11/04/2012

Dateline: Washington
Clyde Cathcart

While there were some public celebrations of Liberation Day, the second anniversary of the repeal of the cannabis prohibition, the day passed quietly for most Americans.

Most passed the day quietly reflecting on the changes that had occurred in their lives since the United States ratified the 28th Amendment to the Constitution repealing all Federal prohibitions on the plant cannabis sativa.  The day passed much the same as December 5th, the anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment repealing alcohol prohibition.  People went to work, children went to school and life carried on as it had yesterday.

Ratification had nullified California and Oregon's reason for secession and averted the reason to fight a second Civil War, thus preserving the Union without bloodshed.  It also prevented other states from joining in the new secessionist movement.

While the US continues to import 20% of its oil from the Middle East, down from 70% in 2009, domestic supplies of ethanol derived from biomass continue to increase.  The latest estimates from the Department of Energy put US exports at 2M bbl of ethanol per day by 2014.  While the absence of US dollars flowing into the Middle East continue to be a concern to Arab nations, the State Department continues to minimize the impact.  Secretary of State Clinton was quoted saying "We have no desire to continue to prop up artificial Kingdoms".  

There has been no recent comment from Israel.

Since the Senate narrowly rejected the Copenhagen Accord in December 2010 with the vote of new Senator Mike Ditka of Illinois, the US has measured a CO₂ reduction from its borders of 5% from 2000 levels.  Believed to be a combination of reduction in emissions and an increase in CO₂ digestion by new and existing crops, this level is expected to fall through the remainder of this century, according to the Department of Agriculture.  Scientists now believe that any additional climate change is due to solar activity, according to a new report released by the Michael Crichton Institute of Truth in Science.  The continued reduction in CO₂ concentrations are thought to be good news for the world's climate, although the people of the Northeast, suffering through the coldest fall on record might disagree.

Former Vice President Al Gore had no comment to this report.

National spending on health care continued to fall for the 24th straight month.  A spokesperson for The National Heath Care Alliance, a consortium of hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, blamed the decrease on a combination of a lack of patients and a decrease in prescription drug use.  The spokesperson said that the hospitals and pharmaceuticals are working together to find cures to diseases resistant to cannabis therapy.  They are sure that they will find effective therapies to rare and incurable diseases given the time needed.  They have also re-doubled their efforts to cure the common cold.  

In related news, the Congressional Budget Office have again adjusted downward their estimate of the cost of the National Health Care Plan for the coming year by $500B dollars.  The CBO cites the decreasing cost of prescription medications as well as the reduced number of prescriptions submitted for re-imbursement as the major factors leading to the decrease.

Farm employment continues to rise as the service sector continues to bleed jobs.  Hardest hit are the prison industry, down 35% since 2009 and drug testing, down 80% in the same period.  Industry spokesman Rudolf Guliani said "These jobs are gone.  They didn't go offshore, they're just gone".  The effort to re-train prison guards continues, although results are mixed.  Dr. Phil McGraw responded that "Playground bullies just have to cowboy up and realize there is no longer a need for their talents".

New housing construction costs remain steady after the initial decline in hardwood prices.  A spokesman for the hardwood industry credited the bottom with finding new markets for wood after the paper industry moved to cannabis.  Demand for new hosing remains strong in light of the lower costs.

Retailers of cannabis cigarettes report slightly lower sales after the initial surge of demand following re-legalization.  "It seems that the novelty has worn off and people are just buying what they always buy" said convenience store owner Nidal Singh.  "I have no idea what the problem was, but I appreciate having another product to offer".

A group of South Carolinians continue to demonstrate in that state for ratification of the 28th Amendment, much as they did for the 21st Amendment.  South Carolina remains the only state where cannabis production and use remain illegal.  Their 32nd State prison is scheduled to open early next year.