Guest Post by PF Whalen
For those of us who had frequently indulged in consuming marijuana at some point in our pasts, hearing the term ‘cannabis equity’ could have a variety of meanings. Perhaps we indulged in pot-smoking when we were younger; before growing up and realizing that the television ad with the frying pan and egg warning us “This is your brain on drugs” was spot-on. If you fall into this category, ‘cannabis equity’ could have multiple connotations.
For some of us, ‘cannabis equity’ may have meant skipping someone’s turn as you passed around a joint, remembering that he held onto it just a little too long during the last rotation. For others, the term ‘cannabis equity’ could’ve meant fair pricing and product quality from various suppliers, which always seemed to be problematic. And ‘cannabis equity’ – or ‘inequity’ as may be the case – may conjure memories of the peculiarly irregular effects it had on us. After a few bong hits, some friends seemed to get giddy, others became goofy and paranoid, while still others simply became tired and fell asleep.
But in 2021 America, we’re seeing a predictable alliance unfold between wokeness and cannabis, and an equally predictable incoherent message surrounding this newfangled term as a result. The partnership is predictable because, like the woke, stoned people tend to struggle with reality (“My hamster is telepathic, bro”), and memory (“Hey man, where did you put the potato chips”), and of course reason (“Bernie Sanders can turn this country around dude; totally”). So let’s examine a few of the more disjointed (pun intended) ideas swirling around so-called ‘cannabis equity.’
Unsurprisingly, the State of California seems to have the most fragmented concept of what ‘cannabis equity’ means. In 2018, the oxymoronically named California Bureau of Cannabis Control was given marching orders via the California Cannabis Equity Act. The primary goal of the new law was to “focus on the inclusion and support of individuals in California’s legal cannabis marketplace who are from communities negatively or disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization.” In other words, their objective was to ensure new businesses sprouting up within the legalized-pot industry were appropriately owned by minorities.
Not to be outdone, a group named the California Cannabis Equity Alliance (CCEA) seems to have a different agenda, with their focus being not on the make-up of the industry itself but on the usage of the tax revenues resulting from it. They want those tax dollars to be used for programs they like. According to one of the leaders comprising the CCEA, “California made some progress in reinvesting cannabis tax revenue to support youth programs and address severe trauma, but the state continues to ignore the business development problems created by its legacy of racialized marijuana policy enforcement.” Loosely translated, this statement can be interpreted as follows: “Before you went and decided to legalize weed, which is still illegal at a federal level, more minorities were caught dealing the drug than white people, therefore you need to start spending those tax dollars on programs we support.”
Cannabis equity confusion isn’t limited to merely California, however, it seems to have spread across the country. In Connecticut where recreational marijuana is not yet legalized, a bill currently being considered in the event legalization occurs would follow the CCEA’s lead and create a “social equity council” and a “Cannabis Equity and Innovation Account,” which would provide “workforce development programs and offer grants with cash from potential cannabis excise tax revenue.” There are many other states looking to take a similar approach, including New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. But Rhode Island may have the most bizarre plan.
Like Connecticut, recreational marijuana in Rhode Island is still illegal, but legalization is being considered. If passed, a bill in the Ocean State “would create a ‘social equity assistance fund’ to provide no-interest loans to business owners affected by past cannabis prohibition laws.” Business owners affected by past cannabis prohibition laws? And whom might that be? Former drug dealers, perhaps?
The entire concept of ‘cannabis equity’ has nothing to do with cannabis. And despite the language being used by the leftist woke within the debate, it’s not about some sort of perceived historic racial injustice either. It’s about power, and it’s about furthering the left’s agenda.
The same people clamoring for the legalization of marijuana, claiming that legal pot is a good thing for minority communities and fussing about how the new tax revenues are going to be spent before legalization even happens, are ignoring clear evidence that it’s not a good thing at all. In fact, legalizing pot is a really bad idea.
According the National Instituted of Health (remember, we need to follow the Science everyone), marijuana is indeed a gateway drug that leads to the use of heavier, more destructive narcotics. If these charlatans selling ‘cannabis equity’ truly cared about minority communities, they wouldn’t be lobbying for legalized weed. They would recognize that recreational marijuana use is in fact drug abuse and is no better than teenage drinking when it comes to the long-term effects of the drug.
The mindset of cannabis equity conmen is this: Let’s legalize pot because minorities are disproportionately affected by the enforcement of prohibition laws. Then, once you’ve got that extra revenue coming in Governor, you had better make damned sure it isn’t going to white folks. Forget about the negative impact that legalized weed will have on all communities, including minority communities, legalize the stuff and spend the money on our socialist agenda programs. Leftism at its worst: ‘cannabis equity.’
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“In fact, legalizing pot is a really bad idea.”
I’m sure you believe the current situation is working out well then.
I think that when the gov’t began to demonize pot back in the ’50’s and ’60’s, the cat was out of the bag already. Many people, mostly young, realized their disinformation was mostly BS to support the players that made the most money from the then-current situation. Many thousands of otherwise law abiding young people were turned into criminals and had their lives ruined. The gov’t lost any credibility they might have had with that generation, which led to wider experimentation with more dangerous drugs.
These days, pot doesn’t resemble what we smoked back then. Now it’s very strong in it’s effects, more like the pills and such were back then. However, the gov’t never regained their credibility, and their efforts today are seen (rightly, I believe) as trying to continue the current ‘prisons for profit’ money generating scheme that has benefited their contributors for so long.
Whalen said he took the Shit Shot because the benefits outweighed the risk. Never believe a thing he says. Whalen is a dick.
Moar of an imbecile, really.
I never liked your choice of words but I do have to agree with your last sentence. I guess there is a time and place for everything.
Most of the psychedelics have been bred out. It is more potent, but it is far less psychedelic. It is more medicine than anything these days, but there are still plenty of recreationalists.
Alcohol is THE gateway drug, not weed
People can say different if they care to lie.
Tel Avi(v)sion is the worst gateway drug of all; kills the body, mind and spirit.
I don’t know how anyone can expect to be taken seriously if they insist any drug has done more harm than alcohol. I know government policy is what is responsible for the opioid epidemic. Many of those people started with legitimate pain issues and were hooked and then sent out cold turkey, because “opioids are dangerous”. No shit? So the solution is just to force all people under pain management to basically go cold turkey. I lost count of those stories in the VA.
Most addiction is mental health and black market driven.
I guess that we’re now supposed to pay for their drugs too? Just how do you spell “fat chance” princess?
You already do through the government welfare state. That is why all government welfare programs (including those for business) must end.
Sorry, it is the WAR ON DRUGS that is destroying minority communities….not legalization. And if anything, it is the excessive taxation, excessive regulation, protectionist permitting, etc. that is keeping the common man from being successful in this new economy. FREEDOM is always the solution, and government is the opposite of freedom.
Sure. If weed were legal they’d all be starting up software companies. The carjackings would end, along with the drive-by shootings.
Nothing turns around overnight. Clearly the “community” has some real problems. But take away the easy money incentive, and people will make difference choices among what is left. The war on drugs is destroying all of our freedoms. It is the excuse for the lack of banking privacy, the onerous civil asset forfeiture laws, the need to show ID just to buy antihistamines (actually need a prescription in some states), the assault on gun freedom, and so much more. I frankly don’t give a shit what befalls the other demographics, but I am tired of paying for police, prisons, and lost freedoms, all because a bunch of “Karens” both male and female, can’t stand to see anyone behave as though they own their own body.
Nothing turns around overnight? Are you serious? You said “it is the WAR ON DRUGS that is destroying minority communities”. Trust me, make all drugs and prostitution legal, those communities will still be destroyed. There are plenty of crimes to commit when people don’t want to work. And plenty of violent crimes are committed for no reason whatsoever. You want to make all drugs legal – fine by me, but if you expect things to “turn around”, you’re going to have a long wait.
Because Indios and Africans are incapable of creating advanced civilization… and they wreck the ones they are ((allowed)) to invade.
I had read (what I thought) some proto-SJW shit in an ethics class – articles from the 70s. Then I finally got VD’s SJW Always Lie and he is quoting them back to around the time all that Jeckel Island business happened. They have been wedging this in (AKA slippery slop) for almost a century. It is an OK book so far. I have learned a few useful things, been mildly entertained, etc.
I am anti-prohibition and I am anti-Judeo-Communism.
An important distiction exists between “legalization” and “decriminalization”.
.Gov wants to legalize so they can issue licenses, tax revenues, regulate, impose fines and generally pick winners and losers. Decriminalization is FREEDOM and the govt wants nothing the people to have nothing to do with that type of opiate
Exactly B.L, Arizonas recent passage of ‘legal weed’ is the closest the country has to decriminalization. 12 plants or less, all good. No fees, taxes, license, or registration required. It is the most lenient in the country. If you violate any part of the law, the penalty is civil, not criminal. Starting with fines I believe of 100 bucks. It takes till the third offense before a penalty of six months probation and a misdemeanor goes on your record.
The new law also specifically stipulates that for any violation the .Gov can’t take your guns, car, or property of any sort. This is way better than California, Colorado, Washington, Nevada, or Oregon. These states still have the ability to use forfeiture laws to excessively tax you.
I’m still not sure how we are supposed to get our product to market, as that remains illegal, but with only the civil fines attached. Unless you are fortunate to be one of the connected lawyers that own and operate the dope stores. Then you have a protected monopoly. I am now certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that ole Billy was right.
The thing with cannabis is similar to guns: it’s the user, not the substance per se that creates the good, bad and ugly. It is a gateway drug if someone chooses to “up the game”, but not everyone does. And as for being habit forming, well, I’ve been smoking it daily, day and night, for nearly sixty years and it hasn’t become a habit yet!
Im consistent in my actions, not habitual. One denotes some manner of control the other doesnt
Well put! I was joking, of course. Had I been doing that, it’s very possible that sad to say I might not have been joking. The committed stoners that I’ve known (and I’ve known more than a few) aren’t as bad as the “wet brain” drunks, but they’re definitely impaired. Moderation in all things and fug equity.
The beauty of this entire concept is giving government money to minority businesses will kill them. They will have new illogical rules follow and mountains of paperwork to complete. They are doomed.
When the Canadian Federal Liberal Party made “legalization” a campaign issue, it was fully understood by reasonable, sane and sober persons that it was to pander to the lefty voter base and would do nothing in the way of improving the actual legal system related to cannabis laws nor the freedom of choice for constituents. That’s why, in the sneaky, dirty, underhanded way that is the trademark of all actions of the Federal Liberal Party, once in power they actually made the possession and trafficking penalties for “non-government” sourced weed far more punitive. These clueless morons also thought they could compete somehow with the underground economy while adding all sorts of regulatory costs and additional taxes to the “legal” product. The failed end result was obvious – not only did the gubberment end up driving down the price in the black market (despite harsher penalties), but they also achieved less than half of their expected tax revenue on legal sales, so the cost to implement the legal changes and regulations changed the result from a “revenue-positive” one to a “revenue-negative” one. What kind of stupid thinks a government regulated and controlled market can compete with a black market that’s been entrenched for over 50 years and generate positive tax revenue? Why, that would be Liberal Stupid, the kind that cannot be fixed.
When the government run Chicken Ranch closed, it just proved that the government cannot even run a whorehouse and make money.
Pussy is the gateway drug for normal young men. When they get older, they realize how they have wasted their lifeforce for such a cheap commodity.
By then, it will have proven to be quite an expensive habit.
Truer words were never spoken.
Another bunch of woke jokes intent on putting themselves out of business.
https://www.city-journal.org/lockheed-martins-woke-industrial-complex?wallit_nosession=1
From someone who has been helped by this God given plant occasionally, I can not read a article (I tried) by someone so closed minded that they label everyone who has used it as a pot head. You sir/mam do not deserve a place on this web site. I will remember your name and pray for you. Though I won’t ever read another thing you write.
More mental ma$turbation as a team sport …
I believe that would be called a Circle of Jerks.
When it comes to California…all that is left is the sound of crickets.