Anti-Psychiatry
Free Casey Hardison!
Radical entheogenic activist locked up for 20 years
"..the so-called 'War on Drugs' is not a war on pills, powder, plants and potions, it is a war on mental states - a war on consciousness itself - how much, what sort we are permitted to experience, and who gets to control it.
A government that is permitted to set punishments for drug 'offences' in which a person has done nothing more than grow, manufacture, distribute, or use, the psychoactive agents which have been denoted as "controlled substances," participates in an even more pernicious form of censorship - a censorship of consciousness itself - by choosing to punish people for no other crime than choosing to experience or enable particular states of mind." - Casey to the Judge.
The Judge was upset that Hardison believed everyone had the "right to take hallucinogenic drugs to alter their consciousness by freeing their minds", and was not pleased that Hardison was "imploring the human race to expand their horizons by exploring the world through hallucinogenic drugs".
Casey Hardison is an entheogenic activist, unauthorized researcher, and psychedelic chemist of undefeatable good mood and energy. Casey has contributed to Erowid.org, a large online resource dedicated to 'Documenting the complex relationships between humans and psychoactives'. Casey also attended entheogen-related conferences and wrote articles for 'The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies' (MAPS), a membership-based, non-profit research and educational organization. MAPS assists scientists in their design and funding of legally approved studies into the risks and benefits of MDMA, psychedelic drugs and marijuana. An American citizen, he moved to Britain in 2002, and eventually rented a house in Ovingdean near Brighton. Casey chose to fulfill a ten-year spiritual journey to make LSD and make up for the drought caused by a major DEA bust in the U.S. He was arrested and convicted of LSD manufacture in Britain.
Casey acted as his own lawyer during his case and, instead of arguing he did not commit the acts, he argued that he had a fundamental human right to engage in his chosen entheogenic religion. Hardison told the judges he was the victim of "chemical apartheid" and that the Misuse of Drugs Act was incompatible with his human rights. The court rejected the argument and Casey was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Apr 22, 2005. Casey shouted to Judge Anthony Niblett: "You would think I was a terrorist. Thanks for your love and compassion." His main offence was the production of 145,000 doses of LSD (7 grams), as well as the production of 2C-B, DMT and the possession of 5-MeO-DMT and MDMA.
His presence in the UK has been branded 'detrimental' by the authorities.
Casey has submitted Enhanced Human Rights Arguments simultaneously to the European Court of Human Rights and to the United Kingdom Court of Appeals directly challenging the drug laws as an affront to free thought, therapeutic choice and free religion. His UK Court Appeal was dismissed.
When writing please send Casey a book of stamps.
Casey Hardison LH5330
HMP Swaleside
Brabazon Road
Eastchurch
Isle of Sheppey
Kent
ME12 4AX
To read a letter from Casey click here :
Letter from Casey Hardison, December 2006 (PDF)
Letter from Casey Hardison, October 2006 (PDF)
Free Casey.org - solidarity website for Casey