10/17

I arrived on Friday, & got settled in. As night fell, I made my way to the ICE facility on 4310 S Macadam Ave. Along the way, I saw a smattering of political messaging. Anti-cop, anti-Trump, anti-ICE, & even anti-tech sentiments were on open display in the city streets.

“War zone? Whore zone”

“Kill Kops 😊”

“FIRST THEY CAME FOR...”

“TRUMP FUCKS KIDS”

“TRUMP’S GESTAPO NOT WELCOME”

“FUCK ICE”

“FIRE TO THE CYBERNETIC PRISON”

“IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO RESIST”

…

“FOR FREE AND FULL LIVES, OPEN TO THE UNKNOWN”

“BE THE OUTAGE IN THEIR NETWORK!”

10/17 - Portland ICE facility

Upon arrival at the ICE facility, one of the first things I documented was a dance party with protesters in inflatable costumes. Garfield, the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, & other notable characters danced along to Green Day, The Beach Boys, Mark Governor, & more.

Now & then, federal agents would walk out of the facility to help government vehicles exit or enter the area. Agents armed with pepper-ball guns stood watch on the building’s roof. Protesters taunted the federal agents often.

Protesters lined up at the blue line separating the sidewalk from the ICE facility, with some taking a knee in front of it. Any protester that crossed that line would be shot with pepper-balls &/or apprehended by federal agents. Near the line, I found political messages & a box of books nearby—all copies of One Little Pig by Laura Lee Scott, illustrated by Cheryl Crouthamel.

“FUCK ICE”

“OH BOY...NAZIS

THE OPPOSIT[E] OF A NAZI IS...ANTIFA”

A protester with a megaphone accused conservative podcast host Matt Tardio of assaulting a woman near the ICE facility. She played an audio recording about that on her megaphone. I haven’t been able to substantiate her accusation.

Across the street from the ICE facility, I found more political messages. Anti-Trump, anti-GOP, & anti-DHS stuff, as expected.

“I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING NAZIS”

“FUCK ICE + DHS”

Later on, a crowd began forming around the corner, just outside the Antifa encampment. A protester known as Richard was threatening physical violence against independent journalist & conservative influencer Nick Sortor. Portland Police were standing a mere inches away from Richard.

As this was happening, Antifa & pro-Trump gonzo journalists like DannyRebel33 & Chris Sims were arguing nearby. A mixture of taunts & debates could be heard.

There was a notice board in the Antifa encampment with a bevy of information. Moreover, there was an illegal campsite notice next to the Antifa encampment, issued on 10/16 by the city.

WELCOME

REMEMBER:

* WALK, DON’T RUN

* MAKE SURE SOMEONE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE

* DON’T CROSS THE BLUE LINE -

YOU WILL BE ARRESTED

* DON’T TALK TO COPS

TONIGHT’S LIVESTREAMS

*blank*

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

- RESPIRATORS (3M)

- FILTERS - 60926 (PINK & OLIVE)

- ANTI-FOG SAFETY GOGGLES

- HANDWARMERS

- WATERPROOF BACKPACK/COVERS

- HAND WARMERS

DONATIONS

VENMO:

WAXKNUCKLES

medic➡️mercurybee

CASHAPP:

💲AMANDASiebe

GO FUND ME

*blank*

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAT 10/18 - No Kings

SUN 10/19 - *unintelligible* PJ Party

NLG [National Lawyers Guild] #: 971-247-1072

That NLG jail line has been active since 2020.

Across the street, another crowd was forming. 3 men in matching khakis & skull masks were arguing with protesters. According to documentarian Ford Fischer, these men were there to support ICE, & didn’t claim to be part of any specific group.

Pro-Trump influencer & livestreamer Tommyboi4209 made his way into the middle of the crowd. Tommy & the protesters taunted one another, with Tommy being accused of being a Nazi for his pro-ICE beliefs.

A few feet away, a protester in a hoodie berated & chastised the Portland Police. A protester with a megaphone continued to taunt & chastise Tommy for his beliefs. Portland Police were standing nearby in wait, just in case things escalated.

On this side of the street, I noticed a window sign by Reach Community Development, a Portland non-profit that “creates opportunities for all people to thrive by developing and promoting access to quality, affordable homes, supportive services, and community.” The non-profit “envisions a world where there is a universal right to housing with all people living in safe, vibrant, and healthy communities.” REACH may have been mistakenly targeted by protesters & Antifa.

I crossed the street & conducted a walk-through of the Antifa encampment, located halfway down the block from the ICE facility, as music blared. Food, anti-ICE signs, tents, & more lined the public sidewalk. As I walked, I could hear protesters chiding MAGA influencer Rhein Amacher. One protester accused him of battery.

After I turned around & walked back, Rhein tried to conduct a walk-through of his own. He was blocked from walking on the sidewalk by multiple Antifa members. The confrontation quickly became violent.

As I tried to get footage of the event, Antifa with umbrellas blocked my shot, & the music was turned back on. It didn’t take long before the crowd grew & more Antifa moved in to mock Rhein. He was once again accused of committing assault.

Portland Police stepped in & Rhein walked across the street with them. He wanted to press charges against someone in a wheelchair. Portland PD took photos of Rhein’s leg injuries. At least one protester mocked him as they walked by.

Back near the Antifa encampment, DannyRebel33 was arguing with protesters. One was using a megaphone & another was holding a “Fuck ICE” flag. It didn’t take long before they resorted to mocking one another.

10/18 - “No Kings”

Saturday, the day of the “No Kings” protests across the nation. There were at least 3 planned in Portland. I attended what I assume was the largest one: Waterfront Park. On the way over, I noticed “ACAB” written on a “No Trespassing” sign.

I first made contact with the march on the intersection of SW Madison St & SW 1st Ave. It was heading toward Hawthorne Bridge. The crowd was packed with protesters holding signs to promote many different messages, not just anti-monarchism sentiments.

We’re talking anti-Trump, anti-ICE, anti-GOP, anti-fascism, pro-socialism, pro-Epstein Files, & more. Many protesters were wearing funny costumes. At least one boat on the Willamette River was pro-No Kings.

The march passed below Interstate 5 & continued down SE Hawthorne Blvd. A multi-kazoo rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In” was being played in front of me. I decided to travel down SE Madison St instead for more breathing room.

I reconvened with the march on SE Grand & Hawthorne. The protesters headed down SE Grand Ave & turned left onto SE Morrison Brg before crossing the Morrison Bridge.

Eventually, the march ended up back at Waterfront Park & finished with a rally.

10/18 - Portland ICE facility

After recharging for a few hours, I returned to the ICE facility. By nightfall, it was pouring rain. Anti-MAGA & pro-MAGA people alike sought shelter from the pouring rain. If it hadn’t been raining that night, I imagine that there would have been a lot more people there.

Despite the rain, a sizeable crowd had formed in front of the ICE facility. At times, federal agents would step out in front of the building. Anti-MAGA & pro-MAGA protesters debated & taunted one another directly outside the ICE facility, as federal agents were posted up on the roof with pepper-ball guns.

Across the street from the Antifa encampment, an anti-MAGA protester with face tattoos nicknamed “Criptifa” insulted, threatened, & debated with Tommy4Trump420. DannyRebel33, & others joined in as Portland Police watched from across the street.

df

dfd

The highlight of the night (for me, at least) was the moment when federal agents chased after protesters. One moment, the feds were just standing there out in the middle of the street. The next, some weird fart-esque sound goes off, & federal agents rush past me. It kind of sounded like the “BRRRT” of a mini-version of the GAU-8 Avenger cannon from an A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog”.

The federal agents deployed flash bangs (I think) & fired their pepper-ball guns. I think they were trying to arrest someone, perhaps several people. Protesters were freaking the fuck out.

I ran down S Bancroft St & turned the corner onto S Bond Ave. Soon thereafter, federal agents & protesters followed behind. One protester mocked a federal agent for being fat & slow. That agent confronted him before turning around to continue walking down the street.

I crossed the street & was stopped by a protester that wanted to know what happened. Further down the street, I spotted a group of federal agents walking back toward the ICE facility.

As the feds walked back to the ICE facility, protesters followed behind to taunt them. An agent deployed tear gas grenades down the street next to the Antifa encampment, much to the protesters’ chagrin. Tear gas filled the air.

By the time I got back to the ICE facility, the federal agents were backing up into the building. Antifa walked up to the facility line to mock them.

Not long thereafter, federal agents re-emerged from the facility to make way for government vehicles.

10/19

Federal agents stayed outside to let a CBP vehicle enter the building as Antifa taunted them. “Don’t be a speed bump. You heard me. Don’t be a speed bump,” said a DHS officer. As federal agents walked back, Antifa taunted them.

Some of the last things I documented before heading out were protest signs left on the ground. Moreover, a protester blasted El Azhar’s “El Djihad” The song is “an ode to jihad and armed Islamic struggle”, according to Colombia One.

“NO GODS”

“NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE”

I had my fill for the night & left. In the morning, I had a mediocre continental breakfeast before checking out of my room & heading back home.

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Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old member of the U.S. Air Force, set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. in protest. Bushnell left no doubt in our minds what his motivations were. His actions and beliefs are being praised by the woke left and mocked by the right. I am of a mixed mind about this; his actions were retarded, yet deeply artistic and comedic.

Aaron Bushnell was an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force, working as an engineer with a history in IT. He was pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in computer software engineering from Southern New Hampshire University. Here's where things get a bit more interesting.

He liked two Ohio-based anarchist groups on Facebook—the Burning River Anarchist Collective and Mutual Aid Street Solidarity.

Leading up to his suicide, Bushnell posted a message on Facebook that read,

"Many of us like to ask ourselves, 'What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?'

The answer is, you’re doing it. Right now."

Bushnell was a pronouns-in-bio kind of guy and was active on Reddit. It was discovered because his username used to match his Twitch account username, LillyAnarKitty. Based on his social media history, there’s no doubt in my mind that Bushnell was a leftist anarchist.

On the day of the incident, he streamed his actions on social media, stating, "I will no longer be complicit in genocide." As he burned, he repeatedly screamed, “Free Palestine!” The act of self-immolation was a powerful statement against the Israeli government's actions in Gaza, which many, especially, though not exclusively, on the left, have characterized as genocide.

The tragic event has sparked discussions and debates about the effectiveness of such extreme forms of protest and the responsibility of individuals and governments in addressing injustice. It is essential to remember that Aaron Bushnell's actions were driven by a deep sense of moral responsibility and a desire to bring attention to the plight of the people in Gaza. The guy had balls; I’ll give him that.

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In a heartwarming turn of events, former President Donald Trump's support among black Americans has reached impressive levels for a Republican. Nonwhite people largely vote Democrat, but Trump, known for his unconventional political tactics, has managed to draw an unlikely parallel between his legal troubles and the historic struggles of Black Americans.

By the way, the crazy sumbitch dropped a sneaker line at Sneaker Con. The best sneakers, dubbed "Trump's Golden Kicks," are a limited edition, came with a hefty price tag of $399, and sold out in less than a day. One dude paid like 9 grand for an autographed pair and met Donald himself. They feature a beautiful gold exterior and nifty American flags. The sneakers were met with a chorus of boos from some of the crowd; we could call those people butthurt Philly Dems.

His other 2 pairs sold well, too—I heard. Trump sneakers struck a nerve, especially when FOX News had the cajones to admit that dropping a sneaker line would ingratiate Trump with urban youth. Why is it racist to admit that they like sneakers?

At the Black Conservative Federation Gala in Columbia, South Carolina, Trump boldly claimed his legal troubles make black people like him. The statement left some scratching their heads, wondering if there truly was a connection between Trump's legal woes and the centuries-long fight against racial discrimination.

I see it. Trump references were common in rap lyrics, pardoned rappers, and befriended Ye. Trump has plenty of street cred built up and while being a Republican does hurt him, cracks in the Democrat fortress are showing.

As the 2024 presidential race heats up, one thing is clear: Trump has created a unique and unexpected bond with the Black community. Whether this newfound support will translate into substantial votes remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – the political landscape has never been more entertaining.

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Ladies and gentlemen gather 'round, for we have a tale of mystery and intrigue. We're talking about the newest mystery balloon that has captured the attention of the nation. We're also going to dive into the innovative solutions I’ve come up with.

A mysterious balloon has been spotted soaring through the skies at an altitude of about 45,000 feet. The Pentagon has confirmed that they are tracking this unidentified aerial phenomenon. Perhaps it's a new form of extraterrestrial life? Maybe it’s a Chinese spy balloon again? Dunno, but the feds say it’s currently no threat. Ha, I don’t believe anything these days, so I’m putting this story in the mind vault for later.

As the nation watches, the balloon continues its leisurely journey, causing chaos down below. Meanwhile, the government scrambles to come up with a plan to deal with this high-altitude intruder. Fear not, dear readers, for here’s my special brand of problem-solving.

• Build a giant slingshot. Why waste time and resources on a complicated plan ruled by Bureaucratic Beckys when you can simply build a giant slingshot to take down the balloon? Charge money to take a shot.

• Start a GoFundMe campaign. If the government is too retarded to fix this, why not crowdsource the solution? Surely, there's a wealthy benefactor out there willing to fund the capture of this elusive airborne asshole.

• Create a new reality TV show called "Balloon Boys." Who needs "The Bachelor" when you can have a group of rugged, gun-toting gigachads chasing down mystery Chinese balloons floating across this once great nation? It's the perfect blend of adventure, entertainment, and patriotism.

The mystery balloon saga has provided us with a much-needed slap in the face. My solutions to this high-flying problem will work better than what the government is capable of doing. This situation joins the past in proving that even in the most ridiculous of situations, don’t expect the state to protect you.

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Google’s Gemini AI is a disaster. It engages in historical revisionism without a second thought or breaking a sweat. Talk to it and discover a longstanding dedication to diversity and inclusion. So far I’ve seen black Vikings, Asian and Latina female medieval knights, and WW2 German soldiers. Yes, that’s right — racially diverse Nazis…

Things get more interesting when Gemini is prompted for images of specific racial demographics. It’ll outright refuse to generate images of white families, but it’ll gladly do so for nonwhite families. Hmm, how odd. Why is that?

Ian Miles Cheong found a way to game the system. Under the right circumstances, to NOT be racist, the AI inadvertently became racist as hell. Clever move, Cheong.

We have entered into a new era of techno-Idiocracy. I want you to imagine some lazy teacher or tutor using an AI-generated lesson plan. Their students will learn that noble General George Washington was a 6’2” black woman or Asian man. This wouldn’t be so much history written by the victors, but rather a history re-written by woke-washed robots.

I think the message that Google is trying to send is that they want history to be like a modern-day Disney movie. Silicon Valley does not like white males that much even though they’re the lifeblood of Big Tech engineering departments. There is no shortage of people exposing this poorly designed sham on TwiX.

Google is now apologizing to customers for their AI’s faux pas. Remember when the Biden administration approved an executive order to woke-ify AI? Could that be at fault here? I think it’s plausible, but we better hurry up and find a fix for all this woke AI — because it’s already starting to blow our minds. Thanks for reading.

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As the Russia-Ukraine & Israel-Gaza wars drag on, Europe & America gear up for more. China warns NATO to back off from Russia while keeping a close eye on Taiwan and its allies. The United States is embroiled in a risky & dangerous game of protecting clashing political allegiances that threatens to rip the country apart. As global tensions & the risk of World War 3 rise, expect the military-industrial complex to thrive.

What’s Russia up to these days? Well, Tucker Carlson just interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin. Neat! Also, the Russian government is on the verge of legalizing asset seizure of those they deem as criticizing and discrediting the Russian military, as part of a broader trend to punish open opposition to the war. Boy, howdy, that was a hellish & dystopian thing to read.

On the other side of the war, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted to a state leader replacement plan, including firing his top commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. That’s a risky move as the commander is well-liked in Ukraine, despite his willingness to throw up to 500,000 more Ukrainians into the meatgrinder. So, Zelenskyy is aiming for a “reset”, his way of saying he will surround himself with more yes men. He is determined to fight the war to the bitter end his way, as the average Ukrainian military enlistment age barrels past 40.

Europe has sounded the alarm. Germany expects Russia to attack NATO within the decade. Poland is prepared for war. Sweden told its citizens to do the same.

A US envoy pressured Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, to ratify Sweden's entry into NATO. The European Union financially strong-armed Orban to approve Ukraine's $54 billion aid package. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg insists that US aid to Ukraine is vital. The EU & NATO are hellbent on making sure the war machine stays on by forcing its subjects to keep footing the bill.

Chinese state media issued a grim warning, telling NATO to back off of Russia, saying that NATO could escalate the Russia-Ukraine war into a world war. Russia issued its ominous warning after NATO announced its largest military exercise since the Cold War. China, Russia, & Iran have announced joint military drills.

The US is preparing for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, while the island nation holds military drills to defend against such a threat. Chinese military scientists announced a powerful technological breakthrough where there would be ‘nowhere to hide’. Sounds like a crazy ex-girlfriend, honestly.

In the Middle East, Iraq and Syria reported multiple casualties from US strikes in retaliation for the attack in Jordan that killed three US service members & injured many more. The Yemeni Houthis also faced US and British strikes, with more on the way. By the way, the US also happens to be interfering in a Yemen-Saudi peace deal. This is the price of empire & of protecting a certain ally. Speaking of which.

The Israel-Gaza war inched past the four-month mark, as the White House issued an executive order to sanction Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the action as “inappropriate”, demonstrating a deep commitment to a longstanding tradition of deflecting criticisms of state-backed violence against Palestinians. In other words, business as usual.

The Biden administration again refused to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, preferring a humanitarian pause instead. Earlier, they pulled funding from UNRWA on Israeli allegations of Hamas infiltration and participation on October 7th. They aim to fund other humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza instead. UK’s Channel 4 News’s deep dive into the allegations found no such evidence. Will the Biden administration look into the matter themselves or keep walking on eggshells around Israel? What do you think?

Despite the ICJ's ruling of plausible genocide against them, US House Republicans tried to give nearly $18 billion in aid to Israel. It flopped. It seems the clock is ticking for Israel. American patience for Israel’s rampage in Gaza is running out. According to a recent AP-NORC poll, half of US adults now say Israel has gone too far in Gaza. Hey, I know, accuse them of anti-semitism. That’ll show them.

One last thing on the topic of international war. The US Senate introduced an omnibus bill that included $60 billion in military aid for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $20 billion for the US border. Yet again, they proved just how much more they value propping up foreign wars than they do protecting the American people. What else is new, right? Blocked by the GOP, the bill is dead in the water. Be sure to scan the seas for similar bullshit bills Congress wants to waste our time with.

Speaking of the border, half of the nation’s governors, all Republicans, pledged their support to Governor Abbott & the state of Texas. Multiple states have sent their National Guard to the border. Presidential candidate former President Donald Trump cheered it on & called for more. Biden's approval rating has reached its lowest point in his presidency. Trump took the opportunity to warn & doomsay about World War 3 against Joe Biden. Special Counsel Robert Hur’s Biden Classified Documents case report came out, citing his obvious cognitive decline. They pulled their punches against Biden because of that. How the hell is this man supposed to be President? He should be impeached. 25th Amendment. Wait… What if that’s what the deep state wants?

Edit:

The latter option is more relevant given his current condition. However, it’s a bigger pain in the ass to remove a sitting president with the 25th Amendment than impeachment. Realistically, there’s no way in hell Congress would have the balls to axe him, so it’s up to Trump. Regardless, Biden shouldn’t continue being president.

To put it in context, it is even more difficult to strip a president of power under the 25th Amendment than it is under the impeachment process. A president can be impeached by a simple majority in the House and removed from office by a two-thirds vote in the Senate. Stripping a president of power under the 25th Amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

NY Times

“Civil war” has become more common in the American vocabulary. The slow decay of America has been a topic on our minds for a few years now. Fictional media exploring the end of the United States has become more prevalent. Is it predictive programming or is society’s weed paranoia too strong?

With all that out of the way, let’s see how the defense industry is doing. Lockheed Martin bagged over $300 million in US Navy contract modifications recently, despite a rather mediocre year for their stock. That said, their total shareholder return is up 58% in 5 years. What a fantastic return; war is a racket after all!

RTX stock has a solid long-term outlook, as does the US Aerospace & Defense Industry overall. Given the state of things, does that surprise anyone? By the way, here’s what might - Raytheon was just recognized as “…one of America's Most JUST Companies, for the third consecutive year, for its commitment to serving its workers, customers, communities, the environment and shareholders. RTX ranked No. 1 in the aerospace and defense sector and No. 69 overall in the JUST 100.”

Give me a break. ESG is a joke when a professional death-bringer is getting rewarded with high marks. It’s a way for the defense industry to woke wash some of the blood away.

So, there you have it, we’re up Shit's Creek without a paddle because politicians & their bureaucratic butt-buddies don’t have much better to do than to suck up to foreign nations & defense contractors. United States service members deployed in the Middle East tragically serve as human tripwires for the US government to justify feeding the war machine, despite the glaring ethical & practical dangers. The next few years are going to be fun.

I’ll leave you with Chris Martenson's parting advice from his recent interview on Clint Russell’s Liberty Lockdown. I thought it hit the nail on the head, accurately reflecting where my head is at these days.

So, whether you come to my website or not, please, everybody listening to this, please, you HAVE to prepare as if this wonderful era of abundance is over.

I’m gonna say that a little crypically, but everybody needs to start considering the bottom of Maszlow’s Hierarchy of Needs, right?

Food, shelter, warmth, security.

You gotta do that, because it’s just…

There’s just…

I…

This thing is on a trajectory that I can’t...

We’re not gonna elect our way off of this, ya know?

Trump, RFK, God himself.

I don’t see…

This has an intertia to it that I don’t see we’re getting off of yet, so…just how I see it right now.

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What do California and Florida have in common? They’re coastal US states with legal cannabis industries, sort of. Recreational cannabis has been legal in California since 2016. Florida, on the other hand, has only legalized medical cannabis. That said, here’s where things get interesting.

Thanks to a loophole in the 2018 Trump farm bill, hemp-derived delta-8 THC is being legally sold across the United States as we speak. Additionally, President Biden signed a stopgap bill to extend the farm bill until September 2024. In similar news just a few months ago, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended the easing of federal restrictions on cannabis. To summarize, not only has a weaker version of the famous drug been out on the legal market for years now, but the government is actively advising the rest of the government to reschedule it altogether, so all eyes are on the DEA now.

As it stands, the US cannabis industry is worth $5 billion annually, but despite all the buzz, the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and well over two dozen other cannabis organizations have submitted a list of priorities loaded with a blend of pro- and anti-regulatory proposals to House and Senate committees. Further, US states have begun passing laws against hemp-derived products while hemp companies hit back with lawsuits.

California Pipe Dreamin’

Just last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a set of cannabis-related bills into law, an ongoing project to streamline administrative processes and provide some relief to the state’s beleaguered cannabis industry. California’s legal cannabis market has faltered significantly because of the state’s excessive economic regulations. Los Angeles cannabis fees & fines alone run thousands to tens of thousands each while San Francisco’s permitting process takes nearly a year and $5,000 minimum if you’re not an “equity applicant.”

Having worked in the Silicon Valley cannabis industry for a handful of years, I learned a thing or two about bad bureaucracy myself. When I was working in retail cannabis, customers were regularly paying over a third in taxes out the door. Madness. As one would expect, it’s far cheaper to buy from the black market where taxes, fines, and fees are not factored into the prices. As such, the black market in California continues to exist. A couple of black market growers I’ve met and spoken to before have told me similarly. With all that said, in just fiscal 2023 alone, over $100 million worth of cannabis was seized in California across less than 100 search warrants.

The Sunshine State

Martha Bueno, a cannabis entrepreneur and libertarian activist out of Miami-Dade County, spoke with me about the hurdles she’s faced while trying to expand her business ventures out in Florida. In short, the Florida government is pushing for more industry regulations, even though it devastates small business owners like Martha who are trying to prosper in the market. The corporate cannabis big business special interests who donate to Florida politicians will stand a better chance of weathering the regulatory storm. Martha made sure to call out some of them by name. Not long thereafter, she posted on X to elaborate on the matter.

Yes. So the licensing for medical cannabis in Florida was originally given to 5 companies. Then they got sued and they gave out more licenses. Now there’s 22, and they’re in the process of giving out another 22. I was going to apply with my farm, but the cost put me out of the market. They force you to have locations secured, business plans that show you have millions secured to fund your operation, security plans like Ft Knox, and more.

…the legislators particularly State Senator Colleen Burton of Lakeland and State Representative Will Robinson of Manatee County.

Trulieve is also sponsoring recreational cannabis initiatives by which you can only buy cannabis from them, the license holders. They donate large quantities to DeSantis.

Martha Bueno

WUSF: Administrative law judge set to rule on Florida's medical marijuana license fee

State Senator Colleen Burton, funded by pharma & the booze industry, and State Representative Will Robinson, also funded by the booze industry, sponsored the 2023 hemp bill loaded with stricter hemp product regulations. Last March, Burton’s support for it drew the concerns of disabled veterans and business owners involved with cannabis.

So, I need about 100 to 200 milligrams a day just to keep with the pain and the mental health. So doing something that's two milligrams is not going to help me.

…

So as a combat veteran that fought in the Iraq war 20 years ago, I've been struggling with PTSD and mental health.

Hemp allows me to focus, allows me to stay present and not allow my mind to get lost in the war. So, Hemp has been a big part for my mental health, my recovery. 

U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Pablo Bicca

Most hemp customers are going to become criminals; most hemp customers are going to start buying online and get it shipped here from out of state. They're going to go to the black market, going to go to drug dealers. They're not going to be able to magically afford medical marijuana.

Carlos Hermida of Chillum Hemp and Dispensary

Both politicians have hinted that they will continue their push for more hemp regulations in 2024.

In other news, Florida Supreme Court justices have until April 1st, 2024 to determine whether or not a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational cannabis use for adults 21+ should be allowed to go up for a vote next November. The proposal is bankrolled by Trulieve, one of Florida’s largest medical marijuana businesses. More on them later. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office and the Florida Chamber of Commerce both support blocking the proposal, arguing it to be ambiguous and misleading.

The attorney general opposes ballot placement because we think, in several ways, this ballot summary is misleading.

…

What’s really going on here is that the ballot summary is playing on a desire of voters to see greater competition in the marketplace. There have been public complaints that the market is monopolized and thereby raising prices.

…

[The proposal] applies to Florida law; does not change, or immunize violations of, federal law.

I think that it is a very easy circumstance for voters to be confused about this.

Jeffrey DeSousa, chief deputy solicitor general

The Constitution is not the place for impulsive policy change. Legislation on tough questions is the constitutional province of the Legislature.

Samuel Salario, an attorney for the Florida Chamber

In Samuel’s mind, the proposal would "immunize sanctions" for cannabis use and grant medical marijuana operators "effective regulatory capture" over the market. The judges didn’t seem to buy what they were selling, but Florida won’t know for sure until next year.

The DeSantis Deal

Governor DeSantis of Florida doesn’t like pot, yet one of his biggest donors is an organization trying to legalize it. Martha was right, by the way; Trulieve helped DeSantis directly. Anyway, here’s how this stuff went down.

1. Trulieve, a medical cannabis company that gave DeSantis $125k for his 2022 campaign, also gave money to Smart & Safe Florida, a political committee.

2. Smart & Safe Florida gave money to Axiom and Vanguard, consulting firms run by a prominent pro-Republican strategist.

3. Never Back Down, a pro-DeSantis super PAC, paid Axiom and Vanguard for their help with the DeSantis campaign.

Axiom Strategies and Vanguard Field Strategies, firms helmed by prominent Republican strategist Jeff Roe, have been paid nearly $29 million by an organization pushing a 2024 ballot initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana. A DeSantis-aligned attorney general is fighting their work, and the governor himself has said he broadly opposes legalization.

…

Axiom and Vanguard have been paid over $25 million by the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down through the end of June, making them the super PACs’ highest-paid vendors. Never Back Down oversees much of the DeSantis campaign, standing up get-out-the-vote programs, hosting events he appears at and even providing transportation for the governor.

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The recreational marijuana initiative, which has been funded largely by marijuana giant Trulieve, is viewed by Florida Democrats as a potential vehicle for reviving their moribund status in the state. Party officials and volunteers have been working to gather signatures for it.

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Since last year, Axiom and Vanguard have emerged as the largest vendors for Smart & Safe Florida, the outfit that is spearheading the pot initiative, which would allow for adults 21 years of age and older to obtain marijuana for non-medical use. The firms combined account for more than 70 percent of the total amount spent by the group.

Politico

Trulieve has contributed all but $124.58 of the money raised by the political committee Smart & Safe Florida, which is leading the initiative. The committee had spent $39.545 million as of Sept. 30, the report posted on the state Division of Elections website showed.

CBS

179. $125,000, Trulieve Inc, cannabis dispensary

Mother Jones

As inner disputes within the DeSantis team have grown, Never Back Down’s CEO Chris Jankowski has recently resigned.

Never Back Down’s main goal and sole focus has been to elect Gov. Ron DeSantis as president. Given the current environment it has become untenable for me to deliver on the shared goal and that goes well beyond a difference of strategic opinion. For the future of our country I support and pray Ron DeSantis is our 47th president.

Chris Jankowski

Is DeSantis’s presidential hopes going up in smoke? I think so, but you be the judge. As for the cannabis industry moving forward, I can’t wait to see the day that more grubby government and corpocratic fingers are yanked out of the economic cannabis pie, however so long as the drug remains stigmatized in America, disabled veterans and entrepreneurs alike will continue to suffer the consequences of complacency and corruption. Thanks for reading.

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