Hello followers, your new temporary webmaster here to share some information. As you may have read some legal conflicts have caused a great warrior to become subject to some bullshit laws stripping him of his freedom of press, and right to free speech. Well I would like this post to go out to him (you know who you are) to show that we have his back and support him through everything he is going through.
     Our good friend, active supporter, and firm believer in maintaining human and civil liberties will have his legacy go on in his absence. Now I received an e-mail forward from him regarding a contact entry that came to him after already taking into action the compliance of his so-called probation terms. If I receive further notice the following comment will be removed for his protection:

“Mr. Crystal
Remove this Web Site immediately or be subject to sanctions up to amd including a Report of Violation. This violates the conditions of your probation and I'M giving you a order to remove the site immediately.

Jarred E. Thompson
Probation & Parole Section Supervisor
208-528-4220”

     Haha, I must say, where did this guy get the credibility to become a probation officer? In two very short sentences I count 6 grammar errors…Hmmm I guess it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work your way into the system. On the brighter side of things we have already seen some support for our young activist in the following comment:

“Hi, This is just so freakin stupid. The USE of cannabis is illegal, discussing it or debating it is NOT!! Look through the law that defines cannabis and you'll find NOTHING stating that it is illegal to pass around information, discuss the situation, Arguing with the law IS legal depending on how you do it. You better believe, I’ve been rocking the boat in this country for a while now but I haven’t received any threats from the home-office. Get a lawyer to look into it for you; you are perfectly entitled to discuss cannabis, so, fu*k em! If they arrest you for it, the judge will have to side with you as there is no law against what you have been doin, you can then sue the federal government for wrongful arrest/imprisonment, unlawful detain and so on. Give em hell. There’s tons of people behind you.”

     Aww the wonderful glory of open debate, here we have a perfect example of the system getting upset, and making false claims, using scare tactics, and attacking our friend who has already been through so much this year. He has lost his father, and is now on the verge of losing his home, car, other tangible property…Still facing prison because certain law enforcement officials aren’t at all compassionate or considerate about the situation he is going through. Making claims that they are trying to make him a better person when in reality they are bringing him down, and destroying his quality of life. Yet we see how when our greatest members are attacked it only fuels the movement and pushes us closer to making a change. It builds our fire, and strengthens our courage…However, if I know my friend the way I think I do, you can bet that he is looking for help in the legality of taking his right to free press, his right to free speech, and his right to an opinion.

GOD be with our brother, and we shall not let his work be forgotten!

PS if anyone can help our brother financially he really needs it, I will see if I can get a donations widget onto the site on his behalf!

     There are some major changes being made to the Hemp Network, and a list of new products that are expected to become available within the next few weeks, as well as an entirely new website design. I have had the opportunity to view the new website, and must say I love it. I am looking forward to the new updates and products. I look forward to seeing you all on at http://www.thehempnetwork.com/hemp4victory
     The list of new products coming soon to The Hemp Network are as follows.…Hemp Mustard-Horseradish Hemp and Honey $3.95, Pacific Foods Hemp Milk $4.25, Hemp Butter and Jelly Pack $9.95, Hemp Granola Crunch $12.95! Reserve your spot now to join the fastest growing market of the 21st century!

A recent legal conflict has put a small damper on my ability to regularly update my site in the manner that I have been doing. Do to my current issues with the law for delivery of marijuana, I have been told to cease and desist with my activism. Now I will be looking for someone to update my site for me so hopefully things will be able to resume as NORML shortly. In the meantime I will be looking into the legality of this situation. I believe that I still have my right to free speech even with all the other rights that were stripped from me due to the failed “war on drugs.” I hope that in my absence others will pick up on the activism, and use the great information I have had the opportunity to provide over the years.

Peace, Love, and Hope…

     In days, we could finally see the beginning of the end of the “war on drugs.” This expensive war has completely failed to curb the plague of drug addiction, while costing countless lives, devastating communities, and funneling trillions of dollars into violent organized crime networks.
     Experts all agree that the most sensible policy is to regulate, but politicians are afraid to touch the issue. In days, a global commission including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs of the UN, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and publicly call for new approaches including decriminalization and regulation of drugs.
     This could be a once-in-a-generation tipping-point moment, if enough of us call for an end to this madness. Politicians say they understand that the war on drugs has failed, but claim the public isn't ready for an alternative. Let's show them we not only accept a sane and humane policy, we demand it. Sign the petition and share with everyone if we reach 1 million voices, it will be personally delivered to world leaders by the global commission. http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/?rc=fb&pv=12
     For 50 years current drug policies have failed everyone, everywhere but public debate is stuck in the mud of fear and misinformation. Everyone, even the UN Office on Drugs and Crime which is responsible for enforcing this approach agrees; deploying militaries and police to burn drug farms, hunting down traffickers, and imprisoning dealers and addicts is an expensive mistake. And with massive human cost from Afghanistan, to Mexico, to the USA the illegal drug trade is destroying countries around the world, while addiction, overdose deaths, and HIV/AIDS infections continue to rise.
     Meanwhile, countries with less-harsh enforcementlike Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Australia, have not seen the explosion in drug use that proponents of the drug war have darkly predicted. Instead, they have seen significant reductions in drug-related crime, addiction and deaths, and are able to focus squarely on dismantling criminal empires.
     Powerful lobbies still stand in the way of change, including military, law enforcement, and prison departments whose budgets are at stake. And politicians fear that voters will throw them out of office if they support alternative approaches, as they will appear weak on law and order. But many former drug Ministers and Heads of State have come out in favor of reform since leaving office, and polls show that citizens across the world know the current approach is a catastrophe. Momentum is gathering towards new improved policies, particularly in regions that are ravaged by the drug trade.
     If we can create a worldwide outcry in the next few days to support the bold calls of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, we can overpower the stale excuses for the status quo. Our voices hold the key to change!
     We have a chance to enter the closing chapter of this brutal “war” that has destroyed millions of lives. Global public opinion will determine if this catastrophic policy is stopped or if politicians shy away from reform. Let's rally urgently to push our hesitating leaders from doubt and fear, over the edge, and into reason.

     Schedule 1 Controlled Substance: A category of drugs not considered legitimate for medical use. Included are heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and cannabis.
     April 14th 1937: Whose bright idea was it to tax it? Is the option still open?
     Marihuana Tax Act of 1937: The Act levied a tax equaling roughly one dollar on anyone who dealt commercially in cannabis, hemp, or marijuana. The Act did not itself criminalize the possession or usage of hemp, marijuana, or cannabis. It did include penalty and enforcement provisions to which marijuana, cannabis, or hemp handlers were subject. Violation of these procedures could result in a fine of up to $2,000 and five years' imprisonment.
​     November 5, 1996: State's Rights, the People voted anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
     Proposition 215 (or the Compassionate Use Act of 1996) is a California law concerning the use of medical cannabis. It was enacted, by means of the initiative process, and passed with 55.6% of votes in favor.

February 2009
Message Delivered
     President Barack Obama delivered a message on medical cannabis in February 2009. It couldn't have been clearer and simpler: The federal government was getting out of the business of busting medical marijuana patients and providers who were following state laws in California and other states where voters had approved medicinal application of the plant.

March 30th, 2011
This is your mind not on drugs
     National Cancer Institute scrubs "anti-tumoral effect" of cannabinoids after stating for about five minutes that cannabis did have some medical value in the General Information section. The wording was revised to make clearer that cannabis is not approved by the FDA for any medical use.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Do Walgreen's and CVS have this problem?
     San Jose limits the number of medical marijuana dispensaries from more than 100 to roughly 10.

​Thursday April 14
But the people voted!

FEDS THREATEN CRACKDOWN IF MEDICAL CANNABIS BECOMES LAW
     Washington's top federal prosecutors have threatened to crack down if the state goes forward with a proposal to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries and growers, putting in jeopardy a bill that has already passed both chambers of the Legislature. Governor Christine Gregoire vetoes most of the bill, citing fears of state employees being federally prosecuted.

April 20, 2011
WTF!!! We can't but they can...And they did it on our holiday...bastards!

US Patent Granted for Sativex in Cancer Pain
     GW Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Notice of Allowance for a patent which protects the use of Sativex® as a treatment for cancer pain. The patent, entitled "Pharmaceutical Compositions for the Treatment of Pain", provides an exclusivity period until April 2025. The patent specifically covers a method of treating cancer related pain by administering a combination of the cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the two principal cannabinoids in Sativex®. In addition to this newly granted patent, Sativex® is protected by a number of other patents related to different aspects of the product.
     Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) Gets lots of Big Pharma dollars…He gives them their money’s worth!
     Early in Sativex's development, GW hired Dr. Andrea Barthwell as a consultant to sing the drug's praises. Here's the crazy part of the woman who has assisted in getting Sativex approved in the States. Barthwell was a deputy drug czar under George W. Bush and is the former president of the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM). In a recent ASAM press release, Barthwell denounces medical cannabis because...wait for it...because it was unregulated by the federal government.
     And there's more...
     Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Congress's top recipient of campaign funds from the pharmaceutical industry, has (what a surprise!) come out against state medical marijuana laws, despite being an advocate of states' rights on issues like allowing offshore drilling.
     It's easy to see why medical marijuana activists bemoaned the double-punch of people like Barthwell and Burr who represent the pharmaceutical industry's goal for medical marijuana: demonize it, prosecute it, shut it down, and then work with Big Pharma to get their piece of the pie. How it works...
     Sure, it cost them plenty of money, but Big Pharma bought congress! So how do pharmaceutical companies get into the Pot Biz while legitimate medical marijuana dispensaries are being closed and under harassment? 

The answer: Money.
     The pharmaceutical industry is far and away the biggest spender on federal lobbying. Between 1998 and 2010, Big Pharma spent more than $2 billion sending lobbyists to the capital to fight for industry-friendly legislation and regulations. This is more than half a billion greater than the amount spent in the same period by pharmaceuticals' closest competitor, the insurance industry, and nearly twice what oil and gas companies spent. 

April 27, 2011
It's almost like the Feds are working with Big Pharma...

Colorado medical-marijuana bill draws U.S. attorney's warning
     The U.S. attorney for Colorado warned state lawmakers that pending legislation adjusting rules for medical marijuana would conflict with federal law and could lead to federal prosecutions.
     U.S. Attorney John Walsh's letter was sent to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers in response to his request for clarification on how federal treatment of medical marijuana use may conflict with pending legislation now under consideration in House Bill 1043.
      Just the Facts: 16 states have medical cannabis. 1,000 people a year die from aspirin.

In the Holy Bible Book of Genesis:
     1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.
     1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good…
     So, if the Creator tells us that He has given us “herb bearing seeds” then no man should have the right to prohibit any of them from us. God permits us to consume all plants with seeds.  Surely the Creator even gave us poison sumac and would not want us to consume it, but no government should have the right to prohibit the cultivation or consumption of that plant either.
     Cannabis has become one of the most widespread and diversified of plants. It is a cultivated plant all over the world in a variety of climates and soils.
     Hemp fiber has been used for cloth and paper for centuries and was the most important source of rope until the development of synthetic fibers. Hemp seeds have been used as food for centuries. The seeds have been used as food for centuries. The oil contained in the seeds was once used for lighting and soap and is now sometimes employed in the manufacture of varnish, linoleum, and artists’ paints.
     The cannabis or marijuana plant is one of the oldest psychoactive plants known to humanity. It is botanically classified as a member of the family Cannabaceae and the genus Cannabis. The chemical compounds responsible for the intoxicating and medicinal effects are found mainly in a sticky golden resin exuded from the flowers on the female plants.
     The most famous early users in the history of cannabis were the Hindus of India and Nepal. Soma, a drug mentioned in early Hindu texts as an intoxicating hallucinogen, may have been a reference to cannabis.
     Spreading with the Indo-Aryan culture from India outwards, cannabis was introduced to the Assyrians (Iraq/Syria), Scythians (Eurasian steppe), and Thracians/Dacians (Greece and the Balkans) in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE.
     Ancient Shamans used cannabis to induce a state of trance. The shamans of the latter culture were called kapnobatai “those who walk on smoke/clouds.” They used burning cannabis flowers to induce a state of trance. This practice is believed to have been inherited by Greek oracles and worshippers, including members of the cult of Dionysus.
     Early users in the history of cannabis would have also been attracted to the plant by its positive medical properties, including the alleviation of pain, nausea, depression, and as an agent for encouraging the appetite.
     Studies have been done and the doctors agree...Modern science has uncovered additional benefits from cannabis, including the inhibition of cancer cell growth and the reduction of memory impairment in the elderly. On the negative side, cannabis use has been found to correlate with anxiety, but there is debate as to whether its role is causative or merely correlative. There are harmful chemicals in marijuana smoke, so patients consuming the drug for medical purposes often do so orally or by using a vaporizer.
     Samuel R. Caldwell Americas was the first victim of marijuana prohibition…After cannabis was used freely for thousands of years, a major change in the history of cannabis came in the early 20th century, when prohibitionists in the United States succeeded in getting the government to criminalize the drug, beginning with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. This was followed up by subsequent legislation in 1951 and 1971 (the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1971).
     The leading figure in the criminalization of cannabis was conservative Harry Jacob Anslinger, who linked the drug to moral decline and even spontaneous murder. But the truth is that the ancient Cannabis plant has been revered and used for thousands of years for: Food, Fiber, Paper, Fuel, Medicine, Healing, Spirituality and yes, Relaxation.

     Judicial Notice: It’s going to be a far larger part of cannabis legalization than jury nullification, seriously!
     What can Judicial Notice do for you? Get evidence admitted into the record, that’s what, and if you’re on trial for the facts behind your crime, it’s best to get the facts on your side. Judicial Notice will do just this in the cannabis movement.
     Judicial Notice is the boring kind of goodness that wins.
     First, medical marijuana cannot be disputed. The health effects of cannabis have been measured by western medical science for over 170 years. Not many facts to write home about have been found for pot’s harmful effects on human health. The opposite is true; facts about marijuana’s benefits to health are so fantastic people “should” know about them. And many people are trying to get others to know about the real facts on pot!
     Judicial notice admits into evidence facts so notoriously known that to dispute them is to believe in a geo-centric universe. To put another way, it’s just plain silly. So if the particular facts of a case show that to fail to take your cannabis would lead to harm or death, explain to them why. When they say what about the children, remind the judge that fewer of them would die from binge drinking or tobacco. There’s no debate on the harm here.
     While harmful effects of cannabis evade medical science, a whole host of wonderful success stories and empirical evidence keep the pressure up when it comes to this criminal law. How can it be a crime to take medicine that will allow you to function if that medicine is safe, cheap and natural?  How is something used to protect your health a crime?
     This gavel belongs to a judge who prefers a thin handle so it breaks when he really bangs it.
     Humans have lived long and fruitful lives while habitually smoking marijuana. Shouldn’t that NOT happen if you can go to prison for life for growing the stuff?  To be healthy you have to break the law designed to keep you healthy.  It’s absurd. Due process won’t allow it. 
     The current federal law banning pot relies upon the “ongoing debate” surrounding the harmful effects of the “herb.”  The only way to believe such bullshit is to have absolutely no personal knowledge of the plant; having no personal knowledge of the facts means that the sole basis for the law is a prejudice. Law does not require that facts form the basis for it. Laws can be made on pure speculation. However, once the facts are known, the speculative belief can no longer be relied upon.
     Judicial Notice prevents a court from turning a blind eye to facts.  By admitting facts into evidence regarding the actual harm cannabis poses to human health, the “ongoing debate” over the harm of cannabis won’t be able to support the rational basis review required of its constitutional challenge.
     Build a huge record of facts. The debate is over. It never happened. The debate began with prejudice and derailed 100 years of medical science. The government silenced all factual dissent when it came to its official position on cannabis. The result of this has been a broad revocation of a citizen’s right to be free from bodily restraint by the government for trumped up facts, and it continues now.

    It’s with great excitement and enthusiasm that I’m able to announce that the first of many Latin American agreements have been made as part of The Hemp Network's commitment to bring the largest selection of hemp products to the market and create sustainable opportunities for indigent workers around the world.
     The joint venture announced the other day with BullnBear Group, S.A of Guatemala is the first in what we hope to be many outreach efforts made by The Hemp Network to not only support worldwide
production of hemp-related products but also source those products from groups and individuals that share our vision of supporting sustainable local economies.
     Towards that end the BullNBear Group, S.A. is in the process of contracting with a Guatemalan Government Charity program known as the Cooperatives. These Cooperatives provide employment for indigent workers in smaller communities helping to improve the quality of life for all those involved.
     While it may take a little longer to establish meaningful relationships with local governments and charity outreach organizations as opposed to sourcing products from mass production facilities in more industrialized countries. The Hemp Network Team and all those involved with our efforts know that
the long-term benefits for all those involved are certainly worth it.
     Through this latest agreement the Cooperative workers in Guatemala will be producing fine quality hemp purses, pocketbooks, wallets, belts, shoes and related products. In additional the BullnBear Group S.A. will be contracting with other textile production facilities in that country to also produce socks, shirts, t-shirts, pants and more.  These products will be made available to consumers in the US and Worldwide as part of the network's educational and outreach efforts to raise awareness as to the virtues and benefits of hemp in our ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable global economy.
     Plans are being made now to have these new products added to the “soon to be announced” hemp network store in the weeks ahead. Additional information will be available shortly. 
     In other news the transition of The Hemp Network to our new partners at CannaBank is almost complete and with this change will come even more new products, new website's, expanded
educational outreach activities and more. We appreciate your patience during this transitional period 
     We understand that there may be many questions related to the changes associated with this transition and how it affects current members so we have established a Transition Support Team to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact them at [email protected]
     In closing I want to personally thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to working with you towards our goals of a healthier and more sustainable future for us all!

     Your webmaster here for a real short update! I wanted to inform everyone that the “Take Action” page on the site is back online. All petitions should be working properly! One of the petitions does have a minor issue with reading the text, but I believe that is because of the way it is wrote. If you scroll through it slowly it is all there, but there are blank spots.
     Thank you everyone for your continued support. Hemp 4 victory is about education and legalization of the world’s most valuable, versatile, and sustainable plants: Hemp and Cannabis!

Happy Mother’s Day,

Peace, Love, and Hope!
Your Webmaster,
Sean Crystal

     At just two years old, Cashy Hyde of Spokane Washington was in the midst of a debilitating battle with brain cancer. An aggressive tumor had wrapped itself around Cashy’s optic nerves, threatening him with death. Doctors at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City performed brain surgery on Cashy, but were only able to remove about 10% of the tumor. The balance of his treatment would consist of stem cell therapy bracketed by a total of six separate waves of chemotherapy treatments. Cashy received a daily cocktail of 5 different drugs just to help him cope with the pain.
     Little Cashy’s body withered against the onslaught. By September 2010, he had gone 40 days without solid food. He was prone, shivering, and unable to lift his own head. The doctors could provide no other answers.
     His father Mike couldn’t stand for it anymore. He began to give Cashy an edible oil made from Cannabis through his intravenous feeding tube. Meanwhile, he asked the doctors to begin easing off the anti-nausea medications.
     The result was dramatic. Cashy became hungry. He began to eat solid food again. His energy levels increased and his mood improved.
     Mike told his story to KXLY4 Executive Producer Melissa Luck: “You’re watching a kid who hasn’t had the will to eat in 4months, 5 months, actually take a bite of something…It shows that he wants to live.”
     Cashy’s last round of high-dose chemo involved no anti-nausea drugs. Mike said the doctors were amazed. He never told them what had changed.
     “I wanted to tell them, hey, he’s on cannabis oil. But I didn’t want them to take it away from him,” the father said.
     KXLY4 wanted to know about side effects, about the dangers of giving kids as young as Cashy medical marijuana. But despite the fact it’s not illegal in Washington or in Cashy’s home state of Montana, no doctor wanted to discuss it on camera.
     KXLY4 is reporting this story just as the Federal government has started a campaign to shutter Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in the state of Washington.