cannabisnews.com: Humboldt Hard Lines Soften Humboldt Hard Lines Soften Posted by CN Staff on January 07, 2003 at 12:46:46 PT By Emily Gurnon, Special to The Times Source: Los Angeles Times Each summer, southern Humboldt County begins to look like military-occupied territory. Low-flying helicopters buzz fields, land on private property and disgorge cargoes of camouflaged sheriff's deputies in search of marijuana plantations.That kind of activity -- seen by many as belligerent and oppressive -- along with a perceived lack of interest in communicating with the public, may have contributed to the decision of voters in this North Coast county to boot out the incumbent sheriff and the longtime district attorney. "You lose goodwill with your community when you do stuff like that," said Paul Gallegos, the district attorney-elect, referring to the helicopter raids.In an upset last March, Gallegos, a private defense attorney with no political experience, ousted Dist. Atty. Terry Farmer, who had won the last five elections beginning in 1982. Gallegos takes office today.The election also ended the tenure of Sheriff Dennis Lewis, who lost by an overwhelming margin to an underling, former Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Gary Philp.Gallegos and Philp represented, for many voters, new blood in a system that had become unresponsive and inefficient. Gallegos campaigned on a progressive platform, promising a more considered approach to medical marijuana cases. He also pledged to treat both sides equally in conflicts between timber companies and protesters, to eliminate waste in the department and to focus resources on domestic violence, elder and child abuse and the methamphetamine scourge.Gallegos, 40, attributes his victory, in part, to his endorsement by the local chapter of the Green Party and its volunteers."They gave me people, they phone-banked, they were on the streets with signs, they brought a lot of energy and commitment," Gallegos said. "They were very instrumental to me."Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/hbls.htm Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)Author: Emily Gurnon, Special to The TimesPublished: January 6, 2003 Copyright: 2003 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmPot in Humboldt County: Climate Attracts Growershttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14518.shtmlPot in Humboldt County: Both Sides of The Story http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14509.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Truth on January 08, 2003 at 11:10:46 PT Great essay. That was good.Fighting for freedom is nobel indeed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 07, 2003 at 20:29:27 PT I Really Liked This Article So Here It Is 4:20 4 Life!: Anger Is An Energy...And A Gift: A New Reason For HopeBy Otis GallowayWhen I first started writing this article, I was angry.I was frustrated at that as 2002 drew to a close, we were still no closer to common sense or the end of the War on People Who Choose Their Drugs Wisely. The initiatives in Nevada, Arizona, and Ohio were soundly defeated, the DEA was raiding medical marijuana growers in California, and John Walters’ rhetoric was everywhere. I wanted to scream, rave, and rant about injustice, and ask why can’t herbalists just be left alone to smoke in peace?Thankfully, I am blessed to have two things in my corner; good, calm, rational friends, and the gift of gradual insight, praise Jah. JadeLogik, our website whiz told me to focus and don’t let my anger rule what I have to say. I wasn’t ready to hear anyone tell me to think. I wanted to ride hard and raise hell.It wasn’t until I read The Art of War, by Sun Tzu that I understood.When angry, you are incapable of thinking clearly. Your heart rules your mind, and the decisions you make are rash, with lasting consequences. So I stepped back, and stepped outside for a long walk with my headphones on. I think better with music in my ears.When I got back from my long walk, I began to feel a lot better. I also began to realize that good does not come without struggle and sacrifice. I believe in what I’m doing, that by sharing my thoughts and opinions on an issue that affects ALL of us means something. Maybe only a hundred people may read this, but I’ve shared an idea with a hundred people that will go on and share my ideas, along with their ideas. Anything you do makes a difference.Don’t get me wrong; I’m still angry at the stupidity and hard headed attitudes of people who think that prohibition works; it does not, nor will it ever. Simply telling people that they cannot do something only reinforces the wish to do it, and all the excuses the government uses to justify prohibition are just that, excuses, and flimsy ones at that.What I am starting to realize is that anger is an energy, and a gift, if used wisely. You can choose to lash out with hate and rage, and regret it later, or you can focus your energy, with words and actions, giving them shape and form.So rather than rage about how unfair the system is, I want to thank those that fight the system every damn day of their lives. None of these people chose to be activists, they were left with no options. They were harassed, humiliated, and driven to defending themselves against people who use authority as a shield for oppressive and despicable actions that have endless repercussions. None of these people are criminals in the sense that society thinks. Rather they are criminals of conscience, because they choose to fight for the values prohibitionists claim to hold so dear; freedom, equality, fair capitalism, access to medicine, respect, and protection of the environment. In short, basic human rights that define an ideal existence, the ideal society that governments supposedly base their rule on. So to them, I say thank you. In many ways, you have taught me by simply living your life.All my thanks, blessings, prayers, and support to the following: Marc Scott Emery, for having the biggest, brass balls in North America, David Malmo Levine, for showing me that activism with knowledge and a sense of humor is a potent combination, to Loretta and Terry Nall, for being the kind of parents any child could look up to, to Dana Larsen, for proving that stoners can be motivated, to the usual suspects at the Cannabis Culture forums, for creating the most organized chaos of ideas and opinions that shape and create new activists every day, to Buddykind and JadeLogik, who believe that I have something to say, and challenge me to say it with intelligence and humor and providing me with a vehicle to say it, to Steve Kubby, for replacing Wolverine as my favorite larger than life hero, and for showing John Walters what a real man is, to Valerie and Mike Corral, who proved that being good is it’s own reward, to Brian Epis, Dennis Peron, and the millions of men and women unfairly imprisoned in the War on People and Some Drugs. I would like to give a special mention to all the prohibitionists. Every day that you wake up and spread your lies, you make it that much easier for us to show people that you are liars, bigots, hypocrites, and cowards, and your phony War is pointless, senseless, and completely devoid of morals.To all the herbalists, activists, and supporters out there, I want to conclude by asking you one simple question.How angry are you?Copyright © 2003 Project420.orghttp://www.project420.org/editorials/otis010603.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 07, 2003 at 14:16:40 PT News Brief from Canada News Wire Attention News Editors: Decriminalization of Marijuana OTTAWA, Jan. 7 /CNW/ - Canadians have been waiting for thirty years for Parliament to act on the recommendations of the LeDain Commission and decriminalize marijuana. Parliament has been dragging its feet on this issue while hundreds of thousands of Canadians have been stigmatized with criminal records for simple possession. Instead of prolonging the process by appealing Judge Phillips' carefully worded decision, Parliament should do the right thing and implement the Senate committee's report by legalizing marijuana when Parliament reconvenes. It is time to end the hypocrisy where a Justice minister who admits to smoking marijuana heads a department that still prosecutes individuals for doing what he did.For further information: please contact the Humanist Association of Canada by calling 1 877 486 2671, visiting our website at: http://canada.humanists.net/ -- or by contacting HAC board member, Jim McAllister at 519 254 1854HUMANIST ASSOCIATION OF CANADA has 2 releases in this database. http://www.newswire.ca/releases/January2003/07/c8033.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment