It’s Wednesday, May 7th and it’s 4:20 somewhere in the world. I’m your host, “Radical” Russ Belville.
Don’t forget to call your Congress and tell them to support HR5842 & HR5843 to end DEA raids in medical marijuana states and to legalize personal possession of marijuana. The number is 202-224-3121.
If you have a product that you would like to market to the cannabis community, you can advertise on the Daily Audio Stash. Your ad will be focused on exactly the customer base you’re seeking out; the thousands of responsible cannabis consumers who download and listen to this show. Our listeners are educated consumers who want to support the businesses that support the growing truth about cannabis, and we deliver the advertising freedom you won’t find on radio, TV, or print ads. To advertise on the Daily Audio Stash, send us an email at stash @ norml.org.
Wednesday is Cannabis Science day on the Stash, and coming up after the news, we’re separating the stems of propaganda from the buds of truth with Dr. Mitch Earleywine. Today Dr. Mitch and I discuss yet another attempt to falsely link marijuana to aggression. Seriously, do these scaremongers even know any potheads?
Cannabis Karri brings us our musical break this hempday humpday with a New York group called Mudville and their simply-named song, “Stoned”.
And I wrap things up with another listen to the Global Marijuana March from this weekend from all around the country. Today we’re headed to Philadelphia with Ken Wolski of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana in New Jersey, Josh Schimberg down in Austin with Texas NORML, and back east to New York City with Rob Robinson of NY NORML. It really is about the grassroots, people, and your local NORML chapter is the place to start ending adult marijuana prohibition.
Speaking of local activism, I want to feature the best from the marijuana marches this weekend. So we’re starting another “Pass the Stash” contest where you could win a DVD from Suburban Noize Records’ rappers Kingspade. Stay tuned for details later in the podcast.
Welcome to the show, load up your Wesley Pipes and sit back with your favorite strain… This is your NORML Daily Audio Stash.
Just catching up on some of the reports from the March this weekend:
Close to 500 protesters took to the streets [of Calgary, Alberta, Canada] Saturday in favour of marijuana’s medicinal use and making it more accessible to those suffering debilitating pain.
Amid the incense aromas and reggae beats, several hundred Austinites rallied at the Capitol on Saturday for the legalization of marijuana for personal and medical use.
“These guys are easy compared to the anarchists,” said Sgt. Voepel of the Portland Police Department, “they’re on time, and they’re orderly.”
According to the Sarge, the only rabble rousers during the march were two drunkards who were pestering people but were unconnected to the peaceful pro-pot gatherers. No pot smokers were spotted.
Don’t forget to get on the phone and call your Congressman at 202-224-3121. Tell them to support Barney Frank’s HR5843, the bill to end federal marijuana penalties for possession of 100 grams or less, and Ron Paul’s HR5842, the bill to end DEA raids in the twelve medical marijuana states. Just call 202-224-3121, they’ll ask for your zip code and put you in touch with your federal representative.
Today on the Daily Audio Stash we visit with NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre and a look at the success by a right-wing anti-drug group to fight hemp products at your local Wal-Mart.
Cannabis Karri brings us some dancehall for our musical break today, featuring a Canadian DJ called Kid Fareigna and a song called “Light Up”.
Then we’ll speak Brad Ernst from Texas NORML. He’s got some information for Austin-area residents of the Lone Star State regarding next week’s upcoming Global Marijuana March in May.
We’ve got a lot to cover, so sit back and relax with a tasty beverage and your favorite strain and enjoy your NORML Daily Audio Stash…
Friday is Cannabis Community day on the Stash, and coming up after the news, we’re speaking with our good friend Steve Bloom, the webmaster at CelebStoner.com. We’ll be discussing the recent admission of past drug use by the new governor of New York, George W. Bush’s recent pardons and commutations of a few drug offenders, and the latest CelebStoner elected by your votes – George Carlin.
Next, Cannabis Karri has unearthed a tune from a British Columbia group called the Tall Brothers. They’ve got a great little jazzy number called “I’m Kinda High” that will be a perfect beginning to your weekend.
And since yesterday’s Audio Stash came out a bit late in the day, I’m going to replay my interview with Attorney Jeff Blackburn and his client, Tim Stevens, who was just acquitted of marijuana possession charges in Amarillo, Texas, thanks to Blackburn’s use of the seldom-mentioned “necessity defense”.
Finally, don’t forget that every Saturday we’re now posting the NORML Weekend Music Stash, where you can get all of the last ten songs from our daily musical breaks in one podcast, suitable for your weekend party pleasure. If you have a band that would like to be featured on our podcast, please send us an email at stash ‘at’ norml.org.
So sit back and relax with your favorite strain and enjoy your NORML Daily Audio Stash…
Today is Cannabis and the Law Day here at the Stash and coming up after the news we speak with Attorney Jeff Blackburn in Amarillo, Texas. He has just successfully defended Tim Stevens, a 53-year-old HIV-positive man using marijuana to treat his chronic vomiting syndrome. Tim was prosecuted for possession of marijuana and twelve jurors agreed with his medical necessity defense and set him free, which may be a first in a Texas marijuana case.
Then Cannabis Karri brings us a great tokin’ tune from the UK and a band called The Den Collective with their song “Mary Jane, I’ve Smoked My Last One”. Hmm, does that mean they’re quitting… or they have just run out?
AMARILLO, TEXAS — A Texas patient who uses medical marijuana to treat the symptoms of HIV won acquittal on marijuana possession charges Tuesday, March 25 based on a rarely-used “necessity defense.” A necessity defense requires the defendant to establish that he had to break the law to avoid an imminent harm more serious than the harm prevented by the law he broke. This defense has rarely been successful in Texas; however, this jury took just 11 minutes to acquit Tim Stevens, 53.
Stevens had never been in trouble until Amarillo police arrested him for possessing less than 4 grams of marijuana. As a result of his HIV infection, Stevens suffers from nausea and cyclical vomiting syndrome, a condition so severe that he has required hospitalization and blood transfusions in the past.
Extensive research has established medical marijuana as an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting associated with HIV/AIDS and cancer chemotherapy, uses recently acknowledged by the prestigious American College of Physicians. Key in establishing Stevens’ medical necessity was the testimony of Dr. Steve Jenison, medical director of the Infectious Diseases Bureau for the state of New Mexico’s Department of Health.
When you can get a victory for medical marijuana in a conservative part of Texas, you know the tide is turning. Public opinion is way ahead of the politicians on this one. People know marijuana is relatively safe when used responsibly, and people know marijuana can be an effective medicine for many conditions.
