After a week of silence, the Ministry of Economics, Trade and Commerce as well as the Ministry of Consumer Production have announced that it welcomes what has been dubbed ‘the Valkyrian approach’ in substance legalization. Eflad has legalized several substances, such as cannabis and LSD, in 2018 following a long test and infrastructure build-up period. The Ministries expressed their hopes for a possible market expansion both in Eflad and in Valkyria. The annoucement also mentioned that “the Valkyrian, as well as any other products, will have to undergo testing from the Efladian Substance Commission (EfSC), to determine whether they are legally allowed to be put on the Efladian market.” Psilocybin has been in testing since 2020 and a deceision from the commission was announced to be published this year.
The Sedunnic rescue and relief expedition will assist with the evacuation of the Cousteau Barrier Islands, following King Keanu’s request.
Sedunn has committed significant military and civilian resources and is said to be working closely with local authorities and organisations as well as with the USI in Montacia.
The Izaakian Home Secretary Walter Rombold said that his Valyrian and Efladian counterparts must be “off their heads, to pursue such liberal drugs policies” later going on to say Izaakia will follow a policy of “Lock ‘em up and throw away the keys”.
The Transsunerian Interior Minister Maxmilian Cipsmaler has repeatedly said in interviews that bringing any recreational drug into Transsuneria “constitutes a serious crime” and that a “possible trend of liberal drug policies among Cordilian nations is of great concern”. Travellers and tourists from drug liberal nations will face increased scrutiny upon entering the nation according to newly issued directives to the Police and Customs from his ministry.
King Keanu thanks Sedunn and the United States of Izaakia for their commitment and evacuation efforts. He has also thanked all members of the international community who have helped so far.
Situation Update: The mobile phone network is now operational once again in Keanu and Hurley. All islands now have some form of electricity. All major island harbours have been cleared of debris and are now open for trade and delivery. It is estimated that the Eastward Airstrip on Keanu will take 1 to 2 weeks to make operational, however the Hurley airstrip took a more direct hit and will take several months to open. The Keanu Sallocopter and Seaplane fleet are now operational, and have begun aid and rescue operations. One of Keanu and Hurleys 3 Pacifica Class Patrol boats was sunk during the storm, all crew members lost.
Walking past journalists asking about Valkyria’s new foreign policy on drugs, Prime Minister Steve Bennett pulled out a cannabis vaporiser, inhaled deeply on it, and exhaled a cloud of vapour before saying with a laugh: “Try to lock this up and stop us.”
The Myrian Navy, needing to both make money and deal with surplus hardware, offered to sell a Patrol Boat to the Keanuan Coastal Guard.
A video clip of the Minister of Health has been going viral in Eflad. The Minister is seen talking with his secretaries, being briefed about the responses of the Izaakian and Transsunerian Ministers of Interior.
Secretary: quotes news on Izaakian and Transsunerian Ministers of Interior
MoH: “Oh yeah. I agree. People can get real aggressive when they use it.”
Sec: (unaudible)
MoH: “Hold on, they weren’t talking about alcohol‽”
Polling in many Indavral nations shows that Indavrals see further legalization of drugs as a negative with every poll showing at least 75% of Indavrals agreeing that most drugs should stay illegal. The High Chief of Losavra mentioned in a conversation “We already have enough problems. We don’t need a drug problem while people are getting killed for other reasons already.”
Legislators of the Frost Empire have proposed lend leasing additional koyuki class patrol boats in an accelerated approval process. However, analysts noted that although the legislation may pass with bipartisan support the ships wouldn’t be transferred into Keanu and Hurley hands until they request the additional ships.
Meanwhile members of the 8th s&r fleet have recovered countless injured and dead, and have cooperated with local authorities to the best of their abilities, including sending seaplanes into the USI with evacuees.
When asked if the decision to send frost sea planes into the USI was a good idea the Admiral of the 8th fleet dismissed the reporter saying, “now isn’t the time for petty politics.”
Several Ryccian politicians have condemned the Valkyrian president’s public and boastful use of drugs, calling Bennett “unprofessional” and “making a mockery of his position as a world leader and of the rule of law of other countries”. Lawmakers are pushing the government to summon the Valkyrian ambassador to explain how serious the president takes his role as a statesman, as well as to inquire if the Valkyrian state did or did not implicitly endorse and/or approve of drug smuggling and general lawbreaking based on Bennett’s comments. Further, the Foreign Ministry has urged Valkyria to “reiterate its respect for the sovereignty of other countries and respect our differing approaches towards the issue of drug use”.
Responding to international criticism of his government’s drug policy on the floor of the Storting, Valkyrian Prime Minister Steve Bennett said, “OK boomers.” The statement drew cheers from allies and jeers from the conservative opposition.
Bennett also announced that the psilocybin legalisation bill will be voted upon on Monday.
The Pelinese monarchy has issued an official declaration of support for Weissersteiner efforts to curb the flow of illicit Valkyrian drugs into its territory, as well as a condemnation of Valkyria’s policy:
”Prime minister Bennett’s atrocious foreign policy is nothing but an attempt to use the guise of mercy and compassionate government as a cover to spread the devastation of addiction to foreign nations in the name of enriching Valkyria’s economy with drug money. The Pelinese government fully supports Weisserstein in its opposition to Valkyria’s destructive, greed-motivated efforts to cause and profit from the pulverization of the Weissersteiner people’s health and wellbeing, and is fully willing to offer police and other resources to Weissersteiner authorities for their efforts upon request.”
The Special Police Directorate of Pelinai has posted additional signs at airports serving central Cordilia in order to clarify to travelers that Class A Drug Smuggling, Class A Drug Distribution, and other related offenses regarding the large-scale manufacture and transfer of drugs in Pelinai are punishable by execution.
President Kanidis has replied to recent polemics surrounding the legalization of drug use in Valkyria, stating: "I think we are making the situation a lot bigger than it is, aren’t we? Drugs already arrived through illegal mediums to the borders.
In any case, the fact that now the biggest supplier is an official state which governments can negotiate with and not crime-plagued mafias should be a sign of progress.
Now a good piece of the commerce is regulated and stablished by law, so instead of calling names like “greedy” or “backward”, we could actually use civilized methods instead of throwing people into prison."
Valkyrian Foreign Minister Avianna Aldridge condemned the Pelinese monarchy’s statement as inflammatory remarks, stating: “These drugs that we have legalised in years past is not about profiteering. They are a way of life. The Valrissi and other indigenous religions use cannabis and psilocybin for religious rituals, such as Utiseta. In our mountainous regions, Valkyrians use coca to alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. These uses are a far cry from the absurd remarks made by foreign government officials and pundits.”
President Storm weighs in on the international drugs debate saying “There is a reason why drugs are illegal, and it’s the same reason alcohol and sugar have sin taxes. We can’t have a significant proportion of the population that is a burden on our world class health and policing services, it’s dangerous and it costs money. It is an Izaakians sovereign duty to be in peak physical condition, look after yourself and we will look after you”.
The Union Foreign Ministry has denounced the comments made by Izaakia, citing that taxing Sugar, Alcohol, and outright banning Recreational Drugs is an infringement of a persons natural rights. It also called the comments made by Pelinai and Weisserstein as “inciting police brutality and forced execution for doing nothing except excessing their natural rights”.
President Storm has announced the purchase of an additional 500 units of Skyrocket cruise missiles
The Ryccian government has summoned the Valkyrian ambassador to protest the behavior of Prime Minister Bennett, inquire on how seriously Bennett considers his behavior and the professionalism of his office, and to confirm whether Valkyria supports the breaking of the laws of other states or not. “It must be explictly confirmed whether Prime Minister Bennett has insinuated that the Valkyrian government would ignore, tolerate or even support the defilement of the laws of foreign states, ours included. The head of the Valkyrian government leads his country, including state policy, and we must take his words seriously so we may assess the stance of the Valkyrian state on this important matter. We give His Excellency the benefit of the doubt, as we hope he is merely acting with a peculiar immaturity unbecoming of his significant political office and that there is no nefarious intent behind his words”.
Space Admiral Nelson, the head of the Izaakian Space Force, with military over-site of Izaakian Space Agency has defended the use of Spaceport IAF Montacia Bay, one of Izaakias most advanced military technology centres as a centre for the relief effort in Keanu and Hurley. He particularly has come under fire for allowing access to Ryccian and Frost Empire military supply aircraft and personnel.
He said “At the end of the day we’re not at war with Ryccia and we have never been to war with the Frost Empire, the overall risk of an attack or loss of military secrets is low. Everything you can’t see on Cosmos Networks Space Watch is locked safely and securely behind closed doors. This is the closest airbase to Keanu, with a combined port facility and the facilities to land a plane every 30 seconds, and then process the cargo within 30 minutes before sending them on their way, it’s quite honestly a logistics marvel. “