| July 16, 1999 #106 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Land of the Free is Becoming a Fond Memory | ||||||||||||||||||||
How can you express the feelings involved with seeing your country turn
slowly away from the freedom that it was based upon? | ||||||||||||||||||||
For me, I feel fearful, angry, betrayed, mislead, powerless and
helpless. I do not believe I am the only person that feels these
emotions. One person cannot change the turning that is happening. But
with many "ones" coming together we can become strong enough to stop
the horrible turn. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I have never been much of a political activist until this last year. I am seeing things going on that scare me that this great country is slowly becoming a police state. Our privacy's are being invaded, our civil rights are being taken away, our votes are being ignored, even our letters to government officials are not responded to. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I have been raised to believe that the United States is the greatest country in the world. I have believed that. I still do to an extent, but with the changes that are occurring I fear this great country will be lowered to the level of other countries that have military rule, something that this country is suppose to be opposed to. | ||||||||||||||||||||
When our President was having his personal life invaded, I believed
that what was being done was wrong. That his personal life and his
political life should be separate issues. But I certainly did not
expect that the public's personal lives should be invaded either. I
guess it comes down to what was good for him is not good enough for the
people that he represents. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I have been a democrat for all of my adult years and have believed that
giving people their rights is the only way for this country to exist.
Now I feel as though this democratic leadership is actually taking more
of our rights away than the republicans did. Looking back in years I
see that citizens rights were much stronger twenty years ago than they
are now. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We are slowly having each facet of our lives becoming the governments
business. That is not the way this country was meant to be. Our
Constitution and our Bill of Rights were established to protect the
citizens rights. Even those sacred documents are being raped by the
government we have in leadership. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Government officials are there to represent their constituents views,
not to put their personal opinions above them. I see that happening in
many areas of government. It is a mistake. The only thing most
officials are concerned about is their personal climb in politics.
Again, that is wrong. There is nothing wrong with aspiring to climb in
government, but when you use the backs of your constituents, that is
betrayal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
How many politicians yell their campaign stands over and over again
while trying to be elected, only to find when they achieve their goal
those promises were only words to sway the votes. It seems that
officials are afraid to make a stand and to actually be willing to do
whatever it takes to maintain that stand. Citizens listen to political
speeches to make decisions as to who to vote for so if a politician
turns his back the minute they are elected they have lied and misled
their constituents. There have not been many politicians that have
upheld their political campaign promises. Once they are in the office
they get labeled. If they do not go with the flow of the "old ways"
they are shunned. Politics has become a business. That is not how our
forefathers intended government to be. But so many politicians have
lost site of what their job truly is. Representing the people of the
United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our Freedom is in jeopardy and it is clear that each and everyone of us
have to learn to stand for our individual rights to restore what has
been taken from us. First, speak out to your Representatives, your
Senators, your Governors, our President. They must hear it from us, the
people, loud and strong. We want our Freedoms reinstated. That is what
our country is made from. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A very concerned citizen, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jean Cowsert | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Drug Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-2) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Furor over NM Governor Johnson's criticism of drug policy continued; predictably, his statement that the drug war is a failure resonated more with Democrats. A law enforcement supervisor seemed to be arguing that failure is noble and should continue at all costs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A refreshingly different point of view was aired in a Denver Op-ed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) DRUG DEBATE HEATS UP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Legalization Discussion Splits State Lawmakers | ||||||||||||||||||||
SANTA FE -- Gov. Gary Johnson's call for public debate on drug policy, including decriminalization of drug use, was applauded Friday by some key Democratic legislators but rejected outright by Republicans. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Johnson met Friday with the New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation, a private nonprofit educational group led by Steven Bunch, an Albuquerque lawyer, said Diane Kinderwater, the governor's press secretary. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The governor, as he said he would do, is going to be educating himself
on this issue," Kinderwater said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Also coming out against decriminalization was James Jennings, director
of the New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a Las
Cruces-based joint task force of federal, state and local narcotics
police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"As far as law enforcement is concerned, we need to keep our guard up,
we need to keep up the pressure," Jennings said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) AMERICA'S LOST WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
AURORA -- America's war on drugs has been fought for a quarter of a
century and dismally lost. Even though America's drug warriors won't
admit to defeat, more and more discordant voices of enlightenment are
rising above the general cacophony. They encourage us to re-examine the
war, the enemy, the casualties and the price paid. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (3-5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
At the higher levels of policy, the feds seem to be backing off
earlier "tough on drugs" rhetoric in favor of a 'treatment' model
which, for all its gentler rhetoric, is still rooted in coercion and
the criminal justice system. An explanation by NIDA chief Leshner
appeared in several newspapers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Among unconvincing ideas of 'treatment' which were advanced, these two
stand out: making drug treatment a religious issue limits it to
born-again addicts; and distraught parents dragging a rebellious teen
to the local sheriff for a free drug test doesn't seem an auspicious
beginning for a twelve-step program. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(3) BOOST TREATMENT STRATEGY IN WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Imagine a debilitating disease for which there are effective
treatments. Imagine that this treatable disease costs society $110
billion a year. Can you imagine not using the treatments? It seems
unfathomable, but that often is the case with the treatment of drug
addiction. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The case is just as dramatic for prison and jail inmates, 60 to 80
percent of whom have serious substance abuse problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Science shows that appropriately treating addicts in prison reduces
their later drug use by 50 to 70 percent and their later criminality
and resulting arrests by 50 to 60 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
These data make the case against warehousing addicts in prison without
attending to their addictions. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) CLOSER TO GOD, FURTHER FROM DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
New Center Tackling Tough Addictions | ||||||||||||||||||||
His jaw slack, his bluish-green eyes shining and unglazed, Travis
Hoefling took in last Sunday's Fourth of July spectacle over Elliott
Bay with childlike awe. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's the first time in eight years I've watched the fireworks show
sober," the 23-year-old former cocaine addict said. "It's like being a
little kid again." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Past treatment programs didn't help Hoefling kick his habit. But Teen
Challenge -- a faith-based rehabilitation center dedicated yesterday in
Rainier Valley -- is helping him stay clean by "getting close to God
again," Hoefling said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) FREE TEEN DRUG TESTS MAY SPREAD IN STATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Molalla's 2-Year-Old Program, Thought To Be Unique In The United
States, Is Attracting Attention In 10 Other Cities | ||||||||||||||||||||
MOLALLA -- A Molalla Police Department program that encourages parents
to bring in their children for free drug testing is likely to be
expanded to 10 other Oregon cities this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
State and national police groups say the test, a urinalysis that detects four families of drugs in less than 15 minutes, might be the first free drug testing administered by police in the United States. Molalla Police Chief Rob Elkins considers the program a success: in 1998, 59 of the 67 children brought in by parents tested positive. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Innuendo at its worst; it hardly requires an elaborate 'study' to
understand that the consequences of risk taking rise in response to
disposable income- it's been known for decades that new gonorrhea cases
in the Army spike five days after payday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The absolutely unjustified implication of this reportage is that this
high risk behavior is an exclusive characteristic of (mostly
dark-skinned) welfare recipients. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(6) STUDY LINKS WELFARE PAYDAYS TO RISE IN DRUG DEATHS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the drug culture, "mother's day" takes place early each month. It is the day when welfare checks arrive--a day when drug dealers know the extra money means more drug sales, so they stock well for the occasion. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This trend--so named because such checks have historically gone to
"welfare mothers"--is well known to physicians and social workers who
treat low-income substance abusers. The impact of using discretionary
funds to purchase alcohol and drugs, however, is poorly documented in
the medical literature. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (7-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Throughout 1999, our press has become increasingly focused on the law
enforcement colossus created by drug policy. Examples of this focus
were the entire series to devoted prison and forfeiture abuses by two
conservative heartland newspapers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(7) IOWA BLACKS IMPRISONED AT HIGH RATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Only D.C. Puts A Larger Proportion Of African-Americans Behind Bars. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At least 1 in 12 black Iowans is in prison, on parole or probation - a
ratio that surpasses most others across the United States, a Des Moines
Register analysis of incarceration rates found. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The ratio for whites is 1 in 110. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I wasn't aware the disparity was that big," said state Rep. Clyde Bradley, a Republican from Camanche. His district includes parts of Scott County, where half the people who go to state prisons are black. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I don't know if any legislators are." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n710.a03.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n710.a05.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n710.a01.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n714.a09.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n710.a02.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n710.a06.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n708.a04.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) FORFEIT AND GO FREE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Some fear system has become 'big money grab' | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ronald Barrett lay barefoot in his jail cell, kicking the door over and
over, screaming and cussing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He'd been caught running three stop signs and swerving his pickup all
over a rural Ouachita County road. The sheriff's deputies had found the
crucial evidence: methamphetamines, two bags of marijuana and a stack
of $10,000 in cash. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But if Barrett was kicking his cell door the night of May 6, 1995,
because he was worried about a prison sentence, he could have saved his
feet the pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to the way the state's forfeiture laws are applied in an area of
southern Arkansas, Barrett, then 37, walked away with 10 days in the
county jail for drunken driving. His agreement to forfeit $5,000 of the
seized cash brought a promise from the prosecutor's office to drop all
drug charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n709.a07.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n710.a07.html http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n713.a07.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (9-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile, in California, a state with a prison system dwarfing that of
most countries, editorials from both ends of the state came out
strongly against prison expansion. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(9) NO LONG-TERM PAYOFF TO BUILDING MORE PRISONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THROUGH HEAVY lobbying, Gov. Davis got the money to buy land and start
design work on a new prison, but he missed an opportunity to change
direction on nonviolent crime and halt California's slammer-building
frenzy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona, North Carolina and Vermont have taken the lead in acting on
the knowledge that the increasingly harsh and fixed prison sentences
that have become so popular in recent years -- especially for drug
offenses -- do not ultimately serve society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) EDITORIAL: PRISONS ARE NOT ENOUGH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
On July 4 Gov. Gray Davis signed a bill authorizing the construction of
a mammoth, 2,248-bed maximum security prison just north of Bakersfield.
The bill, he said, would "help to ensure that California remains a
state that demands safety for its citizens and justice from its
criminals." However, just building new prisons has little correlation
with public safety and does nothing to reduce the astronomical costs of
incarcerating its 160,000 prisoners. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The grim, inhumane features of Wisconsin's newest prison emphasize that although current policy may be losing popularity, the money and ability to implement change are controlled by prohibitionists. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(11) 'SUPERMAX' NEAR COMPLETION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 509-bed prison is slated to open in October, when it will begin
accepting the state's most dangerous criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||||
BOSCOBEL -- Only a few more strokes of the paint brush and some testing
of major equipment remain before a new prison for Wisconsin's most
dangerous criminals will be open for business. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The $43 million prison in Boscobel has some of the most modern
innovations in security -- from the lethal, electrified perimeter fence
to the single bed dungeon-like cells that isolate inmates from anyone
other than prison staff. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Berge said the inmates will be isolated from human contact, including
family visitations, which will be conducted over video cameras that are
at the central gatehouse and in the cells. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Berge has begun interviews for staffing the prison, which will be
self-contained. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medical services, for instance, are contracted through a firm that
provides such service. Food and laundry also will be contracted outside
with no inmates assigned to any of those duties. The only activity
inmates will have, Berge said, will be instructional programs conducted
via video in their cells. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A diatribe by a New York State LEO confirms that there is still
considerable self-interested support for current policy; most authors
are not so unguarded in confessing the doctrinaire basis of their
beliefs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(12) KEEP UP THE WAR ON DRUG DEALERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
John R. Dunne proclaimed on this page last week that as an author of
New York State's Rockefeller Drug Laws, no one knows better than him
that these laws need to be overhauled. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Instead of worrying about these so-called nonviolent drug dealers who prey on innocent people or about taking the handcuffs off bleeding-heart judges who already set many criminals free to pillage and murder another day, why not take the cuffs off law enforcement? | ||||||||||||||||||||
How about lobbying to build more jails, rather than advocating the
release of drug dealers who are polluting our streets and, ultimately,
poisoning our children? | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
More trouble for 215: a task force formed by State Sen. John
Vasconcellos to produce enabling legislation for California's
Proposition 215 early in 1998 had no realistic chance of producing
anything until Bill Lockyer replaced Dan Lungren as AG last November.
That it's taken so long to draft legislation confirms fierce residual
opposition to medical Cannabis and suggests less than ardent support
from the new AG. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The keystone of the plan was a state-wide patient registry; given the
harassment already meted out to patients by zealous sheriffs, there
may not be much enthusiasm to sign up. The two editorials quoted here
are lukewarm, and as this is written, Governor Gray Davis may have
already bailed out on Vasconcellos. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(13) MARIJUANA TASK FORCE OFFERS A WORKABLE PLAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two and a half years after California voters legalized medical marijuana with Proposition 215, a state Assembly committee will debate a bill today to establish a system to make the law work. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And it's about time. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill (SB848), by state Sen. John Vasconcellos, outlines a plan for
a statewide registration system to immunize patients and their
caregivers from being arrested for using, possessing or growing
medical pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) EDITORIAL: HALF A LOAF ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
California's task force on medical marijuana, convened by Attorney
General Bill Lockyer and co-chaired by state Sen.John Vasconcellos and
Santa Clara County District Attorney George Kennedy, has issued its
report and put it in the form of a bill, SB 848. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill is, as Sen. Vasconcellos put it, "a remarkable compromise
after one of the most elegant collaborative processes I've enjoyed in
my 33 years in the Legislature." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The process may have been elegant but the result, like most
compromises, is a mixed bag. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It puts in place more government supervision than is necessary or was contemplated by Proposition 215,passed by California voters in 1996. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last week saw a lot of press recognition of the hostility law
enforcement agencies have demonstrated toward the idea of medical
Cannabis, but- except for the headline- no one expressed it better
than Tony Serra. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(15) MARIJUANA - AMERICA'S MOST PROFITABLE PLANT NOW BRINGS AN EARLY (Top)WARNING OF SUBVERTED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, BRAINWASHED JURIES, BLOATED FEDERAL POWER, JUDICIAL RACISM, AND HAMSTRUNG LAWYERS. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We all appreciate that California voters passed Proposition 215, which
allows for medical usage of marijuana for seriously ill Californians: a
person with a recommendation from a doctor is entitled to grow and use
marijuana. Now legal authorities at all levels of law enforcement admit
up front that they are doing everything they can to de-actualize that
law. That is, they will arrest people who have doctors'
recommendations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
They will seize plants grown by terminally ill people and turn them
over to the district attorney. Most of the time, if it's a bona fide
medical-use case, district attorneys won't prosecute, but the
medicines--the marijuana plants and the marijuana in smoking form--are
seized and never returned. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Worse than that, they outlaw the marijuana clubs and the people who
grow for them. They give lip service to the legalization of milk, and
then outlaw the cow. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
An article in the Guardian Weekly which confirmed the UN assessment of
the size of the criminal drug market also described it in terms of
other economic yardsticks. It's amazing, especially if you consider
that all that wealth created by a home-grown American policy which was
never formally acknowledged, let alone voted on. | ||||||||||||||||||||
DRUGS TRADE 'DWARFS ALL BUT THREE OF BIGGEST ECONOMIES' | ||||||||||||||||||||
The world's organised criminals have a greater economic output than
Britain, according to a United Nations report. Their turnover is now
greater than all but three of the world's economies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The UN's 1999 Human Development Report estimates that organised crime
syndicates gross more than $1,500bn a year. The UK's economic output is
just over $1,200bn. The report says the syndicates' economic power
rivals that of multinational corporations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The biggest growth area is drugs, which is now a bigger global industry
than motor manufacturing. Over the past 10 years, the production of
opium has more than tripled and the production of coca leaves has
doubled. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (17-19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug news from the UK was dominated by resurgent interest in
decriminalization of Cannabis. After the British Medical Association
voted down support for medical use by a narrow margin (nine votes),
the big news was supplied by a veteran Scottish judge whose forthright
call for decriminalization was hailed by equally approving editorials-
and not just from the Independent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(17) SCOTLAND'S GOING TO POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
JUST TWO months into the Scottish Parliament and the entire nation is
going to pot. The latest in a long line of public figures to declare
himself in favour of the legalisation of cannabis is Lord McCluskey, a
senior Scottish judge. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking at the Law Society of Scotland's 50th anniversary conference
in Edinburgh, he called for a Royal Commission to be set up to consider
the decriminalisation of cannabis and to reassess the sentencing of
drug offenders. His argument, couched in vivid terms which compared
25-year sentences for cannabis trafficking with five-year sentences for
rape, is that prison terms are failing as a deterrent, and that since
there is a large body of evidence suggesting that cannabis is not a
danger to life, the police should be freed up to concentrate on
bringing to justice hard drug dealers and users. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) MINISTER'S PUFF AND NONSENSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Ludicrous Laws On Cannabis Must Be Changed To Reflect Reality | ||||||||||||||||||||
On the Today programme yesterday morning, Jack Cunningham, who - for the next few days at least - is the minister for the cabinet office, re-affirmed that the government was "not persuaded" by the arguments in favour of legalisation of cannabis. It is a fine phrase, "not persuaded", although when used by a minister, it may be taken to mean the government was not open to persuasion in the first place. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr Cunningham was replying to remarks by Lord McCluskie, the
longest-serving Scottish judge, who wondered whether the police might
be doing more useful things than chasing pot-smokers. "No one is
listening," Lord McCluskie said. "Do the penalties we impose deter? The
statistics tell plainly that they do not." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) A MATTER OF SUBSTANCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
IS CANNABIS smuggling four times worse than rape? The question, posed
yesterday by Lord McCluskey, fanned the flames of an already heated
argument and bought yet more pressure to bear on a government reluctant
to enter into a head-on collision with an increasingly rebellious
public. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Over the past two years, campaigners fighting for the legalisation or
decriminalisation of cannabis have won camp after respectable camp
around to their way of thinking, leaving the government exposed at the
centre of the row, posturing from behind paper-thin defences with its
argument for inaction teetering on shaky foundations. Last week, the
chair of the British Medical Association's Scottish public health
committee called for a Royal Commission and said it was only a matter
of time before the BMA voted to decriminalise cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WWW.PDFA.NET Site Re Announced | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's been announced once before but the WWW.PDFA.NET site continues to
be enhanced. Please spread the word about this site. It is an excellent
counter to the www.drugfreeamerica.org site and young ladies smashing
up the kitchen with frying pans. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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MMJ vs Democracy Video On-Line | ||||||||||||||||||||
CRRH is happy to announce that a new video, Medical Marijuana vs. Democracy, about California medical marijuana refugee, Renee Boje, is now available on the web. http://www.crrh.org/hemptv/docs_mmjvd.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
Boje is seeking financial assistance to help defray her legal bill in
fighting extradition. Please help her: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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PBS Site points to DRC DARE Site | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to Ashley Clements for pointing out this humorous fact: | ||||||||||||||||||||
PBS has an Online article "DRUGS: The War Game" at: | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.pbs.org/weblab/vaguepolitix/crime/nutshell/contro.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||
What, you may ask, is so exciting about this poorly researched and
inaccurate article in the first place?!? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Well, the link to DARE goes to http://www.drcnet.org/DARE/ (a site that
criticizes DARE and not to the actual DARE web site. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
New Volunteer of the Month Archive Page Announced | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to our dedicated staff member Jo-D Dunbar Harrison, The DrugSense 'Volunteer of the Month' page has been activated! | ||||||||||||||||||||
Currently, it is linked from the DrugSense Activism Page:
http://www.drugsense.org/active.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||
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DrugSense Volunteer of the Month John Black | ||||||||||||||||||||
This month we recognize John Black, a NewsHawk who for three years has been sending news articles to MAP, almost exclusively from the Orange County Register. More than a thousand articles now in our archives are a result of John's consistent NewsHawking. As a result dozens of Letters to the Editor have been published in response to the articles! | ||||||||||||||||||||
We asked John to answer some questions, and here is his response: | ||||||||||||||||||||
What a nice surprise! I can hardly believe how much progress
MAP/DrugSense have made in the last three years. For the first time in
twenty years I feel like this war against American's may someday end. I
am one of those people who would rather be left alone, but if you are
going to get involved you should stand up and be counted. You asked how
I got involved, well shortly after I found MAP I was ranting and raving
about unjust drug laws, when my son informed me that he was tired of
listing to me bitch all the time and that I should shut up or get
involved (he was right). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our first involvement (my wife and secretary Shirley) was CMI 80 with a long period of being very vocal but not involved with any group until MAP. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The most significant story of these past months? I think that would be a
1-2-3 punch Prop 215 which led to the IOM report that forced McCaffrey to
defend prohibition (Don't Legalize Those Drugs). But so much is happening
all around the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A little about myself I am a 58 year old retired grandfather who does not
want to see his grandchildren persecuted for some of the things that most
young people do. I came to the conclusion that our grandfathers were a lot
smarter than we are (repeal of prohibition after only thirteen years). I
hope to see repeal of all prohibition laws (sooner than later) and without
MAP/ DrugSense and the Internet I think it would take many more years than
it will. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I would like to express my gratitude to all involved in the
anti-prohibition movement for everything that they have done and for
allowing me to participate in this endeavor. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thank you everyone. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We all thank you, John! | ||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Does anyone ever read or comment on the DrugSense Weekly Newsletter?"
Tom O'Connell | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tom asked this question recently and it occurred to us to ask some of you to send a few words of appreciation to Tom O'Connell and Matt Elrod who put a tremendous effort into creating this publication each week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tom personally reviews, edits and digests over 350 news articles every
week to discover those that are most significant to a wide spectrum of
current drug policy issues worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Matt archives and converts the newsletter for convenient web interface,
archives each issue and distributes it to thousands of subscribers
worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Let's provide a bit of encouragement (that means you too General
McCaffrey :) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tom O'Connell () Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, Newshawks and letter
writing activists. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Please help us help reform. Send any news articles you find on any drug
related issue to . See | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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We incur many costs in creating our many and varied services. If you
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The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |
