In a recent radio interview, Dr. Fauci spoke about the new guidelines posted by the CDC and the one activity the majority of us should avoid.
As the pandemic evolves and more people continue to get vaccinated, the world is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. While there’s still a long road ahead, it’s becoming more and more plausible to be able to hang out with friends and family without having to worry about COVID-19. Still, it remains important to stay vigilant.
In an interview with KNX-1070 Newsradio, Fauci spoke about the many things that he’s looking forward to once the vaccine has been distributed to large percentages of the community. He also spoke about some of his concerns during this pivotal time in the pandemic, where it’s easy to think that we’ve won the war.
Fauci also spoke about the importance of staying safe and avoiding things like travel. He says that when travel can’t be avoided, it’s important for people to wear their masks and to be safe when in tight spaces.
“Quite soon, you’re going to see formal recommendations about traveling about whether or not once you’re vaccinated, you really can go safely travel,” said Fauci. “Certainly everybody that travels should be wearing a mask. So I would think of a person has to travel—and remember now traveling is discouraged because of the level of infection and community, but many people just have to travel—so if you’re vaccinated and you’re traveling, you still should wear a mask for the simple reason that you have to wear a mask when you get on a plane and when you get on a train, but more granular description about what you can do in the arena of travel, we’ll be coming out reasonably shortly from the CDC.”
Other suggestions from Dr. Fauci include ensuring that all people have access to the vaccine, including people that belong to minority groups and are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and that people who are hesitant over taking the vaccine should be calm and know that it’s completely safe.
With COVID-relief efforts out of the way for the moment, Congress will have a chance soon to tackle marijuana reform.
Congress just passed a massive $1.9 trillion COVID-relief package that will put more cash in the hands of Americans ($1,400), extend unemployment benefits, and make other much-needed advancements designed to bring the country back from the grave.
The U.S. Senate, headed up by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, did its part last week — passing the bill in a vote of 50-49 — and now the House has come through. The bill now heads to President Biden for a signature.
So, what’s next? Well, we could finally see national marijuana reform start to get some attention from those Democrats dedicated to the doobie. It’s likely the next hot issue for the Senate.
At the beginning of the year, Schumer, along with two other Senators, vowed to make federal marijuana legalization a priority in the new session. “In the early part of this year, we will release a unified discussion draft on comprehensive reform to ensure restorative justice, protect public health and implement responsible taxes and regulations,” the Senators said in a statement. As far as the Democrats are concerned, the goal is to bring pot prohibition to an end once and for all in the United States. After all, more than half the country has legalized in some form or fashion. But they’ll have to act soon because legalizing at the federal level will be no easy task.
Although the Democrats control both Congressional houses, they are destined to face a slew of challenges when it comes to legalizing weed. For starters, President Biden isn’t sure yet whether a full-scale taxed and regulated market is the way to go. He’d rather see more research before taking such a bold leap. So even if Congress can get a bill through the legislative grind, it could face some resistance at the very top. Getting it there is going to be difficult enough. Sure, Democrats have majority rule, but it is by such a thin line that any resistance could jam them up. In short, Democrats are going to need some Republican support to go all the way.
But time is of the essence. The marijuana miser known as Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is already putting together plans to boot the Democrats out of control in the midterms. He told Politico last month that his primary goal this year was to put Republican candidates on the ticket that could win in November 2022. “The only thing I care about is electability,” he said. If he is successful, which is possible, Democrats would forfeit their power back to Republicans. And as we’ve seen in the past, having them in control never bodes well for pot.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Schumer and crew will likely introduce pro-pot legislation by around April. However, unlike years past, Democratic controls will ensure that any marijuana-related bill that gets filed will get a fair shake in committee. They would almost certainly go before the full Senate for a vote. But so far, Democrats have been forced to work all of their magic by way of budget reconciliation, limiting their legislative reach.
The party will not be able to use this tactic to pass marijuana reform and tweaking the filibuster, the one thing that stands in their way of legalizing weed on their own could lead to a “scorched earth Senate,” according to McConnell. Because of this, Schumer and friends may have been a little ambitious in thinking that they were going to swoop in and put a marijuana law on the books in 2021. McConnell still hasn’t given any indication that he would help rally support for federal marijuana legalization once it is introduced. Therefore, getting the votes necessary to pass such a controversial bill could prove exhausting.
Nevertheless, with COVID-relief efforts out of the way for the moment, Congress will have a chance soon to tackle marijuana reform. How far will lawmakers get? Well, if you’re reading this, probably not as far as you’d hope. Not unless the Democrats have something clever up their sleeves.
The $1.9 trillion massive stimulus package approved by Congress is headed to Joe Biden’s desk to be finalized this week.
On Wednesday, Congress gave final approval to President Biden’s stimulus package, which is expected to be signed this Friday. Known as the American Rescue Plan, the package amounts to almost $1.9 billion, making it one of the largest injections of federal aid since the Great Depression.
Aside from the $1,400 direct payments, the package is expected to boost the distribution of vaccines and provide relief for schools, state governments and small businesses.
Photo by John Guccione via Pexels
Per the New York Times: “The measure will provide $350 billion for state, local and tribal governments and $10 billion for critical state infrastructure projects; $14 billion for the distribution of a vaccine, and $130 billion to primary and secondary schools. The bill also includes $30 billion for transit agencies, $45 billion in rental, utility and mortgage assistance, and billions more for small businesses and live performance venues.”
Aside from all of these changes and improvements, the relief bill hopes to slash poverty by a third and possibly cut child poverty in half, expanding on tax credits, unemployment benefits, food aid and rental and mortgage assistance. Despite the long road that the bill has faced, being heavily contested amongst Democrats and Republicans, according to the Pew Research Center, about 70% of Americans support for the bill.
The $1,400 checks will be sent to individuals who made $80,000 or less in 2019, single parents who made no more than $120,000, and couples who topped out at $160,000. People could receive their paychecks within days of the bill’s signing. But according to House Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who commended the Senate and House for working together:
“We were a seamless web and we worked together. We say to America: Help is on the way. You will receive $1,400 checks by the end of March.”
It’s easy to blame gender inequality on society and the status quo, but women are not going to change anything in the male-dominated industry until women demand it in real-time.
Many women around the world were raised to believe “this is a man’s world.” And, to a certain extent, that was the case back then. But as society progresses, we have come to understand that men and women should — and need to be — equal, both in and outside the workplace.
However, challenges are far from behind us: women still endure challenging work-related situations, get little recognition and support from peers, and are often faced with high hurdles when it comes to professional growth. And much of this goes unspoken.
Thus, the question remains: How can we ensure that things change?
Information Is Key
Gender equality information brings awareness to how many of these women still live daily. Keeping the conversation open gives hope that the invisible workplace struggle can be transformed, and eventually disappear.
Although many positive advancements have occurred in the past decade, racial and gender diversity in the marijuana industry is still lagging.
In the cannabis industry, a report from 2019 revealed that the number stood around 37%. A bit more promising, however, this survey was only based on 81 self-identified marijuana industry professionals and excluded data from respondents whose legal standing was unclear in any manner up to 2019. The real number seems to be lower.
This article is dedicated to all the wonderful women in the cannabis industry who decided to help other women during one of the most challenging years in this lifetime: 2020.
COVID-19 Set Equality Back
“COVID-19 has deepened preexisting divides, vulnerabilities and inequalities, as well as opened up new fractures, including fault lines in human rights,” said the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in a recent statement. “Gender equality has been set back years.”
Throughout the pandemic, women have lost jobs at a disproportionate rate, many obliged to leave their professional activities to take on increased domestic burdens. This has resulted in greater poverty numbers, lower incomes, a lingering wage gap, and a lifetime of limited access to opportunities, resources, and labor protections.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
Yet, the pandemic has also made the strength and effectiveness of many women in leadership positions shine. One such lady is famed cannabis advocate Mara Gordon.
“Women are the decision-makers in most households when it comes to healthcare, beauty and nutrition. As a result, they are already the subject-matter experts well-positioned to lead before stepping into the boardroom. Getting women to believe in their own power — and to act on it — that is the challenge,” she said. “Women must be their own biggest fans, and must convey their confidence to others.”
It is easy to blame it on society and the status quo, but women are not going to change anything in the male-dominated industry until women demand it in real-time.
The Boys’ Club
Men are recruited far more than women for top jobs despite efforts to bridge the gender gap. According to the Financial Times, just 5% of top jobs at big companies are held by women.
This is why the first step is to keep the conversation going. This is where our brave interviewees come in.
Many women in the cannabis industry say they have dealt with being patronized, downplayed and even considered to be annoying just for stating their own opinions.
“Before legalization, women played supporting roles in the home for the growers who were out doing the work all day. There were female trimmers, of course, those stories of women needing to trim topless — those aren’t fake. That was very real,” highlighted Jackie Bryant, a freelance journalist.
A recent Yale study found that males with more power due to seniority spoke more than their junior colleagues. Yet, for females, power was not linked to significantly more speaking time or attention.
Photo by rez-art/Getty Images
In fact, the study explains that, when male executives spoke more often, they would get 10% higher competence ratings. But, when female executives spoke more, both women and men criticized them, leading to 14% lower ratings.
“It often feels like the industry is designed for males by males in the way products are designed, produced and marketed, which can feel one-dimensional and exclusive,” said Katie Bajcar, director of marketing at Spherex.
She admitted: “I often feel like it’s me versus the “big boys.”
Brittany Carbone, founder and CEO of Tonic Vibes added, “Having my hands in all parts of the industry, including cultivation and processing, I see a lot of condescension and predatory tactics.”
“You see it more in the trade show and industrial scene, where finance or real estate bros who are just cashing in on cannabis hang out. The level of ‘mansplaining’ and pressuring into a deal because you’ll never find anything better is classic negging.”
Not All Is Looking Down
Despite the disheartening stats, Jackee Stang, founder and CEO of psychedelics company Delic, feels optimistic.
“I experience a lot less mansplaining these days, but I am certainly more aware that it’s happening when it does happen,” she said.
Photo by rawpixel.com
“While I have zero stomach for mansplaining, I am much more likely to make fun of it openly while it’s happening as opposed to silently detesting it. Sexism is so ingrained into our culture that men are likely not aware they’re being sexist half the time. So our job is to make them aware. And hopefully with some humor.”
Needing More Women Representation
Recognizing the progress, Ellen Mellody of MATTIO Communications, argues there’s still a lot to be done.
“Industrywide female participation is still skewed, and overall the progress is slow. Many of us who perform executive roles in traditionally male-dominated workplaces like cannabis are forced to regularly confront our own unique set of challenges,” she voiced.
“As we celebrate all of the female disruptors who have worked so hard to create this industry and movement, we must also continue to break down barriers by stepping up and serving as mentors to young women entering the workforce.”
And it’s up to us, women, to lead the charge.
Nishi Whiteley, Credo Science co-founder concluded, “It is incumbent upon those of us with more professional experience and in leadership roles to provide guidance and mentorship to those around us. Women who help cultivate the professional and leadership development of other women make the industry better for all people and our stakeholders.
Marijuana hangovers do not last long. It’s the kind of deal where the afflicted can expect to start feeling normal within a couple of hours.
Have you ever had someone hand you an edible after the end of a long workweek along with some vague promise, like, “Here you go, man, this ought to make your weekend a little better.” At first, you were probably excited as all get out. That is until the next morning when the you couldn’t pull yourself out of bed because, deep down inside, you still felt a little messed up. Yikes, but here are 4 ways to relieve a marijuana hangover.
This is called a weed hangover, and, while it is not as crippling as one brought on by an overindulgence in alcohol, it can still make it difficult to function in the morning.
A marijuana hangover can cause fatigue, irritability, and grogginess that can hinder the productivity of the day. So in the interest of getting everyone off on the right foot next time you’re offered some weed, here are four ways to pull yourself out of the funk of a cannabis hangover and return to your regularly scheduled life.
Sleep If You Can
Photo by Shopify via Burst
It might be best for everyone involved if you just stay in bed for a few more hours than usual. As with any hangover type of situation, the more rest, the better when it comes to the recovery process. If it’s Monday we’re talking about, going into work still feeling the effects of that weekend edible really only ensures that coffee is going to get spilled all over you or someone else (or your laptop!), and enough mistakes are going to be made for the higher-ups to take notice. Do everyone a favor and just clock in after your head is clear.
Eating a high protein breakfast is a solid first move. This will let your body know that party time is over and, like it or not, it’s grind time once again. Some experts say caffeinated beverages should be avoided during these times, as they have been known to worsen the symptoms of a weed hangover. Others believe caffeine helps with the recovery process and going without is really just a threat to public safety.
No doubt, staying hydrated is the key to survival. So, maybe instead of sucking down coffee or other energy drinks all morning long, it would be to your benefit to consume a couple (or three) bottles of water before noon. Don’t deprive yourself of the caffeine needed to function like a human being, but just make sure to give the body plenty of water too. Although there is no evidence that marijuana causes dehydration, water seems to shorten the lifespan of a hangover.
If you are one of these people who typically jumps out of bed and runs a few miles before work, you are already ahead of the game. Exercise is one of the best defenses against a marijuana hangover. But even if working out is not your thing, a simple walk around the block after breakfast can get the blood flowing enough to knock out the lingering effects of that edible. If you sit in front of a laptop all day, we highly advise getting your body moving to feel better faster.
The critical thing to remember here is marijuana hangovers do not last long. It is the kind of deal where the afflicted can expect to start feeling normal within a couple of hours. Still, you might want to think about cutting that edible in half next time! That or take it before you go to church. We promise, it will make brunch with the in-laws a whole lot more fun!
Cannabis remains one of the most consumed medicinal plants of the planet and it seems that it is only growing in popularity.
The digital age has ushered in a new emphasis on the idea of wellness. Now more than ever people are wholly invested in their own health, mental and spiritual development. The Internet has made it far easier to access a plethora of wellness practices from mindfulness meditation, yoga, breathwork, conscientious eating, and a myriad of different practices and belief systems.
Furthermore, there is a revitalization of the interest in psychotropic drugs and the human condition. However, this recent interest in these psychedelic drugs can be traced directly to the legalization of cannabis. This is because cannabis is the wellness drug for the modern human.
In today’s article, we’re going to take a deeper look at how cannabis can help shape this modern interest into holistic living. Where the importance of spiritual, mental, and physical well-being is of primary importance to the majority of the individuals living in society.
Cannabis and holistic medicine
The term “holistic” can be defined as the comprehension that different parts are intimately interconnected and explicable only by the reference to the term whole. Within a medical context, it is a treatment that focuses on the wellbeing of the person by taking into consideration mental, social, physical, and spiritual factors rather than simply focusing on the symptoms of the disease.
Considering that cannabis is intrinsically connected to our endocannabinoid system (commonly known as the master system), it makes absolute sense that cannabis helped usher in — or at least helped solidify — the idea of holistic medicine to the mainstream.
This is because the endocannabinoid system is in charge of bringing the body into homeostasis. Homeostasis is the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.
Homeostasis and holistic are eerily similar in nature considering that both concepts provide equilibrium with the purpose of maintaining the whole.
Thanks to prohibition, cannabis became the most consumed illegal drug on the planet. When it started becoming legal for medical purposes, it reframed use from “pathologically abusing drugs” to using a natural plant to provide medical benefit to suffering patients.
When the relationship between cannabis and the endocannabinoid system was firmly established in the 1990s, the revolution of wellness began. In 1997 when cannabis was first legalized for medical purposes in states like California and Washington, it marked the changing of the tides.
Now, 24 years later, cannabis remains one of the most consumed medicinal plants of the planet and it seems that it is only growing in popularity.
Photo by Prasanth Inturi via Pexels
Cannabis and reclaiming your health
At some point in the early 1900s, the medical paradigm dramatically shifted. For hundreds of years prior to the prohibition of cannabis in 1937, marijuana was found in roughly 80% of the medicines used by physicians.
Additionally, there was a lot of emphasis on diet as a form of medicine. Yet with the advancement of pharmaceutical drugs, a definite line between natural and chemical medicine was drawn. Pharmaceutical drugs started becoming the norm because in some instances it did prove superior to natural remedies.
However, the pharmaceutical industry started financing medical schools and medical school literature which began shifting the paradigm of newly graduated physicians. This continues to this day and is part of the reason why the United States is currently facing an opioid crisis.
The knowledge that cannabis has medical properties is nothing new. The medical community has known these truths for thousands of years. However, unlike pharmaceutical drugs cannabis cannot be patented and can be grown at one’s own home. And this is precisely why the pharmaceutical industry for many years bankrolled prohibition.
Photo by Jose Luque / EyeEm/Getty Images
Now that extracts for specific cannabinoids are possible, the pharmaceutical industry reinvigorated their interest in cannabis. However, within the DIY generation, the idea of growing your own medicine is far more attractive than getting it from a pharmacy. Within the idea of wellness, health is a direct result from diet, exercise, and mental health. Thus, cannabis becomes the obvious choice as the first defense against disease and illness leaving pharmaceuticals to be the last resort.
Cannabis for mind, body and spirit
One of the reasons why cannabis is so popular among newer generations is because it addresses the whole as opposed to a specific symptom. There aren’t many other medicines out there that can say the same.
The reason why cannabis will continue to grow in popularity and reclaim its rightful place alongside humanity is because it is a medicine that one can grow with simple ingredients, that provides a plethora of benefits for the mind the body and the spirit.
This is only the beginning of the wellness revolution. COVID-19 served as a pressure cooker that forced people to look inward for their solutions and as a result discovered a wealth of wellness activities online. And if you take a look at cannabis sales over the past year and a half, these folks also smoked a shitload of weed.
The website Dr. B plans to connect people who want vaccines with leftover dosages. Here’s how it works.
Vaccines are available all over the country, with health systems and workers becoming more and more efficient in their distribution. But preexisting conditions and age requirements have placed many people far down the list. Needless to say, there are a lot of people trying to find ways of getting their shots before they’re actually eligible.
New York based start-up Dr. B is hoping to help, connecting these people with leftover vaccines in nearby locations. People can sign up for the service online at a moment’s notice for free.
Extra vaccine shots are a problem that a lot of services don’t know how to deal with. Paradoxically, due to the disorganization of the vaccine process and the regulations that prevent people from getting their shots, some inoculations end up going to waste, either by people who miss out on their appointments, or those who simply have trouble navigating the websites that provide the information they need to get a shot.
“Ultimately, patients need this vaccine, and there’s providers who need help getting it to the people of priority,” Dr. B founder Cyrus Massoumi told the New York Times. “That’s my motivation.” Massoumi is also the founder of ZocDoc and Shadow, another service that reunites lost pets with their owners. He’s interested in connecting groups that need something from the other at no extra expense.
For the time being, about 500,000 people have joined Dr. B, providing basic information, like date of birth, address, underlying health conditions and occupation — stats that facilitate prioritizing the list. This data is stored in a database that would then connect the people who need it most with a shot as soon as possible.
Dr. B is easy to navigate, as long as you have a smartphone. The one limitation that those who sign up for Dr. B must contend with is a flexible schedule; if participants want their vaccine, they must be able to mobilize quickly since appointments are under tight deadlines.
Being an activist for women’s rights and people’s rights in general, it’s no wonder Megan sees cannabis and the movement around it as an issue of rights too.
It is true that many, many professional athletes are involved in social causes and charities. But few, like Colin Kaepernick, engage to a level that puts their own comfort and career at risk.
One such person is Megan Rapinoe: Olympic gold medalist, two-time Women’s World Cup champion, and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.
Beyond her massive professional success, Megan is a feminist icon, an idol for many. In recent times she’s become one of the faces of the equal pay movement, speaking up profusely on the issue in relation to the U.S. women’s soccer team during the last World Cup, capturing the attention of millions.
Megan is also a gay icon. Her activism for LGBTQAI+ rights has earned her accolades, awards, support, and rejection all over the globe.
Being no stranger to advocacy and controversy, Megan took yet another bold step in 2019, getting involved with a cannabis company. Ever since, the famed athlete has been sponsored by Mendi, a company focused on making CBD sports recovery products for athletes. Other big name athletes like WNBA all-star Nneka Ogwumike and Sue Bird are also part of the Mendi family.
“I wanted a healthier, more natural option for pain management, sleep aid, relaxation while flying, and general recovery.”
Megan’s sister and Mendi’s CEO, Rachael Rapinoe, said that CBD has been central to both her and her sister’s training and recovery — for a few years.
“I wanted a healthier, more natural option for pain management, sleep aid, relaxation while flying, and general recovery,” Megan said during an exclusive chat on Friday. “Mendi’s mission really stuck with me. The desire to serve the athletes and be our trusted brand, but also their commitment to a healthier lifestyle, and changing the status quo around pain management and sports.”
Photo courtesy of Mendi
An Issue Of Rights
Being an activist for women’s rights, minorities’ rights, the LGBTQAI+’s community’s rights, and people’s rights in general, it’s no wonder Megan sees cannabis and the movement around it as an issue of rights too.
But, are cannabis and women’s rights connected? Is the cannabis movement helping further women’s rights?
For her, “every single industry” needs more female representation. And this holds especially true to emerging markets, like cannabis and hemp, “where the lions-share of investment is usually made by men,” and thus, directed into male-led companies.
“If this is an industry that is really going to serve everyone, then everyone needs to have a seat at the table,” Megan voiced.
“If this is an industry that is really going to serve everyone, then everyone needs to have a seat at the table.”
In fact, Mendi assures that, as a company, it is very committed to many of the same causes Megan is. “As an advocate for equal pay and inclusion, Megan wants this partnership to raise awareness of implementing diversity, inclusion, equal pay, equality, and justice into our communities and workplaces,” a company spokesperson said.
But what does that really mean? How does the company plan to “raise awareness of implementing diversity, inclusion, equal pay, equality, and justice into our communities and workplaces”? Are there any initiatives in the works?
“It is no secret that many people have spent years in jail for cannabis, of those people a disproportionate percentage are people of color. We will use this company and our platform to raise awareness and fight for the legalization of CBD and Cannabis everywhere.”
“As a company, we want to ensure that at Mendi we have diverse representation in our workforce, good working conditions with our partners, and use Mendi to educate the general public about CBD and cannabis use,” Megan responded. “It is no secret that many people have spent years in jail for cannabis, of those people a disproportionate percentage are people of color. We will use this company and our platform to raise awareness and fight for the legalization of CBD and cannabis everywhere.”
Adding to her sister’s comments, Rachael said, “By partnering with Mendi, we have the opportunity to work with Megan to make a difference and walk the walk… We’re not waiting for equal pay. We’re taking a proactive role to do something about it by starting a new business that cares for the athlete’s best interest.”
Photo by Tevarak Phanduang via Unsplash
Get The Ball Rolling
While CBD has become super popular among former professional athletes retired from sports like (American) football, basketball or mixed martial arts, it does not seem to have really caught on in the soccer world.
So, why is it that soccer players are not really into CBD? Or is it possible that they are into CBD, but also discreet about it?
“I think there is still a lot of stigma around the use of CBD and cannabis in soccer,” Megan responded. “There needs to be greater education so athletes can make an informed decision.”
“We are also subject to the USADA testing pool, and fear of a failed test is worrisome for many players,” she concluded.
Mendi’s products are built by athletes, for athletes. Their product-up currently includeshemp-derived CBD gel capsules with a 25 mg dose of CBD; hemp-derived all-natural, vegan gummies with a 25mg dose of CBD; and hemp-derived all-natural salve sticks with 500 mg of CBD. All of their products are naturally sourced, USA grown, third-party tested, THC free, athlete built and athlete approved.
The activism in this case extends towards the disproportion of arrests experienced by minorities in the United States over the consumption of weed.
I recently wrote about how Jay-Z was entering into the cannabis market specifically focused on helping African Americans gain a footing within this phenomenal new market sector. As a result, his brand Monogram, which is arguably one of the coolest cannabis names out there, started placing billboards and provocative ads in several major cities to start a conversation that is desperately needed in the world.
While Jay-Z is currently focused solely on cannabis prohibition, the conversation can be extended to the war on drugs in general. Some of his provocative ad slogans include, “Weed is a federal crime. Even in states where sex with farm animals isn’t”, and “there’s a state in America where cannibalism is technically legal and cannabis isn’t”.
Another one goes “The war on drugs worked. If systemic racism was the goal.” Making the ad campaign more impactful, they were presented in black and white with large white letters promoting the message, with the image of someone who was affected by the war on drugs as the background.
Obviously, Jay-Z is a businessman. The dude pretty much touches anything and it turns to gold. Yet in this case Jay-Z has the opportunity to both be a businessman and an activist. And far from being an activist for cannabis, which I have a strong suspicion he enjoys, the activism in this case extends towards the disproportion of arrests experienced by minorities in the United States over the consumption of weed.
I am all in favor of more businessmen and women calling out the hypocrisies of the drug war. I’ve been doing this for more than two decades. The war on drugs, and drug prohibition in general is a gross violation of our human rights.
With more people in favor of cannabis than ever before it is time to take a firm stand against policies that are designed to criminalize the disenfranchised. The drug war has warped the police and given them powers that they should not hold. It has negatively affected people and their livelihood by marking them with felony offenses and not allowing them to participate as a regular citizen.
Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Staff/Getty Images
While Jay-Z’s campaign might be a brilliant publicity stunt, everything that the campaign is claiming is true. Thus, this campaign from Jay-Z can also be considered a PSA. To reverse the education that has been forced upon us by the government who has benefited from the illegality of cannabis through so many decades.
Reparations via accessibility
One of the core principles behind legalizing cannabis is to end the systemic oppression of minorities via draconian laws. This is because the police frequently utilize drug laws to circumvent due process within minority communities. For example, getting a warrant because of a “suspected drug dealer” or frisking people because they “smell weed” or anything similar.
While Monogram aims to provide accessibility to minorities who are negatively affected by the war on drugs, the only true way for reparations to occur is to lower the pay-gate.
By pay-gate I refer to the high cost associated with starting a cannabis related business. In some cases, licenses can cost 10s of thousands of dollars and in others even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those who live in minority communities will never have access to that kind of money.
The solution being proposed by lawmakers is that the government will help them out. Yet that may take years and the solution will still not be implemented since the individual within the minority community would still not be empowered but be dependent upon the government.
Photo by Brian Ach/Stringer/Getty Images
While I applaud Jay-Z’s effort in sparking up a conversation desperately needed these days- the actual solution comes by reducing the costs of entry.
I suggest simply having $1000 for year license for cultivating and selling cannabis and would be valid up until $1,000,000 in earned revenue. After this point, a cannabis business would require more robust license.
Of course, my solution is simple and quite effective which is one of the reasons why it would probably never happen. Additionally, the narrative should go beyond simply cannabis and extended to all drugs. Being arrested with drugs should not be a life sentence where a felony offense haunts you wherever you go.
We’re reaching a point in time where are drug policies desperately need to be updated. There is no way that in 2021 we are still following the directions of President Nixon, a man who was a notorious racist and was impeached as president for scandalous behavior. We even have reason to believe cannabis was placed on the controlled substance act simply because Nixon needed an excuse to go after black people and antiwar protestors.
If there is one thing we should totally cancel in 2021- it’s the controlled substance act and it’s entirely. Maybe that could be Jay-Z’s next ad.
Dr. Fauci recommends installing this device in your home, claiming that it might help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
With a vaccine in circulation and more and more people receiving inoculations, it seems like we’re drawing closer to the end of the pandemic. Still, even while we’re exhausted by the safety measures and the overall feeling of pandemic-ness, it’s important to remain consistent with distancing measures, speeding the process of recovery along and helping hospitals manage the amount of patients. In an interview earlier this year, Dr. Fauci recommended a specific item that can help stop the spread of the virus.
There is no way of completely eliminating the risks of the pandemic, but there are ways of protecting yourself more. While wearing face masks and washing your hands frequently are the most efficient ways of staying safe, Dr. Fauci spoke about the importance of air purifiers, particularly HEPA filters, and how these could help you keep COVID-19 out of your home.
Photo by Erin Scott-Pool/Getty Images
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, and describes filters that trap 99.97% of particles. Particles like dust, mold and pollen are large enough to get trapped in the filter, preventing it’s spread in indoor spaces, which are critical when it comes to the spread of COVID-19.
“One of the things that you should consider, is you know there are these HEPA filters that they have in the planes which makes the airline industry safe,” Fauci said during a recent interview, reiterating his previous claim from last October.
“I think good airflow and HEPA filters can work,” Fauci added. “It’s not a big deal to make investments in some industrial-sized HEPA filters for theaters. I bought a couple for my own house, you know it was like $49 on Amazon. You know it wasn’t a big deal.”
HEPA filters could be utilized in locations where there’s crowds of people, reducing the risk of the virus alongside measures like distancing and limiting the amount of visitors at a time.
