cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Activist Works Out Plea Deal





Marijuana Activist Works Out Plea Deal
Posted by FoM on October 13, 2001 at 13:08:59 PT
By AP Staff 
Source: Associated Press
The organizer of the annual World Hemp Festival has arranged a deal with Oregon prosecutors to have criminal charges against him dropped in return for five years of self-imposed exile in Central America. Marijuana activist Bill Conde, 58, went to court in Albany Thursday, expecting to have the agreement approved by a judge. But Linn County Circuit Judge Carol Bispham met privately with Conde's lawyer and a prosecutor, then postponed the hearing until next week so the proposal can be revised. 
Conde's lawyer, Brian Michaels of Eugene, says any changes will be minor. "In the end, all of the charges against Mr. Conde will be dismissed, and he will be living and doing business in Belize," he said. Belize is a tiny Caribbean country between Mexico and Guatemala. Conde is currently serving a five-year term of supervised probation after being convicted of abetting delivery of a controlled substance and hindering prosecution in 1999 during the World Hemp Festival, an annual three-day event at his redwood lumberyard. Under the deal, Conde must not return to Oregon within five years or his unfinished term of supervised probation will be reinstated. "They let me go; I'm going," Conde said Thursday. "But it's a real mixed bag. I'm leaving behind 30 years of unfinished work, and unfinished activism." Conde has agreed to drop his appeal of his conviction as well as a lawsuit against the county while prosecutors would dismiss six pending charges, including four felonies. He would be able to return to Oregon after five years without consequence. However, if he returns without the judge's permission, his unfinished term of supervised probation will be reinstated. Conde is trying to sell the lumberyard he has operated since 1973 near Harrisburg. Source: Associated PressPublished: October 12, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Associated PressRelated Articles:Festival Weaves an Homage To Hemphttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10376.shtmlHemp, Hemp, Hooray! http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10365.shtml
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Comment #28 posted by lookinside on October 27, 2001 at 08:57:02 PT:
i've...
come to the conclusion that our elected representatives cannot see the writing on the wall...they have committed to this ill fated path of unresponsiveness and repression(suppression)...our president(the antichrist) is proving capable of doing no right...ineptitude is rampant in our government...the bombings are an act of appeasement...a way to make joe sixpack think we are getting "even"...meanwhile, anthrax is proving to be more than they know how to deal with...where has that trillion dollar a year budget been going?before the war on the taliban started, we knew that bombing would be ineffective against terrorists...they are now proving it...we have the tools to wage an effective war against terrorism...it involves INTELLIGENCE and surgical strikes when a threat is found...bombing afghanistan is akin to blindly shooting into a cattle pasture in hopes a bullet might accidently hit a deer that you aren't even sure is in there with the cattle...this whole thing is getting more depressing by the day...
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Comment #27 posted by qqqq on October 26, 2001 at 23:49:31 PT
...."With warmest personal regards. "...
Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein United States Senator I'll bet you felt really cozy and special Lookinside,,,,with the warmth of the "personal regards",from swinesteins computerized letter reply software.
..This is what we are dealing with,,and I hate to sound discouraging,,but your letter did not even make a blip of any kind....You might have more luck,if you put it in a fake envelope,and pretended to be an executive of Lockheed-Martin...but then you would be picked up as a possible terrorist,,never to be heard from again.
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Comment #26 posted by lookinside on October 26, 2001 at 21:02:53 PT:
feinstein's reply(s)
recieved 2 of these....Subject: Reply from Senator Dianne Feinstein   Thank you so much for contacting me to share your thoughts and concerns. 
As I?m sure you know, letters containing anthrax have disrupted Congress 
by forcing the closure of the House and Senate office buildings. The 
Capitol, however, remains open and legislative work continues.   Currently I?ve received approximately 30,000 letters and emails which, 
because of the closure of the Senate office buildings, my staff and I have 
been unable to open and process. Thousands of more letters are being held 
by the Capitol Police. While I?d like to respond to each one 
individually, it is simply not possible at this time. I hope you 
understand the impact of these unprecedented events. If you do require a 
specific response or have a specific request for information, I would urge 
you to call my California office closest to you. The lead staffer of each 
office is listed below along with the address and phone. I will have a 
conference call every day with my California offices specifically to be 
updated on the issues raised by these calls and letters. San Francisco 
One Post Street, Suite 2450 
San Francisco, CA 94104 
Russ Lowe, Office Manager 
415 393-0707 Los Angeles 
11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 915 
Los Angeles, CA 90025 
Guillermo Gonzalez, Acting State Director 
310-914-7300 Fresno 
1130 "O" Street, Suite 2446 
Fresno, CA 93721 
Juliette de Campos, Office Manager 
559 485-7430 San Diego 
750 "B" Street, Suite 1030 
San Diego, CA 92101 
Mike Richmond, Office Manager 
619 231-9712   Again, thank you for your patience and understanding at this time of 
great uncertainty. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has 
caused you. With warmest personal regards. Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein 
United States Senator 
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Comment #25 posted by lookinside on October 17, 2001 at 17:16:49 PT:
lehder...feinstein's reply..
On Wed, 17 Oct 2001 19:30:06 -0400, Senator wrote:> Thank you for writing to me about issues of importance to you. I 
> have updated my website e-mail system to make it easier for you to 
> keep in touch with me. Please visit my new e-mail form at
> 
> http://feinstein.senate.gov/email.html
> 
> to share your thoughts with me. I eagerly await your message!
> 
> 
> Sincerely yours,
> 
> 
> Dianne Feinstein
> United States Senator
> 
> 
> 
> http://feinstein.senate.govi'm sending your letter again in the format requested...we'll see...
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Comment #24 posted by dddd on October 15, 2001 at 22:50:20 PT
Astounding Jeaneous
...I think all one has to do is write anything,that has even the slightest tint of radical dissent,,,or hints at anything using certain key "threat "words......I was also appalled at the incineration MURDER,in Santa Clarita...It was obvious,blatant,,stone cold,,law enforcement vigalante mob,,MURDER....After the house caught fire,the firemen were obviously ORDERED to not attempt to put out the fire!!I watched in horror,,as during the next several hours,fire crews hosed down neighboring houses,but not a drop went on the house that was PURPOSELY allowed to burn.....
.I agree with your letter Jeanous,,,and it confirms the tight grip the fbi has on information control and management.........dddd
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Comment #23 posted by Jeaneous on October 15, 2001 at 22:13:30 PT:
But there are kinks...
I write to my representatives and all those in government regarding medicinal marijuana and other civil rights issues.I'm so used to form letters that I was shocked when I recieved one that actually was a direct response to mine. I was also shocked to read that they had forwared my letter to the FBI. Scared me for a minute but then I realized that using their own words at them has an effect. It gets response. I had directly quoted from the FBI's Code of Honor.Dear Sirs,I am writing to you because of the ATF and the FBI committing murder in many cases.I did not believe Timothy McVey was right with what he did, but as I watch and see just how unjust these agencies have become, I understand his political stance.I witnessed the ATF and the FBI and local Sheriff's burn to death that man in Santa Clarita on CNN live. I saw the cannister that was shot into that window that caught that house on fire. The man inside did not start that fire.We also heard about the marijuana activist that was shot along with one of his friends, even though there seems to be media block out on many issues.Just what is their job? To go in and kill a "suspect"? I always thought that a person has a right to a trial to decide the sentence. There are too many times I have seen that have taken people's constitutional right to a trial by killing them.This is what I found on the FBI page.. their code.The strategic plan for accomplishing the FBI's mission must begin by identifying the core values which need to be preserved and defended by the FBI in performing its statutory missions. Those values are: rigorous obedience to the Constitution of the United States; respect for the dignity of all those we protect; compassion; fairness; and uncompromising personal and institutional integrity. These values do not exhaust the many goals which we wish to achieve, but they capsulize them as well as can be done in a few words. Our values must be fully understood, practiced, shared, vigorously defended and preserved.Observance of these core values is our guarantee of excellence and propriety in performing the FBI's national security and criminal investigative functions. Rigorous obedience to constitutional principles ensures that individually and institutionally we always remember that constitutional guarantees are more important than the outcome of any single interview, search for evidence, or investigation. Respect for the dignity of all whom we protect reminds us to wield law enforcement powers with restraint and to recognize the natural human tendency to be corrupted by power and to become callous in its exercise. Fairness and compassion ensure that we treat everyone with the highest regard for constitution, civil and human rights. Personal and institutional integrity reinforce each other and are owed to the Nation in exchange for the sacred trust and great authority conferred upon us.We who enforce the law must not merely obey it. We have an obligation to set a moral example which those whom we protect can follow. Because of the FBI's success in accomplishing its mission is directly related to the support and cooperation of those whom we protect, these core values are the fiber which holds together the vitality of our institution.Louis J. Freeh DirectorFederal Bureau of InvestigationFrom what I have seen, they have broken their code along with breaking the law and the constitution.If this is the future of our Country, I don't think I want anything to do with it. It seem too much like Germany and the Gestapo.I must assume you will not read this on line so I will send a hard copy to you. I do want an answer. And not just a standard letter. I want specific answers. All of us citizens deserve to hear them.FoM--if it's too long..... edit how you please..
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Comment #22 posted by dddd on October 15, 2001 at 18:57:54 PT
yea Lookinside
...I've always wanted to write some one like Fienstein,or Boxer,,,,,,and just say; "Please forward me a copy of your usual response form letter,,,and keep up the good work.".......................Now that would be a curveball for the 5 buck an hour illegal immigrant staff person who glances at such letters,and decides how to respond........dddd
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Comment #21 posted by lookinside on October 15, 2001 at 18:26:39 PT:
boxer's reply and my response...
Dear Mr. cowsert, jr.:  Thank you for contacting my office to express your
views.  I believe that all citizens should become involved in
our legislative process by letting their voices be heard. I
appreciate the time and effort that you took to share your
thoughts. One of the most important aspects of my job is
keeping informed about the views of my constituents, and I
welcome your comments so that I may continue to represent
California to the best of my ability.  Again, thank you for your correspondence. senator boxer,
you continue to set new standards for unresponsive responses...shame on you...flc jr.
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Comment #20 posted by qqqq on October 15, 2001 at 03:33:14 PT
Strange,but Real,and True with 4Q
...Here's more treats from the Sheeples pResident...."I understand this is an unconventional war. It's a different kind of war.
It's not the kind of war we're used to in America. The greatest generation
was used to storming beachheads. Baby boomers such as myself was used to
getting caught in a quagmire of Vietnam where politics made decisions more
than the military sometimes. Generation X was able to watch technology right
in front of their TV screens, you know, burrow into concrete bunkers in Iraq
and blow them up.This is a different kind of war that requires a different type of approach
and a different type of mentality.And so we're going to slowly but surely tighten the net on terrorists
wherever they live. And it's essential to do so now. It's essential to do so
now."No kiddin' folks,,,,It's not some cheap joke,,I didnt have to hassle with making up some zany scenario,,nope ,,this is real......Until next time,:Strange,but Real,,,and True...with 4Q
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Comment #19 posted by jack on October 15, 2001 at 03:22:05 PT
Mike
If my smoke adled mind is right english is the official language of Belize.
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Comment #18 posted by Mike on October 14, 2001 at 23:30:25 PT
It's ironic...
Bill Conde has to leave the US in order to live more freely. Many who founded this country died for freedom, but what we've got here now (while better than some countries) is certainly not a freedom worth dying for.
I think I'll join him in Belize in a few years. Maybe explore some of the Mayan ruins in the jungle too. I understand on the coast there's great money to be made in the tourist business as well. I'm glad I speak Spanish :)
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Comment #17 posted by Dan B on October 14, 2001 at 22:56:33 PT
Scary article, Mayan
I take comfort in this response to it: if the military take to the streets of America, the people of America may finally begin to understand what it is they have asked for in the name of security. Only then, perhaps, will enough people realize the folly of their appeals to a false sense of security (freedom be damned) that they will seek a way to reinstate freedom. Of course, we will then have a civil war.But, let's hope it doesn't come to that. I want things to turn around, and I want our "representatives" to start listening. Who knows, maybe some miracle will occur, and people will once again realize that we cannot expect the government to protect us from every boogeyman in the world, but we can expect them to protect our right to live freely. I'll put that another way: we expect the government to provide for our defense, but we make a mistake when we let them micromanage our lives in the name of national security. And yet another way: yes, we could have prevented the attacks of September 11--by going after the problem when it began and not sitting back to let it escalate to this level. But we are fooling ourselves (I speak for Americans collectively, and not necessarily to the enlightened members of this forum) when we think that the best way to ensure domestic tranquility is to tear up the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights itself is our provision for domestic tranquility. The government's job was to go after this problem before it got this big, not to wait for an opportunity to piss on the graves of the brave men and women who gave their lives so that the rest of us, and future generations, could be free.Okay--well, that more than spoke to the article to which you linked, mayan. I guess I had something to say about all of this. I have a lot of pent up anger over what has been going on in this country since 9/11, and I am not about to relent in my tireless pursuit of justice and freedom (it is possible to get both, though you wouldn't know it from the way the news and government are talking). I know I speak for just about everyone here when I say that.Dan B
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Comment #16 posted by Rainbow on October 14, 2001 at 16:01:32 PT
letters and more letters
LehderI am thhinking that 3 weeks without an answer will activate the request letter again.I also asked jesse ventura to live up to his campaign and support the removal of the war on some drugs. I asked him to stop supporting terrorism through prohibition. Maybe a way to get him thinnking. he is a very down to earth man.Well Thanks for the help. Not always am I the best letter writer. That is why I jumped on your suggestion and letter.Rainbow
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Comment #15 posted by dddd on October 14, 2001 at 13:51:25 PT
Soviet paralell
...So EJ,,,are you saying that the USSR in 76,was not really so much the time zone you were referring to,but more to glasnost period?...dddd
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Comment #14 posted by brewnash on October 14, 2001 at 06:10:22 PT:
4 Questions
I, too, am guilty of plagarism as my two senators and my representative just received them. NORML is trying to organize a State presence here in New Jersey. I will get involved beyond sending my yearly donation. I urge others in my state to do the same.
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Comment #13 posted by E_Johnson on October 14, 2001 at 02:36:46 PT
Before we get too worked up...
The Soviet Union in 1976 -- everyone thought that was forever. After Gorbachev came along, it all crumbled very quickly. People are fickle. The same people who were happy to denounce Sakharov to the government were later just as happy to denounce the government to Sakharov.
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Comment #12 posted by mayan on October 14, 2001 at 02:08:33 PT
Internal Security Police
We could be headed for a military police state!
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20011005/3513815s.htm
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Comment #11 posted by dddd on October 14, 2001 at 00:20:06 PT
as for my blatant opinion....
...First off,,,,,EJ sez,;>"It gets more Soviet every day"I agree with Lookinsides assessment of FrankenFeinstien,and Boxer from the Black Lagoon........The only brite spot in California Politicians is Barbara Lee,,,who was hacked to shreds in the media,for being the lone dissenting vote in the Evil Empires,,UberAlles patriotic fake-out!.... The term "Freedom",,,has been raped, along with the term,"justice",,"truth",....."terror",,,,"threat",,,,and the list could go on.......If I was to say;"The events of the last month are alarming",,,,,, It would be about like saying;"When you get killed,you die."....If I was to say;"I dont think George W. Bush is very honest,or smart",,,it would be like saying,;"I dont think shit smells very good"......If I was to say,"The future is going to be good,and things will get better.",,,it would be like saying,,"Crack and Weed will be legalized on halloween,and the US military,will be making humanitarian weed drops throughout the country,in a gesture of apology to all the pot smokers who have been wronged,and all people incarcerated for Marijuana possession will be released from custody immediatly,and given $50.000 dollars,and an ounce of prime skunk bud,to make up for being f**ked by uncle sams crooked weenie...............................Nope,,,,,,,it all aint too pretty from my point of view,,,and that's why I recommend using any means availiable to be happy,,,and make full use of the drug that you can always get!...the drug that can never be stopped,,,the drug that will always be free,,,the powerful medicine known as Laughter... ..Laughing will cure what ails ya,,and it's good for the soul.,,,If I gotta die,,,I wanna make sure I have bogarted all the laughter I can.. hog out on it!,,,,,,,,,,,ya know why?....it's fun........ddddisorientated
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Comment #10 posted by E_Johnson on October 13, 2001 at 23:39:39 PT
Notice how liberals censor Drug War debate
Yes it's true that www.democrats.org has defined the Drug War as a non-issue. But they can't be allowed to get away with that.Here's another example of censorship by declaring something to be a non-issue: Oxygen.com, the web presence of Oxygen Media, the liberal feminist media empire. On their message boards there is not a single folder for discussing drug policy. They have gun control and abortion, you betcha! They have poverty, they have welfare, they have education, you betcha! But at Oxygen.com and www.democrats.org, apparently there are no issues with the War on Drugs. Well, maybe the Walters confirmation is a good way to open the discussion and make people set up a board and declare this to be AN ISSUE.It's pretty weird -- Americans definitely feel there is an issue, but the Democratic leadership seems to be trying very hard to avoid letting it become an issue within the party system.Bush is actually doing his part to make it an issue by appointing extremists that no rational liberal could possibly rubber stamp. [b]Hooray for Bush for making the Drug War an issue for people who have been trying very hard to pretend it isn't one.[/b]
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Comment #9 posted by Lehder on October 13, 2001 at 20:58:35 PT
E_Johnson - 
I went to the link you gave, www.democrats.org, to scout it out. I tried out their search engine ( you can't read the tiny printing it produces, but it works - on some items). If I enter Bush I get a list of results. If I enter drugs, out comes a list of issues about prescriptions, nothing on drug wars. If I enter marijuana or hemp I get a blank screen - these words seem to upset the program. Clearly, these people need help. Here's their position paper on drugs ( they are opposed to the use of illegal drugs, especially by children) which can be obtained by entering crime in the search engine.http://www.democrats.org/issues/positions/crime.htmlI'll have to look again to see how to get into a debate at this site. Evidently, arresting 750,000 people each year seems not to be an issue there. Maybe they are unaware that Clinton thinks marijuana has been legalized in "most places" for "small amounts."I've expended a lot of energy at this site and learned a lot from the many very incisive commentators. But I want to take this fight to the enemy too. Thanks for the link.
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Comment #8 posted by Lehder on October 13, 2001 at 20:33:56 PT
Thank you, Rainbow
(the letter could also use a new paragraph in Q4 starting with 'How do you propose...')One letter by itself does no good at all - it gets tossed, at best, into the nut case bin, turned over to the DEA for investigation at worst. We don't have to take this abuse from people less educated ( which includes the self-educated ), less productive and less informed than we. We must insist on answers, write again when they don't come, and record our correspondence, and the replies, on the Internet for all to improve on and send to their own representatives. Thanks again.We know that we're right. But it's always eight ignorant SWAT pigs versus one or two peaceful people who only want to be free to live their lives fully and productively as our Constitution guarantees. Let's gang up on them for a change. I bet that you all feel much the same as I do: My life has often been retarded, frustrated and diminished by trying to live under the unnecessary strictures of bigotry and pathetic ignorance of those who find it expedient to promote themselves by attacking us. It's gotta stop. I mean to be unyielding in my demands for responsive answers to the questions in the letter and many others. Please help! 
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Comment #7 posted by Rainbow on October 13, 2001 at 19:24:59 PT
<center>Lehder</center>
Thank You Thank YouI just willfully and without remorse plagerized your letter and sent it to my sinator and congresswimp.I will let you all know if I get a response. But do not hold your breath as these slimies tend to BS a lot.Rainbow
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Comment #6 posted by Lehder on October 13, 2001 at 18:18:54 PT
petitioning congress
thanks, lookinside. (i have a typo in the word legislator, question 4) I've never read anything I liked about Feinstein. You have at least one good representative, though, I think her name is Barbara Lee?, Congresswoman for Berkeley area. What I've encountered of her seemed ppositive, but don't know her drug war views. I like your idea, EJ, and will take a look at the website tomorrow. We must go to them, they're not coming here. We must really persist with these people, demand that they answer a few simple policy questions, demand again when they fail to answer. If I do not get answers, then I will send a third letter accusing them, rightfully, of being indifferent to U.S. drug-related problems and publish that on the Internet too. Again and again.Please everyone write to Congress. Make them reply with specific and responsive answers.
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Comment #5 posted by E_Johnson on October 13, 2001 at 17:16:25 PT
Let's go persuade Democrats directly?
We could all go register in the online community at www.democrats.org and start putting forward our case that we are decent people and we don't deserve to be turned into criminals or forced into exile.This is where their activists hang out. Under the leadership of Bill Clinton, the rate of marijuana arrests in the US doubled, but then the man left office saying that every American adult should be allowed his or her own five grams of bud.Then Al Gore misrepresents the conclusions of the IOM report and salutes a Drug Free America (as long as Tipper doesn't have to give up her Paxil that is).But there's Barney Frank, unceasing in his efforts for rescheduling.Clearly there is confusion and disagreement about marijuana within the Democrat Party that is just waiting to be brought out through the process of free discourse.
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Comment #4 posted by lookinside on October 13, 2001 at 17:02:56 PT:
lehder...
i considered that letter well enough written to send intact to senators feinstein and boxer of california...hopefully the responses(if any) will be more informative than the knee jerk party line bull sh*t i've received from them in the past...senator boxer in particular has proven to be an unthinking, uncaring party hack...senator feinstein is merely a very wealthy thief who has helped her billionaire husband reap huge profits in dealings in the far east(communist china)...
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Comment #3 posted by Lehder on October 13, 2001 at 16:10:24 PT
letters
I mailed the letter below to four senators in August. The questions are simple enough and their answers are important to public policy. Yet I have received no replies.I sent them to the senators' offices in D.C. Tomorrow I am sending them again, this time by email. I will allow a few weeks for replies and publish them on the Internet, as promised. I encourage everyone to write or email congress about the drug wars. Here are the addresses:http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
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Comment #2 posted by Lehder on October 13, 2001 at 16:02:11 PT
my letter to four senators
Dear Senator xxxx: I ask that your answers to the following questions be thoughtful and specifically responsive. Your prompt reply will be reproduced on the Internet for public review. 1. Eighty-eight million Americans used illegal drugs in 1999. How many of them should be imprisoned? Please be specific and give a numerical answer.2. Can you display peer-reviewed scientific evidence that cannabis is properly categorized as a Schedule I addictive narcotic with no acceptable use? 3. Please explain the purpose of section H.23 of the $600 million contract awarded to DynCorp in response to solicitation No. S-OPRAQ-96-R-0545 by the U.S. State Department for the eradication of coca fields in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and undesignated areas as quoted below:             H.23. IDENTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES
            The employees of the Contractor shall at all times be identified as officials, 
            employees or agents of the Contractor or subcontractors and shall not be 
            considered as officials, employees, or agents of the host country government 
            or the Government of the United States of America.4.Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands have decriminalized cannabis and replaced prohibition by government with regulation by adults. Portugal has decriminalized all drugs including crack and heroin. The Canadian Parliament is presently studying the decriminalization of cannabis, and Jamaica is about to decriminalize possession of cannabis. Mexican President Vincente Fox has called for drug legalization as the way to break the black market. The Conservative Party in Great Britain is arguing heatedly about whether they should decriminalize marijuana, remove penalties for its use or legalize it, which would permit a legal distribution system to be set up, ending the contact marijuana users now have with sellers of harder drugs. PRD lagislator Gregorio Urias German of Mexico calls for the legalization of all drugs, saying in a text titled "An Informed Vision to Confront Drug Trafficking," that the United States anti-drug policy has been converted into an instrument of espionage, subordination and interference that harms the sovereignty of nations. How do you propose that the U.S. respond to these countries and the hemisphere-wide outbreak of common sense and decency? Do you believe that the U.S. is playing a leadership role in drug policy, or do you think that the U.S. is becoming isolated and despised because of its ugly and destructive "war on drugs"?Sincerely,
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on October 13, 2001 at 13:48:05 PT
It gets more Soviet every day
It's like I'm reading the news from 1983 and yet another Soviet artist or intellectual has been allowed to take a trip to Western Europe as long as he promises to stay there and not come back to the USSR.You guys just have to get into Soviet history. Read Hope Abandoned by Nadezhda Mandelstam. To Build a Castle-My Life As a Dissenter by Vladimir Bukovsky.How do people with independent minds, integrity and honor live in the middle of destructive lies and entrenched institutional corruption?You think life is f*cked here? I know someone who served three years in a Soviet labor camp for smuggling illegal Soviet civil war history, before Gorbachev had the politicals released in 1986.What does he do now? Last time I checked, he'd been appointed as the head of the Russian state committeee on prison reform.Is there a price for dissent? Yes.Is it worth paying? Those who have paid it still say yes.
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