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"A Drug War Carol" -- an online graphic novel about the War on Drugs modeled on Charles Dickens’ "A Christmas Carol."
The 64-page story, which was funded through the DRCNet.org Foundation, was written by Libertarian Susan W. Wells, with artwork by Scott Bieser. It is designed to tell people the truth about the human suffering caused by the War on Drugs, said Wells.

In "A Drug War Carol," the Drug Czar attends a medical marijuana rally in Washington, DC and orders the arrest of a medical marijuana patient. Later that night, the Drug Czar is visited by the ghost of the first drug czar, who shows him the misery caused by the War on Drugs. The Drug Czar, who sees the error of his ways, publicly repents on Christmas Day and frees all medical marijuana patients.

"A Drug War Carol" can be viewed at: www.adrugwarcarol.com

. . . Read more!


posted by Hal 5:08 AM

 

Angry Rosenthal Pot Jurors Call For New Trial
(Ann Harrison, AlterNet, February 5, 2003)
In an extraordinary condemnation of federal drug war tactics, five jurors who convicted medical cannabis grower Ed Rosenthal of federal marijuana cultivation and conspiracy charges, held a press conference yesterday (Tuesday, Feb. 4) to apologize and to call for a new trial. . . . The jurors said they were outraged to discover that Rosenthal had been deputized by the city of Oakland, Calif. to grow medical cannabis for patients under California's Compassionate Use Act (Prop. 215). The judge denied all but two of Rosenthal's defense witnesses, including the Oakland city attorney who drafted the legal immunity provisions for the city's medical marijuana program. . . . Defense lawyers made repeated attempts to inform jurors during the trial that Rosenthal was a medical cannabis grower who had been promised immunity from prosecution. But U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer blocked every effort . . . Eight of the 14 sitting jurors condemned the verdict. This included one of the two alternate jurors who did not vote, and two jurors who were not present. At the courthouse press conference, jurors and city officials offered their condemnation and apologies. "It is the most horrible mistake I have ever made," said juror Marney Craig, a 58-year-old property manager who voted to convict. "I feel like we were sheep, we were manipulated." . . . "Both the jury and I were victims of vicious persecution by an illegal government action," said Rosenthal. He said that prosecutor George Bevan, "persecuted me to shut down the medical marijuana movement – he lost. I have no regret for helping thousands of patients get their own medicine." . . . One of the jurors who spoke against the verdict was Pam Klarkowski, a registered nurse who said she has attended to at least one medical marijuana patient. Klarkowski acknowledged that medical cannabis provides effective relief for cancer and AIDS patients, and said that convicting growers makes it more difficult for them to get their medicine. "I do apologize to Ed and his family and to all the patients for whom this will make their lives very difficult," said Klarkowski. "I feel as if we were ramrodded in a way, and not given all the evidence involved to make an educated decision." . . . Craig said she and her fellow jurors had no idea that they had power to disregard the federal law, because the judge never told them. . . . Jury foreman Charles Sackett, who described himself as a conservative person who would rather be home pruning his roses, said Rosenthal's trial left him questioning the judicial system for the first time in his life.

[Comment: ATTENTION JURORS, you do NOT have to follow a judges instructions. You have a right to take it upon yourselves to be the judge of both facts AND THE LAW, and to determine the law as well as the fact in controversy. No matter what instructions a judge gives you, vote for acquittal whenever you believe in your heart that the defendant should go free. That is your right, AND YOUR DUTY, as a juror.

. . . Read more!


posted by LoZo 11:41 AM

 

Most Teens Don't See Trying Ecstasy as 'Great Risk'
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While teen use of Ecstasy has leveled off, most young people don't see any great risk involved in experimenting with the drug, according to a study released Tuesday by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, a non-profit group.

In the partnership's annual survey of over 7,000 12- to 18-year-olds across the country, 45% said they see great risk in using the drug once or twice, compared to 55% who saw no significant risk with occasional use.

"That's something we have to change," Steve Dnistrian, executive vice president of the partnership, told Reuters Health. "We're concerned about kids trying this drug even once."

The survey found that while the number of teens who used Ecstasy within the last year--about 9%--remained stable since 2001, experimenting with Ecstasy among youngsters was the same as-or greater than-use of other so-called "hard" drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamines, LSD and heroin. And teens who attend all-night dance parties called raves are seven times more likely to use Ecstasy, the survey found.

Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, first gained notoriety as the drug of choice at clubs and raves. However, the "love drug" or "X" as it is sometimes called, can be dangerous, causing spikes in body temperature. It has also been linked to heart attack, stroke and seizures in some users.

The study was released on the anniversary of the partnership's national educational campaign, using anti-drug ads to target teen Ecstasy use.

Today, about three out of four teens agree there are great risks in using Ecstasy regularly, such as addiction (77%) and memory problems (70%). The percentage of teens who see great risks to regular Ecstasy use has risen slightly, from 72% in 2001 to 76% in 2002.

Dnistrian said the fact that a significant number of teens have changed their outlook on the drug seems "encouraging." However, he warns there is still more work to do.

The next step the partnership plans to take is to focus on the risks of Ecstasy and empower parents to take action. A survey the group released last October found only 1% of American parents suspected their child had ever used Ecstasy, while 12% of teens report having tried the drug.

"It's not a drug they grew up with," said Dnistrian, noting that symptoms of Ecstasy use can be especially hard for parents to detect. However, "parents can have tremendous influence on teens' drug-taking decisions," he said.

The partnership plans to release a parent survey later this year.

Data for the teen survey was collected from April through June 2002 from questionnaires that students completed anonymously. The margin or error is plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.

. . . Read more!


posted by West 7:54 AM

 

US Judge Railroads Ed Rosenthal in Fed's War on Medical Marijuana
Cowed by a federal judge, a reluctant jury found Ed Rosental guilty last Friday afternoon. Rosenthal remains free on bail, pending sentencing in June. The defense will appeal. Rosenthal faces life in prison.

Statement of Ed Rosenthal on the Medical Marijuana Trial
"I am disappointed in this verdict for several reasons. "This was an unconstitutional prosecution. It should never have come to trial. "Once it did, I was not afforded a jury of my peers. They had to bring in 80 people to come up with 12 who would agree to set aside their beliefs on this issue. "Even so, they would have acquitted me if they had been permitted to hear my story. But I did not get the chance in this trial to defend myself and explain my actions.

"Federal prosecutors made extraordinary efforts to block the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Because the truth is that I was deputized by the City of Oakland to legally grow marijuana for medicinal use by sick or dying patients under California's Prop 215, the Compassionate Use Act, the law that is supposed to guarantee safe and legal access to medicinal marijuana.

. . . Read more!


posted by Hal 3:17 PM