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Musicians have been oscillating between keeping busy and feeling a bit isolated since coronavirus stay-at-home orders came down in the month of March, 2020. It’s a real dichotomy between staying at home and being creative for most artists and musicians , finding that part of yourself, trying to improve, while staying relevant with fans. Whatever the chosen system is to get through this pandemic most performers are finding creative ways to stay on top of there game and in front of the paying audience. We have come to accept as a way of life, be it permanent or temporary, that music is and will be the last part of the recovery from a pandemic that is now being questioned as weather we should have, and still continue to shut down a once thriving economy. In the early days of March, when COVID-19 was just beginning to spread in the U.S. I watched the music scene transform in front of my eyes. From Instagram to TikTok, our new pop culture demands that stars be both accessible and vulnerable online amid the pandemic. In the weeks since social distancing began in earnest, there have been numerous articles written about how celebrities and musicians are basically losing it. The live music culture is in a weird place. All these livestreams  and all these posts are giving us a concentrated, heightened look at the new normal for the music culture.

We are firmly and deeply submerged in the age of livestreem performances as social media “influence.” on how we view and support live concerts and local acts. As more people are finding fame, notoriety and lucrative careers through “content” creation on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, the idea of what fame is — and who gets to be famous — has drastically shifted. Now, people are as inclined to be obsessed over there favorite local acts as they are over national acts. The contrast of our current music landscape with that of even 20 years ago is profound. It used to be that part of the luster for stars to resided in their carefully manufactured distance, now it’s practiced as the normal by the industry as a whole. t’s about staying relevant, by any means necessary. The internet has proven to be a powerful tool in harnessing the ability to keep people engaged. But we’ve entered a new reality, in which a harsh light shines on all this placating distraction and has further revealed the serious cracks in the foundation of American life.” Most of us are plugged in to the social media matrix and trying to figure it out. Our pop cultural landscape is just changing in fascinating, entertaining and often cringe-worthy ways.

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He was in the midst of responding to a question that was, well, not about his penis. Donald Trump was participating in March’s GOP debate when he alluded to his penis size. “He referred to my hands,” Trump said, referencing insults lodged by Senator Marco Rubio. “If they’re small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there’s no problem. I guarantee it.” Trump’s not-so-subtle nod at genitalia in such a professional ― even presidential ― forum shocked the entire nation. But perhaps no one was more surprised than 24-year-old artist Illma Gore. Just a month earlier, Gore had posted a drawing to Facebook titled “Make America Great Again,” depicting the former reality TV star completely nude. His penis, as rendered in the drawing, is quite petite. “No matter what is in your pants, you can still be a big prick,” Gore wrote alongside the NSFW piece. Gore explained in an interview with The Huffington Post. “If I had drawn him with a big penis, you’d associate that with the qualities of a powerful leader. A small penis, you think, ‘Oh, that’s an excuse for why this person is the way he is.’ But that’s wrong.” Gore intended to challenge preconceptions about gender and sexuality through her drawing, illuminating the problems with a culture that equates a small penis with weakness. “It’s about this pseudo-masculinity that this man, I feel, just exudes.”

In a statement on Instagram, Gore expanded upon the idea motivating the work: “Society treats effeminacy like it is bad in comparison to the idea of a ‘real man.’” The piece was therefore meant to attack these ingrained preconceptions, not affirm them. The body depicted in Gore’s drawing belongs, in real life, to one of her friends, who served as her model. “Someone I believe to be masculine and beautiful,” she explained. “All the sudden, with Trump’s head, everything changed.” “I never expected it to go as far as it did,” she said. “I lost my voice in there.” Gore uploaded the image to Facebook with absolutely no idea how much it would blow up. The image gained traction on Reddit and various websites around the web, while Gore’s own social media accounts were disabled as a result of the nudity. The original message of the work became overshadowed by the country’s brewing Trump hate. What was initially an attempt to praise unconventional bodies ended up resembling body-shaming. Not long after her artwork went viral, Gore began receiving phone calls from people claiming to work for Trump’s legal team. She was slapped with a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice demanding she remove the image from her accounts. And then, the death threats started rolling in. Hysteria surrounding Gore’s artwork reached a bizarre peak one day in Los Angeles when the artist was walking through a neighborhood close to a Trump rally. Having recently appeared in a few televised interviews regarding the piece, she was more recognizable than your average well-known artist. While walking by herself down a side street, a car slowed down alongside Gore and a group of young men started yelling at her, calling her a bitch and cheering for Trump. Eventually one of the men jumped out of the car and punched Gore in the face. The men then, laughing, reportedly sped off screaming, “Trump 2016!” “Is it weird to say I’m kind of proud that someone punched me in the face because of one of my drawings?” Gore laughed, clearly overwhelmed by the weirdness of it all.

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Governor Gavin Newsom of California on Thursday sent shockwaves through the West Coast when he officially ordered all 40 million of the state’s residents essentially shelter in place (meaning stay home unless buying basic necessities or seeking medical care). Perhaps surprisingly, among the “essential services” that he deemed will remain open — on top of pharmacies and food stores — was, marijuana dispensaries. Popular dispensary MedMen, which operates 33 stores in nine states including 12 in California, says it is operating with modified hours, but all stores remain open (except for one in Monterey Bay, Calif. which is closed due to local jurisdiction). “We are closely following recent guidelines released by each state and local jurisdiction, plus that of the CDC and the WHO in the best interest of our customers and employees and have adopted the recommended safety protocol.” “As of now, we have been deemed an essential business in the markets that have established protocol,” Christian Langbein, the company’s spokesperson says. In the two months since the first case of COVID-19 landed in the U.S., the nation’s private sector is a changed place. As a company seemingly unscathed by the coronavirus outbreak thus far, MedMen is in the minority.  Over half of America has closed all non-essential businesses, — from festivals, to theme parks, to cruise ships, all motor sports and professional sports teams  have hit pause on their seasons and the financial market may be on the verge of a crash.

But amid the colossal shifts, the cannabis industry seems poised to stay afloat.Denver-based Medicine Man, tells Yahoo Lifestyle that in the weeks since the coronavirus began spreading rapidly, its sales have actually escalated. Sally Van der Veer, the dispensary’s CEO says, “Our numbers are significantly higher than they would normally be this time of year,” “For the most part, we’re seeing customers who are grateful that we are open because they wouldn’t be able to get their medicine elsewhere..” They can be in and out in 30 seconds,” says Van der Veer. “On the floor of our dispensaries, we have tape to ensure that we’re maintaining six feet of distance between every customer. All our budtenders are wearing gloves and using hand sanitizer or washing their hands in between each transaction. ” Van der Veer says the distinction of “essential services” in the time of the coronavirus makes sense both for citizens and the state of the cannabis industry as a whole.

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Illinois is the 11th state to legalize cannabis for adult use. Vendors started the new year by bringing in nearly $3.2 million on the state’s first day of legal recreational cannabis sales. There were long lines and more than 77,000 transactions on Wednesday, according to former state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, who oversees the state’s new equity-focused recreational cannabis program for Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Alex Hanns @alexhanns NEWS: @ToiHutchinson announces first day adult-use cannabis sales figures in Illinois — $3,176,256.71 in sales  — 77,128 transactions
“Sales are great, but let’s never lose sight of the impact we’re having on families around the state. Pritzker’s office did not immediately provide the amount of tax revenue the state received from the sales. Illinois state taxes on cannabis products range from 10% to 25%, depending on the product’s concentration of THC. A first day of $3,176,256.71 in sales would bring in an estimated $317,000 for the state at a minimum, and about $794,000 at most, not including sales tax.

Michigan, which implemented recreational marijuana in December, saw about $221,000 in sales on its first day, according to the Detroit Free Press. Colorado, one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, saw a little more than $1 million in sales on its first day of legalization in 2014. The whopping $3.2 million spent in Illinois on Wednesday greatly surpasses first-day sales in other states where recreational cannabis is legal. Hutchinson said on Wednesday. “Today is a historic new day, and as we move forward with growing this industry, I thank all those who worked hard to make the launch a success and will continue to dedicate themselves to expanding opportunities and righting the wrongs of the past.” “As we start a new decade, Illinois has achieved a monumental milestone ― launching the legalization of cannabis in a way that includes communities left behind for far too long, creates good jobs and expunges thousands of records for those who have lost out on opportunities and ends prohibition.” Under the state’s law, Illinois residents who are 21 and older are allowed to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis, and nonresidents can possess up to 15 grams.

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The buzz over 420 isn’t just media hype, April 20 ― aka “420” ― is considered pot’s biggest day, according to cannabis industry insiders like Robert Arabian, founder of Pop-Up Potcorn, a line of cannabis-infused microwave popcorn, and it should only get more popular now that 33 states have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. “These days, 4/20 has turned into the biggest Holiday in the cannabis industry and serves as a day of celebration for the advancements the industry has made in the legal space,” Arabian told HuffPost. How is the marijuana industry changing you ask? Here are some significant changes for 2019: Everything CBD — or cannabidiol, the nonpsychoactive ingredient in the marijuana plant — is popping up in all sorts of products, including face masks, jelly beans and even burgers, despite the lack of evidence of its effectiveness for easing pain, insomnia, anxiety and depression. CBD will be sticking around for quite a while, though maybe not in its current form according to Michael Christopher, the CEO of Mood33, a California-based cannabis-infused beverage brand. “We are seeing some proliferation of CBD-infused products that are starting to overwhelm consumers,” Christopher told huffpost.com . “From $9 CBD-infused donuts to $14 CBD-infused brownie mix.

More Women Are Using Marijuana: Sheena Shirvai, director of consumer communications for Eaze, a cannabis-delivery company in California, says women are now behind 75 percent of orders. Last year, baby boomers were seen as the future of sales, but industry experts now see women as the next budding market. Dr. John Oram, the Founder/CEO of NUG, a cannabis company specializing in concentrates, said “soccer moms” are coming into the business in droves ― and it shouldn’t be a surprise. Oram told HuffPost. “Moms generally make the health and wellness decisions in the household. It is natural to expect women to play a greater role in choosing quality cannabis products.” Ray Landgraf of Island Cannabis, which deals with cannabis production technology, says there’s a thirst for pot-infused drinks. “We’re really early on beverages where people are just figuring out the science that will make cannabis beverages a really unique experience. Marijuana Delivery Is The Future: The idea of brick-and-mortar bud shops popping up like Starbucks is one that should be nipped in the bud, according to Brad McLaughlin of BudTrader.com, which bills itself as “the largest cannabis social media platform.” “Dispensaries will go the way of Blockbuster Video. You heard it here first,” McLaughlin said. “People don’t want to leave the pad, especially in major metropolitan cities with heavy traffic congestion like New York, LA and places where it’s cold.” However, many industry insiders such as Bryson Bulda, brand manager of LBS Distribution, a California cannabis company, believe dispensaries are crucial to building burgeoning bud businesses. “Going to a dispensary and talking to budtenders is the only way to actively learn from products and what you are consuming.”

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“I think this country hasn’t dealt well with the issues of race,” the lawmaker told NBC’s Chuck Todd. “We have a president who’s a racist.” When it came to addressing President Donald Trump’s history of racism, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) didn’t mince words in a “Meet the Press” interview Sunday. Noting Brown’s frank description of Trump, Todd paused for a moment, asking him to explain. “I know that he built his political career knowing what he was doing on questioning the legitimacy and the birth place of the president of the United States,” Brown said, referring to the birther conspiracy theory Trump promoted staring in 2011, using it in an effort to undermine Barack Obama’s credibility. Brown also pointed to housing discrimination in the Trump real estate empire, adding that violence at the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, told the country even more about the president’s beliefs on race, appearing to be alluding to Trump’s weak response to the chaos when he had initially skirted around denouncing neo-Nazis.

Most recently, Brown, who is considering a run for president, has called for the resignation of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam following the Democrat’s admission that he had once worn blackface in a dance contest in which he impersonated Michael Jackson. Controversy has brewed steadily over the governor since last week, when a photo of a man in blackface next to another individual dressed in a Ku Klux Klan uniform surfaced from Northam’s 1984 medical school yearbook. While Northam has indicated he has no plans to step down, Brown called on him to resign and consider participating in discussions on race “as a private citizen.” “Charlottesville was only a symptom and a more public viewing and outing, if you will, of president Trump’s views about race, and racism” Brown said.

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By: Ron DCMDJ Johnson

Greetings people of Earth!

You know one of the most special stoner holidays is almost upon us and no matter where you are the ways to celebrate are many so choose wisely. Depending on the legality of marijuana in your area use your best judgement on how you will mark the holiday. I don’t recommend doing anything that will make sure you are in jail or jobless on 4/21. These are some options that I have either done or will be doing this year here in California where Mary Jane is legal ,at least on at statewide level, for anyone over the age of twenty one. I have also been in states where pot is not looked on too kindly but again I say make your own decisions.

When: April 19^th: 9am-2am
Where: Mecca Natural Medicine: 5650 W. Washington Blvd, L.A.
Price: Free admission; $60 for goody bag

Mecca Natural Medicine dispensary (L.A) is hosting an adult only 420 Alice In Wonderland themed 3D experience, dab Girls, a Smokeout, Edibles and a Dab Garden.

*Guests must bring a valid California ID and med card for entry*
More HERE 

How did 4/20 become the stoner holiday? There are many rumors.

One is that 4/20 was the California penal code or the police radio code for marijuana. That one is FALSE. Others say that there are 420 chemicals in marijuana. Nope, the number is over 500. Then there’s Bob dylan and some math involved. Bob Dylan has a song called “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” and 12 multiplied by 35 is 420. Check out the song and listen to the lyrics.

The beginnings  of 4/20  are said to have started with a treasure hunt in a story on the History Channel.

Back in 1971 there were five high school students in Marin County, Calif., that would meet at 4:20 to smoke near a specific wall outside of their school, getting the nickname the “Waldos.” The number became a code for when to meet.

There may not be much more to the story of 4/20 but the Grateful Dead In December 1990 had flyers handed out by their fans The Deadheads. Here is a copy of that flyer.

Everyone will still have there own version or reason for smoking on 4/20….Hell, I don’t need a reason and I’ve fired up several while writing this article. If you’d care to share your reasons for why 4/20 is a special day for you then add it to the comments. I will be visiting several of our local dispensaries since most of them have some sort of special that day. On previous holidays I have visited up to seven different collectives. All with different deals and many having cook outs and other customer appreciations. If you live in one of the legal states then definitely plan on making your purchases this day since you will get the most for your money and many freebies. Here is a link to a site for activities geared around the holiday for ALL of the state of California.  https://dabconnection.com/culture/420-events-california-2017/

Watch Half Baked at The Wiltern – L.A.

When: April 20^th: 8pm
Where: The Wiltern: 3790 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles
Price: $10

Now I will let you know how I would spend the holiday in less weed friendly states. Mostly I will get together in a safe indoor location or a secluded park and organize my own smoke out with my best smoking buddies. If you happen to be in one of those states then you will have to improvise as I had to do. Just stay safe and know your limits for your own particular area. Please share in the comments how you will spend the holiday.

Thanks to all of the people of Earth.

Please Share this with your fellow Earthlings!