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Bulletin Antiprohibitionist <liafax@...> wrote:

From: "Bulletin Antiprohibitionist" <liafax@...>
Subject: Ciao Steve
Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:36:54 +0200

	Sign the appeal to reform the UN Conventions on Drugs e-Newsletter on the world campaign for the reform of the UN Conventions on Drugs Special Number - 19 July 2005   Dear Liafax readers, Last week we received a sad message from our friends and fellow antiprohibitionist Dale Gieringer of Cal NORML in which he was informing us that San Diego medical cannabis patient activist Steve McWilliams was no longer with us. "McWilliams", wrote Dale "who had been fighting federal charges for growing a modest home garden for the Shelter from the Storm Collective, was depressed over the Supreme Court decision and in terrible pain, having been denied access to medical marijuana since his arrest in 2002. Steve was a courageous fighter for the cause and will be sorely missed. Our deepest sympathies to his partner, Barbara MacKenzie." The news was broke by David Bronner, here's is his message: "Barbara MacKenzie, Steve's partner, called to say that Steve committed suicide by overdose late last night/early morning. Steve had been depressed and in terrible pain, and been hospitalized last week. Steve's depression was apparently a combination of dread of going to jail in light of Raich and his deteriorating health. He had had to take powerful pharmaceutical opiates, anti-nausea, anti-migraine, etc. drugs in far higher amounts than when he was able to medicate with marijuana, and evidently was what he used to overdose. Steve was an incredibly kind, compassionate, intelligent and wise man, as well as a balls to the wall activist. He inspired me and many others, and will be dearly missed. I was proud to know him and be his friend. Steve will be cremated and flown back to his family in Colorado. Marco Cappato, Parliamentary Coordinator for the IAL had the chance to meet Steven three years ago in San Diego, whe he was there with a delegation of the European Parliament , together they staged a demonstration and attended a meeting at the San Diego City Council. Cappato in a note said that he "felt among friends" and that his "first impression was confirmed when, once arrested in Manchester after a civil disobbedience". Marco would like to remember Steven with a letter he sent to him on 16 April 2003. Here it is: "Dear Marco, please allow me to re-intoduce myself: you attended a protest in San Diego, CA, USA regarding a DEA raid on my medical cannabis garden and my later arrest for violation of Federal Drugs laws. I am awaitng sentencing on 4/28/03 in U.S. Districk Court for growing twenty-five marijuana plants for another patient and myself. I am thankful and blest that you were able to provide moral support at what was a somewhat nervous time for me. Thank you. Soon after your departure, the San Diego City Council voted 6-3 to approve city guidelines which protect qualified patients/caregivers, like ourselves, from arrest by the San Diego Police Dept. Congratulations for your richly deserved recognition. I went back to a previous note from Dale Gieringer CANORML regarding your recent arrest in England. Good For You. After that I went to the TRP web site to read more about your work. Your published statements are beautifuly phrased and emotionally inspiring. You are correct, that kind thoughts and good intentions will not waken sleeping souls. Besides it's kind of a kick in the ass to see the whole judicial system upset so much by the simple telling of the truth. They have to extract some penalty. I asked Michael Barbee, who escorted you, to please send along one of our SHELTER FROM THE STORM Stir It Up Cannabis Coffe House T-Shirts (closed down just shortly before you visited). Somewhat after you left San Diego, a friend (and former co-defendant) of mine, Dion Margraaff, was raided by the SDPD and DEA in an attempt to find evidence of a conspiracy nature between Dion and myself in order to bolster evidence and charges against me. He has not been charged. Naturally, and intentionally, this caused some apprehension in the medical cannabis community and some fragmentation occurred. Nobody wants to be a target so people are quiet and don't come around. It's what happens. But things are getting better. The work of many united individuals devoted to Peace on Earth, Good Will to All is starting to make an impression in a general public relately unaware. The government's case agaisnt me has softened much due to public comment. News of what the European nation's are doing in regards to drug and cannabis laws support the bold actions of local elected governnment officers, such as the San Diego City Council, to embark on new adventures of enlightenment. It's nice for me to know that I've had the good fortune to meet one of those individuals--working in farawy lands to make America a better place for me to live by his telling of the truth to a British court. It's a kick in the ass. Steven McWilliams --------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor in Chief: Marco Perduca Director: Vincenzo Donvito Layout & Distribution: C.E.D. Roma To SUBSCRIBE To UNSUBSCRIBE If you wish not to receive this bulletin, send a message without modifying the object of the email . Important: please send a message from the email address that you want to delete from our emailing list.

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