The Story of Jack Herer and Hempstalk (VIDEO)

Hempstalk paused for the Hemperor: and the bands played on. This is Salem-News.com's 13,000th news report.

Salem-News.com photos by Dexter Phoenix. To purchase photos from his worldwide photo collection, write to Dexter at innocent-p0stcards@hotmail.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - No name in the cannabis movement has more recognition than Jack Herer. The runners up are all of his best friends.

The author of "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" was the first to introduce Americans to the dirty and shady, even downright shameful history of the criminalization of this plant; source of the strongest natural fiber known to man.

Few, if any, are more loved or respected, or more outspoken; so naturally many took it hard when Jack collapsed with a heart attack a little over three months ago, after speaking at Portland's Hempstalk event.

What has taken place since Hempstalk, Jack's struggle to recover without a voice for himself, is beyond tragic.

Friends and supporters of Jack's have divided, but this is the story of what took place the weekend Jack fell ill.

It is about the feelings people have for Jack, the single most outspoken marijuana legalization author and activist.

The video features the words of organizers, activists and performers from Hempfest, as well as the music and the other sights and sounds of this premiere, heartfelt and brave annual event.

No ten-minute video can begin to convey the excellence of Hempstalk, or the pain and the tears that overcame those who know Jack, that suddenly realized what was taking place that day.

Photos of Hempstalk 2009, Portland, Oregon by Dexter Phoenix Salem-News.com

Paul Stanford of The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, says Jack's friends performed CPR for 25 minutes while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. This is a long time for somebody in Jack's condition.

Paul Stanford says their request for an ambulance to be present at the event was denied. Speaking in tragic retrospect, Stanford said the long trip for medical crews did not help.

At the present time, Jack is in a Eugene, Oregon care facility, where his supporters hope he will continue to improve.

This is article number 13,000 for Salem-News.com under our current design. The site was created by Site Designer Matt Lintz and launched January 4th 2006. The 13,000 published articles referenced here, do not account for stories from our previous design, which was launched in July, 2004.

It is a fact that the number 13 holds a great deal of symbolism for this movement, the letter 'm' is the 13th in the alphabet, it seemed highly appropriate to dedicate this piece, article 13,000 in the history of Salem-News.com, to Jack Herer, the Hemperor of Cannabis.

Jack and Jeannie Herer kindly assisted Salem-News.com over the years as we tackled stories on this sometimes complex subject. The assistance has always been a big help, especially when dealing with heavies like Asa Hutchinson of Homeland Security, whom I accused of trying to kill American kids in an article over his insistence on placing the words "meth and marijuana" together, intentionally implying to kids and parents that they are one and the same. (see: Are Former Homeland Security Undersecretary Hutchinson's Words a Death Sentence for American Kids? - Political Perspective by Tim King Salem-News.com)

The willful exploitation of ignorance has never helped this nation get ahead, not at all. We hope you continue to heal and find your way back Jack, and that you do it all again. You are a great person and friend.

Special thanks to Bonnie King and Michael Bachara.

WATCH THE VIDEO REPORT BELOW:

Previous Salem-News.com reports on Jack Herer:

• Dec. 21, 2009: JACK, JACK: Who's Got Your Back? - Bonnie King Salem-News.com
• Dec. 3, 2009: Jack Herer Benefit Event Tonight at Village Ballroom in Portland - By Paul Stanford and Michael Bachara for Salem-News.com
• Nov. 2, 2009: Jack Herer: A Man Well-Loved is Saved Again - Bonnie King Salem-News.com
• Oct. 13, 2009: Jack Herer Strives To Recover While The Fight For Hemp Goes On - Bonnie King Salem-News.com
• Sept. 27, 2009: The Hemperor Jack Herer Shows Slight Progress in Oregon Hospital - Bonnie King Salem-News.com
• Sept. 23, 2009: Dr. Phil Leveque Comments on Jack Herer's Recent Heart Attack (VIDEO) - Bonnie King Salem-News.com
• Sept. 21, 2009: Letter to Salem-News.com Jack Herer: 'My Wonderful Fortune' - Laurence Cherniak for Salem-News.com
• Sept. 19, 2009: Hemp Guru Jack Herer's Condition Critical But Stable - Bonnie King Salem-News.com
• Sept. 19, 2009: Portland Media Group Releases False Report About Jack Herer's Death - Tim King Salem-News.com
• Sept. 17, 2009: Jack Herer Continues to Fight for His Life -- Donation Fund Formed = Tim King Salem-News.com
• Sept. 14, 2009: Supporters of Jack Herer Say They're Focusing on the Positive - Tim King Salem-News.com
• Sept. 13, 2009: Marijuana Author Jack Herer Collapses After Stage Appearance at Portland Hempstalk (VIDEO) - Tim King Salem-News.com
• July 24, 2009: Medical Marijuana Use & Benefits: a Reprise - Dr. Phil Leveque Salem-News.com

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Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor.
Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines. Tim holds numerous awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), the first place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several other awards including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website, affiliated with Google News and several other major search engines and news aggregators.
You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com

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Dexter Phoenix has worked as a staff and freelance photographer since the mid-1990's and has a wealth of professional experiences on his resume. We welcome his presence to our staff at Salem-News.com.
This native of Great Britian moved to Los Angeles in 2007, where he photographed general news, general interests, sports, did freelance model photo work, and also stock images. In his career, Dexter has had photos published: World wide, in many magazines and newspapers and online. Throughout the course of his career he has experience with technology of all imaginable types. In his career as a photographer, Dexter has covered stories in Norway, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, France, Mexico, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Turkey, Somalia, Tunisia, Algeria, Angola, Iran, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Colombia and The United States. Email inquiries about photo purchase to Dexter at the above address.
You can email Dexter Phoenix, Salem-News.com Photographer/Reporter, at innocent_p0stcard@hotmail.com

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Get better Jack you know you deserve a second chance for helping make the best medicine anyone could ask for. Bummer about the amphetamines... what's the deal with that I wonder? Jack is not known to do dangerous drugs to my (limited) knowledge...

Thank You, for this Very Touching Video. I know my daughter will hold on to it dearly. Wonderful Christmas Gift From you two,to All Your Readers, and all The People in The Whole World Who Love and are Praying For Jack. Thanks,Linda(Seeva's Ma) VERY SAD DAY FOR HER and JOY and EVE

Keep getting better Jack Herer!

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