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Media Advisory For Immediate Release: April 14, 2009 Contact: Eric Friedman at (212) 382-6754 or Christina Bruno at (212) 382-6656 New York City Bar Committee Calls for Dialogue on Controlled Substances Act and Drug Prohibition Committee on Drugs and the Law Releases Statement and Organizes April 29 Forum The New York City Bar Association's Committee on Drugs and the Law has released a statement titled "A Wiser Course: Ending Drug Prohibition, Fifteen Years Later," referring to the Committee's 1994 report concluding that the costs of drug prohibition were too high to justify it as a policy. In the new statement, the Committee writes that "we are no closer to a drug-free society, and the problems associated with the illegal drug trade are worse than ever," and calls for a dialogue focusing on the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970. The statement is available on the home page of www.nycbar.org The statement questions the logic of placing drug control in a medical paradigm controlled not by medical authorities but by the Department of Justice, and the specific placement of marijuana in Schedule I of the CSA, which is the most highly restrictive category and reserved for substances with a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety even under medical supervision. "Today, it is inexplicable that cocaine, fentanyl, methadone, and morphine are in Schedule II and thus available by prescription but marijuana is not," the Committee states. Until this issue is resolved, the statement suggests, there will continue to be a "medical marijuana" controversy. On April 29th, the Committee is presenting a forum titled "Pleasure, Pain, Physicians and Police: The Law of Controlled Substances and the Practice of Medicine." Experts in law, medicine and history will discuss the CSA and its relationship to science, medical practice and the Commerce Clause. What: Pleasure, Pain, Physicians and Police: The Law of Controlled Substances and the Practice of Medicine Who: Marcus Reidenberg, MD, FACP, Professor of Pharmacology, Medicine, and Public Health, Head, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College; Joseph Spillane, PhD, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of History, University of Florida; Buford Terrell, JD, LLM, Professor of Law (ret.), South Texas College of Law. When: Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 6:30 p.m. Where: New York City Bar, 42 West 44th St., New York NY 10036 About the Association The New York City Bar Association (www.nycbar.org), since its founding in 1870, has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law and providing service to the profession and the public. The Association continues to work for political, legal and social reform while implementing innovative means to help the disadvantaged. Protecting the public's welfare remains one of the Association's highest priorities.

MEDIA ADVISORY Americans for Safe Access For Immediate Release: April 14, 2009 Contact: 510-251-1856 x307 Federal Position on Medical Marijuana Put Before Ninth Circuit Tuesday Federal hearing is latest battle on whether policy is based on science or politics San Francisco, CA -- Medical marijuana advocates will get to argue before the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, April 14th, the right to challenge an outdated position held by the federal government: "marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States." The national advocacy group Americans for Safe Access (ASA) filed a lawsuit in February 2007 demanding that the federal government cease issuing misinformation and correct its statements on medical marijuana. "We welcome the Obama Administration's recently stated commitment to making policy decisions based on science, not politics," said Joe Elford, Chief Counsel with ASA. "This case is designed to ensure that the federal government's policy on medical marijuana is not politically motivated." What: Oral arguments in a case before the Ninth Circuit that challenges the government's position on medical marijuana When: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. Where: Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Courtroom 4 at 95 Seventh Street, San Francisco, CA In order to challenge the government's position, advocates are using a little-known law called the Data Quality Act (DQA). The DQA requires federal agencies such as Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to rely on sound science when disseminating information to the public. One of the main issues in the case is whether citizens have a right to challenge government information believed to be inaccurate or based on faulty, unreliable data. "The science to support medical marijuana is overwhelming," said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. "It's time for the federal government to acknowledge the efficacy of medical marijuana and stop holding science hostage to politics." On March 9, 2009, President Obama issued a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies stating that, "The public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions," and calling for "transparency in the preparation, identification, and use of scientific and technological information in policymaking." The original DQA petition was filed in October of 2004, aimed at forcing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) -- the FDA's parent agency -- to correct statements about the medical value of marijuana. After more than two years of delay by the federal government and a refusal to act on the petition, a lawsuit was filed in February of 2007. Despite a rejection by the federal district court in late 2007, Science Magazine published an editorial that year claiming that HHS had "violated its own DQA guidelines." Preeminent legal scholar Alan Morrison, who founded Public Citizen's Litigation Group and who currently teaches at American University's Washington College of Law, is co-counsel in the case and will be arguing before the court on behalf ASA and patients across the country. "Citizens have a right to expect the government to be transparent and to use the best available information for policy decisions," said Morrison. "Unfortunately, so far, the government has been anything but transparent and has failed to produce any evidence for its policy statements on medical marijuana." In April 2006, while ASA was awaiting a response to the petition from HHS, the FDA issued a statement claiming that it conducted an "inter-agency review" and had "concluded that no sound scientific studies supported medical use of marijuana..." However, none of the alleged scientific evidence used to reach that conclusion was ever provided to ASA or the public. Further information: DQA Opening Appeal Brief: http://AmericansForSafeAccess.org/downloads/DQA_Appeal_Brief.pdf President Obama's memorandum on scientific integrity: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Memorandum-for-the-Heads-of-Executive-Departments-and-Agencies-3-9-09/ DQA Background info: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/DQA

National Marijuana Forum April 18-20, 2009 University of Colorado, Boulder For a complete schedule, see: NORML@CU http://www.normlcu.com/ Cannabis experts from all over the country will converge in Boulder, Colorado from April 18-20 for the 2009 National Marijuana Forum, which will bring together local and national experts to discuss cannabis reform. The events will culminate on Monday, April 20 with the celebration of 4/20: International Cannabis Day. The National Marijuana Forum will be the foremost assessment on the current legal, scientific, environmental and social issues related to cannabis. Experts from all fields including marijuana law reform activists, law enforcement officials, medical experts, environmentalists, journalists and awarded scientists will participate in panels and lectures. The forum will serve to educate, enlighten and empower members of the CU and Boulder community on all current issues regarding marijuana in an unbiased environment. ----------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE:

Dear Friends, The Prisons Foundation is now working with nonprofit organizations to set up in-office branches of the world famous Prison Art Gallery. If you have only a wall in your office to spare and a corner for a small attractive art rack to display prison art (it looks like a magazine rack), you can take advantage of this no-risk opportunity to have your own mini Prison Art Gallery! In the last six years the, the Prisons Foundation has used prison art to heighten public awareness of the humanity of prisoners and increase its revenue. Last year alone, the D.C. Commission on the Etas and Humanities and the Art Appreciation Foundation (headed by ex prisoner philanthropist Lloyd S. Rubin) awarded us more than $115,000 in grants. You can do as well or better! You owe it to the prisoners in your state and to the bottom line of your organization to consider this no-cost, no-obligation opportunity! Below is the proposal agreement you would sign to receive 50 - 100 pieces of beautiful art by imprisoned masters to get you started: Agreement to Establish an In-Office Branch of the Prison Art Gallery 1) This agreement is between (your organization; herein called the "sponsor") and the Prisons Foundation (herein called the "Foundation"). 2) The Sponsor will establish and operate a branch of the Prison Art Gallery at the Sponsor's office or other designated address. 3) The Foundation will supply original art made in prison to be displayed and sold to the Sponsor on a contingency basis. The Sponsor pays shipping of $2.00 per art piece in advance of shipment, or supplies its UPS, Fed Ex, etc. shipping number to cover the cost of shipping. 4) The Foundation gives the Sponsor permission to use the name "Prison Art Gallery." 5) The Sponsor will keep regular hours and will not charge any admission to the public to view Prison Art Gallery artwork. 6) The Sponsor will offer the art for sale using set-donation guidelines outlined by the Foundation, but if any of the pieces of art are not sold during a six month time period the Sponsor may offer them at whatever donations-price it can negotiate with potential buyers. 7) Of the donations received, the Sponsor will keep 40% (forty percent), with the remainder going to the Foundation (to cover art preparation costs and profit sharing with the prison artists). 8) The Sponsor is allowed to accept additional art from other (non-Foundation) sources as long as the art has been created by prisoners or ex prisoners. The Sponsor will give the Foundation 10% (ten percent) of gross sales of art that comes from non-Foundation sources (to cover the expenses of publicity and ongoing support that the Foundation will supply). 9) The Foundation will include the Sponsor's name in all of the Foundation's publicity, press releases, publications and mailings. 10) The Foundation will provide the Sponsor with copies of successful grants proposals it has used to win grants for the Sponsor to utilize. 11) Money due to the Foundation for art sales by the Sponsor will be calculated and paid by the Sponsor to the Foundation each quarter on January 5th, April 5th, July 5th and October 5th. 12) New art will be provided by the Foundation to the Sponsor quarterly as pieces are sold by the Sponsor. 13) The Sponsor will send whatever unsold pieces it wishes back to the Foundation and will receive new pieces in return. This will allow the Sponsor to have a rotating display and to always have a fresh inventory. The Sponsor will pay shipping costs both ways. 14) The Sponsor has the option of purchasing from the Foundation limited edition prison art prints for the wholesale price of $10.00 (ten dollars) each, with the Foundation paying for shipping costs. These prints are 11" x 17" hand-mounted on 16" x 20" art boards, individually numbered and encased in clear, acetate protective sleeves. These prison-created works of art can be sold by the Sponsor for $25.00 - $100.00 each, with the Sponsor keeping all of the revenue received. 15) This agreement can be terminated by either party with a 90-day notice, at which time the Sponsor will return (at its own expense) all unsold art provide by the Foundation, and cease using the name Prison Art Gallery. Now that you have read this proposed agreement, we hope you will take the next step by emailing us information about your organization so that we can discuss the next step for establishing a branch of the Prison Art Gallery at your location Yours for justice, Dennis Sobin Prisons Foundation 1600 K Street NW Suite #501 Washington, D.C. 20006 A CALL FOR SUPPORT: The Prisons Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the arts and education in prison and alternatives to incarceration. We are now accepting tax deductable donations. The support of our supporters, quite bluntly, is what keeps us going. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Prisons Foundation so that we may continue to promote the arts in prison and help encourage the wonderful atistic talent we cultivate everyday. *Note the views in this letter are those of Dennis Sobin. Please send your comments directly to him.

4:20 Drug War NEWS + Century of Lies! From 90.1 FM in Houston 60+ radio affiliates in the US, Canada and Australia & at www.kpft.org. Today Marks 36,588 Days of DRUG WAR! Century of Lies, 04/12/09: CNN Power Lunch with Rob Kampia of Marijuana Policy Project, Soros production on UN Drug Policy + Terry Nelson of LEAP on Al Jazeera & with Anderson Cooper LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/2369 4:20 Drug War NEWS 04/13/09 to 04/19/09 now online (3:00 ea:) Select online at www.drugtruth.net Sun - Superior Court Judge James P. Gray on reasons to end the drug war Sat - Soros production on UN Drug Policy 2/2 Fri - Soros production on UN Drug Policy 1/2 Thu - Pro Marijuana ads from National Organization for Marijuana Laws Wed - Terry Nelson on Al Jazeera Tue - Terry Nelson of LEAP's weekly report for Drug Truth Network Mon - Terry Nelson of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition visits Anderson Cooper on CNN Next - Century of Lies on Sunday, Cutural Baggage on Wednesday: - Cultural Baggage 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 MT & 9:30 AM PT: Glenn Greenwald report on Portugals success on drugs Pt2 - Century of Lies 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT, 5 PAM PT: Guest: TBD Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, and www.audioport.org 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

[Via CNN] Mexico drug trafficking, cartels and killings. All driven by America’s addiction to drugs. How did it get this bad? All this week we are reporting on America’s drug addiction in our special series “Drug Nation.” So, what do you think? Should the United States legalize drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin? Vote now! See poll at: http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/