Pubdate: Sat, 17 Jul 2010
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald (Hilo, HI)
Copyright: 2010 Dawn Hurwitz
Contact: http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/share/letters/
Website: http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/185
Author: Dawn Hurwitz

MAJOR POT RING?

Is this 2010? The federal government doesn't think so. Positioning
Roger Christie and his THC Ministry as a "major pot ring" -- and
further claiming to "put a dent in the Big Island marijuana trade" by
arresting him and his associates -- is not just utter nonsense and an
attempt to drag the laws back to the early 20th century. In short,
it's a last-ditch effort by the government's disinformation campaign.

I have personally known Roger Christie for 20 years. From the first
time we met, he revealed himself to be a completely genuine person who
truly believes in his life's work, and he lives by those tenets.

He had just set up with his partners their first retail outlet in
Pahoa (no snickers here) selling hemp products with The Hawaiian Hemp
Co.

Many people in the area were attracted to his truth, and he has
garnered support from the community, island, and elsewhere because of
these efforts.

Of all the folks involved from those days, he has maintained his
stance as no other has, fighting this so-called war on marijuana. If
there is anyone who truly walks his talk ... it's Roger.

In writing this, I made a casual search of the Internet to discover
the history of how marijuana became illegal and found a very
interesting site with historical facts: 
http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/

It establishes why this war is so mired in politics, big money and
antiquated ideas. We all need to become aware of the reality of it, so
that we can help Roger and his friends rewrite the laws for the 21st
century.

Do we really need the government to sanction drinking alcohol, taking
prescription drugs and smoking tobacco -- all of which have proven to
be harmful to the point of death -- yet dictate that we cannot smoke a
plant that grows from the earth and makes you want to laugh and
perhaps get hungry?

Isn't it time the government re-focus its attention on debilitating
drugs like crystal meth?

This is an old argument we are all too aware of. Time for the tide to
turn, the truth to become the new law, and free us from a way that
enslaves us.

Dawn Hurwitz

Pahoa
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake