Date: Mon, 08 Jul 2002 08:12:06 -0700

Subject:NV: Easing Marijuana Penalties Up TOC

Newshawk: The War on Drugs IS Terrorism
Pubdate: Sun, 07 Jul 2002
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Contact: letters@lvrj.com
Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

EASING MARIJUANA PENALTIES

Initiative Would Bring Compassion And Common Sense To Drug Laws

In 1998, 59 percent of Nevada voters backed a ballot initiative allowing
residents who receive a prescription from a physician to use marijuana for
medicinal purposes. Two years later, the same measure garnered 65 percent
support. As a result, the state constitution was amended and the Legislature
enacted laws implementing the initiative.

Still, a cloud of legal ambiguity hangs over the medicinal marijuana
program. Possession of marijuana in any amount remains a federal offense.
And despite the medical marijuana referendum, Nevada retains the most
Draconian set of marijuana penalties in the nation, assessing felony charges
to anyone who is caught with pot but not covered by the medical marijuana
program ... or enrolled in the program but in possession of more than the
seven plants permissible under law.

Silver State voters may have the opportunity to ease these unnecessarily
harsh penalties. Another initiative -- pending qualification for November's
ballot -- would amend the constitution, legalizing possession of as much as
3 ounces of marijuana by any adult. If approved by voters this fall and
again in 2004, Nevada's marijuana penalties would become the nation's most
lenient.

Organizers of the referendum -- who have delivered 109,000 signatures to
Carson City -- say they singled out Nevada because our ballot access
requirements are easier to meet than those in other states, some of which
prohibit voter-led initiative drives. Drug reformers also cite the state's
solid support for the medical marijuana amendment as a favorable sign for
their new ballot measure.

There's little doubt this proposal will be blasted by religious groups and
law enforcement agencies. And even if the initiative passes, federal
penalties against marijuana possession would remain in effect.

Still, this measure offers Nevadans an opportunity to bring sanity to the
state's overly burdensome drug enforcement policy. Appropriate penalties
would remain for marijuana possession by minors, public use of the
substance, and drivers who operate motor vehicles while impaired.

But the measure would end the needless harassment of individuals who
peacefully and privately use marijuana -- including seriously ill patients
who should have some legal protection, not to mention peace of mind, because
they're covered by the medical marijuana program.

As a matter of compassion and common sense, the initiative is a promising
first step.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Mon, 08 Jul 2002 10:36:09 -0700

Subject:NJ: NJWEEDMAN Cultivates Another Lawsuit Up TOC

Newshawk: EDWARD FORCHION -aka- "NJWEEDMAN" (njweedman@yahoo.com)
Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jul 2002
Source: Community News (NJ)
Copyright: 2002 Community News
Contact: INGCNews@aol.com
Website: http://www.sjcommunitynews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2291
Author: Hartriono B. Sastrowardoyo, staff writer
Cited: http://www.njweedman.com/ (NJWEEDMAN)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/spirit.htm (Spiritual or Sacramental)

NJWEEDMAN CULTIVATES ANOTHER LAWSUIT

$5 Million, Change Of Venue Sought From Girlfriend And County Judges

Like a dandelion on a well-manicured lawn, Ed "NJWEEDMAN" Forchion's newest
lawsuit has arrived at the Burlington County Superior Court. This time he
filed a $5 Million lawsuit claiming denial of freedom of speech and freedom
of religion against his ex-girlfriend, Linda Holden, and Judges Maria Bell,
John Almeida, as well as two other Judges. Citing that the Judges sit on a
Burlington County Court, Forchion is also petitioning for a change of
venue. (Docket No. L-0001922-02)

The lawsuit reiterates Forchion's defense that he is a member of the
Rastafarian religion, which uses - emphasizes the use of marijuana in
certain ceremonies as a sacrament.

Therefore, he claims he has a legal right to use marijuana, laws regarding
its use notwithstanding. Forchion also claims that espousing his beliefs to
legalize its use caused Judge Bell to take away his visitation and custody
rights to one of his daughters, Ajanea.

Forchion has previously run for Burlington County freeholder and the U.S.
Congress as a means to change the laws regarding the use and possession of
marijuana.

Early last month he was jailed for what he said was "legally protesting
outside of the Burlington County Courthouse and giving interviews" to
various newspapers.

His defense also includes a briefing from the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals,
which on February 2nd, 1996 ruled that Rastafarian defendants, as a defense
against charges of possession of marijuana, should be allowed to show that
they use marijuana for religious reasons.

However, Judge John T. Noonan, Jr., writing for the court, stated that the
government could challenge whether the defendants were really Rastafarians.
"It is not enough in order to enjoy the protections of the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act to claim the name of a religion as a protective
cloak. Neither the government nor the court has to accept the mere say-so."

A May 2002 decision again ruled in favor of allowing religious exemptions
to religious laws, including the smoking of marijuana - but only on federal
land.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals ruling, though, only applies to
California and the other eight western states under it's jurisdiction. The
Court may be best known for its recent declaring of the recital of the
Pledge of Allegiance as unconstitutional, stating that an atheist or holder
of certain non-Judeo-Christian beliefs could see the phrase "under god" as
an endorsement of monotheism.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Mon, 08 Jul 2002 20:26:29 -0700

Subject:Canada: Pot Growers Hike Electric Bills, MPP Says Up TOC

Newshawk: Join CMAP (http://www.mapinc.org/cmap/lists.htm)
Pubdate: Sat, 06 Jul 2002
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star
Contact: lettertoed@thestar.com
Website: http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Richard Brennan

POT GROWERS HIKE ELECTRIC BILLS, MPP SAYS

Ontario consumers pay $3 to $5 more on their monthly electricity bills
because thousands of illegal marijuana growers are stealing at least $500
million worth of power each year, a Liberal MPP says.

Michael Bryant (St. Paul's) and Toronto lawyer Andrew Evangelista, who acts
for utilities, said the power theft is so serious that, in some cases, it
has caused brownouts and blackouts.

It is estimated at least 10,000 marijuana grow houses exist in the Greater
Toronto Area. The $500 million estimate is based on police calculations,
they said.

Bryant thinks "Ontarians will be rightly steamed to learn that, while they
are being asked to conserve electricity, some pot-growing energy thief next
door is toking up all the electricity causing brownouts and blackouts,
driving up electricity prices."

Growing marijuana is energy-intensive. To avoid detection, operators bypass
the hydro meter and tap right into the power source.

"They consume about $2,000 worth of electricity a month but they don't pay
their bill because they bypass the hydro lines, creating an enormous fire
hazard such that one in 10 go up in smoke," Bryant said.

The Liberal critic called on the Conservative government to give police
"the resources, the human power and the technology to be able to do the
surveillance and to be able to shut these operations down."

Bryant said marijuana is now Ontario's third largest cash crop.

Evangelista urged the government to give utilities the power to place liens
on properties where police find illegal marijuana operations so the cost of
electricity can be recouped.

"The numbers are staggering. There is estimated to be $70 million in hydro
theft in York Region alone per year," he said, noting Markham Hydro shuts
down five to 10 grow houses each week. About 98 per cent are homes where
the meter has been bypassed.

Regional police say the power theft in York is more like $200 million a year.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 04:49:33 -0700

Subject:CA: LA Protest Against Asa -  Jul 10, 7:30 AM Up TOC

To anyone interested in joining our protest to Demand Safe Access for Medical
Marijuana Patients at the Beverly Hills Hotel***,

There is a US DEA "intelligence briefing" with Asa Hutchinson himself
for Hollywood people at 9 am, July 10 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, organized
by something called the Entertainment Industries Council, hqs in Burbank and
Reston, Va, Brian Dyak, chair. Their e mail is <A 
HREF="mailto:eiceast@eiconline.org">eiceast@eiconline.org</A>.
Fax is (818) 955-6870, phone is (818) 955-6845.

We will be protesting out on the front sidewalk at 7 - 11 am on Wednesday,
July 10.
If anyone can get in and attend the meeting that would be great.

***Free Demand Safe Access T-shirts signed by Jack Herer will be given to the
first ten people.

Bring signs, flags, & banners if you have them, if not we will have some
posters.

Any help at such short notice would be great,
Kelly
CPCA



 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 04:54:14 -0700

Subject:New Zealand: Act courts votes of dope smokers  Up TOC

Newshawk: NORML NZ http://www.norml.org.nz
Subject: Act courts votes of dope smokers
Source: New Zealand Herald
Pubdate: 09 July 2002
Author: BERNARD ORSMAN

Act courts votes of dope smokers

Act, the party that stands for zero tolerance on crime, is seeking the
votes of cannabis smokers.

Under the headline Freedom is Choice, Act has taken an advertisement in
the pro-cannabis magazine Norml News saying the present cannabis laws
restrict personal freedoms and are not working.

It goes on to say that Act is committed to meaningful debate and a
workable solution to the cannabis issue.

The advertisement is contained in an election issue of Norml News, of
which 50,000 free copies go into circulation on Thursday through
alternative networks such as cafes, bong shops and hydroponic suppliers.

It was authorised and paid for by Act party manager Graham Watson, who
was appointed last November to rekindle Act's liberal vision.

He is a former president of the Auckland University branch of Norml.

In the Norml News editorial, Norml Auckland co-ordinator Mike Harding
said the pro-cannabis lobby was recommending to the country's 400,000
cannabis smokers that they give their party vote to the Greens.

"However, for those of you that couldn't possibly vote for the Green
Party, Act are currently teetering on the brink," he said.

Act justice spokesman Stephen Franks yesterday said there was nothing
contradictory about Act's policy of zero tolerance towards policing
minor infringements and campaigning for the votes of cannabis smokers.

Anyone caught smoking cannabis under the present law should be
prosecuted, he said.

But Act upheld the freedom of adults to do as they wanted without
harming others, and it was open-minded on decriminalising cannabis. The
matter was a conscience vote for Act MPs.

In an interview in Norml News, Mr Franks said his party treated the
matter of cannabis law reform seriously and had no ideological interest
in maintaining prohibition.

The interview referred to a discussion paper on cannabis law reform Mr
Franks released in June 2000.

The paper said that before MPs debated the issue an independent report
should look at a range of potential consequences, including the effects
on children, the effects in the workplace and driving under the
influence, and the cost to taxpayers of increased drug abuse.

The paper made no mention of considering the link between cannabis use
and crime.

Mr Franks said his draft discussion paper and a string of questions to
the Government had made the possibility of liberalising the cannabis
laws look fashionable.

Divided MPs inquiring into legalising cannabis failed to deliver a
report before the election was called last month.

Health select committee chairwoman Judy Keall, who is quitting politics
at this election, was unsure about the future of the inquiry into the
legal status of cannabis and how best to minimise its use and associated
harm.

Mr Harding last month said MPs opposed to liberalising cannabis laws had
tried to "bury the subject" and he promised to resurrect it as an
election issue.

As well as recommending to cannabis smokers how to use their party vote,
Norml News has picked some electorate candidates for attention. In
Auckland Central "of course we recommend Nandor (Tanczos), but party
vote only".

The editorial says a vote for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party,
which is standing candidates in six electorates, is a wasted vote.

Full news coverage:
nzherald.co.nz/election



 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 04:54:56 -0700

Subject:UK: Tories condemn Brixton cannabis scheme Up TOC 

 From Paul Chang  <paul_chang@cwjamaica.com>

Guardian Unlimited
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,11026,752117,00.html

Tories condemn Brixton cannabis scheme

Matthew Tempest, political correspondent
Tuesday July 9, 2002

The Conservative high command today tried to pre-empt the home secretary's
reclassification of cannabis by declaring the Lambeth police pilot a
"disaster".
The Tory leader, Iain Duncan Smith, and his shadow home secretary, Oliver
Letwin, are visiting Brixton today to highlight their opposition to the
policing policy of issuing an informal caution to those found in possession
of cannabis.

Mr Blunkett is expected to formally announce tomorrow his decision to
reclassify cannabis as a class C drug, therby making possession a
non-arrestable offence.

Although the Conservatives do not oppose the cannabis reclassification per
se, they have joined forces with the Daily Mail and the London Evening
Standard to criticise former Lambeth police commander Brian Paddick's
scheme. The trial was launched to give police more time to combat hard
drugs.

Mr Letwin said today: "We are going to Brixton to highlight the disaster
that the Brixton cannabis experiment has become.

"Community leaders, local police officers and local residents have all
rightly pointed out that this experiment has caused a significant increase
in drug dealing of all kinds in Brixton.

"Worse yet, it is clear that this experiment has handed over control of the
estates to drug dealers and their gangs."

He added: "Ultimately, this issue is about whether the forces of law and
order control an area or whether it is controlled by other forces."

In a bid to sugar the pill of the drug reclassification - which was
recommended by both the police foundation and the home affairs select
committee - Mr Blunkett is expected to announce a doubling of the maximum
sentence for dealing cannabis.

However, the Tories say there has been a significant overall increase in
drug trafficking in Lambeth and that drug dealers are in control, not the
police.

Kate Hoey, one of the local Labour MPs, has also condemned the experiment,
saying it has made drug trafficking socially acceptable.

Last week, Mr Paddick defended the scheme, saying there was no evidence to
show his relaxed approach had attracted an influx of "drugs tourists" to
Brixton.

Figures from Scotland Yard last month showed street crime in Lambeth had
fallen dramatically.


The policy of issuing police warnings might be extended to other parts of
the country if - as seems likely - Mr Blunkett announces on Wednesday that
the penalties for cannabis are to be downgraded.

He told MPs last October there was a case for reclassification, although he
declared he was not in favour of shifting ecstasy from class A to class B.

~  ~~~  ~~~~~  ~~~  ~  ~~~  ~~~~~  ~~~  ~

paul chang
jamaica west indies


 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 09:08:16 -0700

Subject:DC: Marijuana Advocates Submit Signatures Up TOC

Newshawk: Krissy www.mpp.org
Pubdate: Tue, 09 Jul 2002
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Webpage: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41844-2002Jul8.html
Section: Metro, In Brief, The District
Copyright: 2002 The Washington Post Company
Contact: letters@washpost.com
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author:Avram Goldstein, Justin Blum, Yolanda Woodlee, Debbi Wilgoren and
Ylan Q. Mui, the Associated Press and Reuters
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project (www.mpp.org)

MARIJUANA ADVOCATES SUBMIT SIGNATURES

Proponents of the Medical Marijuana Initiative yesterday submitted what
they said were about 40,000 petition signatures to the D.C. Board of
Elections and Ethics, the first step toward getting the issue on the ballot
in the November election.

Approval of the ballot initiative would allow doctors to give patients
permission to grow and use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

There will be a 10-day period during which opponents can challenge
signatures on the petition.

D.C. voters approved a similar measure in 1998, but Rep. Robert L. Barr Jr.
(R-Ga.) introduced an amendment in Congress to block its implementation. In
March, a federal court struck down Barr's amendment, but the Bush
administration plans to appeal the decision.

The Marijuana Policy Project, based in the District, estimates that more
than 1,000 patients with HIV, glaucoma, cancer and other medical problems
would benefit from legalized marijuana use. Nine states have legalized
marijuana for medical purposes.
__________________________________________________________________________
Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth

 
 


**




web:     http://www.crrh.org/

------------------------------
End of Restore-Digest V2002 #128
********************************