The REAL Tea Party
9/17/09 Chris Goldstein
In two days I have the honor of speaking before a crowd of about 15,000 people at the 20th annual Boston Freedom Rally.
There is something wonderfully patriotic about seeing so many people happily consume cannabis on America's oldest public meeting ground and the scene of our own celebrated revolutionary actions. 
I took this shot of Keith Saunders of MASSCANN in '07
In the past there have been upward of 100 arrests for marijuana violations during the day, enforced by a large police presence. But this year something will be different: Massachusetts voters decriminalized personal possession of up to one ounce by a ballot measure in November 2008.
On their website Keith Saunders PhD, MASSCAN/NORML President, says "After years of helplessly watching Boston Police bag harmless stoners, it will be a joy to see people enjoying themselves without the threat or fear of arrest."
Those adults who police do encounter in possession of marijuana will be issued civil citations. They will not be handcuffed, photographed or detained. It works akin to a traffic ticket. No criminal misdemeanor or record.
Statewide decrim only came after years of hard work by the MASSCANN/NORML activists and attorneys winning the issue town by town. They are truly an inspiration. They took positive polling, local know-how and a strong message of sensible pot reform to the voters with a successful grassroots campaign ( in the best sense of the term). And each year, sometimes against many odds, they stage this spectacular gathering with local fundraising and volunteers.
There was set of events that unfolded at the 2007 Freedom Rally that gave some extra momentum to the statewide decrim effort. I was there to cover the event in audio with a handheld DAT recorder and a FOSTEX mulitrack machine hooked up to the stage.
Keith Stroup, the founder of NORML and Rick Cusick the publisher of High Times Magazine were arrested with nothing but a single joint between them. They were observed by an undercover officer smoking it.
Two of the best known personalities in marijuana reform were getting busted for simple possession at the biggest pro-pot event on the East Coast.
I immediately interviewed Rick and Keith after they were detained in an on-site mobile booking unit for about 30 minutes. They both went on to deliver fiery speeches from the event's main stage.
You can hear the interviews and speeches along with some great music on the 9-17-2007 NORML AudioStash Podcast PLAY MP3
The daylong event features local bands that are local legends like Graveyard BBQ, Prospect Hill and Superpower and plays host to diverse acts such as DJ Slim, Big Shug and Cars on Mars.
The event is about the music but also about the speakers like Danny Danko from High Times Magazine (he blogs here on OpenSalon), Matt Simon from New Hampshire Common Sense (his videos during the presidential campaign were landmark), Stacia Costner of SSDP (Students for Sensible Drug Policy), Jonathan Leavitt from Maine, Steve Epstein from MASSCANN, Mike from MASSCANN (also an OpenSalon blogger) and - this year - Georgine DiMaria from New Jersey along with dozens of other hard-working cannabis reform activists.
I'll see some friends there I don't get to hang out with in-person much like Steve Bloom from celebstoner.com and Russ Belville from NORML.
But what I look forward to most is just being out there on the Common, with thousands of enthusiastic people supporting an end to marijuana prohibition. It is empowering.
With all of the silly media attention heaped upon the teabaggers lately I hope the media will look at how some real political reform can actually happen. If you want something positive, point your cameras this way. Here are Americans who are living a new day and shedding an old fear of their own government policy. They have changed the laws in Massachusetts, one voter at a time, and are better for it.
Marijuana reformers believe in working within the rules of our government to repeal these senseless and destructive policies of prohibition, not decrying the system itself.
This Tea Party is strong, effective and green. Take a good look, because just like millions of live cannabis plants here in the United States right now, this effort is growing.
If you are on the East Coast and believe in cannabis reform try and make it up to the event...See you there!
2009 Boston Freedom Rally Website
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Comments
Again I say, and will continue to say, Big Pharma is the REAL drug pusher in this nation, while law enforcement has made an easy, taxpayer-funded living off non-violent marijuana smokers. Billions of dollars have been wasted, as demonstrated at a recent Phish concert in Hartford, attended by thousands, and ringed by police on foot, on horses, in patrol cars, etc....for what purpose? There was no violence, although many attendees were arrested for pot possession. Yet, this is how we spend our tax dollars: on often violent cops who make an easy living off pot smokers!! It's absurd and insane and is nothing but CORRUPTION!! What a country!!
Great story, wish I was there to hear your talk!