Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? No, it's time to again review the things I wanted to have happen this year, and consider some things I would like to see happen in 2019. As usual, we start with the prior year's list, with comments in ALL CAPS:
-The failure of Bitcoin, not as an idea, but as an investment.
BITCOIN'S SHARE PRICE WENT FROM OVER $15,000 TO UNDER $4,000. THESE DAYS, IT'S AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
-An NCAA scandal so large they will have to start allowing players a cut of revenues.
THERE WAS/IS A RATHER LARGE SCANDAL RELATED TO SHOE COMPANY REPS GETTING MONEY TO DIRECT AMATEUR BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO CERTAIN SCHOOLS. BUT SO FAR IT'S ONLY LED TO A FEW COACHES BEING FIRED.
-More destinations and ways to fly on Southwest Airlines.
WELL, THEY ADDED A DIRECT DES MOINES - PHOENIX FLIGHT.
-A widespread ability to charge devices without a cord (also asked for this for 2016).
NOPE.
-A new governor / lieutenant governor elected for Iowa.
IT LOOKED LIKE THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A SURPRISING DISAPPOINTMENT.
-Let's try this -- exponential growth in the cannabis industry to the extent all states will want a piece of it through taxation.
ALMOST READY TO SAY THIS HAPPENED. [I JUST COVERED THIS IN MY LAST POST.]
-Greater national and international awareness of CRISPR (genome editing) technology.
THERE HAVE BEEN MORE NATIONAL STORIES ABOUT THIS.
-Smaller entree portions served in restaurants, for a reduced price.
THE PORTIONS MAY HAVE GOTTEN LARGER.
-Fewer national weather disasters, but more understanding of climate change.
ANOTHER ITEM THAT MOVED FARTHER AWAY FROM HAPPENING, NOT CLOSER.
-The resignation or impeachment of a mentally unstable and unqualified president -- again, no names.
CARRYING THIS ONE OVER TO NEXT YEAR.
Now, for 2019 I'd like to see these things happen:
The resignation or impeachment of a mentally unstable and unqualified president -- again, no names.
The electric vehicle becoming America's fastest growing (by percentage) seller.
Alabama and Clemson and New England to have poor football seasons.
Some major medical breakthrough, perhaps a vaccine to eliminate a dread disease.
Consistent, moderate summer rain in central Iowa.
A priest actually arrested and charged and jailed for past sexual abuse.
More cities allowing app-based scooter rentals.
Another scandal that ruins another Fox TV personality.
U.S. restaurants that allow payment by app, OR that bring the credit card reader to your table.
Me traveling to one of the five continental states in which I've never set foot.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Sunday, December 9, 2018
High Time
It's been almost a year since I've blogged about legalization of marijuana, and I'm glad to report that more (slow) progress is being made. Let’s recap.
Internationally, Canada legalized marijuana this year, leaving the U.S. in their socially progressive dust.
Nationally, after some additional November ballot approvals, eleven U.S. states have now legalized recreational marijuana use. It isn’t just ‘liberal’ western states either; states like Michigan and Vermont have joined the enlightened minority that allow cannabis with the pleasant side effect of…..tax revenue. (You thought I was going to say the pleasant side effect of sensitivity and relaxation?)
Meanwhile, at least 20 other states now broadly offer legal medical marijuana. This should be the bare minimum allowance of any state. So the good news is, over half of America gets it.
Unfortunately, the rest of America is still in a race to see which state can be the slowest and dumbest when it comes to legalizing pot. A few of these states, including Iowa, now allow an extremely limited and convoluted way for medically-eligible people to obtain small doses of cannabis product. It’s so limited, in fact, that it can’t even be considered a legalization of medical marijuana.
The hypocrisy on these non-legalization states gets worse by the day. We still have a virtually unregulated opioid epidemic in the country, but people can still get prescriptions in those states for opioids with no problem. And do I even need to make the point about legal alcohol consumption? For example in Iowa, the regulators have gone out of their way to encourage home-based production and sale of beer and liquor – as if that’s not a mind-altering substance.
Today there is little doubt that most Americans at least want 1) medical marijuana to be legal, and 2) marijuana possession to be decriminalized. In states that allow the public to vote on ballot initiatives, it’s now also become clear that most people believe in limited recreational sales and usage.
It’s only a matter of time before America legalizes marijuana, like its Canadian counterpart. The only question is which state(s) will be the last, foolish ones not to do something before then.
Internationally, Canada legalized marijuana this year, leaving the U.S. in their socially progressive dust.
Nationally, after some additional November ballot approvals, eleven U.S. states have now legalized recreational marijuana use. It isn’t just ‘liberal’ western states either; states like Michigan and Vermont have joined the enlightened minority that allow cannabis with the pleasant side effect of…..tax revenue. (You thought I was going to say the pleasant side effect of sensitivity and relaxation?)
Meanwhile, at least 20 other states now broadly offer legal medical marijuana. This should be the bare minimum allowance of any state. So the good news is, over half of America gets it.
Unfortunately, the rest of America is still in a race to see which state can be the slowest and dumbest when it comes to legalizing pot. A few of these states, including Iowa, now allow an extremely limited and convoluted way for medically-eligible people to obtain small doses of cannabis product. It’s so limited, in fact, that it can’t even be considered a legalization of medical marijuana.
The hypocrisy on these non-legalization states gets worse by the day. We still have a virtually unregulated opioid epidemic in the country, but people can still get prescriptions in those states for opioids with no problem. And do I even need to make the point about legal alcohol consumption? For example in Iowa, the regulators have gone out of their way to encourage home-based production and sale of beer and liquor – as if that’s not a mind-altering substance.
Today there is little doubt that most Americans at least want 1) medical marijuana to be legal, and 2) marijuana possession to be decriminalized. In states that allow the public to vote on ballot initiatives, it’s now also become clear that most people believe in limited recreational sales and usage.
It’s only a matter of time before America legalizes marijuana, like its Canadian counterpart. The only question is which state(s) will be the last, foolish ones not to do something before then.
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