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  NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- February 9, 2006
Posted by CN Staff on February 09, 2006 at 13:48:21 PT
Weekly Press Release 
Source: NORML 

NORML Virginia: Raising Pot Penalties Will Disproportionately Impact Young Adults, Study Says

February 9, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: Raising state criminal penalties for possessing marijuana will have a disproportionate impact on Virginians under age 30, and would divert law enforcement resources from other priorities, according to a study released this week by Virginia NORML and the NORML Foundation.

The report, entitled "An Argument Against Increasing the Maximum Penalty for Marijuana Possession in Virginia," was produced in response to proposed legislation, House Bill 737, that sought to raise marijuana possession penalties to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The House Courts of Justice, Subcommittee on Criminal Law rejected the measure yesterday, after having received copies of the report.

"Research consistently reports that severe penalties do not effectively deter marijuana use," states the study, which notes that cannabis use, on average, is lower in Virginia than in states with more stringent penalties. The report further notes that over half of those arrested for marijuana possession in Virginia are under age 30, and one third are under the age of 25.

"Longer sentences for marijuana possession will send more young men to jail for longer periods of time, and this also means that these young men will spend longer periods of time in the company of more serious offenders," the study says.

"In conclusion, increasing the maximum penalty for marijuana possession in Virginia is unnecessary, too expensive, and counterproductive."

For more information, please contact Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel, at (202) 483-5500 or Virginia NORML President Jon Gettman.

Full text of the report, "An Argument Against Increasing the Maximum Penalty for Marijuana Possession in Virginia," is available online at:

http://norml.org/pdf_files/state_penalties/VA_NORML_Maximum_Penalty.pdf

DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6810


Physicians Ill Informed On Drug Testing, Study Says

February 9, 2006 - Boston, MA, USA

Boston, MA: Pediatricians who order drug screens for their patients often possess only limited knowledge of how to administer the test and interpret its results, according to survey data published this month in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Three hundred fifty-nine physicians participated in the survey, which was conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston. Among the respondents, 95 percent said that they had ordered urine drug screening for their patients. However, fewer than 25 percent of them reported that they administered the tests in accordance with federal guidelines, and only 26 percent said that they performed confirmatory testing to weed out erroneous ("false positive") results. Additionally, few physicians were able to accurately respond to survey questions regarding marijuana detection and passive exposure to cannabis smoke, and less than one percent of respondents correctly identified the range of substances that could cause "false positive" test results.

"Overall, our findings suggest that primary care physicians are not fully aware of the limitations of drug testing and do not use recommended procedures for collecting and validating urine drug test specimens," authors concluded. "The primary care workforce is not prepared to provide guidance to schools, parents, or patients with questions regarding drug testing."

A previous study published last year in the journal Pediatrics found that home drug testing kits sold online fail to provide adequate information regarding how to use the products properly, and downplay the possibility of inaccurate results.

The Harvard study appears the same week that Bush administration officials unveiled their 2006 anti-drug strategy, which calls for the increased use of random student drug testing in schools. The White House had previously called for a 150 percent increase in federal funding for student drug testing in 2005, and issued grants to 350 schools nationwide to pay for implementing drug testing programs.

This spring, for the third consecutive year, the White House is sponsoring a series of regional summits to encourage middle and high-school officials to enact random, student drug testing in public schools.

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "Drug testing of adolescents in ambulatory medicine: Physicians practices and knowledge," appears in the February issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6808


Congress Scales Back Ban On Student Aid For Drug Offenders

February 9, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA

Washington, DC: Congress approved budget legislation last week that includes provisions lifting the ban on federal aid to students who have a prior, non-violent drug conviction. The Congressional ban, known as the "drug offender exclusionary provision" of the Higher Education Act, has denied federal financial aid to some 175,000 students since its enactment in 1998.

Under the Congressional amendment, students with past drug convictions will now be eligible to apply for federal financial aid. However, students who are convicted of a nonviolent drug offense, including minor marijuana possession, while in college will continue to be stripped of their federal aid eligibility.

"This partial reform by Congress is long overdue and is a step in the right direction," said NORML board member Chris Mulligan, campaign director for the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR). "Nonviolent, minor marijuana offenders should not be singled out and restricted from receiving college loans over a joint."

Mulligan noted that a new report released by CHEAR this week found that 35 states also deny educational funding because of drug convictions.

For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500.

Full text of the CHEAR report, "Falling Through the Cracks: Loss of State-Based Financial Aid Eligibility for Students Affected by the Federal Higher Education Act Drug Provision," is available online at:

http://www.raiseyourvoice.com

DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6809

Source: NORML Foundation (DC)
Published: February 9, 2006
Copyright: 2006 NORML
Contact: norml@norml.org
Website: http://www.norml.org/

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Comment #22 posted by The GCW on February 10, 2006 at 19:40:09 PT
Bowman is pro hemp,
Since Bowman is pro hemp, it is important to reach out to Our free American farmers and make sure they understand that connection.

"It-is-time-to-re-introduce-hemp-as-a-component-of-American-agriculture."

Part of the oppositions is rural America and the hemp issue lessons that reality.

ALSO:

Don't forget, Gary Lindstrom, is running for Governor of Colorado and He is pro cannabis and pro hemp and pro farmer. As a former N.Y. police officer and former Summit County, Colorado Sheriff, He speaks out.

The Green Collar Worker

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #21 posted by FoM on February 10, 2006 at 18:32:00 PT
Mayan
I believe it isn't a republican or democrat issue either but I hope it will swing more towards the democrats. If campaign finance reform was accomplished then maybe it would become more balanced.

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Comment #20 posted by mayan on February 10, 2006 at 18:18:07 PT
FoM
It's not the republicans Vs. the democrats, it's the people Vs. the ruling elite. It will take maverick leaders from both parties and also third-party candidates to make real,lasting change in America. Remember Gary Johnson? Look at Ron Paul! Bowman is an extremely intelligent man and has been in the belly of the beast. He knows that if America continues to be divided we will fall...

Conservative/Liberal Division: http://www.bowmanforcongress.com/issues.htm#Conservative/Liberal_Division

America is purple but we've let the elitists divide us up into red and blue states. Divide and conquer.

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Comment #19 posted by ekim on February 10, 2006 at 10:32:53 PT
Feb 11 06 Free talk Live! 07:00 PM Jack Cole
Feb 11 06 Free talk Live! 07:00 PM Jack Cole USA At 7PM EST, Executive Director Jack Cole is a guest on Free talk Live! Jack will be talking about the failures of drug prohibition and LEAP's mission to end the same. For a list of affiliates visit: http://freetalklive.com/affiliates.php. Dialup and broadband streams are available for free at http://freetalklive.com/tunein.php

Feb 11 06 "Civil Liberties, Social Justice and the Drug War" at the Annual Washington ACLU 03:45 PM Norm Stamper Seattle Washington USA Former Seattle, WA, Chief of Police Norm Stamper presents "Civil Liberties, Social Justice and the Drug War" at this year's Annual Washington State ACLU meeting. Location: University of Washington, Kane Hall.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #18 posted by FoM on February 10, 2006 at 09:27:29 PT
Had Enough
Have a nice day. Slowly we are seeing the Democrats waking up. Now that most people have seen how horrible the Republicans are if the Democrats can win this fall maybe just maybe we will move forward.

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Comment #17 posted by Had Enough on February 10, 2006 at 09:13:18 PT
FoM
If he has enough support at the ballot box, it will not matter what the opposition does. The politicians need to know this. If they get tremendous support because of the issue, other politicians will notice, and will want that vote too. Politicians are predictable in that way. We’ve seen it with other issues before.

Off to do my daily grind. Thank you, to all.

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Comment #16 posted by FoM on February 10, 2006 at 09:03:58 PT
Had Enough
That's true. The more each Democrat makes a stand and as the numbers grow more Democrats will listen and change their tune I think. It is easy for us to understand how bad the laws are but people in government that really aren't up to date on our issue will see ultimately I hope.

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Comment #15 posted by Had Enough on February 10, 2006 at 08:54:09 PT
FoM
That is just one of reasons I used the word “oppositions”. He will get attacked from everywhere, even by his own people, maybe.

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Comment #14 posted by FoM on February 10, 2006 at 08:43:03 PT
Had Enough
One of the biggest problems that I see that Democrats have is if they make a stand for people issues that get seriously attacked by the Republicans. Republicans can spew hate like no other party. Democrats aren't fighters as much as Republicans so they get hurt more often. They get intimidated. The Republicans will smear a Democrat and dig up personal moral issues and give it to the public that follow Republicans and soon they are hated by the religious right that is very large in the Republican party.

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Comment #13 posted by Had Enough on February 10, 2006 at 08:42:03 PT
Robert Bowman
Hearing a politician say these things out loud in public is like “Music, Sweet Sweet Music” to these ears. People need to get this guy and others like him in office.

Thanks mayan

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #12 posted by Had Enough on February 10, 2006 at 08:29:27 PT
Robert Bowman
He’s a Florida Democrat at that, District #15. Jeb Bush is Governor of that state. I bet he will have fierce oppositions. He is going to need a lot of support, I hope he gets it.

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Comment #11 posted by FoM on February 10, 2006 at 08:10:23 PT
mayan
I checked out the link and he is a Democrat. Maybe just maybe the Democrats are starting to realize that they have lost a big voting portion of people because they haven't made a stand. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The number of Democrats standing for medical marijuana has grown a lot over the last couple of years.

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Comment #10 posted by Had Enough on February 10, 2006 at 08:00:18 PT
Robert Bowman
The People of his district need to come out of the woodwork and support this guy.

Register & Vote!, Vote!,Vote! Take a friend with you, stop at the Chicken Wing on the way home and share some Freedom Fries.

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Comment #9 posted by mayan on February 10, 2006 at 06:58:03 PT
Robert Bowman
Robert Bowman Is Running for Congress: http://www.911blogger.com/2006/02/robert-bowman-is-running-for-congress.html

Here is his stance on drug policy...

Drug Policy: Our "War on Drugs" is a disaster. It's an excuse for violating human rights at home and protecting right-wing dictators abroad. Military aid for Colombia will only result in more human rights violations against the people of Colombia. It should be halted immediately. Here at home, I would pardon all those imprisoned for possession or use of small amounts of marijuana. For users of cocaine, heroine, and other highly-addictive drugs, treatment should replace incarceration. Prison should be saved for the importers and distributors of illegal drugs -- including the CIA. I support industrial hemp and the medical use of marijuana.

http://www.bowmanforcongress.com/issues.htm#Drug_Policy

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Comment #8 posted by mayan on February 10, 2006 at 06:29:38 PT
Misc.
Drug bill headed for compromise (AK): http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7434593p-7345466c.html

S.F. shows support of pot shops: City bucks federal, municipal crackdowns: http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14171793p-14999259c.html

Study: Girls Starting Marijuana Use At Higher Rates Than Boys: http://www.wnbc.com/health/6903093/detail.html



[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #7 posted by mayan on February 10, 2006 at 05:37:57 PT
Patriot Act
GOP reaches Patriot Act deal: http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060210-123642-7594r.htm

Bill of Rights Defense Committee: http://www.bordc.org/

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #6 posted by mayan on February 10, 2006 at 05:01:48 PT
unrelated
This is so absurd it's funny...

Bush Plays Terror Card With Bogus LA Attack Plot: http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2006/100206terrorcard.htm

The neo-cons are imploding...

E-Mail Notes Say Lobbyist Met President Many Times: http://tinyurl.com/djpff

Report: White House Knew About Levees: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060210/ap_on_go_co/katrina_congress

Cheney 'Authorized' Libby to Leak Classified Information: http://nationaljournal.com/about/njweekly/stories/2006/0209nj1.htm#

Hastert, Frist said to rig bill for drug firms: http://www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060209/NEWS02/602090405/1309/MTCN04

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #5 posted by ekim on February 09, 2006 at 20:12:58 PT
good coment toker
New Site

Drug WarRant is expanding. Today, I added Drug WarRant.net -- intended to be a community site as a companion to Drug WarRant.com. Right now there is a messageboard, and soon there will be a Wiki for developing a set of pages to serve as a guide to Drug Legalization Regulation Regimes.

Stop by the messageboard and let me know what you think.

[Note: if you're not able to access the site, it's because the domain name was just registered on Wednesday and it may not have gotten to all ISP's yet. Wait a few hours and try again.]

12:44:09 AM | drug policy | permalink | trackback | comment [

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #4 posted by cloud7 on February 09, 2006 at 19:24:05 PT
Whoops, I missed it
Can't hurt to have that story up twice though.

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #3 posted by mayan on February 09, 2006 at 18:21:32 PT
A Political Favor
From the second article on the bulletin...

The Harvard study appears the same week that Bush administration officials unveiled their 2006 anti-drug strategy, which calls for the increased use of random student drug testing in schools.

I'm sure Calvina Faye and her buddies in the drug-testing industry are very happy about that! I wonder how much money they have funneled to the Bushistas?

Cloud7, I posted this on a previous thread...

25 deaths linked to ADHD drugs: http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060209-124320-7473r.htm

THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...

Action Plan: Citizens Counter-Coup--February '06: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20060209165622509

9/11 Truth Seekers http://www.911truthseekers.org/

Unplug the War Machine By Facing the Disturbing Truth of 9/11: http://www.911sharethetruth.com/

[ Post Comment ]

 
Comment #2 posted by whig on February 09, 2006 at 16:44:44 PT
Saw a good quote...
"The better the society, the less law there will be. In Heaven there will be no law, and the lion will lie down with the lamb. The values of an unjust society will reflect themselves in an unjust law. The worse the society, the more law there will be. In Hell there will be nothing but law, and due process will be meticulously observed." - Grant Gilmore

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by cloud7 on February 09, 2006 at 16:03:48 PT
While cannabis is busy not killing anyone....
Attention Drugs Need Strictest Warning, Panel Says

Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Drugs for attention-deficit disorder including Novartis AG's Ritalin should carry the strictest possible warning of potential links to sudden death and heart risks, a U.S. advisory committee voted.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000006&sid=adVLHb863wOw&refer=home

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