Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 19:00:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: lvnorml@yahoo.com (Cannabis Crow)
Subject: NORML E-zine
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NORML E-Zine
Volume 4
Issue 20
May 10, 2001
TOP STORY
Bush's New DEA Chief No "Compassionate Conservative"
Arkansas Republican Backs Global Militarization of Drug War;
Supports Federal Ban on "Drug-Speech"; Opposes Medical Marijuana -
Even for Research
Washington, DC: Arkansas Republican Asa Hutchinson - a drug
war hawk who supports jailing individuals who post information
pertaining to drugs on the Internet - was announced yesterday
as Bush's pick to head the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Hutchinson's nomination follows the appointment of John P.
Walters - a fellow hard-liner who favors incarceration over
treatment for drug offenders - as the nation's Drug Czar.
"When it comes to leading Bush's drug war, 'compassionate
conservatives' need not apply," criticized NORML Executive
Director Keith Stroup.
Hutchinson, who is currently serving his third term in
Congress, is known for his harsh views toward drugs and drug
offenders. He advocates increased funding for drug
interdiction - arguing that "we have to have a commitment of
resources, yes enormous resources, in this country to win this
war" - and has criticized recent increases in federal spending
on drug treatment programs. "Elimination (of drugs and drug
use) - not containment - should be our goal. ... We cannot
win this war ... simply by putting money in demand reduction,"
he argues.
Some of Hutchinson's other views on the drug war include:
HUTCHINSON SUPPORTS FURTHER MILITARIZATION OF U.S. DRUG WAR
IN LATIN AMERICA
Hutchinson is a vocal supporter of expanding the U.S.
military presence in Latin America under the guise of interdicting
drugs, and was a staunch proponent of last year's controversial
1.3 billion dollar military aid package to Columbia, ostensibly
to fund anti-drug efforts. The aid package provided Columbia
with 65 U.S. Black Hawk and Huey II helicopters, and included
funding for crop fumigation and Columbian army battalion
training. Hutchinson backed his decision on CNN's "Crossfire",
maintaining "It's incumbent upon us to assist our neighbors in
really fighting our war."
Critics of the funding package argue that the aid could have
been better spent on domestic drug treatment programs, noting
that the cost of buying the helicopters alone ($400 million)
could have treated 200,000 addicts in the U.S.
HUTCHINSON OPPOSES ANY USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA - INCLUDING
RESEARCH ON ITS THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL
Hutchinson vehemently opposes the use of medicinal marijuana
by seriously ill patients, even in those states that have
legalized its use. In 1999, he backed legislation preventing
Washington DC from implementing a ballot initiative legalizing
medical marijuana - even though it had been approved by 70 percent
of District voters.
He also opposed funding a 1999 Institute of Medicine study
on marijuana's medical potential, arguing that such research may
compromise the war on drugs. "A study of marijuana's medicinal
effectiveness
... is absolutely the wrong way to go on this issue,"
he told Congress in 1997. "It sends the wrong message to young
people."
The IOM study opposed by Hutchinson concluded: "Scientific
data indicate the potential therapeutic value of cannabinoid
drugs ... for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting,
and appetite stimulation. ... Except for the harms associated
with smoking, the adverse effects of marijuana use are within
the range tolerated for other medications."
HUTCHINSON BACKS TEN-YEAR PRISON TERMS FOR ANYONE POSTING
DRUG INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET
Hutchinson angered free-speech advocates in 1999 by
co-sponsoring legislation (H.R. 2987) that sought to impose a
ten-year felony sentence on anyone who communicates, by any
means, "information pertaining to the ... manufacture of a
controlled substance." (Sec. 421) Although purportedly aimed
at information pertaining to meth-manufacturing, the statute's
purposely vague wording would have applied to any website,
magazine or book containing information on a range of
drug-related topics, including procuring medical marijuana,
sterilizing needles and hemp fiber cultivation.
After media outcry against the measure, the language was
eventually eliminated from the bill (though it remained in
the Senate's version).
HUTCHINSON SUPPORTS OVERRIDING FEDERAL LAW TO ALLOW FEDERAL
FUNDS TO INFLUENCE STATE ELECTIONS
During Congressional hearings in 1999, Hutchinson criticized
government officials for failing to spend federal dollars to
persuade voters to reject state initiatives aimed at legalizing
medical marijuana and reforming prison sentencing. Upon learning
that such behavior would be in violation of federal law (Federal
tax dollars may not be used to influence state elections.),
Hutchinson proposed Congress override the law so that federal
monies could be specifically used to influence voters in states
with pending drug reform initiatives. Hutchinson also urged
federal officials, including the President and Vice President,
"go into those states (with pending initiatives) and say this
is bad for the country."
It's possible that Hutchinson's views on this issue may be
at odds with President Bush, who also opposes the medical use
of marijuana but backs states' rights to decide the issue.
"I believe each state can choose that decision as they choose,"
he has said.
For more information on the Hutchinson and Walters'
nominations, please contact Keith Stroup, Executive Director
of NORML, at (202) 483-5500 or Allen St. Pierre, Executive
Director of The NORML Foundation, at (202) 483-8751.
Support NORML's efforts to change marijuana policy and educate
the public to alternatives to marijuana prohibition. You can
join or donate online at:
https://banqa.uaqa.com/norml/join/