Download the NORML Daily Audio Stash for 2009-02-24

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Today’s Stash: Dan Linn from Illinois NORML joins us for Government at Work to discuss Illinois HB 2514 and SB 1381, the twin measures to make Illinois the 14th medical marijuana state (call the Illinois reps at 217-782-2000).  It’s like New Jersey, Illinois, and Minnesota are in a race or something.

Jet Baker joins us as a regional Cannabis Correspondent with his report on the Texas NORML reformer’s bootcamp in Austin, or “the ATX, y’all”.

Taku from THC Japan calls in from Tokyo to discuss sumo testing positive for weed, emerging Japanese cannabis culture, and the similarity of Reefer Madness in all languages.  I take it back – I called Taku… what’s the per-minute charge to Japan?

And Rich Hardesty not only provides today’s Daily Toker Tune, he talks to us about his music and getting his song on the Totally Baked DVD.

But what about me?  Glad you asked…

Today I began the day at 6am, following four hours of sleep, following five hours of video editing, following producing yesterday’s Stash.  This was so I could return to the dreaded 7am commute to go all the way across town and through the Tunnel of Prosecutorial Despair* to get to the TV studio for Portland’s CW affiliate.  I was on a point-counterpoint show on marijuana law reform and the episode will air Sunday at 6:30am.  Great time slot, I know.

But that’s not the best part.  The host (good guy) tells me of how he had a local columnist on defending the right of gay people to equal marriage and they could not get a single opponent of marriage rights for gays to come on the show.  So he had collected the talking points of all the local opponents (this was following the marriage rights measure passed by Oregon in 2006) and delivered them against the columnist using Socko, the Family Values Sock Puppet.

You see where I’m going with this?

The funniest part for me was that this studio was not two exits away from where I had my last corporate job as an IT trainer.  When I worked there I had a co-worker named Bill who used to bring, swear to Mary Jane, a sock puppet to work that was called Mr. Socko.  He would use this sock puppet as a threat to students who weren’t paying attention in a software class, as in, “Don’t make me get Mr. Socko.  I’ll have him teach this whole class.”  Occasionally someone would call his bluff and he’d whip out the briefcase, pull out Mr. Socko, use a high-pitched voice, and the fun was on.  Bill was a great trainer, because let me tell you, when you’ve tried to explain the SUM() function in Excel for the thirteenth time in a month to job retraining candidates who, bless their hearts, have as much chance of grasping spreadsheet formulas as I have grasping the repair and maintenance of a combine.

So the host informs me there would be no opponent, as no one from law enforcement, the business community, nor anyone who represents the consistent opponents of medical marijuana in Oregon would dare to appear on camera against a well-informed articulate opponent.  Would I agree to appear with a sock puppet?

I thought about the trouble we have getting our issue taken seriously, but I also thought that, handled correctly, it would be a great opportunity to inform a large audience.  Besides, I’m a big Mr. Socko fan and I had to do it, if only to make a fun story to tell Bill.

The first two segments were me and the host alone.  Good stuff, talking about NORML’s mission, why call it “reform marijuana laws” and not just “legalize”?  (Because “reform” runs the spectrum from lopri intitiatives to decrim to medical to legalize and lots of things in between.)  Yada yada yada.

Then in the second two segments Socko, the Prohibitionist Puppet is introduced.  The host seriously intones that they reached out to numerous opponents and could not get one to come on camera, but that he wished to make sure both sides of the debate were represented.  Then with his hand in a white sock with a gold toe and two buggy red eyes drawn on hastily twenty minutes before, the host asked in a falsetto voice:

SOCKO: “If we legalize marijuana, a so-called ‘soft drug’, that’s going to lead to more abuse of the hard drugs like meth and heroin!”

To which I replied (paraphrasing, I was strangely nervous):

ME: First of all, I want to thank Socko for agreeing to be on this show today.  It is getting difficult to find human beings who will even try to make these anti-marijuana arguments anymore.  Like this ‘gateway theory’ you’re mentioning.  In 1999, the United States government’s own Institute of Medicine reviewed the studies and found that there is no ‘gateway effect’ from marijuana to hard drugs, and that’s been backed up by numerous studies since.  There is nothing about smoking marijuana that either physiologically or psychologically leads one to try other drugs.  

The ‘gateway theory’ is a myth that holds on because people look at meth, cocaine, and heroin addicts and say, “Aha!  They all used marijuana!”  But they never look the other direction, at the millions – one hundred million Americans have tried marijuana in their lives, and so very very few of them ever use, much less become addicted to, any other drugs.  For most, cannabis is a ‘terminus drug’ rather than a ‘gateway drug’.

SOCKO:  I don’t know what that means.

ME:  A ‘terminus drug’, meaning that for most of the people who use marijuana, that’s where their use of drugs stops.  Most don’t go on to other drugs.

This will be on YouTube so when it is available, I will post it here.  I’d much rather debate a human, but so far no human will debate me on camera.  (Yes, because they’re quaking in their boots at the thought of matching wits with a college dropout stoner blogging in his basement wearing sweats and eating Cheetos between bong hits.  You know, like Bill Hicks mentioned, what does it say when they declare a war on drugs and they are losing to the people on drugs?)

Hugely successful ‘Pot Star’, Rich Hardesty, has performed over 2000 live shows, sold over 50,000 CDs and has songs and a cameo role in the movie ‘Totally Baked’, including today’s song “All My Friends Are Stoners”, the credit song of the movie.

“All My Friends Are Stoners” is also a triple 2008 Marijuana Music Awards Winning song! Rich walked away with Best Comedy in both 2008 Global and American MMA plus 2008 AMMA Song of Year.

Using his grassroots approach, fans love the intense energy of Rich’s live performances. The unmistakable feel good vibe of Rich’s music is felt internationally.

Rich opened for Cypress Hill, toured with Slightly Stoopid across 36 cities on “The Jagermeister Tour” and performed at the 2007 American MMA event in Brooklyn and the 2008 Global MMA event in Austin. Rich will be performing at the 2009 Marijuana Music Awards in Nimbin and Chicago!

Check out Rich being interviewed by Russ on the Daily Audio Stash! For more about Rich go to richhardesty.com and myspace.com/richhardestymusic .

Enjoy today’s Variety Tuesday, 2008 American MMA Song of Year “All My Friends Are Stoners” by Rich Hardesty!

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RICH HARDESTY ON MYSPACE!

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Attention, stoners! It seems somebody has finally given Martha Stewart the right kind of viewer research—you know, the kind that lets her know that plennnnty of you are at home watching her daytime talk show and hittin’ the pipe on a regular basis. At least, that’s my guess after receiving an e-mail this morning that included an announcement that next Monday’s episode of The Martha Stewart Show will be “entirely dedicated to the world of pot.”

I’m not really sure how this will go over with Martha’s dedicated fan base of type-A closet reorganizers and guppies in search of the perfect cassoulet recipe—I mean, do those people even know what pot is?—but the e-mail release had some pretty smokin’ (sorry) teasers. For instance, Monday’s episode will feature Martha talking about her stash of pots while an onscreen crawl highlights every word she uses that includes “pot.” She’ll hang out with some pot-bellied pigs, chat with some professional plant potters, and welcome guest Jimmy Fallon, who brings Martha a plate of brownies upon entrance (while cracking an already-tired Michael Phelps joke) and later cooks his favorite chili in, yep, a Crock-Pot.

via Don’t fear the reefer: ‘The Martha Stewart Show’ goes to pot! | PopWatch Blog | EW.com.

Sorry, but telling us the show is all about the world of pot and then talking about pots and pans and pot-bellied pigs isn’t the kind of programming that’s going to pull us in.  Maybe if you aired an episode more like this…

Click here to view the embedded video.

We’re continuing our latest Pass the Stash contest, and you could win the uncensored DVD of “Totally Baked”, written by Craig Shoemaker and autographed by the Executive Producer, Brian Johnson, the lead singer of AC/DC.

All you have to do to win your autographed copy is to send me an email at stash@norml.org. All I want to know is your funniest first-time pot-smoking story. Limit your story to 420 words or less and send it in now – this contest only lasts two weeks, winner will be announced May 30.

Download audio file (Craig%20Shoemaker%20-%20Totally%20Baked.mp3)
(My Stash interview with Craig Shoemaker from April 17)

It’s a hilarious story of two medical marijuana activists who hide out in the home of straight-laced dad and take him and his debate team friends hostage. While the activists employ creative strategies to convince the squares on the truths about cannabis, a Rod Serling-esque narrator (Shoemaker) weaves us through commercials, stand-up, documentary interviews, and skits that are interspersed throughout the movie.

Download audio file (totally-baked-mailing-weed.mp3)
(A little bit of stand-up from the movie)

By submitting a story, you agree to have it published on the Stash blog and read on the air, but we will be glad to change names and identifying details to keep you anonymous.

I’ve received a few entries so far – here’s one that’s definitely in the running – read on in the Full Story below…

The first time I met Robert, my best friend of 34 years.

It was 1974 and I had lived on my block since it began. We bought the first house on that block 4 years earlier.

I was walking down the street and saw my friend Jim calling to me, standing with another guy I didn’t know. They were on a trail leading into the woods at the bottom of our street.

I was dressed for the times, new white Adidas shoes, new white jeans and a sweet new blue satin jacket. I was decked out as usual…lol

When I met them at the bottom of the street, we walked into the woods to smoke a joint that Robert had. Jim told me later, Robert told him he didn’t want to smoke it with me because he didn’t know me and thought I was a geek, but when I pulled one out, I guess I was cool…lol In the woods we were standing on the path next to the slimy drainage ditch running through the woods from the street, so we could see anyone coming.

The only weed we could get at the time was Columbian “head rush” weed, kind of like the Mexican today. We made it through the first joint ok, and we were about half way through the second joint when, after taking a hit, I was passing the joint to Robert and he seemed to be getting farther away. I had a massive head rush and I didn’t even hear the splash as I hit the ground and flopped around in the water and slime. I could see everything but couldn’t control or hear anything. When I came out of the head rush, I was getting up, and was up on one knee when it happened again and I went down on my back again. I reached out my hand for Robert to help me out of the guck and he just seemed to get farther away as I slowly fell backwards into the muck again, flopping around, as they said I was “doing the chicken”…lol

Now, can you imagine how I got to explain to my mom why I would wear my “newest”, “whitest”, and “nicest” clothes to go swimming in a swamp?

–Del

Stoner since 1974, 34 years almost daily and no harm done!

Download the NORML Daily Audio Stash for 2008-05-21

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It’s Wednesday, May 21st 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. 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 joined as always by Dr. Mitch Earleywine from the State University of New York at Albany. Dr. Mitch is here to debunk the latest reefer madness allegation out of Scotland that cannabis use leads to impotence, and also to discuss the trend toward increased student drug testing in America.

Cannabis Karri brings us our musical break this hempday humpday with The Hot Rocks and their song, “Higher”.

Then we’re back with NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano with commentary on the sad news of Senator Ted Kennedy’s recent diagnosis of a rare form of brain cancer called glioma, and the promising research that shows cannabis may be an effective treatment for glioma – research we cannot do in the United States because of prohibition.

Don’t forget that it’s not too late to enter our latest “Pass the Stash” contest. You could win a free DVD, autographed by AC/DC’s Brian Johnson, of the new movie, “Totally Baked”. Keep listening for details on how to win.

Welcome to the show, load up your Silly Little Love Bong and sit back with your favorite strain… This is your NORML Daily Audio Stash.

Download audio file (NORML_Daily_AudioStash_2008-04-25.mp3)

Friday is Cannabis Community day on the Stash, and coming up after the news, we’re speaking with our regular guest Steve Bloom, the webmaster at CelebStoner.com. Steve was out on the road this week in Colorado autographing copies of his latest book, Pot Culture, The A to Z Guide to Stoner Language and Life. We’ll get his report on the nation’s largest 4/20 smoke-in at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Next, Cannabis Karri brings us a group called Supersuckers for our musical break today. This Seattle band by way of Tucson sings a song called “Can Pipe”, something we’ve all constructed in those desperate days when pipes and papers aren’t available.

We wrap things up today with some more cannabis comedy from the new movie “Totally Baked”. The sketch is a typical cable news talking heads show where our sincere marijuana law reformer is attacked on all sides by the host and guests. You can get your copy of the DVD at totallybakedmovie.com. 10% of the proceeds benefit NORML, and you can get a 25% discount by entering HIGH as the promo code online.

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…

Call your Congress at 202-224-3121 – they’ll ask your zip code and put you in touch with your elected officials. Tell them to support HR5842 and HR5843 to end DEA raids in medical marijuana states and legalize personal possession of pot. It still is a government of We the People, but you have to step up and do your part.

Tuesday is Government at Work day on the podcast, and coming up after the news, we’re going to speak with Minnesota State Senator Steve Murphy, the chief author of the medical marijuana legislation currently working through the Minnesota Legislature.

After that I’ve got an instrumental musical break for you. Cannabis Karri found us some jazz from Scott Neuman and Osage County. Blow some muggles and enjoy “Mayor of Smoke”, ya dig, hep cat?

And of course today is the DVD release of the new potumentary “Totally Baked”. I have some exclusive audio from the movie that combines stand-up and sketch comedy along with real interviews and marijuana prohibition facts. You need to get this video online at totallybakedmovie.com. And as a special treat for NORML supporters, you can enter the word HIGH as a promo code and get 25% off the cost of the DVD! Salient Media will be donating 10% of the proceeds to NORML, so you can laugh and learn and support marijuana law reform all at once.

Along with the bonus audio I’m replaying my interview with writer/producer/actor Craig Shoemaker, who never mentions it in the interview, but he does a wicked Don Knotts / Barney Fife impersonation. Craig plays a character you can only see if you’re high, and my friends and I all saw him immediately when we watched it at our 4/20 party.

So sit back and relax with your favorite strain – this is the Daily Audio Stash.

Totally Baked is a comedy that focuses on why marijuana should be legalized and features new and exclusive music from Brian Johnson of AC/DC and stars some of the country’s hottest comedians. Additionally, Salient Media will be donating 10% of all direct sales to NORML to help reform marijuana laws.

Anyone interested in purchasing the Totally Baked DVD should enter the promotion code ‘high’ at Salient Media’s website to receive their 25% discount.

NORML is pleased to bring you yet another way to celebrate cannabis culture with Totally Baked during this highly celebrated time of year.

Today on the Daily Audio Stash we’re joined by Craig Shoemaker, the producer of a new stoner comedy out on DVD this Tuesday called “Totally Baked”.

Cannabis Karri brings you a great musical break from an original ragamuffin named Barrington Levy, with his reggae hit, “Collie Weed”.

Then we’ll speak with Philippe Lucas from the Vancouver Island Compassion Society. Philippe fills us in on the state of the medical marijuana program in Canada and the search by Health Canada for a new grower of government marijuana.

Today’s Stash is brought to you by the good folks at the THCF Medical Marijuana Clinics.

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…