It's Four Twenty on Four Twenty and Colorado University knows how to celebrate! Me and Hemphry got down to Ferrin Field around Three-Thirty. There was a growing group of people who were assembling for the official observance of Four-Twenty. All these people were there, but no one was burning. I realized that it was the calm before the storm, because when 4:20 hit, there must have been over 1500 kids blazing out on the field. Blunts, bowls, bongs, spliffs, phattys, and even pinners were all being lit and passed in circles and in chains, massaging everyone's brains. It was a big cloud of smoke that comes around once a year in Boulder's yearly show of Students burning defiance.

I was there for the fun, as well as on a mission to distribute papers and information, while handing out flyers for the Justice Jam. The people I was staying with were organizing the event and I was tabling there. There's no better way to party, than to party for peace.

All Aboard!

Get on board the Love Train, Love Train?

In Boulder, the kids I stayed with were involved with something called project Love Train, which is a non-profit, with the intention of sharing music with impoverished Haitian Children, called Restavek's. I think it's a great idea to share musical creation with children.

I wish someone would have taken me to a drum circle as a child. I think I grew up thinking music was something that musicians do, and since I wasn't a musician, it wasn't for me. I also didn't feel that I would be allowed to make music, because I grew up in a quiet house. Self expression was frowned upon. I wasn't even allowed to put up posters in my room because it would ruin the paint! I suppose we all have our qualms about our past, though and I give thanks to my parents for providing for me and allowing me to become who I am, and supporting me in my endeavours. My mom has started reading these updates, so I gotta watch what I say. Hi Mom! Reminder: click on the red words to find out where they'll lead you.

My folks are born again Christian, and that's how I was raised, so you can imagine some of the conversations we might have. For me the bottom line is that God's creation is perfect, and those of us who stand for saving Earth and her life, must be on a good path. The Devil (whoever that is) causes us to destroy our stolen homelands, pollute our waterways, exploit people and animals, and then lie about how good we are.

Acknowledging we have a problem is the first step in recovery. I can't understand how the church can justify our lifestyles, while condemning those who truly love and live for creation. The us and them? mentality is most detrimental to the human race. We are all us! The sooner we acknowledge that the similarities far outweigh the differences, the sooner we can all get along. We all need food, water, air, sunlight and love. Beyond that, we are motivated by perceived need, marketing, and greed. Turn off your T.V.! and go buy Pure Hemp Cigarette papers! (just kidding, well kinda)

So the Love Train band was a big part of the Justice Jam that I saw in Boulder last Sunday night. Andrew, Peter, and Jen really put a lot of good energy into the Justice Jam. The proceeds for the evening were going to benefit the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and Project Love Train. Vox Feminista performed some politically charged comedy. I really enjoyed their style of humour, which pokes fun at our deadly economy. We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For performed spoken word with a computer-driven slide show. They drew very important connections between our culture and our culture's effects. They are two black brothers representing a very important message and they travel to different schools presenting to assemblies of students. I'm really stoked to know they are doing what they do. Basically, we have a choice in our life; to perpetuate this maddening society, or to create change towards a more just and sustainable future.

The CU African Drum Ensemble was uplifting. The students did great. There were drummers, dancers and singers, all being led by their teacher who was a beautiful African man who had a ton of energy. Their set was short, but they managed to get everyone moving, dancing, and singing. It was a great way to get the music rolling!

The Project Love Train Band consisting of my new friends played a great set. Come Together, with a drawn out jam was really cool. I tell ya, music with a message is where it's at. Nowadays, I can hardly derive pleasure from any type of entertainment that isn't causing either inspiration or critical analysis. Whether we're just tooting our own horns, or actually causing change, it's hard to tell, but at least the intention is there. Actions begin with intention. Our awareness creates our motivations, and the effects of our actions are what we have to live with. May we all live in harmonious beauty.

Jyemo was really good. They're totally uplifting with good West African-influenced rhythms. Chronophonic closed out the night with a groovy funk. We let it all hang out, as we danced for all these great musicians. I am really impressed with the talent of the people in this growing movement. Life is definitely worth living for.

On Monday, I was blessed to bring the worms for Nuropa's vermicomposter. Worms eat the organic matter, creating soil more quickly than regular decomposition. Here's Angela and her worms. Nuropa is a special environmentally geared school. I met one dude who was taking Sustainable living from a Native American standpoint (or something like that). Nuropa sounds good, but it's expensive. There's also Rocky Mountain Herbal institute or something, and that's real neat. All around, it seems there's alternatives to the typical school choices sprouting up. Learning how to live/survive is becoming popular.

I went downtown to raise a bit of gas coin before leaving. As I was walking around, "promoting" Pure Hemp Papers to different stores, I passed an organic bakery. I consciously walked by, not wanting to give in to my Candida's sugar addiction. As I passed, my bowels rumbled, and I quickly changed my mind. I walked in and went straight to the toilet. I was in there for a couple of minutes. In the meantime, I heard some people come in. After finishing up, I opened the door and saw a familiar head of hair! I looked, as he looked, I said Berkley, as he said San Francisco, then we both said Food Not Bombs! It turned out that we'd made sandwiches together in the middle of the night, the first night that America invaded Iraq. We'd spent the first couple of days FNB-ing, and were really surprised to see each other in Boulder. I proposed the possibility of a ride to New Orleans, at which three of them were interested. We traded numbers and I promised to contact them, as I was stoked on the idea of company. It turned out that Keith, a dude I'd met only briefly in S.F. was down for the journey. Sweet!

I finished getting ready to split Boulder late on Monday Night, and Kieth was down for the mid-night departure. We drove to a town past Denver, and slept for about four hours, before splitting and driving across Kansas toward Lawrence, where my friend Daniel, from Hawaii was anxiously awaiting our arrival. We drove against a killer head-wind, which slowed Hemphry to a 50 MPH average. (Cyclists know about headwinds, check out www.biodev.org and click on "bike trip" to see what the rutabegga circus is doing to stop GMO's.) The Prairie stretches on forever in all directions, it seems, and at that speed, we experienced the prairie.

It was cool, though, because Keith could drive, allowing me to focus on my previous update, which is so necessary. It's hard for me to travel solo-style, while staying on top of all my obligations, but I'm trying. These updates are reminiscent of homework, but are a bit more gratifying. It's been years since I kept records of my days. I had a journal in Hawaii, where I wrote of many important, life-changing experiences, but I lost it when I got home, and got a bit dejected. I feel good to be back in the writing groove, and thanks for reading this if you are. Feel free to contact me with suggestions and feedback. We neared Lawrence, as we passed through Topeka.

As I was in mid-sentence of a line in the last update, the Cherries go on behind us. Holy cow, we're actually getting pulled over. Holy smokes! Ok, well, just try to answer the questions well. Keith did a good job speaking to the police. They called him to the back of the van where he spoke with the Man. I prayed. Soon they came to speak with me, where I confirmed Keith's agreement to let them search. Technically we could refuse consent to search, but you never really know where that will get ya. We never allow any illegal substances on the premises of the van, due to the harsh penalties for drugs that America is known around the world for. Even still, they could plant it in the van. History shows that some people abuse their positions of power. So it's risky letting them search, even if you have nothing to hide. One time in a different vehicle several years back, a bunch of us crossed the border, and they separated me from everyone else, and then took some hash and some pills and showed them to my passengers, trying to get someone to fess up to something none of us did. It was disturbingly ludicrous. We made it over regardless, and saw String Cheese at the Funhouse. But I'm saying, it's a dicey thing, dealing with the police. Be respectful, move slow, speak clearly, don't kiss ass, and assert your rights, with respect for their title and the power that they've been granted. I just try to communicate to them my intention and sincerity in that Industrial Hemp is a good cash crop. It's good for the land and good for the farmer. They brought a dog over, as I was getting my jeans to wear overtop of my shorts. I was out of the van before the dog arrived, and talked with a cop about how good hemp is while the dog and an officer were rummaging through the vehicle. The dog alerted to something in between the two seats. Two officers spent a while searching for something, which, in the end we determined were hempseeds. I have since cleaned the box the dog was sniffing.

While the two officers were searching, I spoke with a third officer. I asked him about the severity of being found with marijuana possession in Kansas, and he said it depended upon the amount, but if it was small then it wasn't too bad. I asked him if there'd been any Medical initiatives on the ballot, and he said: "it's the Midwest". I was like yeah, and people are real conservative in these parts? I just agreed. Then he told me that his aunt had used medical marijuana for the last couple of months before she died. He said it was cancer.

I give thanks to Great Spirit for guiding my thoughts, my voice, and my actions. In the end, two of the cops who protected America by searching Hemphry were down for this photo. They said Hemp! on the count of three. The man on the left is the dog handler, and I barely spoke with him, the cop on the right agrees that Hemp is a good plant, so long as we can keep that darn THC out of there. Kieth and I had spent about an hour with these Topeka Highway Interdiction Officers before we were on our way, with directions to Lawrence. Give Thanks Spirit!

For all the cops out there who think drug prohibition is a waste of time, there's Law Enforcement Against Prohibition aka, LEAP. This is an international group of present and past police officers who feel that the Drug War is unjust. It endangers both police and citizens, and costs the taxpayers way too much.

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One Love.

Johannes Chapman, Pure Hemp Caravaner