cannabisnews.com: Congress Needs To Rein in Overzealous Drug Warrior





Congress Needs To Rein in Overzealous Drug Warrior
Posted by CN Staff on September 19, 2002 at 17:52:15 PT
Editorial
Source: LSJ.com 
"Liberal laws worry drug czar" read the State Journal headline Monday. It appeared over comments by White House drug policy chief and Lansing native John Walters fretting about liberalized laws on marijuana.He should worry more about overzealous federal agents harassing the ill and wasting taxpayers' money. Earlier this month, Drug Enforcement Administration agents "busted" a California co-op that provides medical marijuana to seriously ill people. 
It is one of eight recent such raids. In a USA Today report, one of the Santa Cruz users detailed how officers would not let her sit down even though she has polio and refused to call her an ambulance when her blood pressure spiked.DEA Director Asa Hutchinson, Walters' colleague in the nation's "War on Drugs," defended the raid as appropriate enforcement of federal drug laws. Never mind that the people of California freely voted to allow medicinal use of marijuana and that the co-op in question was operating in consultation with state and local law officers.Nope, on drugs, the feds say they know best. The facts don't support that view, though.America is involved in a real war - against global terrorism.The federal government has said there probably are sleeper terrorist cells that it can't find here. Our border security remains haphazard. And let's not even talk about what's going on in the nation's airports.Yet, our public servants in Washington believe it's essential to be harassing sick people for smoking pot?These folks aren't politically clueless. They've seen the growing support for medical marijuana. That's why the new spin from Washington - shown in public service ads - is that drug users finance terrorists.Funny how they never seemed to mention that before Sept. 11, 2001.The drug warriors need a reality check from Congress, from the voters, from somebody.Complete Title: At War with Us: Congress, Public Need To Rein in Overzealous Drug WarriorsSource: Lansing State Journal (MI)Published: September 19, 2002Copyright: 2002 Lansing State Journal Website: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/Contact: http://www.lsj.com/contactus/index.htmlRelated Articles & Web Sites:WAMMhttp://www.wamm.org/Pictures From WAMM Protesthttp://freedomtoexhale.com/eventpics.htmCalifornia Town's Leaders Join Pot Protesthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14158.shtmlWorld Watches Pot Handouthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14154.shtmlLiberal Laws Worry Drug Czarhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14126.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by schmeff on September 21, 2002 at 16:45:46 PT
Me 2!
And as 4Q has mentioned on another thread, EVERYBODY who comes to this forum should feel guilty as hell if they fail to put their money where their mouth is and help support this incredible and historic grassroots campaign. Is anyone so poverty stricken that they can't get out from in front of their computer monitor and collect enough returnable bottles and cans, or recycle enough aluminum, or mow enough lawns, or wash enough windows or win a enough hands of video poker or turn enough tricks or make enough effort to send at least $10 to nrle.com?
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Comment #9 posted by VitaminT on September 19, 2002 at 23:29:18 PT
I kicked in
not only painless - It felt mighty fine!Go Get 'em Nevada you can make history for all of us! Santa Cruz was the Boston Tea Party. Nevada begins the Revolution!
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Comment #8 posted by DdC on September 19, 2002 at 23:01:23 PT
Bush's Faustian Deal With The Taliban
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n922/a09.htmlHow Terrorists Profit from Drugs
During the last Super Bowl, you may have seen the government's TV ads (your tax dollars at work) claiming that teenagers who smoke marijuana help finance terrorists. Similar ads were published in newspapers. The Libertarian Party responded with a takeoff on the government's claims. A USA Today ad showed America's "Drug Czar" John Walters saying, "This week, I had lunch with the president, testified before Congress and helped funnel $40 million in illegal drug money to groups like the Taliban." The ad said it's the Drug War that enables terrorists to raise large amounts of money. 
continued...
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread12379.shtmlWalters the Terrorist LP
http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/politics/media/39/39850.jpgSHADOW OF THE SWASTIKA
The Elkhorn Manifesto
http://www.sumeria.net/politics/shadv3.html
Cannabis Hemp: The Invisible Prohibition Revealed
http://www.sumeria.net/politics/invpro.htmldaddy's power
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/33/33975.gifsupreme farce
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/33/33740.jpggrinch
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/33/33973.jpgWhat would Jesus think?
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/33/33010.gifWhat corporate bucks will buy
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/33/33982.gifWhats the W stand for?
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/32/32600.gifDoing the W
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/32/32036.gifNursery of Shrubheads
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/33/33980.jpg3 stooges
http://www.cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/33/33493.jpgbob and dub
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/26/26416.jpgSatan 4 Bush
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/31/31205.jpgThe White House
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/32/32350.gifWorking on it
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/32/32366.giflaura bush
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/26/26199.jpgpride of texas
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/26/26182.jpgNo More Bu**SH**
http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/politics/binaries/25/25738.jpgOther Bush Parodies or Informative sites
GWBush Art
http://gwbushart.port5.com/   Why Does George W. Bush Fly in Drug Smuggler Barry Seal's Airplane?
http://www.copvcia.com/W_plane.htmTHE BUSH-CHENEY DRUG EMPIRE
http://pub3.ezboard.com/fendingcannabisprohibitionwhyitstimetolegalize.showMessage?topicID=178.topic
D.E.A.th Deceptions
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Comment #7 posted by karkulus on September 19, 2002 at 22:48:29 PT
I Predict..
 That in Three years you will find Johnny Walter's lying in a back alley in Las Vegas..His shirt covered with vomit...mumbling.."Devil Weed..evil ...Evil!" as his brings the bottle of MD20/20 to his lips and guzzles as the rancid liquid flows over his chin ..."I told you so...I told you sooo.." Who's that ? someone asks.."oh ,some poor bum" ,as they toss a quarter into his open briefcase next to him, then stroll into the cheery coffeeshop brightly painted and filled with laughter and music. The end
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Comment #6 posted by Had Enough on September 19, 2002 at 21:52:43 PT
john wayne
Always thought john wayne was a good patriot. Good man
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on September 19, 2002 at 21:50:20 PT
john wayne
Thank You! It is better to give then receive. It makes you feel good inside.
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Comment #4 posted by john wayne on September 19, 2002 at 21:46:58 PT
Not a media star
but I just donated $$ to NRLE.  Felt good.http://www.NRLE.org/
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Comment #3 posted by Had Enough on September 19, 2002 at 20:33:46 PT
Open Letter to all Rock, Rap, Movie, TV stars, etc
For many years American people have seen your movies, gone to your concerts, bought your music. Basically made a lot of people rich and wealthy. Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement need money, and a lot of it. Now is the time for all you good brothers and sisters, to come to the aid of your fellow man/women. With your help this can change a lot of policies, which you have wrote songs and scripts about. Now is the time to step up to the plate. Many people are incarcerated at this time for outdated and unjust laws. Many of these people helped to get you where you are now. They went to your concerts, movies, and bought your music. They need your help now. This initiative if it passes, will have far reaching effects. This is a very special place in history.Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement needs money, and a lot of it, and now. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to show the world and the children what real Americans are made of. WE THE PEOPLE, can change the laws of our country. These people are serious and are doing a very professional job at it. They need money to buy ads. These ads are not cheap. This kind of effort is long overdue and it might be a while before we see this again if this effort fails. So PLEASE send these people money, a lot of it, and now. Think how much you might save in the future.So how about it Mick, Paul, Eric, Puff , Stefen,, Ice, Edgar, Johnney, BB, Albert, Chech, Don , George, Madonna, Drew, Alvin, Steve, David, etc..?. Help these people.
http://www.nrle.org/ 
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Comment #2 posted by Jose Melendez on September 19, 2002 at 19:44:41 PT
Prohibition: advertised by criminals
	
		WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) -- Eight months after its controversial ad effort that suggested illegal drug use supports terrorism, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy returns to the theme tonight. The new spot coincides with a major shift in the direction of the youth ad effort as the drug office puts the bulk of its budget behind discouraging marijuana use.
Switch in creative 
The terrorism ads are from WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide rather than the Partnership for Drug-Free America, which handles most of the office's creative. A spokesman for the Partnership said the group declined to create those ads. BBDO Worldwide Chairman-CEO Allen Rosenshine, who is also vice chairman and executive creative director for the Partnership, earlier ripped the first drug-and-terror executions, saying they violated a basic premise of consumer advertising by telling people "what they are doing is stupid and bad."
But Alan Levitt, director of the youth ad campaign, said, "We had a phenomenal reaction to the first set of ads," adding that the campaign "generated debate on the drug issue."
Hard to believe? 
The drug office said viewers had a hard time believing the first drugs-and-terror ads (they debuted on Super Bowl XXXVI), which suggested that drug profits that helped support terrorism applied to local marijuana purchases. The new effort focuses more directly on the closer-to-home impact of drug terrorism.
"This is Dan," says one. "This is the joint that Dan bought. This is the dealer who sold the joint that Dan bought," the ad continues, setting up a chain of events linking Dan to terrorists. A similar spot features the fictional Stacey. 
One version of the ad added the words "responsibility's a bitch, isn't it Dan?" a rare use of profanity in a network TV spot and certainly the first in a government spot. But the drug office opted not to use the wording, even though General Electric Co.'s NBC and News Corp.'s Fox approved the harsher spot, according to the drug office. 
Officials of the White House Office of National Drug Control last week defended the spots, and said the latest flight aimed at "influencers" will account for 10% the office's $150 million a year in paid ads. The drug office gets a free ad for every paid ad. 
Ads tested 
Tom Riley, the office's public relations manager, said the ads were tested. The drug office drew criticism from the Partnership for not fully testing the earlier campaign.
At the same time, the drug office starts implementing drug czar John P. Walters' directive to focus on marijuana. The drug office said $41 million of its spending through January -- $60 million if matching ads are included -- will be devoted to anti-marijuana ads.
The first ads, from Havas' Euro RSCG MVBMS, are aimed at parents and feature children telling a parent it's OK to ask about what their children are doing, because it helps prevent drug abuse. 
Criticism remains 
Allen St. Pierre, executive director of National Organization for Marijuana Legalization Foundation, suggested that the drug/terror ads create a false paradigm that terrorism is caused by drugs and not by the illegality of drugs. 
"What the government wants to do is make the message louder, but it's no more effective," he said.
The Partnership has also criticized the extent of attention to marijuana, saying a more balanced approach to several drugs would be preferable. The drug office, however, calls the difference between marijuana and so-called harder drugs "a false dichotomy," noting the focus of the campaign is entry-level drugs. 
		
Anti-Marijuana Ads From Ogilvy Target Youth and 'Influencers'
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Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on September 19, 2002 at 18:27:22 PT
Congress needs to 
disband the DEA.Didn't the Bush Administration give theTaliban 46 million dollars in May of 2001? I guess that isn't funding terrorism.
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