Latest

[The letter, complete with pictures, can be found at http://www.celebstoner.com/content/view/243/34/] Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman acknowledges on his website that he was a "campus organzizer in the '60s" when he attended Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY. His Wikipedia entry states: "He ran for student senate and opined in the school newspaper that his fellow students should vote for him because he knew that 'these conservative kids don't fuck or get high like we do... Everyone watch out, the 1950s' bobby-sox generation is about to take over.'" Several photos (reproduced here) show the then longhaired Coleman speaking through a bullhorn and unfurling an anti-war banner with other students. Since that time, the Brooklyn, NY-born politician graduated from the University of Iowa Law School and stayed in the Midwest, where he worked as a prosecutor in Minnesota for 17 years before his two terms as mayor of St. Paul. In 1996, he switched parties - from Democrat to Republican - and in 1998 he lost the Minnesota governor's race to Jesse Ventura. In 2002, Coleman was elected senator by a 2% margin. He benefitted from the sudden death of the state's incumbant Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash 11 days before the election. NORML board member Norm Kent, who is a lawyer as well, went to Hofstra with Coleman. Kent recently received a form letter from Coleman regarding his current anti-marijuana positiion. It reads, in part: "I oppose the legalization of marijuana because, as noted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, marijuana can have serious adverse health affects on individuals. The health problems that may occur from this highly addictive drug include short-term memory loss, anxiety, respiratory illness and a risk of lung cancer that far exceeds that of tobacco products. It would also make our transportation, schools and workplaces, just as examples, more dangerous." Offended by Coleman's comments, Kent fired of a letter to his former smoking buddy. NORM KENT'S LETTER TO SEN. NORM COLEMAN Dear Mr. Coleman, My friend Norman. Years ago, in a lifetime far away, you did not oppose the legalization of marijuana. Years ago, in our dorm rooms at Hofstra University, you, me, Billy, your future brother-in-law, Ivan, Jonathan, Peter, Janet, Nancy and a wealth of other students smoked dope. Sure, we had to tape the doors shut, burn incense and open the windows, but we got high, and yet we grew up okay, without the help of the Office of National Drug Control Policy's advice. We grew up to become lawyers. Our other friends, as you go down the list, are doctors, professors, parents, political consultants and professionals. No one ever got cancer from smoking pot or diabetes from using a joint. And the days of our youth we look back fondly upon as years where we stood up, were counted and made a difference, from Earth Day in 1970 to helping bring down a president and end a war in Southeast Asia a few years later. We smoked pot when we took over Weller Hall to protest administrative abuses of students' rights. You smoked pot as you stood on the roof of the University Senate protesting faculty exclusivity. As the President of the Student Senate in 1969, you condemned the raid by Nassau County police on our dormitories, busting scores of students for pot possession. You never said then that pot was dangerous. What was scary then, and is as frightening now, is when national leaders become voices of hypocrisy, harbingers of the status quo, and protect their own position instead of the public good. Welcome to the crowd of those who have become a likeness of which they despised. Welcome to the mindless myriad of legislators who gather in cocktail lounges to manhandle their martinis while passing laws against drunk driving. We have seen more people die last year from spinach then pot. We have endured generations of drug addicts overdosing on a multitude of drugs, from heroin to crystal methamphetamine. In your public life, as an attorney general, mayor and United States senator, you have been in the forefront of speaking out against abuses which are harmful. You have been a noble and honorable public servant. How about not being such a dope on dope? How about admitting that if the Rockefeller drug laws were applied to Norman Bruce Coleman on Long Island in 1968, or to me, or to our friends, and fellow students, you, I and others we knew and loved might just be getting out of jail now? How about recognizing that for too long too many have been wrongly arrested, unjustly prosecuted and illegally incarcerated for unconscionable periods of time? How about recognizing that you have peers who have smoked pot for 25 years or more and they are successful record producers, businessmen and parents? How about standing up and saying you have heard and witnessed countless stories of persons who have used pot medicinally, as I have, to endure the effects of chemotherapy? You who have travelled to Africa and seen the face of AIDS so up close and personal would deny medicinal marijuana relief to those souls wasting away from malnutrition, nausea and no access to fundamental medicines? How about not adopting the sad and sorry archaic path of our office of drug control, which this week suggested pot smokers are more likely to become gang members than others? How about standing up and saying: "I, Norm Coleman, smoked pot in 1969." That "I am not a gang member, a drug addict or a criminal." How about saying: "I was able to responsibly integrate my prior pot use into my life, and still succeed on my own merits." How about standing up not only for who you are, but who you were? How about it, Norm? I will always love, admire and cherish what you have achieved and accomplished and the goals you have met. I will always fondly look at the remarkable success of your present. How about you looking back at your past and saying: "What I did was not so wrong and not so bad and not so hurtful that generations of Americans should still, decades later, be going to jail for smoking pot - nearly one million arrests for possession last year." Can't Norm Coleman come out of the closet in 2007 and say "These arrests are wrong - that there is a better way, and we need to find it." You might find more integrity and honor in that then adopting the sad and sorry policy of our Office of National Drug Control Policy. You might find the person you were. Norm Kent

For Immediate Release: June 25, 2007 For more info: Tony Newman, T: (646) 335-5384 “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” Decision Weakens Free Speech; Schools Can Censor “Pro-Drug Use Speech” But Criticism of Drug War is Protected Advocates Concerned about “Drug War Exception” to the First Amendment and Who Will Determine What is Inappropriate Speech The Supreme Court issued a mixed opinion in the case of Morse v. Frederick, allowing censorship of student speech that promotes illegal drug use while affirming the core principle that political speech questioning the wisdom of the war on drugs is constitutionally protected. The case focused on Joseph Frederick, who was suspended in 2002 from a high school in Alaska after displaying a “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” banner during a class trip to see the Olympic torch parade pass by. Justice Alito in his concurring opinion, joined by Justice Kennedy, makes clear that he only joins the majority in so far as it protects speech “that can plausibly be interpreted as commenting on any political or social issue, including speech on issues such as ‘the wisdom of the war on drugs or of legalizing marijuana for medicinal use.” “We take mild comfort that the decision clearly protects speech challenging the war on drugs. Never before has the Supreme Court stated so clearly that speech attacking the wisdom of the war on drugs is protected wherever it may occur,” said Daniel Abrahamson, director of legal affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “But who is going to decide what is appropriate speech? Students are on the front lines of the war on drugs, and we are deeply concerned that free speech will now be administered by those who may wish to suppress open discussion on a range of topics such as the effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. program, school drug testing policies, or random locker searches,” said Abrahamson. “Our Constitutionally protected rights to free speech shouldn’t have an arbitrary drug war exception.” As Justice Stevens recognized in his dissent: “Even in high school, a rule that permits only one point of view to be expressed is less likely to produce correct answers than the open discussion of countervailing views.” The First Amendment should not be curtailed by a “nonsense banner” containing “an oblique reference to drugs,” lamented Stevens, who was joined by Ginsburg and Souter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2007 Contact: Terrence Stevens, T: 917 939 5349, E: [email protected] Saigon, Atlantic Records Critically Acclaimed Rap Sensation & Remy Martin Supports Non Profit Organization In Arms Reach, Inc. /Abandoned Nation For At Risk Youths Tonight in the U.S. 2.5 million children will go to bed denied access to their parents because that parent is behind bars Saving Lives for Children of Incarcerated Parents New York, NY - Remy Martin is working with Atlantic Records Rapper Saigon and nine other hip-hop artists across the country in a national celebration of hip-hop music, kicking off Black Music Month (June) and running through the summer. Saigon, under Hip Hop Since 1978 and Just Blaze Fort Knocks production identified In Arms Reach Inc. (a non-profit art, music, prison visitation and educational mentoring organization that services youth whose parents are or were formerly offenders of the criminal justice system) as the organization he would like to support. As part of the sponsorship program, with In Arms Reach as Remy’s New York charity, on June 22, 2007 Saigon and Remy Martin Brand Manager presented a check for $10,000.00 to Program Founder Terrence “T-Wheels” Stevens to help support their continued work on behalf of youth with imprisoned parents. While at “In Arms Reach,” Atlantic Records Rapper Saigon participated in an open group discussion with 15-20 constituents aged 14 to 17. Sophie Davis Pre-med students who serve as tutors and mentors for the organization were on hand. Media outreach around Saigon will focus on In Arms Reach, Inc. charity visit and driving traffic to the getinteresting.com web site. A GCI photographer was on-hand to take pictures which is available to be serviced to media. The organization is headquartered at The City College University of New York. Harlem Native & Program Founder, Terrence “T-Wheels” Stevens is wheelchair confined, virtually paralyzed from the neck down. “The brother is a mental power house rolling around on 4 wheels, and doing more good in the community than half the brothers out there with all their physical limbs, says Saigon.” “I admire T-Wheels and as my record career take off, so will this program.” Rapper Saigon and T-Wheels set out to fight a serious mission. That mission is saving the lives of youth who have loss their mothers and fathers to incarceration. Children of incarcerated parents face some of life's hardest challenges, including poverty, limited opportunities for a good education, and a future that seem to hold little to no promise. The program addresses social problems in urban communities and the break up of families caught up in this cycle. With little to no support they provide children of incarcerated parents with the love, guidance and mechanism for healing they so desperately need. In 2002, T-Wheels began picking up children in a handicapped accessible van to keep the kids off the street. He later landed weekend program space with a friend at a local community center. As the number of kids increased, he fund raised to purchase a 15 passenger van. He scheduled field trips to recording sessions in NYC at Sony Recording Studio, took children to amusement parks and youth to celebrity functions. Program space was obtained in the historic gothic quadrangle of The City College University of New York. T-Wheels is now President & Chief Executive Officer of In Arms Reach Inc., Parents Behind Bars: Children in Crisis. His unique program model empowers children by giving them mentoring, positive role models and academic assistance. The program addresses root causes of crime, low self-esteem and emotionally functionality via providing on site one-on-one and group counseling sessions. As result of his dedication, In Arms Reach, Inc. has provided 3,450 hours of tutoring services, 368 after school mentoring sessions, and over 37 free transportation trips to upstate prison facilities for children to visit and be reunited with their incarcerated parents. If you know of any children impacted by parental incarceration who can benefit from this program, or are interested in sponsoring or pledging a donation to help keep programs and services open, please contact In Arms Reach, Inc. Donors Dept. Mr. Frank Lewis at, 212.650.5894 or email: [email protected] Web site: www.mysace/inarmsreachab, www.abdonednation.com

Friends: Marc Mauer, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project, testifies Tuesday, June 26, 2007 on the issue of Mandatory Minumum Sentencing before the House Judiciary Subcommitee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Mauer's testimony focuses on the experience with the current generation of mandatory sentencing policies in the federal system, the vast majority of which have been applied to drug offenses, and the lessons we should learn from that in order to develop more effective public policy. The main themes he will address include: Mandatory sentencing policies have been largely based on false premises, and are particularly unwise in the federal system; - Mandatory penalties in the federal system have not proven to achieve their objectives; and -A variety of policy initiatives could be enacted that would result in more fair and effective sentencing, and would produce better public safety results. See http://sentencingproject.org/Admin%5CDocuments%5Cpublications%5Csl_testimony_summer07.pdf to view his testimony.

Drug Truth Network Update: Cultural Baggage + Century of Lies + 4:20 Drug War NEWS Half Hour Programs, Live Fridays... at 90.1 FM in Houston & on the web at www.kpft.org. Hundreds of our programs are available online at www.drugtruth.net, www.audioport.org and at www.radio4all.net. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US and Canada., Cultural Baggage for 06/22/07 Nora Callahan of November Coalition + Terry Evans & Bruce Mirken of MPP & Tinfoil Hat Award MP3 MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/FDBCB_062207.mp3 Century of Lies for 06/15/07 Phil Smith of Drug War Chronicles reports on situ in Mexico + Reena Szczepanski of DPA & Lorenzo Jones & Poppygate MP3 MP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/COL_062207.mp3 4:20 Drug War NEWS 06/25/07 to 07/01/07 now online (3:00 ea.): Monday 06/25/07 Lorenzo Jones of Building a Better Way Tuesday 06/26/07 Phil Smith, Drug War Chronicle re: War in Mexico Wednesday 06/27/07 Reena Szczepanski of Drug Policy Alliance I of II Thursday 06/28/07 Tin Foil Hat AWARDED + Poppygate Friday 06/29/07 Nora Callahan of November Coalition/ Prisoner Rights Saturday 06/30/07 Bruce Mirken of Marijuana Policy Project Sunday 07/01/07 Reena Szczepanski II of II NEXT Friday: (I will be at the US Social Forum) - Cultural Baggage 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT & 5 PM PT. Rep. Ron Paul (from 2004) + NEW DTN Reports - Century of Lies 2 PM ET, 1 PM CT, Noon MT & 11 AM PT. Bill Maher & Woody Harrelson (2003/04) + NEW DTN Editorial Check out our latest video with Lacee Harris of the Indian Walk In Center regarding methamphetamine use by Indian community. http://www.drugtruth.net/dtnvideo.htm Please become part of the solution, visit our website: www.endprohibition.org for links to the best of reform. "Those who support drug prohibition, through complicity, ignorance or silence are the best friends the drug lords could ever hope for." - Reverend Dean Becker, Drug Truth Network Producer Dean Becker 713-849-6869 www.drugtruth.net

RHODE ISLAND: Medical Marijuana Law Made Permanent NEW YORK: Limited Medical Marijuana Bill Debated MICHIGAN: Initiative Proponents Gather Signatures CONNECTICUT: Governor Defies Public Support, Vetoes FEDERAL: More Prison Time Possible for Patient CALIFORNIA: Implementation Still a Struggle DISPENSARIES: Regulation at Issue in California CANADA: Health Officials Try to Sway Doctors -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RHODE ISLAND: Medical Marijuana Law Made Permanent State lawmakers overrode the Rhode Island governor’s veto this week by an overwhelming margin, making permanent the state law protecting patients there. The current law was set to expire at the end of the month due to a “sunset provision,” but the success of the program convinced nearly everyone but the governor that it should be extended. R.I. adopts permanent medical marijuana program Associated Press Rhode Island lawmakers voted Thursday to permanently extend a program allowing the chronically ill to possess and smoke marijuana for pain relief. Senate overrides medical marijuana veto Associated Press The state Senate overrides Governor Carcieri's veto of a medical marijuana program. A spokesman for Senate President Joseph Montalbano says the vote was 29 to four. House lawmakers are planning a similar vote later this week. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK: Limited Medical Marijuana Bill Debated The medical marijuana measure currently being considered by New York lawmakers would remove state criminal penalties for a few of their most seriously ill constituents. But the limitations on those covered mean that many patients using marijuana on their doctors’ advice would still be considered criminals. The public supports letting doctors decide what is appropriate treatment for their patients, but some politicians continue to think they know better than doctors, voters or patients. Medical Marijuana: New York is Waiting to Inhale by Tom Precious, Buffalo News (NY) Joel Peacock, a registered member of the Conservative Party, has little use for liberal politicians. Yet he is adding his voice to those of physicians, nurses, home care and hospice workers, and patient advocates who are pushing for New York to become the 13th state in the nation to permit the medical use of marijuana. Pot war in Brooklyn! by Matthew Lysiak, The Brooklyn Paper Two Brooklyn lawmakers — one a former Soviet engineer, the other a former police officer — are hashing it out over a bill to make marijuana legal for medicinal use. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MICHIGAN: Initiative Proponents Gather Signatures Voters in Michigan have been doing all they can to be heard at the state Capitol. So far five cities – Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Ferndale, and Traverse City – have passed local initiatives supporting medical marijuana. Now advocates are trying to place a statewide measure on the ballot. If passed, it would go to the legislature for consideration. Since local initiatives have all passed by margins between 60 and 74%, approval of the statewide measure looks likely. Activists petition for medical marijuana in Michigan by Eric Czarnik , Lansing City Pulse (MI) Rochelle Lampkin of Detroit doesn’t drink alcohol, smoke tobacco or use drugs for recreation. But about once a month, she takes in a substance that she says benefits her quality of life — even though it’s against the law. She uses marijuana for medicinal purposes. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wisconsin: Grandmother's Voter Fraud Conviction Upheld The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago last week upheld Kimberly Prude's voter fraud conviction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Prude, a grandmother of three on state supervised probation, cast an absentee ballot in the 2004 presidential election. When she realized her 2000 conviction banned her from voting under Wisconsin law until her entire sentence was completed, she tried to rescind her vote but was told by an election commission employee that it wasn't necessary, she said. Prude is expected to be released in the fall. International: Voting Rights of Inmates Challenged in Australia High Court An ongoing debate on who has the right to decide which citizens vote will soon be addressed as a law banning inmates' right to vote is being challenged in Australia's High Court, according to The Law Report. Last year the federal government tightened up voter registration rules which banned all prisoners from voting. Vicki Lee Roach, an inmate in a Melbourne jail, is arguing that the Commonwealth Electoral Act provisions barring those in prison from voting in federal elections are unconstitutional. The Court will make its decision in a few months. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information: Email: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org.

Giveline.com is an online store created for the justice-minded shopper, offering more than a million bestselling products including books, movies, music, electronics, housewares, gifts and more. Every purchase generates a substantial donation to the Prisons Foundation - an amazing average of 16% of store sales, sometimes as high as 33%. Giveline has great products, great service, and great prices - the only difference between Giveline and other major online retailers is that every purchase earns money for our organization. Check it out today at http://www.giveline.com/default.asp?v=V072409564. We are about to go to press with the next monthly issue of Art for Justice, showcasing new art received by the Prison Art Gallery from talented prison inmates across America. If your organization would like to use space in it to make an announcement to reach over 20,000 readers in and out of prison, please contact us at 202-393-1511 or [email protected]. To view the current issue of Art for Justice (note the space used by NORML and The Aleph Institute on the last page), please visit www.PrisonsFoundation.org/ project2_newsletter.html. When in Washington, DC, visit the Prison Art Gallery. Located three blocks from the White House, the Prison Art Gallery is served by two Metro stations (Farragut North on the Red Line, and Farragut West on the Orange and Blue Lines). Note that the entrance is on 16th Street, at the corner of K Street. Open Mon to Fri, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 to 5:30 PM (also open evenings by appointment - groups welcome - admission is always free).