I'm sending this to you and to myself because it's not done. I'm getting moved along from my present location even though I'm so close to finnishing. Account of events leading to the detainment of Hemphry by U.S. Customs in Madawaska, Me.

I purchased three kilos of toasted and salted hempseeds from a shop in Monteral. The owner advised me not to bring hempseeds over the border, reminding me of America’s "zero tolerance" and I said "whatever, hempseeds are not banned in America." I’d learned that in the latest edition of Cannabis Culture.

We first attempted to cross the border at St. Leonard into Van Buren. The border guard conducted a thorough search of Hemphry. He saw the seeds, but was uninterested in them and was more concerned with the papers and how to properly process our entry. I showed him a receipt from purchasing a five dollar user fee one time in Buffalo. He got his supervisor on the phone, and came back with the news that we just had to pay a five dollar user fee, based on the product being used as promotional items. As we were re-packing Hemphry, the supervisor called back and refused our entry based on the possibility that we might sell the papers. The border guard told me that they were trying to cut down on that kind of stuff, and that once he makes up his mind, it’s not so easily changed. He suggested to us to travel South to Woodstock to cross into Houlton, where the supervisor’s office is located. There, we could potentially persuade him.

We were bummed out and a bit dejected, and the prospect of heading back to Quebec to find the Rainbow Gathering that we’d heard about sounded more and more appealing. I decided to start heading back to the Rainbow, feeling happy to be in Canada, not feeling drawn to America at all. Edmundston was just North, and there was a festival called Foire Brayonne. By the end of the night, we decided to try again here in Edmundston tomorrow.

We arrived at the Madawaska Point of entry at around 2pm. The search began, and everything was going as normal until I pulled out and showed Officer Albert the bags of hempseeds which were stowed away in the back. I showed him the seeds, poured some into his gloved hand and some into mine. I ate mine, and then since he declined, I ate his. He took a sample for a field THC test. The search continued, with the three of us waiting in the waiting room. At one point, I was called out to the van and Officer Albert informed me that the seeds tested positive for THC, thereby being classified as a narcotic. Because the narcotic was found, the papers automatically became paraphanelia, even though it would be physically impossible to rollup a joint full of hempseeds, smoke it or get high. At that point he informed me that the papers themselves tested positive for THC, much to my surprise.

Roger Corbin, the boss arrived in a plaid button-down. I’m assuming he was called in because it was Sunday. They told me that the seeds and the papers and anything else testing positive for THC would be seized. Officer Albert even told me that the twine tested positive for THC. I was skeptical about that, and even asked if they could test a cotton shirt or something. I asked if there were two testers, because I do not believe that THC could be found on either that papers or the twine. At some point we reminded them that we did have tickets and we were hoping to make it before the show ended. They told us that it shouldn’t be too much longer. I was under the understanding that we’d be loosing the seeds, and leaving the papers, but that we could still pass.

A dog was on the way, and then they decided they had to test everything in the van that was hemp. All along, the three of us were courteous, patient, and compliant. I was making wire-wraps on semi-precious stones, while others were making necklaces and reading. Dominique would go out for a smoke occasionally. I went in to Roger Corbin’s office to identify several of the unidentified objects. Most of them were tinctures and other food items. At around Six-Thirty, we asked if someone could go get some food. Dominique and Karrie left for some food, while I stayed back.

A new guy dressed in a Dead shirt showed up, and asked me how much money I had. I guessed at around two hundred bucks. He told me I had something to sign, but that I could finnish my dinner first. After eating, I went out to the van where all the evidence was being bagged up. The guy in a Dead shirt, who turned out to be DEA (from Bangor) with his partner, had me sign a paper. When I signed, he said this is not an admission of guilt, It just says that I'll show up at Court in Maine on Sept. 9th. I am charged with an attempt to import eight pounds of Marijuanna into Maine. That is why Hemphry was detained, the papers seized and why we were turned back to Canada at around 9pm.

Roger Corbin instructed me to come back the next day, which was another four hour wait. Hemphry is in limbo, awaiting the findings of the DEA's testing of the seeds in Boston. If they test positive to unknown criteria, he will be seized. If the tests come back negative, Hemphry will be returned.

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Johannes Chapman, Pure Hemp Caravaner
www.Cycle.wild.net
www.thebet.ca