The Actual State of the Nation

The Actual State of the Nation

The Actual State of the Nation

The Speech no President Would Ever Deliver

By A Lily Bit

With each passing day, the chains of tyranny tighten their grip, while the flames of freedom are mercilessly extinguished. The very institutions meant to protect and serve us have been weaponized against the populace, transforming into instruments of oppression and control.

The U.S. military, once a symbol of national pride and defense, now patrols our subway stations and polices our borders, “protecting” us from threats our government itself has created. But let’s be honest, this is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to normalize the presence of armed forces in our daily lives, conditioning us to accept the erosion of our civil liberties.

Meanwhile, the financial sector has become a willing accomplice in the government’s insidious surveillance apparatus. Your private financial data is being scrutinized and analyzed, stripped of any semblance of privacy. The entertainment industry, too, has been co-opted, tasked with informing on video game enthusiasts who dare to indulge in violent content. Apparently, enjoying a virtual world of action and adventure now qualifies as a red flag for “anti-government sentiments.” How long before our thoughts themselves become a punishable offense?

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Step outside your home, and you’ll find yourself ensnared in a web of surveillance. Public and private venues alike are now armed with biometric and facial recognition software, tracking your every move and creating a detailed record of your existence. Even the heavens above offer no respite, as space satellites with powerful cameras render privacy a distant memory. George Orwell’s dystopian vision has become our inescapable reality.

Yet, amidst this encroaching darkness, those who should be sounding the alarm remain silent. “Politicians,” courts, and Congress turn a blind eye to the government’s brazen power grabs, while the rights of the citizenry are trampled underfoot. The specter of Hitler looms in the shadows, waiting to emerge and claim his throne, as the masses remain distracted by political theatrics and ephemeral news cycles.

It matters not which party holds the reins of power, for the threat to our freedoms remains constant. The police state flexes its muscles with impunity, employing an array of tactics to intimidate and subdue any who dare to challenge its authority.

Police shootings of unarmed individuals, invasive surveillance, roadside blood draws and strip searches, botched SWAT raids, costly wars, pork barrel spending, pre-crime laws, civil asset forfeiture, fusion centers, militarization, armed drones, AI-powered policing, complicit courts, indoctrination centers masquerading as schools, and the Deep State’s bureaucratic stranglehold—these are but a few of the tools in the police state’s arsenal.

The state of our nation is a grim testament to the erosion of our most fundamental rights and liberties. The very institutions meant to protect and serve us have become the instruments of our oppression, wielding unchecked power and operating with impunity.

In a society where police abuse runs rampant, Americans find themselves at the mercy of government agents who probe, poke, pinch, taser, search, seize, strip, and manhandle citizens at will. The courts, meant to be the guardians of justice, have instead given their blessing to this wanton abuse of power. The news is filled with stories of unarmed individuals being shot by police, only for the officers involved to receive little more than a slap on the wrist. Is this the “land of the free” we were promised?

As taxpayers, Americans are nothing more than pocketbooks to fund the insatiable appetites of the police state. We are forced to finance high-priced weaponry that will be turned against us, endless wars that do little to enhance our safety or freedoms, and bloated government agencies with their secret budgets, covert agendas, and clandestine activities. The American taxpayer is perpetually ripped off, while the government grows ever more powerful and unaccountable.

The presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of our legal system, has been eroded by rapid advances in technology and a pervasive surveillance culture. We now live in a suspect society, where every citizen is potentially guilty of some wrongdoing, regardless of evidence. The burden of proof has been shifted, and the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty has been replaced by a new norm in which we are all suspects in the eyes of the government and the corporate state.

Even the right to self-defense, enshrined in the Second Amendment, is under attack. The government’s hypocrisy is on full display as it seeks to arm itself to the teeth while viewing any citizen who legally owns a gun as a potential threat. Owning a firearm in America now serves as an invitation for harassment, surveillance, and even violence at the hands of the state. The right to bear arms has been reduced to a hollow promise, subservient to the whims of those in power.

Private property, once considered sacrosanct, is no longer secure. Government agents can invade your home, break down your doors, kill your dog, damage your furnishings, and terrorize your family with impunity. If they can fine and arrest you for growing vegetables in your front yard, praying with friends in your living room, installing solar panels on your roof, or raising chickens in your backyard, then you are no longer the true owner of your property. It belongs to the government, and you are merely a tenant subject to their ever-changing rules and regulations.

Perhaps most disturbingly, parents have lost their say in what their children are exposed to in school. The government insists that parents forfeit their rights when they send their children to a public school, effectively rendering these young minds wards of the state. The debate over educational programming, school discipline, and parental involvement in their children’s wellbeing is a stark reminder of the government’s relentless encroachment into the most intimate aspects of our lives.

In a nation where militarized police forces reign supreme, Americans find themselves powerless and vulnerable. Local police agencies, armed with military-grade weaponry, training, and equipment better suited for war zones, have transformed once-peaceful communities into occupied territories patrolled by a standing army. The line between law enforcement and military action has been blurred, leaving citizens at the mercy of an increasingly aggressive and unaccountable police state.

The concept of bodily integrity, a fundamental human right, has been systematically eroded. From forced vaccinations and cavity searches to compulsory blood draws and DNA extractions, Americans are continually reminded that their bodies are not their own. The government, in its relentless pursuit of control, has claimed dominion over our physical selves, stripping us of the most basic autonomy. The debate over bodily integrity, encompassing issues like abortion, euthanasia, and healthcare, has been overshadowed by the state’s insatiable desire to invade and violate the very essence of our being.

Privacy, once a cherished American value, has been relegated to the dustbin of history. Despite the staggering revelations of government surveillance on every aspect of our lives—phone calls, social media posts, online searches, purchases, financial records, and more—those in power have done little to curb these abuses.

Instead, they seem determined to acclimatize us to life in an electronic concentration camp, where every action is monitored, every thought scrutinized, and every dissent suppressed. The American people, like inmates in a dystopian prison, are left to navigate a landscape devoid of privacy and personal freedom.

Representative government, the bedrock of American democracy, has been replaced by an authoritarian regime that views all citizens as suspects. Security has trumped freedom, and the interests of the corporate power elite have supplanted the will of the people.

Elected officials, once beholden to their constituents, now serve as mere puppets, dancing to the tune of their corporate masters. This perversion of democracy has become the new normal, leaving Americans disenfranchised and disempowered in the face of an all-consuming police state.

The courts, meant to be the last bastion of justice, have abandoned their sacred duty to protect the people against government overreach. The Supreme Court, through its deference to police power and prioritization of security over freedom, has become the architect of the American police state.

Lower courts, more concerned with advancing the government’s agenda than upholding the rule of law, have transformed into mere extensions of the state’s oppressive apparatus. Justice, once blind, now sees only the interests of those in power, leaving the American people without recourse or remedy.

This is but a glimpse of the myriad ways in which American freedoms have been eroded. From the corporate state and the military-industrial complex to invasive surveillance technology and the school-to-prison pipeline, the landscape of our liberties has been irrevocably altered. Unless Americans can find the courage and the means to wrest back control of their government and reclaim their freedoms, the slide towards tyranny will continue unabated.

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This descent into despotism, perpetuated by militarized police and legalistic bureaucrats, has been a bipartisan effort, with each successive president, regardless of political affiliation, contributing to the erosion of our rights. The time for partisan politics has long passed; the only distinction that matters now is between those who value liberty and those who seek to destroy it.

Americans must awaken to the reality of their situation and fight back against the forces that seek to enslave them. The road ahead is treacherous, and the odds are stacked against us, but the alternative—a life of servitude in a police state—is far worse.

We must reclaim our birthright of freedom, for ourselves and for generations to come, before the last vestiges of our once-great nation are consumed by the darkness of tyranny.

We find ourselves walking a perilous path, where the government’s insatiable hunger for power and control threatens to consume the very freedoms we hold dear. Having allowed this beast to grow unchecked, we now find ourselves engaged in a desperate tug-of-war for the soul of our nation and the sovereignty of our lives. And as long as we remain complacent, government officials will continue to trample on our rights, always justifying their actions as being for the greater good.

But let us not forget that the government’s power is derived from the consent of the governed. “We the people” are the ultimate authority, and the government can only go as far as we allow. Therein lies the crux of our predicament, revealing the true nature of the beast we have been saddled with and its utter contempt for the rights and sovereignty of its citizens.

Sovereignty, a concept once cherished as the very foundation of our nation, has been relegated to the annals of history. When our forefathers declared independence from the tyrannical rule of King George III, they boldly rejected the notion of absolute power vested in a single entity. Instead, they claimed for themselves the right to self-governance, establishing “we the people” as the ultimate authority. In America, it is the people who are meant to call the shots, with the government acting at our bidding and on our behalf.

But the reality we face today is a far cry from this noble ideal. Over the past two centuries, we have steadily lost ground to the government’s brazen power grabs, justified under the guise of national security. We have relinquished control over the most intimate aspects of our lives to government officials who, despite occupying seats of authority, possess no greater wisdom, understanding, or concern for our well-being than the average citizen.

The government has staged the ultimate coup, usurping our rightful authority and knocking us off our throne. Most of its agents no longer even pretend to answer to “we the people,” operating with impunity and disregard for the very rights they are sworn to protect. Worst of all, we have become desensitized to this constant erosion of our freedoms, numbed by the relentless assault on our liberties.

We must confront the irreconcilable difference between the Founders’ vision of a government that serves the people and the police state’s insistence on its own supremacy. These two ideals cannot coexist; they are diametrically opposed. We are fast approaching a moment of reckoning where we must choose between the America we were promised—a beacon of self-governance and individual liberty—and the dystopian reality we have allowed it to become.

History has shown us the dangers of allowing a totalitarian state to reign unchecked. As Hannah Arendt, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, warned, totalitarian governments transform classes into masses, supplant political parties with mass movements, shift power from the military to the police, and openly pursue world domination. We are repeating these mistakes, sleepwalking into a future where our freedoms are nothing more than a distant memory.

Aldous Huxley’s chilling vision looms large, warning of a world where the government has mastered the art of making people love their servitude. Through propaganda, brainwashing, and pharmacological manipulation, the populace is lulled into a state of blissful compliance, distracted from any desire to rebel against their own oppression. This is the final revolution, the ultimate betrayal of our humanity.

But we must not succumb to despair. The answer lies in breaking free from the chains of brainwashing, in refusing to be distracted and diverted from the truth. We must educate ourselves about our rights, stand up for the principles upon which this nation was founded, and make our voices and votes count for more than mere political posturing. We must never cease to protest the erosion of our freedoms, both at the local and national level.

The true power to shape this world has always lain in your hands. Choose well!

Most importantly, we must act now. The window of opportunity is rapidly closing, and the consequences of inaction are too dire to contemplate. It is time for “we the people” to reclaim our rightful place as the sovereigns of this nation, to wrest control back from the tyrannical beast that seeks to consume us. The fight will not be easy, but the alternative—a life of servitude in a dystopian police state—is unthinkable.

Rise up, America. Rise up before it is too late, before the last vestiges of our freedom are sacrificed on the altar of government control. The future of our nation, and the very soul of our republic, hangs in the balance.

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Former intelligence operative analyzing the “Great Reset,” the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” propaganda, totalitarianism, current narratives, psychology, and history. What matters now isn’t storytelling; what matters is telling a true story well

Tilray shares sink after it reports US$105M Q3 loss and cuts adjusted EBITDA guidance

Tilray shares sink after it reports US$105M Q3 loss and cuts adjusted EBITDA guidance

Shares of cannabis company Tilray Brands Inc. were down nearly 20 per cent after it reported its latest quarterly results and cut its full-year guidance.

Tilray shares were down 67 cents at $2.83 in late-morning trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The drop came after the company said it expected adjusted EBITDA of US$60 million to US$63 million for its 2024 financial year ending May 31, down from earlier guidance for US$68 million to US$78 million.

Tilray also said it no longer expects positive adjusted free cash flow for its full financial year, due to the delayed timing for collecting cash on various asset sales.

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The change came as Tilray, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, said it lost US$105.0 million or 12 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Feb. 29. The result compared with a loss of US$1.2 billion or US$1.90 per diluted share in the same quarter last year when it recorded a large one-time impairment charge.

Net revenue in what was the company’s third quarter totalled US$188.3 million, up from US$145.6 million a year earlier.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2024.

BC Bud Union grows

BC Bud Union grows

(Globe Newswire) Nanaimo, B.C. — In a groundbreaking move that sets a new standard for the cannabis industry, workers at two Trees Cannabis locations in Nanaimo have joined their colleagues at other locations across Vancouver Island by joining United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1518, establishing Trees Cannabis as British Columbia’s first private wall-to-wall unionized cannabis chain.

This landmark organizing drive represents a significant milestone for cannabis workers across BC. Joining Trees Cannabis locations in Victoria, which first organized with UFCW 1518 in 2021, these workers join the growing BC Budtenders Union.

The BC Budtenders Union, a division of UFCW 1518, formed in 2020 when cannabis workers in Victoria united as the first unionized dispensaries in Canada. Now representing 75 per cent of private dispensaries in Victoria and numerous others throughout the province, these workers are united in the fight for safety, fair wages, and respect for the vital role they play in their workplaces.

“We are proud to welcome UFCW 1518’s newest members as they make history by organizing as the province’s first private wall-to-wall unionized cannabis chain,” says UFCW 1518 president Kim Novak. “These workers are setting a new standard for the cannabis industry, and we anticipate that their achievement will send shockwaves across the cannabis labour landscape, empowering workers across Canada to demand fairness and respect in their own workplaces.”

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Trees Cannabis members aren’t just advocating for workers in the cannabis industry; they are joining workers across various sectors, including food, healthcare, commercial, industrial industries, and more, in the broader fight for fairness across British Columbia and beyond.

“As the cannabis industry grows and reaches new frontiers, we are proud to be at the forefront of ensuring our rights and jobs are protected,” said a Trees Cannabis member. “We love what we do, we are good at it, and we deserve to thrive in the cannabisindustry.”

The BC Budtenders Union continues to fight for the fairness and respect that BC’s cannabis workers deserve.

420 with CNW — California Officials Dispatch $12M in Grants to Fix Drug-War Harms

420 with CNW — California Officials Dispatch $12M in Grants to Fix Drug-War Harms

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California authorities have allocated $12 million in grants to various cities in the state, funded by taxes from cannabis sales. These funds are provided to support equity initiatives for individuals disproportionately affected by previous antidrug campaigns.

This latest disbursement is part of the ongoing Marijuana Equity Grants Program for Local Jurisdictions, administered by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). The primary objective is to promote economic justice by addressing the historical impacts of marijuana prohibition and the antidrug war. The program seeks to eliminate hurdles for individuals and communities seeking to participate in the regulated marijuana industry.

The funds from the initiative will be channeled into local initiatives offering technical guidance, assistance with regulatory compliance and aid in securing initial capital for licensees and applicants. Grant applications are open in 10 cities and counties that intend to create or improve cannabis-related equality programs, including the following:

  • Oakland City: $3,000,000.00
  • San Francisco County and City: $2,041,520.62
  • Trinity County: $1,812,729.52
  • Mendocino County: $1,803,929.86
  • Sacramento City: $1,250,000.00
  • San Jose City: $1,026,820.00
  • Humboldt County: $600,000.00
  • Coachella City: $350,000.00
  • Daly City: $75,000.00
  • Santa Monica City: $40,000.00

San Jose announced its acceptance of the allocated funds, noting that it intended to support graduates of its Marijuana Equity Business Academy, helping them start and maintain their businesses and cover expenses such as regulatory compliance and legal counsel. Will Koch, GO-Biz’s deputy director of local and community equity grants, expressed excitement about backing San Jose’s initiatives to make it easier for people to enter the legal cannabis sector.

In the previous fiscal year, grants from the GO-Biz program were distributed to 16 counties and cities across California. Oakland received the highest amount, approximately $2 million, while San Diego County received the lowest at $350,000.

The office intends to issue another grant in October 2024, with Governor Gavin Newsom proposing an additional $15 million for the program in his latest budget request. To address larger budget deficits, Newsom has suggested taking out a $100 million loan from a cannabis tax fund.

In parallel efforts, the state Cannabis Control Department (DCC) has doubled funding to localities to expedite the opening of legal marijuana retailers, aiming to undercut the illicit market. Additionally, DCC recently launched a comprehensive cannabis database to provide stakeholders with insights into industry trends and sales data.

According to a DCC-commisansioned poll, an estimated 62% of adults believe California’s legalization of marijuana has had a positive impact, surpassing the margin of those who originally voted for legalization.

The equity grants being issued by California illustrate how legalizing marijuana and allowing companies such as Green Thumb Industries Inc. (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF) to operate can be a force for societal good in many ways besides creating stable employment opportunities.

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of an article each business day at 4:20 p.m. Eastern – a tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. The concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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New Book “Cannabis vs Marijuana: Language, Landscape and Context” Sets Standard for Cannabis Discourse

New Book “Cannabis vs Marijuana: Language, Landscape and Context” Sets Standard for Cannabis Discourse

Oaksterdam University Alum and Faculty David Paleschuck celebrates the release of his latest book, “Cannabis vs. Marijuana: Language, Landscape and Context,” which delves deep into the implications of cannabis-related terminology.

Paleschuck, a cannabis brand consultant and bestselling author of Branding Bud: The Commercialization of Cannabis,”  releases his second book In an era when the cannabis industry is rapidly evolving, and understanding the power of language has never been more critical.

”A trailblazing work at a crucial juncture. This book sparks the essential dialogue needed to reshape our language, challenge stereotypes, and build a more inclusive and informed future for cannabis,” says Oaksterdam University Executive Chancellor Dale Sky Jones, who contributed the forward to the book. Jones oversaw publishing of The Oaksterdam Cannabis Terminology Style Guide through Oaksterdam Publishing, which serves as a companion piece to Paleschuck’s deep dive into the language around the plant.

Dale has also appeared on David Paleschuck’s podcast “Branding Bud Live” to discuss Cannabis and Activism, which language contributes to.

Paleschuck intricately examines the influence of language on societal perceptions, exploring the historical and cultural complexities of cannabis terminology. With insightful chapters on culture, legislation, education, and global perspectives, this book reshapes the discourse on cannabis. 

The book aims to reassure readers about the facts and dispel myths, leaving them feeling inspired to take part in the ongoing dialogue. It’s an essential resource for policymakers, researchers, industry professionals, advocates, and consumers who wish to be knowledgeable and competent in their vocabulary and discussions about cannabis. 

“Cannabis vs Marijuana: Language, Landscape and Context” acknowledges the reader’s quest for understanding in a changing landscape and equips them with the words to be at the forefront of the conversation. 

Ultimately, the book challenges readers to reconsider the words they use and the meanings they convey when discussing cannabis, paving the way for a more informed and normalized dialogue. 

“Cannabis vs Marijuana: Language, Landscape and Context” isn’t just a book—it’s a catalyst for change in the ongoing conversation about cannabis.

Upcoming Book Signings:

More than five years after legalization, Surrey approves plan to allow cannabis stores

More than five years after legalization, Surrey approves plan to allow cannabis stores

Surrey City Council has now approved a plan to begin allowing up to 12 cannabis stores in the city.

Council approved the city staff’s proposal in a council meeting on April 8 and will begin accepting applications soon.

In 2023, Surrey City Council began exploring the possibility of allowing cannabis stores, directing city staff to develop a plan. In July of that year, council sent a plan back to city staff to be reworked to address some councillors’ concerns. 

A survey then went out to the public about the proposed plan for up to 12 locations in the city, with up to two for each of six distinct communities: Whalley/City Centre, Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton, South Surrey, and Cloverdale.

Although many residents reported in the survey that they supported more than 12 locations, some councillors said starting with 12 was a good way to avoid the flood of new stores some cities have seen.

Stores must be a minimum of 200m from schools, community centres, and other cannabis stores. 

A previous city council had banned cannabis stores from Surrey entirely. Since then, several stores have popped up on the city’s border in neighbouring communities. Residents can also receive deliveries from stores located in other cities. 

With more than 600,000 residents, Surrey is the second largest city in BC, just behind Vancouver with. The BC government currently lists 81 stores as approved in Vancouver. Neighbouring city Langley, with a population of about 150,000, has two cannabis stores, while Delta, another neighbouring city has a population of about 100,000 and has six cannabis stores.

Richmond, BC, located west of Surrey and home to more than 200,000 people, also does not allow any cannabis retailers.

Many cannabis retailers are located along the city border in neighbouring municipalities, including Langley and Vancouver.

Featured image of Queens Cannabis Co location in Delta, on the western border of Surrey.


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More than five years after legalization, Surrey approves plan to allow cannabis stores

Tilray sees increased cannabis revenue, boosted by international sales

Tilray reported US$63.4 million in net revenue from its cannabis operations in the three months that ended February 29, 2024, one-third of the company’s total net revenue

The company’s most recent quarterly report, posted on April 9, shows $188 million in total net revenue for all its operations, including its beverage alcohol, cannabis, distribution, and wellness business. (All numbers in US dollars).

Net revenue from its cannabis operations increased 33%, with 44% growth in its international sales from the previous quarter. 

The bulk of Tilray’s net revenue, before taxes, from cannabis sales was in the non-medical market, with $62 million. Nearly $6.4 million of that net revenue was from Tilray’s medical cannabis business, while about $2.8 million came from wholesale cannabis sales, and $14 million in international sales.  

The company reported $21.8 million in excise taxes on cannabis sales in the three months ending February 29, 2024. Costs related to its cannabis operations were $42.5 million for a gross profit of $20.1 million and an adjusted gross profit of $21 million.

Gross profits from cannabis sales increased to $20.9 million in the third quarter from a  $32.8 million loss in the prior year quarter. Adjusted gross profit was $21.1 million compared to $22.2 million in the same quarter in 2023.

“Over the past several years, our playbook of expanding our cannabis business to complementary markets such as beverages and hemp-based consumer products has positioned us well to navigate the current environment and to benefit from future growth opportunities,” said Tilray Brands’ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Irwin D. Simon in a press release. 

“Tilray Brands today represents the future of the global CPG industry leading the convergence of cannabis, beverages, and wellness. We have become the most dynamic and diversified cannabis-lifestyle and consumer products company globally as we lead and advance global cannabis, fuel consumer needs in wellness foods and snacks, and disrupt craft beverages. We are proud of our position as the #1 Canadian cannabis LP, the European market leader in medical cannabis, the leader in hemp foods, the 5th largest craft brewer in the U.S., and are now aiming to become a top 12 beer and alcohol beverage company in the U.S.”

Although Tilray does not currently have any US-based cannabis operations, the company says it hopes potential rescheduling of cannabis could open that door. The company also has an investment in US retail chain MedMen.

Tilray’s cannabis brands include Hexo, Original Stash, Good Supply, Broken Coast, Redecan, Solei, Mollo, Chowie Wowie, and XMG.