UVSS HEMPOLOGY 101 CLUB
LECTURE SERIES 2007/08

LESSON #22 : HISTORY OF HEMPOLOGY - Part 2

Hempology 101 examines the role of cannabis throughout history, of hemp as an agricultural and industrial product, of cannabis as medicine, as well as the history of prohibition, the counter-culture revival of marijuana use in the 1960’s, cannabis today and where marijuana use may go in the future. Hempology 101 is, says Smith, essentially a condensed version of many texts, novels and historical analyses focusing on marijuana that have come before it. As such, it’s stuffed with facts, figures and observations from almost 200 sources. It is not an easy read, nor is it aimed at kids, but it succeeds by providing the reader with a flushed out context within which to view recreational and medicinal cannabis use in modern society. “There’s no other book on cannabis that tries to put all of these issues together. Just about every one of these chapters is either a book or several books condensed,” says Smith, a Victoria resident. As Smith outlines in his book, there are numerous factors prolonging prohibition; key among them the generation gap and the entrenched conception as marijuana as being evil. Throughout the textbook (printed on hemp paper from China and bound with hemp twine) Smith advocates gradual legalization. Matt Ramsey, POT ACTIVIST RELEASES BOOK ON POT’S HISTORY AND FUTURE, Victoria News, Feb 2000.

Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come for change. The time has come for Canada to end the war on drugs - the longest, most expensive, deadliest, and inhumane international conflict ever fought in known history. This savage battle has turned child against parent; parent against kid; while neighbours and employees spy on each other; addicts overdose and die forgotten, sick with AIDS and Hepatitis C, while their dealers kill each other in the streets. Countless millions stare into space numbed by prescription drugs or alcohol while sick and dying people are denied access to an easily grown herb. Young men waste their lives in jail for taking a chance working in a field that provides more money than other options paying minimum wage while retired generals and bankers trade weapons for drugs with desperate people all over the planet… In the meantime, many of us refuse to sit writing letters to politicians hoping for change to come from the source of the problem. We have resorted to continual passive resistance, putting up our lives, property and reputations at risk to both authorities and criminals... Ted Smith presenting to the Special Senate Committee On Illegal Drugs, Chair Sen. Pierre Claude Nolin, Nov 7, 2001.

Step 1: Hempology: Started up in Vansterdam by superhempster Danna Rozek in '94, Hempology's motto is "Legalization through Education." Fundamental to this idea is to get people meeting on a regular weekly basis. You can talk about prohibition history, hempseed nutrition or how to grow pot, it doesn't really matter. As long as its fun and people are learning things about cannabis, it’s Hempology. Step two: Smoke-In. The main point of a smoke-in is to have some fun. The other point is to remove the shame and fear associated with pot smoking by replacing it with the image of having fun, while being responsible and peaceful of course. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO OUTSELL BIG BIZ AND OUTGROW BIG BRO, David Malmo-Levine, grassmusic.tv

November 15, in Victoria, BC, activist Ted Smith was arrested and charged for trying to distribute cannabis cookies at an annual Medical Marijuana Day event. Smith had prepared 420 cookies, intending to hand them out for free. In court, the prosecution argued that Smith should be held until trial, as he was likely to re-offend, and because some of the pot-cookies could have ended up in the hands of children. Smith explained that he wasn't remanded to jail because the judge recognized his record in the community. "I've done a lot of volunteer work with street youth and non-profit organizations," commented Smith. "I have an established record as an outstanding citizen in Victoria." Smith wonders where some of the cookies went, as police listed only 38 cookies as being seized. "I think 37 cookies were eaten as unofficial evidence," he conjectured.

Smith had been charged a few weeks earlier for trafficking, because during a weekly meeting of "Hempology 101" at the University of Victoria campus, Smith had passed joints out to the crowd. One was pocketed by an undercover officer, and Smith was later arrested in the parking lot. Although he's now banned from the campus, Hempology 101's weekly 4:20 meetings continue. "They put a cell phone up to the microphone so I can still speak to the crowd," chuckles Smith.

Smith is also founder of a medical cannabis buyers' club, which has over 300 members. The club is celebrating their 5-year anniversary by expanding into a second location. Dana Larson, CANNABIS CULTURE #30, March 2001.

Although smoking marijuana is illegal, Campus Security and the Saanich Police turn a blind eye when the Hempology 101 Club meets at 4:20 p.m. every Wednesday and clouds of smoke rise over Petch Fountain. “It is not on our radar. We have much bigger problems to deal with: sexual assaults, violence and rapes,” said Hunter McDonald, Director of Campus Security. “If you look at the problems we have, they don’t involve kids smoking dope at the fountain.” Chris Horsley, media relations officer for the Saanich Police, said, “The police department is still very concerned with drug use on campus.” Nevertheless, marijuana use on and off campus is something Horsley believes has not had a lot of police attention in the last few years. “The police have to look at the bigger issues of public safety and public harm,” said Horsley. “Just because the police aren’t showing up every week doesn’t mean we are agreeing to what is happening,” Horsley added. Michelle Martin, POT SMOKING 101, The Martlet, Nov 2003.

Just in time for RRSP season- $25 CANNABONDS. No, there are not tax deductibles, but they are redeemable for a Ľ ounce of high grade pot once- or is that if- marijuana is made legal. The Victoria based International Hempology 101 Society began selling the certificates Friday, hoping to raise $25,000 in its fight against Canada’s cannabis laws. That is, if anybody can figure out what the laws are anymore. Ottawa’s approval of medical marijuana, a couple of recent court decisions and the federal Justice Minister’s musings about decriminalization have wrapped police, users, judges and politicians in a smoky cloud. Jack Knox, LEGAL-POT CRUSADERS BOND FINANCIALLY, Times Colonist, Feb 2002.