cannabisnews.com: It's a Friendly Joint It's a Friendly Joint Posted by CN Staff on August 11, 2003 at 09:41:32 PT By Neil Young, National Post Source: National Post It doesn't take Peter Tosh's Legalize It, which is even now poking out of the speakers, to convince this crowd. Joints are being rolled, pipes are being stuffed with hash, smoke is being inhaled. In short, there are about 12 people here getting high on a public patio located in the back of a cannabis culture shop in downtown Toronto.It's called the Hot Box Café, and since it opened three months ago it has been creating a lot of buzz, so to speak. "I bumped into this guy at the Om festival and he told me about this place," says Mike, one of the patrons. "I was in the neighbourhood so I decided to come on by." Mike likes what he sees, and figures it is high time such a venue opened in Toronto. Then he embarks on a story about how some turtles are procreating in the patio pond. These two observations illustrate two things: that the city is more liberal than it used to be, and that Mike is very high.There are a few rules for the patio and the indoor café: No minors are allowed. And buying or selling marijuana is forbidden -- by the customers and the café itself. Everyone brings their own. This is simply a public venue for smoking."My whole theory about pot is to normalize it, y'know? That's why I started the Hot Box Café," explains the proprietor, Madame Hempress. She has a bouncy, cheerful approach to life that is perfect for her line of work. The obvious question, of course, is how the local police have reacted to this communal pot-smoking spot. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.nationalpost.com/artslife/story.html?id=65707413-D90C-44E2-A66B-AB13FDE2EC8FSource: National Post (Canada)Author: Neil Young, National Post Published: Monday, August 11, 2003Copyright: 2003 National Post Contact letters nationalpost.comWebsite: http://www.nationalpost.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by escapegoat on August 11, 2003 at 14:02:09 PT No arguments...just garments > No loud arguments. Although there are a few loud *garments*...The CBC report said there is a very "Montreal" feel to the place, and I would agree. It reminds me of a place my cousin hangs out on St. Laruent [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on August 11, 2003 at 12:56:59 PT: The most important point of all The appearence of *normality*.No different than you walking up to the counter of any chain store and buying whatever. No knife or fist fights. No sloppy drunks bellowing saliva-laced obscenities in your ears or barfing on the table, or your shoes. No loud arguments. Just good people enjoying each other's company. No need to worry about the preservation of Western Civilization; the patrons aren't the Vandal types. Nope, that's left to the swine who raid them to act like that.The image that the above article provides gives the lie to all the anti propaganda. A lie that antis are desperate to keep from being exposed.Normal, decent people hold down jobs, raise families, look after the elderly, teach the young, participate in all sorts of community activities...and smoke cannabis. Just as they always have. Just as they always will...stupid laws or not. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Virgil on August 11, 2003 at 11:13:39 PT New Zealand New Zealand was the subject of an article posted at UKCIA. I tracked it down to the New Zeland Herald. I was suprised to find 5 articles from the last week."Nandor Tanczos: Change inevitable for cannabis laws" - This was the article up at UKCIA and published today- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3517291&reportID=16"Editorial: Medical use tones down risk message" - This article also was published today by the NZ Herald- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3517292&reportID=16"Cannabis fuelling rural economies"- This appeared August 9th- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3517248"MPs want search power axed"- By RUTH BERRY political reporter Police should be stripped of their powers to search for and seize cannabis without a warrant as...- It appeared August 9th- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3517249"Medicinal cannabis a step closer"- It was published August 8th- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3517106&reportID=16 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by afterburner on August 11, 2003 at 10:11:53 PT: It's a Great Place to Meet the Leaders of Tomorrow or just stop by for tasty treats, free live music, chess, lively conversation, or a relaxing meditation on the shaded patio. Support your local cannabis community. Make friends and live the future.ego transcendence follows ego destruction, walk out your dreams. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Dark Star on August 11, 2003 at 10:09:33 PT Comment This piece is light-hearted, even if it does display all the usual cliches. Dubya, Ashcroft, Walters, and Tandy can read and be jealous that they are missing out on a truly unique experience. Perhaps they should saddle up for a visit and ask William Bennett to take a break from the one-arm bandits! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dark Star on August 11, 2003 at 10:06:42 PT The Remainder--- "I have not had any visits from them. I have tried to put out an energy that is not negative with this place," she offers, "and I think the vibe here is a lot more positive than some bar where you have a roomful of drunks who are possibly starting fights and such. So my plan is to keep it positive. That's how I deal with the police issue."A sturdy wooden fence wraps around the patio, with strategically placed foliage overhead to protect visitors from the gaze of passersby. Bright yellow and green plastic chairs and tables are scattered about, and of course there is the aforementioned pond, with fish and horny turtles.It's quite a scene. Anybody who has told you that lighting up is a young person's game has never been to the Hot Box Café. There are young adults gleefully breaking taboos; there are thirtysomethings smoking joints with the same insouciance your father brought to a glass of Scotch after work; there are forty- and fiftysomethings with ponytails, and Hemingway bears who look as though they've been to the four corners. They're all here -- talking, smoking, playing board games, smoking, listening to music, smoking ..."You see that guy over there," says one patron, pointing to a greying hippie entertaining five people, who looks to be the centrifugal force on the patio: "He's been here every time I have. He's like the professor of this place. I think he has a PhD in weedology with a minor in hash pipe construction."The degree has obviously been useful. Prepping his hash pipe, he uses tools that would make a mason jealous. And to underline his long-term commitment to dope, he'll often throw in a "Mannnn" at the end of a sentence.Alcohol isn't served here, but you can buy overpriced tasteless lemonade and overpriced smoothies with little umbrellas. There are hemp cookies and there's a fresh hemp salad. The staff is very friendly, even festive.The atmosphere, the reason for being here and the friendliness of everyone really do give rise to ridiculous thoughts about how the world would be a better place if we all just lit up.And, hey, what are those turtles doing, anyway? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment