Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 16:48:23 -0700
Subject:NV: Police Accused Of Illegal Campaign Against Pot Up TOC

Newshawk: Krissy www.mpp.org
Pubdate: Mon, 12 Aug 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
Author: Keith Paul
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?162 (Nevadans for Responsible Law
Enforcement)

POLICE ACCUSED OF ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST POT

The leader of a group pushing for a ballot question that would ease
marijuana possession laws sent a letter this morning to Clark County
Sheriff Jerry Keller accusing Metro Police of using government time
and resources to campaign against the initiative -- a violation of
state law.

"The bottom line is you shouldn't be able to use tax dollars and
resources to campaign," said Billy Rogers, campaign manager for
Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement.

Undersheriff Richard Winget said Metro broke no law when he directed
narcotics Detective Todd Raybuck to appear on television news programs
- -- including CNN's "Crossfire" -- displaying marijuana and discussing
Question 9.

"Mr. Rogers started this by stating the police officers of Nevada were
supporting Question 9," Winget said this morning. "Every time a group
takes a position, the media come to us for a response. We responded to
the media inquires. We did not mount a campaign against Question 9, we
simply responded to media requests."

The attention to Question 9 -- which would decriminalize possession of
3 ounces of marijuana by people over 21 -- increased last week when
Andy Anderson, president of Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs,
said his group was supporting the initiative.

The endorsement by NCOPS -- an organization of police unions --
received nationwide attention and was quickly denounced by police
officials. Raybuck went on several news shows with marijuana checked
out of Metro's evidence vault to demonstrate what 3 ounces of
marijuana looked like.

"In his 'Crossfire' appearance, Mr. Raybuck used 6 ounces of marijuana
obtained from Metro's evidence vault as a prop in his political
campaign against Question 9," Rogers wrote in the letter to Keller.
"We think it is likely that tax dollars and government resources were
used to provide Mr. Raybuck with the 6 ounces of marijuana he checked
out as 'evidence.' "

Rogers told the Sun his group has to report all its contributions and
expenses in its campaign for the ballot question and Metro should not
use government money in its campaign against the question.

Winget said Metro did not seek the media exposure but was replying to
requests for interviews.

"They (the media) deluged us and asked us to bring the marijuana," he
said.

Rogers' group seemed to score an important endorsement when NCOPS came
out last week in favor of the passage of Question 9, but that was very
short-lived. After several days of criticism, and several NCOPS board
members saying they misunderstood what Anderson was seeking support
for, the board met on Friday. Board members said they thought the
issue was medical marijuana.

Anderson resigned at Friday's meeting as the president of NCOPS -- a
group he helped found more than 20 years ago -- saying he didn't want
to hurt the credibility of the group.

"Should cops take a stand against drugs? You bet. But it's not the
best use of police time to arrest people on marijuana possession and
then they are just let go," Anderson said.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Derek
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 20:07:00 -0700
Subject:SD: US Atty. throws White Plume a softball Up TOC

In a weird move Saturday, the US Attorney for South Dakota served a
civil Summons & Complaint on

"ALEXANDER "Alex" WHITE PLUME, PERCY WHITE PLUME, their agents,
servants, assigns, attorneys, and all others acting in concert with the
named Defendant."


Posted by Bob Newland
Candidate for Attorney General of South Dakota
http://www.SoDakHEMP.org/
http://www.CommonSenseJustice.Us

In 2000 and 2001, Alex White Plume planted industrial hemp legally on
his land within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. In
August of each of those years, armed paramilitary groups financed by the
United States invaded the Pine Ridge Reservation, destroyed White
Plume's hemp crops, then fled back across the border to U.S. strongholds.

In 2002, White Plume planted hemp again. Two weeks ago, the White Plume
tiospaye (extended family) harvested the hemp, which had been contracted
to the Madison Hemp & Flax Co. of Lexington KY. Thus, White Plume became
the first farmer within the borders of the U.S. to complete the cycle of
planting, cultivation, harvest, sale,a nd delivery of industrial hemp
since 1958.

Saturday, August 10, 2002 federal agents served a Summons & Complaint on
White Plume at his home near Manderson SD. Strangely, the feds decided
to use a civil route this year, rather than the brutal and frightening
tactics they usually seem to prefer.

There are a number of ramifications to the civil court approach, many of
which are probably not apparent yet.

The Summons and Complaint are posted at
http://www.sodakhemp.org/summons.htm

You need to read these documents. Not only do they contain a unique
perspective and documentation of events since the Oglala Sioux Tribe
re-legalized hemp on the Pine Ridge Reservation (a sovereign nation) in
1998, but they provide a glimpse into the minds of U.S. Attorneys
(perhaps a little tired of being required by politics to terrorize
peaceful honest people?).

Read and see. Tell us what you think.

We think already that this is one of the most remarkable documents ever
published by a US Attorney, in the middle of one of the most dramatic
developments in our "war on the war on hemp".

Alex White Plume has invited you all to come to Kiza Park, three miles
north of Manderson SD on Wednesday, August 14, for a ceremonial final
harvest of the Lakota Hemp Project Industrial Hemp Fields. Music, Lakota
ceremonies, friendship and fun are promised for all, even DEA agents.

With a hempy heart,
I am

Bob Newland
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 08:01:43 -0700
Subject:AZ: Marijuana Initiative Makes Ariz. Ballot Up TOC

Newshawk: Plylar - State Congress - http://www.plylar.org
Pubdate: Tue, 13 Aug 2002
Source: United Press International (Wire)
Copyright: 2002 United Press International
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/469
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA INITIATIVE MAKES ARIZ. BALLOT

 From the National Desk

PHOENIX, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- An initiative that would decriminalize possession 
of small amounts of marijuana will appear on Arizona's general-election 
ballot this fall, state officials said Monday.

Proposition 203, also known as the "Drug Medicalization, Prevention, and 
Control Act of 2002," would make possession of 2 ounces or less of 
marijuana a civil violation punishable by a fine of no more than $250.

The fine could be waived by taking a drug education class, the initiative said.

A sampling of submitted voter signatures indicated that Prop 203 supporters 
included 164,264 signatures, or 161.5 percent of the minimum needed, the 
Secretary of State's office said.

Besides reducing penalties for marijuana possession from a low-level 
felony, the law would allow doctors to recommend, rather than prescribe 
marijuana for qualifying patients.

Currently under Arizona's 1996 law, doctors who want to prescribe marijuana 
to their patients have been discouraged by threats of federal criminal 
charges. The 1996 initiative was approved by 65.4 percent of registered 
voters in Arizona.

The proposition would also require the state Department of Public Safety to 
distribute confiscated marijuana for free to those who receive doctors' 
recommendations. However, patients who qualify for medical use will not be 
able to sell or otherwise distribute the marijuana provided to them by the 
state.

Proposition 203 reads that all qualified patients must be Arizona 
residents. The law would also acknowledge that there is a legitimate 
medical use for 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: Josh
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 08:05:02 -0700
Subject:CA: Marijuana Seizures Way Ahead Of Last Year Up TOC

Newshawk: Plylar - State Congress - http://www.plylar.org
Pubdate: Mon, 12 Aug 2002
Source: Ukiah Daily Journal, The (CA)
Copyright: 2002, MediaNews Group, Inc.
Contact: udj@pacific.net
Website: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/581
Author: Glenda Anderson

MARIJUANA SEIZURES WAY AHEAD OF LAST YEAR

More marijuana has been confiscated in the last two weeks than in the two
months of harvest season last year.

In just two days last week, the County of Mendocino Marijuana Eradication
Team, assisted by the California National Guard and the Campaign Against
Marijuana Production, seized 24,758 plants from 14 sites in the Rose Creek
area off the Masonite Road and Mountain View Road area.

That brings the last two weeks' total to 51,649 plants seized.

In the two harvest months during which the state assisted the county last
year, 34,934 plants were confiscated.

"It's pretty amazing, but it's kind of discouraging," Sheriff's Capt. Kevin
Broin said of the increased seizure and apparent increase in marijuana
production.

Also located last week was evidence of a camp that had as many as eight
people living in it, according to COMMET commander Sgt. Rusty Noe.

The week before, camps with guns were located, leading Noe to warn people
to be careful when hiking in remote areas.

The U.S. Forest Service also has issued a warning that public forests are
increasingly becoming popular places to grow illegal marijuana.

"We don't want to alarm the public but we want to make sure they know this
is going on," said Mendocino National Forest Supervisor Jim Fenwood.

He said there's a particular concern with deer hunting season about to begin.

The Forest Service warned that people who come across something suspicious
should leave the area immediately and notify local law enforcement.

"Do not enter any garden area," said national forest Patrol Capt. Daryl Rush.

The Forest Service noted growing operations are larger and frequently are
tended and guarded by armed individuals.

Forestry officers have found camps that have included exercise facilities,
tents, tree houses, barbed wire fences and numerous firearms, Rush said.

During this time of year the outdoor marijuana harvest season hikers are
more likely to cross paths with marijuana growers, he said.

Rush listed things forest users should watch for. They include:

Isolated tents where no recreational activity is present.

Trailers with no evidence of recreational activities.

Vehicular traffic in the same isolated areas on a regular basis.

Unusual structures with buckets, garden tools, fertilizer bags and the like.

Signs of cultivation or soil disturbance in unlikely areas.

Black piping and trash scattered in forested areas.

Rush said people wishing more information or to notify law enforcement
authorities of a suspected garden in the Mendocino National Forest, can
contact him at 530-934-1164.

Noe asks that anyone coming in contact with a marijuana garden contact the
Sheriff's Office or COMMET at 463-4546.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 08:05:42 -0700
Subject:Canada: Justice minister nixes legalizing pot Up TOC

Newshawk: CMAP (http://www.mapinc.org/cmap)
Pubdate: Tuesday, August 13, 2002
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Website: http://www.fyilondon.com/londonfreepress/
Contact: letters@lfpress.com
Author: Jane Sims

Justice minister nixes legalizing pot

By JANE SIMS, Free Press Justice Reporter

  The federal justice minister has slammed the door on any thoughts marijuana
may be legalized -- but left it slightly open to having the drug
de-criminalized.

"Canada has no plans to legalize marijuana," said Martin Cauchon, speaking
at the Canadian Bar Association annual meeting in London.

"I believe endorsing marijuana use might inflict harm on society and lead to
greater problems."

But Cauchon said there should be a close look at drug laws.

"I believe it's time for an open discussion about modernizing the
criminal-justice system in this regard."

At a later news conference, Cauchon didn't rule out decriminalizing the
drug.

Many of his Montreal constituents have told him simple possession should not
lead to a criminal record, which denies access to borders and makes it hard
to find a job, he said.

"We have to look at where our society is and to be able to update our
legislation."

That issue will be part of a wide-ranging round-table discussion Cauchon
plans this fall as a "a stock-taking" of Canada's criminal laws.

"We expect out legal system to operate fairly and we demand everyone
receives equal access to it."

Cauchon touched on his priorities as minister of justice, a portfolio he
took over in January.

They include a continued examination of child pornography laws, following
provisions that took effect last month aimed at protecting kids from people
trying to lure them into the sex trade.

The laws give judges the power to order the deletion of child pornography
from Canadian computer systems.

But in the wake of a B.C. court decision, Cauchon said the government will
bring forward new proposals this fall.

In March, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled graphic child sex stories written by
John Robin Sharpe had artistic merit and should not be considered criminal.

Cauchon also wants cabinet to discuss family law reform in hopes of
improving access to service to "minimize the damage caused by separation and
divorce."

He said he hopes to expand the availability of unified family courts and to
change language in the Divorce Act to ensure "the best interests of the
child are paramount."

And, after the fiascos in the U.S. with Enron and WorldCom, Cauchon said
legislation will be looked at, if needed. But he stressed such corporate
meltdowns have not happened here.

 
 


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

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End of Restore-Digest V2002 #165
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