Would You Be a Martyr?

There are many things in life we have no control over. Even though none of us are given an instruction guide upon birth that will lead us through our time on Earth, before long, we learn by our circumstance, environment or condition that some things are not controllable by human hands or actions. We quickly learn to accept this fact and move on to deal with the things we can control. Things like what lip stick to wear with what outfit, which hair style best accentuates our face, what episode of "Sex and The City" should we revisit yet again in our series library - you know, the really important stuff!

However, there comes a time when we must put our foot down and say, "enough!" I find myself in this frame of mind today. I've always had a heart for the underdog, scuttling along on his belly in his daily plight to make the world a better place. Some have even dared to call me naive and even "a push-over" for a good sob story.

Yes, I admit there have been many times I was "taken-in" by the story of some who were really more intent on advancing their own personal cause rather than their fellow-man, but I'm proud to say those have been few and far between.

Today I read about a true underdog. A man who has lived his life trying to help others and provide a little friendship. That man is Bernie Ellis. There is a full-cover story spread in the "Nashville Scene" documenting his life and his current situation. I read the story because it sounded intriguing and the more I read, the angrier and more intrigued I became.

Bernie is a 57 year-old guy who has spent most of his adult life as a drug abuse researcher. He put himself through Vanderbilt and University of California, Berkeley. He has helped many addicts get into AA or rehab and educated people on the perils of drug abuse. Sounds like a highly intelligent, educated guy, right? So what's his angst, you ask? Bernie suffers from physical pain in his spine and hips due to a degenerative disease and has for years, grown cannabis for medicinal purposes (i.e. marijuana). Not a lot of marijuana, mind you, but a couple dozen plants on his 187 acre farm outside of Nashville, near Natchez Trace. Over the years, Bernie has shared his pot with others who suffer from AIDS, cancer, degenerative diseases, chronic pain sufferers, etc. He has never received money for any he has ever given away and in fact, worked on the counsel with the Governor of New Mexico to legalize medical cannabis. Many of the people he has helped over the years are rising up to support Bernie now. Some in fact, say they probably would not be around if it hadn't been for Bernie's help during their illnesses.

Bernie's nightmare begin with a raid from the Fed's in 2002, who swarmed his farm to uncover "his operation". All they found were a couple dozen plants that estimated at a street value of $7,000. Not a lot of money in today's drug wars and zero money for someone who was not growing it for sale but for personal use.

Until they wake up and pass the law to make marijuana legal in the State of TN, if you are caught growing enough of the offensive herb, you are charged with a felony. Thus was the outcome for Bernie. Due to the overwhelming outpouring of witnesses on HIS behalf, his clean record, his willingness to cooperate, he was mandated to spend 18 months in a half-way house. On May 10th, Bernie will have completed that 18 months and will be free to return to his farm. OH WAIT! That is if his still HAS a farm. Our federal government is trying to take Bernie's home and land as payment for his drug "debt". Considering the herb in his possession would have only brought about $7,000 (their figure, not mine) and his 187 acre farm near Natchez Trace has been appraised for around $1 million....hmm....let's do the math......just doesn't compute in my book. Seems there is the smell of something other than cannabis in the air.

Here's the rub......what bothers me is that the DEA spent tax payers money on investigating a man that even to their own admission, they could not find ONE single shred of evidence that he had ever committed any crimes, and who every person they spoke to only had great things to say about. Other than the actual growing of marijuana, it appears Bernie has done nothing but try to help and comfort his fellow-man his whole life. I find it ironic that a few pages over in the Nashville Scene this week, is an article on a support group for people who have had loved ones murdered and their killers remain free. Granted DEA is not homicide, but they all work for the same boss. Somehow we have to admit that our priorities have gotten extremely confused. I won't even go into all the issues our state is having with Meth uses and the lives that are/have been destroyed by the stuff.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not condoning doing something illegal. Growing marijuana in TN is illegal. Bernie plead guilty and is serving out his time at the half-way house. Why can't they leave well enough alone? Now they want to take his home?

The whole thing just seems to "stink" of much more than what appears. I dare say that if some were suffering from chronic pain or nausea from chemotherapy, they would have a different opinion on this subject. Being a cancer survivor myself, I can understand a body gets to the point you can't take anymore. I never smoked pot during my cancer illness but I have been around others that have. Knowing they were eased for a little while was a comfort to me.

Since the article in the Scene, along with publicity in The Tennessean and News Channel 5, the state has restricted Bernie's time outside of the "house" to 3 hours a week. This means he can not go to his job and earn the meager paycheck that was going towards paying the state's bill. On his website, he had a log of personal diary entries that friends and families could read and learn about what was happening with him. Those have been taken off his site - I suspect because the Feds caught wind of his site and realized they were being painted in a less than pleasing picture. That's too bad because reading his journals made me realize what a gentle spirit he has while at the time being a true renegade for mankind. Luckily I had the forethought to print those journal entries out. Each night before bed, I read one and am reminded to be thankful I lay my head down on a pillow in my own bed and home and no one can tell me what to do, other than maybe my cat.

Sometimes life just isn't fair and there is nothing you can do to change it, or can you? Just ask Bernie Ellis. To learn more about Bernie, go to www.saveberniesfarm.com. Click on the links provided and learn more about the man. Does it pay to be a martyr for something you believe in? I'd sure like to ask Bernie.