'THESE ARE THE NIGHTMARES'

To the Editor:

As the only Holy Smoker not charged, I have to admit I am disappointed
by the recent court proceedings. The drug issue is like some eternal
hot potato...thrown between the courts and politicians. In the end
nothing happens. The courts say we have to seek change through
parliament. Can we trust Stephen Harper to change drug laws? No...He
thinks we are sinners!

We were testing new ways to deal with the possible harms associated
with drug use. Just as we address harms in all things, like alcohol,
sex and bowling. We don't criminalize them, we try to reduce harm.
Our social experiment showed a way that adults could engage in
fulfillment without disrupting the conservative silent minority, which
asserts itself only by its absence in the change. In a realm of
freedom we had rules, in the wild pursuit of ourselves we dreamed a
change and in the end our community felt a little more dignity.

We didn't hide behind technical arguments, or call on our Goliath
brother, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to protect us...we made a
common law argument. Common people. Common Law. People who believed
that it was just to break a law in times of an emergency. People who
saw that the law is not fixed, but in the minds of men. By telling
the truth we risked everything to test this court.

We lost that argument but we won the hearts of our community. The
many people who came forward and helped us and hugged us and loved us.
The letters of support from so many kind people, the 400 strong
petition and donations to our legal defense fund. The community
supported us because they believed in what we were doing, even though
it only lasted for a short time.

I am bewildered to think of my spiritual elder in the prison system,
when he should be doing firewood and harvesting apples. Paul D's
dreadlocks shorn from his head. Paul D being led from the Nelson
courthouse in leg shackles. Akka in the drunk tank. Alan and Kelsey
possibly suffering the same fate. These are nightmares. These are
injustices. These are the markers of tyranny. This law isn't
protecting us, it is sending the good people we need most in our
family at this time in history...away. We have to start expanding our
minds if we wish to survive. Just look at the world. It's changing.

Holy Smoke is closing. We made it 12 years, the longest relationship
I have ever seen in the Kootenays. We don't have any regrets, except
the time Paul said No to a joint. We aren't going anywhere. We will
continue working on this urgent issue. We...which I use so
frequently, represents the three amigos and the family who have worked
at and supported the Holy Smoke. We are everywhere in your city, just
look for the smile.

Dustin Sunflower

Nelson, B.C.