in his challenge of narcotics laws.
“TProsecutors] had this deal; David
pleads guilty and the rest of us walk.
And he said, ‘If any single one of you
wants to take this deal, I’ll take it...’
And I said, ‘Please, let’s do that,’ and

I kind of feel shitty about it. It’s better
for everyone in the long run, but it’s not
good for his cause.”

“He’s not a bad guy, he’s trying to
teach people and help them,” Taylor
added.

Malmo-Levine revealed his legal
strategy in an interview, and to say the
least, it seems somewhat roundabout.
He plans on citing genocide laws,
international treaties, the government’s
own reports on marijuana legalization
and questioning the definition of
medical marijuana to get the change he
seeks. His sentencing hearing begins
May 20", and he’s got hope; he thinks
attitudes towards marijuana have
changed in the six years since he was

 

PANS CURG RUDI

 

on trial.

“Understanding of how harmless
[pot] is is becoming more sophisticated,
people are getting a better
understanding of the facts around the
debate,” Malmo-Levine said. “I think
people are beginning to get an idea
of how much it could make in a legal
market, which would be bigger than an
illegal market.”

During our interview, Taylor and
I visited the building which used to
house the Herb School. It’s a small
storefront, empty now, typical of any
old, run-down building in Chinatown.
Taylor hasn’t been back here since
the raid and visiting drummed up a
lot of feelings; pride, hatred, sadness,
disappointment, melancholy.

His experience being arrested
and facing a trial because of his
political beliefs has also made him
feel differently about his involvement
with marijuana activism. He sees now

why a lot of people who may support
legalization are often too scared to get
involved.

“I’m going to try and be involved
as much as I can, but it’s hard, right?
There’s so much coming down on us,”
he said, describing his disillusionment.
“With a system that’s this organized,
and this precise and this hateful coming
down against its own citizens, it’s really
hard to do anything, let alone be an
activist.”

“Before the arrests, there was a lot
of hope, because all we had to go on
was our hope,” he said.

Malmo-Levine agreed that the
force and threats of force against
marijuana activists is a unique and
unfortunate facet of their movement.

“Being public about your support
of the Gas Tax probably won’t
endanger your children being taken
away from you, or get you in trouble
with a parent or get you fired from a

job but if you come out in support of -
marijuana you run that risk,” Malmo-
Levine said. “This is the biggest war

in the world and probably the longest-
running and I don’t expect them to
hand us peace on a silver platter when
we snap our fingers. It’s a Drug War,
not a Drug Ballet, and in war there are
victims, and casualties, and struggle,
and it’s a fucking battle.”

Although the School of Drug War
History and Organic Cultivation was
closed down in 2008, seminars about
the Drug War are held at the Marijuana
Party bookstore at 307 West Hastings
free of charge.

David Malmo-Levine has posted

web video at http://www.pot.tv, and
is working on a new video about
Barack Obama and his stance on
decriminalization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
   
 
    
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
    
   

New Westminster

620 Sixth St
just North of
Royal Centre Mall

Tuesday
Nights
Stol0pm
On tap:
Ho oak Central City Brewing
ee Local microbrewery.

new? Come in Pitcher specials Tuesdays!
and indulge in ;
our wide variety of
signature cocktails
—the most creative
drinks in the Lower
Mainland— that even
students can afford.
Guaranteed.

The Phoenix (Créme De.
Cassis, Benedictine, Dubonet.
and a few more secret.
ingredients). Agexclusiv
the Orange Room;

 

 

11