Dear Alison,

Greetings! Thanks for the encouragement, your letter brightened my day. Bob told me to focus on getting my story to you so it can be posted and tracked on Lifevine. So here goes: At the moment I am sitting under a flickering fluorescent light at 3:30 AM in cell block - L of the Thurston County Jail. It's the only time this place is quiet enough for me to think and write. If they catch me doing this during lockdown I will be moved to "the hole". but what's a few more locked doors when I'm already locked up anyway?

The jail staff has refused to reclassify me to a lower security status. They say I am a "security risk" and cannot be allowed to live in minimum security quarters. Even though the judge ordered me twice on to work release, the administration had the prosecutor block the order. They made a special inspection to see that I did not wear any "hemp " clothing, jewelry, or have hemp paper in my cell! What do they think I'll do, smoke my T-shirt?! Before checking into this facility I delivered them copies of my Doctor's release, Primary Caregiver contract, and Ethnobotanical Consultant's license. I explained to them that I wasn't doing anything illegal and had taken measures to see that I am within the limits of the law. They responded by putting little "post-it" notes all over my file making me subject to even more scrutiny and restrictions then the other people.

I am a pure hempster. I don't smoke tobacco, don't drink or use pharmaceuticals, meth, nothing! My sole medication has been cannabis for my whole adult life. I've used it every day since 13 years of age and I'm 50 now. I have chronic back pain and delayed stress syndrome. I have always grown my own herb. Being in jail like this is the only time I've had to go without growing and benefiting from this sacred plant. Since this jail allows prisoners to use controlled substances here with a doctor's permission I notified the medical staff. Turns out that they refuse to include Medicinal Marijuana in their policy even though there's nowhere it says that. I told them it was available in pills or a patch.still "no." (I reported them to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for abuse and discrimination. and notified the administrator.)

Then the Task Force opened up a FBI file on me categorizing me as a "domestic terrorist." I have never been a member of an activist group of any kind ever. I am a homebody with my own yard care business. I make less than $3,500.00 a year and own no property besides my tools, some electrical equipment, books, office supplies, and my grow lights.

My situation began in the fall of 2001. A certain "friend" of my brother found out that I grew and started inquiring about me. I was polite to him but maintained a safe distance because something about him just didn't seem right. As it turned out he was a police informant whose goal was to turn me in for a reward. But before this, he stalked me, assaulted me, and tried to extort "hush" money out of me saying that he knew I was going to get busted but if I gave him what he wanted (which was more than just money) he could somehow "save" me from going down. He had my husband and son beat up, too, in an effort to remove them from the picture. I decided I'd rather deal with the cops than this kind of creepazoid. After all I only had a one light closet crop anyway.. After a final flurry of hate mail from this guy, he warned me that I would be raided in 24 hours. The narcs showed up with a K-9 unit and took all day searching my premises. The informant had told them they would find a big "meth-lab!" (A horrible lie which really got them going). I later read his "report" which also said I was some kind of a crime boss with a network that reached across several states -- a total fabrication of a sick mind. It worked to get him his reward anyway. The cops seized my equipment and destroyed my plants on the spot. They didn't book me in the jail but said they'd get back to me by mail.. Since my husband was with me, they arrested and released him too. The name of the informant is:

( Unfortunatetly CannabisMD cannot publish this name and address. )

I have since learned that he is responsible for having several other growers imprisoned as well. He "poses" as a grower himself but is not one. he just uses this to try and establish camaraderie with those who do, so he can have them arrested. He has been operating in the Olympia area since 1990..I believe I am the first one to blow his cover.

The Task Force issued warrants for our arrest over the New Years holiday, so by the time we got them, we had "failed to appear." After hassling with court appearances and constant pre-trial visits the prosecution told me that I would be advised to plead guilty to their 9-month plea bargain. In the meantime I had gotten my Doctor's statement in order along with other things to use in my defense. I was told that if I did anything to try and beat the case they would put all of the charges on my husband and imprison him for two and a half years. If I accepted they would let him go. so I did. I figured he could be out there running the business and covering my needs while I do the time. The judge ordered me to do work release (which is 12 hours at the jail and 12 hours performing my professional duties.) The jail staff stalked me relentlessly until on the 5th day they cited me for an unauthorized stop when I got out of the car to dig Camas bulbs next to an intersection. I explained that it was job related but they "tanked" me anyway. As it turned out they were watching and waiting for just such an occasion. As soon as I was out of the way they descended on my residence and raided my grow again. This was a new location. I had my home office and grow in a single-wide mobile home, and we lived next to it in our motor home. Before reporting for work release I had called for an administrative inspection of my office and grow. I didn't want a repeat of the November scene. I showed the officers 25 marijuana plants (half of them males), my Doctor's release, my Primary Caregiver contract, and my Ethnobotanical Consultant's license. I answered their inquires and let them look around. Instead of advising me of any changes needed they used this opportunity to gather information to arrest me again. I asked them if they had a file for legal growers and they said no. I asked them to start one, because I don't want any more "surprises" or snitch problems. If they know who I am and where I am -- everything ought to be clear. I've never had this kind of trouble before and I don't plan on having it again. I have no prior offenses of any kind, although I as a juvenile I did time for selling marijuana (1967). The statute for administrative inspections is RCW 69.50.501 . These are to be conducted within reasonable limits in a reasonable manner with emphasis on inventory and safety factors. Financial data is not part of this. The officers ignored their limitations and made all kinds of assumptions. Their report concludes that I am some kind of "mega-grower" with plans to make millions of dollars selling marijuana. They took everything out of context, exaggerating and embellishing it with ridiculous claims. I told them that if the product from these plants (12 females) was more than I and my contract patient could use, I'd see that it went to the Green Cross Patient Co-op for use by qualified patients only. I said it was donation oriented although I might ask to be reimbursed for my expenses under certain circumstances. They then jumped to their own conclusions about this..insinuating that I would be selling for big profits. This is all pure speculative bunk. We are talking another one light closet crop here. I was merely trying to assure them that none of it would find it's way to the black market.

They ransacked our home, office, garage, and vehicles, seizing whatever looked like it could be called evidence. This included 8 - 1000 w ballasts, 11 - 1000w bulbs, 1 - 400 w bulb, a power strip with timer, a squirrel fan, 10 fluorescent fixtures, electrical tools, extension cords, a word processor, a police scanner, my smoking kit, textbooks, and 25 three week old seedlings. Since I was already in jail, they questioned my husband at gunpoint saying if he didn't cooperate with them in gathering evidence against me, they'd lock him up too. They also threatened and carded my neighbors. They pulled me out of my cell back at the jail and showed me what they did and claimed that my documents were worthless pieces of paper. They also questioned my medical condition and challenged my caregiver status saying I would have to be doing "something more" than just growing for this patient. I told them I counsel him in person, and by mail, and do healing prayer for him daily. The judge gave me a hearing on this and ordered me back onto work release. The jail got a prosecutor to block the order again. I have been in general population medium security now since May 14, 2002.

I had a hearing this week to get the items back they'd seized in November. The five members of the committee had never read the Medicinal Marijuana law, so we had to adjourn and give them a few days to do their homework.

The detective who arrested me, Rod Ditrich, told me that Marijuana is a dangerous "gateway" substance that makes people do other drugs. He also needed to let me know that "one joint does as much damage to the human body as a hundred cigarettes." I believe these guys must have gotten all their information about pot from a grade school Dare manual. I tried to correct him, but he was quite stubborn and convinced he was right. We stopped just short of getting into an argument. I reported the detectives who busted me, and the work release officer who stalked me, (Monroe -- I saw his diary with time and place as he followed me), and the prosecutor all to: Columbia Legal Services, Institutions Project, 101 Yesler Way, Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-464-1155. (The names of the detectives are: Ditrich, Padukiewiez, Stahle, Elkins, McClamore, and Aalbens. The prosecutor is Jack Jones.)

Besides a note saying he was leaving town, I haven't seen or heard from my husband since May 10. I fear that he'll show up for the trial as witness for the prosecution.

My lawyer, Kevin Johnson, 407 Adams St, #213, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-753-3066, johnsonkevinatto@quest.net , met with me this week to let me know that I am about to commit legal suicide. Most of my friends are afraid to defend or support me if I choose to fight this case. The prosecutor offered another plea bargain which I turned down. My trial date is August 5th and the sentence being recommended is 55 months in prison. The detectives at the Task Force say they intend to see that I never get to use my equipment again. I told them I want to take it to trial anyway.

This week I had my attorney close down my business accounts. My husband is nowhere to be found and has not paid the bills nor sent me anything for my commissary account or medical needs in here. He has just vanished. I have written, sent messages and called, but he doesn't write or answer the phone or visit. From the transcript of the interview they had with him, he made statements and answered questions while being told he might be arrested and charged with the same thing: Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, with school bus zone enhancement. Now all I can do is figure on going through this alone.

I will keep on notifying everyone I can think of who could talk some sense to these authorities. I believe that if our law allows medicinal use of Marijuana, then the cops are under obligation to protect and serve the citizens who are doing this. What they've done here is a gross misuse of authority and a violation of civil and human rights.

As a P.O.W. in the war against plants, I feel that I am guilty until proven guilty. Folks coming into the jail on other various offenses are saying that the cops want to names of anyone they know of who has ever smoked pot in their life. This is their hidden agenda: to find and imprison everyone who is remotely herb friendly. Now that they've got the "drug war" combined with the "war on terrorism" they are looking at unlimited funding from the Federal Government. They are treating us worse than violent criminals. I have seen people in and out of here in a few days or weeks for stabbing, poisoning, raping, and otherwise harming fellow human beings. To see this level of persecution over the growing of plants is absurd. I am and will continue to be entirely at their mercy (or lack of it) until October 10th or beyond depending on what sentence they give me this time.

The reason it took me so long to write my story is I've been pleading for them to dismiss this case saying it was all a big mistake. I can't believe they're doing this..it is so malevolent and unenlightened. It is a demonic attack on the Tree of Life and anyone associated with it. We are the ones who refuse to carry the mark of the beast. They aim to destroy us in every sense of the word. We are being classified as the worst of criminals. I am the only one in here with no prior history, no drug problem, and no psychological dysfunction.yet they distrust me the most. If it weren't so pathetic it would be comical.

Bottom line is (this is scary) that these folks want to prolong the spirit of the inquisition even into this era. I have been doing my best to educate them and be patient with them. If anyone you know has accurate information they can send the Task Force and prosecutor here, it is badly needed. The wall of ignorance is what creates this kind of fear and violence. It must be stopped by flooding them with light and with the truth. Here's the addresses:

Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney
Jack Jones
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Bldg 2
Olympia, WA 98502-6090

Thurston County Narcotics Task Force
120 State Ave NE, #173
Olympia, WA 98501-8212
Attn: Rod Ditrich

I pray that this present darkness does not continue for much longer. "For thus says the Lord of hosts...to the nation that plunders you: He who touches you, touches the apple of My eye. Surely I will shake my hand against them and they shall become spoil for their own servants." (Zech. 2:8,9).

Thurston County keeps turning a deaf ear. To request changes in policy concerning use of Medicinal Marijuana by inmates: write:

Mark Bolton, Chief Administrator
Thurston County Jail
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW
Olympia, WA 98502

As for my fate, I'm not worried -- "I well know that Jehovah himself will execute the legal claim of the afflicted ones" (ps. 140:12). I am convinced that all or nothing is the right call. If I actually land in prison over this, I'm determined to bring a shining spirit into the blackest regions of this earth..which sometimes turns out to be right in our home territory. "For I, Jehovah, have called you.And I shall safeguard you and give you as a light to the nations for you to open the blind eyes, and bring forth the prisoner out of the dungeon, and out of the house of detention those sitting in darkness." (Isa 42:6,7).

When I did a prophetic reading for the year 2002 for my spirit path I was told to prepare to have my faith put through the fire. This has done much to alleviate the twinge of guilt I used to feel when I thought of all the people who were being persecuted for growing and using marijuana while I walked around free and unmolested. For this reason it feels good to be on the front lines, assaulting the evil head on. My spirit revels in this kind of battle, but my heart is heavy.

Kevin, My lawyer, said I shouldn't have engaged them...but I had an eerie feeling I was already a moving target. I saw reports where they were using satellite surveillance on me. I was not in a position to go low profile. They had already locked on to me and were closing in for the kill when I called the Task Force and said, "let's cut to the chase." So we did.

Well, there's the story I didn't want to have to tell. With all my mistakes and heart break openly for you to see. I feel very bad for the patient I obligated myself to grow for. He suffers severely from MS and is going without the medicine he needs desperately. I also mourn the fate of my husband -- he might not recover from what he's been through -- I fear I have lost him forever..and my dear little plants, they never should have had to suffer painful execution in their youth at the hands of hostile men. I weep and pray constantly for all these, and for countless others who are undergoing similar and worse treatment as we speak.

I was worried about withdrawals, but nothing along that line occurred physically...emotionally it's been another story! Still I try to balance myself using spiritual disciplines and by keeping a journal..also my artwork.

The profile they have on me is bizarre! It's like reading a biography written by my worst enemies..all of them putting together the most sinister thoughts they can imagine and attaching my name to it. It would be amusing under different circumstances. (These guys watch way too many crime shows).

Thanks for lending me your ear. I hope you are feeling well and the summer is bringing you a fine bounty. I am glad to have a woman herb friend to write to, with whom I can speak from my heart. Thanks for going to the vigil and for caring about the captives and forgotten souls. If there's something you can think of for me to do from my vantage point to further the case for cannabis let me know. There's a big turnover in here and I've had the privilege of meeting a lot of people. One friend sent me leaflets to pass out. Also I've been drawing greeting cards with the blooming bud on the front. They make a good trade for commissary items in the absence of money and each is one of a kind..just like my sweet girls.