#ayahuasca arizona

[blubushie]

ok we all know Medic gets high on his medigun fumes, and i know your hc about Mundy and shrooms, but do you think the other mercs get high and if so on what (take this to mean the canon characters or your blu team idc)

Soz if this is confusing because the shrooms are kicking in. Happy 4/20!

Just to clarify the Sniper one isn't a headcanon, he canonically does shrooms. Him getting high off cane toads though is a headcanon specific to Learnin' the BLUs.

I don't really do headcanons of canon characters except as they apply to my fic because I think it kinda causes some obsessions over who has the "right" headcanon if that makes sense? Headcanon wars. With that in mind this will all be as it applies to the fic. Little pro tip for the future: if I use names, then I'm referring to characters as they relate to the fic. Class titles specifically are in referral to characters in canon. For example, canon Sniper is always referred to as Sniper. My characterisation of Sniper is always referred to as Mundy. Helps to avoid confusion. That out of the way...

RED TEAM

Jeremy: Ma said drugs are bad. Drinks alcohol but only beer and fruity cocktails which he never drinks around the team because he thinks they’ll judge him for drinking a pink Cosmopolitan. They wouldn’t. Only stimulant he uses is caffeine in the form of Bonk. He only drinks Cherry Fission and Crit-A-Cola.

Soldier: Something something war on drugs, unknowingly takes sedatives Luddy gives him so he’ll sleep later in the morning instead of playing the bugle terribly at exactly 4am every morning. Now he wakes up everyone at 6:30am instead. Get drunk on beer with Tav.

Firebug (Pyro): Cannabis. The only person who has seen what he looks like under the mask is Engie and Ludwig. How does he smoke it? No clue. Probably not a bong, most likely a pipe because of the pretty colours of the blown glass. Always keen to share.

Tavish: Scrumpy and (rarely) beer. Only drinks beer when he’s out of Scrumpy and he prefers Blu Streak to Red Shed. Has probably done cannabis with Pyro once or twice but not a stoner in the slightest.

Mikhail: Complete abstinence, not even liquor.

Dell: Adderall and only Adderall. He uses it to keep him awake and focused when he's working on projects at night. Also drinks beer, he too prefers Blu Streak to Red Shed. There’s a running joke here of no one drinking Red Shed because Red Shed tastes like skunk piss. Occasionally drinks Jack Daniels, always pours it into a glass. On rare occasions will smoke a cigar.

Ludwig: Has done everything under the sun at least once. Sources half the shit he gets from Mundy. Ayahuasca? Peyote? Shrooms? DMT? Ketamine? Mundy will set you up. 50% chance Luddy grows his own opium poppies. Doesn't get high recreationally, just does it for the science (except when his Medigun is involved, he totes gets high off that for shits and giggles).

Jacques (Spy): Nicotine and alcohol, everything else is for heathens. He prefers brandy because he's a pompous French cunt that only drinks French shit. Probably smokes fucking Gauloises like the cunt he is. That said he also knows how to enjoy a cigar and probably imports Cohibas from Cuba because he's such a cunt.

Mundy: If it can be naturally sourced, fair chance he's tried it (Mundy does not fuck with anything synthetic). Psychonaut of the team to the point Luddy goes to him for advice. Routinely does shrooms, occasionally travels to Arizona to catch Colorado River toads to source DMT for later. Feral about the DMT and does not share but will share his shrooms with you if you ask nicely. Picks them himself. Has everything from cubes to azzies but hates azzies because (despite being a more intense high) they're still azzies and every time he takes them he ends up paralysed for two hours. ABSOLUTELY HATES CANNABIS. As a bushman and an Australian he has a finely-tuned sense of smell and the smell of cannabis drives him up a wall. Has done everything I have minus LSD and ecstasy. Has done opium in a Bombay den and in Bangkok. The Bangkok one was more fun. Has done ketamine four times (makes it himself) but only once was recreationally. One was to treat pain after he was shot during a job (yes this was the one above his armpit). The other two was accidentally sticking himself with Sleeper darts because he's a dumb cunt. Actually doesn't like ketamine all that much because if he takes a full dose he wakes up with a headache. Probably bumped cocaine off a hooker's arse once and he will take that secret to his grave. Also smokes, obviously. Prefers Winfields (the red pack) but when he has the time he hand-rolls his own durries. Also chews tobacco sometimes. DOES NOT DRINK CAFFEINE. It makes his hands shake. Loves the taste of coffee (he drinks it black with no sugar) but only uses decaf beans so the caffeine level is so low that it doesn’t affect his aim. Also has a surprisingly good taste for alcohol—his favourite beer is VB but the best beer he’s ever had was Emu Export, he can just never find it outside of WA. Favourite cocktail is the old fashioned because he has an affection for whisky. Also spent his life drinking his dad’s bushshine plus is an Australian, so he has the highest liquor tolerance out of everyone on either team and could drink anyone under the table. Despite being VERY INSISTENT on psychedelic safety he's a complete hypocrite when it comes to practice: he never has a trip sitter, he does it when he's depressed or upset, he takes heroic/breakthrough doses even when he's already feeling like shit, and he spontaneously trips instead of planning in advance. Don't be like Mundy (or me). Also a massive adrenaline junkie and this becomes VERY OBVIOUS in Australia.

TIME FOR BLU TEAM!

Jesse: Ma said drugs are bad, but what Ma don’t know won’t hurt her. Isn’t allowed to smoke cigarettes and even Mundy refuses to give any to her unless she promises not to inhale. That said, she’s curious about shrooms but wouldn’t do anything besides that, and would only ever do shrooms with an experienced psychonaut she trusts (cough Mundy cough). Caffeine addict by way of Bonk. Only drinks Blutonium Berry and Crit-A-Cola. Would absolutely fight Jeremy for the last tinny of Crit-A-Cola. Will drink any alcohol except brandy. Has a surprisingly high alcohol tolerance especially for her size (cheers, Ma) and is one of the ~10% of the human population who doesn’t get hangovers. Actually scared of opioids and would never do them because Mikey overdosed on heroin. Had to be physically restrained when Suki gave her heroin in Italy after she was shot because she freaked out over it.

Dougal: Only smokes cigars and drinks Scotch whisky.

Heinz: Hates smoking because it irritates his already-damaged throat. Only drinks schnapps and beer. Doesn’t do recreational drugs.

Liem: Chews tobacco, doesn’t smoke. Alcoholic who only drinks beer. Favourite beer is Blu Streak. Became an alcoholic after Ted’s death.

Bruce: Only drinks beer, occasionally smokes cigars, will rarely let Suki test opioids on him.

Tamotu: Smokes cannabis. Has never done any other drugs but would be 100% keen to do psychedelics with Mundy sometime on account of Mundy being an experienced psychonaut and excellent trip-sitter.

Suki: Doesn’t do anything outside drinking sake and the occasional Adderall. However in the past she once did a bump of cocaine during a 36-hour stint in trauma surgery, and then proceeded to do surgery while high on the cocaine. The patient lived. That said Suki gets very hyperactive and more “aggressive” when she’s off her chops—give her phencyclidine and she’d burn the fucking state down. Has never and will never smoke. Yells at everyone else for smoking.

Yuri: Has never done any drugs ever except occasionally drinking a shot of vodka. You can tell shit’s about to go down when Yuri is getting into the liquor cabinet. Has a liquor tolerance to almost rival Liem. Chews tobacco, doesn’t smoke.

Charles: Chainsmoker and nicotine addict. Drinks Scotch whisky and still has no idea what happened to his $10,000 bottle of 1937 32-Year Macallan Fine & Rare but suspects Liem to be the culprit. Would never do reactional drugs because it’s for heathens. Complete lightweight when it comes to alcohol (Jesse got all of her tolerance from her mother) but also doesn’t get hangovers.

[fantasticcloudcreation]

Feb 14 - 122.1 how dare you lol

Man I'm really spiraling downwards idk what's wrong with me, I actually *** myself last night for the first time in years, like I thought it would help or something??? Just made me want to do it more tbh but I'm going to resist bc it's just going to make things worse down the road. Channel that energy into getting my shit together and getting out of here. Just feeling like overwhelming crushing anxiety and sadness right now. Had a dream that was also sad and stressful, so I woke up feeling immediately in the bad feelings lol. Just feeling like alone and stressed about going back to work bc I don't have any friends and no one likes me lol there's one nice guy who's been texting me every single day for the past couple months even though I'm giving him every single dating red flag he's not giving up on me yet... Idk. Just feeling like... Bad. I don't feel like going into all of it. The general "waste of space, wasting my life, never going to do the things I want to do" feeling. Anxiety about moving forward in any direction but feeling terrible about not doing anything. Anyway. I'm going to clean up and get out of here today, maybe the change of scenery will be good for me, hopefully I get some news about work coming up soon, idk. I deleted all the social media off my phone except for this one bc I feel like I've been spending too much time on it lately and that could be what's causing these feelings. Fuck the fomo I'm just living in my own little world. Going forward I'm going to focus on meditating and yoga, prepare myself for an ayahuasca ceremony whenever I can find the time to get out to Arizona, try to be healthy and positive... The other part of me wants to start smoking weed+cigs again as soon as I get out of here lol so we'll see what happens. Anyway. I'm alive. I've been worse. This is temporary. I will survive. Things are unfolding and I just have to surrender and keep walking.

[cathnews]

Churches call in right to use hallucinogenic tea

Churches call in right to use hallucinogenic tea

Two Arizona churches are fighting in federal court to establish a right to use a sacramental tea brewed from plants containing a hallucinogenic compound in their religious practice. They claim their religion has been violated by federal agencies’ seizure of their ayahuasca, an herbal tea that contains a small amount of dimethyltryptamine. Read more

[beardedmrbean]

July 19 (UPI) -- Two Arizona churches are fighting in federal court to establish a right to use a sacramental tea brewed from plants containing a hallucinogenic compound in their religious practice.

The Arizona Yagé Assembly and the Church of the Eagle and the Condor allege in separate lawsuits that their constitutional right to the free exercise of their religion has been violated by federal agencies' seizure of their ayahuasca, an herbal tea that contains a small amount of dimethyltryptamine.

The churches are seeking a declaration that the government's actions stopping them from using ayahuasca violate the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The act bars the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion except in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and only if an action is the least restrictive means of furthering that interest.

The Church of the Eagle and the Condor, based in Phoenix, says in its suit that U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been seizing and destroying ayahuasca since 2020. The church was founded in 2017 and has 40 active members.

Imbibing ayahuasca is rooted in the spirituality of Indigenous people in South America and "an essential mode of worship" for church members, according to the suit, which was filed in June. However, federal agencies allege any possession of ayahuasca, even for sincere religious purposes, violates the federal Controlled Substances Act, the suit says.

The CSA classifies ayahuasca as a Schedule I controlled substance, which are drugs that have a high potential for abuse and the potential to create severe psychological or physical dependence.

The church insists ayahuasca -- also known as yagé, huasca and daime -- is not addictive and is not known to be used recreationally. Made by boiling the stalks of the banisteriopsis caapi vine and adding psychotria viridis leaves, it has an unpleasant taste and causes many people to experience nausea and vomiting, the suit says.

"The church and its members are aware that their sacrament is proscribed by law, but they have partaken in their sacrament both before and after the United States made a credible threat of enforcement of the CSA against them," the suit says. "Plaintiffs are violating and intend to continue to violate applicable law, rather than compromise or terminate their sincerely held religious beliefs and practices."

The plaintiffs -- the church; Joseph Tafur, a physician who is its spiritual leader; and four members -- claim they were not provided due process before their ayahuasca was confiscated and the Drug Enforcement Agency has refused to respond to Freedom of Information Act filings seeking more specific information about the seizures.

dimethyltryptamine = DMT

[donnasweett]

i literally looooooove stavo mtv scream so much when everyone at the party starts tripping and he’s like yeah we’ve been dosed with ayahuasca. this is definitely starting to feel like an ayahuasca party. and they’re all like how do you know so much about ayahuasca parties and he’s like oh i’m from arizona. yk how it is in phoenix

[ur-bliss]

had a manic episode, flew to Arizona to meet distant cousins, took Ayahuasca, and changed 100 things about myself when i got back

deleted all social demia other than journaling forms. twitter was under the category but i removed it bc it is character limited and i didn’t think that applied to journal forms.

meditation, intermittent fasting, vegan options, farming foods etc.

[calamity-bean]

Chambers (2019)

Anyone around here watched Chambers?

I binged it recently on a whim, knowing nothing about it, when I started, other than the basic premise: a horror series about a teenage girl who starts having strange experiences after receiving a heart transplant. Supernatural horror about transplant recipients is an established trope, so if you’re familiar with it, then I reckon you can imagine the major (heart)beats of where Chambers is going with it. But just because it may be familiar doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable ride!

And I did get pretty engrossed. The horror elements were not, to me, particularly scary, but they were well done. I grew attached to several characters quickly, especially the protagonist, Sasha, and her uncle/guardian, Big Frank. Characters almost always carry a story for me (more so than plot), and I liked getting to know the character dynamics here and watching the more domestic subplots unfold; Sasha’s actress (Sivan Alyra Rose) has to carry a lot of the tension and emotion based on her performance alone, and I think she did a great job. And I love the setting: the Arizona desert, which Chambers fills with vast expanses and roaring sandstorms and lightning that boils through the wide, wide sky. It’s a beautiful and effective backdrop, and I found the horror/mystery elements and the character work strong enough to rec Chambers to horror fans on the basis of those elements alone.

But I think what really makes Chambers stand out are its themes. Specifically, its critique of cultural appropriation, which underpins the setting as well as the narrative in many ways. It’s a story led by a Navajo protagonist that draws its horror from the idea of being taken over and used without permission by forces that are conspicuously ultramodern, performative, and white.

More explanation of what I mean by that below, but I’m going to get into spoilers to do so (some major), so... Short version, Chambers is worth a try if you’re interested in horror stories with female and/or Native American leads; for the long version, spoilers under the cut!

Cottonwood versus Crystal Valley

So. Like I said, Chambers is set primarily in Arizona, in two towns surrounded and separated by desert.

The first is Sasha’s hometown, Cottonwood. It’s smallish, working-class; money is a pressing concern for several characters there, and the high school Sasha attends is implied to be limited in its resources and academic opportunities. Notably, many of the residents we see are nonwhite. Sasha is Navajo, as are her uncle Frank and her boyfriend TJ, who is also half Pima. (Sasha, Frank, and TJ’s actors are all of varying Native American / First Nations backgrounds; I’ve seen articles saying Sivan Alyra Rose is the first Native actress to star in a Netflix series, and it’s certainly notable that this series has multiple Native leads.) Sasha’s best friend, Yvonne, is black, and we see plenty of other brown and black characters in supporting and background roles.

The other town, Crystal Valley, was home to Sasha’s heart donor. Becky was the same age as Sasha, and her sudden death under strange circumstances provides the mystery that drives much of the plot. The contrast between Cottonwood and Crystal Valley is... striking. Becky’s family and friends are all conspicuously wealthy and white-collar. Their school is extremely modern, in its facilities as well as in its sensibilities, and academically elite. And the vast majority of the students, Becky included, are white. Which makes it VERY intentional irony, of course, that Crystal Valley High’s mascot is...

...the Braves. YEAH.

I’ll say right up front that I’m (1) white and (2) not particularly well versed in Navajo culture (or the cultures of other Southwestern peoples) or in the specific issues relevant to them today. I’m sure there are people who could go into Chambers’s portrayal of Sasha, her community, and their concerns with much more nuance and depth than I can. But even a viewer with superficial knowledge can’t help but notice that cultural appropriation is very much a theme of this show, both in the details and in the grand scope of the narrative. Sasha feels like an outsider right away as (through the sponsorship of Becky’s family) she switches schools from Cottonwood to Crystal Valley, and the more time she spends there, the more the weirdness and isolation pile on.

One of the most conspicuously weird elements involves a New Age–esque group called the Annex Foundation, which Becky’s family has some sort of connection with. The Annex folks are very into crystals. They are very into energies and yoga, ayahuasca and equinox festivals, and burning sage. Their beliefs and behaviors are a grab-bag of practices loosely adapted/reinvented from all sorts of traditions, whereas the members themselves, as far as I can recall, are almost all white.

I’m not super well versed in the New Age movement either, but I have read that this exact sort of thing is something that the movement has been widely criticized for irl — its tendency to borrow beliefs and customs from various world religions and appropriate them to the movement’s own purposes, thus using them without permission and divorcing them from their original context. We see this idea echoed everywhere in the speech and accoutrements of the Annex Foundation members. We see it in the way Sasha is pressured into leaving Cottonwood and trying to assimilate into Crystal Valley. And we see it in the way that Sasha’s supernatural connection with Becky, whose memories and personality begin to seep into her, literally begins turning Sasha white. 

There are tons of other little details that flesh out this theme — far more than I can get into. I don’t think Chambers portrays all its white characters as evil or unsympathetic. But it’s absolutely grappling with race and with a specific racialized phenomenon, and I think supernatural horror is an interesting context in which to explore it. Sasha’s relationship with her own race and culture is also complicated. As a result of her upbringing, she hasn’t had much contact with her extended family, and she feels disconnected from and somewhat ignorant of the wider Navajo community. In contrast to much of the horror coming from appropriation, her efforts to reconnect with her own family and heritage become a source of inner strength.

There is one major aspect of the overall plot that’s connected to this theme and that... didn’t quite work for me. But it’s a plot point that crops up VERY late in the game, so major end-of-season spoilers in this next section...

Spoilers! Big Ones!!

It becomes clear pretty early on, imo, that the Annex Foundation is the villain of the whole piece. I’m fine with that; it’s what I expected, it makes sense, it’s coherent with the overall theme. It’s furthermore eventually revealed that Becky’s death was connected to the Foundation’s attempt to use her as the earthly vessel for a demon they summoned out of the desert. I’m... like... okay with that. I’ve mentioned in the past that I find horror about spooky masked/robed cults of demon worshipers to be... How can I put this? SUPER cheesy. So cheesy that it can ruin an entire story for me. That’s just a personal preference, though, and even I don’t know how to completely account for it. But whatever. It’s just one aspect of the overall story here, and it fits in with the broader themes well enough. I can deal.

But what bothered me, in this case, is that the demon in question is revealed, in the season’s final episode, to be... Lilith? For some reason?

There’s no mention of Lilith before the season finale. There’s nothing, before the finale, related to Jewish mythology, Adam and Eve, “the divine feminine,” or conflict between male and female — like I’ve said, the primary thematic tension is based on race, not gender, and I don’t think gender really plays a role in the show’s exploration of cultural appropriation, either. Yet suddenly these concepts are brought in during the season finale?

I guess the idea that the Annex Foundation would glom onto a random figure from a different world tradition fits in with the whole idea of cultural appropriation, but I don’t see how Lilith specifically fits in. I don’t see why she’s taken the form of a cloud of dust/smoke out in the Arizona desert. I see themes of complicated mother/daughter relationships in the earlier episodes, but nothing related to femininity as a force unto itself (which is what the Annex folks start going on about at the very end). On the one hand, I really appreciate that this series casts a white neoreligion as its ~strange, mysterious, dangerous supernatural force~ (as opposed to the many stories that use a white/outsider POV confronted with ~strange, mysterious, dangerous~ indigenous forces), but honestly, I had been thinking that perhaps the “demon” was some sort of spirit that was native to the desert and that the Annex Foundation had simply stumbled upon it, mistaken its nature/identity, and was trying to appropriate it for their own purposes. I think that would fit in with the appropriation theme and would also explain why the spirit was not a good fit for Becky’s body (ultimately leading to her death). Moreover, the very end of the season implies that Sasha does have some kind of harmony with the “demon” inside her and can utilize it and live with it in a way that Becky never could. If this “demon” were some sort of spirit that was native to her own land and that the Annex people had tried to appropriate, I think that would fit in with the theme of Sasha reconnecting with her own heritage and finding strength in it.

So... yeah. Still trying to figure out how I feel about that aspect, or whether I missed something somewhere along the way, idk. Maybe it’ll make more sense to me in season 2, if it gets renewed.

Overall...

Regardless, though, Chambers still has a lot going for it. It has a talented and diverse cast with many likable and/or interesting characters. It incorporates difficult, relevant themes into its narrative and utilizes its setting to great effect, both in terms of the cultures it explores and in terms of the landscape itself. I think the horror elements were done well, though in much the way I expected. If you’re already familiar with the “transplant recipient has supernatural connection with the donor” trope, then yeah, it's the “transplant recipient has supernatural connection with the donor” trope! And imo, the members of the Annex Foundation telegraph “EVIL CULT EVIL CULT” from pretty much their first appearance, so I wasn’t exactly shocked. But the acting, writing, themes, and setting are all strong, and I became invested in several of the characters very quickly. So if any of this sounds interesting to you, consider giving it a try!

[elsolretreats]

The Benefits of Taking Ayahuasca

Ayahuasca is a highly trendy herbal drink used during specific rituals in various Amazonian countries. It includes a variety of chemicals that exercise a negative influence on the brain and might be dangerous. Ayahuasca is used for suicide prevention, depression, grief, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Although, from a scientific point of view, there is still much work to be done to demonstrate that ayahuasca has therapeutic properties or is beneficial for personal growth, the number of reports of people who have had experiences with it often indicate a clear benefit both for the person as well as their close surroundings. These people speak of revealing, refreshing experiences and of high personal benefit in many ways, both physical and psychological. Many people, in addition, experience elevated feelings of spirituality or mystical states, where they feel they merge with a reality greater than their simple singularity, which ends up giving them courage and energy to continue facing their daily lives and enriching their personal worldview. Even difficult experiences are often instructive and helpful. Hardly ever does someone come back from an ayahuasca experience without having learnt something imperative with regards to oneself, others, or the nature of certainty.

There are positive reports of therapeutic results with ayahuasca of people with problems of depression, burnout, grief, addiction, relationships, etc. damaged by feelings of guilt and emotional pain, childhood trauma, acceptance of death in terminally ill people, etc.

Geared up for a big change in your life?

Ready to bring about a phenomenal change in your regular life? To be precise, if you want to attain a heightened level of consciousness, attain peace of mind and fir in your emotions, learn deeply about yourself, heighten your spiritual link, etc., then Ayahuasca will act as a catalyst to enrich your life tremendously. In fact, it is a matter of pleasure that you need not fly to Brazil or Peru because you can participate in the Ayahuasca retreat in your region. For example, you can participate in Ayahuasca retreat Ann Arbor Michigan , Kentucky, Arizona, etc, in a fashion similar to the one organized in Amazonian regions. Please visit www.elsoretreats.com now to get full information.

[janepwilliams87]

As Signature Deadlines Approach, Here’s Where Marijuana And Drug Policy Reform Campaigns Stand

Several drug policy reform campaigns are in the final stretch as deadlines to submit signatures for proposed ballot initiatives loom this week and next.

While the coronavirus pandemic dealt serious blows to marijuana, psychedelics and other drug reform groups in jurisdictions across the country, forcing some to end their campaigns, activists in Arizona, Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. are still in the game, with some running against the clock to turn in enough valid signatures to qualify and others now waiting for officials to validate petitions they’ve already submitted. That’s in addition to measures that have already qualified for November ballots in states like Mississippi, New Jersey and South Dakota.

The proposed ballot measures would accomplish everything from legalizing cannabis to decriminalizing psychedelics such as psilocybin and ayahuasca. Here’s a status update on where they stand:

Arizona

Deadline: July 2

Smart & Safe Arizona is a campaign to put marijuana legalization on the November ballot, and it seems to be in good shape to qualify. In April, the group said that it had collected enough raw signatures to qualify for the ballot. However, those hadn’t been verified by the state and the campaign continued petitioning to ensure success.

On Wednesday, the team turned in 420,000 signatures—well more than the 237,645 valid submissions needed to qualify.

If the measure does make it on the ballot, a recent poll indicated it would prevail. About two-thirds of Arizonans surveyed said they would support the proposal.

Under the initiative, cannabis would be legalized for recreational purposes for adults 21 and older. Adults could possess up to an ounce of marijuana at a time and cultivate up to six plants for personal use.

The initiative also contains several restorative justice provisions such as allowing individuals with prior marijuana convictions to petition the courts for expungements and establishing a social equity ownership program

Cannabis sales would be taxed at 16 percent. Tax revenue would cover implementation costs and then would be divided among funds for community colleges, infrastructure, a justice reinvestment and public services such as police and firefighters.

Idaho

Deadline: TBD

While the original deadline to submit signatures for an initiative to legalize medical marijuana passed on May 1, a federal judge recently ruled that the state must make accommodations for a separate non-cannabis ballot campaign due to signature gathering complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the government’s response to it. Activists feel the ruling will also apply to the marijuana measure.

Despite pushback from state officials, the judge said on Tuesday that the campaign involved in the suit should be allowed to begin circulating petitions on July 9—and they’d have 48 days from then to gather signatures, including electronically.

That said, the state is pushing back and has indicated it would appeal the ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The cannabis campaign told Marijuana Moment it has deployed attorneys to ensure they are also able to benefit from the extension.

Under the proposal, patients with qualifying conditions could receive medical cannabis recommendations from physicians and then possess up to four ounces of marijuana and grow up to six plants.

Nebraska

Deadline: July 3

Activists behind an initiative to legalize medical cannabis in the state turned in 182,000 raw signatures on Thursday—well more than the 121,669 valid submissions needed to qualify for the ballot.

“We are averaging 6,000 a day raw collected and are on track” to meet the signature requirement requirement, Nebraska Sen. Anna Wishart (D), a chief petitioner for the measure, told Marijuana Moment. “We also are confident we have over 38 counties qualified.”

“It is going to be close, but we are building momentum and think we are going to make it!” she said.

The measure would allow physicians to recommend cannabis to patients suffering from debilitating medical conditions. Patients would be allowed to possess, purchase and “discreetly” cultivate marijuana for personal use.

While the campaign, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, suspended signature gathering amid the COVID-19 outbreak, it relaunched its efforts in May with new safety protocols in place.

Oregon

Deadline: July 2

A campaign to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic purposes already submitted signatures that they feel will qualify them for the ballot.

While some of the signatures have yet to be verified by the secretary of state’s office, activists behind the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act announced on Monday that they have collected a total of 164,782 signatures.

The state has already certified that activists have turned in at least 106,908 of the 112,020 needed signatures to make the ballot. Only a small percentage of more recent submissions would need to be deemed valid in order for the measure to formally gain ballot access.

The psilocybin measure would make Oregon the first jurisdiction in the U.S. to implement a therapeutic legalization model for psychedelic mushrooms. Part of the strategy to collect signatures for the initiative involved promoting an app that enabled residents to see which of their friends and family have signed, allowing them to personally reach out and push them to submit a petition.

Washington, D.C.

Deadline: July 6

Washington, D.C. activists are continuing to collect signatures for a proposed measure to make enforcement of laws against various entheogenic substances such as psilocybin, ayahuasca and ibogaine among the city’s lowest law enforcement priorities.

Decriminalize Nature D.C. (DNDC) must submit 24,794 valid signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot. They currently have about 16,000 collected and verified so far—meaning they have until Monday to get about 10,000 more.

With funding from the soap company Dr. Bronner’s, the group is flying in activists to aid in their final signature gathering push, including leadership from the successful campaign to decriminalize psilocybin in Denver last year.

Advocates faced serious challenges when they had to suspend in-person signature gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic, but local lawmakers gave them a boost when the D.C. Council approved emergency legislation allowing for alternative collection methods. DNDC then launched a test, sending 10,000 petitions to residents across the city and asking them to sign and return them.

They got another boost during protests over racial injustice and police brutality this month, gathering about 5,000 new signatures for the initiative at booths where demonstrators were gathered.

Here’s the status of other drug policy campaigns that have either succeeded or failed so far this year:

The Oregon Secretary of State’s office announced on Tuesday that a campaign to decriminalize currently illicit drugs and expand substance misuse treatment has qualified for the ballot.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and stay-at-home mandates, measures to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational purposes qualified for South Dakota’s November ballot.

Mississippi activists gathered enough signatures to qualify a medical cannabis legalization initiative for the ballot—though lawmakers also approved a competing (and from advocates’ standpoint, less desirable) medical marijuana proposal that will appear alongside the campaign-backed initiative.

The New Jersey legislature approved putting a cannabis legalization referendum before voters as well.

Montana activists recently turned in more than 130,000 signatures to qualify a pair of marijuana initiatives—one to legalize the plant for adult use and another stipulating that individuals must be 21 or older to participate—for the November ballot. The state is currently validating those submissions.

A campaign to legalize marijuana in Arkansas will not qualify for the ballot this year, a spokesperson told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday.

Activists behind an initiative to decriminalize currently illicit drugs and expand access to treatment services in Washington State said last week that they will no longer be pursuing the ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, they are seeking to enact the policy change through the legislature during the next session starting January 2021.

An effort to place a psilocybin legalization measure on California’s ballot ended after the coronavirus pandemic presented petitioning difficulties and officials didn’t agree to a request to allow electronic signature gathering.

A campaign to legalize cannabis in Missouri officially gave up its effort for 2020 due to signature collection being virtually impossible in the face of social distancing measures.

North Dakota activists ended their push to place a marijuana legalization measure on the 2020 ballot and will instead seek qualification for 2022.

Oregon Drug Decriminalization And Treatment Measure Qualifies For November Ballot

Photo courtesy of Democracy Chronicles.

The post As Signature Deadlines Approach, Here’s Where Marijuana And Drug Policy Reform Campaigns Stand appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

from Updates By Jane https://www.marijuanamoment.net/as-signature-deadlines-approach-heres-where-marijuana-and-drug-policy-reform-campaigns-stand/

[timhui]

My life thus far

I was born on December 2nd, 1989, which makes me a sagitarius, if that means anything to you. I really don’t think it should, because I never thought anyone should be defined or limited by their signs. But in all honesty the astrological estimation is somewhat accurate — I am a bit of a loose cannon, a “feeler”, if you will, with strong creative inclination. Britney Spears shares my birthday, but I can hardly say I am anything like her. So if you are reading this, bear with me. I am neither seeking validation or empathy for this writing. I write this from the strong desire to manifest my feelings in writing. I’m just trying to be more honest with what I feel and why I feel. If you find it relatable, it may bring some comfort in this dark, strange world we live in.

I was a short, light and precocious child, deathly shy. In fact, in preschool, I wouldn’t ask my teacher to use the restroom, I would just piss right in the middle of class because I was so scared of speaking. It was only until a year later my schoolmates figured I could talk, much to their surprise. My mom often recants that memory of me. It was in kindengarten, when my mom picked me up and I cried “Mom!”.

“Tim, you can talk?”

I continued to be deathly shy through elementary, middle and high school, including my musical abilities. I kept my talents quite secretive, most students in my school didn’t know I could play the violin. In fact, I was practically forced to practice everyday since I was 6. I hated it at the time. I hated it so much I would record myself playing in my room with a tape recorder, and play it back to pretend I was practicing for my mom. But throughout the years, I got much better, and I was finally able to play a Mozart violin solo performance for my middle school in a school band concert. I remember it was the first time I received a standing ovation. I had no idea I was that “good”.

The day of that concert happened to be the same day I hacked my school computer network. It was in french class, when my friend Justin taught me how to “net send” messages to different computers in the same network. We were fooling around, sending messages from the computer terminal to one another, until I figured how to send a message to every computer in the network. So I typed “log off now, the servers are on fire!” and sent the message to every computer in our middle school and elementary school network, including every television (which was connected to computers). I got caught red handed pretty immediately, and was suspended from using computers for the rest of the year. But after that day, I became quite popular for being “that short asian kid who hacked the network”.

But soon after, I switched school districts, and I had to make all new friends again. I had a lot of difficulty fitting into my high school. I was one of a handful of asian kids in my new school. And I was still deathly shy. I didn’t really hang out with anyone other than my church friends. I made lego stop motion movies and spent a inordinate amount of time in front of the computer, participating on internet forums from 2000–2008. I made a few stop motion lego movies, shooting at 15 frames per second. Around the same time, I picked up playing the guitar. I wanted to be Jimmy Page so bad. So bad that I didn’t have any friends. I really didn’t have any real friends, all I wanted to do was chat with people online, make lego movies, and play the guitar. I quickly became pretty adept at the guitar. I could play every Led Zeppelin solo, solo over blues scales, etc.

Growing up in a christian household in Arizona, I was an extremely spiritually active kid. My family was always involved in the church. It was many times a week, we would be involved in the children’s ministry. My brother, sister, and I loved the puppet ministry. We participated in puppetry throughout our time, involved in puppet competitions and christian conferences. Yearly, we would attend christian conferences — think Woodstock for christians. Every year, we would ignite our fire for our faith in Jesus at these events. I was convinced I was a disciple for Christ and doing his will, taking his word to the nations. I got involved in missionary work, and was sent to Taiwan in 2006 to spread the gospel. Everything was purposed, by design, for God’s will to move through my life. I was adamant about sharing my faith to my friends. My family was close to my pastor and his family.

My pastor eventually ended up being a heroin dealer, after being addicted to prescription painkillers for his medical problems. That’s life.

I’m not gonna sugar coat anything. Growing up in my family was difficult. My parents fought a lot. It was such a strange contrast for me — to go to Church and see my parents involved in the faith, then to come home screaming at each other. My sister and dad fought a lot. I was terribly conflicted — how could us bible believing christians be so verbally awful to one another? My mom always told me “Dad never really had a childhood, Grandpa used to beat him. There’s a reason why he’s like that.” I had trouble believing that. eventually I would leave my faith, because I couldn’t stand the cognitive dissonance.

When I went to college at Georgia Tech, I started to question my faith. I experimented with new experiences and mind altering drugs. Psychedelics and pot came into my life freshman year. I stopped going to youth group meetings and church because I was more interested in getting high and drunk. In fact, I got drunk the first week I was in college. The first time I drank, I wanted to prove myself I could drink like a pro. I stepped into a frat house and started to drink uncontrollably, not knowing how drunk I would eventually get. I passed out on a bench outside my dorm.

I was really seeking validation from others. My friends would often tease me for my eczema. Yes I had horrible dry skin. My nickname was called ashy Tim. I hated my friends but I still sought validation from them. I was horribly insecure. I had no idea people could be so awful to someone suffering. So I told myself to suck it up; i’m only gonna get stronger. So I always dealt with bullying quietly, until once I was thrown into a rose bush, so I quit be silent about it.

I had many friends heavily involved with drugs. One was a close friend name Stephen. Like me, he was very quite, very shy, but extremely thoughtful and intelligent. A chemist, he would smoke DMT and drink ayahuasca with me, we would have some fantastic times with me at my lakehouse, talking about the nature of existence. I remember he was part of a rehab group, a group of kids who often visited me at my lakehouse I rented during the summer of 2010. Kids from extremely broken families. Some of those kids, since then, were able to recover from their addictions and have normal lives, but a few of them were quite hopeless. One had a kid, no job, a few marks on his criminal record. So we forgot all the bullshit, we partied a lot, drank many beers, took mushrooms, swam in this lake by this secluded forest. If you’ve ever taken psychedelics before I’m sure you can relate. It’s one of the most powerful mind altering experiences you can have. My mind was just speeding so fast, so full of wonderful ideas! I had no idea I could think like this. I had too much fun. It was one of the best summers of my life.

3 of those kids, including Stephen, died a few years later of overdoses.

All these experiences taught me so much, and nothing at all. I’ll continue writing this but I’m getting weary and sad at the moment.

[mcdla]

Lanzamientos latinos 2017

Este año varias bandas han mostrado un marcado interés por lograr una mejor producción, con LPs y EPs donde destacan músicos talentosos de la mano de una producción de calidad. Entonces, es importante que nosotros, como plataforma de difusión de bandas autogestionadas, destaquemos el esfuerzo que hacen las bandas de nuestra región y cómo el trabajo en conjunto entre músicos, sellos y medios de difusión consolida un año más el rock DIY.

En orden de las más ligeras hacia las más ruidosas:

Split: Archipiélagos / Diente de Oro

No podemos tener una lista de los mejores lanzamientos del 2017 sin mencionar esta colaboración. De lo mejor que se ha producido de mathrock este año.

archipiélagos / Diente de Oro split by archipiélagos / Diente de Oro

Canción favorita: Araucaria

Arrecifes — Arrecifes

Por las letras, la armonía, la bella ejecución instrumental y vocal y la producción en este lanzamiento, creo que Arrecifes EP debería estar en esta lista de todas maneras. Este disco transmite una sensación muy bonita y siento que evitan caer en una etiqueta al tomar elementos de diferentes subgéneros, para crear una personalidad musical propia y consecuente.

Arrecifes EP by Arrecifes

Canción favorita: Al Fin

Tilde — ~

Recuerdo que Víctor y Sajid de Löri, me hablaban de Tilde, y sobre cómo les sorprendió verlos en vivo. El sentimiento que transmite este material es desolador, tanto instrumental como en las historias que las letras cuentan y la forma cómo se ejecutan las canciones vocalmente. Si aún no los has escuchado, métele.

~ by tilde

Canción favorita: Nocturna

Procrastinación 1 Yo 0 — El Mejor Regalo de Nuestras Vidas

Honestamente, nunca había escuchado tanto a P1Y0 hasta que fui al lanzamiento de este, su primer disco. Este disco es la celebración al buen trabajo de la banda de todos estos años. Y lo transmiten en las canciones, sin pretensiones, solo sinceridad.

El Mejor Regalo De Nuestras Vidas by Procrastinación 1 Yo 0

Canción favorita: Santa Rosa

Bolas Criollas / Uklao

2x1 csm. Estas canciones son dos proyectos (?) que aparecen en el compilatorio MMXVII de la plataforma de difusión El Fuego Es Nuestra Lengua Madre, ambas igual de bellas.

El Fuego Es Nuestra Lengua Madre by El Fuego Es Nuestra Lengua Madre

Haikus — S/T

Borra eso men está muy sed :v

Un disco que transmite el caminar de la mano con calma y escuchar cómo te susurran nostalgia en los oídos. De los más adictivos de esta lista.

s/t by haikus

Canción favorita: Arizona

Incendios Forestales del Viejo Continente — Principios Y Fundamentos De La Fauna Moderna

Desde el planeta donde las personas tienen 8 dedos en cada mano, llega IFVC. Basta con escuchar el primer tema para entender que lo que tienes en tus primitivas manos de solo 5 dedos es inusual. Ejecución instrumental brillante, pinceladas de voces y una producción musical bien realizada, hacen de este mi disco favorito del género de este año.

Principios Y Fundamentos De La Fauna Moderna by Incendios Forestales del Viejo Continente

Canción favorita: Haru Ora Ora

Tenemos Explosivos — Victoria

Victoria no es el mejor disco, en mi humilde opinión, de la banda, pero considero que debe estar aquí porque cada vez que sacan un disco se siente el estilo propio cada vez más cimentado, se aferran a la fórmula, y la superan disco a disco. Inconfundible e imperdible.

Victoria by TenemosExplosivos

Canción favorita: La Libertad Absoluta y el Terror

ZAT — ZAT

Después del 3-way split en el 2015, ZAT regresa con una nueva producción. Debo haber escuchado este disco solo un par de veces, para ser honesto. Rescato coros que quedaron pegados por horas en mi cabeza, ritmos y cambios inesperados que destacan entre las canciones y el juego con los efectos de las guitarras que crean una atmósfera personal.

ZAT (2017) by ZAT

Canción favorita: Turistas

Desventura — Sonhos Tangenciais

Escuché por primera vez a Desventura revisando los discos de las bandas participantes del compilado en el que estamos trabajando. Fue una de las bandas que más recuerdo, tal vez por el ritmo que es diferente a los discos de esta lista o por la voz desesperante con la que interpreta cada canción.

Sonhos Tangenciais by Desventura

Canción favorita: Sobre o espaço

Fia — Todos los intentos no son suficientes

No vas a encontrar un disco más variado, a nivel de intensidad, ritmo y velocidad que este en esta lista. Y de hecho, es de las cosas que más me llamaron la atención de este material. Su buena ejecución y producción casi me obligan a tenerlo en esta lista. 

Todos los intentos no son suficientes by Fia

Canción favorita: Todos los intentos no son suficientes

Sad Affleck — Helio

Me gusta que naveguen en el límite imaginario entre el post-hardcore, screamo y post-rock desolador.

Helio by Sad Affleck

Canción favorita: Descansar

Beatriz Viterbo — EP

No me puse a escuchar con paciencia este disco hasta ahora que escribo esta reseña. ¿Entonces por qué está aquí? Porque es un disco diferente. Las canciones están entre los 3 y 5 minutos, lo que les da tiempo para desarrollar pasajes instrumentales largos con cambios naturales, lo que crea una dinámica bonita.

EP by Beatriz Viterbo

Canción favorita: Untitled

Ostende — No olvidar los faros en la niebla

Destacan los matices en las voces de este disco, la velocidad y las historias de autocrítica. Con este EP, Ostende entra en hiatus hasta nuevo aviso. 

No olvidar los faros en la niebla by OSTENDE

Canción favorita: Seizan

90s — Desidia

Es increíble cómo dos personas pueden crear tanto caos. Conocí a esta banda gracias a Samuel de La Fábrica del Ruido. Desde entonces no he dejado de escucharla y de todas maneras debe estar aquí por incómoda y violenta, pero sobre todo por su intensidad.

90s - Desidia by How Much? And, Why So Expensive?

Canción favorita: Embrace It / Ayahuasca

Antiklesis — S/T

Este disco está en el top 3 de esta lista. La creatividad que posee cada canción, la excelente ejecución musical y el hecho que te transmitan esa madurez y experiencia lograda solo por la unión de músicos que han participado en proyectos destacables como Ostende y Hogvuera. Puristas de la violencia.

Antiklesis by antiklesis

Canción favorita: Discernir

Eu Sozinho — Da falência à barbárie

Mi favorita de este sonido del 2016 es Obtusión//Aversión de Löri. Este año esa posición se la lleva Eu Sozinho. Instrumentos pesados y una voz oscura y desgarradora, hacen que este material destaque por la fiereza de sus composiciones.

Da falência à barbárie by Eu sozinho

Canción favorita: Profana a Matéria

Dasiden — Sexta Etapa

Emoviolence metalizado desde La Plata. Oscuro, rápido y lleno de maldad. Como una tormenta en un bosque profundo.

Sexta Etapa by Dasiden

Canción favorita: Las Aves / Las Almas

MICO — Segunda Muerte

Metal tan filoso que acaba contigo después de cada pasada al disco completo. Hacía tiempo que no escuchaba este tipo de intensidad, tal vez la última vez fue con Burn de Titan. Algo que debes escuchar si te gusta el sonido oscuro, pesado y metálico.

Segunda Muerte by MICO

Canción favorita: Resquicio

¿No encontraste tu favorito?

Quiero aclarar que esta lista no pretende ser objetiva, es una lista sobre lo mejor que pude escuchar durante este año, que por diversas razones llamaron mi atención y se volvieron mis favoritas. Estoy seguro que estoy dejando fuera muchos buenos lanzamientos latinoamericanos de este año, entonces te invito a dejar en los comentarios tus favoritas y decirme por qué la debería incluir aquí.

Algunos puntos que tomé en cuenta para hacer esta lista fueron: ejecución musical, intensidad vocal/instrumental y producción del material.

[benjamynb]

Bucket List

-Attend both Olympic games

-Scale to the top of Giant California Redwood Canopy

-Hike the Appalachian Trail

-Hike the Pacific Coast Trail

-Hike "The Wave" in Arizona

-Para-motor across the US

-Visit Ireland, Australia, Scottland, New Zealand, Madagasca, Cyprus

-Go Base Jumping

-Go Skydiving

-Go Caving (find interesting caves online)

-7 Summits

-Ayahuasca in Peru

-Go Shark Fishing

-Build My Own Slate Roof A-frame house on a piece of land that calls to me

-Learn Glass Blowing: Make My Own Bong

-Compose a Book of Poetry

-Write a "fiction" novel (what is reality lolol)

-Learn the Piano

-Learn the Guitar

-See My First Concert

-See Bands Live (if they are still performing):

Tool

Slipknot

Glass Animals

Dr. Dog

Broken Social Scene

Buckethead

Skegss

[nearmidnightannex]

And speaking of Michael Sam...

Five Years Later, Michael Sam Is Doing Just Fine, Thanks (out.com) But it was a hell of a time to get here. BY MICHELLE GARCIA MARCH 25 2019 8:00 AM EDT 

Michael Sam is doing just fine — now. This wasn’t the case just a couple of years ago.

Two years after announcing that he was leaving professional football in 2015, Sam remembers a friend at a Christmas party noticing he was “laughing on the outside, but hurting on the inside.”

It was the little spark — that subtle acknowledgement from someone close who can see your pain beneath the surface, and brave enough to say so — that eventually kicked off a period of self-discovery. A period of reading and reflection. Of traveling to Peru. Of trying ayahuasca.

But before all of that, before Sam came to terms with who he is now as a 29-year-old man, with his days on the field behind him, Sam said a short sentence that moved mountains: “I’m Michael Sam, I’m a football player, and I’m gay.” [...]

Michael Sam's pursuit of happiness (sports.yahoo.com) Flinder Boyd Yahoo Sports Apr 16, 2019, 11:51 PM

(Photo credit: Annika Tomlin via sports.yahoo.com)

Michael Sam is at the podium. There’s no commissioner’s hand to shake, no NFL team hat to put on. He faces out at a room that’s less than half full.

For the past year, this has been his primary source of income – booking speaking engagements on college campuses. Arizona State University’s Global Sports Institute has invited him to discuss “defining oneself in the 21st century.”

It's Valentine's Day and it's raining in the Phoenix area. Inside Beus Center for Law and Society, Sam looks down at his notes. His arms bulge out of his dress shirt. Besides a handful of grey hairs, he looks like he could still play defensive end.

He starts his speech simply: “I’ve learned a lot about myself.”

It’s a brash understatement. It’s been five years since he publicly came out and then became the first openly gay football player drafted into the NFL. Five years since he burst into prime time with a one-on-one with Oprah, was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, won an Arthur Ashe award for courage at the ESPYs and was one of GQ’s Men of the Year.

In early spring, 2014, he was an icon and all trajectories pointed upward.

But then he never played an official NFL game. Instead, he fizzled out of the public’s consciousness — pulled apart by pressure, bigotry and his own shortcomings. He fell into a cycle of drugs and alcohol until he nearly self-destructed.

So, did he learn a lot about himself? Sure, but it almost killed him....

The Yahoo Sports article is a deeper dive into Sam’s present and how he got here; the out.com article is a deeper dive into how the media approached him when he came out, and the immediate and later effects it had on how the media covers other LGBT+ athletes today.

[hardwodder]

Live Now: Inside Episode 23 With Michael Roviello Part 2. Hit the @HardWodder Radio Link in bio. . ★ Quote: “Benefits and pension, benefits and pension… that’s kind of all I heard growing up. Nobody ever talked about like hey what are you passionate about, what do want to do, what do you want to learn, what do you want to give to your community, humanity… there was none of that talk. It was benefits and pension." - Michael Roviello. In part 2 of this interview we go deep into the #innerwork. Listen as Michael breaks down the benefits of working from the inside out Michael is a New York native, now residing in #Arizona. He is a twice decorated Naval #Aviation #Warfare Vet, #PlantMedicine advocate, @Iceman_Hof instructor and owner at @Optimyze , a newly constructed wellness center here in the valley. His #journey is an interesting one… hailing from a single parent home of 4 kids, Michael sought a way out of his environment by going into the service where he excelled and won 2 #medals before retiring and entering civilian #life. A successful guy, he began to search for meaning by filling his life with things and seeking #status, but along the way an injury would open his eyes to the world of alternative #medicine, ultimately guiding him toward certifications with Wim Hof and plant medicine ceremonies which opened him up to new levels of #introspection. This is a must hear episode. Enjoy the #podcast... and be sure to invite others to do the same. Have a story to tell and want to share it? Let's talk. Comment below. United In #Wellness. J . Remember: there is #norestfortheworthy Be. Do. Have... In that order. #hardwodder #hardwodderone #honorthework #fortunefavorsthebrave #fortesfortunajuvat #humanmovementfactory #unspecialized #dothehardthing #100to0 #wednesdaywork #crossfitapparel #crossfitathlete. #crossfitcommunity #crossfitmen #crossfitwomen #hardwodderradio #navy #ayahuasca #teacherplants (at HardWodder HQ) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzG1yVg8DV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jdpkcxfsiynn

[janepwilliams87]

Arizona Marijuana Activists Turn In 420,000 Signatures To Qualify Legalization Measure For Ballot

Arizona activists behind an initiative to legalize marijuana have officially turned in what they say are more than enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Smart and Safe Arizona announced on Wednesday that they submitted 420,000 raw signatures to the secretary of state’s office—one day before the turn-in deadline. They need 237,645 valid signatures from registered voters to qualify.

This marks another drug policy reform success amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced campaigns in several other states to end due to social distancing and stay-at-home requirements.

Advocates joined with three separate campaigns in April to ask the state Supreme Court to order the secretary of state to allow electronic signature gathering, but the request was denied. Even so, the raw numbers signal the legalization effort is in a comfortable position to make the ballot once signatures are verified.

“Arizonans are ready to legalize cannabis and this is the right policy for our state,” Arizona Dispensary Association President Steve White said in a press release. “New jobs and revenue are even more critical, today, than when we embarked on this campaign last year.”

Hi friends! A whopping 420,000 (plus) of you helped us get here. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Next stop, November! pic.twitter.com/Opo8boV1Nh

— Smart & Safe AZ (@SmartandSafeAZ) July 1, 2020

The legalization petition would allow individuals 21 and older to possess and purchase cannabis from licensed retailers. People could possess up to an ounce of marijuana at a time and cultivate up to six plants for personal use.

The measure also contains several restorative justice provisions such as allowing individuals with prior marijuana convictions to petition the courts for expungements and establishing a social equity ownership program

Cannabis sales would be taxed at 16 percent. Tax revenue would cover implementation costs and then would be divided among funds for community colleges, infrastructure, a justice reinvestment and public services such as police and firefighters.

The Department of Health Services would be responsible for regulating the program and issuing cannabis business licenses. It would also be tasked with deciding on whether to expand the program to allow for delivery services.

If the measure does make the ballot, recent polling indicates that it will prevail. In a survey of likely voters, about two-thirds (65.5 percent) of respondents said they would support the proposed initiative.

A 2016 legalization proposal was rejected by Arizona voters. But in the four years since, more states have opted to legalize and public opinion has continued to shift in favor of reform.

Here’s a status update on other drug policy campaigns across the country:

Idaho activists behind a medical cannabis initiative are hoping that a federal judge’s recent ruling that would extend the signature turn-in deadline for a separate campaign will apply to them. The state has indicated it will appeal, but if things go in their favor, they could start collecting signatures, including electronically, next week.

The Oregon Secretary of State’s office announced on Tuesday that a campaign to decriminalize currently illicit drugs and expand substance misuse treatment has qualified for the ballot.

Another Oregon campaign to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic purposes has already turned in signatures that they feel will qualify them for the ballot, though those submissions must still be verified by the state.

Washington, D.C. activists are continuing to collect signatures for a proposed measure to make enforcement of laws against various entheogenic substances such as psilocybin, ayahuasca and ibogaine among the city’s lowest law enforcement priorities. They’re receiving assistance from activists who flew in from across the country, including leadership behind Denver’s successful psilocybin decriminalization initiative last year.

A Nebraska campaign plans to submit signatures this week that they hope will be sufficient to qualify a medical cannabis measure for the ballot.

Montana activists recently turned in more than 130,000 signatures to qualify a pair of marijuana initiatives—one to legalize the plant for adult use and another stipulating that individuals must be 21 or older to participate—for the November ballot. The state is currently validating those submissions.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and stay-at-home mandates, measures to legalize marijuana for medical and recreational purposes qualified for South Dakota’s November ballot.

Mississippi activists gathered enough signatures to qualify a medical cannabis legalization initiative for the ballot—though lawmakers also approved a competing (and from advocates’ standpoint, less desirable) medical marijuana proposal that will appear alongside the campaign-backed initiative.

The New Jersey legislature approved putting a cannabis legalization referendum before voters as well.

A campaign to legalize marijuana in Arkansas will not qualify for the ballot this year, a spokesperson told Marijuana Moment on Tuesday.

Activists behind an initiative to decriminalize currently illicit drugs and expand access to treatment services in Washington State said last week that they will no longer be pursuing the ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, they are seeking to enact the policy change through the legislature during the next session starting January 2021.

A campaign to legalize cannabis in Missouri officially gave up its effort for 2020 due to signature collection being virtually impossible in the face of social distancing measures.

North Dakota activists ended their push to place a marijuana legalization measure on the 2020 ballot and will instead seek qualification for 2022.

Ohio Senate Votes To Expand Marijuana Decriminalization To Cover 200 Grams

Photo courtesy of Brian Shamblen.

The post Arizona Marijuana Activists Turn In 420,000 Signatures To Qualify Legalization Measure For Ballot appeared first on Marijuana Moment.

from Updates By Jane https://www.marijuanamoment.net/arizona-marijuana-activists-turn-in-420000-signatures-to-qualify-legalization-measure-for-ballot/

[entheognosis]

Ayahuasca is much better than any medicine I can prescribe,” said Dr. Sue Sisley, a psychiatrist, formerly of the University of Arizona, who has treated PTSD for 20 years. “Patients actually go into remission which never happens with other treatments.

Dr. Sue Sisley