Issue 15 - Jaylient

Jaylient

Conversations on Cannabis

Vol. 83

Issue 15

27 July 2020 1

19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020

CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020CANNABIS REFERENDUM

CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM

CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM 19TH SEPTEMBER 2020 CANNABIS REFERENDUM

Contents EDITORIAL.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 03 NOTICES

04

PITCH GUIDE

05

NEWS $25m Funding Boost for Tertiary Mental Health Services.......................................................................................................... 06 Petition to Legalise Drug-Checking Brought to Parliament........................................................................................................ 07 An Intro to Your New VUWSA President.......................................................................................................................................... 08 VUWSA 101........................................................................................................................................................................................... 09 Opinion................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 On the Other Hand............................................................................................................................................................................. 11 News Recap......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Shit News............................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 FEATURES Discussions with Dealers................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Legalise or Decriminalise?................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Guide to Talking Cannabis................................................................................................................................................................. 22 CENTREFOLD

20

POETRY

COLUMNS Going Nowhere..................................................................................................................................................................................

To Be Frank.........................................................................................................................................................................................

Green-splaining.................................................................................................................................................................................

Politically-Minded..............................................................................................................................................................................

VUWSA................................................................................................................................................................................................

REVIEWS Hemp Products...................................................................... 32 My First Time.......................................................................... 33 Flavoured Papers................................................................... 34

Salient is funded by VUWSA, partly through the Student Services Levy. Salient is kinda, sorta editorially independent from VUWSA. It’s a long story.

Salient is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA). The perspectives and opinions in any issue of Salient do not necessarily reflect those of the Editors.

02

ENTERTAINMENT Baked Baking Occupation Station Horoscopes

28

24 25 26 27 27

30 36 38

Complaints regarding the material published in Salient should first be brought to the Editors. If displeased with the Editors’ response, the complaint should then be brought to the Media Council. Complaints should be directed to info@ mediacouncil.org.nz.

Editorial VOTE GODDAMMIT Welcome to Salient’s first ever Jaylient. This issue isn’t just for our smokers, of course—it’s for our edible fans too.

Whether you’re a consumer, or not, it actually doesn’t matter If it’s not obvious, Salient 2020 is officially endorsing the YES vote for the cannabis referendum. The opportunity to legalise recreational cannabis holds greater potential than being able to blaze up at a cafe—as you’ll see in this issue, it can and will positively change lives. Let’s say that once more for the people in the back—legalising weed can and will positively change lives.

So we gotta talk about it. Not just with our flatmates, but with our colleagues, neighbours, and even our dealers.

Conversations on cannabis are necessary regardless of where we sit on the fence, because everyone’s gotta vote.

It’s pretty evident from the recent polls that this referendum vote is going to be tight. We’ve got lots of people working hard right now advocating for their yes/no vote, but these ~unprecedented~ times have kinda fucked the momentum a bit. We’re trying to regain that this week.

We have 54 days until we vote, less than that if you’re not reading this on Monday. Which means we have not lots of time to educate ourselves and those around us—including your great-uncle Tony that you fuuucking hate.

Look, in fairness, if you’re going to vote no—that’s cool. But make yourself damn certain that your vote isn’t coming from the influence of the Mike Hoskings of society. The boomers are projecting their ill-informed prejudices and bumping out dumb myths, and it’s kind of working. Now we gotta make up for it.

THE DEFINITIVE LIST OF YUM AND FUN THINGS TO DO UNDER THE INFLUENCE: •

Green onion chips, kiwi dip

•

A cup of tea and a lie down

•

Watch the first 3 Pirates of the Caribbean films

•

@ifyouhigh on instagram

•

Buy a weighted blanket, get under it, trust

•

House music and a boogie

•

Eat an orange in the shower

•

Make some tik toks, but keep them private

•

Head to the botans with your mates

•

Make pesto, then make pesto pasta

•

Brush your teeth real good

•

Enrol to vote

If you’re game, do the whole list in one sesh x Kirsty Frame (she/her) Rachel Trow (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Tūwharetoa | she/her)

We hope Jaylient teaches you a thing or two and that you can pass on that thing or two to others. We’ll be honest —the pitches were not rolling in for this issue. Of all the contributors involved in this issue, there were few we didn’t have to beg ask to write. Don’t even get us STARTED on the lack of indigenous lenses on the subject. That tells us something. We’re quite happy to yarn to our mates about weed, but we’re still uncomfortable to go on record, even with a pseudonym. And while we’ve worked to fill these gaps in the issue, we all need to keep engaging and talking about this shit—we have less than two months.

Anyway, we’re writing this on print day, and all we know is that come 4:20pm, we’re heading to Fountown with our baggies.

Educate yourselves, enjoy yourselves, and have a bloody good time. Now we’ll leave you with the results of some serious, scientific, extensive field research the Salient Team conducted this week.

Brought to you by Peoples Coffee Newtown

03

Notices POTLUCK WORKSHOP: JUSTSPEAK X CHLÖE SWARBRICK Come along next Wednesday (29th July - 12:00-1:00pm) for a potluck/workshop with JustSpeak and Chlöe Swarbrick.

Memorial Theatre, Level 2 Student Union Building Kai will be provided (but you're welcome to bring something along).

The workshop will focus on 'value based' discussions, where you will learn how to effectively talk to mum, dad, or ya flatmate about weed.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS We’re a new club that formed for the purpose of facilitating practical mindfulness sessions for students on campus.

Mon - Body scan 10 min + mindfulness 10 min 11am KK203 Tues - Mindfulness meditation 15 min 2pm SU219 Weds - Guided body scan breathing 5-15 mins 12pm SU217 Thurs - Tonglen 1pm MY402 Fri -

Breathing meditation 10 min

11am SU219 For more information contact practicalmeditationsangha@gmail.com

Did we do something right?

Something wrong? Enlighten us.

Best letter gets bean juice, thanks to our mates at People’s Coffee Newtown

04

NOTICES

Send your letters and notices to editor@salient.org.nz before 5pm Tuesday for the following week’s issue.

Salient's Quick and Dirty Guide to Pitching Welcome to Trimester 2. Let’s recap: If writing is your game, here’s what we need from you: If you have no idea what you want to write or how you want to get amongst, it's best that you come see us

1.

Introduce yourself. Tell us who you are and where your pitch is coming from.

2. The Elevator Pitch: A short paragraph outlining the kaupapa of your piece. This should include any stylistic notes e.g. tone of the writing.

in the office, so you can see what interests you. We’re in the bowels of the Student Union Building - SU355.

Otherwise, email us at editor@salient.org.nz

Tips for Columnists: •

3. Why? Tell us why your column/feature/review /nudes/finsta etc belongs in Salient 4. Who? Tell us who your target audience is.

5. How? Tell us how it will benefit the readers of Salient.

Lastly, you’ll need to show us what you’ve got. Send us a first draft of your piece and/or a portfolio of your other writing so we can get an idea of your strengths and style

Make sure you include your name, pronouns, and iwi/hapū affiliation in the header.

We’re doing issue themes this year, so while your column needs to be fresh and unique, it will also need to be flexible and open to interpreting different subjects.

Tips for Feature Writers: •

Personal essays are great and Salient always does them well. Our personal stories as students are valid and vital. However, a feature should not be just about you (sorry lol). If you haven’t left your desk, you haven’t written a feature.

•

We welcome non-features, i.e. creative writing, personal essays, prose, but we’ll need to make sure it fits with the rest of the issue.

•

A strong voice throughout the piece is essential, but ultimately, you should have gone out and done some research/interviewed an expert to find out more about a subject that will be of interest to our audience. See: The Taranaki Question by CKW v82 i6 - Environment.

A final tip: don’t be boring.

Other than that, go forth, write, keep writing, come back to us soon.

PITCH GUIDE

05

News

MONDAY 27TH JULY 2020

$25m Funding Boost for Tertiary Mental Health Services KEANA VIRMANI | SHE/HER

Earlier this month, the government announced a $25m investment in tertiary mental health services. This package is for domestic students and will be put toward frontline mental health and wellbeing services.

A fifth year VUW student, who wished not to be named, said during trimester one they needed additional counselling support, but still had to book far in advance. They “felt overwhelmed with the isolated study environment.”

However, students will have to wait some time to see the effects of this boost. VUW has told Salient that details of funding are unlikely to be available until next year. The funding will also be spread over a four year period. The University added that there is very little information at this time, but will “consider options regarding how this proposed funding might be accessed”.

A fourth year student, who also wished to remain anonymous, has stated that during the imposed lockdown, they were “very stressed and unable to concentrate on doing basic tasks, especially because there was so much uncertainty.”

A spokesperson stated that “if we eventually put in a proposal, students will be engaged on what shape this might take.”

Until this new funding can be implemented, students have commented on the increased need they’ve experienced for these services. Students accessing Mauri Ora Student Health and Counselling services have in recent years commented on the long wait-times for appointments.

Students were faced with a number of unprecedented challenges last trimester, with the transition to an online learning environment, financial stresses, and lack of faceto-face interaction—all in the wake of a global pandemic.

"The University added that there is very little information at this time, but will “consider options regarding how this proposed funding might be accessed”."

The disruptions to student life caused by COVID-19 have had detrimental effects on the mental health of our student community. Despite the return to on-campus learning, many of these effects have persisted.

06

NEWS: ISSUE 15

Hope Lynch-Gerrard, postgraduate student at VUW further commented, stating that online learning was “so stressful and hard to keep up with,” adding that she “still feels disconnected.”

Mauri Ora Student Health and Counselling does not collect data on the effects of COVID-19 on health and wellbeing.

However, a University spokesperson, states that “during lockdown, we provided GP and counselling services online and proactively reached out to students to make sure they were getting the help they needed.”

The University stated that services will be “closely” monitored over the upcoming weeks to note whether there is an increased demand.

Last year the Piki Programme was given an additional $10 Million for youth mental health services in Wellington.

The programme provides free support services to those between 18-24, and enabled the University to employ an additional 3.7 full-time equivalent counsellors.

If you require support, you can contact Mauri Ora Student Health, or head online to Piki.org.nz to learn more about the services provided.

For immediate assistance, contact Lifeline on 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP) or Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Petition to Legalise Drug-Checking brought to Parliament ANNABEL MCCARTHY | TE WHAKATŌHEA | SHE/HER

Image by: Know Your Stuff

A petition to legalise drug checking services at music festivals in New Zealand would not just save lives, but would enable the use of early warning systems, Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick says.

Early last week, Parliament’s Health Select Committee considered a 6,000-strong petition supporting an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to permit drug checking.

“There are a number of festival promoters across this country right now who are terrified of the loss of life of a young person at their festival [and] the massive impact that would have moving forward on the reputation of that festival.

Simultaneously, they do not want to be putting themselves in a position where they will be breaking the law.”

Drug checking is a form of harm reduction which tests the content, purity, and potency of recreational drugs.

Swarbrick said while Section 12 of the Act remains a barrier to access for “potentially life-saving” services, it also “destroys any meaningful chance for these services to be adequately funded or communicate emerging drug harms and warnings with the broader community through mainstream channels.”

It operates on the premise that knowing and understanding the risks of taking a drug is only possible when a user knows exactly what is in the drug they are consuming.

Early warning systems work by issuing alerts to festival goers if a potentially poisonous substance is detected by drug checks operating at the festival.

Drug checking services are typically associated with music festivals due to the large concentration of people in one place who are using illicit substances to alter their mood, consciousness, and energy levels.

The alerts can be sent by push notifications to all phones in an area and usually include a description of the pill or substance and the likely symptoms from consuming it.

The petition, brought to Parliament by Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick, focuses on Section 12 of the Misuse of Drugs Act. This Section says it is illegal to knowingly provide a place or an environment where people can consume illicit substances.

Swarbrick said this Section is a “legal grey area” and puts festival organisers at risk of criminal prosecution if they were to allow drug checking services to operate on their property.

“It could be argued that having drug checking services at your festival, you know that people are consuming illicit substances at your festival and therefore arguably you are providing a premise or an environment or a circumstance for people to consume illicit substances,” she told the Committee.

Festival management at Rhythm and Vines issued an alert during their 2019 New Years festival after it was discovered a drug laced with pesticide was circulating.

Swarbrick told Committee members an alert system like this would not only reduce harm, but would allow decision makers to figure out where to intervene, particularly in the supply chains, and then to focus resources where they are necessary to be focused to get the most effective outcomes.

Swarbrick said morality often comes into the picture when drug checking is debated and urged her fellow Members of Parliament to “apply the evidence about what works to reduce harm to Aotearoa’s residents, our families, and our communities,” instead.

NEWS: ISSUE 15

07

An Intro to your New VUWSA President FINN BLACKWELL | HE/HIM

Salient x VUWSA demonstrating good faith.

Image by: Salient

Out of relative obscurity, VUWSA elected a new President following Geo Robrigado’s resignation. Salient sat down with President Taylah Shuker to discuss her interest in student politics and what she’s bringing to VUWSA. She’s a conjoint LLB/BA student, who moved to Wellington from Nelson in 2017. What drew Taylah here was the proximity to the political centre of the country, as well as being in a space where she could study another of her passions, Japanese. “[VUW] really lent itself to that,” she added.

Taylah’s first foray into VUWSA was her role as Education Officer, the role she was originally elected for in 2019. “I was really reflecting upon my own experience as well as others close to me and I felt like there was a bit of a gap. My biggest campaign platform was making sure that education was for everyone, which I didn’t feel was the case” “I still think that there’s a long way to go to make sure it is,” she continued. “That’s something I hope to achieve going into the role of President for the remainder of the year” Taylah continues to study despite stepping up to the role of President. “Part of [studying] law are these full-year papers, and I’m doing the presidency alongside that”.

“I feel very grateful and honoured to be in this position, it’s treating me very well.”

Taylah went on to say that she felt very fortunate to have “such a fantastic team” working with her. “I think the job is very difficult but when you have a fantastic team working around you it makes it a lot easier.”

When asked what motivated her to step into the role

08

NEWS: ISSUE 15

following Robrigado’s resignation, Taylah responded saying “we had a lot of discussions as an Exec on who might be best suited, and what motivated me to step up was some of the pre-existing relationships I had with people around the University.”

Taylah believes that what she brings to VUWSA as President is a fresh perspective and a new direction. “This is my first year on VUWSA and I feel like, already, I’ve been fortunate to gain so much experience in a sense that I’ve had the opportunity to engage in some really cool projects and push for some really important changes.”

With the approaching general election, Salient asked Taylah for her presidential hot takes on student engagement with national politics. “My hot takes are don’t be scared to be engaged. Politics are really scary. For a lot of people, it’s out of reach or unrelatable, but I really think ‘engage’. Come along to VUWSA’s events and other events around the community.”

“Be informed. Make a decision based on the evidence you’ve found. Coming to the VUWSA events, we hope to make it palatable and engaging and interesting and informative.”

Wrapping up the interview, a crucial question was asked; what was the President's favourite student magazine? “I genuinely do think it’s Salient,” she stated.

On the Jaylient theme, Taylah commented that her best munchies snack was, in fact, salty chips (spiced up with ice cream), or chocolate.

Her final words to students were: “engage and vote.”

VUWSA 101 SALIENT STAFF

If Salient had a dollar for every time someone asked us, “what does VUWSA even do”, we’d have like, $17.

is responsible for ensuring the uni provides safe and supportive environments for all aspects of student life.

We try not to do their comms for them, but it is also our job to keep students informed of the goings-on. Seeing as they’ve just had a massive reshuffle and VUWSA election season is looming, we figure now’s a good time to lay it out. Without further ado, here is the VUWSA website, rewritten.

The Treasurer/Secretary is another key role, saddled with allocating over a million dollars of VUWSA’s annual budget and making sure they spend it responsibly. This role varies from 10-15 hours a week, year to year.

VUWSA–what is it?

Established in 1899, the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association “exists to make sure students get the best out of university.” VUWSA’s job is to advocate for student interests within the university and wider community.

They regularly attend meetings with senior University staff, local representatives, and student groups on campus to communicate the needs of students and see to it that they’re met.

They also provide a whole bunch of free services to students such as menstrual products, food, legal advocacy, bus passes, and on campus parking discounts.

How is VUWSA structured?

There are two parts to the structure of VUWSA: staff and exec. The staff are permanent, paid positions that do all the behind the scenes work like organising O-Week and helping the exec with the logistics. The exec are the elected student representatives which are a mix of full time and part-time paid roles.

The CEO of the staff side of things is Matt Tucker, who’s technically our boss, as well as the person we throw cheap shots at when we don’t get our way. Sorry, Matt. Love you.

At the top of the pyramid there’s the President—the only full time, paid role on the exec. The President is the face of VUWSA and is responsible for maintaining a good working relationship between VUWSA, the uni, and the community.

Then, there’s three Vice Presidents—Academic (AVP), Engagement (EVP), and Welfare (WVP), who all get paid about 20 hours per week. The AVP is tasked with, you guessed it, ensuring the best academic experience for students. The EVP fronts events for students and encourages student participation in political and community life. The WVP

There are then five Officers, all 10 hour a week jobs. The Wellbeing and Sustainability Officer, Education Officer, and Campaigns Officer work closely with the WVP, AVP, and EVP respectively. Makes sense right? The remaining positions are Equity Officer and Clubs Officer, which should be pretty self-explanatory.

Wtf happened to VUWSA this year?

Until the mid-year break, the President was Geo Robrigado.

Now, it’s Taylah Shuker. Shuker was originally elected in the Education Officer role but was bumped to Acting Academic Vice President when Rinaldo Strydom left the role earlier this year.

While Shuker has been internally elected as President for the rest of the year, in reality, a lot of the President’s responsibilities have been shared amongst the other exec members, as Shuker still holds the AVP responsibilities.

Notable alum •

Biggie Paul (Tamatha Paul’s dog)

•

Chris Hipkins (Labour MP)

•

Andrew Little (Labour MP)

•

Tamatha Paul (Wellington City Councillor)

•

Fleur Fitzsimons (Wellington City Councillor)

•

Guy Williams (seriously, Guy Williams)

There you have it. VUWSA, explained, albeit poorly. Please don’t ever make us do this again. The VUWSA website is not where anyone wants to be a few hours before print.

NEWS: ISSUE 15

09

Opinion Drugs Were Always Legal for Pakeha R. WHAITIRI | KĀTI MĀMOE, NGĀTI HINE | SHE/HER

Like all things, there is a whakapapa to the criminalisation of drugs in Aotearoa.

Voting in this referendum has everything to do with race and colour. The criminalisation of drugs in Aotearoa is just a small part of how this motu continues to be colonised.

Hence, a vote against the legalisation of cannabis will reinforce this cycle.

Drugs now considered illegal came with the colonisers. They were readily used—but not in ways we might expect. Opiates, cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol were mixed in various quantities to alleviate just about anything: menstruation pain, skin ailments, crying children.

When the colonisation of Aotearoa began, these substances were traded, but the uptake with Māori was slow.

As consumption grew post-Treaty, the British slowly sought to police Māori access to illicit substances. The first major attempt was called the “Ordinance to Prohibit the Sale of Spirits to Natives of 1847.” While this Ordinance wasn’t well enforced, it was illegal for Māori men to consume alcohol in most public venues until 1948 and even later for Māori women.

Early drug legislation outside of alcohol, such as the Dangerous Drugs Act 1927, did not specifically single out Māori. However, these now criminalised drugs were still prescribed regularly by Pākehā doctors until the mid-1950s.

This nods at the hypocrisy of the roots of drug criminalisation in New Zealand.

Current legislation doesn’t single out Māori either. But, it should come as no surprise that the enforcement of these laws has never been equitable.

The policing of drugs has always been highly racialised.

“Cannabis, the cannabis referendum and Māori youth”, a recent report written by mostly Māori academics, couldn’t make it more clear. Theodore et al found that “Rangatahi Māori rates of arrest and conviction were three times higher than non-Māori.”

10

NEWS: ISSUE 15

The Duncan Garners of New Zealand have long argued that these kinds of statistics are self-explanatory—if Māori smoke more weed, then of course they’re going to get caught more often.

"The criminalisation of drugs in Aotearoa is just a small part of how this motu continues to be colonised. Hence, a vote against the legalisation of cannabis will reinforce this cycle."

Granted, cannabis use is higher in Māori communities. Yet, a Ministry of Health report indicated that Māori were much less likely to ever be in possession of cannabis. This only makes the rates of charges and convictions more concerning.

According to the Ministry of Justice, Māori accounted for 44.3% of all cannabis convictions in the last decade despite making up only 16.5% of Aotearoa’s population.

The New Zealand Armed Constabulary Force formed in 1846 “to combat Maori 'hostiles' and to keep civil order”. This unit became the New Zealand Police force after the Land Wars. This is the foundation for our enforcement of all law in New Zealand, not just drug related ones. Emily Rākete writes about this at length for The Spinoff and I implore you to read it.

The war on drugs has been equated to the war on brown people since its inception. This is not just restricted to the United States. If Black Lives Matter has left you wondering what legitimate actions you can take to decolonise your life and become more anti-racist, then voting yes in this year’s cannabis referendum is a great place to start.

On the Other Hand NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION In the interest of ~fair and balanced~ reportage, we had to ask. Why wouldn’t someone vote yes in the upcoming cannabis referendum? So, we did a bit of research. Turns out, there are lots of reasons why people won’t be voting yes.

The New Zealand Medical Association opposes legalisation of cannabis for recreational use. They sound pretty legit, so we asked them a few questions. From people with medical degrees, here’s why the NZMA is against the legalisation of recreational cannabis:

and are dose-related—the greater the consumption the greater the risk of harm. Smoking cannabis means that not only THC and CBDs are inhaled but also considerable amounts of plant matter and other toxins produced by burning the plant and inhaling the smoke. Chronic lung conditions such as bronchitis and emphysema are associated with long-term inhalation, as this causes airflow obstruction and wheeze, cough, and sputum production.

What is NZMA's stance on the the legalising of the recreational view of cannabis?

What are some common misconceptions surrounding the referendum that you would want people to know about?

NZMA holds the position that the physical, psychological, and social harms of cannabis are real and relevant, and does not support the legalisation of cannabis-based on those harms.

NZMA believes it is misleading to conflate or link medicinal cannabis with the upcoming referendum—the referendum is on the use of cannabis for non-medical purposes. At this time, while access to medicinal cannabis may be slow and costly, the way to address this is via the existing medicinal cannabis pathway and funding arrangements.

What are the reasons behind this?

Social Harms of Cannabis: •

Include the reduction in academic performance in younger people so that they underachieve educationally, and amotivational syndromes that are seen with continued prolonged use, affecting adults’ ability and motivation to work.

•

Cannabis also affects the ability to drive safely through psychomotor effects slowing coordination and reaction times and increasing the risk of accidents. Cannabis and driving can be a fatal combination.

Psychological impacts/harms: •

Include impairment of thought processes such as the organisation of complex information, short term memory, and executive processes. There is some evidence that these changes are not reversed on cessation of cannabis use either so cognitive function once lost cannot be regained.

•

Changes in mood and paranoia, anxiety, or panic. The association with the development of psychosis is well recognised although the strength of the causal relationship has been widely debated. Finally, there is the risk of cannabis abuse /dependence (CAD) which appears to be related to a blend of unique environmental and shared environmental characteristics and genetic propensity.

Physical Harms: •

The physical harms of cannabis are well documented

What adjustments, if any, would need to be made to the referendum for the NZMA to support it?

NZMA’s position is clear on cannabis and its effects. The referendum is a yes or no to the use of cannabis (which is a harmful drug that causes a range of health and social harms at the individual and community level).

We would encourage the Government to undertake targeted initiatives to reduce the social inequalities that increase the risk of harm from drug use and meaningful investment into education and treatment programmes. We would also like to see a public education campaign to demonstrate that ‘soft’ or ‘recreational’ drugs, as any drug, can have serious and harmful effects.

NZMA believes that it is consistent with a principle of harm reduction for the possession of cannabis for personal use to attract civil penalties such as court orders requiring counselling and education (particularly for young and firsttime offenders), or attendance at ‘drug courts’ which divert users from the criminal justice system into treatment.

Anything else you'd like students in particular to know?

Where individuals do use cannabis and experience the harms related to its use this should be regarded as a health issue, and cannabis users should be directed to education or treatment programmes not managed through the judicial system. There is a contradiction that while the government is pushing for SmokeFree 2025 and recognising the harms of cigarette smoking, there is being proposed—at the same time—a Bill which will allow smoking of cannabis which also causes lung cancer.

NEWS: ISSUE 15

11

News Recap MĀORI WARD FOR NEW PLYMOUTH

COVID VACCINE PROGRESS

New Plymouth district councillors have voted in favour of setting up a Māori ward in the region, with a vote of 12-2

3 potential COVID-19 vaccines have been tested recently, one conducted

by Oxford University

INDIGENOUS ONLINE SHOPPING CENTRE TO LAUNCH The website is set to open later this month with the opportunity for Māori and Pasifika businesses to sell and display products

12

NEWS: ISSUE 15

COMPASSIONATE EXEMPTIONS BAN LIFTED

RECORD BREAKING LAMINGTON

The government has lifted the ban on compassionate exemptions resulting in an influx of requests

Auckland social enterprise sets Guinness World Record for heaviest lamington, weighing 2,770kg

MĀORI LEARNING RESOURCES GIVEN $1.5M A Ministry of Education initiative, “Te Aho Ngārahu”, has been given an extra $1.5m, increasing its annual funding to $3.41m

CENTRAL LIBRARY DEVELOPMENTS

TE HERENGA WAKA– VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON

Wellington City Councillors have opted for High level Earthquake strengthening on the Wellington central library with public consultation being sent out later in the month

Record around 700 more enrolments for Tri 2 than normal, 550 of which received fees free scholarships

Shit News LET’S PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF, SHALL WE? HERE’S YOUR RECAP ON WTF HAPPENED IN #NZPOL LAST WEEK

MONDAY 20TH JULY Winston from the North calls out David Seymour, serving us one of the best tweets we’ve seen this election year (so far):

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Iain LeesGalloway. The Minister for Workplace Relations was having a relationship with someone in his workplace. There’s a lot of problems with the hierarchy of this situation, not a fan of that at all.

“There’d be three hits - you hitting me, me hitting you, and the ambulance hitting 100. Thank your lucky stars I’m not into physical violence.”

King Si (Bridges) came into the Salient office and recorded a podcast with the Young Matt Show (online now). We told him that we loved his Yak content and he said ‘thank you’.

Our bookie has offered odds—$2.60 for Seymour, $2.32 for Peters, and $1.33 for No Decision.

Winston from the North pulls parliamentary privilege and accuses a bunch of people for leaking his superannuation info.

We put $50 on Peters.

National MP Andrew Falloon announces he is stepping down from his role in the National Party due to mental health problems.

He fucking lied.

The National party situation has become far worse; Andrew Falloon sent inappropriate images of a pornographic nature to a teenager, and other allegations have since come up.

That is just not the go, really not impressed at all.

To be honest, we’re already over this week's politics.

TUESDAY 21 JULY ST

Judith Collins gets Falloon to resign, weirdos on Twitter claim that what he’s done is fine, or something weird like that.

Some journos later said Crusher was soft on Falloon, rumours say they want a Game of Thrones style ‘shaming’ (get the bell ready).

WEDNESDAY 22

ND

JULY

Woke last night to the sound of thunder.

This definitely made me forget about him facilitating his mates going to Antarctica on taxpayer money.

We’re stoked that we put that $50 on Peters, odds have changed and he’s much more of a favourite now.

For some reason, relating to Winston’s allegations—David Seymour was ejected from the house but now they are on the search for him?

This pre-election madness is next level!

This is all entertaining but a lot of this actually affects human lives which is really stink.

THURSDAY 23RD JULY David Seymour finally comments on the Young Act situation since allegations first arose months ago, poor form from him. They should’ve fronted way back then.

The closest thing I’ve got to a silver lining is that the Northern Bass lineup looks pretty sweet.

THURSDAY 23RD JULY Who tf even knows. We went to print on Thursday.

Wake up to the news that Crusher Collins had some leaked info about certain allegations about a Labour Party MP. Jacinda called an 11am presser and we learned the MP is

NEWS: ISSUE 15

13

14

Discussions with Dealers WORDS BY KIRSTY FRAME | SHE/HER

Most of us have a guy. We live in a country of high cannabis consumption and 2-degrees of separation —the math is solid.

There’s a pretty good chance that some of you reading this are a guy. And while I could go on to discuss the complexities of an industry so male-dominated that two simple words could achieve such understandings, I won’t. We have many people working in the criminalised cannabis industry more than our parents probably think. Some dealers are students running a side-hustle, some are full-time creatives on-call for deals, and many are very nice people. They aren’t the stock-photo type of person Paula Bennett wants us to believe, but most of us will know that—because most of us have a guy.

If the referendum gets more than 50% yes votes, and then if the proposed bill passes in parliament, New Zealand will legalise recreational marijuana. We’ve heard the potential this has for our economy, our current justice system, but we haven’t heard much about what this possible new world will mean for our current dealers.

The transition from an illegal to a legal market won’t necessarily be straightforward. Since weed was criminalised in the 60’s, dealers, and particularly growers, have continued to become experts in a horticulture industry that they’re not allowed to be experts in. Many dealers and growers nowadays have a skill for good weed like winemakers for good grapes. The potential held for this expertise to develop under a legal system is bound to be exciting.

The prospect of this revolutionary new market already has many people making moves to capitalise—I’m sure your flatmate Kyle has already pitched his start up. There are empty warehouses situated across the country waiting to be filled if we transition to regulate an already existing industry.

However, these warehouses aren’t being scouted by my guy, or my guy’s guy. It seems the vast majority of those investing don’t have a background like those operating underground.

In this possible new weed economy, who stands to profit most? The guy above, or below ground?

I don’t have those answers. What I do have is a handful of Wellington-based dealers who were comfortable chatting about their industry and how this possible law reform will affect them.

Our first dealer, Tommy*, grew up growing weed with his family and like many others has a lived experience in this field. He’s part of a small collective of friends who often put their money together to buy in bulk. It’s mostly full-time for them, though they still struggle financially. “People have an assumption that we make a lot of money, which isn’t the case,” he admits.

Eric* is a student and dealer. He’s been selling on the side since moving to Wellington a few years ago. After losing his part-time job suddenly last year, he’s bumped up the dealing to supplement his Studylink income.

Mary* is one of few female dealers in what we know to be a predominantly male-heavy industry. Being such has come with funny moments, like when new customers walk blank past her because they expected her to be an actual guy. She operates mostly full time and has been for a few years now.

Jane* has been dealing since they started uni, when they too began experiencing financial hardship. They’re genuinely passionate about the plant, particularly the medicinal benefits. Since graduating, they’ve increased their dealing capacity, and are “never not on call.”

FEATURE: DISCUSSIONS WITH DEALERS

15

The dealing environment differs immensely between urban and rural spaces, which is important context as we’re just scratching the Welly-specific surface here. For those, consumers or otherwise, unaware of the current landscape— it functions on a multitude of levels. If wholesalers, or “head honcho’s” as Eric puts it, are at the top, then distribution trickles down and down an unlimited number of dealers until it reaches your guy. Tommy tells me that many dealers have past experience in growing, but for the most part they’re what you could consider freelancers.

In an established industry with no regulation, no taxes, and at the higher end, instances of gang-related violence, many individual dealers have long been trying to create safe work.

“People assume we’re criminals, gang members, that we do nothing for society,” Mary tells me. “I prioritise maintaining friendly, safe, and reliable relationships with my customer base.”

Weed dealing is a relational career. In recent years, Wellington has seen a series of tinny houses shut down by police, which were predominantly led by gang members.

Nowadays in the city it’s these more independent dealers operating through expanding networks—the tale of ‘my friend knows a guy’.

"Some dealers are students running a side-hustle, some are full-time creatives on-call for deals, and many are very nice people."

Tommy explains how dealers now operate mostly under these connections and exclusive online servers. It looks like reddit, but illegal. He didn’t want me to name the server, but if you know, I’m sure you do. The online servers are established, there’s no doubt about that. These forums have laws of their own too: harm reduction policies, etiquette guides, reviews, and the opportunity to simply blacklist anyone behaving out of line.

“People assume it’s unethical, but we’ve got these set ups for a reason,” like in a recent example the forum was used to provide a heads-up that a dealer “had gang members around.”

In this relational framework, dealers establish good connections with a lot of their customer-base. Tommy explains that check-ins between dealers and customers are normal practice: “If someone’s sussing from you all the time, you’re going to have the chat, like, ‘are you all good? It’s not normal to be sussing that much weed.'”

Eric has also denied sales. Once, for instance, a customer had been consuming “a whole cocktail” of substances, and it didn’t feel ethical. “I met a few kids at a party who definitely looked well under 18, I actually turned them away too.”

16

WORDS BY KIRSTY FRAME

Despite this, the unofficially regulated system still isn’t benefiting everyone. As Tommy explains, “the way things are now is bad,” and while weed is tame, “there’s no real way to verify what you’re getting and if it’s good. Despite it being a really transparent system, there’s still so much room to do whatever you want. You can lie a lot, it can get pretty shit.”

It is evident that while many are trying to regulate unregulated systems, there are still going to be setbacks demanding new processes. The proposed bill as it stands aims to cut out these extensive processes, among other things. In a legalised land of the long white cloud, customers would leave the exclusive forums for “consumption premises”, or grow a couple plants at home. Most dealers see the potential of this proposed legislation. They—and often their clients and wider communities—support the referendum and the bill.

However, the nature of the weed industry means that dealers as stakeholders have not been able to be consulted on the bill. Mary explains that she’d fear prosecution by coming forward in discussions. Due to the industry’s underground existence, those who may be most affected by the outcomes of the referendum—with the most vested interest in regulations of the bill—feel they’ve not been able to make their voices heard.

Mary’s concerns are about the environment the bill is being written in. She believes in full decriminalisation first, which would allow dealers to contribute without these fears.

She wishes there were protections and support for those currently in the industry wanting to engage. Instead, it feels like those who have “never been interested until now” are getting opportunities first. Mary is also worried about the licensing fees, saying they “might be the thing that keeps

me from independently reaching my dreams.”

Within the bill are elements which some of these dealers feel aren’t equitable. It’s clear that licencing requirements will be tight. Applications will be assessed based on a number of background factors and includes police vetting— though previous convictions deemed “less serious” won’t disqualify a person itself. This hasn’t stopped dealers from feeling apprehensive of the barriers this bill might be putting in place for them.

Mary adds however that “everyone in the industry has a different idea” on what their ideal environment looks like.

Tommy is unsettled that bigger corporations will have better opportunity to gain control. The proposed bill provides a cap on production, with no single license holder occupying more than 20% of the market. But despite this, the reality is that those above ground are likely getting a decent head-start.

While Tommy has plans to transition to the legal market, potentially through the tourism sector, he’s aware it’s not going to be easy for everyone. Without adequate support channels for those essentially losing their job, he worries some dealers risk going down darker paths. Tommy adds that “we just want normal jobs, a lot of us don’t feel great about being dealers.”

There will “undoubtedly” be dealers voting no, however, as they don’t think the new system will serve them. Tommy explains that some don’t feel they’ll have the same opportunity to establish themselves and a business. But ultimately, a lot of people in the industry want to enjoy their work without fear of prosecution.

Eric likes the proposed bill “quite a lot,” but says the government needs to focus more on supporting those with addictions as well. He thinks the government needs to acknowledge the expertise of growers and dealers, because it will allow them to have a “leg up over these people who just have cash.” While he’s prepared for the halt of sales if legalised, he believes it could lead to a job for him in a dispensary. Eric echoes what Chlöe Swarbrick’s key statement has been: this legislation is about getting money out of the hands of gangs and into the hands of the government.

Most dealers are anticipating a decline in sales if weed is legalised, and will likely either opt out or transition into the legal market. Jane says they’d rather be put out of business and be legal than get more money through the black market.

They’ll likely stop selling if the bill passes. Jane however wants to start their own indoor growing facility and to teach people how to make CBD oil. The potential legalisation will remove the barriers for Jane to voice their passion in this industry and remove the embedded stigma. For them, “it’s not about the monetization, it’s about the ability to share passions with people and create a community.”

Ultimately, Tommy, Eric, Mary, and Jane seem optimistic about the conversations the public are being given the time to have. They, and those around them, are excited for the possible new world that this legislation holds potential to bring. However, it’s clear they, and their communities, are feeling the limitations to engage in these conversations and have equity in the potential market.

What is evident from these four separate conversations is that, for the most part, our dealers don’t match the picture painted to us. As Eric explained to me, dealers are as diverse as any community or industry. The assumptions placed on them are limiting their ability to join conversations, such as the legalisation of their industry. As we’ve concluded, our guys are truly the real experts in this field. We already have an established cannabis industry in New Zealand, it’s simply not regulated.

For generations, people have been growing, selling, consuming weed here, and all around the world.

Criminalising the plant has not eradicated it anywhere.

There are dangerous environments within New Zealand’s drug industry, including those who deal weed. Many dealers agree that the way forwards from this issue is legalising their industry.

And while we are heading in a direction with great potential, we shouldn’t leave our dealers behind. We contribute to this industry too. It seems we as consumers are forgetting the privilege we have to engage in these discussions while our experts are stuck underground.

Going forwards, we owe it to the industry we consume from to ensure they can get a leg up into this potential new market.

We ought to look out for our guys like they look out for us. *names have been changed, obviously

FEATURE: DISCUSSIONS WITH DEALERS

17

Legalise or Decriminalise?

WORDS BY SALLY WARD | SHE/HER

Circa 2013

opposed to decriminalise?

My friend was on her way to a tinny house—the 17 year old first time buyer that she was—and asked me:

Quite succinctly, Dr Hutton stated that: “regulation works much better than decriminalisation.” We discussed a number of reasons. Underground markets thrive in decriminalisation frameworks because decriminalisation still allows the underground market to exist. Regulated markets include products that can be taxed, with money being put into treatment, rehabilitation and education­—as is the plan in New Zealand.

Do I need my ID? No Lucy, you do not.

A huge 80% of New Zealanders will have tried cannabis by the time they are 21. The fact that it is ‘illegal’ doesn’t stop people’s infatuation with illicit substances. In fact, illegality may make it appear cooler? And yes David, I’m talking about your children. In the handful of other jurisdictions that have legalised, there’s been essentially no spike in consumption —it’s as though people who want to use cannabis are already doing it.

The cannabis debate can be a hot house for moralistic views.

Both the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ camps aren’t exempt from leaning into gut feelings on whether drug use is Right or Wrong.

Look, 2020 has gone real sideways. You may not have had much time to sit down and do your research, which makes two of us. I had my own moral stance on the issue, but I was worried that it was based on my own echo chamber, not facts. On this quest for facts, I spoke to criminologist Dr Fiona Hutton about the referendum and subsequent bill.

"Legalisation shouldn’t be seen as an endorsement of drug use—it should be seen as a mechanism for reducing harm."

Dr Hutton has spent over 20 years researching the issues related to legal and illegal drugs. She highlighted that the purpose of the bill is to regulate drug use, with the intent of reducing harm. After following the evidence for two decades, she hopes to see the referendum get over the line. The bill is, of course, not set in stone and there would be an opportunity for submissions on particular points later.

Legislation allows for education and awareness around the drug, whereas decriminalisation does not. Drug use isn’t an out of sight, out of mind situation. According to Dr Hutton, “the greatest myth about prohibition is that it stops people accessing and using drugs. It doesn’t.”

So my main question was: why should we legalise as

18

Legalisation means that the product can be regulated.

My mate Lucy would need her ID and would need to be at least 20 years old to purchase cannabis. The elegant tin foil packaging would be replaced with clear labelling, stating how much THC + CBD was in the product. Certain mistakes that were made with alcohol and tobacco can be avoided.

For example, the model would not allow the targeted advertising of cannabis products to young people, and would include health warnings.

The proposed Bill establishes a Regulation Authority. It would function to run education campaigns which aim to raise awareness of the harms associated with cannabis use

and to promote help seeking and safer use. It would also aim to promote research that focused on evidence-based approaches and preventative measures, as well through evaluations of the legal markets if the referendum got a 'yes' majority. Legalisation shouldn’t be seen as an endorsement of drug use—it should be seen as a mechanism for reducing harm.

It also means that drug use can be treated as a health issue.

People are much less likely to seek help for something that is criminal or still considered illegal. Many struggle to disclose such information with their medical professionals because of this. Noting that labelling weed as ‘illegal’ has done very little to stop people using it, Dr Hutton pointed to ever-plenty evidence. Evidence that shows our current approach to cannabis is not working, because our young and vulnerable can still access the drug with ease.

Leaving Dr Hutton’s office, I had a lot to think about. I have kept up reading and reflecting on what’s at stake.

We must consider the stigma surrounding criminalisation.

Stigma can be a lifelong burden that prevents people from reaching their potential or overcoming health issues.

Especially for lower level crimes like possession. Why stigmatise some for doing something that most of us have already done ourselves? If my law degree has taught me anything, it’s that punitive approaches do not provide rehabilitation. Remembering that under the proposed model, failure to comply with licensing regulations would still be illegal.

university I have seen a number of friends consume cannabis heavily. Most of them reached a stage where they kind of grew out of it, but some haven’t. We need to do more for those people who develop problems with cannabis (and other drugs), and many more who face hardship under the current model. Regulation and education would allow people to make better calls about relying on substances and ultimately use in healthier ways.

Legalising cannabis isn’t just like, ‘yeehaw let’s all get stoned on Victoria Street, I love gummies.’ It’s like: let’s protect vulnerable people and actively acknowledge the harm drug use causes.

Whatever your vibe is, remember to do your research and make an informed decision. This referendum is important because it puts the regulation of recreational drug use on the table. Chances like this don’t come round every election.

Keep it fun, keep it fresh, and most of all vote. Once again for the people at the back: VOTE.

We also know that Māori and Pasifika are disproportionately represented in the justice system for drug related offences.

Criminalisation of drug use is largely based on a punitive approach, aligning with the American-founded ‘war on drugs.’ The war on drugs has long been acknowledged as a racist vendetta. The reality that two young people will face different outcomes for the same crime based on the colour of their skin is not justice. It’s long past time to step up and do something about this, especially in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests in Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin attended by thousands. These protests demanded reflection on injustice in our own country.

Go and take a look at the proposed legislation, or the more palatable summary of the bill at referendums.govt. nz. It’s based on evidence and it’s about reducing harm.

Recreational drug use can be harmful, even the most ardent ‘yes’ voters should remember this. It can also be fun, and given that most New Zealanders have tried it by the age of 21, people do think it's fun. Cannabis is the fourth most consumed drug in Aotearoa—coming in behind caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco are regulated, so we must ask ourselves—why do we treat cannabis differently? Do we treat it differently based on morality and outdated stereotypes? What evidence are we relying on about the appropriateness of prohibition?

"Legalising cannabis isn’t just like, ‘yeehaw let’s all get stoned on Victoria Street, I love gummies.’

It’s like: let’s protect vulnerable people and actively acknowledge the harm drug use causes."

In this current unregulated environment, we can’t keep checks on consumption. During my nearly 6 years at

FEATURE: LEGALISE OR DECRIMINALISE?

19

20

KARLIN

MORRISON RAJU, AS ABOVE, SO BELOW, (SOLVE ET COAGULA), 5 COLOUR SILKSCREEN PRINT ON MATTE BLACK STEEL (2019) 21

A Guide to Talking Cannabis WORDS BY YES2020

INTRODUCTION TO YES2020: We are a non-partisan campaign with a mission to empower people with the skills and resources to have evidence-based conversations surrounding the Cannabis Referendum.

The Cannabis Referendum is steeped in misconception and racist half-truths, which is why it is important that we are having these important evidence-based discussions in the leadup to the referendum.

Over 39% of ‘persuadable’ voters in the Abortion Referendum in Ireland were ultimately swayed by conversations they had with their friends and families. We believe that building on existing relationships and connecting with our communities to have those difficult and uncomfortable conversations will be how we can achieve a YES outcome for the 2020 Cannabis Referendum.

Key steps to having a values-based discussion about cannabis:

KNOW YOUR SUBJECT It’s important that you are prepared for any possible counterarguments you may face. You can check out our instagram for some great infographics and posts breaking down the proposed bill and exactly what a vote for yes will mean in Aotearoa.

PICK YOUR MOMENT Are you in the mood to talk? Are they? Make sure you catch them at a good time to ensure best effectiveness.

START BY LISTENING Make sure you understand their concerns so you can respond effectively. You want to open the discussion to understand, not to convince.

VALUES BASED DISCUSSION Find a shared value. The more common ground the two of you have, the more likely you are to listen and try to understand where each other is coming from. From experience, older family members are primarily concerned with the health effects of legalising cannabis. Find a way to acknowledge their concern, while also advancing your view.

22

"I agree that long-term cannabis use can be harmful, particularly for a developing brain. However, the proposed legislation will allow for us to control the potency and quantity of cannabis being consumed."

"The fact is, up to 28.6% of 15-24 year olds are regularly using cannabis despite it being illegal—by legalising cannabis we can provide quality and safety controls to ensure that they can do so safely."

STAY CALM, POLITE, AND KEEP IT LIGHT. It’s never easy discussing topics you may disagree on.

Understanding and changed minds will never happen in hostile environments. If you find yourself getting frustrated, take a break and pick it up later.

HAVE A DISCUSSION, NOT AN ARGUMENT. Explore ideas together, don’t just tell them what to think.

You want to build off one another with personal stories and facts. No one is ever convinced by another someone simply asserting their opinion.

ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH. It’s not your job to provide them with all of the facts, but you can point them in the right direction. Health not Handcuffs, the Drug Foundation, and the YES 2020 websites all have information accessible to anyone.

CHOOSE YOUR MOST CONVINCING ARGUMENTS. The strongest overall point is that legalisation will reduce cannabis related harms. However, you can tailor this to whoever you’re having a conversation with. Talk to your Young-Nat pals about the economic benefits of cannabis, or talk about harm-reduction to the Karens in your life.

PEOPLE WILL LIKELY CARE MORE IF THEY KNOW WHY THEY SHOULD. Are there any personal facts or stories about cannabis related harms you could share?

FEATURE: A GUIDE TO TALKING CANNABIS

23

Going Nowhere VIC BELL | KĀI TAHU | SHE/HER

As a badge-carrying narc who is scared of getting a contacthigh at parties, I have next to nothing to say on the topic of weed. It’s pretty harmless unless you have substance abuse issues, a respiratory condition, or it triggers mental distress.

We do need to decriminalise it and retroactively pull a whole lot of brown people out of jail.

Detailing all the locations I had the munchies in 2011 would be boring and irrelevant. They say you should write what you know. What I do know about is weeds. Gardening.

Permaculture. If you’re wanting to carve out some green space in the concrete jungle, I am here to help.

An actual backyard/garden You lucky son of a gun. If you’re renting from a property developer then use temporary planter boxes because fuck giving them your free labour. Behind most liquor stores are pallets you can take away. Using the back of a hammer, carefully prise the nails out of the pallets to separate the planks of wood. Then hammer together a rectangular frame (no bottom or top). Place on the ground in the sunniest, least windy patch you can find, and fill your boxes with 50/50 topsoil and compost.

If you’re a novice or time-poor then planning crop rotation and companion planting is a bit beyond your reach so go for “perpetuals” that don’t disrupt the soil too much (no tomatoes). My top picks for Wellington are: perpetual spinach, silverbeet, hardy lettuce (cos, cavolo nero), pak/ bok choy, rhubarb, zucchini, peas. If you’re invested you can plant broccoli, celery, and root vegetables. But let’s be real— if you’re the type of bitch that struggles to start an essay earlier than the night before, you’re hardly going to seed your brassicas 10 months in advance.

Outdoor pots Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes. Do not put these shits in the ground unless you know what you’re doing. Pots are amazing because you don't have to assess and chemically adjust your property's soil, and you can move the pots around with the afternoon sun. Tomatoes are prima donnas but don’t be put off growing your own seedlings—it is a piece of cake.

Put seeds fingernail-deep in potting mix in seedling trays on your windowsill 1-2 months in advance, then transplant to pots. I rate going to Commonsense Organics to get the Island Bay tomato variety. Bred here over 100 years ago, they are Italian heritage but super acclimatised for Wellington.

Every year take some juicy numbers, smash them open, and dry the seeds between two paper towels to use for next year.

The circle of life baby.

Other great potting options include: capsicums, chilli peppers, lemon and lime trees, hardy lettuces/spinach.

One window sill Can your flatmates not be trusted when it comes to ‘accidentally’ eating your food? Do you have a windowless room? One windowsill is all it takes. All manner of herbs (my favourites are basil and coriander), spring onions, and baby lettuces. An old co-worker managed to grow two metre tall sunflowers in our office.

Word to the wise: dRaiNaGe. Allow for drainage, or your plants will easily become waterlogged, and in a mouldy Aro Valley flat they will likely rot. Be careful not to over water, and if the water doesn't seem to be draining into the dish then prop the container on a chopsticks/toothpicks structure.

Raxing the feijoas off the neighbour’s tree Self-explanatory.

24

ISSUE 15: COLUMNS

To Be Frank FRANKIE DALE | SHE/HER

Q: How do you deal with being ghosted?

Now, you may be surprised by this… but it's true—I’ve been ghosted before. The nervously checking your phone, random sweats, and that weird anxiety that starts in your stomach and results in insane behaviour and excuses as to why they haven’t text you back. Give it up Frankie—Thomas didn’t get lost on his bush walk, he posted on Instagram a photo of his dog this morning.

I once went on a date so great that I stayed over and we talked all night and fell asleep tangled in each other's arms, sober. We made plans to see each other two days from then, he wanted to go on a big walk up some mountain—I clearly had no interest in walking up a mountain but I'd do it for love, wouldn’t you?

The big day rolled around… by 2pm I considered texting him first, but wasn't too bothered. Besides, I'm doing my own thing today, my best friend has a UTI and I’m absolutely going to do my readings.

It's a tale as old as time: I caved, texted him, and never heard back. Not ever. Initially, I was a wreck. My sensitive brain was coming up with reasons as to why he had ghosted me. “He didn’t wanna see me because I told him I actually do appreciate Adam Sandler’s films” or “maybe my pubes were too long—I knew it.”

Honestly, we really need to start normalising how gross ghosting is. It’s not nice to leave people in the lurch, questioning their worth and wondering what part of them you didn't like. I’m no saint, but you already knew that. We’ve all ghosted before, it’s just the easier way out. To all the boys I’ve ghosted before, know that I’ve grown.

Let’s stop ghosting 101: A simple message like “I enjoyed the other night but i’m not sure I want to continue this further” IS SO FINE. That message goes a long way, believe me.

And lastly, if you're being ghosted it’s best you know they’re losers now, rather than in 6 months when they randomly stop replying and you're actually devo’d. Ghosting’s for the spineless—do better!

Q: How to tell people you're annoyed instead of saying ok?

I am the absolute master of the “its ok :)” vibe. To be passive seems a lot easier, or sometimes not even passive—letting it brush under the carpet also seems to do the trick, right?

As someone who hates confrontation but has a really short temper this has always been a problem for me. But I think there's something to be said for communicating in a calm and approachable way.

It’s so scary having to confront a close friend about something that’s upset you or simply annoyed you. My advice to this is, choose your battles wisely and always approach it with poise. I mean, if this is your friend or partner—you love them and two wrongs don’t make a right. Don't be irrationally angry, and definitely sleep on it. If you still feel annoyed or hurt the next day, then confront the issue because there's nothing worse than when being annoyed turns into resentfulness.

I think people are scared to confront issues in fear of being gaslit and/or receiving the most cursed message ever “i'M SoRry yOu fEel thAt waY” If you do happen to get that reply, the problem in your relationship may be a whole lot deeper than we thought and we need to take necessary action, and quick. Your feelings should be validated in some way or simply understood. As long as you're open, calm, and not unreasonably aggressive, then the person you’re confronting should accept they've made you feel some type of way.

Draft out a message, get your mum or lecturer to go over it and send it. Say no to bottled up anger.

ISSUE 15: COLUMNS

25

Green-splaining CELINA MONKHOUSE | SHE/HER

LET’S GET GREEN...(ER) I compost, only buy second-hand clothes, and bring my coveted keepcup wherever I go. Am I tarnishing my carefullycurated (though I hate to admit it), eco-conscious image by smoking weed? And if I am… is that so wrong?

These are the questions that have been plaguing me for the past few weeks. Don’t get me wrong—I love smoking a joint while crying to Mitski. I love wondering how I can become the main character in my own coming of age film just as much as the next girl. One fateful night however, I asked myself the dreaded question: are the peach-flavoured papers my friend bought me environmentally friendly?

Little did I know, this was just the tip of the iceberg, and peach-flavoured papers were, quite honestly, the least of my problems. My journey into the eco-friendly stoner world was yet to begin.

It turns out weed isn’t all that green. Weed production can be as harmful to the environment as plastic. This is mainly due to the enormous quantities of light and water it requires, not to mention the actual plastic it’s often packaged in. Add that to the disposable cardboard filters, bleached white papers, and perhaps even the packet of chips you eat in the same sitting—and you’ve got a practice that doesn’t quite live up to it’s au naturale reputation.

Obviously, you can believe in environmental justice and smoke weed. It would be reductive to categorise the two as mutually exclusive. What I’m asking is whether you should be questioning how you smoke weed and its widespread congruence with an environmentally clean image—not what you fundamentally believe about yourself.

For many people, the environment is an uncomfortable and difficult topic to discuss. So is cannabis. We tend to categorise the two topics. When you’re high you’re just that —high. And when you’re protesting against the Government to divest from fossil fuels, you’re doing your part as a leftist Wellington student. Often we neglect to explore the

26

ISSUE 15: COLUMNS

intersection that these two issues have with other issues, and with each other. We tend to separate the practice of smoking weed from the reality of its impact, and view it as no more than a ~chill~ pastime with minor consequences and a lot of misguided fiction around it.

And unless you’ve been in level-4 lockdown with no wifi for your whole life, you probably know that the environment’s in a sorry state, and so will we if we don’t act fast. It’s high time to contemplate the junction between weed and the environment.

Compared to the average Friday night of a second year which likely involves an inordinate amount of canned/bottled drinks and/or darts, smoking a casual joint can feel akin to a whole day spent planting trees: virtuous and holy. In many ways, the reputation of weed as a free-loving drug precedes it; we would never readily associate it as environmentally harmful. The reality is though, that danger can arise when we drop the critical thinking we employ in other areas of our life (read: clothing, disposable cups, and our diets) for the joys of being stoned. We all too readily embrace the throwaway culture that is the antithesis of what we may stand for.

So, reuse those plastic bags for the next time you hit up your supplier. Use a pipe instead of papers, or if you do use papers, choose hemp—it’s a faster replenishing source than normal papers, which come from trees and are often bleached.

Glass bongs are also better than joints, but nothing scares me more than seeing disgusting old bong water in a boy’s damp flat—take from that what you will.

You can believe in environmental justice and also smoke weed, there’s no doubt about that. But don’t forget to scrutinise what you’re smoking and how you’re doing it.

Politically Minded

VUWSA

NIVA CHITTOCK | SHE/HER

MICHAEL TURNBULL | HE/HIM

AN EDUCATED CHOICE

WHAT’S WRONG WITH A BONG?

2020 is an abnormality of a year, to say the least. Love it or loathe it, one upshot is that this year’s election has added extras: referendums.

In VUWSA’s opinion, absolutely nothing. So grab your bewg, weapon, or rig, and take a rip diligent students of Vic. Class is in SESHion.

A referendum is a public vote, usually on an ‘important’ issue —important because it is controversial and impacts everyone.

To put it plainly, a referendum is a decision. Because of the delicate topic, it’s not possible for politicians to hold a vote in Parliament. It’s just too… touchy. So, they hand it over to us, the public.

In VUWSA’s last referendum, we asked the students of Vic if they supported a 'YES' vote on the 2020 Cannabis Referendum. Out of those who answered, an overwhelming 74.79% were in favour of legalising New Zealand’s favourite naughty herb. With this in mind, VUWSA has adopted a proactive stance towards pushing for a ‘Yes’ vote, and helping push for progressive and health based drug policy.

Bear in mind a referendum isn’t like a night-it’s-due-essay rushed through until your sleep-deprived brain screams "enough is enough." It’s not an exam taken beside your mate either—you don’t want to be copying their answers.

No, you need to make your own, educated and informed opinion. Easier said than done, I know. But definitely worth it.

Yeah, we’re voting on whether or not weed should be legal to use recreationally. You wouldn’t have to hide your bong during flat inspection or risk a police record for accidentally leaving a bud in your jacket pocket from the night before.

But there are a lot of rules that would come with legalisation.

Like how you have to be over 20 to use, or you can only grow four plants per household. And how you still can’t smoke inside, even if it is a weed café.

We all know the current drug laws of Aotearoa are pretty far from dope. They disproportionately impact our Maori and Pasifika communities, who already face the brunt of police prosecution and inequity. The prohibition-era style of drug legislation in Aotearoa has helped to create a thriving black market, allowing criminal enterprises to use lucrative cannabis sales to fund the pushing of other, far more harmful, drugs and enterprises within our communities.

On one hand, the Police’s de facto decriminalisation of cannabis undermines the legitimacy of our justice system.

On the other hand, convictions for marijuana use clog the cone-piece of New Zealand's courts, lowering it’s efficiency.

So now that you can TH-SEE where we’re coming from, how can YOU get involved to spark up some progressive drug reform in New Zealand?

Time to start thinking about which side of the fence you’re on, matey! Check out Re: Explainer: The Cannabis Referendum that could make Weed Legal in NZ for an easily digestible guide, complete with pictures. Shop around for facts on parliament.nz or have a look at the two sides to the campaign: Vote Yes (NZ Drug Foundation) and Say Nope to Dope.

VUWSA will be hosting a number of events where you can pick up some fat nugs of information around the upcoming referendum. First on the roster is a POTluck, with special guest and well-known youth chatter Chloe Swarbrick MP. Swing around to the Memorial Theatre on the 29th of July from 12-1pm for a good old values based chat.

Happy opinioning!

University students—stalwart defenders of the devils lettuce for generations—now have the opportunity to shape the future of New Zealand's drug policy. This sesh is on us, because it’s about time we put the ‘we’ back into weed.

ISSUE 15: COLUMNS

27

King's Oak

Wind, snatching at painstakingly selected vintage attire drabbed over an alabaster frame. It swirls around the foot of an old oak.

Kingfisher in one hand, the gloss of a cherry red cigarette butt lost in the bright lights of the affair indoors.

"Fuck it's freezing cunt, let's go inside."

The grunts of the oak supporting its many patrons are lost amid amateur drum and bass cutting through the air, drawing out sharp jagged movements from the bodies of those under its enchantment.

Inside pulsates with sound. Chatter can be heard further up, the trunk of the hallway branching off into quiet worlds flooded with shallow pools of conversation.

Inebriated, the pools are easily mistaken by the swimmers as lakes of deep intensity. They trickle down the tree, droplets of conversation pooling on top of the oily music.

A smirk saunters over: "Bro, [REACTED] is here, hahaha."

The party dims, insecurity and paranoia casting shadows over it's inviting glow. Dark emotions rumble on the horizon, setting in for a late-night downpour.

Refuge from this deluge is found under the Kingfisher. Its crimson-colored metallic wings wrap around the alabaster frame—a make-do shelter from the monsoon of memories stained with a cringe, embarrassment, and regret.

"Come on, let's go outside for a dart."

Michael Wells

28

POETRY

HONOUR YOUR OWN SESH

Honour your own sesh like you’re a fucking legend shaking spliffs like metaphorical kisses for all those friends you love so dear for all the fresh acquaintances who’ve successfully passed your vibecheck share your bud like you share your love weed fairy procuring nugs from what looks like thin air but is really just the magic of openness & a stoner’s vulnerability heart on sleeve shaking stardust like keef rolling up with a twist of feeling flame held to endless everchanging rotations that roll through the night

Send your poems to poetry@salient.org.nz

for a moment’s immortality.

Devon Webb

POETRY

29

Baked

WORDS BY AINSLEY | SHE/HER

I’m tired of seeing your churned, green-speckled weed butters. It’s time for you to grow up and make some sophisticated dank oil for your naughty treats. Here’s the rundown on how to do it.

The science Weed oil is made by infusing cannabis into a carrier oil through a gentle heat, and it’s the base for any edibles you want to create. CBD and THC are fat-soluble, so they bind with fatty-acid molecules found in oils. The process of heating and ‘activating’ cannabis is called decarboxylation.

Some recipes ask you to do this by putting your weed into the oven at a low temp. Tbh I’m scared of it flying away with the oven fan, so this recipe actually decarbs the weed as it infuses.

Edibles take time to kick in, and you’ll be higher for longer.

It’s also difficult to accurately dose, or know the THC/CBD ratios of your kush. So, it’s important for you to go at a steady pace. If it’s your first time, get some friends round and just have a wee bit.

Finally, a disclaimer I am not an expert on cannabis oil. It’s a learning process —I’ve had some overdosed batches of brownies and some really good ones but I hope this may help start you off. I take no responsibility for you getting body-stoned.

Equipment

•

The crockpot your mum got for your flat. Or, make a double boiler—google it, it’s how you melt choccy. (Make sure you use a lid though, or your flat will smell dank)

•

¼oz / 7g herb with any fluffy bits, stalks, whatever ya got

•

Method: Loosely grind or chop your weed. You want to expose as much surface area for infusion, but don’t go too fine because you need to strain it after.

In the bottom of your crockpot/glass bowl, place your oil and your weed—stir and put the lid on. If you’re using the double boiler method, fill up your pot half-way with water and place your bowl on top. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl.

30

Some health and safety

Ingredients 1 cup of your chosen oil— coconut, olive, and canola work best, in that order.

Alternatively you could do half and half

Baking

A fine mesh sieve

•

A cheesecloth or thin tea towel

•

A glass jar with a tight lid to avoid spills

•

A cooking thermometer, if you have one

tea towel, and pour your infused oil into a jar. Gather the cheesecloth and squeeze out the remaining oil (you may want to wear gloves for this—you could absorb it).

Now you’re set! Chuck it in the fridge, or on a shelf in your cold, damp flat. Better living, everyone.

NON-BROWNIE RECIPES FOR YOUR LIQUID GOLD 1.

Drizzle a tsp on your avo toast in the morning, redefining the wake and bake.

Put your crockpot or stove on a low heat (no higher than 118°) for about 6-8 hours, and stir it occasionally. It might seem like a long ass time, but you want the low heat to activate the cannabinoids without burning, and this ensures maximum extraction.

2. Sauté your onions in the base of any meal with 2 tsps of your oil—flat meal with a twist.

Once that’s done, line your sieve with your cheesecloth/

4. Other baked goods (after yourself, of course), sub out the butter or oil.

BAKED BAKING

3. Keto? Put a tsp on top of your coffee to really make it bulletproof.

WEED BROWNIES Like all good food blogs, I’m making you read my backstory before getting into the recipe. The first brownie I ever made, I got too cheeky. I was told that a good amount of oil per serve is about 5ml. Naturally, I thought; fuck that I’m going to do 7-8ml instead. The brownies came out smelling and looking divine. My boy and I ate a piece, and after about an hour we decided to have another half each. Well let me tell you— we got not fun stoned. We were subsequently only able to lie down and anxiously stare at the ceiling for what felt like a lifetime. We also ended up dragging all of my bedding into the lounge to sleep, instead of, you know, just hopping into bed itself.

Ingredients:

After this journey of trial and error, I’ve managed to get a safe and delicious ratio down for you all. This is a decent entry-level brownie recipe, working out to be about 5ml of oil per serve. Cannot stress this enough: eagerness can lead to liability. It’s better to start small and then scale up if you find they’re not strong enough, especially because we never really know what our THC/CBD make up is When done safely, edibles can be fun as fuck. Remember to stock up on other non-weed edibles for your munches, and always, always, label your container.

•

1/3 cup (85ml) naughty oil

•

60g butter

•

220g dark chocolate

•

2 large eggs

•

1/2 cup brown sugar

•

1/2 cup white sugar

•

2 tsp vanilla extract

•

1/2 tsp salt

•

1 cup flour

Method: Preheat your oven to 200°C and line a square baking tin with baking paper.

2. Set up a double boiler by pouring 3cm of water into a pot, and placing a glass bowl on top. If you made the oil yourself, you’ll already have at least 6-8 hours experience of what a double boiler is. In the glass bowl, add your weed oil, butter and chocolate. Cook this, stirring occasionally until it’s all melted. Take off the heat and set this aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together your eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt until combined. Pour in the chocolate mixture and stir to combine. Add in the flour and fold gently with a spatula.

4. Pour the brownie batter into your lined baking tin and spread evenly. Pop this bad boy into the oven and cook for about 20 minutes. The brownie would’ve formed a nice crackly skin on top, and the centre will feel fudgy.

Nothing worse than a dry brownie!!

5. Let your beautiful cannabis creation cool in the tin for about five mins, before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

6. Once cool, slice your brownie into 16 even slices, which will mean each brownie should hopefully have just over 5ml per serve. Bon Appetit.

@ainsleybakes_

1.

BAKED BAKING

31

Hemp Product Review

MATTHEW CASEY | HE/HIM

As is known, with the entire cannabis debate, you don't have to smoke to vote yes. Alternatively, there are probably a few smokers who will vote no to legalisation.

If you stray away from the understanding of cannabis in terms of ‘weed’, there is also a very famous variety of cannabis called ‘hemp’, which has many uses—from paper, to clothes, all the way through to food.

This week, we’re talking about hemp in two different capacities. One you can find at Commonsense Organics, the other at your local diary. We’re reviewing hemp protein powder and hemp energy drinks—which questionably, does not actually contain any hemp.

MACRO WHOLEFOODS HEMP PROTEIN POWDER 3.7/5 200g / $8 at Countdown I examine this brown, powdery, 5-health-star-rating bag of hemp protein powder. The packaging states it’s meant to provide “power to the muscles”, so I thought that is what I should judge it on. As I take my first sip, I feel a very earthy, chalky type of taste—but that’s exactly what I thought it would taste like. Though, I would personally rather have a more flavoursome protein powder. I rated the consumability 2.6/5, but I then decided to mix it in with my coffee and raised it to a solid 4.2/5. Putting the hemp protein powder with coffee is way better, aye. On the back they advise adding it to smoothies so that could be good too.

The next big question is: Does it provide power to the muscles?

The answer is yes. Before I tried the protein powder I did 10 press ups, very comfortably. After trying the protein powder I was able to do 15 press ups. It may’ve been placebo but I felt like Levi, the “big is Good” Mitre 10 MEGA guy.

Obviously I won't be able to get a great grasp after consuming this protein powder once, but I reckon it helped.

32

REVIEWS: HEMP PRODUCTS

HEMP ENERGY DRINK, LEMON, LIME & BITTERS FLAVOR 2.3/5 500ml / $4 at Mena’s Convenience Store These sensationalist, overtly weedthemed, canned energy drinks come in a few different flavours. But here I am just focusing on the Lemon, Lime & Bitters flavour, available at the dairy on your way up to Kelburn campus. I find jokes around these types of products funny at times, I also have a sub-par sense of humour. The joke loses steam very fast because the second you turn the can over you find a clarification in between two exclamation marks.

They felt the need to clarify there was no cocaine, marijuna, or any other drugs. For an edgy drink, maybe a bit too edgy to the point of irresponsible.

The drink itself tastes all good, it has an off brand Sprite-like flavour to it. I don’t think the price factor is welcoming. It cost me like $4 and if you want to drink a lemon and lime drink that’s not Sprite, the bros at Pepsi have this wild alternative called 7-Up. I first had this drink when I was a much younger youth because—*lol thats so crack up, it’s like weed but it's actually just an energy drink and it's not weed or anything like it at all*—but I wont act like I haven't had this drink on multiple occasions. I need to again highlight the $4 price point does not make it as tempting as other, similar drinks on the market.

I do understand that this hemp energy drink came out at a different time when New Zealand didn't have such a proliferation of hemp use. The energy drinks are definitely a bit far from hemp-related in terms of content, but interesting nonetheless. I feel as though the hemp protein powder is decent, if that's what you’re interested in. I’ll stick to getting my protein from cooking eggs for breakfast—but if you’re interested in trying hemp products, Macro wholefoods hemp protein powder is the way to go.

My First Time

ERIC FORMAN

The first time that I tried weed put the entire plot line of The Hangover film series into context. It suddenly seemed plausible that the combo of drugs and alcohol could make somebody forget an entire night. While the first time that I tried weed didn’t end up in me losing my best friend, it did give me a spiritual grounding that I’ve never experienced before.

Last week, on July 10th I ripped my first bong. It wasn’t all fun and roses, in fact it really fucken hurt. As I was new to bong smoking, I got my friend to light it. I didn’t tell her that it was my first time smoking a bong, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when she proceeded to give me a very long hit.

I wasn’t prepared for the mad rush of smoke into my lungs after she removed the plug so bong water suddenly made a home across the walls in her room.

After the hit I couldn’t stop coughing, thinking in this crazed state that I had officially committed a felony. I could feel the smoke coiling around my esophagus, and while my friend said that this was the fastest way to get high, I couldn’t help but feel scarred by the experience.

After the coughing died down I quickly began to taste this curious, flavourful sensation right at the back of my tongue. Googling these symptoms, I realised to my relief that it wasn’t the onset of chlamydia, but that I was about to hit the high of my life. In preparation I got up to start playing some lo-fi hip hop and sat back, waiting for the ride to begin.

My first adventure being high can only be described as a one-way trip through vibe land. Vibrations echoed in my soul and I found myself being carried alongside the beat.

At one point I could feel myself playing the guitar with the music. Being a music lover, it was perhaps one of my favorite experiences listening to music. For the first time in my life, I truly felt relaxed.

After this trip my mind began to slow down. I was like Clooney in Gravity floating alone through space. After a while, I began to have the munchies, so naturally I grabbed the biggest bag of nacho chips that I could find. That’s when the slow motion kicked in. It felt so natural to be eating these chips slowly.

With every crunch I could taste new flavor profiles. I could feel each chip latch onto my tongue in a way that I had never felt before. I was in an explosive romance with each bite; I didn’t know whether I was Anastasia or Grey but I definitely still wanted more.

After this experience I decided that it was time for bed, so I decided to chill out by watching some of The Emperor's New Groove. This was one of my favourite experiences of the night as I found every song, character and plot twist deeply fulfilling and comedic. By the end I was completely chilled out and proceeded to have the deepest sleep of my life.

I can count the number of times that I have tried weed on one hand. I come from a family dead set against it, so there’s always been a part of me which wanted to try it. I’ve simply never understood why ‘boomers’ disagree with the ethics of weed when they’re more than willing to drink each night, fucking up their liver and call it relaxation.

When people talk about getting high, they all have different experiences. For me, I just let the experience flow naturally without having expectations.

To be honest, weed was the cheapest entertainment that I’ve had in awhile.

REVIEWS: FIRST TIME GETTING HIGH

33

The editors needed to fill a page so we did the most frustratingly generic student-press thing possible

BRUCE

“It tastes like a garbage fire.”

- guy using flavoured rolling papers Writing this in the aftermath of trying flavoured rolling papers, the taste is still coating the back of my throat.

Flavoured rolling papers are fucking useless and taste like shit. Myself and three fellow curious minds sat down like 30 minutes ago and had three joints with three different papers. We consisted of two veterans, one well-versed toker, and a ‘doesn’t really smoke’ type. We had a decent range of experiences, yet seemed to agree pretty quickly on what this was like. The weed was great. We began with a classic zigzag paper joint—easily the best time. Then despite getting gradually higher, we gradually had worse and worse things to say. The joints actually looked really cute in their zany wraps though—one of them had little peaches on it. Adorable.

Peaches n’ Cream Okay ADMITTEDLY this one actually had a taste to it of general sweetness, and it was actually okay. However, it made already-beautiful resin feel like sugar on your lips, and that feeling wasn’t actually that dope. The cream flavour wasn’t really evident, so in light of that I would suggest they simply revoke the “n’ cream” from its title •

Smokeability: 6/10

•

Flavour: 4/10

•

Enjoyment: was whatever

They were also exactly $4.20 each? Which means they’re either over or underpriced for the sake of a weed gag, and that’s dumb. They’re overpriced regardless, actually.

Green Apple This shit was fucked. We all immediately made faces when passing it round, and although the pure shock of how terrible it could have possibly been was a good laugh, it wasn’t that chill. It tasted like detergent and stung the lungs like a burnt vape coil. Massive no.

•

Smokeability: just don’t

Candy floss flavour

•

Flavour: shite

First off, the paper is blue and there’s just something wrong with that. It’s looks like we rolled with a fucking stickynote.

The paper did nothing to help the taste, feeling, or enjoyment of the bud. The smoke felt thicker in no decent way, and something just didn’t sit right in your throat. Couldn’t taste the weed any better; if anything it made the taste weaker and the feeling harsher.

•

Enjoyment: no

•

Smokeability: 5/10

•

Flavour: 2/10

•

Enjoyment: eh

34

REVIEWS: FLAVOURED PAPERS

Conclusion We found that although flavoured rolling papers were a good gimmick and were actually enjoyable to talk shit about and laugh at, they aren’t worth the buy. When you have good weed, good company, and normal fucking rolling papers, you don’t need much else. Actually, “Planet Caravan” by Black Sabbath can never hurt a sesh. It’s so dope. Plain papers can and always will do the job. Also, if you want something harsher, just use chop. don't use flavoured rolling papers/10

Show your appreciation for your favourite little friend by helping keep him safe from HPV-related cancers and genital warts.

HPV immunisation is free* from the Student Health Clinic, so get yourself down there right now or visit bestshot.co.nz to find out more.

* GARDASIL® 9 is a prescription medicine, for females aged 9–45 years and males 9–26 years of age. It is a nine-valent recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. GARDASIL® 9 is indicated for 9–45 year-old females and 9–26 year-old males, for prevention of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancer, precancerous or dysplastic lesions, genital warts or lesions, and infection caused by the HPV types in the vaccine. Each 0.5 mL dose contains the following HPV L1 Proteins by type: 6 (30 µg), 11 (40 µg), 16 (60 µg), 18 (40 µg), 31 (20 µg), 33 (20 µg), 45 (20 µg), 52 (20 µg), and 58 (20 µg). GARDASIL® 9 has risks and benefits, and should be used strictly as directed. Ask your doctor if GARDASIL® 9 is right for you. Tell your healthcare professional if you or your child have ever had an allergic reaction to any vaccine or to any of the listed ingredients for GARDASIL® 9, or if you or your child has a serious illness, blood disease, bleeding disorder, a high fever, or a weakened immune system (e.g. due to medicines, a genetic condition, or human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection). Common reactions are headache, fever, and injection-site pain, swelling, and redness. Fainting can occur. Allergic reactions are rare but serious. If you are worried by any side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare professional. Go to the nearest hospital if you experience wheezing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing; or pinkish, itchy swellings and rash, especially on the face. Immunisation does not replace the need for regular cervical cancer screening. Additional product information and Consumer will apply Medicine Information is available from www.medsafe.govt.nz (October 2019), and from Seqirus (NZ) Ltd, Auckland, on 0800 502 757. GARDASIL® 9 is funded for both males and females aged 9–26 years – normal charges35 for other patients. Copyright © 2019 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All Rights Reserved. NZ/GAR9/0120/0073a TAPS NA12097 INSIGHT 10219A.

Crossword: Peculiar Birds

Watch the initials of the long Across entries...

ACROSS

1.

9.

10.

11.

13.

15.

18.

21.

22.

23.

25.

36

DOWN

1993 Julia Roberts film based on a John Grisham novel, after 'The' (7,5) Trump woman who hasn't advertised racist beans on Instagram (yet) (7) Temporary inhabitant; newcomer (7) Tempts; some fishing tackle (5) German site of the trials of Hess, Speer and Goring after WWII (9) Rich colour associated with a Cluedo character (7,4) Ones getting the devil out of there? (9) Third dimension (5) Brings into oneness (7) Prizes; recompenses (7) Classic orange paperbacks (7,5)

OCCUPATION STATION

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

12.

14.

16.

17.

19.

20.

24.

Total antithesis, like north to south? (5,8) Acronym that can precede 'cable' or 'party' (3) Line of mountains or links (5) At no point (5) Looked like (9) Kitesurfing, sandboarding, and... powerbocking? That's a thing, right? (7,6) Poet Dickinson or Bronte (5) Creatures who said 'Brekekekex!' in an Aristophanes play (5) Hunting (for) (9) Like films longer on Blu-Ray than they were in cinemas (5) Its length is normally about a quarter of your height (5) Spectre; ignore (5) Bento box alternative (5) Smallish woody plant (5) Name of a first baseman in a famous comedy sketch (3)

Joint the Dot

Word of the Week: ‘marijuana’

Te Reo Māori

NZSL

tarutaru

48

49

50

51 52 53

47

55

56

46 45 41 42

NZSL:https://www.nzsl.nz/signs/3005

Queerlient's Solution

26 25 27 24 28 29 35 23 30 34 34 36 33 22 3132 37 17 20 21 18 16 13 19 12

11

15

14

10

9

40

2 1

6

5

4 3

44

62

63 64

39

57 58 59 69 68 70

61 60 67 65 87

38

8 7

43

54

71

66

72 73

86 74

85

75

84 83

76 82

81 80 79

78

77

Sudoku

Spliff

Gravity Bong

OCCUPATION STATION

37

Horoscopes MADDI ROWE | SHE/HER

VOTE YES 2020. Regulation = harm reduction.

Astrologically, we’re a bit fucking ruined, aye.

What we need is a nap, a kick up the arse, and a loving mother figure to light the end of our doob

ARIES Buy an exfoliant, you fucking gremlin. I have no other wisdom to pass upon your oily visage.

Vessel of choice: Grandad’s pipe.

TAURUS

GEMINI

Racists. Not a vibe at all.

You need more confrontation in your life. Less people-pleasing, more Nazi-punching.

This week you may be feeling that post-O withdrawal—whether that’s O as in O-week or O as in Orgasm. You deserve better than to bum tailies off strangers at doof-doofs.

Vessel of choice: An apple pipe.

Vessel of choice: A golden bong.

CANCER Anticipate tension headaches.

You need pink noise, a cold one with the flatties, and a fistful of Panadol.

Vessel of choice: A wax pen.

LEO This week, the opportunity for hookups on the fly hangs over you like Tantalus’ fruit—let your inhibitions run amuck. Keep some spearmint gum on you t all times.

Vessel of choice: Pump bottle.

LIBRA You’re royalty, but also you need to be taken down a peg. Get your hands dirty like the rest of us.

Vessel of choice: Literally eat some reggie.

Escape your comfort zone this week. Ask your crush the burning questions you have for them.

Admit your weaknesses.

CAPRICORN

Vessel of choice: Edibles.

38

HOROSCOPES

Stop hooning a menthol vape with no nicotine, PLEASE. If ur gonna contract popcorn lung, at least work for it.

Vessel of choice: A bamboo pipe, lined with a thick sludge of sodium thiopental.

SCORPIO

Vessel of choice: A moon wand made of rose quartz.

Inefficiency, inefficiency, inefficiency. The devil’s triad.

Take a big ol’ deep breath and consider the consequences of murder, before you decide to commit to it.

VIRGO

AQUARIUS Entertain a pining sugar daddy in your message requests this week.

There might be a crisp $20 thrown your way.

Vessel of choice: An incense burner, masquerading as a cannabis vessel.

SAGITTARIUS This week, you’ll take on more than you can handle. Block out whatever feeds on your energy, or you’ll age 40 years.

Vessel of choice: A plain-andsimple joint.

PISCES This week’s gripe for Pisces is the fucking patriarchy. What else?

Tweet that you hate men and personally yeet your copy of Pride and Prejudice. Self care.

Vessel of choice: Gravity bong.

The Team EDITORS Kirsty Frame & Rachel Trow DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION Rowena Chow NEWS EDITORS Te Aorewa Rolleston & Finn Blackwell

CHIEF REPORTER Annabel McCarthy

SUB EDITOR Alfred Dennis SOCIAL MEDIA & WEB MANAGER Kane Bassett PODCAST MANAGER Matthew Casey

FEATURE EDITOR Shanti Mathias

STAFF WRITERS Lofa Totua Sally Ward Shanti Mathias

FEATURE WRITERS Kirsty Frame Sally Ward Yes2020

COLUMNISTS Vic Bell Frankie Dale Celina Monkhouse Niva Chittock Michael Turnbull

CONTRIBUTORS Maddi Rowe Puck Taylah Shuker Keana Virmani New Zealand Medical Association Ainsley Harris Matthew Casey Eric Forman Bruce

POETRY EDITOR Janhavi Gosavi poetry@salient.org.nz CENTREFOLD Karlin Morrison Raju @karlinmorrisonraju

POETRY Devon Webb Michael Wells

REVIEWS EDITOR Brock Stobbs reviews@salient.org.nz

CONTACT US editor@salient.org.nz designer@salient.org.nz (centrefold artwork) news@salient.org.nz socialmedia@salient.org.nz FIND US fb.com/salientmagazine instagram.com/salientgram twitter.com/salientmagazine salient.org.nz

39

THE FUTURE IS GREEN find us online at: www.greenstonedispensary.nz 40