Kentucky man walking to a new life in Granite State

AP via Portsmouth Herald, NH ^ | May 20, 2004 | Kate McCann

[schaketo]

CONCORD - The movement to bring thousands of people to New Hampshire to change it into a "free state" with fewer laws and smaller government is attracting all sorts, including a 20-year-old Kentucky man who is walking here in search of a life free from marijuana prosecution.

Randall Wolfe of Corbin, Ky., calls himself a dedicated member of the Free State Project. He drives to his job as a manager trainee at a local Taco Bell with the project’s Web site spray-painted on the hood of his 1997 Dodge Neon. The New Hampshire state motto, "Live Free or Die," is along the side. He spends his spare time as a Kentucky recruiter for the project.

Wolfe figures New Hampshire, where project members hope they can grow in numbers enough to influence legislation and policy, is his best shot for marijuana reform. Wolfe began experimenting with the drug at age 10 and smoking regularly at 14. He has been arrested twice for possession.

The project, the brainchild of a Yale graduate student, chose New Hampshire as its laboratory in nationwide balloting in October. Critics in the chosen state have accused the group of wanting to turn it into a haven for drug abuse, lax gambling laws, legal prostitution and gun supermarkets.

Project members dispute that depiction, though they don’t deny they want to eliminate "victimless crimes" such as prostitution and personal drug use.

Members have diverse motives and goals, ranging from promoting home-schooling and school vouchers to fighting gun laws. The common thread is that all value independent thinking, project spokesman James Maynard said.

"We’ve struggled long and hard for freedom where we were, with mixed results. Then suddenly we found there were others thinking and acting for the same goals we were," Maynard said. "Like any wise group, we have a wide umbrella and allow people of different viewpoints to be heard and work with us."

Marijuana advocates seem to have an affinity for free-staters, however. The project was featured in the May-June edition of "High Times" magazine and supports NORML, a group working to decriminalize marijuana.

All of which is Wolfe’s motivation for walking more than 1,000 miles to what could be his new home.

He plans to leave Corbin on Sunday with the $300 he saved up, a week’s worth of clothes and a new pair of Nikes. Project members are sending him donations for expenses, he said, and have offered him a place to stay when he arrives.

In New Hampshire, possession of any amount of marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail. Wolfe said he accepts that he might never live to see marijuana legalized.

"If it takes the rest of my life, it takes the rest of my life," he said. "If it doesn’t help me out, it might help the next generation."

His exact plan to lobby for marijuana legalization is vague, but he said he intends to use his time in New Hampshire "voting for the right people" and looking for guidance from Free State leaders in New Hampshire.

Around 30 families have moved to New Hampshire since October, joining the 230 project members already living here. Maynard said he expects 300 families to move in this summer.

Wolfe is timing his walk to arrive for next month’s Porcupine Festival in Lancaster. Organizers hope the June 21-27 gathering will be the project’s largest ever.

Wolfe has taken a month’s leave from Taco Bell.

"I pretty much told them, if they didn’t hear from me in 30 days, I was either dead or not coming back," he said.

[HostileTerritory]

I looked at the stats on the Free State Project's web site, and it looks like recruitment completely stalled in 2004. I hope it's not true. At this rate they'll never get anywhere near 20,000 people signed up, much less intending to move.

[Tribune7]

These hippies high (hee hee) on this free state project, once they succeed in dumping the drug and prostitution laws, will institute income taxes, "living wage" standards & right to work.

And so much for the free state project.

[ikka]

I applaud them, but fear that if they DO actually institute any kind of real change, the Feds will come down on them like a ton of bricks.

[NewHampshireDuo]

Sounds just like the type of person we need here in NH...not. Maybe he'll continue on to Maine.

[AlbertWang]

Well, when this movements best hope is a burner with $300 walking to Vermont..................

[Tribune7]

Wolfe has taken a month’s leave from Taco Bell.

What more needs to be said.

[Lawgvr1955]

the Feds will come down on them like a ton of bricks.

True. Freedom is anathema to government. The Founding Fathers understood that; most people today do not understand that. They want cradle to grave involvement of government in their life (so called entitlements, etc.)

[Drango]

in search of a life free from marijuana prosecution.

Dude, I was gonna join you but I was too stoned...

[sirchtruth]

...including a 20-year-old Kentucky man who is walking here in search of a life free from marijuana prosecution.

Bunch of self-centered Libertarians trying to live life as slaphappy and self-centered as they can.

I hope they realize that the great state of New Hampshire will not tolerate such irresponsibility!

The motto "live free or die" is the epidomized definition for a responsible society...That's why NH's motto is not "drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die."

[mizzmouse]

Are they looking to set up a commune here or something?
Maybe they will continue north to Lewiston, They can take over what ever part of the city that the Somalians have not laid siege to.

[Lawgvr1955]

Oh yes boys play it sweet for me
I was sittin' in my basement I'd just rolled myself a taste of
Somethin' green and gold and glorious to get me through the day
When my friend yells through my transom grab your coat an' get your hat son
There's a nut down on the corner a givin' dollar bills away
But I sat around a bit and then I had another hit
And then I rolled myself a bomber thought about my momma
Looked around fooled around played around while and then

I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and it rolled right by
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned oh me oh my

It took seven months of urgin' just to get that local virgin
With the sweet face up to my place to fool around a bit
And next day she woke up rosy and she snuggled up so cosy
But when she asked me how I liked it Lord it hurt me to admit

I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and it rolled right by
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned oh me oh my

I ain't makin' no excuses for so many things I uses
Just to brighten my relationships and sweeten up my day
But when my earthly race is over and I'm ready for the clover
And they ask me how my life has been
I guess I have to say

I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and it rolled right by
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned oh me oh my

I Got Stoned and I Missed It. Shell Silverstein.