Rep. Polis of Colorado Pushes Decriminalization of Marijuana at the Federal Level.

If Colorado was allowed to treat marijuana like alcohol — or any other medicine, for that matter — pot dispensaries could freely set up business bank accounts without fear of federal prosecution and marijuana could, like corn and wheat, be grown openly in national forests.

This is according to U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, a Boulder Democrat, who said he plans to push a law in the new Congress that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level so that states with medicinal laws on the books, like Colorado, could treat it as they wish. Under Polis' structure, marijuana laws would be extremely local — similar to states that have so-called dry, alcohol- free counties.

"It's not in the federal government's realm," Polis said. "I'm proud of Colorado being a pioneer in this regard and setting up a regulatory structure. We've benefited in tax revenues and I think it's dealt a big blow to criminalize it."

Green Man: I'm proud of Colorado too. Our pioneer spirit has bred a very strong desire of independence, which often is most evident in personal independence. In other words, "If I'm not hurting anyone, leave me alone." We favor personal liberties over authoritarian power structures that often over-reach their authority.

Marijuana use has never directly killed ANYONE--EVER; It's virtually impossible to over-dose on. It isn't nearly as addictive (if at all) as alcohol or cigarettes and the sales taxes from it have helped Colorado weather the Great Recession!! I have heard from several news outlets that many, many politicians actually support legalizing marijuana but are too afraid to stand up for it.

So, as usual, we the people will have to do most of the work in pushing the politicians to do the right thing. Thankfully, people like Representative Polis are stepping up and it is important that we acknowledge such an action. Please, call his office (202) 225-2161) or send an email. if you have a few minutes and tell him you are glad he is taking this issue on. And, if you can--donate to his campaign.

~The Green Man has Spoken~

Frolicking in the Woods.

I do sincerely apologize for neglecting the grove of late. Green man has been frolicking in the woods, high in the Rocky Mountains for the waning days of Autumn. We have some friends who live up there in a secluded cabin on a chunk of land that is hidden and guarded by a phalanx of strong, noble, pine trees.

They are a couple of good ole hippies who we have somewhat adopted (my wife and I) as part of their family. It's very meaningful to us because our own families are conservative, Mormons who we just can't relate too very well (my parents are awesome -- it's my siblings where the tension rises).

They are conservative, and we are liberals (Social Democrats of the European style, actually). They are Mormons and we are Zen Buddhist Pagan free spirits. They wouldn't touch coffee let alone pot and we're neo-hippies who praise the heavens when we are blessed with sacred marijuana. So, to have an adopted family where we can be ourselves is worth, so much to these two, young, recovering, ex-Mormon outcasts. They let us come up to their land all the time and camp out to wash the "conservative crazy" off our skin from living in such a conservative town down in the valley. There's nothing like the whisper magic of the pines to cleanse you of that chaos.

So, we were honored to watch their cabin for them while they went down to Arizona to visit family. It's a cozy, warm, inviting cabin that feels like a mountain cottage. Green man enjoyed getting back to his pagan roots by unleashing the fire breather within. You see, I am mesmerized by fire being a fire sign (Sagittarius). I must admit (a bit sheepishly) that when there's a forest fire here, my first concern is for everyone's safety but another part of me stands in awe at the awesome show of power from the twisting, roaring flames. It's a beautiful show from Mother Nature, and while I mourn the charred trees, I must say that I find the beauty in the process of destruction. And, it is also a process of rebirth because the soil left behind by forest fires is very rich and fertile ground for new life to grow and thrive.

I believe that when we are fully, awakened (in the enlightened sense) that we learn to see the beauty in everything--even shit. Yes, shit. My Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh sees the beauty in shit because without it he wouldn't be blessed with his lovely rose bushes. The first time I heard that, it changed my whole view on things. However, I digress.

Our friend's cabin is totally "off-the-grid" meaning they haven't paid a utility bill is years. They get their energy from two wind turbines on the property and a stand of next-generation solar panels from Abound. So, they look at wind a whole different way; when everyone grumbles about the anxious wind--they celebrate all the free energy they're saving away in their battery banks. So, it was cool to know that the internet we were surfing up there was wind and sun powered. Thank-you Mother Nature!! See, how nice life would be if we lived with Mother Nature instead of against her like a naughty neighbor? No, that will never do!! Bad form to treat a lady of her experience and sophistication in such a manner.

So, we cozied up in that hippie haven for four days and even got to enjoy a mystical rain shower that saw the etheral, ghost-like clouds sink over the mountains and hang around like the smoke trailing off a wizard's wand. It was so nice to stoke up the wood burning furnace, throw on a blanket and read away the day. After we went to bed we woke up around 2a.m. to the sound of a mournful coyote crying at the full moon, and he/she wasn't very far away. I've grown up around wild animals from living in the Rockies my entire life, but it's always a gift to hear their calls. A few minutes later the coyote cried out again and this time it was much closer. I was sure it was on the property itself. We just curled down deeper under the blankets and dozed off again knowing we were safe and cozy inside that toasty cabin.

It was a very spiritual experience, and being a Pagan nature worshiper I saw that coyote as one of nature's shamans coming to us and announcing his presence. It was a reminder that we are just along for the ride when entering the sanctuary of nature. Despite living around wilderness for decades it never ceases to give me a sense of awe and spiritual reverence upon entering its sacred spaces. I often feel much deeper spiritual energy in nature's temples than in one's made by man. I am so blessed and honored to live so close to the spirituality of the wilds.

~The Green Man has Spoken~

Groups Offers $10k to Dispprove Claim that Marijuana is Safer than Alcohol.

The Safer Texas Campaign is offering $10,000 to anyone in Texas who can prove that three statements claiming marijuana is safer than alcohol are incorrect. The three statements are:

1. Alcohol is significantly more toxic than marijuana, making death by overdose far more likely with alcohol.

2. The health effects from long-term alcohol consumption cause tens of thousands of more deaths in the U.S. annually than the health effects from the long-term consumption of marijuana.

3. Violent crime committed by individuals intoxicated by alcohol is far more prevalent in the U.S. than violent crime committed by individuals intoxicated by marijuana only.

"We are confident that this $10,000 will not be claimed," said Safer Texas Campaign manager Craig Johnson, when he posed the challenge.

Green Man: It's basically impossible to overdose on marijuana. You'd have to ingest it by the ton in order for an overdose to occur--and it simply isn't realistic to believe someone would do such a thing. As for number two, there aren't the numbers of people dying from marijuana related effects like alcohol. I know many old hippies who've been using marijuana since the 60s and are in perfect health. Lastly, marijuana isn't a drug that makes one aggressive. It makes people relax, laugh and calm. I can't tell you how many times I've seen fights break out from people drinking alcohol but in all the people I've seen ingest marijuana--nothing. Committing a crime is the last thing on someone's mind after using pot.

They are too relaxed to get off the couch let alone to commit a crime. People on marijuana are peaceful and often get into deep discussions on how to make the world a better place. I've never heard of a domestic violence crime break out from marijuana consumption, whereas with alcohol it's all too common. Alcohol is a drug that often makes people aggressive, unruly and rude. People who use marijuana are super polite because it makes you feel chill and mellow.

So, if we're going to allow alcohol then marijuana should be allowed as well. It's so frustrating, yet somewhat hilarious that the same politicians who cowardly stand in the way of legalization of marijuana due to fear of not being re-elected are also the same people who guzzle gallons of liquor in their off time. No one thinks anything of it and the same should be true of marijuana.

It simply isn't the drug that it's been demonized to be during the past 70 years. All that "Just say no" crap and "Reefer Madness" videos from the 50s are pure propaganda. Pot doesn't make you go insane like those ridiculous old black and white films they showed in health classes in school. I doesn't belong in the class of hard drugs with cocaine, crack, meth and heroin. It belongs in the same class as alcohol despite it being less of a problem for society than booze.

In other news, a recent poll in my home state of Colorado shows that a majority supports legalizing marijuana.

~The Green Man has Spoken~

Spring Equinox in Colorado.

This past Saturday was the Spring Equinox. Eostre is a Pagan goddess of Spring, and despite her youthful nature it takes her a bit longer to reach our high mountain region of Colorado.

As the sun rose in the East (the direction named after Eostre) on Saturday, it was overshadowed once again by the tenacious bite of Old Man Winter.

The mountains are the last refuge for him as slowly but surely Eostre's warm, sunny smiles force him to retreat higher and higher until his influence is only seen on the tops of the tallest peaks. Yet even there his size and power is much subdued.

So, Saturday when it snowed we took heart in knowing it was the last gasps of a dying tyrant because then Sunday it warmed up nicely as Eostre charged forward. We must endure one last battle it appears tomorrow and on Wednesday but after that I think Eostre will finally reign supreme.

Speaking of Eostre, the name of the "Christian" holiday of Easter comes from her name!! Do the Christians have any holidays that they haven't stolen and from the Pagan peoples?

PHOTO CREDIT: Doscaras

Common Weed Killer Causes Male Frogs to Become Female.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Atrazine, one of the most commonly used and controversial weedkillers, can turn male frogs into females, researchers reported on Monday. The experiment is the first to show such complete effects of atrazine, which had been known to disrupt hormones and which is one of the chief suspects in the decline of amphibians such as frogs around the world.

The European Union banned atrazine in 2004. The finding may add pressure to the United States to more closely regulate the chemical, used widely in agriculture."Approximately 80 million pounds (36,287 tonnes) are applied annually in the United States alone, and atrazine is the most common pesticide contaminant of ground and surface water," the researchers wrote.

Green Man: And we wonder why Autism and other mental illnesses are on the rise? I know some studies have shown that chemicals have no effect on Autism but how can it not have some influence when these chemicals are shown to reverse the sexual traits of other animals??? Atrazine is also implicated as a causal factor in breast cancer. I know people who will say, "Oh it's just a damn frog." Yeah? Well, ever hear of something called, "the food chain?" These frogs are acting as our "canary in the coal mine." For those who don't know, miners use to take canaries into the mines to warn them of toxic gases being released. The birds would always be effected first and more easily so if the canaries were acting weird or died then they knew it was time to get the hell out of the mine. If the frogs are getting messed up then it doesn't take a scientist to tell you that sooner or latter--humans are next. If not already being effected.

Green lawns all over the country are in general bad for the environment in my view. They require ridiculous amounts of water and toxic chemicals to fertilize and kill weeds. We have been in continuous droughts out here in the West and green lawns are partly to blame. They are not native to Colorado, nor many other places around the country. I would love to see a law passed that requires all home-owners to xeriscape their properties, (click here to read more about xeriscaping) with native grasses, plants and flowers. I have seen some really beautiful xeriscaped landscapes around the state and country, so I don't buy the argument that such landscapes aren't as "attractive."

There is this house (unfortunately I don't have a picture) in near by Boulder, Colorado near my former psychologists house that has a xeriscaped yard full of Colorado wildflowers, Aspen trees and a lot of other native species in their landscape. It is a really gorgeous set-up that looks like they have a mountain meadow as a front and back yard. The best part though for me is that they have a front walk way that's just a little wandering dirt path and snakes its way through the wild flowers, wild grasses and Aspen trees all the way up to their front door. It's just like up in the mountains and they hardly use any water at all, and it hides their front door and window a bit for some nice privacy.

~The Green Man has spoken~