Free Republic

New Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn asked residents for their ideas about what the city needs, and a lot of them apparently want legalized marijuana and a nude beach. Legalized pot is in second place in the voting so far, and a clothing-optional beach for sunbathing and skinny dipping is in third place. Coming in first is an expansion of light rail.

AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE 12-05-04 To those who support our constitutionally limited “Republican Form of Government“, Raich v. Ashcroft is not about “medical Marijuana” but rather, the case presents a chance to correct a despotic decision made by the SCOTUS in 1942 concerning Congress’ power to regulate commerce in which the Court gave a new meaning to the word “commerce” in order to allow part of FDR’s NEW DEAL socialism [price controls] to pass as being constitutional, when it was not. The following article is worth reading, and can be found at findlaw.com.The Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument on a...

Blustery winds and chilly raindrops thinned the crowd that flocked to Seattle Hempfest on Saturday and made it difficult to flick their Bics. But the gloomy weather didn't stop the hundreds gathered at the main stage at Myrtle Edwards Park from engaging in a ceremonial toke at 4:20 p.m. Vivian McPeak, one of Hempfest's directors, stood below a large "Seattle Hempfest" banner and large pot leaf cutouts in the moments leading up to the most universally recognized toke time. "Let's do it right now," the animated McPeak said before leading the soggy throng in a countdown and in spelling out...

Amid the bong sales, the drug-reform speeches and a certain aroma that permeated the annual pro-marijuana festival yesterday, Hempfest was also a venue for another cause: getting John Kerry to the White House. Regulars who attend the two-day festival to hear the usual cry of "legalize marijuana" also found organizers campaigning to get pot users to vote for Kerry. About 100 Democratic activists passed out Kerry/Edwards buttons and stickers and tried to register voters yesterday at the 13th annual gathering at Myrtle Edwards Park along Seattle's waterfront. With an expected 150,000 visitors over two days, Hempfest is billed as one...