As a kid, I always thought of the VW bus as something stoners would drive. From Jeff Spicoli in ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High‘ to Filmore in ‘Cars‘ to the Canna-Bus those flower-power hippies used to drive around in. If you wanted everyone to know that you blazed up, a VW bus was your vehicle of choice.
A couple weeks ago, while driving along Sheppard Ave in Downsview, I saw this massive VW bus mural painted on the side of a commercial building next to a gas station.
Between the peace symbols and flowers in the mural, I should have guessed that Yerba Buena was a pot shop. It was kind of funny to me that the imagery was all appropriated from late 60’s hippie counter-culture. Right down to the Golden Gate bridge.
I guess what’s funny is that the symbolism from 50+ years ago really has nothing to do with pot today. Rather than seeing hippie pot-heads, you’re more likely to see someone’s grandma walking into the store to get CBD pain medication. But, the owners are still trying to make the place look ‘cool’.
Pretty cool mural. The name of the shop is also cool, I believe it means “Good Grass” in Spanish.