cannabisnews.com: White House Anti-Drug Ads Super Bowloney 





White House Anti-Drug Ads Super Bowloney 
Posted by FoM on February 04, 2002 at 19:40:10 PT
By Matt Pyeatt, CNSNews.com Staff Writer
Source: CNSNews.com
Along with Britney Spears and Pepsi, Budweiser and its Clydesdales, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) joined the advertising business with two thirty-second spots during Sunday's Super Bowl, spending nearly $3.4 million in the government's largest single ad purchase in U.S. history.The ads, which are a part of the "National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign," were targeted at American drug users. One of the ads asked: "Where do terrorists get their money? If you buy drugs, some of it might come from you." 
The ads were meant to imply that money spent on illicit drugs in the United States were funding terrorist organizations all over the world. "Drug users hurt our families and communities. It also finances our enemies," ONDCP Director John Walters said. "To fight the terror inflicted by killers, thugs and terrorists around the world who depend on American drug purchases to fund their violence, we must stop paying for our own destruction and the destruction of others."As the president has said, 'When you quit using drugs, you join the fight against terror in America,'" Walters said.U.S. Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) echoed Walters' statements. "In addition to hurting themselves, Americans who buy and sell illegal narcotics are lending a helping hand to people like those who attacked America on September 11," he said.It isn't just Republicans making the anti-drug pitch. "I think this campaign exposes another facet of the evil that drugs perpetrate in our lives," U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), ranking member on the House Treasury-Postal Appropriations Committee, said."I hope this message, coupled with the ONDCP's other efforts, will convince young people to stay away from drugs for their own good and that of their community," he added.However, groups such as the Libertarian Party and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) disapprove of the ads. "These Super Bowl ads were Super Bowloney," Steve Dasbach, executive director of the Libertarian Party, said. "The fact is, it is the War on Drugs that causes the very problem these ads complain about. The War on Drugs enriches terrorists, finances violence and makes America less safe. And no amount of advertising spin can change that," Dasbach said."The War on Drugs is a price support system for terrorists and drug pushers. It turns ordinary, cheap plants like marijuana and poppies into fantastically lucrative black market products. Without the War on Drugs, the financial engine that fuels terrorist organizations would sputter to a halt," he said.NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup said American drug users aren't even funding terrorists operations with their purchases. "It is patently absurd to suggest that marijuana smokers are in any way supporting terrorism. The overwhelming majority of marijuana consumed in this country is domestically grown or imported from Mexico, Jamaica or Canada. It does not come from or finance terrorist regimes in Afghanistan or other potentially hostile nations," he said.Stroup said a majority of America's illicit drug users are marijuana smokers who do not use other drugs such as heroin or illegal opiates. "Does anyone really believe that Americans' illegal drug use patterns will be affected in the slightest by this sort of government propaganda?" Stroup asked. "Marijuana smokers are average Americans who work hard, pay taxes, raise families and want safe communities in which to live," Stroup said. "They are just as patriotic and supportive of the war on terrorism as other Americans."It's not a very sophisticated attack by the government. It seems to me kind of silly and I didn't think the ads were very effective," Stroup said.The germ of truth in this whole matter is that Osama bin Laden did raise some money from those farmers who grew opium in Afghanistan. Almost none of it comes to the United States, so that is really irrelevant to our population," he said."It's nonsense as it applies to heroin and it is particularly stupid when you apply it to most illicit drug users who are simply marijuana smokers," Stroup said.Dasbach said the government is only looking for someone to blame. "If you are looking for someone to blame for the drugs and terrorism connection, you need look no further than the politicians who voted for the War on Drugs, the federal bureaucrats who administer it, and the ONDCP's spin-meisters who try to pawn off the blame to the 95 million Americans who have used illegal drugs," he said.Complete Title: White House Anti-Drug Ads 'Super Bowloney' Say Critics Newshawk: Nicholas Thimmesch IICommunications DirectorSource: CNSNews.comAuthor: Matt Pyeatt, CNSNews.com Staff WriterPublished: February 04, 2002Copyright: 1998-2002 Cybercast News ServiceContact: shogenson cnsnews.comWebsite: http://www.cnsnews.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Libertarian Partyhttp://www.lp.org/Anti-Drug Media Blitz Plays on Terror Fear http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11917.shtmlNew Pitch in Anti-Drug Ads: Anti-Terrorism http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11912.shtml
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Comment #32 posted by FoM on February 05, 2002 at 21:51:52 PT:
CorvallisEric & Greenfox
I didn't see that you posted the NPR Jamaica link until right now. I posted it on another thread. Sorry.Greenfox just click my name and email me. It all goes thru Maps even my personal email.
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Comment #31 posted by CorvallisEric on February 05, 2002 at 21:30:15 PT
Thanks, Duzt
I feel much better about it now and eagerly look forward to any news. What I was puzzled about specifically at the end: "generously interpreted". Maybe it's supposed to be instructions to the legislature on how to deal with specifics.
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Comment #30 posted by Duzt on February 05, 2002 at 19:09:42 PT
Alaska initiative
First of all I can assure you all that the people working on this initiative in Alaska know what they are doing. They know Alaskans and what they will vote for. Cannabis was only made illegal in Alaska in 1990 and the mentality is much different than most of the continental US. They included medicinal cannabis and hemp to make sure that the bill is specific to include all cannabis. Cannabis Americana is seperate (but not totally proven to exist), it is seperate from Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Ruderalis. The wording at the end is there to say that it is a bill for the well being of the environment, economy and people of Alaska, which it is. This should easily pass since the only reason most people didn't vote yes on the last initiative was the prison release and reimbursement and the 18 year old limit. The people who worked on this had to collect over 24,000 signatures in less than 2 months and from what I understand had over 40,000 in a month and a half. They did a good job on this and could change things for the rest of the country.
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Comment #29 posted by Jose Melendez on February 05, 2002 at 18:57:04 PT:
don't take that bone!
...as the dog will be thrown a bone now to keep us off the trail of narco-corruption. Don't take it!
That was how I felt when Nadelmann took O'Reilly bet $100 over where ecstasy comes from. Marijuana is illegal. Because of that artificial rule, stronger and easily concealed drugs like pills and powders automatically increase in value and demand. 
So getting into the argument about whether or not it comes from "middle eastern guys in Holland" is essentially buying into the "drugs support terror" mantra, when the truth is that prohibition increases illicit profits.
Arrest Prohibition - Drug War is TREASON
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Comment #28 posted by CorvallisEric on February 05, 2002 at 18:46:37 PT
Alaska initiative
I think Richard Lake's and Lehder's comments are very important. I'd like to add another suggestion: focus groups of people who are not part of the movement. Let them say what aspects of this initiative make them uneasy or unlikely to vote for it. As someone at the "soft core" end of the movement, and maybe an old fuddy-duddy, I find myself vaguely uncomfortable with some of it (the version in comment 27). I'm not sure exactly what or why - I think mostly the "medicinal" parts. And I wonder why the whole issue of industrial hemp is included. Not disagreeing, just wondering.
I find the following part near the end very strange:
It is hereby declared that the subject matter of this initiative involves in the highest degree, the economic, social, environmental and moral well-being and the safety of the citizens of Alaska and the State. All provisions of this initiative shall be generously interpreted for the accomplishment of these purposes.
A question: what is "Cannabis americana"? Is this some attempt to convey hemp farmers Washington, Jefferson, etc?
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Comment #27 posted by Duzt on February 05, 2002 at 14:27:22 PT
Alaska initiative
Lehder:
That part of the initiative was ommitted because of constitutional problems. The initiative was submitted and approved as follows:
Proposed Bill:BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:I. Add the following section to the criminal code of the State of Alaska, any laws or policies to the contrary notwithstanding:(1) Persons, 21 years or older, shall not be prosecuted, be denied any right or privilege, nor be subject to criminal or civil penalties for the possession, cultivation, distribution, or consumption of:(a) Industrial hemp products. Hemp farmers and manufacturers of industrial hemp products shall not be subject to any special zoning or licensing fees that are discriminatory or prohibitive. (b) Hemp medicinal preparations.(c) Hemp products for nutritional use.(d) Hemp products for personal use in private. The State or any political subdivisions thereof may not require a permit or license for non-commercial cultivation, transportation, distribution or consumption of any hemp product.(2) Definitions:(a) The term "hemp" means hemp, cannabis, or marijuana, or any part or preparation of the plant Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, Cannabis americana, or any species or variety of plant of the genus Cannabis.(b) The term "industrial hemp products" means all products made from hemp, cannabis, or marijuana, that are not designed or intended for human consumption, and includes, but is not limited to: paper, fiber, fuel, plastics, paint, seed for cultivation, animal feed, veterinary medicine, oil, plants used for crop rotation, erosion control, or weed control.(c) The term "hemp medicinal preparations" means all products made from hemp, cannabis, or marijuana, that are designed, intended, or used for human consumption, for the treatment of any disease, the relief of pain, or for any healing purpose including the treatment or relief of asthma, glaucoma, arthritis, anorexia, migraine, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, nausea, stress, for use as an antiemetic, or as any healing agent, or as an adjunct to any medical procedure or herbal treatment.(d) The term "hemp products for nutritional use" means the use of any hemp product intended for human consumption as food, for example, but not limited to: seed protein, seed oil, seed cake, or gruel, or any preparation thereof.(e) The term "personal use" means the use of any product, preparation or potency of hemp, cannabis, or marijuana, intended for any relaxational, ritual, spiritual, or other personal purpose.(f) The term "hemp intoxicating products" means any hemp product other than industrial hemp products, hemp medicinal preparations, or hemp products for nutritional use.(3) Hemp medicinal preparations are hereby restored to the available list of medicines in Alaska. Licensed physicians shall not be penalized for or restricted from prescribing or recommending hemp preparations for medical purposes to patients of any age.(4) Nothing in this bill prevents the regulation of hemp intoxicating products in a manner similar to alcohol or tobacco.(5) The manufacturing, marketing, distribution or sales between adults of equipment or accessories designed or marketed for use in the planting, cultivation, harvesting, curing, processing, packaging, storing, analyzing, consumption, or transportation of hemp, industrial hemp products, hemp medicinal preparations, hemp products for nutritional use, or hemp products for personal use shall not be prohibited.II. Nothing in this Act will bar the State or any political subdivisions thereof from enacting legislation, using reasonable standards to determine impairment, to regulate or prohibit persons under the influence of hemp from operating a motor vehicle, heavy machinery, or otherwise engaging in conduct which may affect public safety.III. Nothing in this Act will bar the State or any political subdivisions thereof from limiting the use of intoxicating hemp products in public places.IV. No part of this initiative shall be so construed as to nullify any prevailing laws concerning possession, use or manufacture of hemp intoxicating products by minors, nor any prevailing laws concerning a sale, barter or gift of hemp intoxicating products by or to minors. V. Severability: If any provision of this initiative, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid by any court, the remainder of this initiative to the extent that it can be given effect, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby, and to this end the provisions of this initiative are severable.VI. If any rival or conflicting initiative regulating any matter addressed by this initiative receives the higher affirmative vote, then all non-conflicting parts of this initiative shall become operative.VII. Purpose of Initiative: Construction.This initiative is an exercise of the powers of the Alaskan citizenry for the promotion and protection of the safety, welfare, health and privacy of the people, and the environment of the State, to allow for the industrial and medicinal type uses of hemp, to eliminate the evils associated with an illicit market for cannabis, and to promote temperance in the consumption of cannabis. It is hereby declared that the subject matter of this initiative involves in the highest degree, the economic, social, environmental and moral well-being and the safety of the citizens of Alaska and the State. All provisions of this initiative shall be generously interpreted for the accomplishment of these purposes.VIII. Effective Date.This initiative shall be effective when enacted according to law.
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Comment #26 posted by Nuevo Mexican on February 05, 2002 at 14:06:30 PT
FOM, Richard Lake....don't worry...
Its just Mercury retrograde! When Mercury is Retrograde(apparent backwards motion) things run afoul, screw up, especially communications (Mercury is the 'Messenger'). So you are learning about an astrological effect that is unavoidable, Just plan on doing everything twice, then you'll find life more satisfying. The purpose of Mercury retrograde is to force us to stop, reveiw our progress, redo, rethink, and re-appraise where we have come to. Since I was born with Mercury retrograde, I generally have to do everything twice, as my first effort is usually limited in its success. Cannabis News meets Astrology 101! Peace Everyone, Enron is just the tip of the toxic economic iceberg. Be ready for sudden and unexpected good news regarding prohibition, as the dog will be thrown a bone now to keep us off the trail of narco-corruption. Don't take it!
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Comment #25 posted by Lehder on February 05, 2002 at 13:47:37 PT
Alaska initiative
Richard Lake makes a good argument for Alaska's reformers to come up with the tiny amount of money for a professional poll on the proposed legislation. Everyone wants to side
with a winner, and a positive prediction for the outcome would motivate many of the more lackadaisical among voters to get out on election day.The reform bill lost in 2000 by 61%-39% and many voters expressed a distaste for the item that would have released prisoners of the Alaska cannabis prohibition law and monetarily compensated them for time lost in prisons. Authors of the revised legislation clearly have recognized this shortcoming and presented a bill that should be palatable to a wider voting population. But there's one part of the new bill, section 5, that may mislead some voters:V. The State may tax and regulate the intrastate commercial production and distribution of cannabis to the extent that it is not prohibitive in scope or intent. The phrase "commercial production and distribution" may alarm many voters. They're going to be flashing mental images of highways clogged with marijuana trucks and children playing in hay stacks of cannabis - and the government will use every scare tactic it can to try and alarm Alaskans with unreal horrors.I would suggest that section 5 be removed from the bill, and that promoters explain that the bill is meant to authorize adult use and cultivation of cannabis on a small scale in private homes. That's enough to satisfy most people, and passage of that much would be a tremendous victory. Also, with Enron and Kenneth Lay big in the news, this is the wrong time to be creating images of big business in cannabis too. There's a risk here of losing twice in two tries that the entire Alaskan movement could wind up marginalized and trivialized. It could end being regarded as an oddball issue that's always there but is never expected to pass and never does pass, like Lyndon LaRouche's perpetual presidential campaigns from a jail cell. I hope Alaskans are listening to Cannabisnews and will take Richard Lake's good advice about hiring a professional polling organization, and will also reconsider section 5 of
their bill. Let's just remember that cannabis is about peace and health and love, not business, and let's not get too ambitious. There, thank you.
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Comment #24 posted by FoM on February 05, 2002 at 13:38:47 PT
Richard Lake and everyone
Well Hallelujah!!! My phone is finally working after being down all day and Mapinc. is back in full swing. When it rains it pours. I'll be good and go look for news now and I hope none of you were worried but I'm sure you were. It really bothers me because I feel a responsibility to what I do here and I don't like letting people down so I'll try to catch up as long as my phone line keeps working.Thanks everyone!
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Comment #23 posted by MikeEEEEE on February 05, 2002 at 12:47:53 PT
The real war for control
Washington considers expanding military aid by $98 million to help protect an oil pipeline from guerrilla violence.Terrorists could be classified as people that attack oil pipelines.http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=&u=/ap/20020205/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/colombia_us_6
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Comment #22 posted by greenfox on February 05, 2002 at 12:17:56 PT
Attn: FOM
FOM PLEASE READLWhat's your email addy? :) I had it before but I lost it. I have an email I would like to send to you, but it's private so that is, obviously, why I need your email.-gf
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Comment #21 posted by Jose Melendez on February 05, 2002 at 11:55:56 PT:
oops
here is the video link for the ONDCP ad, as shown on last night.http://www.narcosoft.com/ads/ondcpAd.mov
pick this apart
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Comment #20 posted by Jose Melendez on February 05, 2002 at 11:52:30 PT:
TouchDown!
good news from:
http://www.aclu.org/news/2002/n020402a.html
Citing Free Speech Rights, LA Court Rejects 
Government's Extremist Tactics in Culture War Against Raves
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Monday, February 4, 2002
 NEW ORLEANS--In a ruling the American Civil Liberties Union called a "major victory" for free speech rights, a federal judge today permanently blocked federal agents from banning masks, pacifiers, and glow sticks at a local dance venue as part of its nationwide war against rave concerts."Today's decision should send a message to government that the way to combat illegal substance abuse is not through intimidation and nonsensical laws," said Graham Boyd, Director of the ACLU's Drug Policy Litigation Project, which filed a challenge to the ban on behalf of rave enthusiasts and performers.
Raves are electronic music concerts that the government seeks to close because some attendees use the drug Ecstasy. But that approach, Boyd said, is tantamount to shutting down rock concerts in the 1960s or jazz clubs in the 1920s because some people are using drugs.
The court today agreed. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous said that while there is a "legitimate government interest" in curtailing illegal drug use, "the government cannot ban inherently legal objects that are used in expressive communication because a few people use the same legal item to enhance the effects of an illegal substance."
Judge Porteous also noted that "there is no conclusive evidence that eliminating the banned items has reduced the amount of ecstasy use at raves." And in a particularly stern warning against the Attorney General’s drug war tactics, he concluded, "when the First Amendment right of Free Speech is violated by the Government in the name of the War on Drugs, and when that First Amendment violation is arguably not even helping in the War on Drugs, it is the duty of the Courts to enjoin the government from violating the rights of innocent people."There was more to the story, follow the link:
http://www.aclu.org/news/2002/n020402a.htmlI wonder if this includes bongs... :)
ONDCP AD ONLINE - let's pick it apart!
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Comment #19 posted by goneposthole on February 05, 2002 at 11:44:09 PT
Alcohol users hurt our families and communities
It also finances our government. Repeal alcohol taxation. The US Govt is a state terrorist organization throughout the world. Quit using alcohol and you will eliminate state sponsored terrorism.Superbull advertising.The drug war has gone too far and is too far gone.The war on the war on drugs will be won by the written word, cyber ink will fill the inkwell.
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Comment #18 posted by Richard Lake on February 05, 2002 at 10:26:39 PT:
MAP/DrugSense and hosted sites back up again!
Well, it looks like MAP is in business again. I can hear my email downloading by the ton.If I ever find out more exactly what happened I will let you all know.Now I need to get to work. Way behind!Richard
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Comment #17 posted by Lehder on February 05, 2002 at 10:22:35 PT
Alaska iniative
Richard Lake makes a good argument for the Alaska reformers to come up with the tiny amount of money for a professional poll on the proposed legislation. Everyone wants to side with a winner, and a positive prediction for the outcome would motivate many of the more lackadaisical among voters to get out on election day.Voters in 2000 lost by 61%-39% and many of them expressed a distaste for the initiative's that would have released prisoners of the Alaska cannabis prohibition law and monetarily compensated them for time lost in prisons. Authors of the revised legislation clearly have recognized this shortcoming and presented a bill that should be palatable to a wider voting population. But there's one part of the new bill, section 5, that may mislead some voters:V. The State may tax and regulate the intrastate commercial production and distribution of cannabis to the extent that it is not prohibitive in scope or intent. The phrase "commercial production and distribution" may alarm many voters. Their going to be flashing images of highways clogged with marijuana trucks, children playing in cannabis piles - and the government will use every scare tactic it can to try and alarm and frighten Alaskans with unfounded mental images.I would suggest that section 5 be removed from the bill, and that promoters explain that the bill is meant to authorize adult use and cultivation of cannabis on a small scale in private homes. That's enough to satisfy most people and passage of that much would be a tremendous victory.Also, with Enron and Kenneth Lay big in the news, this is trhe wrong time to be creating images of big business in cannabis too. Theree's a risk here of losing twice in two tries that the entire Alaska movement could wind up marginalized and trivialized. It could wind up regarded as an oddball issue that's always there but is never expected to pass and never will, like Lyndon LaRouche's perpetual presidential campaigns from a jail cell. I hope Alaskans are listening to Cannabisnews and will take Richard Lake's good advice about hiring a good professional polling organizationm, and will also reconsider section 5 of the bill. Let's just not get too ambitious.
 
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Comment #16 posted by The GCW on February 05, 2002 at 10:12:36 PT
Thank you Richard
It's good to know what is happening. I noticed a problem starting with Sunday late evening that took shape Mon. evening again and Tue. Morning again.
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Comment #15 posted by Richard Lake on February 05, 2002 at 09:34:29 PT:
Ooops. At noon Tuesday you can't reach IMMLY
Here is what I just posted to the NYT Drug Policy Forum:Yes, as I write this note, the MAP/DrugSense and some hosted websites are down. The problem is upstream from our ISP - that is it is a problem with the backbone provider for our ISP, and is being worked on. However, our ISP has boxes in two different locations with two upstream providers. Thus other hosted sites which are on boxes at the other location - like our sister news clipping service www.cannabisnews.com - are going just fine. When this happened once before our ISP attempted to move the sites to the other location to a spare box. But that did not have the power for the job so the results were slow pages and not available notices from our power search. Plus email and listserver functions were not moved. Personally it all sucks for me, 'cause my mail server is down also - rlake mapinc.org - and I can not accomplish much that I wish to do - including get word out to various private lists about the forum tonight. I can create email, but I don't know when it will actually go out, so there is not much sense in creating time specific items. Sigh! OTOH having my mail server by MAP's means I knew immediately last night that there was a problem, so I could and did call Matt Elrod to give him a heads up. There has been a time or two when he did not know there was a problem because everything was find where he was close to the ISP in Canada, but we in the States saw it because the problem was with the 'net in the states. Too early to call Matt yet today, but if I find out more, I will put a note here. Know that overall down time has been very small for us. Our ISP guarantees 99.5% uptime and has exceeded that standard well over time. By having many hosted websites we have very good rates and great respect as a large account with our ISP - which translates into us being moved to the fastest box as new hardware is obtained by the ISP. While this may seem like having too many eggs in one basket, the savings allow us to provide free support to other drug policy reform non-profits so that they can have websites that they would otherwise not be able to afford. Richard p.s. IMMLY is one of the hosted sites on the same box as MAP/DrugSense. Hopefully it will be back up soon. As luck would have it cannabisnews is on a box at the other location, as I wrote above, so is going fine. It could have been the other way around. These things happen.
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Comment #14 posted by TroutMask on February 05, 2002 at 09:31:13 PT
Mapinc
Sorry for the off-topic: Anyone else unable to get to www.mapinc.org this morning? Thanks... -TM
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Comment #13 posted by CorvallisEric on February 05, 2002 at 09:25:36 PT
NPR RealAudio links
Here's the NPR Jamaica link:
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/me/20020205.me.14.ram
On Monday they had the totally-expected bit on the Stupor Bowl drug ads:
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/me/20020204.me.11.ram
I'm wrong about their reading letters on Thursdays, don't know when they do. NPR contact info:
http://www.npr.org/contact/
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Comment #12 posted by ekim on February 05, 2002 at 08:50:01 PT:
C-Span today a caller 
Who said he was over 70 years old. Made the statement that the 20 year old CA. kid Walker, who got to meet Bin Ladin should be showing our Gov't. how to do it. Gets you thinken that Mr. Bush wants 370 billion for the defence. How much did it cost kid Walker. 
 On another note Mr. Nader was on C-Span Sat. nite talking about his new book. The first question that was asked to him was what about Hemp, to which he gave all sorts of reasons that the Gov't. should be allowing the farmers to grow it. 
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Comment #11 posted by Richard Lake on February 05, 2002 at 07:54:11 PT:
Alaska Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative 2002???
Is this initiative for real???If so, where is the evidence that this will not be a repeat of the past, another effort that burns out good activists only to be voted down at the polls?We have gone through two (!) tries at a similar initiative here in Michigan, which didn't even make it to the ballot. Just burned out activists as a result.Why?Because the folks that run these things did not have the common sense to understand that for a small cost, just a couple thousand dollars or so, they could have a good independent well recognized organizaion conduct a likely voter poll that would prove one way or another that the initiative had voter support.This is key! It is the way to real financial support and greatly added activist support. And it is the only way that has any common sense.Look at the examples of the group that has won 19 of it's last 20 initiative efforts, http://www.drugreform.org/While I did not personally agree with the wording of all of the initiatives I knew they would win, where more radical initiatives(in the view of the voters) would not - because these folks did their homework and knew what would be accepted on election day - they paid to have the research done.In the past I have supported these initiatives -- but no more -- unless the folks doing them show me the independent polls that show that they can win on election day. Polls that lay out the initiative wording and ask voters the questions.I know that obtaining good independent polls to support your position is not that costly. The folks at Is My Medicine Legal Yet IMMLY are as dirt poor as you can get. But knowing that for the current medical cannabis bill in the Wisconsin legislature to have a chance they had to prove to elected officials that the voters are behind the bill.So they scraped together somehow a thousand dollars they don't have (and are asking for donations now to cover) to have the question asked as part of a respected poll.These are activists that understand the real world.Do the activists behind the grass roots initiatives?I am waiting to see.Richard
Is My Medicine Legal YET?
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Comment #10 posted by CorvallisEric on February 05, 2002 at 07:04:33 PT
NPR Jamaica
Wow, beat by 16 seconds. That's what I get for pacing the floor in excitement for half an hour after hearing the story. I'll try to find an exact link when it's up.
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Comment #9 posted by CorvallisEric on February 05, 2002 at 06:57:56 PT
Jamaican Ganja on NPR
The usually disappointing NPR (National Public Radio) had a good story on Jamaica on Morning Edition this morning. The requisite US spokesperson, a real schoolmarmish-sounding woman, got only a small fraction of the time. And, of course, they can't distinguish "legalize" from "decriminalize". They read letters on the air every Thursday.
Jamaican Ganja
In Jamaica, a government-appointed commission has recommended decriminalizing the personal use of marijuana. The U.S. government is strongly opposed to the initiative, sensing a threat to the war on drugs. NPR's Gerry Hadden reports from Kingston on the cultural and economic importance of the plant, known locally as "ganja," to that country, and the legal struggles over decriminalizing its use. (4:17) [the specific link for this is too convoluted to post]
The audio for this program will be available online after 12PM ET, 9AM PT.
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/index.html
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Comment #8 posted by bcg on February 05, 2002 at 06:57:40 PT
Jamaica
NPR did a great story on Jamaica this morning.FoM, perhaps you could post a link to it when they put it up on their web site.My favorite part was the Jamaican gov't working around the international Anslinger laws. Let the progressive countries figure out how to subvert our opressive laws so that we can follow them!
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Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on February 05, 2002 at 06:23:19 PT:
Alaska
from:
http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/AA/TEAK2002.HTMPROPOSED WORDING:
Alaska Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative 2002Alaska Cannabis Hemp & Health Initiative 2002AN INITIATIVE TO DECRIMINALIZE AND REGULATE CANNABIS (HEMP INCLUDING MARIJUANA)BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALASKAI. This legislation supersedes all other state laws and policies regarding the plant of the genus cannabis, hereafter referred to as cannabis, and all subspecies, identified as hemp, marijuana, marihuana or in any other manner or by any name whatsoever.
II. The State or any political subdivision thereof shall not prohibit nor require a permit or license for the agricultural production and use of cannabis as industrial hemp, defined as any hemp-derived product containing less than one percent tetrahydrocannabinol by weight. All sections of law that impose civil or criminal penalties or sanctions upon the industrial uses of cannabis are hereby repealed.
III. All sections of law that impose civil or criminal penalties or sanctions for the possession or cultivation of cannabis by adults for personal or medical use are hereby repealed.
IV. Non-commercial exchanges of cannabis among consenting adults shall not result in civil or criminal penalties or sanctions. All sections of law that impose civil or criminal penalties or sanctions upon such exchanges by adults are hereby repealed.
V. The State may tax and regulate the intrastate commercial production and distribution of cannabis to the extent that it is not prohibitive in scope or intent. The legislature shall have until the conclusion of the second legislative session following passage of this initiative to adopt legislation allowing for the taxing and regulating of the intrastate commercial production and distribution of cannabis or the taxation and regulation of intrastate commercial production and distribution of cannabis shall fall to the localities.
VI. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or repealing any laws concerning possession by or delivery of non-industrial cannabis to minors.
VII. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or repealing any laws concerning regulating or prohibiting persons under the influence of cannabis from operating a motor vehicle, heavy machinery, or otherwise engaging in conduct that may affect public safety.
VIII. Nothing in this Act shall bar the State or any political subdivision thereof from regulating the use of personal, non-industrial cannabis products in public places.
IX. Being under the influence of cannabis shall not be an excuse for reckless behavior nor a legal defense in establishing culpability or liability.
X. The State legislature shall take all steps necessary to bring the Alaska Statutes and Administrative Code into compliance with these provisions.
XI. This law is an exercise of States Rights, and does not allow, advocate or otherwise involve interstate or international commerce, nor does it authorize export of cannabis for other than industrial use.
XII. Severability: If any provision of this initiative, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid by any court, the remainder of this initiative to the extent that it can be given effect, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby, and to this end the provisions of this initiative are severable.
See the ad. Learn the truth: Expose the lie. 
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Comment #6 posted by potpal on February 05, 2002 at 05:28:54 PT
More like...
When you stop using drugs...as an excuse for everything that is wrong in America, then you stop aiding the terrorists.
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Comment #5 posted by The GCW on February 05, 2002 at 05:06:08 PT
Note: 
The underdogs won.
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Comment #4 posted by Jeaneous on February 04, 2002 at 22:14:18 PT:
The Cat is Out of the Bag
I know we all think that these ads are bull, but I saw Crossfire tonight and they had Asa Hutchinsin and Keith Stroup. First time I've ever seen world coverage of NORML. I know the goal of this government is much more than a war on terror or a war on drugs. This government wants to rule the world and with each and every "policy" they lay out they take another chip away from their credibility. They are making themselves out to be foolish in all of their policy's and actions. Dang this thing is sooo weird.The ads I saw played only displayed worldwide the terrorism that this government is inflicting on it's own citizens. And this government calls everyone else evil... ha!!It's gonna come back and smack them... at least I'm going to try to make that happen. Write all your representatives and insist that this Governmental Terrorism must stop.
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Comment #3 posted by Lehder on February 04, 2002 at 21:50:18 PT
Alaska
I've been waiting for news about legalization efforts in Alaska. Remember the 2000 initiative showed well with 39%. Here's a new one for 02 that omits the release and per diem compensation of prisoners under state mj prohibition. http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/AA/TEAK2002.HTMNo related news stories except for this blurb:We're watching the progress of a few medical marijuana initiatives. A measure that would make cannabis legal will be on the ballot in Alaska, and Arkansans will get to decide whether to legalize medical marijuana. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/abc/20020114/pl/abc2002_1.htmlAnd I can find no news at all on the Jamaican legalization effort which seemed very promising a few months ago.
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Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on February 04, 2002 at 21:35:45 PT
God Bless the Libertarian Party!
Their guy is firing off some great rhetoric here, so is Stroup. The LP are the only ones that stand up and call a spade a spade.The Greens and Nader are awfully quiet on the Drug War, considering that ending it is a major plank in their platform.
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Comment #1 posted by legalizeit on February 04, 2002 at 21:33:21 PT
Super Bowloney is right!
I couldn't have come up with a better one myself!"As the president has said, 'When you quit using drugs, you join the fight against terror in America,'" Walters said.Awk! Awk! As the president has said... Awk! This Nazi is so dumb he can't even come up with his own statement. He has to parrot the equally dumb ("nucular") Shrub.Why don't stories like this make it into the mainstream media? NPR had a small blurb about the ads on this morning's Morning Edition program, but all they quoted were pro-Drug War types, and they didn't even say anything counter to the party line.The so-called impartial news media makes me SICK!"It's not a very sophisticated attack by the government. It seems to me kind of silly and I didn't think the ads were very effective," Stroup said.I agree - the Drug Warriors are, out of total exasperation, attempting to cash in on the tragedy of September 11 and use that to further their cause. Of course it will have no effect on the price or availability of street drugs, just like any other effort they've done in the past 60+ years of idiocy.
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