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To read this weekend: bringing equity to the legal pot industry
This week at Cascadia Magazine, we published a detailed feature on the effort to increase racial equity in the legal cannabis industry across Cascadia. After years of prohibition, when many young black men were arrested for dealing, there’s now a booming multi-million industry. People of color face hurdles in entering the market (and account for just 1 to 5 percent of legal pot business owners). But entrepreneurs like Raft Hollingsworth, a cannabis grower based in the tiny lumber town of Shelton, Washington, are bucking the trends and drawing attention to the need for measures such as vacating past pot convictions.
Set aside time this weekend to read the article here.
WA governor vetoes controversial public records bill
Today, Washington governor Jay Inslee vetoed a bill that would have exempted legislators’ emails and other communications from the state’s public disclosure requirements. An uproar erupted after the state senate and house passed the bill with lightning speed to exempt past communications from disclosure.
Cascadia-based outdoor retailers boycott products from gun company
In response to the Florida school shootings, two major outdooor retailers — Vancouver-based Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), and Seattle’s REI — both announced this week that they will no longer carry products from Vista Brands, which also manufactures rifles similar to the one used in the shooting. Brands the companies will no longer stock include Giro, Bell, CamelBak, Bushnell, and Blackburn. Meanwhile, the WA legislature successfully passed a measure banning “bump stocks” and is still considering raising the age limit for buying “tactical” rifles to 21.
ICE deporting Cambodians who fled genocide forty years ago
Crosscut reports on how immigration officials in Tacoma, WA are cracking down on Cambodian refugees with prior convictions, sometimes breaking apart families that have been in the US for more than 40 years. In addition, KNKX wonders if a foreign worker program bringing immigrants from Latin America is equivalent to indentured servitude. Crosscut also breaks the story that ICE officials have been targeting immigration activists based on coverage in the media.
Immigrant families reduce housing costs with inter-generational living
Christopher Cheung at The Tyee writes about how immigrant families — including many from Asia — are fighting high housing costs with an old idea: living together with parents, grandparents, and other relatives.
How a Japanese family saved Puget Sound oysters
KUOW reports on how a Japanese American family, the Yamashitas, saved oyster-farming in Puget Sound. Nearly eradicated by pollution and over-harvesting, oysters made a comeback in the early 20th century thanks to seed stock imported from Japan.
“The Wall,” a poem by Anita Endrezze
The Raven Chronicles has a poem online from Everett, Washington poet Anita Endrezze, a re-imagining of what Trump’s border wall should look like:
“. . . A wall made of Berlin. A wall made for tunneling.
A beautiful wall of taco trucks.
A wall of silent stars and migratory songs. . . . ”
Read the poem in its entirety here.
That’s today’s news, arts, and culture from aboard the comfy seats of the Amtrak Cascades train. Here’s hoping you have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. –Andrew Engelson
Photo credits: cannabis products and staff photo courtesy of Hollingsworth Cannabis