken orally, drugs have the opportunity to be processed via your liver instead of immediately hitting your blood-stream where any adulterants/impurities have free reign.

LD50: 10-20mg/kg orally.

PISCES

LSD

(FEB 19 - MAR 20)

Effective dose: tricky, but 75-150 micrograms is a good range to hit for a trip, and the more ballsy/foolish you are the more you can dose.

LD50: unknown for humans. Mice: 5060 mg/kg injected, Rats: 16.5 mg/kg, Rabbits: 0.3mg/kg

GEMINI PSILOCYBIN

(MAY 21 - JUN 20)

Effective dose: Different psilocybin containing mushrooms will contain different levels of psilocybin. For the domestically common Psilocybe subaeruginosa, an effective dose varies by body weight and is between 1g-3g dried taken orally (9-10x this weight if fresh).

LD50: unknown for humans, but estimated to be 3000 times the effective dose.

VIRGO AMPHETAMINE (ADDERALL)

(AUG 23 - SEP 22)

Effective dose: orally 10-90mg, nasally 15-100 mg. Higher doses are associated with more intense effects, so take it easy.

LD50: 23.3 mg/kg orally and 5.9 mg/ kg intravenously in animals, but it is estimated that it may be as low as 4 mg/ kg orally and one mg/kg intravenously in humans.

SAGITTARIUS N02 (NANGS)

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

Effective dose: 1 balloon at a time, used for no more than 30-40 seconds, with subsequent balloons spaced out by at least 10 minutes.

LD50: tricky... but basically if you keep huffing the balloon for too long, you’ll pass out and suffer brain-damage due to lack of oxygen.

ARIES ALCOHOL (ETHANOL)

(MAR 21 - APR 19)

Effective dose: 1-2 standard drinks, depending on body weight.

LD50: 5-8g/kg (3g/kg for children) – that is, for a 60kg person, 300g of alcohol can kill, which is equal to 30 standard drinks (about 1 litre of spirits or four bottles of wine).

CANCER MESCALINE

(JUN 21 - JUL 22)

Effective dose: about 1 foot of properly processed, healthy San Pedro cactus should contain a good trip’s worth of mescaline, between 200-400mg.

LD50: unknown for humans, estimated as 800-1200mg/kg orally.

LIBRA ALPRAZOLAM (XANAX)

(SEP 23 - OCT 22)

Effective dose: 0.25-2mg orally

LD50: 331-2171mg/kg orally in rats.

CAPRICORN CANNABIS (THC)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

Effective dose: well, this is tricky but let’s be honest — the first few puffs are the best.

LD50: 666mg/kg. So, the average adult would have to consume 50g of pure THC in one go. You’re more likely to die of a baleful falling on your head.

Credit Images: Estelle Miller – @art_stelle Resident Astologers – Asher Etherington, Ben O’Connell, Sam Gibson, Jade Doglione