Disqualified Olympian Sha’Carri Richardson Rightfully Calls Out Cannabis Double Standard

Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson’s nonsensical disqualification from the US Olympic team sparked outrage across the nation and globe last year, even leading to a reexamination of the event’s position of considering cannabis a prohibited performance enhancing drug. Only the most cold-hearted folks couldn’t find it in their hearts to feel for Richardson after she tested positive for utilizing cannabis while grieving the death of her mother. Of course, it’s ridiculous that cannabis is even considered a banned substance that could provide an unfair benefit to an athlete. The fact that Sha’Carri tested positive in Oregon, a pioneer state in drug policy reform that now collects over $130 million per year in cannabis tax revenue, was just the cherry on top of such an absurdity. The unfairly targeted track star rightfully notice how a Russian Olympian was treated differently for her positive drug test during this year’s Winter Olympics, as Marijuana Moment reported:

“But now the runner is openly questioning why she faced serious consequences when Russian skater Kamila Valieva, who helped her team bring home gold in one race and is considered the favorite for a separate race, is being allowed to compete even after testing positive for a banned substance.

***

“’My mother died and I can’t run and was also favored to place top 3,’ she wrote, referencing the personal circumstances that she said led her to use cannabis in a legal state last year. ‘The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady.’

“The doping drug that Valieva tested positive for using, trimetazidine, is known to increase exercise duration and improve cardiac performance—effects that could ostensibly have helped her, for example, historically land the first quadruple jumps made by a woman in an Olympic event this month.”

It cannot be disputed that cannabis prohibition has racist roots since its inception or that the failed policy has racist consequences today. Starting with Harry Anslinger and the open racism of his time to the systemic injustices that we see today, the Drug War has been a foundation of Jim Crow-like laws that decimate communities of color. We have made great strides educating a majority of the people, but structural changes at the top take a lot of time. It is extremely sad that Sha’Carri Richardson had her Olympic Dream unjustly snuffed out, but thanks to her and to many other outspoken advocates, we’re winning our race to freedom, albeit too slowly.

Happy Valentine’s Day and happy birthday, Oregon! Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique is a great place to help you celebrate. Please see our menu online via Leafly and be sure to take advantage of our specials and discounts.

Senate Candidate Gets Blunt About the War on Cannabis in Campaign Ad

The times are definitely changing from the days when political candidates were afraid to admit using cannabis. While candidates used to say they “didn’t inhale” or would just refuse to answer questions about “youthful indiscretions,” we have seen some successful candidates admit to using cannabis in the past, but in a first, US Senate candidate Gary Chambers actually used cannabis in a campaign ad, with his voice over dropping facts about the failed and harmful Drug War.

As Marijuana Moment reported, Chambers, as one would expect, supports passing positive cannabis law reforms:

“In the press release, Chambers said he’s supportive of the Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement (HOPE) Act, a congressional bill introduced by bipartisan lawmakers last month that would incentivize states and local governments to expunge cannabis records in their jurisdictions.

“He also backs the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, another bipartisan bill to protect financial institutions that service state-legal cannabis businesses. That legislation has cleared the House in some form five times but has consistently stalled in the Senate.”

However, while Chambers seems to be the first candidate for the US Senate to consume cannabis in an ad, he was beaten to the punch by someone vying for the House:

“Anthony Clark, an Illinois candidate who ran an unsuccessful primary challenge against a Democratic congressional incumbent in 2020, made waves after he smoked marijuana in a campaign ad while discussing his personal experience with cannabis and the need for federal reform. He also hosted what he called the ‘first-ever congressional weed party‘ in a campaign video.”

While Chambers is an underdog, just the fact that he is willing to utilize cannabis in an ad while discussing the harms of the war on cannabis, is another step forward for our movement for freedom. As we take each step towards our goal of ending prohibition for everyone, educating the public and speaking truth to power are important tools, whether it is among our friends and family, on social media, or in our political campaigns.

Kind Leaf is proud to serve Oregon’s pioneering cannabis community and to support freedom fighters across the nation. Check out our menu on Leafly and come see why we are Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique.

Check out Chambers ad on YouTube.

Poll by Reefer Madness Prohibitionists Finds That Voters Hate Prohibition

Well, you almost have to give the Reefer Madness prohibitionists at Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) some credit as they don’t have much to cling to these days. Whenever a reform measure is on the ballot, the cannabis community has has a winning percentage akin to the Harlem Globetrotters defeating the Washington Generals. Now that we’ve started winning at state legislatures and even making progress in Congress, the Drug War dinosaurs are trying their best to spin polling that shows how much voter hate prohibition. With Gallup, Pew, and other reputable polling companies continually showing record-breaking supermajority support for legalization, SAM is touting polling results that reveal that only 14% of the Americans support prohibition, as Marijuana Moment explains:

“The survey found that, of the four separate options included, support for recreational legalization was highest, with 38 percent of U.S. voters backing it. That was followed by support for medical cannabis legalization (30 percent), decriminalization (19 percent) and prohibition (14 percent).

“In other words, about 68 percent of Americans favor some form of legal, regulated marijuana—the types of systems that SAM regularly works to oppose when proposals go before lawmakers during legislative sessions or voters at the ballot box.

“But the group is really leaning into the fact that recreational cannabis on its own only got a plurality of support. In one chart, they contrasted adult-use responses with all three other options to make it look like people prefer ‘Other Non-Legalization Marijuana Policies.’”

While SAM laughably attempts to claim that they don’t oppose decriminalization efforts, I’m old enough to remember their president, Kevin Sabet, traveling to my college town of Columbia, Missouri, to campaign against our local decriminalization initiative. Of course, after I reminded Mr. Sabet of this, along with the fact that he took advantage of Oregonians when he got paid handsomely to campaign against the Measure 91 legalization proposal, he blocked me on Twitter. Kevin Sabet, like his prohibitionist position and organization, can’t stand up to the truth.

Kind Leaf is proud to serve the best cannabis community in the world, with the best selection that you’ll find anywhere. Check out our menu on Leafly and be sure to check out our deals and discounts.

^{Featured photos courtesy of Sly Vegas Photography.}

Cannabis and Psychedelics Had a Big Year in 2021

Ever since California passed the first state medical cannabis law back in 1996, virtually every year has been a big year for cannabis policy and the past few years have seen a true revolution for psychedelics. Of course, big changes, whether they are statewide ballot initiatives or landmark medical studies, there have been many hardworking and unsung advocates working tirelessly in the preceding years, if not decades. As Marijuana Moment has summed up, 2021 was a big year for cannabis and psychedelics. A few of the year’s big developments, on top of the fact that four states (New York, Virginia, New Mexico and Connecticut) all legalized cannabis:

“House Judiciary Committee Passes Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill

“In a sign of just how much cannabis’s prospects in Congress have changed in recent years, in September a key U.S. House committee approved a bill to federally legalize marijuana and promote social equity. The 26–15 vote in the Judiciary Committee fell largely along party lines, with all Democrats supporting the measure—the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act—and all but two Republicans voting against it.

***

“Cannabis Banking Reform Again Fails To Cross The Finish Line

“The battle to reform federal banking restrictions facing the cannabis industry continued through the end of 2021, with congressional lawmakers repeatedly trying—and, so far, failing—to pass the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. Despite a recent push to include the measure as part of a federal defense bill, Senate leadership earlier this month successful argued to omit the reform, leaving supporters planning their next steps.

***

“California Bill To Legalize Psychedelics Advances Toward Final Passage

“A landmark bill to legalize the possession of psychedelics in California passed the state Senate and two Assembly committees in 2021, but its sponsor ultimately pulled the legislation to build broader support for passage. As a two-year bill, it’s still technically in play and likely to be taken up in 2022.”

I chose to highlight some big advancements that didn’t quite cross the finish line in 2021 to illustrate both how difficult implementing reforms are and how each step forward, even if it isn’t an ultimate victory, moves us closer to our goals. Step by step, we’re proving the dreadful consequences of the failed War on Drugs.

While the MORE Act hasn’t been implemented by Congress, it’s advancement demonstrates how far the cannabis community has moved into the mainstream and its social equity provisions have already been proven to be influential as states debate the best ways to legalize. Whether the MORE Act ever passes, it’s impact will be felt across the nation for years to come.

The SAFE Act’s failure to move forward has been extremely disconcerting as allowing cannabis businesses access to normal bank accounts and regular financial services has broad bipartisan support. Unfortunately, the banking legislation has somewhat divided the cannabis activist community as we grapple with how cannabis is going to be legalized. While we wait to find a path forward too many small businesses are hurt, and most importantly, employees and neighborhoods are put in more danger because too many dispensaries are forced to be cash only. I think that it’s safe to say that the SAFE Act will make more news in 2022.

California’s psychedelic legalization legislation, building off of the success of Measure 109 and 110 in neighboring Oregon, came tantalizing close to passage last year and the future remains extremely bright for passage of such a bill in the near future for the Golden State. Success on the West Coast will very likely be a precursor to similar reform bills passing across the nation.

It’s no secret that we live in very divided and trying times. One of the best things about the movement to end the Drug War is that we cross the political divide to unite everyone that is seeking more freedom for nonviolent people while advocating for medical advancements that save and improve lives. After more than two decades in the fight, I still learn something new about everyday and am continually inspired by people working to end the War on Drugs. While 2021 was difficult for many of us, it’s still a year filled with a lot of positives. Onto 2022!

No matter how you celebrate the new year, make Kind Leaf, Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique, your stop for your cannabis needs. Please see our menu on Leafly and come on in as our friendly budtenders will be happy to assist you. And don’t forget about our weekly deals (maybe you can catch 40% off of all Select products) and everyday discounts for military veterans, senior citizens, and OMMP patients.

Amazing featured photos courtesy of Sly Vegas Photography.

Federal Credit Unions Urge Passage of the SAFE Cannabis Banking Act as Legalization Advocates Debate the Best Approach

There are so many regulatory roadblocks placed in front of small cannabis businesses, that it has to be a labor of love for the plant and community to survive and thrive in an industry that includes multinational corporations that enjoy regular financial services in their home country. One answer to overcoming this hurdle is passing the Safe and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, a proposal that has passed the United States House of Representatives five times, but hasn’t been able to overcome objections in the Senate, especially a 60 vote margin to overcome the filibuster. As Marijuana Moment reports major federal credit unions have joined the political fray, asking for passage of the SAFE Act:

“Major associations representing U.S. credit unions are calling on Congress to pass marijuana banking reform through must-pass defense legislation.

“It’s the latest in a series of requests from lawmakers, stakeholders and advocates to advance legislation to protect financial institutions that work with state-legal cannabis businesses from being penalized by federal regulators.

“Specifically, they want to see the Senate follow the House’s lead in attaching language from the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).”

As The Intercept has covered, passing the SAFE Act before passing a comprehensive legalization bill has become controversial among advocates:

“BECAUSE OF NATIONAL banks’ hesitation to work with state-licensed cannabis businesses due to federal prohibition, many entrepreneurs today struggle to obtain loans, keeping local markets highly concentrated. Existing businesses cannot accept credit cards and must rely solely on cash, exposing them to burglaries and restricting their workers’ access to capital. The all-cash nature of the business also opens the door for a litany of financial crimes and makes the tracking of illicit actors in the space difficult for state and federal authorities.

“Nevertheless, the harms to the communities of color especially that have been disproportionately targeted by the federal government’s designation of cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance go much further. Advocates of full legalization first like Booker view passage of the SAFE Banking Act alone as a lost opportunity to keep momentum strong to deliver justice for those who have suffered as a result of federal prohibition.

“But proponents of the SAFE Banking Act’s inclusion in the NDAA do not believe that consensus will form any time soon on decriminalization or particularly legalization, considering how controversial those positions are to some moderate Democrats and most Republicans. And opposition from Republican leadership means that even modest reforms are likely to be dead on arrival should Democrats lose control of the chamber in 2022.”

I respect so many advocates that are calling upon passage of a legalization bill first, but I’m inclined to support taking a win to help as many people as we can, especially when it doesn’t appear that we have the votes to pass a bill like the MORE Act in the Senate. With elections next year likely shaking up the political makeup in Congress, it would be a shame if the SAFE Act doesn’t pass in my opinion. Not only does a lack of regular financial services hurt the cannabis industry, the cannabis community has been harmed by a series of dangerous and deadly robberies. Forcing retailers to remain cash-only has caused to much harm already, let’s take a positive step forward and pass the SAFE Act.

Kind Leaf is so proud to serve the best cannabis community in the world. Check out our menu on Leafly and come see why we are Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique. We always have discounts and deals and our friendly budtenders are happy to help you make a proper decision when choosing from the best selection of cannabis in the Great Northwest.

Florida Legislator Seeks to Decriminalize Cannabis, All Drugs

Oregon’s been the pioneer state in decriminalizing cannabis and all personal drug possession, helping inspire other states to follow suit and end harmful Drug War arrests and prison sentences. While there has been success all across the nation since the Beaver State first decriminalized cannabis back in 1973, we’re starting to see the first steps taken towards ending the criminalization of drug possession in general, shortly after Oregon Measure 110 passed last November.

Drug decriminalization legislation was filed in California and Maine last session and Seattle’s City Council recently decriminalized psychedelics with a council member explicitly stating that they were following Oregon’s example. While the decrim laws didn’t pass in California and Maine, just initiating the legislation is a positive step in the right direction. As Marijuana Moment reported, a Florida lawmaker has taken such a step in the Sunshine State:

“For marijuana specifically, it would make possession of up to one ounce a non-criminal violation punishable by a $50 fine, rather than a misdemeanor offense. It would apply the same non-criminal penalty to delivery of up to an ounce of marijuana.

“People with past convictions for those cannabis-related offenses would be eligible for automatic expungements if more than a year has elapsed since the date of the arrest.

“The bill goes on to say that the legislature ‘intends the prioritization of rehabilitative health intervention in lieu of criminalization for personal usage of controlled substances, including but is not limited to stimulants including cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, heroin, fentanyl, depressants or benzodiazepines, and other addictive controlled substance.’”

It’s clear to just about everyone that the status quo is simply not working. We will never arrest and jail our way out of any addiction crisis or have a drug-free society. It’s naive and counterproductive to just continue to throw waste tax dollars and allocate resources towards a failed system. It’s time to invest in people instead of more prisons and each state that takes a positive step forward is bringing us closer to ending the racist and harmful Drug War.

Kind Leaf is proud to serve Oregon pioneers and those visiting the most beautiful state in the union. Please see our menu on Leafly and come visit Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique.

St. Louis Close to Decriminalizing Cannabis Cultivation and Possession

It may be somewhat of a cliché to harp on the fact that ending cannabis prohibition is a step by step process, but some clichés are true and there is no doubt that major victories are possible because of smaller ones along the way. In our fight to legalize nationwide, hardworking advocates have piled on important wins after important wins, all across the nation.

Local electoral success is often a harbinger of statewide reforms in the near future. For instance, in 1992, San Francisco became the first city government to recognize the medicinal benefit of cannabis and made enforcement of possession its lowest law enforcement priority. In 1996, California voters became the first to enact a statewide medical law, and the revolution took off. Since then, the cannabis community’s record at the ballot box is rather astounding.

While many on the coasts may not expect that Missouri, right smack dab in the middle of America’s Heartland, would be primed to end cannabis prohibition, the Show-Me State may just be on the verge of shocking a lot of people. There’s a growing movement to end prohibition as early as 2022 and progress in St. Louis may just be a foreshadowing moment. Marijuana Moment reported on how a local decriminalization measure just needs a third reading for final passage:

“While the measure from from Alderman Bret Narayan (D) wouldn’t change Missouri state laws that continue to criminalize cannabis, local ordinances penalizing low-level possession and cultivation would be repealed.

“Adults 21 and older could possess up to two ounces of marijuana without facing the civil penalty that’s currently in place. It would also make it so that “no resources” could be spent to punish adults for cultivating up to six flowering plants.

“The proposal would additional allow city employees who are medical cannabis patients to present their state-issued ID cards ‘to avoid adverse employer actions based on a positive drug test for marijuana.’”

It’s great to see my birth state getting on the right side of history. This newest proposal builds upon earlier reforms in St. Louis, as well as the state’s medical law and previous decriminalization victories in Kansas City and Columbia. Good luck to the activists making it happen in the Show-Me State. Your dedication will help so many people in Missouri and will reverberate across beyond your borders.

Kind Leaf is so pleased to serve the biggest and best cannabis community in the world and is pulling for activists across the country and around the globe. A friendly reminder that we will be closed on Thanksgiving, so be sure to see our menu on Leafly and stock up for the holiday. Don’t forget our deals and discounts!!!

_{Featured photo courtesy of Sly Vegas Photography.}

More Craft Cannabis Friendly Legalization Bill Filed?

Everytime a cannabis legalization bill is filed, the fight to end Reefer Madness gains a little more momentum. While we can debate the types of cannabis legalization bills that we would like to see, federal legislation is going to take overwhelming public support and a lot of political compromises. The good news is that we have the voters behind us and elected officials across the political spectrum are finally catching up. However, as we have seen with other types of legislation, Congress is extremely divided and the sausage-making process requires a lot of give-and-takes and the bill that ultimately passes contains provisions that are sure to upset someone. As Marijuana Moment first reported, a Republican-led legalization bill has been unveiled, yet another example of the growing political power of the cannabis community and industry.

South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace is the main sponsor of the new bill, and there are some key differences between her proposal and one led by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The variations are somewhat to be expected considering the usual priorities of the parties. For instance, Schumer’s bill would levy a 25.5% federal tax on retail sales while Mace sets the tax at 3%. Additionally, the Democratic bill contains more equity provisions to help communities of color most harmed by the Drug War enter the new industry. A distinction in regulatory bodies certainly caught my eye, as reported by the Portland Press Herald:

“Mace’s bill would let state governments regulate the health and safety of cannabis products and put the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau — an agency under the Department of the Treasury that collects excise taxes — in charge of federal regulation instead of the FDA.

***

“That measure is more likely to result in smaller, craft-style brands. That’s because oversight by the FDA could leave power concentrated with bigger companies that could afford to deal with more layers of regulatory compliance.”

I may have missed previous discussions about whether the FDA or ATF should regulate the cannabis industry, but an agency more apt to allow competition in the marketplace should be preferred, especially when the substance being regulated is safer than alcohol and tobacco. This blog title ends in a “?” because I haven’t seen a thorough debate or examination of whether the ATF overseeing the industry would allow more craft cannabis companies to thrive.

Competition in the nascent multi-billion dollar cannabis industry will help consumers, workers, and our economy. More players in the game means that prices will be lower and more variety will be available. More quality jobs will be created as small businesses are the true engine of our economy and workers are better off if there aren’t just a few giant behemoths that control the market.

I’m not under any illusions that Mace’s or Schumer’s bills are going to pass any time soon. Most likely, ending Uncle Sam’s prohibition of cannabis is going to take years of hard work and negotiations. It is a positive step in the right direction to see multiple legalization proposals filed by each political party. When federal prohibition is ultimately repealed, the winning bill will probably be one that is somewhere in between.

Kind Leaf is proud to be Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique with the honor of serving the biggest and best cannabis community in the world. Please see our menu on Leafly and remember that we always have weekly deals and everyday discounts for military veterans, senior citizens, and OMMP patients.

Cannabis With Psychedelics Increases Mystical-Type Experiences, Ego-Dissolution and Visual Alterations, Study Reveals

Just as scientific study after study has revealed the many medicinal properties of cannabis, we are starting to see a similar explosion of research into psychedelics. With Oregon’s therapeutic psilocybin program set to launch next year, Beaver State residents will see firsthand as patients receive treatment for a whole host of conditions, including depression, addiction, and post-traumatic stress. As Marijuana Moment reported cannabis can help intensify mystical experiences:

“Researchers at Imperial College London analyzed online surveys from 321 people who described various aspects of their psychedelics experience and reported on whether they used cannabis at the same time and, if so, how much.

“What they found was that consuming marijuana concurrently with substances like psilocybin, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca or mescaline increased the intensity of the trip in a dose-dependent manner.

“Use of cannabis together with psychedelics was ‘associated with higher scores of mystical-type experience, ego-dissolution and visual alterations,’ the study, published last week in the journal Psychopharmacology, states. And in general, the more marijuana a person said they used, the more intense the psychedelic effect.”

With psilocybin and other psychedelics’ potential to help patients deal with various ailments, cannabis intensifying the experiences could help provide improved treatments. For instance, it’s not difficult to imagine that more profound mystical experiences could benefit terminal patients understandably suffering from death anxiety. As the researchers noted, more studying is needed, so it’s going to be exciting to see psychedelic medicines unlocked, along with medicinal cannabis. Oregonians, with legal cannabis and the first-in-the-nation medical magic mushroom program on tap, will be pioneers in what’s promising to be a psychedelic medicine revolution.

No matter your type of trip, make Kind Leaf a stop. Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique has the best selection in the Great Northwest and our friendly, trained staff will be happy to help you.

Cannabis and Psychedelics Win at the Ballot Box…Again

Last night marked the passing of another election day and political pundits will give their opinion on why various candidates won or lost, but there’s unlikely to be much attention paid to the progress of drug policy reform by the national media as cannabis and psychedelics won at the ballot box once again. It’s a shame that politicians and their consultants too often ignore the popularity of improving our drug laws. Not only does perpetuating the Drug War harm lives and waste tax dollars, but many candidates are missing out a popular platform.

Starting with the passage of California’s medical cannabis law back in 1996, the drug policy reforms have had a great track record at the ballot box. While 2020 was a landmark year for a number of reasons, namely the passage of Measures 109 (psilocybin mushroom therapy) and 110 (decriminalization of all drugs) in Oregon and several states ending cannabis prohibition, 2021’s election day provided more victories in our movement for freedom and science, although on a smaller scale.

Detroit passed the most significant 2021 Drug War reform measure, decriminalizing psychedelics as Marijuana Moment reported:

“Detroit voters approved a ballot initiative to widely decriminalize psychedelics, making it the latest in a growing number of jurisdictions to enact the reform.

“Unofficial results on Tuesday evening showed the measure, which states that the city will ‘decriminalize to the fullest extent permitted under Michigan law the personal possession and therapeutic use of Entheogenic Plants by adults,’ leading by a margin of 61 percent to 39 percent, with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

***

“At the same time that local activists are pushing to end criminalization of psychedelics, a pair of state senators have introduced a bill to legalize the possession, cultivation and delivery of an array of plant- and fungi-derived psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline.”

And as Marijuana Moment also noted, various cannabis law reform proposals were victorious in Philadelphia, across Ohio, and voters in Colorado rejected cannabis tax increases. It’s great to see Drug War reformers across the nation continue the momentum to end such a racist and failed policy, building upon landmark electoral victories last year and earlier. While candidates and politicians come and go, improving our nation’s drug laws tend to stick around as voters see through the lies and propaganda of prohibitionists. A sincere thanks to every advocate putting in the work across the country. Step by step, city by city, state by state, the Drug War is crumbling as our fight for freedom continues.

Kind Leaf is proud to be Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique, with the best selection of cannabis and cannabis products in the Great Northwest. Please see our menu on Leafly and visit our store to see for yourself.