Like most carbon-based life forms in our solar system, I was extremely bummed out when David Bowie chose to go back to his home planet. His music has been the soundtrack to many key events in my life and the lives of so many people around the planet. There have been a million soliloquies about who and what Bowie was as a human, his deeds, his misdeeds. I don’t want to wade into those deep waters out of respect for the people who are still alive.

Yet one event bears remembering for the purposes of this column. In 1976, Bowie and his friend and collaborator Iggy Pop were arrested in Rochester, N.Y., for possession of about a half-pound of cannabis. I wonder what they would have been smoking. Maui Wowie? Columbian Red Gold? Stickless Thai? Whatever it was, it would have been scrubby and dry compared to the delicately groomed buds we’re used to today (East Coast growers were years from producing the stellar Sour Diesel). Yet the bust did not appear to deter Bowie, who more recently contemplated the escape found in both mortality and marijuana in the 2013 song “I’d Rather Be High.”

The connection between cannabis and Bowie’s otherworldly work is something to consider while attending one of the many listening parties scheduled throughout the next month. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate his amazing body of work than to gather with fellow friends and fans and fill the city’s clubs, basements, and streets with his copious output. And if you plan to listen and consume cannabis, let me be so bold as to suggest some pairings for your listening and smoking pleasure.

Think of me as your Bowie-weed sommelier.

Party Mode Bowie

Suggestion: Super Lemon Haze

Super Lemon Haze is an amazing, upbeat sativa with tasty, bright citrus flavors, tons of crystals, and a strong, stimulating buzz—a great strain for dance parties going until the break-a break-a dawn. People naturally inclined toward glitter and being fucking fabulous will understand this high. Wearing platform shoes has proven to make this weed even stronger. Best paired with: Diamond Dogs, Earthling, Black Tie White Noise, Never Let Me Down, Let’s Dance—albums packed with dance-floor classics, killer beats, and posi-vibes for days.

Vinyl Hang Bowie

Suggestion: Permafrost

Permafrost is a relaxed sativa-dominant hybrid with yummy evergreen notes (think juniper and pine). I love this strain for its ability to heighten focus and sensory details while instilling a mellow full-body sensation. This plant is made for zoning out on those masterful horn sections or picking apart the production values of reissues. Best paired with: Stage, David Live, Young Americans, Aladdin Sane, Ziggy Stardust, The Man Who Sold the World, David Bowie. Perfect for sitting on the floor with a group of friends and savoring the grandeur.

Cool Jazz Bowie

Suggestion: Strawberry 
Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade is an arousing sativa-dominant modern contender that’s been winning awards lately. It has a luscious, juicy, fruit-like flavor, and is getting high marks for, above all, the aphrodisiac effect that results from a blend of a tantalizing body high and a very pleasant headspace. It’s an experience similar to Ecstasy, though not as strong. Give the yacht rock and nose candy a break and try this sex therapy instead. Best paired with: The Buddha of Suburbia, Tonight, Lodger, Station to Station, and one or more consenting adults.

Existentialist Angst Bowie

Suggestion: Blueberry

Blueberry is a deep-hitting indica with high THC content. Known chiefly for its calming effects, it complements those moments when the stress of living in the Space Age makes everything a little too surrea, and you need to step outside it all for a moment. This plant can induce a floating, spaced-out experience, perfect for providing some perspective on the drama of modern life. Best paired with: The Next Day, Outside, Scary Monsters, Hunky Dory, David Bowie (aka Space Oddity). Bowie relates his travels through the weird and lets you know you’re not alone in the crazy shit you’re living.

Leaden Bowie

Suggestion: AK-47

AK-47 is a sativa-dominant hybrid that acts like an indica. This extremely mellow strain is absolutely suited to those rainy Seattle days we spend alone with a mug of tea in our hands, reading or staring out the window, contemplating the Deep Stuff. Simultaneously relaxing and uplifting, this strain supports taking some time to be alone and ponder the mysteries of the universe. It also compliments deep conversations with trusted confidants, lengthy baths, coloring books, and naps. Best paired with: Blackstar, ‘hours…’, Low.

E

stashbox@seattleweekly.com