"First Freedom" -- An Open Letter to the Department of Justice

Dear Mr. Treene,

Perhaps you are aware that Reverend Roger Christie is in jail in Hawaii. I am writing to engage the assistance of your office to effect his immediate release.

Reverend Christie is being selectively prosecuted as a leader in the public effort to recognize the legitimate, historically significant religious dimensions of mankind's relationship with the Cannabis plant. In fact, Cannabis use by humans predates organized religion. Marijuana and other psychotropic plants have been recognized as foundational catalysts for human spiritual evolution.

The DEA is protecting corporate interests by violating our "First Freedom" as a tactic of intimidation, part of a campaign to mislead the American public about the definition of industrial hemp. This is clearly a threat to national security. A search for "hemp" on the DEA website produces a page which is full of misleading inaccuracies. For example

"“Hemp” is part of the cannabis plant, which is also known as marijuana."
"“...hemp” is not a term that is found in federal law."

DEA Clarifies Status of Hemp in the Federal Register, October 9, 2001.
http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr100901.html

In truth, six American Presidents have signed Executive Orders identifying "hemp" as a "strategic resource" that is critical to national security. Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon and Clinton are in agreement with Thomas Jefferson who wrote:

"Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country."
-Thomas Jefferson

It is clearly a "misprision of treason" to fail in recognizing the known value of hemp. Each spring planting season that passes is gone forever. Time is the only thing we can't make more of.

I invite the DOJ to participate in defense of the U.S. Constitution and national security. Please let me know how I may assist you in resolving this injustice as expeditiously as possible.

Sincerely yours,

Paul J. von Hartmann
California Cannabis Ministry

Sent to
The U.S. Department of Justice
Combating Religious Discrimination and Protecting Religious Freedom
http://www.firstfreedom.gov/