| Name |
Loretta Sapp [1] |
| Born |
1974 |
| Gender |
Female |
| Biographical |
2002 [2] |
| founded the U. S. Marijuana Party |
| Occupation |
Abt 2002-2004 |
Vancouver, , British Columbia, Canada  [2] |
| news anchor of Pot-TV news for Marc Emery and Cannabis Culture |
| Biographical |
12 Feb 2004 [3] |
| she was featured in Cannabis Culture magazine in an article by Pete Brady |
Pot-TV newswoman Loretta Nall "guilty"
by Pete Brady (12 Feb, 2004)
Alabama judge and police conspire against courageous activist Loretta Nall
Pot-TV anchor Loretta Nall, who is also president of the US Marijuana Party, went to court in Alexander City, Alabama on February 10th.
In 2002, local police raided her home when she and her family were gone. They claim to have found 0.87 grams of marijuana, which is barely enough to roll a small joint. They also seized a pair of scales that Nall used for weighing candle-making ingredients.
The raid was led by Officer Eric McCain. In an affidavit filed before the raid, McCain claimed that community complaints, a pro-pot letter to a newspaper written by Nall, and alleged statements made by Nall's elementary school-age daughter caused him to believe that the Nalls were growing marijuana.
The raid did not turn up any evidence of marijuana being grown, but Nall was charged with second degree possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.
Police, school officials, and other government agents then tried to have Nall declared an unfit parent so they could take her children away.
Nall hired "Libertarian" attorney Rick Lyerly, but he showed up late for an important hearing in 2003, and Nall says he failed to follow her instructions about how to conduct the case. When Nall insisted that Lyerly vigorously defend her by pointing out numerous irregularities in the search warrant and police procedures, Lyerly stopped representing her, and demanded she pay him more money.
At the February 10th trial, Nall was represented by defense attorneys Wilson Myers and Charles Salvaggio. Myers vigorously questioned McCain and other police witnesses, forcing them to contradict themselves with testimony that lacked factual accuracy, consistency and credibility.
Nall says presiding District Court Judge Kim Taylor, the same judge who signed the search warrant, appeared to be asleep during much of the trial, and that whenever he made a ruling, it was in favor of the prosecution.
By the end of the trial, Nall says, attorney Myers had elicited what appeared to be numerous incidents of perjury from the prosecution witnesses. It didn't matter to Judge Taylor, however. He found Nall guilty of the two charges and sentenced her to 30 days in jail for each charge. If Nall had not previously posted $2000 bond, she could have been immediately sent to jail unless she agreed to a "court referral" program and a suspended sentence. Instead, she remains "free," and has appealed the convictions.
Nall explained the dubious convictions by saying that Alabama has a "bizarre" legal system that allows a person to be convicted of a crime and sentenced to jail before the person has had the opportunity to fully examine the witnesses and evidence against them.
"It's almost impossible to get justice at the District Court level," Nall says. "It's totally against the defendant. If you want a neutral judge and jury to examine the evidence and witnesses against you, you have to endure the police lies and judicial bias in District Court, and hope that the appeals court does a better job of evaluating the case."
Nall says her legal ordeal has taught her a lot about Alabama and America. She says that her case shows how the constitution and Bill of Rights have been slammed by the drug war.
"I am appalled at what I witnessed in court," she lamented. "How many innocent people are in jail because of judges like Kim Taylor? How many lives have been destroyed because people did not have the resources or determination to fight on? The judge did not bring any dignity or consideration to my trial. He did not care about my innocence, or about the obvious lies of the police."
Nall says she does not know how long the appeals process will take. In the meantime, she says, she will continue to do Pot-TV news and other activism.
|
| Biographical |
7 Jun 2004 [4] |
| was featured in an article by Pete Brady in Cannabis Culture Magazine |
Activist found guilty
by Pete Brady (07 Jun, 2004)
Pot-TV star and leader of the US Marijuana Party convicted in Alabama. Loretta Nall: Fighting injustice and harassment.
Pot-TV News anchor and US Marijuana Party president Loretta Nall was found guilty of two misdemeanor drug charges in Alabama on February 10, 2004.
Nall immediately appealed the convictions, claiming police, prosecutorial and judicial misconduct.
The activist's legal problems began in November 2002, when the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force raided her home while she and her family were absent. Police claim to have found .87 grams of marijuana, which is barely enough to roll a small joint. They also seized rolling papers and a pair of scales that Nall used for weighing candle-making ingredients.
The raid was led by Officer Eric McCain, a policeman stationed at Horseshoe Bend Elementary School, where Nall's daughter was attending kindergarten. In an affidavit filed before the raid, McCain claimed that community complaints, a pro-pot letter to a newspaper written by Nall, and alleged statements made by Nall's daughter Bell caused him to believe that the Nalls were growing marijuana.
During and after the trial, however, McCain and presiding District Court Judge Kim Taylor gave confusing, contradictory versions of what Bell allegedly said.
"Her daughter had leaves at school for a project and stated that she had other leaves she wanted to bring but her mother said those leaves are illegal," Taylor said after the trial.
"Judge Taylor was asleep during the trial, and he has no business stating as fact something which is merely an unproven assertion made by police in a situation where the facts are in question and his decision to find me guilty is being appealed," Nall countered.
"My daughter was five years old at the time. She didn't say anything about illegal leaves, and we didn't have any marijuana in our home. None! The entire case against me is based on lies. If the judge had been awake and fair, he would have thrown out the charges and the search warrant. Problem is, he is the same stupid judge who signed the search warrant, so if he had thrown it out, he would have been admitting he made an error."
Trial transcripts reveal a glaring lack of credibility in McCain's testimony about Bell's statements, as well as his assertions about informants and other crucial information.
Another officer testified that Nall and her husband pulled up in their car during the raid, and that Nall leapt out of the car saying, "That's my medicine, I use it for insomnia."
Nall says she had never before seen the officer who testified, and that she never admitted to possessing marijuana.
Other trial irregularities include a claim by prosecutor Damon Lewis that the scales seized from Nall's home "can only be used for weighing drugs; they have no other purpose."
After the trial, Horseshoe Bend principal Roger Swann defended McCain, but Nall said that Swann, McCann, teachers, and police officers have conspired to harass and interrogate Bell Nall.
"I found out last year that the husband of Bell's new teacher was a police officer who had been luring Bell to a secluded area of the schoolyard to interrogate her about my husband and I," Nall said. "I had previously told Swann in writing that nobody was to question my children at school. After the trial, Bell's former teacher, Mrs Shaw, came up to Bell in the lunchroom and tried to discuss the case with her. All along, they have been trying to take my children away from me. I am going to file a lawsuit against these people for what they have done to my family."
Judge Taylor sentenced Nall to 30 days in jail, suspended for one year, and $250 in fines. If she loses her appeals court trial, which will be heard by a jury instead of just by a judge, she could be sentenced to one year in jail.
"No jury is going to believe the police testimony and incompetence in this case," Nall predicted. "They lied so much, and it's obvious. Judge Taylor decided my guilt before he ever heard a word of testimony. The police are so dumb that they seized catnip from our house and tried to allege that it was marijuana. It is astonishing that police can invade your home, plant evidence, lie, and yet, you can still be found guilty. It shows how the drug war has stolen away our rights and given too much power to police and corrupt judges."
Nall says she does not know how long the appeals process will take. In the meantime, she says, she will continue to do Pot-TV news and other activism.
"What I've learned is to never trust the police, make sure your attorney fights hard, never give up your rights, and always confront their lies with truth," Nall said. "They thought when they raided me that I was some dumb-ass country girl who would just roll over and plead guilty. They were wrong. I am going to be vindicated, and I am going to make them pay for all the harm they have done to me and my family."
|
| Biographical |
3 Aug 2004 [5] |
| was featured in an article in Cannabis Culture that announced her trip to Columbia |
Nall to travel to Columbia
by press release (03 Aug, 2004)
Activists plan to document US foreign policy Loretta Nall
 In these difficult times of war and violence, it may seem crazy to leave the country at all, let alone voluntarily visit a war zone. Yet from August 15-27 2004, that is exactly what local resident and national drug policy reform activist, Loretta Nall will do when she travels with the grassroots organization, Witness for Peace to Colombia.
Loretta and 20 others will travel to war-torn Colombia, as part of a citizen documentation team to learn about U.S. foreign policy in a region that has fallen out of the headlines, but not out of U.S. strategic interests. In Colombia, Loretta will meet with those affected by U.S. policies: government officials, community leaders, union representatives, farmers and businesspeople, women's groups and peace organizations. The delegates will spend time in rural and urban settings, staying in family homes and getting to know the daily lives of their hosts. Through this contact they will learn how the policies of the United States affect the most vulnerable in Colombia, and hear ideas for changes.
Loretta's documentation team will also meet with U.S. Embassy and consular officials in Colombia. They will voice concerns, ideas and dreams of the local communities to policy makers, speaking truth to power.
When Loretta returns to the U.S. she will share what she has seen and heard with the community, media and policymakers.
This delegation is a model for "pre-emptive peace" on the belief that learning about the root causes of conflicts and building relationships can do more to prevent war than military force. In an era of increasingly globalized markets, Witness for Peace works to globalize solidarity and human relationships. Since the 1980's Witness for Peace has promoted social justice through human contact and education, recognizing that peace cannot be bought with military force or economic pressure.
About the delegate:
Loretta Nall, 29, wife, mother of two children living in her native Alabama, became involved in drug policy reform in September of 2002, after enduring a terrifying helicopter raid by local, state and federal agents looking for marijuana.
Mentored and suitably funded by Canadian philanthropist and anti-prohibition activist Marc Emery, Loretta Nall has founded and organized 35 state chapters of the US Marijuana Party, has hosted the POT-TV.net News (see www.pot-tv.net ) for 12 months , interviewing Jesse Jackson, Dennis Kucinich in regards the drug war in America. Loretta Nall has appeared in Rolling Stone Magazine, lewrockwell.com, and numerous daily newspapers across America on behalf of her campaign to reduce the destructive effects of prohibition in America. Currently, she is assisting in guiding a medical marijuana bill through the Alabama state legislature in concert with the Drug Policy Alliance and was recently appointed to an advisory board being commissioned at the request of Alabama's Prison Commissioner.
Mrs. Nall plans to run for Governor of Alabama in 2006.
|
| Biographical |
25 Oct 2006 [6] |
| (and her boobs) appeared in 129 newspapers just before the election |
Loretta Nall's USA Midterm Election Media Blitz!
by CC Staff (25 Oct, 2006)
A "cleavage campaign" news story is on fire, giving Loretta Nall hot media coverage in mainstream media!
 Libertarian candidate for Governor in Alabama, Cannabis Culture contributor, Pot.tv anchor, US Marijuana Party leader, and more... Loretta Nall is an activist to admire! Her campaign for the November 7th US election is gaining international attention in the UK, Canada and, of course, all across the USA. What is the latest hot topic for her campaign? Cleavage, if you can believe it! An old photo and story has thrust Loretta into the media. She's appearing in hundreds of news sources and landing big mainstream coverage, and uses every opportunity to promote her message.
Associated Press: How to attract voters' attention? Cleavage!
Alabama Libertarian runs for governor on boobs vs. boobs platform
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Loretta Nall, the Libertarian Party's write-in candidate for governor of Alabama, is campaigning on her cleavage and hoping that voters' eyes will eventually refocus on her platform. "It started out as a joke, but it blew up into something huge," Nall said.
Nall, who spoke in an interview Friday on the Capitol steps, realizes that's about as close as she is going to get to the governor's office. But her "anything goes" style of campaigning – including campaign gear showing her smiling in a low-cut dress – has helped her attract attention not normally enjoyed by write-in candidates in Alabama, including spots on conservative radio talk shows and speeches at staid civic clubs.
Nall said that once she gets voters' attention, they eventually notice her campaign platform, which calls for tax credits for sending children to private school and home schooling, opting out of the No Child Left Behind Act, legalizing marijuana, and not complying with the Patriot Act and the Real ID Act. Nall said one issue in her platform that seems to be getting lots of positive response is trying to withdraw the Alabama National Guard from Iraq. "When people in Alabama get tired of kicking the ass of brown people, it's time to pull out," she said in her characteristically over-the-top style.
Political handicaps
Campaigning for Nall has been difficult. The Libertarian Party couldn't collect the 40,000 signatures from voters that were needed to get her name on the ballot as a regular candidate, and she hasn't reached the $25,000 threshold in campaign contributions that would require her to file a campaign finance report with the state.
Despite the political handicaps, the 32-year-old with dyed blond hair knows how to get plenty of free attention. Early in her campaign, she talked about how her misdemeanor arrest for marijuana possession in 2002 caused her to start the U.S. Marijuana Party and become an advocate for decriminalizing marijuana. Then she entertained readers of her campaign Web site with lots of information about her personal life, including a discussion of why she doesn't wear panties.
'More of these boobs'
Now her campaign is offering everything from T-shirts to marijuana stash boxes adorned with a photo of her in a dress with a plunging neckline and the words: "More of these boobs." Below that are pictures of other candidates for governor – including Republican incumbent Bob Riley and Democratic Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley – along with the words: "And less of these boobs."
Nall, who designed the campaign art work, said the idea came to her after a weekly newspaper columnist wrote about her campaign one week and then wrote an apology the next week for the paper accompanying his column with a picture of Nall that showed lots of cleavage. Nall said she was offended at first that her neckline was being discussed in the newspaper, but then realized that when a campaign budget runs lower than a neckline, "you have to be outrageous to get attention."
No matter how far back Nall finishes on Nov. 7, that won't be the last that voters will see of her. She's already making plans to run against Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in Alabama's 3rd Congressional District in 2008. "I enjoy this," she said.
|
| Name |
Loretta Nall [2, 7] |
| Person ID |
I17415 |
If the Legends Are True... |
| Last Modified |
30 May 2014 |
1974 - (46 years)
