cannabisnews.com: Pot Shots Pot Shots Posted by FoM on November 02, 2000 at 11:20:54 PT By David Holthouse Source: Anchorage Press Wev Shea, former U.S. Prosecutor for the District of Alaska, wore a Harley-Davidson sweatshirt to Tuesday night’s debate on Ballot Measure 5.Shea looked like a narc. Sounded like one, too."If this passes, I guarantee you we’ll have an invasion of nuisance dopers in Alaska." "The best marijuana in the world is grown 100 miles from Anchorage in hydroponic groves.""Drug traffickers are one step up from child molesters."Al Anders—Free Hemp in Alaska spokesman and Shea’s opponent in the UAA-sponsored showdown—wore a necktie and a crisp blue button-down.Anders looked like a middle-aged pothead in a shirt and tie. Sounded like one, too."Stronger marijuana is actually safer marijuana.""People who smoke marijuana drive better stoned than sober.""Let’s end the war and bring the POWs home."For all purposes here, POWs could stand for "Popped on Warrants." Anders argues that incarcerated pot growers and dealers are prisoners of the drug war Nixon started and the federal government has been losing ever since. Ballot Measure 5 would set those prisoners free in Alaska. Here’s what else it would do, according to the actual ballot language you’ll see in the voting booth on November 7:This bill would do away with civil and criminal penalties for persons 18 years or older who use marijuana or other hemp products. These products include hemp used for paper, fiber, food, fuel, medicine, or personal use in private. Marijuana would be regulated like an alcoholic beverage. Doctors could prescribe marijuana. The bill allows for laws limiting marijuana use in some cases to protect public safety. It grants amnesty to persons convicted in the past of marijuana crimes. The bill creates an advisory group to study restitution for those persons.In other words, to hell with the DEA, the FDA, the NIDA, and the CIA. Let’s pass the most radical pro-pot law in America. No more of this medical marijuana loophole twirling. Pot’s a drug, arguably no worse than alcohol or cigarettes, arguably no better. Let’s treat it accordingly. Let’s legalize it, tax it, and set free everyone in prison for cultivating and selling it. Oh, and let’s "study" compensating them for their lost time and property.Twelve times in 98 minutes, Wev Shea said "I don’t care how you folks vote on this." Five times, to three different men, he said "I’ll go one-on-one with you anytime," meaning an appointment in his office, but sounding like bare knuckles in an alley.One of the men Shea said this to was sitting at the Green Party table. This Greenie asked Shea "How many rapacious law enforcement officers molested families to get you that fancy ring and watch?"Shea said that "fancy ring" was his father’s Naval Academy graduation ring, class of 1937. Shea said his father gave him the ring in 1993, while his father was dying of cancer. No one asked the obvious follow-up question: Didn’t the experience of witnessing his father die of cancer make Shea more sympathetic to cancer patients who want to smoke pot to get high and feel hungry?Instead, all but a few members of the debate’s audience attacked Shea, either with glares or rhetoric or both, until the debate devolved into a virtual public stoning by stoners.Shea shrugged into a leather coat and split as soon as the moderator called "time." Anders stuck around, savoring accolades from bouquets of supporters. Instead of applause, his pronouncements could have appropriately been celebrated with a gurgling symphony of bongs.Notes on Shea v. Anders, re: Ballot Measure 5.NewsHawk: LegalizeitSource: Anchorage Press (AK)Author: David HolthousePublished: October 26 - November 1, 2000 Copyright 1998 The Anchorage PressWebsite: http://www.anchoragepress.com/Feedback: http://www.anchoragepress.com/feedback.cfm?classification=feedbackRelated Articles & Web Sites:Free Hemp in AlaskaAl Anders, Chair2603 Spenard RoadAnchorage, Alaska 99503 (907) 278-HEMP E-mail: freehempinak gci.netVisit their web site: http://www.freehempinak.orgHemp 2000R.L. Marcy, ChairP.O. Box 90055Anchorage, AK 99509907-376-2232 (p)Fax: 907-376-0530 (f)E-mail: marcy hemp2000.orgVisit their web site: http://www.hemp2000.org Drug War Won't End Issuehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7515.shtmlAlaskans Can End Wrong, Ineffective Marijuana Banhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7476.shtmlHemp At The Root of Radio Ad Battlehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7467.shtmlPot Helps With Epilepsy http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7459.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by dddd on November 04, 2000 at 02:37:42 PT biker? It's funny that this guy showed up in a Harley Davidson shirt,as if he was normal and cool.. As soon as prohibitionists are voted out,,you'll be seeing alot of politicians suddenly turning into fake hipsters,pretending they were with us all along......dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by hempity on November 03, 2000 at 10:56:34 PT anyone can own a harley Wev Shea, former U.S. Prosecutor for the District of Alaska, wore a Harley-Davidson sweatshirt to Tuesdaynight’s debate on Ballot Measure 5.Guess anyone can own a harley now, sure cannot mean very much anymore...Mitaoyate [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Antianti on November 03, 2000 at 08:19:36 PT: Just another vested interest i.e.... prosecuting attorney. Being a "nuisance doper",I may move to Alaska and bring my $50,000/year job with me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on November 02, 2000 at 19:10:03 PT They need to read more and absorb it too Don't the arguments against Cannabis sound down right ignorant anymore? I just shake my head and go I don't believe it but I do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by freedom fighter on November 02, 2000 at 18:47:58 PT I just know that the Alaska will pass this common sense ballot!Among my favorite anti in Alaska, "God made corn and Man made Alcohol, God made Hemp and Man made Marijuana!." Another favorite, "Anyone can plant marijuana in hemp fields."(oh pluzzzz!), and lastly, a reader who proclaim the research from UCLA in CA. who used test subjects who also smoked cigarettes. Oh boy, but fear, not! common sense will prevail in Alaska! This ballot will pass and I do not have any doubt! Long live the freedom that lives in a place such as Alaska! She will be known as a state that remind the lower 48 what is like to be truly free, respectful and honorable! \/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by freedom fighter on November 02, 2000 at 18:02:31 PT well rabblerouser I would! I love their thuderf##ks! :)) [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on November 02, 2000 at 17:08:18 PT: Big Brother speaks The attitude of law enforcement towards the popularly decided laws with regards to cannabis is quite clear:Twelve times in 98 minutes, Wev Shea said "I don’t care how you folks vote on this." Ah, but you *will* care, Mr. Shea. In your zeal, you believe the Feds will safeguard you. You believe that, when you begin overstepping your bounds by continuing to harrass cannabis users, that there will be a safe haven for you. You believe that Federal law will shelter you from the firestorm that's about to break over your head, caused by your intransigence. You will step on one too many toes, as are many antis now, believing thatin the presence of Federal law, they can do what is unlawful by State standards. But it is the States that comprise this federation, Mr. Shea...and it is the citizens you harrass that comprise the States. Or have you forgotten that, too?The tide is turning, Mr. Shea. Those whom you have persecuted have been patient long enough. But, rather than do it your way, with guns, we are doing it peacably...with ballots. In time, your continued refusal to recognize that the current is flowing against you now will become quite evident...just before you are drowned by it. At that moment of revelation, you will be *made* to care. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by glenn m on November 02, 2000 at 17:03:54 PT commment its time to realize the benifits to be had for these people. tourism tax revinue less crime and happier people the goverments of north america have to progress to atleast the 70,s and get with the times its 2000 the war they fight is the hippy 60's thing get real goverment give the people alittle grass everyone i know thats on harder drugs is because a dealer didnt have a little grass but instead acid or worse then the hard core addicts appear .grass is as mild as it gets no anger like alcohol no effects of crack ect ect maybe someday when my kids are older then me goverment will realize the damage there support of alchol and tobacco has on our health system and people [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by disgusted!!! on November 02, 2000 at 15:37:14 PT: this guys an idiot!!!!! "If this passes, I guarantee you we’ll have an invasion of nuisance dopers in Alaska." ??????? does anyone else think it would probably be good for their tourism industry??? people like him are a waste of oxygen!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by rabblerouser on November 02, 2000 at 12:48:54 PT funny stuff Who in the world would travel to Alaska to smoke pot when it is everywhere? Funny. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: