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DrugSense Weekly
November 5, 1999 #122


Table of Contents

* Breaking News (11/05/24)


* Feature Article


     Soundbites From the War on Drugs (Part 2)

* Weekly News in Review


Drug Policy-

COMMENT: (1-3)
(1) Taking Flak in the Tsar Wars
(2) Europeans Just Say 'Maybe'
(3) U.S. Drug Czar Warns Europe About Cocaine and Ecstasy
COMMENT: (4-5)
(4) Legalize Drugs?
(5) Learning to Live With Drugs

Law Enforcement & Prisons-

COMMENT: (6)
(6) 1st Death Sentence Under U.S. Drug Law is Voided
COMMENT: (7)
(7) Flashback: Still Wanted After 28 Years

Cannabis & Hemp-

COMMENT: (8)
(8) Medical Marijuana Retains Strong Support
COMMENT: (9)
(9) The NBA's Drug Program is Nothing More Than a Masquerade
COMMENT: (10)
(10) Justice Department Ask for Rehearing of Medical Marijuana

International News-

COMMENT: (11-12)
(11) Australia: Heroin Decree Splits Catholics
(12) Most Australians Want Marijuana Decriminalised
COMMENT: (13)
(13) Russia Sees Chechnya Drug Threat
COMMENT: (14-15)
(14) Colombian Indians Doubt Safety of Spraying Crops
(15) U.S. Too Cautious in Colombia, Republicans Say
COMMENT: (16)
(16) Mexico Investigating Soldiers in Cocaine Theft

* Hot Off The 'Net


    Get your DrugSense Weekly Newsletter in HTML
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* DrugSense Volunteer of the Month


    Art Smart

* Quote of the Week


    Joshua Reynolds


FEATURE ARTICLE    (Top)

Sound Bites From the War on Drugs (Part 2)

What Prohibitionists Say and Possible Responses

Sound bite # 6) Only bad things result from any drug use.

Drug use should always be considered carefully by adults with a good knowledge of facts, science, and reason about both the positive and negative effects of any drug use (this does NOT mean the irrational unscientific propaganda and scare tactics often foisted upon the public by our "leaders").  A great deal of good has been accomplished by proper use of illegal drugs just as has been accomplished by the proper use of legal drugs.  There are hundreds of benefits to be derived from the proper use of what are now illicit drugs from helping cancer and AIDS patients live longer and reduce nausea (marijuana) to exceptionally effective pain relief properties for terminal patients (heroin).

Sound bite # 7) The "War on Drugs" is effective.  (We can win if you just give us more money).

With all factors combined, the war on drugs has cost hundreds of billions of dollars.  Youthful drug use goes up with each increase in drug war costs.  Despite billions of dollars wasted over many decades, all illicit drugs are easily available nationwide by both youth and adults alike.  The "Drug War" cannot show ANY positive results after 70 years of wasted resources.  Does throwing more money at it make logical sense?

Sound bite # 8) The Partnership For a Drug Free America (PDFA) is doing a good and valuable service for the country.

PDFA has misled the American public.  Even the name is deceptive. If PDFA wants a "drug free America" (an impossible objective) then why have they accepted money from alcohol and tobacco companies and why do they still admit, on their web page, to taking money from pharmaceutical (drug) companies?

Sound bite # 9) Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) is helping to keep our kids off drugs

A recent University of Illinois study tracked hundreds of school children who took the DARE course in the fifth grade.  The study found that the program generally had no effect on later drugs use, except in certain instances: Surprisingly, suburban students who took the DARE course were more likely to use drugs than their counterparts who didn't.

Sound bite # 10) We can and should continue to fight the "War on Drugs"

The "War on Drugs" has resulted in the US being the proud owner of the largest prison industrial complex on the planet.  It has failed miserably by any rational standard.  Virtually no objectively questioned individual, who does not have a personal interest in maintaining the "War on Drugs," will attempt to defend it.  Our law enforcement and criminal justice systems have been all but destroyed by the war on drugs.

What Reformers can say

Sound bite #11) The drug war has created so many evil, if unintended, consequences that it no longer has much to do with drugs but rather with exploiting those evil consequences.

Since they are all directly related to the enormous wealth which has been created by protecting lucrative criminal monopolies over a span of decades, the keystone of any effective reform HAS to be eventual restoration of regulated legal markets for ALL agents.  Period. Tom O'Connell

Sound Bite # 12 Talk about "sensible regulation" Follow it up with how we currently have an unregulated market that allows one to go out at 2 in the morning and buy crack cocaine cut with plaster dust from a twelve year old.  A regulated drug market much like we now have with alcohol makes more sense.  Point out that , of course, you cannot regulate that which is illegal , so ...  It works well. It's short & simple.

Nick Eyle

NOTE:   A URL to the entire collection of soundbites will be announced in
next weeks edition


WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW    (Top)


Domestic News- Policy


COMMENT: (1-3)    (Top)

Last week, the center of press attention on drug policy moved toward Europe- right along with McCzar.  The Guardian's accurate thumb-nail on McCaffrey ended with a statement from reform and a caveat.

Newsweek pointed out that European drug policy places reduced emphasis on enforcement and pulled few punches in labeling the US wod a failure.

Meanwhile, McCzar characteristically used the occasion of his visit to tell a few whoppers and do some finger wagging.


(1) TAKING FLAK IN THE TSAR WARS    (Top)

He came to his post as President Clinton's adviser on drugs in 1996 as the youngest four-star general in the United States army and a former commander in chief of the US armed forces' southern command, effectively the chief US military figure in Central and South America. He had been an adviser on Latin American internal security policy and a major player in Operation Desert Storm.  Last weekend he came in London to share his knowledge and views with British ministers and agencies.

[snip]

"Barry McCaffrey has presided over a system where marijuana use has declined among American youth, masking an even greater rise in the adolescent use of crack and heroin," says Paul Lewin of the organization Common Sense for Drug Policies.  "It is unlikely that most parents would be comfortable with a system that replaces marijuana with crack and heroin use."

During his stay in Britain, McCaffrey will have an opportunity to outline what he believes the US has accomplished beyond turning the prison system into the second biggest employer after General Motors. People should certainly listen to what he has to say.  But perhaps it would be advisable not to inhale too deeply.

Pubdate:   Oct 28, 1999
Source:   Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright:   Guardian Media Group 1999
Contact:  
Website:   http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Page:   13
Author:   Duncan Campbell
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1171/a12.html
Cited:   Common Sense for Drug Policy, http://www.csdp.org/


(2) EUROPEANS JUST SAY 'MAYBE'    (Top)

Rejecting The War On Drugs, Some Countries Are Looking For A Truce With Users.  U.S. Officials Think That's A Big Mistake.

Bill Nelles doesn't look like a drug addict.  A 44-year-old graduate of the London School of Economics, he works as a senior manager in Britain's National Health Service and sings madrigals in two choirs. But as a schoolboy in Canada, he started dabbling with LSD, then moved on to morphine and became addicted to opiates by the age of 23.  Detox programs didn't take, and the few times he scored heroin on the street, the experience terrified him.  So in 1977, he moved to London, where sympathetic doctors could give him what he needs.  He now takes 40 methadone tablets a day, prescribed by his doctor and bought at the local pharmacy.  His drug habit, says Nelles, is simply a chronic medical condition--albeit one he caused himself.  "I don't want to be judged because of a medication I take," he says.  "One can have a normal life and take drugs."

That idea is beginning to gain acceptance in Europe.  While the United States wages its war on drugs, some Europeans are quietly negotiating an informal truce.

[snip]

But in many countries, soft drugs like marijuana are increasingly tolerated, and even users of heroin or other hard drugs are less likely to be treated as criminals.  To some Europeans, the "just say no" approach seems as outdated as the American temperance movement of the early 1900s.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Mon, 01 Nov 1999
Source:   Newsweek International
Copyright:   1999 Newsweek, Inc.
Contact:  
Website:   http://www.newsweek.com/nw-srv/printed/int/
Author:   Carla Power
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1160/a10.html


(3) U.S. DRUG CZAR WARNS EUROPE ABOUT COCAINE AND ECSTASY    (Top)

BRUSSELS -- The U.S.  drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, warned Europeans on Thursday not to be complacent about the spreading use of cocaine, which he called the "worst thing that happened to the United States since World War."

Mr.  McCaffrey said that in the 1980s cocaine "was widely believed to be safer than alcohol and nonaddictive.  " But today, some 3.6 million Americans are chronically addicted to the drug, which is one of the major causes of crime.

"We did not understand the danger," he said.

He said that while the United States had a serious drug problem that was getting better, the Europeans had a similar problem that was getting worse, partly because of increasing tolerance in many EU countries for drugs like cocaine and Ecstasy, both of which are widely used in the Continent's dance and rave club culture.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Oct 29, 1999
Source:   International Herald-Tribune
Copyright:   International Herald Tribune 1999
Contact:  
Website:   http://www.iht.com/
Page:   4
Author:   Barry James, International Herald Tribune
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1175/a04.html


COMMENT: (4-5)    (Top)

In testimony to the influence just one maverick politician can exert, Governor Johnson's call for legalization continues to attract attention far from New Mexico.  Those commenting don't always come to rational conclusions, but at least this Sacramento Bee editorial recognized the drug war's essential failure.

Given the press interest in Johnson, it's no accident that the message of reform is also getting more attention; Ethan Nadelmann had another op-ed published in a major newspaper- this one in the Washington Post emphasized Latin American issues.

(4) LEGALIZE DRUGS?    (Top)

TOO MANY POLITICIANS ADDICTED TO DRUG-WAR RHETORIC

New Mexico Gov.  Gary Johnson said something revolutionary the other day.  He called for the legalization of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other illegal drugs.  "Control, regulate, tax, educate and prevent." That's the drug policy the conservative Republican advocates.

The nation isn't ready to go nearly that far.  Given the addictive quality and the serious social and physical harm drug abuse causes, wholesale legalization is not the path to follow.

[snip]

Drug abuse is a terrible problem.  It causes enormous pain, tragedy and harm to users, children and loved ones.  But an effective strategy would be one that offered likely candidates treatment instead of prison, and that brought not just drug cops into drug-infested communities, but also health care, clean needles and after-school programs.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Fri, 29 Oct 1999
Source:   Sacramento Bee (CA)
Copyright:   1999 The Sacramento Bee
Contact:  
Address:   P.O.Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852
Feedback:   http://www.sacbee.com/about_us/sacbeemail.html
Website:   http://www.sacbee.com/
Forum:   http://www.sacbee.com/voices/voices_forum.html
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1177/a12.html


(5) LEARNING TO LIVE WITH DRUGS    (Top)

This week's meeting in Washington of drug czars from throughout the Americas represents merely the latest charade in the ongoing war on drugs.  Year after year, decade after decade, governments announce their latest drug control strategies, sign the latest bilateral and multilateral agreements and proclaim that the light at the end of the tunnel is brighter than ever.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Tue, 02 Nov 1999
Source:   Washington Post (DC)
Copyright:   1999 The Washington Post Company
Page:   A21
Address:   1150 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20071
Feedback:   http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm
Website:   http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Author:   Ethan Nadelmann
Note:   The writer is director of the Lindesmith Center, a drug policy
institute with offices in New York and San Francisco.
http://www.lindesmith.org/
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1188/a05.html


Law Enforcement & Prisons
---------

COMMENT: (6)    (Top)

Thanks to an appellate court decision, an important first- the execution of a convicted drug dealer- won't happen soon; however the Constitutionality of such a death sentence wasn't addressed.

(6) 1ST DEATH SENTENCE UNDER U.S. DRUG LAW IS VOIDED    (Top)

ATLANTA, Oct.  29 - A panel of federal judges today overturned the death sentence of a man who was the first person sentenced to execution by the United States under a 1988 federal drug law.

The United States has not executed anyone in 36 years.

A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S.  Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2 to 1 that David Ronald Chandler of Piedmont, Ala., was not properly defended by his attorney during his sentencing phase.

Pubdate:   Sat, 30 Oct 1999
Source:   Washington Post (DC)
Copyright:   1999 The Washington Post Company
Address:   1150 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20071
Feedback:   http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm
Website:   http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Author:   Associated Press
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1176/a02.html


COMMENT: (7)    (Top)

One can't help wondering: if Allen Richardson/Christopher Perlstien's appeal is turned down by the New York judge, will he join Renee Boje in asking Canada for asylum?

(7) FLASHBACK: STILL WANTED AFTER 28 YEARS    (Top)

The most gorgeous feature of Allen Richardson's $700,000 West Vancouver home is the view.

It stretches from Whytecliff Park to Snug Cove on Bowen Island.

Now, after 28 years, a New York prosecutor wants him to trade it for a cell in Attica prison.

[snip]

In 1971 -- as 19-year-old physics student and Vietnam War protester Christopher Perlstein -- Richardson was sentenced to four years for selling seven hits of LSD worth $20 in to an undercover cop in his dorm room at Rochester Institute of Technology.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Wed, 27 Oct 1999
Source:   Vancouver Sun (Canada)
Copyright:   The Vancouver Sun 1999
Contact:  
Address:   200 Granville Street, Ste.#1, Vancouver BC V6C 3N3
Fax:   (604) 605-2323
Website:   http://www.vancouversun.com/
Author:   Gordon Clark
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1177/a10.html


Cannabis & Hemp-


COMMENT: (8)    (Top)

In line with pre-election polls, Maine voters favored medical cannabis by nearly two to one, adding to the considerable pressure the federal government is already feeling.  This account in the Portland Press-Herald touches all the bases.

(8) MEDICAL MARIJUANA RETAINS STRONG SUPPORT    (Top)

Rejecting the concerns of doctors, police and prosecutors, Mainers went to the polls Tuesday and just said yes to medical marijuana.

Question 2, which legalizes the use of small amounts of marijuana for medicinal purposes, passed by a large margin.  With 88 percent precincts reporting, 61 percent of voters agreed that Mainers suffering from certain medical conditions should be allowed to buy, grow and use the drug to alleviate their symptoms without fear of prosecution.

Thirty-nine percent of Mainers voted against the law.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Wed, 03 Nov 1999
Source:   Portland Press Herald (ME)
Copyright:   1999 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  
Website:   http://www.portland.com/
Forum:   http://www.portland.com/cgi-bin/community/netforum/community/a/1
Author:   Meredith Goad, Staff Writer
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1191/a09.html


COMMENT: (9)    (Top)

If Armen Keteyian succeeds in provoking political interest in how NBA stars use cannabis, the league could be in for a long winter.

(9) THE NBA'S DRUG PROGRAM IS NOTHING MORE THAN A MASQUERADE    (Top)

For a few festive hours Sunday night, millions of children and adults will happily dress up or don masks and pretend to be something or someone they are not.  On Tuesday, the National Basketball Association's regular season will open for the 53d time, while a majority of players begin their 82-game version of All Hallows' E'en, dressing up as entertainers and role models, masking their off-court dependence on a post-game treat of choice: smoking a joint.  The trick was always not getting caught, a rather simple matter given the fact that since the league's original antidrug program debuted back in 1984, the union put up a stoned wall against marijuana testing.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Sun, 31 Oct 1999
Source:   New York Times (NY)
Copyright:   1999 The New York Times Company
Contact:  
Website:   http://www.nytimes.com/
Forum:   http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/
Author:   Armen Keteyian
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1180/a07.html


COMMENT: (10)    (Top)

The Justice Department took the first step in challenging the Ninth Circuit's ruling that cannabis may indeed be medicine- just like the IOM report said it is.

After all, who'd know better- Congress or the IOM?

(10) JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ASK FOR REHEARING OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULING    (Top)

The Justice Department on Wednesday asked a federal appeals court to reconsider a ruling that could allow seriously ill patients to use marijuana without being prosecuted.

The 9th U.S.  Circuit Court of Appeals last month told a federal judge to rethink his order that closed down some Northern California medical marijuana clubs, and consider an exemption for patients who face imminent harm without the drug and have no effective legal alternative.

Federal prosecutors have repeatedly argued that Congress has declared pot to be among the most dangerous controlled substances and without a medical purpose invalidating the medical-necessity argument the court said should be considered.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Wed, 27 Oct 1999
Source:   Associated Press
Copyright:   1999 Associated Press
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1171/a03.html


International News


COMMENT: (11-12)    (Top)

Week after week, the Australian press reports endlessly on two major issues: injecting rooms and proper penalties for cannabis.  Last week, Vatican intervention complicated the former and nation-wide polls uncovered even more support for decriminalization than the US can muster for medical use.

(11) AUSTRALIA: HEROIN DECREE SPLITS CATHOLICS    (Top)

The Catholic Church in Sydney and Melbourne was further divided last night as the Vatican's intervention in Sydney's heroin injecting room project widened the chasm between conservative and progressive Catholics.

And while the Uniting Church signalled it would explore the possibility of taking over the experiment in Sydney, Victoria's Catholic Premier, Mr Bracks, also vowed to go ahead with his trial of five injecting rooms in Melbourne.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Sat, 30 Oct 1999
Source:   Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
Contact:  
Website:   http://www.smh.com.au/
Author:   Paola Totaro
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1179/a05.html


(12) MOST AUSTRALIANS WANT MARIJUANA DECRIMINALISED    (Top)

About three quarters of Australians support decriminalising possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, a Newspoll has found.

Life Education Australia executive director Terry Metherell said the poll, conducted last weekend, showed support for fines instead of criminal records in minor marijuana offences was strong across all age groups.

It was strongest among people aged 25-34 (84 per cent) and weakest among those over 50 (66 per cent).

[snip]

Pubdate:   Mon, 01 Nov 1999
Source:   Australian Associated Press (Australia)
Copyright:   1999 Australian Associated Press
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1183/a12.html


COMMENT: (13)    (Top)

With nary a wink nor a nod, Russia shamelessly played the drug card to bolster an image darkened by their savage war in Chechnya; imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.

(13) RUSSIA SEES CHECHNYA DRUG THREAT    (Top)

MOSCOW, Oct 26, 1999 -- (Reuters) A top Russian crime fighter said on Monday breakaway Chechnya was harvesting opium poppies, producing heroin and selling the drug to growing numbers of Russian youngsters.

"Not only today but already two or three years ago, we have been seriously concerned about the production of drugs in Chechnya," Leonid Tantsorov, deputy head of the interior ministry's anti-drug department, told a news conference.

"According to information we have obtained there are sizeable fields where opium poppies are being grown and they are making it into morphine and heroin."

[snip]

Pubdate:   Thu, 28 Oct 1999
Source:   Reuters
Copyright:   1999 Reuters Limited.
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1176/a06.html


COMMENT: (14-15)    (Top)

In Colombia, the prototype for test-marketing suppression of a revolution as a "drug war," the herbicide spraying program is causing a loss of morale among some intended beneficiaries.  Small wonder.

The unhappy Indians had better not complain too loudly around Senate Republicans, however; they're in no mood to coddle drug producers. Got it?

(14) COLOMBIAN INDIANS DOUBT SAFETY OF SPRAYING CROPS    (Top)

If the Yanacona Indians have their way, the Colombian government in coming months may allow them to take out tens of thousands of poppy plants - the source of heroin - with their own hands.  Literally.

They want to be left alone to yank the flowers from the ground, instead of having police airplanes spray their land with herbicides to combat drug crops.  The collateral damage to corn and other crops - as well as the health risk to humans, say the Yanaconas - has long been an issue here.  But several recent events have put drug eradication by spraying on the front burner.  First, the looming prospect of a doubling of US anti narcotics aid to Colombia - which means more spraying.  Second, the latest round of peace talks with rebels.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Thu, 28 Oct 1999
Source:   Christian Science Monitor (US)
Copyright:   1999 The Christian Science Publishing Society.
Contact:  
Address:   One Norway Street, Boston, MA 02115
Fax:   (617) 450-2031
Website:   http://www.csmonitor.com/
Forum:   http://www.csmonitor.com/atcsmonitor/vox/p-vox.html
Author:   Timothy Pratt, Special to The CSM
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1176/a05.html


(15) U.S. TOO CAUTIOUS IN COLOMBIA, REPUBLICANS SAY    (Top)

Washington -- To many alarmed Republicans in Congress, the drug-funded insurgency in Colombia poses the twin evils of a potential leftist takeover combined with the scourge of narcotics spreading through the Americas.

The obvious response, in the minds of anti-Communist drug warriors on Capitol Hill, is to fight back hard, supplying military aid, equipment, advisors -- whatever the Colombian generals say they need.

And helicopters.  If only the Clinton administration would get off its diplomatic duff, quit flirting with guerilla leaders, stop waltzing around with Colombian negotiators, pull some combat helicopters out of mothballs and send them off to do some serious anti drug fighting, the crisis in Colombia might be resolved at last, say exasperated Republicans.

Pubdate:   Sun, Oct 31, 1999
Source:   Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (FL)
Copyright:   1999 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact:  
Feedback:   http://www.sun-sentinel.com/services/letters_editor.htm
Website:   http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Forum:   http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/interact1.htm
Author:   William E.  Gibson,
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1185/a06.html


COMMENT: (16)    (Top)

A somber note from Mexico: there is clear evidence that drug war duties have corrupted one of its few remaining honest institutions- the army.

(16) MEXICO INVESTIGATING SOLDIERS IN COCAINE THEFT    (Top)

Narcotics:   Probe In Chihuahua Adds To Fears That Involvement In
Anti-Drug Fight Is Imperiling Military.

MEXICO CITY--In a fresh embarrassment for its anti-narcotics efforts, the Mexican military announced Friday that it is investigating several soldiers for stealing about 15 pounds of cocaine from seized shipments that the army was supposed to incinerate.

The incident made front pages in Mexico on Friday, reflecting fears that the army's growing drug-fighting role is endangering a key national institution.  Both U.S. and Mexican officials have pushed the respected military to become more active in anti-narcotics work because of extensive corruption in police and political ranks.

[snip]

Pubdate:   Sat, 30 Oct 1999
Source:   Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright:   1999 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  
Address:   Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053
Fax:   (213) 237-4712
Website:   http://www.latimes.com/
Forum:   http://www.latimes.com/home/discuss/
Author:   Mary Beth Sheridan, Times Staff Writer
URL:   http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1177/a05.html


HOT OFF THE 'NET    (Top)

Get your DrugSense Weekly Newsletter in HTML

You can now optionally subscribe to an easy-to-read HTML version of the DrugSense Weekly Newsletter.

To switch from the text-only version (newsletter) to the HTML version (newsletter-h), simply send a blank message to:


Or use the online form at http://www.drugsense.org/lists/


Thanks to Jim Rosenfield for the heads up on the following 2 links.

New Prison Issues Web Page

I came across this yesterday.  A whole bunch of new friends and terrific links.  http://www.prisonactivist.org/


NPR show on Sentencing now On-line

Now at Think for Yourself

http://mall.turnpike.net/~jnr/think.htm

NPRs "This American Life" a half hour show called "Sentencing" with WBEZ's Ira Glasser 10/22/99 in Real Audio G2 format.  Excellent program on Mandatory Minimums and the Drug War.

Jim Rosenfield


The Virginia Voters Guide now on-line

http://www.drugsense.org/dpfva/VOTER-GUIDE

Michael Krawitz VADV____Virginians Against Drug Violence Contact: Lennice Werth at 804-645-7838, Fax 804-645-8324


DRUGSENSE VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH    (Top)

Art Smart

This month we recognize Art Smart.  Art has been a MAP NewsHawk from the start, carefully following the Houston Chronicle for both MAP and the Drug Policy Forum of Texas ( http://www.mapinc.org/DPFT/ ).  Art's long list mastering of the DPFT discussion list has resulted in the largest discussion list for a single state - the model for many others (see http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n699.a01.html ).  We asked Art a few questions:

DS: You have been involved in drug policy reform issues for a while. When and why did you become involved?

Art: It was on Sunday, July 4, 1993, and I was enjoying live rock music at Houston's "Freedom Festival" when someone passed a joint through the crowd.  I wanted to take a hit, but immediately remembered that I was subject to workplace drug testing.  Then it hit me that here I was at a huge public celebration of America's long heritage of freedom, and I myself didn't even feel the least bit free.

Because of that singular galvanizing event, I quickly got involved in the ACLU, eventually being elected its president for the greater Houston area, served as president of Houston NORML, and publicly debated a state representative on the subject of marijuana legalization in front of a packed audience.  I served as a charter board member of DPFT and as their first secretary, and these days I write a monthly column for their newsletter.  I have also served as the administrator of the DPFT-L e-mailing list since its inception.

DS: How did you get into NewsHawking?

Art: NewsHawking is a great way for me to assist the drug policy reform movement without taking time away from my new family.

See http://www.neosoft.com/~artsmart/home/home.htm

I can do most of my NewsHawking after the kids are asleep or before they wake.

DS: What do you consider the most significant story/issue of the past months?

Art: Without a doubt, G.W.  Bush's failure to deny cocaine use prior to 25 years ago.  That story line showed how the rich typically get off scot free, while those with less privilege rot in prison for the exact same crime.

DS: What are your favorite websites, besides the MAP/DrugSense sites?

Art: Due to time constraints, I typically only surf the Houston Chronicle web site for NewsHawking purposes, and I get most of the rest of my information via e-mail postings.

DS: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers of the weekly?

Art: Keep up the pressure with your LTEs, Op-Eds and letters and calls to lawmakers.  Armed with the truth, we will ultimately prevail. Remember that 20 years from now, when all of America will look back on the stupidity of our nation's horrible Drug War in much the same tragic way we now recall the Vietnam War, that you can say you were among the visionaries who worked so long and hard to bring it to a peaceful, quicker end.  And yes, it's not what others do, it's what YOU do that really matters.

DS: Thank you, Art, for all that you are doing! Art Smart's name will be added to the list of honored volunteers on the following web page within the next few days: http://www.drugsense.org/dswvol.htm


QUOTE OF THE WEEK    (Top)

`Nothing is denied to well-directed labor, and nothing is ever to be attained without it.' - Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792)


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