Date: Thu, 1 Jun 1995 06:35:01 -0500
From: [c--o--n] at [dsmnet.com] (Carl E. Olsen)
Subject: Richard Cowan 05-30-95

                     VALEDICTORY
                     May 30, 1995

To NORML Chapter Leaders and Friends from Dick Cowan:

As you may know, for some time I have been working to develop communication 
and cooperation in the international cannabis reform movement.  I have been 
very disturbed that there has been so little understanding in the U.S. of 
the importance of the progress being made around the world.  Indeed, I have 
often felt that the flares understand this better than our side does. (That 
is why they lie about it so persistently.)  After much thought, I have 
concluded that I can best serve the movement by leading a new effort to gain 
international support for NORML in Europe.  I am convinced that only an 
American based in Europe can build the kind of communication necessary to 
penetrate American isolation.  Consequently, I have asked Dr. Grinspoon to 
begin a formal search to find a new National Director for NORML by the end 
of the year, at which time I will relocate across the Atlantic.  I am 
confident that by the end of the year we will have completed the rebuilding 
process here, making life much easier for my successor, but please 
understand that I will still be working with all my strength to bring 
freedom back to America.  Over the next few months I will keep you informed 
as we build on our efforts in Europe.

For the remainder of the year, I will serve without salary. (I will also be 
paying my own expenses when I travel to Europe during the year.)  I am 
making this contribution to show my great love for you and my appreciation 
for the sacrifices that you make in your daily lives, almost always without 
thanks or even acknowledgment.  You make great sacrifices; I will try to 
make a small one in return.

Even though I am going to be here for the rest of the year, I think that it 
is appropriate to take this opportunity to say "thanks" -- but not yet 
good-bye -- to the people to whom I owe so much.  There is always the 
temptation just to offer general thanks rather than to name individuals, 
because there are so many of you who deserve recognition, and no one should 
be left out.  However, in this context the thanks also make important points 
about what different people contribute to this movement.  So with apologies 
to those whom I should mention, but cannot...

First, of course, I must thank Dr. Lester Grinspoon.  He is truly the 
kindest, most caring person that I have ever known -- with the exception of 
his wife, Betsy.  His very kindness made it all the more difficult for him 
to step into the fray.  His recruiting of the new Board for NORML to support 
my efforts to rebuild NORML was the greatest honor that I have ever 
received, and a very considerable risk for him.  This has been demonstrated 
by the attacks on his friends on the Board by those who have decided that 
only they can save the movement... by destroying it.

When the history of this bizarre aberration in American history is written, 
Lester Grinspoon's name will be the one that will be at the center of it 
all.  The fact that his very lucid work has been so distorted and/or ignored 
ironically, often by those on both sides -- will be the key to understanding 
the magnitude of this malfunction in the public discourse.  No one will be 
able to say "if someone had just explained it..."  He did, and by doing so, 
he left them with no excuses.   Finally, as I have told Lester many times, 
if I didn't have him as a friend, I would certainly need him as a psychiatrist.

Next, I think that one of my happiest moments during the time that I have 
been here was the pleasure of telling Keith Stroup, the founder of NORML, 
"welcome home," when he joined NORML's new Board.  Keith is one of the 
people who has made a real difference in my life, as he has made a 
difference in the lives of millions of cannabis users who have never even 
heard of him.  He gave me the opportunity to be of service in 1972, and 
there is truly no greater gift that one could give to someone who really did 
not even know the meaning of the word.  Keith did something, and he let me 
do something, and that changed my life.  More recently, the counsel from his 
hard-earned experience in the public arena has been invaluable since he 
joined the Board.  Knowing that his counsel will be available to my 
successor makes me all the more confident in NORML's future.

I want to thank all of the other Board members who have put themselves in 
the line of fire as well, but I especially want to thank Dr. John P. Morgan 
and Professor Lynn Zimmer.  Their academic collaboration on the issue is 
making an invaluable contribution to the public discourse, and their company 
is a mixture of great human warmth and intellectual stimulation that is like 
a trip to Coney Island for my heart and mind.  Dan Viets is someone whom I 
-- at first -- greatly underestimated.  He is one of the most solid pillars 
of the movement.  Even the briefest conversation with Ann Druyan is an 
uplifting experience.  I am happy to report that her husband, Carl Sagan, is 
doing well, but it is difficult to imagine anything that Annie's charm 
couldn't cure.  And to all the rest of this distinguished group, new friends 
and old... much thanks.

As for the activists in the field, there are too many of you whom I do not 
have the pleasure of knowing, and among those of you whom I do know, too 
many to thank individually.  As proxies for all of you then, let me salute 
the dedication of John Hartman, the persistence of Mike Pearson, the 
intellect of Carl Olsen, the courage of Dennis Peron... and you too, Paul K. 
and Stevie D., and all the others who also serve.  Most of all, I can never 
adequately express my thanks to the brave medical cannabis users who came to 
Washington for National Medical Marijuana Day.  I will carry that memory and 
inspiration with me forever.

Thanks also to the NORML staff; past and present, who have worked so hard 
for so little.  One of the joys of being here has been watching Donegal 
Pearce, NORML's business manager, grow quickly from being a kid we hired to 
answer the telephone to the responsible young man who has the unenviable 
task of trying to spread our erratic income over our inexorable expenses.

And then there is Allen St. Pierre.  Never before have I had the opportunity 
to learn so much from someone only a little more than half my age.  On a 
daily basis I learn more and more about cannabis and the movement from him, 
information that is invaluable now, but which I hope will be less important 
in the future.  On the other hand, there are lessons about character, 
strength, commitment, and caring that I will take with me throughout my 
life.  In the face of every adversity, often not only unthanked but even 
attacked and vilified by those who owe him so much they cannot understand, 
he soldiers on.  Without him there would not have been a NORML for me to 
work for, and without him whatever I have accomplished would not have been 
possible.  There simply are no words....

Finally, I hope that my departure will lessen the zeal of those in the 
movement who seem to have developed such an obsessive hatred of me that they 
have lost their moral compass.  So long as they lie, I wear their enmity as 
a badge of honor, but I regret that they are willing to destroy NORML and 
the movement just to take shots at me.  If they rejoice at my departure, so 
be it.  Now I hope that they will let NORML go about its job.

These attacks have been only a minor factor in my decision.  Frankly, I have 
been much more disturbed by the willingness of so many in the movement to 
believe -- and repeat -- anything negative said about NORML. (Much like the 
media with marijuana.)  It is also disheartening that so many leaders of the 
movement seem not to want to look at the facts either because they want to 
be able to "work with everyone" or just be above it all.  We are having to 
build a movement as we go, and it cannot be built around amoral zealots.

All movements have infighting and some of it is healthy.  For example, those 
who think that we should spend more time talking about hemp, or more time 
lobbying and less on the media are perfectly entitled to criticize NORML for 
concentrating more on other areas.  Honest differences pursued honestly may 
even help the movement.  I have learned a lot from my critics, even when I 
continue to disagree with them.  That is very different from lying as a 
political tool.  We cannot condemn the narcs for lying and then accept lying 
in the movement.  Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.  
Slander is wrong and it destroys communities, so it is important to know who 
is lying.  Responding to lies is not "infighting," because liars should not 
be "in."  We quoted Einstein in a recent media fax; "The world is dangerous 
place to live -- not because of the people who are evil but because of the 
people who don't do anything about it."

Now, back to work.  We have a busy time ahead.  A 10 millionth arrest to 
mark.  A 25th anniversary to "celebrate."  And the truth and freedom to 
defend.  Freedom Is NORML!


  ********************************************************************
  *  Carl Olsen                   *  [c--o--n] at [dsmnet.com]            *
  *  Post Office Box 4091         *  http://www.calyx.com/~olsen/    *
  *  Des Moines, Iowa 50333       *  [Carl E  Olsen] at [commonlink.com]    *
  *  (515) 243-7351 voice & fax   *  [73043 414] at [compuserve.com]        *