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."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom