Thank you!
For every single person who has shared, reposted, talked about (good & bad), glanced at, printed, mailed & e mailed any of my drawings. Thank you.  Each time - bringing ALL of US one step closer to ending the negative stigma attached to cannabis as a medicine.

I started drawing to educate 10 years ago- when at 14 Storm had his first bong hit and his pain was no longer controlling him- he became master & controller of it. No more tylenol, codine or morphine to constantly consider. I thank God & the universe for the cannabis plant daily!

Inspired by love & we did not want parents who were already dealing with a sick child  have to deal with some of the 'BULLSHIT' we had to.  As well as be informed it was in FACT helping with chronic bone pain, that NOTHING was able to do as well & keep our son happy & healhty & active.  We decided to share, because of the loss of judgemental family & friends to the constant questions and concerns raised by othes - including myself at times, AND the politics of it all.  Health Canada Horror stories & fear mongering rampant in our own country, never mind any place else in the past 10 years -Good riddance, to a hateful, harmful government here in Canada.  Welcome Justin, who will legalize. be patient people.

Cananbis has introduced us to a new world, literally, one filled with compassonate & understanding people,  ready to be laughed at and shunned for thier love of a plant.  People who refuse to sit back and watch all day- instead, they draw, talk, protest, bake, blog, bulldoze & blunder thier way through to make a differnence, and they do.  
I am very thankful for them.

We have also met a few 'heavy hitters' in this industry and I am thankful for them, they fight the legal battles and go to bat for the millions who cannot due to lack of  health or finance. Many have been fighting for years and yes- it too can take a toll on thier health. 
We've made many friends ;) thank you...  all around the world!  Thank You!
Friends who showed us the ropes, taught us a few tricks, took us under their wings and more. Thank You.  
A enemy or two had been made a long the way I've no doubts. YOU will never please everyone & I am grateful for them as well - they teach the the most dificult lessons - each time helping make me stronger in the process.  More determined.

Every person who has taken the time to read  this blog and ignored my continued spelling & grammar errors!  I know how difficult it is for many, there too should be a lesson, if you are judge'n me bi my spellin, with out understanding - you have too much time on your hands.
& just like judging someone for wanting to choose cannabis over  pills - we are no better.
I try to only judge 'myself' at the end of  each day. That alone is enough. 

Thank you.

Time to Draw

It's time to show myself some love.
Yesterday, I told you about the death of my dog.. today it is the death of my marriage.
This too will come as no surprise to many who know 'us' well.  
All I ask from anyone is prayers for a smooth transition into a new chapter of my life.
​For myself as well as Norm. 

I found this quote last night on PIN:

'My son is older and now wiser.  
I want him to be in a happy relationship, I know they exist.  

I think it would be better also for me to be alone and 'content' - even happy maybe,  than to be continually in a relationship where we do not get along anymore, fight constantly about everything from no name chips to paint chips and it's just not fucking fun anymore.. it never was.  Not the fighting.  It has physically taken its toll one the past few years, expecting to be who I was not and being in an environment that never stops - with work all around me not complete, it's made it almost impossible to 'stay on top of'.  When not fighting we each do our own thing we never talk about anything other than the weather - I hardly ever get asked 'how was your day?    I'm just not interesting anymore, I guess.    I still ask daily.
 No more. 

You try to 'keep the peace', because it's what you think we should do, at some point you really start to think about the price for peace you are paying and this one is too steep for me.

If you read this blog you have a pretty good idea of what's been happening.
Time has passed.. we went in different directions.  
I told Norm the kitchen won't make a difference - just like everything before- it is all stuff.  By the time 'it' gets done the amount of fighting before - years in fact over something as simple as a set of stairs.. that can be finally accomplished in a matter of hours is all about control in my opinion.  

The most recent remarks about not contributing to this marriage, because I did not go to a 9 - 5 fucking job every day-  pushed me over the edge. As I hope it does to every  mother, woman out there.

It is time I take back control of my own life.
I appreciate and good vibes/prayers  you send  & thank all for their continued support.

I want to find a place where I might paint peacefully, surrounded by my dogs and friends who I know want to be in my company.  I am  planning on moving a bit North- you know me...  I Love nature.  

Now, I'm looking into my options and painting peacefully.
Ironically, I do feel pretty peaceful about this decision...
it's how I know it is right. 
​
No more tears.. fuck that.
I take control back,  NOW.

Have faith 
xox <>< 

Back to painting.  
I'm keeping this one.
I'm framing it and getting it ready to hang in my new home.
​

Simple. Research.
I only had to research the side effects of the most common OXY. 
I do not understand why someone would NOT try Cannabis first.
Yes I do.
Lies and lack of education on the subject.
I believe Cannabis should be someone's first choice as it IS safer than most if not all  options available. 
I know one of the main reasons my body needs Cannabis is nausea. 

“the FDA will approve the drug if it deems that its benefits outweigh its risks.”   http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/drug-side-effects-explained

^ WHO  exactly decided what is worthy or not? Not me! I bet it is not a person suffering with a facial twitch that can be maddening, or the man that went up two breasts sizes... Do ANY of these people SUFFER from any of the side effects when they make these decisions?  In my search to try to ‘get better’ over and over I read about Tardive Dyskinesia -more and more common in  medications, if you think it is nothing to think about GUESS AGAIN!  A twitch in my eye.. I can handle that - ‘IF” this medicine helps...   We MUST stop and really weight the difference. I had someone recently tell me “well, I have to finish the prescription - I paid for them!” What kind of mind set is that?  We are killing ourselves because we don’t take the time to educate ourselves on WHAT we put into our bodies.

Then I read this;
“Still, sometimes not everything is known about a drug’s side effects until after it enters the marketplace and more people start using it. That’s where MedWatch comes in. The FDA’s post-marketing surveillance program seeks voluntary input, mainly from health care professionals, on adverse effects they may be seeing in ''the real world.'' Sometimes these reports are numerous and/or serious enough for the FDA to take regulatory action, such as adding warnings to a drug’s label. One example of that involves the psoriasis drug Raptiva. The FDA required that the drug carry the agency's strongest warning, known as a black box warning, after it received reports of brain infections and meningitis in patients taking the drug.”  

I have Psoriasis ;( It is another issue all on it’s own, in every crack, visible, ugly, I shed,  uncomfortable.. worth a brain infection! OMGod NO!  HOW many people found this out the hard way???  I’ll stick to coconut oil,  meditation & CANNABIS thanks. 

When I wake up from my twitch every morning (for the past 4 years) I lay there and think... why? What did it? Then I remind myself - everything happens for a reason - learn to live and deal. Some days easier than others. I am still exhausted and tired of being exhausted - lol  Surgery  10 months and I guess I have recovered as good as I am going to.  So what have I learned? READ the FUCKING labels!  IS IT WORTH IT!? ASK yourself. Seriously. Even after you do that ask yourself, I wonder if they really know what will happen long term?

What should you do? EAT healthy!!!! Natural medicine and organic when ever possible.  That or don’t.  But don’t say you did not know, because NOW you do. YOUR future is in your choices.

xox <:><

A stoner. Well I think of a stoner kinda the same lines as a drunk. When the substance becomes used and abused. It is a fact. I wish it was not.  I believe more than anything  above all it is the person not the plant - the person not the booze <excuses.

It is difficult when I talk about stoners as I still do not consider them ever 'as bad as a drunk'.  Many just want to CHILL and so be it. But many get stuck there. Now to blame cannabis is unfair. It is easy to get stuck, and dependent on many substances. 

Sugar, fat, alcohol. Cannabis   I have a friend who says she can’t go without her bowl of cereal every day. I don’t think I do anything every day - DRAW if I’m lucky, 

It has been a problem for years but again based on lies.  It does make it difficult for those that NEED Cannabis as a medicine.  People  have only seen what the media has wanted them too, every rally a stoner with a bong and not usually much to say, other than lets get HIGH!  They are usually the ones that get busted with much more than grass.  We need to educate people on ALL drugs ON  Addiction. In elementary school, teach them how our lives can go. By grade 5,  I’d say many are pretty aware of more than most parents realize. I use to see it in thier drawings and hear it in imaginations during cartooning classes. NEVER mind what they see on television a hundred times a week.

I am so thrilled with the Dr. S. Gupta special!  Information I have learned & NOW many more in the world will witness and coming from a respected Dr. More will believe. I think it is brave of him to  bring to attention he patent on Cannabis the Americans have. Hypocrites 

THINGS have to change! Children are being SAVED!  Heart breaking that  so many STILL are afraid due to BRAIN washing.  The kids will suffer because of it, People all over the world suffering of LIES.

I hope Steven Harper is paying attention!  Money scandal, selling off our resources, not protecting our lakes, changing history, building private prisons, putting people in prison for growing their own medicine... wow, what a proud time in Canadian history, NO wonder he want to re-write it! 

If you have not seen the Special on WEED . < That is what it is a plant. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agZuafXG2Ds&feature=player_embeddedhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-bYi-LkDTo&feature=player_embedded

Please do - you might be saving someone’s life.  I agreed with  kids not using it if they don’t have to - I think that goes for all substances that can impair GLUE sniffing is worse that cannabis so - keep it in perspective and the NUMBER one abused drug in most  schools right now is PRESCRIBED medications.  NOT Cannabis. 

As for the one in 11 that gets addicted or was is 9% ?  <less than your average drug dealer on every corner called a 'Bar.' 
It is the person NOT the plant.  
I am so grateful for this plant I feel guilty if I don’t draw about it al the time! 

Final opinion on all this really is:

I read all the time. Every now and then I come across an article and think - wow I did not know that! That is what happened when I read about kids drinking low fat milk - the healthier choice. IT is NOT a healthier choice.. I read that they remove the fat - using it for other products ($$$) and all that's left really is sugars in the milk - making it harder for your body and actually making it fatter. I am trying to find that exact article but It was a few weeks back - no matter just GOOGLE.
      http://butterbeliever.com/fat-free-dairy-skim-milk-secrets/   <Just one of many!
I am not - nor have I ever been a fan of milk  unless I have a warm brownie fresh baked and want a glas to wash it down. I am also not a fan of Ice cream. I want the good stuff if i DO and that means CREAM. Why do we let them play with out stuff? Our food our nutrition and our life?  I am even less a fan of milk after I did research on hormones.  

Please pay attention,  I really would never wish my twitch on anyone. Dr.s DO not know what caused it or still do not know what is causing it. WHO knows? I am learning to try to live with it. BUT why take any chances?? This is our children.

Please look at some of the links below to read more on LOW fat garbage. If it's low fat don't buy - learn to make healthier choices. 
xox <><

Some will see this toon and think

Love thy neighbor.

There is a reason ‘that is a good’ one if you ask me. Your neighbors know you best.

 I love my neighbors. They are all human to me, I see them daily, see they all have to shovel the drive way, know we all pay our taxes, deal with domestic bliss and try to keep our kids safe. Wave, smile, a friendly hello... off we go.

My neighbors have my back and I theirs. I once saw a car go through my neighbors fence! The person tried to leave and I told them forget it! It was allot of damage. I saw a teen jump a fence into a neighbors yard and take something, I phoned him, he confronted the teen in the act. Just being a teen.   I’ve returned lost pets and kids!  I have also had the pleasure of teaching many kids over the years and don’t get me started on Halloween! LOL  Over the years I have gone to my neighbors  for sugar, batteries, propane propane, eggs, lawnmower, a vacc, many reasons over the years, locked out of my house, to give extra tomatoes, sell Halloween kitties door to door..

(I have returned the favors with art over the years.)

I especially like to keep an eye on the elders. ;-) I have stopped a bit of school ‘walk home bullying’ over the years ;-( so sad. One little guy I had to drive home he was so afraid. I live between 2 elementary schools.  I have had people say I should mind my business. PLEASE my neighbors and kids are my business!   I do mind my business, I have never called the cops on a neighbor. We all have our parties, we all get loud from time to time, we all aggravate each other, so what. That is life, but living side by side like any good relationship we have to; not sweat the small stuff.

LOL one of my neighbors has been learning electric guitar (say no more..) BUT we heard him this spring and we all commented - Hey! He’s getting better, and all laughed. Thank God. I’m even looking forward to the electric guitar this summer ;)

So..  say you smell Cannabis from next door. SO WHAT?  Do you know your neighbor? Do you know what they are dealing with? Will you call the cops or will you not?   I figure as long as no one is being hurt, it is not my business. An easy decision when you learn about the facts between alcohol and cannabis.
Do not judge a book by its cover or the person by the pain medication they choose! 

I KNOW I have friends in HIGH places and trust me you would never think they sit back at night to enjoy a little reefer - medical or not. 
I cannot make excuses for stoners or drunks. We all have that neighbor, perhaps I was one of them over the years- I had a few wild parties.. ;-)   WE ALL DO! 
Love thy neighbor have their back! Don’t judge them over a smell.  
Kinda like judging someone over curry, coffee or CIGARS! < YUK.  
Are we not being judged enough by the world as it is?
Are we not entitled to enjoy our homes, and NOT have to stress about what 
eases our pain?

Many people who smoke cannabis medically and recreationally are far from STONERS or bad people.  You never know what goes on behind closed doors. 
Smelling Cannabis should be the least of some peoples worries.
xox <><

A guest Blog that I enjoyed reading and thought worth sharing!  xox <><

Catch-422
By John Dvorak, Hempologist  See more @ : http://www.hempology.org/CANNABISCURRICULUM.html

With a tip of my hempen chapeau to Joseph Heller, our government has created a phenomena that I call Catch-422.  They put up as many roadblocks as possible in an effort to stifle our progress and to demonize Cannabis Sativa, a safe and effective natural herbal remedy.  A Kafkaesque melangé  of federal agencies and bloated bureaucracies justify their existence at the expense of the sick and dying, while the beer-bellied, vodka saturated, over-pharmaceuticalized sheeple continue to gulp down oxycontin, viagra and anything else peddled by their kowtowed doctors.   Thousands die EACH YEAR overdosing on alcohol and prescribed drugs, while there isno lethal dose for Cannabis.      

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are arrested each year merely for possessing marijuana because Reefer Madness has infected Congress and rotted the judicial system to its core.  Marijuana’s illegality is justified by calling it a gateway drug that will lead to harder drugs and/or a decaying of a person’s moral fabric:  Catch-422.  In fact, cannabis is proving to be a gateway AWAY from illegal narcotics and debilitating pharmaceuticals.  

The DEA classifies marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic which, by definition, means there is no currently acceptable medical use.  Everyone knows this is total bullshit, but when researchers ask for cannabis to perform studies, they're told they can't have it because, of course, marijuana has no medical use, leaving patients burning in Dante’s inferno of mock compassion: Catch-422.  Their circular logic jerks people around to no end.  

Even some states with medical marijuana laws on the books are imposing outrageous restrictions on the ailments that qualify:  Catch-422.   One of the most egregious examples of this is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which several states refuse to recognize Cannabis for despite its obvious benefits.  And, the Federal government never misses a chance to “pile on” by preventing the Veteran’s Administration from providing Cannabis to the many vets with PTSD.  

A classic Catch-422 is how states delay the implementation of medical marijuana laws, oftentimes parroting the old canard: “think of the children.”   New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act was signed into law in January, 2010.  However, bureaucratic foot dragging by that state’s Gutless Wonder Governor, Chris Christie, delayed the opening of their first dispensary for almost 3 years.  

Consider this:  A card carrying medical marijuana patient working for a big box store had a minor accident,  failed a drug test and was subsequently fired.  His dismissal was upheld by Michigan's supreme court: Catch-422.  Tragically, a medical marijuana patient who was denied a liver transplant because of his Cannabis use recently passed away:  Catch-422.  We need to fight for people’s basic right to medicate without discrimination.

Another Catch-422 is the “institutional hypocrisy” that  prevents people from coming out of the cannabis closet.  Consider this:  Despite many states passing various Cannabis laws, mere possession of marijuana continues to be a violation of federal law!  It is very difficult for someone to promote an illegal activity.  You expose yourself to public ridicule or worse.  For many, testing positive for Cannabis could result in the loss of their job, government benefits or custody of their children.  Students that are arrested for Cannabis could lose their student loans:  Catch-422.  

Similarly, the IRS has ruled that medical marijuana dispensaries cannot deduct business expenses because possessing and distributing Cannabis violates federal law: Catch-422.    Banks and credit card companies are refusing to do business with dispensaries for the same reason:  Catch-422.   The sad part about this is that dispensaries are proving to be economic engines, hiring people and paying taxes in an otherwise depressed economy.  


The DEA says that hemp is the same as marijuana.  They have tied a Gordian knot of hemp rope, claiming that hemp will confuse the police even though this is not an issue in Canada or Europe where it is legal to grow hemp: Catch-422.  United States Department of Agriculture studies call hemp a niche crop without fully investigating its myriad uses: Catch-422.   Farmers will not grow hemp unless there is a market for it and you can’t sell products unless you can produce them which means you need farmers to grow hemp: Catch-422.  This chicken or the egg situation is a real “pair o’ ducks.”   Thanks to prohibition, we are re-inventing the ENTIRE hemp industry from the ground up.  The sky is limit (think Trillion Dollar Crop!) but it is going to be a long, hard fight for those willing to join the battle.  

We need to recognize these efforts for what they are:  a blatant and callous effort to impede our progress.  Only by identifying and understanding these barriers will we be able to get around or over the obstacles that stand in the way of realizing the full benefits of the humble plant scientifically known as Cannabis Sativa.  Fortunately in the privacy of the voting booth, people are electing to choose cannabis hemp and give a collective middle finger to the powers that be.  

Norm and I went out last night to pick up a few things. Walmart opened not long ago - too close for comfort. You can see it from my house, it is the quickest and easiest for Norm. 
Not being well, I have had to rely on him to go shopping and this has led to endless frustration and numerous untold arguments. 

I Am NOT a fan of their produce to begin with! I swear, buy something and almost over night it starts to shrivel in my fridge! Never buy anything in a bag, usually one or more is rotten.. it’s endless,  last night I need garlic.  

Garlic a little root plant right? That grows in the ground grown in Canada. 
Do you think I could find any? Only garlic from China - not even another option or choice - there it is!!  That is what divides Norm and I he will say “Screw it, I’m not driving all over for garlic...” and get it. I will say  “Screw it I’m not buying it!”  That is what we have to do. 

Why can't I get some F&^%$ garlic from Canada - or anything else for that matter!?
We can invent all sorts of stuff, send men to the moon but can't grow a decent tomato year round without pumping it full of S*&^?
Why are our options stuff that has come from foreign soil, foreign pests, foreign 
rules/laws/regulations for growing...  across miles in crates and trucks for days, picked too early to ripen on the way!?

YUK!
YUK!
YUK! 

I hate this time of the year for vegetable shopping and being on a limited budget  (aren’t we all) you lean towards deals instead of health! 
Less off, in the cart yesterday was MEAT.  
More spices, greens, fruit and WHOLE grain bread. No food in a box.
No Junk isle.  I am on the road to recovery and I am taking him with me like it or not. 

Don’t get me wrong - I get it! I get he’s tired, worked and then has to go get groceries and does not want to drive all over for garlic!  When does it end and when will it start to change if we don’t act every chance we get?

Please the next time you go to  the grocery store - make a point to buy Canadian.
As a matter of  fact I was so pissed that I put stuff back and that is all we bought.
Going to feasting on mushrooms and sweet potatoes for a while! LOL - Choices limited.

Thank God, Canadian have been able to produce their own HOMEGROWN Herbal medicines.  That could all change in the future. Just as it has been with Cannabis it may become illegal to grow other herbs and foods, then our limited choices even fewer and our chance to say no to GMO - out will go!  
While in Canada - for as long as it remains I prefer to support fellow Canadians and keep my greens as FRESH and HEALTHY as possible - the best way to do that:

                                                                  GROW your OWN! 


Wait till you see my garden this summer !
xox <><