Certain parts of the world are associated with present or historical use of one or more psychoactive drugs. Over the 12+ years I spent writing The Drug Users Bible I sought them out, eventually visiting 33 countries, and taking thousands of drug related photographs.
I have recently started to organize these properly, and following suggestions on this platform I will be posting a selection of them here. This post presents some of those I took on my visit to San Francisco (limited to 20 due to platform constraints).
Please note that, when visiting any territory, should you choose to use any psychoactive substance it is vital that you conduct your own research with respect to legality and law enforcement. Don’t get banged up abroad. For the attention of law enforcement: none of this post constitutes a confession that I broke the law in any place or at any time.
[Note that there will be a hiatus of some weeks whilst I organise and prepare the photographs I took from the next five destinations].
SAN FRANCISCO
As the epicentre of the summer of love, the counter-culture revolution and the hippie movement, many would argue that this should have been one of my first destinations. It was, in fact, one of the last, which had its benefits, including that by the time I visited weed was legal. I stayed for a week and it was non-stop action.
For someone who was actually alive during that era, the only place to start was Haight-Ashbury.
The whole district was in fact awash with psychedelic art.
It often seemed to merge with the striking architecture.
And of course there was the House of the Grateful Dead
A short walk and I was able to enjoy the view from the legendary hippie hill in Golden Gate Park.
It's surrounded by reality, which as we all know is best avoided.
There was no shortage of weed shops in town.
Not all of them appeared to be strictly regulated.
It’s fair to say that the interiors of many of the dispensaries were somewhat grand.
My personal weed haul was too sufficient. I had to commit sacrilege and leave some behind.
I found a few interesting bits and pieces off the beaten track.
There’s ample access to the usual hard addictive drug for those inclined.
What did I miss? Well, there are kratom & kava bars in San Fran, but I was there during covid-19, so they were closed. Never mind. Have a photo of this bridge structure instead, which I walked over. It was rather windy, but like those 182 drugs, it had to be done.
Woah! Groovy, man.
Did I really smoke weed in the exercise yard of Alcatraz?
No, no, no, officer… I didn’t. Do I look like the sort of person who would do that?
I have an idea. Perhaps you should stop locking people up for using drugs, and where necessary treat them instead.
Walking around the infamous Tenderloin district (albeit in the morning) I encountered no problems at all.
Unfortunately though there was a reminder of why harm reduction is so important. Society and its barbaric war on drugs really do suck, even here. These people need to be helped, not denigrated and maligned.
Finally, I could sometimes pretend to be a normal tourist. Despite hostile media often misrepresenting it, San Francisco remains a wonderful place to visit.
.
LAST & ABSOLUTELY NOT LEAST: STAY SAFE
Whatever the circumstances of your own travel do not suspend judgement, safety or the use of a harm reduction process. Please refer to The Drug Users Bible for further information. You can download a free copy of the PDF version from the BB Chemical Library: https://bbgate.com/resources/the-drug-users-bible.3477/
.
I have recently started to organize these properly, and following suggestions on this platform I will be posting a selection of them here. This post presents some of those I took on my visit to San Francisco (limited to 20 due to platform constraints).
Please note that, when visiting any territory, should you choose to use any psychoactive substance it is vital that you conduct your own research with respect to legality and law enforcement. Don’t get banged up abroad. For the attention of law enforcement: none of this post constitutes a confession that I broke the law in any place or at any time.
[Note that there will be a hiatus of some weeks whilst I organise and prepare the photographs I took from the next five destinations].
SAN FRANCISCO
As the epicentre of the summer of love, the counter-culture revolution and the hippie movement, many would argue that this should have been one of my first destinations. It was, in fact, one of the last, which had its benefits, including that by the time I visited weed was legal. I stayed for a week and it was non-stop action.
For someone who was actually alive during that era, the only place to start was Haight-Ashbury.
The whole district was in fact awash with psychedelic art.
It often seemed to merge with the striking architecture.
And of course there was the House of the Grateful Dead
A short walk and I was able to enjoy the view from the legendary hippie hill in Golden Gate Park.
It's surrounded by reality, which as we all know is best avoided.
There was no shortage of weed shops in town.
Not all of them appeared to be strictly regulated.
It’s fair to say that the interiors of many of the dispensaries were somewhat grand.
My personal weed haul was too sufficient. I had to commit sacrilege and leave some behind.
I found a few interesting bits and pieces off the beaten track.
There’s ample access to the usual hard addictive drug for those inclined.
What did I miss? Well, there are kratom & kava bars in San Fran, but I was there during covid-19, so they were closed. Never mind. Have a photo of this bridge structure instead, which I walked over. It was rather windy, but like those 182 drugs, it had to be done.
Woah! Groovy, man.
Did I really smoke weed in the exercise yard of Alcatraz?
No, no, no, officer… I didn’t. Do I look like the sort of person who would do that?
I have an idea. Perhaps you should stop locking people up for using drugs, and where necessary treat them instead.
Walking around the infamous Tenderloin district (albeit in the morning) I encountered no problems at all.
Unfortunately though there was a reminder of why harm reduction is so important. Society and its barbaric war on drugs really do suck, even here. These people need to be helped, not denigrated and maligned.
Finally, I could sometimes pretend to be a normal tourist. Despite hostile media often misrepresenting it, San Francisco remains a wonderful place to visit.
.
LAST & ABSOLUTELY NOT LEAST: STAY SAFE
Whatever the circumstances of your own travel do not suspend judgement, safety or the use of a harm reduction process. Please refer to The Drug Users Bible for further information. You can download a free copy of the PDF version from the BB Chemical Library: https://bbgate.com/resources/the-drug-users-bible.3477/
.