LETS SMOKE A FATTY BLUNT (LEGALLY THAT IS)

So you and I have all heard of what's going on in the states, hopefully. Since I've been here in France, I have paid more attention to what's going on back home in the states then I ever have before. So guess what's happening?

California is could become my favorite state, and maybe the government is about to pull its head out of its ass.

I'm also going to see how many different names for pot I can think of without looking it up on Urban Dictionary. To help you out, I will henceforth be highlighting all terminology in a lovely color green, just for this occasion.

There has been a lot of talk about the legalization of the 420 lately, and although I'm sure not all of you agree with this idea, I must say I am looking forward to the next couple years with hardcore enthusiasm. And believe me, I'm not just saying this because I like to have a bowl every once in a while. In fact, I rarely ever smoke, but I can't deny something good when I hear about it. First, lets please regard that California is putting a stop to the massive raids being put up against those who legal sell mary-jane to cancer patients and all those other guys who need to be baked just to feel something other then the sting of chemical radiation treatment. The Obama administration made it clear that although ganja is technically illegal, the police can no longer raid licensed dealers to the terminally ill. I call that a small victory. 

Now lets talk about the fact that a metric fuck ton of states (for example Michigan) have been pushing bills to legalize grass for other terminally ill folks.  And of course those awesome Obama/Biden guys just nominated Seattle police chief Gil Kerlikowske as America's next Drug Czar (oh and Obama overturned that wonderful Bush idea of making the drug-dude apart of the cabinet, because when did Bush ever have a bad idea?). For those of you who are A) not from Seattle or B) are from Seattle but don't partake in cannabis, Kerlikowske is the man who decided that Seattle cops were too busy to care about dube and decriminalized the action of personal use. Now, you can toke up next to a cop and he won't care! God, I love Seattle. 

That one guy everyone thinks is hot but I'm not so into, Michael Phelps got caught puffing on some pod and guess what? He hasn't shot anyone, is still as smart as he was before, can probably kick your ass in a swimming pool, and was only dumped by Kellogs. Oh hey, wait, he's still making more money then my education costs, I think he's doing good. Did we just disprove a myth?

The recent news that a Mexican Drug Lord made the Forbes list this year, and the fact that tensions around the US-Mexican boarder have been high due to herb trafficing has really started to shine a light on all the under-the-counter crap that goes on because of shish smuggling: including but not limited to the selling to minors, all the untaxed money thats being given to this Mexican drug dude, and - oh you know - death. People are started to notice, is it actually worth it?

Introduce the facts: weed has completely dethroned corn as America's highest grossing cash crop, and I don't think I'm alone when I say that legalization of mexican locoweed would do wonders for our dying economy. Alcohol prohibition ended in the hight of the great depression, 1933, which pumped up the economy and ended illegal bootlegging. Jolly green legalization would get our economy back on track in a heart beat. Legalize it, and then tax the shit out of it like they do for alcohol and cigarettes. Remember moonshiners? Just like dealers would be, those guys were out of business in a snap. Not to mention think of how many new jobs will be created because of production, packaging, advertisement, and - of course - sales.

This leads me to my last and final thing to write about today folks. California has a bill that would monitor, tax, and -above all - legalize the hay. And with all the money that will come from this, and how many stoners live in California, I am really praying for this one guys. And not just cause I like to dabble in kawaii electric every now and again. Think about how much this will do for public safety, health, the economy, and not to mention being a little more badass when I tell people "Yeah, I'm from America". Come on California, do good for us baby. You failed me on Prop 8, but I'm just waiting for the day where head shops and rolling papers aren't just for cigarettes. 

I am so excited to go to Amsterdam for my vacation. 

Election Day

So yesterday had to be one of the most amazing days of my life.

I went to my classes and etc., and then I had to take the travel to Tacoma to go vote because I was too lazy to ask for an absentee ballot. But c'est la vie, and the trip down wasn't bad at all. There was no traffic, I got to see my parents for a little and talk about the fact that my computer is being a crack whore and having emotional breakdowns (me being able to actually use it right now is somewhat of a fluke), and I had a very interesting conversation with the lady behind me at the polling place about literature. There were so many people there, it was kind of overwhelming. She told me that she had lived in the district all her life but had never seen this many people voting before. It was kind of empowering.
So after that I came back home (to Seattle) and hung out with my roommate. We went to this thing they were having on campus to watch the election coverage, which surprisingly had very few people there. I was nervous though, since I knew this election would determine what I was going to do for the next so many years of my life; if McCain had been voted (i.e. if Sarah Palin had a chance of being President) I'd be staying in France. Just sayin'.
So we're hanging out, then go to the library for a moment so Catherine could print something out for class, and get back home just in time to see Obama's acceptance speech, which was amazing. I almost cried. I feel so emotionally elevated.
Fast foward a little to when our friend Sean stops by. We're on the couch and Komo 4 news is going on in the background, and all of a sudden we see the words "Live from Capitol Hill, Seattle". Instantly we're engrossed because, well, we LIVE on Capitol Hill. Turns out there is a PARTY taking up an intersection of Pike and Broadway, spanning a two block radius. We look at eachother, and without barely saying a word we get up to go there. That was something we needed to attend.
So we show up to the interesection and we are greeted by a throng of police, all of whom are just straigt chillin'. No joke. Seems as though they were initially ready for a riot, but because McCain isn't president everyone was pretty happy.
There was music playing because the nightclub Neighbors has pulled out their sound system and put it on the roof. Apparently right before we showed up there was a group version of the national anthem, but for the rest of the night we all just partied. The police were there hanging out, having conversations and smiling like they would jump in and join the party if they could. They didn't bust the underage drinking or the obvious drug use that was going on, or call down the people who were so happy that they had climbed up lightpoles waving flags and Obama signs, nor did they stop the people who were passing around the decapatated Palin cut out. For once the police and the riot-ers (if you can call them that) were on the same side. Everyone was just happy. It was awesome.
We hung out there for a while, and helped start a giant conga line that was shouting "Conga for Omaba" as we swayed through the crowd. Everyone was high-fiving everyone else, giving hugs, passing rounds of beer and hits of pot. There were students like me that I recognized from school, up to middle aged people, some homeless guys hanging out.... all in all we were just there, together - sharing this historical occasion, hoping that the 'we did it' euphoria would last longer then the night or the highs or the fireworks. Did I mention the fireworks? Oh yeah, there were fireworks. Lots of 'em.
Last night it was the closest to the sixties my generation will probably ever get, and I am so happy that I could be there for it. This is a story that I will tell my grandchildren, about how the night Barak Obama was elected President I went to a giant party spaning a two block radius on Capital Hill, at the intersection of Pike and Broadway, were everyone was so happy that even the police joined in. A night where we all came together, no arrests were made and no one was hurt. We were all just together as a common people celebrating the fact that change has come, shouting "yes we can" at the top of our lungs until our voices went horse and staying out in the bitter cold, splitting a beer between four friends that someone we don't know gave us, hugging and high-fives. Because even though I know the electoral college made the choice, I still can't shake the euphoric sensation that we did it. Call those the ideals of a young girl, but last night made me almost proud to say I'm an American, or at least a little less embarrassed by it. Man, I can't wait to try protesting.
Only in Seattle can a party break out on the streets over a Presidental canidate, but afterwards people stayed to help clean up. Today on my way to work there was not a beer bottle on the ground, everything was all on the sides of the road in neat little garbage bags, with sharpie saying "Paper" "Plastic" "Glass" "Trash". Amazing, simpley amazing.
My boss and I talked about everything at work, and she yelled at me for not calling to tell her about the giant party and that if I had she would have brought more beer. I love my boss, she's the shit. Its hard for me not to love everyone right now. I'm so happy. One thing that was a buzz kill though, my district manager (the bitch one) has decided to take Obama's "yes we can" and adopt it to motivate her retail sellers, which bothers me for a number of reasons (one of which being Obama's slogan represents change from very serious issues and she is reducing it to retail), but if she mentions it to me at all I've decided to just tell her to shove it. I'll only be working there for a little while longer anyways :)
Its odd, I've hated the government for so long. I don't know how to feel about it now. I am so happy, but still feel so cautious. At least Sarah Palin isn't in office, right?
And now when I move to France for my exchange program I don't have to say I am Canadian.

Happy Day After Election Day Folks :D