Hemp Store Harassment

Hard times for High Times

karlis — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700

In the retail marijuana paraphernalia business, it's all about pipes, bongs, detox supplies, papers, and lighters. Literature, like marijuana growing books or magazines, such as Cannabis Culture and High Times, are the "window dressing." They call them first Amendment materials, or reading paraphernalia.

Celebrating a decade of cannabis activism

karlis — Fri, 24 Sep 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Police at Hemp BC during 1996 raidIn 1994, it wasn't easy to buy a bong in Canada.
A federal law passed in 1988 had banned all "instruments or literature for illicit drug use." This law was heavily enforced across Canada ? police claimed to have shut down 200 stores in Toronto alone!

Arson hits Vancouver's pot block

karlis — Wed, 04 Aug 2004 00:00:00 -0700

The popular Blunt Brothers Caf? in the heart of Vancouver?s pot-block fell victim to a raging fire on the morning of Sunday, April 25, 2004 ? a fire started, claim investigators, by arsonists using an accelerant.
Three dumpsters were spotted burning in the back alley behind the three-story historic Gastown building shortly before dawn. The arsonists had apparently poured fuel under the back door of the building and into the dumpsters.

Cannabiz tales

karlis — Tue, 29 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0700

Seed-breeding legend Ben Dronkers, of Sensi Seeds, enjoying a quick hit of hash.Hendrik Duppe and Emil Reichman stood with me on the balcony of the Europahalle in rural Germany last September, enjoying the view of their eighth annual "Cannabusiness" trade show.

DEA fails to ban hemp food

karlis — Mon, 25 Aug 2003 00:00:00 -0700

Much of Canada`s hemp is bound for the US, where growing is illegal.A court decision has stalled the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in their effort to completely ban all hemp foods from the US market.

Dutch coffeeshops threatened

karlis — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 00:00:00 -0700

Now may be the time to visit!Do you have your travel reservations in place for this year's summer vacation in Holland?
If not, you might want to look into it right away, especially if your main reason for going to Holland is to enjoy the Dutch cannabis coffeeshop system.

Reverend Ethier released on bail

karlis — Fri, 11 Apr 2003 00:00:00 -0700

Reverend Michael `Tarzan` EthierOn February 20, 2003 Reverend Mike (Tarzan) Ethier was arrested for allegedly selling cannabis to a church member in Ontario. Reverend Ethier is clergy for the Church of the Universe, which holds that marijuana is the Tree of Life.

Lawsuit vs US gov't

karlis — Thu, 28 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0800

Canadian hemp cultivation company Kenex has launched a lawsuit against the US government, charging restraint of trade in violation of Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Kenex had a large shipment of hemp seeds seized at the US border and held for four months between August to December 1999. Since then their products have repeatedly been seized or detained by US customs.

Hemp hemp hooray

karlis — Mon, 08 Apr 2002 00:00:00 -0700

RRR sign.In Oxford, Ohio, a laid-back, prosperous college town less than an hour from Cincinnati, students, professionals, and country folk know where to get their hemp.
On the main street, nestled among upscale restaurants and retail stores, they flock to Hemptations, a locally-owned store that carries a full range of hemp clothing, cosmetics, stationary, incense, and delectables.

DEA implements US police state

karlis — Tue, 12 Feb 2002 00:00:00 -0800

Ed RosenthalAs right-wing fundamenalist "Christian" DEA chief Asa Hutchinson arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday, February 12th, to give a speech at the Commonwealth Club defending his violation of state's rights, NAFTA and human rights, DEA agents were fanning out across the country, attacking prominent marijuana journalists, activists, and hemp products.

Reverse embargo

karlis — Mon, 11 Feb 2002 00:00:00 -0800

Another issue is the so-called "reverse embargo." Canada's hemp regulations stipulate that hemp products made from seed oil and dehulled grain must be tested for THC in the country of manufacture ? regardless of whether their hemp ingredients have already been tested in Canada, and then legally exported.

Coffeeshop courses

karlis — Sat, 09 Feb 2002 00:00:00 -0800

Colin Davies and Nol Van ShaikWant to learn to run a pot shop?
Dutch coffee shop magnate and activist Nol Van Schaik founded three thriving marijuana coffeeshops and a global hemp museum in Haarlem, Holland, a sweet city near beaches, tulip fields, and parks only 20 minutes from Amsterdam.

DEA bans THC from hemp foods

karlis — Wed, 09 Jan 2002 00:00:00 -0800

Defending Americans from dangerous hemp seeds, photo: CP/ Paul SancyaAfter a year or so of warning, the DEA has finally issued its new rules on hemp products.

Tarzan still behind bars

karlis — Wed, 07 Nov 2001 00:00:00 -0800

Mike Ethier poses in front of his store.Reverend "Tarzan" Ethier of the Church of the Universe was in Ontario Appeals Court on June 25, seeking relief from three separate sets of marijuana charges (CC#31, Busted up dates).

The Dutch Experience busted

karlis — Sat, 15 Sep 2001 00:00:00 -0700

Colin Davies and Nol Van SchaikSix constables from the England's Greater Manchester Police District arrested six people at Saturday morning's opening of what activists hoped would be the first officially sanctioned marijuana coffee shop outside of Holland.

The battle of Belgium

karlis — Sat, 18 Aug 2001 00:00:00 -0700

Nol Von SchaikSeveral European nations, including Switzerland, France, Portugal, Spain, England and Belgium, are considering liberalized cannabis policies. Most Europeans support cannabis freedom, but right-wing groups and self-described "Christians" are militantly opposing marijuana law reform.

Dutch coffee shop guru keeps on smoking

karlis — Sat, 26 May 2001 00:00:00 -0700

Nol Van Schaik, owner of three top-ranked cannabis cafes in Haarlem, Holland, continues to push Europe towards full decriminalization.

Pot farmer gets 50 years

karlis — Sun, 13 May 2001 00:00:00 -0700

A pot farmer in New Jersey received a 50 year sentence, with no eligibility for parole for almost 17 years. William Allegro, 32, was found guilty of cultivation and possession of eight pounds of pot, with intent to distribute. A fire blamed on an overloaded circuit drew firefighters to his home, who discovered containers of marijuana "while looking around the apartment for an ax they had misplaced."

Unhappy hempster

karlis — Fri, 11 May 2001 00:00:00 -0700

Shawn Stockman: Singled out for a raid.Shawn Stockman happily sold bongs, t-shirts, stickers and other fun merchandise to locals in Newmarket, Ontario supporting his 14-year-old son and himself with the profits.

Blunt Brothers raided

karlis — Thu, 10 May 2001 00:00:00 -0700

On Thursday, January 18, Vancouver's Blunt Brothers and the affiliated Urban Organix seed outlet were raided by Vancouver police. Officers entered the store around 12:15pm, made one arrest, occupied the store and packed up boxes of bongs and pipes. By 2:20 police had vacated the premises.

Van Schaik blocked in Belgium

karlis — Mon, 05 Mar 2001 00:00:00 -0800

Dutch coffee shop headman Nol Van Schaik (see CC issue #29) is facing unusual opposition to his plans to help Belgians enjoy their country's proposed legalization of marijuana possession and cultivation.
Issue #32 of Cannabis Culture will feature exclusive interviews with Belgian officials who explain how Belgium will implement its newly-liberalized cannabis policies, which are scheduled to be officially codified into law by the end of summer, 2001.

NJ Weedman gets 10 years!

karlis — Wed, 14 Feb 2001 00:00:00 -0800

Ed ForchionThe New Jersey Weedman, Ed Forchion, fled to Canada to seek asylum at the Cuban Embassy in November of last year, but was denied. His bid for freedom came after Forchion accepted a deal with the New Jersey courts on charges that he trafficked in 25 pounds of marijuana. Ed Forchion is a Rastafarian who uses cannabis as a sacrament.

Canada blocks hemp imports

karlis — Mon, 05 Feb 2001 00:00:00 -0800

Canada Customs has been blocking hemp products coming across the border from the US. Since July 2000, hemp cosmetic products produced by Dr Bronner's Magic Soaps, Merry Hempsters and Sun Dog have all been refused entry into Canada and shipped back to their manufacturers.

Cannabis Culture defeats censorship cops

karlis — Sat, 27 Jan 2001 00:00:00 -0800

Cannabis Culture magazine faced down police censorship in Timmins, Ontario, and won.
In late September, police in Timmins, Ontario began threatening local storeowners with arrest if they continued selling Cannabis Culture and High Times magazines. As a result, both were pulled off the shelves of all stores in the city.

Blunt Brothers raided

karlis — Thu, 18 Jan 2001 00:00:00 -0800

On Thursday, January 18, Blunt Brothers was raided by police. All that is known at this time is that police entered the store around 12:15pm, made one arrest, and as of 1:30pm were occupying the store and packing up boxes of bongs and pipes. By 2:20 police had vacated the premises.
Blunt Brothers is at 317 West Hastings, Vancouver, and opened in 1998. It is on the same block as Hemp BC used to be located. This is their first police raid.