Advertisement

When will the lights be turned on? For the past several months I have noted a large number of areas where the streetlights are not lit along stretches of West Broad Street and areas along North High Street. Of course, the City bureaucrats offer as an excuse the recent storms that came through central Ohio, but the lights in these areas have been dark for much longer than just recently.

Then again, I should ask when will the arches in the Short North be lit? Expensive, ornamental iron arches, installed with much fanfare nearly three years ago, still remain unlit. Perhaps I should suggest the City of Columbus run extension-cords from the White Castle and Papa John’s to light the arches in front of their areas.

No one should be surprised that the City of Columbus has so much difficulty mastering the technicalities of electricity. After all, Columbus is the city whose Mayor’s house burned down twice because of electrical malfunctions; not to mention a city who would rather pay a million dollars to the parents of a little boy electrocuted on the Town Street Bridge than fix the bridge.

Apparently the Electromaniac is still at large.
Why is racism accepted and unchallenged by the majority of white Americans?  Perhaps because whites, beginning at a very early age, are thoroughly socialized to uncritically accept racial inequality.  The "diversity" we say we want has little to do with the racial exclusivity we have constructed in our own lives.  This process starts even before reaching elementary school.

American educators generally believe that children are mostly unaware of racial categories or racism, until they are taught to think and act consciously in ways that reproduce race.  Part of the reason for this is the continuing influence of cognitive developmental theory beginning with Piaget.  Most researches still think that children who use racist language do so out of naiveté or ignorance.  From this perspective, the young child is essentially or primarily egocentric, lacking the intellectual unity or social awareness to construct, much less act on, complex social constructs such as racism.  

With America's debacle in Iraq blaring on every TV channel, Democrats in Oregon tuned in eagerly to Kerry as he toured their state in mid-May, awaiting their champion's robust savaging of the commander in chief, tottering through some of the worst news headlines of his presidency.

            They waited in vain. Though Iraq is a simple word of only two syllables, Kerry avoided it, and when reporters cued him to put the boot in, he raised a decorous finger to his lips, saying he wanted to give President Bush "some space to get things done."

If you think like us, then you know that the U.S. prohibition on the use of cannabis is a harmful policy that has broad societal implications. If you also value democracy, then you know that citizenship is not without it’s duties; true democracy requires the citizens to overthrow unreasonable government. The most revolutionary act a citizen can take to end the U.S. fight against cannabis is to simply grow cannabis. So, it is our American duty to overgrow this prohibitionist government. Freedom to grow and utilize this wonderful plant are in store for us at the END of the War on Drugs, but until then, we need brave people to keep cannabis alive. The risks associated with this act are steep in the police state of America nonetheless, gardening is a healthy and rewarding hobby and can even become a supplementary income. Once you smoke homegrown, you’ll be convinced. We’ve provided a grower’s guide to educate and enhance your quest to Overgrow the Government!
Easy Closet System

The EzHydroKit company is true to its name. They use simple but effective set-ups that are perfect for a closet grow. These kits utilize compact fluorescent lighting which keeps both room temperatures and electricity bills low. These set-ups are virtually undetectable by authorities. The hydro flow kits are nearly complete out of the box, with growers guides, nutrients, and much more; but the kits do not include air flow equipment so expect to acquire some fans also. Extra lighting might be necessary to achieve big colas. Their EzFlow Ultra for $149.95 is our recommended closet system. This company is also very prompt in returning any questions and inquiries. Check out www.EzHydroKit.com or call 1.866.394.9376

Mid-level Hobbyist

1. Be Prepared. Take time to design your grow system to provide the plants with proper light, nutrients, air flow, and water. This should include studying the cannabis plant’s needs. Ed Rosenthal is a guru of cannabis grow and any number of his books are a good investment. Envision numerous scenarios that could occur relating to the care and maintenance of your plants (like mite infestation, power failure, etc.) and plan ahead.

2. Be Secure. Growing marijuana is an illegal activity in many countries, therefore serious precautions must be taken so that the police do not find out about your garden. Be discreet about your cannabis supply and take security measures such as door locks and odor control methods when appropriate.

FREEP HEROES

Marc Emery

In between producing Pot-TV and publishing Cannabis Culture magazine, Canadian marijuana seed magnet Marc Emery somehow finds time for his unique brand of in-your-face activism. Most recently Emery has been on a cross-country college speaking tour promoting the cause of cannabis legalization. After his March 22nd speech in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Emery was arrested and charged with drug trafficking for the two joints he was smoking with the crowd. Emery was jailed for three days before finally being granted bail. Emery remains unfazed by the ordeal and has promised to come back to Saskatoon ‘a lot, and not just for the trial.’ Emery continues to be a major force for cannabis law reform on this continent.

THE FREE PRESS SALUTES

Todd McCormick

The Freep salutes patient/activist Todd McCormick for his unbreakable resolve to make medical marijuana available to those in need. When California legalized
Since July 2000, the U.S. government has spent over 2 billion dollars to fund an anti-drug program aimed at eradicating cocoa and poppy production in Colombia. The goal of Plan Colombia is to reduce cocao and poppy production by half by 2005. In a two year period from December 2000 to December 2002, U.S. contractors and Colombian drug authorities sprayed 628,828 acres of Colombia with a potent herbicide. A milder version of this glyphosate poison is sold in the U.S. under the brand name Round-up weed killer. This fumigation is done from airplanes which often have to fly higher than recommended when spraying due to risks of being shot at. Spray drift often results in unintended damage and any plant life sprayed by this herbicide dies within several days.

25,000 Plants Growing in Molson brewery

On January 11th, 2004, over 100 police officers raided the largest grow operation in Canadian History. A vacant Molson brewery in Barrio, Ontario was housing more than 25,000 cannabis plants. There were even plants growing inside the old beer brewing vats! The operation was so sophisticated that it was run like a factory with shift workers. Ontario Provincial Police Supt. Bill Crate declared ‘It’s the largest indoor operation any of us have ever seen.’ Nine people were charged in the bust.

Priest Pleads Guilty to Growing Marijuana

The former pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church accused of growing marijuana in the church rectory in Norton, Ohio pleaded guilty Tuesday. The Rev. Richard Arko was given a suspended prison sentence and was placed on probation for two years. Arko pleaded guilty to cultivating marijuana and possession of criminal tools.

Under questioning by the judge, he implied he was growing the marijuana for medicinal purposes. He said he looked forward to the day that marijuana is legalized under certain circumstances.

Pages

Subscribe to Freepress.org RSS