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West Biloxi Library Marijuana Event

1/18/2015

16 Comments

 
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     I went back out into the parking lot to see the convoy of vehicles heading out. I spoke with Rene once again before loading up my car and making a quick post to social media sites. As I reversed out of my parking space a cop almost hit me after passing me by and then suddenly throwing his vehicle into reverse also. I laid on my horn to avoid us butt bumping each other. And they say the stoned people are dangerous behind the wheel. The same cops would go on to question Renea about what it was her group was trying to do there. After explaining what they were doing was state certified and totally legal the cop could do nothing but say, "Well, the librarian doesn't like what y'all are doing here." 
     Everyone reconvened at Hiller Park where more new faces showed up to listen to one of the women speak and hand out papers. More people were showing up even after I left from taking pictures and listening in for another half hour. A pretty eventful day I'd say over all. I even got off more than a dozen Coastal Noise T-shirts to some of the activists and signers. So if you see someone out in the streets wearing one of those shirts, you can take comfort in knowing they are most likely a super friendly, pro-cannabis supporter. 
   
 Anyway. 
     Hearing the news that they were being moved again, they walked across the parking lot to a small grassy area, still on the property, and continued on with their meeting. I remained at the entrance and took a seat on the ground to snap a few pictures from afar. After a time, the crowd began to disperse and get into their cars. I stood and made my way over to one of the woman in charge. This is how I met Renea Hulett.
     "Where is everyone going?" I asked. 
     She told me the crowd was moving to Hiller Park to continue the meeting so as not to cause further disturbance. She would stay behind to educate people about the petition and direct them to Hiller. I told her who I was and about the podcast I did with Kelly Jacobs. We talked for a few minutes as I asked questions about the event and what her process was like when giving people information about Initiative #48. It was not long before one of the workers from the library came out to inform Renea that they had confirmed her reservation with their boss and we could move inside. She quickly made phone calls and then headed to the entrance. I held back from the small group of activists as they reentered the building. I came back in and logged on to a computer nearby the librarian's desk, to check on some information about Mississippi registration processes in our state and, totally unintentionally, overheard more comments made by the staff. A new woman was complaining about how crack pipes were going to follow soon and there was no way Mississippi would ever legalize marijuana, even when another person commented on its rapid growth throughout the country. "It will never happen," she insisted. 
     I moved to the meeting room which was beginning to fill with people who sat listening to another group leader about how to gather signatures for the petition. I sat at a table by myself in the back of the room and set up a recorder, my camera, and a notepad. After ten minutes, all of the folks from Hiller Park began to pile in, along with other new faces. Signs were quickly put up in the windows telling people about the meeting inside. Another ten minutes later, one of the activists stormed and told us "we basically have to get the fuck out right now." Apparently, the boss figure who had just okay'd them only a half hour ago had suddenly decided they no longer wanted the group meeting in the library because they were not aware they would be "putting up signs". Everyone quickly signed a petition just as the police showed up. Hiller Park was talked about again and then bodies began to file out. Personally, I kind of wanted to be thrown out, but it wasn't my party so I let it be. 
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     The marijuana activists continued to roll in, much to the dismay of the innocent librarians who, despite their line of work, seemed very uneducated about the war on drugs and the current cultural shifts in America regarding cannabis. I had hoped to come and simply listen to a meeting, talk to some activists and go home. To my delight, I got way more than I bargained for.
      I entered the building, camera bag over my shoulder, to return some CD's I had checked out (some old delta blues albums and two Mozart compilations) but, despite standing at the front desk for almost a whole minute, the two attendants standing on the other side felt it more worth while to gossip over the meeting that was about to begin. I had planned on speaking with them directly about what was going on but when I heard the older woman negatively commenting on the whole situation, I went ghost instead. I smiled and turned my CD's over to her and then walked to some books nearby the front desk. The head figures of the group entered with signs and petitions in hand.
     "Oh...here they come." The old woman remarked under her breath. 
      After listening to the women converse for a time, while I pretended to read the back cover of some books I could give a shit about, I quickly learned that there was a dispute going on about whether or not the group would be allowed in to do what they had reserved the room for. The group leader tried to persuade the librarian to let them continue and that the reservation was already taken care of. The librarian said she couldn't verify anything and no one could reach her boss. There were talks of the police being called, the rights of the people on public property, and alternative accommodations. The tension was building before anything had even really begun.
     Finally, the group leader walked out to converse with the others. Again, the librarian began whispering to her co-workers about "them trying to legalize weed" and "what about the children?" and "We can't let them do that" and so on. I hung around for a little while longer before making my way outside the front door where several people had began to gather around the activists who were informing them of the current situation, while at the same time explaining how to fill out a petition. Again, I opted out of joining in and instead stood off to the side, making it look like I had no interest in whatever was going on. Someone came out and told them they couldn't stand around there. The parking lot had nearly every space filled up as more people of all ages arrived to sign up. There were teenagers who wanted to know how to get registered to vote, senior citizens with their grandkids, men and women in dress attire, and a few people who looked like they could use a bath. One of the woman who was putting on the event even had her daughter, close to two years old, who ran around under the eye of another adult who followed her about. In fact, I think there were more mothers there than anything else. A pretty diverse group to say the least.
     But real quick, let me say something to the one's that needed a bath. Listen guy, take a bath before you come to the marijuana rally. If you have folks trying to do something that is legitimate and has a good look out in the public eye, don't show up looking like a pot head, you know what I'm saying? You are going to be the one's getting singled out by the nay sayers who are looking for the characters to use as a stereotype for the rest of the group. Skip your next gram and buy some Dove products. 
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  On a side note, one of the activist told me after the event that she had put on other events in her previous state of residence where she would rally dozens of people to sit in the town green, light up and wait for the police to show up and arrest them. Then, they would come back and do it all again every other weekend until the police simply gave up. She said she considered trying for it here but would need participants that "weren't afraid". Who out there thinks they have the guts? Check back for more on Iniaitive #48 activities soon. Below, you can check out two other great articles on the subject by clicking the links. One was written by the Sun Herald recently and the other is from a Mississippi judge who believes cannabis will soon be legalized in the state. 

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to follow us where ever you are online. Be sure to Like and Share if you want to help spread the word.

Stefan

Sun Herald-"Supporters Aim to Put Marijuana on 2016 Ballot"


"Mississippi Judge Predicts State Will Legalize Marijuana" 
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16 Comments
Kim Sumrall
1/19/2015 01:22:37 am

Thanks for the article. The librarian was indeed a real witch about the whole event. The policeman was calm, but also asked us "So no one is smoking pot out here? Because, someone told us people were smoking pot in the parking lot." Hmm, wonder who would have told them that?" We gave the officer a copy of the petition and the press release and recommended he read it, because he would be seeing a lot more of us. We are a diverse group who have lots of different reasons for backing this initiative, but all of us would like a more sane marijuana and hemp policy in this state. So glad you were lurking nearby.

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Jim Noonan
1/19/2015 01:50:17 am

I know know a lot of people who would have been at this event like me if we had know about it. We need to get the word out every way we can

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Jennifer Morgan-Curl link
1/19/2015 09:06:54 am

I will be on the beach in front of Edgewater Mall on Tuesday, 1/20/15 from 2-5p with the petition to collect signatures! Please come out and sign to support bi48!

Stefan
1/19/2015 01:46:58 pm

I agree Jim, and I think once people are aware of what's going on in the state, more folks will be on the lookout for other events like this. We got a glimpse of the people who are in on this and the foundation definitely a solid one for continued growth.

diana link
1/19/2015 01:56:13 am

Thank you for writing an unbiased report. Thankz you for the voice. We still want it done properly, but legalized soon.

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Stefan
1/19/2015 01:51:29 pm

Your welcome Diana, happy to do it.

Stefan
1/19/2015 01:45:00 pm

Yes I was quite the creeper that day. I have to give props to all you guys for working with the cards you were dealt and not getting angry with the situation. The best thing we can do for such a movement is be respectful and keep the cool. You guys are the image of what it all stands for.

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Paula Johnston
1/19/2015 03:28:56 am

Thank you for writing this article! The librarians were absolutely wrong on this, and I intend to file a complaint over their actions. The ballot initiative process is the purest form of democracy for citizens of Mississippi--any attempt to subvert that process by a public institution such as a library is dead wrong.

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Stefan
1/19/2015 01:56:02 pm

The situation could have definitely been handled better on their part Paula. We have to understand that, being the tail end of eduation in our state, we will run into folks who are running off of information from the propaganda generation. It is unavoidable. However, the right to assemble at such places is something worth causing a stir about should it happen as it did this weekend. Keep up the good work!

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jimmy
1/19/2015 04:24:05 am

great article!!

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Stefan
1/19/2015 01:56:47 pm

Thank you Jimmy!

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David
1/19/2015 10:35:46 am

great article except for the part about judging people's bathing habits. how stupid.

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Stefan
1/19/2015 02:02:33 pm

The comments on bathing was merely a tool for comic relief David. I was more or less trying to bring about a point of why appearances are so important for movements such as this. Cannabis supporters already have a stigma over them, so it only takes a few people to show up who look like they fit the mold and then those people get singled out and the stereotypes fly for everyone present. Is it wrong? Absolutely, but we are not the one's who get to decide what image other people will have of us in their minds as outsiders. On a side note, I was certainly not directing the remarks to anyone one person in general. I apologize if I have offended your personal hygiene. No offense meant my friend.

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David
1/20/2015 07:46:54 pm

alright. Well for what it's worth I immediately regretted the final two words in my comment. they were unnecessary. there is no way for me to edit that part out that I see or I would.

Wonderful article! Thank you for covering the "story about the story". I have both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. I would like to be able to get off the legal narcotics and try something natural without sude effects. I am 62 and I support Initiative
1/19/2015 12:30:46 pm

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Stefan
1/19/2015 02:15:42 pm

Pharmaceutical companies profit tens of millions every year by having the legal privilege of distributing tightly regulated prescription pills that you can only get from them. Then, when those medications cause side-effects, you come back to them for other drugs. Their best case scenario: patients stay sick their entire lives and continuously depend on them. No wonder they (along with so many medical doctors) spend unprecedented time and money to keep a plant from being legal. Somebody play me a slow violin. This is a cryin shame.

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    ​ Stefan         Lawson


    Host of the Coastal Noise Podcast. Blues/Rock Guitarist. Writer living in San Diego.

       
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