The medical marijuana card belonging to bOING bOING patron saint Robert Anton Wilson (RIP) is up for auction on eBay. It's
one of many of RAW's personal items that his daugther, Christina, is auctioning to help pay off her father's large debts. From the medical marijuana card auction listing:
As we all know (or should) RAW was a great champion of decriminalizing marijuana. In his late sixties, when his post-polio syndrome started getting bad, he really found great relief and was a staunch supporter of WAMM. WAMM is Wo/Man's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, located in Santa Cruz. His doctor gave him the necessary paperwork and here is his official WAMM card granting him the right to use marijuana medicinally. He is of course, patient # 2323. There is no signature, but his picture is emblazoned on the front with a twinkle in his eye...
Robert Anton Wilson's Medical Marijuana Card
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why pay dead debts? Send money directly to his heirs.
a Farmeresque Purple Wage solution?
@#1 - I totally agree!
i've read a lot about that kinda thing as of late. dead people have no debt!
realistically, if there are secured loans on a property or something like that then there might be someone who will come after that, but they can't come after anything not mentioned in a contract.
RAW's odd synchronicity hits yet again...I just began rereading The Illuminatus! Trilogy...
No debts for the dead in the U.S. However, burial plot, burial arrangements, or cremation and other funeral related expenses can be incurred directly by the family of the deceased.
Creditors can come after the assets of the deceased to settle debts, or sue the estate. But they cannot come after living relatives of the dead for any debts incurred by the deceased.
If the family is over-extended from the financial burdens of funeral related expenses, or even if they are trying to keep certain of RAW's personal assets "in the family" and protected from creditors coming after his estate, they might consider a PayPal style donation account.
(Disclosure: I'm not an attorney, nor is any of this legal advice. I'm just repeating things I've read on the matter, as I've learned them from deaths in my own family.)
If it were possible there would be a situation ala Paul E Martens "What Dead People Are Supposed To Do" situation when it comes to people dying with debt. Covered here at BB http://www.boingboing.net/2006/10/15/horror-podcast-story.html for the psuedopod audio version linked at http://pseudopod.org/2006/10/06/pseudopod-006-what-dead-people-are-supposed-to-do/
A zombie RAW telemarketer *shudder*
Hmmmmm, patient number 2323? Coincidence or was it the Illuminati?
burial? Robert's dying wish was to have his ashes thrown in Jerry Falwells face.
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/13/the-new-raw-website.html
Whaddaya think killed Falwell, four months later?
Eh.
Put up his Illuminati membership card and we'll talk.
What does it say about the bidders that the medical marijuana card is the priciest item?
The bidders aren't very interested in Apple Bells and Fireplace Rugs?
Regarding dead debts:
I have professional experience in this matter.
Creditors indeed do have the right to sue the deceased's estate. But unless the debt is egregious, and the estate is really large, credit card companies usually don't. But if someone is gonna sue, the usual culprit is DISCOVER card. They will sue 60% (approx) of the time.
However, no creditors can sue the heirs of the estate. But if the estate is sued and there is nothing left for the heirs, it is tantamount to taking the heirs' inheritance, really.
Also, credit card companies have just started a new tactic of cold calling family members of deceased debtors and trying to GUILT them into paying the deceased debts, with a pretty good success rate.
I freaking HATE credit card companies.
http://boards.cannabis.com/medicinal-cannabis-health/161539-granny-storm-crows-list.html
given the nature of this card, perhaps it is actually a twinkie in his eye?
last night i had the worst tension headache ever and I was thinking that if this goes on I will have to move to California or Michigan to get my medical maryjanes. this morning i put on my RAW t-shirt with his beautiful visage on it and I am wearing it right now.
Then this comes along. Now if only I can win some money. thanks for the loves bob!
@#13 - Anonimouse:
That's because the people who manage Discover's credit department are frankly pretty awful people. Had a pitch meeting with them once and wanted to puke on my shoes.
[Disclosure: Some of my work involves management of credit card collections, although not for much longer. Not everyone in credit is evil.]
Could the creditors get a lien on RAW's literary estate, or the proceeds thereof? (If so, his heir's wanting to pay off the debts to prevent that seems like a good idea to me...)