Pubdate: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN) Copyright: 2001 Star Tribune Contact: http://www.startribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266 Author: Rob Hotakainen D.C. DIARY: NEWS AND NOTES ABOUT MINNESOTANS IN WASHINGTON Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) have something in common: They both oppose the nation's new drug czar. Just days before its August recess, the Senate voted 98-1 to confirm Arkansas Republican Rep. Asa Hutchinson to head the Drug Enforcement Administration. NORML issued a news release headlined: "Drug War Ultra-Hawk Confirmed as DEA Chief." NORML noted that Dayton cast the lone dissenting vote. Dayton called Hutchinson "a very distinguished man" but said he had disagreements with the Bush administration on the direction of the nation's drug enforcement policy. He cited Hutchinson's support for an escalated drug war in Colombia. Said Dayton: "He also evidenced no understanding of the effect on our criminal justice and our penal system of draconian fixed sentencing for possession of small amounts of drugs. And he rejected outright the possibility of decriminalization of marijuana for strictly medicinal purposes." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom