|
|
| These Guys Inhaled |
|
Posted by FoM on April 19, 2002 at 15:22:02 PT By Tanya Pampalone of The Examiner Staff Source: San Francisco Examiner 
It worked for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, maybe it will work for Terence Hallinan in his race for mayor -- smoking pot that is.District Attorney Hallinan kicked off the conference for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws on Thursday -- and told reporters that while he smoked marijuana years ago, the only drugs he takes now are prescription. Hallinan, who was the first to announce his mayoral candidacy, is part of the honest politico pothead ranks. That list includes Bloomberg -- who is the NORML poster boy this month. Bloomberg unwillingly stars in a $500,000 NORML campaign where he responds to whether he smoked pot by saying, "You bet I did. And I enjoyed it." Other notable politicians who've passed the Dutchie include ex-U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Vice President Al Gore and the honorable U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. But don't bring that bong out the closet just yet. After Hallinan's welcoming speech to a packed room of 400 people in suits and tie-dye at the Crowne Plaza Union Square Hotel, he said he supported medical marijuana but not legalization. Times have changed, he said, because when he started working as a lawyer in San Francisco, someone caught in possession of even one seed could be charged with a felony. Now the state has Proposition 215 on the books, effectively legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The law conflicts with federal statutes, however, leading to a raid of Bay Area pot clubs by U.S. Drug Enforcement agents in February. A Supreme Court decision last year cleared the way for federal action, as the court effectively ruled that federal law trumps state law. Hallinan and local authorities had allowed clubs to operate, telling the feds to "lay off our marijuana clubs,'' but he shied away from repeating that admonition Thursday. Meanwhile, NORML has put medicinal marijuana at the forefront of its campaign work and wants to see the drug decriminalized. "Adult pot smokers are tax-paying, hardworking citizens who should not be singled out because they smoke marijuana," NORML spokesman Nicholas Thimmesch said. The organization, which was founded in 1970, wants all pot smokers to come out of the closet. Thimmesch said the Bloomberg posters were created to illustrate that people from all walks of life, including politicians, use or have used marijuana. Supervisor Mark Leno has smoked pot -- and inhaled. "I'm ready for my close-up Mayor Bloomberg," Leno said in response to whether he had used marijuana in the past. Leno was honored by NORML on Thursday for helping to implement Prop. 215, in 1996. He was responsible for drafting the Department of Public Health's medical marijuana identification program. While our very own Mayor Willie Brown was supportive of Prop. 215, he was none too pleased when The Examiner popped the pot question. "I've never smoked anything, not tobacco, not marijuana," Brown said through spokesman PJ Johnston. "But I don't think it's any of your business anyway," The NORML conference will run through Saturday. The organization will hold panel discussions on a variety of topics, including the basics on how to avoid a pot bust. Bay City News Contributed to this report. Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA) Related Articles & Web Sites: NORML Ad - Pictures & Articles Marijuana Advocates Cheer on Hallinan Ventura Sends Video Backing to Marijuana Advocates Harrelson, Bill Maher at NORML Conference Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #4 posted by qqqq on April 20, 2002 at 00:18:00 PT |
| ....yup!... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by mayan on April 19, 2002 at 18:32:46 PT |
| During the last two "terrorist alerts" the Feds have raided cannabis clubs. Be careful tomorrow everyone! Happy 4/20!!! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by potpal on April 19, 2002 at 18:14:20 PT |
| These guys who say, I've smoked it in the past but never these days sound like they are only after the cannabis vote to me. Show me one that will roll up his sleeves and have a puff on 420 with the rest of us...that will get my vote. Anyway, I had the pleasure of running into a friend who had a little and wanted to share and must say having not had any in a while, soon afterwards, the sky turned blue, the world went away, I started to whistle a song, completely forgot about the middle east, the market, the terrorists, the politicians, the pro/con talking heads, a big smile came across my face, a weight was lifted off my shoulders, all for about an hour, but what a cannablissful one it was. I love pot! Happy 420 to all of you out there. Thanks for your concern, thoughts, insights and compassion. The nicest people I know smoke pot. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #1 posted by phriedphish on April 19, 2002 at 16:07:40 PT:
|
| Hey all, again... On a side note, I found it really weird that the government has released another "terra" alert- incidentally the day before 420, which is now pretty much a mainstream day for smokers to pull their bongs out of their closet and show em to the world. What strikes me as really coincidental is that the day before the DEA raided Medical Marijuana compassion clubs in San Fran, and arrested Ed Rosenthal, was also the most recent terror alert that the feds have released. Could this be a sign? -phriedphish ...phried and baked but still cooking... [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |