David Bienenstock

POT MOVIES

The Big Lebowski - "My personal favorite pot movie is The Big Lebowski. Great film, extremely funny, worth watching over and over again -- also, the dude is a true stoner detective, guided by instinct and intuition, and engaged in the journey as much as the solution to his mystery."

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Dazed and Confused - "This is probably the greatest pot movie of all time because it hits so many notes. It's very realistic in its portrayal of pot smoking. It's funny and brilliantly made."

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"If I could give any advice to the marijuana smokers of the world it would be to decide what you want to do after you get high, before you get high."

MUSIC

Stephen Malkmus - "I'm an eclectic music listener, but I'm currently really into Stephen Malkmus' Real Emotional Trash."

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My Morning Jacket - "My Morning Jacket rocks my face off."

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"You know, there’s no Cocaine magazine for a reason and that's because people use that drug but there’s no culture that surrounds it.  People generally don’t feel good about it. They may feel good five minutes after they do it, but there’s a reason why there’s a magazine and a culture behind pot and that's because people really think it's a good thing. They’re not ashamed of doing it."

Kind of Blue - "I was working on a story where I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks trimming pot and living communally with a bunch a people who were doing that for a living. We'd play this album every night at midnight. Whenever I hear this Miles Davis record I'm instantly brought back to that awesome time."

BOOKS

Kurt Vonnegut - "My former NYC neighbor, Kurt Vonnegut, wrote the books that made me want to write. We met a few times in my local park and had a nice conversation each time.  I miss seeing him around and the whole world misses his writing."

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The Emperor Wears No Clothes - "This book by Jack Herer brought hemp, pot and pot activism in to the mainstream. It's responsible for inspiring so many of the people who have made this kind of activism a part of their daily lives."

Dying to Get High- "This book examines the medical marijuana movement in California and looks at what they've done to reach the kind of success that they have. I don't think any reasonable person could read this book and be against Medical Marijuana."

"Chemdog and Sour Diesel top my current list of the best pot strains available in New York...well, at least what's readily available to well connected New Yorkers. They're both powerful and uplifting strains, with great taste. You'll pay a little more, but smoke a little less and it all works out wonderfully in the end...That said, anything anyone else wants to smoke me out with, is always fine with me."

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POT STRAINS

Chemdog- "Chemdog is almost like an heirloom strain but it's common around the city. It has a fantastic taste and a really nice body high."

Strawberry Cough - "Strawberry Cough tastes like fresh fruit and has a really nice smell to it. If you walk in to a room and people are smoking this - you'll definitely know it."

Sour Diesel - "Sour Diesel is the kind of weed that's rapped about. It's really powerful and really uplifting. It has Sativa in it so it's the type of weed you can smoke and still get things done."

BONGS

Roor - "Ever since Michael Phelps got caught smoking a Roor bong this company has gotten a lot of press. They make a good product with really quality peices that are manufactured well. Very good functioning and solidly built."

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Zong - "The best thing about a Zong Bong is that if you tip it over the water won't spill out. Anyone who's ever spilled bongwater on their carpet will appreciate this."

Jerome Baker - "When you buy a Baker product. You're not just buying a bong, you're buying a work of art."

RESTAURANTS & BARS

Mee Noodles - "My favorite place to eat when I'm stoned is this noodle shop in my neighborhood called Mee Noodles. They make great tasting, fresh food, served with a smile."

Beard Papa's - "This is a little Japanese place in my neighborhood that makes these Japanese cream puffs. After a joint I could eat about 50 of these."

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Vol De Nuit - "I love Belgian beer, so if I'm not out seeing music, I like to meet friends at a place called Vol De Nuit in the West Village. Great beer selection, chill decor, and plenty of outside seating makes me happy! If you're stoned and hungry, treat yourself to some of the serious Euro-Style french fries."

"The highest I’ve ever been was at the Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam.  I was lucky enough to be one of the judges and I was left in a room with about 30 different kinds of Cannabis and Hashish. They pretty much say to you,  'we’ll be back in 4 or 5 days - tell us which one you like the best.'  There’s really no way to honor that process without getting incredibly high."

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU'RE HIGH

Morning Dew - "Morning Dew is a great radio program on Saturday nights on NYC's WBAI radio. It's a great show if you happen to be spending Saturday night home alone, writing a pot book."

Spin NYC - "There's a new place opening up called Spin NYC, put together by our good friends from Naked Ping Pong. It's going to be a high end spot for the local pongeratti. The High Times staff will definitely be regulars."

The Museum of Modern Art - "There are few things that go better with a pot brownie than the Museum of Modern Art."