The Cannabis Cup lives on in Amsterdam. In spite of many shortcomings, the venerable cup continues to hazily stumble on year after year, due to hefty subsidies from High Times magazine.

This 18th annual event will feature Patti Smith and her band, and the plan is to induct John Trudell into the Counterculture Hall of Fame.

If you are not familiar with John Trudell, or his band Bad Dog, you should be. According to his website, "Trudell, a Vietnam Veteran, served in the U.S. Navy from 1963-1967, attended college for a while and then dropped out. In 1969, Trudell participated in the occupation of Alcatraz Island by Indians of All Tribes, becoming a spokesman for Indians of All Tribes. After the Indians of All Tribes occupation ended in 1971, Trudell worked with the American Indian Movement, becoming national Chairman of AIM in 1973. Trudell was chairman of AIM from 1973 until 1979. In February of 1979, Trudell's mother-in-law, wife and three children were killed in a fire of unknown origin."

At that time he began to chronicle his experiences and his pain through music, and recorded a number of albums hailed critically by such artists as Bob Dylan. His material is a unique blend of poetry, Native instrumentation, blues and rock. With his new album "Bone Days" he has continued to try and raise the consciouness of all listeners to new levels of understanding.

The Cannabis Cup will be further enhanced with the legendary Patti Smith on hand performing her work. Patti Smith has been on the scene, literally, since the 1960s when she lived in New York City with famed photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. She worked in avant garde thater productions and visual arts, until she found her voice and the words to stir up the music scene, producing one of the first independent rock DIY albums, recorded in 1974.

Her career went on from there, with many bestselling albums including "Horses." Patti Smith took a hiatus from 1979 thru the mid 1990's, when she returned to the performing scene after the deaths of her husband and brother within a month of each other. Now she is a legend in her own right, showcasing the human condition with all its flaws and beauty through her music.

This year the Cannabis Cup will be held at the Melkweg, and the Sugar Factory. Finally the cup management wised up and found a spot right by the Melkweg to use for the displays and seminars, etc. that always accompany the music festival that is the heart of the Cannabis Cup.

The Sugar Factory was known as the Amuse Theater previously to this May, and its door is directly opposite the entrance to the Melweg.

The Melkweg and Sugar Factory are located right off the Leidseplein, which is easily reached from anywhere in Amsterdam by tram, taxi or foot.

Here's hoping your Cannabis Cup experience is everything you expect it to be!

~Martin Trip

This year the sun was shining, the floats were outstanding, the crowd mellow and happy and everyone had an absolutely fabulous time!

Holland extends a warm welcome to gay people from all over the world.

 

We'd heard the rumours of more nudity and live sex, but the acts were tasteful, with only some exposed flesh (see above).

This annual event in Utrecht showcases the latest technology available for those who grow cannabis and hands out awards to the top produce from that technology.

About 70 booths vied for attention selling everything from top quality seeds to get you started, to plant mediums like rock wool for hydroponic gardening, to fertilizers to ensure rapid healthy growth, to self-contained mini-growrooms, to complete computer controlled systems that monitor and control water, fertilizer, air circulation, CO2, lighting, automatically, even remotely via cellphone or the internet!

The Silkroad Festival 2002 will be hosted by Yo-Yo Ma, and he brings us down a journey on the ancient route from the Meditteranean Sea to the Far East. Along with musicians from China and Azerbidjan, Yo-Yo Ma presents nine concerts over six days in the world famous Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The first in the series is on January 25, 2002 and the last is on February 3rd.

You may buy a ticket to the entire series for € 122.52 (euros) or pay for each concert - if they don't sell out. If interested it's best to get your tickets now, directly from the Concertgebouw. You can call and buy tix with a credit card over the phone. Check their website for more info on that.

The Pax Party House, home to the Cannabis Cup, right next to the police station. A typical example of Dutch tolerance!

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times", to quote Dickens. For the 1600+ stoner attendees at the 2001 High Times Cannabis Cup, it was the best of times. Imagine being able to choose the best quality marijuana and hashish samples from 22 different coffeeshops representing the most diverse selection available anywhere in the world. But at yesterday's press conference we were reminded that for many persecuted and incarcerated cannabis users including those in medical need, it is indeed the worst of times.