I gave in to the comb . . . HELP!

I regretted conditioning and combing out eight days progress immediately afterward.

But I was considering some things; it must be admitted that there are some negative associations with dreads. It may be bull shit, but many look down on locks.

Second, I am an activist for decriminalization of Cannabis; I don't want people to see dreads and wearing pro-Marijuana clothing (for the cause, not because I'm pot head or stoner) or driving with pro-pot bumper stickers and add extra suspicion to any cops who might be around and get hasseled for it.

Third, I have some damn nice hair and the longer it gets the nicer it looks.

But letting nature take over and letting it knot up like the Nazarite or Sadhu keeps sticking in my mind, and it won't go away. Now my progress - which seemed to be pretty good in the back after just eight days - is gone.

What to do? I ask myself. Something feels like its gone now, something is wrong, my depression is worsening and I can hardly bring myself to eat even a bit of plain rice.

Do I cool it with public activism for cannabis so as not to get hasseled by cops? Do I begin my locks again?

I conditioned very heavily, so if I begin again, should I double the BS and no ACV for the first wash to get rid of the oils in the conditioners?

I really need some wisdom and advice.

updated by @jimmy: 02/14/15 06:13:15AM

begin again let me tell u a lil story

at the utah gathering (or was it cali?) there was this truck that looked completely ilegal the whole body was replaced with a makeshift wooden structure with clear plexiglass doors and completely covered in pro pot bumper stickers and in huge letters on the back it stated dont even think of searching this vehicle

they use the rap 420 to prevent ilegal searches

Rap 420

This rap sheet has been prepared to help you stay out of jail. In the past, rainbow gatherings have been the target of unjustified police influence and harassment, often illegal. Many of the brothers and sisters that have been arrested in the past could have completely avoided wasted jail time and expensive court dates if they had just known a few of their basic rights. This rap sheet is a tool. Read and understand it and next time YOU will have the upper hand in the situation.

ROADBLOCKS (DUI CHECKPOINTS, ETC.)

When heading to a gathering, ALWAYS assume you will run into a roadblock on the way in. It is very important that you know your rights before reaching the roadblock because this is where most of the coercive tactics and encroachments of rights will take place.

Law enforcement officers are trained to intimidate people into consenting to searches. You may be asked SEVERAL times during the detention if they can search your car or person. ALWAYS refuse and youll be fine. The only legal reason they have to search you without arrest is that they feel they are in danger of being attacked which should not be an issue with rainbows.

If you do find yourself under arrest for any reason, always exercise your right to silence. Continue to refuse to allow any searches and politely inform them that you will not say anything until your attorney is present.

1. Your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance should be legal and accessible. You will sometimes need all three as the requirement laws vary from state to state. Always assume that you need all three and you'll never have a problem.
2. Your car must be road-legal. No broken tail-lights, windshields,headlights, etc. You will be cited for these.
3. Never leave anything in "plain view." Anything inside the car that is visible to the officer is considered to be in "plain view." Although this does not give them the right to search your car, they can confiscate the item and place you under arrest. They will still need to obtain a warrant to search the rest of your car which will not be very hard if they found something in plain view.
4. Never consent to a search of your body or your vehicle. This is your fourth amendment. The only reason they would ask is that they do not have enough evidence to obtain a search warrant (or they may just be too lazy to get one). JUST SAY NO!!

   At rainbow gatherings in the past, officers have been known to plant drugs in cars after consent to search is given. You can avoid this problem by refusing to consent.

5. If you are harassed or mistreated, write down all the information you can about the incident. The officer's county, name, rank, badge number, etc. Date, time of day, location, etc. Contact one of the organizations listed at the end of this document to pursue the matter or just file a complaint with that officer's superior.

OTHER POLICE CONTACT

It is important to remember a few things about police officers. One is that they are aware of your rights and they have been known to intentionally violate them. If you find yourself in a situation with an officer who is out of control, it is best to be submissive in order to avoid injury or even death. Remember that THEY are ARMED AND DANGEROUS!

If you are stopped by an officer outside of a vehicle, your contact with him/her will fall into three categories. Consensual contact, detention or arrest. We are mainly concerned with consensual contact and detention as this document is intended to help you in NOT GETTING ARRESTED.

CONSENSUAL CONTACT

Consensual contact means the officer comes up to you and says, Can I speak with you?" If you say "yes," you have consented to have contact with the police. This is not good. When you consent to contact, you waive some of your rights especially if you think you may be guilty of something. NEVER consent to speak with an officer.

If the officer asks, "can I talk to you," reply with something like "I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry and don't have time to talk to you right now." If he/she insists, ask, "Are you detaining me? Am I free to leave?" You should ask this several times to make sure the officer will remember you asking if the encounter results in an arrest and court case. If it is really a consensual contact, the officer is required to let you go on your way if you ask to. If you don't verbally ask to leave, the court will presume you consented to whatever follows.

DETENTION

The police are only allowed to detain citizens when there are "specific and articulable facts supporting suspicion" (SAF) that you are involved in criminal activity.

This means they can't detain you on a "hunch." They must have observed something about your behavior or character that links you with specific criminal activity. If you are detained without SAF, you are detained illegally. If this matter ever lands in court, you may be able to get off because the original detention on their part was illegal.

When you use terms like "detention" and "specific and articulable facts, the officer will usually back down a bit. The majority of a police officers power in the united states comes from intimidation and prey on the publics ignorance of its own rights.

It is crucial that you let the officer know that you are not consenting to talk with him and that the only way you will talk to him is if he detains you which he can not do without SAF.

ARREST

If you find yourself under arrest, there's not much left you can do. You are going to be searched. It is important to continue refusing consent to search your vehicle (if there is one involved) as they will still need a search warrant to search your vehicle. This, however, will not be difficult to obtain now that you are under arrest.

By refusing to consent to a search of your vehicle, though, you are maintaining your position. They may get impatient and search the vehicle without a warrant which is completely illegal. If this happens, anything they find in the vehicle will not be accepted by the court because it was evidence obtained illegally.

Those are the basics rights you have when involved with the police. By exercising these rights and using a little common sense, you should be able to have a safe and happy gathering. Below are some legal contacts you may find yourself in need of if placed under arrest.

For everyday police harassment, call COPWATCH at 510/548-0425.

If you feel your rights were violated or that you are being charged unjustly, contact the National Office of The American Civil Liberties Union at 132 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. or call 212-944-9800.

Love your brothers & sisters with guns even when they are misguided.

Know your rights. Spread the light.

http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/info/rap420.html

--
My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1

I will. should I double the BS the first wash to get rid of the conditioners? I feel like I should, then go back to 1/10 BS/water.

Thank you for the encouragement, the story, and the rap sheet. That makes me more confident, and I will certainly NOT worry about spreading my cause and helping to educate people on the legitimacy of cannabis for medical, spiritual, and recreational use.

Wish I knew this before I ruined my progress; God, nature and patience will be teachers from here on out.

.

soaring eagle said:

begin again

if anything make the acv extra strong

yea will condition more but will remove buildup too

i wouldnt double the bs that will be way too harsh

when a cop asks me if i smoke weed i say yes but dont got none..do you?

(depends on the cop ofcourse)

ive actualy had a few give me some lol

even been smoked ouit by retired fbi agents

i remember 1 time i was at 69th st station i n philly and a transit cop comes up to me asks me if i smoked i said yup but havent in a few days so he says..want to?

so were hanging out on the crosswalk above the train tracks smoking then he gives me 2 pipes and a bag he said he confiscated it from some dumbasses on the train only cause they were dumbasses so he gave it to me cause i was cool with him

in cali i was stopped (pre legalization/medical) the cop asks do i have any weed then says dont worry if its under an 1/8 we dont care we only care if its pounds i said well only had a lil pinch

he said can i see it i said no that would be probable cause again he said we really dont care if its a small ammount so i showed him he laughed and said surely u didnt get that here try this

and gave me a real nice bud took my lil pinch of dirt weed and tossed it in the trash

--
My new book Ban The Taboo Vol 1

Jules, that's a bet well made . . . I am!

SE, right on thanks for the stories. They made me smile.

Alright, I'll be showering tonight just to get the gunk out of my hair. I think I will throw my comb away as a symbolic act. Not just to keep me from going for the comb, but because I know now - really know - that for whatever reason, I need to let go and let dread; they are already a part of me and have been, even though I have already failed in past attempts to go organic/natural/neglect.

I'll stay active promoting cannabis. I'm not here to get kids or other people smoking, but to clear up the ignorance and educate, because I believe it's the right thing to do for many reasons. My doc prescribe Methadone for my neuropathic pain (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, or RSD). Luckily, he's also pro-pot, and would rather just prescribe weed. But in my situation, we're in a game with the insurance company, so . . . you might know how that goes. If not, let me say that when it comes to insurance companies, especially Worker's Comp and a 13 year old case, it's a bull shit game, but my docs know how to game the system back.

Right on! Glad I did. Your early in the journey too, aren't you? Let's be friends and support each other

Jules Victoria said:

Called it!!

LOL. Awesome. I'm happy for you. Kinda made my day actually :D

Congrats Jules!

Hey, Jimmy, glad you were able to resolve those internal conflicts with the help of Soaring Eagle and Jules I'd never let anything I truly believed in and stood up for stop me from doing something as non-important (to the rest of the world) as dreading my hair. Keep on educating people!

Thanks Tara. I am in physical rehab for chronic pain. The other day my case manager had a talk (after I played "Uncle John's Band" for him (another story). He helped me to realize that all these years, especially the past five, I have let pain consume and become my identity. But the old Jimmy is coming back out, slowly but surely. Cannabis can teach you these kinds of lessons too, but a lot of times, it's good people, our brothers and sisters; you and I have never met, Tara--but you know what? You're my sister, just like Jules, and just like Soaring Eagle is my brother. That's the family of the race of Man: we're all the same, except for those who choose to live beyond the bonds of society, of peace and love.

Thanks for your encouragement

Beautiful words, Jimmy, and very inspiring I've been dealing with my own health problems for the past few years, and I also hope to get back to the old me. Well, a healthier me, but a new me in terms of being all-round more improved. So your words give me hope that it'll be the same for me.