MAPTalk-Digest Wednesday, May 18 2011 Volume 11 : Number 022
001 New Zealand: Editorial: Drugs Must Be Stamped Out
From: Jay Bergstrom <>
002 [FWD} Call Ohio Gov. Kasich this week to pardon Gary Burton
From: Richard Lake <>
003 Re: Rachel Maddow just said
From: Richard Lake <>
004 Obituary to Ben Masel posted online
From: Richard Lake <>
005 [FWD] Medical Marijuana Programs Under Attack - Act Now
From: Richard Lake <>
006 Re: MAP: [FWD} Call Ohio Gov. Kasich this week to pardon Gary Burton
From: Tom Suther <>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subj: 001 New Zealand: Editorial: Drugs Must Be Stamped Out
From: Jay Bergstrom <>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 08:30:26 -0700
Newshawk: Herb
Tracknum: 11828.201105161524.p4gfoovk011767
Pubdate: Sat, 14 May 2011
Source: Bay Of Plenty Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2011 Bay Of Plenty Times
Contact: http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/feedback/letters-to-the-editor/
Website: http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2926
DRUGS MUST BE STAMPED OUT
The issue of drugs in our community is polarising and never far from
the media glare.
This week is no exception. On the front page of yesterday's Bay of
Plenty Times were details of a series of police raids targeting
organised criminals in the Bay this week.
Police, supported by other enforcement agencies, swooped on 32
properties, arrested 25 people and seized major quantities of drugs
such as P, cannabis and magic mushrooms, as well as guns.
Worryingly, they found a military-style semi-automatic in the
possession of a criminal with no firearms licence.
It was at least the ninth major drugs raid in the Bay in the past
year and, along with latest crime statistics, demonstrates police are
keeping the pressure on drug criminals.
And so they should.
Illegal drugs are a curse and cause so much damage across many parts
of society.
These include health problems and the undeniable link with crime.
They give people a reason to commit crime and hurt others in an
effort to get their fix or make money.
There will always be those who argue cannabis, at the least, should
be decriminalised and the very fact such drugs are illegal is what
drives gang crime in the first place.
But decriminalising cannabis for minor personal use will not stop the
problems it causes.
Others also argue alcohol causes more damage than cannabis.
There is no denying alcohol is a huge factor when it comes to health
and crime. One only has to read the columns of this paper or watch
the police television reality shows to see evidence of this.
But alcohol has been such an ingrained part of our social fabric for
years it would be next to impossible for any government to ban it and
stay in power.
Thousands use it responsibly and tightening its use for young people
and those who use it irresponsibly is a more sensible tactic.
None of these arguments is a reason to open the floodgates on
cannabis and add to the problems that already exist.
Decriminalisation would only create more misery and cost the country more.
The Law Commission has been using its influence to push for reform.
It wants cannabis to be legal for medicinal purposes and wants to
divert minor drug offenders through a cautioning system instead of the courts.
This organisation would be better to spend its time working out how
to cut crime rather than trying to relax the country's laws.
Another related issue is legal highs such as Kronic, which have also
been in the headlines and should be banned.
Yesterday's edition reported drug tests for it are now available for
workplace use.
There can be no doubt drugs will remain in the headlines. The lobby
group Norml, which promotes drug-law reform, has vowed to make it an
election issue.
It's difficult to take this group seriously.
The National Government has already said it opposes drug reform.
It must stick to its guns.
If anything, drug laws should be tightened.
------------------------------
Subj: 002 [FWD} Call Ohio Gov. Kasich this week to pardon Gary Burton
From: Richard Lake <>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 19:54:25 -0700
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear colleagues,
Please urge your network to call Ohio Governor John Kasich, 614-466-3555, to
ask him to IMMEDIATELY pardon Gary Burton, the 69-year old man sent to jail
in Medina County, Ohio, for 60-days for growing two marijuana plants to help
his wife treat her cancer. She needs breast cancer surgery soon, but won't
get it while her husband is jailed.
If our movement can't mobilize such calls, what does that say about our
competence as a movement. Urge your friends and colleagues to call!
Here is an excellent two minute
video<http://medicalcannabiscentral.com/medical-cannabis/medical-marijuana-g
the case.
Eric
- --
Eric E. Sterling
"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of
tyranny over the mind of man." Then Vice-President Thomas Jefferson to Dr.
Benjamin Rush, Sept. 23, 1800.
Inscribed in the dome of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC.
------------------------------
Subj: 003 Re: Rachel Maddow just said
From: Richard Lake <>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 23:22:47 -0700
Yup, Rachel Maddow said that, and more, something about two plants,
er something else.
Folks may watch it on line at:
<http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#43>
I backed the part up three times but could not get the exact words
nor the connection with the segment.
Do we have other evidence that she may be a user, or at least
strongly on our side?
I go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ and click on the Maddow link at the
top to watch her shows. Never miss them. She gets my activist blood going.
Richard
At 09:58 PM 5/16/2011, normelle wrote:
>oh no mom, that's my new incense you smell...it's called
>cannabiscuits baking...
>
>(in the context of the Senator Ensign investigation)
>
>--
>
>***************************************************************************************
>JOIN CA NORML AND HELP US REFORM MARIJUANA LAWS IN CALIFORNIA
>See http://www.canorml.org/canormlmission.html
------------------------------
Subj: 004 Obituary to Ben Masel posted online
From: Richard Lake <>
Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 05:24:01 -0700
The full version of Don Wirtshafter's touching obituary to the late,
great cannabis activist Ben Masel is posted online at the Drug War
Memorial site at this URL:
http://www.equalrights4all.us/content/view/386/1/
An abbreviated version will be printed in the print edition of West
Coast Leaf.
- -- Chris Conrad and Mikki Norris /
West Coast Leaf™ • www.WestCoastLeaf.com • 510-215-8326
PO Box 1716, El Cerrito CA 94530
------------------------------
Subj: 005 [FWD] Medical Marijuana Programs Under Attack - Act Now
From: Richard Lake <>
Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 06:28:37 -0700
Having trouble reading this email? View it on our website.
http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=5JTsroZMyaR_yuhCU7-GWw..
Dear Supporter,
Medical marijuana patients across the country are under attack!
Despite the Obama Administration's promise to respect state laws,
lawyers in the federal government are now threatening to arrest and
prosecute people who are legally licensed to grow medical marijuana
under state law.
These ideologues are trying to block sensible regulation - and
they've already succeeded in Washington State.
We must stop them from erasing all the progress we've made and from
leaving patients out in the cold.
Write U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today to demand that the
federal government keep its promise to respect state medical marijuana laws.
Click here to write Attorney General Holder:
http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=flVZAWwk0UM2MhBJo5LJDw..
Back in 2009, the Obama Administration said they wouldn't use
"justice department resources to circumvent state laws" on medical
marijuana. They've kept their promise for the past two years, even
issuing a memo that made this hands-off approach official policy.
But now, federal government lawyers are intimidating states with new
medical marijuana programs in an attempt to end these programs before
they even get started. It's already happened in Washington State,
where the governor vetoed a promising medical marijuana bill. And if
these threats continue, they could jeopardize our efforts in every
state where medical marijuana legislation is on the table.
These lawyers are playing politics with the lives of patients who
need medical marijuana to cope with debilitating pain and nausea.
Take action now and ask the Attorney General to keep the
Administration's promise to leave state medical marijuana programs alone.
Take action now: http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=VqK2S90L274ZmPAL34xTPw..
To put a stop to these scare tactics, we don't need any laws changed
- - we just need the Attorney General to tell the handful of people
sending the threats to stop.
Write Attorney General Holder today and ask him to keep his word by
respecting patients' needs.
Send a letter now: http://dpa.convio.net/site/R?i=NCw98jey7VZuaN2b0XPMcw..
Then please spread the word - everything we've worked so hard to
achieve is at risk!
Thank you again for your help.
Sincerely,
Ethan Nadelmann
Executive Director
Drug Policy Alliance
------------------------------
Subj: 006 Re: MAP: [FWD} Call Ohio Gov. Kasich this week to pardon Gary Burton
From: Tom Suther <>
Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 07:56:06 -0700
Richard,
they are not very receptive. Very curt and Ok thank you Ok thank you not wanting to really listen.
- -----Original Message-----
>From: Richard Lake <>
>Sent: May 16, 2011 9:54 PM
>To:
>Subject: MAP: [FWD} Call Ohio Gov. Kasich this week to pardon Gary Burton
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Dear colleagues,
>Please urge your network to call Ohio Governor John Kasich, 614-466-3555, to
>ask him to IMMEDIATELY pardon Gary Burton, the 69-year old man sent to jail
>in Medina County, Ohio, for 60-days for growing two marijuana plants to help
>his wife treat her cancer. She needs breast cancer surgery soon, but won't
>get it while her husband is jailed.
>
>If our movement can't mobilize such calls, what does that say about our
>competence as a movement. Urge your friends and colleagues to call!
>
>Here is an excellent two minute
>video<http://medicalcannabiscentral.com/medical-cannabis/medical-marijuana-g
>the case.
>
>Eric
>
>--
>Eric E. Sterling
>"I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of
>tyranny over the mind of man." Then Vice-President Thomas Jefferson to Dr.
>Benjamin Rush, Sept. 23, 1800.
>Inscribed in the dome of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC.
>
------------------------------
End of MAPTalk-Digest V11 #22
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