Time to Legalize Drugs? - Nicholas D. Kristof Blog - NYTimes.com

There was a companion piece to this on Sunday by Mr. Kristof, "Drugs Won the War" http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/opinion/14kristof.html?_r=1. It is good to see prominent editorialists stating this opinion. Many more of us have come to the same conclusion, for the same reasons years ago.

Through the courtesy of my friend at Drug Policy Alliance here are some more editorials in recent days. I have not read these as of yet but it is important that they're are being published. There are some esteem people who believe it is time to end the drug war. Even Walter Cronkite has a documentary available on line where he looks deep into the cost of the drug war and question its lack of results. If this was a shooting war with another country that had gone on for forty years, well the American people would never stand for it.

1)    AlterNet: Ethan Nadelmann's Speech at America's Future Now Conference; Posted on June 12, 2009, Printed on June 12, 2009 - I became active in drug reform after hearing Ethan speak at Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus in Baltimore back in 2006.

2)      Chicago Tribune: Feature on Kathie Kane Willis: (From Heroin
Addiction to Leader in Reform Movement) http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-confession-bd-14-jun14,0,4399112.story

3)      Albuquerque Journal: DPA op-ed on Overdose Crisis and Solutions
to Problem http://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/guest_columns/152214189251opinionguestcolumns06-15-09.htm

4)      AlterNet: Will Marijuana be Taxed and Regulated in CA? Ballot
Initiative in 2010

People are rethinking the drug war for a variety of reasons. 1st is the ineffectiveness of the policy. We spend billions on interdiction, arrest, trial and incarceration. Yet it is my opinion that there has not been a net result of even one drug addict prevented. Yes some people have avoided becoming a drug addict or even a drug user. But for everyone they have prevented there is more than one new user to take their place.

Another reason is because the drug laws have been unfair for many years. Depending on where you live being caught with marijuana could me jail time or a slap on the wrist with sometime in drug abuse "classes." Here the offender is basically forced to take in all of the same "Reefer Madness" (Tell Your Children) propaganda that was disproved as fast as it made the rounds back in 1936. Some states it has the same affect as a jaywalking ticket. The courts are still addressing the issue of sentence fairness between crack cocaine and powder cocaine.

It is time to stop listening to the likes of General Barry McCaffrey the former Drug Czar. I recently heard him on MSNBC saying that legalizing marijuana because it would be a money maker for the government was liberal 1970's thinking. He went on to say it was stupid or silly or some other derogatory adjective. His argument basically that drugs are like communism and should not be allowed in America.

Despite how some tend to describe us I am not some lone stoner. I am politically active as well as leading a full life. Someone recently has a post blaming the government for the tragic deaths of some teenagers (If memory serves) who died during a high speed chase by the police. I know first hand the tragedy of a sudden death of a young person. But I draw my line at defending the acutely indefensible action of running from the police. Never break two laws at the same time. If you are going to use cannabis than you have to be certain to follow all the other laws; particularly traffic laws. The young people that died in that tragic accident were wrong when they chose to run instead of facing the reality of the situation. If you are under the influence and possessing cannabis and you see the red lights of a police car. You loose; pull over and deal with the situation.

The drug war like it or not is being look at as a drain on our federal budget. It represents something in excess of a trillion dollars in total cost. If we stop spending money on the drug war than lawyers, court clerks, paralegals, will all be out of a job and that's not all . All around the courthouses I used to work in there were other businesses that depended on the courthouse being there. There were drugs stores, restaurants and lunch counters, and convenience stores. It could mean in the future a decrease in the number of guards needed for our prisons and jails.  This is obviously not likely, even if the percentage of people being incarcerated goes down the size of the population is probably going to increase.

America as a nation needs to recognize that people will do drugs. Just like we learned that people will drink. People do and will continue to smoke despite the health consequences. This is why it is fruitless to try to prohibit these activities. Harry Anslinger did say one thing right as America's first "drug czar." He reportedly once said something like how am I supposed to police a weed. The drug misuse issue is often described as insidious or a scourge. This is why just saying no even if not saying no means jail, just saying no does not address the problem. America at this point has become the mother screaming at her children, "No, ...no, no, no...didn't you hear me I said NO, ...NO, NO, NO, don't you dare do that...NO!!!

 

Time to Legalize Drugs? - Nicholas D. Kristof Blog - NYTimes.com

Norm Stamper: One Cop To Another: Don't Arrest Phelps for Bong Photo

Do not arrest Michael Phelps. Do not support any company that pulls their endorsement deals because of this incident. Once again the voice of reason rises from the front line of America's War on Drugs. The idea of arresting a young man so "out of control" that he accomplished a physical feat that no other swimmer could is absurd by definition. The time is here that those who oppose the legalization of marijuana recognize that most users of marijuana fulfill life's obligations. They get up in the morning, go to work, do a flawless job at work, come home make dinner for their family, and have dinner together as a family. The difference is this. Many of those who support the "War on Drugs" pop open a beer or prepare a mixed drink as soon as they are home. Those who use cannabis retire to a more private part of their home to smoke cannabis. If it were my house and I could without risking arrest take a toke or two I would then be the one cooking dinner.  Even now thirteen states have taken the first step in opening the eyes of the American public that marijuana is not this evil substance that it is made out to be. Those states are recognizing the medicinal abilities of cannabis. It starts state by state, which means it starts with people speaking up and calling for a reevaluation of the historic failure of the last half of the twentieth America's War on Drugs. Michael Phelps has done nothing wrong, the law is wrong.

Norm Stamper: One Cop To Another: Don't Arrest Phelps for Bong Photo

Daily Kos: Oh What a Day!

This is the diary I wrote yesterday while I was watching the Inauguration Ceremony. Millions worked harder than I to get President Obama (boy that sounds good) elected. Still  I did what I could to elect a man I thought uniquely qualified to be president at this time. In earlier blog entries I told of my experiences volunteering for the Obama campaign. Simply put they were rewarding. It was a far more diverse a group than those on other campaigns I have volunteered with. So I hope you enjoy. Change of presidents is only one part of bringing change to America. The second part is for all of us to participate in our democratic government. If we all do that then change will truly have to America.

Daily Kos: Oh What a Day!

Retirement Living TV

Today I had to remove my link to Retirement Living TV's (RLTV) Viewpoint show on medical marijuana. My participation in this show was a high point of 2007 for me. I met the producers when I was about to testify before the Maryland House of Delegates' Judiciary Committee. RLTV was following around a new friend of mine Irv Rosenfeld. Irv is one of the four living (it was five living) federal medicinal marijuana patients. It was great fun going out side to smoke with Irv that day. I would go out and light up one of my menthol light cigarettes. Irv would light up one of his federally supplied joints. Needless to say I was green with envy. My legal prescriptions are not capable of relieving my pain when I push myself that much.

Sadly, the bill Irv and I were pushing failed. The committees never even voted on the bill. I am told that the organizations that pushed that bill are looking for sponsors for a new bill. I'll have more on that later. If the various organizations fail to put a bill in the hopper I am seriously considering trying to find a sponsor to resubmit the old bill, Maryland's Compassionate Use Act (House Bill 1040 and Senate Bill 757). This would big a big step for me because I am the novice and the groups considering submitting a new bill are the veterans. I'm not naming them here because I don't have firm information from a variety of groups that may or may not be submitting a bill this year. When I have firm information I'll post it here as soon as I know for sure.

Lastly on the subject of Retirement Living TV I have two items. According to RLTV website (http://www.rl.tv/press/release.cfm?id=58) Walter Cronkite is now contributing his unique point of view on life after 60. I haven't been able to find any new programs featuring Mr. Cronkite. However as recently as yesterday they aired a segment of The Art of Living featuring Mr. Cronkite talking about his love of yachts. Mr. Cronkite, along with Jesse Martin a young man who sailed solo around the world without the help of fossil fuel, was one of my inspirations to begin sailing at age fifty and the onset of Post Polio Syndrome. Walter Cronkite still sails his yacht and he's 92. Lets hope he appears more often in 2009. Second item is that RLTV has a terrific episode of Healthline about polio and post polio. Polio is in danger of coming back in America. The debate over vaccines and Autism has lead to parents not having their children vaccinated against polio. This is a mistake. I survived polio in the early 1950's. While my recovery was extensive, my post polio has been severe. I urge everyone to find out when this show is being broadcast in their area and watch it. The world never did eradicate polio as many people think. Don't risk the heartbreak of watching your child try to survive polio, it is a life long sentence of paralysis and pain.

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Marijuana News Medical and Otherwise

It is time for an update about marijuana and its various uses. Back on Election Day there were eight ballot iniatives. Two notable ballot initiatives were in Massachusetts and Michigan. In Michigan voters passed a compassionate use law allowing Michigan residents to use cannabis for medicinal purposes. That makes thirteen states with medical marijuana laws. Massachusetts passed a referendum making it no longer a criminal offense to be in possession of marijuana if the weight is less than one ounce (28gms). There is more on the ballot initiatives below. Also yesterday I received a press release from Patients Out Of Time (POT) announcing that my friend Irv Rosenfeld has become the patient longest to use federal supplied marijuana. POT’s press release will follow. Details about other changes in marijuana laws across the country will follow the press release.

So here is the press release:
For Immediate Release from Patients Out of Time:

When Noah started to give God some lip he was asked, “Noah, how long can you tread water?

The US government’s free for the asking (once) medical marijuana program has treaded in an ocean of medical cannabis hypocrisy for 30 years.

This hypocrisy is best personified by Irv Rosenfeld: husband, career stock broker, dog lover, champion handicap sailor, and recipient of 9 ounces of US government supplied medical cannabis every three weeks since 1982. Irv just passed the previous record held by the late Robert Randall, who in 1976 became the first patient to be supplied cannabis from the federal government for the treatment of glaucoma and received it for 26 years.

Irv Rosenfeld comments that, “Four of us in the federal medical cannabis program (IND) were examined for three days at St. Joseph's Hospital, Missoula, MT in 2001using private funds. All of us were found to be in fine physical and mental condition. (1). I am long passed feeling euphoria from my medical use but what I do feel is a lack of pain and discomfort and a frustration with my government for not allowing other citizens to have what is given to me with my gratitude.”

Sitting in his Florida office Irv continued, “While the US government has been arresting patients and caregivers for using cannabis medically they have been sending it to four of the Directors of Patients Out of Time (POT). In my case I have gotten my medicine for over 26 years, the longest use of any medicinal cannabis patient. Federal myths about cannabis not being medically accepted, coupled with its world wide use as a medicine on every continent plus the 14 states that have accepted the medical community’s endorsement of medical value (1) has created a conundrum for US medical cannabis policy. Political whim versus hard science for the federal employees of the HHS and NIDA has been the mantra for making medical decisions concerning cannabis. That professional betrayal the Obama administration can correct. HHS needs to answer The Petition to Reschedule Cannabis in the affirmative. Meaning, declare my medicine may be good for all citizens and turn our medical use of cannabis over to the health care community instead of having us treated by the police and jailers.”(2)

Mary Lynn Mathre, RN, President of POT and pioneer in the education of the health care community about the therapeutic uses of cannabis adds her comments from her VA office,
“Irv suffers from a rare disorder called multiple congenital cartilaginous exostosis and without the medical use of cannabis he would be crippled, unable to work and on numerous pharmaceuticals to manage his pain or maybe even dead. Cannabis is a safe and effective medicine for a variety of ailments. Irv and only 3 other US citizens can legally smoke cannabis supplied by our government. What about the rest of us? Why does our government forbid us this medicine? There is no honest justification for the prohibition of cannabis”

(1)www.medicalcannabis.com
(2)www.drugscience.org
IND=Investigational New Drug Program

Irv Rosenfeld
Newbridge Securities
(877) 447-9625

Al Byrne
Co-Founder Patients Out of Time
(434) 263-4484

My friend Naomi Long with Drug Policy Alliance passed along to me this information sent to her from Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). This is a list of the various ballot initiatives:

MICHIGAN: MPP's medical marijuana initiative passed by 63% to 37% in Michigan, making it the 13th state to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest and jail. While any new medical marijuana law is a great victory, this one is especially notable, since Michigan is now the first medical marijuana state in the Midwest, and the second largest medical marijuana state in the country (with California being the largest). See http://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/ for details.

MASSACHUSETTS: MPP's landmark initiative to decriminalize marijuana in Massachusetts passed by 65% to 35%. The measure removes the threat of arrest and jail for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana, replacing it with a $100 fine, which can be paid through the mail without lawyers or court appearances, just like a speeding ticket. This is the first time in history that voters have passed a statewide initiative to decriminalize marijuana! See http://www.sensiblemarijuanapolicy.org/ for details.

CALIFORNIA: A measure that would have required the loss of public housing benefits for recent drug convictions lost by a 70% to 30% margin. (The measure would have also increased spending on prisons and law enforcement, as well as increased penalties for gang-related activities and other crimes.)

CALIFORNIA: A measure that would have expanded the number of drug offenders diverted from prison into treatment — as well as improving the marijuana decriminalization law that was originally enacted by the state legislature in 1975 — lost by 60% to 40%. See http://www.prop5yes.com/ for details.

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA: A measure (which received $5,000 from the MPP grants program) to expand the non-residential zones where medical marijuana dispensaries can locate, issue zoning certificates, and bring Berkeley marijuana possession limits in line with recent court rulings passed by 62% to 38%. See http://www.yesonjj.com/ for details.

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: A measure (which received $3,972 from the MPP grants program) to make adult marijuana offenses the lowest priority for local law enforcement passed by 66% to 34%. See http://www.sensiblefayetteville.com/ for details.

HAWAII COUNTY, HAWAII: A measure (which received $19,800 from the MPP grants program) to make adult marijuana offenses the lowest priority for local law enforcement passed by 53% to 39%. See http://www.projectpeacefulsky.org/ for details.

FOUR DISTRICTS IN MASSACHUSETTS: Voters in four out of four state House districts passed four nonbinding public policy questions directing each district's state representative to vote in favor of legislation that would allow seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana if they have the approval of their physicians. See http://www.dpfma.org/ for details.

For those of you on facebook Students For Sensible Drug Policy Foundation has a petition up asking President-elect Obama to make specific changes in our nations drug policy. you can join the 5,748 other signatories at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/15?m=d0d72069&recruiter_id=15811807

Finally of interest to those who seek to change our marijuana laws is this video from MPP up on YouTube:


Thanks for reading and remember marijuana was medicine before it was a controlled dangerous substance.

YouTube - H. R. 5843 Some Marijuana Reform By Barney Frank and Ron Paul

H. R. 5843 Some Marijuana Reform By Barney Frank and Ron Paul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPLH-Q41PJA&eurl=http://apps.facebook.com/youtubebox/video.asp?uvid=4695043&ref=feed-story&_fb_fromhash=65925567d7fb218060dc2532065

Once again some in Congress have seen through the tress to see the forest that is our ill conceived drug laws. Congressman Frank is not alone in Congress but most will only offer off the record words of encouragement to pursue passing marijuana reform laws. In case you don't know how to do that go to http://www.house.gov/, then look up your congressman and tell him you want marijuana reform passed now!