More Hearings, But This Time
NORML Was Invited – NORML Press Release
(Marijuananews note: This is essentially the
same as NORML’s statement from June 15th, only this time NORML Founder
Keith Stroup got to deliver it in person. Interestingly, the atmosphere was reported to be
considerably less hostile than in the first round.)
See
Committee Investigating
Anti-Prohibitionist Movement
Rescinds Invitation For NORML To "Testify." But NORML Still Tells Congress:
"Legalize Marijuana! There Is Nothing Wrong With Responsible Marijuana Use By
Adults." July 12, 1999
NORML Calls On Congress To Stop Arresting Marijuana Smokers Urges An End To
"Reefer Madness" Marijuana Policy
WHAT: Hearing: "The Decriminalization of Illegal Drugs"
WHEN: July 13, 1999: 10 a.m.
WHERE: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.: "There is nothing wrong with the responsible use of marijuana by
adults and it should be of no interest or concern to the government," NORML Executive
Director R. Keith Stroup, Esq. will testify before Congress tomorrow.
Stroup is one of eight panelists who will appear at Congress’ second hearing this
summer to debate U.S. drug policy.
"Marijuana prohibition is a dismal and costly failure," Stroup says.
"The debate over marijuana policy in this country needs to expand beyond the current
parameters to include an analysis of (1) decriminalizing the marijuana smoker and (2)
legalizing and regulating the sale of marijuana to eliminate the black market.
"Congress must move beyond the ‘reefer madness’ phase of this debate.
See
"They should
have called the hearing ‘Medical Marijuana Madness.’"
A Great Op-ed
For too long elected officials have attempted to frighten Americans into supporting
harsh criminal penalties by exaggerating marijuana’s potential harms. It is time for
Congress to end their crusade against marijuana and marijuana smokers, and deal with this
public health issue on a rational basis."
Stroup noted that marijuana decriminalization saves law enforcement resources without
increasing marijuana use in the ten states that have enacted such a policy.
"Today, approximately 30 percent of the American population live under some type
of marijuana decriminalization law, and their experience has been favorable," he
said. Stroup added the only U.S. federal study ever to compare marijuana use patterns
among decriminalized and non-decriminalized states found,
"Decriminalization has had virtually no effect on either marijuana use or on
related attitudes about marijuana use among young people." Most recently, the
National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine reaffirmed in March that, "There
is little evidence that decriminalization of marijuana use necessarily leads to a
substantial increase in marijuana use."
Stroup concluded: "Arresting and jailing otherwise law-abiding citizens who smoke
marijuana is a wasteful and incredibly destructive policy. It wastes valuable law
enforcement resources that should be focused on violent and serious crime, it invites
government into areas of our private lives that are inappropriate, and it frequently
destroys the lives, careers, and families of productive citizens. It is time to end
marijuana prohibition."
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano of NORML @ (202) 483-5500 or Allen
St. Pierre of The NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751.
See
The Drug Czar’s
Testimony On "The Drug Legalization Movement In America" Has Three Parts:
Lie About The Anti-Prohibitionist Movement; Lie About Marijuana; Lie About The
Netherlands.
With A Little Lying About Me.
and
Czar Joined By NIDA
Head Leshner In Lying About Marijuana At Hearings;
An Appetizer Before The Buffet
and
Testimony
Of NORML Director David Boaz At The Hearings on Drug Policy Reform Movement
The AP Gives Califano
A Free Ride For Prohibitionist Propaganda
Califano Says, "Teens who smoke
marijuana are playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette."
And Other Brilliant Insights.
Supported