Pot painting sparks free speech debate

[Pa-uul]

March 16, 2006:

Pot painting sparks free speech debate

 

A big drug debate has some fired up in Winsted. It all centers on one man who is using his house in a unique way to promote drug use.

 

by News Channel 8's Matt Scott

 

Controversy is blowing in the wind in Winsted. It started a month ago, when Christopher Seekins painted cannabis leaves on his house.

 

"I actually think they're a little small," he says. "I was thinking about putting it on a few more sides."

 

The paint job is his way of promoting the legalization of marijuana.

 

"Cannaboids increase brain functions, help with depression, no negative side effects," he says.

"But people have an objection to it."

"People don't understand it."

 

Not everyone agrees with Seekins opinions. Some neighbors we spoke to not only object to the message, but how he's broadcasting it.

 

"Is this sending a message to children that it's okay? I have two children and I don't think it's okay," says David LaPointe.

 

LaPointe, a state correction officer, doesn't want hemp leaf pictures on his street even though it doesn't violate building codes.

 

"He wants to go that route in the comforts of his own home, that's his business, but don't start putting it out there," says LaPointe.

 

"It's never killed a single person in the history of mankind and there's no reason it should be illegal," says Seekins.

 

"I've seen the first-hand effects of one thing leading to another," says LaPointe.

 

Seekins is currently facing charges of cultivating marijuana in his home after police confiscated 100 marijuana plants.

 

"What's your goal in all of this? What are you trying to do?"

"Get this legalized," says Seekins. "Bring education to the plant that our founding fathers of our nations grew on the best planet in the world."

 

"As a neighbor would you be happier if the walls were just painted white?"

"Well, that's what they were before and there wasn't any problem," says LaPointe.

 

But now this big leaf outside is creating a smoke screen between neighbors.

Author: Matt Scott

Date: 16 March, 2006

Source: WTNH-TV, New Haven, Connecticut

Copyright: © 2006

[SukonmiSkunk]

mmmmm my house needs a paint job.... Id tell his neighbour to keep his head in his ass if doesnt want to be offended.... as EVERYTHING is OFFENSIVE to SOMEONE in SOME WAY.........

 

I get offended when some one is smoking cigarettes near me, as I dont smoke poison..... just herbs..... and then again that person gets offended when I smack him in the head, so ya see.........

[mull]

Sort of sounds like he did that because of the charges he's facing. An activist once caught in the act. Doesn't add any crediblility to his cause really.

I agree with him tho, he should be able to paint his house in leaf and smoke, and grow. But the townsppl will only hear ... a man facing cultivation charges...

 

He might have to move soon

[WantDaChronic]

sounds like a good way to get raided

[Pa-uul]

sounds like a good way to get raided

Yeah, well he got caught.

after police confiscated 100 marijuana plants

so, clearly he is going without right now. Otherwise he would be too paranoid to paint the stuff on the outside of the house.

 

Just for interest's sake here are some demographics for Winstead CT (population 7,321) from the Wikipedea entry for it:

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 7,321 people, 3,072 households, and 1,889 families residing in the Census Designated Place (CDP). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.28% White, 1.53% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. 4.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

 

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,202, and the median income for a family was $51,044. Males had a median income of $37,837 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,804. 7.3% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line.