Police Chief Ken Burton in Columbia, MO took a lot of heat over that brutal SWAT raid in which two dogs were shot in front of a small child. Then, he surprised and impressed all of us by expressing his support for marijuana legalization in order to prevent such outrages in the future. Here's some more evidence that Chief Burton truly cares about protecting the public from police abuse:
In the wake of reports showing disproportionate traffic stops of black motorists in Missouri urban areas, Columbia police statistics were released showing more balance here. The proportion of black detainees is lower than in 2007, the peak year.
Columbia police find no reason to change their procedures, which they believe with good reason are not producing improper actions against racial minorities, but they have taken a good pre-emptive step by creating a video intended to inform citizens of their rights when confronted with police during a traffic stop or other questioning incidents.
Titled "Ten Rules for Dealing with the Police," the video recently was shown by Chief Ken Burton to gatherings of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare and the Columbia chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. [Columbia Tribune]
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The MPP Insider launchesWelcome to the very first edition of the Marijuana Policy Project's new bi-weekly e-newsletter, the MPP Insider, your source for all the latest news in the marijuana policy reform movement. Our goal is to bring you news and information about the progress that MPP and its allies are consistently making in the fight to end marijuana prohibition. We hope you enjoy this very first issue and we look forward to your feedback. Arizona to vote on medical marijuana
LA begins massive dispensary shutdown
Detroit moves to make marijuana legal
Colorado regulates booming medical marijuana industry
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To contact MPP, please click here. Our mailing address is Marijuana Policy Project, 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20002. Any donations you make to MPP may be used for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates for federal office. | |||||||
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Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy blocked the release of a State Department report affirming that Mexico has respected human rights in its fight against drug cartels. Leahyâs move holds up more than $100 million in US aid. The money has been delayed under a law linking 15 percent of US funding to Mexico under the Merida Initiative to Mexicoâs record on human rights. On Monday, President Obama praised the Mexican government for its handling of the drug war. We speak with Charles Bowden, a reporter who has been extensively covering the human consequences of Mexicoâs drug war. [includes rush transcript]
TEXASÂ -- The newspaper adviser at Big Spring High School resigned May 28 after the principal pulled the last issue of the paper, which included an editorial advocating the legalization of marijuana.
Bill Riggs told Midland, Texas, television station KWES that he resigned as the adviser for The Corral because of a difference of opinion with administrators and that he did not want the journalism program to suffer.
Steven Saldivar, superintendent of the Big Spring Independent School District, said the editorial conflicted with the district's policy of discouraging illegal drug use. [SPLC.org]
CONTACT: [email protected] or 215 586 3483
Philadelphia: Details of the new marijuana procedure
by Chris Goldstein 6/9/2010
The DAâs office reports that six marijuana consumers entered the new diversion program for minor pot possession yesterday, the first time it was available. Here are the main points of the new procedure:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No criminal prosecution in court
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No bail money required for release: Previously all minor marijuana offenders had a bail amount set. If they could not come up with bail money they were held until arraignment. Today, those who enter into the diversion program are released after processing.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No drug conviction on record: By entering the new diversion program an individual pleads to a lesser offense. This means: Students will not lose loans; teachers and others will not face losing employment; public record searches will not reveal a marijuana related conviction
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Offense is automatically expunged: Entering the new diversion program also means the arrest is expunged from the individualâs permanent record, without having to hire an attorney.
The change in marijuana possession procedures was announced by District Attorney Seth Williams in April and vocally backed by Pennsylvania State Supreme Court.
Philadelphia is the only jurisdiction in Pennsylvania that cannot issue the summary violations on the street to the offender. Thus, officers will still be required to take marijuana consumers briefly into custody to process them into the new diversion program.
Still, the possibility of taking over 4,700 small pot possession cases out of the criminal court system should have a tangible impact on court efficiency. The new diversion program, if employed in a majority of these type of cases, could save the Public Safety budget hundreds of thousands of tax dollars this year alone.
The cost savings would be closer to $3million every year if Philadelphia Police were given the same power as their peers around the state to issue the marijuana possession summary violations on the street.
PhillyNORML conducts annual reports on the local marijuana arrests. More info:
Philly: Marijuana mug shots cost city $3million annually
Philly: White women rarely arrested for pot
PhillyNORML is the local chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. The group meets twice each month to plan reform activities.
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Original blog link: http://www.examiner.com/x-29881-Philadelphia-NORML-Examiner~y2010m6d9-Philadelphia-Details-of-the-new-marijuana-procedureÂ
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
JUNE 9, 2010
MPP Kicks Off Summer Tour with Launch of Mobile Giving Campaign
Supporters Will Be Able to Text Donations as Part of âGive by Cellâ Campaign in Conjunction with Upcoming Slightly Stoopid Tour
CONTACT: Mike Meno, MPP director of communications â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦ 202-905-2030 or [email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. â The Marijuana Policy Project today announced a new partnership with Guide by Cell, Inc. that will enable supporters to donate to MPP through the convenience of their cell phones. As part of the âGive by Cellâ campaign, supporters can text âMPPâ to 20222 to make a one-time donation of $5 to MPP, the nationâs leading marijuana policy reform organization.
        âThis new mobile giving campaign will make donating to MPP easier than ever before,â said Andrea Farnum, MPP director of Grants and VIP Outreach. âWe are very excited about this opportunity to provide supporters with an easy and efficient method of helping to end marijuana prohibition in the United States.â
        Give by Cell is the mobile division of Guide by Cell, Inc., is the worldâs largest provider of cell phone audio tours, text messaging interactions and Apple iPhone downloadable applications. For more information, visit www.guidebycell.com or www.givebycell.com.
        MPPâs text-giving campaign is being launched as the MPP partners with renowned San Diego-based band Slightly Stoopid for their upcoming U.S. tour, âCauzin Vapors ⦠Legalize It,â on which theyâll be accompanied by hip-hop superstars, Cypress Hill, The Expendables, Collie Buddz, and reggae legends, Steel Pulse on select dates.
        Starting in mid-July, the tour will wind across the country, from California to New York, with stops at this yearâs acclaimed Lollapalooza festival in Chicago and the Mile High Music Festival in Colorado. MPP will be tabling at performances and have representatives at each show to answer questions and provide information about the ongoing campaigns to end marijuana prohibition in the U.S. For more information, and a complete list of tour dates, visit www.slightlystoopid.com.  Â
        With more than 124,000 members and supporters nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit www.mpp.org. For more information about MPPâs Give by Cell campaign, visit http://www.mpp.org/donating/give-by-cell.html
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On June 1 of this year, the Arizona Secretary of State certified an initiative by the MPP-backed Arizona Medical Marijuana Policy Project that would bring medical marijuana to the state. This November, residents of Arizona will be able to vote for a compassionate medical marijuana law. 
Following the passage of a new ordinance by the Los Angeles City Council, more than 400 dispensaries in that city are now being forced to close down. While we may have to wait to see the long-term results, the immediate impact on patients is obvious: decreased access and convenience to their medicine. 
Citizens of Detroit are taking steps to implement sensible marijuana laws in the absence of such laws on the federal or state level. The Coalition for a Safer Detroit recently secured a measure on Novemberâs ballot that would make legal the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use. 
In a landmark move, Gov Bill Ritter (D) recently signed two bills that will help to regulate Coloradoâs booming medical marijuana industry. The new law will give clear legal status to hundreds of dispensaries in the Centennial State home to the largest number of regulated dispensaries anywhere in the nation. 
Kathyryn Johnston, age 92. Shot and killed in her Atlanta home.