AN AFTERNOON WITH JACK HERER

After Hash Bash, at the Monroe Street Block Party, I had the chance to sit
down and talk with the Emperor of Hemp, Jack Herer. Jack had plenty to say,
so our conversation covered many diverse topics such as his health, the
identity of god, and the hemp movement.

I had last spoke with Jack at the Marijuana Policy Project/Students for
Sensible Drug Policy conference in Anaheim, California in November of 2002.
After hearing Jack give a rousing five minute speech at the Hash Bash
earlier in the day I knew that he had made major strides in his stroke
recovery. Later I asked him what his therapy consisted of.

Jack told me that the secret to his recovery was the powerful psychedelic
mushroom: Amanita Muscaria. Jack said that about a year ago he had
undergone an initial, intensely religious Amanita Muscaria experience. This
mushroom ritual brought on a strong trance that lasted for 12 hours. During
this period Jack feels that he met god. Since then he has medicated with
Amanita Muscaria and marijuana almost daily. Jack's daily regiment consists
of small doses (.2 gram) of Amanita Muscaria every few hours throughout the
day. These relatively small doses of have very subtle psychedelic effects
for him but they greatly enhances his ability to speak.

When I asked Jack about the future of the American hemp movement he
responded with a challenge. He wanted to know if I had spoken to my
grandparents or uncle about the benefits of hemp. He said that ignorance is
the only thing holding hemp back in America. Jack believes that people must
arm themselves with the truth and then go out into the world and spread
knowledge about the many uses of cannabis.

Finally, I spoke with Jack about his plans for the future. He explained
that he was hard at work with his buddy James Arthur on a project to decode
the bible. Jack and James are translating original versions of both the old
and new testament, word for word. The theme of their new book will be 'The
Most High.' Their objective is to determine if each version of the bible
has a particular psychedelic drug, be it Amanita Muscaria, Soma, Marijuana,
Calamus, etc., that, in essence IS god.

Despite suffering a severe stroke in April of 2000, Jack Herer is back and
he's more determined than ever to spread the truth about cannabis and
liberate this plant once and for all!