America lost a true hero of freedom this week with the passing of Hardy Macia.

He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in August 2012. It’s typically a treatable form of cancer, but Macia’s did not respond the way he and his doctors had hoped. He was recently hospitalized in New Hampshire, then transferred to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington to be closer to family.

Hardy was a long-time supporter of the Libertarian Party. He served as chair of the Vermont LP for several terms, and regional rep to the LNC for a term. He ran for office multiple times as a Libertarian, including for Governor of Vermont in 2004 (as a Libertarian). He served for several years as chair of the Selectboard of Grand Isle, VT. He also served on the Gary Johnson for President campaign.

Hardy’s passion for the cause of liberty was an inspiration to so many. Hardy even fought for liberty from the hospital bed, which is just one of many examples of his dedication.

Rest in peace Hardy. You will be missed.

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Before Hardy passed on, he released a video pleading with Gov. Maggie Hassan to support the legality of growing medical marijuana at home, a provision removed from a bill passed in March that allows the use of marijuana for medical purposes in New Hampshire.

The video is a heartbreaking personal message from Macia, who was diagnosed last August with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and says he probably only has weeks left to live. Medical marijuana is one of the few things that make the life he has left bearable.

“To get to sleep at night, sometimes it’s the only thing that helps put me out, versus some of the harsh drugs that they give me, like the oxycodone or vicodin,” Macia said in the video.

The video is below:

Please feel free to share your own comments/memories below in the comments section…

The following is a letter to the editor by VTLP member Ted Schaft:

The senseless furlough of Air Traffic Controllers should never have happened and wouldn’t have if Libertarian ideas were used as a guide to solutions for this type of problem. The cost of Air Traffic Controllers should be funded by all things airport. It should be reflected in the price of airline tickets, packages shipped by air and cost of doing business through air travel. It should be completely unconnected to a federal budget and out of the hands of politicians. The exact scheme of how to divvy up the cost can be left to experts, but it should be a user fee. There is no reason for people who don’t fly or buy things that are shipped through the air or send things overnight to pay those costs.

Ted Schaft
Proctor, VT

Below are a couple upcoming events that may be of interest to members…

Green Mountain Patriots Monthly Meeting

** When: Sat May 4, 2013 9am – 11am Eastern Time

** Where: Essex Grange Hall, 118 Center Rd. Essex Junction, VT 05452 (map)

** Contact: Green Mountain Patriots: greenmountainpatriots@gmail.com, http://www.greenmountainpatriots.org

** About Green Mountain Patriots:

We, the Green Mountain Patriots, envision a free, prosperous society rooted in the “Self Evident” truths expressed by America’s Declaration of Independence. We are always mindful that our rights are not a gift from government but rather are inherent rights from our Creator. We recognize that elected officials are our servants, not our masters. We know that an expansive government not only threatens our individual liberties but also usurps the institutions of Civil Society. We seek to preserve our liberty, preserve our constitutional rights, create prosperity and insure justice by limiting government intrusion into our lives.

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Global Marijuana March — Vermont

** When: Sat May 4, 2013 2 – 4:45pm Eastern Time

** Where: Burlington City Hall Park, Burlington, VT 05401

** Contact: https://www.facebook.com/events/529558130429372/?ref=22

** About the Global Marijuana March:

VERMONT! We’re going to OCCUPY DRUG POLICY in City Hall Park, Burlington on Saturday. Please join us at 2pm to get petition forms to get legalization on your Town Meeting Day ballot for 2014, and to learn how Ibogaine could help with the opiate abuse problem growing in Vermont.

The first Saturday in May has a decades-long tradition with a Global Marijuana March. Over a hundred cities participate in raising awareness of prohibition laws and the drug war’s political prisoners.

Join us to OCCUPY DRUG POLICY — to talk about petitioning to treat marijuana like wine in Vermont, to talk about how industrial hemp can help our rural economy, and how Ibogaine (if it were legalized) can help those with harder drug problems they’d like to quit.

CURES NOT WARS — FREE THE DRUG WAR PRISONERS

Upcoming Meeting Notice…

** When: Wednesday, April 24th, 6-7:30pm.

** Where: Shaws in South Burlington in the Meeting Room.  Map/directions: http://goo.gl/8Bfxr

** Contact: Jeremy Ryan, chair@vtlp.org, 802-735-2149

** Agenda:

- Discussion of future goals
- Other business.

General meeting to discuss where we want to go from here.

Please let me know if you plan to attend.

In liberty,

Jeremy Ryan
Chair, Vermont Libertarian Party

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Vermont Libertarian Party
PO Box 5475
Burlington VT 05402-5475
Phone: (802) 735-2149
Web: www.vtlp.org
Email: chair@vtlp.org
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Below are some updates/events for Loyal Ploof’s campaign…

WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER:

His website, facebook and twitter pages are online: http://www.loyalploof.org. Please visit the site and show your support by liking is facebook page, following his twitter account.

DONATIONS:

You can also make a donation from the website. Loyal needs more funds for more yard signs and literature.  Please consider making a donation through:

http://www.loyalploof.org/donate/

YARD SIGNS:

If you are in Ward 4, Burlington, please volunteer to put up a yard sign as they are in. You can request one from the following page:

http://www.loyalploof.org/blog/298/loyal-ploof-yard-signs-now-available/

SIGN WAVES:

Loyal will be doing sign waves Tuesdays/Thursdays.  The first sign wave is tomorrow (Tuesday, February 18th) at the Shopping Center next to Leddy Park in Ward 4, Burlington from 4-6pm.

MEET & GREET:

Tuesday, Feb 26th from 8am-10am at the Bagel Café next to Leddy Park in Ward 4, Burlington. Come show your support for Loyal!