Something close to the real story of Tom Forcade is finally revealed. Was Jerry Rubin a spy inserted into the counterculture? Was the American Communist Party created by a rich kid from Harvard? Was the terrorist Weather Underground a CIA operation? This is the true story on how a Communist lawyer got control of the last counterculture publication in America. Part two is titled "It's in the Rig Veda!" and covers how that lawyer ran the company into the ground while siphoning off the profits.
After Tom's death, the magazine floundered under control of his widow, Gabrielle, and a lawsuit regarding a cover photo opened the door for lawyer Michael Kennedy to oust Gabrielle and take control with consent of John Goodson, the guardian of the trust, who inserted his mother, cousin and daughter as trustees, while Kennedy did the same with his wife. In other words, these two lawyers juggled a charity trust for the purpose of enriching themselves. It was fraud and would have been proven so in court had NORML sued, as they were listed as the primary beneficiary.
Strangely, it always seemed Kennedy controlled NORML.
Under Kennedy, an accountant was put in charge and the empire was vampired for short-term profits, losing all integrity, becoming the very dregs of the publishing world, lower than even porn, it was drug porn. Done because that was the easiest profits and the business side was drawn from the porn world.
After I arrived and remade the magazine into the best selling title at Tower Records, while launching the hemp and medical marijuana movements as well as a spiritual rights movement, while also bringing back cannabis rallies (which had been banned by NORML), Kennedy became openly hostile and contemptuous of me in front of the staff (see "The Strategic Meeting").
In 2000, when the trust dissolved, Kennedy moved into the office and discarded me and all my investigative journalism, special projects, and the fight for spiritual rights. The mag became about marijuana and nothing but marijuana. That was Kennedy's second sell-out.
They demolished the events, only the Cannabis Cup remained because it was the most profitable, but WHEE!, the Stonys, the Doobies, the Marijuana Film Festival, were all great ideas providing excellent content at little or no price. All killed because I initiated them. Then when the Cup became 70% of the revenue (the magazine was dying due to mediocre content), nobody figured out that maybe all those other events I'd created could be just as profitable.
Going All the Way by the Squires performed by the Soul Assassins
Stoner Highway by Hank Williams, new lyrics by Steven Hager performed by the Seeds of Doubt
Sticky Icky by Lincoln Chase, new lyrics by Steven Hager performed by the Seeds of Doubt
In Search of the Grail by George Scroggie, performed by the Seeds of Doubt
Give Weed a Chance by John Lennon, new lyrics by Steven Hager, performed by the Seeds of Doubt
All Cannabis Cup and High Times footage on this site created by Steven Hager, in conjunction with High Times and Trans-High Corporation.
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