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For Immediate Release: October 29, 2007 Contact: Adam Eidinger T: 202-744-2671, E: [email protected] or Tom Murphy T: 207-542-4998, E:[email protected] NDSU Files Amicus in Support of Hemp Farming Lawsuit DEA Makes Feeble Argument that Hemp Can be Turned into Drugs BISMARCK, ND – North Dakota State University (NDSU), a publicly funded land grant university has taken the unprecedented step of submitting an amicus brief in support of two North Dakota farmers, Rep. Dave Monson and Wayne Hague, who filed a lawsuit in June to end the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) ban on state-regulated commercial hemp farming in the United States. In the amicus, NDSU states that since 1999 they have waited for DEA to grant their application to grow non-drug industrial hemp to create varieties best suited for the North Dakota climate and soil conditions. NDSU contends these farmers should be granted relief from the court, as it is pointless to wait for DEA’s decision on licensing because the school’s interaction with the DEA shows the federal agency has no intention of cooperating with a premier agricultural university let alone private farmers. The amicus can be read online at http://www.votehemp.com/legal_cases_ND.html. Due to DEA’s obstructionism, the North Dakota Legislature removed earlier this year the requirement that state-licensed industrial hemp farmers first obtain DEA permits before growing hemp, enabling the plaintiff farmers to bring their case. In a Reply to the DEA’s Opposition to the farmers’ Motion for Summary Judgment filed Friday, lawyers for Monson and Hauge argue that not only do the farmers have standing as they are licensed by the state to grow industrial hemp and do not have to risk arrest before growing the crop, but that DEA is ignoring that the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) exempts non-drug hemp seed, oil and fiber from control. DEA is improperly extending its authority under the CSA into purely intra-state regulated industrial hemp farming that places only exempt non-drug hemp fiber and seed commodities into commerce, that not only did Congress not intend to regulate, but cannot regulate via the CSA under the Commerce Clause. With support of the landmark litigation coming from all branches of the North Dakota government as well as the Attorney General’s office who represents NDSU, the DEA has resorted to raising outlandish claims that somehow non-drug industrial hemp can be used as a drug even though impossible by definition, and in Canada and European countries where hemp is grown for export to the US, there is no such activity taking place. Gold can hypothetically and has in some instances been extracted from seawater, but the minimal concentration makes it technically and economically inefficient and commercially non-viable to do so. There are trace opiates in poppy seeds consumed on bagels, that could also be hypothetically be concentrated; but just as with industrial hemp is not a practical source of drugs for the illicit market. “The DEA is making a feeble defense, and is basically saying the farmers in North Dakota could divert their non-drug industrial hemp crops to make drugs, even though that is economically impossible and no one does that anywhere in the world. The media should be very skeptical of any ‘facts’ the DEA purports as DEA has realized the strength of the farmers’ case and is furiously backpedaling, asking for discovery on facts it previously held to be undisputed in a desperate bid to sow confusion,” says David Bronner, President of the Hemp Industries Association whose company, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps imports hemp oil from Canada for their soaps. Monson v. DEA will be argued in court on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 in Bismarck, North Dakota. Oral arguments begin at 10:00 am CDT in the William L. Guy Federal Building, 220 E Rosser Ave Bismarck, ND and will immediately be followed by a press conference on the courthouse steps.

The Prison Art Gallery in downtown Washington, DC (three blocks from the White House) has now been in existence for a full year. We've sold hundreds of paintings, drawings and crafts made by prison inmates from across America, and sent thousands of dollars to their commissary accounts and their families. At the same time we've supported victim assistance and justice advocacy groups with our share of the proceeds from these sales. Thank you for helping to make this success possible. To celebrate our first anniversary, we are placing ALL our numbered limited edition Prison Art prints (each one 11" by 17" inches) on sale for the low low price of only $10 each. Or for just a little more, we can frame them for you. You can purchase by phone, email, or at the Prison Art Gallery or our outdoor exhibit. They can be shipped anywhere in the world. To see 40 of these beautiful works of art, please visit our November Art for Justice prison art catalog at http://prisonsfoundation.org/novafj.pdf . If you have any questions, please call 202-393-1511 anytime.

Drug Truth Network Update: 4:20 Drug War NEWS Half Hour Programs, Live Tuesdays & Wednesdays... at 90.1 FM in Houston & on the web at www.kpft.org. 4:20 Drug War NEWS 10/29/07 to 11/04/07 now online (3:00 ea.): Monday 10/29/07 Tribute to Robin Prosser Tuesday 10/30/07 "School Room Rock" from SNL Wednesday 10/31/07 Canada's Prince of Pot Marc Emery 1 Thursday 11/01/07 Canada's Prince of Pot Marc Emery 2 Friday 11/02/07 Tommy Chong 1 Saturday 11/03/07 Chong 2 Sunday 11/04/07 Poppygate NOTE: CULTURAL BAGGAGE (Broadcast on Wed) & CENTURY OF LIES (Broadcasts Tue) 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., Cultural Baggage for 10/24/07 Marc Emery, publisher Cannabis Culture Magazine,& star of new movie: Prince of Pot - US vs. Marc Emery MP3 MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/FDBCB_102407.mp3 Century of Lies for 10/23/07 TOMMY CHONG! @ NORML Conference + Drug War Facts & Poppygate MP3 MP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/COL_10307.mp3 Next - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed: - Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:20 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Eric Sterling, www.cjpf.org - Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:20 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: Phil Smith, www.stopthedrugwar.org Check out our latest videos via www.youtube.com/fdbecker: Corrupt Cop Story, Stop The Drug War & Lies, Damned Lies & Drug War Statistics 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: Cultural Baggage + Century of Lies + DEA Bust Video Half Hour Programs, Live Tuesdays & Wednesdays... at 90.1 FM in Houston & on the web at www.kpft.org. Cultural Baggage for 10/24/07 Marc Emery, publisher Cannabis Culture Magazine,& star of new movie: Prince of Pot - US vs. Marc Emery MP3 MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/FDBCB_102407.mp3 Century of Lies for 10/23/07 TOMMY CHONG! @ NORML Conference + Drug War Facts & Poppygate MP3 MP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/COL_102307.mp3 Next Week - Century of Lies on Tues, Cutural Baggage on Wed: - Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:20 AM CT, 10:30 AM MT & 9:30 AM PT: TBD - Century of Lies 12:30 PM ET, 11:20 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., ck out our latest videos via www.drugtruth.net/dtnvideo.htm 1 video: "Prohibition is Evil" + 2 from townhall meeting on racial disparity. Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform. "The money that has been frittered away on this drug war would fill a string of boxcars nine miles long stuffed with hundred dollar bills. How much more?" - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5243274.html Dean Becker 713-849-6869 www.drugtruth.net

[Courtesy of EURODRUG] Dear friends, In the past days, there has been an escalation of repression by Italian police and justice authorities against cannabis growers and members of the anti-prohibitionist movement. Several people have been arrested for minor plantations, and one of them, Mr. Aldo Bianzino of Umbria, has died in prison under circumstances that could suggest he was tortured to death. These operations take place on the bases of the Law Fini-Giovanardi, which has been adopted by the previous Berlusconi government. The current centre-left coalition had promised to modify it, but has not done so yet. We have written an open letter to Italian authorities calling for an end to this escalation and a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Bianzino's death. This letter can be signed and sent from http://www.encod.org/info/LETTER-TO-ITALIAN-AUTHORITIES.html In Italian from http://www.encod.org/info/ALDO-BIANZINO-LETTERA-ALLE.html Please join this action and ask others to do so as well.... Best wishes, Joep

California NORML Release - Oct 24th, 2007 U.S. Crackdown on Medical Marijuana in Eastern District of California Modest Caregiver Growers Face Federal Prison, Forfeiture SACRAMENTO -- The U.S. Attorney's office in the Eastern District of California is waging an aggressive crackdown on medical marijuana, taking up modest cases that would normally be tried in state court and pursuing them with federal charges involving heavy penalties. Recent cases include Michael Lombardo, 49, who has been federally charged for a five-patient medical garden in Nevada County involving 65 to 100 plants, far below the typical 1,000-plant threshold for federal prosecution. While Lombardo's garden was arguably legal under California's medical marijuana law, no medical defense is available to him under federal law. In addition, the federal government has filed to forfeit Lombardo's home. Under federal law, any property used to grow marijuana is subject to forfeiture, regardless of whether it was lawfully acquired. Lombardo, an electrician with no prior offenses, has owned his home for seven years. Other Eastern District Prop 215 caregiver growers facing federal forfeiture of their homes include a Plumas County couple, Jeff Sanderson and Alice Wiegand (also facing criminal charges), Ron Hennig of Siskiyou County, James Robertson of Butte County, and Patricia Hatton, also of Butte County. Hatton's attorney, Jodea Foster, denounced the federal charges as "legal extortion." The crackdown is being led by U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott, who has been soliciting local law enforcement to turn over medical marijuana cases. Many DA's and sheriffs have been happy to do so in order to avoid the difficulties of state prosecution. California NORML denounced both Scott and local law enforcement officials for conspiring to circumvent Prop. 215. "Federal laws against medical marijuana laws are inherently bankrupt and unjust," said California NORML director Dale Gieringer. Under federal law, defendants are denied the right to even mention medical marijuana or Prop. 215 at their trials. Medical marijuana defendants who are prosecuted in federal court typically receive tougher penalties than non-medical offenders in state court. In some cases, Prop. 215 defendants in the Eastern District have been snatched up from state court and hauled off to jail on federal charges after having state charges dismissed. Recent examples include Gordon Rasmussen, charged with a 210- plant caregiver garden in Chico, and Donato Canceleno, a 63-year old disabled patient with a similar garden in Madera County. While each might have been found innocent under state law, they face a potential five-year mandatory minimum under federal law for growing over 100 plants. The Eastern District is particularly notorious for harsh sentences against medical marijuana defendants. Examples include Dustin "DC" Costa, currently serving 13 years - the longest known sentence for any Prop 215 defendant - for a cultivation coop in Merced; Vern Rylee, a severely disabled patient from Trinity County who is serving 71 months in federal prison for cultivation, and David Harde, sentenced to 30 months for a caregiver garden in El Dorado County. Another severely ill defendant, Joe Fortt in Kern County, served 21 months in prison before being deported to Canada. Eastern District prosecutors are currently seeking a five year mandatory minimum against Dr. Mollie Fry and Dale Schafer for growing for patients of their medical clinic in El Dorado County. Another Eastern District defendant, Bryan Epis, is currently appealing a 10-year sentence for a Prop 215 garden that he had wanted to organize as a legal co-op. The Eastern District has also been aggressive in moving against medical cannabis dispensaries. In 2005, Scott circulated a memo to all DA's, sheriffs and police chiefs inviting them to hand over dispensary cases. Earlier this year, the DEA raided a major dispensary near Bakersfield, Nature's Medicinal, even though it had been licensed by the sheriff and was paying sales and payroll taxes. In another case, the feds moved to prosecute the proprietors of the California Healthcare Collective in Modesto even after they had paid some $1 million of sales taxes to the state. California NORML denounced the federal government for wasting resources on imprisoning and prosecuting medical marijuana defendants rather than changing federal law. So far, more than 100 Californians have been federally charged for medical marijuana offenses. "The Department of Justice has prosecuted more California cases for medical marijuana than for terrorism," says Cal NORML director Dale Gieringer. For more info contact Cal NORML: (415) 563-5858 - [email protected].