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Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty Wants to Send Dying Cancer Patients to Jail

We knew Gov. Pawlenty was likely to veto medical marijuana legislation due to pressure from law enforcement, but then the bill was changed so that only terminally ill patients would qualify. Surely, the governor would at least agree not to arrest people who are dying, right? Wrong:

He announced his intention to veto the medical marijuana bill at his news conference today. Then, amazingly, he went on to wax rhapsodic about how âThe sky is blue, the sun is out. The minds of Minnesotans are turning to Memorial Day, summer, fishing.â

Tell that to Joni Whiting, whose daughter Stephanie gained some comfort and the ability to eat from medical marijuana during the last months of her doomed struggle with melanoma. Pawlenty thinks itâs just fine to treat Joni, Stephanie, and others in that dreadful situation as common criminals. [MPP]

There's no middle ground here. You either think it's ok to arrest dying patients for using doctor recommended medicine, or you don't. If Pawlenty vetoes this bill, he firmly rejects even the vague appearance of compassion for dying patients.

Send him a polite note here.

Chronicle

MatÃ©ria: Projeto de descriminalizaÃ§Ã£o do MÃ©xico Ã© aprovado â Um passo para frente, dois passos para trÃ¡s?

In The Trenches

The War on Drugs is Over? Lets Celebrate!

Last week the new White House Drug CzarÂ called for an end to theÂ "War on Drugs", signaling a new, more sensibleÂ path for drug policy.Â SeeÂ here.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

Come celebrate this sea change with Colorado's preeminent drug policy reformers at the Sensible Colorado 5th Anniversary Gala this Saturday (5/23) from 6-9pm.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

We are happy to announce our special guest speaker for this event will be Don Duncan, California Director of Americans for Safe Access.Â Don is one of the longest-running and most respected medical marijuana dispensary operators in America, and has been featured on "60 Minutes" and on other national programs.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

This FREE event is open to the public and will feature speakers, awards, food and drink.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

What:Â Sensible Colorado's 5th Anniversary Gala

Where:Â Atlantis Community Center (201 S. Cherokee Street, Denver CO 80223)

When:Â Saturday, May 23 from 6-9pm.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

*This event is non-smoking and fully disabled accessible.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

Thanks to generous donors, this event isÂ free to all.Â If you can't make it, but would like to support Sensible Colorado's work, please make a donation today:Â DONATE HERE

In The Trenches

Drug Truth 05/18/09

The Unvarnished Truth From the Drug Truth Network Cultural Baggage for 05/13/09, 29:00 Maia Szalavitz, author of "Help at Any Cost" + Terry Nelson of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition & Abolitionist Moment/DTN Editorial LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/2416 Transcript: TBD Century of Lies for 05/17/09, 29:00 Francisco Santos Calderon, Vice President of Colombia at the 39th Conference of the Americas, courtesy of Americas Society LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/2418 TRANSCRIPT: TBD 4:20 Drug War NEWS, 5/18 to 5/24/09 Link at www.drugtruth.net on the right margin - Sun - Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon speaking at the 39th Conference on the Americas 7/7 Sat - Colombian VP Francisco Calderon 6/7 Fri - Colombian VP Francisco Calderon 5/7 Thu - Colombian VP Francisco Calderon 4/7 + 3 Hit Goverment Advisory Wed - Colombian VP Francisco Calderon 3/7 Tue - Colombian VP Francisco Santos Calderon 2/7 Mon - Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon speaking at the 39th Conference on the Americas 1/7 Programs produced at Pacifica Radio Station KPFT in Houston, 90.1 FM. You can Listen Live Online at www.kpft.org - Century of Lies, SUN, 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT & 5 PM PT: NEXT: Jeffrey Miron, Harvard Professor - Cultural Baggage WED, 12:30 PM ET, 11:30 CT, 10:30 MT & 9:30 AM PT: NEXT: Ethan Nadelmann, Dir Drug Policy Alliance Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org We have potcasts, transcripts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US, Canada and Australia! We now feature TRANSCRIPTS of most of our programs again! 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, DTN Producer, 713-849-6869, www.drugtruth.net

In The Trenches

Press Release: Lepp Sentenced to 10 Years Mandatory Minimum for Medical Marijuana Grow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2009 CONTACT: Dale Gieringer at (415) 563- 5858 EDDY LEPP RECEIVES 10 YEAR MANDATORY MINIMUM FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA SAN FRANCISCO -- US District Judge Marilyn Patel sentenced Eddy Lepp to ten years mandatory minimum for having grown over 1,000 marijuana plants for a medical marijuana garden in Lake County. Patel called the sentence "excessive," but said she had no choice under federal law. In addition, she sentenced Lepp to five years of supervised release with drug testing. She invited Lepp to file for a rehearing in case the law should change. Lepp called it "very, very sad" that the government showed no compassion, saying"I've broken no laws of the state in which I reside." He asked that he be allowed to surrender himself voluntarily, noting that he had met every court date over the seven years of his case and that his daughter had health problems. US attorney Dave Hall opposed the request, arguing that the government had new evidence of Lepp's involvement in a marijuana grow that was traced to a neighbor's property last week. Lepp's friends staunchly deny that he had any involvement in the grow. Patel granted Lepp's request and set a surrender date of July 6th, while inviting the government to submit any additional incriminating evidence it might have to demand an earlier surrender. Patel ruled that Lepp was ineligible for the "safety valve" exemption to the mandatory minimum on two grounds. First, the evidence showed that Lepp had been a leader or rganizer of other people in his activity. Secondly, the government claimed that he had failed give a full and truthful account of his activities. At his trial, Lepp had testified that he did not grow any marijuana, but simply let his land be used for cultivation by other patients. The government had asked Lepp to recant this claim and admit that he grew the marijuana. Lepp refused, saying he had testified truthfully. "I've never seen a man work harder to get time in prison than Mr. Lepp," remarked Mr Hall. ""I would rather do ten years and be able to look myself in the eyes than never be able to look myself in the eyes again," said Lepp. The courtroom burst into gasps and sobs as Patel pronounced her sentence. Lepp's attorney, Michael Hinckley, called it an "incredible sentence." Patel responded, "Incredible is what the law requires." Patel noted that Lepp's driving passion appeared to be legalizing marijuana. "Maybe you want to be a martyr for the cause," she said. California NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer commented: "This case sadly illustrates the senselessness of federal marijuana laws. The last thing this country needs is more medical marijuana prisoners. Hopefully, we can change the law and get Eddy out of jail before he completes his sentence." --

Mexico captures drugs hit gang suspects allegedly led by police: Police chief among state officials held on drugs charges

Cops Say to Legalize Drugs

Session surprise: Medical marijuana bill passes

Blog

U.S. Supreme Court Kills Effort to Overturn State Medical Marijuana Laws

Good news! Something bad could have happened, but didn't:

California's medical marijuana law survived its most serious legal challenge today as the U.S. Supreme Court denied appeals by two counties that argued they were being forced to condone violations of federal drug laws.

The justices, without comment, denied a hearing to officials from San Diego and San Bernardino counties who challenged Proposition 215, an initiative approved by state voters in 1996 that became a model for laws in 12 other states. It allows patients to use marijuana for medical conditions with their doctor's recommendation. [San Francisco Chronicle]

Today's result was really a foregone conclusion because it's just a basic fact that states can make their own drug laws. Still, it's good that this happened insofar as it will hopefully serve to silence those who continue to cite conflict between state and federal laws as a reason why no one can have medical marijuana. They are completely wrong and it's amazing how many federal judges had to break it down for them.

For the hundredth time, conflict with federal law is not an obstacle to passing and implementing state laws that permit medical marijuana. Federal law enforcement can come in and cause trouble, but that doesnât make state laws invalid. Those laws still apply and provide valuable protection against state police, who patients are more likely to come in contact with.

The very idea that federal law somehow cancels out state policies is just some made-up nonsense that enemies of medical marijuana have been spewing in desperation for several years now. Nice try, but you're wrong. Case closed.

Blog

Michael Phelps and Marijuana Legalization

Phelps resumed competition this weekend, prompting Jim Caple at ESPN to call for a debate on legalizing marijuana:

We need to hear all sides, as part of a serious discussion on this subject, and then make a rational decision about whether marijuana should be legal in this country.

What we do not need is to waste any more energy fretting over a college-age athlete smoking pot and the negative lesson it sends to the nation's youth. Otherwise the negative message kids will learn from Phelps' bong hit is this: Adults are too busy shouting about meaningless crap to intelligently discuss what is actually important.

Damn straight. I'm assuming, of course, that he's referring to those who condemned Phelps and not those of us who launched an angry boycott against Kellogg's. Because that was totally necessary.

Blog

Pete Guither Will Correct Your Incoherent Editorial for Free

This is funny. That is, if your idea of funny is arguing with people who have strong unfounded opinions about marijuana.

When I criticize individuals in the blog, I try to choose my words based on the assumption that the post will be read by the person I'm writing about. I sometimes forget to do this, but it's a good habit. Regardless, I don't see how Pete could have handled the situation any better.

Update: My favorite example of someone getting pissed about something I wrote can be found here.

Chronicle

PolÃcia: As estÃ³rias de policiais corruptos desta semana

Chronicle

Semanal: Blogueando en el Bar Clandestino

âObama ya no es a favor de programas de cambio de jeringas que reducen sidaâ, âGil Kerlikowske es el nuevo fiscal de la droga de EE.UU.â, âLa secretarÃa antidroga no sabe quÃ© decir respecto a la legalizaciÃ³n de la marihuanaâ, âÂ¿SerÃ¡ que la legalizaciÃ³n realmente reducirÃ¡ el mercado negro? Por supuestoâ, âOtra redada contra la marihuana medicinal en Californiaâ, âArnold Schwarzenegger pide debate sobre legalizaciÃ³n de la marihuanaâ, âEthan Nadelmann vs. Steven Colbert, tercer asaltoâ, âEl apoyo a la legalizaciÃ³n de la marihuana es tremendo en CanadÃ¡â, âEl apoyo a la legalizaciÃ³n de la marihuana sigue creciendo en EE.UU.â, âÂ¿Hola? MÃ©xico estÃ¡ a punto de despenalizar la tenencia de drogasâ¦â.

Chronicle

Semanal: Esta semana en la historia

Los sucesos y citas de nota de los eventos de polÃticas de drogas de esta semana de los aÃ±os anteriores.

Chronicle

Estudiantes: Â¡Hagan sus prÃ¡cticas en DRCNet y ayuden a detener la guerra a las drogas!

Â¡Postule a prÃ¡cticas en DRCNet para esta primavera (o verano) y puede pasar el semestre luchando por una buena causa!

Chronicle

Una vez Jimmy Carter dejÃ³ que Evo Morales cosechara manÃ en su hacienda en Georgia. Ahora Morales ha invitado a Carter a cosechar hojas de coca en su tierra en el Chapare boliviano.

Chronicle

LatinoamÃ©rica: CÃ¡mara Federal argentina sobresee caso relacionado con Ã©xtasis y dice que pastillas eran para âconsumo personalâ

Se pone cada vez mÃ¡s y mÃ¡s difÃcil ser enjuiciado por tenencia de drogas en Argentina. La tendencia vagarosa de los tribunales argentinos hacia la despenalizaciÃ³n prosiguiÃ³ esta semana.

Chronicle

CanadÃ¡: Dos tercios de los electores de Columbia BritÃ¡nica son a favor de legalizar la marihuana, descubre encuesta

Dos tercios de los electores de Columbia BritÃ¡nica son a favor de la legalizaciÃ³n de la marihuana, de acuerdo con una nueva encuesta. Ahora sin tan sÃ³lo alguien comunicara a los partidos polÃticos que afirman representarlos.

Chronicle

Marihuana medicinal: CampaÃ±a de recolecciÃ³n de firmas se pone en marcha para iniciativa de Dakota del Sur en 2010

En el 2006, Dakota del Sur se convirtiÃ³ en el Ãºnico estado que rechazÃ³ una iniciativa pro legalizaciÃ³n de la marihuana medicinal. Este aÃ±o la Asamblea ignorÃ³ su oportunidad de hacer algo, entonces ahora los defensores estÃ¡n recolectando firmas para intentarlo nuevamente en el 2010.

Chronicle

Marihuana medicinal: 9Âº Circuito de EE.UU. ratifica sentencia de 10 aÃ±os para Bryan Epis, primero proveedor californiano enjuiciado por cargos federales

Bryan Epis, uno de un puÃ±ado de personas condenadas en la Justicia federal estadounidense por suministrar marihuana medicinal con arreglo a la Propuesta 215 [<em>Proposition 215</em>] de California, puede recibir 10 aÃ±os de prisiÃ³n. Un tribunal colegiado del Tribunal de Apelaciones del 9Âº Circuito de EE.UU. ha decidido que deberÃa permanecer, pero hay un recurso en trÃ¡mite.