Hemp Fest revelers stir the pot in Hub

Boston Herald ^ | September 17, 2006 | Shaun Tolson

[billorites]

Boston Police passed out fliers yesterday making it perfectly clear they would not grant amnesty for marijuana possesion during the Boston Hemp Fest, but that didn’t stop 19-year-old Will Germaine of Hastings, N.Y., from trying to conceal his stash in the BPD handout, police said.

Germaine and 52 others were arrested for marijuana possession during the pro-pot festival.

From $5 hemp leis and subscriptions to High Times magazine to T-shirts with slogans such as “marilize legajuana,” the all-day event was a cannabis buffet of reefer paraphernalia and freedom of expression.

“When people smoke weed at Hemp Fest in Seattle, they don’t get arrested,” an unidentified man shouted into a microphone from the WBCN stage. “People don’t get hurt. You, unfortunately, are in the city of Boston.”

“Trying to arrest our way out of pot use is a fool’s errand,” said Michael Cutler, a lawyer with norml.org, an organization working to reform marijuana laws.“These policemen who are surrounding the Common should be searching for terrorists. They should be at Logan Airport.”

“We’re here to support something that shouldn’t be illegal,” said Ben Foley of Hull, who was attending his third Boston Hemp Fest, officially titled the Fall Freedom Rally.

“It’s going to happen,” said Townsend resident Marie Roche of the desire to legalize marijuana. “It’s just a matter of time.”

Rachel Mauro, 18, of Cheshire, Conn., smokes a joint at the Hemp Fest on The Common Saturday. (Staff photo by David Goldman)

[tlb]

Woulnd't it be more apt to hold such festivals in the Smokies?

[Beckwith]

In the late 60s and early 70s there was a weekly Sunday concert on the Cambridge (MA) Common. The police ringed the common but never stepped foot onto it. As long as the smoker stayed on the Common, the police left them alone. If one smoked off the Common they were invited to spend the night in the Middlesex County Jail.

The marijuana could be smelled for miles downwind.

One Sunday, the Rolling Stones just showed up unannounced, plugged in and played a two hour set.

The concerts ended when the mayor simply dug up the Common, planted new grass seed and put the grassy area off limits.

Things change.

[Gay State Conservative]

The marijuana could be smelled for miles downwind.

And today,the aroma of pot has been replaced with the scent of trust funds and revolutionary justice.

[winston2]

Have you noticed how peaceful the legalize cannabis group is? Over the last 70 years of cannabis prohibition - 10's of millions of otherwise innocent people have been arrested and charged with the crime of smoking a mild intoxicant. Yet - very little violence is expressed from this group. In the broadest sense - I like people who choose cannabis.

The nation would be quite a lot better off if we didn't persecute the citizens who enjoy marijuana. Most citizens don't realize the social divide that is caused by cannabis prohibition. There are probably over 30 million regular cannabis users in the U.S.(Most are young adults with plenty to offer society.). In order to live in relative security, citizens who enjoy cannabis are forced to maintain a safe distance from others in our society. Measures must be taken to prevent the fact that they use cannabis from being discovered, even by people who would in many cases benefit from their relationship.

The prohibition of cannabis is worse than the use of cannabis.

Read my tag line and decide for yourself if prohibition of cannabis falls under the first or second category.

Then read the pamphlet Common Sense by Thomas Paine and think about whether the federal government should be carrying out a war against it's own citizens for choosing to smoke cannabis.

[winston2]

RE: my post # 5

A better link to the pamphlet - Common Sense by Thomas Paine

[WorkingClassFilth]

In the broadest sense - I like people who choose cannabis.

Glad to know that you mix with a fine group of people. Seems to me, however, that while dope may not be the root of social problems, it is sure to be found wherever social disorder is rampant. There is little wonder why it was an element of the leftist sacrament during the cultural revolution of the 1960's. Today, it is simply the K-Mart equivalent of adolescent rebellion.

[Beckwith]

The prohibition of cannabis is worse than the use of cannabis.

Whether is be the pot-smoker or the gun-owner, there are those on one end of the spectrum that are responsible users and those on the other end that are irresponsible.

Therefore, it is easier to legislate against the object than the person, so government just makes "the thing" illegal, effectively punishing the responsible in order to affect the irresponsible.

[Huck]

Rachel's a hottie. Rock on.

[winston2]

(snip)adolescent rebellion(snip)

You don't have a problem with "rebellion", do you?

Does not unjust laws fuel such a rebellion?

I for one, think this country needs a few many things changed.

Career politicians for one - they are like diapers - they need changing regularly and for the same reason.

Governments that dictate the most minuscule details of our lives is not a good thing to me either.

We do need "a more perfect union". Don't you agree?

[WorkingClassFilth]

If a poll were conducted at exits from any American election and the the question Do you use marijuana on a regular basis? was asked of each voter, I have no doubt that the results would be entirely compatible with the ideological divide in this country. Despite all the whining about liberty and the like, I think the pro-dope crowd would find their greatest sympathy and alliance would lie with the anti-American left. BTW, we don't need a revolution. What we need is a restoration of what is already embodied in our values, traditions and institutions.

[winston2]

What we need is a restoration of what is already embodied in our values, traditions and institutions.

On that chord -

If one were to have broke out some cannabis and smoked it in the company of Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and co. (circa 1776) - what might have been the reaction from those fine men?

[KeepUSfree]

That's because you are clueless as to the meaning of freedom. Many people on this forum support legalization - not because "they are dopeheads" - or whatever juvenile name you would like to call them - but because they believe in freedom of the individual and the Bill of Rights - ideas on which this great country was founded.

I'm sure King George would have said the same thing about the lowlifes involved in "social disorder" back in 1775. The bottom line is: sometimes the government is WRONG. Just because, like the Tories of old, you have been propagandized to accept "The Kings word" as the ultimate truth, there are still free-thinking men and women who, rightfully, rebel against unjust, immoral and unconstitutional laws.

Sorry you're not one of them.

[winston2]

The prohibition of cannabis is worse than the use of cannabis.(winston2)

Whether is be the pot-smoker or the gun-owner, there are those on one end of the spectrum that are responsible users and those on the other end that are irresponsible.

Therefore, it is easier to legislate against the object than the person, so government just makes "the thing" illegal, effectively punishing the responsible in order to affect the irresponsible.

-----------------

10 - 4

Pastor Martin Niemöller still applies...

First they regulated machine gun owners, but I was not a machine gun owner so I did not speak out.

Then they regulated marijuana smokers, but I was not a marijuana smoker so I did not speak out...

[KeepUSfree]

They would have said "pass that doobie this way" or "no thanks, I have too much to do today - but enjoy yourself".

Actually, MANY of our founding father smoked Cannabis, It was a common agricultural crop. All paper and rope was made from Hemp.

So, since you are totally devoid of historical perspective, it was easy for you to swallow the government propaganda.

It's part of why public "education" doesn't do much actual education. Ignorant people are easier to control.

Consider yourself controlled.

[Moonman62]

Seems to me, however, that while dope may not be the root of social problems, it is sure to be found wherever social disorder is rampant.

Yep, it's prevalent with every anti-social or luddite political movement, not to mention criminals.

[KeepUSfree]

Sorry Winston2, my last post went to the wrong guy..... accept my apologies please....

[Obie Wan]

"the grassy area", pun intended right !!!

[Moonman62]

Seems to me, however, that while dope may not be the root of social problems, it is sure to be found wherever social disorder is rampant.

Really, I see the same small group of Libertarians and drug addicts, repeating the same slogans over and over again, using the Constitution and medical profession for their own nefarious purposes.

[WorkingClassFilth]

To hear you folks tell it, smoking dope would land you in the company of the Founding Fathers, patriots, clear-minded and free-thinking people and, of course, the moral and legitimate heirs to Constitutional thought.

Sorry, but the evidence I see out there indicates your allies are most often the dregs of society and the genuinely anti-liberty crowd. If you wish to smoke dope, do so (You're probably waiting for legal permission, right?). Today's laws and enforcement are pretty mild for the personal user and nothing like what it was even 30 years ago when I was in your camp. Party on, Dudes!