"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country."

- Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President quote on Hemp

I love the spirits of cannabis and the multi-productive diversity of hemp, and while I have stood on a soapbox defending it's legal status, I must say i have to step up again in regard to an issue that affects many here at OLA.  I believe that the major industries of tobacco, cotton, paper, and every product that can be industrially replaced by the mass propagation of hemp and hemp cropping know quite well these statistics guarded by the lobbyists against the legalization of cannabis. In it's propaganda, the less mention of "hemp" and the more identification of it as "cannabis"/ pot, the better in regard to support.

This crop is so diverse in multi-usage that I truly believe it could save the economies of many flailing nations. It should be recognized as thus, and I should not exclude it's medicinal value in both physical and psychological administering.

But it's not legal throughout this nation. And while it's only legal in certain states, the Feds hate the idea of it, perhaps due to the reasons I listed above or you know, the pay off theories may apply, whatever. The Penal system benefits no doubt since they are privately owned and you can buy stocks in the prison system. Each "body" incarcerated equals cha-ching, so therefore we keep the silly drug laws.

Cannabis is so undervalued by this government that it leads one to consider it to be filed as one of those many issues that, if "deemed bad" by this current government, it must be something "actually good" for the people.

"Make the most you can of the Indian Hemp seed and sow it everywhere."

- George Washington, U.S. President quote on Hemp

But again, to return to the facts, it's not legal throughout this nation and unfortunately this status influences the sentiments of the majority, reflectively. There's just not much we can do in the current situation that we choose to live in as Occupiers in this movement.

I am asking my fellow lovers of the 4/20 moments to please make this issue a well thought out consideration for the sake of the success of the movement in Los Angeles. What is most important to us? We are an Occupy that is in perhaps the most blessed setting on the planet. With that in mind, we mustn't insist on more than we are given by the powers that be, like spoiled children who keep asking for more.

I wept as I watched what went down in Oakland. WE ARE SO LUCKY.

Now, the City Council is perturbed with us no doubt, but still they let us stay. They kept their word to us and with our respects we see they have taken into consideration our safety and well being. They have not ordered brutalization and incarceration as other cities' leaders have coldly done.  For this gracious act toward us they also deserve our guarding of them as City Officials. We have an obligation to protect them in return and not jeopardize our leaders reputations by letting dank smoke escape from our nomadic dwellings as visitors of all status stroll through to visit the troops camped on the lawn of our leaders offices.

Our camp is a place where all from our city comes on weekends to be with us. They bring the kids; they bring their hope and concerns for our well-being. I mean, hey sometimes Grandma comes. Some come to convince themselves we truly do exist. Soldiers gathered in the Good Fight must be visited by the elders of Revolutions from decades ago, who want to be sure what they have heard is true... we are here, we are fighting for a better quality of life and seeing it through, what they had begun, which perhaps for years had thought they had lost.

"When I was in England, I experimented with marijuana a time or two,

and I didn't like it, and I didn't inhale, and I never tried again."

- Bill Clinton, U.S. President quote on Marijuana

We are younger than most. We can handle any battle put before us. So, as a self-governing congregation, we must now train ourselves in the self-discipline it will take to not jeopardize the reason why we are here. We are here for our elders, our children and now even for our leaders whether openly expressed or not.

And again, while the majority sees it as unacceptable, and it is a sentiment we cannot change while there are so many other concerns that take precedent, we have to refrain from hurting all else by insisting against the majority that we can medicate anytime and anywhere we want.  Let's open our hearts and minds, let's work on this together, perhaps consider tinctures if it's a critical issue, ingestibles or tea time, if you must.  Let's think on this and protect our leaders and fellow freedom fighters, yeah? Let none find blame when the time comes they decide to leave not one stone unturned.

In Solidarity,

Yvonne

"When I was a kid I inhaled frequently. That was the point."

- Barack Obama quote on Marijuana