cannabisnews.com: DEA Head Debates Pro-Legalization Governor





DEA Head Debates Pro-Legalization Governor
Posted by FoM on November 17, 2001 at 17:04:01 PT
By Michelle De Saram, Contributing Reporter
Source: Yale Daily News
One said the legalization of illegal drugs would be a "social catastrophe", the other said such a move would reduce "death, disease and crime."Asa Hutchinson, administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Republican Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico debated the war on drugs in front of about 150 people Thursday in the Law School auditorium. "The war on drugs is the biggest head-in-the-sand issue that is with us today," Johnson said.
He said the anti-drug message of the U.S. government was not having any effect, with over 80 million Americans having used illegal drugs. Johnson also mentioned the Netherlands, saying the legalization of marijuana there has reduced drug use."Drug prohibition is what is killing us, not drug use," Johnson said. "We can do better in this area of drug reform."But Hutchinson said an "entrenched social problem" like drugs does not allow a quick solution.Hutchinson said the drug culture endangers American democracy and erodes Western social values, and added that the state has a responsibility to enforce laws and respond to guidance offered by the scientific and medical community. He said it is necessary to reduce the number of people addicted to drugs and the number of young people who choose to live a drug-influenced lifestyle."In a time of national catastrophe, a nation's values are clarified," Hutchinson said. "In the 80's, we reduced the drug use level. The problem is that since 1992, it has [reached a] plateau. My hope is that your generation will lead the way away from drug dependency."The crowd, which included students from Yale as well as institutions like Princeton and Wesleyan, cheered more loudly for Johnson during the debate."Everyone thinks that the drugs policy has failed," said Christopher Clark, a student from Wesleyan . "The state keeps pouring money into it but it has failed. In fact, it is doing more harm. It's a dead political issue."A minority of the crowd sided with Hutchinson in what turned out to be a heated debate. Others were unsure."It's hard for me to separate the Governor's drug and social welfare policies," said Chamiza Atencio-Pacheco LAW '03, a native of New Mexico. "I disagree with his social welfare policies, but I agree with his stance on the drugs war."Barbara Fair of New Haven-based People Against Injustice aligned herself with Johnson."Governor Johnson deserves praise for his bold truth-telling about the failed and corrupt war on drugs," Fair said. "We who study drug policy wish that more politicians will come out and acknowledge what the public is quickly realizing: this war on drugs is harmful to America, and prison is simply not the appropriate response to drug use."Hutchinson said New Haven provides good examples of some successes in the war on drugs. He attributed a decrease in gang violence to the work of the New Haven Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other law enforcement agencies."We have improved the life of this community," Hutchinson said.Organizers planned for citizens from around the state to gather at a rally to support Johnson and condemn the Drug Enforcement Administration for its recent attacks on medical marijuana clinics in California and Oregon. But only a handful of students were present before and after the debate for the rally.The Yale Law School Federalist Society organized the debate, and groups including Yale's Student Legal Action Movement organized the rally. Source: Yale Daily NewsAuthor: Michelle De Saram, Contributing ReporterPublished Friday, November 16, 2001Copyright: 2001 Yale Daily NewsWebsite: http://www.yaledailynews.com/Contact:  opinion yaledailynews.comRelated Articles & Web Site:Governor Gary Johnson's Home Pagehttp://www.governor.state.nm.us/Leaders Debate Legalization of Drugs http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11356.shtmlJohnson, Hutchinson To Debate Drug Laws at Yalehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11347.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by leefmyner on November 18, 2001 at 09:01:36 PT:
"Good Work" in New Haven 
  Good work in New Haven? I live in New Haven, and if I could I would love to show the Asa hole some of the DEA's "good work." Go to any black or puerto rican section in town. Need some crack or some dirty smack? It's easier than buying chicken Mc Nuggets. Literally. 
  And if you're white and driving in one of those neighborhoods past dark, expect to have your car searched. If you're black and in a white neighborhood, expect to have your car searched. As in most amerikan cities, the war on drugs has destroyed many freedoms, devastated minority neighborhoods, and worsened racial disparities. New Haven is not an exception.  New Haven is home to one of the first needle exchange programs in the united states. The program has helped dramatically reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases, as well as expose poor addicts to a place where they can get some decent health care. Of course, the DEA and the Bush regime OPPOSE these measures which have saved thousands of lives. 
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Comment #6 posted by Lehder on November 18, 2001 at 04:12:03 PT
keep your eyes open
"Sideshow" is the word, all right. Unless it's shown on television it means little. Even then, it would only be "talk." Americans need dramatization to understand - well, dramatization might move people; understanding by more than a minority is very unlikely in the U.S. for quite some time. The "events of September 11th", as they are termed, were certainly dramatic, and, coupled with massive government propaganda, moved people to violence and foolishness. I've just come in from watching the Leonids, quite spectacular this year. I probably saw about fifteen to twenty per minute under poor skies ( haze, lights ) and since I'm not equipped with fish eyes I'd have seen only half under ideal conditions. There must have been 2000 or more per hour, not the 100,000-per-hour blizzards of 1833 and 1866, but a marvelous display, maybe the best I've seen. Many of these fast meteors were very bright, and some left lingering trails. A few were bright orange. I wish I could say more: These are the events that used to move me, but my spirit is dulled now. A mercury vapor lamp and an illunminated flag across the road interfered with observing. I blocked most of the light with a tree. There was a lot of noise out there, too, even in the middle of the night.OTTAWA (Reuters) - Dancing, chanting anti-capitalism demonstrators pushed forward Saturday to within yards of the conference center where world financial leaders met to
discuss a sluggish global economy. Three to four thousand protesters, waving flags, banging drums and chanting slogans, urged the finance ministers and central bank chiefs to stop their meeting, tearing down one row of the waist-high barricades guarding the city center site.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011117/wl/economy_meetings_protest_dc_1.htmlSome of the placards read ``Spank the Bank'' and ``Drop debt, not bombs." Mine would have read, Don't Buy, Don't Consume, Take the Money Away.Remember, thrift is a virtue. Be alert. Keep your eyes open. Report any inappropriate behavior. 
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 17, 2001 at 22:17:49 PT
ekim & Everyone
Hi ekim,
 I think the debate didn't get much press because many things aren't as important to write about since 9-11. Even though we know it is important it takes a back seat. The east coast people have been affected by the recent events more then anywhere else in the states. I guess I try to look at the fact that it was a miracle practically to even have the two of them debate at all. That's why I think the press was missed.
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Comment #4 posted by QcStrt on November 17, 2001 at 21:56:19 PT
**Research**
. Modern Research Findings on Medical Marijuana As can see from this compilation there has been a tidal wave of published research demonstrating marijuana's medical usefulness. Indeed, it is stated in the research studies conducted by various states under FDA protocol that the research being conducted was in the final phase of approval by the FDA.(12) When the federal government stopped research on the medical use of marijuana in 1992 the drug had nearly completed the requirements for new drug approval. Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey's assertion in his Scripps-Howard News Service column that No clinical evidence demonstrates that smoked marijuana is good medicine" is inconsistent with the facts. Whether this is an intentional deception, as part of the federal government's stated public relations offensive against medical marijuana, or whether it is based on ignorance does not matter. The reality is General McCaffrey's statements are not consistent with the facts. The research reprinted in this compilation includes randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled studies, research using a variety of objective and subjective measurements and a range of research protocols. Doctors have a sound basis on which to recommend marijuana for use by their patients. Indeed, physicians are well aware of the medical value of marijuana. One study, a scientific survey of oncologists found that almost one half (48 percent) of the cancer specialists responding would prescribe marijuana to some of their patients if it were legal. In fact, over 44 percent reported having recommended the illegal use of marijuana for the control of nausea and vomiting.(13) This publication addresses research that has been published in three areas: cancer, glaucoma and muscle spasticity. All of the materials herein were published after 1970. The materials enclosed are either published in peer review journals, government publications or are reports submitted to the federal government by state agencies.(14) State Health Department Studies In addition to the published research there have been a series of six studies conducted by state health departments under research protocols approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The focus of these studies, conducted by six state health agencies was the use of marijuana as an anti-emetic for cancer patients. The studies, conducted in California, Georgia, New Mexico, New York, Michigan and Tennessee, compared marijuana to antiemetics available by prescription, including the synthetic THC pill, Marinol. Marijuana was found to be an effective and safe antiemetic in each of the studies and more effective than other drugs for many patients. 
 
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Comment #3 posted by ekim on November 17, 2001 at 19:51:27 PT:
I do feel that this debate means a lot 
Why did the debate date only get around to the reform sites less than a few days before it was to take place. Why was it not listed on normls site, or Dick Cowans marijunannews site. Why with the clubs taken down in CA. no one reprsenting them was at this debate, with all the fan fare of the Million marijuana march in NYC where were all the East coasters. 150 pepole that stinks for this movement. Who is doing PR work for Gov. Johnson. For all intent this event was Blacked out. Why when we here in MI want personel use we can't get a Nat'l figure to come speak out for us. We are told you must go for Med Use --Bull ---- I think I know why Gov. Johnson was black balled he wants the L. word. And all the big mucktee mucktee mucks won't go for it. Even when 2/3s of the people there said make it like beer. Man what is going on when we have gotten one quarter of a million people here in MI to sign our petition for personel use and we still can't get a lousy 50 thousand more to sign because we are running out of time and money with no help from the Nat't folks. 
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Comment #2 posted by CongressmanSuet on November 17, 2001 at 19:28:45 PT
With less than...
 a handfull of students protesting the DEA after the debate, does this really mean anything? This is turning into an Liddy/Leary sideshow...maybe next debate they will appraise some antiques...
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Comment #1 posted by ekim on November 17, 2001 at 19:22:29 PT:
Has anyone seen this Doc. at the Dallas film fest.
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread11329.shtml
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