Latest

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 06/01/07 Ed Rosenthal & medical marijuana persecuted... Again + Brian C. Bennett MP3 MP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/FDBCB_060107.mp3 Century of Lies for Ryan King of the Sentencing Project on disparity, discrimination and failure in US drug policy + Philippe Lucas of Vancouver Is. Compassion Society MP3 MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/COL_060107.mp3 4:20 Drug War NEWS 06/04/07 to 06/10/07 now online (3:00 ea.): Monday 06/04/07 Richard Traylor busts the "Pee-role" Dept. I Tuesday 06/05/07 Richard Traylor II "Due Process for Everyone" Wednesday 06/06/07 Jerry Cameron of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Thursday 06/07/07 Ed Rosenthal convicted... Again I Friday 06/08/07 Ed Rosenthal convicted... Again II Saturday 06/09/07 Brian C Bennet Fights Govt Lies Online Sunday 06/10/07 Philippe Lucas of Vancouver Is. Compassion Society NEXT Friday: - Cultural Baggage 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT & 5 PM PT. TBD - Century of Lies 2 PM ET, 1 PM CT, Noon MT & 11 AM PT. TBD Check out our latest video with DL Scott of Project NEON discusses methamphetamine use by gay population at Harm Reduction Coalition in Salt Lake City "Strength Over Speed": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecw_Hk2PriQ 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

FEDERAL: Rosenthal Retrial Ends With Split Verdict COLORADO: DA Rethinks Caregiver Case CALIFORNIA: Dispensary Regulations, More Patient Protection in LA VERMONT: Expanded State Medical Marijuana Law Enacted RHODE ISLAND: Overwhelming Support for Medical Marijuana Bill CONNECTICUT: Support for New State Medical Marijuana Bill Urged WISCONSIN: State Medical Marijuana Measure to be Considered Again FEDERAL: Dispensary Operators Charged CANADA: Patients Criticize Medical Marijuana Program CALIFORNIA: Dispensary Case Goes to State Court DOCTORS: Specialists Battle Prejudice on Behalf of Patients -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL: Rosenthal Retrial Ends With Split Verdict Even though he did not put on a defense, author and medical marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal was acquitted on one felony charge and the jury deadlocked on another. He was re-convicted of three other charges related to his work growing cannabis for patients under a city of Oakland program, but there were other victories for medical marijuana patients. With help from ASA, seven members of the community who the government tried to compel to testify against Rosenthal refused; the judge ultimately complimenting them on their “dignity” and “decorum” and refused to punish them. And ASA Chief Counsel Joe Elford got the bulk of the government’s case dismissed by arguing that it was “vindictive prosecution.” Medical marijuana advocate convicted by Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle Ed Rosenthal was a free man, but not a happy one, after a jury convicted him Wednesday for a second time of violating federal drug laws by growing marijuana for medical patients. "Ganja guru" convicted in San Francisco retrial Reuters After fighting for years to clear his name, a prominent marijuana advocate known as the "ganja guru" was convicted again on Wednesday on charges of cultivating and distributing the weed. Federal Jury Convicts 'Guru of Ganja' by Paul Elias, Associated Press The self-proclaimed "guru of ganja" was convicted again Wednesday in federal court of illegally growing hundreds of marijuana plants that he said were meant to treat sick people, which state law allows. 'Ganja guru' guilty, but won't see jail by Josh Richman , ANG Newspapers A federal jury in San Francisco convicted Oakland "Guru of Ganja" Ed Rosenthal on Wednesday of three of the five marijuana-growing felonies of which he stood accused. Jury Convicts Rosenthal on Three Marijuana Counts, Acquits on One by Julie Cheever, Bay City News Service Oakland marijuana activist Ed Rosenthal was convicted in federal court in San Francisco today of three counts of conspiring to grow marijuana and growing marijuana at an Oakland warehouse. Pot advocate convicted on three charges by Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle Marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal was convicted for a second time today of violating federal drug laws by growing pot plants for medical patients, but he faces no punishment for the felony convictions, apart from the one day in jail that he has already served. `Ganja Guru' case goes to jury by Josh Richman, ANG Newspapers The fate of Oakland "Guru of Ganja" Ed Rosenthal once again rests in a federal jury's hands -- in a manner of speaking. after his first trial and conviction in 2003, later overturned by a federal appeals court. Whether with a clean slate or as a convict, Rosenthal will walk free no matter what this jury decides. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASA ACTION: DA Rethinks Colorado Caregiver Case What was touted as an important test case for medical marijuana caregivers in Colorado may send an even stronger message to the state’s law enforcement community. Like many states with medical marijuana laws, Colorado does not provide realistic guidelines for how qualified patients are to get their medicine, leaving its citizens to make ad hoc arrangements. Attorney Brian Vicente – who is director of the Colorado Campaign for Safe Access, a joint project of ASA and Sensible Colorado -- appears to have convinced authorities to recognize the legitimacy of this set of caregivers. Charges in medical marijuana case expected to be dropped today The Coloradoan The Larimer County District Attorney is expected to drop charges in the medical marijuana case against Fort Collins residents James and Lisa Masters, the couple's defense attorney said today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For Immediate Release: June 1, 2007 Media Contact: Hilary McQuie 510-333-8554 Overdose Bill Receives Unanimous California Senate Support SACRAMENTO - California Senate Bill (SB) 767, the Overdose Treatment Liability Act, cosponsored by the Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC), a national health and human rights advocacy group working to reduce drug-related harm, the County of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Overdose Taskforce, passed the bipartisan California Senate yesterday in a unanimous vote. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, the author of SB 767, California legislators are beginning to recognize the importance of access to naloxone, a very safe drug that lay people, with appropriate training, can safely and properly administer. SB 767 will make it easier for health care professionals to participate in comprehensive drug overdose prevention programs that prescribe the opioid antagonist naloxone, thereby removing a large obstacle to the creation and expansion of such programs in California. This proposed legislation will also make it easier to get naloxone into the hands of the people who are the most likely to be bystanders to opioid overdoses, increasing the likelihood that people overdosing on opioids will receive naloxone promptly. When the Senate Judiciary Committee heard the bill early last month, Sandi McClure, a member of the Los Angeles Overdose Taskforce, delivered powerful testimony about the loss of her daughter, Jennifer, 15 months ago to a heroin overdose. Ms. McClure noted that if her daughter or her friends had access to naloxone and knew how to respond to an overdose, Jennifer might still be alive today. Drug overdose, which is entirely preventable, is the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States. When a person overdoses on opioids (heroin, morphine, methadone, oxycontin, etc.), he/she is rendered unconscious and is in danger of dying because the opioids slow down, and eventually stop, the person's breathing. Naloxone counteracts life-threatening depression of the central nervous and respiratory systems caused by an opioid overdose, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. Currently, naloxone can be prescribed only by licensed health care professionals, and has the same level of regulation as prescription ibuprofen. SB 767 protects providers who prescribe take-home naloxone, facilitating greater access to lifesaving medicine for people experiencing opioid overdoses. The Assembly Judiciary Committee will hear the bill later this month. # # # # For more information about the Harm Reduction Coalition, visit http://www.harmreduction.org/.

Project SAFE is an all-volunteer grassroots organization providing advocacy and support for women working in street prostitution. SAFE's mission is to promote human rights-based public health among women working in prostitution on the street in Philadelphia. SAFE is an organization dedicated to ensuring the health, safety and survival of women on the street by providing advocacy, education and support using a harm reduction model. SAFE seeks to reduce the spread of HIV, hepatitis C and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among working women, promote health and safety by arming women with relevant information and resources, and connect women to programs and services which are appropriate to their needs and interests. Sought after is a brave and energetic person who is dedicated to harm reduction philosophy and social justice to take on the position of Executive Director in this new and exciting grassroots organization. The ED will be responsible for the management, direction, and coordination of all activities and will maintain primary responsibility for fundraising, program development and evaluation, program oversight and management, staff supervision and implementation of SAFE's strategic plan. The ED will report to the Board of Directors, and will supervise a staff of three volunteers. The ED's salary is guaranteed for the first three months. The successful candidate will be expected to begin fundraising immediately in order to raise her/his own salary as well as to maintain the program's basic operating expenses. Primary responsibilities in the area of financial management include working with the staff and the board in preparing a budget, and seeing that the organization operates within budget guidelines; ensuring that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to carry out its work; serving as the primary contact for financial management for the government, foundation, corporate and individual donors; and providing regular financial reports to the Board of Directors. Primary responsibilities in the area of fundraising and development include working with the Board of Directors to develop/revise the annual fundraising and development plan, identifying new funding opportunities, and developing and maintaining relationships with existing financial supporters. Primary responsibilities in the area of community and public relations include working with the community to identify local client issues in order to improve programming and build community connections to improve service delivery; working with staff and board to promote the programs and efforts of the organization; and building and managing collaborations and relationships with other community based organizations and government agencies. Primary responsibilities in the area of governance and organizational development include assisting with the development and implementation of an organizational strategic planning process; maintaining a dialogue with the board of directors to ensure board members have adequate information to address and deliver organizational needs; and ensuring SAFE's policies are kept up to date. Primary responsibilities in the area of program development and oversight include working with staff to ensure programs are culturally and linguistically competent and relevant to the target population, and working with staff and board of directors to evaluate programs. Primary responsibilities in the area of relations with staff include recruiting, hiring, and releasing staff and volunteers; encouraging staff and volunteer development and education, and assisting program staff in relating their specialized work to the total program of the organization; and maintaining a climate which attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse staff and volunteers. The position requires knowledge of nonprofit management, harm reduction and sex work issues. Experience working with sex workers, harm-reduction philosophy, social justice, anti-discrimination strategies, and community organizing is preferred. Individuals with industry experience are encouraged to apply. To apply, please forward your resume and cover letter by June 15, 2007 to: [email protected] Project SAFE is an equal opportunity employer.