The 2006 killing of Kathryn Johnston gave the American public a window into the rampant incompetence and needless violence that so often characterizes modern drug enforcement. A massive settlement announced today will hopefully serve as a vivid reminder to police that dirty tactics can carry a heavy price.
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- The city of Atlanta will pay $4.9 million to the family of Kathryn Johnston, a 92-year-old woman killed in a botched November 2006 drug raid, Mayor Kasim Reed's office announced Monday.
Johnston was shot to death by narcotics officers conducting a "no-knock" warrant. Investigators later determined the raid was based on falsified paperwork stating that illegal drugs were present in the home.
In the four years since Johnston's death, we've seen equally dramatic national controversies emerge from Berwyn Heights, MD and Columbia, MO, as well as countless other disturbing events that for whatever reason failed to generate national outrage. I can only imagine that the next great drug raid fiasco is just around the corner. Until the drug war is brought to an end, the loss of innocent lives will continue and the cost of cleaning up the mess will fall on every one of us.
Cultural Baggage * Century of Lies * 4:20 Drug War NEWS * Time 4 Hemp
Cultural Baggage for 08/15/10 29:00 Gretchen Burns Bergman of Parents for Addiciton Treatment and Healing + Randy Credico senatorial candidate in NY & MJ Borden with Drug War Facts & premiere of "Legalize" by Sloshtown
LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/3028
TRANSCRIPT: TBD
Century of Lies for 08/15/10 29:00 Judge Maria Lucia Karam (ret) of Rio De Janero regarding impact of drug war in the Americas' + Slice from John Stossel with Neil Franklin of LEAP and drug czar wannabe Paul Chabot
LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/node/3029
TRANSCRIPT: Tue
4:20 Drug War NEWS, 08/16 to 08/22/10 Link at www.drugtruth.net on the right margin -
Sun - Randy Credico, running for Chuck Schumer's senate seat in New York, comments on drug law Sat - Cut from John Stossel show with Neil Franklin of LEAP and drug czar wannabe Paul Chabot Fri - Judge Maria Lucia Karam 2/2 Thu - Judge Maria Lucia Karam (ret) of Rio De Janero regarding her opinion piece re drug war, in the Guardian 1/2 Wed - Gretchen Burns Bergman, Dir of A New Path, parents for addiction, treatment and healing Tue - Mary Jane Borden of Drug War Facts: "Is marijuana a pipeline to other drugs?"
Mon - "It's About the Money - Legalize" a broadcast premiere of the new song from Sloshtown
Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston, 90.1 FM. You can Listen Live Online at www.kpft.org
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Who's Next?": Russ Bellville of NORML
Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and now at James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. http://www.bakerinstitute.org
We have potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates. You can tune into both our 1/2 hour programs, live, at 6:30 central time on Pacifica's KPFT at http://www.kpft.org and call in your questions and concerns toll free at 1-877-9-420 420.
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The Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey (CMMNJ) is proud to announce a Medical Marijuana Stakeholders Meeting held in conjunction with the national patient advocacy organization, Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Medical marijuana patients, their families, advocates, potential Alternative Treatment Center owners, and health care professionals should attend the meeting.
There will be a benefit dinner at the Hyatt Regency Princeton on Friday night, 8/20/10 at 7:00 PM. CMMNJ’s volunteers, Board members and ASA’s Steph Sherer will will attend the dinner and the public is invited. The Hyatt is located at 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540. The dinner includes appetizers, salad, a choice of four entrees, dessert and beverages.
The cost to attend the all-day meeting on Saturday is $20, and includes lunch. The cost for the Friday night benefit dinner is $100. There is limited seating. To secure a place at this important meeting, and/or the benefit dinner, send a check made out to "CMMNJ" to 219 Woodside Ave, Trenton, NJ 08618. Or, pay through PayPal at www.cmmnj.org make sure to put “Stakeholders Meeting” in the note.
“CMMNJ is thrilled to bring to Trenton these national leaders in the medical marijuana movement,” said Ken Wolski, a registered nurse and executive director of CMMNJ.
Steph Sherer, Executive Director of ASA, will be the featured presenter at the Stakeholders Meeting. Steph is an international leader and expert in medical cannabis advocacy who aids in drafting legislation and advises governments around the globe. She has been a guest lecturer at University of California, Berkeley and George Washington University, DC. Jahan Marcu, a cannabinoid researcher from Temple University School of Medicine, and a member of the ASA Medical Advisory Board, will discuss his work on cannabinoids eliminating cancer tumors. Caren Woodson, ASA’s Director of Government Affairs, will also give a presentation. Caren played an integral role in the drafting of San Francisco’s ordinance that permits and regulates medical cannabis distribution centers. Also presenting Saturday on the status and details of New Jersey’s medical marijuana law will be CMMNJ’s Ken Wolski RN and Chris Goldstein.
CMMNJ has worked with ASA as a resource throughout the medical marijuana legislative effort in New Jersey. Now that the Garden State has passed a compassionate use law it is vital for local advocates to learn from seasoned experts how to proceed forward. New Jersey’s medical cannabis patients and volunteers can also be an important part of the national discussion about safe access.
ASA has ambitious national, regional and local Goals and Objectives for providing medical marijuana to patients. The Stakeholders Meeting will look at the following topics:
1. Creating the political playing field necessary to pass federal, state, and local legislation.
2. Implementing medical cannabis laws with methods that meet the needs of patients.
3. Passing meaningful legislation that creates safe and legal access in additional states.
Media passes are available. A brief press conference will be held.
Stichting OPEN is proud to organize the first academic conference on psychedelic research. We offer you two full days of 21st century, cutting edge research into psychedelics and the psychedelic experience. Our conference is organized for all those with a serious interest in psychedelic research. We also invite therapists, researchers, addiction experts and academics, as well as students to become acquainted with a field of research that regular university curricula barely touch upon.
From addiction treatment to psychotherapy with the aid of psychedelics; from the neurobiology of ayahuasca to the social, ritual and legal implications of its use, and from human psycho-pharmacology and research into extraordinary experiences to new views on the legalisation of psychedelic substances, this conference is dedicated to the exploration of psychedelics research from a broad scientific perspective.
The conference lasts two full days; the conference will start at 9 am each day and end around 6 pm. In between lectures attendees will have ample time to discuss with speakers, to buy books, to acquire more information on psychedelic research, associated organisations and more.
SPEAKERS
Some of our confirmed speakers are the following:
TOPICS
Some confirmed subjects that will be addressed at our conference are posted below. Please keep an eye on our website: as soon as we receive more information, we will update our site immediately. An accurate timetable will also be posted here as soon as all presentations are confirmed.
SATURDAY 23 OCTOBER
9:00 - 18:00
SUNDAY 24 OCTOBER
9:00 - 18:00
TICKETS / MORE INFO
Early registration is now OPEN! Go to our website - www.mindalteringscience.com - for further information, or head directly for our ONLINE TICKETSHOP. Reduced rates available to students and early birds! For questions and/or remarks: send us an email.
For more information about Stichting OPEN, visit our website at www.stichtingopen.nl. Unfortunately, due to site maintenance our website is temporarily only available in Dutch.
We hope to see you all at Mind Altering Science!