AN AFTERNOON WITH JACK HERER

After Hash Bash, at the Monroe Street Block Party, I had the chance to sit down and talk with the Emperor of Hemp, Jack Herer.  Jack had plenty to say, so our conversation covered many diverse topics such as his health, the identity of god, and the hemp movement. 

I had last spoke with Jack at the Marijuana Policy Project/Students for Sensible Drug Policy conference in Anaheim, California in November of 2002.  After hearing Jack give a rousing five minute speech at the Hash Bash earlier in the day I knew that he had made major strides in his stroke recovery.  Later I asked him what his therapy consisted of. 

Jack told me that the secret to his recovery was the powerful psychedelic mushroom: Amanita Muscaria.  Jack said that about a year ago he had undergone an initial, intensely religious Amanita Muscaria experience.  This mushroom ritual brought on a strong trance that lasted for 12 hours.  During this period Jack feels that he met god.  Since then he has medicated with Amanita Muscaria and marijuana almost daily.  Jack's daily regiment consists of small doses ( .2 gram ) of Amanita Muscaria every few hours throughout the day.  These relatively small doses of have very subtle psychedelic effects for him but they greatly enhances his ability to speak. 

When I asked Jack about the future of the American hemp movement he responded with a challenge.  He wanted to know if I had spoken to my grandparents or uncle about the benefits of hemp.  He said that ignorance is the only thing holding hemp back in America.  Jack believes that people must arm themselves with the truth and then go out into the world and spread knowledge about the many uses of cannabis. 

Finally, I spoke with Jack about his plans for the future.  He explained that he was hard at work with his buddy James Arthur on a project to decode the bible.  Jack and James are translating original versions of both the old and new testament, word for word.  The theme of their new book will be 'The Most High.' Their objective is to determine if each version of the bible has a particular psychedelic drug, be it Amanita Muscaria, Soma, Marijuana, Calamus, etc., that, in essence IS god. 

Despite suffering a severe stroke in April of 2000, Jack Herer is back and he's more determined than ever to spread the truth about cannabis and liberate this plant once and for all!