Over the years since our country was founded, there have been a number of movements that the populace has eventually rallied around and fought for. We’ve had our initial fight for freedom against Great Britain. The fight against slavery. The fight for civil rights. More recently, the fight for gay marriage. Each of these moments in American history had its opponents. Sometimes these opponents have attacked other constitutional rights in a balls to the wall effort to carry the day, no matter what freedom is infringed upon.
So it is with the legalization movement. More recently, in the state of Illinois, nearly two years after a decision was reached that medical marijuana users could own firearms, four residents and medical users were told by the state that their firearms licenses would be taken away. The agency sending the letters has spoken out about this and rescinded those letters. It also removed language on its website asking firearm owners if they were medical marijuana card holders. The state police agency responsible for this claims that this was all a mistake. However, Tyler Anthony, with the Canna Law Group states the following,” The opposite is probably true. Even taking their word for it, they shouldn’t be careless with citizens’ constitutional rights, especially when their position lacks any clear legal basis.”
The movement to legalize cannabis has its roots in our constitutional freedoms. It doesn’t surprise anyone that there are those opposing the will of the people in this area who would be willing to usurp other constitutional rights in an effort to win the day, or make sure that Big Pharma continues to be paid. The movement has made significant strides in the past few years, but the incident in Illinois reminds us that the struggle is still ongoing, that some are willing to encroach on our freedoms in other ways to influence final outcomes, and that we need to be vocal and vigilant. We won’t accept anything less than a final and full legalization without any retaliation or penalty elsewhere. Period.
Source- Associated Press, Chicago.
Every year we watch each holiday season sometimes bring on one level of stress after another. Whether it's last minute shopping or trying to make sure that someone will like that "perfect" gift, it's easy to lose focus on why we do what we do during the season. Here at Myster, we'd like to help. We've put together a list of our favorite products from our own high end line. Each one can help remind us of what the season is about when we take the time to slow down, light up and get lost in our rituals. Enjoy!
The Stashtray Starter Kit -$99
Voted one of the top 20 holiday gifts by The Cannabist, the Stashtray truly is the best rolling tray on the market. It includes the stainless steel tray, 2 strain storage containers, ash tray with pipe spike and bowl stand, lighter case, and a sheet of magnetic stickers. This is a great starter kit for someone who already has a grinder. For those looking to customize their Stashtray, this is the most affordable way to start!
The Shotgun - $195
This customizable dry herb and wax vaporizer, comes complete with an all ceramic convection chamber with two glass shotgun shell inserts for concentrates. With a quick heating time and fully adjustable temperature settings, the Shotgun blasts through concentrates like no other portable vaporizer ever! Additional specs include a OLED screen and 2600mAh battery.
Glass Fog Chamber - $40
Hands down, this is the best wax attachment on the market today. The large chamber area allows the vapor to cool and provides maximum flavor. This item is fabricated with stainless steel construction, scratch resistant glass, and replaceable titanium coil.
The Fogpen 3-in-1 High End Kit - $80
Quoted as being "one beautiful piece of machinery" by The Travel Joint, the sleek and discreet Fogpen is a must have this season for an on the go ritual. The 3-in-1 high end kit includes everything you need to be vaping dry herb, wax, and e-liquids - all nicely concealed as a fine writing instrument.
The Grand Stand - $15
A stylish bookend style silicon stand that is great for showing off your Fogpen. Organize your pen, dabbers, and non-stick jar - all in one place. Available in 4 classic Myster colors.
The Slick - $35
Introducing the newest addition to the Myster family - The Slick. A perfect stocking stuffer as a small, sleek concentrate vaporizer with an all ceramic coil. Complete with a non-stick jar, dabber, and USB charger, this kit is a value that even Scrooge can approve.
Myster Classic Grinder - $40
Made of aircraft grade aluminum, this 4 chamber grinder is tough as nails and gets the job done. The screen features larger holes to gather pollen more quickly and reduce any unnecessary build up. Available in 4 colors, this is the best looking and most functional grinder you have ever owned.
Whether you're shopping for someone you love or treating yourself to a bit of luxury, we hope your season is merry and bright!
Lately I’ve been scanning different social media feeds and blog posts to get an idea of how people see Thanksgiving and their role in it. It’s easy to get used to business as usual around the holidays. I can get cynical and stress myself out. This year, I am trying to find ways to center myself, renew my focus and just basically chill out.
It can be hard to do. When I realize I’m heading down that pathway of busyness and over achieving, I have to force myself to stop, slow down and consider things from a different point of view.
I often let my mind wander into what it will look like around a Thanksgiving table in the future when we are all freed from cannabis prohibition and able to naturally calm ourselves and enjoy our moments and daily rituals, fear free.
I’m looking forward to getting together with the family and passing around the Fogpen while we cook turkey and laugh in the kitchen. After dinner, I’m sure I will be watching my master-mind joint rolling brother use the Stashtray and roll a joint with one hand. I realize people experience different things within their daily rituals, but one thing that has always impressed me about cannabis is its ability to help me slow down and appreciate things that I’ve missed daily. As busy as my life gets, as all of our lives get, I can easily long for those days and get impatient with where the legalization movement is today so everyone can enjoy this.
This year, I’ve decided to stop, slow down and take stock of where the movement is, and consider the strides that have been made, some of them surprising. When I consider the progress in Washington DC (we knew that was coming…no way anyone can work in the Congress of the United States and not need to light up daily). Or the progress in the Pacific Northwest, or the surprising support in some places in Texas, or Georgia. I read stories out of Colorado daily, and follow the news there constantly.
It’s taken a long time for us to get where we are. New people are joining the movement daily and letting their voices be heard. The flood of voices on social media outlets only grows week to week.
So, I guess I’ve started to realize that this year, I can be thankful for more than just the typical hallmark moments. Though it has had a frustrating history, I’m thankful for where the movement is today. I’m thankful for where it’s been and where it’s going. I’m thankful for the support I see in state houses nationwide and the growing support on Capitol Hill. I’m thankful that cannabis helps me to slow down and relax. I’m going to take these notions into our family thanksgiving feast this year, slow down, and dream toward the future.
Then, after the tryptophan has weaned its way through my system and I’m back to being stressed and over achieving, I’m going to quit my dreaming and get back to work. Because this isn’t over until we have our full freedom, rights restored, and we can move on the way that we were made to.
A lot of people often live their lives in one place and wishing they were in another. Perhaps we’ve all experienced it. We go to work, do said work, drive home, briefly see our families, sleep, then do it all over again the next day. And the next. And the next. Rinse. Dry. Repeat.
We know what it’s like to try to stop and take hold of moments that are passing by whether or not we’re ready for their departure. We’ve all sat at a desk, wishing we could get away, even for just a few moments. For cannabis users, that’s part of why smoking endures. And has for centuries.
Cannabis helps so, so many to slow down, rest and be at peace, even if for just a few moments. And it’s not just the college students that are partaking and creating new rituals. It’s moms, dads, front desk employees, CEO’s, scientists and probably only God knows how many elected representatives!
But for far too many, the risks that come with being known or being seen with weed make the prospect of smoking when they would like to and unlikely probability.
The Fogpen helps with this. Designed to look like a well-balanced and elegant writing instrument, it allows you to discreetly vape or quickly smoke on the go, day in and day out. For those who need a shot in the arm daily, or hourly, the Fogpen makes it possible. It allows us to experience our freedoms in a manner and time of our choosing, not another’s. And for anyone concerned about appearances,( aren’t we all ) this item is nicely and elegantly camouflaged as an everyday office tool.
So don’t worry. Be happy, as the song says. Enjoy your days. Find your own “Zen moment”, and let the worries and cares wash away and out of your mind, even if for only a little while.
