Tag Archives: drugs

7 From Just Coca to Crack Vapes

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“”Pharmability”, the feasibility to refine materials to drugs by chemical synthesis, purification etc.” – Fabian Steinmetz & Maja Kohek

What would it take to grow enough opium poppies for heroin, or coca? Further, how could this be done in an equitable way, recognizing that colonialism is at the heart of the drug war? Fabian is one of several researchers and activists working on these questions. When we initially invited Fabian to come on the podcast, we had hoped to talk about his publication exploring the feasibility and harm reduction merits of developing a vape for freebase cocaine (crack). What we soon learned is that Fabian, like many old school activists, has his hand in many projects. From kratom regulation to psychedelic reform to creating an equitable and non-exploitive coca market.

Fabian, a toxicologist by trade, sees a future drug world & is actively imagining what a future drug world could be.

Edited by Marcel Rambo

Help us imagine better drug futures by having a conversation with a friend, sharing the podcast or supporting us at patreon.com/DrugFuturisms

[1] Farmability and pharmability: Transforming the drug market to a health-and human rights-centred approach from self-cultivation to safe supply of controlled substances 

[2] The cocaine-e-cigarette – A theoretical concept of a harm reduction device for current users of smokable cocaine forms – Fabian P Steinmetz, Heino Stöver, 2021

[3] How to regulate stimulants: A practical guide | Transform 

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6 Hormonic Resonances

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“You can’t crush ideas by suppressing them. You can only crush them by ignoring them. By refusing to think, refusing to change.” – Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Dispossessed” 

*we highly recommend you read Adryan’s article before listening*

https://filtermag.org/testosterone-criminalization/ <- yeah that one

Testosterone was criminalized in the United States in response to its use by cis men in sports. The result for trans people has been urine screenings, being outed to police and anyone else who has access to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMPs). Trans & gender non-conforming people were not considered in this legislation and their absence from the conversation is just another example of transphobia. 

In Adryan’s article for filter mag, they point out that, “Gender variant people should be more than acknowledged in drug policy reform; we should be prioritized”. What would that look like, and what sort of futures would it create? 

Edited by Marcel Rambo

Help us imagine better drug futures by having a conversation with a friend, sharing the podcast or supporting us at patreon.com/DrugFuturisms

[1] Adryan’s article: https://filtermag.org/testosterone-criminalization/
[2] Lancet Opioid Crisis Commission https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02252-2/fulltext
[3] Framing Agnes: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/the-extraordinary-new-film-framing-agnes-interrogates-how-trans-stories-are-told-and-by-whom-1.6330162

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4 Breakfast in Latin America Part I

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“Who believes today that the war on drug trafficking is achieving victories? Quite the opposite. It’s been a resounding failure” – Juan Ramón Quintana, MAS Minister of the Presidency under Evo Morales

*We will now be putting content notes at the bottom of every episode. Check there for trigger warnings*

The War on Drugs takes place on multiple battlefields. It is a Global War and a true Forever War. Yet, the ways that it is fought, and the damage it leaves in its wake is different wherever you go. To have a another drug future, a better drug future, means imagining the multiple and sometimes incommensurable futures that can uplift us all. The only way to do that is together, and the only way we can start is by being in conversation with each other.

That’s why, over the next several months, we will be interviewing Latin American drug policy and harm reduction activists. Our first two, are Latin America Network of People who use Drugs (LANPUD) activists, Ernesto Cortes of ACEID and Marialba Quesada Abrams of LPSD and a Youth RISE International Working Group Member. Ernesto & Marialba are both from Costa Rica, both anthropologists, and both activists looking to not only interpret the world, but to change it. We will be doing one-on-one episodes with both of them, as well as Marisa Morales from LPSD and is based out of Mexico. We hope to keep doing even more!

Edited by Marcel Rambo

Help us imagine better drug futures by having a conversation with a friend, sharing the podcast or supporting us at patreon.com/DrugFuturisms

CN: Discussion of sexual assault, gendered violence of the drug war, colonialism, inequality, rape culture

[1] Source for quote above https://jacobinmag.com/2021/11/us-war-on-drugs-dea-bolivian-democracy-coup-morales-quintana-interview

[2] On Canna-colonialism, Dawn Paley https://towardfreedom.org/story/canadas-cannabis-colonialism/

[3] “The Troubles of Medical Cannabis in Colombia” https://www.tni.org/files/publication-downloads/policybrief_52_eng_web.pdf

[4] The Dope: The Real History of the Mexican Drug Trade (pssst there’s an audiobook) https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-dope

[6] You can check out the readings we did for this episode: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xxfpeslxhvpuzpw/AABVJ9NcyXIswAG6sQnk_L7qa?dl=0

[7] Go like ACEID & LPSD, also check out Ernesto’s writing on the topic here: https://www.tni.org/en/smokable-cocaine

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3.5 Looking Back to the Future

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“The way I see it, if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?” – Doc Brown, Back to the Future

Clarie & Alex take a moment to talk about the previous episodes, what’s been going on. As well as some weird. We unpack some of our conversations with people, talk about Stargate SG-1, how history shapes our sense of what is possible, and who we’d want to have on next.

Edited by Marcel Rambo

Help us imagine better drug futures by having a conversation with a friend, sharing the podcast or supporting us at patreon.com/DrugFuturisms

Notes: 

[1] We highly recommend you look through some of these readings for our upcoming talks with Latin American activists: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xxfpeslxhvpuzpw/AABVJ9NcyXIswAG6sQnk_L7qa?dl=0

[2] We reference this thought-provoking piece on Anarchist Responses to HIV & Hep C: https://anarchiststudies.org/thoughts-on-an-anarchist-response-to-hepatitis-c-hiv-by-alexander-mcclelland-zoe-dodd/ 

[3] Karen Ward Twitter thread on non-medicalized safe supply futures in BC: ​​https://twitter.com/kwardvancouver/status/1451033912847724545

[4]Claire’s paper on Isotonitazene (feel free to DM or email Claire/Drug Futurisms for a copy if behind paywall) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955395920302784?via%3Dihub 

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