Sunday, March 14, 2004

Drug WarRant Endorsements for the Illinois Republican and Democrat primaries I've promised this for some time, and I'm finally coming through with my endorsements for the primary, including President (ymy views there have been clear for a while), Senate, and a couple of smaller local races. So here goes. President Democrats: Dennis Kucinich. Sure, John Kerry's got the nomination. He even has all the delegates he needs right now, so a vote for Kerry in the primary is wasted. Every vote for Kucinich increases his voice for reform at the convention. Here's my endorsement page. I met Dennis tonight at Illinois State University (picture). Wonderful job. Vote for him. Republicans: Blake Ashby (write-in). Again, Bush has it wrapped up obviously, so send a message. Write in Blake's name and shake things up a little. U.S. Senate, Illinois This has been an extremely disappointing nomination race to me. None of the candidates have excited me, and as far as I could see, their issue statements have been shallow and mostly scratching the surface. Nobody is addressing the drug war in any serious way. I've gathered some information over time on my Illinois Senate Candidates page. I have not been able to identify any serious drug policy reform candidates in the bunch, so I'm afraid my meager and incomplete analysis is also based on surface. Eliminating ones like Ryan who have allied themselves with evil (William Bennett), and instead opting for candidates who have shown a prediliction for some kind of individual freedom (thereby making them, if not leaders, also not obstacles to drug policy reform). Democrats: Barack Obama. This is a tough one. He's got some strikes against him, but also some positives. Pros: He promotes biodiesel fuels and the use of renewable energy sources like biomass (while not specifically mentioning hemp, there's a logical connection). He promises to "work to repeal provisions of the Patriot Act that strip us of our privacy and freedom without improving our security" and "oppose draconian extensions in the Patriot Act being considered by the Ashcroft Justice Department." He promises to end racial profiling. As a young man, he used pot and cocaine, so he can relate to young people experimenting. Cons: He was a chief sponsor of legislation banning ephedra. He doesn't seem to have a clue about the problems in Columbia or the rest of Latin America (in his foreign policy section he lumped Latin America in with Asia and Africa!). Finally, I fear that instead of his youthful experimenting with drugs helping him, that he may lean over backward (like Clinton) to be "tough." What can I say? I'm not thrilled, but Obama is my choice. Republicans: John Borling. This is a real stretch for an endorsement, but on the front page of his website is: John is a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. He believes: "We should be free to enjoy our freedoms as long as we don't infringe on the like freedoms of others or endanger the public safety." That maxim and the preamble to the Constitution provide guidance on the role of citizen and the government. That sounds like a proper guideline for drug policy reform, and so Borling is my choice on the Republican side. U.S. Congress, Illinois District 15 Democrats: Vote David Gill over Ralph Langenheim Jr. Gill has personally stated to me that he supports medical marijuana and reform of drug laws. He's also a nice guy. Give him your vote. Republicans: Tim Johnson is unchallenged and he has also come out in favor of medical marijuana. McLean County State's Attorney: Republicans: Sorry. Can't help you here. Bill Yoder and Teena Griffin are both horrible choices. Each is trying to outdo the other in advertisements regarding their toughness on prosecuting drug crimes. I refuse to endorse either, and unfortunately the winner is likely to be running unopposed in the general election. 11:16:02 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Here's your chance to meet the Minister of Disinformation This, from the Drug Policy Alliance, has been posted elsewhere, but I felt it's important enough to present it in full here as well. Drug Czar John Walters is at it again - traveling around the country on a taxpayer-funded drug war myths tour - but this time we have his schedule!! Walters and the White House usually keep his schedule a secret until the last minute because they fear that drug policy reformers like you will challenge his drug war lies. This time around we can plan ahead and pressure him to answer the real questions! We know exactly where he will talk and what topic he will address - the Bush administration's plans to take away parents' rights to decide how best to keep their kids safe. Let's say no to student drug testing!!! Chicago, IL, March 16, 2004. 9am-5pm (Radisson Hotel Schaumburg, 1725 Algonquin Road) Fresno, CA, March 18, 2004. 9am-5pm (Fresno Convention Center, 848 M Street) Atlanta, GA, March 25, 2004. 9am-5pm (Holiday Inn, 450 Capitol Avenue) Denver, CO, April 8, 2004. 9am-5pm (Executive Tower Hotel, 1405 Curtis Street) You can RSVP for the summits here. You can also check their online tool kit for ways to help end student drug testing. This is a great opportunity to confront the Drug Czar's lies and propaganda, or just to let the press and others attending know that there's another side to this story. 1:29:55 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

By Government Decree: The Drug Czar IS the Minister of Disinformation Via Cannabis News we learn that the General Accounting Office has given federal approval to the Drug Czar to lie to us (not that he needed it before). U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) complained to the United States General Accounting Office (GAO) back in April of last year about misleading statements used by the Drug Czar's office (specifically this Scott Burns material) in order to lobby against drug reform efforts. This week, the GAO responded (pdf). Their response includes the following: Even though the statements may have been controversial, they were made within the context of ONDCP’s statutory responsibilities, which include taking such actions as necessary to oppose efforts to legalize certain controlled substances such as marijuana... The Deputy Director’s statements about marijuana are thus within the statutory role assigned to ONDCP. Given this role, we do not see a need to examine the accuracy of the Deputy Director’s individual statements in detail. So, in other words, since the mandate of the ONDCP includes doing whatever is necessary to oppose legalization, that automatically includes lying. This makes it clear that the ONDCP must be completely abolished, or at minimum, have a congressionally mandated change in its mission. Somewhat ironic that on the top of the GAO letterhead containing this statement are the words: "Accountability * Integrity * Reliability" Right. 1:28:24 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

John Kerry Internet Town Meeting Loyal reader Scott has been keeping me informed about the activity at the John Kerry forum. Although registered, I haven't had time to visit there much recently. However, there is a strong and active drug policy debate going on there that has expanded into five topics already. Go over, check them out and participate! Marijuana Decriminalization Medical Marijuana and States Rights. Where does Kerry stand? Agricultural Hemp War on Illicit Drugs, Terrorism, Crime and Solutions Should drugs be legal? What does Kerry think? 1:24:35 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Catching up... While I was gone, LastOneSpeaks had outstanding coverage of the major drug war reform news, including the following highlights: Students Speak, DEA Sneaks Away, showing once again that drug warriors are terrified to debate honestly, because their "facts" just... aren't. Deep in the Heart of Texas. I've talked a bit about the tragedy in Tulia that ended up with the pardons of 35 people who had been railroaded in a gross miscarriage of justice. A $5 million settlement and the dismantling of the drug task force is a step in the right direction. My favorite quote on this is from Vanita Gupta, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: "It's not simply that Tom Coleman was a rogue officer," she said. "The city of Amarillo has recognized that federally funded task forces are ineffective tools of law enforcement and they operate as rogue task forces because they are unaccountable to any oversight mechanism." That's one to remember. Have Drug Czar - Will Travel for Prohibition. LastOneSpeaks notes that the Drug Czar is continuing to tell his lies in Nevada in an attempt to influence the election process there. Double Jeopardy. Saturday's New York Times article A Student Aid Ban for Past Drug Use Is Creating a Furor by Greg Winter is an excellent article about the horrible HEA provision that denies education to students who aren't rich and have been caught with marijuana (while not penalizing rapists or murderers). Nick Gillespie at Hit and Run has the best take on it: "It is absurd on the face of it," says Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.). He knows what he's talking about: He wrote the goddamned law, which was passed in 1998. "I am an evangelic Christian who believes in repentace," he says, "so why would I have supported that?...Why would any of us in Congress?" Souder's subsequent Damscus Road experience aside, the short answer to his question is: Because Congress is filled with jackasses. We need to push for complete repeal of the provision, not just a modification. 12:35:45 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Back from New York New York was a blast, and there was no time for posting to the blog this past week. We played four-square on the Brooklyn Bridge at 3 in the morning, had incredible bagels at Bagels on the Square, sushi at Japonica, egg drop and wonton soup at Wo Hop, dogs at Gray's Papaya, tiramisu with espresso and sambuca at Ferrara's and a whole lot more. We saw amazing shows: Wicked, Aunt Dan and Lemon, BodyVox, I Am My Own Wife, and Avenue Q. And, of course, we walked all over the city. Some random pictures of our experiences are here. I would have liked to check out The Marijuana-Logues. Unfortunately previews start at the end of this week and it opens end of March, so I didn't get to see it -- perhaps it will still be open in June when I return. I'd like to say Hello to Will and his friends -- one moment during the week when I got to have some stimulating discussions about the drug war. Amazing who you can meet in the subway. Also Hello to Deidre. Thanks for the note. I would love to catch up with you sometime, but it appeared this week was not the time. 12:33:46 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []