|
Chapter 3 - (2nd Edition) CENSORED MEDICAL STUDIES |
|
|---|
RADIO STATION KOCI
The Cannabis Community Show (Sunday 10:30 - 11:00 AM) |
RADIO STATION KOCI CENSORSHIP :
It Happened in Costa Mesa, California: On February 5, 2012 One of the strangest “News Releases” on plant earth came out.
Just in from KOCI this afternoon:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Costa Mesa, February 5, 2012 — The popular “Cannabis Community” radio show, hosted by Robert Martinez, on KOCI LP-FM, Newport Beach, was canceled without warning by station manager Brent Kahlen at the request of the FBI.In other words, (according to their own ‘News Release’), the radio station was being forced to remove or censor a popular radio program “The Cannabis Community Show.” Said stated reason; requests from the following groups:
The FBI has been investigating the radio station because of the medical marijuana radio show and at the end of this week told the community radio station to remove the show from the air, according to Barry Jorgensen, attorney for the radio station. Jorgensen claimed that the federal involvement was the result of requests from the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and the Costa Mesa city council.
Martinez was not informed of the decision until seven minutes before the scheduled 11 a.m. Sunday start of his radio show.
Jorgensen initially claimed that the show could continue at an early morning time slot, but without any on-air or web site publicity, but Kahlen completely canceled the show.
Martinez was president of the recently closed Newport Mesa Patients Association, Costa Mesa, which was shut down along with all other Costa Mesa medical marijuana dispensaries late January 2012 in response to a letter from the U. S Attorney’s Office.
Former dispensary operator and Costa Mesa Council candidate Sue Lester, who was waiting in the studio to appear as a guest on the program, overheard KOCI staff mention that “a member of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce threatened that IF the show be allowed to air Federal Government intervention would prevent the public station from renewing their license with the FCC which is up for renewal this year.”
More to come shortly…
- The Costa Mesa City Council
- The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce
- Federal Officials
- Other interested (in keeping Cannabis against the law) parties
1.1 - THE PLOT THICKENS
Medical Marijuana Program Muzzled on KOCI
Under normal circumstances this would be seen as simply being an all too typical case of Government induced censorship (An all too typical occurrence), and thus nothing out of the ordinary. So why its inclusion here, what’s the big deal?
Well, let’s look at the players:
The F.C.C. (Federal Communications Commission):
This is a very real threat --- Unfortunately here in American (the land of free enterprise) the air-waves are NOT privately but publicly owned. That means that it is possible for someone to own a large transmitter, millions of dollars worth of equipment, lots of brick and mortar buildings, hired a large staff etc., and ALL OF IT can be TAKEN AWAY at the whim of a government bureaucrat. Simply by not renewing your transmitter license, and let’s face it, what happened to radio station RCTV in Venezuela is all too real. According to the Wikipedia:
“May 2007, controversies on press freedom were further exacerbated when RCTV (Radio Caracas Television)'s terrestrial broadcast license expired, with the government declining to renew it. An article by Reporters Without Borders " . . . condemns the decision of . . . . President Hugo Chávez said on 28 Dec. 2006 that he would oppose renewal of the group's broadcast license, accusing the channel of having supported the 11 April 2002 coup attempt in which he was briefly removed from office. . . “ [1]Thus just the thought that a group of individuals, not to mention the Fed’s and/or local governmental officials, would threaten to make compliant is enough to force ones hands.
The Costa Mesa City Council:
At this point it is a well establish fact that the Costa Mesa City council is not at all favorable to the use of Medicinal Cannabis --- And has an, "Our battle cry will be,--KILL ALL CANCER VICTIMS,” type of mentality. According to ‘The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER' (a major newspaper in that area): [2]
“Tangled in a web of lawsuits with several dispensaries, the City Council and the city attorney turned to the United States Attorney's office, requesting federal assistance in shutting down 27 known active medical marijuana collectives — which are illegal under city ordinance — according to an Oct. 26 letter obtained by the Register. “In addition, it should be noted that the “City Ordinance” they are talking about had BEEN PASSED by the City Council specifically as an instrument of harassment AND that after initial court challenges (from Cannabis dispensary owners), had very recently been modified by them to fit around their agenda. Thus an obvious player, --- one very much interested in censoring the radio station’s (KOCI) programming.
The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce:
According to their own website, among their membership rolls can be found some very shaky personalities. Examples:
- Costa Mesa Police Association
- Health-Drug Rehabilitation / Orange County Detox
- Jones & Mayer, Attorneys
- General Counsel to...
- California Police Chiefs' Association
- California Peace Officers' Association
- California State Sheriffs' Association
- Gateway Cities Council of Governments
- San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
- California Association of Code Enforcement Officers
And yes: - KOCI Radio 105FM / 107, Inc.
[MUSEUM NOTE – After an investigation, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS GROUP HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS AFFAIR and are listed here solely because they got caught up in the matter]
The FBI: (America’s Internal Police)
[MUSEUM NOTE – The FBI have been reported as saying that they have had NO ROLE IN THIS MATTER. In addition the original wording used was “The Fed’s” (a general reference to the Federal Government) NOT the FBI (per say). We mention them here solely because they got caught up in the matter]
1.2 - THE PLOTS SICKENS
The following are the official story lines as “Officially” given by KOCI Officials as justification for their actions. Note this is not what someone else was saying, but what they themselves were officially saying.
OFFICIAL KOCI - STORY No. 1:
That due to harassment from the Fed’s, the Costa Mesa City Council, and the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, etc., who were now threatening to launch complaints against them with the F.C.C. (Thus making it hard for them to renew their public radio broadcast license). That it had been decided that the radio program “Cannabis Community” was to be moved to a new (presumably less desirable) time slot.
This all occurred during the last ten minutes of a normal (chit-chat) conversation that lasted more than 30 minutes. AND just 10 minutes before the program was supposed to go on the air.
PRESENT DURING THE CONVERSATION:
OFFICIAL KOCI - STORY No. 2:
That due to harassment from the Fed’s, the Costa Mesa City Council and the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, etc., who were threatening to launch a series of complaints with the F.C.C. Which in turn will make it hard for them to renew their public radio broadcast license; --SO the radio program “Cannabis Community” was NOW cancelled.
This all occurred at the very end of a normal (chit-chat) conversation that lasted more than 30 minutes. AND just a few minutes before the program was suppose to go on the air. The presumption being that ‘Story No.1’ (above) was just a ploy to get the program’s host (Robert Martinez) to leave the station quietly.
PRESENT DURING THE CONVERSATION:
OFFICIAL KOCI - STORY No. 3:
That there had been a misunderstanding, that the Radio Station had actually cancelled the radio program a week prior. [And presumably had just forgotten to tell anyone about the matter] General Manager Brent Kahlen called the episode a miscommunication. He said Martinez's last show was a week earlier and didn't know he planned on returning for another one.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
Daily Pilot -- KOCI shuts down show - Feb 06, 2012 [3]
OFFICIAL KOCI - STORY No. 4:
That the radio station KOCI had to do it ; That they were under great pressure from outside governmental as well as private agencies.
"We had a forum at Skosh Monahan's (in which the Major indorsed the use of Medical Cannabis), and now everyone's pushing us," -- KOCI attorney Barry Jorgensen said. "We decided . . . we don't want to be seen as pro-marijuana or pro-city."
“Days after the mayor's statements, the Drug Enforcement Administration, local police and the U.S. attorney's office raided two Costa Mesa dispensaries and sent letters to more than 30 others — including Martinez's (the host of the Radio Program) — with warnings that if they continued to operate, they would be targeted, too.”
“Jorgensen and Kahlen said no one pressured them to shut down the show, but they did say the raids on the clinics changed their thinking about the program. “
"KOCI does not want to get in the middle of the fight," Jorgensen said.
"We're not out to support any one entity," Kahlen said, arguing that he asked Martinez to schedule marijuana opponents for the show. "That's not what a nonprofit radio station is about … I don't think it's a community service to be one-sided."
SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
Daily Pilot -- KOCI shuts down show - Feb 06, 2012 [3]
[B> MUSEUM NOTE – The Host Mr. Martinez's, was only on the air for 6 months and informed this museum that he tried to get interested parties with “OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS” to get on the air, but other then occasional call-ins was unable to do so.
HISTORICAL NOTE – It is a fact that the Narcotics Police (starting during the early days of alcohol prohibition) have adapted a strategic policy of NEVER DEBATING the issue. Their policy is to make it seem as if ALL – EVERYONE (except for a few criminals) is in full support of the anti-Medical Cannabis laws.
OFFICIAL KOCI - STORY No. 5:
That the real reason why the program had been taken off the air was because it was the program itself was NOT NEUTRAL on this, a CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT and that it had nothing to do with pressure from any outside groups. As per an email sent by KOIC General Manager Brent Kahlen to the Orange County Register (a major newspaper in that area).
“As a non-profit, community radio station, KOCI "is required to remain neutral on controversial topics,"SOURCE OF INFORMATION:
"In light of Martinez's difficulties with federal authorities in recent weeks, KOCI management felt it was in the community interest that the radio station no longer broadcast the 'Cannabis Community,”
As per the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Feb. 5, 2012 Updated: Feb. 6, 2012)
General Manager Brent Kahlen being quoted in an email he sent by him to the Register. ] [1]
OFFICIAL KOCI - STORY No. 6:
That the real reason that the KOCI took the program off the air was because Mr. Marinez had failed to pay the $2,000 that he was committed to pay the radio station.
As per the "Orange Juice blog" [4]
Yesterday KOCI’s story was that they’d cancelled the program because they wanted to avoid “controversy,” and any association with a bad guy like Bob Martinez who’d had his dispensary shut down. TODAY their story is this: Martinez had led them to believe he didn’t have the $2000 that it costs to put on this show each month, so they went ahead and cancelled it. (Unbeknownst to him.)
In point of fact, Martinez showed up at the usual time, with his check, ready to do his show, which was within minutes of airing when they yanked him off for whatever their real reason was. But if this thing about the money confusion was true, why didn’t they mention anything about that to the . . . . [more]
1.3 - BUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Judging from their own Press Release, it would seem that a clear case of Medical Cannabis censorship had just occurred. Something that of-and-by-itself sounds somewhat un-American and thus worth taking note of, at least at the local level. However, it was what happened afterwards that makes this case a bit noteworthy, something all of us (Nationally) should take notice of. It seems that the more damage control the Radio Station’s management (and the narc’s) did, the more damage they created. According to an email sent to the ‘Orange County Register’ (a major newspaper in that area):
KOCI station cancels medical marijuana radio showMUSEUM CONCLUSIONS:
By SEAN GREENE
Published: Feb. 5, 2012 Updated: Feb. 6, 2012
COSTA MESA – The "Cannabis Community" radio program on KOCI FM 101.5 was canceled by the station's management shortly before it was to air 11 a.m. Sunday.
As a non-profit, community radio station, KOCI "is required to remain neutral on controversial topics," General Manager Brent Kahlen said in an email to the Register.
"Cannabis Community" was hosted by U.S. Army veteran Robert Martinez, the former president of the Newport Mesa Patients Association, a medical marijuana provider. Last month, the United States Attorney's Office sent letters to Martinez and about three dozen other owners and operators of medical marijuana stores in the city, ordering them to close shop as part of a federal enforcement operation.
"In light of Martinez's difficulties with federal authorities in recent weeks, KOCI management felt it was in the community interest that the radio station no longer broadcast the 'Cannabis Community,'" Kahlen wrote.
Ten minutes before the broadcast on Sunday, Martinez said KOCI legal counsel Barry Jorgensen told him "Cannabis Community" had to be moved to a new time slot.
Later, he learned the show would not air at all, he said.
"We were all blown away," Martinez said Sunday afternoon. "It was mind-boggling. ... I'm sitting here still flabbergasted."
Martinez and the scheduled guest of Sunday's show, Sue Lester, sent out a press release Sunday afternoon that said federal officials influenced the station's decision.
Kahlen and Jorgensen both said that was not true.
Kahlen said that he did not speak directly to Martinez.
Jorgensen conceded he had communicated with Martinez in an "inelegant manner," and apologized for the misunderstandings in the statement from KOCI.
Kahlen said KOCI remains committed to providing fair access to all points of view.
Federal authorities recently raided three medical marijuana establishments in Costa Mesa and ordered the rest to be shut down.
Mayor Gary Monahan said he supported regulating medical marijuana dispensaries on a Jan. 8 broadcast of "Cannabis Community" from his bar, Skosh Monahan's.
Kahlen said he had received good feedback about the program in emails.
KOCI has been on the air for 3 1/2 years. As of two years ago when the last ratings poll was taken, the community station had 42,000 listeners across Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Corona del Mar.
After talking to or actively trying to contact them (with repeated no replies), this museum has come to the following conclusions:
That the radio program, “Cannabis Community”, was censored or taken off the air because the management of public radio station KOIC (under the threat of loosing their FCC broadcast license), buckled down to external threats of intimidation. That the City of Costa Mesa (either openly or obliquely), played a role in these threats. And for those of you in denial, just look at the facts:
- Despite state law, the Costa Mesa City Council passed an ordinance, with the specific intention of closing down Medical Cannabis dispensaries.
- After court challenges began, the Costa Mesa City Council met and passed yet a second ordinance. Again with the sole intention of closing down Medical Cannabis dispensaries AND this time wording it so it would withstand the legal challenges to the original ordinance.
- It is a well established fact, admitted to by the Costa Mesa City Council, that they wrote a letter asking for Federal Help in closing down numerous Medical Cannabis dispensaries.
- That the censoring of the program occurred shortly AFTER its Mayor spoke up ON THE PROGRAM in support of the dispensaries.
- THE FBI – They have denied any involvement and no one seems to know how they got into this story. To our knowledge, there was never any actual mention of the FBI by any of the involved parties. It is possible that when someone made mention of the ‘Feds,’ that somehow someone jumped to a false conclusion.
- THE COSTA MESA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE -- The chamber has consistently denied involvement and while granted, their affiliations are less then stellar. Still, there is no proof (and believe me we looked), that they were indeed involved. It is our belief that they were first mentioned solely in a generic sense (meaning civil groups, but not necessarily the Chamber itself).
===========
FOOTNOTES
[1]- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Venezuela
[2]-- http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-339288-marijuana-dispensaries.html
Feb. 8, 2012 - Costa Mesa asked feds for help in pot crackdown
also - http://www.ocregister.com/news/martinez-338964-community-koci.html
[3]-- Daily Pilot -- KOCI shuts down show - Feb 06, 2012
http://articles.dailypilot.com/2012-02-06/news/tn-dpt-0207-koci-20120206_1_dispensary-owner-koci-radio-station
[4]- The Plot Sickens – Medical Marijuana Program Muzzled on KOCI, By Vern Nelson
http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2012/02/breaking-medical-marijuana-program-muzzled-on-koci
WANT TO KNOW MORE:
=====================
Due to space / download time considerations, only selected materials are displayed. If you would like to obtain more information, feel free to contact the museum. All our material is available (at cost) on CD-Rom format.
CONTACT PAGE
|
CENSORSHIP MAIN INDEX |