Tuesday, September 27, 2005

When good things make you sad Make no mistake about it. Senator Richard Durbin is one of the good guys, and I'm proud to have him as my Senator. He was the only one to stand up to DEA head Karen Tandy in her confirmation hearing (proving she was unfit to serve). He also introduced the Truth in Trials Act to assist medical marijuana patients facing federal charges. So I was pleased to finally hear back from him regarding H.R.1528: Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005, sponsored by James F. Sensenbrenner (WI-5), an odious bill that would, among other things, make me a felon for not snitching on college students who have pot. As part of an action alert, I had written him asking him to oppose the bill if it made it to the Senate. I finally received a reply. And sure enough, Durbin opposes Sensenbrenner's bill. But am I satisfied? Not by a long shot. Here's the letter. Dear Mr. Guither:   Thank you for your message regarding Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act, HR 1528. I appreciate knowing your thoughts.   I understand your concerns about this measure. On April 6, 2005, Representative James Sensenbrenner introduced HR 1528, which primarily addresses drug distribution involving minors by expanding mandatory minimum sentences.   Opponents of the legislation argue that it virtually eliminates the ability of federal judges to give sentences below the minimum sentence recommended by the federal sentencing guidelines. They also argue that the measure is punitive because it requires a 10-year minimum sentence for anyone 21 or older who gives marijuana or other drugs to someone under 18 and that the legislation further widens the disparity in sentencing for crack and powder cocaine offenses. These provisions could cause severe hardships and injustice and contribute to the growing population within our nation's prisons.   I am concerned that this bill prohibits consideration at sentencing of a defendant's need for education, vocational training, or medical care. To achieve the long-term goals we seek, tough punishment must work in tandem with smart prevention and early intervention.   This measure is pending before the House Judiciary Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Similar legislation has not been introduced in the Senate. However, I will keep your thoughts in mind in case the Senate considers legislation involving mandatory minimum sentences. Thank you again for contacting me.      Sincerely,      Richard J. Durbin      United States Senator RJD/el P.S. If you are ever visiting Washington, please feel free to join Senator Obama and me at our weekly constituent coffee. When the Senate is in session, we provide coffee and donuts every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. as we hear what is on the minds of Illinoisans and respond to your questions. We would welcome your participation. Please call my D.C. office for more details. So why am I disappointed? Because he refers to Sensenbrenner's bill as if it is something to be taken seriously, although he is "concerned" about some of the provisions and notes that "opponents of the bill" make certain points. I wanted him to say: Dear Mr. Guither:   Thank you for your message regarding Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act, HR 1528. I appreciate knowing your thoughts. You should know mine. My esteemed colleague, Representative James Sensenbrenner, is an ass. The fact that he is in Congress is a travesty. The fact that he is chair of a committee should be a point of extreme embarrassment to the Republican leadership. It seems that every time he proposes a bill, he violates his own oath to support the Constitution of the United States while traitorously destroying the freedom of his own constituents. There's no way in Hell that I'd let a bill even similar to his make it through the Senate. It's time to reform the laws that don't work, not make them worse. Thank you again for contacting me.      Sincerely,      Richard J. Durbin      United States Senator Now I understand why Senator Durbin couldn't write a letter like that. There are ways you do things so you don't piss people off, and public officials just can't be that blunt. But why did he feel the need to say: "tough punishment must work in tandem with smart prevention and early intervention"? Why is it that one of the better people in Congress is unable to tell the truth about drug policy? Is our society so afraid to face reform? So paralyzed by the years of propaganda? How long will it take before politicians can actually say that they favor reform, without including the obligatory tough talk? Note that Senator Durbin invited me to join him and Senator Obama for coffee and donuts if I'm ever in Washington, DC. I don't get there often, but I'd love to take advantage of it. I'd like to ask him a question: Senator Durbin, why do you feel there is this need for "tough punishment"? Do you have any evidence that tough punishment works? Do you really think the country would have been better off if Senator Obama had been caught indulging in his youthful indiscretions (cocaine and marijuana) and spent time in prison? Yes, I'm proud of Senator Durbin. He's one of the best we've got. Unfortunately. When I deal with a sado-moralist like Souder, I get feisty. When I get a letter from Durbin, it just makes me sad. 6:16:42 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Go check out Last One Speaks Libby has been blogging up a storm recently, with some great stuff on the Senlis Council, the Salon article on the Utah attack, the effectiveness of meth reaction laws, and DEA delays. 8:05:29 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

I'm not sure quite what to make of this... ... or how much to believe, but in a special to the World Tribune.com: Cannabis new drug of choice to finance Al Qaida ABU DHABI -- Saudi security sources said Sunni insurgents have been smuggling illegal drugs from Iraq to Saudi Arabia to finance insurgency attacks against coalition forces. The sources said the drugs being smuggling now tend to be cannabis. "In the space of one year, border police intercepted 10 tons of cannabis coming from Iraq," a Saudi source said. "In the past, the [smuggled] merchandise used to consist of alcoholic beverages and prohibited drugs." So let's see, we go to Afghanistan and it becomes the largest source of opium in that part of the world. We go to Iraq, and it becomes the supplier of marijuana to Saudi Arabia. The notion that we have the power or capability of stopping the production, distribution, or consumption of illicit drugs anywhere is laughable. And, of course, regarding the claim that Al Qaida is being financed by the marijuana, remember that marijuana has nothing to do with it. The black market has everything to do with it. [Thanks to John] 8:00:58 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Action Alert: Allow Research Regular readers of this site have heard me complain ad nauseum about the delaying tactics of the federal government to prevent even the proper investigation of medical marijuana. Here's a chance for you to get your Representatives into the act -- an action alert from NORML. Members of Congress are now rallying support to send a letter to DEA head Karen Tandy, asking the DEA to end the monopoly and approve an application to grow research marijuana submitted by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. This is where you come in: contact your Representative and urge him or her to support that letter! Let your Congressperson know that it is not acceptable to let politics stand in the way of legitimate scientific research. Marijuana should get the same consideration by the Food and Drug Administration as any other medicine seeking approval! 12:39:55 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []