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  Giuliani Criticises London's Stance on Cannabis
Posted by FoM on February 14, 2002 at 15:29:03 PT
Breaking News 
Source: Ananova  

cannabis Rudolph Giuliani has delivered a damning verdict on a controversial scheme to relax police attitudes to cannabis in part of London. Hundreds of drug users have escaped prosecution since the scheme began but supporters say it has saved thousands of hours of police time.

Asked about the Lambeth scheme, he said he would arrest anyone for possession of cannabis.

The Metropolitan Police introduced a pilot scheme in Lambeth last July which meant anyone caught with small amounts of the drug would be dealt with by a caution rather than by arrest and prosecution.

"Marijuana caused a lot of the violence we had," Mr Giuliani said. "I don't know if it's the same here but marijuana was a problem for us. I would encourage the police to arrest as many of them as possible."

Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik added that one of the worst crimes in New York recently, the Carnegie Delhi murders, were tied up with the drug.

He said: "On May 10 we had one of the most heinous incidents in a long time in which three people were killed and two injured, people were shot in the head execution style.

"It was all to do with marijuana - it is not a victimless crime, it leads to other bigger, more violent crimes. Anyone should be arrested for the use of marijuana."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens defended the Met's position saying: "It is being independently assessed. Cannabis is not legalised, this is a pilot scheme and we will wait and see."

He said the Met's recent crackdown in crime-ridden parts of London had seen 1,600 arrests and street crime down by up to 15%.

Complete Title: Giuliani Criticises London's Soft Stance on Cannabis

Source: Anavova (UK)
Published: Thursday, February 14, 2002
Copyright: 2002 Ananova Ltd
Website: http://www.ananova.com/
Feedback: http://www.ananova.com/feedback/

Related Articles:

Met Plan To Extend Softly, Softly Drug Scheme
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11957.shtml

British Cops Issue Marijuana Report
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11818.shtml

Misguided Laws Make Marijuana Deadly - Mann
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9838.shtml


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Comment #30 posted by kaptinemo on February 18, 2002 at 06:20:18 PT:

If anybody deserves a Knighthood
It would be a posthumous one... for Fiorello LaGuardia. He kept his city glued together during the Depression without resorting to the kind of strong-arm tactics that Giuliani uses almost subconsciously. He allowed the Brits to keep an eye on the Nazi scum who were operating here in his city in the late 1930's

And, of course, he told the truth about cannabis.

For which he received vilification from that arch-liar and bigot Anslinger...who was keeping another arch-liar and bigot named McCarthy supplied with illegal morphine to 'maintain' that 'great American patriot'. And keep him from suffering he same fate visited upon scores of thousands of other addicts. A fate meted out by Anslinger and his minions.

Anslinger's organizational descendents are no better. If anything, they are worse, for they have no excuse of ignorance to cloak their acts. And their bigotry has gone out of style...or so they tell us...

Who desreves a Knighthood? Sorry, it ain't Rude Rudy.

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Comment #29 posted by mayan on February 15, 2002 at 17:24:42 PT
Ass With No Class
The difference between Sir Paul & Sir Rudy:

Sir Paul has class & grass

Sir Rudy is an ass with no class

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Comment #28 posted by E_Johnson on February 15, 2002 at 09:26:43 PT
And Sir Paul McCartney was insulted too
At least one marijuana user in Britain outranks Giuliani because his knighthood comes with the right to be called Sir.



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Comment #27 posted by Jose Melendez on February 15, 2002 at 07:48:29 PT:

Arrest Prohibition - Drug War is TREASON!
Whenever she rolls them in public the Giuliani squads go after her.

Wait till they get a whiff of my cannabis scented herbal cigarettes...

:)

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Comment #26 posted by MikeEEEEE on February 15, 2002 at 07:20:01 PT
FoM
Thanks, after a little effort I was able to use the feedback form. People should know about Giuliani, before the 9/11 tragedy he was very unpopular. After it the news media gorified him as a hero. Some people have very short attention spans, they should realize how he acted his whole term.

I have an English friend that likes to roll regular cigarettes. Whenever she rolls them in public the Giuliani squads go after her. Giuliani only knows his way, that's all -- living in fear is no way to live.

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Comment #25 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on February 15, 2002 at 04:59:23 PT
Dissent? We don't need no steenking dissent...
Look what happens to people who don't stick to The Party Line:

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Comment #24 posted by releafer on February 15, 2002 at 04:30:58 PT:

Jules' Daddy!!!!!
Julianis' father died in prison for murder and other crimes.Indeed he grew up daddyless and took the opposite road to damnation...wheres his forgiveness....get real Jules!!!!!

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Comment #23 posted by Mike on February 15, 2002 at 02:02:07 PT
What an idiot.
"Marijuana caused a lot of the violence we had," Mr Giuliani said. "I would encourage the police to arrest as many of them as possible." "Anyone should be arrested for the use of marijuana."

Some people are just hopelessly beyond reason.



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Comment #22 posted by E_Johnson on February 15, 2002 at 01:29:22 PT
I think he just did us a favor
If there's anything that could discredit the Bush administration's prohibitionist pressure on the UK, it's this kind of boorish and insensitive behavior towards the Queen and her family, especially right now.

I can't believe that Giuliani's people could have been unaware of Prince Charles' position on medical marijuana.



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Comment #21 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 22:35:31 PT
If Bush said such a thing, international incident!
I can't imagine anyone in the Bush administration ever going to England and saying something as insensitive and politically opportunistic as this.

Bush has people who are paid extremely well to negotiate these protocol minefields for him.

The Queen just lost her sister. Prince Edward's wife Sophie just survived a very frightening and tragic ectopic pregnancy.

This really was not the time to have Harry's issues thrown in her face by a foreign guest, especially not the time to introduce a grisly multiple murder into the conversation.

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Comment #20 posted by FoM on February 14, 2002 at 21:12:01 PT
MikeEEEEE
I haven't used Ananova before that I remember for the very reason about no contact information. Doesn't the feedback form work? This is the form for comments on an article. Ananova is like our AP or Reuters. I only posted it because of what he said. I hope this helps. I'll keep my eyes open for a more detailed article on the Guardian Unlimited.

http://www.ananova.com/feedback/feedback.html

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Comment #19 posted by Zero_G on February 14, 2002 at 20:46:24 PT
Not Done...
Good point E_J!

This leads me to a line of thought. Who asked the question, and where? The article dosen't say:

Asked about the Lambeth scheme, he said he would arrest anyone for possession of cannabis.

Now, imagine you are representing the Bush administration, whose closest foreign policy ally has just committed the most intolerable offence; dissent on drug policy. This is not an issue to be taken lightly. How to express a significant amount of displeasure.

Is this more than just Rudy shooting from the hip...

Who knows?

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Comment #18 posted by p4me on February 14, 2002 at 20:45:52 PT
Richard Cowan
I just listened to pot-tv and Richard Cowan said about the same thing as EJ. His whole 5 minutes was about Times' man of the year. He then ended with the comment like EJ: It was very inappropriate to say what he said in London when he was their guest.

Friday Colin Davies will be at Crown Court and see if he will be eligible for bail.

VAAI

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Comment #17 posted by MikeEEEEE on February 14, 2002 at 20:37:12 PT
On another note
2 or 3 people broke into the apartment above the Carnegie Delhi to steal their weed and take what money was there. The Carnegie Delhi murders were the result of prohibition.

FoM, how do we write Ananova? I tried their feedback page but I'm not getting anywhere.

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Comment #16 posted by MikeEEEEE on February 14, 2002 at 20:29:13 PT
Take it from where it comes
I live in New York City and most people I've spoken to here think Giuliani is a Nazi, power hungry, and will step on you to get ahead. The media has made him popular, nothing else. If you watch the brain wash tube you might get the perspective that he's a great leader.

I'm not surprised by Giuliani's remarks. He's the only mayor in NYC history that has arrested the most pot smokers, and in a city where less than an ounce isn't an arrestable offense. It's like a hobby for him. I've seen his uncover cops go after other people too, most notably homeless people, he calls them quality of life crimes.

HE SHOULD BUTT OUT!!!



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Comment #15 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 20:19:23 PT
And notice the NYT censored him to protect him
The New York Times covered his appearance without mentioning his outrageous comments, probably because their reporter had enough sense to understand how much damage these comments can really do to him.

He's insulting and lecturing the Queen's family while being honored by her, and blaming a horrific armed robbery and murder on the victims.



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Comment #14 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 20:12:13 PT
Before getting mad, think what he just did
Giuliani stood up in the presence of the British media and royalty and said that ALL marijuana users should be arrested and ALL marijuana users are implicated in violent criminality.

The British royal family -- headed by the very same Queen who just bestowed a sacred royal honor on Giuliani in the name of the tradition of British royalty -- had previously come to a very public and united decision that Prince Harry should NOT be arrested for using marijuana.

Now try to imagine Giuliani's reputation with the royal family after his remarks in their presence.

You do NOT acept a sacred royal award from the Queen, and then stand up in public after the ceremony and throw indirect implications of violent criminality towards the Queen's own family and allege that a member of the royal family should be placed under arrest.

It's simply not done.

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Comment #13 posted by goneposthole on February 14, 2002 at 19:46:33 PT
Pardon me, Mr. Guiliani
Are you not the same joker that had a wife and a lover at the same time?

Who has victimized who? Shame on you, you dolt.

Pull-eeze, give me an all important break.

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Comment #12 posted by Jose Melendez on February 14, 2002 at 19:41:48 PT:

What if they know they are increasing crime?
from:
http://www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles/druggpo.txt
...despite some successes, United States and host countries' efforts have not materially reduced the availability of drugs in the United States for several reasons; (6) international drug trafficking organizations have become sophisticated, multibillion dollar industries that quickly adapt to new U.S. drug control efforts; (7) the United States faces other significant and long-standing obstacles, such as inconsistent funding for U.S. international drug control efforts, competing foreign policy objectives, organizational and operational limitations, and a lack of ways to tell whether or how well counternarcotics efforts are contributing to the goals and objectives of the national drug control strategy, which results in an inablity to prioritize the use of limited resources; (SNIP) We recommended in our 1993 report that ONDCP,\7 as the coordinator of the federal drug control effort, (1) develop additional measures to assess progress in reducing drug use, (2) develop performance measures to evaluate the contributions made by major components of current antidrug efforts and significant new initiatives, and (3) incorporate these measures into annual drug control strategies.(SNIP) Over the past 10 years, U.S. agencies involved in counternarcotics efforts have attempted to reduce the supply and availability of illegal drugs in the United States by implementing the U.S. international drug control strategy. Although these efforts have achieved some successes, we found that the flow of cocaine, heroin, and other illegal drugs into the United States continues, and the availability of drugs and the cultivation of drug crops have not been reduced.\17

Between 1988 and 1995, illegal drug cultivation and drug-related activities increased throughout South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and other countries. The total net area of cultivation for coca leaf and opium poppy increased. Between 1988 and 1995, about 56,000 hectares\18 of coca plants were eradicated. However, while the areas under cultivation have fluctuated from year to year, farmers planted new coca faster than existing crops were eradicated. Thus, the net area under cultivation increased from 186,000 hectares to 214,800 hectares, or by about 15 percent.\19 Also during this period, the amount of opium poppy under cultivation increased by over 46,000 hectares, or by about 25 percent. Moreover, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and National Narcotics Intelligence Consumers Committee data on the availability of illegal drugs, as measured by the average price and purity of the drugs, showed that the price and purity of cocaine have remained relatively constant since 1988. According to a DEA official, all other factors being equal, had the United States achieved substantial success in reducing supply, and demand remained constant, the prices of these drugs would have increased, and the purity would have decreased.

The amount of cocaine and heroin seized between 1990 and 1995 had little impact on the availability of illegal drugs in the United States in satisfying estimated U.S. demand. In 1996, the National Narcotics Intelligence Consumers Committee estimated the potential cocaine production for 1995 at about 780 metric tons, of which about 230 metric tons were seized worldwide. The remaining amount was more than enough to meet U.S. demand, which was estimated at about 300 metric tons per year. Heroin production in 1995 was estimated to be over 300 metric tons, while seizures were about 32 metric tons, and U.S. demand was between 10 and 15 metric tons. (SNIP)We have reported that in some cases the United States has not adequately controlled the use of U.S. counternarcotics assistance and it was unable to ensure that the assistance was used as intended. Despite legislative requirements mandating controls over U.S.-provided assistance, we found instances of inadequate oversight of counternarcotics funds. For example, between 1991 and 1994, we issued three products in which we concluded that U.S. officials lacked sufficient oversight of aid to ensure that it was being used effectively and as intended in Peru and Colombia.\21 In 1996, we reported that the government of Mexico had misused U.S.-provided counternarcotics helicopters when it used them to transport Mexican military personnel during the 1994 uprising in the Mexican state of Chiapas.\22 (SNIP)



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Comment #11 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 19:23:30 PT
He's in big danger here, actually
Giuliani had better hope that these comments don't end up being quoted in a New York paper, because he's doing the moral equivalent of blaming the 9/11 attacks on the victims.

He's blaming the Carnegie Deli murders on the marijuana dealing by the victims.

That's exactly equivalent to blaming the WTC terrorist attacks on the financial dealing by the victims.

He's holding the victims responsible for the crime. That is so non-New York, I don't know what drug he was on when he said this.



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Comment #10 posted by aocp on February 14, 2002 at 17:31:31 PT
What a pompous jackass
Giuliani Criticises London's Stance on Cannabis

Were i a Brit, i'd say something along the lines of, "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! Now go away or i shall taunt you a second time!"

I realize he was playing a Frenchman, but the actor/comedy is still British.

Further, from the same skit, "I'm amerikan! Where do you think i got this outrageous ability to stick my nose into other sovereign countries' business?"

"Well, what are you doing in England then?"

"Mind your own business!" (and stop rocking the prohibition house of cards, you freaking british snobs! you're going to make me grace the cover of time magazine again and it ain't gonna be as some fake hero!!)

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Comment #9 posted by lookinside on February 14, 2002 at 17:03:35 PT:

Giuliani
is just another drug warrior...

He claims Cannabis causes violence.

He is either stupid or he lies.

The violence is caused by the laws against Cannabis.

When will they ever learn.

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Comment #8 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 16:13:01 PT
Victims parents should sue him
He's blaming the victims of a horrific crime for their own murders.

I think their parents should sue the pants off of him for implying that they were to blame for murder.

That is a cowardly and insensitive way to celebrate receving and award for responding to violence.



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Comment #7 posted by Zero_G on February 14, 2002 at 16:05:21 PT
I Am Sir Rudy, take that!
"Marijuana caused a lot of the violence we had," Mr Giuliani said. "I don't know if it's the same here but marijuana was a problem for us. I would encourage the police to arrest as many of them as possible."

I always thought it odd how those in power during a crisis have a tendency to be put on a pedestal. Guiliani had a terrible record of police abuse occur under his watch, Luima, Diallo, etc., and since 9/11 he has been lauded.

He has been caught in an outright lie. Marijuana caused violence is laughable. He might have been able to get away with that in NYC, he will be a laughing stock in Europe. I'm sure the bounds of English propriety limited a more robust responce from the Metropolitan Police Commissioner. It just wouldn't do to have the new Honorary Commander of the Empire belittled now, would it?



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Comment #6 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 15:59:23 PT
Accuse them of defamation
Go to their feedback form and tell them you feel libeled by his comments.



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Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 15:57:44 PT
Giuliani loves and glorifies violence
Last night I was watching the ever-delightful Richard Quest as he described Giuliani's ceremony. Giuliani he tried to get people to call him "Sir Rudy, he'd have the Sir Rudy "knocked out of him" when he went back to his old neighborhood.

What a great commitment to nonviolence on his part, eh?



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Comment #4 posted by Jose Melendez on February 14, 2002 at 15:55:25 PT:

social mores
"I would encourage the police to arrest as many of them as possible." Of course he would. We are easy to bust, don't fight back, and create hours of safe, boring overtime. Plus potheads don't vote, right? And the ones that do, well, they can always change the rules if the vote doesn't suit them, just ask Bob Barr about the 69 percent of voters who voted for medmj in DC.

Funny how some people are all for their own rights to privacy and personal preference; but against them for others. Isn't it, Mr. Giu;iani?

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Comment #3 posted by p4me on February 14, 2002 at 15:54:11 PT
pardons
Someone said there is not a snowball's chance of Grey Davis pardoning anyone. I wonder what Ventura and Gary Johnson think of the idea of pardoning people in defiance. There have got to be some people that have served way too long already. I do know Ventura raised the tramping of States Rights. I just wonder if he will do anything symbolic or for real justice.

What is that the government thinks it is going to accomplish anyway? Do they think that they can drive cannabis and hemp off the face of the earth if they can just get everyone to tolerate the red ink situation. The red ink is only going to get worse as the baby boomers ask for their social security check. A person born in 1946 will be 62 in 2008. If we now spend the social security surplus plus some, the need for fiscal restraint will only be more apparent when the baby boomers retire.

It really is sickening that we cannot even get medical marijuana when 70 to 80 percent of the people are for it. I wish someone would start a constitutional amendment and then they would have to cover it.

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Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 15:48:03 PT
Here's the letter I just sent, others follow?
Hello, I am a medical marijuana user and I feel that I have been libeled and had my character defamed by the comments of former Mayor Giuliani that were printed in your publication.

I am not in any way shape or form a violent person and my marijuana use has never led to any kind of violence. I take huge exception to his completely unfounded and unfair slandering of my character.

I don't understand how you can allow this man to defame and libel huge numbers of people, hiding behind the legal convenience of never having named any of us individually.

Doesn't your publication abide by any standards of fair play?

How can you allow such blanket libel to occur? Maybe it's legal to libel and defame entire groups of people without naming them individually. But maybe we could go to court to see just how legal it really is to do this.

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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on February 14, 2002 at 15:36:00 PT
Can one file a class action lawsuit for defamation
These people have to held accountable for the way in which they are libeling and defaming marijuana users.



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