Tuesday’s election isn’t all about Trump vs. Biden. Voters in 32 states and the District of Columbia will also have their say on 120 local ballot measures — including legalizing the use of “magic mushrooms” as a therapeutic drug and giving consent to recreational use of marijuana. Oregon, where weed is already sold legally, is considering whether to allow the regulated medical use of psilocybin, a hallucinogen more commonly known as magic mushrooms.

Supporters point to evidence that the chemical could have positive effects for patients with mental health issues. While some Democratic lawmakers back the measure, the American Psychiatric Association opposes it. “We are concerned about determining medical treatment by ballot initiative. Such treatment should be evidence-based and determined solely by professional standards of care,” the psychiatrists’ trade group said. “Science does not yet indicate that psilocybin is a safe medical treatment for mental health conditions.”

Meanwhile District of Columbia voters will consider an initiative to direct police to decriminalize the non-commercial cultivation, distribution, possession, and use of psilocybin and similar drugs. Elsewhere, voters in four states — neighboring New Jersey, Arizona and Montana and South Dakota — will vote on whether to OK the adult recreational use of marijuana. Weed is already legal in 11 states. The Garden State’s Public Question #1 reads, “Do you approve amending the constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis’?”

Polls show that Jersey voters support legalizing wacky tobaccy. Approval in the Garden State will put more pressure on New York to follow suit. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has been a pot pusher, but the legislature there has blocked the issue until now. “In New York we have a thriving black market and we’ll be surrounded by states that legally sell marijuana,” said state Sen. Diane Savino (D-SI), who sponsored the law that allowed the medicinal use of cannabis in the Empire State. Recreational sale of marijuana is already legal in neighboring Massachusetts and Vermont. New York does not have any issues on the ballot this year. Gov. Andrew Cuomo scrapped a $3 billion climate change bond initiative because of the coronavirus pandemic-fueled fiscal crisis.

India air travel entered a new era today, October 31, 2020, with the launch of a seaplane service. This is the first ever water aerodrome at Kevadia, a town in the Narmada district in the Indian state of Gujarat.

This first commercial seaplane service will reduce the travel time between the Statue of Unity located in Kevadia and Sabarmati along one of the major west-flowing rivers in India from 4 hours to just 45 minutes.

Beyond the shortened transportation time, it is anticipated that this new service will boost tourism and generate jobs for the area. There will be 8 trips per day, using floatplanes suitable of carrying 14 passengers per flight.

Prime Minister N.  Modi opened the aerodromes and flagged off  the seaplane service. The Prime Minister said this service will make taking in the breathtaking sight of the majestic State of Unity a unique and unforgettable experience and will appeal to tourists and bring in more vibrance and tourism to the area.

The area is basically full of theme parks which carries the message of the country being united and the strength is in that unity through the people. PM Modi said in a different speech that people matter more than anything else and urged the younger generations to move the future of India forward by the people.

After receiving standard flight instructions, Prime Minister Modi boarded the seaplane to take part in the first seaplane flight. This is seen as an exciting mode of transportation for the country, both taking off from and landing in the water.

The seaplane service will be operated by Spice Jet under a special company, Spice Shuttle, with fares at around Rs 1500 (about US$20). The water aerodromes were developed at cost of Rs 36 crores each at Kevadia and Sabarmati.