Opie Ortiz: Tattoo Artist, Muralist, and Singer of Long Beach Dub Allstars Gets Into The Weeds
Opie Ortiz, tattoo artist and front man of Long Beach Dub All Stars tells his story of being arrested for Cannabis in Japan
The Best of The ITW Podcast #fannabis
LISTEN TO LONG BEACH DUB ALLSTARS:
On this edition of The Best Of The ITW Podcast (@getintotheweeds) Ben and Efrem sit down with musician, tattoo artist, muralist and singer of The Longbeach Dub Allstars; Opie Ortiz.
Opie shares his experience being incarcerated for cannabis while on tour in Japan. Opie gives a candid account of one of the scariest times of his life.
WATCH OPIE ORTIZ ON THE BEST OF THE ITW PODCAST HERE:
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The current cannabis laws in Japan include banning the import, export, cultivation, sale, purchase, and research of cannabis buds and leaves. Penalties for violating Japan's cannabis laws are some of the strictest in the world. The penalty for possession of cannabis in Japan is up to five years imprisonment, while possession for the purpose of trafficking is up to seven years imprisonment and a fine of ¥2 million (US$18,347)
Opie Ortiz: A True artist
Opie Ortiz is a legendary tattoo artist, muralist and musician based out of Long Beach, California. His tattoo career skyrocketed when Bradley Nowell of Sublime featured a tattoo of a tribal sun by Opie on the Front of Sublime’s 40 Oz To Freedom. At the time, Opie was already a part of the Sublime family. His photo is also the cover of Subline’s release, Robbin’ The Hood.
After Bradley Nowell of Sublime’s tragic passing, the remaining members and featured players of Sublime started a new band called Long Beach Dub AllStars, with Opie as lead singer. The name, abbreviated to LBDA, was a name Bradley Nowell himself came up with as a potential replacement for Sublime, if they ever needed or decided to change names.
LBDA has since released three studio albums; Right Back (1999), which made it to number 67 on Billboard, Wonders of the World (2001), which made it to number 59 Billboard, and most recently, Long Beach Dub Allstars (2020), a self-titled album the band has begun touring since the Covid 19 pandemic.
A lifelong devotee to art and expression, Opie is also a well known, if not legendary graffiti writer. When asked if he was still into graffiti back on his ITW appearance in 2018, he replied, “It’s been a minute, but I’ll fuck up a wall anytime”.
Opie’s sound, soul and expression can be seen across all his mediums. A true artist, who feels the temperature of the street and turns it into love.
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ABOUT THE ITW PODCAST (@getintotheweeds)
ITW is an hour-long podcast known for its conversational flow and intriguing quests. ITW host’s include musician and advocate Ben Rispin (MJR Label Genetics, Rules, Saint Alvia Cartel), musician and entrepreneur, Efrem Martinez-Shulz (Death By Stereo, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Programme Skate & Sound), and Canadian cannabis industry-expert Bubba Nicholson (Grey Beard Cannabis).
Every episode finds hosts discussing the state of the cannabis marketplace and its various nuances while guests from across the entertainment and cannabis landscapes share how they “got Into the Weeds”
Find ITW: Get Into The Weeds on Twitter and Instagram @getintotheweeds
You can find Efrem Martinez Shulz on Instagram at @efbystereo
You can find Bubba Nicholson on Instagram @bubbanicholson
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