cannabisnews.com: Alternative Inauguration Bash Held in Santa Cruz Alternative Inauguration Bash Held in Santa Cruz Posted by CN Staff on November 17, 2003 at 18:49:09 PT By Martha Mendoza, The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Santa Cruz, Calif. -- While California's political leaders toasted Arnold Schwarzenegger as their new governor Monday, "Lefties for Arnie" who hope he will loosen the state's marijuana laws held their own inauguration party complete with a "Grope the Gov." display and tofu bratwurst."Why are we doing this? That's an existential question," said party organizer and artist Arnie Schwartz. Adjusting his fake, padded biceps (worn in preparation for a mock arm wrestling match), Schwartz paused to think."Well, we weren't invited to the inauguration in Sacramento and we didn't want to feel left out. Also, we wanted something to do between Burning Man," he said, referring to an annual weeklong countercultural festival held in Nevada's Black Rock Desert.Schwartz was joined Monday evening at his Santa Cruz home by local artists, community activists and friends to celebrate - dramatically and enthusiastically - Gov. Schwarzenegger's successful recall defeat of Gray Davis last month.Many who came said they voted for Schwarzenegger, and some even campaigned for him."I'm totally glad we finally have a pot head for governor," said Dennis Peron, who ran for governor in 1988 and works as a political activist in San Francisco.Peron and others said they're hoping Schwarzenegger will take a strong stand on medical marijuana laws.Smoking marijuana is a federal crime, but in 1996 California voters approved a law allowing sick and dying people to use marijuana - seven states since adopted similar laws. The Drug Enforcement Administration has been raiding medical marijuana cooperatives operating in compliance with California law.Schwarzenegger, who admitted using marijuana in the past, said he supports medical marijuana use but his staff said he has taken no position on the federal raids.Partygoers on Monday night said they're not concerned that pot wasn't a prominent campaign theme for the Hollywood star."I get a sense that Arnold wants to do a good job and prove himself, and I think this is going to be so good for California," said David Bavineau, a self-described healer, artist and builder from Santa Cruz.Dressed in a red furry cloak with black spots and an antennae-topped fur cap, Bavineau entertained the small crowd by blowing large bubbles using long bamboo poles and string.Watching him work, Shalom Dreampeace Compost - who works as a Santa Cruz County analyst - perched behind the wheel of his small, yellow electric car and conceded the whole party did seem a bit silly."But then again," he said, "it also seems silly that we've got this guy as our governor." Source: Associated Press Author: Martha Mendoza, The Associated PressPublished: November 17, 2003Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana.orghttp://www.marijuana.org/Schwarzenegger Inherits Fights With White Househttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17521.shtmlArnold On Pot - TownHall.comhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17229.shtmlSchwarzenegger Is Pressed for His Views on Issues http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17166.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on November 17, 2003 at 19:12:56 PT Karl Rove must be freakin' This was not how the folks in Washington planned to "take back California".Arnold's campaign office is just two blocks from Venice Beach. Venice Beach has so many bong shops that some of them are even located next door to each other.Arnold is a Venice Beach Republican. He's been a part of the beach scene since he started hanging out at Muscle Beach when he arrived.We'll see what a Venice Beach Republican is like soon. I don't think there has ever been one in office before.Dana Rohrabacher is a Huntington Beach Republican, and he's been pretty good for medical marijuana. If people out there could see Venice Beach -- you'd understand more about Arnie, the subtext that the media doesn't pick up.On the block where his campaign office sits, there are three yoga studios and a Jewish synagogue.There is a cigar shop called HOLLYWOOD SMOKES right in the front of his building.You can see the ocean from there, and just two blocks away at the beachfront are places to get henna tattoos, buy Bob Marley posters and Jamaican import CDs, and shop for bongs.Babylon is falling just two blocks from Arnold's campaign office. That's his hood.I can't say what we'll get out of that politically, but it's the most interesting we've had culturally in a long time, to have a Venice beach Republican take office.The media don't quite get it. They don't walk those extra two blocks to the beach. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment