Why We Need a Freedom Rally

[IndianaToker]

By Steven S. Epstein
Source: Wilmington Advocate

Massachusetts -- This Saturday the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition hosts its 16th annual Freedom Rally on the Boston Common, it coincidentally is the two hundred and eighteenth anniversary of the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, with the promise that the constitution it drafted would “secure the blessings of liberty” to the American People. I am proud to say I have been involved in this annual event since the first in 1990 at the USS Constitution and will continue to be until cannabis is legal; I am 84, or dead.

Why would a 34-year-old middle class lawyer with a wife and at the time two children, we since added a third, help organize a protest against marijuana prohibition? Well, I have consumed marijuana, as have most of you reading this essay according to government surveys, and like Michael Bloomberg, now mayor of New York, I liked it. My teachers taught me to question authority and growing up during the Nixon Administration reinforced their lessons of mistrust of government. My experience with marijuana and my reading of the vast literature on the plant taught me that the government was and continues to lie about the risk it poses to its users and to society.

The vast majority of former and current users are productive, responsible citizens, who have not used other illicit drugs. Except for their use of marihuana, they are as otherwise law-abiding as the rest of the citizenry. This attitude is reflected in the success marijuana policy questions have had with Massachusetts voters since 2000. The results show a solid majority do not want possession of marijuana to be a crime. Voter approved questions have proposed it be a civil violation, like a speeding ticket and for the police to hold a person under 18 cited for possession until the child is released to a parent, legal guardian or brought before a judge.

As a student of the Constitution of the United States and Massachusetts it is apparent to me the founders understood that you cannot legislate Utopia into existence. Marijuana prohibition as part of the utopian war on drugs purports as its goal to establish a “drug free America.” Years of prohibition have by experience taught that what is really accomplished by prohibition is a price support for producers and distributors of these substances, in the case of marijuana an ounce of dried flowers is boosted to the remarkably high retail price of $240 to over $400 depending on the quality!

Since enforcement efforts cannot accomplish the utopian goal of eradicating marijuana, enforcement is arbitrary and contrary to republican principles. Realizing it is arbitrary, the prohibitionists need it to be too punitive to enhance the “message” the arrest and prosecution of Tom, but not Dick and Harry sends to the community. It is arbitrary because the law grants the arbitrary power to the police to arrest, summons, or verbally warn the offender. It is too punitive because a conviction for possessing marijuana may result not only in incarceration in jail in Massachusetts, but a loss of the privilege to drive a car for up to five years, denial of federally guaranteed student loans, and permanent loss of not only a permit to carry firearms, but the ability to use a rifle to hunt.

Prohibition fails to keep marijuana away from children more effectively than regulation of alcohol and tobacco keeps alcohol away from children it appears the wiser course for Congress and the state legislature to tax and regulate this agricultural commodity while prohibiting it to children as we do tobacco and alcohol. Such a policy is the only policy consistent with securing the Constitution’s promised Blessings of Liberty. It would free our plant scientists to work with cannabis, not as the black market breeders have done to maximize the potency of the flowers, but to maximize seed, fiber and biomass production, as well as research of the medicinal potential.

For much of human history the seed and fiber of this plant with many names was a source of medicine, food and textiles. Tens of thousands of products produced from trees, petroleum and coal can be made from hemp. Freed from the prohibition it may be that hemp will prove an invaluable source of medicines, food, fuel, and textiles again fulfilling John Adams’ 1763 prophecy that, “We shall by and by want a world of hemp more for our own consumption.” Source: Wilmington Advocate (MA)
Author: Steven S. Epstein, Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition
Published: Thursday, September 15, 2005
Copyright: 2005 Community Newspaper Company
Contact: wilmington@cnc.com
Website: http://www2.townonline.com/wilmington
Link to article: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread21115.shtml

[BOXcarRACER]

I always wanted to reply to one of your posts like this but I always feel like a douche bag because I don't read the whole thing and could fuck up with the info I post. So I figure if I just post this and say yeah we do need a freedom rally I can feel like I accomplished something.

[astro]

<-- will be at the Boston hempfest (aka Freedom rally)

[yellowfish]

I appreciate the lawyer's statements (as I am around the same age and family situation 'cept Iwork for the 'man') but try to attack this issue from a different standpoint.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...... Every revolution needs it's squeaky clean mouthpieces (the lawyer), it's ground troops (NORML and the like), and it's covert CIA black Ops types (the rest of us). The groups can work in close concert with each other working as a well organized movement (like our government, well maybe forget the organized part) or somewhat individually conducting their business based on their own strategies but all focused on the same or similar goal.
As I see it, the mouthpieces and ground troops are doing the best they can. They just need greater numbers. That will come with time and with each little bit of headway they make. However, I see the greatest potential for a grassroots movement in the covert marijuana supporters. I include myself in that group.
The covert are the people who freely share their stuff at a party. They are the people who grow in a far off field, attic, basement, garden, or closet. They are the people who support reform from the shadows and spread the Word quietly and slowly through trusted friends or aquaintences (probably spelled that wrong). They are the largest number of supporters and are the people that can make the biggest impact on the fight for freedom. They are also the most scared of falling prey to the draconian drug laws of this great country. We need to join the other two groups or we need to get more active.
The covert need to emulate the civil disobedience of the Boston Tea Party that is so revered an event that it is in every grade school U.S. history book. We need to revolt in a non-violent fashion that shows our support of our brothers and sisters that are willing to risk putting their faces out there.
What I suggest is taking some of those bag seeds we all have been hoarding and planting them on public grounds. Don't tend them or visit them. Just plant them in a somewhat visisble place and leave them. Leave them as a statement that you support legalization. Leave them as a sign that you support personal freedom. Leave them as a gift for a brother or sister that stumbles across them in the future. If enough of us do this we can make a difference.
I understand that there may be some backlash from the authorities (the Tea Party did eventually result in war). But this could also be the act that forces the powers that be to look at this issue with an objective eye and listen to their constituents.
Give it some thought.

Join the Cause. Plant a seed. Spread the Word.

[Buzz]

AMEN Yellowfish! Spread the word! We the People must fight for our right to smoke. You're exactly right in that there are so many of us within the system with potentially a lot to loose by outing ourselves. Somehow, we've got to have the courage to stand up and be counted. I think that the best way is to continue to have this issue put onto the ballots in local & state referendums. Big Brother isn't taking names when you're voting. If we push the issue hard enough on the local level, our national gov will catch up eventually. Fact is that Congress isn't going to lead the way on this issue, its gotta keep growing on the state & local level. When we've got enough support, our Congressmen will get in line, because those spineless job grubbers will support any issue required to get themselves (re)elected.

[IndianaToker]

16th Annual Freedom Rally @ Boston Common On Saturday September Seventeenth


MASSCANN/Norml, working to build a consensus for a more moral and rational public policy regarding all uses of the cannabis plant

Listen To PSA (MP3)

[IndianaToker]

Boston, MA: Event organizers are expecting nearly 50,000 attendees at this Saturday's 16th annual Boston Freedom Rally, sponsored by the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition (MASS CANN/NORML). The daylong event, which advocates for the legalization and regulation of cannabis for adults and features dozens of speakers and musical acts, is the largest annual marijuana-law reform rally on the east coast.

Speakers scheduled to appear at this year's Freedom Rally include: NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre and NORML Founder Keith Stroup; NORML state chapter coordinators Steve Epstein (MA), Rob Robinson (NY), and Keith Saunders (MA); Americans for Safe Access (ASA) Campaign Director Caren Woodson; POT TV's Loretta Nall; as well as Rick Cusick and Steve Bloom of High Times Magazine.

For a complete schedule of this year's Boston Freedom Rally speakers and events, please visit: http://www.masscann.org/rally05PR.asp

Link to article: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6674

[IndianaToker]

By Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff
Source: Boston Globe

Boston, MA -- Under hovering storm clouds, thousands gathered on the Boston Common yesterday to sway to gritty rock music, shop for T-shirts with slogans like ''Thank You for Pot Smoking," and rally against marijuana prohibition.
Police motorcycles were parked seven deep at the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition's 16th Annual Freedom Rally, and uniformed and undercover police trolled the crowd for marijuana smokers. Puffs of smoke hovering over the crowd came mostly from cigarettes, but police made 44 arrests, mostly for drug possession, although there were some distribution charges.

''There is no day off from the law today," said Deputy Superintendent Paul Fitzgerald.

Turnout was smaller than in years past, when the event sometimes drew crowds of 30,000 or 40,000, according to police. Last year, Hurricane Ivan forced the event's cancellation, and this year, Hurricane Ophelia nearly did. But the weather held, and several thousand people were milling about by 2 p.m. yesterday, according to Keith Saunders, president of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, or Mass Cann.

The theme of this year's rally was ''Secure the Blessings of Liberty," which Saunders described as a call to political action. His group is backing a bill that is before the state Senate and would impose a civil fine of $100 for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, rather than a criminal penalty.

The Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse heard testimony on the bill in June but has not taken action on it, Saunders said. Though a recent federal study found that the Boston area is the nation's capital of marijuana use, only a handful of people showed up to testify in favor of the bill, according to Mass Cann.

Saunders said that despite his support for decriminalization, he would not encourage anyone to light up on the Common during the protest.

''This is probably the worst place in the city of Boston to be smoking marijuana," he said.

Some were unfazed, though. Wayne Burke, a 53-year-old retired painter, placidly shared a joint on the lawn with two younger friends, Matt Duszak, 19, and Kevin Woods, 20. The three drove to Boston together from Worcester to attend the rally.

''When we're done smoking this bone, we're not going to go rob somebody," Burke said with a shrug. ''We're going to go home and eat a sandwich and watch TV."

A pair of antidrug protesters wended their way through the legions of youth in hooded sweatshirts and faux-cannabis leis yesterday.

Lea Palleria Cox of the Hanover-based Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention Inc. and Bill Breault of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety in Worcester, who have attended the rally for about a decade, said they were appalled to find vendors selling ceramic pipes this year. They said they were also dismayed to again see so many young people in the crowd.

''Parents have no clue," he said. ''When their kid says 'I'm going to a concert on the Common,' they have no idea what goes on here."

Note: Group seeks lighter penalties.

Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Author: Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff
Published: September 18, 2005
Copyright: 2005 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: letter@globe.com
Website: http://www.boston.com/globe/
Link to article: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread21123.shtml

[astro]

I went to that yesterday. Pretty neat, but yeah, there were a ton of cops so I didn't stick around. I was smoking a J and one walked *right* in front of me and didn't stop or anything, but he nabbed this kid smoking like 10 feet from me. Freaked me the hell out. Maybe they were just targeting underage smokers, I dunno. They even had pigs with binoculars scanning the field. I mean fucking 'eh, if they would have put that kind of police force patrolling dangerious neighborhoods instead of watching a bunch of stoners maybe they could have prevented a real crime. Oh well.

[IndianaToker]

Any time you have a group of cannabis reformers gathering in such a fashion, you can bet your butt the police will be deploying extra patrols on the event. It's happened at every major rally for years now.

Sometimes those cops are cool and turn the other cheek. Many times they're pissed about the rally from the get go, so they set out to arrest as many people as they can to prove a "point".

[Zak]

Its great that people are speaking out about this, it seems like it is becoming more and more common, which is a good thing. It shows that users are mostly productive citizens and are just a part of general society.

For much of human history the seed and fiber of this plant with many names was a source of medicine, food and textiles. Tens of thousands of products produced from trees, petroleum and coal can be made from hemp. Freed from the prohibition it may be that hemp will prove an invaluable source of medicines, food, fuel, and textiles again fulfilling John Adams’ 1763 prophecy that, “We shall by and by want a world of hemp more for our own consumption.” Source: Wilmington Advocate (MA)

Also some people dont see all of the other things that marijuana can be used for, such as textiles etc. I think this freedom rally is great, something that I would look into attending.

[TheHempress]

Originally Posted by astro

I mean fucking 'eh, if they would have put that kind of police force patrolling dangerious neighborhoods instead of watching a bunch of stoners maybe they could have prevented a real crime. Oh well.

Yeah, really.