| June 18,1999 #102 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reform Ideas Are Beginning to Dominate Media Coverage. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A number of fascinating developments are coming to a head in the drug
war arena. In a nutshell we are winning in the media and on the
Internet. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last Wednesday a congressional sub committee hearing was convened on
"The Pros and Cons of Legalizing Illegal Narcotics and | ||||||||||||||||||||
The hearings featured a number of important drug-law reformers giving
testimony, including Ira Glasser, the national head of the ACLU, Scott
Ehlers of the Drug Policy Foundation and David Boaz of the CATO
institute. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Why now? Because the administration is finally beginning to realize
that they are losing the war of public opinion as it pertains to the
"War on Drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Predictably Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey was wildly inaccurate in his
testimony including some blatantly inaccurate attacks on the Media
Awareness Project. It's interesting to note that despite his attempt
to vilify MAP the ONDCP has visited our web sites regularly. Ashley
Clements did a little research and found that since February 1997,
there have been 10,132 hits from the executive office of the President.
EOP.gov visits the DrugNews archive almost every work day doing
numerous searches. ONDCP has been openly subscribed to DrugNews-Digest
for quite a while now. | ||||||||||||||||||||
McCaffrey also went on in his testimony to extensively point out the
various efforts that are being undertaken to promote the prohibitionist
viewpoints in the media and on the Internet. This is very revealing as
the ONDCP and various other organizations have come to realize that
they are getting thoroughly trounced in nearly every media venue. What
McCzar does not realize is how his efforts play right into the hands of
those who are encouraging open honest debate on sensible alternatives
to our existing failed and expensive "War on Drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
As if to put an exclamation mark on the ineffectiveness of the dated
and tired rhetoric of the administration on drug policy and to
simultaneously drive home how effective drug policy reform has become
in promoting accuracy, science, and reason, the media has very
definitely begun to expose the weakness of the | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reform has always dominated the Internet and always will despite
McCzar's efforts to play catch up. It takes little more than a visit to
the DrugNews archive and a scan of the headlines to realize that the
worm has turned in the print media and the broadcast media is rapidly
following suit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An important broadcast media event will drive home the same point this
Sunday. NBC will be airing a Geraldo Rivera special on the drug war.
All indications are that it will come to the conclusion that the drug
war is a bankrupt, corrupt, and failed philosophy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In anticipation of this show we have given a face lift to the Media
Awareness Projects web page. We are launching a major effort to
encourage NBC and other major print and broadcast media outlets to
continue to shed light on our failed drug policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning immediately our current weekly "Focus Alert" will be posted
on the MAP web page to further encourage all reformers to work together
to send letters of correction, information, or accolades to our chosen
target of the week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This NBC special will have a multi-million dollar adverting value for
the reform movement we want to encourage a massive effort to
acknowledge NBC for this and future shows on drug policy. To that end
we have collected a list of E-mail addresses so that those who choose
to join us can easily write a letter not only to NBC corporate
headquarters but to their local affiliates as well. Please. Watch the
special this Sunday June 20, at 5-6 PM PDT and 8-9 EDT (check local
listings) then visit the web sight below and write a letter to NBC
expressing your views. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to Richard Lake for compiling the list of NBC Affiliates at | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy COMMENT: (1) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Increasingly hostile media scrutiny of the drug war continues;
editorial writers are now routinely skeptical of ONDCP rhetoric. The
first editorial echoes nationwide derision expressed at ONDCP/PDFA's
stated reasons for opposing the Roybal-Allard bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) EDITORIAL: A FLAWED LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's Nonsense To Omit Alcohol From Anti-Drug Ads | ||||||||||||||||||||
(Guest editorials do not necessarily reflect Herald-Leader views.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
States uniformly ban the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors because they are not considered mature enough to drink responsibly and safely. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That bit of wisdom seems to have been lost on Congress, which by
sleight of hand banned the federal government from mentioning alcohol
in a $195 million anti-drug media blitz aimed at kids. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Still, a spokesman for the drug czar's office argues that adding "...
and alcohol" to the federal ad campaign for kids would muddle its
anti-drug message. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That's an inane distinction. Alcohol, in the hands of children or
teens, is a dangerous drug they should be warned about. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (2-3) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug testing, a mainstay of federal policy, is being pushed aggressively, both privately and by government- despite absence of evidence that it is anything but an expensive nuisance. The Chicago Tribune roundly condemned its use for screening welfare recipients, while a NYT article reported generally positive comments from the New Orleans DA and various school officials on (private) school testing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(2) TRAMPLING THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A new law in Michigan seeks to further punish, police and humiliate the state's poor population. It sets a dangerous precedent for other states. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In October, Michigan will begin a pilot program to administer drug
tests to new welfare applicants at three locations. If the applicants
test positive, they will be asked to enroll for treatment. Those who
refuse to be tested or treated will lose their benefits.
Already-eligible recipients at these locations also will be randomly
tested and treated the same way. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This move represents a violation of the basic civil rights of poor people and reinforces the assumption that poverty equals drug addiction and criminality. Since more than 25 percent of blacks and Latinos are poor, as compared to 11 percent of whites, the growing discrimination against the poor reflects both a class and a racial bias. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(3) HAIR TESTING BY SCHOOLS INTENSIFIES DRUG DEBATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NEW ORLEANS -- Hair testing to detect illicit drug use, a procedure
already popular with at least 1,000 employers in the United States, is
now being adopted by some schools, opening a new chapter in the
continuing debate over the best way to keep adolescents from
experimenting with drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (4-5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Possible consequences of hostile press scrutiny are demonstrated by
the next two items; what had appeared earlier to be an isolated event
in New Jersey was ultimately shown to be a pervasive national pattern
which finally generated federal notice and action. | ||||||||||||||||||||
IT'S NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cops Across The U.S. Often Search People Just Because Of Their Race, A
Study Says | ||||||||||||||||||||
WHEN BLACKS AND HISPANICS ACROSS the U.S. read recent headlines about
the practice of "racial profiling" by state troopers in New Jersey, it
didn't strike them as an obscure practice in a far-off state. It
sounded like their own experience. They have long believed it's no
coincidence that so many of them have been stopped and frisked by
police for no apparent reason. African Americans even coined a term for
their supposed offense: DWB, for Driving While Black. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
PRESIDENTIAL ORDER ON POLICE STOPS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal agencies must collect data on who they detain and why | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- President Clinton on Wednesday directed federal law
enforcement agencies to collect information on the race, ethnicity and
gender of the people they detain for questioning, a move aimed at
developing data needed to determine whether they unfairly target
minorities for scrutiny. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since December, significant media hostility for the drug war has been
occasioned by the social and economic costs of prisons. Various
prohibitionist factions are responding with proposed policy changes
emphasizing "drug courts" and "treatment." Timothy Egan examined some
of these ideas through the prism of Arizona's much-misunderstood
Proposition 200, a voter initiative appended to medical Cannabis in
1996, then questioned by the legislature, and reaffirmed by voters in
1998. | ||||||||||||||||||||
There are important nuances to coerced treatment, particularly when prohibition is the law of the land. On the other hand, coerced treatment in the absence of prohibition becomes a dead issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thoughtful people should read Egan's entire article. | ||||||||||||||||||||
CRACK'S LEGACY / A SPECIAL REPORT IN STATES' ANTI-DRUG FIGHT, A RENEWAL FOR | ||||||||||||||||||||
PHOENIX -- A thief, a burglar, a gang member, a drug dealer and a
mother stepped into a windowless room in this overbaked city one
Tuesday afternoon, strip-searched of pride and any material possession
that made them somebody outside the brick-walled room. | ||||||||||||||||||||
They are drug addicts in treatment, and every one of them might well be
in prison under Federal law and the statutes of most other states. But
in defiance of Arizona's political establishment, voters here took the
law into their own hands and voted twice, by large majorities, to make
their state the first to mandate treatment instead of prison for drug
offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Locking up crack users is still the policy in the Federal system. A
person caught with five grams of crack -- worth about $125 on the
street -- and prosecuted under Federal drug laws in any state faces a
mandatory five years in prison if convicted. Crack is the only drug
that carries a mandatory prison term for possession. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But in Arizona, because of a voter initiative, the same crack user
prosecuted under state laws cannot be sent to prison. Instead, he must
undergo drug treatment. The money for treatment comes from the
offenders themselves and from a tax on liquor. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (7-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In California, the state prison system is not only the largest in the
nation, it's bigger than those of several European countries,
combined. "Three Strikes" legislation, passed in 1994, has been its
Miracle Gro. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The next two news items show how prisons grow to become expensive
headaches. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The third article describes how those headaches have produced support
for federally encouraged drug courts as a way to continue to arrest
drug users without having to send them to prison; notice how few go to
trial (yet they are all convicted felons). | ||||||||||||||||||||
(7) STRIKING OUT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Critics Decry Sentencing Law But Prosecutors Say It Works | ||||||||||||||||||||
Like millions of Californians, Judy Savoy voted without hesitation for the "Three Strikes, You're Out" law when it was on the ballot in 1994. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The measure passed by a whopping 3-to-1 margin and seemed like a good idea: Locking up dangerous, career criminals for at least 25 years to life after their third felony conviction. Coming on the heels of the Polly Klaas case in Petaluma, public support was overwhelming. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Savoy regrets her vote now. In fact, the 43-year-old Santa Barbara woman has joined a drive to get the law rewritten -- an arguably futile effort that defies popular opinion and bucks political odds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(8) PRISON WHISTLEBLOWER SUIT IS SETTLED FOR $17 MILLION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
FRESNO -- California has agreed to pay $1.7 million to whistleblower
Richard Caruso, a former guard at Corcoran State Prison who broke the
code of silence and exposed a pattern of deadly shootings of inmates,
only to lose his career. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rather than investigate the shootings, testimony showed, Myers and
other officials ordered that Rigg and Caruso be investigated for
alleged wrongdoing. Rigg, who was also forced to retire, has filed a
similar lawsuit that is still pending. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(9) GRAY DAVIS HITS A WALL OVER FUNDING NEW PRISON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gray Davis Hits a Wall Over Funding New Prison Democrats balk at $335 million project in budget Greg Lucas, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau | ||||||||||||||||||||
In their first major clash, Democratic Governor Gray Davis and the more liberal legislative leaders of his own party are in a high-stakes battle over construction of a new, $335 million state prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The governor wants it. The Legislature's powerhouses don't. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(10) TEAM EXPANDS FAST-TRACKING OF DRUG CASES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
There's a new special drug unit in town, but it's not like the ones on
the real-life cop shows. | ||||||||||||||||||||
There are no drug-sniffing dogs or cops in fatigues busting into homes
in a rush of adrenaline. Instead, this group has judges and lawyers who
sit there and expedite cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In New York, another state with a huge prison system, Ed Koch shows
how politicians gain wisdom (political courage?) after leaving office;
I don't remember him denouncing the Rockefeller laws while he was
Mayor. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(11) POLITICS STALLS DRUG REFORM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A spirited debate is taking place among academics, law enforcement officials, judges, politicians and other concerned citizens about the Rockefeller drug laws of 1973, the toughest such laws in the country. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Twenty-six years after their passage, it is clear that these Draconian
laws neither reduced the use of hard drugs nor dried up the source of
prison fodder. Nevertheless, the laws continue to impose minimum
sentences of 15 years on people convicted of selling or possessing
relatively small amounts of drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A roadblock in Connecticut revealed how far astray some law
enforcement types can be led by drug war zealotry. The lengthy article
describes very interesting Constitutional issues raised by one of the
few arrests. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(12) TROLLING FOR TRAFFICKERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Roadblock In Holyoke Leads To A Precedent-Setting | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Nov. 21, 1997, Holyoke cops, working with the State Police, set up a
roadblock at the intersection of Elm Street and Sonoma Place, a short,
one-way residential side street in the poor Holyoke neighborhood known
as the Flats. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ten Holyoke officers and eight state troopers, a total of 18 police,
manned the roadblock from 7 to 9 in the evening with two
narcotics-sniffing dogs. The goal was to catch drug traffickers.
During the two hours, 58 cars passed by. Fourteen were pulled over and
searched. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
From the medical Cannabis front, a San Francisco update assures us
that although Dennis Peron's CBC remains closed, the City's patients
are better served than most others in the state. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A report from Britain suggests that Geoffrey Guy is on track to
produce a marketable delivery system. It's fairly clear that McCzar's
strategy is to drag his feet until such a system can be medicalized
(Sched 2) as "Aer-Marinol," thus keeping pot criminal and creating
another prosecution category: nebulizer diversion. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(13) CITY'S POT CLUBS LIVE ON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Keeping A Lower Profile, But In Plain View Of The Police | ||||||||||||||||||||
A year after San Francisco's most flamboyant pot club was shut down by
a judge, medical marijuana distribution here is alive and well, with
dispensaries ranging from on-call delivery services to clean, well-lit
retail spaces and funky activist-run storefronts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
With local politicians on their side and plenty of patients flocking
in, four marijuana clubs appear to be quietly flourishing, with a fifth
in the works. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Still in legal limbo, each has constructed its own set of rules. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(14) CANNABIS INHALERS IN FIRST LEGAL HEALTH TEST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Patients in Britain's first clinical trial of cannabis will take the drug through an inhaler similar to those used by asthma sufferers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The device, to be unveiled this month, will use vapors from heated
cannabis aimed at giving quick pain relief to hundreds of multiple
sclerosis, neuralgia and glaucoma sufferers taking part in the trial.
The cannabis, a brown viscous liquid, will be heated in a laboratory
oven and placed in the inhaler, the size of a mobile phone. The patient
will inhale the vapors through a tube under medical supervision. Pain
relief is expected in minutes. Eventually, it is planned the heating
mechanism will be incorporated into the inhaler. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Kentucky, the four hemp seeds symbolically planted by Woody Harrelson in June '94 will bear figurative fruit in September '99. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(15) STATE HIGH COURT TO HEAR HARRELSON CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Kentucky Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear actor Woody
Harrelson's case, which challenges Kentucky law that classifies hemp as
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hemp activists think this could give them a chance to grow a crop they
say could do wonders for the state's economy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Our whole goal is to get a ruling on the constitutionality of the law
defining hemp as marijuana," said Charles E. Beal II of Lexington,
Harrelson's attorney. "What we're saying is that the definition of
marijuana is too broad and takes in hemp, also. Hemp and marijuana are
two separate subspecies of the same plant." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's ironic that only a week before McCzar was to assure a
Congressional Committee that the drug war is really being won,
Colombia announced, with a straight face, that it intends to include
illegal drug revenues in calculating its GDP. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(16) DRUG MONEY GIVES BOOST TO COLOMBIA'S ECONOMY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
COLOMBIA, which is suffering its worst recession for over 50 years, is
to include income from illegal drugs in official calculations of its
gross domestic product to try to boost the figures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Juan Camilo Restrepo, the Finance Minister, said the move was part of a
new formula adopted by the state-run National Statistics Department. He
said: "It doesn't mean they're being validated or given some kind of
blessing." Mr Restrepo said the measure was likely to ensure GDP rose
"a little bit". | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (17-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As if to prove that Colombia isn't the only Latin nation suffering from drug war unreality, a credible report described how the February meeting between Presidents Zedillo and Clinton took place at the hacienda of an (absent) drug lord. The item, which has appeared in free weeklies, alleges a news blackout by the mainstream media. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nothing from Mexico surprises us anymore; witness last week's
gang-style execution of a TV icon in broad daylight. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(17) MEXICO: FRIENDS LIKE THESE TWO PRESIDENTS TALK UP THE DRUG WAR (Top)IN THE HOUSE OF A DRUG TRAFFICKER | ||||||||||||||||||||
FEBRUARY 15, 1999: President William Clinton met today with Mexican
president Ernesto Zedillo to negotiate better cooperation between their
nations in the fight against drugs. Incredibly, the anti-narcotics
summit was hosted by powerful Mexican banker Roberto Hernandez Ramirez,
a man publicly accused of trafficking cocaine and laundering illicit
drug money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But that story wasn't reported in the States, despite a controversy
over Hernandez's alleged involvement in the drug trade that's raged on
the Yucatan peninsula for two years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(18) DRUG TIES SUSPECTED IN TV HOST'S SLAYING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Mexicans mourned Tuesday the death of a
well-known television game show host whose daylight murder bore the
hallmarks of a professional hit, officials said, raising the specter of
links to drug traffickers or organized crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A day after Francisco "Paco" Stanley, 56, was shot four times in the
head while he sat in the front seat of his luxury car | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Canada, the good new was that the government would sponsor a
clinical trial of medical Cannabis; the bad news was that it would be
supplied from NIDA's clueless Mississippi farm. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(19) AMERICAN MARIJUANA TO BE USED FOR TRIALS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
OTTAWA -- Marijuana from Mississippi will be used for the first clinical trials in Canada of the medicinal benefits of pot -- but Allan Rock will confirm today that a long-term supply will be home-grown. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The federal health minister will announce he has accepted a trial
project submitted by Toronto's Community Research Initiative, which
proposed short-term tests of the effects of smoked marijuana on those
suffering from AIDS. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Canadian-grown pot will not be available in time to get that off
the ground, so Rock will accept marijuana grown by the U.S. National
Institute of Drug Abuse from the University of Mississippi, a
government source said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug Czar Barry (McCzar) McCaffrey testified before a congressional
subcommittee hearing last Wednesday along with a number of other drug
warriors and some knowledgeable spokespersons speaking for sensible
drug reform. Among other things McCzar intentionally misrepresented the
Media Awareness Project (MAP) insinuating that because MAP has links to
other web sites that give instructions on how to manufacture ecstasy,
High Times Magazine and other "legalization" sites it endorses the
views of those sites or publications. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He failed to mention that we also link to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, The ONDCP, Join Together and numerous other sites supporting existing policy. Join Together, which the good general's own site links to, has a link to DRCNet which has a link to (you guessed it) the Media Awareness Project! So could it be said that the ONDCP links to sites on how to manufacture ecstasy and High Times Magazine? | ||||||||||||||||||||
The general's ludicrous testimony can be reviewed or printed in a PDF
(printable) format at: | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/testimony/legalization.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||||
The entire testimony is also in the DrugNews archive at | ||||||||||||||||||||
We will be providing a major expose and debunking of this purposely
deceitful, inaccurate and misleading testimony in the near future.
McCzar's obfuscation will come back to haunt him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
JACK HERER FILM GOES ON SALE | ||||||||||||||||||||
Please distribute this widely. The video goes on sale on-line tomorrow
at http://www.emperorofhemp.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
For Immediate Release | ||||||||||||||||||||
JACK HERER FILM GOES ON SALE | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hemp Documentary "Emperor of Hemp" Now Released on Video Available Exclusively Through Website: http://www.emperorofhemp.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH - JO-D DUNBAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our Volunteer for June is Jo-D Dunbar. Jo-D is recognized for her dedicated activism for a long time, both for NORML and MAP/DrugSense. Jo-D is both a MAP NewsHawk and an Editor. We asked her a few questions: | ||||||||||||||||||||
DS: You have been involved in drug policy reform issues for a while.
When and why did you become involved? | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
I'd been a closet smoker since college and this was the first time I
realized that my career could be jeopardized as a result of my
preference to cannabis over alcohol. I asked other 'cool' employees and
supervisors about the form. They all said, 'Sign the form so you won't
be fired. They won't really test us. If they do, just refuse." So I
signed and continued to work. | ||||||||||||||||||||
From that day forward, though, I never felt comfortable there. If my
employer wants to judge my ability to perform the required tasks from
the contents of my bodily fluids instead of by my performance - screw
'em. They don't deserve my talents and efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I began researching urinalysis and discovered the high costs and
inaccuracy rate. I gathered most of the information from NORML and CA
NORML and decided that I wanted to help re-educate citizens about the
fallacies and atrocities of our drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I was never asked to 'piss in a cup' but took my first opportunity 'to
be laid off' which occurred around January 1993. I've spent increasingly
more hours educating myself and my fellow citizens about prohibition
ever since. | ||||||||||||||||||||
DS: How did you get into being a MAP volunteer? | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DS: What do you consider the most significant story/issue of the past
months? | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n617.a04.html. | ||||||||||||||||||||
DS: What is your favorite website, besides the MAP/DrugSense sites? | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DS: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers of the
weekly? | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Note: DrugSense is pleased to announce that Jo-D has accepted the position of Volunteer Coordinator. Jo-D will be helping volunteers find ways to plug in to our efforts. Plus Jo-D will also be helping our webmaster, Matt Elrod, by creating web pages for our sites. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The people's right to change what does not work is one of the greatest principles in our system of government" - Richard M. Nixon | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what DrugSense can
do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, Newshawks and letter
writing activists. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk | ||||||||||||||||||||
See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NOW YOU CAN DONATE TO DRUGSENSE ONLINE AND IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE | ||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense provides many services to at no charge BUT THEY ARE NOT FREE
TO PRODUCE. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We incur many costs in creating our many and varied services. If you
are able to help by contributing to the DrugSense effort visit our
convenient donation web site at | ||||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |