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In The Trenches

Michael Phelps Saga: "Send a Strong Message" to USA Swimming

[Courtesy of SAFER] Tell them to reinstate Michael Phelps and stop driving athletes to drink! http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5559/t/4030/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2533 USA Swimming suspended the 14-time Olympic gold medalist following the publication of a photo showing him using marijuana at an off-season party. USA Swimming was not required to punish Phelps, according to Executive Director Chuck Wielgus, but it "decided to send a strong message to Michael..." That message: athletes must only use alcohol when they party, and they will be punished if they make the safer choice to use marijuana instead. After all, the 23-year-old swimmer would never have been punished had he been photographed chugging Budweiser beer -- an official sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Committee. If you agree Michael Phelps should be reinstated and that athletes should not be driven to drink, please take a second to click on the following link and "send a strong message" to Chuck Wielgus and USA Swimming: http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5559/t/4030/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2533 Mason Tvert, Executive Director SAFER ? SAFER Voter Education Fund office: 303-861-0033 ? fax: 303-861-0915 [email protected] ? http://www.SAFERchoice.org
In The Trenches

LEAP on the Hill: Stories from the week of February 6, 2009

[Courtesy of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition] Slip of the tongue: In a Republican office this week with whom I had already had two meetings since 2006, the usually expressionless, poker faced aide said, “Now, I personally would go…” And stopped in mid-sentence. Then finished by saying, ‘This office will not support anything you propose.’ Too late. I now know how he personally feels. Trouble is spelled H O W A R D & makes for Good Theater: George Mason University’s Center for Evidence Based Crime Policy sponsored bringing ten (10) distinguished professors of criminology from all over the country to share their expertise with 150 attendees. For two hours each explained how this or that strategy would reduce crime, gang violence or both. I was able to ask the first question: "As a Michigan police detective a solid 70% of my felony case load touched crimes related to modern prohibition/war on drugs. Have any of you ever done any research or know of any research that shows how much felony crime would be reduced, if we repealed modern prohibition and these illegal drugs were sold like alcohol & cigarettes?" For a solid 5 seconds no one said anything! Finally, a brave professor from Temple University and former London, England police officer rose and said no, no studies have ever been done. He continued saying that Holland has enjoyed lower crime rates with their partial legalizations. This statement caused another professor to rise and say but one can not compare crime our rates with the Dutch because we are so different. To which the former Bobbi replied, “Yeah, that is because they are taller.’ And the crowd giggled. As I was leaving the Russell Senate Office Building, the Brit commented how he liked my jacket (THIS COP SAYS STOP THE DRUG WAR). He and the last speaker and I enjoyed a robust discussion on the 5 minute walk to the Metro. It was mentioned that the feds fund most of the professors’ research and one must be careful. Can you spell uncomfortable? As a bonus to the seminar, another attendee asked the moderator from George Mason University: "Since GMU has the Center for Evidence Based Crime Policy, why don’t you do the research that the detective asked about earlier? Isn’t that your job?" The University official mumbled something that I in the first row could not hear. LOL (Laughing Out Loud).
In The Trenches

Drop the Rock's Advocacy Day Sign Up

Dear friend of Drop the Rock, Sign up today for Drop the Rock's Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 10th in Albany! On this day, hundreds of Drop the Rock coalition members from throughout the city and state will unite in Albany and speak out for repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Drop the Rock will arrange for bus transportation from at least three locations in New York City: Union Square, Harlem, and downtown Brooklyn. * To sign up, please print and fill out the attached Participant Sign-Up Form and mail it to the Correctional Association of NY or fax it to 212-473-2807. * If your organization would like to have its members participate in Advocacy Day, please fill out the attached Organization Bus Form. * If you are interested in attending Advocacy Day, and need a letter requesting permission for your P.O., please contact Caitlin and we will be happy to send a letter on your behalf. SPREAD THE WORD! * Help us bring hundreds of New Yorkers to Albany. Please forward this email to your networks, and feel free to make copies of the attached flyer and pass them out in your community, school, and place of work. TRAINING * We are offering an educational training to prepare participants for Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6PM at the Correctional Association. * We are also able to come to your organization/group to conduct a training for interested participants. If you would like an onsite training, please contact Caitlin Dunklee at 212-254-5700 x339 or cdunklee@... . FUNDRAISING * We need help defraying the cost of the buses. The cost of renting buses is our largest expense in making Advocacy Day happen, and each seat comes to about $20. We ask that you help us make this day possible, by paying $20 for your seat, or raising money to pay for your seat on the bus. Please note that no one will be turned away for lack of money. * If your organization is able to fill a bus of 50 seats with participants, please contact Caitlin as soon as possible. Please also ask your organization if they will sponsor the cost of a bus ($1100) or help raise money to enable your group to travel to Albany with us. We will also do our best to help subsidize buses. * If you or your group would like to make a donation for buses, please have checks made out to "The Correctional Association of NY" and mailed to the address listed below. Please make sure to note on the check that the donation is for "DTR Buses". Now is a critical time in the movement to reform New York's incarceration policies. Please sign up today to join Drop the Rock as we urge New York's policymakers to enact repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws this year. Please contact Caitlin Dunklee, Drop the Rock Coordinator, at 212-254-5700 x 339 or cdunklee@... , for more information. Drop the Rock!
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In The Trenches

New Report: Trends in Incarcerated Parents

A new analysis by The Sentencing Project highlights the growth in the number of incarcerated parents and their children since 1991.  Incarcerated Parents and Their Children: Trends, 1991-2007 reviews data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and documents the growing impact of incarceration on children and families.
 
As of 2007, 1.7 million children had a parent in prison, an 82% increase from the figure of 936,000 in 1991. The racial/ethnic variation among this group is quite broad: 1 in 15 African-American children has a parent in prison, as does 1 in 42 Latino children and 1 in 111 white children. 
 
Due to the distance from home in which many parents are incarcerated - 62% of parents in state prisons are more than 100 miles from home - visits from children are declining over time.  In 2004, more than half of parents in state prisons and nearly half in federal prisons had never had a visit from their children.
 
To address the issues presented by these developments, The Sentencing Project recommends policy responses that include:

  • Supporting parent-child relationships through programs such as that of the Bedford Hills, NY women's prison in which newborn babies can live with their mothers for a period of time.
  • Revise legislation that impedes the prospects for successful reentry and uniting parents with children, such as the ban on receipt of welfare and food stamps for persons with drug convictions.
  • Reconsider lengthy sentencing policies that are overly punitive and contribute to greater separation between parents and children.
The full report, Incarcerated Parents and Their Children, is available here.
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Has Obama Made a Good Choice for Drug Czar?

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting that Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske will likely be Obama’s nominee for director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, commonly referred to as the drug czar. It appears that we may soon be faced with the most promising drug czar ever to occupy the position.

To be clear, Kerlikowske is not a friend of drug policy reform to any extent I’m aware of. What matters here is that I see no evidence that he is a vicious drug warrior of the sort commonly associated with the drug czar post. Given that ONDCP is mandated to oppose reform efforts and has typically embraced that role, a less confrontational and reefer madness-driven drug czar is really the best case scenario from a drug policy reform perspective.

Under Kerlikowske, Seattle has been a model for sensible marijuana policy, including the famous Seattle Hempfest at which the Seattle Police Department performs a public safety role while declining to make marijuana arrests. Following the passage of a 2004 lowest priority initiative, the city’s already-low rate of marijuana prosecutions fell even further, suggesting that Kerlikowske was responsive to the will of voters.

In that sense, he offers a dramatic departure from ONDCP’s shameful history of undermining state medical marijuana laws and inserting itself into state politics for the purpose of thwarting reform efforts. In an office typically run by military officials and political hacks, Kerlikowske would bring expertise in community policing and public relations.

As drug czar, I have no doubt that Gil Kerlikowske would oppose drug legalization and serve as our primary opponent on many issues. Nevertheless, at first glance, my gut instinct is that after several drug czars from hell, a guy from Seattle doesn’t sound so bad.

Update: I'd be remiss not to mention that Kerlikowske's immediate predecessor was Norm Stamper.

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Crazed Sheriff Arrests 8 in Phelps Bong Investigation

There is just no limit to the stupidity that ensues when drug warriors develop a craving for attention:

The Richland County Sheriff's Department has been taking a lot of heat from people in this country and all over the world.

They want to know why Sheriff Leon Lott is going after Michael Phelps.
…
Lott says the picture indicated a law was being broken in his jurisdiction. He said he couldn't ignore the violation just because Phelps is rich and famous.

We've now learned that since investigators began trying to build a case, they've made eight arrests: seven for drug possession and one for distribution. These are arrests that resulted as the sheriff's department served search warrants.

We've also learned that the department has located and confiscated that bong. [WISTV.com]

Could there ever be a better example of the pettiness and triviality that characterizes the enforcement of our drug laws? Anyone watching this (which now includes a respectable segment of earth’s population), can plainly observe the amazing lameness that the war on drugs has instilled in our public servants.

What could possibly be said in defense of launching an entire police operation for the sole purpose of busting one guy for taking a bong hit at a party?

Lott says the picture indicated a law was being broken in his jurisdiction. He said he couldn't ignore the violation just because Phelps is rich and famous.

Who does he think he’s kidding? Everyone knows this would never be happening if Phelps wasn’t rich and famous. At the risk of giving Sheriff Lott too much credit, I highly doubt this is standard procedure when he finds out someone smoked pot at a party months ago. He’s either completely full of crap about his motivations for targeting Phelps, or he’s truly the biggest drug war jackass in the long and terrible history of the species.

Regardless, it has become perfectly clear that Sheriff Lott won’t stop until he puts the world’s greatest athlete in handcuffs for smoking a bong at a party. With the whole world watching, this crazy cop is prepared to create one of the ugliest, dumbest spectacles in the history of our country’s infinitely embarrassing war on drugs. Perhaps we shouldn’t fault the man for being ambitious.
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Medical Marijuana Press Conference at Minnesota Statehouse

Legislators and patients will launch what they expect to be the final push for passage of bipartisan medical marijuana legislation in Minnesota at a statehouse press conference. The Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee will hold a hearing on the bill, S.F. 97, at 12:30 p.m. A previous version of the bill passed the Minnesota Senate as well as every House committee, but did not receive a House floor vote. Presenters include bill sponsors Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina), Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) and Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia); K.K. Forss of Ely, who has used medical marijuana to relieve pain from multiple neck surgeries; Dr. George Wagoner, physician from Manitee, Mich. (and formerly licensed in Minnesota), whose wife used medical marijuana during her battle with ovarian cancer and who campaigned for the Michigan medical marijuana initiative that passed in November with 63 percent of the vote. Also testifying at the hearing will be Joni Whiting of Jordan, whose daughter's battle with malignant melanoma was made bearable by using medical marijuana, and Kathy Rippentrop of Lakeville, whose mother used medical marijuana during her treatment for liver cancer. Written testimony from other patients will be presented to the committee and will be made available to the media.
In The Trenches

ALERT: #395 Three B.C. Newspapers Call for the Legalization of Drugs

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #395 - Tuesday, 10 February 2009 Three major British Colombia newspapers have called for Canada to at least consider legalizing drugs. The violence associated with the drug trade has escalated to the point where the newspapers are calling for new directions to be considered. The Province published an editorial Sunday "Legalization Needs Study". The editorial starts by plainly stating "This newspaper has traditionally opposed the legalization of drugs." While the editorial doesn't jump headfirst into support for legalization, it does acknowledge that now is time to debate the issue. Read the editorial at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n146/a01.html Then Monday the Victoria Times-Colonist published an editorial "Gun Epidemic Prescriptions" which ends stating: "And it is time to recognize that gangs and guns are linked inextricably to the huge profits in the drug trade. Those profits are possible because of a failed, prohibition-based drug strategy. It's time to begin legalizing and controlling distribution as part of an entirely new approach to reducing the damage done by guns." See http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09.n155.a02.html Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun columnist, addressed the same topic Monday with this column: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09.n155.a03.html With the facts on our side, we may influence the debate. Please read the editorials and column at the above links where you will also find contact information for sending letters to the editor.
In The Trenches

Press Advisory: Press Conference Wednesday to Launch Final Drive for Medical Marijuana in Minnesota

Minnesota Cares logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
FEBRUARY 10, 2009

Press Conference Weds. to Launch Final Drive for Medical Marijuana in Minnesota
Hearing in Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee to Follow

CONTACT: Former Rep. Chris DeLaForest..................................................................(763) 439-1178

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA -- Legislators and patients will launch what they expect to be the final push for passage of bipartisan medical marijuana legislation in Minnesota at a statehouse press conference at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee will hold a hearing on the bill, S.F. 97, at 12:30 p.m. A previous version of the bill passed the Minnesota Senate as well as every House committee, but did not receive a House floor vote.

    WHAT: Press conference to launch drive for final passage of medical marijuana legislation, S.F. 97 and H.F. 292, followed by Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee hearing.

    WHO: Bill sponsors Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina), Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing) and Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia); K.K. Forss of Ely, who has used medical marijuana to relieve pain from multiple neck surgeries; Dr. George Wagoner, physician from Manitee, Mich. (and formerly licensed in Minnesota), whose wife used medical marijuana during her battle with ovarian cancer and who campaigned for the Michigan medical marijuana initiative that passed in November with 63 percent of the vote.
    Also testifying at the hearing will be Joni Whiting of Jordan, whose daughter's battle with malignant melanoma was made bearable by using medical marijuana, and Kathy Rippentrop of Lakeville, whose mother used medical marijuana during her treatment for liver cancer. Written testimony from other patients will be presented to the committee and will be made available to the media.

    WHERE: Rm. 125, State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul.

    WHEN: Press conference at 11 a.m. Hearing at 12:30 p.m.
   

####

In The Trenches

Dump Kellogg's like it dumped Michael Phelps

Dear friends:

As you probably know, cereal giant Kellogg's has announced that it won't renew Olympic swim champion Michael Phelps' endorsement contract because he was photographed smoking marijuana.

If Phelps had been photographed hoisting a Budweiser, no one would have said a word. In fact, Phelps was arrested for drunk driving in 2004 — which could have resulted in someone being hurt or killed — and Kellogg's never took issue with that. Alcohol is far more toxic and addictive than marijuana and tends to make users reckless, aggressive, and violent.

Would you take a minute to speak out against this hypocrisy, by adding your voice to the hundreds of thousands of people who are pledging to boycott Kellogg's products until the company changes its decision? Just visit MPP's action center here and fill out the easy online form.

Meanwhile, MPP has been all over the news to point out the hypocrisy of the situation.
For instance, check out this video of MPP's Bruce Mirken discussing the issue on CNN last week.

Please join me in rejecting the farce of the condemnation of marijuana users — one that has already long been abandoned by the general public.

Sincerely,
Kampia signature (e-mail sized)

Rob Kampia
Executive Director
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington, D.C.

P.S. As I've mentioned in previous alerts, a major philanthropist has committed to match the first $2.35 million that MPP can raise from the rest of the planet in 2009. This means that your donation today will be doubled.