POT AND POLITICS
Chelsea Handler converses
There had been some speculation that comedian and political activist Chelsea Handler was undertaking a seven-city tour of Canada this fall because she just might be motivated to bolt the U.S. for these relatively more placid parts.
“I’m always considering moving to Canada, but I just have to figure out which coast I want to go to — which coast will be less affected by climate change,” says a somewhat serious-sounding Handler, who will be hitting Théâtre St-Denis Oct. 4.
Handler’s thoughts about leaving the U.S. have a lot to do with the man currently inhabiting the White House, whose election, she has said, “wrecked her life.”
She has taken her fair share of shots at Donald Trump as well as his son Donald Jr., and has been on the receiving end of barbs by the Trumps as well.
Regardless, her Canadian excursion likely has more to do with the fact that cannabis becomes legal here on Oct. 17.
Her tour is called A Civilized Conversation with Chelsea Handler, and “civilized” is not only meant to imply the tone of the conversation. Hosting the tour is Civilized, a digital media and lifestyle brand “that embraces and highlights modern cannabis culture.” Civilized founder and publisher Derek Riedle will be moderating these town-hall conversations in Canada.
“I am an advocate for cannabis, which is something that I really rediscovered after Donald Trump was elected … it’s been an excellent coping mechanism,” Handler says. “Cannabis has helped get me through this period and helped turn my outrage into something positive in trying to get people and women of colour elected (in the U.S. midterm elections).”
Despite preconceptions some may harbour about pot, Handler believes it can lead to a “healthier way of life.”
“There are many aspects of it people aren’t aware of. It helps with all kinds of medical problems. It’s much more than providing giggles. It’s the way of the future, which is what I want to talk about in Canada.
“It’s also really good to have something with which we can mellow the f--- out and I certainly need that now. Still, I need to leave the country every three weeks just to think clearly,” Handler says during the phone interview from London.
In her hit Netflix documentary series Chelsea Does, Handler devoted one segment to drugs, in which she touched base with the ever-blissed-out Willie Nelson and eagerly sampled his brand of cannabis.
Like Nelson and Snoop Dogg — who will be making his Leafs by Snoop weed available in Canada — Handler also has plans to launch her own brand. She is also thinking about hooking up with a Canadian producer.
“I’ve been doing a lot of testing and talking to a lot of people in both counties, but haven’t made a decision yet,” she says. “But we’re at a different stage (in the U.S.) than you are (in terms of legalized weed). Still, the message has to get out that cannabis is so much better than opioids, so much better than what is often being provided by our pharmaceutical industry, so much better than alcohol.”
But Handler is adamant about imposing an age limit.
“I certainly don’t want to advocate for children under 18, whose minds are still developing and who don’t have issues with autism, anxiety and seizures.”
Handler has always been passionate about her various causes. She is brash and irreverent, often making herself a target for criticism. But she gives as good — actually better — than she gets, and is without doubt one of the sharpest wits around.
Author of five bestsellers, Handler was a force on the E! network with her late-night Chelsea Lately. Apart from Chelsea Does, she was also host of the Netflix series Chelsea and is working on a Netflix doc about white privilege in America.
“After the midterm elections, I will be getting back to TV and hanging myself out to dry. But for now I really want to focus on getting people elected who represent our actual society — instead of 75-year-old white racist men. With my partners, I want to get some women candidates through the primaries. There are so many running for the first time. I feel this is the opportune time to put my money where my mouth is and get on the ground to talk to people and find out why the f--- we elected Donald Trump to be our president.
“But now we found out we didn’t elect him … Russia did,” she opines.
“It matters that we don’t let Russia just destroy the West and civilization as we know it. So that’s my goal. Things are pretty bleak at home right now and people are angry and outraged, but you have to look for the hopefulness and the things that will change course for our country and for our neighbours. Donald Trump is the president, so anything is possible.”
But Handler has no intention of turning to politics herself.
“No,” she cracks. “I can’t survive on that salary.”