HEMP ACTIVIST STUMPS FOR MEASURE 67

HARRISBURG - Critics of statewide Ballot Measure 67, which would legalize
the medicinal use of marijuana, contend the measure is a "back door" for
those who want to end the war on drugs.

But for William Conde, owner of Conde's Redwood Lumber near Harrisburg,
there is nothing back door at all about his reasons for supporting the
measure.

"My long-range goal is to live in a world where my children can live
peacefully, and not have to worry about their government declaring war on
them," said Conde, 55.

To that end, Conde is hosting a "Cannabis Carnival" at his Harrisburg
property over Labor Day Weekend in support of Measure 67.

He also hopes to raise awareness of Ballot Measure 57, which would make
possession of less than an ounce of marijuana a Class C misdemeanor,
punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment. He opposes the measure.

Currently, possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is an infraction
punishable by fines ranging from $500 to $1,000.

These efforts are nothing new for Conde.

"It has taken a major portion of my time and energy over the past twenty
years," Conde said.

His activism began in earnest after he was arrested in Cottage Grove in
1976 for possession of marijuana and spent four months in jail, followed by
three years of probation.

Conde said he thought long and hard about the incident.

"I did a lot of soul searching, because I thought I must have done
something really wrong to have sixteen people break down the door and come
in with all their guns ready," Conde said. "But the more I investigated, I
found it's (marijuana use) not evil, it's good."

In addition to his work on the ballot measures, Conde is also working hard
to legalize the use of hemp. It is a product that Conde thinks could
revolutionize agriculture in the Willamette Valley.

"It's the most useful plant of the face of the planet," Conde said.

It is his work to legalize and popularize the use of hemp which ties
together two seemingly contradictory facets of Conde's life: being an
activist for drug and environmental issues and selling lumber for a living.

"I'm fifty-five, and I've been selling dead Redwood trees for thirty-two
years. I could never figure out why I was conscious and in the timber
industry," Conde said.

He sees hemp as his salvation.

"I believe in karma and this is the only way to cover my soul. If I can be
the one to help push hemp into widespread use, that would be it," Conde
said.

When asked if legalizing medicinal use of marijuana would send young people
the wrong message about drug use, Conde responded by questioning the
messages society is sending.

"What kind of a message is it when people who are suffering and dying are
criminalized for using marijuana?" Conde asked. "Or having DARE go into
schools and tell kids, `We're you're friends,' and then get them to snitch
on their parents. What message is that?"

As with the World Hemp Expo Extravaganja that he hosted in July, Conde does
not plan to acquire a mass gathering permit for the Labor Day weekend
event.

The fee for the three-day festival, Sept. 4-6, is $12.50, which includes
camping, and come-and-go privileges, Conde said. Musical acts will include
Linda Hornbuckle, Rubberneck and Kerosene Dream.

Linn County Commissioner Catherine Skiens said the county has not made any
enforcement decisions at this time.

"We'll just have to see how the carnival plays out this weekend. The board
would then need to discuss what direction we would go in, according to
whatever information we have available," Skiens said.

District Attorney Jason Carlile said no charges have been filed to this
point relating to the July hemp festival.

"I know that no charges have been filed, but whether or not that happens in
the future, I don't know," Carlile said. "I would trust that he would
comply with all county ordinances and not tolerate any violations of the
law."