Now that Canada has become the first North American nation to completely legalize pot, does this mean the Left Coast will now be known as the Cannabis Coast? Holy sensimilla, dudes. Think about it.
From San Diego, California, to Vancouver, B.C., to Utqiagvik, Alaska, it’s now legal to buy marijuana on most of the Pacific coast. Canada went legal at the stroke of midnight on Wednesday. Being able to possess and purchase cannabis in British Columbia fills in the gap of pot-friendly states and provinces.
That doesn’t mean you can buy a doobie in Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory, and drive across the U.S. border. Pot may be legal in Alaska but it’s still a federal crime to bring it into the Last Frontier. Actually, the Betster doesn’t know if there’s a pot shop yet in Beaver Creek. We’re guessing the field investigators for The Milepost will be updating the log of the north this winter.
The Betster’s brain is spinning pondering how much the laws have changed since Irwin Ravin got busted with pot back in 1973 in Anchorage and went on to decriminalize cannabis in the 1975 court decision bearing his name. All Irwin wanted to do was protect personal freedom and look how far things have come. The Cannabis Coast. Whoa.
If you do toke, remember to do so responsibly, and of course never, ever drive stoned. You could always contemplate the wonders of the universe without chemical enhancement, because here in the land of amazing, nature itself does a pretty darn good job of altering our consciousness.
Oh, and our great community organizations do a good job of entertaining us, too, like with these Best Bets:
BEST BENEVOLENT BET: Join the Homer council on the Arts at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday for Salmon Series: Tiny Dances. This is their second annual series of intimate evening performance supporting local performing artists’ exploration of their creative process. Get an inside glimpse of the imagination of our talented performing artists; what they dream, see, and create. This year’s October kickoff event, “Salon Series: Tiny Dances in an Intimate Setting” is another addition of dances performed up close and in person. The flow of the evening moves from cocktail party to intimate performance and back again as music draws the performers to the 4 x 8-foot stage. It all takes place at the gallery at 355 W. Pioneer Ave. Admission is $15 for HCOA members and $20 for non-members. Food will be included and drinks can be purchased there.
BEST BETTER YOUR LIFE BET: Can you believe it’s been a whole year since South Peninsula Hospital kicked off its first ever Walk with a Doc event? Well, it has been. Help them celebrate one full year as a Walk with a Doc chapter. Join South Peninsula Hospital and Rob Downey at SPARC (600 Sterling Hwy next to Homer Middle School) from 9-10 a.m. Saturday for Downey’s brief talk on insulin resistance, and spend the rest of the hour walking at your own pace, chatting, asking any questions and celebrating. This is a free event, open to all ages and abilities. There will be free blood pressure screenings, prizes and refreshments. Please bring clean indoor walking shoes. Email wellness@sphosp.org, or call the Health & Wellness Department at 907-235-0970 with questions or for more information.
BEST BETTER KEEP UP BET: The Betster normally tries to steer clear of politics, but darned if this isn’t an important election coming up in November. If you want to know more about your two choices for the Alaska House of Representatives District 31 seat, head over to the Homer Public Library at 4 p.m. on Saturday for the candidate forum that will be hosted there. Both candidates, Rep. Paul Seaton and Sarah Vance, will be there to answer questions. If you have a question you would like to be asked at the forum, email info@friendshomerlibrary.org.
BEST BOOGIE BET: Take the pressure off with a carefree night of music and dance at the next installment of the Salmonfest Music Series, at 9 p.m. Saturday at Alice’s Champagne Palace. The band this time around is Superfrequency, a group with deep funk/dance grooves with biting guitar riffs, lush keys and full horn section. Superfrequency includes three lead singers/writers, each with their own distinctive style. This gives the band a very eclectic, diverse sound that spans the musical spectrum from rock and funk to reggae, jazz and Latin and just about everything in between. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
