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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).