Pubdate: Wed, 07 Aug 2002 Source: Leader-Herald, The (NY) Copyright: 2002 - The Leader Herald Contact: http://www.leaderherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2276 Author: George A. Fletcher HIGH-MINDED GESTURE Marijuana Activist to Raffle Off Bong to Raise Cash for Area Fire Department EPHRATAH - A local businesswoman and pro-marijuana-legalization activist is putting her money where her mouth is by raffling off an expensive water pipe to benefit the RGL Volunteer Fire Department. Ina Kurz, owner of the Rockwood General Store, claims she stands among community leaders and other upstanding citizens as a supporter of the drug, and those who dabble in its recreational use should not be thought of as criminals. Kurz, known in the area for organizing the pro-marijuana Woodrock festivals in 1997 and 1998, has also run on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket for the Ephratah town justice seat and lost three times. She has also been a volunteer for Marijuana Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Thomas K. Leighton. Kurz has owned and operated the only "head shop" in the county - the Rockwood General Store-for 28 years. Kurz's effort to support the Rockwood-Garoga-Lasselsville Fire Department is being received with polite hesitancy by Fire Chief and Town Supervisor Todd Bradt, although he doesn't agree with the politics behind the offer. "I am personally grateful for the offer, but I don't approve of the marijuana angle," he said. "Maybe if it were legal, it would be different. At the same time, we get along okay. I wouldn't want to step on her toes." Kurz said the large, specially made smoking device is called "The Twin Towers" in honor of the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center. Kurz said she is sure there were many victims of the tragedy at Ground Zero who had smoked pot. "I think that it's perfectly appropriate," she said. But Bradt said he doesn't agree because so many firefighters lost their lives during the response and rescue stages of the effort at Ground Zero. "In her way of thinking, maybe it's great," Bradt said. "But I don't think that it's very appropriate. Besides, I'm up for re-election in September. I really don't need the bad association." Bradt was appointed to the supervisor position to finish out the term left vacant by Bessie Floyd, who unexpectedly resigned and moved away from the area last year. He hopes to serve for the remaining two years of Floyd's term, and then if successful, he will run for his first full, four-year term in 2004. Kurz said she wouldn't take the association so badly. "Raising money for the firehouse is the least of it," she said. She said her aim is to raise awareness of the futility and injustice of anti-marijuana laws as well as a recent push for the repeal of New York's Rockefeller Laws. "People go through Hell because the laws go against the First Amendment," she said. "People have their jobs held over their heads because they choose to use marijuana. These laws are [at the whim] of only a few politicians choosing who can do what." Kurz said her customers of marijuana paraphernalia include health professionals, law enforcement officials, government employees and other "heads" of the community. But not everybody is hip to the lingo. "I had a hard time trying to explain to the [members of the fire company] just what a bong is," Bradt said. "Not too many people knew." Despite the potential controversy, Bradt said he doesn't want to pass judgment. "Ina's not a bad lady, and we have a decent relationship." Kurz says a person should not be defined by his or her use of the drug. "You are not a bad person if you smoke marijuana," she said. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex