exists in all corners of the county. Welcome to Mendoland, the Bay's country cousin.

We're the biggest supporters of Green Party candidates in the US, almost 15% of us voted for Ralph Nader in the last two presidential contests. We passed the 1st GMO free initiative in the country, whereby no crops containing genetic modifications could be grown here. We passed Measure G as a follow-up to prop 215. Measure G, while only an initiative with no real legislative teeth, was the Personal Use Initiative, whereby any adult in the county could grow and possess up to 25 adult cannabis plants. While not recognized by law enforcement, the passage of this initiative by county voters sent a pretty clear message, prosecutors would have a difficult task getting guilty verdicts on small Mom & Pop gardens when the question was put to a jury of their peers. It is the sole economic engine in the county. The big trees have all been cut, so the mills are closed. The fisheries are hammered, salmon season was closed all of 2006. Service jobs for the tourist industry, low wage at best, are about all there is, unless you want to work the grapes and compete for some serious low wage labor.

 

 

So back to the plant, and it's relationship to Baghdad-bythe-bay. Both seem to stimulate a lot of fun, freaky, irreverent behavior, and maybe we help illuminate and demystify why these cousins are so potent as cultural icons across the country.

Now read on, we've got articles on all kinds of stuff that make the hills of Northern California so cool. We are out front on so many issues, like alternative energy, the anti-war movement, organic foods, medical cannabis. I know these concepts exist all over, but here, they are the cultural norm, they dominate conversations throughout the county, never off on the fringe. Hit us back with your comments, and we'll put them up in our next addition. You can see yourself in print.

Big up and much respect,
Mal-


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