Noise rock unit Health kicks up the pulse for the soundtrack for Max Payne 3

Rockstar Games knows that good stories and immersive music are important ingredients to make a successful game. In Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) players enjoy a mix of hilarious radio stations to accompany gamers on destructive adventures. Red Dead Redemption (2010) used harmonica and whistling tunes to match wide open ranges and the life of John Marston, your typical cowboy traveling with his trusty horse. More recently, LA Noire (2011) paired 1947 jazz and blues with the internal struggle of Detective Cole Phelps in the bustling young town of “Hollywoodland.” But in Max Payne 3 you’re not just jumping into the role of gangster, cowboy or detective. Max is older but still quite the badass employed as a personal bodyguard in Brazil, even if in his spare time he’s sinking into the bottom of a bottle. In this chapter comes new musical inspiration from noise-rock band Health, which has nailed the emotional instability that Max is encountering in his mid-life. Health bassist John Famiglietti recently shared his experience and inspirations for the Max Payne 3 soundtrack with CULTURE mere days before the May 23 release of the MP3 soundtrack.

Tell us more about Health. What have you done in the past and how did you end up working on Max Payne 3?
Rockstar simply cold called us, came to see us play live and took us out to lunch, seeing if we’d be interested in scoring Max Payne 3 . . . we jumped at the chance.

What’s it like to create music for a publisher like Rockstar Games, renowned for unique soundtracks in Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption and [my personal favorite] LA Noire?
We’ve nothing but respect for Rockstar, I was a big fan of titles you mentioned (especially Red Dead), and I was seriously impressed with the music and aesthetic of their games. The really amazing thing about working with Rockstar is they wanted us to really do our thing, our sound, and were really supportive if we wanted to try something interesting with the game. We really connected with the music team, both of us really wanted to push things farther and do something unique and special.

What inspirations did you look for when creating the game trailer’s song, “Tears”? Poor Max has been consumed in quite a downward spiral since Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne.
Max’s personal story was a huge influence on the whole score (we envisioned the score as a reflection of Max’s mental and emotional state that would change and evolve level to level). As for “Tears” it was mostly about the balance of having an original Health song (not score), that would get you amped and could also accompany the visual world of the game and not clash.

Do you all plan to play the game when it releases?
Oh, most definitely. I got to play through an early version at the Rockstar offices. It’s amazing.

Considering that there are gamers that consume marijuana and the fact that cannabis is legal for medicinal use in 16 states (soon to be 17—hello, Connecticut!), what is your view on using marijuana for medical use or otherwise?
Legalize it for all use across the board. I can’t imagine it being any more mainstream than it is now—it’s insane it’s still illegal.

Anything else you would like to mention that we haven’t covered?
I think if you had a chart of the rise of the cultural prominence of video games and marijuana, the two progress lines would be parallel.

www.rockstargames.com

I love shows like Mythbusters. They do a great job of showing how people believe certain things . . . whether or not there is evidence or truth to back up those beliefs.

I learned, for instance, that despite all those war movies, lying flat on the ground will not help you avoid shrapnel injuries when a grenade blows up nearby. I discovered that there is no musical note—the so-called “brown note”—on Earth that can make you poop your pants. And it was disappointing—but still enlightening—to learn that you can’t make an airplane from a cement mixer, trash bags and paper clips—no matter what that episode of MacGyver tells you.

And since we’re on the topic of myths and since it is May, this might be a good occasion to talk about Cinco de Mayo and bust a myth or two along the way. And again I’ll make the point that people believe what they want to believe . . . whether it’s true or not.

First, one of the common misconceptions of Cinco de Mayo is that it’s a big holiday in Mexico. ’Fraid not. Really, it’s more of an American holiday though it is (duh) rooted in one particular episode of Mexican history and has become a celebration of Mexican culture.

Another myth: Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. No dice. No, Mexico’s Independence Day is on Sept. 16 . . . though you don’t hear much about this day here in the U.S. of A, huh?

So what is Cinco de Mayo? Long story short: Cinco de Mayo (“fifth of May” in Spanish) marks the victory of Mexican forces in the state of Puebla over the French army on May 5, 1892. In Puebla, the official name of the holiday is (translated into English) The Day of the Battle of Puebla. This military victory was also a David-vs.-Goliath story: purportedly 4,000 Mexican soldiers defeated a well-equipped French army of 8,000.

Oh, here’s another myth: Cinco de Mayo is only marginally significant to American history and culture. Not so, my friends. According to some scholars and historians, had Mexico not ultimately defeated the French and reclaimed its country, France would have continued unimpeded with its plans to arm Confederate forces. In other words, a Mexican defeat could very well have influenced the outcome of our Civil War.

Too bad marketing experts and alcohol lobbyists turned Cinco de Mayo into just another excuse to do Patrón shots.

So what’s the point of all this? Our medical marijuana world is confronted by myths on a daily basis. Myth: Marijuana is bad for you. Myth: Marijuana leads to crime. Myth: Marijuana has no medicinal value (this is the federal government’s favorite myth). Myth: Marijuana is a gateway drug. Myth: Marijuana is addictive. Myth: Marijuana kills brain cells.

Myth after myth after myth—and it’s up to us to discount and disprove them every step of the way. Patients, prove to people that marijuana is good for your health. Law enforcement, ’fess up and tell us how there is no connection between cannabis access and crime. Doctors and researchers, continue with your clinical studies and experiments that demonstrate marijuana has tremendous medicinal value. Activists and advocates, burn that “gateway drug” myth in effigy. Attorneys, entrepreneurs, professionals, demonstrate to the world that the MMJ industry is legitimate, credible—and legal.

Marijuana myths, consider yourselves busted.

Patient:

Angeline Chilton

Age:

45

Condition/Illness:

Multiple sclerosis

Using medical cannabis since:

2009

WHY DID YOU START USING MEDICAL MARIJUANA?

I had the most severe joint pain, nausea, exhaustion, depression and spasticity that made the task of getting out of bed to go to the bathroom almost impossible. I had to crawl daily.

DID YOU TRY OTHER METHODS OR TREATMENTS BEFORE MARIJUANA? 

I tried traditional routes of therapy, steroid infusions, weekly [intramuscular injections], muscle relaxers [and] pain pills just to name a few.

WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS IN CALIFORNIA?

The question of intoxication levels of THC in the body [and] Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) laws. If you have smoked on a regular basis for years your body is completely THC-saturated. What is the normal amount of THC in your bloodstream in these instances? If I was pulled over while driving, would I lose my license because of the amount in my bloodstream?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE?

I say I have tried “traditional” pharmaceuticals, but the side effects made me even sicker. I refuse to become an addict and go through rehab. Also, it gives me more relief from the pain than I have felt in years prior. Are these the same people who wouldn’t have an issue with me taking another pharmaceutical (prescription) drug even though thousands of people die every year from overdose?

Something remarkable happened on the march towards SB 375, the California Sustainable Communities Planning Act of 2008, otherwise known as California’s greenhouse reduction initiative. In March 2012, Beverly Hills received the distinction of being the first city in Los Angeles County to emerge as green leader in environmentally-friendly transportation. All it took was installing some public charging stations for electric vehicles in city parking garages and switching to compressed natural gas for maintenance vehicles. And credit card parking meters powered by solar panels.

Around the same time, Travel and Leisure Magazine named San Diego as the eighth greenest city in America. Electric cars were once again meritoriously cited, along with San Diego’s user-friendly public transportation and solar energy.  A re-energized discussion on a high-speed railway from Northern to Southern California became chic again and Anaheim emerged as a possible station candidate. SCAG promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nine percent by 2020 and 16 percent by 2035.

Ambitious aims, to be sure. When it comes down to making our tiny corner of the planet more habitable, every little bit counts. Motor vehicles generate the greatest amount of air pollution, spitting out 60 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and 30 percent of nitrous oxide. Yet, long commutes and poor urban planning discourage the ditching of our cars. Sure, it’s easy to say bike it, walk it, carpool, but it’s mostly myth and people don’t actually do it.

One of the ways cities have endorsed environmental sustainability is by implementing local measures that promote public transportation.  Cities are rethinking public transportation infrastructures to enhance accessibility. High speed rail systems have returned to the bargaining table and cities have become best friends with electricity-powered engines. Beverly Hills and San Diego got their citizens to buy in to alternative technologies, but it probably took major infusions of limited funds to fuel their rise to the top.

How can we help on the road to SB 375? Downsizing vehicles, optimizing trips (running all your errands in the geographical location in one fell swoop) and carpooling are some of the hyped ways. Major companies can do their share too by kicking in subsidies to those employees who choose an environmentally-sustainable alternative to their SUVs.

Not every municipality will win prestigious awards and make national news like Beverly Hills and San Diego did with their efforts, but when we all do our share, we inch a little closer to becoming a national leader and voice on environmental sustainability, our biggest claim to fame.

Today, I am entrenched in trial with a medical marijuana case. My clients operated a compassionate, non-profit dispensary and each face eight felonies. By all accounts, they were completely compliant with state law, but their fate rests in the hands of 12 jurors. Yes, this is in state court.

How is that possible? This is what I call “The Great Divide.”

Although we see dispensaries daily with signs in the front window, DAs and law enforcement in California assert with overwhelming conviction that distribution of medical cannabis is illegal. Thus, the argument goes, dispensaries are illegal.

Arguing with these DAs and law enforcement officers is usually as futile as arguing with a brick wall; they will not succumb to reason, legal proof or even compassion for the quality of life medical marijuana provides patients. In order to be legal, DAs say, the “collective must operate like a farm on an Amish settlement” where everyone has a physical hand in the actual growing process and no money ever exchanges hands. Really??

Seriously! This is, in fact, the argument California Attorney General Kamala Harris made in a recent appellate court case, People v. Colvin. Thankfully, the appellate court justices are enlightened enough to scoff at this notion and affirm that “contribution by all or some members” is not necessary.

Although Colvin is a small sigh of relief for defense lawyers and their clients, do you think this stops DAs in their tracks? Do they lay off dispensaries and growers? Nope. My clients face trial and loss of liberty, not to mention financial ruin and unspeakable stresses. Sadly, this is a common tale—painful litigation must pave the way to change how patients and dispensaries are treated by the justice system.

• ● Do not be fooled into thinking that possession of a medical marijuana recommendation is a carte blanche. Take extra measures to ensure you are not caught in this trap unaware.
• ● Act responsibly. As patients, we have a duty to demonstrate to the world that the stigma of medical marijuana is unfounded. We must be extra conservative about our smoking behaviors.
• ● Get involved. Go to political rallies put on by ASA, NORML and others. Speak or write to your local city council. Civil disobedience is necessary for change!

Meital Manzuri is a Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney, speaker and consultant for patients, collectives and dispensaries. If you have questions about medical marijuana or any other criminal defense matters, she can be contacted via phone at (310) 601-3140 or manzurilaw.com.

The medical marijuana model for providing cannabis to people is not working. Sixteen states with medical marijuana laws and almost sixteen years since passage of Proposition 215 and people’s lives are still be ruined as they attempt to navigate the veritable jungle of conflicting local, state and federal civil, criminal and regulatory laws.

The legalization advocates are right—the only way to ever get marijuana safely and widely available is to legalize its possession, production and distribution. Over the last decade progress has been made with statewide decriminalization measures, local lowest enforcement initiatives and medical marijuana legislation. The public’s acceptance of legally controlled and regulated marijuana distribution has reached the 50 percent level and continues to climb.

Cops have fought medical marijuana because their worst nightmare is that it will lead to legalization and the loss of their $20 billion annual feeding frenzy at their pig trough of marijuana prohibition laws. That nightmare is about to come true as not one, but two states have viable legalization measures on their November 2012 ballot.

Washington was the first state to submit sufficient signatures to qualify a legalization initiative for the ballot. Colorado qualified shortly afterwards.

Although their approach to legalization is different, the two initiatives essentially legalize the possession, cultivation, distribution and sale of marijuana. Beyond affecting the laws in those states, passage of the initiatives would have a significant national impact.

Mason Tvert, of Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the sponsors of Colorado’s Amendment 64, states “Along with changing how marijuana is treated in Colorado, passage of the initiative will force a dramatic reevaluation of national marijuana policy and the ability of states to handle marijuana free of federal interference.”

Tvert believes that the campaigns will generate a great deal of media attention that “will inspire thoughtful discussion about marijuana. In particular, we want to make people talk—and think—about the fact that it is objectively less harmful than alcohol.”

Allowing people a choice between alcohol and marijuana is the main reason these legalization measures are so critical to the health of our communities. Hospitals are overflowing with people in hospital beds because of alcohol use and multiple research studies have shown most people use marijuana as a substitute rather than complementary to their alcohol consumption.

Unlike Washington, Colorado is considered a presidential swing state. Tvert points out that in Colorado “marijuana is always a hot news item, so it is likely the candidates will face questions about the initiative and broader marijuana policy issues.”

Many of the supporters of Amendment 64 are upset with President Obama’s Beyond Bush escalation of federal attacks on medical marijuana providers as well as his opposition to legalization measures such Amendment 64. He is going to need the votes of young progressive voters to win Colorado so it is going to be interesting to see how he handles the inevitable questions about his actions. With Romney as opposed to marijuana as Obama, it is third-party, Green, Libertarian and Socialist candidates that may get the votes that could have gone to Obama.

These campaigns need and deserve your help. Although both campaigns are being financed by some deep pockets, it’s going to require additional financing from marijuana advocates to put it over the top.

Both campaigns are working on developing a phone bank in which supporters in California and throughout the nation will be able help out by making calls to voters.

Unfortunately both these initiatives are being attacked not only by raging drug warriors, but by marijuana consumers who feel the initiatives have fatal flaws that will make things worse. I cannot begin to imagine how things could be any worse, but whatever imperfections they may have, it is much easier to change whatever problems remain when marijuana is legal than when it is illegal.

For more information go to www.newapproachwa.org and www.regulatemarijuana.org.

Subscribe to the free marijuana email newsletter authored by Lanny Swerdlow, R.N. by sending an email to lanny@marijuananews.org. He can also be contacted at (760) 799-2055.

OC firm unveils cannabis vending machine

Medical marijuana patients may soon be able to purchase their medicine 24/7, courtesy of a new form of vending machine that works similar to an ATM.

Aliso Viejo-based Dispense Labs plans to lease the state-of-the-art machines to dispensaries. The Autospense devices would be housed in metal cages and located at the dispensary sites for after-hours use. Patients would swipe dispensary-issued registration cards and enter PIN numbers to open the cages and access the machines.

The vending machines would be leased for $1,500 to $2,000 per month, according to news reports. Dispense Labs says at least one machine is already in use, at a dispensary in Santa Ana.

Activists Grumbine and Byron granted new trial

Saying she was “appalled” at the judicial misconduct rampant in the proceedings leading to the convictions of two Southern California medical marijuana activists, a Long Beach Superior Court judge has ordered the men be given a new trial.

Joe Grumbine and Joe Byron, former operators of three Southland cannabis dispensaries, were convicted in December in a Long Beach courtroom of marijuana sales and other felony counts. Throughout the pair’s trial, courtroom observers repeatedly cried foul over the alleged bias of the presiding judge, Charles D. Sheldon. Those allegations were given weight by Sheldon himself when he recused himself from the sentencing portion of the trial after admitting to improperly congratulating prosecutors on their win.

But according to Judge Joan Comparet-Cassani, who reviewed the case at the request of the defense, the incident was just one of Sheldon’s many acts of misconduct in what she described as a “terrible, terrible, terrible trial.” She pointed to instances of the judge ignoring motions, allowing evidence entered into the record without review and failing to give the defense adequate time to prepare their case.

Grumbine and Byron are due back in court May 8. No date has been set for their new trial.

Dispensary files $3 million harassment suit against Murrieta

Claiming that police in Murrieta are harassing patients, the owners of a medical cannabis club are suing the city for $3 million and an end to its moratorium on dispensaries.

The lawsuit alleges Murrieta police routinely detained members of the Greenhouse Cannabis Club as they left the dispensary and asked harassing questions about their medical conditions. In one instance described in the suit, police officers followed a patient from the dispensary to a grocery store, where they publicly interrogated her about whether she was qualified to obtain cannabis.

Greenhouse has been a frequent target of city and federal officials. Last summer, attorneys for the city sought a court order for the dispensary to shut down.  The judge rejected the request, but ordered the club to serve only two patients. That action was followed by a DEA raid on the facility in March and an eviction order by a judge last month.

1. Total cash award (in dollars) the city of Dana Point won in court judgments against three local dispensaries in fiscal year 2011: 7 million (Source: Orange County Register).

2. Portion (in dollars) of Dana Point’s $7 million award that was subsequently reversed on appeal: 2.4 million (Source: The Press-Enterprise).

3. Portion (in dollars) of Dana Point’s $7 million court award still under appeal: 2.68 million (Source: Orange County Register).

4. Legal fees (in dollars) racked up by the city of Dana Point as of April in its ongoing battle against dispensaries: 900,000 (Source: Dana Point City Attorney’s Office).

5. Taxpayer dollars Dana Point set aside in April in anticipation of future legal action against it by dispensary owners: 957,000 (Source: Orange County Register).

6. Percentage of Californians surveyed who believe possession of illegal drugs should be prosecuted as a misdemeanor and not a felony: 72 (Source: Lake Research Partners survey).

7. Percentage of California Republicans surveyed who believe illegal drug possession should be prosecuted as a misdemeanor and not a felony: 66 (Source: Lake Research Partners survey).

8. Number of SWAT-style raids conducted by the U.S. Justice Department against cannabis clubs since October 2009: 170-plus (Source: Americans for Safe Access).

9. Average number of drug arrests every minute in the United States: 5 (Source: FBI Crime in the United States 2009).

10. Portion of federal budget (in dollars) dedicated to domestic law enforcement of U.S. drug policy: 9 billion (Source: White House Office of National Drug Policy).

11. Percentage of the 1.6 million U.S. drug arrests in 2009 that were for possession alone: 82 (Source: 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health).

12. Estimated number of people serving sentences in U.S. state and federal prisons for drug possession or sales: 346,605 (Source: Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics).

13. Annual cost (in dollars) of incarcerating a federal prisoner for one year: 25,251 (Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons).

14. Number of adults on probation or parole in the U.S. for drug-law violations in 2009: 844,425 (Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics).

15. Percentage of police chiefs and sheriffs surveyed who believe the War on Drugs has not been successful: 82 (Source: National Association of Chiefs of Police).

Breaking news: Keith Moon, legendary drummer of The Who, is dead. Now most people that have picked up a rock record since 1978—the year that Moon passed away—know that this is old news. Most people, that is, but not the organizers of the 2012 London Olympics who approached The Who’s manager, Bill Curbishley, asking if Moon could play during the closing ceremonies. “If they have a round table, some glasses and candles,” Curbishley said, “we might contact him.”

Speaking of drummers, the universally lovable Dave Grohl was attacked on Twitter recently by a sad junkie monster the public refers to as Courtney Love. This collection of inebriated molecules realized that no one was talking about it, so it published tweets alleging that Grohl “hit on” Love’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. Grohl responded with “Unfortunately Courtney is on another hateful Twitter rant. These new accusations are upsetting, offensive and absolutely untrue.” Of course, they’re untrue! The dude was in The Muppets! Come on, now. He may have played Satan in Tenacious D’s The Pick of Destiny, but everyone who is anyone has vouched for Grohl’s complete nicest-guy-in-the-worldness. Cobain herself even, in so many words, told her mom to shut up, that the rumors were untrue, and that Twitter itself should ban Love from its service.

What’s even weirder is that Love was trying to justify it by saying that Grohl had a “pathology” about Kurt Cobain and that his actions all boiled down to his “drummer’s submissive position.” Love later apologized—again on Twitter—saying “Sorry I believed the gossip. Mommy loves you.” Frances Bean Cobain, a girl who looks like Evan Rachel Wood dipped in grunge, needs to make an example for the rest of the world and just stop listening. Stop indulging Courtney Love. Just let her keep going to Comedy Central Roasts and crying.

While she cries, another, much mellower person smiles. His name is Willie Nelson, and on April 20th, at 4:20 p.m. a statue of him was unveiled in Austin, Texas. The time and date are, of course, a nod to the singer’s medicinal proclivities, and, frankly, I’m surprised that the eight-foot statue is made of bronze, not hemp. The statue is actually a gift to Austin from the non-profit group called Capital Area Statues, Inc., and the ceremony included a visit from the country star himself. Another relic to be observed on the stoner pilgrimage is erected, as in the late-afternoon millions across the world smoke towards Zion.

Julian Assange, gecko-like hero of neckbeards and RON PAUL voters, has a new television show beginning on an English-language Russian channel soon. M.I.A., smelling the faint whiff of controversy like a windowsill pie in a Hanna-Barbera cartoon, has offered to write original music for the show. It is yet uncertain if Assange will release the tracks online before the show airs so people can know the truth!

Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, has named his show The World Tomorrow, which is not only cheeky and not as cute as he wants it to be, but the name also resembles the excellent Chris Morris comedy program The Day Today, which aired in the early ’90s and lampooned television news.

Axl Rose has “respectfully declined” to attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction that would see his band, Guns N‘ Roses, placed along other legends of the genre. Rose wrote an open letter detailing how there would not, as he’s stated before, be a reunion of the earlier version of the band, including Slash. Fans hope that the band’s feud would end soon, citing that “nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain.” They went on to remind Axl that “we both know hearts can change.” Axl, however, seems unconvinced by their words and did not attend the ceremony. Fans of Appetite for Destruction won’t be seeing the favorite line-up together any time soon. Rose called the whole ordeal a “no win” situation for him. Sources close to the old group members say Axl Rose will continue looking like an old lesbian and Slash will continue to make cameo appearances on anything and everything in order to make rent.

Now in its second year, the IE love Jah fest is expanding and spreading the good vibrations. Hosted by KSPC’s very own Junor Francis, this family friendly event (where kids 12 and under get in free with an adult) also makes it easier on the pocket book by offering limited-time “buy one get one free” tickets. What does that get you besides Mr. Francis? How about Michigan and Smiley, Pato Banton and the Now Generation, Admiral Bailey, Better Chemistry, Shorline Rootz, Kingston 13 Band, Higher Lion and a host of art provided by Charles Bibbs Art 2000? Vendors will also be on hand with a host of gear, grub and good beverages to keep you cool, so don your rasta raggedies, slip on the flip-flops and get chill with the people.

IF YOU GO

What: Inland Empire Reggae Festival.

When/Where: May 12, 11am at NOS Events Center, 689 S. E St., San Bernardino.

Info: www.inlandempirereggaefestival.com.

Also referred to as Weenie Roast y Fiesta due to its Cinco de Mayo due date, KROQ’s annual spring festival, now in its 20th year, presents one of its better lineups in years—at least there’s no Blink 182 or any incarnation thereof. Featuring mostly veteran acts like headliners Angels & Airwaves, Coldplay and Incubus, the day-long music and vendor fest also welcomes back repeat offenders Silversun Pickups (who’ve played almost every year since 2007), The Dirtyheads, Pennywise, The Offspring (hello, 1994—and I was there!) and Garbage (who’ve just released their first album in seven years—and if the single “Blood Poppies” is any indication, it’s going to shred the airwaves). There’ll also be newcomers Awolnation (“Sail” should have been as big as Gotye’s hit tragisong), Grouplove, Walk the Moon and Of Monsters and Men who’s “Little Talks” has been on a raging loop inside the old gray matter for weeks now. As usual, there’ll be a hella big spread of food, beverages, clothing and memorabilia stands, so pack up your sunscreen and wad of cash and go get fitted for your free sombrero. (Jane Mast)

IF YOU GO

What: KROQ Weenie Roast.

When/Where:  May 5, 1pm at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Dr., Irvine.

Info: www.kroq.radio.com.

Long-standing debates over whether Roger Waters or David Gilmore is the true genius behind the world’s greatest psychedelic rock band will be put on hold this month when Waters mounts his mega-staging of Pink Floyd’s 1979 magnum opus, The Wall at the ginormous LA Coliseum. Always known for their artistic theatrical effects, the members of Pink Floyd—whether solo or reunited—never fail to disappoint. And you really can’t screw up The Wall, the band’s eighth album and rock opera focusing on a loner named Pink filled with themes of abandonment and personal isolation—ideas and emotions that just never seem to go out of style, unfortunately. So, even if you’ve had your brain fried by the warped feature film or settled in once or twice for an evening of Floydian laser light shows at Griffith Park, don’t think you’ve actually experienced Pink Floyd or The Wall. That can only happen when at least one of the two godheads is present in the same room with you, and this month it’s Waters. Prepare to become comfortably numb.

IF YOU GO

What: Roger Waters: The Wall Live.

When/Where:  May 19, 8pm at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3811 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles.

Info: www.lacoliseumlive.com.

This year marks the 15^th year the Kottonmouth Kings have reigned over hip-hop punk rock. With 12 full-length albums under its belt, the Kottonmouth Kings (currently consisting of D-Loc, Daddy X, Johnny Richter, The Dirtball, Lou Dog, DJ Bobby B and Tax Man) is about to embark on another LP. Set to drop in August, the group unveiled its upcoming record Mile High cover art on—this should come as no surprise—April 20. The art depicting a joints smoking plane with a naked couple doing it doggy style as passengers went through five revisions before Best Buy would accept the final image to be shelved in its stores. While Best Buy didn’t accept the cover right off the bat, we find it quite fitting. Not only is the band closely associated to cannabis, but some of its members were first associated through a band they formed in high school called Doggy Style.

IF YOU GO

What: Kottonmouth Kings in concert.

When/Where: May 22, 8pm at Key Club, 9039 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. May 23, 8pm at Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim.

Info: Tickets $25, Key Club; $20, Grove of Anaheim. Go to www.kottonmouthkings.com.

I won’t deny it: spring is my favorite season. The perfectly soothing, serene winds across your face; the bright sun that repels the melancholy of a gray winter; the activities of vivacious people under the dazzling spring light; it’s nature’s most glorious time of year. How suiting, then, for people to partake in the biggest parties of the year during spring, such as the Venice Spring Fling at Windward Plaza Park in Venice. This free event will feature a day of live musical entertainment from local bands, with guests such as The Tracii Guns League of Gentlemen, Barry “The Fish” Melton (who performed at the original Woodstock), Street Smart, Fly N Lion and much more. There will also be a number of artworks on display, with some of them for sale. The beautiful beachside city of Venice has always been a venue for celebratory culture, and springtime only adds to its beauty.

IF YOU GO

What: Venice Spring Fling.

When/Where: May 12, 11am at Windward Plaza Park, 1 Windward Ave., Venice.

Info: Event is free. Go to www.venicespringfling.com.

Cannabis Sativa: The Essential Guide to the World’s Finest Marijuana Strains

Edit. By S.T. Oner

Green Candy Press

While this isn’t a true coffee table book, this is the type of volume you want to keep on the coffee table when your 420-friendly company comes over—it’s that much of a visual and cerebral delight. Culled from the globe’s best and brightest, this self-proclaimed “Essential Guide to the World’s Finest Marijuana Strains” fulfills its mission statement in spades. If it’s psychedelic, muscle-relaxing and/or thoroughly drizzled with trichomes, this book’s got full-page exposés on the effects, anecdotes and horticultural backstory of 100 strains—some of which even this reviewer hadn’t heard of. Revisit old friends (Sonoma Sunrise), question one Spanish grower’s nomenclature (Crystal M.E.T.H.? Really?) or just drool at the pictures (nug porn, anyone?)—in any case, you’ll be cracking this book’s spine time and time again.

Master of My Make-Believe

Santigold

Downtown/Atlantic

When Santigold kicks off Master of My Make-Believe with the lyrics, “People want my power, and they want my station/Stormed my winter palace, but they couldn’t take it,” one definitely gets the sense she’s talking to every pop star that has emerged over the past four years. It’s been that long since Santigold debuted to critical raves, and trekked around the world in support of some of music’s biggest names (Coldplay! M.I.A.! Kanye West!). But did the public really know what they had? Her fusion of electronica, pop, dub and hip-hop—and her partnerships with producers like Diplo and Switch, who have only gotten bigger—made Santigold a precursor to the party tunes now blowing up the charts. So in case you’ve forgotten, she uses emphatic album opener “GO!” to remind you of her badassery. Part militaristic call-to-action, part anthem for some reggae-loving cheerleading squad, it typifies the best thing about Master of My Make-Believe: swagger. Whether drawing from African beats or an underground rave, Santigold’s latest is a self-assured march that is likely to kick the ass of any pop record in 2012.

The Immortals

Dir. Tarsem Singh

Relativity Media/Universal Pictures

In the beginning, the Greek gods win a war against the Titans and seal them away in the depths of Mount Tartarus. During the fight, a powerful weapon known as the Ephirus bow fell from the heavens and no one has seen it since. Enter the villainous King Hyperion, a man with a grudge against the Gods for ignoring his prayers, who seeks the Ephirus Bow which can release the Titans and potentially destroy the gods. Hyperion’s army invades protagonist Theseus’ home and murders his mother, leading him to the Oracle, Phaedra, who can see visions of the future. Theseus is told to return home to bury his mother which coincidentally leads him directly to the Ephirus Bow which all too soon falls into the hands of Hyperion. An epic battle ensues at Mount Tartarus where Hyperion successfully unleashes the imprisoned Titans. While the mountain collapses, forever burying the Titans, Theseus manages to kill Hyperion and is granted the powers of a god. It’s pretty much your fantastic Greek tale-turned-movie that desperately wants to be Clash of the Titans.

You’re a patient—now what? You’ve got your recommendation taken care of. You’ve lined up a dispensary or got yourself a caregiver. But if you’re going to smoke your meds, it’s probably about time to head on over to your friendly neighborhood smoke shop. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about things. CULTURE brings to you this guide to smoke shop etiquette:

Erase the word “bong” from your mind. Don’t think about that word. A “bong” is an example of illegal paraphernalia. A patient uses a “glass pipe.” DO NOT EVER say the word “bong” in a smoke shop . . .  unless you want to be shown the door faster than you can say, well, “bong.”

Leave the flowers at home. NEVER bring cannabis into a smoke shop. Ever. And don’t even bring up the subject. Ever.

When checking out glassware, be careful and handle your bubblers with care. Remember: glass breaks. You break it, you bought it.

Bring photo ID with you. Shops have a strict policy of ensuring they are only selling merchandise to adults, NOT minors.

A California bill to jail sober drivers had medical cannabis patients fuming

At press time, Assemblywoman Norma Torres amended AB 2552 to eliminate its disputed “per se” DUI elements. NORML has withdrawn its opposition to the bill.

California medical cannabis patients and drug law reformers are leading the charge against a new bill that would criminalize driving while—sober?

Yup. Assemblywoman Norma Torres of Chino authored the ludicrous Assembly Bill 2552 for the spring legislative season in Sacramento. Torres’ 2552 would make it “unlawful for a person who has a detectable amount of any controlled substance . . . to drive a vehicle . . . except when the controlled substance was administered, dispensed or prescribed by a person licensed by the state to administer, dispense or prescribe controlled substances.”

But it’s already a crime to drive stoned. The California Vehicle Code states, “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.”

How come that’s not enough?

IN THE STREETS

According to Manny Daskal, who is on the board of directors of the California DUI Lawyers Association, criminal justice industry lobbyists are trying to pave a freeway to prison for innocent drivers.

Today, cops and prosecutors face an obstacle course on the way to a marijuana DUI conviction.

In a typical situation, a motorist suspected of marijuana DUI is stopped for some infraction. Perhaps the police smell cannabis and pull the suspect out of the car and perform a coordination test on them. Police may call in a “drug recognition expert.”

If arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID), the suspect may have to take a urine or blood test. Blood tests are expensive, and standard urine tests prove the mere presence of cannabis metabolites—evidence of past use, but not present intoxication.

“It becomes a hollow criminal case,” Daskal says. “DAs are reluctant to try them as marijuana DUI cases unless there’s some aggravating circumstances.”

In court, juries will learn it’s almost impossible to scientifically prove “under the influence,” even with rare and expensive gas chromatograph analysis of blood for THC.

THE SCIENCE

The Food and Drug Administration approves of “high driving” with THC pill Marinol. The U.S. Department of Transportation has numerous studies showing drivers who use cannabis are an insignificant danger compared to the monstrous outcomes of driving drunk, or using alcohol in combination with prescription drugs. A least a dozen other studies come to similar conclusions.

Tolerance to cannabis plays a huge role, the FDA understood. Regular medical marijuana users who are sober can have higher levels of cannabis byproducts in the blood than an impaired first-time user. AB 2552 would eliminate any requirement by law enforcement to prove impairment. The mere existence of any drug in the blood is a guilty verdict, and guilty verdicts are very lucrative for cops, prosecutors and jailers, Daskal said.

In response, patients across California are lobbying their elected representatives, writing letters to the editor, as well as opinion pieces and countering clueless online commentators.

Groups like Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) argue that it’s morally wrong to put someone in jail for a crime they didn’t commit, and Torres’ law would do just that.

THE LATEST BOGEYMAN

The Drug Czar is scaring up an old bogeyman in the war on cannabis, says Dale Gieringer, California Director of NORML.

“A hysteria about drugged driving has been whipped up by the Drug Czar’s office and other law enforcement bureaucracies,” he says. “They like to cite the fact that there has been an increase in the number of fatal drivers found with drugs in their system. However, this can be explained by the simple fact that there has been an increase in the number of adults using drugs.”

Gieringer notes, “There has likewise been a spectacular increase in the number of fatal drivers who have GPS units—and tattoos—over recent years, but of course this doesn’t mean we should criminalize them for DUI.”

Running “get tough on drugged driving” bills is a diabolical manipulation of public sentiment that’s resulted in 15 states passing similar so-called “per se” marijuana DUI laws, as few politicians will risk being perceived as standing in the way of “road safety.”

In reality, California auto fatalities are at the lowest levels since data collection began, states the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

“At the same time, over the past four or five years, there has been a reported increase in the number of adults who are marijuana users,” Gieringer says. “This supports the hypothesis that driving safety has improved with marijuana use, perhaps because it substitutes for alcohol.”

Thrift, if not moral conscience, may doom AB 2552 in Sacramento, he says.

“I am confident that the legislature will reject the bill, if not because it would wrongly convict drivers who are actually innocent of drug impairment, then at least because it would increase the prison population and result in higher costs for more drug testing,” he says.

All it takes for an unjust law to pass is silence, though, so Californians are speaking up.

LESS IS MOORE?

In case you missed it, the politician pushing this new DUI law, Norma Torres, is the same legislative genius trying to ban the release of 911 calls to the media—prompted by the drama surrounding one rich, privileged actress: Demi Moore. In this incident, a 911 call from one of Moore’s friend—who alleged the actress was convulsing, semi-conscious and “burning up” after having ingested “something”—ended up being released to the media. Paramedics were called to the scene and Moore’s publicist is seeking “professional help” to “treat her exhaustion.” Torres wants to spare the citizenry from being exposed to 911 calls being made public. “Everyone has the right to privacy,” says Torres, who just so happens to be a former 911 operator. “The unauthorized release of medical records is already illegal, medical emergency calls should also be protected.” Way to go, Torres. Keep up the good fight protecting your constituents from Hollywood excess and embarrassment.

Take a tour through Thailand for an opium history lesson

Now that’s edutainment!

We’re standing in the Hall of Opium, trying to figure out who might be smuggling drugs. The main suspects aren’t real people (another fun way to pass the time), but characters in an interactive display.  It’s just one of many educational-yet-entertaining features of this modern museum whose main purpose is to school visitors about the ills and long history of opium in this region. “This region” is where northern Thailand meets Burma and Laos at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers, but foreigners know it by its more infamous name: Golden Triangle.

Technically, the Golden Triangle (so named because you used to need gold and not grimy suitcases of cash to refresh your opium supply) also includes north Vietnam as well, but it was clearly a no-brainer for the Thai tourist industry to promote their own town of Sop Ruak—where three countries and two rivers conveniently converge at one truly un-scenic point—as the center of the world’s former number one source of opium.

Nowadays, you’re more likely to see tour groups than poppies, and that’s due to highly successful opium eradication programs spearheaded by the Thai royal family. Somehow the Thai government was able to convince opium farmers to replace their poppy fields with less socially unsavory crops like apples, flowers, nuts, Arabica coffee and tea. We’re guessing that this might be because the “gold” in “Golden” went to the drug lords and not to the folks actually growing it.

Lest we appear naïve, opium eradication in Thailand doesn’t mean the Golden Triangle is drug-free. The Thai programs had little effect on the remote highlands and definitely didn’t touch Burma or Laos’ own drug regimes. So, while you can travel around most of the Chiang Rai province, safe in the knowledge that you’re not likely to be kidnapped for ransom, the same can’t be said about traveling north along the Mekong River. It gets seriously dodgy up there. You might as well strap money and diamonds to your body, because the only people that will hear your screams are the Burmese drug traffickers or the Laotian militias.

Thus, you might want to stick to safer tourist activities in the Golden Triangle.  We’ve already mentioned the time-worthy Hall of Opium, but if you haven’t had your fill of exhibits about opium’s destructive effects on society, there’s the more serious Opium Museum.  You can also take photos from atop a fake elephant or from Wat (Temple) Prathat Pukhao . . . or just do what the majority of domestic tourists do while in Sop Ruak: take thyself across the river and place some bets.  Gambling dens are illegal in Thailand, so ever-resourceful purveyors of entertainment built casinos on Burmese and Laotian land across the river. A short boat ride, money and your passport are all you need to get to Burma’s 30+ casinos along the Mekong or to Laos’ luxury Chinese-owned Kings Roman Group casino.

So in this former land of opium, where does green fit in? Well, everywhere. You can go to the usual sources, like tuk-tuk drivers, or you might be approached by a hill tribe family at the side of the road. See, opium eradication didn’t mean marijuana eradication, so the farmers growing coffee for your cappuccino are also growing marijuana. However, the volume definitely pales in comparison to other illicit narcotics and quality is reportedly nowhere near as good as in California’s Emerald Triangle. And please note that the best, most chill places to enjoy your stash are actually just outside of the Golden Triangle, i.e. in a bungalow in Pai or Mae Hong Son.

As for legalities, the Thai government doesn’t mess around in their fight against all drugs. Thankfully, as a Category 5 drug (where Category 1 is heroin), marijuana gets the relatively light hand: consumption is punishable by a fine up to 10,000 Baht (about $325) and/or imprisonment up to a year, while possession earns you a fine up to 50,000 Baht (about $1,622) and/or imprisonment up to 5 years. We’ve met folks who’ve avoided the inside of a Thai jail by putting as little as $50 inside a policeman’s wallet, but don’t bet on it.  There can also be serious immigration consequences—deportation and possible “blacklisting”—so if you want to be able to come back to the Land of Smiles, practice common sense.

Willy Wonka, eat your heart out. Now, CULTURE’s reviewers over the years have sampled many-many medicated chocolate bars over the years . . . but this is our new favorite. Seriously. The sample we tried comes from Organic Trends in Riverside, and God bless them for having the good sense of keeping this sweet delight in stock. Finally—a medicated chocolate bar that tastes like, well, a chocolate bar! Made to be split into four pieces (each piece spelling out a letter from the word “Kush”), the texture and taste of this cocoa preparation is simply amazing. Smooth as a newborn’s bottom, silky as a silk pillow, Kush Bars are so well prepared and beautifully foil-packaged, you’d be tempted to eat them based on their polished looks alone. But they’re medicated, dear patient, so keep these in the fridge for when the symptoms of arthritis, migraines, insomnia, nausea and chronic pain come to bear. Kush Bars’ body effects will be a sweet friend indeed. Try one to two squares at a time—and forget Willy Wonka. These are your real golden ticket . . . to relief.

This is not the kind of popcorn you’d find at the snack counter of your local Edwards Theater—but you’d wish it did carry it. I must admit, I’ve had medicated popcorn before and it was . . . OK. Auntie Dolores Medical Cannabis Caramel Corn is—to paraphrase Pulp Fiction—far from OK. This edible, from Kush Mart in Los Angeles, has combined just the right taste and effects in perfect harmony. All natural and made with cannabis, brown sugar, corn syrup, popcorn, salted butter, kosher salt, baking soda and vanilla extract, this treat delivers a mid- to high-range body stone that oozes over your torso and limbs like warmed-up molasses on a warm summer night at the county fair. Yup, that county fair will wish it was stocked up with this medicated goody. Tell your taste buds to watch out for the sweetness of the sugar and salty bite of the kosher salt doing the tango on your palette. One bag makes for a very satisfying (and sweet) dose. Additional butter not required.

An indica-dominant hybrid from Nature’s Natural Collective Care in Reseda, Skywalker OG has quickly developed an outstanding reputation for potency and aesthetic beauty. We’re happy to report the rumors are entirely true: It’s a force to be reckoned with. The dankest of dank weeds, you’ll want to store this baby in a tightly sealed container unless you want everyone to know you’ve got quality cannabis on hand. That highly pungent perfume is present in ever toke, conjuring images of heady spices and the most fragrant of exotic herbs. The pear-shaped buds are almost too lovely to break apart: Imagine deep-forest-green leaves cradling nests of rich-amber hairs and blanketed with white crystals. Skywalker OG is one of the most powerful strains on the market, testing in the mid- to high 20s in its THC count. The stone is annihilating in intensity, so powerful as to produce feelings of numbness about the face and neck and lasting for four to five hours after consuming just one bowl. Obviously, you won’t want to drive or operate heavy machinery while on it, but if you’re planning an evening in front of the tube watching your favorite intergalactic saga while consuming vast quantities of snack foods, this is the herb for you. It’s also a great pain reliever for such conditions as cancer, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and other serious conditions.

From Safe Access Caregivers in Santa Ana, this 60-40 sativa/indica mix proves that sometimes a banana is more than just a banana. So-called for its elongated buds, The Real Banana’s vividly verdant hue and pale-yellow highlights suggest a better name might be The Real Plantain. That aside, everything about the variety spells mellow, from its subtly fruity aroma and taste to its delicate (and quick-burning) smoke to its decidedly smooth buzz. It’s hands-down the easiest variety on the lungs we’ve tried in years, cool and cough-free and with zero expansion of the lungs. In the cannabis community, the word “mellow” can often be confused with “weak”—don’t make that mistake here. The Real Banana’s high is deep and long-lasting, leaving no doubt to consumers that they’re totally and completely stoned. But it’s an edge-free buzz, absent of peaks and valleys but yielding instead an even sensation of floating peace. In a word, mellow. If you already have enough tension in your life, or suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, endometriosis or the occasional bout of insomnia, this is a great medicine to keep on hand.

At last, a strain name that truly captures the look and spirit of the variety it graces. Irreverent and offbeat, colorfully dazzling, this new strain from Mid-County Patients Association in Anaheim is a delight to the senses. The smallish buds are almost perfectly spherical, composed of fat nugs so dark as to be almost purple and rioted through with flashes of amber and red stigmas. The perfume and flavor are a mix of violet and dark chocolate, with just a hint of berries. Harlequin burns smoothly but quite hot, so you’ll want to use a water pipe if you have sensitive lungs. But what really lends truth to Harlequin’s name is its stone, which seems to tickle the humor centers of the brain and makes everything seem silly and comical at once. A heavily sativa hybrid, it gives off a nervous energy of the sort that inspires giggling and bad dancing. The buzz is low-intensity and fades fairly quickly—we highly recommend it for novice and/or older patients. It’s also high in CBD (5.5 percent, according to Mid-County), making it a healthy alternative medicine for patients with arthritis, glaucoma, anorexia and sleep disorders.

The origins of this 100-percent pure indica from DTPC in Riverside is a mystery. It’s highly reminiscent of Hindu Kush in taste and aroma and similar to Sour Diesel in appearance, but we’d be guessing if we tried to pin a lineage on it. Let’s stick with what we do know: Empire OG is in virtually every regard what can only be described as a perfect strain. Largely pale green with patches of golden hairs, the heart-shaped buds are tightly packed and sticky with THC-rich resin. The sample we tried was masterfully cured, burning with such evenness that just one lighting was required to cash the bowl, leaving behind pure-white ash that’s the hallmark of truly fine-quality cannabis. We’ve tried hundreds of strains over the years, but few hit with the force and immediacy of Empire OG—it literally intoxicates on the first exhale. After the third exhale, this reviewer was suddenly and completely wrecked. While it can’t be said for certain, the THC count of this variety has to be in the mid- to high 20s. That kind of potency can sometimes lead to an unpleasant experience, but nothing about Empire OG’s massive stone can be described as negative. It’s a smooth, clean high, awakening sensations of peace and well-being that reach down to the core. We can think of no better natural remedy for serious pain, such as the kind associated with cancer, multiple sclerosis, severe migraines and neuropathy.

Makes eight servings.

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons sugar

2 8-inch corn tortillas

Cannabis-Infused Oil**

Mexican crema (optional)

Combine cinnamon and sugar set aside. Cut 2 8-inch tortillas into desired shapes 2 to 3 inches long. In a heavy medium skillet, heat 1/2 inch of Cannabis-Infused Oil until hot. Working in batches, fry tortilla shapes for 2 minutes or until golden brown, turning halfway through cooking time. Remove cooked strips and drain on paper towels. While strips are still warm, toss them with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

TIP: Wear gloves when working with chili peppers to avoid contact with the volatile oils that can burn your skin.

4 cups bite-size pieces of mixed fresh fruit (mango, papaya, strawberries and pineapple)

1 fresh jalapeño chili pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely minced

1 lime

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon Cannabis Simple Syrup***

1 tablespoon orange juice

3 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine fruit and chili pepper. Finely shred the peel from the lime and juice the lime. In a small bowl stir together lime juice, lime peel, honey, Cannabis Simple Syrup, orange juice and a pinch of salt. Toss with fruit mixture. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

Makes 8 half-cup servings

3 tablespoon Cannabis-Infused Oil**

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 fresh poblano chile peppers, stemmed, seeded and chopped

1 cup chicken broth

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 15-ounce cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained

3 tablespoons lime juice

In a large skillet heat Cannabis-Infused Oil over medium heat. Add onions and chile peppers. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Add broth, salt and oregano. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Stir in beans, cover and cook for 15 minutes more. Stir in lime juice.

Makes 8 half-cup servings

2 tablespoon Cannabis-Infused Oil**

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon ground ancho chile pepper

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup long grain rice

1 14-ounce can chicken broth

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 cup Canna Butter*

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ancho chile pepper and salt. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in uncooked rice, cook and stir for 1 minute. Add broth, salsa and the water. Bring to a boil then reduce heat. Simmer covered for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove pan from heat. Remove lid Cover pan with a clean kitchen towel, replace lid. Let stand for 5 minutes to let the towel absorb any moisture. Remove lid and towel. Add cilantro, fluff rice with a fork.