Drug WarRant

Via Hit and Run — Barney Frank has introduced his Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008, co-sponsored by Ron Paul.
Congressman Frank’s statement:

‹I think it is poor law enforcement to keep on the books legislation that establishes as a crime something which in fact society does not seriously wish to prosecute. In my view, having federal law enforcement agents engaged in the prosecution of people who are personally using marijuana is a waste of scarce resources better used for serious crimes. In fact, this type of prosecution often meets with public disapproval. The most frequent recent examples have been federal prosecutions of individuals using marijuana for medical purposes in states that have voted š usually by public referenda š to allow such use. Because current federal law has been interpreted as superseding state law in this area, most states that have made medical use of marijuana legal have been unable to actually implement their laws.
“When doctors recommend the use of marijuana for their patients and states are willing to permit it, I think it‰s wrong for the federal government to subject either the doctors or the patients to criminal prosecution. More broadly speaking, the norm in America is for the states to decide whether particular behaviors should be made criminal. To make the smoking of marijuana, whether for medical purposes or not, one of those extremely rare instances of federal crime š literally, to make a ëfederal case‰ out of it š is wholly disproportionate to the activity involved. We do not have federal criminal prohibitions against drinking alcoholic beverages, and there are generally no criminal penalties for the use of tobacco at the state and federal levels for adults. There is no rational argument for treating marijuana so differently from these other substances.Š
‹To those who say that the government should not be encouraging the smoking of marijuana, my response is that I completely agree. But it is a great mistake to divide all human activity into two categories: those that are criminally prohibited, and those that are encouraged. In a free society, there must be a very considerable zone of activity between those two poles in which people are allowed to make their own choices as long as they are not impinging on the rights, freedom, or property of others. I believe it is important with regard to tobacco, marijuana and alcohol, among other things, that we strictly regulate the age at which people may use these substances. And, enforcement of age restrictions should be firm. But, criminalizing choices that adults make because we think they are unwise ones, when the choices involved have no negative effect on the rights of others, is not appropriate in a free society.Š
‹If the laws I am proposing pass, states will still be free to treat marijuana as they wish. But I do not believe that the federal government should treat adults who choose to smoke marijuana as criminals. Federal law enforcement is a serious business, and we should be concentrating our efforts in this regard on measures that truly protect the public.Š

“bullet” Via Radley, a letter to the editor that makes my head explode: Quit drug raid grandstanding
“bullet” Stoners in the Mist

I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile — the above is a trailer for ONDCP’s bizarre new flash video/web mockumentary that’s part of the “Above the Influence” campaign: Stoners in the Mist. It’s way too silly to really need outside debunking, but here’s some anyway.
“bullet” Drug war violence out of control in Mexico. But in the up-is-down world of drug war spin, that’s a good thing.

Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora, however, said that the violence is a sign of the cartels’ weakness “and how these structures as we knew them are collapsing.”

Note the billboard in the picture in the above article advertising for more police officers? Apparently both sides are advertising that way. Lots of job openings…
“bullet” Robert Parry looks at the current administrative and judicial climate and asks Will the Constitution Be Altered to Eliminate Key Liberties? Our reply: Where have you been? The question is not “will it be altered” but “how much more will it be altered.”
“bullet” An interesting counterpoint OpEd series in Montana, which I think helps point out the deficiencies in some opposition arguments regarding drug testing. Check out Drug Policy Is Fear-Based, Punitive by Andy Hudak, followed by Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear in Drug Testing by Jeff Bailey. Bailey’s non-arguments actually demonstrate Hudak’s points, even though Bailey can’t see it

If you’re in range of Central Illinois, why don’t you join us this weekend for the midwest regional Students for Sensible Drug Policy conference, hosted by Illinois State University SSDP (of which I am the faculty adviser).
Friday, April 18: Hempfest on the Quad, from 1 pm to 9 pm All day fun with live music, drum circles, tie-dye, hemp jewelry making, cigarette oregano rolling contest, games, prizes and much more! At the same time, another student group I advise (Theatre of Ted) will be continuing their four-square marathon (that starts on Wednesday) at the south end of the quad and having a RockSquare concert in the late afternoon/evening.
Saturday, April 19: Midwest SSDP Conference:

• 10:00 – 10:30 am — Opening Address by SSDP Chapter President Ashley Barys
• 10:30 -11:20 — Mary Price with Familys Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)
• 11:30 – 12:20
  1. Kathleen Kane-Willis with The Institute for Metropolitan Affairs and George Pappas with IDEAL Reform talk about drug policy and cannabis in Illinois
  2. Pete Guither talks about national and international drug policy reform issues with a roundtable discussion
• 12:30-1:30 — Lunch
• 1:30 -2:20
  1. Amber Langston, outreach director of national SSDP presents a workshop on campus activism.
  2. Pete Guither presents a hands-on workshop: “Elevator Arguments: creating a concise targeted, case for reform.”
• 2:30-3:20 — Medical cannabis patient Julie Falco, Dan Linn with Illinois NORML and John Walker with ICAN will be on a panel together about progress in Illinois regarding medical cannabis.
• 3:30-4:20 — Jim Gierach with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
• 4:30-5:20 — Ben Masel on industrial hemp, plus drug policy and elections.

All above events will be in Schroeder Hall.

• Midnight: Theatre of Ted outdoors on the south end of the quad. Open-mic-style performance event (anyone can sign up to perform). This week, with a 4/20 theme.

Sunday, April 20: 4:20 pm — If you’re still around, we’re having a free screening of the new film Super High Me in Schroeder Hall 130. I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s apparently very funny (though not necessarily much of an advocacy film).
That’s right, everything is free. (Lunch is on your own.) Stop by and have some fun and learnin’!

“bullet” Matthew Fogg: The War on Drugs is a War on our Youth
“bullet” Kurt L. Schmoke: Drug Sanity

Based on a back and forth discussion about drug policy and the 2008 election between thehim and Pat Rogers, thehim posed this challenge to Pat:

Write up a speech that Obama could make on drug policy that wouldá

1. Win your vote
2. Not wreck his chances in November to beat John McCain

Rogers responded with a very impressive speech here that intellectually, it seems to me, meets that challenge.
Now, on the other hand, there is the vapid, brainless press pack that would rather obsess over Obama’s bowling, Clinton’s tears and Bush’s package than issues of substance, and you can bet that a host of pundits would re-make the speech in exactly the way the speech carefully aims to prevent (surrendering to the drug dealers, abandoning children, etc.)
But if there’s a speech that could work, this might be it (and it would have to work much the way the race speech worked for Obama recently — still opening him up to vapid criticism, but impressing enough people to make a difference).
I’m still pessimistic about even bothering looking to the Presidential candidates (the mainstream party winners, that is) for any kind of sane advocacy for drug policy change. At best, I hope for one that will focus his/her attention elsewhere (sort of benign neglect combined with not standing too firmly in the way of reform efforts).
What do you think?

Administration Set to Use New Spy Program in U.S.
Spy satellites trained on us. And not just for scientific and homeland security reasons, but also specifically for law enforcement.
But don’t worry, the administration says that privacy and civil rights concerns will be addressed. How will they be addressed? Well, they can’t tell us that part — it’s classified.

If these weren’t so expensive, I’d recommend getting everyone to put a bunch of them in your back yard.
Then again, it might be enough just to have Japanese Maples or Hibiscus.

In case you missed it in the Open Thread below and comments, please read the story of one of ours.
What Passes for Justice in America Today? by Red no more

Why the burglar alarm went off, Steve Haver still doesn’t know.
Because it did, while Haver and his wife, Karen, were away in the Poconos on the morning of July 8, 2006, Reading police searched the couple’s semidetached three-story home and found five pot plants growing under lights.
Because of that discovery, the Havers were soon caught in a swirl of legal decisions that overturned their lives, prompted questions about the enforcement of marijuana laws, and served as a lesson to homeowners with security services.

“bullet” In Germany, people are getting poisoned by smoking pot that has been mixed with particles of lead in order to increase its weight and maximize profits. A dangerous and stupid practice that should, and probably will, backfire on those who did it. Just one more reason that marijuana should be legal.
“bullet” This pisses me off. For five plants in their house, this couple will both lose their jobs as arts center managers. Maybe it’s because that’s my field that it hits me so hard, but my God, this is a stupid f-ing war.
“bullet” This week’s Drug War Chronicle has an excellent article by Philip Smith: Beware the Dreaded Skunk: British Press Suffers Contact High, Contracts Bad Case of Reefer Madness
“bullet” The Chronicle also analyzes some of the more visible contenders for the Libertarian Party nomination and their position on the drug war.
“bullet” “drcnet”

Apparently getting a job as a coroner in the UK requires three things:

1. Ears
2. A creative imagination
3. The ability to talk in nonsensical convoluted sentences.

Cannabis Linked to Man’s Suicide

A CORONER has urged MPs to look into the death of a Doncaster supermarket worker before making any decision on the re-classification of cannabis.
Coroner Stanley Hooper entered the controversy about the reclassification of the drug after hearing how a young man committed suicide while suffering from schizophrenia brought on by cannabis use.
Mr Hooper said politicians should reflect on the case of the 21-year-old Stuart Lester when considering whether to upgrade cannabis to a class B drug.

Well, of course, he’s a Coroner, and he heard it, therefore it is the true proclamation of a Coroner.
And he clinched it with this definitive statement:

“It may be thought that this may not have happened had this young man not used cannabis as a child.”

So, was there any other evidence that would lend scientific support to such a conjecture?

Stuart took a number of Ecstasy tablets before leaving his home in Essex Avenue, Intake, in the early hours of February 26 and used a rope to hang himself from the bridge near Danum School. It was not until after 6am that a passing motorist saw it and alerted police.
Stuart had spent various spells in hospital since becoming schizophrenic but was living at home with his mum and younger brother when he decided to take his own life.

Yep. Sure looks like cannabis was to blame.