Drug WarRant

Keeping alive a perfect record in states passing medical marijuana initiatives. Link.
An initiative for expansion of medical marijuana provisions in Oregon lost. Doesn’t really break the perfect record. It wasn’t for legalizing medical marijuana, but rather for modification of the existing medical legalization. Still, it’s disappointing.
Alaska? Measure 2 to legalize and regulate marijuana appears to have been defeated 137,776 to 105,288 with 432 of the 439 precincts reporting. (Note: Bear Baiting also lost, for what it’s worth.)

Well, I’m kind of wrapped up in the election news, but there’s lots to read at Last One Speaks, Vice Squad, The D’Alliance, Chicago DecrimWatch, Media Awareness Project (MAP), and Cannabis News.

While Illinois’ 11th District Jerry Weller has been lying about my site and using it to slander his opponent, thousands of others around the country have been visiting my election guides to learn more about the positions of candidates. And that’s how it should be.
I’ve also gotten some nice notes from candidates, interested visitors, and other organizations.
“bullet” The Drug Policy Forum of California contacted me with help in the California’s 7th District. They have their own voting guide in California which is quite comprehensive. They also have a few more positive things to say about Kerry in the Presidential race.
“bullet” Kevin Zeese wrote me about my coverage of Nader-Camejo. I didn’t give Nader much play because of this year’s baggage and the lack of states in which he is on the ballot, but Kevin is certainly right that Nader has been a strong and outspoken opponent of the drug war and deserves significant credit for that. Zeese provides links to

• Nader Urges Bush to Grant Clemency for Non-Violent Drug Offenders
  Describes Drug War as Three Decade, Unjust Failure
• An End to the War on Drugs -Interview with DRCNet
• Ralph Nader supports industrial hemp as a renewable resource with many important fuel, fiber, food, paper and other uses.
• Reform of the Criminal Justice System; Justice not Jailing

Nader-Camejo will be coming out today in favor of California’s Prop 66 – reform of the 3 strikes law.
“bullet” A big thanks to Ben Masel who provided some wonderful additional information in the comments on the Wisconsin Guide.
“bullet” If a Presidential incumbent is defeated, it’s not just the President who loses his job — a fact that is clearly not lost on our own Minister of Disinformation, Drug Lord Czar John Walters, who has been spending this week promising lots of additional federal drug war funding (our tax money) … in Florida.
It appears that the only thing that could stop him from illegally using taxpayer’s funds to lobby against marijuana initiatives in Oregon, Montana and Alaska, is the opportunity to illegally use taxpayer’s funds to lobby for his job in Florida.

I’ve been getting quite a response to the offensive political tactics. It’s been wonderful. Lots of outrage at Weller’s ads, and some powerful words against the politics all around.
For example, Mark at WindyPundit eases my pain by sharing it.

Guither’s article just made me despair a little. If the Ku Klux Klan gives your campaign money, you give it back. If an Al-Qaeda-linked “charity” gives you money, you give it back. Do these politicians really put drug legalization into the same category as racism and terrorism? Do these people actually see Pete Guither’s views, Pete Guither’s values, my values, as so abhorrent that they don’t even want our money? That they slander and libel us? Are they that disgusted at the thought of not hurting drug users and putting them in cages?

Read the whole post.
Thanks, Mark. And thanks for the tip as well — I’ll be able to get some really good coffee!

Well, I’m getting a whole lot more publicity today than I wanted. It turns out that Representative Jerry Weller not only accused Tari Renner of supporting drug legalization at last night’s debate because of my endorsement, but is also running ads and sending direct mail pieces slandering both Renner and myself.
Here are a few additional reports I found today:
The Sun Times:

Speaking of smears, Weller, in the closing days of the campaign, is running a radio ad and sending out a direct mail piece noting that Renner is endorsed on a Web site called “DrugwarRant.com” and implying that Renner is somehow aligned with a group promoting heroin use. The race is featured on the site, but Renner is not for what they are for and told me he never asked for their help. Said Renner, this is “as low as it’s gotten.”

I’m not a group and I don’t promote heroin use.
WHOI News:

And the highlight was Renner blowing up over allegations he supports the use of all drugs including heroin. He called the attack scurrilous and said Weller stepped way over the line. Weller says Renner accepted a campaign donation from a website that also has directions on how to inject heroin.

I don’t even know how to inject heroin. And I don’t support the use of heroin. Never have. I do support changes in how we deal with it because our current policies are abject failures.
From WLS (ABC7 – Chicago)

Some endorsements are not worth it. Democrat Tari Renner says it shouldn’t be a crime to have a small amount of marijuana but he is rejecting an endorsement from a group that favors the legalization of all drugs. His opponent, republican congressman Jerry Weller, whose engagement to the daughter after Central American dictator has generated a controversy of its own, says that Renner’s views on drugs endanger families in the district, and so it goes in this hot congressional race.

Weller isn’t talking about Renner’s views on drugs. He’s exaggerating mine (and just making some up) and projecting them onto Renner, just because I think Renner is a better choice than Weller.
Neither Tari Renner nor his staff have contacted me, nor have they asked for my endorsement or acknowledged my endorsement. My endorsement was not based on any discussion with Tari Renner or his staff.
My endorsement was driven, in part, by my belief that Representative Weller is completely out of touch regarding federal priorities in drug policy. Jerry Weller has shown, through two specific votes (HR2799 on 23-Jul-2003 and HR4754 on 7-Jul-2004), that he feels our federal tax money should be spent harassing terminally ill patients in California who are following state law and their doctors’ recommendations regarding medical marijuana. He has also supported increased funding (with our tax money) for a drug eradication program in Colombia — a program even the Drug Czar’s office admits has not worked. Jerry Weller appears to base his drug policy decisions more on what his Indiana friend Representative Mark Souder wishes than what’s best for Central Illinois residents.
On the other hand, Tari Renner has stated in his National Political Awareness Test (NPAT) responses that he would support the following statements:

• Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs. Mandatory jail sentences should be reserved for serious drug offenses.
• Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
• Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
• Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
• Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

(Note that Jerry Weller refused to provide any information about any of the issues even though he was asked to do so by: Major news organizations and key national leaders of both parties including, John McCain, Republican Senator, Geraldine Ferraro, Former Democratic Congresswoman, Michael Dukakis, Former Democratic Governor, Bill Frenzel, Former Republican Congressman, Richard Kimball, Project Vote Smart President http://www.vote-smart.org/npat.php?can_id=CNIP0580 )
If Jerry Weller claims that Renner supports drug legalization or legalization of heroin, then Weller is lying. Also, if he claims that I promote heroin use, he is lying.
In addition, using drug legalization as a smear tactic is really unconscionable on the part of Weller, because it derails the possibility of real discussion of serious drug policy reform issues.
When Jerry Weller uses my endorsement of Tari Renner as an attack on Renner, he not only unfairly impugns Tari Renner, but also infers that it is somehow improper for me to want to have an open discussion on drug policy reform through my website.
Weller’s tactics are not only ugly, they are dishonest.
What perhaps should be asked is:

1. What about Weller’s contributions from Pharmaceutical companies? How has that affected his views on medical marijuana?
2. What about Weller’s connections (through his father-in-law) to drug traffickers and organized crime?

I live in the 11th district. And I care about my representation. I don’t make a cent from this web site (it costs me money). Out of my own pocket, I made a contribution to the candidate of my choice (I’m in debt, but I felt it was something I needed to do).
Today, I received a check from Tari Renner, returning my donation. It was like a slap in the face. It really hurt. Because of Weller’s slander, I am no longer welcome to take part in the political process.
I’m still voting on Tuesday, though. And it won’t be for Weller.
Update: I was interviewed on WJBC, along with some flunky from the Weller campaign who tried, unsuccessfully, to justify the lies in Weller’s ads. He used a guilt by association approach, that didn’t work – particularly when they started asking him about Guatemala.
He also tried to claim that Renner is out of the mainstream – a laughable idea since both candidates in the neighboring 15th district agree with Renner regarding medical marijuana. It’s Weller who’s out of the mainstream, out of the district, and frankly, out of the country much of the time.
I hope that Weller will pull the ads. I finally heard one while I was on hold, and it’s extremely offensive. And I’d like to issue a challenge: Now that Renner has returned my donation, how about Weller returning his donations from the pharmaceutical companies?

I’ve had the Weller/Renner race as a featured race on this site, partly because it’s a local race for me, and partly because the incumbent is so out of touch. I’ve clearly endorsed Tari Renner, partly because of his public support for medical marijuana and decriminalization (not legalization, but decriminalization).
They debated last night in Bloomington, and I would love to hear from someone who was there (work commitments prevented me from attending).
I’m particularly interested in this segment which was reported in today’s Pantagraph.

But Weller was booed by the audience when he accused Renner of accepting a campaign contribution from a “known former Communist member.” And he drew audible groans when he attempted to link Renner to a drug legalization group, which has endorsed Renner.

Renner reacted angrily to the accusation, saying the endorsement was similar to when the Ku Klux Klan endorsed Ronald Reagan in 1980. “You went over the line,” Renner said. “Don’t lecture me, Mr. Weller.”

Am I the drug legalization “group”? If so, was it my endorsement that was similar to the Ku Klux Klan?
The issue also came up yesterday on WGLT (NPR radio station), which reported that Weller was charging Renner with being in favor of legalizing drugs based on his National Political Awareness Test (NPAT) responses (I used the NPAT in my endorsement). Of course, that was a lie (Renner did not support legalization), and Renner appropriately responded that Weller wouldn’t even give his answers to the wide range of important issues covered by the NPAT.
Weller is clearly slime. He’s trying to attack Renner in any way he can, which may include the fact that I’m supporting Renner.
Tari Renner has never contacted me, nor has his staff. He and his staff have not asked for my endorsement, nor have they thanked me for it, yet I give it freely and highly recommend voting for, and supporting Renner. Weller’s charges are baseless. The only thing Renner is “guilty” of is having a better policy approach than Weller. It’s sad that candidates feel they have to distance themselves from proper policy discussions.
There are a lot of reasons to oppose Weller in this election. Those reasons include the fact that he wants to escalate the dangerous failed drug war in Colombia, and that he has twice voted to have the Federal Government harrass sick people in California who are legally (under state and local law) using medical marijuana with their doctors’ advice.
Weller has no moral standing to attack Renner on drug policy.

Thanks for all the kind birthday wishes. I had a great time. Here’s some quick catching up.
“bullet” Sister Geoff finds one of those prohibition idiots who try to claim that Legal Pot = Legal Murder.
“bullet” Jules Siegal talks about the Doper Vote at Alternet.
“bullet” A new acronym is born. D’Alliance notes that the ONDCP and the DOJ have given birth to the NSDAP (unfortunately, their method of reproduction involes screwing us). The mewling newborn, which will be quickly sucking at the public teat, is designed to go after the designer drugs. For a bit of fun, try googling NSDAP. Oops.
“bullet” D’Alliance also has some good news from Alaska. Decrimwatch found some obvious self-interest on the other side.
“bullet” Decrimwatch also found some more details on the Jonathan Magbie tragedy.
“bullet” And everybody has this one already, but it just sucks so much, that I have to put it down here as well (from NORML’s analysis of the FBI report:

Police arrested an estimated 755,187 persons for marijuana violations in 2003…. The total is the highest ever recorded by the FBI, and comprised 45 percent of all drug arrests in the United States….at current rates, a marijuana smoker is arrested every 42 seconds in America.

You know what?

If you support prohibition, you are part of the drug problem.

Today, I added voting guides for Kentucky, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and Alaska.
The following state guides are now available:

Oh, and tomorrow’s my birthday, so there may be a little break in posting (depending on how much celebrating I do). Be sure to visit the links at the left for all the latest news.

“bullet” Grits for Breakfast followed up on the atrocious drug task force story I talked about here earlier. Scott went to Palestine, Texas with a reporter to investigate the charges. Guess what? All 72 defendants are black. This looks like the next Tulia or worse, and we’re going to need to follow this one closely. We’re very luck to have Scott Henson on the scene.
“bullet” TalkLeft says an independent report has been released in the fake drugs scandal in Texas (people were framed with billiards chalk packaged like drugs), that blames the police.
“bullet” Last One Speaks has information on the antics of the Lieutenant Governor’s office in Alaska, illegally using the position position to oppose the marijuana initiative.
“bullet” Vice Squad notes that Brazil’s new policy on shooting down suspected drug planes has been implemented without the original limitation against shooting down planes with children aboard.
“bullet” D’Alliance reports that a three-year British controlled experiment in a local area to combat drugs using tougher enforcement and treatment failed miserably. Not a surprise here, but that’s got to be pushing up the denial factor in prohibitionists.
“bullet” decrimwatch found this story about third graders with nickel bags of pot facing felony charges.
“bullet” Dekalb, Illinois County Board voted Wednesday to ask the state to allow the growth of industrial hemp for research. Only one board member objected (with the usual nonsense about how it would make it easier to hide marijuana within hemp – not true). The majority of the board just saw it as something that could be good for farmers in the future. That’s a great attitude, and I hope we’ll see more of that.
“bullet” The court documents on Raich v. Ashcroft (claiming that the Constitution’s Commerce Clause doesn’t give the Federal Government the authority to regulat non-commercial wholly intrastate medical marijuana under doctor’s recommendation within state law) are now available. The case will be heard at the end of November and it’s going to be a big one. I’m hearing the word “landmark” being used quite a bit already. All the documents are available here (scroll down to the bottom for the Supreme Court documents). The Merits Brief for the Respondents (pdf) is a thing of beauty (I get off on this kind of thing) and I’ll be talking about it a lot more later.