| April 24, 1999 #95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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A DrugSense publication | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Learn from the Civil Rights Movement: Get Organized | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The development of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights provides a
model that drug policy reformers can emulate to increase our
effectiveness, efficiently use our resources and put in place sensible
drug policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Leadership Conference was founded in 1950 by three important civil
rights leaders each from a different area of civil rights: A. Philip
Randolph, founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (the first
group of black workers to gain recognition as a union); Roy Wilkins,
the Executive Director of the NAACP; and Arnold Aronson, a leader of
the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council. Each had a
long history in coalition building and civil rights activism. When they
founded the Leadership Conference they confronted a society where
segregation was an ever-present reality and equality a distant dream.
The United States military had only recently desegregated. In many
states and in the nation's capital as well, segregation was sanctioned
in law as well as in life. Discrimination was pervasive in government
and business. No Federal civil rights law had been enacted since
Reconstruction almost 100 years earlier. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Leadership Conference formed with 30 organizations from civil
rights, labor, civil liberties and related organizations concerned with
social justice. They joined these organizations to create the nerve
center against discrimination in all of its forms. The founding
resulted in the civil rights movement getting organized and becoming
much more systematic and effective. At the time member organizations
marched in the streets, sat-in at lunch counters, and refused to ride
in the back of the bus. The Leadership Conference coordinated these
diverse activities and made them into a campaign to make simple justice
the law of the land. The Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964, the
Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 - all were
pushed to passage with the help of the Leadership Conference and the
coalition it mustered and mobilized. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Their activities continue today dealing with the rights of other
minority groups (e.g., Native Americans, immigrants), gays, lesbians
and the disabled. The Leadership Conference has grown to more than 185
national organizations, representing persons of color, women, labor
unions, individuals with disabilities, older Americans, major religious
groups, gays, lesbians and civil liberties and human rights groups.
Together, over 50 million Americans belong to the organizations that
comprise the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The reform movement has taken initial steps toward getting organized.
Several years ago we formed the Alliance of Reform Groups (ARO) an
information sharing network of leading reform organizations. Today, it
includes about 50 organizations. Initial steps have been taken to
create a stronger alliance amongst reformers through the Network of
Reform Organizations (NRG pronounced "energy"). NRG is made up of two
dozen organizations -- about the same number of organizations as the
Leadership Conference when it was founded. The organizations in ARO
jointly represent over 140,000 people not including the several hundred
thousand members of the ACLU. Obviously, most of the organizations are
small, but this only increases the need for unity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Just as the civil rights movement deals with a variety of issues reproductive freedom, the rights of African Americans, Hispanics and other minority groups, the disabled, women's rights, the drug policy reform movement also deals with diverse issues: availability of sterile syringes, access to medical marijuana the rights of marijuana and other drug users, sentencing justice, employment fairness for addicted people, health care (including methadone) for the addicted, an end to drug testing abuse as well as those seeking to end forfeiture of property and other issues. And as the civil rights movement forged coalitions on specific issues with outside organizations we have also recently involved women, youth advocacy, civil rights, civil liberties, gay and lesbian, AIDS groups and others in reform projects. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Leadership Conference defines itself as leading a peaceful
revolution. No doubt changing drug policy will require a similar
peaceful revolution. The Leadership Conference notes that "defending
and expanding social justice requires eternal vigilance by the widest
possible coalition of Americans of conscience." The drug policy reform
movement may be able to learn from the successful experience of those
who came before us. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Kevin B. Zeese, President, Common Sense for Drug Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Greer is editing the DrugSense Weekly for the next two weeks
giving Dr. Tom O'Connell, who normally provides the editorial comment
and article selection, a well deserved opportunity to vacation in
Europe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It is a fascinating exercise to occasionally go to the DrugNews archive and scan recent headlines of drug related news articles at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/ The news from the drug war virtually screams about the mindlessness and foolishness of existing drug policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The most common theme that struck me this week is the number of people
that we would otherwise often look up to, respect, and even consider
heroes who have been victimized, incarcerated, or caught up in the
"War on Drugs." From athletes to the elderly, from cops to firemen and
from politicians to the Supreme court there seem to be so many who are
either on the wrong side of the law or who are foolishly promoting a
failed policy. This fact all by itself is a testament to the need for
reform. If our best and brightest are involved aren't our policies
very suspect? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(1) U-CONN STAR EL-AMIN FACES A DRUG CHARGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Khalid El-Amin, who last month helped Connecticut win its first
national basketball championship, was arrested yesterday and charged
with possession of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) STRAWBERRY ARRESTED FOR DRUGS, SOLICITATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
TAMPA, Fla., April 14 (UPI) - The troubled life of Darryl Strawberry took another ominous turn Wednesday night when he was arrested on charges of cocaine possession and solicitation for prostitution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) STUDY SLAMS CORRUPTION ON BORDER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Employees On Payrolls Of Mexican Drug Lords, Report Says | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mexican drug lords are bribing federal agents to give them information, wave their smugglers through border checkpoints and even employing them to bring drugs into the United States, a federal report says. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
After a yearlong study, the General Accounting Office reported that it
found that drug interdiction efforts in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and
California are compromised by federal agents and other field staff on
the payrolls of the Mexican drug cartels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) CITY SETTLES FIREFIGHTER'S SUIT IN CONTROVERSIAL DRUG CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GASTONIA -- The city says former Gastonia firefighter Karen Goff gave
police the key to her locker in 1997, where they found a powder that
tested positive for cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Goff's lawyers say the search was forced and that there was no test --
and no cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) FAIRFAX TEACHER SUSPENDED AFTER ARREST ON DRUG CHARGE IN D.C. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A 14-year Fairfax County high school teacher has been suspended without
pay following his arrest in the District on a charge of possessing
cocaine with the intent to distribute. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) FORMER COP IN COURT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A former North Vancouver Mountie appeared in court on Wednesday to face
six marijuana trafficking charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Scott Randall Simpson, 38, is also charged with possessing marijuana,
psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and hashish and stealing a "cobra
fashioned smoking pipe." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) 2 CORRECTION OFFICERS TO SERVE TIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
BRONX, - Two former New York City Correction Officers assigned to
Rikers Island have been sentenced in Bronx Supreme Court to 2 to 6
years for attempting to smuggle drugs into the correction facilities on
Rikers Island. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) FIREFIGHTER'S BACK AFTER FINE FOR POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An Edmonton firefighter who was fined $2,500 after being convicted of
growing pot in his basement is back on the job. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Edmonton fire Chief Jim Sales, after consulting with city officials,
has ruled that Dean Troyer can continue to work as a senior
firefighter, said a department spokesman yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) STUDENTS FACE DRUG CHARGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LONGWOOD, Fla., April 15 (UPI) - Thirty-two people, including a number
of Lake Brantley High School students, were arrested on drug charges in
Longwood Wednesday afternoon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Police think they belong to a gang called the Forest City Mob. They are
accused of selling marijuana and cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) 89-YEAR-OLD MAN SENTENCED FOR SELLING CRACK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
KINGSTON, N.Y. (AP) -- An 89-year-old man convicted of selling crack cocaine has been sentenced to up to four years in state prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT (12-13) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Of course there are those who speak with a voice of reason and can
truly be called heroes. To wit: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(12) EX-CANDIDATE FACES TRIAL IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif.--Before the bust, Steve Kubby's claim to fame
was political trivia at best: Just who was last year's Libertarian
candidate for governor? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) VOICES OF OUR TIME: JOSEPH D. MCNAMARA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Technology's advancement a boon to personal freedom | ||||||||||||||||||||||
From your perspective, what have been some of the most important
developments of the 20th century, and how will the world be different
100 years from now? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- Medicinal Marijuana | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The IOM report and last November's landslide elections continue to get
positive coverage and editorials calling for reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(14) MARIJUANA HOAX (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Some dismiss medical marijuana as a hoax that exploits our natural
compassion for the sick.," notes a new report from the Institute of
Medicine that details the therapeutic potential of cannabis. The IOM's
experts discreetly refrain from adding that it's an opinion shared by
the man who commissioned the report. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Our Opinion | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(15) READY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA RESEARCH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Seven states have approved the medical use of marijuana since 1996, including California, yet an unruly debate persists thanks to the federal government's stubborn obstruction of the will of the people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) CANNABIS HAS HERBAL BENEFITS RESEARCH CAN HELP UNLOCK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As a child of the '60s, I was well aware of the recreational value of
cannabis. (Yes, I inhaled, but as a non-smoker, I didn't do it very
well.) Its virtues were extolled in music and films. The biggest joke
was that you were using it for "medicinal purposes." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Recently, there was an article in The News about an advisory panel that
has concluded that compounds found in marijuana are effective for
easing pain and relieving nausea. It turns out there are very real
medicinal virtues to this forbidden herb. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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As always there is some good news and positive signs that "the times they are a changin'" (or that they are desperately in need of change). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(17) US COMPANY TO BUILD 2 PLANTS FOR HEMP PROCESSING IN CANADA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A U.S.-based agricultural company plans to build two hemp-processing
plants by 2001 in Canada's western province of Manitoba, the head of
the company's Canadian operations said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"There will be two distinct plants located on the same site. One is
dedicated to food and one is dedicated to fiber," said Douglas
Campbell, president of the Canada division of Consolidated Growers and
Processors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) TREATMENT DEMAND STRETCHES CLINICS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DRUG treatment centres are being stretched to cope with the demand for
help by heroin addicts, the Dail Public Accounts Committee heard
yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
At any one time, 600 people are on waiting lists seeking treatment at
clinics run or funded by the Eastern Health Board, the main provider in
the greater Dublin area. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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DRUGSENSE VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH - Gerald Sutliff (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This month it is our honor and privilege to recognize one of our most successful writers of Letters to the Editor, Gerald M. Sutliff. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Since May, 1996 Jerry has had 37 letters published that made it into our published letters archive, and probably a few more that we missed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
You can review his published letters at the following URL | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Newspapers that have published Jerry's letters include: Contra Costa
Times (CA), Detroit News, Halifax Daily News (Canada) , International
Herald-Tribune (published worldwide), Journal-Inquirer (CT), Los
Angeles Times, Oakland Tribune (CA), San Francisco Examiner (CA),
Skagit Valley Herald (WA), Standard-Times (MA), Star Ledger (NJ), The
Bulletin (OR), The Examiner (Ireland), The Wall Street Journal, and the
Wellington Evening Post (New Zealand). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
We asked Jerry to respond to a few questions: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DS: When and how did you first become involved with MAP? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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DS: Do you recall when you first had a LTE published? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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DS: About how many LTEs do you send to editors each month? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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DS: What tips would you give to those who may wish to join in the LTE
writing effort? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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DS: What else would you like to say to all the readers of the DrugSense
Weekly? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 'net is not the Gutenberg revolution but it's close. After Gutenberg people realized that they could learn (especially about God) for themselves. That led to the Reformation. The 'net means people have an even better way to "learn and decide for themselves." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DS: Thank you, Jerry, for all that you do and for providing an example
we can emulate! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chuck Thomas of MPP informs us: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's finally done -- MPP's compilation of the best excerpts from the
Institute of Medicine's medicinal marijuana report. You can find it at
http://www.mpp.org/science.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Alice O'Leary writes: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Your readers might also enjoying visiting our website which has
excerpts from our new book "Marijuana Rx: The Patient's Fight for
Medicinal Pot." (Thunder's Mouth Press: ISBN 1-56025-166-2) These
excerpts include the Foreword by Lyn Nofziger, former deputy chairman
of the Republican National Committee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The address is http://www.marijuana-as-medicine.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Peter McWilliams reports: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The complete transcript of the John Stossel ABCNEWS special "Sex,
Drugs, and Consenting Adults" is on-line at: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://abcnews.go.com/onair/abcnewsspecials/transcripts/
stossel990415_trans.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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FACT OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
One in three black men between the ages of 20 and 29 years old is under
correctional supervision or control. (1995). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Jails and prisons are the complement of schools; so many less as you
have of the latter, so many more you must have of the former"
-- Horace Mann | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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