MEDICAL POT ADVOCATE BLOWING SMOKE

He's hardly the stereotypical crusader of the sick and the dying.
Unkempt dreadlocks frame his boy-next-door face as he reads a statement
to his public - a small gathering of supporters clutching signs with
such messages as "Hang in there, Matt."

"I am trying to set precendants," says Matt Macosko. "I see people
hurting in this town and everywhere, and I try to help them."

Macosko, according to Macosko, has one humble mission in life. He wants
to make sure all those in pain or under the weather have a nice big bud
of marijuana to ease their discomfort.

This might be a noble cause, on par with Edward Jenner's correlation
between cowpox and immunity to small pox or Linus Pauling's theory that
megadoses of Vitamin C keeps cancer away. These controversial theories
are now medical mainstream, but that didn't happen without a fight.

And that's where Macosko comes in, or so he would have us believe.
Through his Tahoe Healing Caregivers, he is trying to provided medical
marijuana to those in need on the South Shore.

However, Macosko has none of the scientific or medical background of
Jenner and Pauling that would allow him to tout the healing value of
Humboldt's finest. Nor does he face the same kinds of regulations for
quality that cannabis clubs in San Francisco and Oakland. In fact, does
Macosko even have a business license?

For his altruistic efforts, Macosko takes donations. Apparently many
believe in his cause, as he was arrested with more than $10,000 in his
pocket - a tidy sum for his selfless efforts.

Macosko was arrested for trying to send a quarter of a pound of
marijuana through the mail to Kentucky. Macosko said he is setting
precedent because California's laws on medicinal marijuana are unclear
when it comes to mailing dope out of state.

Gimme a break. The only precedent Macosko is setting is the B.S. level
tolerated by the court system.

The issue here isn't whether or not marijuana should be legalized.
Marijuana probably should have been legalized decades ago. After all, it
is a far less addicting or lethal a drug than cigarettes and alcohol.

The issue is whether a person can fluent illegal drug sales under the
guise of medicinal marijuana.

Macosko is hardly a hero. He is simply a entreprenuer with a good line
of B.S. sprinkled with T.H.C.

Or as his godmother, Stevie Kiss, says, "Matt has made it possible for
everyone in Lake Tahoe to be medicated."

Give 'Em Shelter

The Lake Tahoe Humane Society finally opened its animal shelter. Hurrah!

The board and volunteers must be proud. It's taken more than five years
and lots of work to get to the point where unwanted dogs and cats on the
South Shore can be rescued without a death sentence hanging over them.

The Tahoe Daily Tribune has written critical articles about the Humane

Society and has gotten some nasty responses from supporters for
attempting to learn about into the Humane Society's finances. But the
Tribune's bottom line was always that the Humane Society was responsible
for doing what it promised contributors and sponsors - to reopen the
animal shelter.

The Humane Society came through on its promise. The Tribune wishes the
Society the best of luck with its new and worthwhile venture.