Quick Hits (page 2)
From the Front Line of the War on Drugs
By: Bud Life Staff
San Francisco, CA -- Eddy Lepp, Viet Nam Vet, MMJ patient, and outspoken King of the Medical Cannabis Community was busted by the DEA on Wednesday, 18 August.
The DEA went to his ranch near Clear Lake, CA and took his chain saws to hack down approximately (and allegedly) 35,000 plants, many of them mature. This was always an 'open for visitors' farm, a field of about 40 acres. If you have Cannabible 2 you can read about Eddy's Medicinal Garden, or go to his website. Along with Eddy's federal arrest were the arrests of about 25 to 30 of his friends who were arrested under state law by the local sheriff. Eddy was tipped off to the raid as a reported 50 agents checked into nearby motels the day before. Just like the Alamo, Eddy and friends stood their ground. Then Wednesday came the heavily armed, cammo dressed agents. Lovable Eddy was friendly with all the agents, which must have been difficult as he watched the woodchips and sawdust fly.
Immediately, William McPike got word of the bust from Eddy's family. Offering to come to Eddy's rescue were the dynamic duo of Bill (Ace) McPike and Dennis (Kid) Roberts. Since nobody had heard from Eddy after his DEA arrest on Wednesday, McPike started looking for him on Thursday. The San Francisco DEA office informed McPike that Eddy was being arraigned in San Francisco within the hour. There was no time wasted in taking some action.
Since McPike was in court on another MMJ case, (300 miles away in Kern County) he called upon the Kid, Dennis Roberts. Roberts had a case in Martinez at 1:30 (supposedly the time for Eddy's bail hearing in federal court, San Francisco) but as luck would have it, a bomb scare was called in, calling off the Martinez court appearance. And no, it's not what you're thinking.
Anyhow the DEA brought Eddy into federal court but there was no afternoon calendar. The assistant U.S. attorney and DEA seemed embarrassed as they said it would be on the afternoon calendar, so they tracked down one of the best Judges in the District and had the bail hearing. With protesting supporters outside the U.S. District Court, things went pretty well for Eddy.
Bond was set at $200,000 to be secured by property. However, under Kid Roberts' direction, and instead of waiting for the bond to be secured, the U.S. Judge let Eddy out immediately. So this was an 'own recognizance' (OR) release with the security to be figured out on a later date.
Eddy's bail order is even better. There is no limitation to his travel - he is not restricted to the Northern District of California but can travel anywhere. No bracelet, no constant reporting, no mention about marijuana, no nothing.
At 6 p.m. Thursday (August 19th) night, Eddy was reunited with his family and friends at the Kid's Law Office in Oakland.
So if you go to the Seattle Hemp Fest, give Eddy your support.
Not bad day's work by the hard charging duo of Ace McPike and Kid Roberts.
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Growin' Our Own (page 2)
In the Wind
By: Elmore Stone
The three words comprising the title of this story can mean a lot of different things. It all depends on who you ask. Most prevalent, however, is that is the phrase which brothers and sisters in the motorcycle world use when they are fixing to take a ride or have just finished a ride.
Let me tell you it is a wonderful feeling. Being in the wind. It is like no other. I am both proud and fortunate to be a member, not of a club or association mind you, but an independent of the old school. The brotherhood. Yeah we ride, it's in our blood. Yeah we party, but not as much or as hard as we once did. Besides, who has the time? Anyway it is the riding, seeing the views of nature and meeting people that is where it is at. Oh, one other thing, we never, as in ever, pass up a brother or sister who is on the side of the road. You just don't do that. Period.
I have traveled across this country several times and it never ceases to amaze me. The sheer beauty of it all. I ridden across Interstate 80 and Interstate 40. The 40 is my favorite.
Traveling across the 40 on a scoot all by your lonesome is the best. Especially in either the spring or the fall. Summer is okay, but just not as beautiful. Besides you can meet some really cool people.
Be it Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma or North Carolina, the people are really righteous. I've been fed, heard great stories, been taken to 'private' places, been laid, been stoned -- all for the price of nothing. People just want to get to know a biker. I've even tried to either pay for something or work it off. People tend to refuse that. It's a matter of hospitality to them. To me, I don't like something for nothing. Yet, what could I do? Accept and say thank you.
I was pulling into Flagstaff, Arizona one time on my way to North Carolina, just for the ride believe it or not, and the temperature was 17 degrees and there was over a foot of snow on the side of the road. It was April. I was wearing blue jeans, boots and a tank top. Not at all cold. It was dry cold. Not the 'chill you to the bones' wet cold. I was fine and doing even better. But it was time for me to put up for the evening. I had two choices: pitch a tent on the side of the road or check into a motel in 'Flag'. I chose the latter.
After checking into the good old Motel "We'll keep the light on for you" 6 I took a walk across the street to a restaurant and while eating dinner noticed that there were some people of the female persuasion looking at me. I checked my fly, yes it was up other wise they'd be laughing. After dinner and paying the tab I headed back to my motel room when lo and behold these same ladies were looking at my bike. They weren't touching it -- they knew the etiquette. If it ain't yours, don't touch it. We started talking and it turned out these two girls were sisters. One was married and hubby was sleeping and the other one, Sue, was single. All were headed to Tennessee. I told 'em I was heading to North Carolina for the hell of it. Sue seemed fascinated by that idea. To do something just because you can or just because you want to was a foreign concept to her. It sure seemed that way.
I made the gentlemanly offer to Sue to step into my room for a drink, I'd even keep the door open if she would like and to let her know I was not looking for a fuck after the first drink of whiskey. Maybe the second or third, but not the first. I have morals. She just smiled and waltzed out the door. Shit. Oh well, it was not the first time and it sure as hell won't be the last time that has happened to me.
An hour or two later I hear a knock on the door. Hot damn! It was Sue complete with a huge backpack. I opened the door, let her in, picked up the backpack (it weighed a ton) set it inside and closed the door.
Sue then explained that she didn't drink but wanted to know if I smoked weed. Heh! Life is so good. She then floored me by asking if I could take her to Knoxville, Tennessee. It is, after all, right on the way to North Carolina. Sue also stated, and to use her words as I remember it quite clearly, "I can pay in ass, gas or grass -- I know nobody rides for free." To say that I was completely unprepared for that turn of events would be the prize understatement of the just completed twentieth century. When I finally came to my senses I told her that of course I smoke and that I would take her up on all three ... on our way to Knoxville.
Sue opened the flap on her backpack and then unzipped a small pouch within the flap. She reached in and removed a three finger bag of weed, rolling papers and rolling kit.. Nothing spectacular mind you, it was Mexican Regular. However, when you are smoking other peoples' weed who the hell cares. It was a bit harsh but it got us both buzzed, it got us both naked and y'all can figure out the rest from there.
We left Flag the next morning around 11a.m. Trying to secure Sue's monstrous backpack on my scoot's bitch bar was something everybody ought to watch but never attempt. It took about 20 minutes or so and to say that I was not overly pleased would be a very correct assessment. But it was accomplished and we hit the 40.
I could tell Sue was an accomplished rider for two reasons: first she put her head over my shoulder and secondly she was completely relaxed. When you are piloting a motorcycle with a passenger, the head over the shoulder and being relaxed leave the rider in charge. That is how it is supposed to be. It is also much safer for both.
We stopped at Holbrook, Arizona for gas and then Gallup, New Mexico for a late lunch. I got a quarter pounder and a blow job, Sue had two hamburgers. Then we were off. I wanted to get to Tucumcari, New Mexico before stopping for the day.
We made it, though quite a bit later than I had anticipated. And, or should I say once again, it was like the night a Flag all over again. The only difference was that I pitched a tent. Fuck spending the money for a motel when the weather is nice. Besides, we kept warm.
The next morning we got up early. I wanted to see the sun rise. Damn it is beautiful. Trying to describe it is like trying to describe the taste of salt -- you just have to see it for yourself. After that we twisted one up, smoked it and decided to leave after the stone was gone.
For the next two days it was the same. Ride, smoke, sex, sleep and ride. It is a life you have to try before you can fully understand. Freedom. Total and complete freedom.
When we finally arrived in Knoxville, there was a slight mist coming down. No big deal. I rode even more carefully. I dropped Sue off at an apartment complex where an aunt or cousin lived. I took her backpack inside and she then gave me the rest of the weed and thanked me for a great time. It was I who should have thanked her and I did. I was then off to North Carolina. Back in the saddle with no passenger, just me.
I stayed that night in a little campground just inside the North Carolina state line. I met some people and we all had a good time. I also met a girl named Trish who was headed for Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. She wanted to know after toking on some of Sue's weed if I could give her a ride to Duke university? I told her sure, not a problem. I was also thinking could I get lucky twice in a row?
You just never know what can happen ... in the wind.
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Pipeline (page 2)
Governor Vetoes SB 1494 -- Good Idea
By: Elmore Stone
In the August edition of Bud Life was an oped about Governor Schwarzenegger's veto of SB-1494 being ill advised and that it would cause confusion about medical marijuana.
Hogwash, says I.
In the first place had the politicians, duly aided and abetted by organizations which had no clue as to sheer beauty and simplicity of Proposition 215, left well enough alone none of this would be necessary. But, or should I say as usual, neither group could keep their hands off the engine, to use an analogy, and enacted SB-420 into law, thus appearing to screw up the engine (Prop. 215).
SB-1494 was a "clean-up bill which was intended to clear up misconceptions caused by bad drafting language in SB 420." Ahh, had they only left Prop. 215 alone, but oh no, can't have that.
What none of these folks want to admit is that SB-420 was intended to reinstate probable cause for law enforcement. Proposition 215 killed, as in tagged on the toe dead, any and all probable cause pertaining to medical marijuana. As SB-420 has not been implemented, it is also quite dead.
Further, there is nothing that SB-1494 would or could do to rectify that. Indeed, SB-1494 would have made things somewhat worse. Which is hard to believe considering what SB-420 could do had it not been for one little item -- Prop. 215 was a voter passed initiative. It can not be changed by legislation. Period. Only the voters of the State of California (state of confusion perhaps) can change the language or the intent of Proposition 215.
Therefore what is the big deal about SB-1494? The big deal is simply this, the legislature and these blasted do-gooder organizations ought to keep their fingers out the voters' pie. The members of the legislature surely know this. Well, they are politicians so maybe they are actually dumber than dirt. As for the organizations, they screwed up big time and they know this. They screwed up by supporting SB-420 instead of leaving Proposition 215 alone. They further screwed up by allowing a "last minute" language change instead of having the bill killed. Hence their credibility is somewhere beneath mud. As such, they needed to correct their series of errors. SB-1494 was their salvation -- but to the detriment of patients, caregivers and pot providers.
I'm glad, as in real damned happy, that SB-1494 was vetoed. I could care less what the reason was the governor gave -- that was political double-talk. The point is that SB-1494 is history.
Now, we need to kill off, once and for all, SB-420. Yes I know law enforcement, politicians and these same do-gooders will be against it, but remember this: Proposition 215 was enacted by the voters. Not the idiots in the legislature. Therefore the only law which supersedes a voter enacted initiative in California is the California State Constitution. We need to get back to that and quickly. Patients, caregivers and marijuana providers are continuing to be harassed, arrested and tossed in prison.
By sticking to Proposition 215 and 215 only, the police have lost all probable cause to arrest medical marijuana patients, their caregivers and providers. What I fail to understand is why would the politicians and do-gooders want to change that? It makes absolutely no sense. Indeed it is nonsense.
Good on the governor for vetoing SB-1494.
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Dakota Joseph Arts