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| Committee Combats Drug Efforts |
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Posted by FoM on June 14, 2001 at 08:18:46 PT By Lucinda Tyler Source: Idaho Statesman 
Boise Mayor Brent Coles and a committee made up mostly of law enforcement officials challenged Idaho city leaders Wednesday to work to stop efforts to legalize marijuana before they become legislative or election issues. The committee, which Coles said has no official name, has been preparing to launch the "Don't Sign On" anti-marijuana law reform for about 18 months, Coles said. Coles and law enforcement officials made their pitch at a seminar during the annual Association of Idaho Cities conference now under way at the Nampa Civic Center. "We know we are the next target," Idaho State Police Deputy Director Glenn Ford told about 60 assembled city officials. He pointed to recent successful campaigns in other western states -- Oregon, California, Colorado and Nevada among them -- to legalize at least some element of marijuana consumption or cultivation. "We want to fire the first shot," Ford said. It will be difficult for some to resist putting legalization of recreational, industrial or medical uses of cannabis sativa -- including the far-less-potent variety know as hemp -- up for a vote of the people, because having such a vote would seem to be the American way, said Suzanne Burton, Coles' administrative assistant. "Be politically incorrect," Burton said. U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency representative Larry Hedberg presented video and statistical evidence of how marijuana law reform organizers and financiers have come out on the winning side of popular votes in Arizona and California. Their tactics have included what he called "very expensive, prime-time media blitzes" that bowl over ill-prepared opposition with "half-truths." "You're it, ladies and gentlemen," Coles told seminar participants. "You have to get this started in your community." An anti-drug legalization video and a book of related data to refute legalization arguments were handed out to seminar participants. "You'll notice this material is not copyrighted," ISP Maj. Dan Charboneau said. "Copy it, distribute it, talk about it in your home town." Middleton City Councilman Clair Tepfer said he intends to do just that. "I worked hard on the 'Enough is Enough' (anti-drug) campaign," Tepfer said. "It seems this is at least as important." The Idaho Statesman For more information: Note: Boise's Coles, others don't want reform of marijuana laws. Source: Idaho Statesman, The (ID) CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #16 posted by sm247 on June 14, 2001 at 23:58:17 PT |
| Just say NO to Idaho !!! Since hearing about Vancouver B.C.and pot-tv.net I sure am lookin for Canadian products to buy... Do they grow tators too or just good ol hemp???? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #14 posted by Rambler on June 14, 2001 at 20:03:14 PT |
| " The committee, which Coles said has no official name, has been preparing to launch the "Don't Sign On" anti-marijuana law reform for about 18 months, Coles said." I can think of some names for this "commitee". [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #13 posted by Dan Hillman on June 14, 2001 at 19:16:57 PT |
| Ex-rookie Cop tells of Police Abuse, Attacks and Filing of false reports Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer. Friday, June 8, 2001 Oakland -- The former rookie Oakland In his first court appearance, Keith Batt, 24, Clad in suits, former officers Matt Hornung, Batt said Siapno repeatedly asked whether he "The dark side was illegal activities Batt's testimony against former colleagues -- A fourth defendant, Francisco Vazquez, 44, is a fugitive. When the hearing ends next Batt testified how his nine-week introduction Batt said he was instructed by Vazquez to "get That angered Vazquez, who then dropped Vazquez and Siapno then pulled a handcuffed During a meal break on patrol, Vazquez drew a Batt also revealed how the group came to be Batt said he lied on police reports, copying In one case, Batt was told to indicate that Vazquez allegedly told Batt to "f-- all that s-- Batt said Vazquez also said, "if you're a Deputy District Attorney David Hollister E-mail Henry K. Lee at [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on June 14, 2001 at 15:55:52 PT |
| Just found the following story which links Vitamin C to damaged DNA. As Richard Cowen says, imagine the difference in spin if this story was about marijuana... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by mayan on June 14, 2001 at 15:41:39 PT |
| Are they afraid to be accountable for the bogus propaganda they will certainly distribute? Spineless fascists! Yes, it does seem as though they are on their heels in this case. They know they don't have the support of the citizenry!!! I would love to see this video. I bet it is worth a few laughs anyway. Dan B is right. The truth is on our side & freedom has nothing to fear from the truth. The truth will set us free! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by Dan Hillman on June 14, 2001 at 12:36:00 PT |
| Anyone who's ever been busted for pot and has tried to talk to the arresting cop will hear the following: "hey I don't make the law, I just enforce it. If you want it changed, go to the legislature." But of course, cops have proven that they care very much which way the laws slant, and will ignore the law when it goes against their wishes, as they have proven in countless cases of harrasment, imprisonment and even murder of cannabis patients in states where medical cannabis is legal. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #9 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on June 14, 2001 at 12:10:59 PT:
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| According to the language on the WWW site Observer provided, federal employees can lobby for or against a ballot initiative. However, that does not mean that they should. If they do, it should be mandatory that their information is true and factual, not the kind of propaganda that I suspect is being disseminated (e.g., lies about Dutch and Swiss policies, alleged rises in cannabis use by teens after Prop. 215, etc.). I hope that some industrious soul in Idaho will share with the rest of us. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by Randøm_ on June 14, 2001 at 11:47:27 PT |
| Ahhhh! Do I detect the opressors gathering in little huddles masses to get a little attention for their cause? Well, I for one think that it's great to have "them" starting the underground movements within nameless committees ... an obvious turning of the tables .. it seems "we, the people" are actually on the popular side, finally. As the prior comment to mine so eloquently pointed out, this is introducing the dialouge to the people of Ohio, and that is the first step. "All great journeys begin with but a single step." ~Confuscius (I think). [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by observer on June 14, 2001 at 11:46:15 PT |
| U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency representative Larry Hedberg presented video and statistical evidence of how marijuana law reform organizers and financiers have come out on the winning side of popular votes in Arizona and California I don't think it is ... ``The Hatch Act restricts the political activity of executive branch employees of the federal government . . .''
Of course, we all know what these fascists and secret police really think of the law, haveing seen so many examples. Where it can be plausibly argued that "the law" such agents claim to follow gives government more power over citizens, that's the law that will be mentioned. Laws that restrain government from trampling traditional rights of citizens, on the other hand ... well, they're forgotten every time. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by JSM on June 14, 2001 at 09:51:55 PT |
| Well said Dan. We can not win without dialogue and this is start. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #5 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on June 14, 2001 at 09:19:08 PT:
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| Hey, JR, we need to be careful about spelling this word, or be accused of pulling a Dan Quayle. It is: potato, not potatoe potatoes, not potatos While we're at it, the history of South American plants is pertinent. Potatoes were embraced by Europeans, but the tomato took a long time to be accepted. Many thought it toxic. Suppose it were outlawed, as is being done with cannabis and products of Erythroxylum coca now: "Law enforcement reported a record seizure of 200 lbs. of tomato paste with a street value of $15,000 ----" Plants are innocent. People make bad laws. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #4 posted by JJM on June 14, 2001 at 09:15:14 PT:
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| Ethan and Dan are right. We need to use this against them, by exposing them. They would do the same for us, if we lied about pot... So, if ANYONE out there has video or audio, feel free to email it to airjose@narcosoft.com or snail me @ US ZIP 32724-3841, and I'll actively make sample tapes and disks, and distribute them freely. Like AOL, only with a green leaf on the cover. Jose Melendez, [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on June 14, 2001 at 09:14:03 PT |
| >>"You'll notice this material is not copyrighted," ISP Maj. Dan Charboneau said. "Copy it, distribute it, talk about it in your home town."<< And post it on cannabisnews.com and every other reform website on the planet!!! [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on June 14, 2001 at 08:48:52 PT:
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| "U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency representative Larry Hedberg presented video and statistical evidence of how marijuana law reform organizers and financiers have come out on the winning side of popular votes in Arizona and California." This may well be a violation of Federal law. In essence, this fellow is legislatively lobbying. His job is to deal with existing law, not influence what he thinks it should be. Perhaps he needs to learn what it means to run afoul of the law. I know of patients from Idaho that have used clinical cannabis. Perhaps they may wish to weigh in on this. Although it may seem surprising, the Lynn Hastings case occurred in Idaho. The Supreme Court of that state ruled that it was a medical necessity for her to smoke cannabis to treat her juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, after a prolonged legal battle in November 1991. The Feds are bucking a trend that has resonated with the public in even the most conservative areas. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by Dan B on June 14, 2001 at 08:36:14 PT:
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| This article is good news for a couple of reasons. First, we now know just how afraid they are of the truth. Those of us who have been studying this issue for a while know that the side with the "half-truths" is the government's pro-drug-war side, not the people who want to see marijuana legalized. They know that what we have to say is the truth, and that fact forces them into attack-the-messenger mode. They can do no better than that. Second, we know exactly who our enemies are. I would encourage any Idaho residents out there to get hold of one of these videotapes so we can mount an effective point-by-point campaign against them. As mentioned above, the truth is on our side. But it would be nice to know exactly what lies they are spreading so we can effectively counter them. Third, this manipulative action on the part of the Boise government will galvanize people in support of marijuana legalization. It will serve as a call to arms for those who disagree with the way the drug war is currently being handled. In effect, they are drumming up supporters for our side by revealing their lies well in advance of any campaign designed to change the draconian laws there. So, let's get on this, folks. If this is their idea of firing the first volley, we can surely be hopeful in any effort to pass sane marijuana legislation in Idaho. Dan B [ Post Comment ] |
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