Miguel from Brother Can You Spare A Dime(Bag) is back to share some more of his thoughts on our site. If you would like to read more from Miguel, just check out his site at: https://brothercanyouspareadimebag.blogspot.com/
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Excuse me as I take the foil off my head, I want the government to hear my thoughts on this one, black hawk helicopters, men in black, and ninjas I’ll be damned. There have been several articles in the recent news that have severely bothered me, by the time you’re reading this they could be outdated but that doesn’t out date the issue or the impact on innocent people’s lives in my America. Why do I care? Because it could be me next, why should you? Because it could be you or somebody you love. And it’s all over a fucking plant, imagine going to jail for really good tomatoes.
First let’s talk about the Obama fail. I remember with in his first year one of his mandates was the government was not going to be raiding medicinal marijuana dispensaries which can be seen so vividly in Doug Benson’s “Super High Me” (Awesome documentary might I add). From what I’m guessing that was all smoke and mirrors for a Colorado grower, growing legally within the state mandates and not doing any other wrong than providing pot to those with legal licenses was raided by the DEA and now faces charges of being within a school zone. Now the head of the DEA in the video babbles about how he enforces federal laws and that “they” should change the federal law but really how can one sleep at night knowing he’s not really making an impact on any criminal element? Isn’t there a moral law? Or did we sell that along with our souls to corporate America?
The next topic of disgust is a police raid that was actually taped on a suburban home in the middle of the night. I’m gonna give you all my personal perspective and attached the links at the end for you to decide.
First off the raid is conducted in the middle of the night. The officer knocks on the door and announces who they are, not even a minute goes by and he bashes the door. Here’s where my problems begin; number 1) Who the fuck answers their door that fast in the middle of night? No one I know but tweekers and vampires. Number 2) At this point I’m sure the house is surrounded, so why bash in the door? I get your job is dangerous but by the looks of it so is being a citizen in your city.
There are many atrocities behind the illegalization of marijuana. The violence in the marijuana business is one. Mexican cartels for years have been making billions off of stoners, in case you haven’t noticed you don’t see websites, magazines, and expos dedicated to heroine/meth or any other shit like that. Unfortunately, when there is a bust involving any real weight guns are involved; but we need to be real people, one can’t call the cops when ripped off. If so I imagine that movie Alpha Dog would have been a lot different.
We also have to keep in mind people willing to sell weed are willing to sell other things, I know I was. If you’re doing something illegal you might as well go all the way, personally I had my own boundaries though I never dealt with meth, heroine, and cocaine. In this business we call dealing people have guns. One can’t be shocked when a house is raided and various drugs and guns are found. Here in Arizona though there are some cases where people have been found to have in their possession just large amounts of pot and some guns.
When you add guns to a report it makes the people seem to be of the criminal element. Let’s face it; guns are as American as watching South Park with a dube and internet porn. We need to see the news and police reports for what they’re worth, jack shit. The legalization would take away the underlining reasons for violence. I’m not going to tell it would bring world peace but it may bring safer neighborhoods and a better relationship with the police in most areas.
If the last few things weren’t enough to piss you off, here’s one more that’s American; Freedom of Religion. Right now as I write this we have our own version of political prisoners. Personally organized religion scares the hell out of me but this is one church I can get behind: The Church of Cognizance.
Right now a 54 year old Vietnam veteran and his 52 year old wife (Daniel & Mary Quaintance) are serving time in separate prisons over the transportation of marijuana for their church. It’s not up to the government to tell us what is or isn’t religion, what higher thing to believe in or not.
Chances are if you’re reading this you’re a pot smoker and what I mean by chances like 99.99 percent that .01 percent is a cop trying to bust nonviolent hippies through blogs and other post (remember its not paranoia when things like it happen). The reason I bring this up is because essentially I’m preaching to the choir.
I was fortunate enough to come across THE Weed Blog and meet the brothers (and I’m sure you sisters are out there) here that are just as passionate about the legalization of marijuana. I felt this way at 18 and at 36 the feelings nor reasoning has changed.
Sometimes it feels like we come closer to an acceptance of it but than it seems to fall to the side. Like big money makes us feel better by mentioning it in mainstream than lets us forget about it as we revel in how right we are. Ladies and gentlemen, stoners and stonettes, I’m hear to say never forget. Don’t forget how you feel when you just smoke vs. drinking, don’t forget how this little plant made you feel or rather not feel. As we get older people assume they “grow up” but growing up also means making the world just a little bit better. I know several people who have outgrown that scene but continue to drink, just because you don’t do it anymore doesn’t make it less unjust. Don’t forget where you came from, just cause its legal doesn’t make it alright. Last month I took 2 benadryl for my allergies and that left me higher than a kite.
Anyone paying attention can tell there’s an unrest here in the United States but I think that’s just another version of smoke and mirrors. The Teabaggers, The Fox news, and MSNBCs of the world are just meant to polarize a nation. Not all subjects are black and white there’s plenty of shaded areas to digest. In the immortal words of Gil Scot Heron “The revolution will not televised”. Each and everyone need to do our part to keep marijuana alive. Civil disobedience is the way my friend.
This is where I wish I had more answers on things to do but I will give you insight to what I have done and will do. Civil disobedience; I’m past the days of sparking up downtown and declaring the world a smoke zone but if you do, know your local laws. Is it a fine? Or jail? And always use joints, at least those you can dispose of easily. This really doesn’t accomplish anything but let others of like mind know where you are; but to me that’s just as important as fighting.
Join NORMAL or if you’re afraid to get your name on a list like me, just volunteer. I’ve dropped off materials here for my local NORMAL chapter and when California was originally getting signatures for the medical ballot I was out there getting names. Volunteering is important in any fight.
Spread the word; Revolutions are started by word of mouth, not the internet. Think about it, how do you get a million people pissed off at one time? Talk about it (whatever it is). Here you can do things like turn people on to this site which is loaded with lots of good info, I use to and still do write on dollar bills. Anything that puts the topic in people’s faces but remember never be intrusive.
Hook it up; This one is kind of iffy but I do it. Occasionally I’ll go out for a shave and a haircut (yeah I know Old school) and will tip them joints. Just don’t hand them out though, find out if they’re a smoker or not. I’ll also buy large amounts and sell it at cost price to my other “professional” friends. Last but not least, I will travel with joints and hand them to strangers in bars, friends of friends, or where ever I meet a new smoker that day.
In closing (what am I a fucking lawyer, no offense Johnny) there are plenty of reasons to smoke but if we want this legal we need to be responsible. We need to stay educated. We need to stay strong. Remember evil wins when good people do nothing.
Having our voices heard. I was in such a rush to tell everyone how to fuck the world I forgot to add the most important ways for us to be heard. Register to vote and put your dollar where you heart is. There’s nothing more American than voting polls, the second best thing that is heard by politicians and corporations is the dollar.
First register to vote, make sure your friends are registered and than stay current on where the politicians stand. Unfortunately the youth and minorities are underestimated by politicians it’s with this that you can get them.
Secondly donate. If you find out a politician has voted against medicinal marijuana, I don’t care what party they are in vote for the opponent. If you find a just cause or a just blog (wink, wink) donate. When the powers that be see that things attached to marijuana are growing that’s the next big thing to having a lobbyist.
Well I hope these words have been helpful, ‘till next time One love and stay irie.
Miguel
