Rockers Play For Pot On 'Hempilation II'

Popular musicians have been writing songs about marijuana throughout the 20th century, from the big-band ``viper'' music of Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway's celebration of the ``Reefer Man'' to the pot anthems of late-1960s San Francisco rockers Country Joe and the Fish and the Jefferson Airplane.

In 1995 the editors of ``High Times'' magazine recruited current rockers to contribute to a benefit album supporting the review and reform of legislation governing the growth and use of cannabis for its medical, industrial and recreational use. The album, ``Hempilation,'' sold more than 110,000 units, a remarkable figure for a benefit album, and raised more than $90,000 for NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

The project was so successful, in fact, that it led to a sequel, ``Hempilation 2 - freetheweed,'' which was released just after the recent mid-term election, in which several medical marijuana initiatives and pro-legalization candidates were voted in.

The cast on ``Hempilation 2'' is more varied then the first album, including country, hip-hop and reggae along with rock.

Country superstar Willie Nelson, a benefit veteran whose own annual event in support of American farmers, ``Farm Aid,'' has become a fixture, contributed his ballad about travelling around the country as an outsider with his drummer, Paul English, ``Me and Paul.'' The version included here was recorded live in Amsterdam, the worldwide center for cannabis connoisseurs.

``There's nobody alive that doesn't know how I feel about marijuana,'' said Nelson. ``It's just so ridiculous that a product with that many uses has to be made into a political thing. It's a shame. Not only could our farmers pay their bills and get out of debt, but this whole country would find a new way to environmentally protect ourselves by getting rid of all these petrochemicals that are killing us.''

At the opposite end of the spectrum from Nelson, the album includes the hilarious spoof by funk veteran George Clinton, ``U.S. Custom Coast Guard Dope Dog,'' a tale that recounts the unintended benefits dope dogs derive from their job.

``When they have to pay $4 billion for the drug war,'' somebody gets that,`` said one Clinton who definitely did inhale. ''Drugs are incidental in this.``

The issue takes on a very personal note with singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt's contribution, ``Weed to the Rescue.'' Chesnutt, who was paralyzed in a car accident over a decade ago and performs in a wheelchair, is an outspoken advocate for the benefits of medical marijuana.

``I just needed to go on the record as saying we must change the laws,'' he said. ``I hate being a criminal. I use marijuana for medical purposes and creativity. I use it sometimes if I have writers's block. That's medicinal too.''

Mike Watt, leader of the legendary alternative rockers The Minutemen, assembled an interesting cast including bassist Charlie Haden's daughter Petra on vocals and drummer Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction, to record the otherwordly ``Sidemousin' The Bong.''

``I want to be able to farm my own small crop for my personal use without having to be criminalized for it,'' said Watt. ``I want the same trust the government has in my using alcohol responsibly to be extended to mota.''

One of the hottest tracks on the album is a remake of the Humble Pie classic ``30 Days in the Hole,'' from the album ``Smokin','' done here by the band that has redefined the power trio concept in the 1990s, Gov't Mule. Ex-Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford sits in on this burning tribute to the late Steve Marriot.

``We had a lot of fun making that one,'' said Govt. Mule guitarist and vocalist Warren Haynes. ``The song describes an extreme situation, but when we got into the studio with our friend from Big Sugar, Gordie Johnson, producing, the vibe was right and the result speaks for itself.

``NORML is a just cause,'' Haynes insisted. ``It's ridiculous in this day and age for somebody to be going to jail for smoking pot or possessing a little pot.''

Big Sugar, a popular Canadian rock band, has been a longtime supporter of the cause. The band contributed a cover of Paul McCartney's ``Let Me Roll It'' to the project.

``I'm seeking to get a permit from a provincial government to grow hemp as a textile crop,'' said Big Sugar leader Gordie Johnson. ``You can't get high on hemp. You'd have to smoke a joint the size of a telephone pole. That's a lot of hemp.''

Copyright 1998 United Press International

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