Nov 30 2009
Weed vs Weed Part Duex: Oaksterdam vs Amsterdam
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This post was written by T Click here to read his blog and Click here to read more by this author
My very first post for HMJ was about Indica Vs. Sativa and that gave me an idea about other Weed Vs. Weed things. Such as Bong Vs. Bowl, Brownies Vs. Cookies, or Smoking Alone Vs. Smoking With Your Buddies. So like Indica Vs. Sativa I will give a argument for each thing I pick (not any close to as big as Indica Vs. Sativa) and let you the viewers vote on it. Weed Vs. Weed Things is the spin-off of Indica Vs. Sativa like Frasier and Cheers. If you have any suggestions for this please let me know at: twitter.com/MaryJaneEmpire
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Weed Vs. Weed Part 1
I asked and @TheElevatedOne answered with a great Weed Vs. Weed match up, Amsterdam Vs. Oaksterdam. While it may seem like Amsterdam would blow Oaksterdam out of the water, you might think about it a little different after this.
Amsterdam: Amsterdam, every potheads dream vacation. With High Time’s Cannabis Cup, Coffee Shops, and just vacationing in Europe makes it such an amazing trip. This is the ideal place for a weed lover, with Coffee Shops where you can purchase weed legally with no license. While many U.S places you cannot not smoke indoors, in Amsterdam you can light your joint right up after you buy it in the Coffee Shop. Everyone seems to think marijuana is 100% legal in Amsterdam, so think again. It is not legal to grow there or possess more than 30 grams at one time. You must be 18 or older and in a private area [home, coffee shop, ect.] Coffee Shops cannot advertise about their Cannabis, Oaksterdam can.
Oaksterdam: Around 7,000 miles away is the great state of Oaksterdam, California aka Oakland has been rumored to becoming the New Amsterdam. Well not entirely, Oaksterdam seems be moving in Amsterdam’s footsteps though. They still have a long way to go. While Marijuana is the decriminalized and the lowest priority for the Oakland police, it is still illegal with the Federal Gov’t. Amsterdam’s Coffee Shops are not getting shut down by their Gov’t, like the Federal Gov’t constantly shuttung down Medical Marijuana Shops. Unlike Amsterdam, only in Cali and Oaksterdam can advertise their weed, with glow signs of weed leafs and other weed things. From what I have seen from videos, Oaksterdam and Cali seem to have many more to get high instead of just smoking it. From cookies, cakes, and suckers you can get high in so many different ways. All of it sounds good, but you cannot do any of this without the Golden Ticket of the Marijuana license. Though living in that area, I am sure you reap a lot of benefits of the area.
Regardless how much I love California, I just can’t choose Oaskterdam on this one. It is still illegal there and the cops I’m sure will still make something out of nothing. Amsterdam is the ideal pothead vacation and will be until Cannabis becaomes legal in the states.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Last 5 posts by T
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Man… this is like choosing between your left and right nut, not a choice I ever want to make…
I have been to both places and I have to say in the big picture Amsterdam is far superior, and there are lots of reasons why. Although it isn't actually legal, just tolerated (see Opium act 1919, http://www.ukcia.org/research/dutch.htm under "Investigations and prosecutions" sub heading) They have the right idea. All laws are only as rigid as the enforcement of them. I digress…
1. Attitude, if you've been you know, if you haven't you should. People are just nice to each other. The biggest thing you need to worry about as a tourist are pick pockets and people who want to sell you hard drugs, even then the ones you really need to look out for are the ones who say "come down this ally and we'll talk about it. " I hit up the door man at the hotel we were at and he smiled, pointed out the spot on a map and wished me a good time. If I tried that shit in Oakland, I have about the same probability of getting robbed or shot at as I do of scoring some chronic. Oaksterdam it's self… I will end up with dosia… but probably getting robbed there too.
2. Consistency. Every thing I tried there was bomb… even the "Mexican" varietal. I believe in the potential of all weed and this re-enforced that to the hilt. Brick weed is bad cause it wasn't harvested and cured properly, and then it was shoved in a donkeys ass (ass's ass? is that too punny?) or a spare tire or some shit. One time I got Mexican weed with bullets in it, but that's a whole other story. Oaksterdam is all about the new catchy strains, like the Blue Dream, and Quirkle, and afghoo etc… that's great and all but let's see a little innovation in the form of simplicity.
3. A coffee shop is not a "weed" business. It's a coffee shop that caters to weed consumers. There are many, many coffee shops in Amsterdam (ones without weed, are called Cafe's Most Dutch smokers (pretty much all Europeans) prefer hash, and even then it's broken down with tobacco (AKA a Spliff) Most I talked to think that's where it's at and that the buds are mainly for the tourists. Oaksterdam is the fucking megalith of weed dealers, ok group of weed dealers, these are corporate stoners with connections and weed activists that got together form this empire which now includes college type courses, dispensary's, clones, edibles, hats, t-shirts, bumperstickers. I call them Big Weed, because they model themselves in the corporate mold.
Having said all that… (phew, it was a mouthful too!) I live and die, breathe and bleed Norcal. I am a firm believer, having seen, smelled and sampled some of the finest greens on this planet, that Cali, FAR and AWAY has the best herb, indoor and especially outdoor when done properly. Amsterdam is more consistent, but it's still lacking something. It might be the angle of the sun, the fresh air from the ocean, unicorns shitting rainbows in the late summer, I don't know, don't really care. Come out to Cali, I'll show you what I mean.
[...] Weed vs Weed Part Duex: Oaksterdam vs Amsterdam (Hail Mary Jane) [...]
You are forgetting the joys of Vancouver – Vansterdam has admittedly taken a few steps back in recent years but still has a stellar combo of great weed, vapor-lounges (no smoking allowed indoors in BC), and low risk of hassle (unless you are a gang-thug). The thing that puts Vangroovy over the top is the atmosphere and adventures which await after getting a good buzz on. Incredible mountains, beaches, snow, sun, rain, parks, etc.
I've been to Amsterdam 4 times and love it but miss a good nature experience once i get nice Sativa head on. As for Oakland, great to see the progress in the US and especially California but sheesh, the States is a stresser with guns, violence, hold-ups, rips and profit-motivated weed-sters. I prefer the holy trinity of counties in Northern California by a long shot.
Great round-up of reasons – you are spot on … and … i might take you up on that visit to California to record a Choogle On with Uncle Weed podcast
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I have to agree with Uncle Weed here. Although not legal, marijuana cafe's have been operating openly under the leadership of Marc Emery. However, the only way to win this war is to make marijuana mainstream and accepted by the general public. That's one of the main things we are trying to do at Vansterdam Clothing.