The Vietnamese National Assembly is considering legislation that would make drug use an administrative violation -- not a crime.

Drug Truth Network Update: 4:20 Drug War NEWS from 90.1 FM in Houston and dozens of radio affiliates in the US and Canada & on the web at www.kpft.org.

We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US and Canada.

4:20 Drug War NEWS 05/12/08 to 05/18/08 now online (3:00 ea:) Select online at www.drugtruth.net

Sun - Steven Wishnia gives 5 reason why pot will be legalized soon, (and 5 reasons why it will not.)

Sat - Sanho Tree of Institute for Policy Studies reports on situation in Colombia

Fri - Phil Smith reports on his trip to Mexico

Thu - Douglas Hiatt, Seattle attorney discusses the case of medical marijuana using patient who was denied a liver transplant.

Wed - Doug McVay with Drug War Facts + "Drug War Monkeys in Action"

Tue - Clarence Bradford 2 of 2

Mon - Clarence Bradford, former police chief of Houston, Democratic candidate for District Attorney 1 of 2

Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed (Now With Transcripts):

PLEASE, Check Out the Transcript with Dr. Donald Tasking of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/1842#comments

- Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Judge Pat Lycos, running for District Attorney

- Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Sanho Tree re Colombia, Phis Smith re Mexico

Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and at www.radio4all.net.

Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker:

Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform.

"Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer

Dean Becker
713-849-6869
www.drugtruth.net

Too hot to talk about it: As I stop by the 540 offices for a 2-4 minute follow-up visit this year, I always ask the aide if they had a chance to ask the boss for an opinion of the LEAP position. This week an aide to a Republican (naturally) said he did so at a staff meeting, giving the one minute summary of my 20 minute visit. = (Prohibition is chaos. Crime would decrease by half, no drug dealers, stop funding al-Qaeda, reduce gangs, stop wasting 70 billion and allow LE to focus on child predators, DUI & terrorists.) He said the whole group erupted for 10 minutes in a heated discussion. No one argued with the LEAP premise. Finally, the Congressman said that no matter what, the issue was too hot & drop it. No progress? Hmmmm.

But like my friend Peter Christ said, once you have heard the LEAP message, one can never read or hear about the topic, except thru the prism of the LEAP point of view.

Five Star Service: I attended a seminar/briefing hosted by the American Constitution Society on Friday. In speaking with one of their staff I was invited to write an oped for their blog read by 50,000. As the staffer & I chatted on the way to his meeting in a Senate room, it occurred to me to stop by Senator Webb’s office & say hi.

Webb’s principal judiciary aide was not there but I met his new assistant. I learned that there will be another hearing on the 2.3 million in prison next month. I asked him to consider LEAP speakers for the topic: How the WOD affects the number of people in prison. He said sure.

As I boarded the train, it occurred to me (like a thud = duh) of the KISS principle that I had not employed since my arrival in 2005. It is not enough to inform MOCs of LEAP. I need to give them concrete names & bios of potential witnesses.

Better late than never, LEAP is making up a list by subject area of who would be best to testify before a federal committee. When completed, I will hand deliver a copy of it to all members of the House and Senate judiciary committees.

Make a drug warrior squirm for only 15 dollars: On my birthday I attended the monthly breakfast at the conservative Leadership Institute. Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA) spoke & then had to rush off, as he had breakfast date with President Bush. The moderator allowed for one question. My hand shot up (and as you know I arrive early to grab the closest seat to the speaker) & I was called upon. ‘Congressman, we now have 2.3 million citizens behind bars, more than any country in the world. Is this a tribute to the efficiency of law enforcement and something to be proud of? Or does this situation trouble you?‘

‘Well, it is not something we should necessarily be proud of,’ he replied. He then began to babble about needing more faith-based prison programs to reduce recidivism.

Being only 12 feet away (4 meters), I could see in his face that he felt anguish and was conflicted. That is a start. Small steps.

I know that few of you reading this ever have the chance to confront a drug warrior politician & make them uncomfortable. That night I raised my glass of Crown, thought of you & hoped that the vicarious experience thru me was satisfying.

BTW, You may be asking, why not ask the Congressman a bold, direct question of why he supports the war on drugs in the face of all the negative consequences. This would really make him squirm…The answer is I am following my instincts. The moderator calls upon me almost every breakfast. If I make his guest too uncomfortable, I am sure he will never let me ask a question again.

The Unvarnished Truth About the Drug War From the Drug Truth Network:

- Pat Lycos, Republican DA Candiate of Houston joins us next Wednesday, live on the Cultural Baggage show -

(To downlad these 29:00 files, click on links below. To simply listen, go to www.drugtruth.net and select the arrow below the shows description.)

Cultural Baggage for 05/07/08 Clarence Bradford, the former police chief of Houston, Texas now running for District Attorney of Harris County on the Democratic ticker discusses the drug war with host Dean Becker a speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.
MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/1878/FDBCB_050708.mp3
TRANSCRIPT: (To be posted by Friday)

Century of Lies for 05/06/08 Douglas Hiatt a Seattle attorney discusses the death of Hep C patient Tim Garon who was refused a liver transplant because of his use of medical marijuana. Noted chemist Sasha Shulgin and his wife Ann discuss the passing of Dr. Albert Hofmann. Steven Wishnia gives the reasons why pot will soon be legal (and why it won't). Doug McVay with Drug War Facts MP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/1877/COL_050608.mp3
TRANSCRIPT: (to be posted Thursday Nite)

Chief Clarence Bradford: "We can't possibly hire enough officers to effectively deal with the drug problem in Houston, Harris County...". - Cultural Baggage 050708

PLEASE NOTE: We now have transcripts, potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization.

Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed, listen online at www.kpft.org:

- Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Judge Pat Lycos Rep Cand for DA, Harris County
- Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: TBD

Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and at www.radio4all.net.

We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US and Canada.

Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston. www.kpft.org

Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker: More than 55 Drug Policy Videos online)

Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform.

"Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer

Dean Becker
713-849-6869
www.drugtruth.net

Drug Truth Network Update: 4:20 Drug War NEWS from 90.1 FM in Houston and dozens of radio affiliates in the US and Canada & on the web at www.kpft.org.

We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US and Canada.

4:20 Drug War NEWS 05/05/08 to 05/11/08 now online (3:00 ea:) Select online at www.drugtruth.net

Sun - Sasha & Ann Shulgin discuss their friendship with Dr. Albert Hofmann

Sat - Congressman Barney Frank re history of drug war

Fri - Congressman Barney Frank re need to contact our elected officials

Thu - Corrupt Cop Story with Phil Smith + North Dakotan busted for Salvia

Wed - Drug War Facts with Doug McVay & Offical Government Truth with Winston Francis

Tue - Poppygate Report with Glenn Greenway

Mon - Congressman Barney Frank discusses two marijuana bills before Congress 1

Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed (Now With Transcripts):

PLEASE, Check Out the Transcript with Dr. Donald Tasking of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/1842#comments

- Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Clarence Bradford, Frm Police Chief of Houston, running for District Attorney

- Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Dr. Sasha & Ann Shulgin

Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and at www.radio4all.net.

Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker:

Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform.

"Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer

Dean Becker
713-849-6869
www.drugtruth.net

[Courtesy of LEAP]

Resistance is futile: “I agree we need to end the policy but how can we sell it to the District?”*

These words I heard during two of the seven presentations I gave today. They reflect the constant progress, if glacial speed, I have seen since late 2005.

What do I hear less of? “So, just let kids buy heroin like candy bars?!” “It is working a little bit” “Drug arrests do make a small dent!” “if we just kill every drug dealer” & my all-time favorite heard in several Republican offices, “Do you not believe that the state has an obligation to provide moral guidance? And taking drugs is immoral.”

As I have said, if the aides could vote, the War on Drugs is over today. Aides often do, to a greater or lesser degree, reflect the viewpoint of the MOC.

How does Howard motivate an aide to carry water to the boss? My presentation (now done 600+ times) has changed a bit, a little added, a little subtracted over two years. Below is how I know that the ‘package’ delivered made an impact.

From a staffer this week in response to my thank you note:

“Thank you so much, Howard!

I, too, enjoyed our chat. It was nice to see you again.

I look forward to expressing LEAP’s very compelling arguments to the congressman and look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Best regards,

Robert

P.S. Very nice horse! Also, it’s very cool that you speak Spanish, French and German! Quite impressive indeed…”

Riding a horse across North America and speaking three foreign languages have absolutely nothing to do with drug prohibition. What they provide is a ‘head snap’ and make the cowboy (and the issue) memorable. BTW, my new business card will have my name as Howard ‘Cowboy’ Wooldridge. I am tired of writing it on the back at conferences.

Small steps

The Unvarnished Truth About the Drug War From the Drug Truth Network:

- Clarence Bradford, DA Candiate of Houston joins us next Wednesday, live on the Cultural Baggage show -

(To downlad these 29:00 files, click on links below. To simply listen, go to www.drugtruth.net and select the arrow below the shows description.)

Cultural Baggage for 04/30/08 Tribute to Dr. Albert Hofmann with Dr. Rick Doblin, Phil Smith reports from Mexico, North Dakotan busted for salvia + Poppygate Report with Glenn Greenway
MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/1869/FDBCB_043008.mp3
TRANSCRIPT: (To be posted by Friday)

Century of Lies for 04/29/08 US Representative Barney Frank discusses marijuana bills now before US Congress + Fred Gardner seeks input from veterans, Corrupt Cop Story with Phil Smith & "Offical Government Truth" with Winston FrancisMP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/1868/COL_042908.mp3
TRANSCRIPT: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/1868#comments

US Rep Barney Frank: "I think when young people look at the system one of the great hypocrisies they see is this smoking marijuana, or using marijuana is theoretically illegal and then they see the number of so-called respectful people who do it--they don't see any logic to it. I think it's one of the things that leads to disrespect for the law." - Century of Lies 042908

PLEASE NOTE: We now have transcripts, potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization.

Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed, listen online at www.kpft.org:

- Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Clarence Bradford, Fmr Police Chief, DA Cand
- Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Sasha & Ann Shulgin

Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and at www.radio4all.net.

We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US and Canada.

Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston. www.kpft.org

Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker: More than 55 Drug Policy Videos online)

Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform.

"Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer

Dean Becker
713-849-6869
www.drugtruth.net

Police in New York City arrested more than 39,700 people on marijuana charges last year, and that is no fluke.

About 6:30 local time Wednesday evening, the latest outbreak of Mexican drug war violence occurred in Culiacán, the capital of the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, long a drug-producing regi

Doctors make the worst patients: Now in my 12th year in the struggle to end drug prohibition, I tell beginners to pace themselves, don’t go too fast all the time. ‘It is a marathon, not a 100 yard dash.’

My speed the nearly two years on the Hill? Like a 100 meter dash. LOL. This week I received a message from a LEAP member. It caused a profound reaction. It was the catalyst I needed to take my own advice. I rode Misty twice this week, instead of the usual once. I have slowed down = a bit closer to 40/week. My spirit needs the healing time. Thank you James.

This is my response to his note:

Hello James,

Just finished yet another 1 day conference here in DC. One of presenters came up on break to encourage me to continue the anti-prohibition message.

Earlier another panelist had told me to focus on what could be done in next 5 years. (and not waste time on the broad policy of drug prohibition).

I readily admit that those are the times which try my soul. Later, another VIP in a quiet voice (in private natch) said that my message is vital to be heard.

And I shoulder on. I thank you for the kind and encouraging words. I am a pretty tough hombre but this mentality in DC is a killer to the human spirit.

Off to the 5 - 7 reception. At least the food is usually excellent.

Cowboy

*********************PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE*************************

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #364 - Friday, 25 April 2008

This week the editorial pages of the Los Angeles Times featured a drug war debate between Jacob Sullum, who needs no introduction; and Charles "Cully" Stimson who was a local, state and federal prosecutor, a military prosecutor and defense attorney, and a deputy assistant secretary of Defense. Currently, he is a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

The series is MAP archived as follows:

Monday's DUST UP http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n414/a05.html

Tuesday's DUST UP http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n415/a09.html

Wednesday's DUST UP http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n418/a05.html

Thursday's DUST UP http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n421/a02.html

Friday's DUST UP http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08.n426.a01.html

Besides being targets for letters to the editor the series provides arguments we are likely to see as efforts are made for and against initiatives which will be on the ballot in various states.

Tuesday's DUST UP about medical marijuana presents arguments we may see about the Michigan initiative http://StopArrestingPatients.org/

Already one Detroit TV station has been broadcasting anti-initiative ads you may see at http://stoparrestingpatients.org/video.html

The other OPEDs present arguments we may see used for or against the California's initiative, the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act of 2008 http://www.drugpolicy.org/statebystate/california/nora/

**********************************************************************

Style guides for writing effective letters to the editor are available at MAP's Media Activism Center:

http://www.mapinc.org/resource/#guides

**********************************************************************

Prepared by: The MAP Media Activism Team -- www.mapinc.org/resource

The Unvarnished Truth About the Drug War From the Drug Truth Network:

- US Representative Barney Frank joins us next Tuesday, live on the Century of Lies show to discuss his new marijuana bill -

(To downlad these 29:00 files, click on links below. To simply listen, go to www.drugtruth.net and select the arrow below the shows description.)

Cultural Baggage for 04/23/08 Norm Kent of NORML at 420 Fest, Dan Bernath of MPP, Doug McVay with Drug War Facts, Philppe Lucas of VICS & Eddy Lepp - exonerated of largest ever DEA MJ bust
MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/1860/FDBCB_042308.mp3
TRANSCRIPT: (To be posted by Friday)

Century of Lies for 04/22/08 Doctor David F. Duncan discusses the lack of valid science to support the policy of drug war + Poppygate Report with Glenn Greenway & DTN satire: "Oil Traders Heads on a Pole" MP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/1859/COL_042208.mp3
TRANSCRIPT: (Will be posted Thursday Late Night)

"World War Infinity Squared" NEW DTN Tee Shirt Design at http://www.cultural-baggage.com/drugtruth/teeshirt.htm

PLEASE NOTE: We now have transcripts, potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization.

Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed, listen online at www.kpft.org:

- Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: TBD
- Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: US Rep. Barney Frank, LIVE

Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and at www.radio4all.net.

We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US and Canada.

Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston. www.kpft.org

Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker: More than 50 Drug Policy Videos online)

Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform.

"Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer

Dean Becker
713-849-6869
www.drugtruth.net

Hans van Duijn, head of the Dutch police union, told Radio Netherla

A federal court in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires Tuesday decriminalized drug possession in the capital in a ruling that could be altered by the country's high court, but which is in line wi

In what is likely the first arrest for possession of salvia divinorum anywhere in the nation -- and definitely a first in North Dakota -- a Bismarck man now faces years in prison after he bought a

EDITOR'S NOTE: Kalif Mathieu is an intern at StoptheDrugWar.org. His bio is in our "staff" section.

I traveled to the city of Istanbul last week to stay for a few days with my school program of Peace and Conflict Resolution. Istanbul (and Turkey as a whole) is the perfect conduit for heroin being produced in the middle-east to reach Western European markets. Heroin and other drugs are commodities like anything else, and travel through the same general trade routes as other goods. Turkey is so strategically placed that according to Le Monde diplomatique in 1995 “An estimated 80% of the heroin on the European market is being processed in Turkish laboratories." (La Dépêche Internationale des Drogues 1995, Nr. 48)

So you might ask, “what’s so special about heroin traveling through Turkey? It’s just like any other trade between the middle-east and Europe.” The troublesome point is who controls the trafficking through the country and receives the profits of the trade. This happens to be the PKK, or Kurdistan Worker’s Party, a militant organization with a 30-year history of fighting the Turkish government to establish a separate Kurdish state. “According to Interpol […] the PKK was orchestrating 80 % of the European drug market” back in 1992, and “[o]ther sources similarly indicate that the PKK controlled between 60 % to 70 %” in 1994 reported the Turkish Daily News.

The state of Turkey has been increasing its process of Westernization recently in its desire to join the EU, and this has meant adopting a Western policy on drugs. Turkey has been very successful recently in increasing its police and border control effectiveness and eliminating corruption. The Turkish Daily News gave some convincing numbers: “According to the deputy customs undersecretary, there was a 400 percent increase in drug-operation success in the period between 2002 and 2006, when compared to the 1999-2002 period.”

However, even though Turkey has been, in recent years, dealing more and more forcefully with both the PKK militants and the drug trade, has this actually reduced the trafficking of drugs and the profits of the PKK? In the Turkish Daily News: “[t]he annual revenue made by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has increased to 400-500 million euros, a top Turkish general said late Tuesday.” If the PKK’s revenue has increased, then it is logical to assume Turkey’s military campaign against them may not be considered a huge success. Not only that, but “200-250 million euros of [the PKK’s] revenue comes from drugs […] Gen. Ergin Saygun, deputy chief of General Staff said.” That makes drug trafficking 50% of the organization’s income!

The Turkish state has had a history of valuing the effectiveness of force. It was born from war, and the constitution has a controversial but often-utilized article that allows the Turkish army to organize a coup to eliminate the possibility of having a religious party in power. What is the point of these so-called ‘hard-line’ approaches to dealing with the nation’s problems if they are rather ineffective? Very little of course. The trouble comes from what the state could say to its citizens, to the international community, if it negotiated with the violent PKK or began to take the drug trade into the light by moving it towards legalization and either private or state control? If Turkey tried to clean up its smuggling and black market in such a way the majority of Europe, if not the greater ‘global community,’ would probably condemn the entire nation of betraying humanity and literally becoming evil. The reaction of many Turkish citizens would be perhaps lighter, but of a similar nature if the state sat down to negotiations with the ‘terrorist’ PKK. These are strong influences on the Turkish state, and severely limit its options. Therefore it seems Turkey doesn’t have much of a choice but to pursue the same policy of force it has pursued for more than 30 years, whether it benefit the people or not.

Nine Months Later: The past nine months I have gone to a coffee shop to read my daily dose of bad news and wake up with coffee. Nearly every morning 2-7 sheriff’s deputies sit in the back and chat. This week one finally asked me why cops want to legalize drugs (I always wear The Shirt LOL). The four of us had an excellent 20 minute discussion. Talking cop to cop, one remained unconvinced, while two conceded on ending marijuana prohibition + some changes on hard drugs. No doubt they will relay to their colleagues LEAP reasons. Small steps.

Un sens de rythme est tous: (Timing is everything): On Wednesday I was sitting in my chair out side Senate Hearing Room – Dirksen 226 (Subcommittee on Crime), waiting for the door to open and reading a French book. {I rotate between my 3 foreign languages}. A ‘typical’ tourist family of four approached and stopped next to me. The dad asked, “You are reading the Little Prince?” As I detected a French accent I replied, “Oui, je lis le Petit Prince.” He responded in French. I spent the next five minutes explaining LEAP and our position en français. He and his wife agreed with the LEAP position as we exchanged business cards. It was fun.

It was not fun attending the hearing. America’s top internet detective specializing in child pornography painted a horrendous picture of 600,000 personal computers in the US which have downloaded child porn and child rape videos. A US attorney estimated that law enforcement has the resources this year to investigate and arrest about two percent of them. Everyone asked for more money. No one spoke about re-directing current agents and officers to the problem. The testimony was graphic & I flashed back on the dozen or so child victims of criminal sexual conduct I investigated as a detective. I was upset & angry walking out of the building.

BTW: the hearing had nothing directly to do with prohibition. However, I want to have Senator Biden and Sessions to see me on a regular basis. Sessions left before hearing ended but eventually I will be able to have a 30 second conversation with him after a hearing. I spoke to Biden about two months ago.

Of possible interest: Below is what I send to each staffer after a presentation. As you can see, Repubs receive something quite different then the Dems.

For a Republican Office:

Ms. Showers,

I would like to thank you for your time last week. I enjoyed our chat. I hope Congressman Linder will one day see the wisdom of a drug policy based on the principles of:

Liberty
Personal Responsibility
Limited/Effective Government
States’ Rights

Drug prohibition is a policy which neither Georgia nor the United States can longer afford.

Georgia spending a billion of its general fund money on prisons this year will not help produce a 21st century workforce.

Howard

For a Democratic Office:

Ms. Kapoyos,

I would like to thank you for your time last week. I enjoyed our chat. I hope Congressman Kind will be a leader in making drug issues a medical rather than criminal justice issue.

Drug prohibition is a policy which neither Wisconsin nor the United States can longer afford.

Howard

PS. I speak fluent Spanish, French and German. If I can ever be of service on a volunteer basis to help, just ask.

Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired)
Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc)
Washington, DC
Hablo espanol, je parle francais, Deutsch auch

The Los Angeles Times is publishing a series of debate pieces this week between Saying Yes author Jacob Sullum and Charles Stimson, a former prosecutor and senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Here's the first question:

What's the difference between drug legalization and decriminalization? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Jacob Sullum's answer is terrific. Charles Stimson's answer begins this way:

Two points: First, there is no difference between decriminalization and legalization. Second, whichever term you want to use, it's a bad idea.

I suppose there is nothing more predictable in the world than the tendency of drug warriors to open their arguments with sweeping and false generalizations. Still, this is just so dumb and wrong that it barely qualifies as an opinion.

We could debate the exact meaning of decriminalization, but it is typically used to describe situations in which penalties are simply reduced, i.e. a fine instead of possible jail time. You can still be taken into custody and subjected to various escalating sanctions. For example, 33,000 people were arrested for possessing small quantities of marijuana in New York City in 2006, despite a decrim policy that's been in effect since 1977. Legalization ends possession arrests and presumably regulates commerce.

It shouldn't be necessary to define commonly used legal terms for a senior legal fellow at a prestigious thinktank, but this is the drug war, and as usual, its supporters can be found creating their own reality in which to debate us.

After getting the opening question wrong, Stimson launches into a series of preposterous claims. He observes that daily wine consumption improves health, while daily marijuana use destroys the mind. He accuses drug-addicted navy sailors of threatening national security. He suggests that some states don't charge people for committing rape. He insists that drug users have too many children out of wedlock.

I can't frickin' wait to hear what he'll say in tomorrow's installment.

[thanks, Scott]

Drug Truth Network Update: 4:20 Drug War NEWS from 90.1 FM in Houston and dozens of radio affiliates in the US and Canada & on the web at www.kpft.org.

NOTE: DTN 1/2 Hour Programs now air on KPFK in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara at 1 PM on Saturdays

We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US and Canada.

4:20 Drug War NEWS 04/21/08 to 04/27/08 now online (3:00 ea:) Select online at www.drugtruth.net

Sun - Jeff Blackburn 2 of 2

Sat - Jeff Blackburn, director Innocence Project of Texas 1 of 2

Fri - DTN Editorial: Drug War is Treason!

Thu - Jack Cole of LEAP, Pt 2

Wed - Jack Cole, Director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition 1 of 2

Tue - Poppygate Report with Glenn Greenway

Mon - Drug War Facts with Doug McVay

Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed (Now With Transcripts):

PLEASE, Check Out the Transcript with Dr. Donald Tasking of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/1842#comments

- Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Norm Kent of NORML

- Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Dr. David Duncan

Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and at www.radio4all.net.

Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker:

Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform.

"Prohibition is evil." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer

Dean Becker
713-849-6869
www.drugtruth.net