Homegrown

[WilliamPitt]

(Image: Marijuana gavel via Shutterstock)

Homegrown
By William Rivers Pitt
Truthout | Op-Ed

Tuesday 07 January 2014

Homegrown's
All right with me
Homegrown
Is the way it should be
Homegrown
Is a good thing
Plant that bell
And let it ring...

- Neil Young

It was late September in 1993, and my friends and I were at a campground to enjoy a weekend away from the world. It was unusually cold as I shrugged my way out of the tent, and after answering an insistent call of nature just inside a line of trees to the east of our campsite, I set about the work of getting the fire going again. One by one, my friends emerged from their own tents in various stages of disrepair - the previous night had been a doozy, and more than a few of my crew looked and felt as if they had been devoured and shat out by wolves - to warm themselves by the flames.

Once the coffee was going and the blood was flowing, a joint the size of New Jersey began making the rounds, as was tradition, a soothing balm for the tragically hung-over among us. After a fashion, I happened to notice a man two campsites over giving our little campfire circle a long, hard stare. One didn't have to be stoned to be paranoid about smoking marijuana twenty years ago, and my first thought was, "Cop." I quietly told my friends to cool it, cool it, something's off with that guy, and everyone immediately began doing the I-Ain't-Doing-Nothin' Shuffle.

When the man started walking towards me, I began to do an inventory in my head of the cash I had on hand, the cash my friends had, in the event I wound up needing bail money. He presented himself before me, put out his hand, and introduced himself.

I hope I'm not intruding, he said. Not at all, I told him with trepidation flying around my head like I was Tippi Hedren. I offered him some coffee while my friends milled around the campsite pretending they weren't baked and had important stuff to do, casting furtive glances my way as they waited for the hammer to fall.

Listen, he said, I noticed you guys were smoking a joint.

Uh-huh, I replied.

I don't know anyone who smokes weed, he said.

Uh-huh, I replied.

My father has cancer, he said. It's bad. He can't eat because of his treatments, and that's as bad as the cancer. His doctor pulled me aside last week and mentioned marijuana as something that could help him.

Uh-huh, I replied.

You don't know me, he said, but I was wondering if you could give me some, so I can see if it helps him. I don't know anyone else I can ask.

I was still. This is either a set-up, I thought, or this guy is for real. As a NORML supporter, I knew full well that what he was asking for could help his father, but the very last thing I needed was a drug arrest on my record. I took a moment with his eyes, and decided to make a leap of faith...

The rest: http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/21058-william-rivers-pitt-homegrown

[Bluenorthwest]

1. This is a most excellent piece Will

nt

[JNelson6563]

2. Thank you for helping that poor man.

My brother and I watched my dad die a horrible death from bone cancer. Too sick to eat, made him weaker and sicker. We could do nothing. It was horrible.

Now it is different. Since the Medical Marijuana law in MI came to be, my brother is making up for lost time. He's a legal grower, has an epic grow room and helps his patients all the time. When we finally get it legal for everyone he'll be able to help more people. Those who haven't got much pay nothing, those who have much pay and are happy with it.

Your story reminded me of all this, especially my poor dad.

It is way past time to end this insanity. Thanks for writing so eloquently about it.

Julie

[Drew Richards]

3. THank you...

[Shampoobra]

4. But what's the message we're sending to our children?

"But what's the message we're sending to our children?" is the objection I hear most often. (Washington resident ... the subject has been on everyone's mind here for the past 15 months.)

My answer:

"We're sending the them the clear message that it's morally wrong to put people in jail for smoking marijuana. It's still illegal for children to smoke marijuana, but if they do, we shouldn't put them in jail, either. That's the message we're sending, clearly and deliberately: It's wrong to jail marijuana users, which is why we don't do that anymore."

[kpete]

5. Know Your Potheads

peace, kpete

[Berlum]

6. The dried herb really can make a tremendous positive difference for cancer patients

I've seen many people -- who otherwise had no interest in the stuff -- find tremendous healing benefit from the natural, earth-rooted plant, marijuana -- not so much from the industrial corporate synthetic crud, marinol or whatever they call it.

[Dustlawyer]

7. I have suffered for years with Small Fiber Sensory neuropathy.

It is a very painful chronic 24/7/365 disease that makes my feet and calves hurt. I get electric shocks like being zapped with a cattle prod day and night. Burning sensations like a flame under my feet or fire ants crawling all over, and severe cramps. I take very strong meds with horrible side effects. Once, years ago in California I was handed half a joint. Later that night I smoked it in my hotel room and for the first time in years I was pain free! I sat there and cried! I cannot smoke it b/c I get drug tested by my pain management doctor and because of my law license. I makes me very angry that I have to ruin my liver and still hurt b/c of idiots that think they know what is best for me. Go Colorado and don't screw this up!

[ctsnowman]

8. Thanks for the post.

[niyad]

9. thank you for sharing that, and for helping that man's father. when my dearest friend was dying

from the cancer ravaging her body, we knew marijuana would help, but she had no access.

what would happen if this were legalized everywhere? the poor people at atf and the various vice/narcotics squads, and ice, would all have to go find real jobs.

[mstinamotorcity2]

10. Great read!!!

Thanks

[Oilwellian]

11. Wonderful story, Will

K&R

[WilliamPitt]

12. Up

[jtuck004]

13. I'm glad you posted this. I was going to b4 I searched for it...

and thank you for being that kind of person.

[babylonsister]

14. Excellent, Will!

[pacalo]

15. Excellent read!

[spanone]

16. k&r...