Chill The Feck Out.

What a great way to spend a dreary Monday evening in the company of like-minded citizens from all over this island. And further afield too. The Black Box in Belfast was heaving from the get go and Hemp NI welcomed more than four hundred of their fellow activist through the doors.

From the first timers to the auld hands, there was somethin’ here for everyone. No matter how much you think you know, its the sort of event you come away from knowing more than when you went in. Long may it continue.

And as luck would have it, I won this mighty fine kitchen appliance to boot. Looks the buisness. Now all I have to do is sit down with the manual, watch a few youtube tutorials, gather up the ingredients and give it a lash.

Watch this space.

Until the next time,

Later alligators.

Emmet.

A Rude Awakening.

A squad of policemen standing at the foot of your bed shouting and waving a fistful of warrants at you is not the most pleasant way to wake out of your slumber any morning, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

As an outspoken and unashamed cannabis activist, grower and consumer it goes with the territory. Not the first time and I’m pretty sure, not the last.

Once my mind settled on the fact that I wasn’t been brought breakfast in bed, I thought it best to get up and see what all the commotion was about, although I had a pretty fair idea. I was greeted downstairs with the sight of about 20 or so police officers and a hallway strune with shattered glass and a hole in my back door that I could put my head through.

It was no surprise to me when they then handed me the warrants stating that “there is reasonable cause to believe that certain *[article(s)] namely drugs, drug paraphernalia, cash, mobile phones………” blah, blah fuckin’ blah blah “……..are on the premises.”

So the next few hours where spent with me drinking coffee, smokin’ fags and pointing out the folly and futility of their ways and how much of a waste of time and money to the taxpayers it all was. And to be fair, most of the officers agreed but pointed out that they don’t have a say in the matter. They don’t write the law, they just enforce it.

The fact I’m sitting here now typing this up is a clear indication that they didn’t find what they were after but left instead with their heads swirling with lots of new information on what the cannabis culture is all about and the knowledge that we’re going nowhere and we’re not hiding or being silent any longer.

Even left me with my “chilli” tent and all my “chilli” paraphernalia.

Happy days.

Will they be back? Quite possibly.

Will I be as lucky next time? Who knows.

Will it deter me? Fuck no.

This fights real and its till the death. Either mine or the laws.

Rise Up And Make Yourself Well.

Later alligators.

Emmet.

 

 

Time to breath out and reflect.

Well folks, that was a pretty whirlwind month. The first thing I would like to do is thank all who took the time to give us a vote or to just engage in the political process.

Not something we were expecting or prepared for but as always we met the challenge head on. We are a two man operation, Pearse and myself, so it meant a lot of late nights and even earlier mornings. Of course we would of liked to increase our overall vote share but we are still happy with the outcome.

During this election campaign, unlike the last one, we were invited to take part in a number of hustings and share a platform with all the major parties. It gave us a chance to put our proposals on the legalization of cannabis to a much wider and more diverse audience. From Youth Councils to Trade Unions and even the Chamber of Commerce. To us, this is a real step forward and in the right direction.

The real positive that has come out of this election is the removal of the petition of concern from any single party’s hands. That was what denied real progress to society. I envision real change happening to move us closer to a fully integrated future for all. That can only be a good thing for everybody.

Now, time to take a deep breath and back into the real world. Again, thank you all for engaging and voting in record numbers and hopefully no more elections for a while.

Later alligators.

Emmet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wrong Trousers And The Story Of A Reluctant Rebel.

As an 11 year old starting secondary school, I got bullied. I got beaten with sticks, punched and kicked. Not by the other kids, they were cool, but by the teachers.

The reason for this was because I turned up in a pair of light grey trousers while all the other pupils were wearing black trousers. I was taken aside and told that my attire was not part of the regulation uniform and not to turn up the next day wearing them.

So I went home and told to my Ma what the teachers had said and that I needed a pair of black trousers. She replied as only your Ma could,

“You’ll get no such thing. Be glad that you have a pair of trousers and I’m not sending you out with a bare arse like the black babies in Africa.”

These are probably not her exact words as it was quite a while ago, but you get the drift. She then produced the letter that the school had sent out regarding the school uniform and it did indeed say black or grey trousers. No amount of arguing on my part was going to get me a black pair and I was packed off to school the next day in my grey ones with the letter in hand.

Again I got singled out and stood at the front of the class to explain my non-compliance with their dress code. So I took the letter out and showed the teacher that what I was wearing was within the rules laid out and that I wasn’t going to be getting another pair anytime soon because my family couldn’t afford to buy me another pair after just one day’s use.

The teacher then pointed round the class that everyone else had the required uniform and why couldn’t I be like them. I said that I was like them, it’s just that my trousers were a different colour. Taking this as an affront to his authority, he started to belittle me  and accuse me of being a troublemaker. Nothing could of been further from the truth. I wanted to fit in. I didn’t want to be seen as different. These kids were all new to me, as was the school and the town it was in.

And thats how it started. People in positions of authority picked on me, tried to belittle me and then just pretty much tried to beat me into submission and conformity from the age of eleven. But it didn’t work. I wore those grey trousers until they fell apart and I learned to stand out from the crowd with my head held high and take the beatings from my so called superiors.

They never won and from that day to this I still refuse to conform to sets of arbitrary rules made up by authorities to take away my individuality. And so should you.

Rise Up And Make Yourself Well.

Vote Crossan #1 on March 2nd.

Tony Blair Stole My Posters.

That’s the claim made by Newry and Armagh Cista election candidate, Emmet Crossan.

We decided to get in touch with Emmet this morning to see what basis he had to make such a wild accusation. After a few hours of trying, we finally were able to wake him out of his slumber just after lunchtime. “What makes you think it was Tony Blair that stole your election posters?” we asked the laidback wannabe politician.

 “At first we just assumed it was the usual ballbags an’ bigots that had taken’ down our posters to adorn their bonfires in July. Nothin’ new there, we thought. But the next day Tony “The Warmonger” Blair was all over the telly with somethin’ very familiar an’ recognisable to us.”

“So Tony turned up on national TV with one of your posters?” we asked.

“Not exactly, Tony’s much too cunning to do somethin’ so blatant. It was our election slogan “Rise Up” that he was spouting to the assembled media an’ anybody else that would listen. We couldn’t believe our ears. The day after our posters went missin’ and our election slogan was heard coming out of the mouth of a man who never had an original thought in his life, we just put two and two together and came up with the only an’ obvious answer, “Tony fuckin’ Blair stole our posters.”

Well when it’s put like that, we would have to agree with the Lemmester. It does seem the most obvious conclusion to draw. Tony Blair definitely did steal his posters. The PSNI have been informed and we shall wait to see when charges will be filled. We’ll keep you updated.

These boots were made for walking.

An Alternative Voice for an Alternative Ulster. During this snap election Emmet Crossan pledges to stand once again with the recently rebranded Citizens Independent Social Thought Alliance (CISTA)

Emmet stood in the last Assembly election gaining a massive 1032 first preference votes. On the day he received congratulations from almost every elected official and even invitations to Stormont to discuss his policies and  his thoughts on the issues surrounding our community.

CISTA believe they can build upon their success from last year. Due to a swell in public opinion regarding their main policy, providing legal access to a regulated medical cannabis market, CISTA have seen interest sway locally towards their independent ideals.

After the success of cannabis legalisation in the Republic Of Ireland, CISTA aim to replicate these movements by lobbying a similar basis of all party support;  

“In the wake of Brexit, clearly, in Northern Ireland  we are ill-prepared. In order to alleviate the symptoms  we need a new market. A market that will yield high growth in not only production and manufacturing but  agriculture, industrial technology, healthcare and education” – Emmet Crossan

Brexit is one set of challenges but a more immediate challenge is closer to home. With scandals and corruption at the highest point in our Assembly, the large parties are floundering for public affection and still stirring sectarian tension by plucking on the heartstrings of their devoted, hard working citizens.

“Our government is dissolved and it needs rebuilt. CISTA feel it cannot be rebuilt with the same people and same parties sharing leadership. We need a bull in the china shop!” – Emmet Crossan

An average 60% voter turnout over the past two Assembly Elections in Newry and Armagh. An average of four nationalist and two unionist MLA’s.  That leaves 40% of people not voting in our area. Register to vote by Valentine’s Day.  Participate in the process, whatever your first preference may be. Your vote can make a difference. An extra 10% turnout would be an extra four and a half thousand votes putting Emmet in the running for a seat in the next Assembly.

We will act on the basis of evidence, with the consent of society through democracy, in the interests of all.

An Alternative Voice for an Alternative Ulster.

After participating in his first Hustings event in Newry, Tuesday 7th with the Newry & Mourne Youth Council, Emmet has gained a further understanding of the need for an alternative.  Young people are well informed. They understand the need for good leadership. Leadership that can look beyond gradually extinguishing divides. They need someone who can see the bigger picture and work out how to get there.  Alongside public appearances his social media campaign was launched before his nomination papers were submitted and you may already see Emmet’s face on a few lampposts as well as on your doorstep.

Vote CROSSAN #1 on March 2nd.

Somethin’ old, Somethin’ new.

Somethin’ old,

Somethin’ new.

Somethin’ borrowed,

Somethin’ blue.

Out ‘n’ about, and flat out, all weekend.

Over the hills, in the sleet and the snow,

And along by the Bann, in the driving rain.

But that’s it all done, all the posters are up.

Thank fuck.

How long will they last this time?

Just a bit of a quick up date from the frontlines. Collected our new posters earlier with new leaflets to follow on Monday. Happy days, all lookin’ good. Up early in the mornin’ to go and plant a few trees for A Million Trees In A Day, back home to watch the rugby and then out to get the place plastered with my gappy head.

If you see me about your town don’t be afraid to come up and say hello.

And if you’re not registered to vote, get your finger out ’cause there’s only a few days to go. Valentine’s Day.

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What’s in a name?

“So why the name change?” I hear you ask.

No big deal, or so we thought. Not only was there a bit of a purge on the citizens thrown of the electoral register but it seemed we were also now not on the list of registered political parties. Still, no bother. Just a matter of getting onto the people that look after these sorts of problems.

As we were going to be re-registering again anyhow, we decided to drop the Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol part of the name and just go for Cista. Again, still no bother. All relevant forms were filled out and submitted along with our registration fee.

Happy days. Now we could get our election packs for all our candidates and get them registered.

But no. Computer says no. “Cista is not a real word so therefore we can’t accept it as a name for a political party. Tell us by 1pm tomorrow what Cista stands for or else we can’t register you.”

Even though we knew Cista was a real word, albeit a latin word meaning,

1. a wooden box or basket, often woven of slips or twigs, used for keeping money, clothes, books, fruit

2. In mystical religious festivals, a box for holding the sacred utensils

3. A box for depositing the votes in assemblies of the people

We decided not to push the point and run the risk of them not allowing us to register as a political party and therefore not being able to stand in the upcoming assembly election on 2nd March. Not a risk we are willing to take as alternative voices are hard enough to get out there and get heard.

So, thats what we came up with. And thats what we’re going to be going with. Hope yous all like it and if not, just call us Cista as before. Now onto the next stage in the process and get our candidates registered.

Remember now folks to check that you’re registered to vote and if you aren’t or know of somebody that isn’t, yous have until 14th February to get it sorted. With your help we have a real chance of creating real upsets to the political establishment and the stranglehold they have on the ordinary citizens of this state.

Ries Up And Make Yourself Well.

Vote Cista #1 on 2nd March.

BALLBAGS AN’ BIGOTS

Blah, blah women
Blah, blah abortion
Blah, blah partition
Blah, blah fuckin’ blah, blah

Ballbags an’ Bigots
Drivin’ their luxury cars
Ballbags an’ Bigots
It’s their way not ours

Blah, blah muslims
Blah, blah terrorism
Blah, blah immigration
Blah, blah fuckin’ blah, blah

Blah, blah the Rising
Blah, blah the Boyne
Blah, blah parades
Blah, blah fuckin’ blah, blah

Ballbags an’ Bigots
Secure in their seats
Ballbags an’ Bigots
While we die on the streets

Ballbags an’ Bigots
It’s time for a change
Ballbags an’ Bigots
Do you feel the same?