Green Daily

Obviously drugs -- even the legal ones -- aren't very good for you, and most will get you arrested (or worse), but rumor has it that some people still take them anyway. So, with that in mind, the least you can do is work towards a more sustainable habit. To see all the substances we've covered in this series, see our Guide to Green Green Drug Use.

Years ago, one of my college pals used to rave about the amazing effects of Morning Glory seeds, claiming that their effects were comparable to LSD. Others have since told me that Morning Glory's primary effects are nausea and a nasty taste. Never having consumed the seeds myself, I can't make a claim one way or another.

That having been said, I understand that a lot depends on the preparation of the seeds. Some sites, in fact, advocate mixing powdered seeds with petroleum ether and then combining the residue with ethanol. Not only is this technique potentially explosive and VOC-laden, but ether, as a petroleum distillate, is non-renewable.

Morning Glory seeds, if taken by themselves, represent a minimal environmental impact; basically, their only carbon cost lies in their production and distribution. The same goes for Damiana, Jimson Weed, Sweet Flag, Thorn Apple, Wild Lettuce, Wormwood, or most of the other naturally-growing hallucinogens that you can find in your local health-food store or plant nursery. In other words, the "green-ness" of your buzz depends on the sustainability of your practices! Green Grade: A/A-; D if prepared with volatile, non-renewable petroleum compounds.