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NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE REFORM OF
MARIJUANA LAWS
1001 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW
SUITE 1010
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036
TEL 202-483-5500 * FAX 202-483-0057
E-MAIL natlnorml@aol.com
Internet http://www.norml.org/
... a weekly service for the media on news items related to Marijuana Prohibition.
February 23, 1995
Drug Watch International And The DEA Combine
Forces To Kill
Colorado Hemp Bill With Two Powerful Weapons: Lies And Threats
February 16, Denver, CO, Colorado's Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy voted down Senate Bill
132, the Colorado Hemp Production Act.
The bill, sponsored by state senator Lloyd Casey (D-Northglenn),
sought to 1.) establish a commission to study hemp as a cash crop
and the federal laws governing hemp cultivation [Similar to the
commission recently established by Kentucky's governor. -ed.],
and 2.) create a 'vehicle' for the establishment of a legal hemp
industry in Colorado. The measures were voted down 4-3 and 6-1
respectively.
While it is unfortunate that the citizens of Colorado are
temporarily unable to enjoy the economic benefits of a legal hemp
industry, the most disturbing aspect of these hearings was the apparent
impact of testimony provided by The Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and Drug Watch International (DWI)
[prohibitionist organization -ed.].
First, DWI representative Beverly Kinard gave bizarre testimony
that included wild misrepresentations about hemp production, the
health effects associated with marijuana use and the groups and
individuals who advocate changing the laws governing marijuana.
Some of Mrs. Kinard's more notable direct quotes follow:
-The Dutch National Board of Drug Prevention is extremely concerned because even with low THC marijuana, high concentrations of THC may be produced in some organs. [There is no such office entitled the "Dutch National Board of Drug Prevention". -ed.]While NORML contends that nearly all of Mrs. Kinard's testimony was nonsensical, the DEA proved DWI one better. Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's Rocky Mountain Field Division, Philip W. Perry, testified that the DEA strongly opposes any democratically-inspired challenges to their supreme control of marijuana prohibition. In his written testimony, Agent Perry asserts that "In cases where federal and state law are in opposition, the question of which law would control is well settled." Agent Perry felt it necessary to reiterate for the committee: "Let us be clear that what we are talking about in this Bill is marijuana. Calling it "hemp" on the basis of an artificial threshold level of psychoactive ingredient does not erase the fact that it is botanically and legally the same plant." [Yes, that is exactly the point! -ed.]
-Legalizing drugs in the Netherlands brought the crime rate up 400%. ["Drugs" are not legal in Holland and the violent crime rate has declined over The last 12 years. -ed.]
-Hemp oil [derived from marijuana seeds -ed.] causes skin cancer overnight on laboratory rats. [Hemp seed oil is sold in health food stores. -ed.]
-Marijuana affects every cell, every system and every organ in the body. The mental disorders include acute toxic psychosis, panic attacks, flashbacks, delusions, depersonalization, hallucinations, paranoia, depression and UNCONTROLLABLE HOSTILITY. [Emphasis not added! If so, why has violent crime declined in Holland? -ed.]
[For more information on this legislative debacle, including copies of the DWI and DEA's tendentious written testimonies, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML, 202-483-5500.]
DEA's Next Target: Hawaii
February 13, Kailua-Kona, In a letter from the mayor of Hawaii
County to the DEA, Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro's executive
assistant asserted that the Mayor is totally supportive of hemp activist
Roger Christie's efforts to establish a legal hemp industry on
Hawaii.
Executive Assistant R.B. Legaspi writes, in part, that Mr.
Christie has secured the Mayor's endorsement and that "The
Mayor [has] offered the use of county lands for an experimental
project growing low grade hemp for commercial purposes.
In his letter, Mr. Legaspi pointed out to the DEA that this past
June 7, President Clinton signed Executive Order 12919, which
amongst other things, recognizes hemp as a "Food
Resource".
The letter concludes with a reiteration, "Mayor Yamashiro
does endorse...the cultivation of hemp and its conversion to
products useful to mankind." [Editor's note: Despite
the Mayor's pragmatism and support, the County of Hawaii is not
going to be able to legally cultivate hemp. The DEA will
likely employ the same heavy-handed tactics that it successfully
used in the above cited case in Colorado and deny Mr. Christie
his permit needed to legally cultivate hemp. The disproportional
level of influence and power the DEA asserts over
democratically-elected local and state officials is a clear
violation of the 9th and 10th Amendments.]
[For further information on Hawaii's efforts to legalize hemp production, please contact either activist Roger Christie, 808-961-0488 or Mayor Stephen K. Yamashiro, 808-961-8211.]
Top U.S. General Says The U.S.'s
Multibillion - Dollar 'Drug War'
Has Accomplished Little
February 16, The Associated Press (AP) reported that Gen.
Barry R. McCafferey recently told law makers that despite a well
organized and costly-counter-drug operation, "these current
efforts are not achieving their purpose.
"A multiyear effort involving substantial resources and
enormous energy and creativity," McCafferey said, "has
not had the effects we desired."
AP reports that McCafferey portrayed an insatiable drug market
able to adapt to law enforcement agencies by quickly changing
drug routes and methods of production.
Gen. McCafferey acknowledged the difficulty of tackling the drug
problem, but like any true believer he concluded: "I Think
part of the problem has been our decision to call it a war...I
prefer to think of it as a cancer. I don't think about
achieving victory but about dealing with the problem."
[NORML's National Director Richard Cowan's comment: "With
this kind of mentality, America will always be engaged in a
"drug war" until we die of the cancer of prohibition
-ed.]
The New York Times Magazine Runs A Very High Times-Type Article
February 19, The New York Times Magazine ran a lengthy cover article entitled "Marijuana in the 90's". The article examined indoor marijuana cultivation from the point of view of an avid gardener [Writer Michael Pollan is Harper Magazine's gardening editor. -ed.]. The article examines and rightly lays blame for the phenomenal explosion of indoor marijuana cultivation at the U.S. government's feet. The article extensively examines the economics of contraband both in the U.S. and The Netherlands. The pictures alone are amazing. This is a must read article!
[For more information on this 10-page article, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML, 202-483-5500.]
-End-
OVER 9 MILLION MARIJUANA ARRESTS SINCE 1965 ... ANOTHER EVERY 2 MINUTES!