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Aspen: NORML Comes to Town

Dateline Aspen: Today is the final day of the NORML Aspen legal seminar. Troy Hooper of the Aspen Daily News (link fixed) takes a look at the first day's events including my presentation on Terrorism and the War on Drugs: The Shrinking of the Constitution.

Gerry and Chris Goldstein once again have opened their home to all of us, hosting a very fun pre-dinner Wednesday night and a NORML benefit dinner last night. Last night's dinner was attended by more than 50 people, and included Aspen Sheriff Bob Braudis (recovering from bronchitis, it was his first day out) and Anita and Juan Thompson (Hunter Thompson's wife and son). Chris Lanter, the incredible chef of Aspen's Cache-Cache restaurant, took charge in the kitchen and contributed not only his time but all of the food. Why? He told me:

It's really a privilege for me, an honor for me, to be included in this. It's something I feel very strongly about.... NORML is a great organization.

I took some video of Chris describing the menu items which I hope to post in the next few days. His passion for food, Aspen and being part of the event really came through.

After dinner, NORML presented a post-humous award to Journalist Hunter S. Thomspon, and both Anita and Juan Thompson, Hunter's wife and son, spoke to us of Hunter's appreciation for criminal defense lawyers and his passion for civil liberties.

This is a very inter-generational event. From Michael Stepanian, Gerry Goldstein, Hal Haddon and Keith Stroup down to new practitioners and even law clerks (including one for Texas federal judge Edward Prado)

This afternoon we'll all be at Hunter and Anita's Owl Farm in Woody Creek for a "High Tea." Pictures to follow.

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    Re: Aspen: NORML Comes to Town (none / 0) (#1)
    by Lww on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 10:20:42 AM EST
    So, Sheriff Bob had Bronchitis? Maybe he needs a better water pipe... Thank God for NORML. Just a little sanity there.

    Re: Aspen: NORML Comes to Town (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 12:40:45 PM EST
    LWW, What he needs is a vaporizer.

    Re: Aspen: NORML Comes to Town (none / 0) (#3)
    by Lww on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 12:53:00 PM EST
    Pretty cool. I guess it beats the 7mm long socket I've been using? Easy to toss. The problem with some of these contraptions is they produce another charge against you if you're busted by the Pot Police. Maybe we should smoke out of dildos and claim depravity in court.

    Re: Aspen: NORML Comes to Town (none / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 01:00:44 PM EST
    LWW, Nah, you gotta make those pineapple bongs, then just eat the evidence when the cops show up.

    Re: Aspen: NORML Comes to Town (none / 0) (#5)
    by Lww on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 01:24:07 PM EST
    That's a freakin goof. Pure ingenuity.

    Re: Aspen: NORML Comes to Town (none / 0) (#6)
    by Lww on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 01:30:59 PM EST
    I was in a liquor store the other day, right over the cash register sat bottles of booze that went for as much as $300+. You figure the state gets a nice chunk. It makes everything very clear.

    Re: Aspen: NORML Comes to Town (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 01:51:49 PM EST
    Yes it does. I saw a gift package of tequila in a bottle shaped like a pistol, packed in a box emblazoned with "How the West Was Won" Tequila. I prefer the ingenuity of our college students. Watermelon Pipe anyone?

    Re: Aspen: NORML Comes to Town (none / 0) (#8)
    by Lww on Sat Jun 03, 2006 at 06:08:34 PM EST
    Dadler, that's a perfectly legal booze distribution system. Taxpayers have every right to kill themselves whichever way is quicker. I think.