HEMPLINE NEWS - NOVEMBER, 1997 - ISSUE #20
Compiled and edited by John E. Dvorak, Managing Editor, Hemp Magazine

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JUDGE MOVES PERON'S TRIAL FROM OAKLAND TO SAN FRAN

On October 16, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Dean Beaupre moved the trial against the San Francisco Cannabis Cultivators Club from Oakland to San Francisco. Beaupre said that Attorney General Dan Lungren's office exhibited "an appearance of improper forum-shopping" when it decided to prosecute Dennis Peron and five others in Oakland. Beaupre also said that "The problem of this case should be obvious to a 10-year-old." Peron, pleased with the ruling, said ``We feel completely vindicated. I think all this political interference will have to come to an end now." [ San Fran CCC, Ph: 415-621-3986, FAX: 415-621-0604 ]

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SAN MATEO WORKING WITH MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

San Mateo County Supervisor Mike Nevin, a retired San Francisco police inspector, has come up with several innovative ways to help implement Proposition 215. Nevin wants local clinics, hospitals and pharmacies to distribute marijuana, confiscated by the police, to people who have a doctor's recommendation. Nevin believes that after the marijuana is used as evidence and inspected for contaminants, it can be distributed at a very low cost. Nevin has also suggested that San Mateo county look into having hospices provide home delivery of marijuana to patients who are too ill to leave their homes. Health officials estimate that as many as 3,000 people in San Mateo County would qualify for a doctor's recommendation for medical marijuana, as required under Proposition 215.

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MARIN COUNTY WEIGHS IN ON MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

The Marin County Board of Supervisors may recommend that patients requiring medical marijuana be issued certification cards to prevent police from citing them for possession. Certificates would be issued after verifying that the patient was a county resident, had a serious illness, and that the treating clinician was licensed by the state and had agreed that the use of cannabis was part of the treatment plan for the illness cited. The supervisors hope that this will clear up legal ambiguities caused by conflicting state and federal laws relating to medicinal marijuana.

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UKIAH CAREGIVER ARRESTED. MEDICINE SEIZED!

The Ukiah (CA) Daily Journal reported on September 28 that the designated caregiver for the Ukiah Cannabis Buyers Club (CBC), Yvette Rubio, had been arrested on charges of felony cultivation and possession of marijuana with intent to sell. Lake County Sheriff's Detective, David Garzoli, disregarded a contract that Rubio has with the Ukiah CBC. Police reportedly confiscated 51 plants, a six month supply of medicine for the club's members, according to Cherrie Lovett, director and founder of the Ukiah CBC. [ Ukiah Cannabis Buyer's Club, Phone: 707-462-0691, Fax: 707-462-0691, e-mail: SumoSan@hempseed.com ]

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TORONTO EPILEPTIC CHALLENGES MEDICAL MJ LAW

Terry Parker, a 42 year old, who suffers from epileptic seizures, has challenged the Canadian law which prohibits the growing and possession of marijuana for medical use. Parker was arrested in 1996 after the police allegedly seized more than 70 marijuana plants growing in his apartment. Parker claims that the Canadian law is unconstitutional. He is also trying to amend the Narcotics Control Act to allow Doctors to write prescriptions for marijuana.

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TO WASHINGTON STATE VOTERS: VOTE YES ON I-685!!

On November 4, voters in Washington will vote on Initiative 685, which declares the "war on drugs" a failure and promotes a medical approach to drug abuse. I-685 would allow doctors to recommend the use of marijuana, heroin, and LSD. I-685 would create a $6 million treatment and education program. If the initiative passes, an estimated 300 inmates serving time for drug possession could be released.

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MEDICAL MJ PROTESTER ARRESTED

Lynn Harichy, a 36 year old mother of four with multiple sclerosis (MS), was arrested for marijuana possession while protesting at a London, Ontario police station on September 15. Harichy, who had no previous criminal record, was protesting Canada's law that prevents her from using a medicine that is very effective for her. Alan Young, who defended Chris Clay during his recent constitutional challenge, is defending Harichy. Young will use Harichy's trial to obtain a ruling that would exempt medical marijuana users from criminal punishment.

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ABRAMS' MEDICAL MARIJUANA STUDY FINALLY APPROVED

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) officially announced on September 18 that Dr. Donald Abrams of UC-San Francisco will receive his full grant request to study the use of smoked marijuana in AIDS patients. Abrams waited five years and submitted three separate research protocols before finally receiving federal approval. See summary of the approved protocol in this issue of Hemp Magazine [ MAPS, 704-334-1798, info@maps.org, www.maps.org ]

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BRITISH DOCS BACK MEDICINAL MARIJUANA

This past July, the British Medical Association (BMA) voted overwhelmingly for cannabis products to be made available for medical use. It is believed that the BMA's Board of Science will recommend wider use of marijuana. A recent survey of over 100 hospital doctors revealed that 78% believe that marijuana should be available for therapeutic purposes.

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HOYT AXTON DENIED HIS MEDICINE

Country music star Hoyt Axton could receive over five years in prison for using medicinal marijuana. Axton, who is recovering from a stroke, uses marijuana for pain and stress relief. Montana police found more than a pound of marijuana at Axton's home last February. Deborah Hawkins, Axton's wife, received a one-year deferred sentence and a $1,000 fine after she pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.

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MCCAFFREY'S VIEW ON HEMP

Drug Czar Fubar Barry McCaffrey's close minded attitude about medical marijuana is well documented. What may not be so commonly known is his opinion on industrial hemp. We now know that McCaffrey is as ignorant about industrial hemp as he is about medicinal marijuana. Below are some highlights from a document originating from McCaffrey's Office of National Drug Control Policy, dated July 29, 1997, entitled: "Statement on Industrial Hemp." "The primary concern is the message it would send to the public, especially to our youth. The second concern is that legalizing hemp production may mean the de facto legalization of marijuana cultivation. The third concern is that hemp is a novelty product with limited sustainable development value even in a novelty market. Hemp imports in 1996 were $1.2 million of $202 billion of agricultural imports; six one hundredths of one percent. . . The ready availability of other raw material has been the major reason for a 25% drop in worldwide hemp production in the past 30 years. For these reasons we do not consider it prudent to change the current status of Cannabis Sativa as a controlled Schedule I drug."

It is therefore readily apparent that the retired General should not be dictating America's "free market" Agriculture policy any more than he should be threatening to arrest physicians who recommend marijuana for therapeutic purposes.

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1996 Marijuana Arrests: 642,000
Taxpayer Dollars Wasted: $7,500,000,000

The FBI reported that approximately 642,000 Americans were arrested for marijuana in 1996, 85% for mere possession. The number of arrests breaks the previous record set in 1995. The NORML Foundation estimates that "Marijuana prohibition cost American Taxpayers between $7.5 and $10 billion annually in enforcement alone." [ NORML FOUNDATION, 202-483-8751, NORMLFNDTN@AOL.COM, www.norml.org ]

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DECRIM. ORIENTED JUDGE RUNNING FOR CONGRESS

Orange County (CA) Superior Court Judge James P. Gray announced that he is running for the United States Congress. Gray is a Republican who is known for his support of the decriminalization of drugs. As a judge, Gray says that "I've seen what happens when we have bad public policy, when we have badly drafted laws." Former California Supreme Court Justice Marcus Kaufman has endorsed Gray.

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CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST ALABAMA HEMPSTERS

Charges of felony marijuana trafficking against hemp store owner, Angela Guilford, were dropped after Alabama Governor Fob James was inundated with protests from around the country. Guilford and her husband, Jeff Russell, were arrested for merely selling industrial hemp products, which, according to Alabama's archaic laws, are still considered marijuana. [ Ralph Bolen, 3928 Montclair Rd., Suite 134, Monclair, AL, 35213-2415 ]

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HEMP BREW NEWS

Frederick Brewing Company's (NASDAQ: BLUE) Hempen Ale won a bronze medal for brewing excellence in the herb/spice category at the 16th Annual Great American Beer Festival, the largest such festival held in the country. Hempen Ale also received a "Hempy" award from HempWorld Magazine for Product Innovation at this year's HIA Convention. Frederick Brewing recently introduced another Hemp based beer, Hempen Gold, which is lighter in taste, body, and color. [ Jonathan Gambill, 301-694-7899 x122, jonathan@fred.net ]

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DEEP E CO. WINS AWARD

Deep E Co., a Portland-based manufacturer of casual outdoor footwear and accessories, received The International Design Resource Award for its pioneering contributions in the field of sustainable design. The Greenpeace Activist Bag, which Deep E Co. created and designed under license with Greenpeace incorporates a variety of environmental materials, including hemp canvas, recycled hardwood toggles and Treetap™, a rubberized, cotton-backed material made from sustainably harvested latex. [ Deep E Co., 888-830-3520 ]

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Acquittal In Hawaii Hemp Seed Trial

On October 8, a jury voted 9-3 to acquit Aaron Anderson, who was indicted in 1992 for "commercial promotion" of marijuana after ordering sterilized hemp seeds from China. Deputy Prosecutor Kay Iopa testified that her office would not prosecute a "little old lady," if she possessed hemp seeds, but would file charges against an individual who "is very vocally, very outwardly, advocating the legalization of marijuana." Based upon these statements, a federal appeals court recently upheld a $3 million lawsuit brought by Anderson against Hawaii prosecutors for unlawful prosecution. [ Roger Christie @ (808) 961-0488 or NORML board member Don Wirtshafter @ (614) 662-4367, don@hempery.com ]

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AH SO, ASA IN JAPAN

Japan's oldest "hemp-eco-head shop", New Age Trading, wants to sell YOUR hemp. They currently carry products from Ecolution, The Ohio Hempery, and Of The Earth. New Age Trading would appreciate it if you could send them catalogues and whole sale price lists for your company's autumn and winter merchandise. New Age Trading's representative, Koichi Maeda, is an advocate for the legalization of hemp in Japan. He helped translate Jack Herer's "Emperor" into Japanese. [New Age Trading, Koichi Maeda, phone/fax: 03-5481-8455, taimado@bekkoame.or.jp, www.bekkoame.or.jp/~taimado/ ]

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DEAR JOHN, JOHN DEERE SERIOUS ABOUT HEMP

The Sept-Oct, 1997 issue of the John Deere & Company publication "The Furrow" contains an article about alternative crops. In the article, some of the positive attributes of hemp were noted, including its potential in the paper making industry. The article also mentioned that several U.S. farm groups are in favor of setting up a simple regulatory system that would allow them to grow industrial hemp. John Deere may also have a hemp adapter kit that can be fitted on some of its baling machines.

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HEMP BILL MOVING IN MICHIGAN

According to Mike Kerwood with Outer World in Michigan, a piece of industrial hemp legislation passed the Senate on a 60 to 0 (ZERO) vote. The bill is now in the Agriculture Committee and could be acted upon during the January, 1998 session. [ Mid Michigan NORML, 517-483-9179, mmn@mindspring.com ]

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2 STAR DOG OUTSHINES THEIR COMPETITION

An October 20th article in the San Francisco Examiner featured the success of Berkeley based 2 Star Dog, founded by brothers Steven and Allan Boutrous. The Boutrous' hired fashion designer Stella Carakasi, whose work has propelled 2 Star Dog to the top of the hemp fashion world. 2 Star Dog reportedly registers multi-million dollar revenues, selling over 80,000 garments a year.