Opening Statement



Thursday 10 October 2019

Oh Cannabis Fall 2019 News y Views!

Inhale! Hold! Exhale! Smile! ChEcK oUt My "Readers Guide 2 Oh Cannabis News Y View" @ Directory! UpDAtEs AddED iN LaRgE TyPe! LiVe TwEeTs @ davidchiarelli 




OH CANNABIS

More Trudeau: A liberal minority win in this fall's federal election, sadly leaves the Liberal's corporate weed agenda firmly intact. Expect more bureaucratic inertia and health and safety reefer madness a la Prohibition 2.0! However, with the NDP and Greens holding the balance of power, we could see more private member bills, pushing for expungement and an end to the medical cannabis tax @ Leafly 

Truth Tracker: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quick to defend his money grubbing, corporate legalization strategy during our federal election. Apparently, it's been a great success. Canada's big bad, black [read "unregulated"] market is now on the run. Eh?!? Not so fast buster @ CTV

On The New NORML: NORML Canada held an open meeting October 17th, on the first anniversary of legalization, to announce it's new 5 point plan for the road ahead. The goal? To focus advocacy efforts on reforming Canada's highly flawed Cannabis Act @ NORML.CA @ NORML.CA

Dr. Mike Whitty from NORML Michigan and NORML Motorcity [Detroit] provided insights into that state's new recreational cannabis law. Former Health Minister/ BioMed Exec George Smitherman dropped by to discuss cannabis lounges and the Ontario Smoking Act. Then Abi Roach and the NORML Canada executive opened the floor to a lively discussion on the "unregulated" [as opposed to "black"] market. Over regulation. Medical cannabis access. Fear and stigma. Social discrimination in the cannabiz sector. US border crossings. Expungements and lots more.




Furious George On Pot!

Oh Cannabis is duly impressed and plans to incorporate the term unregulated market on a go forward basis. Applauds the new NORML's clear focus on many of the most pressing grassroots problems with Canadian legalization, as also regularly highlighted here on my blog site.

Afterwards, we were invited to an industry party for a local, legal, cannabis dispensary. They will remain nameless. I've slammed them before on my site, but they were still nice enough to let me in. Suffice to say that no toking was allowed, even though they were celebrating a new line of pre-rolls. And as for the cannabis edibles they were handing out? They contained no THC or CBD's! For shame!

The irony seemed totally lost on the drinking crowd. We heads decided to just slip outside by ourselves, into the cold and dark, to do our stoner thing. Smoke our own boo. Sigh! Alas! How typical of the whole problem with the legal sector verses the unregulated market! 

Ever wonder why the legal scene isn't catching on?!? Quite simply, the whole corporate mindset and culture sucks! They just don't seem to get it! Nuff said!




Abi on The New NORML!

Sign Abi Roach's Petition: Toronto's Kensington Market Hotbox/ NORML cannabis activist is rightfully pissed! She's demanding that the Ontario Thug Ford government open up the dispensary application and licensing process just like like they would for any other legal business in our province. Say no 2 his corrupt "pot lotto" reefer madness @ Change.org

Thug Ford's Pot Lottery: It's Ontario losing ticket! Sadly, Canada's largest province can't even begin to provide enough weed to go around under the "system" Ford's created. Meanwhile, there's plenty of established indie retailers, who've suffered long and hard throughout prohibition. They could quickly rush in to meet the demand. Instead, the Thug's oh-so-lucky friends and lotto fiends continue to somehow win big time! Without having ever risked any skin in the real legalization game and struggle! No justice, no peace @ Globe

Procedurally Unfair: Thug Ford's "disqualified lotto winners" launch a legal challenge against the corrupt AGCO @ FP



Ford -Not Open 4 Business: How bad is it here? Even the province's OCRC, our government run crown pot corporation, somehow managed to lose $42 million over the last fiscal year, since legalization. How ironic! Ex- high school drug pusher Premier Thug Ford and his Neo Conservative party?They insist Ontario is open for business. While clearly lack any half assed business sense whatsoever! @ CP24

A Different Kind of Dope: Yup! Even Ontario's big licensed producers are furiously lining up en masse to lobby the Ford government. Desperately hoping he'll finally get his fucking business act together in Canada's largest marketplace. More below under "Green Marketing" and @ MBD

Ford Bans Vapes: In another half witted, knee jerk move, the Ford PC government bans vapes from gas stations and convenience stores. Few if any THC pens are sold there, legally anyway, but who knows what the fucktard will do next, as he reforms Bill 36, which governs legal cannabis sales in our province @ TStar @ Ipol

Canada Vapes: Our Canuck producers are standing by their soon to be legalized vape products, despite the recent US health scare. Much more on the real problems and issues below, and @ FP 

Nic'd: Canada's only confirmed, vape related illness to date involved nicotine @ Globe 



Cannabis Council of Canada: stresses that vape pens and their contents should be sold in a "properly regulated and responsible environment" @ Inc

Canadian Medical Association: urges the government to reduce the THC count in legal edibles from 10 to 5% for ... ahem ... "safety" reasons. Our underground craft producers will quickly make up the difference, especially for our more needy medical cannabis market. Internationally speaking? Canada's legal producers simply won't be able to compete there either, recreationally or otherwise. More reefer madness @ CH



Standing On Guard 4 Weed: The RCMP's Dudley Do Right comes to the rescue, once again. Kinda sorta. While warning why we shouldn't buy unregulated weed, they provide a whole lotta good reasons why we should @ Vice

Missing In Action: Blacks are being disproportionately sidelined throughout Canada's new, cannabiz sector. The underlying criminalization, expungement and policing issues are examined. The focus is also on how they're being excluded from most of the big, important policy discussions @ PO



Alberta Smokes: Seems Canada's western "Texas Lite" province has the best well oiled and functioning cannabis retail sector in the country. Their usually combative right and left wing politico's even managed to work together to get it right, whereas here in Ontario it's nothing but a total fucking mess @ CH

BC Ban: Promoting cannabis at any liquor-licensed venue or event in British Columbia is now strictly prohibited! But for booze it's okay?!? Crazy man crazy @ Straight



Indigenous Perspectives: Locked out of and not consulted on legalization, many of the First Nations in Canada have decided to declare weed sovereignty; that is to grow and sell their own cannabis on treaty lands. Legacy 420's Jordan Brant explains the many internal challenges and considerations that presents from an indigenous perspective @ JBrant

Here's another point of view about the right to create and enforce a indigenous "Cannabis Control Act" on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory outside Belleville, Ontario, where the Legacy 420 dispensary is located. The issues and implications run deep! More POV's @ RP

It's a very lively, in-depth community debate, bubbling under both the surface of Canadian politics and history. One we hear little about off the reserve. Truly, we can learn a lot from the First Nations' community approach to legalization. Plus from the terrific indigenous dispensaries and grow-ops that they are busy setting up. Ours often pale in comparison. No pun intended. Well, maybe ... 




Six Nations Green Cross 6N Police raid!

Six Nation Busts: When are dispensary staff beaten during a police raid? When they are indigenous. No?!? See above. Check it out @ DF

Police dispensary raids on Six Nation treaty lands are increasingly dramatical and quite brutal. In response, the Six Nations Peoples Cannabis Coalition is calling for more self regulation of the production and sale of cannabis on the reserves @ DF


Election Warning: Many First Nation chiefs across Canada are voicing a stern warning for whomever wins the fall federal election! Amend the Cannabis act to include indigenous treaty rights, so that conflict doesn't ensue! Serious business @ CBC

Canadian Federal Election My coverage of the main parties position, or lack thereof, on reforming our flawed Cannabis Act [2018] is @ HERE!

IN THE NEWS



Feel The Bern: US Democrat presidential candidate  Bernie Sanders promises to legalize cannabis, by executive order, within 100 days of taking office @ MF He also outlines a three step plan to block a big corporate takeover of the US cannabiz sector @ MM

Slow Joe? Biden walks back his comments that cannabis is a gateway drug, after belatedly looking into the current research, and discovering that it isn't. The other prudential candidates respond @ MM


Trumped: The befuckled US President gets his youth vaping crisis' mixed up. Bans flavoured cannabis vapes. They're not safe, it seems! Unlike opiods, or for that matter the NRA ... Well you get the picture @ Politico @ VF @ Vice

Safe US Banking Act: Good! SAFE [Safe And Fair Enforcement] has been passed by the House! Would finally allow the US cannabis industry to access the everyday, legal, banking and financial services, it so desperately needs to succeed. But it's also bad news! SAFE doesn't dare remove cannabis as a mucho verboten schedule 1 drug. So the long and short of it all? Our favourite weed remains a big no-no at the federal level. Plus, the bill's highly unlikely to be approved by all those GOP reefer madmen, still foaming at the mouth in the US senate @ BW

Two Thirds Support: Americans are increasingly in favour of legalization. Not only isn't cannabis just for hippies anymore. More and more folks also realize, it just makes makes good business sense @ MR



MORE: The Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement Act passes, by a bipartisan House Judiciary Committee vote of 24 to 10. The act would delist cannabis as a Controlled Substance. Impose a minor excise tax to pay for the expungement of criminal records. Now the lobbying begins @ NORML @ NORML

Cannabis Summit: Women Republican and Democratic lawmakers from across US meet to knock heads. They calmly and rationally discuss legalization policy, showing the Big Boise [ ... duh ... ] how it's done right @ MM

Friends in High Places: Finally, a lot of top Republicans are speaking out for legalization and supporting the cannabis industry now too @ TCBD @ GH



Patricia Spottedcrow Verses the Stool Pigeon: A 25 year old single mom from Oklahoma got 12 years for selling $31 in pot to a police informant. Faaaa .... that's less than is sitting here beside my computer as I type ... !!! Patricia simply can't afford the court costs and fines, so she keeps getting tossed back in the slammer. And so it goes to be poor, indigenous and female! Once again; No justice -no peace @ Insider and OCSW

US Report Card: How does your state rate for medical cannabis access in 2019? Check it out @ Leafly

Makes Sensi: Mexico moves closer to legalize recreational weed. The plan @ Fool

GREEN MARKETING




All Dried Up: How greedy Bay Street financiers killed the golden goose of Canadian legalization @  Globe

Corporate Weed: Canada's Canopy Growth is very busy promoting it's corporate strain of "cannabis colonialism" throughout the US. Stateside, the big cannabis business sector is still behind the times. But before we start wrapping ourselves in our flag to celebrate Canada leading the way, one must wonder; is the corporate legalization model really a good thing? @ BT

Election High: Canada's cannabiz producers and investors alike are breathing a sigh of relief. Legalization under the Trudeau Liberals has been problematic at best. But had CPC Andrew Scheer had been elected, who knows what would've happened next?!? Now, they consider the way forward @ Fool



A Legalization 2.0 Q+A With Lisa Campbell: Mercari's CEO, a well respected local activist and entrepreneur in the ongoing struggle, fills us in on the next big step in Canada's legalization process -cannabis food and beverage consumables! Take it away Lisa @ Verdie

How 2 Tell If Your Vape Cartridge is Safe? Cannabis oil itself is quite safe. The danger is with the cutting and binding agents and other vaping liquids added for flavour, plus to make big clouds. Ditto the cheap and dangerous Made-in-China batteries. Check it out @ GE and @ Weedmaps

Vape Safety Requires Legalization Just like with any other consumer product, the cartridges and pens could be easily safety tested and proper standards set, if they weren't illegal. But of course, that just makes too much sense @ NYM @ FEE

Big Tobacco is using crisis to consolidate it's power over the massive new vaping market! Surprised? @ Vice



Up Yer Butt: The cannabiz sector is pulling out all the stops in marketing "Boof", a promising, new CBD "butt lube", to the LGBTQ community. Seems it's good for pain, inflammation and to relax too. Er .... face north, Jack @ MJ 

Corporate Woes: The cannabis market is growing growing faster than the marketing branders can define it. And so we watch as the corporate squares move in on our turf and try to co-opt us. Fall flat on their face @ Forbes

Reefer Madness 2.0: Despite legalization, the pot stigma remains! Sadly, the mainstream media in both Canada and the US continue to reinforce the same old, tired racial, criminal and cultural stereotypes about us, and our favourite weed @ FT

HIGHER LEARNING



Vaping Woes -The Scientific Evidence: Since cannabis has been illegal up until now, nobody in the scientific community could properly investigate the questions that naturally arise, as with any new product. That's slowly changing. Now, the CDC [Centre 4 Disease Control] is investigating pulmonary disease among E-cig users for us @ CDC [list]

Here's Why Cannabis Must Be Properly TestedWM



Know Your Rights: Sigh! Alas! Both employees and bosses alike are equally uninformed about our medical cannabis rights, in Canada. But hey! Knowledge is power @ Leafly

Flying High: Yes! You can bring e-cigarettes for personal use with you, or in your carry on baggage, on domestic flights in Canada. But you can't toke or recharge them. Plus any spare batteries must be "protected" while you are on the plane @ GC.CA Eh? Uh huh! You can bring up to 30 grams of weed. And nope! You don't need the receipts @ CBC

Driving Stoned: It's widely assumed that THC, like alcohol, impairs your driving ability. However, that's never been properly tested nor established as a scientific fact. Indeed, another recent report, suggests otherwise @  NORML


Gender Exclusion: Here's a timely reminder about inequality, discrimination and oppression within Canada's budding cannabiz sector. How does it effect indigenous women? Our LGBTQ community? Anyone and everyone who is somehow different than the mainstream "norm"?!? What can we do?!? Some of our leading cannabis activists, including Caelan HartCaryma S'ad and Abi Sampson speak out @ HV



"Yer Visual Guide 2 The Perfect Dab": Aka "A Lil' Dab'll Do Ya!"Leafly

Everything You Need To Know About CBD's [But Were Afraid To Ask]: A complete guide @ Leafly

How 2 Avoid Getting Banned From the US for Weed, Even CBD's?!?Vice



Sore Joints Department: Seniors rejoice! Our favourite herb is a safe and pleasant source of pain relief from arthritis! Here are some strains you might want to try @ GO @ MB @ Leafly

A Weed Overdose? It's all but impossible! Yup! You'd have to consume 400 grams of pure THC in a very short time. Basically, it's all about the receptors in your brain cells! Unlike with alcohol and most other legal drugs .... So put that in yer friggin' pipe and smoke it, Mr. Reefer Madness Mad Man @ IHL

HIGH TIMES:



"Where's Waldo?" or "The Real History of 420?" Truth be told, 5:20 pm would work better for me. It's when I'm most likely to wrap up my day. Decompress. Unwind. Get real laid back with my favourite weed. But 420 is THE stoner high holiday time, on a global scale! A massive, widespread counter-culture celebration of weed and our legalization struggle! So Hi! Hi! High! Resistance is futile! Er ... Here's how it all started! Thanks 2 the Waldo's, the Grateful Dead and High Times magazine @ MJ @ LS @ Time and WL


Toronto's Top 5 Weed Destinations: Finally! A list that includes places that I, as a local, actually go too. Vapor Central. Hotbox Cafe! The Underground! More @ Exclaim

Church of Weed: Some Cali aficionados have decided that cannabis is a holy sacrament. Smoking it is their religion. Others say it's all just an illegal scam. So then, when is a weed church really a church?!? Ummmmm ..... Ummm .... Er ... Praise the Lord! And pass me a toke @ NYT


Karma Cup 2019: See my review with links @ HERE! The final 2019 results are in. See who won @ Karma!

John Sinclair Remembered: With weed now legal in Michigan, some state locals believe veteran activist, poet, and music impresario [think MC5!] deserves a public holiday! To recognize his heady contribution to the struggle. Get this -John was busted, back in 1969 for offering just 2 friggin' joints to an undercover cop. Was sentenced 10 years!!! 



Fortunately, Yippie Jerry Rubin and Beatle John Lennon came to his rescue, helping organize a "Ten For Two" Freedom Rally at which John and Yoko played a song he wrote called ... what else but ... "John Sinclair". Still rocking @ BB  @ MT @ MT The John and Yoko set @ Youtube

Hippie Inc: With legalization, yesterdaze cannabis counterculture is apparently going corporate, out in California anyways @ 1843

This Year's Top 9 Fall Harvest Strains: Miracle Alien Cookies? OZ Kush? Dosi Punch? These best bud lists debates are always lotsa fun! What's your own favourite?  Feel free to add them in the "Comments" section below. See @ Leafly


COMMENT:

Wednesday 2 October 2019

Oh Cannabis 2019 Election Blog!

Welcome to my October 21st 
Canadian Federal Election Blog!



Throughout the next few weeks, I'll post the news and views links for each parties position on Canada's Cannabis Act [2018], from the mainstream and social media. 

So far, this election, they're few and far between. The prospects for constructive reform, rather bleak!

Without doubt our counterculture community has many pressing concerns about "legalization". Most focus around the Cannabis Act [2018]. The new Prohibition 2.0. And the government facilitated corporate takeover of our flourishing underground, home grown, grass root, cannabiz industry. 

Alas! The issues are too many to summarize here! But are all out lined in great detail on my Oh Cannabis News and Views blogs. You'll find the latest @ Fall 2019!

In short, as cannabis activists, we badly need to ask the right questions about "legalization"! At the all candidate debates! When they knock on our door! 

So that we can correctly understand and then explain the issues knowledgeably to others. Ask the right questions about our government's contentious, corporate weed agenda. Make an informed vote.  

Perhaps, even if only in some small way, create the pre-requisites for positive change! If not now in 2019, then for the ongoing struggle ahead!

You'll find the rest of my coverage of the 2019 Canadian Federal Election issues @ HERE!

OVERVIEW



Reforming Canada's Cannabis Act: Three of the leaders of English Canada's main federal political parties admit smoking pot. They include Justin Trudeau; the Liberals [LPC], Andrew Scheer; the Conservatives [CPC] and the Maxime Bernier; the People's Party of Canada [PPC]. But not so Jagmeet Singh; the New Democratic Party [NDP], nor Elizabeth May; the Green Party [GPC]. Though neither are against it. 

All five seem to now realize, that legalization is a huge cash cow for Canadian business and government alike. Sounds like there's some hope yet, eh? 

Sadly, as the 2019 election begins, the only party that has specifically targeted Canada's highly flawed Cannabis Act, are the Greens. Alas. They are a relatively, new, inexperienced and untried party. Mired in a distant third place fight with the NDP.

I'll make an endorsement before this is over. But really, think and decide for yourself. I just hope this blog helps! 

Here's a basic overview of where they each stand @ GH  @ MFool @ BNN @ CSSDP Lotsa links @ WW



The Big Boys: Most likely, the Liberals or Conservatives will win, forming a minority or majority government, depending upon how the next few weeks go. Both Trudeau and Scheer are treading lightly on the cannabis front. Perhaps because of the "negative stigma" still associated with it. Keeping very quiet about the real, underlying issues as they begin the race. Ostensibly, Trudeau's dissolute Liberals don't want to seem too "light and fun", what with all their other political scandals and troubles. Meanwhile, Scheer's Conservative, reefer madmen ran against legalization in 2015 and lost! So far, the less said, the better; for both Justin and Andy @ YFC

LIBERALS



The Corporate Party Line: According to the Liberals, legalization is a great success! The underground market's on the run! Edibles, topicals and vapes will also be available by Christmas! One can almost hear the birds chirping! So they're just focusing on other issues instead @ Global @ CTV

CONSERVATIVES



Scheer Unclear: By gar, the PC's didn't release a party platform prior to the federal election. But apparently, they've changed their mind about weed. Reefer madness, no more. Kinda sorta. 

Our Andy is sorta hinting that the party will maintain the status quo. Keep pot legal. Support a pardon. But as far as any exact details or a clear commitment go? Mum's the word! More @ CTV @ CTV

Of course, Andy's still not above a little neo conster, fear mongering either. Not about our favourite weed. Sigh. Alas. There's no effort at constructive solutions. Just the same old doubling down. The obvious bugbears and scary monsters still lie await, in the deep, dark, evil weed patch, as he props up support among his rabid base @ CPC

NEW DEMOCRATS



Singh's Song: Jagmeet's Liberal Lite NDP continue to play it safe. Seem doomed to battle the Greens for a third place finish. But don't write either party off. They could still prove useful! If we get a minority Liberal or Conservative government, whomever comes in third could very well hold the balance of power! Be in a very good position to make some demands! To prop the government up! 

In 2015, Thomas Mulcair's NDP ran on a bold decriminalization platform. Provided a very real if not fleeting alternative to Trudeau's legalization plans. But against all odds they lost -big time! Then folded! 

Nowadaze, you must look pretty hard at the reborn NDP's 2019 election platform for much mention of the dreaded devil weed! However they've promised to expunge criminal records. Eliminate the medical cannabis tax. But you need to actually type in "cannabis". Search the NDP's "commitments" real hard for any passing references to that @ NDP

GREENS



May She? Hooray! Elizabeth May's Green Party actually has a complete, and thorough plan to substantially reform Canada's Cannabis Act. With an anti-corporate, government, monopoly thrust to boot! Still, their platform contains some very basic technical errors, as the Green's many critics have been so quick to help point out. 

So far, as a distant, struggling, third party, they haven't actually succeeded in drawing much attention to our weed issues. Let's hope the Green's find their mojo. Reverse the odds. Quickly get their friggin' election butt in gear. Even against the likewise, hapless NDP. Or else? Read their cannabis platform. And weep @ GPC. More @ CTV

PEOPLES PARTY



Max Minimum: Perhaps Libertarian Maxime's a spoiler at best, since he's split to the populist, far right of Scheer's CPC's. Still, he can count Canada's  "Prince of Pot"; cannabis activist Marc Emery, among his most ardent supporters. As a philosophical acolyte of Ann Rand perhaps. Eh? Nope. I can't find anything about cannabis in Bernier's platform. Aside from a few, very vague, public comments. About some sort of regulatory and tax changes, he might make to the legal market. Anything more than that's MIA, but I'll keep trying. See @ GH @ CPP

Marc Emery Explains why he supports the Peoples Party of Canada @ Youtube

BLOC QUEBECOIS



Quebec Only: The struggling separatist party is only running candidates in Quebec, to represent la belle province's interests in Ottawa, until such time as they leave Canada, should that ever occur ... well, you get the picture.  It's confusing. There's not much close coverage in the English Canadian media. I'll keep checking, but they've have made no specific election proposals about reforming the Cannabis Act to date, as far as I can tell @ BNN Please, If anybody else discovers in any links, let us know. Perhaps in the "Comments" section below .....

TO DO-ABLE:



Join CFAMM's "Don't Tax Medicine" Campaign: Find out whom the federal election candidates are in your riding @ Elections.ca Get their Twitter Handle @ Lists Then Tweet them to ask if they support taxing medical cannabis? Why or why not? Tag your tweet to share @ #Don'tTaxMedicine!



Much More 2 Come ....

COMMENTS:

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!

Communist Girls ARE More Fun!
See below ...

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Girls Are More Fun #1

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls are More Fun #2

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Grrrls Are More Fun #3

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Communist Girls Are More Fun #4

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?

Art at the Paris Louvre: What does it mean?!?
A careful analytical study!

Help! I Have No Arms!

Help! I Have No Arms!
Please scratch my back.

I can't find my underwear!.

I can't find my underwear!.
Have you seen them!

Weee! I can fly!

Weee! I can fly!
Look! I can crawl thru walls!

I have a headache!

I have a headache!
And a broken nose.

I have a square hole in my bum!

I have a square hole in my bum!

Here try this, it's very good!

Here try this, it's very good!
No. You have a bird face.

I have an ugly baby!

I have an ugly baby!
No I'm not!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!

Let's save all our money + buy pants!
OK but I need a new hand too!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

Oh no! I got something in my eye!

You don't look well.

You don't look well.
No. My head hurts +I have a sore chest.

Would you like a bun?

Would you like a bun?

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!

Chichen-Itza: Lost Maya City of Ruins!
The Temple of Kukulkan!

Gotta love it!

Gotta love it!
Truly amazing!

Under Reconstruction!

Under Reconstruction!

Temples + Snakes!

Temples + Snakes!

The Snake!

The Snake!
It runs the length of the ball field!