It seems like in every circle of friends there’s at least one person who’s an inveterate weed snob. The one who can always be relied upon to spark up a joint of the good stuff. If you happen to know me, well, I’m that guy, but I have friends who are “that guy” as far as I’m concerned (nearly all of my close friends are heavy, heavy stoners). One of them is David Hershkovits, the former co-founder, co-editor/publisher (with Kim Hastreiter) of New York City’s long-running style bible PAPER magazine. Since selling PAPER David has embarked on a new enterprise, his Light Culture pot-themed podcast which is presented by Burb Cannabis in Vancouver. I asked him about it via email.
How long have you been a pot smoker?
David Hershkovits: I’ve been an off and on (but mostly on) pot smoker for 50 years. More off when my kids were born. Plus, I periodically take month-long breaks. What’s great about pot — among other things — is that you CAN stop if you have to.
So why a weed podcast? Beyond cannabis, what’s the mission of the show?
David Hershkovits: I find the Light Culture podcast a natural continuation of what I’ve been doing for all of my professional life. When I sold PAPER Communications two years ago, divesting myself of PAPER magazine, papermag.com the website with a huge social media presence, and an experiential marketing division, I was looking to stay in the game. I’d been fascinated by podcasts as media and saw Light Culture as a great opportunity to keep on playing in my favorite sandbox of pop and politics. So when I joined the Vancouver-based cannabis company Burb as a consultant, we landed on launching a podcast to connect the brand with a community that bridges cannabis past, present and future. Socially, politically and economically cannabis touches on so many issues right now. It’s an industry still early enough in its evolution to be shaped into something progressive, aware of its social justice implications, counter cultural legacy and responsibility to the disproportionately black and Latino communities who have taken the brunt of the War on Drugs. As a long-time advocate for decriminalization, I want to be part of the conversation.
Who have some of your guests been?
David Hershkovits: My guests have included Fab Five Freddy Brathwaite, a renaissance man of hip hop who paints, directs, acts, produces. We spoke on the occasion of Grass is Greener, a Netflix documentary that goes into the history and culture of the plant, especially as it relates to music and the creative impulse. With Vanessa Lavorato of Bong Appetit we spoke about food and cannabis and women’s evolving role in the culture.
It’s all too obvious where one finds cannabis culture in California—just walk outside and take a good whiff—but where do you find it in New York?
David Hershkovits: Cannabis culture is alive and well in NYC, not only on the streets where vaping and puffing proliferate and people are willing to spend to get the best shit, legal or otherwise. It spans all demographics from skate to art to foodies on the hunt. Secret clubs catering — and selling — to cannabis connoisseurs are opening as well. In a recent survey New York was named as the largest consumer of Cannabis world-wide. So there!
What is the legal situation there? Is it a state law or a municipal ordinance?
David Hershkovits: The legal situation today is that the police have been asked not to make arrests for small amounts, tickets can be written but no one is going to jail if all you’re carrying is for personal use. Still sucks, though. New York City feels like the (un)stoned age compared to Cali.
What about the dispensaries that are popping up around New York? Are they good?
David Hershkovits: Nah, I don’t use dispensaries. I’m fortunate to know who I know which means that I only smoke the best shit.
Danny Fields: David and Danny talk about the wild days of New York when weed was everywhere and Danny was a confidante of all the young dudes from Lou to Iggy to Joey and Nico.
Joe Murray aka “AJ Sour Diesel” — great story about New York in the 90s when Deadhead kids in high school were hanging out in Wetlands, scoring the best weed in the city and then going to on establish Kind Bud — Sour Diesel.
Fab 5 Freddy on cannabis, Snoop Dogg and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Steve Olsen, Hall of Fame skateboarder. In his 50s skates hard and parties even harder.
Vanessa Lavorato — Cannabis “it girl” co-host of Vice TV’s ‘Bong Appetit’
Ricky “The Lazy Hustler” Powell. Aka The Rickster, pothead comedian and street photographer who took many of the iconic Run-DMC and Beastie Boys pics.
Cannabis activist/evangelist/entrepreneur Steve DeAngelo could be identified as the face of the New Cannabis movement.