Nadelmann refused to even look at my new book, Drug War: Covert Money, Power & Policy, claiming overwork - despite the fact that the subject is, more or less, the same subject as his ph d thesis (Cops Across Borders). Gettman, on the other hand, was the first person to publish me, back when he headed NORML, and has always been accessible and supportive. As usual, Gettman is raising piercing and essential questions. Dan Russell www.kalyx.com www.drugwar.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Crockett Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: ".GeneralAgencyServices" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, August 06, 2000 6:06 PM Subject: [CIA-DRUGS] DEA capitulation overlooked? > Can anyone explain why this DEA capitulation is not a serious focus of > reform activists' efforts to "end the failed drug war"? > > Will someone be emphasizing this during the medical marijuana session at the > Shadow Convention? > > Why has not this internal government inconsistency been used with the full > force of all drug policy reform advocates and organizations as a strong > lever to curb Drug McCzar rhetoric which instead is now spilling over > oppression onto industrial hemp issue as well? > > Is NORML the only organization who understands what Gettman is talking about > below or am I missing something he/they are overlooking in argument below? > > > -------------begin forwarded post------------- > > Gettman posting follows: > > Tell Arianna: > > "D.E.A. Confirms Grounds To Remove Marijuana From Hard Drugs Schedule" > > JON GETTMAN COMMENTS: > Old Release ought to be Big News at Shadow Convention > > The release is accurate, but over two years old...Someone found it on the > net... It was then reposted [listing] its posting date of 7-13-00 > and...circulated as if that was the release data rather than the posting > date. > > I agree this is huge news, that was my position at the time and I remain > amazed that many reform organizations have chosen not to mention this > important point over and over again in public debate. The fact remains > that DEA, over two years ago, acknowledged that there were sufficient > grounds to remove marijuana and THC from schedule I and asked HHS for a > formal review that is the first stage of public rescheduling > proceedings. With the greatly appreciated exceptions of NORML and the > Oakland Buyers Club, no prominent reform organization has recognized the > importance of this development nor made any attempt to educate the public > about it. > > So, to sum up once again for those of you who missed this echo a few weeks > ago the first time it re-surfaced -- this is true news, but it is old news, > yet it is still important news that you should have heard more about these > last two years. > > It seems to me like this should have been a prominent issue at the "shadow > conventions" as here the government has actually been forced (by me) to > begin reform oriented proceedings. Isn't it odd that the people speaking > at the Shadow Convention presented themselves as the most knowledgeable > advocates of drug policy reform, and they claimed that marijuana was an > important issue, and yet this major development was not even mentioned let > alone placed on the program? > > The explanation is that in their self-serving arrogance the Lindesmith > Center/Drug Policy Foundation has declared that while they support > rescheduling they do not support my rescheduling petition nor will they > assist in these proceedings because in their opinion this effort has no > chance of success. > > These folks also decided that reporting data on arrest statistics was not > worth funding either. Fortunately NORML decided otherwise and because of > this I was able to release county level arrest data last month and will be > releasing data on the disparities in arrest rates by race soon. > > The point here is that when it comes to marijuana reform the Lindesmith > Center/Drug Policy Foundation supports the issue only when they can exploit > it for publicity, take credit for it themselves, and use it to further > their own institutional agenda. They claim to be public policy > professionals, but they act like a bunch of political hacks. They refuse > to support the petition, or even merely publicly endorse and publicize it, > because they can't take credit for it. Instead they pretend that because > they aren't behind it doesn't exist. Indeed Ethan Nadelmann has refused to > even provide specific reasons why he doesn't believe rescheduling is worth > support, in fact I doubt if he even understand the legal and scientific > basis for rescheduling or even cares what it is. > > Jon Gettman > > ---------------end forwarded post---------------- > > David Crockett Williams, C.L.U. > Tehachapi, CA 661-822-3309 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Chartered Life Underwriter > Activist, Scientist, Promoter > > Global Peace Walk 2000 > http://www.globalpeacenow.org > Updates-Voicemail 415-267-1877 > > General Agency Services > http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/genagency.html > > The Legal Revolution -- Justice for All > LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER -- Free legal content: FAQ, audio guides, > legal forms, discussion boards; Optional low-cost national legal protection > http://www.prepaidlegal.com/go/dcwilliams > > Home-based income: > Business plan also minimizes wage income taxes using a Tax Relief System > http://www.thetaxpeople.net > > Capital Hills New-Energy Research Center, Tehachapi CA > http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/chrc.html > > Science & Technology in Society & Public Policy > http://www.egroups.com/group/dcwilliams > > The Vision of Paradise on Earth > http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/vision.html > > Global Emergency Alert Response > http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000 > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------<e|- <FONT COLOR="#000099">Free Conference Calling with Firetalk! 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