Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 14:40:06 -0700

Subject: Canada: Ontario pot growhouses gobbling $500 million in power

http://www.mapinc.org/cancom/43C74C4D-9CB0-4602-AE8B-1189A02872F0

Ontario marijuana growhouses gobbling $500 million in power, distributors=
 say

COLIN PERKEL
Canadian Press

Friday, July 05, 2002

TORONTO (CP) - A growing plague of electricity-gobbling illegal marijuana
growhouses is costing Ontario's hydro utilities upwards of $500 million a
year, an amount ultimately paid by all energy consumers, power distributors
say. Fuelled by massive marijuana-generated profits, the operations, which
have sprouted by the thousands in the past few years, also carry a huge
social cost, they say.

"The days where a grove of marijuana would be masked up north in a field are
over," said Andrew Evangelista, a lawyer who represents electricity
distributors. "There has been a proliferation of residential houses hidden
in residential neighbourhoods all across Ontario being used to grow
marijuana." Worth as much as $4 billion a year, marijuana is among the most
valuable cash crops in the province.

Please see below for some facts on marijuana growhouses

Police say Ontario is fast catching up with British Columbia as Canada's
pot-growing capital with that province's $6-billion-a-year market.

It's a powerful lure for organized criminals, they say.

Police estimate a single hydroponic growhouse can churn out plants worth a
street value of more than $1 million a year and much of it ends up in the
United States.

Growing marijuana indoors requires powerful lights and ventilation,
consuming about $2,000 in electricity a month, but hydro thieves simply
bypass the meters to avoid the overhead and make tracing the operations
harder.

"The demands on the system are enormous," Evangelista said.

York Region Det.-Sgt. Gary Miner said authorities in Markham, just north of
Toronto, have been shutting down up to 10 such operations a week.

"It's out of control, it's an epidemic, it's a virus," he said.

"This year we've done a 107 warrants and the more we do, the more we find."

In a recent one-day national crackdown, police scooped up $47 million worth
of pot plants 136 suspects, and found 28 children in the houses, some
booby-trapped to discourage intrusion.

Ontario Liberal member Michael Bryant said the illegal operations hurt
everyone.

"While they're being asked to conserve electricity, some pot-growing energy
thief next door is toking up all the electricity, causing brownouts and
blackouts, driving up electricity prices, and sending the neighbourhood up
in smoke," said Bryant.

The costs go well beyond the estimated $5 a month extra consumers pay on
their hydro bills.

The illegal hydro hookups and lights pose a major fire hazard, and the
houses, many rented from unsuspecting landlords, often get badly damaged.

The costs are shouldered by police, fire and hydro services, banks,
insurance companies and the health system, all of which are ultimately
passed onto consumers and taxpayers.

Miner said police need "an eradication tool" that allows them to enter a
growhouse, remove and destroy the plants without a warrant.

Bryant said the province can help by giving hydro utilities the power to
slap liens on properties involved in the theft to help recoup their losses.

But ultimately, police say, a coherent national drug strategy is needed.

Electrical utilities in Ontario say illegal pot growhouses are stealing $500
million in power a year and causing a huge safety hazard. Some facts by the
numbers:

Estimated power theft in Ontario: $500 million a year.

Estimated number of growhouses in Toronto area: 10,000

Average power cost per growhouse: $2,000 per month.

Estimated value of Ontario pot crop: $4 billion.

Estimated value of B.C. pot crop: $6 billion.

Signs a home is being used for pot growing

- - No one ever appears to be home.

- - House only appears occupied for a few hours at a time but no one lives
there.

- - Cannabis or masking odour.

- - Windows boarded or covered.

- - Tenants pay only cash or offer to pay more than agreed rent.

- - Tenants discourage landlord visits.

=A9 Copyright  2002 The Canadian Press


=



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Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 14:42:49 -0700

Subject:ME: Starks Debates Hempstock Up TOC

Newshawk: http://www.lp.org/issues/drug-war-task-force.html
Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jul 2002
Source: Kennebec Journal (ME)
Copyright: 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc
Contact: kjedit@centralmaine.com
Website: http://www.centralmaine.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1405
Author: Alan Crowell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

STARKS DEBATES HEMPSTOCK

Planning Board Hears Discusses Mass Gathering Application

STARKS - Planning Board members found plenty to question Wednesday in an
application for a mass gathering permit for the Maine Vocals' annual
Hempstock festival.

Wednesday night, members of the Starks Planning Board reviewed the
application for completeness. Board member Gwen Hilton said she was not
sure when the board, which meets once a month, would decide on the application.

By press time, the board had not finished its review. Only after the board
decides the application is substantially complete can it make a decision.

The pro-marijuana rock concert is scheduled for Aug. 15 to 18. Members of
The Maine Vocals, a group that advocates legalization of marijuana, say
they hope 4,900 people attend, with about 1,900 of that number camping on site.

The weekend long pro-marijuana rock festival has always been controversial.
This year, however, two separate lawsuits related to last year's concert
overshadow the event.

The town brought a lawsuit against the Maine Vocals for failing to follow
the ordinance. The Maine Vocals responded with a lawsuit that claimed the
measure was unfair and unconstitutional.

Donald Christen, president of the Vocals, was unable to attend the hearing
because bail conditions for charges of disorderly conduct related to last
year's concert largely prohibit him from visiting Starks. Vocal member
James Hardenburg represented the Vocals at the meeting.

Hardenburg told board members at one point that the Vocals did not plan to
adhere to the noise level required under Starks' mass gathering ordinance,
choosing instead to follow the state's requirements, which are
significantly higher.

"What you are basically telling us right up front is that you are not going
to respect (Starks' noise limit)," said Kerry Hebert, a former member of
the Planning Board who attended Wednesday's meeting as a citizen.

Hilton also asked Hardenburg if the Vocals planned to apply for a state
mass gathering permit. Hardenburg said he could not answer that question
Wednesday.

Hardenburg said he would try to respond quickly to several board questions
he could not answer at the meeting.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth

 
 


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Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 14:45:12 -0700

Subject:US: Drug Policy Changes Urged Up TOC

Newshawk: UUDPR http://www.uudpr.org
Pubdate: Fri, 05 Jul 2002
Source: Columbia Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2002 Columbia Missourian
Contact: editor@digmo.com
Website: http://www.digmo.org/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2282
Author: Terri Durdaller, Missourian staff

DRUG POLICY CHANGES URGED

A religion with more than 1,000 congregations across the country is calling
for a change in U.S. drug policy.

During their annual General Assembly meeting last month in Quebec City the
Unitarian Universalist Association, a creedless religion with
Judeo-Christian roots, adopted a policy to explore alternatives to the war
on drugs, calling for the legalization of marijuana and treating drug use
as a health issue rather than a crime.

"The so called war on drugs is creating violence, endangering children,
clogging the criminal justice system, eroding civil liberties and
disproportionately punishing people of color," the Rev. William Sinkford,
president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, said in a press
release. "It's time for a cease-fire."

The General Assembly that passed the resolution consists of 1,700 delegates
representing member congregations, but members remain free to express other
viewpoints.

The Rev. Bill Haney of Unitarian Universalist Church in Columbia said he
thinks the statement is too detailed.

"It spells out too many steps in detail rather then opening up a dialogue
for conversation," Haney said. "Many people will assent to the statement in
principle but maybe not in detail."

Charles Thomas, executive director of the Unitarian Universalists for Drug
Policy Reform near Washington D.C., said a small number of delegates made
unsuccessful attempts at changing the language of the policy to stop short
of calling for the legalization of marijuana as well as the
decriminalization and medicalization of other drugs.

Jim Davis, former president of the Unitarian Church in Jefferson City said
putting someone in jail for possession of marijuana is "pointless."

"Treating drug abuse as a law enforcement problem is not solving the
problem because the problem continues to grow and get worse," Davis said.

Davis said while he isn't advocating drug use, he believes it should be
seen as a medical and socioeconomic problem.

Thomas said that Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform encourages
other denominations to follow suit.

"The drug war has many negative ramifications," he said. "Other religions
were not giving a thorough assessment of the U.S government policy,
occasionally taking positions on a few of the negative consequences of the
drug war. They were pruning the tree instead of going for the full trunk of
prohibition."
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens

 
 


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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 18:45:17 -0700

Subject:UK: Future Cannabis Cafe Ready Up TOC

Newshawk: M & M Family
Pubdate: Thu,  4 Jul 2002
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2002 The Herald
Contact: letters@theherald.co.uk
Website: http://www.theherald.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/189

FUTURE CANNABIS CAFE READY

The back room of the Bong Chuffa shop, in Rowlands Road,Worthing, is being
converted into a cafe by campaigners anticipating legalisation of the class
B drug.

Chris Baldwin, East Worthing Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) candidate in
the last general election, is at the heart of the project.

"We're building a coffee shop here for the future when the laws change we
will have everything in place," said Chris.

"Once we've got it built out the back, you can call that my folly. I can
theme my back room any way I like. It would be a working coffee shop, ready
in place.

"Police can come down and have a look. What we are selling in the store is
completely legal. If we're not selling it, someone else will. We are not
exclusive in the world."

Chris, who went to Amsterdam in April for a course on how to run a cannabis
cafe, featured in a number of Herald stories following Home Secretary David
Blunkett's proposed relaxation of cannabis laws.

"The LCA in Worthing actually stayed quiet for a while," said Chris. "We
had done all the interviews, said everything we were going to say and
people were asking when will we open a coffee shop?

"Well, we're doing it now. The biggest enquiries so far have been whether
we have got any cannabis to sell. Of course, we say 'No'."

Talking about the store, he said: "Bong Chuffa is about the campaign and
about us. Obviously we have to make money to eat and pay the rent, but it's
not about making money, it's a community project. All the work that's been
done has been done by friends for free.

"The coffee shop itself, in my opinion, is democracy. It will win the day.
Democracy is the will of the people. Those who are against legalisation
better speak up now because so many are speaking for it."
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth

 
 


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web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 18:47:02 -0700

Subject:US: Unitarian Universalists Say All Drug Use Should Be Legal Up TOC

Newshawk: UUDPR http://www.uudpr.org
Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jun 2002
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 Associated Press
Author: Jay Lindsay, Associated Press Writer

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS SAY ALL DRUG USE SHOULD BE LEGAL

BOSTON (AP) - Drug use of any kind should be legal, according to the
Unitarian Universalist Association, the first religious denomination to
take the stance, church officials said.

The "Statement of Conscience" passed at the Boston-based association's
general assembly proposes legalizing marijuana and making all currently
illegal drugs available with a prescription.

The statement said the federal government's costly drug war is cruel and
ineffective, and disproportionately affects the poor and minorities. It
added that drug use is widely misunderstood.

"Drug use is erroneously perceived as behavior that is out of control and
harmful to others," the statement reads. "... Yet many people who use both
legal and illegal drugs live productive, functional lives and do no harm to
society."

The statement was approved Saturday by two-thirds of the roughly 1,700
delegates at the General Assembly in Quebec, which wrapped up earlier this
week.

Charles Thomas, the head of Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform,
said the statement reinforces the denomination's basic theological tenets,
which stress compassion and justice.

He said drug abuse would be better seen as a medical problem, rather than a
crime, and addicts would respond to "the transforming power of love," much
better than incarceration.

"Ideally, people will not use drugs," he said. "We're not pro-drug. We're
pro-choice on drugs, pro-honesty."

Robert Maginnis of the Family Research Council, a Christian public policy
group, said the statement is well-intentioned, but misguided because it
ignores the fact that drugs are harmful, whether they're legal or not.

"We don't want to make it easier for people to use drugs, we want to make
it more difficult because of what they do to themselves," he said. "It's
not the illegality of drugs that's at fault. Drugs are just bad for you."

The small, liberal denomination, with about 150,000 members nationwide, has
a traditionally bucked the mainstream on social issues.

Robert Fuller, a religion professor at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.,
said the Universalists advocated abolition, women's suffrage, and gay
rights years before other liberal denominations followed suit.

"History tends to be on their side," he said.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth

 
 


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web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 19:28:07 -0700

Subject:Good-Bye to Politically Incorrect Up TOC

Politically Incorrect
Thursday, June 27, 2002 (one week before July 4)

Bill: And my friend Todd McCormick, who people know also.
In jail for --
he was, been a cancer patient his whole life and silly of him, he trusted
that when California passed medical marijuana in 1996 they meant it.
Of course, it became a big pissing match with the feds.
They came in and he's in jail.
He will be out soon.

[ Applause ]
You know, there's a lot of talk these days about, since 9/11, losing our
civil liberties, and maybe we are.
But we should remember that before 9/11, they were pretty good at
robbing civil liberties.
Todd's trial, he was not allowed to mention, in the trial, one, that
California had passed the medical marijuana law, or that he had been
a cancer sufferer his whole life, or that government studies showed
that it helped cancer patients.
Not allowed to mention that in a trial.
That's what I call a show trial.
I don't think you could do Joseph Stalin any better than that.
The government said it was not relevant.
Apparently, the only things that are relevant are things that help their
case.
So vigilance must go on.

(Friday:) Bill: All right, well, listen, I don't want to get behind.
And what do I mean "behind"? There's no issues today.
"Behind"? This show is about my behind, you're sitting here, but --
I just want people to know the original idea of this show was me sitting
around with my friends.
That's why I got the idea for the show, was 'cause that's what I did at
home.
So I thought, "Why don't we do that on television? Just sitting around
with interesting people, talking about whatever's going on, without the
bong."
[ Laughter ]

(And for more quips/reasons why it's sad to lose Bill just when Bush is
shocked! Shocked! that corporate crime is happening in his
establishment, read on, from Thursday's show:)

Bill: My God, I was watching "Martha Stewart Living" today and she was
actually cooking the book.

Michael: Let me tell you what tonight is, Genevieve.
Tonight is the eve of the day when 17,000 people at Worldcom are
gonna lose their jobs.

Genevieve: I'm just saying, it's always easy to pick on big business and
make them look like bad guys and that they don't have --

Bill: It's easy because they're crooks.

Bill: In 1973 the average CEO made 45 times what the worker, average
worker made.

Michael: That's right.

Bill: In 2000, 450 Times. That's an earnings raise of 4,300%.

Tim: Also, by the way, when these guys get caught, all of our children
see --

Genevieve: These guys are going to prison.

Tim: Oh, for how long, and what kind of prison? These little kids, they're
seeing this and they're going, "Wow, you can do that, billions of dollars
and get two years in jail."

Tim: Who's gonna suffer the consequences of this? It's gonna be the
people that work for these corporations that are unemployed now
because there are going to be cutbacks and rollbacks and what
happens ultimately when these industries start to fail is --
the crime has ramifications throughout society through many economic
levels. Eventually, more crime is wreaked because of the economy
being more and more depressed by these kind of corporate criminals

Michael: Bill, tell me just before you go onto the next topic, though.
Talk about corporate crime.
There's something that just --
I mean, it's just really been bothering me.
And it's about this show.
It's the fact that Disney, which owns ABC, has canceled this thing.
Now, let me tell you something.
I just think at a time when we have so many problems facing this
country, this has not been a very good year for America.
I mean, we're faced with a lot of crap right now.
This is not the time to be reducing the number of voices that we have
on television where there's discussion about the issues.
We need more discussion of the issues.

[ Cheers and applause ]
I have --
let me just say this.
I want to just say this.
It --
it lessens the democracy when you have less discussion.
You need more discussion.
You need more people informed.
You need more people thinking about this.

Tim: Freedom is a tough thing to really embrace because it really
involves a more difficult road, because you have to challenge yourself
constantly.
And you've done that with this show, and we really appreciate it.

Bill: Well, I appreciate that.
And, you know, somebody said to me tonight, "What will you cherish
most about this show?" And I answered that --
they were laughing.
I said, "The boos." And I don't mean the booze in here.

[ Light laughter ]
I mean that I say things frequently that make people boo.
Or groaning is good, too.
I like groaning.
Um --
but that means that you're not pandering to their already settled
prejudices.
You are trying to --
I mean, hybrid car.
People, "Please, Bill."

Michael: But, see, you said it.
You said, "Oil is the drug.
It's the drug we can't get off of.
And it will be our undoing."
I wouldn't have thought about
buying a hybrid car until you talked
about it on your show.

Genevieve: What's great about this show is, somebody who does a lot
of other network news-type shows, the reality is people who watch this
show aren't people who often watch the other stuff.
I mean, so many people that went to high school, whatever, who don't
do politics, watch this.
And they got something out of it because they weren't watching "Meet
the Press" every morning.
So it's reached a lot of people.

Transcript for Friday, June 28, 2002
Arianna Huffington
Christopher Tim Reid
Ann Coulter
Michelle Phillips

Arianna: I'm Arianna Huffington, and this is Ann Coulter, Christopher
Reid and Michelle Phillips.

Ann: And we're here to bid farewell to one of the most provocative and
innovative late-night shows in television history.

Christopher: And to celebrate the man in the big chair for nine years
and over 1,600 episodes.

Michelle: And I'm just here for the wrap party.

[ Laughter ]

Arianna: I've met funny guys, but none are smart.
I've met smart guys, but none are funny.
He single-handedly raised the quality of political debate in America,
and after midnight, no less.
He's the ultimate cantankerous romantic.
Ladies and gentlemen, Bill Maher.

[ Cheers and applause ]

Bill: Thank you all very, very much.
Thank you all.
Thank you.
Aw, please.

[ Cheers and applause ]
Thank you.
Thank you.
Please.

[ Cheers and applause ]
Thank you, folks.
Please.
Please, folks, we got --
still a half hour show.
Sorry, but that's --

[ Laughter ]
I really appreciate it.
That's wonderful.
You're making it very difficult for me to do the show the way I've always
done it --
hung over.
But --

We had a sponsor, as a matter of fact, pull out as recently as today.

[ Laughter ]
Although they swore it was just for old time's sake.

I'm tellin' ya, we've had good days here.
We took the show on the road a lot.
We loved that.
I remember the time in Aspen that I talked the conservative virgin and
the ultra-liberal feminist into the hot tub by describing it as a "think
tank."

  Applause ]
We have had the bitter and the sweet.
I have taken the good with the bad.
I have had death threats and marriage proposals.
And I've even had guests who swore there was a difference.

[ Laughter ]
And in the end, I have just one question --
How come I'm canceled, and Bin Laden is still on Al Jazeera?
[ Laughter ]

[ Applause ]

Ann: Yes, and in fact, if you don't mind, I'd like to read a letter from
someone who is evidently constantly shocked that you and I are
friends.
Your friend, Barbara Streisand.

Bill: Oh, my God.

Ann: "Dear Bill, keep annoying people.
Keep making them think.
Your wonderful gift of challenging the public has empowered our
country.
Have a great next chapter.
Love, Barbara."

Michelle: Here's another one.  "Here it lies, victims of the dumbest
brand of domestic terrorism.
God bless Bill Maher and his staff and crew of 'Politically Incorrect.' God
is not done with any of you yet.
Aaron Sorkin."

(I close with my favorite all-time PI clip, the opener from the Timothy
Leary memorial show:)

Bill: I was not at Woodstock, but I always wanted to know, what was
wrong with the brown acid?

Michelle: I don't know, but I was at Monterrey Pop the week before, and
there we had Owsley sunshine -- and there was nothing wrong with it
at all.

[ Applause ]

Full Transcripts at:
http://abc.abcnews.go.com/primetime/politicallyincorrect/episodes/200
1-02/1.html

- --------------------------------------------------------------------
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------------------------------
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 20:16:39 -0700

Subject:WI: Like, Wow, Man Up TOC

Newshawk: Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsin www.drugsense.org/dpfwi/
Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jul 2002
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
Copyright: 2002 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Contact: jsedit@onwis.com
Website: http://www.jsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265
Author: Nahal Toosi

LIKE, WOW, MAN

60s-Style Gathering Brings Peace, Pot, Nudity to U.P.

Watersmeet, Mich. - In this temporary society, the weed is plentiful and
ready for sharing. Luxury includes sleeping on bug-infested grounds in the
woods and not showering for days. Women meander topless; men try on flowery
skirts.

Maybe the creek full of naked people bathing and dancing describes this
society best. Maybe it's the guy called Toonie Giggles Bubblicious, who
wears garish eye makeup and hangs out in Fairy Camp.

"Welcome home," brother, sister, whoever you are, the thousands of
gatherers in Ottawa National Forest say. The Rainbow Family of Living Light
is holding its annual Gathering of the Tribes for World Peace and Healing
in this wooded area in Michigan's Upper Peninsula - a spiritual high for
some members and a major headache for law enforcement.

"This is the heart of the counterculture," said Barry Sacharow, a
47-year-old community activist from Hollywood, Fla., who spends time
offering tours of this makeshift city. "There's a membership card that you
need. It's not really a card. It's a belly-button."

Born out of the anti-war movement and now in its 31st year, the gathering,
expected to number up to 20,000 people by today, has been held all over the
country. This year, with U.S. Forest Service officials keeping close tabs,
the Rainbow Family, a non-organization with non-members and no leaders,
arrived just over the Wisconsin-Michigan border, spreading out over several
acres about eight miles north of Watersmeet.

July Fourth is the main event for the so-called spiritual get-together,
when people converge to pray for peace and unity. Some already have been on
the grounds for a couple of weeks and may stay for more than a month. Many
are teenagers; others have been coming so long they're called elders.
Entire families, complete with toddlers and pets, show up.

Gathering Called Illegal

The Forest Service says the gathering is illegal since the "family" doesn't
have a permit. As of Wednesday afternoon, some 47 people were arrested, and
more than 200 cited for drug-related offenses, illegal gathering, traffic
violations and more.

The law enforcement hardly deters the Rainbow gatherers, many who refuse to
get permits simply on the principle that the forest belongs to everyone.

Along a three-mile trail, the gatherers have established more than 100
"kitchens" and "communities" with names such as Brew-Ha-Ha, Turtle Soup and
Fairy Camp (mainly gay males, but all are welcome).

People sleep in tents, tepees, hammocks and on the ground. They dig small
trenches for bathroom use. Using logs, the participants build tables and
shelves and cook vegetables in large pots and pans. Several participants
have built a small water filtration system next to the creek.

The work is voluntary, and pretty much everyone pitches in at some point;
the mainly vegetarian food is donated or bought with contributions. In the
evenings, gatherers sit in a "dinner circle" and eat the results of the
day's labor. By Wednesday afternoon, the Forest Service estimated, about
7,000 people had arrived at the forest.

"People make eye contact and say hello to each other," said Brian Reilley,
36, a systems administrator from Massachusetts who is at the annual
gathering for the first time. "You kind of miss that in everyday life."

Rabbi Chayim Levin lives in Jerusalem - not exactly a stress-free zone. He
rests with a guitar on his lap under a tent just off the rock trail. He
wears a yarmulke, blue-rimmed glasses, shorts and a black T-shirt that says
"Stop Police Brutality." Friends surround him, smoking.

"I come out here and I get some peace," said Levin, 49. "I'm sitting with
my brothers and sisters - enjoying their company."

The trail is dotted with signs and artwork. One abstract painting looks
like the head of a wizard. A sign tells passers-by to take the yoga lessons
offered at one camp. A banner speaks of positive group behaviors: harm no
living thing; use no soap within 50 feet of water areas; be responsible for
pets.

Plenty of Alternatives

The "Granola Funk" theater is set up for live entertainment. There's a
medical center, where alternative medicine is pretty much the only
alternative. The Christian-minded have camps, as do orthodox Jews. The Hare
Krishnas have a presence. Pot smokers appear to have a stronger one.

The whole place stinks.

Of feces. Of sweat. Of incense. Of marijuana. The sticky smell stubbornly
lingers in the air, exacerbated by heat, thickened by the growing mass of
people.

There's no dress code, so some people don't bother wearing anything,
exposing nipple rings, stretch marks and tattoos. The majority who wear
clothes lend credence to the stereotypical hippie image: long, flowered
dresses and tie-dye shirts, garnished with beads and body paint.

Most of the nudity is found near Sucker Creek. By midday, the water is full
of naked people, from preteens to longhaired old men washing their bodies.
Several lie on the sand, soaking up rays. One man taps on a drum; another
meditates on the edge of the water. Small children play in the mud.

Near the entrance to the trail, cars stretch for miles, parallel (and
perpendicular) parked on both sides of the road. Their license plates come
from all over the United States. Some of the vans look old enough to have
been at Woodstock.

No Utopia

The society that emerges is marked by both a lack of modernization - hence,
"the trade circle," where people barter items such as beads and crystals -
and a reluctant need for it - some have walkie-talkies, for instance. It's
no utopia, and for a group that really isn't "official" in the classic
sense, it's remarkable that the gathering happens at all.

Michael John, 52, has attended the gatherings since 1972. He views the
event as a spiritual get-together, and worries that it's losing that aura.
He said people rely on the "family energy" to make group-wide decisions.

"It's a brilliant family reunion," said John, who lives in California.
"We're seeing God around us here."

At odds with government

Patriotism, family members say, is rampant here. They love this country.
The government? That's a whole separate issue. Especially the Forest Service.

The Forest Service deemed some of the land near Sucker Creek restricted
about two weeks ago. Forest officials said the area is archaeologically and
historically significant and sensitive because the old logging town of
Choate stood there more than a century ago.

Because of the number of people at the Rainbow gathering, there's no way to
ensure that the land isn't harmed, said Becky Banker, spokeswoman for the
Forest Service's National Incident Management Team, who estimated that the
restricted grounds covered some 200 acres.

Banker said authorities are handing out citations and arresting people, but
"when you have that large a number of people, there's only so much you can
do. A lot of our time is spent in traffic control."

Jessi Just, 20, a junior at the University of Missouri-Columbia, thinks law
enforcement should simply stay out of the way and let people enjoy the
nature. She was arrested over the weekend for being on the Choate grounds.
"I want to see us be able to gather peacefully," said Just, who is majoring
in parks and recreation.

Having just bathed in the creek, Just is unfazed by the fact that she's
venting in public while stark naked. "That's the way we all should be," she
said.

Her friend Shawn Poirier, 30, of Portland, Ore., agreed. He pulled off his
shorts and said: "That's what freedom's all about!"
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Alex



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Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 20:17:13 -0700

Subject: FL: Drug Lawyer Faces Marijuana Charges

Newshawk: chip
Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jul 2002
Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2002 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Contact: letters@sun-sentinel.com
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1326
Author: Jon Burstein

DRUG LAWYER FACES MARIJUANA CHARGES

A lawyer who specialized in helping drug defendants kick the habit until
his arrest on cocaine charges in February was indicted Tuesday on six
marijuana-related charges.

Former Assistant Public Defender Damon Amedeo, 30, now faces nine felony
charges in a federal investigation begun after Douglas D. Rozelle III, 18,
was found dead Jan. 6 in the lawyer's bedroom. Amedeo had been representing
Rozelle in a drug case.

During Amedeo's time with the Public Defender's Office, he had helped
coordinate Palm Beach County's Drug Court. He left the office in January
2001 and began working at the law practice of Rozelle's father, Douglas
Rozelle Jr.

Federal agents arrested Amedeo in February after finding a videotape in the
attorney's West Palm Beach apartment apparently showing him snorting
cocaine and smoking marijuana with Rozelle, according to court records. The
footage was shot sometime between October and Rozelle's death.

Amedeo was indicted in March on two counts of supplying cocaine to Rozelle
and an unidentified man and on a third charge of possessing firearms while
doing drugs. Amedeo has never faced charges related to Rozelle's death.

In Tuesday's indictment, Amedeo was charged with possessing marijuana and
giving the drug to Rozelle and four other men between the ages of 18 and 21.

Federal prosecutors have alleged in court records that between September
and early January, Amedeo regularly invited Rozelle and Rozelle's friends
to his West Palm Beach apartment to use drugs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Reinhart could not be reached for comment
Tuesday on the additional charges. Amedeo could face up to 10 years in
prison for each of the five counts of supplying marijuana to Rozelle and
Rozelle's friends.

Amedeo's attorneys said Tuesday they are mystified why Amedeo is being
prosecuted in federal court for what at worst is alleged to be small
quantities of drugs for recreational use. Typically, such charges are filed
in state court, they said.

"In my 22 years of practice I have never seen a federal prosecution with
this level of drug usage," said Jack Goldberger, one of Amedeo's attorneys.
"I have no idea what is motivating the government to do what it is doing."

James Eisenberg, Amedeo's other attorney, said Tuesday that drug tests
showed that Amedeo had only marijuana in his system shortly after Rozelle's
death. Authorities have refused to release Rozelle's autopsy report.

"There's no hint of foul play," Eisenberg said. "It appears someone who had
voluntarily taken drugs had an accidental overdose."
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Alex



------------------------------
Date: Sat, 06 Jul 2002 11:03:16 -0700

Subject: UK: Cannabis campaigner Colin Davies illegally detained !!

 From Nol van Schaik 

COLIN DAVIES ILLEGALLY HELD IN STRANGEWAYS

Despite TWICE being denied by Magistrates this week, Wendy Logan of the
Cannabis Prohibition Service (CPS) has succeeded in getting Colin Davies ,
Mediweed champion and pioneer coffeeshop owner, locked up until Tuesday.

Yesterday, Manchester's senior magistrate, who is also a lay judge, agreed
with Colin's legal team that he had been UNLAWFULLY ARRESTED AND DETAINED by
Stockport Police and was ready to release him from custody.. But the CPS
solicitor decided to challenge his ruling on a point of law and the
magistrate was forced to remand him again. Colin's case will now probably be
heard by a Judge in Chambers on Tuesday morning, July 8th.

Outraged at the deliberate and unlawful harrassment of Colin Davies by
Stockport Police and the Cannabis Prohibition Service, his supporters have
decided to descend on STRANGEWAYS PRISON, Manchester this afternoon,
Saturday July 5th for a non-violent by very NOISY protest.
www.dutchexperience.org
Colin Davis' supportgroup.
More info :
0031651852545



------------------------------
Date: Sat, 06 Jul 2002 11:08:46 -0700

Subject: Canada: Pot Crusader Off The Hook

Newshawk: http://www.thevics.com
Pubdate: Fri, 05 Jul 2002
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (Canada Web)
Webpage: http://vancouver.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=bc_pot020705
Copyright: 2002 CBC
Contact: cbcinput@toronto.cbc.ca
Website: http://www.cbc.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1412
Note: Audio Link:
http://vancouver.cbc.ca/clips/Vancouver/ram-audio/bc_bennett_020705.ram;
Jill Bennett reports for CBC Radio News

POT CRUSADER OFF THE HOOK

Victoria - A Victoria marijuana advocate charged with possession for the
purpose of trafficking has been given an absolute discharge in B.C. Supreme
Court.

Lucas says the reasons given by the judge reinforcesthe work he dies
Philippe Lucas, the executive director of the Vancouver Island Compassion
Club, was charged after police raided his club 20 months ago.

He made a deal with the Crown, and pleaded guilty.

On Friday, a B.C. Supreme Court Justice threw out the charge, saying the
Compassion Club is helping those who use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Lucas says the reasons given by the judge reinforces the work he does at
the Compassion Club.

"He agreed that the Health Canada medical access program is a misnomer," he
says. "That there is nobody right now getting medical marijuana who can
benefit from it. He deemed the actions of the Vancouver Island Compassion
Society were neither harmful to the individuals involved or to society as a
whole."

Lucas hopes the court ruling will send a clear message that medical
marijuana is useful when handled safely. He also hopes it will also serve
as a wake up call to Health Canada to get it's medical marijuana program
back on track to supply the need for the drug.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth



------------------------------
Date: Sat, 06 Jul 2002 19:07:10 -0700

Subject: AZ: 3rd Medical-Pot Ballot Issue Aims To Survive Challenges

Newshawk: Jane Marcus
Pubdate: Fri,  5 Jul 2002
Source: Tucson Citizen (AZ)
Copyright: 2002 Tucson Citizen
Contact: letters@tucsoncitizen.com
Website: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/461
Author: Mel Melendez
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm (Ballot Initiatives)

3RD MEDICAL-POT BALLOT ISSUE AIMS TO SURVIVE CHALLENGES

Marijuana backers in Arizona hope the third time will be the charm, thanks
to a November initiative that would decriminalize the possession of small
amounts of the drug and allow its use for medical purposes.

"The Legislature has been fighting this movement since Arizonans first
approved a medical marijuana initiative in 1996," said Sam Vagenas, a
spokesman for The People Have Spoken. "They (legislators) blocked that one
and the second one passed in 1998. But this one will stick because this
initiative has more meat to it."

Backed by University of Phoenix founder John Sperling, the group became the
last faction to file petition signatures for its proposition to make it
onto the November ballot.

The group spent about $300,000 to gather more than 165,000 signatures,
which were delivered yesterday to the Arizona Secretary of State's Office.
The marijuana initiative followed three Indian gaming initiatives and
various legislative measures, including a referendum extending the Arizona
Lottery and another doubling the state sales tax on tobacco products.

If approved by voters, the marijuana initiative would create a medical
registry card system authorizing the drug for those with debilitating
health problems. It would also decriminalize the possession of 2 ounces or
less of marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia or two marijuana plants, if for
personal use. But it would increase maximum sentences for violent crimes
committed by those on drugs.

Most important, the initiative would establish a state-administered system
for distribution of the drug to qualifying patients, Vagenas said.

"The marijuana, doctors and patients all must be from Arizona," he said.
"That will eliminate any issues of violating interstate law."

Vagenas said his backers have spurred passage of similar medical marijuana
initiatives in other states, including California, Oregon, Maine, Alaska
and Hawaii.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel



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End of Restore-Digest V2002 #126
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