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Tag: north pole

  • Santa Saves Cannabis

    Santa Saves Cannabis

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    As marijuana become legal across North America – the North Pole got caught in fight.

    Canada and a big chunk of the United States have legalized cannabis. The results have been improved medical options, a decrease in alcohol consumption, a reduction of youth use and some more chill people. But the journey to this point has been tough. Opponents have spread misinformation and slowed the process.  Even the current administration has be lackadaisical in the approach. Medical marijuana patients will tell you the benefits in trea tment of chronic pain, cancer, insomnia, inflammation and more. Veterans now have access to treatments to a proven help with PTSD.  It has been a battle, but, in one case, Santa saves Christmas for marijuana fans.

    Thomas O’Connor legally changed his name to Santa Claus in 2005 and is a monk, child welfare activist and local city council member.  He is also a cancer patient and a consumer of medical marijuana.  He resides in North Pole, Alaska, which originally banned all cannabis use.

    RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

    North Pole, Alaska, a small suburb of Fairbanks, is known for its year-round Christmas decorations, including candy cane–striped street lights. Santa Claus House is a Christmas store with walls covered in children’s letters to Santa and a huge Santa statue outside. Streets have names like Kris Kringle Drive and Mistletoe Lane.  In 2016, the local city council voted to ban marijuana businesses within its city limits. But they didn’t talk to the official leader of the North Pole, Santa Claus.

    Screenshot via WCMH
    When it happened (and it was covered by The Fresh Toast), Santa shared with Alaska’s KTUU. “I think they are not in this particular instance are not embracing the spirit of love. I think what they’re doing is engendering hate, which comes from fear.”

    But you don’t become Santa without having some good will, determination and drive.  Santa worked with the city and city council and managed to get the proposition overturned. Now the area boosts three cannabis dispensaries.

    RELATED: Beer Sales Flatten Thanks To Marijuana

    And Santa? He continues his children welfare advocacy work and, as of 2022, is the mayor pro tem of North Pole. Unfortunately, Santa is still plagued with cancer and continues to be a medical marijuana patient.  We hope more research is in his stocking this year to provide help and relief for him and the millions of patients who would benefit.

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    Anthony Washington

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  • WTF Fun Fact 13681 – Only One Sunrise a Year

    WTF Fun Fact 13681 – Only One Sunrise a Year

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    The North Pole experiences only one sunrise a year. This singular event marks a transition from one seemingly endless night to a day that lasts for months.

    Why the North Pole Has Only One Sunrise a Year

    At the North Pole, the sun is a shy dancer, making a grand entrance once a year. This happens because the Earth’s axis is tilted. As the Earth orbits the sun, this tilt allows for varying degrees of sunlight to reach different parts of the planet at different times of the year.

    For the North Pole, there’s a period when the sun doesn’t rise at all, known as polar night. This occurs because the North Pole is angled away from the sun. Then, as the Earth continues its journey around the sun, a day arrives when the sun peeks over the horizon, marking the only sunrise of the year.

    A Day That Lasts for Months

    Following this singular sunrise, the North Pole enters a period of continuous daylight. The sun, once it rises, doesn’t set for about six months. This period, known as the midnight sun, is a time when the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, basking in its light day and night. Imagine a day that stretches on, where darkness doesn’t fall, and the concept of night loses its meaning. This is the reality at the North Pole, a place where time seems to stand still under the constant gaze of the sun.

    The Science Behind the Phenomenon

    The reason behind this extraordinary occurrence is the Earth’s axial tilt. This tilt is responsible for the seasons and the varying lengths of days and nights across the planet. At the poles, this effect is amplified. The North Pole’s orientation towards or away from the sun dictates the presence or absence of sunlight. During the winter solstice, the North Pole is tilted furthest from the sun, plunging it into darkness. As the Earth orbits to a position where the North Pole tilts towards the sun, we witness the year’s only sunrise, ushering in months of daylight.

    Living under the midnight sun is an experience unique to the polar regions. For the indigenous communities and wildlife of the Arctic, this constant daylight influences daily rhythms and behaviors. Animals adapt their hunting and feeding patterns to the availability of light and prey. Human residents have also adapted to these unique conditions, finding ways to mark the passage of time without the usual cues of sunrise and sunset.

    A Long Night and Only One Sunrise a Year

    The contrast between the endless night and the day that lasts for months is a stark reminder of the Earth’s diverse environments. It challenges our perceptions and highlights the adaptability of life in extreme conditions. The North Pole, with its single sunrise, stands as a testament to the planet’s wonders. It’s a place where the rules of day and night are rewritten by the tilt of the Earth and its path around the sun.

    — WTF fun facts

    Source: “Time Has No Meaning at the North Pole” — Scientific American

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    WTF

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