Richard “Dick” Stephen Hoppe

War is Hell.

An Expert

and

an

Activist.

I’m a Medical Marijuana Patient who has used cannabis recreationally in the past. I’ve grown small amounts of connaisseur weed in my attic for several years when I was young, and it was the best stuff I ever consumed, my friends and family can vouch for me. I almost completely abstained from cannabis use for well over a decade as I was growing a young family and “wanted to be responsible”. Now with access to safe and regulated unadulterated cannabis products, I realize my life is much better off with cannabis back in it, and I wish I had considered medical marijuana sooner. But I still want to try and send the right message to my kids, so I avoid consuming drugs in their presence and almost never overintoxicate myself (except drinking at a wedding for example).

I’m pretty good at biology, botany, and understand chemistry etc. fairly well. I’m an avid researcher of psychotropic and psychoactive substances, but I don’t pursue this in a traditional academic setting or corporate R & D department. One of my favorite research subjects is Cannabis.

By training and life experience, I’m a musician and entrepreneur, and amateur linguist, who went to the best Ivy League school and studied at the world’s finest conservatories and music festivals; I’ve founded and ran several businesses, mostly in music, media and tech, and have an MBA in International Business and Marketing from one of NY’s top business schools.

We’ve made a great deal of progress over the last few decades, but I’m not satisfied with the constant foot dragging regarding the end of Prohibition of Drugs by Federal, State, and Local governments, drowning progress in red tape — when the proof is that many currently illegal drugs, in their unadulterated forms, are generally safe to use by the population with proper dose and administration (and environmental set and setting, and guidance or supervision) and pose no major threat to society if used responsibly. Heath Care workers should train and be there for users, both at health care facilities and out there on the streets checking in on drug users. Many jobs could be created by creating a class of health care workers that are trained as both budtenders/dealers, guides, shamans, and nurses, doctors etc. all combined in a comprehensive education.. So that you could have a new “speakeasy” type drug scene that is legal, with medical staff and law enforcement (undercover and obvious) on hand in the new model of drug consumption locations —- staffing the rave where nobody dies, the opium den where they advise you that you need drug treatment counseling if they think you need it, deciding how much cocaine an individual can safely have at a drug bar and holding their car keys hostage until it’s safe to drive — unless they have a ride. The medical staff is backed up by police muscle in case it is needed, but hopefully this will be rare. The medical staff and control security keep all drug taking party, concert, or chill out etc. type environments at optimium harm reduction levels.

Decriminalization and medical use are the first steps, but legalization of the drug trade from seed, clone, spore or creation by chemical process through distribution and sale to the final end user must be obtained with the imposition of only logical and reasonable regulations when needed. Also people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes should be immediately freed from prison and have their records cleared, unless they were selling a harmful drug to a minor.

Back to one of my favorite substances!

I enjoy the use of Cannabis. As my father used to say…. “Everything in Moderation!” and I add “Even Moderation!”. But seriously, one must learn when to say when. Family friends and colleagues help with this, shattering any “special mirror” delusions about one’s consumption levels.

I love numerology and coincidences, kabbalah and free association…

I was born on Grounation Day in Jamaica… Queens (it’s the Queen of England’s Birthday too). In the mid ‘70’s.

I literally owe my existance to Cannabis, as during my father

specialist Dick Hoppe’s tour of duty in Vietnam, he bartered confiscated Marijuana (he was an MP and hated prohibition and busting people, and was an active user, but had his orders) with Helicopter pilots to obtain hard to get construction materials such as steel plates, and new sandbags acquisition etc. which he used to build himeslf and his buddies a high-grade bunker and therefore survive the nightly VC and NVA regular rocket attacks on Hill 29. Desperately in a haze he survived in the bunker as the war raged on night after night, smoking pot and listening to Sgt. Pepper’s and was able to return back safely to the USA and marry my mother. So much for pot and the military! And as civilians…They were frequent recreational users over the years, but always super descreet. Despite all the pot he still had nightmares about the war, maybe PTSD symptoms… maybe that’s why he continued smoking it. It also played a significant role in helping him with his battle with cancer that he finally succumbed to on April 28, 2000. I remember the doctor told him in private to use marijuana but he could not help him get any. Progress is a good thing.

My paternal Grandfather grew pot in his backyard in Brooklyn. I just think he loved it. Around 5 years old, I only knew my Grandfather was angry — screaming and cursing in spanish — that some people stole his whole garden, so he had my dad go to the pound and get a big German Shepard — I found out from my grandmother about what he grew only later when I was a teenager. I take pride in the brownies I gave her, to give her some memories of getting buzzed with my grandpa — he turned her on to it by burning a pile of leaves upwind from her and giving her a major contact high!

My maternal Grandmother’s second husband, my grandpa and Godfather, grew an organic potent purple strain up at his farm in the Catskill mountains. I taught him everything he knew about growng to start off, and in return was able to learn how to grow high quality cannabis outdoors by visiting him regularly and consulting with him. Minimal expense. Simple Castellamare style cultivation — a mix of manures and natural soil, water and sun. You can now see you a pic of him, he looked just like the marlboro man!

Most of my friends and family have smoked or ingested cannabis in some form at some time in their lives, and it is a part of our lifestyle today as well.

Of course I no longer have the stoner artiste musician image of my youth (my wife would not permit that!) and have to be descreet around my children, the oldest of whom just became a teenager (aren’t I in for a lot of fun!). I live in a no-smoking house so I go outside or vape near a cracked window with the fan on. Thank god there are so many other options to consume cannabis without smoking and vaping! My wife is super sensitive to smells and smoke and vapor so I respect that completely. She goes nuts if the fireplace smokes up the house even a tad. So you will learn clandestine and covert techniques from me to avoid family tensions.

Through creativity is is possible to medicate discreetly and we haven’t had any big problems yet. Most people who see me would have no idea that I am a regular user of medical marijuana products. I like blending in!

But this site is where we can stand out.

I’ll plead the fifth for now about any other of my specific qualifications to be a stash maven, let alone the stashmaster. You can guess my history from my interests. As a creative musician I swear by the benefits of altered mental states and how they can inspire us. When they change U.S. Federal Law and further liberalize NY state law and local laws in Suffolk, Nassau, and NYC, I plan to come more and more out of the prohibition closet. I will give many vague accounts of my adventures and experiences, changing some details as needed to protect people. Also by using a pseudonym on this site I am honoring many of the authors before me in the subject area of drugs who were forced to change their names due to prohibition. Lastly, the pseudonym of StashMaster will hopefully insulate my wife and children from any potential harrassment, until my kids are older. And it’s sort of cool, like the Economist, with no by lines!

I look forward to the day that cannabis, and all other drugs, are no longer prohibited, and that the entire industry from end user to the owners of companies and all stakeholders involved are committed to the responsible and safe use of psychoactive substances, with government taking a role in ensuring saftey and harm reduction through meaningful and needed regulation, while not being an overbearing “nanny state” and blocking progress and freedom. I waver between progressive and libertarian, but I guess that is the curse of an open mind…. we need two wings to fly and a fuselage to hold us together so I welcome the views of the Right, Left and Center.

I want to hear your opinions, learn new facts, and dream the dream, while walking the walk and not only talking the talk.

Reach out to me.

stashmaster@stashmaven.com