Reverend Steve in Florida

RogerChristie · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:50 pm Post subject: Priorities: cash + time = ?

Hello out there in Florida and everywhere,

Aloha. How's it going? This is an interesting thread of discussion about Florida, and by implication, everywhere else that the extreme prohibition of nature's most useful plant still exists. (Remember that the 'sativa' in cannabis sativa literally means 'useful'!)

"What are we (you) to do about it?" is the first operative question. The second question is, "How much extra money and time do you have to spare?"

Doing anything different with our lives usually requires a decision based on an intuition, or a feeling, and then an action to make it happen. I'm pleased to hear of the desire for positive change there in the 'sunshine state' concerning cannabis, and I want to make a point or two about it.

As far as I know, with hundreds of 'members' we have zero on-going prosecutions of THC Ministry members there now. I also don't believe that law enforcement is looking for, or planning to arrest any of our members for non-commercial, religious cultivation or use. When I read that law enforcement is NOT respecting or upholding the Florida Constitution concerning our sacrament I'm moved to correct that statement. From what I can tell, they ARE respecting your rights to grow and use - in private - at home. Am I right? Pease update me if necessary.

Part of the collective frustration there, and in most places, is that we want law enforcement and the policymakers who direct them to publically announce that they have changed their tune and will now respect religious use of cannabis. tick-tock-tick-tock ... As far as I know, that's not how it works; unless we win an injunction, a significant court case, or an election.

I say injunction because, as far as I know short of Divine Intervention, there are a variety of ways to make cannabis progress. An injunction is just my favorite. Why? It's a pro-active, positive move that doesn't require anyone to be arrested first! It only involves a few people (minimum of one plaintiff + one lawyer), it's fairly low-cost (about $5-10,000 dollars) and it's playing offense with the law, my favorite kind. I love this method and I'm willing to do it again. It would be nice to have some support ($) from our members first, but I'll probably find a way to do it with, or without, any help. I'm deeply driven to do it again soon.

Other ways to make the progress we pray for (that I can think of) are:

1. Getting arrested in a 'perfect' case and fighting it all the way. This would mean; at home, in private, purely religious cultivation and/or use, zero commerce, etc. This also only involves a few people (minimum of just you and your lawyer) and relatively little money ($5,000-$15,000). Including appeals, it might take about 2-5 years of being under indictment, out on bail or bond, subject to drug testing, etc. Any volunteers? I didn't think so.

2. Getting MANY thousands of 'valid signatures' of registered voters to put a question on the State election ballot in a few years. In California I believe it took 750,000 valid signatures to put Proposition 215 on the ballot. As I recall it took Jack Herer, Denis Peron and a HUGE cast of volunteers about 20 years to get it done. Why even bother with this idea now? It's WAY out of the reach of us mere mortals with neither significant EXTRA time, nor money to spend.

Of course we have probably all thought and said at one time or another, "If only every pot smoker in the __________(state, nation, world) would 'get together' we could end this prohibition tomorrow. Probably true, however 'been there - done that'; it's delusional, impossible and ain't gonna happen. Fagetaboutit.

What's left to do? Easy. Become ordained as a minister at ULC for $5. Purchase the Cannabis Sanctuary legal Defense Kit for $200. Become legally-entitled to marry people in your state, and more.

...to be continued.

Love and respect,

Roger

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**Fyrefly1** · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks Roger!

Obviously, I agree and even though the ideal is for the laws to be changed right now and cannabis is set free, still we must be realistic.

As a religious group the THC Ministry has a great chance to change the laws by standing on our religious freedom (UN Article 18 and America's First Amendment) and moving towards building enough of a group of like-minded people to critical mass...with education and enough challenges to the court system then the laws will begin to change and probably not before!

All we need to do is live our lives in the religious freedom that we already have and this great work will get done....
_________________
Fyrefly1
"All truth passes through three stages: first it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident."
Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century Philosopher

Rev. Steve · Cannabis Sacrament Minister Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 200

Well let me explain how my apes brain see's it. Roger has created a strategy and then exercised that strategy to brilliant sucess. I simply am not in that league, I don't know how many of us here are, if any. The point being is that I want that kind of success here in Florida. Roger was able to do things that we will require a lawyer to do. What do I want? I want in Florida what Roger has in Hawai'i. To do this will require cold hard cash as Roger has pointed out. It is my hope that if enough ministers in Florida will aggree to join an effort (we have three already) then a grant might be secured from the MPP. If so, this grant will cover the lawyers fees and Rogers fees.

Roger speaks of an injunction. If this can be accomplished then of course that would be preferable, but when is the question? It may be closer than anyone thinks, but until then we should try to get at least ten ministers in Florida on board with this plan. Let us pool our thoughts, consult with Roger and try this.

Knowing the situation in Florida, I think it is suicude to cultivate not knowing if the fed will respect the defense.

**Mystic Power** · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 5:52 pm Post subject:

It comes down to a matter of having the patience and wisdom to something right, or the warrior's urge to do something right now.

It's going to cost $5,000 - $15,000 dollars to do this properly...and properly is the only way to do anything...and it's going to take 1 - 2 years.

MPP has already turned down THC Ministry for that particular grant. As Bro. Ferre pointed out, if they've turned us down, they probably have no intention of giving out that particular grant. Religious use has not been on their agenda thus far.

In the simplest terms...we all need to be sending Roger donations. Period. Now.

He's already taken the injunctive relief thing along pretty far. We are already a part of that.

We already are working on the solution. Let's do it with wisdom and planning as well as enthusiasm.

Whatcha think?

Bliss,
Ben
_________________
"We are the Ones we have been waiting for."
~Hopi Elder ~

"In Lak'ech"
~ Ancient Mayan: "I am another YOU." ~

Stokes · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:43 pm Post subject:

**Mystic Power** · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 8:13 pm Post subject:

Rev. Steve · Cannabis Sacrament Minister Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 200

Just a geuss here folks, but I think if we had ten ministers on board with this we might have a better chance. If we had ten, then a lawyer would probably be more interested. My hope is that an attorney, selected from the list on FLCAN, represtnting the ministers would actually apply for the grant.

One more thing. Mystic, how did you do your avatar? Obviously it's an anim, but can you post a few details as to how anims are posted?

**Mystic Power** · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 8:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Steve....I just posted it as a regular img image

Bliss,
Ben
_________________
"We are the Ones we have been waiting for."
~Hopi Elder ~

"In Lak'ech"
~ Ancient Mayan: "I am another YOU." ~

Stokes · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject:

**Mystic Power** · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:47 pm Post subject:

You and me, both.

Bliss,
Ben
_________________
"We are the Ones we have been waiting for."
~Hopi Elder ~

"In Lak'ech"
~ Ancient Mayan: "I am another YOU." ~