Utah State Capitol
August 1997

Eliza James Cusswoth Burton Sager was my Grandmothers Grandmother. In about 1850, in England, she joined the Mormon Church and decided to come to Utah because they were persecuted in England. As they were earning the money, her husband died. In 1856 she came to America and pulled a hand cart with her 7 year old son and 2 year old daughter until they got to Martin Cove Wyoming, where they waited to die and freeze to death, and were saved and brought to this valley to escape religious persecution. A year later the United States Army came to Utah to destroy the Mormons in the very same spirit the U.S. went to Waco to destroy the Branch Davidians for the very same reason. Religious persecution is alive and well.

Uhhh, do you like my suit? Does my suit make you nervous? Are you feeling a bit judgmental. I'll take the Jacket off.

Uhh, this is a Rush Limbaugh tie, should I burn it, or get rid of it? How about my dress shirt? I feel a bit out of place here.

(Removes shirt to reveal a tie dye shirt)

Sorry ladies, that's all.

That was an experiment. Did any of you notice in your own hearts a change in your feeling towards me as I changed clothes? Did any of you notice a bit of judgment? This is an urge, it is in all of us. We have a tendency to judge people who are different. And what I am suggesting to you is that we be more sympathetic to the people who are judging you. They are not monsters, they are just human beings who have lost the ability to control their urge to judge other people for being different. And that is all it is. We need to love our persecutors, that is the way out of this problem.

Four thousand years ago there were two brothers named Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was older and was kicked out because of jealousy and that started a family feud that is still raging. People are still dying in that family feud that is between the Arabs, the Christians and the Jews.

Now, before the split, everybody enjoyed the pleasant sensation that comes from the fruit of the vine and the pleasant sensation that comes from the holy herb. And people had as many marriage partners as they wanted. One or many. But after the split, the Arab society went for polygamy and marijuana, hemp, hashish, and the Christian society went for alcohol and monogamy. And in 1878 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against polygamy, they said one of the reasons was because it was practiced by the heathen Moslem. It was a continuation of this religious business. And virtually every Christian nation in the world today outlaws marijuana. And virtually every Moslem nation today outlaws alcohol. It's just the drug of choice that the other guys use. And the reason that marijuana is outlawed in America today is because the Christians happen to be in the majority. If the Moslems were in the majority here, we would be outlawing alcohol and lighting up everywhere.

The Drug War is a religious war. Some of the people listening to me right now are members of the Drug War and are policemen, so I want to speak to them for just a minute. And you may want to consider these words when you get the chance to speak to them.

What if the Nazi's took control of the government and ordered you to arrest Jews? How would that be different than arresting peaceful non-violent worshipers of the Church of the Hemp Goddess? What would you do if they sent you to round up all the Jews so we could have a Jew-free America?

You, I mean the drug officers, I'm sorry, but I have to say the truth. You are the Gestapo storm-troopers of the American Holocaust. Hitler wanted a Jew-free Germany and you want a Drug-free America. And if you keep up this war on Americans, the violence and the human suffering will eventually match and even surpass the Nazi Holocaust. As long as the majority decides everyone's personal life-style, nobody is safe.

Suppose we Hempsters brought a billion other Hempsters into Utah and they all established residency and they took over the State Legislature and made your religion against the law? What if we put people in jail for not having enough THC in their urine?

(The crowd cheers wildly)

No, no, no, it isn't about who does the persecuting, it's about ending persecution.

The Drug War is a war on America. It is a War on the Constitution, The casualties of the Drug WAR include freedom of speech and of the press, freedom of religion, freedom to keep and bear arms, freedom to have privacy in our persons, papers, houses and effects, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures of property, freedom of due process, freedom from self incrimination, freedom from excessive fines and cruel punishment.

Some lady told a narc where her boyfriend was located. He bought some cocaine, she is now serving 10 years for being part of the transaction. That is cruel and unusual punishment.

And finally from Federal intervention in State affairs. And in case you missed it, every freedom I mentioned is named in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and is a casualty of the Drug War.

The Drug War is Americas number one enemy today. It isn't the policeman, or the FBI. It isn't even Janet Reno. It is the idea that the majority should be telling the minority how to live their personal lives. That is our enemy. And love is the solution. There is not one political party in Utah today that is willing to defend our Constitution against this enemy, but that is being fixed.

As the Mouth of the Church of the Hemp Goddess I sincerely, personally urge each of you to refrain from violating any law. Just as you would not tease a rabid dog, do not provoke them. We are going to be peaceful, and obedient. We don't want to frighten them, because, actually we really do scare them to death.

If any police come and challenge or arrest anyone at any of our gatherings, don't get involved. Don't interfere. Just stay back and watch closely and be a good witness so we can sue officer for violating the civil rights of anyone worshipping with a forbidden plant.

Our victory will come when the ancient feuds are resolved and ancient brothers can join hands and say, "Hey dude it's okay if you are different".

Thank you