Do
Taxpayers
Get
a
Discount
at
the
Door?
DEA,
State
Agencies
Cosponsor
Michigan
Anti-Drug
Reform
Conference
4/28/00
DRCNet has learned that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration has teamed with a state-funded criminal justice group, a foundation connected to the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and other state-based organizations to sponsor a conference that will train attendees to defeat the Personal Responsibility Amendment, a marijuana reform initiative expected to be on the ballot in Michigan this fall. The two day conference, "Training the Trainers: Putting the Brakes on the Drug Legalization Movement," is scheduled for May 3 and 4 in Lansing. The agenda for the conference, according to a press release, will address the problem of "individuals and organizations working to soften our acceptance of illegal drugs in our communities." "Some are in it for the money, others for easier access to their drugs of choice," the release continues. "But there's one thing they all agree upon: Legalizing illicit drugs in our nation begins by duping Americans to accept marijuana as a legitimate medicine. It ends with all drugs becoming legal for all Americans, even our children." The press release, and other information about the conference published on the Michigan Chamber of Commerce web site, make no mention of the Personal Responsibility Amendment, or PRA 2000, as the marijuana reform campaign is called. But a letter published on the web site of the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan from Mary Ann Solberg, the executive director of the Troy Community Coalition and Coalition of Healthy Communities, suggests that the conference has been designed specifically to thwart PRA 2000. The letter reads in part: "The small committee that has organized this training needs your help in any or all of the following ways:
This suggests, Schmid told The Week Online, that a Michigan criminal code banning the use of public funds to influence elections has been violated. "It looks like a public fund is being used for electioneering training of law enforcement personnel," he said. If the charges are proven, those responsible could be guilty of misdemeanors. Schmid has vowed to pursue the matter. "I'll live with what the people want," he said, referring to the November initiative. "But I don't want public funds used to influence that vote. And my feeling is that if (opponents of the initiative) are forced to use private funds, these people won't use their own resources for this purpose." The shady appearance of the conference funding reflects poorly on his opponents, Schmid added. "It shows that prohibitionists aren't serious about law and order, because they pick and choose the laws they obey based upon their political agenda." Schmid also found the timing of the conference significant. The trainings are scheduled two days before the Millennium Marijuana March is expected to draw thousands of demonstrators to the capital steps in Lansing on Sunday, May 6. DRCNet will continue to monitor this story. The PRA 2000 campaign is online at http://www.ballot2000.net. Information about the conference is online at http://www.preventcrime.net/marijuana.htm.
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