While browsing around the Internet, I came upon a rather startling series of videos. These videos were the first, in quite a long time, where I had to stop part way through and take a break. They show the absolutely staggering poverty and conditions that exist within the country of Liberia.

BE WARNED that these videos are not for the faint of heart in any stretch of the imagination. However, if you are willing to experience what exists in our world, then these videos will challenge you. I bring you, The Vice Guide to Liberia.

Part I:

Part II:

Part III:

Part IV:

Part V:

Part VI:

Part VII:

Part VIII:

I don’t know if the other parts haven’t been published, or what, but right now, I could not find the links to part 7 and 8… but damn, this is some captivating reporting. The remaining episodes have been posted as they have been released.

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In February of 2008, I reported on the arrests of Scott and Summer Day. Scott and Summer were doing what so many Americans are finding themselves doing these days: growing their own medicine in the form of cannabis. Scott suffered from a rare condition that usually took the lives of its victims at around age 12. Because of this, he required upwards of $40,000 worth of treatment every month; cannabis provided a relief the costly medicines could not provide.

Almost a year ago, I regretfully extended that report with the loss of a good man: Scott Day. He and his wife found their lives wrapped up in the turmoil of the drug war; the stress of which, ultimately aided in the untimely death of Scott.

In that report, I pleaded for anyone and everyone to contact the appropriate departments in Beaverhead County, Montana to try and halt the prosecution of Scott’s wife, Summer. She was still facing 2 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 after having to deal with the blow of losing her husband.

Now, I am pleased to report some wonderful news! According to Patients & Families United, Summer Day has had her prosecution deferred! Here’s the quote:

We are very pleased to announce that Beaverhead County has decided to defer its planned prosecution of Summer Day.

Many of you know Summer well, from past gatherings we’ve held, and also knew her husband, Scott Day, who died last September. They became cherished members of the Patients & Families United network from the moment we met them, soon after the western Montana drug task force invaded their home and destroyed Scott’s medicinal garden. At the time, they were medical marijuana patients – but unregistered with the state health department.

In our view, the county’s unnecessary but relentless prosecution of Scott and Summer Day contributed mightily to the worsening of Scott’s health and his premature death. The county attorney’s continued attempt to prosecute Summer, even after Scott had perished, was unfounded and especially unconscionable.

We congratulate Summer on having this legal cloud finally dissipate, and we thank her attorney, public defender Jon Moog, for all his hard work on Summer’s (and Scott’s) behalf. It’s been a pleasure and an honor to know and work with both of them, and gratifying to see another patient cleared of punishment at the hands of our overzealous “criminal justice” system.

Depending on the type of deferment, this means that the charges against her could, eventually, be dismissed.

This is a wonderful bit of news in a long struggle.

ILoveBonnie.net would like to personally congratulate Summer and extend a thanks to her public defender, Jon Moog for his hard work.

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In a shocking example of the type of things that go through the heads of our officials: officers in Missoula, MT have taken it upon themselves to use a battering ram and forcibly enter the home of David Michaud (source).

Inside, they confiscated 30 cannabis plants that were setup in a hydroponic grow.

They let him keep the 6 plants that he’s allowed to have, because he’s a registered patient in the state of Montana. He uses cannabis to help him with migraine headaches, pain and nausea.

However, they are charging him with production of dangerous drugs…dangerous drugs.

In addition, they are also charging him with criminal endangerment because his child was in the house. They claim “high-powered lights and a lit bunson burner” posed a fire hazard. The high powered lights being used to grow his medicine, and the lit bunson burner acting, more than likely, as a source of CO2 for this.

This is what the prosecutors are alleging according to The Missoulian. All of this done acting as though the child is not going to be traumatized by seeing officers break in the house, or by losing a father.

Now, he’s in jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Just sickening.

President Obama:

Remember that website you asked us all to visit? Remember when you asked the country to come and express their concerns? Well we did.

The number one listing for the request from your citizens was that we wanted cannabis to be legalized, taxed, or at the very least: left up to the states for governance. You and your administration have taken it upon yourselves to insult us by putting the response to our plea at the bottom of your archival:

(higher quality)

Is this a joke? A good and clear response is delivered for all of the other questions yet your administration, and you yourself, because I address you specifically, find this appropriate:

“President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana.”

People are losing their lives every day.

You ask for an economic stimulus, yet you jail those who would stimulate an economy from nothing.

You ask for peace in our streets and for gangs to lower their holds on our citizens, yet you prosecute those who would take their power away.

In our town, a man has been taken away from his child for trying to care for himself and his pain, and now he’s being charged with “production of a dangerous drug.”

What is it, sir?

We’re allowed to have doctors and science tell us that we can use this plant to help ourselves. We’re allowed to have them and other patients tell us that there is nothing better for that which ails us.

What is it, sir?

We’re allowed to watch people die day, after day, after day from other medications and “drugs” that they are allowed to procure in the supermarket.

What is it, sir?

Don’t ask us for our opinion and then ignore it. It is not becoming of a President asking his citizens to sacrifice for the good of the nation.

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