War On Cannabis Claims Another Two Lives at Rainbow
Farms
PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE
DrugSense FOCUS Alert #221 Saturday September, 8, 2001
Marijuana doesn't kill, but marijuana prohibition does. Another sad
reminder of that fact occurred this week as two activists were shot
dead after a stand-off with scores of FBI agents and local police.
The story was covered thinly by wire services across the country as a
tale of confrontation between law enforcement and law breakers. Some
Michigan newspapers offered deeper coverage, even mentioning the
larger implications of the incident, like the story below from the
Herald-Palladium. But most didn't. It should be obvious this tragedy
would not have taken place without marijuana prohibition, and, that
violence is an inherent part of drug prohibition in general. (For
enlightening commentary on the use of violence in the war on
marijuana, listen to Richard Cowan's analysis:
http://www.pot-tv.net/archive/shows/pottvshowse-891.html)
Please write a letter to one or more newspapers that have covered the
story to remind them that the war on marijuana is infinitely more
dangerous to individuals and society than marijuana itself.
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Contact Info:
NOTE: Please send your letter in an individual message to one of more
of the following newspapers.
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
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Source: Detroit News (MI)
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Source: New York Times
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Source: Washington Post (DC)
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Source: Herald-Palladium, The (MI)
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(You can find more contacts for newspapers in Michigan and elsewhere
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http://www.mapinc.org/media.htm)
ARTICLE
US MI: Martyers or Menaces?
URL:
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1637/a07.html
Newshawk: Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsin
www.drugsense.org/dpfwi/>
Pubdate: Wed, 05 Sep 2001
Source: Herald-Palladium, The (MI)
Copyright: 2001 The Herald-Palladium
Contact:
Website: http://www.heraldpalladium.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1378
Author: Jim Dalgleish
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?200 (Rainbow Farm Shooting)
MARTYERS OR MENACES?
VANDALIA -- To many, Tom Crosslin and Rollie Rohm paid an ultimate and
just price for drawing guns on law enforcement agents.
But to those fighting against America's drug laws, the two may have
died as martyrs.
"This is kind of like the shot heard around the world," said Gary
Storck, a medical marijuana user in Madison, Wis.
In a phone interview, the activist said he hopes the news will "light
a fire under the people" to legalize marijuana in Michigan "so things
like this don't happen again."
The Herald-Palladium already has received letters to the editor from
as far away as Florida and California challenging America's drug laws
and questioning authorities about the deaths. Storck was among the
letter writers.
Crosslin, owner of Rainbow Farm near Vandalia, was shot dead Monday in
a standoff with authorities. Rohm, Crosslin's roommate, was shot dead
Tuesday morning. The second death ended a four-day standoff.
Police had gone to the complex after Crosslin failed to appear for a
court hearing Friday on charges stemming from a May drug raid.
Though authorities were not releasing many details about the
shootings, police said the actions of Crosslin and Rohm left them
little choice.
Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Risko said Rohm was repeatedly ordered
to put down his gun.
"In each occasion both subjects pointed firearms at officers, and I
don't know what else you would have officers do," Risko said.
Rainbow Farm for a long time has hosted music festivals called Hemp
Fest and RoachRoast, and its Web site states the complex "supports the
medical, spiritual and responsible recreational use of marijuana for a
more sane and compassionate America."
Storck, 46, said he has long known about Rainbow Farm and felt
disappointed having never seen it. Friends have told him stories about
how much they enjoyed the activities there.
Thanks to the Internet, Storck said, news of the deaths has traveled
quickly in the "cannabis community."
"There is a very somber mood out there. ... These were good people,"
Storck said.
Brothers Darren and Lloyd Daniel, who live less than a mile south of
the Rainbow Farm complex, wore their "Hemp Aid 2000" T-shirts as they
stood outside their home Tuesday afternoon. The shirts carried a
message endorsing the "Personal Responsibility Amendment," a failed
effort last year to decriminalize marijuana through Michigan's
Constitution.
A drawing on the shirt showed a house with a welcome mat reading
"marijuana welcome."
The California natives, who said they had never been at Rainbow Farm,
said the prosecution of Crosslin and Rohm typifies Cass County's
intolerance.
"I've got friends here getting busted with (marijuana) seeds and
stems," Lloyd said.
The two placed direct blame for the shootings on Cass County
Prosecutor Scott Teter. They put up a sign along their White Temple
Road home that read: "How does it feel to have innocent blood on your
hands Teeter".
Friends and family of Crosslin and Rohm continued to gather Tuesday
afternoon in a vacant lot at Michigan 60 and White Temple Road, about
a mile north of the complex. The mood was a mix of anger with
authorities, sadness over the deaths and weariness with the media frenzy.
Several escaped the sun under a canopy while handmade signs along M-60
lambasted Teter and police.
"That was private property. Never once did a neighbor complain," said
Dayved Watts of Elkhart. Watts said he built many of the buildings for
Crosslin.
Watts said the people who attended Rainbow Farm events merely believed
in "their constitutional right to pursue happiness ... their right to
gather in a peaceful manner."
Teter's office was referring all comment on the case to the FBI. FBI
spokeswoman Dawn Crenney could not be reached for comment.
SAMPLE LETTER
To the Editor;
We all can sleep better tonight. The FBI and Michigan state police
shot and killed a couple of dangerous marijuana smokers (only
25,999,998 more marijuana smokers to go, give or take several million).
An FBI agent was quoted as saying " We don't know what provoked the
stand off." How about the usual reason. Civil forfeiture proceedings.
You allegedly grow a pound of marijuana, you lose your land. You can
manufacture 1,200 pounds of alcohol, you can grow tobacco, no Civil
forfeiture for those drugs. They kill 450,000 a year. Death form
marijuana seems to always come from law enforcement.
Did the FBI want a peaceful ending? Rolland Rohm's stepfather, and
Rohm's mother drove all night from Tennessee to try to help police
negotiate, but were never allowed to speak to Rohm. The FBI wouldn't
even let Rohm talk to his mother!
Let's see if any Michigan politicians have the guts to come forward to
stop the war on marijuana! No more killing people over
marijuana...
Respectfully
Larry Seguin
contact info
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Prepared by Stephen Young - http://www.maximizingharm.com
Focus Alert Specialist
