Free Republic

When the most popular medical marijuana dispensary in Chicago begins selling recreational pot on New Year’s Day, it will operate like a busy restaurant. Dispensary 33 plans to take names from those in line and page customers by phone when they can get in. The North Side cannabis shop will take that unusual step due to the huge crowds expected when weed sales become legal under state law at 6 a.m. Jan. 1, 2020. The celebration will be similar to the unofficial pot holiday of April 20, or 4/20, when a Dispensary 33 street fest and special deals this year...

MEXICO CITY - Facing renewed U.S. allegations that theirs is a racist society, many Mexicans were scratching their heads again Thursday. The controversy surged Wednesday with news that Mexico is issuing postage stamps depicting Memin Pinguin, a rambunctious black youth who has been a popular comic-book character here for more than 60 years. Memin's physical attributes — exaggerated lips, large eyes and somewhat simian body language — might scream racism to sensitized minds. African-American leaders and U.S. government officials have denounced the stamp and Memin as relics of a bygone era when stereotypes were standard and racism was the rage....