Hello folks. This is an article appearing in "Treating Yourself" magazine, Issue 20 - 2009, written by "Otto Emery Snow" (a cursory google search yields no "Otto Emery Snow")
I'm taking the trouble to type this up for educational/informational purposes. Fair use and all that.
Please take the time to read the article and, when finished, let me know if you would be willing to collaborate on a response to this article, one that could also be sent out to other "single-issue" liberty outlets, such as other Medical Marajuana/Counter-Culture magazines. It would be ideal if "we" could approach the response from all angles of liberty activism (ie politico response, civ-dis response, anarchist/voluntaryist/agorist response), and use this experimental effort as an outreach template to reproduce in the future.
Any errors have been left intact.
Laissez Faire!
New Hampshire
A state of suffering
**in the article. The title appears as New Hempshire, with a hastily scribbled "a" over the "e" in "Hemp"**
by Otto Emery Snow
I remember New Hampshire as a state with rolling hillsides and cow pastures, 'til paradise was paved. I have fond memories of a place where anyone would be happy to live and raise a family.
In the 1970s onward, Vietnam Vets with PTSD could obtain some of the finest cannabis to help them to sleep and relax without the addiction and insanity caused from benzodiazepine sleeping pills, tranquilizers and disabling anti-psychotics.
Sadly, in the more recent decades, the news describes a place where physicians sexually assault patients and then gang up on the victims to silence them. The Catholic schools and churches where children were once thought to be safe were plagued with sexual assaults on minors. There was a case in which intoxicated minors were passed around by priests for sex. The 'holy men' were not prosecuted because 16 is the age of consent and sacramental wine was used to loosen up their prey.
Much has changed, some has not. The once-thriving computer and electronic industries did not incorporate robotics, and are now gone. The property taxes have skyrocketed as the state has no sales tax. Some things have not changed, however. People and businesses from Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont still save money on purchasing liquor in the state and bringing it across the borders, costing these three states multi-millions in lost tax revenue over the decades.
In the 1970s onward, the most abused drugs were benzodiazepines. Physicians doled out free samples, some quantities in excess of three months. NH did not have diversion units years ago, though maybe today they do? Tranquilizers are more likely to be the first drug children will abuse, along with alcohol, then followed by other prescription drugs. This is a national problem and not isolated to NH.
The violent crime rate has always been low. Law enforcement (state and local) have always been top notch professionals. State Troopers remove their hats when pulling over cars and excuse themselves for causing any inconvenience to the driver, before giving you a ticket. They are highly respected and looked upon as role models for state law enforcement across the nation.
A friend of mine supplied law enforcement with fine cannabis. The officers used cannabis instead of taking pills to sleep, or narcotics for pain. Seems rational to me. The officers did not arrest people for simple possession or for growing a few plants.
In many communities, law enforcement rarely arrests adults with cannabis or patients growing a few plants in their backyard gardens. This has always kept a steady stream of information on major crimes from the ears and mouths of cannabis users to law enforcement. Unfortunately, the anti-patient rights in the NH Senate are interfering with that. Stopping patients from growing their own medical cannabis guarantees that organized crime will silence those who depend on their services.
In earlier administrations, the AG's Office and Secretary of State's Office have been a pleasure to work with. They shut down a company that was conning people; I dont like people who take advantage of others. The Secretary of State also offered his assistance when a friend was discriminated against in renting a condo for having long hair. If Uncle Sam needs the help of citizens to stop crime he needs to represent patients.
State AG Kelly Ayote gave a report to the state senate on the dangers of cannabis that reads like something from Reefer Madness. Unfortunately, it contained nothing about the serious drug problems in the state - NH has long been a drive-thru state for tons of cocaine headed south. This is not something new. The federal government knows the players. Prescription drug diversion has always been a problem. The targeting of patients growing a few plants masks deeper drug problems that are not being addressed.
Fortunately, those with integrity in law enforcement, county attorneys, and judges will not comprise public trust by criminalizing patients.
There are some good things to come out of the state. The statue of limitations has been increased for child molesters. Physicians that sexually assault patients are now having their wrists slapped. Patients have rights to their medical records. To what extent the state prosecutes physicians and hospitals that don't comply, I would not know.
I love the people and state of New Hampshire. They are hard working (if they can find work) and a hand-shake is their bond. The Old Man of the Mountain, the state symbol has fallen down and has been replaced with a tacky facsimile, but the foliage is still colorful in the fall.
Unfortunately for patients, the governor remains against patients rights and vetoed a patients' rights bill. Organized crime must have breathed a sigh of relief with Gov. Lynch voting to treat patients as second-class citizens. The pharmacies will continue profiting from the suffering of patients. Live free or die will remain meaningless, until next year's vote.
I don't think "Otto" has been in NH for the last 30 years. I think he got his information for this article from a ten minute google search.
I'm very disappointed.
