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0.08 Drunk Limit May Be In Trouble ('Seattle Times' Says Attempt
By Washington Legislature To Lower Legal Threshold From 0.10
May Face Opposition Due To Effectiveness, Cost - Story Notes In 1996,
Drunken Drivers Were Involved In More Than 12,000 Collisions In Washington
That Killed 331 People And Seriously Injured 1,333)
Reply-To:
From: "W.H.E.N."
To: "Hemp Talk"
Subject: HT: WA 0.08 drunk limit may be in trouble
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:30:46 -0800
Sender: owner-hemp-talk@hemp.net
Copyright (c) 1998 The Seattle Times Company
Posted at 02:23 a.m. PST; Friday, February 20, 1998
0.08 drunk limit may be in trouble
by Michael Ko
Seattle Times Olympia bureau
It is the major nonpartisan crusade of this legislative session.
The Republican-controlled Senate and House and Democratic Gov. Gary Locke
have all come out in support of increased penalties for drunken drivers.
There are proposals - soon likely to become law - that would allow for
on-the-spot seizures of vehicles and driver's licenses, mandate
alcohol-ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders, and increase fines
and jail time.
However, questions are surfacing about the centerpiece of the
drunken-driving legislation: a bill that would lower the legal blood
alcohol limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent. Discussions have centered
on the effectiveness of lowering the limit and finding enough money to
enforce the tougher law.
In 1996, drunken drivers were involved in more than 12,000 collisions in
Washington that killed 331 people and seriously injured 1,333. The highly
publicized case of Susan West, who had a blood alcohol level of 0.34 and
had been arrested four times for driving under the influence before she ran
over and killed Mary Johnsen of Issaquah, brought the issue of
drunken-driving enforcement even more into the public eye.
Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, chairwoman of the Senate Law and Justice
Committee, said that 0.08 is symbolic of the Legislature's desire to
eliminate drunken driving.
"By the end of this session, penalties for drunk driving will be more
severe, more expensive and farther reaching than at any time in our
history," she said. "We must be uncompromising with these criminals."
But while the legislation has broad, bipartisan support, not everyone is
convinced.
The Washington Restaurant Association has taken the lead against the
legislation to lower the legal blood alcohol level.
"The statistics show that the mayhem is being caused by repeat offenders
and those with extremely high blood alcohol content," said Kit Hawkins,
restaurant association lobbyist. "We support any legislation that would get
drunk drivers off the road, but we believe that 0.08 is not part of that
solution. The 0.08 limit would penalize the responsible drinker."
Hawkins cited a U.S. Department of Transportation report that estimates
nearly two-thirds of all alcohol-related fatalities involve blood alcohol
levels of 0.14 or more.
Bill Hanson, president of the Washington State Troopers Association, said
his experience reflects that statistic and that he often sees the same
people over and over again.
However, Hanson said lowering the legal blood alcohol level would be
effective because it would increase the number of drinking drivers that
could be prosecuted.
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission reported that 12 percent of all
alcohol-involved crash deaths in 1996 involved drivers with blood alcohol
levels under the current limit of 0.10.
"You have to look at who's opposing this," Hanson said. "The only reason
they are opposing this is that they think they're going to lose money. They
do not care one iota about people's lives."
Hawkins denied that restaurants were opposing this out of concern for
business. "We do have a concern about making criminals of our responsible
customers," he said.
Statistics from California and Virginia, two states that in recent years
have lowered their legal limit to 0.08, tell different tales.
In 1990, the last year California had a legal level of 0.10, the California
Highway Patrol reported 158,490 DUI arrests. After passing the 0.08
legislation that same year, the number of DUI arrests dropped to 121,848 in
1992. By 1994, the number was 97,626 and in 1996 it was 91,988.
During that period, the number of alcohol-related fatalities dipped from
2,126 in 1990 to 1,113 in 1996.
"Definitely, there are a lot of other factors involved, but the 0.08 limit
was a major tool that we used to lower those numbers," said Sgt. Jose
Vasquez of the California Highway Patrol, who said the change had made
people extremely aware of driving while intoxicated.
The numbers in Virginia tell a somewhat different story. Virginia State
Police arrest about 30,000 people each year for drunken driving. Lt. Col.
W.G. Massengill, director of field operations, said that number hasn't
changed with the 0.08 limit, which has been in place for nearly four years.
Massengill said the blood alcohol concentration of all those arrested for
drunken driving has not changed, either. He said the average has been 0.14
every year since the law was changed.
In addition, the percentage of automobile fatalities related to alcohol has
remained the same, around 40 percent, Massengill said. Last year, it was
38.9 percent.
"The 0.08 limit is an important part of the total program and it provides
law enforcement with a tool that's needed to get the drinking driver off
the road," Massengill said. "But as to whether or not it actually lowers
drunk driving, it's hard to tell and even more difficult to measure."
Massengill said the biggest reduction in drunken driving occurred in 1990,
when the state sponsored what he called an "extraordinary awareness program
that hit the televisions, the schools, everywhere."
Washington state's legislation, if passed, would require additional money
to pay for the expected increase in prosecutions and prison sentences, and
for the county prosecutors who would be trying those cases.
Some worry, however, that there might not be enough money to enforce the
new law.
Approximately 2,000 people with blood alcohol levels of 0.08 and 0.09 are
pulled over every year in Washington, said Russell Hauge, Kitsap County
prosecuting attorney. These cases, which fall below the current legal limit
and might be dismissed now, would have to be tried under the new
legislation. Hauge also said that as drunken drivers repeat, more people
will receive longer sentences and on-the-edge 0.10 to 0.11 cases will
become more solid.
Hauge predicted it would cost the state "a significant amount" to try the
additional cases.
Michael Shaw, lobbyist for the Washington State Association of Counties,
said funding must be given to counties for additional jail space. He cited
three counties - Yakima, Pierce and Walla Walla - that already lack the
money to expand or even fully operate their overcrowded jail facilities.
"We want to get (drunken drivers) off the roads, but we have a lot of
people in our jails already taking up the beds," Shaw said. "Unless the
resources are there, these (bills) will not get much done. They will be
empty promises."
Michael Ko's phone message number is 360-943-9882. His e-mail address is:
mko@seatimes.com
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Drug Deaths Spark Cheap Heroin Fears ('The Scotsman' Quotes David Macauley,
Director Of Scotland Against Drugs, Saying Streets Are Being Flooded
With Cheap Heroin, While Cannabis Is Being Withdrawn, Leading To
Greater Number Of People Injecting Drugs - Another Observer Says,
'A Lot Of Kids I Know Are Using Drugs Instead Of Alcohol
Because It's Cheaper - They Can Buy A Wrap Of Heroin For Less Than 5' -
But Detective Superintendent Barry Dougall Of Strathclyde Police
Says 'Street Prices Have Remained Stable And We Are Continuing To Increase
Our Seizures')
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 15:32:03 -0800
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: Olafur Brentmar
Subject: MN: UK: Drug Deaths Spark Cheap Heroin Fears
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: shug
Pubdate: Fri, 20 Feb 1998
Author: Karen McVeigh
Source: The Scotsman
Website: http://www.scotsman.com
Contact: Letters_ts@scotsman.com
DRUG DEATHS SPARK CHEAP HEROIN FEARS
Exclusive: Police admit seizures are doing little to stem the flow of imports
Five people have died of drug overdoses in a single week in the west of
Scotland as a flood of cheap heroin pours into the country.
The death toll brings the number of heroin-related deaths since the
beginning of this year to 16 and signals a rise in danger for drug users.
The figures forecast that by the end of 1998 more than 120 deaths will
occur in and around the Glasgow area, reversing the three-year trend that
has seen drug fatalities fall from an all-time high of 105 in 1995.
Last night, Detective Superintendent Barry Dougall, co-ordinator of
Strathclyde Police, said more drugs may be coming into the west of
Scotland and admitted that police seizures were having little impact.
The director of Scotland Against Drugs, David Macauley, said the deaths
were a simple indication that more drugs were available. Scotland was being
flooded with heroin, while cannabis was being withdrawn.
The latest drug victims, Andrew McAuley, 24, of High St, Glasgow, and Brian
McEwan, 35, whose body was found in Robertson House hostel in Broad Street,
died from suspected heroin overdoses on Wednesday morning.
While their ages were typical of most overdose victims, who also tend to
be poly drug users,
The death of Allan Harper, 13, on the 3 January caused a backlash against
drug dealers in the local community. He was much younger than most heroin
users, but, as exclusively revealed by The Scotsman, he was not the only
youngster to have abused hard drugs. Almost 30 underage heroin users have
been treated by a local drugs agency in Greater Easterhouse in the last 18
months, a figure that is believed by campaigners to be the tip of the
iceberg.
Strathclyde Police, who are investigating the 16 deaths and attempting to
trace the source of the heroin, have said there is nothing to suggest they
are related to impurities in the heroin or the strength of the supply.
Last year, 50 people died of drug overdoses, while in 1996, there were 84
fatalities.
Mr Dougall said they were awaiting toxicology tests on some of this year's
deaths, but they mainly involved heroin.
He said: "We thought that in the past few years we were seeing a trend of
fewer deaths, which perhaps were due to users accessing the services.
We're very concerned that so many have died and we have carried out
extensive inquiries as to the supply, as well as speaking to drug
agencies."
So far, police have no clues as to why so many young people have died.
However, Mr Dougall said that there may be more drugs coming in. He said:
"There is nothing to suggest that there is a bad batch of heroin or that
there is an increase in purity. We have certainly seized more and had an
increase in drug-related arrests reported to the fiscal, which may be an
indication of drugs coming into the area."
He admitted that the police were having little impact on the availability
of drugs, saying: "Street prices are a good indication of availability. If
street prices go up, you're either buying it from the wrong person or we
are making an impact. Street prices have remained stable and we are
continuing to increase our seizures."
Mr Macauley said that the streets of Scotland were being flooded with cheap
heroin, while cannabis was being withdrawn, leading to an increased market
and a greater number of people injecting drugs.
"Heroin is being pushed very heavily throughout Scotland, there's no doubt
about that. A lot of kids I know are using drugs instead of alcohol
because it's cheaper. They can buy a wrap of heroin for less than 5," he
said.
Since Allan's death, police activity in Greater Easterhouse has been high,
with more than 80 drug related arrests and almost 750,000 worth of drugs
seized.
Hugh Michael Cavanagh, 24, of Glenboig, Airdrie; Hugh McMullen, 34, and
Jackie Sinclair, 28, both of Kingsway Court, Scotstoun, and Stephen
Rodger, 28, of Tresta Road, Maryhill, have died since 10 February, when The
Scotsman first reported an increase in deaths from overdoses this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Week Online With DRCNet, Issue Number 30 (News Summary For Activists,
From The Drug Reform Coordination Network - Original Articles Include -
Needle Exchange Volunteer Arrested In New Jersey -
Protesting Penn State Professor, Four Others To Be Charged, Also,
18-Year-Old High School Student Suspended For Three Days Without Hearing
For Being Arrested With Heicklen -
Interview With Canadian Medical Marijuana Activist Peter Young -
Job Opportunity For Master's-Level Public Policy Director -
And Editorial, 'Bill, Newt, And The Coming Battle Over The War,'
By Adam J. Smith)
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:14:34 EST
Originator: drc-natl@drcnet.org
Sender: drc-natl@drcnet.org
From: DRCNet 
We here at DRCNet are pleased to announce the establishment
of the Medical Marijuana Support Fund (MMSF). The MMSF is a
collaborative project of the Drug Policy Foundation,
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws,
Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and Drug Reform
Coordination Network. The fund has been established to
offer patients, activists and organizations both financial
and technical assistance in the following areas:
* Assistance in developing and drafting legislative
language.
* Technical assistance in program design for projects
implemented after medical marijuana initiatives/
legislation have been passed.
* Experts to testify at public health hearings or forums.
* Experts to testify at trial in relation to medical
necessity defense.
* Printing of promotional and educational materials directly
related to a specific policy goal.
***
If you or your organization is interested in applying for
one or more of the above-mentioned types of assistance,
contact Whitney Taylor at the Drug Policy Foundation at
(202) 537-5005 to request an official application.
If you are interested in making a donation to the Medical
Marijuana Support Fund, Whitney can help you with that as
well. (Be sure to mention you heard about it from DRCNet!)
***
2. GINGRICH CALLS CLINTON'S NEW DRUG STRATEGY "THE
DEFINITION OF FAILURE", PLEDGES GOP LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE
Last Saturday (2/14) at noon, President Clinton used his
weekly radio address to outline this year's "Drug Strategy."
The strategy called for a 6.8% increase in federal spending
on the Drug War, and called for greater accountability among
the federal agencies charged with carrying out various
aspects of the War. The plan also listed as its goal a 50%
reduction in both the use and the supply of drugs in America
over a period of ten years. Within the hour, however, Newt
Gingrich, who delivered the GOP response to the plan, was
calling for the plan's withdrawal and announcing his plans
to introduce a "tougher" and more comprehensive GOP
legislative initiative on the Drug War.
"Once America got involved, it took our country just four
years to win the Second World War -- the greatest military
effort the world has ever seen. In the Civil War, it took
just four years to save the Union and abolish slavery"
Gingrich said in his address. "But this President would
have us believe that with all the resources, ingenuity,
dedication, and passion of the American people, we can't
even get halfway to victory in the War on Drugs until the
year 2007 - nine full years from now. That is not a success.
That is the definition of failure."
Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey called Gingrich's remarks
'irresponsible'. "I'm sympathetic to partisan wrangling and
know that Newt Gingrich is looking for issues for the
midterm election, but that's not what I signed up to do",
McCaffrey told the Associated Press. "I'm afraid he's doing
a disservice to a comprehensive plan."
Gingrich went on to vow that he would sponsor a resolution
to put the House on record as demanding that the
administration withdraw its plan. He said that Republicans
around the country (he specifically cited New York City
mayor Rudolph Giuliani) had "laid the groundwork to launch a
World War II -- style victory campaign against illegal
drugs." He added that "we in congress will pass legislation
to implement the largest, most dynamic, most comprehensive
anti-drug strategy ever designed."
Arnold Trebach, the recently retired President of the Drug
Policy Foundation, spoke with The Week Online regarding
Gingrich's statements. "Speaker Gingrich's proposed massive
new War on Drugs runs counter to the principles of his party
and the best traditions of the nation. The Republican
party, if it stands for anything, values enormous restraint
of governmental power in the name of individual liberties
and capitalist enterprise."
Trebach continued, "The War on Drugs as presently
constitutes has already destroyed many aspects of personal
freedom and individual initiative that Americans formerly
enjoyed. If anything characterizes the broad spectrum of
human experience in America, it is that Americans support
programs which work, and oppose those that don't. The War
on Drugs doesn't work and never will. Given the current
proposal's departure from Republican principles, other
leaders of the GOP should take Speaker Gingrich out to the
ideological woodshed and administer some sharp blows to
appropriate part of his anatomy."
***
3. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SUPPRESSES REPORT FINDING
MARIJUANA SAFER THAN ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO
The February 18 edition of Britain's NEW SCIENTIST Magazine
reports that the Geneva-based World Health organization
(WHO) suppressed, under political pressure, a report which
confirmed that marijuana is safer than either alcohol or
tobacco. The report, which was to be a part of the WHO's
summary report on Cannabis (released in December), was
reportedly axed under pressure from the US National
Institute on Drug Abuse and the UN International Drugs
Control Program, who told the WHO that inclusion of the
section would "play into the hands of groups campaigning to
legalize marijuana."
According to New Scientist (to which a copy of the
suppressed report was leaked) the official explanation of
the exclusion of the report was that "the reliability and
public health significance of such comparisons are
doubtful." But New Scientist also reports that insiders
informed them that the report was scientifically sound.
Kevin Zeese, President of Common Sense for Drug Policy
Foundation, told The Week Online, "Just business as usual
for the drug war establishment. Once again they have shown
themselves to be afraid of the truth, to the point of
suppressing it. The suppression of information as a method
of sustaining a policy which cannot stand up to the truth is
a tactic of totalitarian, non-democratic regimes. For the
citizens of the free nations of the world, even for those
who have never given a thought to the rationale behind the
Drug War, this kind of tactic should serve as a warning that
something is terribly wrong."
(We are attempting to obtain a copy of the report, for
posting on the web. If you have one, please send a copy to
us at 2000 P St., NW, Suite 615, Washington, DC 20036.)
You can find the New Science article on the WHO report,
which is part of a large special section on marijuana (2/21
edition) at http://marijuana.newscientist.com.
***
4. NEEDLE EXCHANGE VOLUNTEER ARRESTED IN NEW JERSEY
Johanna Malaret, a volunteer for the CHAI Project, a needle
exchange program in New Brunswick, NJ, was arrested this
Wednesday (2/18) in Perth Amboy for possession and
possession with intent to distribute syringes. Perth Amboy
police stopped Malaret on Hall Street during a regularly-
scheduled walking route. They confiscated 63 syringes.
This is the second time in the past 22 months that a
representative of the Chai Project has been arrested. Last
April, project director Diana McCague was arrested in New
Brunswick for possession and convicted. Her appeal is still
pending. The Centers for Disease Control estimated last
year that over 13,000 New Jersey residents either have
injection-related AIDS or have died from it. New Jersey,
where Governor Christine Whitman has steadfastly declined to
change the law outlawing syringe exchange despite its
endorsement by such groups as the World Health Organization
and the American Medical Association, and the advice of her
own AIDS Council, ranks third in the nation in the incidence
of injection-related infection.
Chai Project Director Diana McCague told The Week Online,
"The arrest is an outrage. It leaves people in Perth Amboy
with no choice but to re-use and share syringes. Why is it
that the police and the government of this state feel that
the best way to help addicted citizens is to sentence them
to death? Dead addicts don't recover, and the law does not
justify base immorality. What about the partners and
children of New Jersey's injection drug users? It is under
the current laws that tens of thousands of New Jersey
residents have become injection drug users, and we slavishly
enforce these same laws to keep good people from trying to
limit the damage. They call this 'drug control'. Well, we
are certainly not controlling drugs, but we are
systematically destroying the lives of enormous numbers of
our most vulnerable citizens, which leaves one to wonder
exactly what this system is really set up to do."
YOU CAN HELP! DRCNet asks that concerned readers send
letters to the editors of the following papers (contact info
provided) expressing your disapproval of both the arrest and
the anti-syringe exchange laws of New Jersey.
***
Please don't forget to include your name, address and
phone number with your letter. Also, don't forget to sign
the letter you are submitting. Address all mailed letters
to: Letter to the Editor, followed by the address, to
ensure it is received quickly.
The Star-Ledger
1 Star-Ledger Plaza
Newark, NJ 07102-1200
eletters@starledger.com
(973) 877-4040 (fax)
(Submit to "Speaking Up", 500 words or less)
The Courier-News
P.O. Box 6600
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
letters@c-n.com
(908) 707-3128 (phone)
(908) 707-3252 (fax)
(Don't exceed 250 words)
The Trenton Times
500 Perry St.
P.O. Box 847
Trenton, NJ 08605
letters@NJTimes.com
(609) 989-5500 (phone)
(609) 394-2819 (fax)
(Don't exceed 300 words)
Asbury Park
Press Your Views
3601 Highway 66
P.O. Box 1550
Neptune, NJ 07754-1551
yourviews@app.com
(732) 922-6000 (phone)
(732) 922-4818 (fax)
(No word limit)
City News
P.O. Box 1774
Plainfield, NJ 07060
citynews97@aol.com
(908) 754-3400 (phone)
(908) 753-1036
(No word limit)
The New York Times
229 West 43rd St.
New York, NY 10036-3959
letters@nytimes.com
(212) 556-1234 ext. 1873 (phone)
(212) 556-3622 (fax)
(No word limit)
Jersey Journal
Attn: Bob Larkins
30 Journal Square
Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 653-1000 (phone)
(201) 653-1414 (fax)
(No word limit)
***
5. PROTESTING PENN STATE PROFESSOR, FOUR OTHERS TO BE
CHARGED
Professor Emeritus Julian Heicklen and about 100 supporters
gathered at the main entrance of Penn State University at
High Noon Thursday for their fifth consecutive weekly
protest against Marijuana Prohibition.
According to the State College Police, Heicklen and four
others will be charged with possession for smoking at last
week's rally. They will be notified by mail of the exact
charges and the date of their hearing. Consequently
Heicklen refrained from smoking at this weeks' protest and
he asked his supporters to follow his example.
Heicklen read from a prepared statement, "I will not be
smoking today and I request that none of you do so. Our
goal is to get into the courts and we have met that goal.
Five of us will soon receive notices of arrest. Our aim is
not to break the marijuana laws but to nullify them.
..If we receive fair, impartial, and speedy trials by a
jury of our peers, we shall proceed by that route. If not
we will consider other alternatives."
Heicklen's weekly protests have attracted national media
coverage as well as the support of the National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. NORML Executive Director
Keith Stroup said, "I think its a very courageous act he's
doing and it's in the best traditions of the Civil Rights
Movement in this country. Civil disobedience has always
played an important role in shaping public policy...until
more people like the good professor are willing to stand up
and say the truth, and take the heat we may never get rid of
these laws."
Stroup said that if the case goes to court, NORML's Legal
Committee will likely file an Amicus Curiae (Friend of the
Court) brief in support of Heicklen.
Stroup also said that NORML will be able to assist Heicklen
in research, filing briefs and bringing expert witnesses to
testify at trial.
Heicklen said he will continue the Thursday, High Noon
protests and he urged the crowd to continue attending, "Your
presence is necessary. It demonstrates support for the
arrestees and acts as protection for them."
ALSO: 18 YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SUSPENDED FOR 3 DAYS
WITHOUT HEARING FOR BEING ARRESTED WITH HEICKLEN
(The following is an excerpt from the public statement of
professor Julian Heicklen.)
"There was one unfortunate occurrence as a result of last
week's events. Ken Keltner, one of the arrestees, is a
student in the State College Area High School. He is in the
Delta Program, which has an open lunch hour. Students are
permitted to leave the school property during their lunch
hour, which is what Ken did to participate in the Smoke
Out."
"Kathleen Kelly, Director of the Delta Program, approached
Ken at about 11:30 on Friday, February 13, 1998, and showed
him a newspaper clipping that reported his arrest. She said
that Ken was in violation of the school drug and alcohol
policy, which forbids drug or alcohol use by students during
school hours. She suspended him for 3 days on the spot
without a hearing. She accompanied him to his locker. He
got his books and went home. He was told not to return to
school until Wednesday, February 18, 1998. Ken called the
school at 1:00 PM on Friday, February 13, 1998, to ask for
an appeal. Ms. Kelly denied him an appeal."
"On Wednesday, February 18, 1998, after the suspension
period was over, Ken received a letter in the mail notifying
him of the suspension. In order to remain in the program,
Ken was informed that within 10 days he must have an
assessment by a licensed drug and alcohol facility and that
he must comply with the recommendations of that facility."
"The public schools have a right to make and enforce
regulations on school property. They have an obligation to
protect minors that are under their care. However, they do
not have the right to regulate the behavior of adults that
are not on school property. Ken Keltner is 18 years old and
is an adult. He was not on school property and violated no
school regulation by being off the school property during
his lunch hour. He was suspended without a hearing based on
a newspaper report. He was denied the right of appeal."
"The public schools are not law enforcement agencies, nor
are they instruments of social policy. Their job is
education. What they did in this case was to deny Mr.
Keltner three days of education, which it is their
obligation to provide, so that they could act as a law
enforcement agency, which is not their function. This is a
classic example of a police state in operation. Not only is
it oppressive, but it loses sight of the interests of those
it was meant to serve."
"This is the tyranny that our movement is trying to end. On
Sunday, February 15, 1998, I made separate telephone calls
to Connie Martin, Chair of the State College Area School
District, and two other School Board members, Sue Werner and
Donna Queeney. I discussed this matter with them and
advised them that if they would rescind the suspension, I
would let the matter die quietly. All three of them
informed me that the School Board did not have the authority
to rescind an administrative decision. Imagine that!"
"Then I called School Superintendent Bill Opdenhoff and
repeated my comments. He said that he would look into the
matter. However the suspension was not rescinded."
"We are in the midst of a national nightmare. The struggle
to recover our moral compass will be long and difficult.
With your help and support, we will succeed."
***
6. EX-MICHIGAN GOV: DRUG-LIFER LAW "INHUMANE"
When he was the governor of Michigan, William Milliken
signed that state's "drug-lifer law" which mandated life
without parole for anyone caught in possession of over 650
grams of heroin or cocaine. Now, Milliken says that he made
a mistake, and that the law, criticized for catching more
low-level couriers than actual kingpins, "wastes precious
public dollars to lock people up for life, people who pose
no threat to society."
There are currently two separate bills in the Michigan
legislature which would reform the law, and both Milliken
and the current governor support reform. According to the
Grand rapids press, however, Sen. Van Regenmorter, chairman
of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says that neither bill is
likely to pass in this, an election year, as legislators are
worried about being labeled "soft on drugs."
***
7. MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVISTS TO OPEN MEDICAL MARIJUANA
DISPENSARIES ACROSS EASTERN CANADA
(Reprinted from the NORML Weekly News, a publication of the
NORML Foundation, http://www.norml.org)
February 19, 1998, Toronto, Ontario: As part of an ongoing
campaign to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana in
Canada, activists in Ontario announced the launch of at
least eight medical marijuana dispensaries in the region.
Proponents announced that the clubs -- commonly known as
Cannabis Buyers' Clubs (CBCs) -- will be "wheelchair
accessible," and in "commercial areas, not private
residences." Medical marijuana distributed at the clubs
will be sold at cost.
"We're not going to be hiding," Peter Young -- one of the
organizers for the clubs -- told the Ottawa Citizen. He
added that any police officer posing as a patient could
"easily" track down a sales venue, but said that "if they're
going to bust us, fine. But the next day we'll be open
again."
Presently, buyers' clubs exist in Toronto and Vancouver, the
Toronto Star reported. Additional clubs are expected to
open shortly in Toronto, London, Peterborough, Kitchener,
and Guelph. Club organizers in Mississauga, Oakville, and
Etobicoke are currently accepting applications, the paper
said.
Efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Canada have
increased in recent months. On February 5, a 53 year old
Toronto AIDS patient filed a civil suit against the Canadian
government asking the court to find an exemption for the
medical use of marijuana. The federal challenge came
two months after a Canadian trial court judge ruled that
bona fide medical marijuana users are exempt from criminal
marijuana possession penalties. In addition, recent
statements from a spokesman at the Canadian Department of
Health indicate that the agency may begin approving use of
the drug in "emergency" situations.
Buyers' clubs -- though illegal under U.S. federal law --
first began to appear in California in the early 1990s.
Medical marijuana advocates estimate that 40 such clubs
presently operate in the United States.
For further information, contact Allen St. Pierre of The
NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751.
***
8. INTERVIEW WITH CANADIAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVIST
PETER YOUNG
- Marc Brandl for DRCNet
On February 19, ten Canadian activists held a press
conference announcing their plans to open Cannabis Buyers'
Clubs (CBC's) across Canada, to dispense medicinal marijuana
to patients in need. In an effort to openly challenge
Canada's prohibition of the medicinal use of marijuana, the
activists made a very public showing of explaining why the
CBC's needed to be opened, where they were going to be
opened, and how they will operate.
Longtime Canadian marijuana activist Chris Clay
http://www.hempnation.com told The Week Online, "A nation-
wide survey recently found 83% of Canadians support medical
marijuana, and politicians are suddenly jumping on the
bandwagon. Any police intervention would make for a
tremendous amount of bad press, and the clubs would continue
to operate anyway." The Week Online interviewed one of the
Ontario activists, Pete Young, of the Organic Traveler hemp
store in London, Ontario, on his thoughts on medical
marijuana and becoming an activist.
WOL: How did you get involved in all this? How did you first
become active?
Pete Young: I was a cultivator/breeder in the states for a
few years before I came to London for school (photography
with a major in digital imaging). While I was there, I
hooked up with Chris Clay, who was the proprietor of Great
Canadian Hemporium/Hemp Nation, the first cannabis shop in
Canada.
WOL: What first sparked your interest in this area?
Pete Young: I had a friend who was run over by a car when
he was a teenager (crushed pelvis and lower spin damage).
He was using Marijuana to help control the massive pain. He
was eventually busted for growing 4-6 plants in his closet.
At the time, he was a legal morphine junky for 8 to 11
years, and was using marijuana to wean off of narcotics. He
got a doctor's note to show to the judge, but the charges
were only reduced, NOT dropped, and he was put back on
morphine. Last year he finally became immune to the
morphine, and his doctor was forced to place him on LEGAL
HEROIN.
After I saw what the legal drugs were doing to him and he
realized what he was turning into, he decided to leave town
and move to place where he could grow his own medicine. Now
this guy had to leave his family (mother, sisters and
brothers) behind just so he could lead a respectable life
and not have to look at a junky facing death every morning
when he looked in the mirror. This pissed me off. And I
decided to get into the fight.
WOL: The group of ten of you are all pretty young. What
makes a young individual decide to open up a single-medicine
apothecary for sick people?
Pete Young: As far as focusing on one medicine, it carries
so many helpful, healing properties we need go no further.
As far as being to young, you are never too young to care.
You don't have to start up a Buyer's Club yourself, but you
can help an existing one or help in other ways. For
instance, Lynn Harichy, a medical marijuana patient who will
be going to court in April to challenge medical marijuana
prohibition on Constitutional grounds, needs to raise $5,000
Canadian dollars to fly in expert witnesses for her case.
Obviously not everyone can become activists to the level
that some of us have, but just about everyone can send a few
dollars every now and then to help the fights that are
already going on. See how easy it is?
[To make a donation to Lynn Harichy's legal fight for
medical marijuana, see details at end of article.)
WOL: Has your age been an obstacle at all, what are the
advantages? Do you think there are a lot more young people
out there that are becoming active like you?
Pete Young: There are advantages and disadvantages. The
advantages are I can relate to a wide spectrum of people of
different ages. The disadvantage is not so much my age,
though the older generation still sees anyone who believes
in marijuana and is under 50 a drug smokin' hippy, but more
my looks. Longer hair, tye-dyed shirt, facial hair. I'm
seen as just another pot-head.
WOL: How many clubs are being started by your group?
Pete Young: For now 3-4 and within the next 2-3 months
another 4-5.
WOL: One of the toughest problems facing CBC's is the supply
problem. How are you dealing with this?
Pete Young: I will be hitting up all the local growers to
donate or give discount medical prices. For this they will
receive a receipt in case they get busted -- this should
help them in court. Plus if they are growing solely for the
clubs we will help with legal fees through a legal defense
fund we will be putting together.
WOL: How linked are the new CBC's going to be? Are you
going to share resources, money, information etc.?
Pete Young: Only information, all of the clubs will be
privately owned, patients will be transferred so they will
not have to travel with an illegal substance.
WOL: When will medical marijuana become available legally in
Canada, some say that these actions will bring about change
very soon. What is your prediction?
Pete Young: I'm hopeful that legal changes will come within
the year.
WOL: Will CBC's be kept in existence after medical marijuana
is made legally available, or are they a temporary stopgap?
Pete Young: I couldn't answer that one, I guess it will be
up to the Government. If they are going to put it into the
hospitals and pharmacies, where it belongs, then we may not
be needed. But until then we'll be here.
To make donations to Lynn Harichy's defense fund contact:
Prof. Alan Young, York University, Osgoode Hall Law, 4700
Keele St., Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, CANADA, (416) 736-5595.
***
9. CLASSMATES OF UK HOME SECRETARY STRAW'S SON HAND HIM
PETITION FOR LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS
Jack Straw, the British Home Secretary whose son was caught
selling 10 pounds (sterling) worth of cannabis in a pub at a
time when Straw was publicly and vociferously defending
cannabis Prohibition, addressed his son's class at Pimlico
School last week. While he might have expected his
appearance to generate intense interest among the student
body, he probably did not expect to be handed a petition,
signed by nearly all of his son's classmates, urging the
legalization of the substance.
The petition, titled "Stop turning young people into
criminals" was signed by over 100 students. Notably absent
was the signature of Straw's son, William. Classmates had
not asked him to sign it, according to the Independent on
Sunday newspaper, figuring that he had been through enough
on the issue already. The petition stated: "We believe
that medical evidence suggests cannabis is less harmful than
alcohol or tobacco, which are legally available. Yet
thousands of young people every year are turned into
criminals by the pointless and unworkable ban on cannabis.
Without in any way encouraging the use of cannabis, or
indeed any drug, we call on the Home Secretary and the
Government to bring the law into line with reality and
legalize cannabis without delay." The students were members
of the sixth form, which means they are approximately
seventeen years-old.
***
10. JOB OPPORTUNITY
Leading drug policy reform organization seeks highly skilled
master's-level public policy director. Must understand
major reform issues: medical marijuana, pain control, asset
forfeiture, mandatory minimums. Will build coalitions,
develop action strategies and coordinate advocacy efforts
with new allies to advance shared agenda. Will prepare
testimony and policy papers. Exceptional communication
skills, familiarity with public health and criminal justice
issues essential. Send resume and salary requirements to:
Public Policy Search, Drug Policy Foundation, 4455
Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite B-500, Washington, DC 20008-
2328.
***
11. EDITORIAL: Bill, Newt, and the coming battle over
the war.
In dueling radio addresses this week, President Clinton
outlined, and Newt Gingrich trashed, the administration's
1998 National Drug Strategy report. While bickering around
the edges of the nation's plans for the prosecution of the
Drug War has become a common occurrence, Gingrich's demand
that the Strategy by withdrawn, and his promise of a
legislative package constituting "the largest, most dynamic,
most comprehensive anti-drug strategy ever designed," has
taken the battle over the war to a new level.
With mid-term elections coming, and the economy strong, the
GOP is desperate to find wedge issues. Clinton's record on
drugs, from "I didn't inhale" to a reported 70% increase in
teen drug use on his administration's watch, make this a
perceived Democratic weakness. Also, with popular
Republican mayors around the country (Gingrich mentioned New
York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani in his address) talking and
acting the part of near-obsessive drug warriors, there is
evidence that the GOP feels that the issue is ripe for
exploitation.
The problem for the Democrats is, of course, that in a
perverse way, Gingrich is right. The current carnage which
has made the US the world's leading incarcerator, which has
resulted in one out of three young African American men
caught up in the criminal justice system, which has led to
massive corruption, ineffective drug education and rising
numbers of young drug users, has been a colossal failure.
It will be difficult, if not impossible to argue in favor of
more of the same, which is exactly what the administration
is proposing. The fact that escalation is not the answer is
nearly irrelevant, as voters, still largely uninformed as to
the real nature of the problem, will be presented with an
"alternative" to the failed status quo.
The Democrats' other option would be radical indeed. That
would be to argue reason and truth. Prohibition cannot work,
its very premise is fatally flawed, and we need to reassess
our entire thinking about what constitutes "drug control,"
which we have quite obviously failed to achieve under a
state of war. But desperate though they may be, few
Democrats will be so bold as to level with the American
people in the face of the cumulative effects of the
propaganda campaign which has been successfully waged on
this issue over the past 25 years.
No, the Democrats will be stuck with two choices. The first
is to abandon the administration and jump on the escalation
bandwagon. The second is to rely on calls for treatment in
prisons and a host of other "half-measures," as Gingrich
calls them. The fact that these half-measures constitute a
position halfway toward a police state makes little
difference. The GOP is apparently ready to open the
throttle, full speed ahead, and bet that the American public
is ready and willing to ignore the advice of Thomas
Jefferson in trading freedom for security, illusory as that
promised security may be.
But despite the seemingly depressing prospect of a public
debate between those lobbying for more prisons and less
freedom and those lobbying for even more prisons and even
less freedom, there is reason for optimism. Today, across
the globe, from Europe to Australia and even in Canada, a
backlash has arisen against American-style war as an
antidote to substance abuse. The European Parliament
recently delayed a vote, expected to be closely contested,
over a report recommending that all EU members adopt harm-
reduction strategies, including the decriminalization of
cannabis and other "soft" drugs. England has been awash in
debate over cannabis policy for months now, and the din has
only intensified.
Heroin maintenance trials are being discussed and even
implemented across the continent, and Australia was days
away from starting its own when it bowed to back-channel US
pressure. Canada is also becoming a hot-spot of debate over
drug policy, and let us not forget that we share a virtually
indefensible border with our neighbor to the north.
Interestingly, one of the strongest and most resonant
arguments being made by international reformers is the
excess of punitive control and government power that the war
has brought to America. As the numbers of reformers across
Europe and other nations come tantalizingly close to parity
with those advocating war, what would be better illustrative
of the philosophical endpoint of prohibition than American
politicians calling in the media for even more massive
incarceration and more executions (generally abhorred by
other western democracies) in "the land of the free"? A
campaign, legislative and electoral, featuring such wanton
bloodlust in the name of "morality" could very well seal the
fate of Prohibitionists around the world. A victorious
Republican campaign, resulting in such an expansion of the
punitive state, almost certainly would.
Here at home, some of the media has begun to report
approvingly of both harm reduction and the voices of reform.
Discussion of alternatives is no longer taboo in polite
company. The challenge for reformers, then, is to thrust
ourselves into the coming debate, offering rational
alternatives to both the failures of the current system and
the murderous excesses of the extremist dissenters.
We must edge our way onto the stage, in any way possible,
and at every opportunity, with a clear and honest message
which takes into account the very real fears to which
escalation is designed to appeal. "Prohibition is not drug
control, it is the abandonment of control." Further, we
must build up our numbers by reaching out to those who
understand, and educating those who do not. We must marshal
our forces and grow our organizations. We must speak out,
and we must demand that others stand up and be counted. We
must make the warriors defend their chosen course.
On Saturday, February 14, 1998, Speaker of the House Newt
Gingrich announced his intention to lead a full scale
offensive in the longest-running war of the twentieth
century. It is vital that we as reformers not waste our
limited resources in trying to fight the Republicans around
the edges of their plan. Let them go wild. Let them be
extreme. It can only help our cause both here and abroad.
Instead, let us stake out our ground in opposition to both
"sides". Let us step into the fray with our message intact.
The unreasonableness of our adversaries is our greatest
advantage. We must use the spotlight which they themselves
have asked for to illuminate our cause. They have called
forth the battle. But in so doing, they have given us the
war. Our time is upon us.
Adam J. Smith
Associate Director
***
DRCNet
***
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[End]
to 1998 Daily News index for February 19-25