Are you Marching today!? www.womensmarch.com
Please Do if you are able!!
If not please help make others aware of the issues women are marching for today! 
I JUST read of some Canadian women denied entry into the USA because they said they were going to the MARCH! WTF?
www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/20/womens-march-canada-protesters-denied-entry-us
Have Faith
<><
xox

As they say on Instagram.. happy Caturday!  Perfect timing as I painted this last night!
Kat & I go way back as you might know (if you read this blog faithfully- lol)  she's been framing my art for over 30 years.. we met many moons ago, became friends and still remain. Not nearly as close as we once were - but that's life.. if we only kept 'old friends close' we would never meet new people. We grew. 
I wanted to thank her, she'd done a lot of framing & does give me a deal.. ;) perks with 30 years of service, friendship, bitching, crying, laughing.. etc! lol  I usually just send her the work and say frame it. I trust her experience. Her ART. 
I broke a cardinal rule with Kat recently - it's my own fault.  In my excitement I asked her to frame something for someone - 'they would be good for it!'  Turns out they might have changed their mind as Kat's not heard anything  now that the piece has been ready a few weeks - oh well.  
Frig, lesson learned, I apologized, it's not how we work after 30 years.  It's all good! I bought the piece off Kat- for a deal - lol! I will hang it in my office as a reminder.  Looking forward to it actually.  'Don't fall for it, don't take it personal Georgia.  Lesson learned.'

Kat knows actually it was more than not picking the piece up.. I was hurt' I'm so silly sometimes I could smack myself.  People change their mind, even about my art. lol  
Deal with it, move on and focus on what is important.  If I 'quit' every time I had a setback, I would have stopped drawing years ago.  
This past few days I've had a few personal set backs.. cry or draw.  
I choose to paint.

Recently, I noticed on Johns page (of Skunk Magazine) they asked who is a 'Canadian Activist' who has made a difference.. lol - I didn't see my name. I thought- I've been drawing almost 10 years now about cannabis awareness but can't seem to be 'recognized as contributing'?   LOL    
Please. 
If I let that shit stop me I would have given up long ago.
I draw for the love of my son - first and foremost- I don't need any recognition beyond that.  I get it.  I'm mentioning this because I commented on a few people I thought qualified:
Ted, Gail (R.I.P), Owen, John, Kirk, Kelly, Adam.. then I signed off and thought - that was stupid- you fell into the trap that you don't like yourself!
There are too many to mention! I don't want anyone to feel left out- like I usually do.  
To the point, in the future I won't name anyone.
Al Graham, Dori, Patricia, that grumpy old guy- I can't remember his name..   it hit me after I 'hit comment' .. they have been trying for as long as I have been watching and also don't seem to get any recognition.  Thankfully they don't stop. 
Just one person I might of forgot - made me think 'this is bullshit'.  
For everyone out there who feels they are not being 'appreciated'  - FUCK it!
Keep going! FORWARD.  I appreciate you!  Tell them you appreciate all they have done.

I don't need a magazine article/facebook comment to validate what I do.
I draw for Love. That is enough.

On a positive note!
My hair looks great! Holy, it has a lot of silver streaks, I like it short- why do I resist! lol
& I have a new framed artwork to hang! LOL - Still ONE of my personal favourites.
;) & Im drawing a new cannabis cartoon! lol
​BRING this day on! 

Have Faith! 
<><
xox

My good friend Todd Stimson (still incarcerated in  the USA for cannabis- legal lies)  is married to Kerry. This tiny little shell of a woman- right!  Kick ass Kerry - she is strong, determined and a down to earth woman effected more than most on this F&^%ing  lie of a War of Drugs - WAR on Us.  I saw her comment online one day..  "Sweep off your own porch before you come inspecting mine!" It stuck with me.  
I was not sweepingly own porch.  I am learning - everyday I breath - thank God.
So, here I am drawing how bad African Americans have it across the border (and they do!) but then I started to hear we were worse!  Gasp? How is that?
We treat and have treated our Aboriginal people like they are nothing. 
How ashamed I feel - ashamed: I had no clue.
Was I aware before 'The Hip mention', yes.. look into Human trafficking.  
Where you aware? Are you aware?

Who does not know about missing aboriginal women, to think of it is heart wrenching, so it's time to draw about it.  I don't know how.. how so it will bring justice to artwork & individuals.. for the lives of so many lovely, lost souls.. being born into generations of abuse- abuse of alcohol, abuse of the system- supposedly in place to protect them- to protect ALL Canadians, abuse by more than I can even imagine to know about. 
I read this article in a Dr.s office a few weeks ago:
http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/canadas-prisons-are-the-new-residential-schools/
Most are in jail for NON-violent crimes. IF only we took some of the money to put people into jail & help them instead with education and support.  Money wasted on the Drug WAR.
When you know better. Do better. 

I am reaching a point personally I can tell you, though my education on cannabis - what I read happening around the world. Just F*cking legalize it, enough already and stop putting people behind bars because of  it! So many poor, disadvantaged people already being taken  and thrown behind bars, WE should ALL feel ashamed and continue to do so until WE all speak up and demand it end.  Imagine the kids- the newest generation waiting.. to go to jail. Kids who never get to get a break from the start because the color of their skin. Fact. 


Have Faith
<>< xox

Since, I have several people appearing to enjoy the time-lapse besides myself, comments, messages and a couple of e mail have assured me so. -I decided to try a How to:
Draw a  Cannabis leaf.  One that is far from perfect.
The reason being, no stress.. just play- its going to take you a few times perhaps to get it looking like mine. Every time you try it gets easier! 
The supplies needed:   Ruler,  paper water color paper/card stock
                                            Pencil, eraser,  paint brush - a few sizes is always good.
                                            Green and yellow paint .  circle tracer ?-
                                     something that traces a circle I use this  
                                      'circle plate cover' for all my drawings.
​                                                It was handy.   & HAVE some fun!  Music helps!  

*note you can substitute Gouache for Poster Paint - the much more affordable brand -nothing fancy, or use paint from the dollar store, just get one color if you want. Green. ;)   Actually the Cannbis leaf is very distinct - you can really get away with painting any color leaf if you  follow the shape closely.  I painted the background yellow, so you could easily see the green and what I was doing. Feel free to miss this step completely.
I hope it makes it easier so you will indeed want to paint your own cannabis leaf cards!
Put on some good music and relax!

To watch the  Vimeo clip of the Cannabis leaf  go here:
https://vimeo.com/181272791  vimeo.com/181272791  
or Face book or Instagram.  Have fun

Ending on a positive note:
I was high out in the garden today.. on life it appeared.  
I could not escape the overwhelming imaginings going on in my head, songs stuck in my head.. been buzzing, the hot sun, cool in the shade kinda day had me smiling & drifting places I believe I needed to go. Someone watching  would have expected me to spit out a bird.   The grasshoppers where all gossiping.  
It felt fantastic- I decided to just go with it - take it all in... every second.
Breath deep and  Enjoy..    
I thank God for my fantastic imagination...  I was high out in the garden.
No drugs were needed.  

Time to paint.

have faith
​xox <>< 

I was recently asked if I would share this infographic from:
Jason Adams @ Jason@cannabis-truth.org 
​It is 'clean', easy  to visualize, understand and includes informative links so that
YOU may research it for yourself!  
Knowledge is power.   
If you have any questions or concerns, I suggest you ask Jason. 

Ending on positive notes..  
I'm about to do the fine sketch for The Cannabis Digests Fall Cover!
Which means it will be complete before the end of the weekend
*a long weekend here in Canada!   WoooooHooo!!  
Not that it really matters to me, I get to draw every day and that means...
every day is a weekend.

I woke at 5 this a.m. and looked out my window - the stars were so beautiful I went out & stood in the dark in PEACE, in the middle of the vegetable garden..   it was exhilarating.
Poppy would beg to differ.

Have Faith
<><
xox

As you might know,I'm out of the FB bubble... lol - my son told me this a.m.  Dana Larson
was arrested for GIVING away seeds.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/dana-larsen-custody-pot-seed-handout-tour-1.3524504
GOOD FOR HIM!! I wanted to do this a couple years back! I drew a cartoon about it - Free seeds with every comic but my friend Marco informed me it wouldn't be wise as 'I could be arrested' even though I was giving them away for FREE.  I thought then it was ridiclous and still do!  Already - tax payers dollars are NOW being wasted! AGAIN.  Seriously - have we nothing better to focus on!? 
The police will give a statement on this- big deal-  what can they possibly say?
He was giving away free seeds. Many will never get planted.   Seed for a PLANT that  has never  killed anyone - it is not poisonous - as a matter of fact the USA government has taken the patent out on it for its medicinal values- yet greedy politicians  in the USA also still send  people to jail over plants.  A Plant never been linked to a death  only helps many  feel better - I KNOW.
How much money do you think it has already cost us?
Here is a good article McLeans wrote back in 2013!  Phbbbbt.  http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/why-its-time-to-legalize-marijuana/
 2016 and arrested for seeds!
What judge will see this in court?  
I'm reading about people growing who are getting  $5. fines and then tossed out of court.  
If ONLY our money was going towards education, healthcare, hunger, jobs.. GEEZE!
Put the money towards 'potholes' would be better productive!  No.. lets 'bust' someone for GIVING away seeds. What ever dufus made that decision.. seriously needs to be educated on cannabis and empathy towards others.

Me.. I'm painting, learning gouache, drawing a cartoon, and painting a birdhouse...
​How about YOU?  

Believe
xox
​<>< 

Yesterday I received a letter from Todd. Instantly I had a sinking feeling..   for several reasons.  I had not wrote in a bit & last time I did, I was a mess and he was my distraction.
I realize now it was for a reason as usual.  I did apologize, Kerry since spoke with Todd and explained and Todd does indeed understand.

His letter was to 'cheer me up', last he had  heard my cousin had been in a serious accident and he told me about his own brother who had been in a terrible accident and had also been in a coma for a while and he wanted me not to worry. That is Todd. 
If you have been following the blog Todd is my American friend I met a few EXPO's back ;) 
(I wish I had been better at tagging my blogs) We met at my booth, something he had said, he challenged me on something and that was it.  From there we became friends.  E mail, and then in person a couple of times. I was fortunate enough to meet them for diner with Storm, the entire family.

Since, I've seen a family torn apart.  Over plants. 
Plants Todd had purchased Tax stamps for.
I have a couple of them - souvenirs.  So when  the SWAT team broke into his home, held a gun to his daughters head... I truly believed, someone had made a serious mistake and it was not Todd.  Todd's youngest daughter became ill and cancer was discovered,  it was so quick - she had already had surgery, treatment and is on her way to feeling better, the stress now with her dad in jail, I bet has more than just me worried.  Sierra - well she is on her own path right now, I hope later she has no regrets.  Don't we all.  
Kerry - Todd's wife - well she is tiny and mighty.  LOL She will be o.k. &  getting Todds 'behind in line' as soon as he is FREE.
WHY is he in JAIL!?
Tell me what part of this toon is not true? I'm just being blunt.
I'm bored of the rock stars/famous that brag about cannabis and I get upset when they joke about being 'medicinal' - to be BLUNT. Well, when I took it personally.. which I no longer do. lol.  You soon learn not to.  Everyone else is bored too.

Dr.Gupta- all over the USA now you read about it - what we have been saying for years -  why do you think parents & patients are fighting so hard? Demanding. 
WE SEE HOW IT WORKS!! WE SEE IT SAVES our childrens lives & importantly it has prevented other poisons going into the bodies of our kids.  Amen.
Don't believe me? WATCH it for yourself- Google Dr.Gupta Weeds Doc. or even easier... click on the link.  You will learn something I guarantee.  It's an on going battle, one, I am personally exhausted from fighting. Until I got Todds letter.  

Originally the cartoon said - thousands 'get it' in the mail, I thought to myself  'ha,  the 'legal ones'.  You can believe the number is in the 100s of thousands and growing by the minute. 
SO WHY is Todd in Jail - I did not even have room on the cartoon about the growing business I'm reading about - one after the other from soft drinks to the newest  'vapour bar/clubs' opening up - legally...  so WHY  is Todd in jail? 
This is NOT just a USA thing - It is an US thing. 
Todd carried a plant  across a couple  of states to bring attention. What have you done?

Now he is in jail, sick, tired and bummed or I think the American way is 'Blue' to put it mildly.  WHY? For paying taxes on plants? 
The government knew exactly what he was growing and for how long.
Why is Todd in Jail.

Someone has to make money somehow $$$$$$$.

Todd is in jail over a plant. He is a good guy, no saint but not a sinner by far.  He is a good dad and loved husband  that should be at home with his family, growing Lillies. Not sitting in a cell, getting sick because he has never gone this long without working!  Not writing me letters to cheer me up ;(.  I love him.  He knows it. The family knows it.  Just hearing it had me crying - I could not believe he would go to jail. I believe there is good in everything. 
He went to jail as the rest of America starts to embrace the plant. 
 
Right now - I'm caught with that, as a few around me struggle with the loss of dads. 
A dad in jail.. still better than a dad in the grave.  

Please support Todd. A card! A hello note! A post card! 
If you don't know what to say 
Write: 
Hi Todd! 
Support from (put where you live)  
and your name. 
That simple! 

I hope he gets a lot of mail from all over! 
He is such a good person - I bet he will be out sooner  - for good behaviour!
I wrote today and will again in a couple more. I'm sending a copy of the cartoon. 
I hope he gets it I don't see why not. 
Even prison guards know its  all about the $$$,  I hope they relax at the end of a day with cannabis rather than alcohol, it is a stressful job they have.

Here is the address:
Todd Stimson#0391125
F.M.C.U. 3720
5150 Western Ave
Morganton, NC 2865
USA

You can also support him on Facebook:
Todd Stimson  or click on the link below.

I don't know why.

Have Faith 
xox <>< 

My friend Todd...
I have blogged about Todd before. I believe everything and everyone for a reason. I first met Todd at an EXPO and he 'called me' on something -  something I offered in my newsletter-  to make a long story short - he got my attention, we struck up a conversation and today I am honored to call him and his family friends.  

Todd GREW Cannabis legally in the united states.
HE DID. 
By paying for tax stamps! I have one right here on my desk to remind me daily of the injustise my friend faces (in the image above) Tennessee Department of Revenue -UNAUTHORIZED SUBSTANCE STAMP(s).. and guess what friends, they don't come cheap.  Todd has been playing by the rules, openly goes & pays for his stamps and they know what he has been growing. Todd even has a website he promotes- In other words...
*** IT'S BEEN NO BIG SECRET -  BUT not too long ago they still busted his door in and held a gun to his daughters head and arrested Todd.  You can research it all yourself or contact Todd, he has nothing to hide.
Shortly after being busted, his younger daughter Ariel was rushed to hospital  with pain in her abdomen only to find out she had cancer. She has undergone extensive surgeries and  cancer treatments. 
Todd has much going on.. His court date is July 14th. 2014.  
He does not know if he will go to jail very soon and what his he doing - he is MARCHING!  We are close, when this bust happened and I first spoke with Todd, he was frightened (how can one not be), now, I am witnessing a different Todd, one who knows he did nothing wrong and is tired of being pushed around and is tired of watching everyone being pushed around - for what?   NOW - A substance only a couple of states away is celebrated. 
 It is ridiculous!  
I am sure people who know Todd are thinking, why did'nt she draw Todd walking... 
-one of the reasons why I love my friend Todd, his letter starts off with this:

***CANADA'S NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS: 
      WHAT ARE THEY REALLY ABOUT?


On March 13, 2014 the current medical marijuana laws in Canada will end and an entirely new system of laws concerning medical marijuana will take effect. The current laws allow those registered as medical marijuana patients to grow their own marijuana or to buy government produced marijuana from authorized pharmacies. Under the new laws that go into effect in a few months, medical marijuana patients will no longer be permitted to grow their own marijuana and the government will no longer produce marijuana, nor will pharmacists be involved in the sale of medical marijuana to patients.

The legal reasons stated for this drastic change in the medical marijuana laws in Canada are listed as public health, safety and security issues. Despite reading many articles and trying to discover these alleged public health, safety and security issues, one is hard pressed to find a single article describing exactly what those issues are. There were a few (very few) growers who had fires break out. Those were all related to poor wiring. Electrical issues are easy to cure and simple compliance inspections of grow operations would remove that issue from the table. As for public health and security, there was nothing describing exactly what they are, just the generic legal umbrella under which the politicians are able to enact new and stricter laws.                                                                         So why the need to fix that which is not broken?

There are currently 37,359 registered medical marijuana patients in Canada. That number is much higher than the 477 registered medical marijuana patients in 2002 evidencing the need for medical marijuana. Of those 37,359 registered medical marijuana patients, 25,600 are licensed to grow their own medical marijuana. Of those 25,600 licensed to grow their own medical marijuana, only 4,200 are specifically licensed to grow for one (and only one) other registered patient besides themselves. All of these rights will be stripped away from Canadian medical marijuana patients as of March 13, 2014.

Under the new laws there are currently 156 applications awaiting approval to grow medical marijuana on a much larger scale in huge warehouses. These warehouses will be owned and operated by those entrepreneurs with enough money to buy the licenses, the warehouses, the property on which the warehouses sit, the massive costs of filling that space with the maximum lighting possible and to employ a staff large enough to grow, trim and prepare the medical marijuana for public sale and to distribute it. With private sector businesses, profits tend to be the overriding priority rather than producing a high quality product that is organic and safe.

Under the new laws patients will be permitted to purchase medical marijuana from these massive warehouse farms. All sales will be through a mail order system and thoroughly regulated. The regulations only apply to the amount of marijuana sold and the income the entrepreneurs take in. These strict regulations will not cover the quality of medical marijuana grown nor the non-organic fertilizers and pesticides used to grow the marijuana to produce ever larger and more profitable plants. This puts unsuspecting (and already burdened with health issues) patients at further risk of ingesting marijuana and medical marijuana products that essentially contain poisons detrimental to their already deteriorating health.

Health Canada's current average price of medical marijuana is approximately $5 per gram. The projected cost of private sector medical marijuana after the new laws take effect in March is expected to be about $7.60 per gram. CannaMed, the first licensed distributor in the private sector is currently advertising their medical marijuana at a cost of $9 to $12 per gram once the new laws go into effect. Keep in mind that the current black market cost of marijuana in Canada is approximately $10 to $15 per gram. No matter how one tries to make sense of these new laws, they fail to address any alleged public health, safety or security issues. They also have the added disadvantage of driving up the cost of medical marijuana for patients. These patients are often already financially strapped due to their varying medical issues. 

So why the sudden change in medical marijuana laws that seemed to be working so well according to the patients who are the intended beneficiaries of these medical marijuana laws? It is simply a desire for profits. Health Canada has projected that by 2014 there will be 58,000 registered medical marijuana patients. They further project that by 2024 there will be 450,000 registered medical marijuana patients in Canada. Health Canada has estimated that by 2024 the medical marijuana industry will be a 1.3 billion dollar per year market. That 1.3 billion dollar per year market will all be taxed at a higher rate, a luxury tax, and not as a medical necessity. 

It appears to be obvious that the only reason for the change of the current medical marijuana laws in Canada is related to revenue collection and has little (or nothing) to do with any issues of public health, safety or security. Sadly, this massive change of the current and well functioning medical marijuana laws in Canada is more about a healthy economy than about a healthy population of Canadian citizens.


 Georgia:  AMEN! *Well said as always! Thank you Lisa! I am the first to admit - I know what I want to say, but often it is difficult - just as cartooning is difficult for many!  She once again put it perfectly IMO. Are you paying attention Canadians?