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Don't Give Your Marijuana to the Police
This remarkable New York Times piece exposes New York City's out of control marijuana policy, which has produced 374,900 misdemeanor marijuana arrests since 1998, despite a decrim law that's been in effect for 30 years. This is a rare example of professional-quality drug war coverage from the mainstream media and should be read in its entirety, as it raises several interesting issues.
I found this passage, which describes one particular arrest, quite revealing:
"I came out of the building, and this unmarked car, no light, no indication it was police, was right on me," said the man, a Latino who asked that his name not be used because he was concerned about his job. "Right on my tail. An officer got out, he said, 'I saw you walking from that building, I know you bought weed, give me the weed.' He made it an option: 'Give me the weed now and I will give you a summons, or we can search your vehicle and can take you in.' "He opened the console and handed them his marijuana â making it "open to public view."
"I was duped," he said. But the deception was legal, and his pot wasnât.
The officers escorted him in handcuffs to the unmarked car.
Amazingly, police must actually trick citizens into displaying their marijuana in order to make an arrest, since the decrim law requires plain view discovery. NYPD officers have become quite adept at initiating this through the typical threats and coercion that have long been the hallmark of petty drug war police practices.
Fortunately, the most obvious and effective antidote to New York's overzealous marijuana policing is really pretty simple: don't give them your marijuana. Don't admit having marijuana. Don't give them consent to search you or your vehicle. Ask if you're free to go.
Ending this obscene spectacle, which violates the spirit of New York's marijuana laws and wastes precious law-enforcement resources, is vitally important. But until that happens, citizens can protect themselves by not idiotically turning over their illegal drugs to the police. Seriously, stop giving them your drugs.
Chronicle
In The Trenches
Press Release: Medical Marijuana Bill Lead Sponsor Announces Law Enforcement Requested Changes to Bill
[Courtesy of Illinois Compassion Access Network]Â
MEDIA ADVISORY: APRIL 30, 2008
Medical Marijuana Bill Lead Sponsor Announces Law Enforcement Requested Changes to Bill
CONTACT: John Walker, Illinois Compassion Access Network, (847) 769-1772
SPRINGFIELD, IL. â In a press conference today, Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), lead sponsor of a bill to protect from arrest seriously ill Illinoisans who use medical marijuana with a doctor's recommendation, announced significant changes to the legislation based on input from law enforcement.
   Although members of the law enforcement community have been among the most vocal opponents of the bill, Cullerton said the recent amendments reflected specific objections law enforcement officers raised in good faith in a meeting with bill proponents last month.
   "I'm grateful to the members of the law enforcement community who sat down with us to help us craft this improved medical marijuana bill," he said. "Thanks to their help, I'm confident we have legislation here that protects our most suffering patients while ensuring law officers are able to do their jobs and keep our streets safe."
   A comprehensive list of the amendments made at the request of law enforcement representatives can be viewed online here: http://www.mpp.org/states/illinois/ChangesToSB2865.html
   Also at the press conference, medical marijuana activist and Chicago multiple sclerosis patient Julie Falco announced a new campaign to reach out to representatives by sending personal video appeals by seriously ill patients asking for support on the medical marijuana bill.
   Many of the videos are available online here: www.illinoiscan.com/videos.html
   "I think it's important for people like me â who are counting on compassion to prevail â to let legislators know who we are and why we need this law, especially those whose conditions prevent them from appearing in person," Falco said. "It's very easy for hysteria and fear to take over the debate, but this medical cannabis bill is about only one thing: easing the suffering of seriously ill people with a medicine that is proven safe and effective."
   Despite opposition from some elements of the law enforcement community, medical marijuana enjoys great support among the medical community and among Illinois voters. In February, the American College of Physicians â the second largest physician organization in the country with 124,000 members â became the latest major medical association to endorse laws protecting patients and doctors from arrest for using medical marijuana.
   Also in February, a Mason-Dixon telephone poll of 625 randomly selected Illinois voters â commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. â found that 68 percent of respondents agreed that "seriously and terminally ill patients should be allowed to use and grow medical marijuana for personal use if their doctors recommended it." Full poll results are available here: http://www.mpp.org/states/illinois/2008poll
   SB 2865 â the medical marijuana bill â is expected to reach the Senate floor within weeks.
###
In The Trenches
Send A Fax: Don't Deny Transplants To Medical Marijuana Patients!
Send A Fax: Don't Deny Transplants To Medical Marijuana Patients!
I can't stop thinking about Tim Garon, who was removed from the list to receive a liver transplant due to his legal, physician-recommended use of medical marijuana.
Four days ago, Tim, a talented musician (you can get his music on Amazon.com: <http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0016XDSCW/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1209409177&sr=8-1>) and by all accounts a great guy, was told he wouldn't be receiving a liver due to his "illicit drug use."
This is unconscionable and inhumane. Beyond that, it's simply barbaric.
I've listened toTim's song, "Goodbye Baby," <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJDihYn_fJA> dozens of times over the past two days and I don't mind telling you that there have been a few tears.
It's hard to believe this kind of thing is still happening, even in states where voters have legalized medical marijuana when recommended by a physician.
The back story, for those not already familiar with Tim Garon's plight:
<http://realitycatcher-alapoet.blogspot.com/2008/04/seattle-medical-marijuana-patient-near.html>
This amounts to a death sentence for using legal medical marijuana.
This isn't the first time this has happened -- but we need to do all we can to make sure that it's the last.
I just spoke with a very nice and helpful person at the UW Medical Center who has given me a fax number:
Liver Selection Committee
Fax 206-598-0628
If we could all send reasonable, respectful and short messages to this fax number explaining that we disagree with legal, physician recommended medical marijuana use being used as a basis for disqualifying patients from the list to receive livers, we very well might make some positive impact on the way they think about and handle this.
I'm going to send a message like this:
"I realize that the types of decisions you have to make regarding transplants are very difficult. But at the same time, Iâd like to register my sincere opinion that denying a patient a liver transplant on the basis of his or her use of legal medical marijuana as recommended by a physician is not a good decision, nor a humane one."
I strongly encourage all of you who have access to a fax machine to send a message of your own.
For those without reasonable fax access, here are some phone numbers, but be aware that last time I tried, voicemail boxes tended to be full, preventing messages from being left. If you do get through, please be respectful but firm:
UW Medical Center Transplant Services
Jorge? D. Reyes?,? direc?tor,? 206-?543-?9738
Liver Transplant
Mary Kester, clinical coordinator, 206-598-4838
Theresa Hernandez, program coordinator, 206-598-4902
JoAnn Williams, patient care coordinator, 206-598-0017
Thanks for caring and blessed be...
Steve
http://www.realitycatcher.com
In The Trenches
LEAP on the Hill: Stories from Week of April 25, 2008
Doctors make the worst patients: Now in my 12th year in the struggle to end drug prohibition, I tell beginners to pace themselves, donât go too fast all the time. âIt is a marathon, not a 100 yard dash.â
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
In The Trenches
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