This piece may, or may not strike some ire in many people. I don't give a shit. It has been a lifetime struggle for me, deciding what was the best route to take. Myself, I always seem to come back to the one which worked best and most consistantly.

Steven Tuck is a disabled Army Veteran, injured in a 1987 parachute accident (his chute failed to open in a training event), used morphine for years for the chronic pain as a result of the accident. Steve also used medicinal marijuana. He also grew his own, and supplied some for other medical cannabis patients in Humboldt California, where he lived. Steve fled to Vancouver, Canada in 2001 as one of the 'pot war refugees'. My wife and I met Steve in Vancouver in August of 2001, while on our honeymoon.

On 07 October 05, Steve was grabbed from a Canadian hospital by Canadian authorities, then driven to the border with a urinary catheter STILL ATTACHED - where he was turned over to US authorities. He was incarcerated in a Seattle jail for 5 days with only Ibuprofen, and without having his catheter removed, or inspected by a Doctor.

Steve was released from the Seattle jail last week on Thursday to seek medical treatment, but he must return to Humboldt County, CA - where he must face his original state charge, filed in 2001.

Now, you may not agree with the use of medicinal cannabis. I do. I have Stage 3 Rheumatoid Arthritis. My hands are starting to take the shape of those normally associated with RA - fingers all curled, knuckles swollen and red. I hobble and limp when I walk, due to my fucked up spine, and a hip that needs replacing. Last year my shoulder quit working, and I couldn't wipe my ass. I couldn't even reach the top of my head with my right arm.

I take a couple 3 handfulls of pills a day, including an injection. From my perspective - dialing in the drug coctail for the past 4.5 years has been a real bitch - what with the diarrhea attacks, the 60-80 pound weight gains from steroid use (those are fun to pare off in your mid-late 40's, especially when you can't walk or exercise so well), sleepless nights in excruciating pain. Excruciating Pain. Chronic. 24/7/365. It never ends.

So, I know what Steven goes through. I had about 5 months of RA treatment under me, when we met him. I was a mere rookie then, far as pain goes. But I had been living with pain for years - I just had no clue as to what caused it. See, living without health insurance is a real touch and go situation. You get things fixed that require it, and the rest waits... Back to Steven and I. Steven's spine is compressed, he has suffered some internal organ damage from the parachute accident. The morphine only does so much good. I can attest to that from a very personal perspective. My best friend - Marine, was working in the copper mine in White Pine, Michigan. He was on a mine rescue operation and coming down a ladder (serrated steel type). His feet went out from under him, and down he went, on his back, feet in the air on a steel platform from about 30 feet.

Well, he imploded 3 discs in the lumbar area. He's had 5 spinal fusions, and 10 major spinal surgeries. He's had a morphine pump installed for 8 years now. That almost killed him - first installation gave him Spinal Menengitis, cost him 45% of his hearing and now has Meneire's Disease. Boy, thank you VA. Anyway, Terry does okay with his pump and instant release morphine pills. However, an occasional cannabis cookie - and he is able to not take the instant release morphine tabs at all during the course of the day. He also says quite plainly..."I have the best day that I've had in years, and to me that's worth more than anything".

I feel the same way with the RA. I get up in the mornings and it takes me a good 2-3 hours before I can move with any semblance of fluidity. I keep my hands mobile by playing the guitar, mandolin and banjo. I also wash the dishes the old fashioned way - in a sink with hot, soapy water. Works wonders for stiffness. I also can eat a cookie, or take a toke and it makes the day go by easier. What's the big issue?

Drug companies would stand to lose billions, upon billions if it was legalized. And, thats only the start. On Monday, the FBI announced that the government is arresting one marijuana user every 41 seconds ­ more than ever before. The 771,605 marijuana arrests last year set an all-time record ­ and exceeded the 590,258 arrests for all violent crimes combined. And 89% of the marijuana arrests were for simple possession, not sale or manufacture. This is wildly out of sync with the priorities of most Americans.

So, why'd the government arrest Steven Tuck? Because he shoved it in their faces every chance that he got. They don't like that very well. Well, you now get a small glimpse of how they treat you if you believe in an herb which was put on this planet by the God which they supposedly believe in. That which they have outlawed, that which they have made illegal to even study.

The hops plant, Humulus Lupulus, belongs to the Cannabaceae family (the same genus as Cannabis sativa/indica, or marijuana). Used by some people as a sedative-hypnotic, hops are most familiar as a beer ingredient, where they add a bitter taste and act as a preservative. Hops are traditionally used for relaxation, sedation and to treat insomnia, depressions and menopause symptoms. They are also used to ease muscle spasms and to stimulate the digestive system.

Hops flavor, bitter, and preserve beer. They promote appetite and sleep and reduce anxiety. Recently research has looked at anti-cancer and anti-viral effects.

Similar weed like experience was reported when smoking hops.

Gee. Find that interesting? I could produce volumes of information on medicinal cannabis. I just figured I'd put one of the more generic, and overlooked ones out there for you to ponder.

Betcha didn't know that beer was made with a direct descendent of the pot plant did you? I even gave this information to a recently retired state trooper, who told me that I made it up. I called him a brainwashed fucking moron, and dumped his beer in his lap. He's since changed his mind about the facts.

Funny what facts will do to some people, no matter how ignorant they appear.

Semper Fidelis