The first ever Cannabis Life Conference opened on May 13, 2017 in Toronto, ON. The inaugural event took place at a venue called the Evergreen Brick Works, located about 35 minutes outside of the downtown core via public transit.
My companion on this excursion was the wonderful Amy Anonymous. We didn’t know exactly where we were going and the grey clouds in the sky threatened rain. So we used an Uber on the Saturday afternoon to check out the conference and expo.
“If the only green at your cannabis conference or event is dollar bills, it ain’t no cannabis event.” Chris Bennett, Cannabis Historian.
I always think of 4/20 as the beginning of the “High Holidays” in the cannabis industry. It usually marks the beginning of cannabis protests, cannabis festivals, cannabis cups, cannabis fundraisers, cannabis boat cruises, and of course cannabis conferences. 2017 has proven to the busiest year yet with conferences and events planned all across Canada this summer. And it started in Toronto with the O’Cannabiz Conference and Expo, April 21st to the 23rd.
Did you know the stoner-classic, Dave Chappelle film Half Baked was directed by a woman? Her name is Tamra Davis.
As an avid stoner, film buff, and feminist I’m ashamed to say I didn’t. Luckily, a local organization set me right.
In early April I entered a contest run by my favourite local Toronto bakery. The amazing Glory Hole Doughnuts, owned and operated by bad-ass baker Ashley Jacot De Boinod, was raffling off tickets on Instagram to “MUFF‘n’PUFF”, a theatre screening of Half Baked presented by The MUFF Society.
On March 9th, 2017, along with many others in the Toronto cannabis community, I was in Toronto’s bail court. We were waiting for Jodie and Marc Emery to be brought before the judge. Instead, I witnessed the fallout of Project Gator and the arrest of the Cannabis Culture Five: #CC5.
Last Wednesday, March 8th, I was a panellist on a marijuana legalization episode for theZoomer — far from Toronto’s bail court. The other panellists were a venture capitalist, an addiction counsellor, a lawyer, and a licensed producer. And, less intimidating, a friendly face in the Princess of Pot: fellow activist and owner of Cannabis Culture, Jodie Emery.
If you envision yourself in a situation strongly enough, that vision potentially manifests itself in your future reality. And when we take the time to envision ourselves in positive situations, it displays self-confidence, optimism, and the ability to look more deeply at ourselves. In essence, we can truly be ourselves without restrictions, inhibitions or regrets. This also constitutes personal freedoms, personal triumphs, and personal rewards. Ultimately, we are able to pave the way for any vision when we believe in it wholeheartedly. Sarah Hanlon proved this theory when she envisioned and pursued her ultimate dream to compete on the hit Canadian reality series Big Brother Canada, on season 3. Sarah Hanlon was simply herself, with a big vision. We show how her outstanding victory played out in this Twelve High Chicks interview.
Raised in Brampton, Ontario by her birth parents, Sarah Hanlon’s background was the youngest of four siblings whom she has always considered to be her rocks. With a well structured childhood, Sarah was brought up adopting values like respect, compassion, and kindness through the loving guidance of her family. Honesty and kindness have always been Sarah’s strong suits, which is how she ultimately won the hearts of thousands of Canadians in Season 3 of Big Brother Canada.
If you believe in karma — the cosmic principle according to which each person’s deeds in a previous incarnation are rewarded or punished in the next incarnation — are involved with marijuana, and have been very good, prepare to be rewarded.
The third annual The Karma Cup, the brainchild of award winning grower and entrepreneur Sarah Sunday, is fast approaching. The event that is set to take place in Toronto, Ontario on October 22 and 23, 2016 is considered by many industry experts to be the must-attend event of the year, and Sunday makes you work for it.
Twelve High Chicks thanks regular guest contributor Tracy Curley for this timely, firsthand account. We hope she, and all of our friends in Toronto, remain safe while continuing to fight for patients’ rights and access.
Toronto is still in turmoil after the Project Claudia raids on medical marijuana dispensaries. Stakeholders met this past Tuesday, June 7th, to prepare for the raids that are rumoured still to come. Meanwhile Canada waits for legalization of recreational pot to be introduced in the spring of 2017.
Twelve High Chicks thanks regular guest contributor Tracy Curley for this timely, firsthand account. We hope she, and all of our friends in Toronto, remain safe while continuing to fight for patients’ rights and access.
Many were shocked when on Thursday, May 26th, Toronto Police Service (TPS) raided more than 40 marijuana dispensaries, using battering rams and entering with guns drawn. 90 people were arrested when Project Claudia happened; police filed 186 trafficking charges (possession for the purpose of) and 71 charges for proceeds of crime (cash seized on premises).