Dawning of a new day – Emerald Sun

March 6th, 2010 | By Reverend

We are in the midst of getting Emerald Sun’s Design Studio open. Our grand opening is St. Paddy’s day which is only 11 days out. So as things go for us, we are busy.

We are proud to announce that we are sponsoring NORML in two ways with our new venture.

1. We are donating 5% of all sales to WA NORML until May 10th 2010.
2. We are running banner ads and audio ads on the NORML Stash (NORML Live)

Have a listen to our audio ad that will be played on NORML Live

We are honored to be able to participate and we love NORML!
Congrats on the CBS ad NORML!   (read more..)

In other news, we released this plugin for Wordpress today. This is GentleSource’s software, but we modified it so that it would create shortlinks from SLU2.com by default. With this plugin, you can automatically have social networking via twitter at the bottom of each blog post, and a view only needs to click on the twitter icon to tweet your post, with a shortened URL from www.SLU2.com (Sensi Life).

Also if you haven’t signed it yet, PLEASE sign the petition for I-1068 (WA).
If you don’t know where to sign, come to our grand opening.
Here is a list of places that you can sign as well.
SensibleWashington.org

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The Emerald Sun will rise, on St. Patty’s Day

March 3rd, 2010 | By Reverend

We have decided to delay the opening of Emerald Sun Incorporate until March 17th.
We have a few permits and licenses as well as a few walls to build.

I figure St. Patty’s is a good day, that doesn’t get a lot of attention. It falls on Wednesday this year after all. So we will probably just keep the party warm for the weekend.

This is an article that I recommend: The Real St. Patrick?

Also this is a video that I made about the struggle that Irish folks endured in our country when they arrived:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlyNWZ9MEtc

On Wednesday March 17th, we will open our doors. We will serve some refreshments and get to know our neighbors.
We will also have a killer sale on all of our new wares! When I say new, I mean no one else has these wares, because they are designed and made by Emerald Sun. Kimberly makes hand sewn threads, from hoodies to shorts, and even some sick kushy bags that we call “Dope Duffals”, these were a hit at HempFest last year!
I will be sporting a new line of clothing made by us. My birthday present from Kimi is this really bad ass corduroy hoodie! Im psyched! You want to talk about made in the USA, these are made in your own back yard! Made for rugged, and casual use.
We are an outdoors type of family, so we make our clothing for our lifestyle.

We will also have a variety of Emerald Sun t-shirts will clever designs to promote the cannabis awareness and legalization movement.

Don’t miss out on this sale, we are give 5% of ever sale to WA NORML, and we are going to be discounting each item at least 15% off regular prices.

Also we will have forms to sign for the I-1068 petition. Read more about it at:

http://sensiblewashington.org/where-to-sign-i-1068/

This is our address:
9423 North Division
Spokane, WA 99218

Update on Sensible Washington / WA NORML meeting in Spokane

February 11th, 2010 | By Reverend

I showed up at the meeting about 30 minutes late last night, as I had some obligations to my children which came first.
But upon arriving, I was happy to see the large turnout!  Renata from Sensible Washington reports that there was around 60 people at the meeting last night!

This is very exciting to me, having the prospect of having this wonderful, amazing and medically incredible herb available to everyone over the age of 18 in this state.

From the time marijuana is decriminalized;

• Adults can choose the safer recreational substance (instead of alcohol), without jeopardizing their entire future due to criminal drug records.
• More doctors can recommend marijuana as a method of healing.
• The  criminal justice system will be easier to deal with, and less costly.

For me personally, it will also include a feeling of some level of vindication after spending all of those months in jail as a teenager because of charges of simple possession of marijuana, an all together victimless crime. 
I feel violated be the criminal justice system.  Police use marijuana as an easy way to improve their record in their position or career.  Marijuana consumers fight less, and mouthoff less than a drunk or a crackhead! 
This seems true from the police to the court, to the incarceration.

When California, Washington and Colorado legalize (since those are the places that I love to live most).   I will still organize rally after rally in Utah, Idaho and Arizona.  I won’t quit being strong and active in my fight against this insane and ridiculous war on the American people.   Which is what I see the “war on drugs is”.  A war on the American people.

When I got arrested as a teenager and thrown in jail for marijuana.  I didn’t stop smoking marijuana.  It didn’t deter me at all, it just made life harder and more complicated.  I used weed for depression and stress relief, as well as incredible headaches.    I didn’t use constantly, but when I had a really tough experience or a debilitating headache  marijuana helped me cope without killing myself.

Utah leads the nation in prescription drug abuse AND teen suicide.    (see this post:  http://slu2.com/?So)

Anti-depressants always made me feel worse.  When the doctor had prescribed me Zoloft, I had been taking it for a little over a week, and I got in a huge fight with my mother (not uncommon).  But this time I gave up and went lower than I had ever been, and I didn’t have the strength to fight it.  So I grabbed a bottle of my mother’s Welbutrin and I took it to my room, and I ODed.  I called my grandma to tell her I was leaving.  Which I did often.  I would usually take a road trip to a different state, because Utah was bad for me and bad for my freedom.  But in this conversation my grandma got the hint that I guess I was trying to leave her, that I was going to leave… For good.
Grandma relates it to a religious experience I think.  It may very well have been.  Grandma had the good sense to have my uncle call the police and the police had the ability to get to me quick enough to revive me and pump my stomach after a massive seizure.

My brother Justin  ( http://justin-thompson.com)  wasn’t so lucky.    A week after his 16th birthday he took a lethal dose of Lortab (my fathers prescription), combined with his antidepressants, one of which was Zoloft.  Justin died in his sleep.

When I used marijuana, I had no increased risk of suicide.  Be cause I felt HAPPY! 
No one that I know has had in increased suicidal tendency when regularly using marijuana.

However, that is one of the most well known side-effects of these prescription drugs. 
On all of the anti-depressant commercials on TV or on the radio, have a clear warning “May increase risk of suicide”, among a list of other horrible side-effects.

If Utah legalizes weed, I have a strong belief that the suicide rates would drop dramatically in Utah in all age groups.

Since ODing at 17 years old, I have never taken prescription anti-depressants again, and I have what I consider a successful and satisfying life.  I have never been that far down since.

Just look at the side effects associated with Zoloft.

Side effects of Zoloft

http://depression.emedtv.com/zoloft/zoloft-side-effects-p2.html

In these studies, the most common Zoloft side effects included:

• Nausea — in up to 30 percent of people
• Insomnia — up to 28 percent (see Zoloft and Insomnia)
• Ejaculation problems — up to 19 percent (see Zoloft Sexual Side Effects)
• Diarrhea or loose stools — up to 24 percent
• Dizziness — up to 17 percent
• Dry mouth — up to 16 percent (see Zoloft and Dry Mouth)
• Fatigue — up to 16 percent
• Drowsiness — up to 15 percent
• Indigestion — up to 13 percent
• Shakiness (tremor) — up to 11 percent
• Loss of appetite — up to 11 percent
• Decreased sex drive (libido) — up to 11 percent.

Other common side effects that occurred in more than 2 percent of people included:

• Increased sweating
• Burning or tingling sensation (paresthesias)
• Pain
• Headache (see Zoloft and Migraines)
• Weight loss (see Zoloft and Weight Loss)
• Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
• Constipation
• Vision changes
• Hot flashes
• Nervousness.
• Suicidal thoughts or behavior (see Zoloft and Suicide)
• Anxiety, agitation, or panic attacks
• Hostility or aggressiveness
• Engaging in unusual or dangerous activities
• Extreme elation or feeling of happiness that may switch back and forth with a depressed or sad mood
• Other unusual changes in behavior
• Signs of serotonin syndrome (a rare but dangerous problem associated with certain medications), such as:
  • Confusion or other mental changes
  • A rapid heart rate
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Hallucinations
  • Blood pressure changes
  • An irregular heart rhythm
  • Overactive reflexes
  • Fever, sweating, or shivering
  • Shakiness
  • Agitation
  • Seizures
  • Coma

Common side effect of Marijuana:

• Dry eyes
• Dry mouth
• Increased desire to eat
• Increase heart rate
• Increased euphoria
• Increased feeling of well being
• Some people have increased paranoia, but I suspect that is because of the threat of incarceration
• Smoking marijuana has more ill side effects than vaporizing or eating marijuana

To my knowledge no one as ever died/overdosed due to marijuana

RE:  http://www.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/53/

PLEASE PASS  AB390 in California and I-1068 in Washington!
PLEASE don’t give up the fight in Utah and the rest of the country!  Lets get organized and lets make this movement stronger!
Join NORML.org  

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Returning home from Humboldt, February updates from xCannabis

February 9th, 2010 | By Reverend

We cut our vacation early to come home from Humboldt Co.
Kimi’s grandma Gene passed away and we are trying to make arrangements to get her there to be at the funeral.

I will be attending the WA NORML either way.  Here is the press release that I got in my email:

We also wanted to report that we found a Red/Rednosed pittbull in Redway WA.  The dog was being cared for partially by the Brass Rail hotel.  But she was infested with ticks, and sleeping by the highway in some bushes by the sidewalk.
She has been missing from a week to two weeks by the looks of her minor injuries including a broken/bleeding toenail.

We are caring for her here in Spokane, we put an ad on Craigslist in Humboldt Co and we brought her to the Animal Shelter in McKinleyville.   We didn’t want to leave her at the shelter because they already had a lot of homeless pitt bulls. 
We didn’t want to see her get euthanized.

We intend on making a near future visit to Southern California to visit a dispensary who ordered services from us.  So if this is your dog, or if you know someone who lost her, please send me an email describing her, and please leave a way to get in contact with the owner and we can make arrangement to return in next month.

UPDATE: We have found the owner of the dog that we found! She is driving 900 miles one way to come pick her up. She is glad that we didn’t leave her at the shelter, because pitt bull have such a high kill rate at a shelter.

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Get Up! Stand Up! Don’t Give up the Fight! / Right!

February 2nd, 2010 | By john

This is the year 2010, and if we are ever going to, as the Beatles wrote, ” Come Together “, then the time is now! This next week Wednesday, February 10,Time: 7-8PM, Downtown Spokane at the Community Bldg ( 35 W. Main), Renata Rollins,  The Eastern Washington Field Director for Sensible Washington. She will be here in  Spokane for our signature gatherers  kickoff meeting!   Activist/Songwriter Bob Marley knew that in the end we will win the Fight!  For this journey to end we must put out and extraordinary  effort. With this small sacrifice of time and sweat,   unpaid dues to the effort will be realize, as we get… LEGALIZED!     She need to have those who would like to volunteer to gather signatures the follow this link to sign up before she arrives  http://www.facebook.com/l/13c87;www.sensiblewashington.org/volunteer  http://sensiblewashington.org/volunteer/ One thing I have noticed about the way america is thinking is they are tired of waiting for the ” Government and it’s flawed process ” to fix things while the rest of the WORLD is getting right with Hemp.  We know (and they know! ) that the People can and will solve the problems of our Economy with Industry,  Research, and Good Business! Activist /Musician Human says it all in this inspirational song.   Tree Of Life Which brings me to Jack Herer,,,,,,,, long time activist/hero to the cause. Please let us all Pray for his Recovery! He spent more time, fighting and yelling at crowds, till he was horse, and  then,….. do it all over again the next day! That’s what it takes to get the job done.  Jack needs to realize , his life’s efforts, have not been in vain!   Over 200.000 attended Seattle’s Hempfest last year, and there’s another 600,000 that would of loved attending ,… so know that you are not,…. alone any more!

Support SB 5615

January 21st, 2010 | By Reverend

SB 5615, awaits floor action in the Senate

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/BillInfo/summary.aspx?bill=5615&year=2009

Take action at NORML now!  Write your politicians!

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=14581441

Douglas Hiatt has filed a petition to put legalization on the state ballot for 2010 in Washington.

More at the NORML Stash.

Core reasons why I am active about my beliefs

January 19th, 2010 | By Reverend

I can think of hundreds of reasons for why I do what I do.  I could list them all and feel ever so vindicated.   But that is really what it boils down to, is that I was arrested and locked up when I was just a teenager for simple possession.
I went through the courts, and spent time in very uncomfortable jail cells.  I didn’t have a long record with exception to marijuana.
I worked from the time I was 14 years old until I was 15 and bought my first car with cash before I was even old enough to drive.
I paid taxes, I volunteered for the March of Dimes 3 years in a row from 12-15 years old.  I walked (skateboarded) 20 miles and collected dozens of sponsors to help with birth defects.  
I always tried to be a good person.  I think I fell short a few times, but I don’t think that my behavior warranted incarceration and career hurdles such as being banned from service in the military.

Now we see places like Denver, Seattle, Hailey ID, and even Big Water Utah decriminalizing possession of marijuana, and now with New Jersey there is 14 medical marijuana states.  We have found that marijuana does not cause serious illness or death.  It is being proven that cannabis cures aggressive cancers.   I think that the changing of the times is a breath of fresh air for millions of people in the USA that have served time for a victimless crime in the name of another failed “war”.  Marijuana is a plant, its not a crime!

I am so thankful for all of those who fight for what you believe in.  I am so thankful for our founding fathers, and for the words in the 10th Amendment that still seem to mean something.  I am even grateful for President Obama.  That he appears to have kept his word about marijuana.  And despite that I disagree with him on other important topics, I am glad that he is attempting to keep his word about decriminalizing marijuana.

I have fun toying with ideas of cannabis related businesses, and I love to go to rallies and all that.  I think that even if cannabis gets legalized in Washington where I currently live.  I will still travel to Utah, Idaho and Arizona to organize rallies and get things moving there.  After those states legalize, Im going to retire for awhile.  But for now, Im happy enough to be a part of things, even if only a small part.

People often offer gratitude to people who fight for their rights.  I get compliments from time to time.  But I say, save the words and just stand up for your own rights.  It’s my pleasure to stand up for my rights and things that are important to me.  But our government needs our input if any of us are going to be free.  It is important to not lose sight of what needs to take place.
Cheering for Marc Emery, or Eddy Lepp, or Charles Lynch is great, and it’s just about as helpful as cheering for a football game.

Instead of cheering.  How about we rise to the occasion and actually do something about the condition of our freedoms!

Recently Adam, a contributor to xCannabis and a cool guy to toke with started his own blog.  He has a lot of commentary and constructive input to offer the uninformed citizen.  We have linked his site a few times now, and he is on our blog roll.
There are several other people who have started great blogs and radio stations, and chat rooms that help bring awareness to the cause , big ups to them too!

All of that is good!   But I think what would be a really effective way to get the message out is to follow NORML and check out when their demonstrations are, and find information on how to contact your local officials  (see the right of xCannabis for links) then attend the demonstrations often, and write your politicians often.

BTW- I think I may offend people sometimes when I get passionate about thing that I believe in.  Truly, that’s not my intention.  Thanks for reading!   Time to enjoy harvest. 

Footage from the Protest In Spokane for Dispensaries

October 6th, 2009 | By Reverend

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

This is the footage that I got from the Inland Northwest NORML website from the protest in Spokane regarding the closing of 7 medical marijuana dispensaries in Spokane:

Continue reading »

Celebrating Washington State’s cannabis compassion laws!

June 22nd, 2009 | By Reverend

I am so grateful and inspired to be back in Washington state where I can use my medicine and my spiritual sacrament legally.
Where I don’t have to worry about losing my freedom due to incarceration.  Where I don’t have to worry about losing my family due to ignorance.  Where I don’t have to worry about losing my 4th and 5th Amendment rights, or for that matter my 1st Amendment rights.

We lived in Idaho for a short time while we prepared to and did give birth to our second child.  There was an excellent mid-wife in Idaho, who at the time that we arrived there was working on legalizing mid-wifery.  She successfully accomplished her goal, and she further inspired me, and gave me hope that Idaho could some day catch up to the 21st century in the near future and start providing compassionate laws to cannabis consumers who by using cannabis do not hurt anyone.

In celebration of being back in our home state, and having the freedom to effectively treat myself safely according to state laws.  I revised xCannabis and I also made a new skateboard available!

xCannabis "THC Elevated" Skate Deck

Buying these skateboards from xCannabis help us further the mission to educated and petition for re-legalization of cannabis in the Zion Curtain, and the rest of the nation.  We refer to the areas of Idaho, Utah and Arizona as “the Zion Curtain”, which are the areas most afflicted by the LDS (Mormon) religious standards, which makes for a crumbly line in the separation of church and state.

We hope you enjoy the new look and the new board.

This board is called “THC Elevated”  by xCannabis.

Price: $64.95  +  $10 shipping/handling

[wp_cart:THC-Elevated Skate Deck:price:74.95:end]

Law makers working on decriminalizing possession of marijuana

June 18th, 2009 | By Reverend

I try to keep up with major marijuana news, so I often visit NORML and CannabisCulture.

Right now a bi-partisan bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana by adults in being reintroduced:

From NORML:

“Washington, DC: Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, along with co-sponsors Ron Paul (R-TX); Maurice Hinchey (D-NY); Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA); and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), will reintroduce legislation today to limit the federal government’s authority to arrest and prosecute minor marijuana offenders.”

This bill would potentially save 860,000 lives being ruined each year for getting charged with possession of a victimless crime.
It would stand to end spending on enforcing penalties for a victimless crime, to the tune of 45 BILLION dollars per year.
It would also give room to let states tax and regulate marijuana, which would put it in a controlled liquor store type of environment, and create tax revenue that would potentially amount to 32 Billion dollars per year.

Write your congress reps and tell them to support this bill!  NORML makes it very easy to get this to your congress representatives by using the link below.  (Thanks NORML!)

http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13568661

See more at this video on HR 2835

Also see this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-KvGe6XuI by Reverend Ryan