cannabisnews.com: And Won't Rush Be Pleased to Get a Card





And Won't Rush Be Pleased to Get a Card
Posted by CN Staff on October 22, 2003 at 23:29:16 PT
By Joyce Wadler
Source: New York Times 
A flack for the new movie "Potluck" told us excitedly that "half the cast was either in prison or rehab." Press agents exaggerate, of course, and as far as we could determine, only two actors in the film are or were so indisposed: TOMMY CHONG, sentenced this month to nine months in prison for conspiring to sell bongs over the Internet, and JASON MEWES, reportedly in rehab. A prison sentence, of course, is no reason to shirk one's promotional duties, so we called Mr. Chong in the Taft Correctional Institution, near Bakersfield, Calif.
Since his most famous role, with CHEECH MARIN, was a pothead in the comedy act "Cheech and Chong," back in the 70's, we asked first about his age. "Sixty-five," Mr. Chong replied, sounding, we must say, remarkably good-humored. "And I'm not balding like Rolling Stone said I was. I am a little bit, but they shouldn't have written that. I'm a little thin on top, but I got tons in the back." We bet you do! How would you describe yourself, Mr. Chong?"Physically, I'm incredibly handsome. Kind of dark, swarthy and incredibly fit. I run twice a day and I do sit-ups and watch my diet." Mr. Chong's career has been spent playing potheads, most recently an aging hippie on "That 70's Show." He and his family — who live in Pacific Palisades, not far from STEVEN SPIELBERG and GOLDIE HAWN — also ran a water pipe business. Perfectly legal, Mr. Chong said, as long as there was a disclaimer "tobacco use only." The problem, as he sees it, is that the federal government confused character with persona. "I was appearing at head shops all over America as my character, signing them," Mr. Chong said. "Unfortunately, at one of the head shops, in Arlington, Tex., a D.E.A. undercover captured me on tape talking about the pipes. He asked, `Why water pipes?' I said it was a healthier way to smoke, with filters. The agent said `pot?' I said, `Yeah, pot.' To play the game I was supposed to say tobacco, but I thought I was talking to a fan." Time to talk about "Potluck," touted as High Times magazine's feature debut. At Boldface, we believe firmly in leaving commentary to the critics, so we will refrain from reporting that the film — the cast includes THEO KOGAN, DAN LAURIA, FRANK GORSHIN, FRANK ADONIS and SYLVIA MILES — had something to do with gangsters and dope dealers and was such an incoherent mess that we could force ourselves to view it for no more than 20 minutes. But when a gent is in the slammer, one must be diplomatic. Your new movie, Mr. Chong?"That stupid bong movie," he replied. We regret that we were unable to watch it long enough to see you."I didn't play my character," Mr. Chong said.Whom did he play?"I can't remember. It was just a one-day shoot. They" — this would be High Times magazine — "do me favors, I did them a favor." Back to real life. Any thoughts on RUSH LIMBAUGH? "I feel sorry for Rush," Mr. Chong said. "I'm glad I'm not Rush. My vice was pot; you can put it down, it's not addictive at all, though some say it's psychologically addictive. I feel sorry for anybody on heroin. He was on a painkiller called OxyContin that's been called Hillbilly Heroin." Mr. Limbaugh, who is reportedly being investigated by legal authorities in Florida on suspicion of obtaining drugs without a prescription, is in rehab. Mr. Chong is in prison. This doesn't bother Mr. Chong?"Not at all. It's a totally different case. Mine is political, his is medical. Is it unfair? Yes, it is. But I would hate to have Rush Limbaugh change the way they handle addicts. You don't put addicts in jail, you put them in rehab. You put political figures like myself in jail."Has Mr. Marin been to visit you?"No, I think he's afraid he might be arrested for conspiracy," Mr. Chong said jokingly. "We're like brothers," Mr. Chong said. "We were estranged for a while when he was doing `Nash Bridges.' I just didn't like the way he looked. I didn't like him playing a cop and I didn't like the way DON JOHNSON treated him." How did he feel Mr. Johnson treated Mr. Marin?"You know, like a Mexican. Cheech is always walking behind Don and off to the side. "I used to do a bit on `Nash Bridges.' I said it was `Don, Don, Don, Don, Cheech, Don, Don.' " Source: New York Times (NY)Author: Joyce Wadler Published: October 23, 2003Copyright: 2003 The New York Times Co.Contact: letters nytimes.com Website: http://www.nytimes.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Pot Luck Moviehttp://www.potluckmovie.com/Rush and Chong - Sierra Timeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17601.shtml He's Taking One Big Hithttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17522.shtmlDropout Produces Pot Filmhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17515.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 14, 2003 at 11:47:43 PT
New Article from Snipped Source
Blame Mary Jane, The Evil Temptress, for This Reefer Madness
 
Aaron Wherry, CanWest News Service Friday, November 14, 2003
 Potluck, the first major motion picture produced by the stoners behind High Times magazine, may be the finest anti-drug film ever made. John Ashcroft, the U.S. Attorney General, should make it a central part of the never-ending war on drugs. Opponents of Jean Chretien's crusade for medicinal cannabis would be well served to enter this trainwreck of a film into evidence. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/aroundtown/story.asp?id=0EA79A88-F8DD-496C-ABFE-DB0381114A69
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Comment #5 posted by Ferre on October 25, 2003 at 14:34:26 PT:
why plead guilthy in the first place?
I really wonder. Pleading guilthy is something I cannot understand.
For something unreal like "drug paraphanelia conspiracy"? The most goofy accusation in history ever and the man pleads guilthy?
I'm glad to be born in a country where justice and freedom are not this kind of twisted (yet).Have a happy day,Ferre
THC Ministry Amsterdam
THC Ministry Forums
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Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on October 23, 2003 at 16:45:10 PT
About ADD
Human beings did not evolve to sit still all day as children.It is contrary to our evolutionary nature. Sitting still is aand has always been very hazardous for humans. It leads to danger -- getting eaten by a predator, not gathering enough food in the summer to survive the winter... Kids know that humans were not made to sit still. Kids still have not replaced evolutionary instincts with the realization that if modern society is to survive then everyone needs to be able to SIT QUIETLY for long periods of time during their youth.The survival of our children in the modern jungle requires them to go against their better sense and sit still all day and listen to words, words, words, words, words....Ritalin has been made necessary by the way we live, the way our economic futures are tied to standardized testing and the whole concrete boxed in structure of our modern world.In that sense yes I agree ADD is an invented disease.But it was invented by the modern requirements we put on children that are not the way children evolved naturally to behave.We either have to change society so that kids who can't sit still in school can still have a viable economic future, or have to just accept the need to medicate our children so that they can fit in and do well in school and get better scores on thoses tests we fixate on so much as the basis for their entire futures.
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Comment #3 posted by jose melendez on October 23, 2003 at 10:08:56 PT
water pipe study does not rule out 'safer', but:
from:http://my.marijuana.com/pipestudy.php3Marijuana Water Pipe and Vaporizer StudyDale Gieringer, Ph.D. Contrary to popular impression, waterpipes don't necessarily protect smokers from harmful tars in marijuana smoke, according to a new study sponsored by MAPS and California NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). The reason is that waterpipes filter out more psychoactive THC than they do other tars, thereby requiring users to smoke more to reach their desired effect. The study does not rule out the possibility that waterpipes could have other benefits, such as filtering out gases, but it suggests that other methods, such as the use of high potency marijuana, vaporizers, or oral ingestion are needed to avoid harmful toxins in marijuana smoke.
Read more.
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Comment #2 posted by jose melendez on October 23, 2003 at 09:50:43 PT
Rush Limbaugh: kids drugged up for no reason
http://www.resultsproject.net/limbaugh_ritalin.htmlSept. 15, 2000 - Rush Limbaugh says, "A.D.D. is B.S."
 Many of you got mad at me for saying Attention-Deficit Disorder is an invented disease. Now, charges have been filed against the company that makes Ritalin alleging this same fact. In separate class action suits filed in San Diego and Hackensack, New Jersey, Richard Scruggs, the lawyer who led the movement against the tobacco industry, set his sights on Ritalin. 
 The Mississippi attorney alleges that the makers of the drug conspired with the American Psychiatric Society to "create" this disease and then sell parents drugs to solve them. Scruggs called Ritalin the nation's "next class-action battleground," and he's going to go after this case like he did Big Tobacco and, before that, asbestos. 
Of course, these allegations are denied by both the APS and the company that makes Ritalin. They deny that they've expanded the definition of Attention-Deficit Disorder to include normal people so they can treat more kids. Those of you out there who are against me on this agree, no doubt, but I still believe ADD is a modern name for what we used to call hyperactive or energetic children. 
I know many of you are saying, "Rush, you've ripped these trial and tobacco lawyers a new clymer, and now you're siding with this Scruggs! You've criticized the tobacco settlement, but now the same bunch of lawyers get together and you think it's a great idea? They're going against Ritalin and ADD, so now they're okay?" 
Well, here's the proper question for all of you who think this ADD is a serious disease. Many of you thought Big Tobacco was eeeevil. They were Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man. They were a huge corporate entity that didnt care who they killed, because new customers were being born every day. Big T was cold, heartless and cruel! Lawyers who sued them were doing a great thing, trying to get rid of this poison from our society. 
So here's the question. Those of you who admired the lawyers then, who thought they were great Americans who were justified in making billions in these tobacco cases, what say you now? Those same lawyers charge there's no ADD and no need for Ritalin. They say these are normal kids being drugged up for no reason other than to illegally drive up profits for psychiatrists and the drug company. 
So how do you reconcile this? I know how passionate you are about ADD out there. Why, it was the perfect way to explain the inattention, incompetence, and inability of adults to control their kids. It helped you mask your own failings, by doping up your children to calm them down. 
But now we learn, this may all be a hoax and that revelation is brought to you by the same people you respected and admired in the fight against Big Tobacco. 
 Note: Translation:blah blah blah,blah blah blah,yawn, blah blah blah,blah blah blah,blah blah blah,liberal.
'With half my brain tied behind my back-just to make it fair!'
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on October 23, 2003 at 01:05:34 PT
He's getting better at interviews
"Not at all. It's a totally different case. Mine is political, his is medical. Is it unfair? Yes, it is. But I would hate to have Rush Limbaugh change the way they handle addicts. You don't put addicts in jail, you put them in rehab. You put political figures like myself in jail."You don't put addicts in jail, just political figures like myself. That's good, that makes the right point for the New York Times.Wait until he's had even more time to think.
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