| April 30, 1999 #96 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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A DrugSense publication | ||||||||||||||||||||
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NOTICE: The DrugSense Weekly will be taking a one week hiatus the week
of May 14, as many of our editors will be attending the Drug Policy
Foundation Conference in Bethesda MD. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Update on Steve and Michelle Kubby | ||||||||||||||||||||
We arrived in the quiet mountain town of Auburn and were delighted to
learn that we have become somewhat of celebrities there. It started
almost immediately, as we checked into our hotel. A very conservative
looking receptionist immediately recognized our name and told us,
"everyone in town rooting for you." | ||||||||||||||||||||
That receptionist sure was right. Everywhere we went, people recognized
us and felt compelled to express their support for us. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By the time we arrived in court, we were on a roll. The courtroom was
packed with supporters and even the deputies treated us with respect.
Best of all, after months of being helpless victims while the
prosecution used the system to their advantage, we were finally able to
take control of events. Without question, your letters, e-mails and
checks of support have created a media storm which the authorities can
no longer ignore. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So far, we've seen first hand how the checks and balances of the court
process have been corrupted. We've seen how nearly all the
constitutionally guaranteed rights of the accused have been
antiseptically removed from each step of the criminal justice system --
until one reaches the level we're at now. Unfortunately, most patients
have neither the resources nor the stamina to make it this far. Thank
you for helping us to get this far. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Anyway, it was great to finally be in the driver's seat. Despite the
objections of deputy district attorney Christopher Cattran, our trial
date was successfully moved from May 18th to July 20th, in order to
allow our attorneys to complete their current trial commitments and
have adequate time to prepare our defense. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On the issue of travel, Cattran had told my attorney on an earlier
occasion that he would have me arrested if I tried to speak at the
MoKan Libertarian State Convention this May. In court however, we were
able to prevail and I will be allowed to attend. Also, Michele will be
able to visit relatives in Nebraska this May. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Several journalists, attorneys and public defenders introduced
themselves to us and everyone wanted to know what we could tell them
about the Baldwin's case. All eyes are on Judge James Garbolino who
has suspended the Baldwin trial and is expected to dismiss it on next
Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Judge Garbolino has certainly impressed us his willingness to revisit
an issue with an open mind. It was Garbolino who, after raising our
bail to $200,000, later released us without any bail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Michele and I are thrilled and grateful by the new turn of events and
for the support all of you have helped create for us. We're especially
grateful to the award-winning Auburn Journal which has given us
tremendous editorial support and has published every letter sent to
them by our supporters. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Let freedom grow, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Steve and Michele Kubby | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This issue tends to focus on good news for those readers who are in
favor of reforming our existing drug policies. This is primarily due
to the fact that there was so much heartening news. Nationwide and
worldwide the house of cards that has represented our drug policy for
decades is showing signs of beginning to waiver. Could collapse be
imminent? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Of course there are always the exceptions such as the silly Illinois
Internet bill HB 792 which, if enforced, could theoretically do away
with the first amendment for this newsletter and hundreds of other
educational Internet web sites but it is this ever increasing type of
strident foolishness on the part of drug warriors that is making them
look ever more ridiculous in the eyes of the public. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(1) LIBERTARIANS LAUNCH PROP. 215 WEB SITE INSPIRED BY KUBBY ARRESTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Libertarian Party of
California has launched a new web site -- www.215Now.com -- designed to
pressure government officials into fully implementing Proposition 215,
the medical marijuana initiative passed by voters in November, 1996,
Libertarian state chairman Mark Hinkle announced today. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) ANOTHER VICTORY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A New Government Report Cautiously Endorses POT AS A PAINKILLER - And
It Not Only Embarrasses Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey But Also May Help To
Undermine The $17 Billion War On Drugs | ||||||||||||||||||||
PERHAPS THEY DIDN'T INHALE, BUT many Americans gasped when a scientific
study funded by the White House's drug czar reported in March that
marijuana's active ingredients seem to have medical value,
"particularly for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and
appetite stimulation." As much as the contents of the report, its irony
-- as if the 1950s House Un-American Activities Committee had paid for
a report finding that communists were good guys after all -- attracted
a barrage of media attention. Gen. Barry McCaffrey, director of the
Office of National Drug Control Policy, was forced to put on a brave
face. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) BAD MARIJUANA BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A legislative proposal that aims to ban the distribution of marijuana-
related information from the Internet could affect the Illinois State
Crime Commission's efforts to educate parents about illegal drugs, if
it is approved by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Ryan. The
measure, HB 792, would make it illegal for anyone to transmit "cannabis
information" through the Internet. If the measure is approved,
offenders could face up to a year in jail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed, 21 Apr 1999 21:03:22 -0700
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(4) HEMP: NOW WE'RE WEARING IT, EATING IT, EVEN BUILDING WITH IT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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You know a little about hemp. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Not too much, of course. A friend used to tell you about it, uh, a lot
during college. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) DRUG-WAR SUPPORTERS TURNED FREEDOM FIGHTERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hartford, CT- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cliff Thornton hopes word of mouth will spread enough peace to end the
war on drugs and freedom. Every time he pitches his common-sense
message to a college class, an NAACP meeting or a Rotary Luncheon, he
aims to convince one person of prohibition's failures. "If I get one
now, it will be two next time, three the next time and then it will
grow exponentially because they'll all tell their friends," he says,
until public opinion shifts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) $10 MILLION CLAIM FILED IN POT ARREST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cancer patient had prescription | ||||||||||||||||||||
A 71-year-old Fair Oaks cancer patient with a doctor's prescription to smoke marijuana has filed a $10 million claim against Sacramento County alleging he was illegally arrested for growing pot at home. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Robert DeArkland, who suffers from prostate cancer and arthritis, was
arrested Feb. 5 and charged with felony illegal possession and
cultivation of marijuana for sale. The charges stemmed from a law
enforcement raid of DeArkland's home last October in which narcotics
officers from Sacramento and Placer counties seized 13 marijuana
plants, $420 in cash and a scale. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (7-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
When a medicinal marijuana user reclaims his cannabis from the police
department and the New York Times applauds Arizona's proposition 200
can victory be far away? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Oh and here's a shocker. Parents talking to their kids is more effective than a $50 billion "War on Drugs." Seems to me common sense could have taught us that lesson a few hundred billion dollars ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Of course our beloved drug czar plods along frittering away another
paltry couple of billion dollars on a first rate Madison Avenue ad
campaign featuring a whacked out frying pan wielding heroin addict.
The general buzz is that these ads suffice as the advertising
equivalent of a comedy show for most teens. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) CALIFORNIA POLICE FORCED TO RETURN MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
UKIAH, Calif. (Reuters) - Christopher Brown sauntered into the Ukiah
sheriff's office Thursday and walked out with a half pound bag of
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In what is believed to be one of the first cases in the United States
of someone legally retrieving a drug stash seized by law enforcement,
Brown's victory marked a turning point in California's battle over
medical marijuana, his lawyer said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) ARIZONA SHOWS THE WAY ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Arizona voters, tired of paying the exorbitant costs of imprisoning
drug users and addicts who might be helped more cheaply, voted twice to
provide a treatment alternative to jail. Now an Arizona Supreme Court
study of the first year of probation with mandatory drug treatment --
instead of prison -- has shown the apparent wisdom of that decision.
Congress and the legislatures of New York and other states should take
heed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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ARIZONA'S PROP. 200 SAVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, CUTTING DRUG ABUSE,
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(9) RENO AT LARGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Would Do Well To Prescribe Truce In `Other' Drug War | ||||||||||||||||||||
America is fighting not one but two parallel and exceedingly costly
drug wars. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) STUDY BACKS TREATMENT, NOT PRISON, FOR ADDICTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a report that likely will increase debate on the merits of
imprisoning substance abusers, the Arizona Supreme Court today issued a
study concluding that the state's new mandatory-treatment law has
broken drug users' habits in the short term and saved the state
millions of dollars. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) DRUG TREATMENT SAID TO REDUCE CRIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PHOENIX (AP) Arizona's voter-approved program of sentencing nonviolent,
first- and second-time drug offenders to treatment rather than prison
reduces crime and saves tax money, according to a state Supreme Court
study. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) PARENTS KEY IN DRUG WAR, STUDY SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Marijuana Use Varies By 19 Percentage Points. | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON--Children who learn about the risks of drugs at home from their parents are much less likely to fall prey to narcotics than those who do not, according to a nationwide survey released today. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) U.S. ANTIDRUG CAMPAIGN'S IMPACT TO BE CLOSELY TRACKED BY SURVEYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The $2 billion federally sponsored campaign to keep kids from using
drugs is putting the government into the unfamiliar business of
measuring advertising effectiveness. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Probably the most striking news this week was the phenomenal
developments outside the U.S. with numerous articles indicating a sea
change in drug policy on the horizon from Canada to Switzerland. Many
have long considered Canada to be ahead of the U.S. in moving towards
sensible drug policies but seeing police chiefs take the lead on the
subject is both heartening and significant. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) POLICE CHIEFS WANT POSSESSION OF ALL NARCOTICS DECRIMINALIZED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fight Court Backlog | ||||||||||||||||||||
OTTAWA - Canada's police chiefs are recommending that the federal government decriminalize possession of small quantities of all illegal narcotics, including heroin, the National Post has learned. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If the federal government accepts the proposal, anyone convicted of
simple possession of narcotics would simply sign a guilty statement and
pay a fine, without having to go through the court system. They would
not have a criminal record. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) COPS CAN'T KEEP UP WITH B.C. DRUG TRADE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
If you're a drug user, B.C. is the Shangri-La of Canada. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Statistics Canada reports B.C. had the highest rate of drug incidents
of any province in the country in 1997. There were 430 drug incidents
for every 100,000 British Columbians that year, nearly twice the
national average. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) POLICE LIKE POT-PENALTY PLAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Province Vancouver police Chief Bruce Chambers says he's taking a
"serious look" at supporting a plan to decriminalize possession of
small quantities of cannabis products. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The proposal was approved by directors of the Association of Canadian
Police Chiefs last week and is expected to go to a vote by members
later this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It sounds like an idea worthy of having a serious look at," Chambers
said yesterday. "I would want to ensure that if this was in fact done,
we'd be doing it in a manner that wouldn't be sending the wrong message
to youths -- that drugs are OK." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Note See related articles:
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SWISS RECOMMEND LEGALIZING CANNABIS
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(UK) SENIOR POLICE OFFICER CALLS FOR RETHINK ON CANNABIS
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Family Watch Announces On-line Bookstore | ||||||||||||||||||||
For your convenience, Family Watch has compiled drug policy books on-line. Visit http://www.FamilyWatch.org then select "Bibliography." You may securely order the books on-line for a discounted price. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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FACT OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Institute of Medicine Report on Medicinal Marijuana Use | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on medical marijuana examined
the question whether the medical use of marijuana would lead to an
increase of marijuana use in the general population and concluded that,
"At this point there are no convincing data to support this concern.
The existing data are consistent with the idea that this would not be a
problem if the medical use of marijuana were as closely regulated as
other medications with abuse potential." The report also noted that,
"this question is beyond the issues normally considered for medical
uses of drugs, and should not be a factor in evaluating the therapeutic
potential of marijuana or cannabinoids." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will
lose both, and deserve neither" - Thomas Jefferson | ||||||||||||||||||||
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