cannabisnews.com: Drug Policy Reform Advocacy Grows! Drug Policy Reform Advocacy Grows! Posted by FoM on July 06, 1999 at 10:26:56 PT The Razor Wire - May & June 1999 Source: The November Coalition Leading black intellectuals and public health advocates have joined drug policy reform advocates to criticize Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey for "a series of inaccurate and misleading statements" he has made over the last year. The individuals sent their letter listing the General's misstatements on February 25, 1999, the same day McCaffrey testified before the House Committee on Government Oversight.The letter signers include Harvard professors Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Dr. Orlando Patterson, and Dr. William Julius Wilson, as well as the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, the National Black Police Association, the National Women's Health Network, and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.Kevin Zeese, President of Common Sense for Drug Policy, who circulated the letter, said, "As the father of two boys, I find it deeply disturbing that the Drug Czar is making these misstatements while spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars urging parents to tell the truth about drugs. General McCaffrey should set a better example."February 24, 1999General Barry McCaffreyOffice of National Drug Control PolicyWashington, D.C.Dear General McCaffrey,As academics, journalists, public health experts, and community leaders, we are deeply troubled by a series of inaccurate and misleading statements you have made as Drug Czar.In particular, we are concerned by statements you have made on the following:Needle Exchange ProgramsIn March 1998, you described needle exchange programs as "magnets for all social ills," including violence, drug dealers and prostitution. Yet in study after study, scientific researchers have found that needle exchanges reduce the transmission of HIV without increasing drug use. Also, in April, you claimed that two Canadian needle exchange studies showed that needle exchanges were ineffective in reducing the spread of HIV and may have worsened the problem. Missing from your analysis was the fact that Canada, unlike the United States, allows needles to be purchased without a prescription and as a result the Canadian study did not include more affluent and healthier addicts who were less likely to engage in the riskiest activities.Your statements so disturbed the Canadian scientists that they felt compelled to publish an op-ed in The New York Times to repudiate the misuse of their findings.Medical MarijuanaOn August 15, 1996, you said, "There is not a shred of scientific evidence that shows that smoked marijuana is useful or needed. This is not medicine. This is a cruel hoax."Yet exhaustive research, including numerous studies by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other authoritative institutions, have concluded that marijuana possesses therapeutic value and effectively treats chemotherapy-related nausea and appetite loss.Even after the New England Journal of Medicine, which represents the mainstream medical community, editorialized in support of medical marijuana, you have made no statements recognizing the scientific research backing the medicinal value of marijuana.International Models of Drug ControlOn July 24, 1998 the Chicago Tribune quoted you as saying: "The murder rate in Holland is double that in the United States...That's drugs."In fact, the Dutch homicide rate is only one-fourth that of the United States. The Dutch rate has never approached, much less exceeded, that of the United States.When you claimed that the Dutch murder rate was higher, you blamed Holland's drug policies. Yet when confronted with the facts, you did not suggest that U.S. drug policies are the cause of our higher homicide rate.The media and the public rely on your office to avoid unfounded speculation, to recognize and disseminate scientific consensus when it exists, and to provide, when available, material facts that could help us deal realistically and effectively with our very real problems of addiction. Therefore we urge you and other national leaders to provide the news media and the public with the most accurate scientific findings available. We realize that speaking forthrightly requires leadership and courage in the current ideological atmosphere but, given your distinguished record in the military, the public has reason to expect nothing less.http://www.november.org/1203.html Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by BigAb on July 07, 1999 at 04:41:29 PT: Gen. BigMouth If I Had to lie as much and as often.....I'd walk on my hands , shave my butt and teach it to talk...that way we'd all KNOW we were getting the straight "Poop" from the Generals "mouth" ????? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Pat on July 07, 1999 at 03:02:07 PT McCaffry is (in own words) "Frequently Wrong, but> >> Never in Doubt!"You can search the MAP files, and find other mottos that Gen. McCaffry has claimed his, too, such as: ~"Let's try to make America drug free."The MAP site is excellent, and has an excellent search feature. [For instance, I searched for the key words: marijuana diabetes and 35 files were returned.] It also highlights most of the key words, in the files it returns.McCaffry's gem of a motto: "Frequently Wrong, but Never In Doubt" can be found at this MAP file, below.Thanks, Pat.http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98/n711/a01.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dr. Ganj on July 06, 1999 at 21:19:47 PT Cheers To Tom And Jean!! The truth is so strong, and exposing a liar is even better!If I lied like that, I would would have plastic surgery on my face, and leave the country.It's getter closer to the end of this failed drug war, and it's because we have been lied to long enough, and we won't take it into the next century!Dr. Ganj http://www.norml.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 06, 1999 at 18:52:07 PT: Thanks Tom & Jean! Thanks for all your hard work the both of you! It is really great to see positive comments. How can we lose anymore?Peace, FoM!PS: Tom I got Steve Kubby's video up already. I have to download the player to see it. I haven't done that since this was reformated and I'll try later tonight if the storms stay away! [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Tom Paine on July 06, 1999 at 18:38:56 PT USA versus Holland. CHARTS to expose McCzar lies! http://forums.al.com/forums/get/politics38/1085/10/2.html#hollandhttp://forums.al.com/forums/get/politics39/1130.html#hollandhttp://members.tripod.com/~FOM2/index.htm#hollandhttp://gnv.fdt.net/~jrdawson/charts.htm#hollandhttp://homepages.go.com/homepages/m/a/r/marthag1/index.htm#holland*DRUG WAR TABLES AND CHARTS. [Click table of contents (TOC) names,not TOC URLs. Several INTERNATIONAL charts, too. Many links].| [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Jeaneous on July 06, 1999 at 14:26:39 PT: Truth I am very pleased to see these people call McCaffrey on his lies. I believe we will see more and more of his lies revealed to the public. The citizens should be told the truth on these issues so that we may learn a better way to deal with all drug matters, medicinal or recreational. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: