cannabisnews.com: O'Reilly Factor: Interview with Mark Stepnoski










  O'Reilly Factor: Interview with Mark Stepnoski

Posted by CN Staff on November 18, 2002 at 12:22:33 PT
Partial Transcript O'Reilly Factor, Nov. 15, 2002 
Source: Fox News.com  

O'REILLY: In the "Personal Story" segment tonight, former NFL star Mark Stepnoski, who played for Dallas and Houston, has come out of the marijuana closet and is on the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. He joins us now from Dallas. I bet you're getting some stares down there in Texas, aren't you? 
MARK STEPNOSKI, NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE REFORM OF MARIJUANA LAWS:(UNINTELLIGIBLE)... O'REILLY: People surprised? STEPNOSKI: So far, so good. The feedback thus far has been very positive.O'REILLY: Were you using pot while you were playing? STEPNOSKI: Yes, I had. You know, as an adult, I fully believe in NORML's, you know, belief in responsible use by adults. O'REILLY: OK. SO when you were playing for the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Oilers, you were -- now, were you using it on a daily basis? STEPNOSKI: No. No. It was just, you know, occasional responsible use. O'REILLY: OK. Did they drug test you back then? STEPNOSKI: Yes, drug testing's been a policy of the NFL for several years now. O'REILLY: How'd you beat it? STEPNOSKI: Just by not taking the drug prior to the test. O'REILLY: OK. So you had it in your bloodstream for like two or three days. Is that what it was? STEPNOSKI: You know, it was just a case of not, you know, using the drug prior to getting tested. Again, you know, it all boils down to responsible use. O'REILLY: OK. Most of the teammates using pot as well? STEPNOSKI: I can't really say. You know, that would be purely speculation on my part. O'REILLY: But you knew some who were, obviously. STEPNOSKI: In some respects, you know, sports leagues are a microcosm of society. So, certainly, there will be some drug use in the sports leagues, yes. O'REILLY: Yes, because I know, in the NBA, it's very, very common. They don't drug test for marijuana there. STEPNOSKI: Now, in the "New York Times" today, there's a report. It says nine-million Americans a year drive while under the influence of illegal drugs, and you have to assume that marijuana is one of the major ones there.Does that give you pause? STEPNOSKI: Yes, it does. However, I would be more concerned about the amount of drunk driving taking place in America. I think that, you know, while driving under the influence of any drug is not a good idea, I certainly think, as far as priorities, drunk driving should be at the top of the list.O'REILLY: But, you know, the marijuana initiatives have been voted down in all states so far -- Arizona, Nevada, and Ohio this time around -- primarily because people don't want more people behind the wheel with their consciousness altered. But you and your fellow celebrities, Willie Nelson, Bill Maher, Hunter Thompson, and Director Robert Altman, you want marijuana to be more available, and I think you might have a debate there on the part of most Americans no agreeing with you. What do you think? STEPNOSKI: Well, initially, we would like to see small -- the possession of small amounts of marijuana decriminalized, and, ultimately, our goal is legalization, and... O'REILLY: Right. STEPNOSKI: ... certainly, a majority of Americans do not favor arresting and jailing marijuana smokers. O'REILLY: No, I think you're right there, and I'm for decriminalization, use in your own home. You take it outside. I'd fine the heck out of you. But I think you guys overlook the danger behind the car and also the danger to children because, if it's available in the 7-Eleven, you know some guys are going to go down there and buy a whole bunch of weed and support their weed habit by selling it to children. It's much easier to get if every 7-Eleven sells it. STEPNOSKI: Well, at the same time, though, in a recent government- sponsored survey of 17- and 18-year-olds, 85 percent said that marijuana would be easy to acquire. So, even though marijuana is illegal right now, it's fairly ubiquitous among minors. O'REILLY: Yes, that's true. But it would be even more so among 12- and 13-year-olds because there the market would be concentrated. Instead now, it's older teenagers and college students. But anyone under 21 would not be able to buy it, so the market would dip down to them. And also what is very interesting is, in rehabilitation clinics, teenagers on marijuana are more than every other substance including alcohol combined.Doesn't that give you pause, Mr. Stepnoski? STEPNOSKI: It does not give me pause if you consider the statistics. Less than 10 percent of first-time smokers of marijuana continue to use the drug.O'REILLY: Yes, but that's a Soros study, and I don't believe that for a second. But the study that we know is that more teenagers are in rehab for pot than any other drug, including alcohol. I'll give you the last word. STEPNOSKI: Well, I really don't know what they would be rehabbing for. It's not... O'REILLY: They want to stop smoking pot all the time and being intoxicated, sir. STEPNOSKI: It is not an addictive drug. It's far less dangerous than the legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco. O'REILLY: All right. Check it out. You might want to rethink it. But we appreciate you coming on. (END)TRANSCRIPT: Mark Stepnoski, NORML Advisory Board on “O’Reilly Factor” Fox News Channel - November 15, 2002.GUESTS: Mark StepnoskiHEADLINE: Personal Story Interview with Mark StepnoskiNewshawk: Nicholas Thimmesch II - http://www.norml.org/Source: FoxNews.comAired: Friday, November 15, 2002Copyright 2002 Fox News Network, Inc.Contact: comments foxnews.com Website: http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/O'Reilly Factor: Pot Ads in New York City http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12704.shtmlCannabisNews - NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml

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Comment #19 posted by DdC on November 19, 2002 at 11:24:01 PT
Nazification of America Ain't Just Talk Anymore...
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 05:20:58 -0500
From: ARON KAY Subject: DUMBEST SHOW ON EARTH!!!
http://dumbya.com/Subject: The Nazification of America--Step Three
http://www.hermes-press.com/nazification_step3.htmSubject: The New Enlightenment
http://www.hermes-press.com/index.htmlSubject: Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election
http://www.gregpalast.com/unprecedented.htm
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on November 19, 2002 at 10:20:37 PT
John Tyler 
Thank you! I like to make web pages. It's fun for me to do. When the news is slow that's what I do to keep busy. Everyone should learn how to make a personal web page I think. I taught myself and it has been a long strange trip learning how to do it all but fun none the same.
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Comment #17 posted by John Tyler on November 19, 2002 at 10:13:03 PT
Off topic but,
FoM, your other web pages are wonderful.  
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Comment #16 posted by FoM on November 19, 2002 at 09:44:51 PT
druid
That is terrible news but I expected it to pass. They've wanted controls on the Internet and because of 9-11 they've taken advantage of the situation and now we must be very careful. People are afraid. 
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Comment #15 posted by druid on November 19, 2002 at 08:08:19 PT:
Secret U.S. court OKs electronic spying
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-966311.htmlWASHINGTON--A secretive federal court on Monday granted police broad authority to monitor Internet use, record keystrokes and employ other surveillance methods against terror and espionage suspects. 
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on November 18, 2002 at 21:43:48 PT
An Article About JFK and Drug Use
Hi Everyone,This isn't about Cannabis or Drug Policy just about Kennedy's use of drugs so I put it on my personal page because I found it interesting. Thought some of you might want to read it too.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/jfk.htm
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on November 18, 2002 at 19:27:29 PT
I Thought This was Interesting
Lennon's Dope Box Goes Under Hammer in BritainMon Nov 18, 2002LONDON (Reuters) - An ornate box that former Beatle John Lennon used to store his marijuana is expected to fetch up to 25,000 pounds ($39,480) at auction in London Tuesday.  The leather, barrel-shaped box, decorated with Middle Eastern-style pipes, goes under the hammer with other Fab Four memorabilia. Auction house Cooper Owen said Lennon used the "stash box" during the 1960s to hide his drugs from housekeepers at his home Surrey, southern England. Among the star lots are two rare recordings of Lennon talking to his stepdaughter Kyoko -- his wife Yoko Ono's daughter from an earlier marriage. Each tape is estimated to sell for at least 60,000 pounds($93,340). Other lots include a drum owned by McCartney and a Christmas card Lennon wrote days before his 1980 murder in New York City. Reuters/Variety 
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on November 18, 2002 at 19:22:27 PT
AlvinCool
I have a tempermental computer. It has a fit when I use Real Video. I tried to install it today and it caused problems. I had to uninstall it a while back because it was not working right. I think I'm doomed when it comes to using Real Video but Media Player works fine but I can't get C-Span using it. I gave it a good try though.Hi Nuevo Mexican good to see you! Hope you were able to see the video.
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Comment #11 posted by AlvinCool on November 18, 2002 at 18:51:05 PT
Walters
Hey FOM download Realplayer if you want to use C-Span
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Comment #10 posted by mayan on November 18, 2002 at 18:38:03 PT
progress...
STEPNOSKI: ... certainly, a majority of Americans do not favor arresting and jailing marijuana smokers. O'REILLY: No, I think you're right there, and I'm for decriminalization, use in your own home. You take it outside. I'd fine the heck out of you.If a bone-head like O'Reilly makes a statement like this, we must be making some progress! Stepnoski is a saint compared to many of the past & current Dallas Cowboys.Countdown to Tyranny -Bush Homeland Security bill nears passage by US Congress: Police-state measure threatens democratic rights 
http://www.gooff.com/news/read.asp?ID=1531Perspective: Say hello to Big Brother:
http://news.com.com/2010-1069-966164.htmlSecret Court OKs Broad Wiretap Powers:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=578&u=/nm/20021118/ts_nm/attack_surveillance_dc&printer=1A Snooper's Dream: 
http://cryptome.org/tia-wet.htmOsama is Under Your Bed:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_02/11.19A.wrp.obl.bed.htmVOTE SCAM ARCHIVE:
http://www.voxnyc.com/archives/00000058.htmHow 'Conspiracy Kooks' Became More Credible Than the White House: 
http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/2002/11/18_Credibility.htmlDEBUNKING THE MYTH OF 9/11:
http://www.antiwar.com/justin/justincol.htmlThe People's Investigation of 9/11:
http://www.911pi.com/
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Comment #9 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 18, 2002 at 16:19:41 PT
Walters lies, lies, lies.....
And the callers are great, they are educated, C-news quality callers, I'm so proud to here Walters called a liar to his face, and all his propaganda refuted gives me hope, makes me soooooo happy, I think I'll celebrate our divinity!
I was going to let everyone know it was on, but you were already on top of it FOM! Peace!
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on November 18, 2002 at 16:05:35 PT
C-Span Video John Walters
Hi Everyone,I can't get the program to work for me but some of you might be able to get it if you want so here it is!Monday, November 18, 2002John Walters, Office for National Drug Control Policy, Director WatchTopic: Discuss the failure of several local drug referendums in the 2002 election and if that reflects a change in national attitude towards drug use.Length: 45 min. http://www.c-span.org/journal/
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Comment #7 posted by goneposthole on November 18, 2002 at 15:41:06 PT
Bill O'Reilly
Read the book entitled Maverick by Phil Jackson, the coach of the LA Lakers.You are in for an eye-opener.
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Comment #6 posted by The GCW on November 18, 2002 at 14:56:43 PT
We got Him to say some goooood things...
STEPNOSKI: ... certainly, a majority of Americans do not favor arresting and jailing marijuana smokers. O'REILLY: No, I think you're right there, and I'm for decriminalization, use in your own home. &STEPNOSKI: Well, at the same time, though, in a recent government- sponsored survey of 17- and 18-year-olds, 85 percent said that marijuana would be easy to acquire. So, even though marijuana is illegal right now, it's fairly ubiquitous among minors. O'REILLY: Yes, that's true. THE LONGER PROHIBITIONISTSSS SPEAK, THE MORE THEY WILL CORRECT THEMSELVES.The good ones, anyway...
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Comment #5 posted by DdC on November 18, 2002 at 14:14:12 PT
O'Really?
If cops busted those selling booze to minors instead of spending their time poisoning nonpsychoactive ditchweed bird habitat, maybe booze wouldn't be the #1 killer of young adults. Now kids have access. Making it legal behind the counter means a deterrent to kids using. Why would someone risk jail or fines selling it. Now its $300 - $400 an ounce and if anything would create crime to buy drugs its prohibitions inflated prices. Lowering it or freely growing it at home eliminates the incentive to commit a crime to obtain enough money. I know of no ganja advocation groups wanting it legal for driving or kids. Always the red herrings to the red herrings. Legalization removes the incentive to sell it for huge profits. That comes from the risk. Eliminate the risk, eliminate the huge profits and prices. D.E.A.th mongers always seem to take the negative results of prohibition and use it to blame the ganja. Hose you down with water and fine you for being wet. I had a monger tell me people have died from alcohol overdose because the ganja kept them from throwing up. Don't deal with reality, its easier to profit on prohibition. These same idiots compare organic ganja to chemical tobacco and shrug off the 400,000 deaths. Not even mentioning the chemicals. Blame the tobacco farmers instead of the middlemen killers and wod junkie D.E.A.th merchants. Sell the Bill of Rights to the highest bidders or remove it from citizens and give it to International corporations poisoning for profits. How sick is a culture that poisons and cages families to maintain the dusfunction of prohibition? Ask O'Really...Peace, Love and Liberty or D.E.A.th
DdCemail: reefer madness compilations
http://my.marijuana.com/article.php?sid=4944&mode=nested&order=0&thold=-1
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Comment #4 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on November 18, 2002 at 13:38:31 PT

Think, Bill
--But I think you guys overlook the danger behind the car and also the danger to children because, if it's available in the 7-Eleven, you know some guys are going to go down there and buy a whole bunch of weed and support their weed habit by selling it to children. It's much easier to get if every 7-Eleven sells it.--  Do we see a lot of adults buying mass quantities of alcohol and reselling it to children so they can afford to drink?
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Comment #3 posted by Nasarius on November 18, 2002 at 13:18:13 PT

Proving once again...
that O'Reilly is a fscking idiot.
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Comment #2 posted by p4me on November 18, 2002 at 12:58:39 PT

It takes a fool to support prohibition.
Prohibition kills. Prohibitionist are murderers. Prohition corrupts. Prohibition is the fascist way and that has got to stop. Goddamn George Busch and his black parrots. It takes a fool to support cannabis prohibition.There was a big MMJ case in the UK where the wall for compassionate use when documented has now opened its gate. This is the DE messageboard thread on this huge GRAND OPENING. http://213.169.220.28/upload/showthread.php?s=&postid=18486#post18486I wat to copy a paragraph of drugwars.com that is now on the homepage.Second Federal Medical Marijuana Convictionby Ken Nortonposted at DrugWar.com Nov. 14, 2002snip-Keith Alden, a Vietnam Veteran and valid medical marijuana patient and grower pursuant to California state law, The Compassionate Use Act of 1996, has been defending himself against felony charges for cultivation of marijuana in Federal District Court in San Francisco this week. Barry Portman, Federal Public Defender is providing legal counsel. For the charges Keith Alden has been facing a punishment of a mandatory minimum of 20 years to life imprisonment.  http://www.drugwar.com/fedmedmarpros2.shtm1
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on November 18, 2002 at 12:51:38 PT

Kids are primarily in rehab
because they are forced into treatment to avoid jail type settings. Most of those kids in rehab did not choose to stop what they were doing and to choose this avenue.Cannabis is getting more and more mainstream.
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