I hope Niki Payne is right in her Dec. 11 Daily Forty-Niner article about Barack Obama's potential for leadership. With the exception of Dennis Kucinich on the left and Ron Paul on the right, drug policy reform is conspicuously absent from the presidential campaign. Most candidates are all too willing to jail citizens for consensual vices they themselves once engaged in. After allegedly not inhaling, [former Pres. Bill] Clinton went out of his way to prove his tough-on-some-drugs credentials. An admitted former problem-drinker and alleged illicit drug user, Bush has gone so far to as to arrest cancer and AIDS patients in states with voter-approved medical marijuana laws. [continues 132 words]
Credible drug law reform is gaining momentum as evidenced by Ron Paul's popularity (Ron Paul Attracts High Turnout, Nov. 29, 2007). At the very minimum it's time to re-legalize the relatively safe God-given plant cannabis (kaneh bosm / marijuana) which is safer than alcohol especially when compared to whiskey. Cannabis hasn't killed one person in over 5,000 years of documented use while cigarettes murder over 1,000 Americans daily and the plant is less addictive than coffee. [continues 66 words]
(1) COLUMN: SPECIAL HEARING SET AFTER JUDGE'S DEATH LEAVES CASE HANGING Pubdate: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Author: Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun Criminal Drug-Trafficking Trial Involves Important Constitutional Challenge The death of B.C. Supreme Court Justice Robert Edwards has jeopardized a lengthy and costly Victoria criminal trial involving an important constitutional challenge of the marijuana law. In most criminal cases, when a judge is unable to follow through to judgment a mistrial is declared and everyone begins again. [continues 6914 words]
Supporters Of All Ages Fill Ham Hall, Exhibiting Lively Vocal Enthusiasm Two days after Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney addressed a crowd of 200 in Henderson, fellow Republican candidate Ron Paul's appearance at Artemus Ham Concert Hall Nov. 19 brought out nearly 1,000 energetic supporters. Jeff Greenspan, regional coordinator for the Paul campaign said the impressive turnout was a clear indication of Paul's growing popularity and part of a transition from long-shot contender to serious competitor to mainstream Republican candidates like Romney and Rudy Giuliani. [continues 456 words]
BISMARCK -- A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit two North Dakota farmers filed against the federal government in an effort to grow and harvest industrial hemp without reprisal. Judge Daniel Hovland stated in his 22-page judgment Wednesday that Wayne Hauge of Ray and David Monson of Osnabrock should allow Congress to settle the issue of whether industrial hemp is a legal agricultural commodity or a controlled substance. Hovland said the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2007, introduced in the House of Representatives in February by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was designed to address the current issue. Hovland referred to the act numerous times during a Nov. 14 hearing. It is yet to be debated. [continues 985 words]
And so Barack Obama tells high school kids in New Hampshire that he "made some bad decisions" at their age. He "experimented" with pot and cocaine. This is old news - but even if it were new news, it would be ho-hum in today's politics. After all, drug use has proven no bar to high office - at least for those who evaded arrest. Vice President Al Gore, ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas have all admitted to smoking pot. President Bush refuses to deny that he snorted cocaine. And no one believes that Bill Clinton "didn't inhale" on that joint. [continues 527 words]
And so Barack Obama tells high school kids in New Hampshire that he "made some bad decisions" at their age. He "experimented" with pot and cocaine. This is old news -- but even if it were new news, it would be ho-hum in today's politics. After all, drug use has proven no bar to high office -- at least for those who evaded arrest. Vice President Al Gore, ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas have all admitted to smoking pot. President Bush refuses to deny that he snorted cocaine. And no one believes that Bill Clinton "didn't inhale" on that joint. [continues 527 words]
n. 1. a person who believes in the doctrine of the freedom of the will 2. a person who believes in full individual freedom of thought, expression and action 3. a freewheeling rebel who hates wiretaps, loves Ron Paul and is redirecting politics How to make sense of the Ron Paul revolution? What's behind the improbably successful (so far) presidential campaign of a 72-year-old 10-term Republican congressman from Texas who pines for the gold standard while drawing praise from another relic from the hyperinflationary 1970s, punk-rocker Johnny Rotten? [continues 1464 words]
The registered student organization Students for Ron Paul hosted the "Rock for Ron Paul" concert from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Chi Omega Greek Theater. A variety of musicians performed to promote political awareness. In addition to music, testimonials were given by individuals both in support and opposition to the Ron Paul movement. Portions of his speeches were also viewed via YouTube. The concert was sponsored in part by Qdoba's Mexican Grill, which provided free chips and salsa to those in attendance. [continues 467 words]
There is a way to stop Baltimore's murder epidemic. Improve Baltimore's schools. Revive Baltimore's neighborhoods. And it doesn't involve more police, higher taxes or longer prison sentences. Instead, it requires restructuring what is possibly the city's biggest industry. Legalize heroin and cocaine sales, and you erase the economic force behind Baltimore's heartache. Would it lead to new addicts? Of course. Would it send a bad message to kids? Yep. Would it cause problems we can't envisage? Probably. And it would be an enormous improvement. [continues 649 words]
On Diag, Presidential Candidate Attacks U.S. Policy on Iran Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Gravel said the Bush administration is lying to the American public and spoke out for the legalization of marijuana on the Diag on Friday afternoon. He spoke to a crowd of about 150 people for nearly 15 minutes on the steps of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. Gravel's entourage consisted of just one man holding an umbrella over the candidate. It wasn't raining. Because Gravel has only raised $130,598, he is ineligible to participate in the next Democratic debate. His candidacy has drawn attention mostly for his incendiary and often angry remarks during the debates. [continues 599 words]
Thanks to Mr. Steigerwald for his column on the drug war "New Prohibition." Please know that on Oct. 4, Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia held the first-ever hearing to discuss the New Prohibition as a policy issue. The topic was "Mass Incarceration in the United States: At What Cost?" Webb promised to hold more hearings and take testimony from more experts. With the exception of Webb and Reps. Dennis Kucinich, Bobby Scott and, of course, Ron Paul, Steigerwald is most correct: There is a thundering silence on this issue, even as the drug war kills more in a month than Iraq does in a year. Howard J. Wooldridge The writer is a retired police detective from Fort Worth who represents LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) on Capitol Hill. [end]
Bill Steigerwald ("Let's end failed & dogmatic drug war," Oct. 14 and PghTrib.com) is correct that the so-called war on drugs is "immoral, irrational and expensive." But there's more to it than residual Puritanism or simple bullying. Accept for a moment that every government program -- yes, including "defense" -- is basically a jobs program. The "war on drugs" employs a vast army of police personnel, sheriffs, state troopers, FBI agents, informants, DEA personnel, lawyers, prosecutors and judges, many of whom work full-time at this "war." [continues 113 words]
Let's hear it for America's drug police. Last year our drug warriors made 829,627 marijuana arrests. That's the most ever, according to the FBI. Arrests for marijuana -- arguably the least dangerous drug ever declared illegal in America -- are up nearly threefold since 1990. Total arrests for all illegal drugs in 2006 hit 1.89 million, up from 1.08 million in 1990. If you think those 829,627 Americans were all out selling weed to 10-year-olds at the local strip mall until they were heroically brought to justice, you've had way too many Bush administration cocktails. [continues 467 words]
COMMENT: (1-4) Thursday more than 200 medical cannabis patients and advocates rallied in front of the Governor's office in downtown Los Angeles demanding that he stand up for patients' rights and the will of California voters and lawmakers. Thursday evening the DEA and LAPD staged a raid on one of Los Angeles' most respected collectives, the Arts District Healing Center. Dozens of protesters turned out to defend the dispensary. The newspaper articles did not relate the two events, but we have to wonder if the DEA and the LAPD staged the raid when they did to thumb their nose at both the patients and California law. [continues 6090 words]
Need proof that marijuana has been demonized by your government? Consider hemp. Hemp is not marijuana. Hemp is a non-psychoactive plant that grows best in temperate climates like ours. It is a variety of the tropical cannabis sativa, or marijuana. Trying to get high on hemp is like trying to get drunk on NA beer. Your federal government makes us all look like dopes by being unable and unwilling to separate industrial hemp from marijuana. Forget that hemp was legal tender in the American colonies and beyond, that the first American flags were made of hemp, that both Washington and Jefferson raised hemp, that Ben Franklin printed publications on hemp paper, that American ships were caulked and rigged with hemp, and that hemp played an important role in both World Wars. [continues 1555 words]
Through all his years in politics, despite the endless obligation to shake hands, smile for the cameras and coax money out of contributors, John McCain has somehow avoided becoming a complete phony - something that John Edwards and Mitt Romney managed to achieve within a week of entering politics. Annoy McCain, and you won't have to wait long to find out. Even a sickly, soft-spoken woman in a wheelchair gets no pass from him. The other day, at a meeting with voters in New Hampshire, Linda Macia mentioned her use of medical marijuana and politely asked his position on permitting it. Barely were the words out of her mouth before the Arizona senator spun on his heel, stalked away and heaped scorn on the idea. [continues 629 words]
CHICAGO -- Through all his years in politics, despite the endless obligation to shake hands, smile for the cameras and coax money out of contributors, John McCain has somehow avoided becoming a complete phony -- something that John Edwards and Mitt Romney managed to achieve within a week of entering politics. Annoy McCain, and you won't have to wait long to find out. Even a sickly, soft-spoken woman in a wheelchair gets no pass from him. The other day, at a meeting with voters in New Hampshire, Linda Macia mentioned her use of medical marijuana and politely asked his position on permitting it. Barely were the words out of her mouth before the Arizona senator spun on his heel, stalked away and heaped scorn on the idea. [continues 651 words]
What the Presidential Candidates Are Too Timid to Tell You Through all his years in politics, despite the endless obligation to shake hands, smile for the cameras and coax money out of contributors, John McCain has somehow avoided becoming a complete phony-something that John Edwards and Mitt Romney managed to achieve within a week of entering politics. Annoy McCain, and you won't have to wait long to find out. Even a sickly, soft-spoken woman in a wheelchair gets no pass from him. The other day, at a meeting with voters in New Hampshire, Linda Macia mentioned her use of medical marijuana and politely asked his position on permitting it. Barely were the words out of her mouth before the Arizona senator spun on his heel, stalked away and heaped scorn on the idea. [continues 628 words]
Through all his years in politics, despite the endless obligation to shake hands, smile for the cameras and coax money out of contributors, Sen. John McCain has somehow avoided becoming a complete phony. Annoy Mr. McCain, and you won't have to wait long to find out. Even a sickly, soft-spoken woman in a wheelchair gets no pass from him. The other day, at a meeting with voters in New Hampshire, Linda Macia mentioned her use of medical marijuana and politely asked his position on permitting it. Barely were the words out of her mouth before Mr. McCain spun on his heel, stalked away and heaped scorn on the idea. [continues 541 words]
