cannabisnews.com: WAMMfest Raises Awareness, Draws Crowd





WAMMfest Raises Awareness, Draws Crowd
Posted by CN Staff on September 30, 2007 at 06:35:01 PT
By Jennifer Squires, Sentinel Staff Writer
Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel 
Santa Cruz, CA -- The smell of burning marijuana wafted through San Lorenzo Park during the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana annual festival Saturday, though organizers said sharing information about medicinal marijuana, not using it, was the focus of the event."Really, this isn't about smoking in public. It's about raising awareness," WAMM co-founder Valerie Corral said. "It's about medicine and human suffering."
The group started WAMMfest 14 years ago as a fundraiser and community outreach effort. This year, the City Council voted to lift the 18-month-old ban on smoking in city parks to allow medicinal marijuana patients to light up at the event.Hundreds of people filtered through the festival, which included live music, a kids' play area, auction and several information booths, and the weekly Saturday Market."We got nice weather and a pretty good turnout," Corral said.Nearly 2,000 people attended last year's festival. Final attendance figures for this year's event were not immediately available.Mary Cross of Capitola said she came out to support WAMM, a 200-member cooperative started in Santa Cruz in 1993. Its goal is to help the seriously ill use, grow and share marijuana for medical purposes."I believe that it's really important for the community to come and see what WAMM is all about," said Cross, a medicinal marijuana patient who said she uses pot to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. "It's the only thing that can help me sleep at night. "It really helps people," she added, surveying a photo display of dozens of former WAMM members who have succumbed to their illnesses.Others sprawled out on the grassy hill in front of the stage, enjoying the sunshine and a spliff."I'm an everyday user, just because it's great," said Moe Jasari, who came from the south San Francisco Bay Area with two friends for the festival. Police reported no problems with the afternoon festival. But after Measure K was passed with 60 percent of the vote in November, Santa Cruz police are forced to make adult marijuana-related crimes on private property a low priority. Marijuana became legal in California in 1996 for people with serious illnesses, however, the federal government considers the drug illegal and has the authority to confiscate marijuana, even if it's used for medicinal purposes.Earlier this month, in the case of Santa Cruz County v. Alberto Gonzales, U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel granted the attorney general's motion to prevent a Santa Cruz marijuana cooperative and its supporters from suing the office to stop federal marijuana raids.At the time, Mike Corral said: "Naturally, we're disappointed. I had hoped for something better" Corral, who owned the land where federal agents seized medical pot plants in September 2002, thrusting him, his wife and their collective into the five-year legal battle that's put the them at the center of California's medical marijuana debate.The suit, filed on behalf of WAMM, the city of Santa Cruz and the county in 2003, contends that federal agents went too far in seizing 165 marijuana plants from Corral's plot. The suit cites the Compassionate Use Act. The Attorney General's Office, though, has maintained that marijuana, no matter how it is used, is illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act, prompting the office to seek dismissal of the Santa Cruz County suit.Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel (CA)Author:  Jennifer Squires, Sentinel Staff WriterPublished: September 30, 2007Copyright: 2007 Santa Cruz SentinelContact: editorial santa-cruz.comWebsite: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/Related Articles & Web Site:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/OK for Pot in The Park Keeps Santa Cruz Weirdhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23341.shtmlSanta Cruz Lifts Park Smoking Ban for Festivalhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23336.shtml 
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Comment #36 posted by FoM on October 02, 2007 at 14:43:49 PT
Related Article by TheKSBWChannel.com
Santa Cruz Leaders, Group, Sue Government Over Medical Marijuana***October 2, 2007SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The city and county of Santa Cruz, along with the Women's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, are suing the federal government over the use of pot to help ease chronic pain.The groups are asking the courts to reconsider an earlier decision denying their motion for a preliminary injunction, Action News reported.They argue that the 10th Amendment protects a state's right to govern itself. 
 The case is expected to be heard by the U.S. District Court as soon as next week.Copyright 2007 by TheKSBWChannel.comhttp://www.theksbwchannel.com/news/14253369/detail.html
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Comment #35 posted by whig on October 01, 2007 at 19:30:31 PT
mayan
I didn't call her names, though, and I don't want to be her enemy, I just don't think she should be president.
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Comment #34 posted by mayan on October 01, 2007 at 18:12:42 PT
whig
I commend you for recognizing Hillary as the prostitician that she is!
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Comment #33 posted by whig on October 01, 2007 at 13:03:33 PT
mayan
I won't vote for Hillary Clinton regardless of whether she gets nominated.
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on October 01, 2007 at 11:07:29 PT
If Anyone Is Interested
Senator Obama is a guest on the Tyra Banks Show. 
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Comment #31 posted by FoM on October 01, 2007 at 10:31:20 PT
mayan
I understand how you feel and I hope you can understand how I feel. 
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Comment #30 posted by mayan on October 01, 2007 at 10:30:05 PT
Obama
I don't buy it. If he supported the troops he would advocate their immediate exit NOW. His political rhetoric means nothing to me. He has voted to prolong the war, period. You can justify it however you want but I cannot bring myself to support war-mongers.
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on October 01, 2007 at 10:04:47 PT
mayan
I don't look at this like you do. I don't want a Republican for many years as President. Obama didn't vote for the war. He has always been against it. You'll probably say he voted for funding and he did because of the troops. Bush uses the safety of the troops like drug warriors use what about the children. Clinton is more of a Republican then a Democrat and I hope she doesn't get the nomination. Obama has so many young and on fire supporters that I haven't given up hope that he might get the nomination. 
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Comment #28 posted by mayan on October 01, 2007 at 09:29:49 PT
whig
I liked Kucinich but he has not lived up to his word regarding his declaration that he would set the wheels in motion for a new 9/11 investigation in September. It is October. He knows full well that 9/11 was an inside job and his neglect puts every American's life at risk.Will you vote for Hillary if (when) she gets the nomination?
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Comment #27 posted by mayan on October 01, 2007 at 09:22:33 PT
FoM
You mean the illegal Iraq war that the republicans AND democrats gave bush the power to wage? Hillary will only ensure that we expand our imperial agenda. Hillary is waiting for Bush to hand her the baton and then it's off to more wars for corporate profit. 
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Comment #26 posted by whig on October 01, 2007 at 09:13:42 PT
mayan
I also put an open endorsement on Ron Paul for the Republican nomination but I don't think he will be allowed to win it (as I don't think Dennis Kucinich will be allowed to win the Democratic nomination). I won't vote for the Republican candidate for president, however.
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Comment #25 posted by whig on October 01, 2007 at 09:11:00 PT
mayan
My first choice for president of those now running would be Dennis Kucinich. I also have an open endorsement for Bill Richardson and John Edwards, though I'm getting much shakier on the latter. I understand that we cannot always get our first choice, however.
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on October 01, 2007 at 09:00:25 PT
nuevo mexican
I don't like Clinton but I dislike Republicans more. They said they can't guarantee we would be out by that time. What if Bush escalates the war before a Democrat gets elected in 08? We could be in a full blown World War by then. Don't guarantee what you don't control, I believe.
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Comment #23 posted by nuevo mexican on October 01, 2007 at 08:45:00 PT
I'll never vote for Hillary Bush/Clinton, NEVER!
On Hillary, war loving, closeted gay Hillary Clinton,(we know those in the closet are fine with bush and his cloture congress-critters, and when you stay in the 'closet' you become self-loathing, hypocisy runs through your veins, and every thing you do or say becomes a lie, until you free yourself from your self-loathing):Sorry FOM, she might be a Scorpio, but she has no integrity, and if we progressives vote for her to get out the bushies, the bushies WIN! She also has Gemini Rising at the 29th degree, the degree of disaster, thus, she will preside over the next Democratic 'disaster', losing to the Repugs, as no progressive wants to continue the Clinton/bush dynasty. Bill made the Democratic Party the Party of Corporatism, facism, and 'just say yes' to anything bush wants' Disgusting! I will NEVER forget what the Dems have done to our 'hope', what makes anyone think they will ever do the peoples 'bidding'. Global Warming is probably the only thing that will unify the people of the planet, until then, stay in fear, do nothing, wait for Godot, and bushes Apocalypse.Does it seem like everyone is mentally 'paralyzed?Thus:we Hillary = hero for the right-wing! Got it?Period!She is THEIR GIRL!That is why they bash her, to make her look like the Repugs would never have Hillary, BUT she is Their PICK!
If she wins, they win, if she loses, they win,Don't you know the system is rigged, paper ballots or not!Of course, even educated, informed and outraged Americans can still be manipulated to vote however the powers-that-be will determine YOU VOTE! Just make it look like Hillary is the enemy of the Repug Party, simple, easy, works every time!So FOM, I'm sorry, Hillary's' CACKLE will NEVER allow her into the Presidency, the Repugs will get Rudy or MUTT, and the Bush boys will continue to run the show. If Hillary is nominated, the Dems loose their base, and many will vote for the Unity Party, the Green Party, the NEW Democratic Party, as it won't make any difference if the bush-lite Dems take over, it will be business a usual, and like Hillary, Edwards and Obama said, 
we'll be in Iraq til 2013 at least!Loosers!Geesus Kee-rist folks, when will people wake up?Permanent war, permanent occupation, please read the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, until you've gotten the jist of what these two documents state, knowledge on any other subject is moot.The Bill of Rights:
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/funddocs/billeng.htmThe Constitution:
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.htmlObama, maybe, we need a black Prez, to expose our racist country, and bring it into the 20th century, Al GORE, President for sure, Kucinich VP, as Cheney has given the office more power, so Kucinich can run the show too, Bill Richardson, heads clean-up crew, Henry Waxman, should take Nancy 'traitor' Pelosis' seat, and we should settle for nothing less! And we incarcerate the complicit Dems with the bushies, and they turn the prison into an orgy of freshly de-closeted employees of the state, paid pennies on every dollar for their services!Now, if you want to know what I think we have to look forward to, read this, and know this is what the bushies will do to Americans, when they get their shot, around election-time.If the Buddhists' Military is willing to murder thousands of Protesters and hundreds of Monks, and the U.S. won't stop them, and you know they won't, what makes us think we will ever have legal cannabis in the U.S.?Legal Cannabis is akin to human rights, civil rights, laws that hold those in power accountable, common sense, and these things are concepts of the past, look at the state of the world, do world leaders care about the average person, did they ever, and what makes people think big brother will ever come to their rescue?When the bush nightmare is upon us, as it is now, and we just sit around in shock that he's done it again, (bombs Iran) with NO resistance from the sleeping giant known as the 'murican People, which doesn't seem to apply since 'muricans have proved themselves useless to the world, no vision, no fearlessness, no heart, no bravery, no balls, no spine, just medicated buffoons that think Hillary is worth our time.Like Rahm Emanuel and the DLCers, the wanna-be repugs of the Democratic Party, even Nancy Pelosi has joined them, as she appears to hate the 'base'.Hillary is AIPAC, pro Israeli gov, (not Israeli People) and a new poll shows 72% of Israelis now want nukes used on Iran, go figure, and re-consider your statement, you have a huge influence of folks, though you don't think so. Sorry, I'm not calling you a buffoon FOM, I am calling most 'muricans buffoons, until they prove themselves otherwise!Just read this, and weep, and think what our future has in store, if this can happen to Buddhist monks and people standing up for 'democracy', gee, whats' a few million 'muricans? The bush crime family is in the morgue biz, the more death, the more profit, bush wants to take the world with him when he goes, and will do everything he can to make sure we live in a nuked-out, apocalyptic reality, and that will he the bush legacy, a dead planet, wasted by war, depleted Uranium everywhere, and on and on.....Arnold Schwartzy made the movie, and we're living now!A reflection of bushes brain rot, the American landscape......Watch Terminator if you have any questions about the desired look of the future, with people always the enemy, and the Corporate War Machine, the victor in all outcomes!Where almost there!800 concentration camps, FEMA-style, await us, and I have no reason to be optimistic, nor do you!Burma: Thousands dead in massacre of the monks dumped in the jungleThousands of protesters are dead and the bodies of hundreds of executed monks have been dumped in the jungle, a former intelligence officer for Burma's ruling junta has revealed.The most senior official to defect so far, Hla Win, said: "Many more people have been killed in recent days than you've heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand."Mr Win, who spoke out as a Swedish diplomat predicted that the revolt has failed, said he fled when he was ordered to take part in a massacre of holy men. He has now reached the border with Thailand. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=484903Lessons From Burma: Religious Right's War on Spirituality in the US
by McCamy TaylorToday in Burma, there are reports that soldiers have mutinied against the leaders of the junta. This was inevitable. Almost everyone in that country is a Buddhist, and the dictators ordered their troops to fire upon Buddhist monks who were leading a peaceful protest.http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/28/21114/6575
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Comment #22 posted by mayan on October 01, 2007 at 08:22:02 PT
Lesser of Evils
Look where voting for the lesser of evils has got us. America is now on it's death bed. I will not be voting against someone, I will be voting for someone. Good luck with the establishment picks. They will only attempt to perpetuate the unsustainable status quo. If you want more of the same I suppose you deserve it. Whig, I am curious as to who you support for prez.
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on October 01, 2007 at 05:34:54 PT
Whig
In not too many years Stick and I will be retiring and it is scary to think about the way things are but check out what Obama said about seniors. It is comforting.http://www.barackobama.com/issues/seniors/
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on October 01, 2007 at 05:18:33 PT
Goblet and Whig
I really like Obama. I like that he appears to have a good deal of common sense and that is something lacking in this administration. He seems wise and that is what I like. He seems sensible too.Whig, Clinton isn't my kind of person but if she gets the nomination I will vote for her to keep the Republicans out. 
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Comment #19 posted by whig on October 01, 2007 at 00:53:00 PT
FoM
By the way now Hillary Clinton has become the establishment candidate, so if you think the voters are going to vote for the establishment, she's your nominee.Otherwise, and I think and hope, she won't be.
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Comment #18 posted by whig on October 01, 2007 at 00:04:29 PT
Libertarian party
Is Steve Kubby running for the Libertarian nomination?I have to say I couldn't vote for the Libertarian party because they want to take money and services away from needy people and say sink or swim. That isn't what I believe in. That's what New Orleans looks like.
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Comment #17 posted by goblet on September 30, 2007 at 23:45:18 PT:
FoM
thanks for the link to the encouraging article about Obama - from what I've read previously I was comfortable with him but that piece I linked sparked some concern. I am still a ron paul guy though :) but will not vote for another other repub if paul doesn't get the nod - I will "waste" my vote on the libertarian candidate like I have for the past 5 elections...
 
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on September 30, 2007 at 21:51:37 PT
Goblet
I hadn't read it but I just did. I think Obama is open to change. Here's an article about his opinion.***Obama Adds Reducing Mandatory Drug Sentences To Presidential PlatformSeptember 28, 2007 
Jessica Pupovac - AHN WriterWashington, D.C. (AHN) - Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) outlined his civil rights platform Friday, saying that if elected president, he would target racial disparities in the U.S. justice system through a host of measures, including relaxing drug sentencing laws. The presidential hopeful said he would review mandatory minimums and push to give first-time, nonviolent drug offenders a chance to serve their sentence in drug rehabilitation programs, rather than prison. "We have a system that locks away too many young, first-time, non-violent offenders for the better part of their lives - a decision that's made not by a judge in a courtroom, but all to often by politicians in Washington and state capitals around the country," Obama said. Complete Article:
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008667878
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Comment #15 posted by goblet on September 30, 2007 at 21:02:19 PT:
FoM - did you read this about obama?
Obama is So Bad on Drug Policy, He Got Endorsed By Prison Guardshttp://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2007/sep/24/obama_is_so_bad_on_drug_policy_h
Obama is So Bad on Drug Policy, He Got Endorsed By Prison Guards
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on September 30, 2007 at 19:25:34 PT
OverwhelmSam
It's the Fundamentalist Christians that run the Republican Party that are coming against us. Not all Christians are so condemning but the ones that have clout in the Republican Party are very judgemental.
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 30, 2007 at 19:21:11 PT
 MikeC 
I hope it will be Barack Obama. He is leading in Iowa now. I don't want Hillary but will vote for her if she gets the nomination. I think Ron Paul is popular with Republicans that don't like how the Republicans are. I could not vote for a Republican because you get the people that we have now. I don't want them anymore. 
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Comment #12 posted by OverwhelmSam on September 30, 2007 at 18:47:42 PT
Looks Like We're Going To War in Iran
How many people does Bush get to murder before the American people will do something about it? I guess all of them.Befor Christianity was legalized by Constantine, the Romans use to kill Christians for entertainment. Maybe they knew more than we do. Interesting to note that Christians are now legally castigating cannabis consumers. I would rather my son experiment with marijuana than get raped by a well hung Christian Priest.
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Comment #11 posted by MikeC on September 30, 2007 at 18:34:06 PT
John McCain....
He is a cold hearted reptile. Thankfully he has zero chance of being elected president. The president elect next year will be Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or Ron Paul. No Republican with the exception of Ron Paul stands a chance to beat the Democrats next year. Either way the raids SHOULD end based on statements made by the three that I mentioned. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? 
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 30, 2007 at 17:32:56 PT
aolbites 
It seems to me that there are certain powers that be that want a war with Iran. They have a lot of oil. I would be worried if I lived in a country that has a lot of oil.
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on September 30, 2007 at 17:05:39 PT
Expanded Comment By John McCain 
September 30, 2007Excerpt: In a 90-minute town hall meeting that resembled a policy tour de force, McCain also challenged a woman in a wheelchair who declared she needed medical marijuana to withstand the pain of a litany of ailments."Every town hall meeting I have, someone shows up and advocates for medical marijuana, and, by the way, in all due respect, alleges that we are arresting the dead and the dying, and I still have not seen any evidence of that," McCain told his questioner."I still would not support medical marijuana because I don't think that the preponderance of medical opinion in America agrees with your assertion that it's the most effective way of treating pain."Complete Article: http://www.columbian.com/news/APStories/AP09302007news206675.cfm
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 30, 2007 at 16:58:46 PT
Comment By John McCain on Medical Marijuana
September 30, 2006Excerpt: In a 90-minute town hall meeting that resembled a policy tour de force, McCain also challenged a woman in a wheelchair who declared she needed medical marijuana to withstand the pain of a litany of ailments. "I still would not support medical marijuana because I don‘t think that the preponderance of medical opinion in America agrees with your assertion that it‘s the most effective way of treating pain." Complete Article: http://www.onelocalnews.com/duntonsprings/stories1/index.php?action=fullnews&id=67818
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Comment #7 posted by aolbites on September 30, 2007 at 16:23:25 PT
These people are INSANE!
Bolton wants to bomb Iranian nuclear sitesLONDON, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday Iran's nuclear facilities should be targeted for a pre-emptive bombing strike.Citing the apparent failure of British and European Union officials' talks with their Iranian counterparts, Bolton said there is no available alternative but to bomb the Middle Eastern nation's suspected nuclear sites, The Guardian reported."I don't think the use of military force is an attractive option," Bolton told members of Britain's Conservative Party Sunday, "but I would tell you I don't know what the alternative is."Because life is about choices, I think we have to consider the use of military force. I think we have to look at a limited strike against their nuclear facilities."The former ambassador said if such military action were to be taken, it should be paired with a major regime change involving Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."If we were to strike Iran it should be accompanied by an effort at regime change," he said. "The U.S. once had the capability to engineer the clandestine overthrow of governments. I wish we could get it back."http://www.newsdaily.com/TopNews/UPI-1-20070930-13042000-bc-britain-iran.xml
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on September 30, 2007 at 09:19:52 PT
RevRayGreen
It sure is good. We have a few of Steve Earles CDs.
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Comment #5 posted by RevRayGreen on September 30, 2007 at 09:10:31 PT
Copperhead Road
is a great song..........
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Comment #4 posted by Truth on September 30, 2007 at 07:58:33 PT
idiot
"You're never going to stop people from growing marijuana," he says. "But the idea is to make it so dad-gummed hard to grow they go to Tennessee or somewhere else."Maybe this guy is a product of inbreeding.....
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Comment #3 posted by Toker00 on September 30, 2007 at 06:56:45 PT
Isn't it CLEAR yet?
Police reported no problems with the afternoon festival. But after Measure K was passed with 60 percent of the vote in November, Santa Cruz police are forced to make adult marijuana-related crimes on private property a low priority.How many events do we have to have like this to PROVE that the only "problems" with cannabis is it's illegality? Nothing bad happens until the "PIGS" intervene in PEACEFUL gatherings and the MEDIA begin their DEMON-ation of Cannabis Culture. Very few groups retain their Dignity like Cannabists. Peace is our platform. Honesty is our message. Compassion for Humanity our request. Love is our contribution. Activism our Weapon. Release the Chained Miracles that exist within this plant. END CANNABIS PROHIBITION NOW!Toke. 
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Comment #2 posted by Toker00 on September 30, 2007 at 06:46:47 PT
Innocent Honesty.
"I'm an everyday user, just because it's great," said Moe Jasari, who came from the south San Francisco Bay Area with two friends for the festival.Refreshing isn't it?Toke. 
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on September 30, 2007 at 06:36:43 PT
Kentucky Goes After 'Marijuana Belt' Growers
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-30-kentucky_N.htm
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