Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 09:14:43 -0700

Subject:DC: Marijuana Advocates Submit Signatures Up TOC

Newshawk: Krissy www.mpp.org
Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jul 2002
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Webpage: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41844-2002Jul8.html
Section: Metro, In Brief, The District
Copyright: 2002 The Washington Post Company
Contact: letters@washpost.com
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author:Avram Goldstein, Justin Blum, Yolanda Woodlee, Debbi Wilgoren and
Ylan Q. Mui, the Associated Press and Reuters
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org)

MARIJUANA ADVOCATES SUBMIT SIGNATURES

Proponents of the Medical Marijuana Initiative yesterday submitted what
they said were about 40,000 petition signatures to the D.C. Board of
Elections and Ethics, the first step toward getting the issue on the ballot
in the November election.

Approval of the ballot initiative would allow doctors to give patients
permission to grow and use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

There will be a 10-day period during which opponents can challenge
signatures on the petition.

D.C. voters approved a similar measure in 1998, but Rep. Robert L. Barr Jr.
(R-Ga.) introduced an amendment in Congress to block its implementation. In
March, a federal court struck down Barr's amendment, but the Bush
administration plans to appeal the decision.

The Marijuana Policy Project, based in the District, estimates that more
than 1,000 patients with HIV, glaucoma, cancer and other medical problems
would benefit from legalized marijuana use. Nine states have legalized
marijuana for medical purposes.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth

 
 


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web:     http://www.crrh.org/

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Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 09:15:06 -0700

Subject:UK: Cannabis Ban Faces Investigation Up TOC

Newshawk: JimmyG
Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jul 2002
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Webpage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_1456000/1456497.stm
Copyright: 2002 BBC
Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/forum/
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

CANNABIS BAN FACES INVESTIGATION

A House of Commons committee is to investigate the possible
decriminalisation of cannabis.

In its first major inquiry of the new parliament, the powerful home affairs
committee will also question whether current drug rules work.

Witnesses include key government figures such as the Lord Chancellor. Lord
Irvine of Lairg. and Home Secretary David Blunkett.

It comes against a growing background of opposition to the banning of
marijuana from politicians of all sides and national newspapers.

The committee will look at the effect of liberalisation on the availability
and demand for drugs.

It will also study the effect of relaxing restrictions on drug-related
deaths and crime.

Practical

The committee, which will meet in October, will also examine whether
decriminalisation is desirable and if not, discuss "practical alternatives".

The move comes amid growing backbench calls, including from former Tory
Cabinet minister Peter Lilley, for the liberalisation of laws on marijuana.

The new committee will look at the effectiveness of the 10 year national
strategy on drug misuse and take into account the Police Foundation's
report on drugs which was chaired by Dame Ruth Runciman.

Its chairman is former junior minister Chris Mullin who left the government
of his own accord after the election because he wanted to return to
chairing the committee.

The issue arose earlier this month when former Tory deputy leader Peter
Lilley rocked die-hard traditionalists in the Conservative party with his
call to legalise cannabis.

Mr Lilley envisaged magistrates issuing licences for outlets selling
cannabis to over-18s. Downing Street has firmly resisted any liberalisation
of the drugs laws, although Mr Blunkett has said there should be an "adult,
intelligent" debate on the issue.

Impetus

Leading charity DrugScope welcomed the inquiry as a valuable contribution
to a more open and mature debate on drugs in the UK.

DrugScope director of communications Harry Shapiro said: "Last year's
Police Foundation Inquiry gave the drugs debate a much-needed impetus.

"We have seen evidence in recent weeks that more politicians are ready to
take on this complex issue and explore the possibilities for change.

"It is a subject which interests a large number of ordinary people and an
open and mature debate could help re-engage many, particularly the young,
in the political process."

Last week, the overwhelming majority of 116 Labour MPs taking part in a
poll for the BBC World at One programme supported a substantial inquiry
into the drug, such as a royal commission.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel

 
 


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web:     http://www.crrh.org/

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Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 09:15:50 -0700

Subject:UK: Tories Attack Cannabis Pilot Up TOC

Newshawk: JimmyG
Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jul 2002
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Webpage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_2116000/2116975.stm
Copyright: 2002 BBC
Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/forum/
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

TORIES ATTACK CANNABIS PILOT

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith will visit Brixton on Tuesday to
promote his party's opposition to the "softly softly" drugs experiment in
the London borough of Lambeth.

Under the experiment, which was introduced a year ago by former Lambeth
police commander Brian Paddick, those found carrying small amounts of
cannabis are given a warning by police, rather than prosecuted.

The Conservatives say the policy has handed over control to drug dealers
and their gangs.

The Home Secretary David Blunkett is due to announce to the Commons on
Wednesday whether the government intends to downgrade the penalties for
possession and dealing in cannabis.

The Lambeth scheme was launched to give police more time to combat hard drugs.

However, the Conservatives say there has been a significant increase
overall in drug trafficking in Lambeth and drug dealers are in control, not
the police.

Kate Hoey, one of the local Labour MPs, has also condemned the experiment,
saying it has made drug trafficking socially acceptable.

Last week, Mr Paddick defended the scheme, saying there was no evidence to
show his relaxed approach had attracted an influx of "drugs tourists" to
Brixton.

Figures from Scotland Yard last month showed street crime in Lambeth has
fallen dramatically.

Scotland Yard's Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair, last week said the pilot
scheme was "undoubtedly" beneficial to the police.

The policy of issuing police warnings might be extended to other parts of
the country, if as seems likely, Mr Blunkett announces on Wednesday that
the penalties for cannabis are to be downgraded.

He told MPs last October there was a case for reclassification: for
reducing the maximum penalty for possession of cannabis from five years to
two years and for trafficking from 14 years to five years.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 09:19:08 -0700

Subject:WI: Pols Must Not Be Silent On Drug War Up TOC

Newshawk: Drug Policy Forum of Wisconsin www.drugsense.org/dpfwi/
Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jul 2002
Source: Capital Times, The  (WI)
Copyright: 2002 The Capital Times
Contact: tctvoice@madison.com
Website: http://www.captimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/73
Author: John Nichols

POLS MUST NOT BE SILENT ON DRUG WAR

In Great Britain, newspapers have a tradition of "campaigning." They take
up causes and campaign by focusing attention on them in their news columns,
editorializing and generally badgering people in power to change the status
quo.

Over the years, campaigns pressed by British newspapers have brought major
shifts in the country's political and cultural landscape.

The best of the current crop of campaigning newspapers is the Independent
(www.independent.co.uk), a London-based daily that circulates nationally.

The Independent's boldest and most successful campaign of recent years has
been a drive to liberalize Britain's drug laws. In particular, the
campaigning focused on lifting criminal penalties against the possession
and use of marijuana.

When the Independent's campaign began, Britain was coming out of the
Margaret Thatcher/John Major era of conservative rule, in which successive
British governments embraced all but the silliest American affectations.
Thus, while Brits were never subjected to Nancy Reagan's "Just Say 'No' "
blathering, the country continued to mete out harsh punishments to people
found to be in possession of marijuana.

Worst of all, politicians who knew better remained generally silent. As in
the United States, where most mainstream candidates and elected officials
are afraid to appear to be "soft on crime" - or even "soft on soft drugs" -
British pols simply avoided discussing the absurdity of laws that applied
the same criminal sanctions for possession of marijuana as it did for
possession of dangerous drugs.

That all changed when the Independent started campaigning for
decriminalization of marijuana possession and use. The newspaper's
reporters demanded that cultural, business, legal and political leaders
address the issue of marijuana prohibition and, over the past few years,
they have.

Predictably, the first to speak up were rock and film stars, civil
libertarians, and others who have long objected to a "drug war" that was
lost before it began. Then came a few bold members of Parliament, most of
them from the progressive wing of Tony Blair's governing Labour Party.

Slowly, more Labour parliamentarians spoke. Cabinet ministers and members
of the opposition Liberal Democrat and Conservative Parties decried
marijuana prohibition. Police chiefs joined the chorus to point out that
time wasted on pursuit of marijuana users was undermining their ability to
tackle serious crime.

Finally, the senior jurist sitting on Britain's highest court, the broadly
respected Lord Bingham, declared the country's tough laws against marijuana
possession and use to be "stupid." Asked if he supported legalization of
cannabis, Lord Bingham replied, "Absolutely."

The judge's answer made headline news, not just in the Independent, but in
newspapers and on broadcast reports throughout the country. Even Blair felt
compelled to respond, with an admission that the war on drugs has been a
failure.

Blair's aides quickly announced that the government plans to change the
classification of marijuana so that Brits caught in possession of small
amounts of the substance will no longer be subject to arrest and imprisonment.

The change in Britain mirrors a dramatic rejection of drug war rhetoric and
policies by European nations. Switzerland, Portugal and other countries are
moving rapidly to embrace liberal approaches to marijuana like those of
Holland.

While most Americans are well aware that the drug war is bankrupting our
states, misdirecting our police and overcrowding our courts and jails,
political leaders here - with the notable exceptions of progressives such
as U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin and state Rep. Mark Pocan, both Madison
Democrats - remain as silent as their British peers were a few years ago.
Over the next few months,

The Capital Times will try to change that circumstance by borrowing a page
from Britain's Independent and asking Wisconsin's candidates for governor,
attorney general and other jobs to stop just saying "no" to an honest - and
needed - debate about the latest failed attempt at prohibition.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 09:24:19 -0700

Subject:DC: Medical Pot May Again Go To Voters Up TOC

Newshawk: Krissy www.mpp.org
Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jul 2002
Source: Washington Times (DC)
Copyright: 2002 News World Communications, Inc.
Contact: letters@washingtontimes.com
Website: http://www.washingtontimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492
Author: Vaishali Honawar
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

MEDICAL POT MAY AGAIN GO TO VOTERS

D.C. voters could get another chance to vote on legalizing marijuana for
medicinal uses, but congressmen who blocked the measure in 1998 are already
preparing to mount a challenge.

The District-based Marijuana Policy Project yesterday presented to the Board
of Elections and Ethics 39,000 signatures from residents who want to bring
the issue to referendum -- more than twice the number of signatures required
under city law. If at least 17,500 signatures are verified, the issue will
be on November's ballot.

"This safely qualifies us for the referendum," said Robert Kampia, executive
director of the Marijuana Policy Project, a nonprofit that supports the use
of medicinal marijuana for those afflicted with debilitating illnesses. "We
did not want some bad guys in Congress to challenge us on this."

But opposition to the bill is brewing on Capitol Hill. Rep. Bob Barr,
Georgia Republican, sent a letter yesterday to Rep. Joe Knollenberg,
chairman of the House Appropriations District of Columbia subcommittee,
requesting that he include in the city's funding bill for 2003 an amendment
that would block spending on the initiative.

It was a similar amendment introduced by Mr. Barr in 1998 that prevented the
initiative from going into effect, though it had passed with 69 percent of
the vote. Mr. Kampia's group later challenged the amendment in federal
court, which ruled this year that the amendment was unconstitutional and
cleared the way for a second referendum.

"The D.C. initiative is another attempt by the drug-legalization movement to
move its agenda forward, to legalize marijuana under the pretext of
'medicinal' use," Mr. Barr wrote in his letter to Mr. Knollenberg, Michigan
Republican. "My language is wholly appropriate and necessary, to prevent
legalization of marijuana in the District of Columbia, and to prevent the
use of taxpayers' monies to carry out the provisions of any such
initiative."

Eight states currently have laws that allow the use of marijuana as
medicine: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon and
Washington. All states allow residents who are seriously ill to grow and use
small quantities of marijuana to alleviate the pain caused by the disease or
treatment.

The Supreme Court ruled last year against medical necessity as a valid
defense for distribution of medicinal marijuana. The decision struck down a
California law that allowed groups like the Oakland Cannabis Buyers
Cooperative to distribute marijuana to patients with a doctor's approval.

Advocates argue marijuana can greatly alleviate the suffering of people who
have debilitating illnesses.

Mr. Kampia said medicinal marijuana is particularly important to the
District, which has a higher-than-average number of AIDS patients. "We do
not believe sick people should be put into prison for using medical
marijuana," he said.

The group is lobbying Congress to stop any challenges to the referendum, Mr.
Kampia said, adding that his group would not give up their effort to
legalize medicinal marijuana in the District.

Five of nine D.C. Council members filed affidavits in federal court this
year backing the Medical Marijuana Project lawsuit: Chairman Linda W. Cropp,
at-large Democrat; Sandy Allen, Ward 8 Democrat; Phil Mendelson, at-large
Democrat; Kathy Patterson, Ward 3 Democrat; and Jim Graham, Ward 1 Democrat.
Some council members say D.C. residents have a right to decide what they
need.

"The initiative is justified on its merits, but it is also a matter of home
rule," said Mr. Graham, who joined a news conference organized by Mr.
Kampia's group at One Judiciary Square yesterday.

Mr. Graham said his support for the initiative grew out of his experience as
former executive director of the D.C. chapter of the Whitman Walker Clinic
for HIV/AIDS patients.

"I saw for myself the specific circumstances when patients need medical
marijuana. I believe doctors ought to prescribe it . I feel comfortable
about that," he said.

While marijuana does not cure any illnesses, studies show it can alleviate
pain and help patients, Mr. Kampia said.

"It allows AIDS patients to eat, and that helps them stay alive," he said.

Under the initiative, people suffering from debilitating diseases could --
with a physician's prescription -- possess three mature marijuana plants,
four immature marijuana plants and one ounce of usable marijuana.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Van Estes

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 12:33:56 -0700

Subject:NV: Petition To Ease Nevada's Marijuana Laws Under Review Up TOC

Newshawk: Krissy www.mpp.org
Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jul 2002
Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Sun, Inc
Contact: letters@lasvegassun.com
Website: http://www.lasvegassun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/234
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

PETITION TO EASE NEVADA'S MARIJUANA LAWS UNDER REVIEW

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - County clerks confirmed Monday that they received
109,048 signatures on a petition to ease Nevada's marijuana laws. But state
election officials were hazy on whether the petition qualifies for the
November ballot.

Susan Morandi, elections deputy for Secretary of State Dean Heller, said the
numbers reflect a raw count, and she must complete a sampling process to
verify that Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement met minimum
requirements. The sampling results are expected Tuesday.

The group needs only 61,336 valid signatures to put the proposal before
voters. But the total must include 10 percent of the voter turnout in the
last election in at least 13 of Nevada's 17 counties.

Morandi said a preliminary review shows the petition didn't get the
necessary minimum in Elko and Douglas counties. That means the group can
lose only two more counties and still qualify with the minimum of 13 - and
Morandi said there's already some question about Nye County.

The raw count shows the petition should easily qualify in the state's
largest counties, Clark and Washoe. In Clark, encompassing Las Vegas,
proponents needed 38,477 names and turned in more than 67,000. In Washoe,
encompassing Reno, they needed 12,245 and turned in more than 26,000.

But the figures were much closer in some outlying counties. Sparsely
populated Esmeralda County, for example, reported a raw count of 67 compared
with the 50 signatures required there.

Several other counties - Mineral, Storey, Lincoln and Lander - reported only
about 100 to 200 signatures above the minimums.

Until last year, Nevada had the strictest marijuana law in the nation.
Puffing on a single marijuana cigarette was a felony offense punishable by
prison term of a year or more.

Such penalties were rarely imposed, and the old law didn't stop Nevadans
from approving the use of medical marijuana in 2000. State legislators in
2001 also passed a law making possession of less than an ounce a
misdemeanor.

The proposed ballot question would ask Nevadans if they want to allow
possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana.

If approved this year and again in 2004 by voters, Nevada would have one of
the most relaxed marijuana laws in the nation.

It still would be illegal for minors to possess the drug, and driving under
the influence laws would still apply. It also still would be illegal to use
marijuana in public places.

A distribution system would be set up to provide low-cost medical marijuana.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Van Estes

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 12:37:52 -0700

Subject:DPFCA: SF: July 10th MMJ Rally Up TOC

From: Steph Sherer <stephsherer@cannabisaction.net>

RAVE/RALLY FOR SAFE ACCESS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Wednesday, July 10, 2 pm
SF Federal Building - 450 Golden Gate Ave.

Come join ASA in a rally outside of Ed Rosenthal's hearing in support of 
safe access. Ed was arrested during DEA Chief Asa Hutchinson's February 
visit to SF, as part of a show of force after the Bush Administration 
equated fighting terrorism with fighting the war on drugs. Come show your 
support for medical marijuana patients' access, and dance with us!


Steph Sherer
Executive Director
Cannabis Action Network www.cannabisaction.net
and Americans for Safe Access www.safeaccessnow.org
1678 Shattuck Ave. #317
Berkeley, CA 94709
phone: 510-486-8083
fax: 510-486-8090

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

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Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 16:15:25 -0700

Subject:DC: Washington Won't Give Up On Medical Marijuana Up TOC

Newshawk: Krissy www.mpp.org
Pubdate: Mon, 08 Jul 2002
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 Associated Press
Author: Associated Press
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org)

WASHINGTON WON'T GIVE UP ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

WASHINGTON - A medical marijuana initiative could be on the District's
November ballot. Supporters of the measure say they've collected about
39,000 signatures from District residents. That's more than double the
17,000 required to put the measure on the ballot.

Members of the Marijuana Policy Project plan submitted the petitions to the
D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics this afternoon. MPP spokesman Bruce
Mirken said putting the initiative before the voters is another step toward
giving District residents with serious illnesses another tool to help them
manage their pain.

Robert Kampia of the MPP said he expects the measure to pass easily in
November. It's similar to one approved by voters in 1998 which would have
allowed people suffering from serious diseases like cancer, glaucoma, and
AIDS to keep up to one ounce of marijuana or four live plants for medical
purposes. That measure was backed by 69 percent of the voters but members
of Congress blocked it from taking effect.

Mirken said some members of Congress could attempt to block implementation
of any medical marijuana law in the District even before voters go to the
polls.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

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Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 16:51:15 -0700

Subject:UK: Britain To Go Easy On Pot Use Up TOC

Newshawk: The War on Drugs IS Terrorism
Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jul 2002
Source: Detroit Free Press (MI)
Contact: letters@freepress.com
Copyright: 2002 Detroit Free Press
Website: http://www.freep.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125
Author: Kate Kelland, Reuters
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)

BRITAIN TO GO EASY ON POT USE

LONDON -- Britain will respond this week to a surge in cannabis use by
easing laws and allowing marijuana users to smoke without fear of arrest.

Pressure from police, medical experts and politicians for Britain to take a
less punitive approach has swayed Home Secretary David Blunkett, who is
expected to downgrade marijuana today to a low-risk category of drug.

The downgrade would make possessing small amounts of marijuana or smoking it
in private a nonarrestable offense.

A report published in 2001 showed cannabis was the most commonly used
illicit drug in the European Union, with at least one in 10 adults in the
15-nation group having used it.

Blunkett is also expected to stress that the drug will not be legalized and
announce plans to double the maximum sentence for dealing to 10 years.

Researchers say that relaxing cannabis laws could save Britain around $77
million a year and free up 500 police officers.

In Nevada: Voters will decide in November whether to let aduults legally
possess up to 3 ounces of pot, officials said Tuesday.

Under the proposal, marijuana would be sold in state-licensed shops and
taxed like cigarettes and other tobacco products.

To become law, the change needs voter approval this year and in 2004.
Whether it could actually take effect is unclear. Federal law bans marijuana
possession.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk

CRRH is working to regulate and tax the sale of cannabis to adults like 
alcohol, allow doctors to recommend cannabis through pharmacies and restore 
the unregulated production of industrial hemp.

*Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp*
mail:     CRRH ; P.O. Box 86741 ; Portland, OR 97286 USA
email:   crrh@crrh.org
phone:  (503) 235-4606
fax:       (503) 235-0120
web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
End of Restore-Digest V2002 #129
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