Digital Journalism

The best way I know of to describe digital journalism is to explain the network that has been created for The Genesee County Chronicle.  A web page was set up to display the paper in a digital format. From there you can connect to the Chronicle blogs, face book, twitter, and endless links to corresponding web pages.   This allows for reporters to display their stories in more than one way, which in turn attracts readers from a variety of different digital locations.  Stories come and go wirelessly from a reporter’s personal hot spot to the palm of a reader’s hand instantly- no lag in communication.

 It used to be that reporters really had to work a lot harder to do their job; they would have to chase down leads and follow hunches in the hope that they could develop a good story. Google, YouTube, live video blogs, and podcasts have changed things. Now any yahoo with a cell phone can be considered a reporter. The stories that might have taken months to crack can now be found streaming the web moments after they happen. One could say that this is a great advancement in journalism and that a new age is upon us, but one could also point out how useless a degree in journalism would be if all the breaking news was covered by armatures. That’s why integrity will play a crucial part in the success of future reporters.  Since  professionals now have to contend with a scrutinizing and able- bodied public capable of reporting their own news, I am happy to say that there will be less and less room for the sensationalistic propaganda that has passed for news in the fairly recent past. These days people won’t stand for it and there quickly realizing they don’t have to.

The New Club

We had our third meeting this week at the Good Beans Café. The first order of business was to relocate our next meeting to somewhere we could medicate indoors. With the winter months approaching, some of our older volunteers stated that they had fought the good fight for too long to be pushed into the cold now. After a short discussion, the group decided to have our next meeting at a place I’ve never been to before. Apparently it's a really swanky club that some guy has out on wooded property behind his house. I haven’t heard much about the building itself, only what the club offers. Unlike the G3C this place comes fully furnished, which includes a pool table, a bar, and a 23 foot, nineteenth century, solid slate shuffle board. I guess we’re allowed to drink and smoke inside and there’s no problem. From what I’ve heard there’re a lot of parties at night with live bands and free food. I’ve also been told that there’s a really safe feeling there, and a few people have told me that during the day, you can bring your kids there to ride the horses, or go swimming in the lake. They also have a community pantry that is always stocked to the brim with food.  In fact, it gets so full they often make donations to families in need. This place sounds pretty cool, but so did the G3C at first, and considering that for a few members of our group this is their forth club, who can speculate the long haul? No club offers everything or satisfies everybody. Either way, I’m sure I wouldn’t be getting into this club if I weren’t part of this group. From what I’ve heard, the members don’t accept many younger people. Most of the members are retired shop workers and understandably they don’t want any “riff-raff” in their club. Well, it just so happens that I’m really good friends with some of my parents’ friends who worked in the shop, that shop workers are my kind of people, and I assume we’ll get along fine. I think I’ll just keep my fingers crossed just the same.

The Third Meeting

We had our third meeting for the paper this week and we were really happy about the results. We covered a number of new topics that have developed in the past few weeks including the wrongful termination of our format directors’ wife for failing a drug test at her job. She informed them that she was a legal medical patient and that she had the credentials to prove it. They fired her anyway!  Now, with the backing of the ACLU, she is going to court. Given that it’s a story in our own backyard, we’ve been given the exclusive story. Considering that Wal-Mart is in the news for the same thing, we hope this story will hit a bit harder. Another thing that’s finally ready is our flyer asking for reporters and artists interested in getting their work published. Part of the mission of this paper is to highlight the local area by utilizing citizen journalism. We want to present news from as many different perspectives as possible. We want to help people make an informed decision by presenting all the facts we can, even if we don’t necessarily agree with them. Another issue we plan to cover is the patch work of counties that all have different ordinances concerning marijuana. We plan to make a map that separates them into three categories: green for good or safe, red for bad or unsafe, and yellow for unknown or undecided. Then we decided to label all the compassion clubs and dispensaries on it so if people wanted to, they could use our map during the holiday season for any traveling inside the state. Going to grandma’s?  Stop off and medicate along the way. Going hunting and need some medication? Plan a pit stop. Medication is literally available everywhere. From there, we decided that it might not be a bad idea to sponsor our own Club Crawl. After much discussion, we decided to table that proposal until the next meeting. Either way, it really feels as though the paper is really coming together.

Seedless Underbelly



The Compassionate Care Center of Michigan,
a medical marijuana dispensary, has opened in Dryden.
Staff prohibited pictures from being taken inside,
 but this green door leads up to the dispensary,
5493 Main St. at the corner of Mill Street




       In November of 2008, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act was adopted by the residents of the state of Michigan with a staggering margin of over 63%. Ever since then politicians have been doing there best to squeeze the new legislation into the current drug policy.  However, there are so many gray areas in our new law, and the exact interpretation of it varies greatly from township to township and county to county.  As a long time user of marijuana, it wasn’t hard for me to make transition from illegal user to legal medical patient. I already knew the ins and outs of how marijuana is grown, the many ways to use it, where to get it, and maybe most importantly, the laws that surround it. Then it occurred to me while talking to a classmate named Nancy, that most of the perspective patients who are making their way into this movement have no idea what to do once they get there. With all that’s going on with the law and all the dispensaries in the news paper, one could see how this could seem a little daunting. It is my hope that some of these grey areas will be sussed out by the end of this paper, allowing for newbie patients to gain some perspective before heading into Genesee County’s seedless underbelly.

            When taking on anything that might be a little subversive, especially something as politically charged as marijuana use, it is always a good idea to read all the laws and procedures that pertain to that subject, just so you have a basic understanding of what you could be getting yourself into. The last thing you want is to wind up in a situation that you didn’t necessarily know you were in danger of encountering and get into trouble for it. All the laws and procedures the authorities are supposed to abide by are on the MMMP website at Michigan.gov. Just because it’s a law doesn’t mean the courts and the police will enforce it the way you think they should.

In an interview with the Genesee County Chronicle, Tim Beck leader of the medical marijuana movement in this state said that once the initial law was passed Mike Cox, current Attorney General for the state of Michigan, had a choice of how to implement the new statute.  He had the power to force a uniform measure across the state or to allow each county to decide how marijuana would be handled.  Ever since, the state’s counties have been issuing a jigsaw of ordinances and confusing the already troubled act.  While, it is more egalitarian to allow each county its own policy, it does in effect allow counties outlaw medical marijuana by ordinance. Essentially, in this case, local ordinance trumps state law.  This initiative most likely derived from the infamous “White Page Report” issued out of California by groups of locals sheriffs and related agencies.  Basically the report is a right-wing how to manual on keeping the medical marijuana movement from establishing legitimacy.  Overall any person new to the medical marijuana scene ought to check their local ordinances before making a move.  

So, in general, State Police follow state law and have thus far have not had any notable conflicts with the act or the citizens following that act.  However, as aforementioned, each county has been afforded the right to interpret the law as they see fit, and in some more conservative communities they still view marijuana with contempt.  It is in those counties such as Lapeer and Oakland, where local authorities take the law into their own hands. Bloomfield Hills for example is battling with ACLU over its complete ban of dispensaries right now. These authorities pride themselves on taking the narrowest view of the law possible, and when it comes to the very obvious gray areas, they just make it up as they go along.  Now I’m not saying these guys are crooked; I’m just saying that because there are so many shadows in the legislation that it’s anyone’s guess where it begins and ends. Take the “Dryden Incident”; it’s a case concerning a local dispensary that was shut down because caregivers were selling their products to people who weren’t their patients, but still legal card holders. According to the authorities in that township, under administrative rules set forth by the Director of Community Health, namely Rule 333.115: caregivers are only allowed to be compensated by the five patients they are responsible for, not anyone else. So these counties are solely focusing on the administrative rules that the department of health was legally forced to produce. However, the law doesn’t actually say that, and in effect tramples on the initial spirit of the law.  The specifics are clearly lacking in this area for either side. In fact, according to the Medical Marijuana Act under section 333.26424, clause (j) states that patients who are cardholders in another state can come and get medication in our state when there here visiting.  If that’s true, then how are visitors supposed to get their medication if caregivers aren’t allowed to sell it to them? They might refer to another section, 333.26428, subsection 8, clause (2) that says that a legal patient cannot be charged for purchasing medication, even if it’s from someone who is not legal at all. To me, that sound like a good “legal” way to allow an out-of-towner to obtain medication.   This brings me to the overall point, which is the spirit of the law. I believe that the objective of the 63% who voted for it was to allow safe access for people who need medication, not to make it as hard and expensive to get and as possible.

            In order to get an idea of how these places have been allowed to operate I decided to question local dispensary owner of MI Organic Solutions “Ben”. He begins by saying that there is no outline for a business model written in the law; however the law does stipulate that there must be a safe place for patients to transfer their medication. So dispensary owners have been left with the uncomfortable task of figuring it out on our own.

The two most favored business models fall into two major categories. The first is what is called a compassion club, which legally operates as a non-profit business and allows for patients and caregivers to congregate for the safe transfer of medication. These places usually have a farmer’s market feel where the patient is allowed to interact directly with the people who grew the medication, to sample it and haggle for a better price. Further, because the entity is non-profit, patients and caregivers are allowed to “sample” the medication as many times as they wish before leaving.  It is common in a compassion club to see caregivers allotted to a section of the establishment, and the patients lounge on a variety of couches or chairs sampling. The second model is a for profit business that usually gives the patient the more professional feel of a doctor’s office. The medication is still free but the difference being that your paying for the container instead of the labor.  But because there is no medicating on the premises unlike in a compassion club, the atmosphere tends to be a lot quieter and less bothersome to the community. A lot of people like the compassion club feel for its variety and prices but some people just want to get their medication in private and then to go home. They don’t like crowds or haggling, they just want a reliable source for their medication.

Considering the fact that the leader of the anti-medical marijuana movement, Republican Bill Schuette, has risen to the position of Attorney General many dispensary and compassion club owners are shaking in their boots.  Schuette has stated repeatedly that while he used marijuana in college, he thinks that the movement is a sham and seeks to impede its efforts in any way possible.  Since Schuette was circuit court judge of appeals in his early career, he is very familiar with the administrative process of the legal system and plans to use it to forward is own political view.  But there is still hope for medical marijuana as a whole.  In recent Pew Research Center survey 3 out of 4 Americans believe that marijuana should be legal in their state.  Up from 35% in 2008, 41% of Americans think that medical marijuana should be legal.  So because of the confusion created, it is obvious that if you plan to get involved with the medical marijuana movement in this state, be sure to know the laws!

New Changes to the Paper

At the beginning of this project it was mostly planning and hope, now things are really starting to get to a point that can’t be controlled by just a few and we are having to depend on a lot more people to get our word out.  Because there are so many new people all the time, we decide to expand not only the size and shape of the paper but also it’s content. We will now cover things that don’t necessary have anything to do with marijuana but are still a part of the counter culture. We will now be covering not only the politics but art and entertainment as well.   Our next issue will be printed with soy based ink on recycled paper. We have a local artist named Kedrie Young who is doing the artwork for our cover. We have already gotten an approval from the UofM administration to pass out our flyer on campus to recruit citizen journalists who might want a shot at getting published. We are also currently being distributed to over twenty locations and next month we are in negotiations for another twenty ranging between Saginaw and Pontiac. We are going to try to stay inside Genesee County for our content and hopefully draw in as much out of town business as possible. Our last issue only had 500 print copies at twelve pages a copy. Are next issue is going to be 5000 copies with the same or more pages, depends on the new format and layout which is now someone else’s department, not to mention that while most of the articles are being written by dependable people, some of the stuff is being written by newbie’s so who knows if and when they’ll deliver. Not to worry I meet new and talented people every day.

Fermented Firebombers Foiled by Family Friends

This is the kind of stuff that will now appear regularly



Duffy Home Ablaze

 On November 7, 2010, at 5:30 am, 15 year old local paperboy, Sean Bridges reported an arson in progress at 325 west 5^th Ave. Due to the fire department’s quick reaction time of four minutes, the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes. After hearing glass break, Bridges witnessed a lone figure flee to a dark SUV with a waiting driver. Moments after the car sped off, the boy saw flames and began pounding on the door in an attempt to alert the family of eight that dwelled inside. In the confusion, Jim and Sandy Duffy didn’t realize that their youngest daughter, three year old Kim Duffy, had not yet emerged from the flaming inferno. By the time the connection was made, the family dog Buddy amazed everyone when he appeared just outside the flaming domicile leading young Kim by his collar.  So relieved at the safe return of her daughter, that when asked about Buddy, Sandy Duffy was quoted as saying, “He saved her life.” While no major injuries were sustained, 3 individuals did receive medical attention for minor injuries. Kim Duffy suffered minor smoke inhalation and was hospitalized. A female firefighter, Sharon Medina, suffered a cut on the arm and was treated then released by Hurley Medical Center.  Buddy the dog was treated for minor burns he received on his paws.

After a short investigation, two men were arrested and will each be charged with eight counts of attempted murder and one count of arson which together could carry a sentence of life in prison. The investigators determined that the unnamed 27 and 38 year old suspects were intoxicated when setting the fire and mistook the Duffy family home for a know drug house. The suspects admit their mistake and are showing their remorse inside a cell at the Genesee County Jail where they are being held without bond, pending a court appearance on Monday.  The real drug house was raided and two arrests were made. Despite the circumstances, the authorities don't seem to believe this incident is related to any of the other recent fires in the city.

Sean Bridges will be receiving a medal of valor from the mayor in honor of his heroic deed. As an added asset, his actions will aid in the acquisition of the coveted Boy Scouts’ life saving merit badge. Sean hopes that it will lead to the superior level of Eagle Scout.  

All donations to aid the Duffy’s should be directed through your local Red Cross office.

The next step in the basement project

Well, my basement project is really starting to come along. We’ve gotten all the walls built to separate the various rooms. We used pressure treated lumber for all the bottom plates because my basement has been known to flood.  Next we had an electrician come in to clean up the wiring and set up the power and timers for our lights. Now we have timed dedicated circuits that run every where we need.  The next thing on the list is the dry wall. We’ve got to get this special Green Board that usually goes into bath rooms on account of how damp the basement already is plus how much more moisture is going to be present once the garden is in; there’s really no other way to go. Next, after the obvious paint job, we plan to put in a security system. It’s going to be a mixture of high tech and lo tech. On the high end, we’ve got biometric locks, web cams, and motion sensors. On the low end we already have steel shutters over the windows and a reinforced steel door with a standard deadbolt. There are also a few other things that will really detour any unwanted visitors whether it be thieving rat or dirty pig. Finally, after a long planning process, we will be able to get our lights and start our garden. We will eventually be employing a variety of growing methods including ebb and flow hydroponics, aeroponics, and the traditional soil method. We will be implementing a quarantine procedure based around the containment tents we are buying.  Each garden of twelve plants will be housed inside of a very durable, independently ventilated tent with a highly reflective interior to collect and reuse as much light as possible. This way, if some sort of contaminate gets into one tent, it won’t necessarily get to all the others.

The basement project

I’m turning my basement into a fortress.  The cement block wall has been painted with a special paint that seals it from the inside out.  I also put a special two part epoxy on the floor. It is nearly indestructible and it has the cool new flecks that match the wall rather well.  After that was finished we scrubbed the ceiling with hard bristle brushes. The ceiling is made up of a several very large beams that are made of local hardwood. Some are maple and some are oak, but they are all now completely gunk free and hopefully they will stay that way. In case you don’t understand, this “gunk” I described was composed of a range of things from simple dust to paint to grease dating back I’m sure at least one hundred years. Not only are they gunk free but we decided to spray an anti mold spray that is completely organic. Now we’re going to try to de-tangle the electrical system. Most of it is new and ok, but there are a few that look like the paper covered kind and I want it gone if it’s not up to par. Next after that will be to fabricate and install steel shutters on the windows and to cement the door frame into place.

The reason for the big cleanup has a lot to do with the medical marijuana law that was recently passed. My brother and I got a phone number from a friend of a friend of a Dr. in Howell that was real sympathetic to medical needs of the average Joe. You know Mr. every man.  Long story short me my brother and my mother all have the legal right to buy, sell and grow our own marijuana. We figured it was about time we started supporting our own needs. We have also become members of the local compassion club which is a place you can go to buy and sell up to two and a half ounces at a time.  You can also buy a variety of clones so you can start your own garden. As soon as the basement is clean I intend to do exactly that. Most of the stuff that is going around is good but not as good as it could be. I hope to be one of the few who will start the proverbial slow but persistent clap for better medication.  None of my friends have taken the time to see that Dr. and now he’s out of business so there completely discouraged. I told them that there were other Dr.’s that were even closer like in Otisville but they didn’t want to hear it. They just wanted me to get them some. i said no, I took the time and paid my money, so because I got off my ass, I’m legal and I’ll be dammed if I’m going to risk that so I can sell a bag. I never wanted to be a drug dealer, legal or otherwise.

The plan behind the basement project

just to give you alittle more info on the subject, every patient is legally allowed to grow up to twelve plants and a caregiver is allowed to grow for no more than five people this translates out to be seventy two plants. After everything is set up we will have enough room to grow somewhere north of sixty plants. If it’s done right I can yield up to a  half pound per plant and harvest six or eight plants every couple of weeks. Depending on the quality you can sell a pound for three to four thousand dollars. Each plant costs around $100 to grow but that is over time and considering the cycle the first few are the only ones we will have to really pay for and that’s only if you factor in the price of the light which will pay for themselves well within the first full cycle. These are temporary prices, I am very aware of the fact that the bottom is going to fall out of this one way or another but for now there isn’t enough to go around and the club is getting more and more crowded with buyers and the growers are starting to just pass out there numbers to a select few who will become steady buyers. They don’t come to the club; they go directly to the person’s house. I hope to do the same. If i have someone at the club do all the dealing and I do all the growing I think things will turn out great. The club is also a good place to sell my kif boxes. I already have a back order of over one hundred custom boxes which is also turning out to be really lucrative. I only brought in a few at first and now people are just lining up, I don’t even have to bring a sample anymore. People just know me as the guy with the cool box's

Also as far as the basement goes, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next year. We are hoping to get a new roof and maybe fix a few other things that are falling apart.  One day in the not so distant future I was sorta kicking around the idea of maybe buying the house from my mother  and if this garden helps to make that possible than that would suit me just fine. Just the thought of mary-jane being in anyway responsible for the boundless fortune that I will inevitably accrue makes me feel like old man Kennedy and the fortune he made off of bootlegging. I wonder if my kids could run the county one day.

The End of The Begining

We find our heros right where we left them, neck deep as usual, how will they ever make it out unscathed?

Having just won a major battle, the war was far from over. The Trowt boys still had to announce there departure to the club’s uncompassionate board and their reaction was expected to be less than favorable. Knowing that they didn’t actually do any work on the paper wouldn’t detour these money hungry misers from considering this move as nothing short of treason. The dynamic duo pondered there predicament for a few days before setting up the meet. The best approach the two could come up with was to let the board know that in no uncertain terms they were ceasing control and that they  would love to keep receiving monetary support but the paper  will no longer need there approval.

After hearing the extent of these plans the board members reacted in a number of ways. One laughed at them, one broke into tears claiming some sort of financial deceit , another was silent with obvious anger, but the last acted calm cool and collected, nothing short of professional. One could assume that this is the reason why he is the leader. He asked question after question until he had exhausted all avenues of possibility. Finally he told the young men that while there departure would pain him greatly he has no hard feelings and hopes the best for them.  

Bravely and boldly our heroes step out alone to face the harsh world and while their path remains unclear, the Trowt boys now at least sit behind the wheel.   

The Begining of The End

               Eric arouse in the morning to the sound of his brothers voice reminding him of the big meeting that day. Yes it was true the culmination of months of work now all hinged on one meeting. As he yawned and scratched his head he could hear his brothers vomit colliding with the empty toilet bowl just down the hall. While he handles his stress in a different way, Eric was not immune to the pressures that now threatened his carefully constructed plans. This story really starts a few months ago when Eric and his brother were sitting at their club, conversing with two other patients. Through the course of their conversation it suddenly occurred to both of them that the club was in need of a news letter. The initial idea was just to inform members of all that transpires within the club. All too quickly the brothers found themselves gushing to write more than just puff pieces on club volunteers or phony letters to the editor pleading for increased donations. This combined with a complete lack of resources pushed them to pursue other options. Soon there business plan was laid out and in motion. Many of the previous volunteers were more than willing to offer their services with the production of the new paper, but Eric and his brother were overwhelmed with a flood of positive feedback that came from new people that were just interested in helping out in any way they could.

The first order of business was to hold a meeting to establish a new moniker, appoint volunteers to their respective positions, and to develop an overall mission statement.  The brothers informed the interested parties of the meeting and its location in the back of the Good Beans Café. All individuals who were invited were present except one and after a unanimous vote he was later hunted down and killed. The rest of the meeting went off without a hitch and the resulting consensus came to be known as the Genesee County Chronicle, the voice of the people.

At first glance it looks like the dasterdly deed has been tworted but will things actually work out for our heroes?
Tune in next time for another thrilling installment of blogs entries without proper endings. que sweet sound effects.

Hydro Kareless

    

I happened to find my way into the Hydro Kare grow shop this week and wasn’t sure what to make of it. It’s a discreet trailer-like structure located just west of Best Buy on Miller Rd. While this shop is smaller than most of the others I’ve been to, the clear echo and lack of merchandise gives you a rather open and breezy feel.  Free from the constraints of what one would call a normal or profitable business, Hydro Kare allows the customer to browse without the burden of products or information; instead one is left in an almost empty room to come to their own conclusions… I’m guessing in some sort of spiritual way.  I really tried searching for something new and semi-interesting, but to no avail. Usually when I go into one of these places, there’s at least one product that sets it apart from others, but here there was nothing; same dirt, same lights, same buckets, same price. At this point I started to wonder why this place was open.  I didn’t even hear so much as a “Hello” from the two behind the counter. Finally I made my way forward to make my introduction and to see what was in the display case. The owner was reluctant to respond with any more than a nod and his wife didn’t even look up from her book. Clearly they had some sort of aversion to the natural byproduct of business … profit.  In a small side display case there were a dozen or so glass pieces crammed in the corner as if they were trying to hide them. Upon closer inspection I found the pieces to be cheap and overpriced. Now I know why they were hidden. 

I started to head for the door when a small table caught my eye. There was a stack of magazines with a bold label that read Rose Bud, and featured Jack Nickelson on the cover. I ended up standing there for almost an hour reading and wasn’t ever bothered. It had a great article about new cameras that helped me figure out which kind I should buy for reporting. By the time I left, I felt as though I had really found some quality information that I’m not sure I would have gotten otherwise. Overall, I would have to say that this place is lacking in almost every way a business shouldn’t.   If you asked me, I certainly would not shop there.  However, the reality is that there is a need for a hydroponics store in that area, and as inadequate as it is, Hydro Kare is better than nothing.  Undoubtedly, if for some reason I ended up living in that area and needed something simple they would unfortunately be the obvious choice.  By the way, I think I am going to buy the new Canon Rebel T1i camera.  It’s a 15 mega pixel cam with interchangeable lens, an official apache style strap and “a compass in the stock.”   

 

Above and beyond

I took a trip to Lennon this week on assignment to check out two guys and a grow shop. I was there officially to take pictures for an ad they are running in The Chronicle, but since I’d never been there, I took time to really look over what they had. I was surprised to find that they have really taken things to next level. From the outside, I got the impression that there wasn’t much there, but once inside. The extent of how badly I was mistaken set in under a luminous spectrum of superior growing technology. While sweeping the store for the best camera angle I was impressed to see how neatly they kept their truly massive stock. Wheelchair accessible isles allowed for some very inclusive wide angle shots of the merchandise. Still skeptical, I decided to question the mild mannered misanthrope behind the counter about his wares. He presented such a clear and concise understanding of his craft that I was, for the first time ever, literally left without speech.  He was truly a master of his realm.  Dazed I stumbled into what I thought was a dark room for people to collect themselves after such a righteous experience. Clearly I was in the presence of greatness, but with a flip of a motion sensitive light I was confronted yet again with sites never before conceived by the feeble mind of man. It was their very own dirt room with more medium varieties than anyone else around. I must have blacked out after that because I woke up later in my bed. You may think it all a dream but in my pocket was a small card that not only proves the existence of this Shangri-La but also reveals its exact location. I’m putting together a second expedition in November, contact me for details.
Pic's will be in soon

Monsanto: friend or foe?

                Monsanto is a gigantic seed producing conglomerate that is constantly under public scrutiny. While they’re not actually doing anything illegal but they are, because of their size, taking extreme advantage of the market. This is a clear cut example of a company that needs to be reined in. Like Wal-Mart and McDonalds, Monsanto has been getting a lot of negative feedback for doing good business. While their business tactics are technically legal, the sheer size of this corporation threatens to control the entire market, which puts small mom and pop operations into a very uncomfortable position.  Monsanto has for years been producing genetically engineered seeds for the agricultural community that dramatically increase the yield of their crops. Because Monsanto owns all the genotypes they produce, they make the farmer either adhere to strict growing guidelines or sell them a special seed which grows once and doesn’t produce a viable seed for the next crop. Either way, due to the carful and quiet destruction of pure stains, the little guy gets roped in to an endless cycle of needless seed procurement. This attitude raised a definite eyebrow in the medical marijuana community when, as soon as the proposition 19 initiative to legalize marijuana in the state of California was put on the ballot for November, Monsanto bought several hundred acres in the northern part of the state earmarked for just that purpose. It has been rumored that Monsanto has produced special stains of so called “Terminator” seeds that spread their non- pollinating trait like a disease to other crops, making them sterile forever after.  I’m not just talking about one kind of pot sterilizing another, I’m saying there tomatoes will sterilize your corn and everything else in your garden. If these things are even partially true, then the effects of these allegations may have a much father reach than the medical marijuana community. Conspiracy theorists predict that Monsanto and corporations like it will eventually control the entire global food supply. With allegations like these it’s not hard to see what’s freaking people out.

Im just scratching the surface on this one
I will be writting more soon

Dave's not here

As a reporter and editor for the G3C, I am updated regularly   on all the fingers the club has extended into the community as well as their corresponding pies. Perhaps the biggest wedge of our donations is earmarked for the David Leyton campaign.  Hopeful that we were witnessing the rise of greatness, we have remained loyal contributors, but, at this late hour, it has become painfully apparent that Leyton, as strong as he is, isn’t likely to win. Upon closer inspection, it seems that while Leyton is passionate about the issues, he’s really not getting his name out there. At a recent fundraiser Leyton was asked about the obvious lack of billboard ads, posters, and fliers promoting his campaign. He responded by saying it was his opinion that this race was going to be won with television and internet promotions, and his camp was focusing their resources there. To outside observers, this could be construed as a bold and innovative move toward our paperless future, but they would also have to agree that his game had better be all he says it is. In this case, I’m sorry to say it isn’t. First of all, there hasn’t been any TV coverage of Leyton like he promised, and his opponent Billy Bong Schuette, having deeper pockets, has had a much broader stroke.  In addition to well prepared internet and TV ads, he’s invested in bill boards, posters, fliers, and the radio. He’s even gone so far as to get himself into the news a number of times for illegally invading clubs similar to ours and imprisoning medical patients without cause.  A lot of people think this was in direct response to David Leyton’s aid in the apprehension of a known serial killer. That idea makes sense to me, knowing how Schuette seems to operate. It doesn’t make sense however that Dave isn’t using the serial killer arrest to his advantage. Why isn’t his team promoting him more? I really want to believe that he is with us, but lately it’s starting to look more and more as if Dave’s not in the race. Really, where’s Dave going to be once the election dust settles?  More than likely he’ll go back to his old gig under the direction of Bill Schuette, and will have to continue prosecuting marijuana users, legal or otherwise.

Sam's take

After coming to my startling realization about David Layton, I decided to sit down with Sam, a 25 year old UofM student from Lapeer, whom I met while spreading the word. Aside from being a cardholder, I felt it especially important to note that he is not a member of the G3C. I was hoping to gain some insight or perspective on our movement that might not otherwise be discussed at the club. Despite his hesitation to join our club, Sam has been a movement supporter since before the law was passed. For obvious reasons, he has asked me not to include his last name.

Eric:  Considering that you’ve been a supporter of the movement since before the law was passed, how do you feel about the way things have changed in recent years?

Sam: I’m glad to see the social stigmas associated with marijuana are starting to disappear.  People are much more informed than they used to be which allows for a much higher degree of common understanding.  As a result, slanted terms like stoner or burnout are starting to fade away.

Eric: What do you think of David Layton and the campaign he’s running?

Sam: My friends and I know who he is and are going to vote for him, but that’s only because of what is on the line this year. Most people don’t know who’s running and don’t care. I’m not sure I can blame them; it is only the attorney general.

 Eric: How do you see the upcoming election affecting the movement?

Sam: Honestly, I’m not really sure what one thing has to do with the other. I see the movement progressing either way. The election is just a formality; it really doesn’t change anything. I medicated before I was legal and I’ll go back to it if need be. Schuette is just a minor bump in the road. In the end I am confident that we will get what we want and what Michigan voted for.

After meeting with Sam, I’m left with a bigger and more hopeful image for the future. It’s nice to occasionally step out of focus to gain perspective, yet I can’t help wondering if the election will have as little influence as Sam suggests.

The Missdeeds of others

While at the club a few weeks ago it was brought to my attention that a board member had resigned there post after being confronted with allegations of fraudulent behavior. Assuming the best of this person I proceeded slowly because the club environment like many places has its own politics and given that I'm a writer for their news paper I am very much a part of it. I decided to ask my brother/editor  about how to approach writing it up. He told me that he had already talked it over with the other board members and there wasn't going to be a story, He said that the board members were so hurt by what happened that they just wanted to put the past behind them. This really pissed me off. First of all our club is an N.P.O. (None Profit Organization) which means that we run on donations and if someone stole some money then they stole from everyone at the club.They have no way of knowing who donated which dollar. That being said I don't understand how the other board members think that we the people don't have the right to know about it. In my opinion they're enabling a thief which makes them just as guilty. Their argument is that writing about it publicly invites this person to take legal action against the club and considering that  it isn't a secret and that everyone already knows anyway there would be no point. Well there's no way that could be right because this story is the truth and as long as you got the proof  you're safe. Furthermore our club has around 2000 members and due to the fire code only about 100 are allowed in the building at any given time. On our busiest days we maybe get 300 people who pass through there and of those 300 two thirds are regulars. All the other members either barely show up or don't show up at all but they still make donations. So if you think about it the bulk of the membership has no way of finding out the truth. I know it's not the same but I figured writing as much of the story as I can on this blog is better than nothing. i would also like to point out that while i remain blameless in all of this I could quite possibly be putting myself in the tightest legal position of anyone involved and it will be for being the only one willing to stand up and tell the truth.

Mike Mullins

A Not So Trivial Pursuit

While out at the local watering hole for my weekly trivia tournament, I got to talking with a young guy by the name of Mike Mullins. The conversation took an interesting turn after I explained our club and our cause. Mike, who is now 25, began to recall a scarier time just a few years ago. Mike was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma on August 23, 2004. He was 19. After six months of chemo and eight weeks of radiation therapy, Mike had lost over 70 pounds. Medications designed to counteract the ill effects of his treatment weren’t working. Desperate for relief, Mike resorted to a less conventional means of medication. His little brother gave him the idea. “Why don’t you try smoking pot? It’s worked for a lot of other people." Within a month Mike had gained back over 40 pounds. As a former non –smoker,  Mike not only didn’t realize the medical applications for marijuana but disregarded people who did. He figured they were just looking for a reason to get stoned.  Now, five years after his brother’s advice Mike is happy and cancer free. While the full extent of Mike’s good fortune with marijuana is still yet to be determined, he let me know how much his outlook has changed because of it. He said, “I have no way of knowing if marijuana saved my life, but it sure improved the quality.” Because of the hassle and the crippling stigma that in the not so recent past came with using this particular medication, Mike was a little reluctant to get his card and become legal, but now after a little coaxing and a trip to the G3C for more information, Mike has met with a doctor and has sent in his paperwork.  I was glad to be of help to Mike, and I hope to see him at the club soon.

Extravazaster

After attending the two day “Extravaganja” at the Eastern Michigan Fair Grounds, one might have to consider the harsh reality of these events. There simply aren’t enough people. I thought the point of an event like this, besides the obvious monetary incentive, would be to get the word out about medical marijuana; either way it failed.

There was a small collection of political groups and vendors; local bands and comedians paraded the outdoor stage.  For those with MMMP cards, there was a vaporizing lounge in which to medicate and a few places to score a burger and Coke.  Common sense would dictate, however, that these participants, already involved in our community and movement, no longer really needed to “network” with other clubs or caregivers.  More to the point, for a more than nominal fee, cardholders were given the privilege of trekking out into the rainy weather, sitting in an open pole barn, and medicating with total strangers; as opposed to, say, sitting in the comfort of their home, watching  T.V. with their friends and getting medicated for free .  Hard sell, if you ask me.  

The same entrance fee was just high enough to scare a possible interested non-card holding public away from participating at all. All the organizations at the fair already have web sites and most have advertisements in a myriad of periodicals, and signs around the state.  Finding information on them is as epic as googling the nearest Carl’s Jr.   Again, there is little reason pay for something that on any normal day, under any other context, would be free.  Either way, you can throw all the festivals you want, but if no one shows up, the purpose was unmet.

Unfortunately, this event is just one on a long list of recent festivals that have not met the needs of our movement, and as a reporter, it will be a long time before I am coaxed into going to another one.   It would seem that if event coordinators were truly interested in tackling public awareness, they would begin to rethink their approach.  At the very least, events like these should be free.  

Logically, we should nix movement-based affairs altogether and instead try to tie ourselves to larger, well established attractions.  Now I know I sound a little anti-movement, but by making something else the main focus of our event, not only will we have the potential to tap into new streams of the public, but we will gain the leeway on the edge of the spotlight.

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