Singer and guitarist Phill Celeste, better known by his stage name Life On Planets, is a man on the move who recently made his debut on the Do Lab Stage at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he found his passion for music within the city’s vibrant scene and inclusive community. He started with street performing and worked his way up to playing at clubs and recording with electronic music producers.
Local success opened the door for Planets to travel for festivals and gigs in major U.S. cities like New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Detroit. The artist’s unique sound — an eclectic blend of soul, R&B, and house — eventually sent him international to Japan, Romania, Russia, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and beyond. But while traveling and playing shows in destinations far and wide is an exciting venture, there’s nothing quite like going back to your roots.
“Baltimore was an amazing place to get my start in music,” Planets says. “You can catch everything from B’more club, new hip hop, experimental music, and incredible art any time of the year.”
To learn more about what makes Baltimore worth a visit, we asked Life on Plents to share everything a first-time tourist should see, do and eat.
“Meet artists, medical professionals, filmmakers, diehard Ravens fans, farmers, nomads, and more communing together at its bars, cafes, clubs, markets, gardens, parks, and warehouse parties,” he says. “Get to know the folks and the culture and you’ll find that although the city is small, it has everything you need to agree with the city benches that read ‘The Greatest City in America.’”
Not convinced to book your flight yet? Check Life on Planets’ full guide to his city, below.
The North Avenue Market has food, drinks, an arcade, and a live music venue where you can check out new directions in dance music from artists like Mateyo. From here you can also walk over to the Maryland Institute College Of Art, MICA, to see some of the student artwork as well.
Life on Planets
The Crown
I used to go to The Crown seven nights a week! There are dope Korean munchies, interesting people, and epic dance parties. Everything from comedy shows, hip hop, and house music under one roof. Bmore is a city that celebrates its BIPOC/Queer community, and I found The Crown to be the most diverse in its artist bookings and in its patrons.
Loved coming through and meeting people and just catching the vibe of the diverse crowd. Definitely stop through for Karaoke Tuesdays.
Metro Gallery offers an upscale vibe while delivering the local flavors for Bmore music. Catch hometown legends like Future Islands, DDm, or James Nasty and take home some of the art on the wall. Hit The Charles Theatre across the street for an indie film before the show.
Baltimore is a super walkable city and Remington is becoming more and more of a hub. With options for every type of foodie (vegan and vegetarian friendly!) I would visit R. House often for a good meal or one of their many special brews on tap. Hit it for some Instagrammable bites and drinks before or after the Baltimore Museum of Art.
The Wyman Dell down the street is also a great place to relax, dog watch, and take your food for a picnic. Take a stroll through the Johns Hopkins campus to walk off the grub.
Visit Baltimore
Washington Monument
They say Washington himself is buried deep below…who knows. The Washington Monument is surrounded by beautiful parks and architecture. I used to come here to do a little yoga or pluck out tunes on the guitar. Super chill area. Nearby you’ll find the Walters Art Museum, the Peabody Conservatory, and plenty of dope shops and restaurants along Charles St.
See the world through some of the most creative and eccentric minds in the Visionary Art Museum focused on creations from self-taught artists. The exhibitions feature works collected from mental asylums, street artists, and even pieces by Alex Gray. Very enlightening and inspiring. On the way take a walk by the Inner Harbor and catch the more frequent hangs like the Aquarium and the mall for shopping.
I used to busk at the 33rd St Farmers Market on Saturdays. Get the Black Sauce Kitchen biscuits for an otherworldly experience and catch the live music from different street performers. Also, load up on local coffee from Zekes and fresh veggies from Baltimore farms. Afterward, stop by Normals for dope esoteric books and vinyl.
If there’s one inanimate object that’s having a great 2022 so far, it’s Taco Bell’s Mexican Pizza. The food chain’s beloved item was removed from their menu towards the end of 2020, a move that upset many, but less than two years later, it’s set to make its return later this month. At the end of her Coachella set last month, Doja Cat announced that she successfully convinced Taco Bell to bring back the Mexican Pizza. Additionally, she revealed that the Mexican Pizza would make its official return on May 19. Now, it appears that Dolly Parton will join in on the Mexican Pizza fun.
The legendary country singer and 2022 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee announced on her Instagram page today that she will star in a TikTok musical about the Taco Bell item and it will premiere later this month. “I’m making #MexicanPizzaTheMusical with @TacoBell,” Parton wrote in the post, which features a photo of the screenplay for the musical. That post also reveals that the musical is “based on the true story of the Internet losing its mind” presumably after Taco Bell removed it from their menus almost two years ago.
According to NBC News, the musical is inspired by the viral video TikTok star Victor Kunda released in March. In it, she parodied what a rehearsal of the musical would look like, based on the song Doja Cat made for the menu item, which the “Need To Know” singer said was “contractual.”
The Taco Bell Mexican Pizza musical will be released at 8 pm EST on May 26 through the social media platform.
Past attempts to create a Dirty Dancing Extended Universe have not gone so well. A prequel, released in 2004 and set in Havana on the cusp of revolution, was a resounding flop, while a proposed remake never made it to the screen. (A stage musical, mounted a decade later, fared much better.) But in our revival-happy days, the blockbuster IP is getting a third-time’s-the-charm attempt, with a sequel set to take place some three decades after the original.
As per Deadline, Jennifer Grey will reprise her beloved turn as Frances “Baby” Houseman, last seen shocking her uptight father (Jerry Orbach) by hoofing with a studly dancer named Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). The sequel, though, hops all the way to the 1990s, focusing on another younger character. Though details are currently scant, Deadline describes it as a “coming-of-age romance centered on the experience of a young woman at the summer camp, but Baby’s own journey will intertwine with this to create a multi-layered narrative.”
The as-yet-untitled sequel will be helmed by a director known for comedies (and sometimes horror-comedies): Jonathan Levine, he of Warm Bodies, Long Shot, and the movie where a long-haired Ben Kingsley makes out with Mary-Kate Olsen. On top of getting Grey to return the role that made her a household name, Levine told Deadline they’re “going to try to involve as many people from the original as is appropriate.”
Levine also said the music will be a mix of songs from the original and ‘90s hip-hop. Then again, some of the songs from the original — including the decidedly ‘80s “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” and “Hungry Eyes,” sung by Swayze himself — didn’t exactly scream 1963.
Would you want to work for the same company for most of your life? Usually, after a handful of years, people are ready to move on to something new; it’s a perfectly normal occurrence. But for one Brazilian man it wasn’t. That’s right, there’s a man out in the world who has spent the vast majority of his life not only working, but working for the same company. Guinness World Records shared the story of record breaker Walter Orthmann, who has been working at the same company for 84 years and 9 days, verified on January 6, 2022.
It’s important to note that Orthmann broke his own record, first set in 2019 when he had been working for 81 years and 85 days. Can you imagine?
Orthmann, who turned 100 years old in April 2022, started working for Industrias Renaux S.A. (now known as RenauxView), a textile company based in Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 1938. He was 15.
His family had fallen on tough times and young Walter was tasked with finding a job. Because he was born in Brusque, a small town in Santa Catarina with a large German population, he could speak pretty good German, which made him stand out to his future employer.
“Back in 1938, kids were expected to work to help support the family. As the oldest son of five, my mother took me to find a job at the age of 14,” Orthmann said.
Even though he got a job out of absolute necessity, he was eager to get started. His willingness to learn and prove himself led to him moving swiftly up the ladder at RenauxView. He started as a shipping assistant, then was promoted to a position in sales and eventually became sales manager.
Obviously, Walter Orthmann has seen a lot in his life—not just at his job, where you can imagine a lot has changed since 1937, but also in the world around him. He credits his long tenure at the company to his willingness to adapt with the times.
Interestingly, it seems that Orthmann continues to work because he wants to and not out of any necessity. Why would a 100-year-old man still need to work? He loves what he does and doesn’t really see the point in stopping if he’s still able to do it. Although the idea of working until the age of 100 seems absolutely ludicrous to most of us, some older people like to find ways to keep busy. Personally, gardening sounds like a better option, but if Walter’s happy, I’m happy for him.
“I don’t do much planning, nor care much about tomorrow,” Orthmann said, sharing his belief in remaining in the present. “All I care about is that tomorrow will be another day in which I will wake up, get up, exercise and go to work; you need to get busy with the present, not the past or the future. Here and now is what counts. So, let’s go to work!”
Trans youth continuously have to fight for their right to exist in the world. Living in a country where states are actively working to dismantle rights and protections for trans children and their families is stressful for trans youth, a section of the population that has alarmingly high rates of attempted suicide. Whether it’s things like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, squabbles over which bathroom to use or banning trans kids from sports that fit their identified gender, these kids face a plethora of challenges on top of trying to just be kids. It’s imperative that there’s time for joy, friendship and feeling like they belong to counterbalance the negative messaging they’re receiving from the adults in charge.
Shira Berkowitz has answered the call to provide a place for LGBTQ+ children to feel like they belong. Berkowitz is one of the founders of Camp Indigo Point, a summer camp specifically for gender nonconforming youth. The camp was inspired by their own experience as a camp program director—they were relieved of their duties after it was discovered that they were queer and the powers that be found it inappropriate for them to be a director for girls. Berkowitz told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency it “was really harmful to my identity. I went back in the closet for a few years.”
Eventually Berkowitz went on to work at Camp Sabra, Missouri’s biggest overnight camp. They found the environment much more accepting, but the experience at the other camp continued to motivate them to build an even more inclusive community. Even though Camp Sabra is accepting, at the time it only employed two other members of the LGBTQ community. Berkowitz and a friend from Camp Sabra, Daniel Bogard—a rabbi and parent who is raising a transgender child—thought up the idea for Camp Indigo Point last year, around the time that Missouri introduced multiple anti-trans bills, several of which are aimed at children.
It felt important to Berkowitz and Bogard to have a place where trans kids could feel safe and accepted. Camp Indigo Point is open for one week in June. When registration opened, it filled up within weeks—93 children from 27 states have filled the available spots. There are currently more than 50 children on the waitlist and more than 130 people vying for the 29 staff positions available.
Camp Indigo Point isn’t only available to Jewish trans youth, it’s open to all gender nonconforming youth in America. The lucky kids that will get to spend a week there will certainly be in for a treat, having a space designed just for them that allows them the freedom to simply be.
The ability to exist fully within yourself as you were meant to be is something that many people take for granted. At this camp, these kids will finally be able to focus on what summer camps are designed for: being silly and having fun.
Max, a three-year-old black Labrador retriever is being hailed as a hero for standing by his lost owner with dementia for three days and alerting authorities to find them.
Sherry Noppe, a 63-year-old mother with early-onset dementia, took Max for a walk on Tuesday, May 2, through George Bush Park in Katy, Texas, just outside of Houston. The 7,800-acre park hosts a large soccer field, shooting range, and numerous pavilions, playgrounds, ponds, and jogging trails which are surrounded by forest and swamps.
While on their walk, Noppe accidentally wandered off into the forest with Max and couldn’t find her way out of the dense woods.
Having a family member with dementia wander off and get lost is a frightening thing and sadly, it happens far too often. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6 in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once; many do so repeatedly.
A rescue team was on the lookout for Noppe and Max for three days until they located them early Friday morning at 3 am. When the rescue team got close, Max started barking, alerting authorities to their location. The intriguing thing is that Max isn’t known for making much noise.
“He’s not a barker, and I think something was coming, and he was like I got to protect her,” Courtney Noppe told KHOU. “When they actually found her, they heard him growling and barking,” Justin Noppe added.
Constable Ted Heap is relieved to report Sherry Noppe, missing since Tuesday, has been found in George Bush Park. She was located at approx. 3am Friday by a group of tireless volunteers and deputies who were alerted by the sound of her dog, Max, barking in the woods. #hounewspic.twitter.com/ZKOOjldJ94
— Harris County Pct 5 (@Harris County Pct 5) 1651827890
“As they got closer to her, I think that’s what caused him to bark because he was protecting her. So I do think his barking is what led those people to hear him and go in that area and find her. So yes, I do believe he saved her life,” Justin said.
The incredible thing is that when they found Max he wasn’t wearing a leash or a collar. He had stuck by the grandmother for three days voluntarily.
“I think she was hiding. I think she was disoriented, paranoid, and just was hiding, and didn’t want to be found. And so no, I think if Max wasn’t there, she would not have been found,” Justin said.
Sherry’s family says she doesn’t remember much of what happened after getting lost in the trees and then feeling disoriented. The good news is that when Sherry was found she only had a few minor cuts and bruises and a mild case of dehydration. Max is also doing well, with the family promising him a steak dinner for his behavior.
While Max’s dedication to his owner is remarkable, it’s not that shocking for his breed. According to The Scotsman, Labrador retrievers are one of the most loyal dogs one can get. Brandi Hunter Munden, vice president of the American Kennel Club agrees, saying the breed is a “great choice for families with young kids or other dogs, Labs get along with everyone and love their owners endlessly.”
The Noppe family can attest to that.
“I think it’s amazing what he did. It’s honestly a miracle for him to have stayed with her for 3 days and not left her side,” Courtney said.
Paul was furious after the game, leaving his postgame presser early in an effort not to get fined and then voiced his frustration with what happened in the stands on Twitter, as we learned Mavs fans put their hands on his family behind the Suns bench. It wasn’t clear exactly what had happened, but Paul was understandably upset and on Monday the Mavericks offered a statement following their investigation into the incident.
Per the team, the two fans in question had tried to give “unwanted hugs” to the Paul family and engage them in conversation, and would not be allowed to return to the arena until 2023 (which isn’t a particularly long ban).
The Mavericks have banned two fans from their home arena until 2023 in the wake of the fan incident with Chris Paul’s family during Sunday’s Game 4. Team statement: pic.twitter.com/TwEX9moIV6
“Unwanted hugs” is certainly a new one when it comes to explaining an incident in the stands, and whatever the intent, that’s still unacceptable behavior towards a player’s family — and it’s hard to imagine it was as innocent as this statement makes it seem given Paul had just fouled out so there wasn’t any reason to believe the Paul family would want any kind of hug or contact in that moment. Those fans will not be back at Mavs games this year, although it can be debated as to whether this is a stern enough punishment to deter future incidents of the kind.
When Bob Saget suddenly and unexpectedly died in a Florida hotel room in early January, tributes quickly poured in, so beloved was he as a comic, a TV star, and a filmmaker. Indeed, people are so passionate about sharing their love for Saget that a Netflix special dedicated to his legacy will be ready to watch less than six months after he passed.
It’s called A Tribute to Bob Saget, and its existence was revealed during last week’s Netflix is a Joke festival. As per Deadline, the special consists of an event held after his death populated by friends and family. Among those present were his Full House co-star John Stamos, as well as the likes of Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Jeff Ross, and John Mayer. The special will drop on Netflix on June 10.
The cause of Saget’s death took a while to be made public. About a month after his passing, it was revealed that it was the result of head trauma he endured while alone in his hotel room after a stand-up set. It was later revealed that his injuries may have been even worse than initially reported.
Saget enjoyed an incredible double life. To many, he was a warm sitcom father figure and jovial host of a show comprised of wacky videos filmed by everyday people. By night, he was one of the bluest comics in the scene. Indeed, the eulogy delivered by his longtime pal and colleague John Stamos managed to be both touching and appropriately filthy.
Somewhere amid all of that action in the Octagon was a brief bit of wildness outside of it. A woman attending the event in Phoenix had enough liquid encouragement (and the goading of fans around her with cell phones out to capture it all) to decide it was a good idea to rush the Octagon and try to climb the cage. This was a great idea for all of five seconds, as she hopped over the railing, ran up to the Octagon, and got quickly discarded by security as soon as she jumped up to the apron, never even reaching the cage.
A girl tried to rush the cage at UFC 274 and was launched by security as she attempted her ascent pic.twitter.com/u45cC1tZV8
Rushing the field at a sporting event is never a good idea, but it’s hard to imagine a worse place to try and get into than a UFC Octagon, where people are literally trained to knock you out if you succeed on getting in there. It’s not much better than running on a football field, where a player might lay you out, and honestly this woman probably is lucky security gave her such a casual discard as she made her way up the apron. Whatever the bet was here, it was not worth it, and the lesson as always is to enjoy events from your seat rather than trying to make yourself a part of the action, because the only thing waiting for you by the field/ring/octagon is pain.
Killer Mike, one half of Run The Jewels and recent Ozark star, has long been a vocal advocate of marijuana — both as a medicine and as a creative tool that has helped pull his mile-a-minute mind in focus. Which made him a natural fit to host Weedmaps’ excellent new docuseries, Tumbleweeds. The four-part docuseries follows Killer Mike as he explores the unique cannabis cultures of Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago and chops it up with comedians, cannabis advocates, and business owners in an effort to paint cannabis legalization in a more positive light by showing how weed can tie communities together.
Tumbleweeds is a fun watch that remains as entertaining as it is educational, much of that thanks to Killer Mike’s personality — which can turn from jovial to intensely thoughtful on a dime. We experienced this first hand when we linked up with the rapper and activist to discuss the series, weed policy, restitution for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who helped popularize marijuana in the United States, and some radical (but necessary) efforts that states can — and should — make as we steadily march toward federal legalization.
Check out the full discussion below and be sure to catch the final episode of Tumbleweeds on May 8th or all four parts on May 15th on VICE TV and Vice TV Streaming apps.
Paul Tumpson
Something I really like and appreciate about the new series is that it takes what has been a familiar and frankly racist framework — this idea that “pot destroys communities” — and kind of flips that on its head to show how cannabis can be an integral part of communities. Was that the intention going in? Or was it more about exploring the unique cultures of each respective city?
I think it was all of that at one time. I think the best entertainer in the circus is the juggler. I think that when you can show the interconnectivity between things, the better. Not only do we show that pot is a healer, but pot also helps with PTSD, we show pot from an artistic perspective in the museum. We got an opportunity, we got a chance to show that pot smokers are normal regular human beings leading normal regular lives who use this plant versus other medicines.
We got a chance to show that local businesses that grow around pot — whether it was pizza or candy or fine dining — we got an opportunity to really see the interconnectedness of it all. If you look at pot culture from a pot smoker’s perspective, like say the Rastafarians, pot has been used in a bunch of different things. Everything from using hemp to create tools and papers to smoking marijuana, using it in religious rituals and things, so I think that the stoner community already knew that pot exists or cannabis exists in a lot of different places for a lot of different reasons.
What to me was the curveball but I really thought was interesting was adding comedians. Comedians… they take our pain and make us laugh at it and that brings joy. But they’re very, very observational… and usually very smart in some capacity, and I really enjoyed the conversations that I had with comedians.
I enjoyed going to local businesses, and enjoyed meeting the advocates too, but getting the chance to meet people who make people smile for a living and who are users of pot really was an interesting curveball that got thrown in, so it didn’t get too serious. It didn’t get too heavy. It didn’t get too long or instructional. Really remained fun from start to finish.
Is there anything you would say that you learned in this process that you didn’t know of beforehand?
Damn near too much shit to list. What I really enjoyed was talking to — and I’m sorry, I can’t remember her name [Charissa Jackson], “pot does rob the memory,” Kris Kristofferson said that. This young lady was a veteran and an advocate for veterans’ rights around PTSD and pot. I have a sincere reverence for people who’ve served in our US military. It’s not like I want a war machine marching across the earth but any young person who signs up from 18 to 22 and gives part of their life, a very young, whimsical part of their life… They give that to the United States military. I believe they shouldn’t have to pay interest on a home loan. I believe they should be first in line for lower taxes. I really have a reverence for them.
So to see someone give a damn about veterans in a way that made her an advocate for marijuana usage. Someone that’s helping on the Hill, helping Washington come to their senses about medicine via the cannabis plant versus appeal with the VA meant a lot to me.
Fab Five Freddy and the brother that moved from, I think it was down in Louisiana, who had served 13 years I believe for two joints. You have to understand, Fab Five Freddy in my life has been an art teacher, and music director. He has introduced me to culture and this is just from a kid watching him prior to MTV and MTV. But to see him now as an advocate and an ally in terms of pushing legalization or decriminalization were two things I can really say I walked away from the interview much smarter from and much more determined to help normalize cannabis in this country.
Why were the cities of Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago the cities settled on in the series? As someone who was born and raised in and around Southern California’s cannabis culture, I actually appreciate how you skipped over Los Angeles, which I feel gets too much of the spotlight.
Los Angeles is a hell of a city but Northern California still has better weed. I just got to be frank about that. Shoutout to Satellite OG, shoutout to Berner and Cookies, shout out to Lemonade, shoutout to a few other brands that I’ve smoked great weed from but those hippies in Northern California sure know what the fuck they’re doing.
Illinois as a state is lightyears ahead of the state I’m in, Georgia, and I thought Illinois decriminalizing and making use for recreational use was brilliant. Chicago was dope in terms of the artwork that I got to see there. It was dope in terms of comedy and it was dope in terms of having some fire bud in that motherfucker, I gotta be frank,
Vegas… in my opinion, gambling doesn’t want anything to get too in a way of gambling, some of the restrictions were a little tighter for me, a little more uncomfortable until you got into shops. Once you got into the shops, the people were amazing, the way they educated you about the brands was amazing. But in terms of the laws, you can tell that Vegas is not going to let cannabis and prostitution compete with gambling.
When I was walking back into the casino, I remember one of the doormen, he was a young Black guy, he walked to me and said, “Mike, I’m not tripping on you but I’m gonna tell you sometimes they trip on guys who come in with the Cookies bags and whatnot so next time just put it into your bookbag” and I was like “oh, shit.”
The casinos really don’t want you so high that you can’t leave your room, they need you out there pulling that slot machine.
New York is much more conservative than I thought it would be. I can literally buy weed right on the corner in front of the store where we were eating CBD chocolates. But yet it hasn’t made it inside the store. But they don’t trip about you standing around smoking weed, so I’m not tripping on that, but I’d like for them to get a little more progressive.
SF is just the capital of marijuana in my mind. If you’re not talking Amsterdam, you’re talking Northern California. When I’m in Amsterdam, they ask you for Northern California seeds. So shouts out to Northern Cali because that’s just the best OG Kush in the world.
Paul Tumpson
In the past, you’ve mentioned that BIPOC deserve a considerable share of the marijuana industry for helping to popularize it. Agreed, can you tell us how you envision that specifically?
I would envision it the same way politicians who envision bullshit laws that allow six licenses for a whole state would envision it. If Georgians are made up of 35% Black people, then 35% of the licenses should go to Black people. And those Black people should have to partner because you’ve got the Black bourgeoisie, being from Atlanta I’m gonna tell you, you got Black Republicans, you got Black bourgeoisie, Black circles that want to keep it in there. You should have to partner with someone convicted of a marijuana felony. Now that’s radical, and that’s some American shit because we were started by a group of motherfuckers who didn’t want to pay taxes.
What I would say is you would have to partner with say a group of Black money or capital investors, they would have to partner with a former Kingpin and then I would bring in business mediators and help those people build the industry from the ground up and I would allow those licenses to be free-flowing and not be so constricted that no one else could make it into the market.
Our first Black mayor was a man named Maynard Jackson and Maynard Jackson made it so that if you wanted a city contract with the city of Atlanta, at least 29% of your company had to be black or people of color. So all of a sudden you saw businesses opening up partnerships and opening up subcontractors and things of that nature and it grew a Black working class and middle class and it gave us 60 years of successful mayors, our economy has grown, even through this COVID thing, our economy is great.
I’m only speaking locally because I do my work locally — 35% of these motherfuckers Black? 35% of licenses should be Black! They should have to partner with people convicted of marijuana convictions, and in terms of dispensaries, there damn sure should be an unlimited amount you put out there. You should be able to open up a dispensary with the minimal amount of shelf, you shouldn’t have to have $150,000 liquid and no shit like that you should be able to open up a dispensary if you’re an old lady, you grow your plants and you sell it curbside like a lemonade stand in the summer.
…If you can’t tell I put a little thought into this.
You mentioned some states and they all approach cannabis differently. In your opinion, what state is really doing it right and how can others do it better? Aside from what you just laid out, of course.
I like what Illinois did going straight to recreational — I don’t think they did the hump of a strict medical thing first. I like how Colorado was putting money back into the school systems and improving the school system. I don’t think we have had the best version yet. Because we do not have the right people advising. We need people convicted of marijuana convictions at the table with lawmakers making the law, it should not just be conglomerates and lobbyists or corporations that want to get into medical now.
It should be Black farmers who have been for the last 80 and 100 years cut out of many industries in this country. It should be people who were victims, people you would call Kingpins of bullshit drug laws, many of which our current president helped to instate. It should be those people at the table and it should be common folk, recreational marijuana users helping to shape the laws that are going to go forward. We should not be restrictive like the prohibition was with liquor, we should not only allow four, five, or six licenses and we should not cut and carve regions so that only politicians and their friends, or companies get them, we should make it less restrictive.
We should have less licensing in terms of keeping a tight hold on the money that gets sucked into taxes. We should make it from day one, the time you open your dispensary, the time you get your first dollar for a marijuana sale, you should be able to bank in the United States. You should be able to put that money in a bank, it is a shame that people who run dispensaries have to worry about robbery, have to worry about seizures, have to worry about ATF, and the alphabet boys because they simply cannot bank. So all those I would bring to the table and I would put a particular interest in Black banks like my bank Greenwood, like Citizens Trust Bank, like Carver — I’d put a particular interest in Latino banks because who were the people used to villainize marijuana? Black people and Mexicans.
I’d try to make some restitution by providing opportunity. I’d allow the people to shape the laws on the ground to be everyone from everyday stoners and smokers that go to work to people that have served long, lengthy marijuana sentences for kingpin drug laws. I’d bring people who are already in the industry as outlaws the people who are growing and people going against the government now and choosing to do it in terms of helping the free, I’d make sure the people who’ve been involved in NORML for the last 40 years have a seat at the table and get an opportunity to talk.
It’s time for the people that use marijuana to make the rules for marijuana and not the other way around.
Paul Tumpson
I know you’re a fan of indica strains, I’m just curious, what about indicas appeal to you particularly?
I’m naturally hyper — my mind naturally is moving on 100 different things at 100 miles per hour 100 times a day. And indicas allow me a very dense body high, and even cerebral, that allows me to focus in on one or two things that I need to get done. Even when I go for my walks in the morning or running around the gym, with a indica high by the time I realize I’m in pain the workout is almost over.
Although sativas are credited with being cerebral, I think if you’re a person whose mind moves a lot that indicas are great for you because they put you at calm. When I wake up in the morning and do breathing exercises or yoga or tai chi or whatever the fuck my wife has me doing, it’s cool to take a couple of puffs off one of these [gestures to the lit joint in his hand] and settle myself and not think about the other things that are going on.
And that the grandfather of it all, that OG Kush — I like to smoke it. Curren$y’s a big fan of it. There’s just nothing that’s as mellow and cool. Indicas fulfill the stereotype of marijuana being a thing that puts you in a very cool vibe, you know what I mean? It’s one of the reasons I love it.
And just as my last question, I’m curious– and you kind of alluded to it a little bit just now — if you could take us through your typical smoking ritual.
I get up and roll three of these a day. I wake and bake, I get up and do my walks, or I do the tai chi or yoga stuff. I smoke about a quarter of this and then when I’m done with that, I’ll finish the other three quarters over the process of the next two hours or so. I’ll grab food in the afternoon, I try to wait to eat till about 12 or 1 now. Usually, after I’m done with that one my wife starts moving around, we’ll share one, go have lunch, talk about the day, and do some business.
That will hold me until say about 5 or 6, just do whatever, kick it with the kids. If I have a late meeting or something I hold it and usually I smoke the last one right before I leave wherever I’m going or I’ll sit in the driveway, look at the stars on my truck bed and smoke the other half and that was my three grams for the day.
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