By DJ Pangburn
The Be.e is the first electric scooter to be made out of hemp. It also happens to boast a hip, sleek industrial design, features a battery with an 8-year life and 2000 cycles, as well as a 4kW motor, LED lighting, USB charging (yeah!), a smartphone holder, GPS tracking, and various other accoutrements. It almost seems too strange to be true.
Full Article:
http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/how-to-build-an-electric-luxury-scooter-out-of-hemp
Angela Bacca
Editor’s Note: I met Eddy Lepp for the first time while writing about him forSKUNK Magazine in 2010. I visited Eddy in Federal prison in my hometown of Lompoc, CA. When I showed up at the prison I was directed to the Medium Security Facility and the Federal Prison Camp. I signed both log books before being directed to where Eddy actually was, the Low Security facilities. After writing about Eddy my name dropped off the log books and it was as if I had never visited. I was denied access to visit again at FCI Lompoc. He now resides at FCI La Tuna in Anthony, TX. I visited him in late 2012 again for SKUNK Magazine.
Eddy is currently serving a 10-year mandatory minimum for growing marijuana for legally registered patients. He is a Rastafarian minister who gave away marijuana to anyone in need. He wrote this 4/20 message from Federal Prison.
-Angela Bacca
When I was asked to write this I really had to stop and think. I was reminded of the Jack Nickelson movie A Few Good Men: You can’t handle the truth! Sadly, I believe the truth is, so much of this is a fantasy land, it’s a Mad Hatter ride.
When I first came to prison, about four and a half years ago, I was like a child. All I could do is look around shocked, my eyes full of wonder. I learned one of my first lessons right away. Oftentimes, you should be more afraid of the prison guards than the inmates.
Full Article:
http://www.ladybud.com/2013/04/19/eddy-lepp-420-message/
ubmitted by Mike Ruggles. Reach him at mikedruggles@gmail.com
Roger Christie
HILO–A member of the The Hawaii Cannabis (THC) Ministry in Hilo has filed a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of his pastor, Rev. Roger Christie, who has been held by the federal government as a pre-trial detainee for over 3 years.
Mike Ruggles, 56, a resident of Mountain View on the Big Island, filed the petition with the United States District Court in Honolulu on July 23, 2013.
Rev. Christie was arrested by federal authorities on July 8, 2010, charged with distributing marijuana to members of his congregation.He has been held without bail at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center for over 36 months.
“Roger was a pillar of the community and he is sorely missed at this time,” said Ruggles. “Since Roger has been gone, meth use and violent crime has gotten worse, not better. Roger’s influence on the community was more effective than 50 cops on the street.”
Full Article:
The Associated Press
By LISA RATHKE
by Anthony Johnson
New Hampshire joins the growing list of medical cannabis states. Illinois is now on the clock…
Freedom and common sense is on the march as New Hampshire becomes the 19th state (20th if you include Washington, D.C.) allowing the use of medical cannabis. Cannabis law reform activists have had the most success in states with ballot initiatives as we have been able to make our case directly to the people, who are ahead of politicians on the issue. But as public opinion has swung greatly in favor of medical cannabis, we are seeing more and more state legislatures pass medical cannabis laws and governors willing to sign them.
Full Article:
http://nationalcannabiscoalition.com/2013/07/new-hampshire-becomes-the-19th-medical-cannabis-state/
by Pat Anson
Mike McLean has battled chronic back pain for over a decade. It started when he was a sergeant in the Canadian army and eventually grew so severe it ended his 22-year military career.
“It causes an incredible amount of pain. It’s like a hot knife being slowly driven into my back,” McLean says. “The way the doctors describe it, my back is so screwed up there’s nothing that’s going to fix it again. They kind of gave up.”
“I tried every single treatment you can think of. Physical therapy, acupuncture, even a botox injection. I’ve also had nerve blockers, tons of different medications, including fentanyl patches, OxyContin and Percocet. Doctors throw all sorts of pharmaceuticals at you for physical pain.”
The painkillers helped deaden McLean’s pain, but also came with side effects; including constipation, night sweats and the threat of addiction.
Full Article:
http://americannewsreport.com/nationalpainreport/marijuana-helps-relieve-pain-of-disabled-vet-8820957.html
Angela Bacca
Sometimes I get really sick of talking about pot, but then I remember why I need to.
I have been immersed in the marijuana world for awhile now and it is easy for me to feel like all the things I know about marijuana are common knowledge; it wasn’t illegal until 1937, it cannot kill you, it is more effective in treating many illnesses than pharmaceutical drugs, it is only illegal because some people make a lot of money by keeping it that way. I am sick of talking about it.
But I was born, raised and live on the coast of California. I am surrounded by people who use it, grow it, sell it and people who fight for the right to do all of the above. The facts about marijuana have been normalized for me and many others like me.
Change is definitely happening in California, New York, Washington and Colorado– but we have to make more of an effort to reach out more. Real change happens in conservative states, low-population states, states with harsh drug laws, states where the prohibitionist propaganda is ingrained deepest.
For instance, did you know it would only take $50,000 to add Idaho to the list of medical marijuana states? I recently visited Idaho activist Lindsey Rinehart and learned not only does this Republican state of only 1.5 million people have an 84% favorable view of medical marijuana, it only would take 50,000 signatures to make it to a ballot where it would likely pass. $1 a signature, $50,000 total. Yet, the money isn’t there because activists in big liberal states still don’t believe it could happen, despite the facts.
Full Article:
http://www.ladybud.com/2013/06/10/how-and-why-you-should-talk-to-strangers-about-marijuana/
A history graduate from Surrey, Glynis Murray is the co-founder of Braham & Murray, owners of Good, a hemp food company that produces everything from protein powder and oils to milk. Hemp protein is free form allergens and genetically modified organisms: it’s a very pure and functional food source.