The anticipated final vote on the legalization of cannabis in Germany, initially scheduled for this week, has been postponed due to concerns raised by leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SPD). SPDP member Dirk Heidenblut, who is in charge of the party’s marijuana policy in the Bundestag, stated in an Instagram post that parliamentary group consent is essential and that a vote cannot move forward if a faction leader, in this case the SPD, expresses concerns.
Despite the delay, Heidenblut reassured that as long as the measure progresses by the end of January, it should not significantly impact the timeline for implementing legalization. If the bill is passed, the initial stages of reform, including home cultivation for personal use, could commence as early as April.
This delay is the latest in a series that has hindered the bill’s progress through parliament. Initially, lawmakers postponed the first debate in October, citing the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Another delay occurred last month as supporters worked on refining the bill.
Heidenblut’s recent comments did not delve into the specifics of SPD’s concerns or provide further details on the delay. However, critics in the Bundestag have expressed ongoing hesitancy about the policy change.
During a recent meeting, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach defended the legislation against opponents who argued that legalization might send the wrong message to youth and increase underage consumption. Lawmakers have made several adjustments to the bill, primarily aimed at easing restrictions that faced opposition in the Bundestag. The revised legislation would stagger the implementation of the reform, making possession and home cultivation legal for adults in April, with social clubs that could distribute marijuana opening as soon as July. A complementary second measure is expected to be introduced later, establishing pilot programs for commercial sales throughout the country.
The current delay’s reasons are unclear, with some speculating whether the SPD faction leadership has issues with the law’s content or if focusing on cannabis issues during a budget crisis before Christmas seems inappropriate to them. The Bundestag could revisit the measure in mid-January or early February, according to reports. Some SPD politicians have expressed dissatisfaction, with domestic politician Sebastian Fiedler stating that there was no agreement with domestic SPD politicians.
An SPD spokesperson expressed confidence that the law would pass promptly in the new year. Members of other parties, such as the Green Party and the Left Party, have expressed disappointment and frustration over the delay.
The German Hemp Association has launched a protest, urging lawmakers to proceed with the legalization bill. Supporters are encouraged to write letters to their representatives, emphasizing the urgency of passing the bill without further restrictions. The association warns that the SPD faction’s delay not only jeopardizes the country’s legalization timeline but also contradicts the alleged agreement on the bill’s content among other parties.
Once the bill undergoes its final reading in the Bundestag, it will move to the Bundesrat, a separate legislative body representing German states.
Internationally focused marijuana industry companies such as Tilray Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: TLRY) (TSX: TLRY) are likely to follow the progress of this bill because it would set a precedent for other major economies within the European Union bloc.
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CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our 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. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. 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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On my birthday this year, I was gifted a bronze colored coin adorned with images on one sideand on the other, the words “Wisdom, Courage, Temperance, Justice: Try Not to Exchange Them for Others”. This came from a new friend who would quickly become one of the most important people in my life these last few months. When he gave me the coin, he told me it would bring luck to me. I held onto this coin and about a month later I asked where the coin was from, mostly just curious because I’d never seen a coin like that before. I’ve also never had someone give me something like that, in the way that he had.
He told me that it’s a coin from the Daily Stoic, and those four virtues written on the coin are the four most important tenants of stoicism and that to be a stoic, one must attempt to possess all of them, in balance with one another.My first instinct was something along the lines of “sounds a lot like how I view agorism.”
I started to look into stoicism that day and realized that I’d already been working towards living this way. There is an emphasis on balance of these virtues in an effort to live a good life while reducing destructive emotions like worry.This wise man who shared the coin with me once told me, “After all, what’s the point of worry? If you can control it, no need to worry. And if you can’t control something, there’s still no need to worry.” He’s right.
Agorism and Stoicism go hand in hand as far as I’m concerned, and my further research into the specifics of the origins and purpose of this philosophical practice have only further confirmed my suspicions on this matter. My hope by sharing what I’ve learned is to help other agorists find more peace and enjoyment in their daily lives.
Its easy to worry about the state of the world and the oppression of governments, but where the magic in life comes from is learning to find balance while pursuing things that both make the world as a whole a better place as well as our own personal lives. After all, what is the point of living if not to enjoy life and improve the lives of those closest to us?
A simple Google search will show you that the origin of Stoicism in general comes from the Ancient Agora in Athens with the goal of a well lived flourishing life by practicing certain virtues, which I’ll outline a bit later. Sound familiar? The thing I find really compelling about stoicism as a whole is its very much been developed as a practical operating system for dealing with anxiety, stress, and fear which are all pretty natural parts of this life that we live.
Stoics are not known to be “armchair philosophers” who like to get caught up in constant theoretical contemplation, they like to get their hands dirty in that they explore through actions. More emphasis and weight is always placed on action over words by stoics. And as far as I’m concerned and have written about in the past, the major difference between agorists and, say, libertarians is rooted in the same thing.
Libertarians spend a lot of time theorizing and complaining about the problems of the world, agorists are out here doing the damn thing to see what works and what doesn’t in an attempt to at least improve the quality and level of freedom within their own lives.
By finding balance between the four virtues, combined with doing things like actively working to differentiate between what is andisn’t within our control, we can live a better more peaceful daily life while actually living in accordance with the values we hold. By re-framing misfortune in life to use it as a tool for learning, to derive character-building benefits from things that would otherwise break the average person, we become stronger in spite of the state of the world instead of disenchanted by it.
A phrase common to Stoics and one adorned on another coin owned by this same man who gave me my coin is “Momento mori” which translates to something along the lines of, “Remember that you will die”.Basically its the stoic way of saying life is too fucking short to focus all of our attention on that which we cannot change.
And life is also too short to be miserable.
The acknowledgment and acceptance of the reality of death allows us to be more grateful for what we have, as well as the fact that it provides motivation to simply live a better more fulfilling life.As someone who has had repeated near death experiences, I can say this is a huge part of why I arrived at a fairly stoic lifestyle before I ever even really came across the concept this year.
And finally let’s talk about the four virtues cause they’re in many ways the foundation for which all of this sits on. These four word written on the coin: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. These are considered to be the only things required for living a good flourishing life. And what is the point of life if not to live a good one? These four virtues go hand in hand with each other and work best in balance, which I would guess why the coin also says “try not to exchange them for others.”
Wisdom is considered the primary virtue on which all the other three are based. In short, “wisdom they define as the knowledge of things good and evil and of what is neither good nor evil…knowledge of what we ought to choose, what we ought to beware of, and what is indifferent.”
Wisdom informs action, because action without having wisdom first is basically foolish.Wisdom is also extremely important as the famous prayer goes something along the lines of, “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.” I’m not a huge fan of religion, but I’ve always liked that phrase because its accurate.
Courage is also referred to as “wisdom under pressure”.This is something every agorist should hold dear to their heart. This is the courage to face misfortune without crumbling before it, to face death, to hold to these principles of freedom we promote so heavily. As I’ve talked about both in speeches and previous posts, it takes an incredible amount of courage to actually live by agorist ideals in today’s increasingly intense world.
Justice is referred to as “wisdom in social life” and is by many considered most important. What good is having courage without a basic sense of justice, to not only better your own life but the lives of those around you? At that point it becomes selfish. The phrase “Do No Harm but Take No Shit” comes to mind when I think of this.
Temperance is commonly referred to as “wisdom in decision” and is all about self control. Finding balance between excess and deficiency and being guarded against extremes as much as possible. This can manifest in extremes between ways of thinking; for example, you don’t want to be overly positive or overly negative, as both (as far as I am concerned) are signs of mental illness. Its healthier to see an accept the negative in the world for what it is, while also being able to see the beauty. Many stoics believe that true abundance is having what is essential for a good life.
Just as stoicism doesn’t exist without the proper balance of these four virtues, living a good life as an agorist isn’t possible without being a stoic to some extent.We are not hear to yell into the void about the problems of the world, we are here to rebuild systems through active experimentation with the common goal of both increasing our personal freedom, as well as the freedom of those around us.
For lack of a better way of putting it, keep calm and build the counter economy.
Lily Forester
Lily Forester is a drug war refugee living in Mexico surviving on the agorist lifestyle with her dog, Renegade, and cat, Satoshi. She has been committed to the agorist lifestyle since learning about it in college, where she was being forced to specialize in one field. Agorism suited her multifacted interests and desire for a rich and diverse life. Bitcoin and cryptocurrency became an essential part of her agorist lifestyle in 2012 and she has lived off cryptocurrency since 2014. Currently she survives off the following: writing, audio editing for two podcasts, promotion, crochet, transcription, virtual assistance, and social media management.
Our mission is to spread agorism and connect the counter-economy.
A recent position for an assistant store manager with a BC Cannabis Store offers a full-time salary of $57,297–$64,805 a year, while a starting position as a cannabis grower in Ontario is $17.50 an hour.
A cannabis territory manager for the Vancouver area offers an annual salary of $66,000–$84,000. A part-time branch advisor position at the SQDC in Quebec is $20.25 an hour, while an assistant store manager with Cannabis NB starts at about $51,000 a year.
Not all jobs are working directly within the industry. Recently, BC was hiring secret shoppers for cannabis stores in the province to ensure budtenders at government-run stores are doing their jobs correctly.
The work involves “placing cannabis purchases atop a retail counter and then observing whether the item is rung up correctly, and if the clerk expresses any thanks following the transaction,” reports the Vancouver Sun.
Alberta’s AGLC recently shared a similar job posting to conduct under-25 audits in cannabis stores, as well as licensed pubs, liquor stores, restaurants, and nightclubs, however, the position now appears to be filled.
So, while news of layoffs and closures may make headlines for those interested in working in Canada’s cannabis industry, there are still many options!
Conversations on Fuel, Ghost Cities and Consciousness
What is really fueling our consciousness? How do we know when we are being fooled? What does it mean to be conscious? Interesting topics all….delighted to have you hear exploring with Us! Self-Education is the way forward, I’ve always said, if you don’t figure it out for yourself, perhaps you’re getting fooled.
Stay Awesome – Cambell!
Dark Materials, Lost Fuel, Earth Grid and Empty Chinese Cities!!!
In 1912 Theodore Roosevelt made several speeches during his campaign to become US president (which he did not win at that time.) Within those speeches are telling words I wanted to focus on today as part of recognizing the nature of our systems and the need for social change.
I’m not a US citizen, but I choose to focus on the US system in this piece because I recognize a few things of importance:
The US seems to be the country many fanaticize about as having the best governmental design. The “democracy that needs protecting” according to so many.
Like it or not, they remain a huge superpower, and much of the world follows in its path, good or bad.
Most other developed countries operate in much of the same manner anyway.
Here are some of Roosevelt’s words from that time.
“Political parties exist to secure responsible government and to execute the will of the people. From these great staffs, both of the old parties have ganged aside. Instead of instruments to promote the general welfare they have become the tools of corrupt interests which use them in martialling [sic] to serve their selfish purposes.
Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of today.”
The Illusion
Perhaps this was once a pure system during the founding of The United States in 1776, but based on Roosevelt’s words, we know for the last century at least it has not been pure.
The pure story states that the United States is a Republic held by a government meant to represent its people via election. Each state had the freedom to operate differently within the country as a whole. The election process, at various levels, was meant to keep politicians accountable and thus limited terms would ensure authoritative and dictatorial rule was not possible. Layers of government including legislative, executive and judicial were meant to protect citizen rights and handle various aspects of power.
Guaranteeing freedom of the press, there would be the opportunity to allow a third party to expose the misdeeds and scandals of politicians without leaders silencing them.
No government can be perfect, but according to many, this was perhaps the best idea at the time.
The illusion here is that this pure idea is obviously not how US society functions. Believing in this illusion makes it so people are not living in reality, but a version of reality that doesn’t fit into earnest sensemaking.
Further, believing in this illusion often has the public believing that this pure story is under threat by one political side or another. To conservatives, it’s the progressives who are the problem. And to progressives, it’s the conservatives threatening to steal democracy, and so on.
“Breaking The Illusion is coming to terms with the fact that our existing systems are not what we think they are. That what we believe about them is typically gleaned from years of propaganda and stories that act as wool pulled over our eyes so we cannot see or question the truth of what they are.
We learn The Illusion from family, friends, society, traditions, school, media and government. It is the world we are told to accept. “This is how it works and how it is.”
It’s true that The Illusion is just a story, but it’s a powerful one that permeates our consciousness and our body. It’s built right into our nervous systems. The good news is humans made up our society based on the culture and worldview we hold and uphold. To change it, we have to crack open that illusion to start wondering what else there can be.”
The purpose of this essay is to raise the observation of just how long aspects of our collective have been well aware of the illusion around governmental function, and how democracy as some believe doesn’t truly exist.
Thankfully, it feels like in the last 5 years that momentum is truly building to address the illusion and move on from it.
Back in 1912, Roosevelt knew the pure story of US governance was an illusion. The truth was clear to him, that unelected elites were running the show, controlling politicians and using media to control and manipulate the public via ownership of that media.
The primary role of government then, like now but perhaps worse now, seems to be the carrying out of duties on behalf of the elitist rulers who control them. Culturally, the government will do whatever is in its power to create a narrative that without them, things will be problematic. The government uses the media to sew this idea culturally, backed by the elitists who will impact both the government and the media.
While many are waking up to this obvious fact today, the question of what to do and what comes next is on the table. We can turn to Roosevelt again to explore another important detail.
Later in his 1912 speech, Roosevelt says:
“The great fundamental issue now before our people can be stated briefly. It is, are the American people fit to govern themselves, to rule themselves, to control themselves? I believe they are. My opponents do not. I believe in the right of the people to rule. I believe that the majority of the plain people of the United States will, day in and day out, make fewer mistakes in governing themselves than any smaller class or body of men, no matter what their training, will make in trying to govern them.”
I connect deeply with this idea of self-governance. Sure, a look at our culture today suggests people are so heavily reliant on the government and lack the ability to be responsible for themselves that it may seem impossible. But if we get certain things out of the way I think our natural ability to organize will be remembered.
Crisis after crisis, we are culturally convinced that we couldn’t survive without the parenting of elitists acting through government. But a close look at how social engagement within our nervous system (ventral vagus nerve) has evolved tells us that humans have survived the best when we cooperate and work together, not when we dominate and control. I know… hard to believe, but that’s conditioning at work. It has shut down our connection to our very nature.
Personally, I believe in the need for stewardship, not governance. Some form of organization that emerges so things like resources and shared infrastructures can be guided in a direction that serves all instead of being controlled and hoarded.
For example, today, we don’t see the stewarding of energy resources, we see the hoarding and control of them. Incredible technologies are hidden or destroyed while financial elitists push for carbon taxes to ring in a new era of primitive sustainability technologies like wind, solar and geothermal. In this process, they get to take with them the control and dominance they gained in the fossil fuel era to the new energy era.
While many see a future going back to limited energy, I am not a believer in going back in time, living with primitive technologies and working our asses off to live off the land. Technology and innovation are meant to work in our favor when properly stewarded and met with a different level of consciousness. But to move toward this future we must break the illusion that governments are telling us the truth, that their rulers have our best interests at heart.
I’ve seen energy technology with my own eyes that would free humanity from the grips of those who control energy infrastructure to dominate. I know it’s possible, and I know that with proper focus and stewardship, it could be made available to everyone at little to no cost.
The Good News
While it may seem bleak that after 111 years (in this example) we are still not collectively awake to the reality of our situation, I can say that a massive awakening to these ideas has occurred in just the last 5 to 10 years – and of course slowly prior to that.
I’ve said it before, 15 years ago it was a lonely place talking about many of these ideas, now the market is heavily saturated with voices, podcasts, videos, and books talking about the nature of our corrupt system design.
This lends to the idea that cynicism need not be held as a look at the nature of societal progress can be seen and felt while present. We don’t need to become weighed down and consumed by the nature of our reality, but allow it to simply be a signal of where we don’t want to go.
Roosevelt said about cynicism:
“There are many men who feel a kind of twisted pride in cynicism; there are many who confine themselves to criticism of the way others do what they themselves dare not even attempt. There is no more unhealthy being, no man less worthy of respect, than he who either really holds, or feigns to hold, an attitude of sneering disbelief toward all that is great and lofty, whether in achievement or in that noble effort which, even if it fails, comes to second achievement.”
That said, cynicism is a big part of our culture right now. The ‘black pilled’ belief that everything is always bad, everyone is always out to get us, change is impossible, and nothing can ever get better is rather common. In this mindset, often supported by our emotional being, we can’t see a solution nor are we prepared to help envision one. We feel powerless.
It’s here where I feel that while there is still a need for more discussion, framing and sensemaking on the issue of societal capture to help more come to terms with the nature of our society, a missing piece is still not getting enough attention…
Our ability to shape a new future not governed by the lust for power lies in our ability to heal from the conditioning and trauma our existing system has built into us. Focusing on shifting our consciousness, growing as individuals, finding wellness within and learning to come together again is the necessary piece that must develop next.
In my view, we’re fooling ourselves when we build our tribes of ‘awake’ vs ‘asleep,’ and don’t make an effort to see and connect to the humanity within ourselves and everyone else.
Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that cannabis be moved to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. This recommendation is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). In the event that marijuana is reclassified, cannabis companies will no longer be affected by Section 280E of the IRS code.
Section 280E specifically forbids any business linked to the trafficking of substances classified under Schedule I or II from deducting business expenses from their federal tax returns. Surprisingly, however, the cost of goods sold, whether it’s drugs or other products, is still an allowable deduction.
This change will allow cannabis businesses to claim deductions for business expenses incurred during the financial year.
Section 280E was introduced in the early 1980s when Congress amended the tax code following a court ruling that allowed Jeff Edmondson, a convicted cannabis and cocaine trafficker, to claim deductions for expenses incurred during the sale of drugs.
Whitney Economics cofounder Beau Whitney believes the tax code affects cannabis retailers the most. As per his estimations, cannabis retailers in America collectively pay about $2 billion more on their federal returns. If section 280E didn’t apply, these businesses would be able to deduct their expenses.
In total, these monies add up to a tax rate in excess of 70%, almost four times higher than the 21% tax that other businesses pay on corporate income. This doesn’t mean that growers and manufacturers aren’t affected; they are, just to a lesser extent, because they usually aren’t paid until their products are sold.
It is expected that the DEA may reschedule cannabis in the first half of 2024. This change is expected to significantly decrease the cost structure of the marijuana industry, particularly for the retailers. The reduced tax burden could also lead to a decrease in retail prices for consumers, which could cause demand for marijuana products to increase.
Additionally, businesses would be able to plough returns back into their businesses. Adam Goers, senior VP for The Cannabist Co., stated that the loss of 280E would bring additional capital to the industry, for both small and large firms. This together with SAFE Banking, he noted, would establish a sustainable industry and allow focus to shift toward the federal legalization of marijuana. At the moment, however, marijuana remains classified as a Schedule I drug. Drugs under this classification are identified as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
The anticipated scheduling change would be a big boost to the cannabis industry, including companies such as TerrAscend Corp. (TSX: TSND) (OTCQX: TSNDF) that would not only benefit from getting relief from 280E but would also be able to access more institutional capital to expand their operations.
About CNW420
CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our 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. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. 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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