[hopeunlimited]

Hello Hope Group,

I am pleased to announce that the Thursday July 10th meeting of hope unlimited will include a tribute to the late Steve Mcwilliams, cannabis warrior who fought for the truth-for what is right--and never backed down to the authorities-never stopped pushing for reform-
without steve there would be no san diego cannabis guidelines-
the hope group will be passing out a few steve mcwilliams hope awards to a few hope members who deserve to be commended for their actions-

below find an article about steve-
hope meeting is held at
3949 North Ohio Street
San Diego 92104
call 414 418 0140 for more info or directions
or check out
www.hopeisunlimited.blogspot.com
www.hopeforfree.blogspot.com
cannabiscaregiver@yahoo.com

article from July 2005-his birthday was july 11th-

Medical marijuana supporters in at least 15 cities across the country gathered Tuesday evening to honor the memory of San Diego activist and patient Steve McWilliams, who committed suicide last week after years of struggles with his own pain and federal authorities.

More than 100 people gathered at San Diego City hall to pay tribute to McWilliams, who had been an indefatigable fighter for medical marijuana and who was facing federal prison time from a 2002 raid on his Shelter from the Storm collective. McWilliams had been unable to use his medicine of choice by order of a federal charge

McWilliams killed himself on his 51st birthday. In a suicide note that was distributed at the vigil, he alluded to problems with opioid pain medications he was forced to turn to after his 2002 arrest and protested against federal policies that he said left medical marijuana patients subject to arrest and imprisonment. "The law that was supposed to protect patients like me has been turned on its head so that no patient can feel safe ever again," McWilliams wrote. "I am an advocate and activist for a good cause -- my good health. As an activist I believe in acting when the time is right, to be an impeccable warrior. I believe that my actions -- of not being here -- can help move the discussion of medical marijuana back to what's good for the patient without the DEA telling us what medications we can use."

McWilliams lashed out at federal Judge Reuben Brooks, the man who blocked him from using medical marijuana, calling him "a wretched, evil little gnome" who practiced bad medicine from the bench, and the federal drug war machine in which Brooks is a cog. "I cannot allow the government to decide what drugs I must take. It's my life... I believe now though that I will be locked up in some kind of cell. I refuse to allow the government to control my life. That's what so much of this has been about -- my right to use a medicine that worked for me."

McWilliams had been a fixture at San Diego City Council meetings urging local officials to adopt medical marijuana guidelines, and the politicians remembered him as well. An aide to Mayor Pro Tem Toni Atkins read a statement calling McWilliams "a tenacious and relentless force to be reckoned with" and adding that "public comment at our City Council meetings will never be the same without his smiling face and cannabis leis."

Across the country in Washington, DC, several dozen activists, organized by Americans for Safe Access marked McWilliams' passing with a march through the city's Federal Triangle. Carrying a symbolic coffin, the crowd stopped at landmarks like the Supreme Court, the Justice Department and congressional office buildings, observing 30 seconds of silence at each stop. "It was very somber," said DRCNet assistant director David Guard, who attended the DC vigil. "We were not trying to block streets or get arrested or anything like that; we just wanted to let people know." The coffin marchers carried bore the lettering "Ask me how the feds killed Steve McWilliams." Vigils were reportedly also held in Los Angeles, Oakland, Orange County, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Susanville in California, in Denver, Lawrenceburg, Indiana; Eugene and Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; and Philadelphia.

"As an activist I've given everything to the cause -- all my possessions, my time and my life," wrote McWilliams in his suicide note. "You can't give more than that." In the end, McWilliams took ultimate control over his life by ending it. In so doing, he died by the words he lived by, the last words he left us with: "No retreat. No surrender."

[Marc_MGC]

GO HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL POST



Friday, July 11, 2008
Steve McWilliams Remembered
Last night's Hope Unlimited meeting was held in honor of the late Steve McWilliams. Steve died two years ago today, at the age of 51. At the time of his passing he was San Diego's foremost medical cannabis advocate. Many credit his work as instrumental in establishing San Diego's medical marijuana guidelines, one of the largest city's in America to have such guidelines.


Steve was long known by San Diegans as a passionate champion for the cause. He was a regular fixture at over 100 City Council meetings, wearing a pot leaf lei and carrying a marijuana plant. He also served on the City's Medical Cannabis Task Force, and ran a campaign for a City Council seat.

However, Steve devoted more of his time outside the establishment. He was a regular fixture at protests and rallies for various causes, often wearing an 'I ♥ Pot' shirt. His Normal Heights residence became the site of Shelter From the Storm's Stir It Up Cannabis Coffee House. A place where cannabis patients could come to use their medicine and share information. Shelter From the Storm also included a modest 25-plant medical cannabis garden. In 2002 Steve received national press when he gave out medical marijuana to patients in front of City Hall. Two days later he was hand delivered a warning letter from US Attorneys to destroy his garden.

Shelter From the Storm was raided soon after by the San Diego County Narcotics Task Force (NTF) who destroyed the garden. Steve was charged with illegal cultivation following this incident. In 2003 he was sentenced to a six months federal prison term. He continued to remain free on appeal, but was subject to drug testing and not allowed to use marijuana. This forced him to take higher doses of the strong narcotic pain medications prescribed by his doctors. These drugs left him with more side effects and less able to function.

On July 11th 2005, in constant pain, and refusing to serve his looming sentence, Steve committed suicide. It was his 51st birthday. He ended his life by overdosing on his prescription medicines. He left a note saying he "refused to allow the government to control my life" and that it was "about my right to use a medicine that worked for me". He signed the letter "No retreat. No surrender."

After Steve’s death in 2005, protests and remembrances were held in 15 cities across the US, including Washington DC. Protesters held “The Feds killed Steve McWilliams. Ask us how!” banners. San Diego City Councilwoman Toni Atkins remembered Steve at City Council calling him "a tenacious and relentless force to be reckoned with", “a hero” for his efforts.

Hope Unlimited sought to honor Steve's memory through the 1st Annual Steve McWilliams Cannabis Warrior Award. Two awards were presented at the meeting. The first to Chip Perry, operator of medical cannabis clinic Medimar, recognizing him for his work in providing medical marijuana identification cards for San Diegans. The second award was presented to the owner of the Old Mill Cafe thanking him for allowing the Hope group to meet there. Medical cannabis patient Rudy Reyes was also chosen as a recipient of the award. He was recognized for the nearly 20,000 votes he received in his run for County Supervisor.


The Hope group also had a visit from Orange County dispensary operator Bob Adams. He was in town to share news of his legal victory against the city of Orange. The City issued Adams a business license specifically for a medical cannabis dispensary. The City now claims that was a mistake and has been trying to shut down his Natures Wellness dispensary since March. He won a court ruling allowing him to stay open and to proceed with a suit against the City for trying to close his business. With no operating dispensaries in San Diego County, Orange County is the closest place for San Diego patients to purchase medical marijuana.


Bob Adams and Natures Wellness

[DSW90049]

Steve McWilliams R.I.P.

"I cannot allow the government to decide what drugs I must take. It's my life... I believe now though that I will be locked up in some kind of cell. I refuse to allow the government to control my life. That's what so much of this has been about -- my right to use a medicine that worked for me."

If the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness mean ANYTHING, they mean that Steve and I and YOU should be able to take the drugs that work for you and me . No government on earth, past, present or future, should ever have the right to decide what drugs any of us can take for our medical needs. What other medication is barred from the people who need it where it has never caused a death and never been shown to cause any real harm, particularly as compared to legal substances like tobacco, alcohol, Valium, Vicodin, Celebrex and the rest of the tried and true medicine cabinet of America.

Steve, I think of you and your meaningful death, all deaths being meaningful at some level- yours being painfully and poignantly meaningful to all of us who suffer from chronic pain-- often when the pain sweeps over me in waves or pops my joints like fireworks on the 4th of July and I am able to medicate and relieve some of that agony--------this bud is truly for you, man! Thanks for making the statement you made and may that Federal Judge see your face each time he tries to fall asleep and each time he wakes . . .

[hopeunlimited]

wow great feedback thanks for the excellent posts


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