Drug WarRant

The Nashua Telegraph (NH) actually has a significant discussion going on in the paper about marijuana (and other drugs) — they even have a resource page for all the articles in the Pot Debate. It attempts to cover all sides, from drug warrior law enforcement, to LEAP, to addicts, to readers, etc.
The paper seems to recognize that people are ready to have a discussion. And want it. I think more media could benefit from this realization.
Here are a few articles in the past couple of days, put together by staff writer Kathleen Palmer.

• Police blame drugs for many crimes
• A Brief History on the War on Drugs
• Marijuana as gateway drug – is it still one? Was it ever?
• Debate goes on at recovery talk
• Readers sound off online on marijuana

There isn’t a whole lot that’s particularly new here. Still it’s great that it’s happening.
I couldn’t leave this series, though, without poking a little bit of fun at Lt. James Sartell of the Hollis Police Department (from the “Police blame drugs for many crimes” article):

Sartell says marijuana can cause “cognitive distortion,” leading to a justification of illegal or immoral activities, which in turn allows the user to commit crimes such as burglary or theft in order to feed subsequent drug buys.
“That’s one of the main ‘gateway’ aspects of pot,” he said.

People keep coming up with new ways to use the word “gateway” in conjunction with pot, but this one surprised even me. In my experience, the only illegal activity that the “cognitive distortion” of pot leads to is… smoking more pot. However, the cognitive distortion involved in being a drug warrior is definitely likely to lead to immoral activities (and often even some illegal ones), so maybe that’s a gateway effect?
Sartell has more to share.

“You deal with little problems before they escalate into big ones. The kid that tortures animals grows up to be violent to people. The kid that smashes mailboxes escalates to more serious vandalism. It’s the same with the War on Drugs.”

Apparently pot smoking is like torturing animals and smashing mailboxes.

“bullet” Steve Steiner is stark raving mad. Dammad, as those who have followed his antics for awhile can attest. He’s issued a press release…

Steven Steiner cringes when he hears pundits and others wonder aloud whether Michael Phelps’ use of marijuana is much to do about nothing.
He gets more than just a bit angry when he hears the calls to legalize marijuana.
Steiner, founder of the group Dam Mad (Dads and Moms Against Drug Dealers), whose son died of drug overdose, is trying to raise hell–and awareness–about the dangers of legalizing marijuana.
**Steiner is available for TV, radio or print interviews**
“I will not let my son’s death be in vain,” says Steiner. “I am committed to turning my grief into action so that others will not have to endure the pain of loss that I must face each and every day.”

Steiner is, well, an indescribable mess. Yes, he did lose his son to drugs, but…

1. A rational person would realize that criminalization didn’t save his son and that legalization in many ways could serve to reduce the harm of drugs through regulation, control, and education.
2. Notice that he doesn’t mention how his son died. It was from crushing and snorting OxyContin. So his campaign against marijuana is like saying “My son died from a head injury while riding a horse, so we should outlaw trains.”
3. It gets worse. His organization – DAMMAD – is funded by… Purdue Pharmaceuticals — the makers of OxyContin! Yeah, that’s right. The makers of the pharmaceutical drug that killed his son, are paying him to campaign against marijuana in general, and medical marijuana in particular. Marijuana of course, also relieves some of the same pain symptoms treated by OxyContin (without the overdose risk). So, if legalized, it could be a cheaper and safer alternative. A great reason to pay Steiner to betray the memory of his son and use his son’s death against a potential competitor.

Hard to believe that anybody would take him or his “organization” seriously. Oh, that’s right — Steiner has appeared on “The O’Reilly Factor.”
“bullet” Fascist Irrelevant Lyndon Larouche calls Nancy Pelosi “Chief Pot-Head” of the House of Representatives.

Informed of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s record as a decade-long champion of legalizing pot, American statesman Lyndon LaRouche summed up the situation: Pelosi is the chief pot head of the House of Representatives.
Just yesterday, George Soros’s top drug legalization hitman, Ethan Nadelmann, again promised, as he has before, that Pelosi is key to the campaign to legalize dope. Soros’s man told a pro-dope symposium at … […]
NORML, another of Soros’s pothead association, … […]
Pelosi has, in fact, been a champion of legalizing “medical” marijuana since George Soros’s millions help pass the landmark 1996 California referendum which led California to today become the producer of one half of all the marijuana sold in the U.S. Expansion of production and consumption of marijuana was the goal of that Soros-Pelosi subterfuge, and that was the result, as most graphically seen in the shocking expose of the narco takeover of California under “medical” marijuana in CNBC’s Jan. 25, 2009 one-hour special on “Marijuana, Inc.”

You get the idea.
Sure, I guess it would be nice if Pelosi was a “pot-head,” but in fact, I don’t think it’s going to be quite that easy for us.

SNL takes on the Michael Phelps story:

Update: For those out of the country who can’t get the video, here’s a transcript. It loses something without Seth Meyers’ delivery, but just imagine his intensely earnest sarcasm.

On Thursday, Kelloggs announced it was dropping its Frosted Flakes endorsement with Michael Phelps saying his marijuana use is not consistent with the company’s image, which brings me to a segment I like to call “Really?!? with Seth.”

Really, Kelloggs? Marijuana is not consistent with your image? Because I thought it was totally consistent. You know every one of your mascots is a wild-eyed cartoon character with uncontrollable munchies. I mean, really. Toucan Sam; a frog named Diggum; Snap, Crackle and Pop. I knew some guys named Snap, Crackle and Pop, and they were drug dealers.
And you also have the Keebler Elves. A bunch of guys who live together in a treehouse and do nothing all day but think of new things to put cheese on. I mean Really! They’re stoners.
And also, I checked out your website. Did you know that you have a recipe for dessert nachos? And that you make cookie straws to drink the leftover milk out of the waffle cereal you also make?
Every one of your products sounds like a wish a genie granted at a Phish concert. I mean Really!
And U.S.A. Swimming. Really?!? You suspended Phelps for 3 months? Really, U.S.A. Swimming? Way to sacrifice! Now he won’t be able to compete with you in the highly anticipated not-the-Olympics swimming race.
And really, if you want someone to stop smoking weed, don’t give them three months off. That’s what you do if you want someone to finish Call of Duty. I mean really!
Oh, and parents — if your kid says “Michael Phelps smokes pot, why can’t I?” just say “You can. Right after you win 12 gold medals for your country.” Really.
And really, and this is the most important thing. Really. If you’re at a party and you see Michael Phelps smoking a bong and your first thought isn’t “Wow, I get to party with Michael Phelps” and instead you take a picture and sell it to a tabloid, you should take a long look in the mirror because you’re a dick! I mean, Really!

This kind of thing is definitely encouraging. Editorial:

This newspaper has traditionally opposed the legalization of drugs. […]
There is mounting evidence the so-called War on Drugs can’t be won — and too many people are dying while it’s being fought. Even many police believe this.
Legalizing drugs, and putting their production and distribution in the hands of legitimate businesses that could be taxed would end the huge drain on the public purse for policing and free up cash to treat addicts.
Our current approach to the drug problem isn’t working. It’s time for Ottawa to seriously consider new ideas.

Burlington, NC police received an anonymous tip that methamphetamines were being manufactured in a house where Jessica Garrison lives with her 2-year-old daughter and her pet Chow-Chow. They were smart enough not to bust in on her at home, instead pulling her over on the expressway, while they raided her house.
Except that there was no meth lab there. Not even any indications.
Here’s the part where it’s business as usual…

Despite the fact that a meth lab wasn’t found, Burlington police officials are confident the department made the right decision. The department doesn’t plan to apologize to Garrison and since officers didn’t go to the wrong house or make any “glaring mistakes” in this case, the department isn’t liable for any damages caused by breaking into the house to do the search, said Burlington police Assistant Chief Greg Seel. “Based on the case facts and based on the scenarios we were presented, we reacted to the situation we had properly,” Seel said.

That’s right. Based on an anonymous tip, we put a hole in your door and tore apart your place. But it’s OK — we don’t have to fix it or even apologize to you, because we were right according to us, even though we were wrong in the real world.
This is how we protect and serve.
Please bend over, so we can serve you again.

I mean, this is just embarrassing. In a college paper debate at Oklahoma State University, we have The burning question: Should marijuana be legalized? Anti-
And what argument does Meg Foster present for keeping marijuana illegal?

On Aug. 17, 2007, Richard Hill smoked some marijuana and then went for a drive on the wrong side of the road.
He collided with Todd Kirtley‰s car. His 10-year-old daughter, April, was in the car with him. Kirtley is now paralyzed and might never be able to walk again. Hill was sentenced to eight to 15 years in prison.
Kirtley will never see his daughter again.

Now, sad as that is, it’s not a very good reason to keep marijuana illegal. But the real problem is that she isn’t even close to being factual. A simple google of the names Richard Hill and Todd Kirtley, came up with this news article.

Kent County deputies said Richard Hill, 40, of Greenville was drunk and driving the wrong way in the northbound lane at the time of impact. […]
The sheriff’s department said Hill smelled of alcohol as rescue workers treated him. Deputies found several empty beer cans around his pickup truck at the scene.
Hill was taken to Butterworth where he was treated and released. After being released from the hospital he was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury during an arraignment in 63rd District Court on Aug. 19. […]
On Dec. 17, Hill appeared before Kent County Circuit Court Judge George Buth in Grand Rapids, where he was sentenced to from eight to 15 years in prison for driving while intoxicated third offense, causing Kirtley’s death.

This reminds me of when Karen Tandy, the head of the DEA wrote the Washington Post and used an example of the horrors of driving while stoned on marijuana, and the example she used also involved cocaine and opiates.
Now I don’t doubt that, despite the fact that studies have shown marijuana users are more aware of their impairment and adjust accordingly, there probably have been some stupid accidents somewhere that were a direct result of the driver being impaired by marijuana.
And yet, the fact that drug warriors keep having to make stuff up completely in order to bolster their case about the dangers of stoned driving really makes you wonder. If the head of the DEA can’t get good examples and if OpEd writers (even students) have to change alcohol to pot in a story to have an example at all, well then it can’t be that urgent a danger.
By the way, Google the phrase “killed by drunk driver” and you’ll get about 61,000 hits. Google the phrase “killed by stoned driver” and you get 12 (probably 13 now), and most of those 12 are commenting on the fact that you never hear the phrase “killed by stoned driver.”

Are you familiar with Malt-O-Meal cold cereals? They come in bags, usually at the end of the cereal aisle, they’re easy to reseal, have less packaging (good for the environment), usually win in nutritional comparisons, and are less expensive than the name brands they mimic (and they mimic them quite well).
So if you like:

• Kellogg’s Apple Jacks, try some Apple Zings
• Kellogg’s Rice Krispies, try some Crispy Rice
• Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, try some Frosted Flakes
• Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, try some Raisin Bran
• Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats, try some Frosted Mini-Spooners
• Kellogg’s Froot Loops, try some Tootie Fruities (That’s right, Cliff, you don’t really have to give up your beloved Froot Loops.)

That is, just in case you have some reason to no longer buy Kellogg’s products.
Update: It looks like I’m eating at Subway tonight. I love the footlong veggie on wheat, lightly toasted.

Drug Reporter:
Smoking without Borders — a 10-minute film by the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union about drug tourism in the Netherlands.

Their conclusions:

1) The problem of drug tourism is not caused by cannabis use or coffee shops. The real problem is the illegality of cannabis in neighboring countries.
2) The problem cannot be solved by closing down coffee shops: the supply won‰t be reduced but it will go undeground to cause more problems.
3) The real solution to the problem is in the hands of the neighboring countries: to regulate and control the cannabis market.

“bullet” It’s nice to know that we’re not the only place that does really stupid drug war stuff.
In Manila, authorities were spray-painting warnings on the houses of suspected drug “personalities.” This generated some criticism from human rights advocates (you think?). So…

Rosales explained that instead of spray-painting warnings on the houses of the suspected drug personalities, authorities will instead mark the words “This is a drug-free home” on the houses of residents proven to be free from substance abuse.

What are they trying to do? Recreate Exodus 12 and passover?
“bullet” BC Court rules medical marijuana program unconstitutional

Justice Marvyn Koenigsberg gave Ottawa a year to fix the medical-marijuana access regulations so compassion clubs or producers can get together and run a common marijuana-growing operation.
At the moment, the federal government restricts any licensed grower to supplying only one licensed user and prohibits more than three growers from pooling resources.
Both those restrictions are unconstitutional, Koenigsberg said.

“bullet” Kellogg is dropping Michael Phelps. There are a lot of good cereals available from General Mills and Post (plus, in this economy, generic and store brand substitutes are a great idea).
“bullet” Oh, and you know that Sheriff Lott who wants to prosecute Phelps for being in a picture with a glass tube? This is him.
“bullet” Phelps given meaningless 3 month suspension

“This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people”

“bullet” Sumo wrestler kicked out for marijuana use

“bullet” Atrios

Watching a reporter make Michael Phelps grovel it occurs to me that the media really are about 10 years behind the country on so many issues.

“bullet” New York Sentencing Commission released a report calling for reforms to New York’s notoriously harsh Rockefeller drug laws. The fact that reforms are being called for is a good thing. But indications are that it’s a pretty weak effort:

[Drug Policy Alliance’s Gabriel Sayegh rejected the report as a “damn paperweight” that basically “rearranges the deck chairs on the Titanic at a cost of half a billion dollars to New Yorkers.” […]

“Not only does it not include real reforms to the Rockefeller Drug Laws, but it takes a step backward,” Sayegh continued. “The commission acted as though the political climate we’re in is not happening. It’s like they drafted this thing from a cave.”

“bullet” “drcnet”

Mindy Herrick has taught at Roberts Elementary for 17 years. She sounds like one of most incredible and inspirational teachers ever. In 2006-7, she was teacher of the year for the entire school district. Read the article and you’ll find the amazing stuff about her just continues and continues.
The School District decided (for no reason) to check on teachers and drugs, so they brought in a drug sniffing dog to the teacher’s parking log. The dog alerted to one car. Nothing there. The dog alerted to a second car. Nothing there. The dog alerted to a third car. Mindy’s. They searched her car and found a baggie with two Xanax pills….
Yeah, I’m thinking the same thing. The dog makes two false ID’s on other cars and then manages to smell two bills in a plastic bag inside a car? Right. Sounds more like the dog gave the police 3 free searches.
Mindy says she doesn’t know where the pills came from (other people drive her car) and she passed a drug test and a lie detector test and asked to have the bag checked for fingerprints to prove that she never touched it.
But for now, Mindy isn’t allowed to teach, and she has been charged with possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and could get 10 years if convicted.

Herrick‰s classroom door is covered with kids‰ drawings. ‹We love you, Ms. Herrick!Š says one with a big heart. In big letters, another declares, ‹We miss you!Š

It’s, you know, for the kids.