Here’s a story that’s been lighting up blogs for the past month: Back at the end of June, the vice president of Indonesia—a country that has some of the most draconian drug trafficking laws in the world—told reporters that it was acceptable for local chefs to use crushed marijuana leaves as a cooking spice. Specifically, he said:
It is all right to use it as a food seasoning, but it should not be fully legalized.
The comment’s context was a recent study recommending that Indonesia review its antimarijuana laws. Cannabis is a traditional cooking spice in many places, such as Indonesia’s Aceh province (where it is reportedly used “just like coriander”), Bolivia, Jamaica, and Morocco.
Pro-pot bloggers have been all over the story, some seeing in it a new argument for legalization. It’s the so-called Martha Stewart defense. So, who’s on board? Gourmands? Brewers? Salad-lovers (scroll down)?
Every year, one of the young newbie brewers in our home brew club brews up “hemp beer” with whatever he’s bought on the streets.
Every time, the guy thinks he’s the first to do it. Usually, it isn’t good beer to begin with, as it is one of their first attempts at beer in general, and they haven’t quite got the knack. The main mistake is that they use overly strong stuff, or that they just put too much in. these same guys brew beer in order to make it as strong as they can. When they evolve to brewing for taste, they’ll be OK.
But it’s fun to watch them present it. they always seem to bring it in liter plastic soda bottles and act as if they are being followed by the DEA. Everyone else just rolls their eyes and puts up with it.
“Dude, try my beer, it has WEED in it!” (obscene giggle)
“Yeah man, great. You rebel, you.”
But I know there are some good, and legal at that, hemp beers out there.
I would love to find some good hemp beers! *Rebel LOL*!!!