10/15/2005 - Last week here in Cincinnati was an interesting week. It started with the "Head vs Feds" debate between Steve Hager (Former High Times Editor) and Robert Stutman (Former DEA chief of NYC) at the University of Cincinnati. The very next night was the annual Ohio Valley Reefer Rumble where hundreds of "Heads" gathered to celebrate. The week ended with Cincinnati Mayoral candidate David Pepper fumbling his pot facts.
The Heads vs Feds debate nearly filled the Great Hall at UC's Tangeman University Center. I had met Robert Stutman years ago at Georgetown University where the late Sam Dash held one of the best debates concerning the drug war. [ See the link at the end of this letter for more details on the Frontline/NPR/Georgetown University event.] In a private conversation before the debate Stutman had no opposition to medical marijuana and was genuinely committed to raising the public dialogue on this issue. During the debate his basic opposition to legalization was that there would be more drug users. Interestingly during the debate Stutman said "No one should be put in jail for using drugs". On the other side of the coin Steve Hager said to the audience "You should not smoke pot". Of course I am making a sound bite from their speeches, Stutman was talking about Drug Courts and Hager was talking about eating and vaporizing.
Both gentlemen were good debaters, both used similar tactics in distorting the others statements. The audience overwhelmingly supported Steve Hager and was acknowledged by Stutman. Stutman to his credit outlined his conditions to supporting legalization, which essentially boiled down to if the public said OK so would he. No matter who won the debate the greatest benefit was generating dialogue on this issue. One immediate positive byproduct of the debate was the formation a student drug reform group at UC.
The next night Hemprock held the annual Ohio Valley Reefer Rumble. Hundreds of people gathered in this annual Ohio Valley competition. Recreational, industrial and medical uses of cannabis were all celebrated. The event was well organized, there was no fights, no accidents and no arrest! The biggest trouble of the night was a car with a bad alternator and battery.
The Rumble featured speakers, vendors, and organizations that represented the whole spectrum concerning marijuana/cannabis/hemp movement. Speakers included Kentucky's Gatewood Galbraith, comedian Roland A. Duby, poet Cinci Bud Kid, Ohio NORML's President Cher Neuffer, Ohio Patient Action Network's President Tonya Davis, Susan Angel finished the speakers portions with an excellent educational overview on Hemp. Marijuana Activism Awards was presented by Mary Spears for local and national reform activist.
The highlight of the evening was the judging where a original painting was awarded to a medical grower representing MMJ Action Network, from Bay City, Michigan. The event effectively celebrated and educated the recreational, medical and industrial uses of marijuana, cannabis and hemp in an fun and safe evening.
The week ended with David Pepper, Cincinnati Mayoral candidate responding to a drug question where he stated "They can have an enormous amount of drugs and only get a ticket," he complained. "If you do in San Diego what you do in Cincinnati, you get in a lot more trouble." I got a note from Dale Gieringer, California NORML and Cincinnati native, who said that "San Diego city council voted to adopt one of the state's more liberal medical marijuana policies by raising their enforcement guidelines to allow patients up to 1 pound and 24 plants each". Earlier in the year Pepper pot proposal was popped when a large group of citizens showed up at Pepper's Cincinnati City council hearing on his "emergency legislation" to make possession a jailable offense. Cincinnati is not at the same level as San Diego but here possession of 7 oz (200 g) or less as a misdemeanor. Ohio was one of the earliest states to decriminalize Marihuana. {Yes that is the official spelling here in Ohio}.
----------------------------------
Links:
Frontline Drug War
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/symposium/Ohio Valley Reefer Rumble
http://www.hemprock.com/2005ovrrpromo.htmActivism Awards
http://www.designingyourworld.com/Annual_MJ_Activism_Awards.htmlNorth Ohio NORML:
http://northohio.norml.netOhio Patient Network:
http://www.ohiopatient.net/MMJAction Network:
http://mmjactionnetwork.comCalifornia NORML:
http://www.canorml.org/Hemprock:
http://www.hemprock.comNote: All but the last event was covered by Hemprock TV and is being prepared for broadcast.
Submitted by: Rob Ryan
