>From: DPAlliance <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: eNewsletter - August 24, 2006 >Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:22:05 -0400 (EDT) > >DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE >...on the web > > eNewsletter: Thursday, August 24, 2006 > >CONTENTS: > >1. Featured Content > > Victory in Pain Doctor Case > http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128944 > > People in Recovery Become Advocates in Nation's Capital > http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128899 > > Beyond Zero Tolerance Conference: Registration Now Open > http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128900 > >2. In Other News > > San Francisco Board Levels Playing Field for Dispensaries > http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128902 > > CA Senate to Vote on HIV Prevention > http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128903 > > Student Drug Testing Gets Airtime > http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128901 > >3. Announcements > > Jobs and Internships at DPA > http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128865 > >4. Highlight > > Ten Years of Medical Marijuana > http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128904 > >5. Recent additions to Drugpolicy.org > >6. Events > >_____________________________________________________________________ >F E A T U R E D C O N T E N T > >VICTORY IN PAIN DOCTOR CASE > >In a significant victory for pain doctors and patients around the country, >this Tuesday the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new trial >for Dr. William Hurwitz, a pain physician who was convicted and sentenced >to 25 years in prison for 50 counts of criminal "drug distribution." > >The federal appeals court found that the trail court had inappropriately >instructed the jury not to consider Dr. Hurwitz's defense of acting in good >faith. This decision has significance beyond just Dr. Hurwitz' case--if his >appeal had failed, the precedent would have negatively impacted the care >chronic pain patients receive nationwide, and encouraged federal >prosecutors to usurp the traditional roles of state medical boards in >determining and enforcing standards of medical practice. > >The Drug Policy Alliance contributed to this important decision by filing >an amicus (friend-of-the-court) brief ( >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128943 ) in >September 2005 on behalf of leading pain specialists across the country. >The brief sought to educate the court about the difficulties faced by pain >patients seeking adequate treatment, to correct common misunderstandings >about pain therapy, and to explain how the federal government misconstrued >both federal law and accepted standards of medical practice in prosecuting >Dr. Hurwitz. > >The brief urged the appellate court to overturn Dr. Hurwitz's conviction in >order to preserve the traditional regulation of medicine by the states, not >the federal government. Review of physician practices and conduct is >normally a function reserved for state level regulatory boards, which >generally are better equipped than lay jurors to assess the technical >clinical and scientific issues raised by such inquiries. > >Dr. Hurwitz and his patients are among the mounting casualties of the >federal government's war against pain patients in need of opioid analgesics >and the physicians who provide these medications. As the Drug Enforcement >Administration expands prosecution of pain doctors, growing numbers of >doctors are dissuaded from providing effective treatment to patients >suffering severe pain. They fear a criminal investigation into their >prescription practices that could take place despite their beneficent >medical intentions. > >DPA will continue its work to counter public misperceptions about the >nature of chronic pain treatment and protect the rights of pain doctors and >their patients. > >PEOPLE IN RECOVERY BECOME ADVOCATES IN NATION'S CAPITAL > >On August 19, treatment and recovery in Washington, DC, got a boost from >the DC Recovery Community Alliance (DCRCA). The recently-formed coalition >hosted a well-attended training to help people in recovery become local >advocates for the concerns of the recovery community. > >DC has an acute need for such advocacy. According to the mayor's own >reports, 60,000 people in the city need drug treatment, but only 14% have >access to it. Funding for the city's Addiction Prevention and Recovery >Administration has remained flat since the 1980s. The only way to increase >city support for treatment and recovery is to demonstrate that there is a >constituency paying attention to--and voting based on--what elected >officials do on this issue. > >Part of Saturday's training was conducted by Naomi Long, director of DPA's >DC Metro Area office. She talked about the importance of building a >visible, voting constituency, and about the state of treatment and >substance abuse in DC. Other presenters focused on general advocacy skills >and a broader national picture of recovery and treatment. > >The training marked the first event for the DCRCA, which was formed over >the last several months by people in long-term recovery with the support of >DPA and the Johnson Institute ( >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128905 ). The >coalition nearly doubled its membership thanks to the training, and as a >next step, DCRCA members will decide what local issues to take on as a >coalition. > >Naomi Long said, "This training was a key moment. It is common for people >in recovery to live in anonymity, so it's exciting to see people joining >together to speak out and have a public impact where it is so desperately >needed." > >BEYOND ZERO TOLERANCE CONFERENCE: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN > >Attend the Beyond Zero Tolerance conference, "New Directions in Drug >Education and School Discipline," to learn strategies for effective drug >education. The conference will be held at the Fort Mason Center, San >Francisco, California, October 25, 2006, and will kick off with remarks >from San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. > >You can learn more and register here: >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128916 > >The Beyond Zero Tolerance approach featured in this one-day conference >offers realistic, pragmatic, and cost-effective strategies for implementing >drug education and effective disciplinary practices in secondary schools. >You will learn about a real-life interactive, participatory high school >drug education and assistance program; find out how restorative practices >work effectively in high schools and what steps are required for their >adoption and use; and learn how the practices advocated by Beyond Zero >Tolerance can be implemented. > >Conference co-sponsors include the San Francisco Medical Society, Office of >the Mayor of San Francisco, California State Assemblymember Jackie >Goldberg, the San Francisco Department of Public Health, the Marin County >Department of Health and Human Services, the International Institute for >Restorative Practices, and the Drug Policy Alliance. > >Please contact Laura Pardieck at (916) 608-8686 or email >[EMAIL PROTECTED] with questions. > >_____________________________________________________________________ >I N O T H E R N E W S > >SAN FRANCISCO BOARD LEVELS PLAYING FIELD FOR DISPENSARIES > >On August 8, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved changes to >medical cannabis dispensary regulations that were passed unanimously last >November. The regulations originally called for dispensaries in residential >areas to shut down, but the revisions will allow the three dispensaries >affected by the original legislation to stay open for at least one year so >they can apply to the city's planning and health departments for permits, >as well as look for new locations in areas zoned for either commercial or >industrial use. This amendment creates a level playing field for all >operating medical cannabis dispensaries opened prior to the moratorium and >implementation of the Medical Cannabis Act ( >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128918 ). > >In addition to outlawing dispensaries in residential areas, the regulations >restrict dispensaries from operating within 1,000 feet of schools, and >require them all to apply to the city for permits. Supervisor Ross >Mirkarimi proposed the new amendments, in addition to crafting the initial >regulations. The Medical Cannabis Act of last November, and the preceding >moratorium on new dispensaries, were crafted in response to a spike in new >medical cannabis dispensaries opening in San Francisco. > >Staff with Drug Policy Alliance Network, the lobbying arm of DPA, testified >before the board in support of the changes following their involvement in >drafting the Medical Cannabis Act. The deputy director of DPA's San >Francisco office, Camilla Field, said in response to the vote, "The Medical >Cannabis Act represents uncharted legislative territory for Californians. >We are encouraged that San Francisco's Board of Supervisors remains >committed to reviewing and improving those regulations as needed, as >implementation moves forward. While some neighborhood groups were >disappointed with Tuesday's outcome, it should be noted that to date, only >four MCDs [medical cannabis dispensaries] have sought a permit due to the >considerable financial burden and other hurdles the permitting process >presents. It will be interesting to see how many MCDs still exist come June >2007, and how our government will respond if supply falls short of demand >for our 8,000 patients." > >CA SENATE TO VOTE ON HIV PREVENTION > >A bill to give California counties more flexibility about how to use their >state-granted HIV prevention funds is headed for a floor vote in the state >Senate. AB 2076 (Laird) ( >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128919 ) would let >counties use existing funds from the state to support syringe exchange >programs. > >Local governments currently cannot use their state HIV prevention funding >for syringe exchange because the State Department of Health Services has >said this would require specific authorization from the legislature. With >syringe exchange playing a pivotal role in disease prevention for injection >drug users, such authorization is an important step in improving public >health. > >Increased access to clean syringes is a proven way to reduce transmission >of HIV, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases. In addition, syringe >exchange programs provide clients an entry point to drug dreatment and >medical care. However, the current funding restrictions mean that existing >programs remain small, and unable to meet the needs of their communities. > >The legislature and governor could change that by approving AB 2076. Drug >Policy Alliance Network, the lobbying arm of DPA, is advocating for the >bill as it moves through the legislative process. Governor Schwarzenegger >vetoed a similar bill in 2005, so keeping the pressure on now is vital to >creating more effective disease prevention in California. > >STUDENT DRUG TESTING GETS AIRTIME > >National Public Radio's Justice Talking this week takes on the issue of >random student drug testing: >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128917 . Marsha >Rosenbaum, director of DPA's Safety First project, debates Dr. Robert >DuPont about the merits, effectiveness and cost of school drug testing >programs. Rosenbaum warns that drug testing takes scarce money away from >drug education and extracurricular activities while damaging student >teacher relationships and further marginalizing at-risk students. She >stresses, "Let parents do their job." > >Later in the program, a mother in Missouri describes the process of >supporting her two children as they decide whether to consent to testing in >order to participate in extracurricular activities. Her son gives up >serving as the elected student council president because he objects to the >invasion of his privacy, while her daughter consents to testing because she >hopes to earn a college scholarship from her sports participation and wants >to be with her friends. > >The program closes with Joseph Cappella, Professor of Communications at the >University of Pennsylvania, discussing his research around the Office of >National Drug Control Policy's anti-drug campaigns. He explains the dangers >of exaggeration, pointing to an advertisement depicting marijuana as a >gateway drug which actually increased the desire to use marijuana in >high-risk students. > >More information and audio files of the program are available here: >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128917 . > >____________________________________________________________________ >A N N O U N C E M E N T S > >JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS AT DPA > >DPA seeks a part-time office manager/receptionist for its DC office, as >well as a public policy intern for the Office of Legal Affairs in Berkeley, >CA. For more information, including how to apply, please see the full >postings: >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128873 > >_____________________________________________________________________ >H I G H L I G H T > >TEN YEARS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA: LOS ANGELES EVENT > >In an age of regulations, raids and lawsuits, where is California going >under Prop 215, the state's ten-year-old Compassionate Use Act, and under >SB 420, the 2003 Medical Marijuana Implementation law? Join panelists on >the front lines of the medical marijuana movement and other DPA supporters >for an enlightening discussion over dinner. >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128904 > >_____________________________________________________________________ >R E C E N T A D D I T I O N S T O DRUGPOLICY.ORG > >INTERSECTING VOICES: IMPACTS OF ILLINOIS' DRUG POLICIES. Kane-Willis, >Kathleen, et al. Chicago: Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy; August 22, >2006. Drug policies impact housing, treatment, law enforcement, education, >jobs, and the economy. Because of the pervasiveness of drug use, the issue >touches people of every race, age, and gender living in every part of the >state. To tell this story, the project presents the cases of several >Illinois residents from a variety of walks of life whose lives have been >affected by drug use. >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128934 > >TREATMENT FOR INJECTING DRUG USERS: MAKING CALLS FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS REAL. >Kaisernetwork.org. International AIDS Conference. Toronto, Canada. August >14, 2006. A session was held at the 2006 International AIDS Conference in >Toronto on treatment for injecting drug users. In a video of the session, >experts from around the world speak on hepatitis C treatment, harm >reduction, and more. A PDF transcript is also available. >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128935 > >THE PASSING OF LYNN ZIMMER, PHD. Nelson, Dirk R., The Ester Republic. July >8, 2006; 8(7). Dr. Lynn Zimmer, PhD, sociology professor at the University >of New York, dear friend and partner to Dr. John Morgan, MD, with whom she >co-authored the book Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts died as a result of >multiple sclerosis on Sunday, July 2, 2006, at the age of fifty-nine. >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128936 > >_____________________________________________________________________ >E V E N T S > >September 6-10, 2006. Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown, Los Angeles, CA. >NATIONAL LATINO CONGRESO. The Congress will establish a long-term Latino >agenda and action plan, educate and train a wide range of Latino community >leaders, elected officials and activists on critical issues, and mobilize >Latino community leaders. Among the issues to be discussed will be criminal >justice and the war on drugs. DPA's Alberto Mendoza and Ethan Nadelmann >will be presenting at the Congress. >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128938 > >September 13, 2006. E Street Cinema, 555 11th Street NW, Washington, DC. >WAITING TO INHALE - DC SCREENING AND DEBATE. Come to the world premiere of >the 55-minute version of this award-winning documentary on medical >marijuana, and stay for a debate featuring DPA's Ethan Nadelmann and former >ONDCP Deputy Drug Czar Andrea Barthwell. >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128939 > >November 17-19, 2006. Washington, DC. JUST SAY KNOW: THE 2006 SSDP >INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. Join more than 70 SSDP chapters in DC for a full >weekend of lobbying, drug policy education, and activist training. DPA's >Ethan Nadelmann and Marsha Rosenbaum will be presenting at the conference. >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=4135200&l=128942 > >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >You received this message because [EMAIL PROTECTED] is a member of >the mailing list originating from [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Please visit http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/profileeditor/ to manage >your subscriptions, including removing yourself from one or all lists, >changing your email preference to HTML only, and giving us more information >about yourself so we can better provide you content. You can also visit: >http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/unsubscribe . > >For problems, please contact Jeanette Irwin at [EMAIL PROTECTED] If >you are accessing the internet from a public library and are unable to open >the links provided in this newsletter please e-mail >[EMAIL PROTECTED] with the library name and location, as well as the >url(s). > >Please consider joining the Drug Policy Alliance: >https://secure3.ctsg.com/dpa/donation/index.asp?Item=18&MS=email ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
