Retirement continues to be a very busy time for me. Spent the past week in Chicago getting my newest Living Canvas show ready to open tomorrow.
[Trans]formation uses the unique Living Canvas technique (projections on bodies) to tell the stories, poetry and songs of transgender and other non-binary individuals. It’s a pretty stunning world premiere and there really is nothing like it. Running November 17 to December 17 at The Vault at Collaboraction Studios in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave in Chicago. More info.
Early indications in the hugely chaotic transition period for the upcoming President Trump seem to indicate that there are likely to be a lot of hawks in the new administration. In general, that bodes poorly for any kind of reduction or reform of the international drug war, and increases the need to continue to establish the ascendency of the states in drug policy, along with convincing small-government Republicans in Congress to act as a brake against potential overreach by a Trump Justice Department.
Rudolph William Louis “Rudy” Giuliani is being considered as the next US Secretary of State under Trump (lol). Giuliani, a former prosecutor who began his career by prosecuting drug cases, is known for inventing the “broken windows policy†as mayor of NYC, which led to New York’s practice of stop-and-frisks of black teenagers, which in part led to Black Lives Matter, which scares the crap out of Republicans like Giuliani and Trump. Capping the irony of opposing human rights, Giuliani supported Big Pharma’s painkiller criminals:
Rudy Giuliani will likely remain an opponent of legal marijuana, as cannabis appears destined to compete with Big Pharma’s pain medicines. As Secretary of State, he can also be expected to continue Hillary Clinton’s drug war in Mexico.
“Rudy Giuliani will likely remain an opponent of legal marijuana, as cannabis appears destined to compete with Big Pharma’s pain medicines. As Secretary of State, he can also be expected to continue Hillary Clinton’s drug war in Mexico.”
I wonder if we can expect a return to the harassment of dispensaries carried out by the so called Justice Department under President Choom? How will that fare in a newly legalized California?
By the way, I see Melinda (Bladerunner) Haag is making big bucks off the usual government/private sector revolving door.
https://www.orrick.com/People/E/8/F/Melinda-Haag
We can expect Giuliani to act as an obstructionist toward legal marijuana employing whatever means he finds useful or convenient.
Here are the fruits of Rudy Giuliani’s labors as legal counsel in promoting Big Pharma’s pain meds; the State of California now leads the nation in opioid ODs and deaths:
From The Alaska Journal of Commerce:
The Great Cannabis Divide
Congress and public are split on marijuana legalization
By: DJ Summers – Alaska Journal of Commerce
http://tinyurl.com/j92bzp7
… “In a healthy democracy, when a significant portion of the public takes certain policy decisions, their elected officials go to the halls of Congress, carry bills and lobby for bills that are reflective of the views of their constituency,†he said. “The reason we had nine states in this election with voter initiatives…was because in every one of those states, lawmakers were unwilling to address the issue. That’s problematic.â€
The public is holding an open rebellion against federal law.” …
– Its a good time for state legislator’s to stop and take a good look around them.
https://youtu.be/NP9iOqdxS8c
Here are the people whose names have been floated for Trump’s Cabinet- WP
http://tinyurl.com/hlndcqb
Quite a sorry bunch from my first perusal.
The bright side:
“The fastest-growing industry in America is marijuana, period,â€
https://t.co/HcooFBarLN
Trump’s US Attorney General pick is a cannabinophobe:
The Senate confirmation hearings will be a laugh riot.
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So this is “draining the swamp”? This is “taking a unique and innovative business-like approach to governing”? This shit?
I get it that many, many people are triumphantly happy that Clinton is dispatched to the sidelines for good. I sure as hell was no fan of hers. But in fairness, I’ve been disappointed with presidential election results for as far back as I can remember. So, for the sake of discussion, lets dispatch with “Well, at least Trump isn’t Clinton” bullshit. That’s too easy now folks. Someone — anyone — who identifies themselves as “conservative”, please lay out a rational, well thought out defense of where Trump is headed with his appointments. And spare us with the, “I was with Gary Johnson” blather (I mention this because I’ve seen far too many NeverTrump libertarian/conservatives suddenly lining up with Trump now). Does anyone actually believe that Trump is laying the ground work for the continued winding down of the drug war with appointments like Sessions? Or any of his other possible/predicted appointments?
[Note: I’ve been out of the loop for quite a while, dealing with deaths (yes, plural) in the family and assisting certain aging relatives transition to new lives without their loved ones of many years. That said, I hope all you rogue couch dwellers are hanging in there].
As states move toward legal cannabis through election referendums, driving and traffic concerns are raised. UC San Diego is leading the way on research in traffic safety. The lab results aren’t looking too good for prohibitionists. Science never seems to side with hysterical bigots:
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At least since I was old enough to read every time a POTUS moved into the White House the new POTUS spent his first 100 days (give or take a week or two) implementing his agenda. Mr. Trump is going to spend his first 100 days learning the basic fundamentals of being POTUS and wishing he hadn’t paid off his 11th grade civics teacher to let him ditch that class. He’s already getting some on the job training from his soon to be next door neighbor (among others):
DC Mayor: Nation’s Capital Will Remain a ‘Sanctuary City’
I’m really getting to like Mayor Bowser. That woman has a spine. Don’t fuck with Fido, no doubt.
and let’s not forget that cannabis is legal in DC as well. I wonder how that’s going to work out with “Sniffy the Clown” in town? How’s that working out for DC so far?
Trump said he wasn’t sorry for anything he said, why? Because he won. This is gonna make the Contract on Americans seem like a Frisbee Golf Game. But I toked through Nexxon Furd Boosh/Rayguns twice Boosh Quayle and his favorite son Bubba Klintoon & Occidental Al twice then Cheney/JRBoosh twice. Carter seemed plausible before Billy Beer and the Iran Hostage Crisis. Obama doing nothing is the best its ever been, actually civilized in many places. To continue is foolish and very profitable for the prohibitionists.
Climate skeptics, oil tycoons, campaign loyalists, war hawks, and law enforcement enthusiasts top the list of potential appointees.
As Trump Transitions to Power,
‘Cabinet of Horrors’ Takes Shape
Secretary of the Interior:
Sarah Palin-Oil Executive Forrest Lucas-Jan Brewer
Rudy ‘Stop-and-Frisk’ Giuliani on Shortlist for Cabinet Post
-Attorney General:
Chris Christie-FL Puppet Pam Bondi-Rudy Gouliani-Jefferson Beauregard Sessions IIIElizabeth Warren Calls On Senate To ‘Exercise Fundamental Moral Leadership’ And Reject Jeff Sessions
Secretary of State:
John Bolton-Newt Gingrich
YOU’VE BEEN TRUMPED – TRAILER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk-MHQE2xPQ
☛ You’ve Been Trumped Too:
it’s the film Donald Trump doesn’t want you to see
Drunk Donald Trump by Jimmy Kimmel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csaDOM7mhdI
This special edition of “The State of Texas” is definitely worth your time:
AUSTIN (KXAN) – A KXAN investigation found the state’s war on drugs at the border is doing little to slow the flow of drugs into central Texas. State lawmakers have spent more than $1.6 billion to add DPS Troopers along the border with the goal of stopping human smuggling and drug smuggling. On this week’s State of Texas: In-Depth, we look closer at why your tax dollars may not be helping the state reach that goal.
http://kxan.com/2016/11/20/state-of-texas-in-depth-border-splurge/
A brief history of war and drugs: From Vikings to Nazis
From World War II to Vietnam and Syria, drugs are often as much a part of conflict as bombs and bullets.
Vikings and Mushrooms
https://www.erowid.org/plants/amanitas/amanitas_info5.shtml
The Nazi Comparison by Dr. John Beresford
http://endingcannabisprohibition.yuku.com/topic/626
A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance
when the need for illusion is deep. — Saul Bellow
5 Lies You’ve Been Told About the US Legalizing Marijuana
1. Crime will increase
So far, in areas that have legalized marijuana, crime rates have softened up; and we don’t mean those connected to cannabis. The research is still ongoing, but preliminary reports indicate that legalization has freed up law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
2. Teen use rates will skyrocket
Interestingly enough, there has been an opposite trend — teens in legal states have actually been using pot at lower rates
3. Public health will suffer
If anything, more marijuana has led to better outcomes, as cannabis tends to be a much safer alternative to alcohol, tobacco, and hard drugs.
4. The roads will be more dangerous
If we look at the numbers, it doesn’t appear that the roads are any more dangerous than they were before prohibition was lifted in legal states.
5. Enforcement costs will spike
The truth is, law enforcement costs fall when a black market is no longer around to enforce, and this ends up saving the public gobs of money.
Legalize pot, and save the world.By Sean Curry