The Digital Stain
As of this moment when I google "Miles Morrisseau" it is the 6th link that comes up and when I click on images, pot plants come up among Norval Morrisseau paintings. I tell a friend, this is going to be with me my whole life and show up long after I am gone.
I understand that I made a personal decision and I have to live with the choices I make.
I do not think people should look down and judge and it would be nice not to feel shame but that is not the way it is.
The Anishinaabek Police Services sent out a press release in less than 48 hours and on the morning of August 2, 2018 Blackburn News began to run the story of the alleged pot bust and the four people who were charged were named over and over again.
"Miles Morrisseau is charged with Possession with Intent to Traffic."
Blackburn News IS the media in Sarnia and Lambton Shores. It is a complete radio monopoly - 106.3 - Hard Rock, 99.9 The Fox - Middle of the Road Pop, 103.9.- Country, CHOK 1070 - Talk and Live Sports and they own the only newspaper The Sarnia Observer.
It was all over the community almost immediately and all over our entire region within two days.
Alleged Pot Club Busted
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I did not believe what I was doing was illegal. I was a member of Heal Me Leaf Cannabis Club. I joined on June 21, 2018 - Solidarity Day. I was very impressed with the intellect and philosophy of the club founder Ken Wolfe Jr.
The declaration that each member is asked to make, sounded like the proper protocols regarding operating a comfort shop. Members were acting on their right to chose how to treat their medical conditions. Upon leaving the club they were responsible to store the medicine securely, not to share, not to drive and to make those who enter your home aware that you have medicinal marijuana and it is stored in a safe and secure location.
Clubs were popping up all over First Nations and without a doubt I expected the First Nation to act in a manner similar to cigarettes. Those operations are all illegal in the eyes of the province and the feds.
There was a major difference. Where the tobacco trade had become one of the biggest killers in the world this was a chance to make a difference. It was the philosophy on healing that was hook. We can use this moment in history to help and to heal.
But also let's be real. I needed a job. All the other things that followed after I started at the club are as true as I can make them, but the basic impetus was for me to make a living on the First Nation. I am not very employable. I do this mostly and no one pays for that.
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In the spirit of doing this I began to write a diary starting on Day 1. I called it My Weed Diary - The Last Days of Prohibition. Over the next 11 days, I recorded as much as I could and as honestly as I could.
I have been writing for many years and I never had a "Diary - Diary". I began to be more confessional. Fights with my partner and passionate make-up sex were detailed. I was writing a diary. I also had lots of weed to smoke and an occasional edible and that medicine can open you up.
On July 31, 2018, the APS along with the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nations Police executed a search warrant at the club and I was arrested.
My Weed Diary was confiscated.
I told my partner about some of the things that were in that black hard cover book with the label Aboriginal Healing Foundation - Director of Communications.
She grabbed me by the collar and shook me as hard as she could, which was not very hard.
"Why?" she said.
I told her about experimenting with the form and she looked at me in a way that made me appreciate that she did not have a stick in hand.
She went off on a rant about the officers up at the station reading such personal stories.
I told her that I could not stop writing. I was going to continue writing in my diary up until the end of prohibition - October 17, 2018.
I also told her that I want to connect that notion of shame between marijuana and sex and also how marijuana in various strains is a sexual enhancement.
We had this discussion many times, Native Peoples need to bring out more healthy sexuality and understand that we need to break the chain of assimilation in all aspects of our lives. I would not share any greater details that what was already in the hands of the KSP Police.
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I went to court on August 29, 2018. Charges of conspiracy were dropped against the others accused. I now face two charges of Trafficking - an additional one was added before my appearance.
I received disclosure on August 31, 2108.
101 pages just like stolen Dalmations.
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