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War On Drugs: Worth It, Or Worthless? Debate Sept. 21

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2011 Culture, News

Should we continue to fight the War On Drugs, or should we look toward alternative approaches such as legalization? If you have an opinion on this question, you’ll be interested in a debate scheduled for Wednesday night.

The University of Arkansas Chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), in coordination with University Programs, is hosting a debate between Ethan Nadelmann, a former Princeton professor and current executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, and former DEA Administrator and U.S. Congressman Asa Hutchinson.

The two will debate whether we should continue to fight the War On Drugs or look for other solutions including regulation.

Both speakers bring years of experience to the table, of vastly different kinds.

Hutchinson held the top position at the Drug Enforcement Administration from 2001 to 2003. Ethan Nadelmann is a leading voice in the drug policy reform movement worldwide, and is executive director of the DPA.

Great Midwest Marijuana Festival To Mark 41 Years

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 20, 2011 Culture, Products

Jay Selthofner

When it began 41 years ago, it was an anti-war protest. It soon morphed into a cannabis legalization rally, and the Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest moves into its fifth decade September 30-October 2 at the Library Mall adjacent to the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison.

The festival will feature live music, guest speakers, a parade, vendors, and plenty of good munchies, according to organizers. Sponsors include Wisconsin NORML, Is My Medicine Legal Yet? (IMMLY), and Madison NORML.

Highly Hilarious: Top 10 Cannabis Comedians

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 15, 2011 Culture

Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town columnist and former stand-up comic Jack Rikess with a friend

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

This Sunday, September 18, the amazing Debi Durst and the City of San Francisco present Comedy Day. It was founded in 1981 as a way for Bay Area comics to say thank you to comedy fans for their support and to The City that has nurtured so many comedians. Starting at noon and always ending with a “surprise guest”, this is a feast for the comedy fans of all ages. And it’s Free!

In honor of this glorious day, I hereby present my list of comics that have advance the cause of marijuana to audiences everywhere and, in the process, made us laugh.

I’m sorry to my friends and colleagues I’ve omitted. There’s only so much stage time. Maybe next year…

Finally, A Backpack Specifically For Marijuana Fans

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 14, 2011 Culture, Products

Sprayground

If there is a cooler backpack, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it.

Sprayground has launched an all-new line of cool backpacks, including one in which I’m sure a lot of Toke readers will be interested: the “Pipe Dreams” design.

Yeah, finally there’s a backpack as cool as you are. And it’s that back-to-school time of year, too, so why aren’t you rockin’ one of these around that university campus yet?

Sure, Sprayground creates hot bags with iconic imagery, but the design of the backpacks is thoughtful, too. Each one features a plush velour-lined notebook compartment that will accommodate up to a 17-inch laptop, as well as an inside slip pocket for an iPad or tablet PC.

The main compartment includes inner slip pockets and zippers for organization and other devices like MP3 players/iPods and mobile phone holders.

Sprayground backpacks, including the “Pipe Dreams” design, are available for $48 (plus about $5 for FedEx shipping) directly from www.sprayground.net and across the U.S. at boutique stores like Kiston and major retailers such as Nordstrom.

YouTube Censors Powerful Scene In Cannabis Docu ‘High’

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 14, 2011 Culture, Products

High: The True Tale of American Marijuana

High: The True Tale of American Marijuana, featured on Toke of the Town last year, has received lots of support and kudos from film-watchers, documentary lovers, and the drug policy reform community. So the film’s director, John Holowach, was understandably surprised on Tuesday when he logged into his YouTube account and discovered a notice from YouTube that one of his videos — a clip of one of the most powerful scenes in the documentary — had been censored.

“Yes, YouTube informed me that they have censored what is perhaps the most important and powerful scene in the documentary,” Holowach said. “Displaying a vicious abuse of power of prison guards, prisoners are made to crawl on the ground, strip naked, bend over, and all of this in front of other prisoners and caught on camera.”

Hemp Rally Coming To Boise Sept. 25: Idaho HOPE Fest

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 14, 2011 Culture, Products

Idaho HOPE Fest

The Idaho H.O.P.E. Fest, Boise’s first-ever hemp rally, is coming up on Sunday, September 25. The gathering, to educate the public on the many uses of hemp, is designed to promote awareness on the reform of marijuana laws in a positive and polite atmosphere, according to organizers.

Brought to you by Idaho NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and Idaho Moms For Marijuana, the festival will feature speakers including “Radical” Russ Belville and Cannabis Karri of the NORML Show Live podcast.

“We are THRILLED to have Radical Russ Belville of the NORML Show Live and the NORML Stash blog, a native Boisean himself, speaking at a very significant time,” Theresa Knox of Idaho Moms For Marijuana told Toke of the Town.

More than half-a-dozen bands including Voice of Reason, Actual Depiction and Malachi, will provide musical entertainment.

“This is a groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind event for the Treasure Valley,” Isaias Valdez of Idaho NORML told Toke of the Town. “We are featuring many prominent, powerful speakers from the legalization movement, as well as from the industrial hemp aspect. After 40 years of fighting a war on cannabis consumers, it has failed to stop the supply and demand.

“It’s been counterproductive, and is turning a lot of otherwise good, law-abiding citizens into criminals,” Valdez told us. “Our farmers are struggling during these hard economic times. As an agricultural state, we can reap the economic profits from domestic hemp production that our farmers and the environment can prosper from.

Hemp For Jobs: KC Hempfest This Saturday

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 13, 2011 Culture, Products

KC Hempfest

KC NORML Hosts Annual Hempfest this Saturday, September 17 In Hodge Park Beginning at High Noon

The annual KC Hempfest hits Kansas City this Saturday in Hodge Park. The event, sponsored by the Kansas City affiliate of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), is free and open to the public and will take place at the amphitheater located within the park.

The Marijuana Business: No Pictures Please, I Got A Family Here

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 13, 2011 Culture, Growing

Mother Jones

By Jack Rikess

Toke of the Town

Northern California Correspondent

The man under the faded Giants cap wiped his forehead again for about the thousandth time. It was hot and it was late. Harvey should have been here 30 minutes ago.

The duffle bag in the back of his ancient Charger ticked like a tell-tale bud wanting to get out. The man wanted to go. He had pressing business at 2:30 that he couldn’t be late for. Then there was this other guy to hook-up with.

His long mane fell out of the cap as he ran his hand through that swamp of molted hair looking for dust on the horizon. It was a little before 2 and the temperature was deep into the red.

Between the LB’s in the trunk, the Charger’s engine actually ticking under the midday sun, and the clock in his head counting off like a nasty verbal egg timer telling him he needs to get moving if he wants to make his hook-up and his 2:30, he was getting nervous — for a man who doesn’t get nervous. The man would have started pacing if it wouldn’t have looked too suspicious.

Beleaf In Nature® Offers Medical Marijuana Apparel

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 12, 2011 Culture, Products

Beleaf In Nature

There’s clothing, and then there’s clothing that makes a statement.

Beleaf In Nature® clothing is the second kind; the company designs medicinally oriented apparel for the medical marijuana movement.

These aren’t your run-of-the-mill pot t-shirts; Beleaf In Nature has created some of the most unique art in the cannabis culture.

The shirts aren’t focused on individual strains, but capture the themes of Beleaf In Nature and Releaf Thru Nature with high-resolution animated characters such as Mr. and Mrs. Greenbuds, Dr. Greenbuds and the old classic American Gothic revisited.

“The history and culture of cannabis as a medicine and the necessary elements produced from cannabis is our unique approach,” sales guy Eric from Beleaf In Nature told Toke of the Town. “Our goal is to create a line of apparel that would make any patient proud to wear our tasteful designs and let the world know its time has arrived and I Beleaf In Nature!”

Employee Fired After Commenting On Marijuana Email; Files Suit

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ on September 12, 2011 Culture, News

Hemp News

After being fired for responding to a coworker’s email about marijuana, a Louisiana man has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Pan America Laboratories in federal court in New Orleans.

Krisner O. Green, who filed the suit on September 8, was employed by Pan America from July 2010 until his firing in September 2010, the lawsuit says. Green says he was subjected to racial remarks and a racially hostile work environment during his three-month employment, reports Michelle Keahey at The Louisiana Record.

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