cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- January 22, 2004





NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- January 22, 2004
Posted by CN Staff on January 22, 2004 at 20:32:28 PT
Weekly Press Release
Source: NORML
Teens Reject White House Anti-Drug Ads -- NORML Demands CBS Pull Forthcoming Anti-Pot Ads From Super Bowl Broadcast January 22, 2004 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: White House sponsored anti-drug ads targeting marijuana and alleging that recreational drug use funds terrorism fail to alter teens' perceptions of pot or reduce its use among young people, according to a four-year evaluation performed by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania and commissioned by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
"There is little evidence of direct favorable Campaign effects on youth, either for the Marijuana Initiative period or for the Campaign as a whole," the evaluation concluded. "Youth who were more exposed to Campaign messages are no more likely to hold favorable beliefs or intentions about marijuana than are youth less exposed to those messages, both during the Marijuana Initiative period and over the entire course of the Campaign."Since 1997, Congress has spent more than $1.2 billion in taxpayer dollars and matching funds on a federal media campaign, titled "The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign," which produces and buys air time for public service announcements condemning drug use, particularly marijuana. Despite the campaign's consistently poor performance, lawmakers last fall voted to continue funding the program at a cost of approximately $150 million per year.As in previous years, some of that funding will pay to air public service announcements produced by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) during the Super Bowl broadcast - a decision that NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre says violates CBS Network policy."CBS has a stated policy of not running ads on 'controversial issues of public importance,'" St. Pierre said. "If CBS is to be consistent, then they must also adhere to this policy when it comes to the ONDCP's ads. Marijuana decriminalization currently enjoys 72% support among the American public, according to the latest CNN/Time polling data. Clearly this is a 'controversial issue of public importance' that divides American public opinion, and any public service announcement on the subject that promotes only one side of this issue must be considered an issue ad."To date, more than 3,500 e-mails have been sent to CBS through NORML's website urging the network to drop the federal anti-drug ads. "These ads are nothing more than government propaganda," St. Pierre said. "And it's propaganda that the federal government's own reviews admit is a miserable failure."This latest evaluation by the Annenberg Public Policy Center is the sixth major review performed by the university think-tank, which has consistently found the federal ad campaign to be ineffective. According to a January 2003 report, adolescents who most often viewed the White House anti-drug ads demonstrated "no statistically significant ... improvements in beliefs and attitudes," and tended to "move more markedly in a 'pro-drug' direction as they aged than those who were exposed" to fewer advertisements. Following the release of that report, the White House announced that they would no longer fund the Center to perform bi-annual evaluations.Future reviews of the White House's Media Campaign will likely be conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free America, a federally funded communications organization that co-produces many of the Campaign's anti-drug ads.For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of the NORML Foundation at (202) 483-5500. Text of the study, entitled "Evaluation of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign: 2003 Report of Findings," is available online at:http://www.nida.nih.gov/despr/westat/Information on NORML's e-mail campaign to CBS is available online at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=4749626&type=MLDL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5913Ad Rejections by CBS Raise Policy Questionshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18179.shtmlStudy Faults White House Anti-Drug Adshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18172.shtmlNORML Issues Pot Report Card For 2004 Presidential Candidates January 22, 2004 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: NORML released its 2004 Presidential Candidate Report Card this week, which profiles the positions of each of the major Democratic candidates on various marijuana-related issues.The Report Card is available online at NORML's website at: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5895"Marijuana law reform promises to be a pivotal and highly publicized issue this election," NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup said. "NORML's 2004 Presidential Candidate Report Card is a quick reference guide to the candidates' positions on decriminalization, the legalization of medicinal marijuana, and the repeal of the drug conviction exclusionary provision to the Higher Education Act."Democratic front-runner John Kerry (D-MA) received one thumbs up (for his stated support for the use of medicinal marijuana), and two thumbs in the middle (for his mild support for decriminalization, and his partial support for repealing a 1998 law that bars convicted marijuana and drug offenders from receiving financial student aid) from NORML. John Edwards (D-NC), who finished second in this week's Iowa caucus, received three thumbs down. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who finished third, received two thumbs down for his views opposing decriminalization and medical marijuana, but received a thumbs up for his support for abolishing the drug conviction exclusionary amendment to the Higher Education Act.For a complete listing of candidates' positions, please visit: http://www.norml.org/DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5912Ad Highlights Presidential Candidates MMJ Positionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18171.shtmlSource: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: January 22, 2004Copyright: 2004 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Jan. 15, 2004http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18145.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Jan. 03, 2004http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18110.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- Dec. 23, 2003http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18037.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by ekim on January 23, 2004 at 08:37:30 PT
Leap--Judge Gray will be at WAMM on Jan 24
http://www.leap.cc/events/events.phpJan 23 04 Libertarian Party of Monterey 06:30 PM Jim Gray Monterey California USA  LEAP Speaker Judge Jim Gray of the Orange County Circuit Court is the guest of the Monterey Libertarians and the organization FED-UP. Location: Anthony's Steak House/Del Monte Express at 2030 N. Fremont, Monterey, California. Jan 23 04 KION Radio 04:00 PM Jim Gray Monterey California USA 
 LEAP Speaker Judge Jim Gray will discuss issues related to drug prohibition at 4 pm on KION Radio, 1460 AM, Monterey. Jan 24 04 WAMM Conference 11:00 AM Jim Gray Santa Cruz California USA  LEAP Speaker Judge Jim Gray will hold a conference with WAMM (Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana) leader Valerie Corral at 815 Almar, #2, Santa Cruz, California. Visit the WAMM web site at http://www.wamm.org 
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Comment #9 posted by Patrick on January 23, 2004 at 07:15:43 PT
What a Rush
Rush's attorney hits the nail on the head but leave it to our government to not get it.In an attempt to head off charges, Limbaugh’s attorney, Roy Black, wrote prosecutors on Dec. 11 to suggest a drug intervention program without a guilty plea.“I believe this proposal would be in keeping with the public interest,” Black wrote. “The public is better served by treating addicts as patients rather than criminals.”Prosecutor James Martz wrote back Dec. 15 that an intervention program alone was not sufficient. He wrote that prosecutors had enough evidence to support more than 10 felony counts.From:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4037128/Again...“The public is better served by treating addicts as patients rather than criminals.”“The public is better served by treating addicts as patients rather than criminals.”“The public is better served by treating addicts as patients rather than criminals.”If Tommy Chong can do time for selling glass pipes perhaps its only fair that Rush get punished for buying $10,000 pills.
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Comment #8 posted by SystemGoneDown on January 23, 2004 at 06:38:07 PT
This AD...
doesn't need to effect kids. It's main purpose is to reassure all Americans that the marijuana issue is still not worth fighting for. Americans are drunk footbal watchers who accept that marijuana is unjustifiably illegal. But alcohol makes them accept it and cope with it. This ad just installs the control they have over their mind. 
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Comment #7 posted by jose melendez on January 23, 2004 at 05:43:08 PT
It's official: drug war fails
from: http://www.reconsider.org/drug_enforcement_and_crime.htm#_ednref38"It is well documented that many within government and the criminal justice system believe drug enforcement to be an effective crime control measure. The empirical findings from this study stand in stark contrast to the traditional view.  The results suggest that once you control for the effects of other determinants of crime, drug enforcement is positively (and significantly) associated with higher levels of both violent and property crime. "
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Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on January 23, 2004 at 05:27:25 PT:
SNAFU principle, in operation
Robet Anton Wilson once wrote about the "SNAFU principle of Communication". In a nutshell (from the following website:http://palaceofreason.com/Essays/giantism.html)* 1)The number of people who have a stake in deceiving or under-informing the people on top is such that the folks in the mahogany-paneled offices haven't got a prayer of knowing what's going on below them, 
2)Even if they knew it all down to the last detail, the mahogany-office guys would have to be considerably smarter than Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell and Albert Einstein rolled together to understand and direct what's going on below them.* Now, friends, did you catch this part of the article?*This latest evaluation by the Annenberg Public Policy Center is the sixth major review performed by the university think-tank, which has consistently found the federal ad campaign to be ineffective. According to a January 2003 report, adolescents who most often viewed the White House anti-drug ads demonstrated "no statistically significant ... improvements in beliefs and attitudes," and tended to "move more markedly in a 'pro-drug' direction as they aged than those who were exposed" to fewer advertisements. Following the release of that report, the White House announced that they would no longer fund the Center to perform bi-annual evaluations.Future reviews of the White House's Media Campaign will likely be conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free America, a federally funded communications organization that co-produces many of the Campaign's anti-drug ads.*Let's see here; The DrugWarriors want to find out how well they are doing, so they hire an outside, non-governmental agency with no interest other than monetary ones to do a report.And what do the reports find? That they are failing. FAILING.So, what do the DrugWarriors do? Fire the agency that gave them a bad report card and hire someone who couldn't help but provide them with a glowing review - The PFDFA. Which dines at the same government trough the ONDCP does.So, instead of actually learning by 'negative feedback' that keeps the process from spinning out of control, the anti's propaganda machine will continue to be fed improper feedback telling it that it's just fine when it's actually had all the wheels come off. All to maintain political homogeneity, so everyone is all on the same sheet of prohibitionist music.This is like shopping for a doctor that will you tell that you *don't* have a life-threatening disease, after 6 previous ones have said you do. All done with our taxpayer's dollars.
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Comment #5 posted by Kegan on January 23, 2004 at 02:43:47 PT
News From Ottawa
Newshawk: CMAP ( http://www.mapinc.org/cmap )
Pubdate: Sunday January 18, 2004
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Contact: oped ott.sunpub.com
Website: http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml
Author: Nelly ElayoubiA pipe dream for OttawaKid's book part of effort to help start medicinal pot clubBy NELLY ELAYOUBI -- Ottawa SunA GROUP of Ottawa medicinal pot users is working to establish a Compassion
Club by the summer to help people with medical conditions access good, clean
cannabis. "We want the community to know that what we want to set up is not
some little hash club. It's something to help the community where Health
Canada has failed," said Russell Barth, a federal medical marijuana licence
holder, who is spearheading a group trying to establish the club.Barth smokes about a gram a day to treat the pain, spasticity, insomnia,
anxiety, and nausea caused by his fibromyalgia.Barth's crusade started after a friend took off with $300 of his money when
he was supposed to get Barth pot from a "street source" in September 2002.He never came back and Barth had no money and no medicine.A group running an informal club in Ottawa came to his aid and he's since
vowed to establish a proper club in the capital."We don't want to have something on Rideau St. with psychedelic paintings
and a big pot leaf in the window ... we want to have a discreet little
office and we'd like to establish a secure, reliable source," he said.He and several medicinal pot users want to model the club after ones in
Victoria, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. It would operate as a "drop-in
centre" where people could buy "clean" and "organically grown" pot in a safe
environment.DOCTOR'S PROOFBarth explains members would have to have proof from a doctor that they
require the weed for medicinal purposes.Last April, he and his roommate, Christine Lowe, a medical pot licence
holder who suffers from epilepsy, published a book, Mommy's Funny Medicine,
to teach kids about medical marijuana.They did this with the help of Ottawa marijuana activist Mike Foster, the
owner of the Crosstown Traffic store on Bank St. The book costs $10, with
half going to start the Compassion Club in Ottawa.Barth also wants the club to be recognized as a non-profit organization
which will be run by volunteers.While he hopes the club isn't shut down by cops, he isn't too optimistic. He
recognizes police have to abide by the law, and said he wants to see the
laws changed to decriminalize pot.Anyone who wants a copy of the book, or an application for the club, can go
to Crosstown Traffic, 593-C Bank St. Phone 234-1210 for details.
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Comment #4 posted by E_Johnson on January 23, 2004 at 02:40:21 PT
They're practically recruting ads
"According to a January 2003 report, adolescents who most often viewed the White House anti-drug ads demonstrated "no statistically significant ... improvements in beliefs and attitudes," and tended to "move more markedly in a 'pro-drug' direction as they aged than those who were exposed" to fewer advertisements"Bush does half our work for us. I've said that since the beginning.Everywhere I look on the Internet, I see big green ONDCP marijuana leaves.The PDFA is made of advertising professionals. You'd think they'd be smart enough to understand that waving it in everyone's faces all the time will make them tired of being warned and interested in rebelling.They're as dumb as Communists!!!
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Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on January 23, 2004 at 01:51:36 PT
Clergy Cultivating Cannabis
Al Gore III, Art Garfunkel, and now two priests who AREN'T pedophiles - are these people really the enemy in our goverment's war??
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/23/1074732596591.html
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Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 22, 2004 at 21:42:14 PT:
Interesting
Many minors and their parents consistently blow off the government's efforts to force everyone to stop using marijuana. Think the politicians will ever get the hint? I suggest a ntionwide message to the citizens of the US to keep voting politicians out of office until they get the message, "Were tired of the government's interference into our lives."
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Comment #1 posted by ekim on January 22, 2004 at 20:55:08 PT
Please someone please tell us about Normlcast
i too would like to know what is being said on the radio station. Great peice on Kerrys site Verg. who has the picture of puff the magic dragon---------Well another song writer may be joining the Dennis Kucinich Song Stable. Hello Darkness my old freind, Im gona help to put and end.To the Prohibition of a freind, and stop the sounds of si ha haa lence.Richard Cowan has peice on England class c i wish that Mr Soros would fund a real report on just what Holland has done the last 30 years, and to gather a report on Ann Arbor MI and its 32 years tick law for small amounts. The report would blow the op away. No way could anyone go against the thousands apon thousands if not millions now that have gone to Holland and been thru Ann Arbor in the last 33 years. 
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