FESTIVAL GALLERY: Rothbury, Michigan, July 3rd – 6th, 2008

Photos By: Water Bear Thu Jul 10, 2008 more galleries 6

The World Stoner Games consists of five events that will showcase stoner prowess in the areas of …

Thu Jul 17, 2008 more videos 6

NORMLIZER - WESTWARD, HO!

America�s Great Marijuana Migration

Thu, Sep 20, 2007 2:01 pm

more: normlizer, november 2007

If you’re close to marijuana-related culture and have traveled America extensively, it would be impossible to ignore the great “East vs. West” divide in our country regarding marijuana prohibition. In short, the contrast between eastern and western states regarding medicinal-marijuana laws, public attitudes, cannabis-use patterns, availability of paraphernalia, criminal laws and court precedents is stark.

There are a few decriminalized states on the Eastern Seaboard, but many of them routinely ignore their capacity not to charge adults caught by police with minor amounts of marijuana under the decriminalization statutes—especially Ohio, North Carolina and New York. However, western states like California, Nevada, Colorado and Oregon are able to impose only minor fines for marijuana-possession cases, and Alaska’s law carries no penalty whatsoever for possession of one ounce or less.

The medical-marijuana laws of eastern states like Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island and Vermont are fairly tame and limited in scope compared to those in western states like Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado and, most notably, California—the one state where medical cannabis is openly sold to qualified patients via 400-plus medical-marijuana dispensaries. Currently, these dispensaries are even required to pay state sales taxes on the medical cannabis they sell. So it’s mind-boggling to fly a few hours eastward—say, to our nation’s capital—and read official head-in-the-sand Congressional pronouncements that “there is no such thing as medical marijuana.”

Congressional “leaders,” especially those from the non-western states, are missing the bigger picture: Each year, tens of thousands of Americans are packing up and leaving states where the responsible use of marijuana—including as a result of medical necessity, and under a physician’s recommendation—turns them into legal pariahs, in order to enjoy new and relatively peaceful lives in marijuana-friendly cities and states like Madison, WI; Ann Arbor, MI; or Seattle, WA, just to name a few. As like-minded Americans cluster and become politically active in states with progressive marijuana laws, a major policy challenge looms in Washington, DC. If America’s western states gird for a fight with the federal government, we may finally witness marijuana prohibition’s demise.

—Allen St. Pierre, Executive Director of NORML

Learn all about America’s many marijuana-related laws and penalties in NORML’s new Citizens’ Guide to Marijuana Laws, available for a $20 donation. Visit norml.org or call 888- 67-NORML.

» add a comment

The CSA

Oct 13 2007, 11:20 am

Is the Immunization really what the Fed is saying it is? We all know what the Fed is doing right, to the United States. This conspiracy that the Fed is Innoculating people with the sovereinty innoculation. What is left of the Confederacy is surelly to be on fire. Criticism of the Fed System are not new, and some historical critisms are reflective of current concerns. In reply to Rep. Bennie Thompson,It seems to me entirely out of place to wait untill Bennie Thompson to retire as chairman. Mr. Bennie Thompson, we have in this country one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever known. We refer to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Banks. The Federal Reserve Board, a Government Board, has cheated the Government of the United States and the people of the United States out of enough money to pay the national debt. These twelve private credit monopolies were deceitfully and disloyally foisted upon this country by the bankers who came here from Europe and repaid us for our hospitality by undermining our American instituions... The people have a valid claim against the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve banks. It was wrong to slapp the faces of generations and generations of Southern people like that. And to top it off it is a lie, CSA is worried. CSA is worried that the lag in the release of FOMC transcripts, and the limited and carefully worded minutes and statements lead to public unawareness of the issues of major concern to the Fed, and leave the public with an inadequate understanding of the logic rationale behind the decisions.

The Feds

Oct 13 2007, 9:43 am

Came out here from the West coast to see Nascar and smoke some Southern Bud. Southern Bud has a lot of seeds in it! West Coast we have to teach the South how to grow good BUD and get caught up with the latest marijuana education. It is strange though here in the South Hightimes mag, Skunk, George Cervante's, is on all gas station shelves and even at Hallmark.

Yes,you, Bubba. You,too, Bobbie Sue. Y'all got the cooties.

That's what Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, would have you believe. The seven-term Congressman recently instructed committee aides who visisted Talladega Superspeedway last weekend and are also at this weekend's Nextel Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway to be IMMUNIZED against a variety of diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and influenza.
Officially, the action was supposedly part f a broader review of federal response to massive emergencies at a large, crowded venue like Lowes Motor Speedway. The South needs your help West Coasters.

Anti-Emetic

Oct 12 2007, 7:16 am

Coming out to the East coast from the West Coast has been a real culture shock. Culture is learned and taught. The dialect is WIDE RANGE all along the East Coast. Same dialect along the whole west coast. How can us west coasters help the east coasters come to catching up with the West coast. Maybe because Al Capone is still alive? Don't forget about the purples, The purple gang was a mob of bootleggers and hijackers in the 1920's. Under the leadership of Abe Bernstein, out of Detroit. Maybe the East Coast lays heavier on that side of prohibition with marijuana right now.

feneix2012

Oct 7 2007, 12:35 am

isnt that kind of ironic, it was the western states that pushed Harry Anslinger and the US Government in the first place to outlaw cannabis in the first place. oh well we do need to repeal the law and decriminalize it all together for adults over the age of 21, alcohol is 100 times more dangerous and deadly yet i go anywhere and have a drink. its totally messed up

gmoney

Oct 3 2007, 4:46 pm

I agree with edot who posted a comment on Sept 24th. Your absolutely correct on the chemical smell. Its all from Canada now a days. Its basically all overpriced and sucks any way. Prices are going through the roof in New York. Sad thing is it is easier to get cocaine than pot in todays market.

Queen of the HILL

Oct 1 2007, 11:16 pm

Norml ahhhh... norml, aaahhhhh.... norml ahhhh, norml aaaahhhhhh, Norml ahhhhhhh, Norml Ahhhh,
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws or NORML (pronounce "norml") is a U.S. -based non-profit corporation whose aim is, according to their most recent mission statement, to "move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of cannabis prohibition so that the resposible use of this "Natural Herb" by adults is no longer subject to penalty."According to their website, NORML "supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession and responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts, "and" "supports the development of a legally controlled market for cannabis."

Thank you NORML, THank you for being here for me and my pot smoking, enjoyments. I want to help. I just don't know how? Is this Norml? or is this Norml? I love it! I love it man! I absolutely love it, it's the best ganga in the world man.. THis is absolutely amazing stuff... Crab nebula man....

Bizza

Sep 29 2007, 7:07 pm

Up here in Maine its a confusing situation. MMJ is supposedly legal, but, I haven't heard of anyone having it prescribed to them. And no dispensaries to speak of. Possession is decriminalized, but, only for very small amounts. Someday it would be nice to see all that change. Every time I drive by a field I picture it being full of glorious cannabis plants! People need to get over their fears of the unknown and make the change that has the possibility of saving and most certainly, changing, lives. And for the better too.

As far as non rx goes.....I have seen some of the best buds up here! Gotta love the Maine woods! About a month or so left for me and its starting to get cold. Going to have to build me a greenhouse to keep out the frost.

hillbilly bob

Sep 26 2007, 10:47 pm

how com kentucky wouldnt seen as the top 5 in growing

Bummed in the 'Burgh

Sep 26 2007, 10:36 pm

Living in PA, I have one theory about the disparity in marijuana acceptance. For one thing, the Northeast is full of old people. They are the "reefer madness" generation where pot is lumped into a category with coke, smack, and any other hard drug and labeled as "dope". This, of course, is helped by the ongoing propaganda machine that continues to pump out ads to scare parents/grandparents that their kids/grandkids will become horrible people if they use pot. I have had stomach troubles all my life, and found them greatly eased by smoking, combined with modern medicines. I quit smoking bud several months ago in an attempt to "grow up". The medicines alone do not relieve my nausea. My family, job, and friends are all here in PA. However, I am now considering moving to the west coast so I can get relief without getting arressted. The population of PA, like the rest of the rust belt, is shrinking, and it might lose another small family, mine.

Homo Erectus

Sep 24 2007, 10:17 pm

How the fuck am I gonna migrate from the East Coast to the West Coast as a Homo erectus, I can barely walk man. Ive been growing weed now for 1 million years now.
Now these fucking things, these, these, fucking Homo sapiens I'm not standing upright, for the cause.
I shared my bud's with the dinosaurs and everything, even with my friends the Neanderthals. Their fucking heads were weird man, huge ass fucking eye sockets man. How I have live this long man is a farce to me. I wish someone would just shoot my ass. "free at last" amen These fucking homo sapiens and homo sexuals, I don't know man. I better take another bong hit. I'm a LARGE braincase as you can see. My fucking long hair fits in well with this one tribe that likes to smoke lots of Pot. The tribe calls me the "upright man" or archanthropus, what ever the fuck that means. My Back hurts to man, chiropractor? That's bullshit man, I'll never make it back to the West Coast my spine isn't like you, you, you, Homo Sapiens or what ever you call yourselves. Fucking Lard asses, those big round huge homo sapiens, their asses are so Fat, how the fuck can they walk, Fuck they don't even look worth eating. Have to dig through all that fat. I like your cow's though, from now and then, I tend to sneek out at night and feast on cows at this place call Mc fucking DOnald's. How did you Homo's get this way man? Holy shit. Holy as in my shit is very holy spiritually. Fucking shoot me please. I've been around for a million years now and have seen enough of this place. I cannot shoot my self, it would be a sin. Damn it. What's wrong with you sapiens, YOU NEED HELP! Share with one another, don'�

edot

Sep 24 2007, 3:39 pm

DOes anyone notice the weed has a funny smell every where i smell it , it smells like a chemical before you smell the weed. is it just me , or does any one have a similar concern?

Confederate Nation

Sep 23 2007, 5:00 am

WA state rains so much, it has the highest rate of depression and suicide in the nation. Hear the Fed's fuck you West Coast people often. Not out here in the DEEP SOUTH.
With Civil War battles happening in Rome, Myrtle Hill, known as Fort Stovall, was very instrumental in the siege of Rome. A Confederate monument atop Myrtle Hill erected by the WOmen of Rome STANDS as a memorial to the soldiers from floyd County who gave their lives in defense of the Confederate States of America. At Confederate Park is a monument erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to the memory of General Nathan Forest for his bravery and valor in protecting the city from siege by Yankee marauders, you know the FEDS. The federal (yankee) government has unconstitutionally taken state land, imposed progressive income tax, controlled farm production, regulated schools (whitewashing), controlled our children (whitewashing), sent U.S. soldiers to fight without declaring war, and set up an independant, uncontrolled and unaudited Federal (Yankee) Reserve System which operates the money power and the entire economy. These are just a few abuses the Constitution has suffered while the yankee's (Wankers) have taken care of us.
Imagine all the people, living in a Confederate Nation... It would still be mandatory to grow marijuana on your property.
Urban areas in Southern states such as Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, and the piedmont Triad, all in North Carolina; the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas in Virginia; as well as Orlando and Jacksonville, Florida, in the in the post-war era have also absorbed waves of migrants seeking economic opportunities and warmer climates for marijuana growing.

AlwaysHigh

Sep 22 2007, 9:29 pm

Yeah, I'm moving to California in January. Planning to find out how to open up my own dispensary. Anyone got any info on that? The difference between what Eastern representatives say and what the reality is in Cannabis Users' lives is unbelievable. I don't think these people have 1) ever seen marijuana before or 2) ever met anybody who has smoked it. Which is head up your ass politics because data shows close to half the adult country has at least TRIED smoking bud. Fuck you congress.

moldy

Sep 21 2007, 10:20 am

Good for you Rocks! It sounded pretty bleak back there until eyed' heard from you!

West Coast Rocks

Sep 21 2007, 7:47 am

Eye grew up on the West Coast. WA state, has the great Seattle Hempfest and all. Through my journey in life, Eye wound up here in Georgia. It may be different here on the East Coast, however there is a lot of history on this side of the United States that goes back much further than the West coast history. The civil war, The Fed's and the Confederate history here. These States In the South have some of the best pot Eye have ever smoked. Georgia is kinda like it's own little country. Plus, Some East coast States still have marijuana tax stamps in Enacted and are enforced. As long as we affix our marijuana tax stamps to our contra band, everything is cool with the Con-fed states.
After all Capone wasn't nailed for alcohol or killing anyone, it was tax evasion they got em for.

The South is cool, The new General Lee runs on Hemp oil, and still goes #01 with the Confederate Flag flying, and a box of moonshine in the back trunk.

» add a comment

headlines