Organizations

The Harm Reduction Coalition (HRC), a progressive advocacy and training organization at the forefront of national health and drug policy, is seeking a highly motivated Project Manager to coordinate and supervise all aspects of the DOPE Project in its Oakland, CA office. This includes grant writing; budgeting; hiring, training and supervision of Overdose Educators; coordinating and conducting trainings; establishing and maintaining relationships with community based collaborators; engaging in policy advocacy, strategic planning and evaluation activities; and other duties as needed.

[Courtesy of the Harm Reduction Coalition] For Immediate Release: May 8, 2007 Contact: Emalie Huriaux, tel: 510-469-7941 Overdose Bill Moves Forward: Unanimous Judiciary Committee 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, and the County of Los Angeles passed the bipartisan California Senate Judiciary Committee today in a 5-to-0 vote. 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 opioid antagonists 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. Emalie Huriaux, HRC's Overdose Project Manager stated after the unanimous vote, "We are pleasantly surprised. Liability legislation rarely gets support from the Senate Judiciary Committee. This vote shows that committee members understand the lifesaving effects SB 767 will have." 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, and how access to naloxone may have saved her life. In addition, Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, Medical Director for the County of Los Angeles, spoke about the drug overdose epidemic in Los Angeles and throughout the country. Although naloxone is a very safe drug and recent studies have proven that lay people, with appropriate training, can safely and properly administer it, some clinicians are concerned about prescribing take-home naloxone for use by lay people. Clinicians voice concerns that patients may use naloxone on a third party experiencing an overdose and, in the event of an adverse reaction, the clinician could be held liable. In recent years, New York, New Mexico, and Connecticut have enacted legislation similar to SB 767 to protect licensed health care professionals from civil and criminal liability when prescribing take-home opioid antagonists. Since November 2003, HRC's Overdose Project has collaborated with the San Francisco Department of Public Health to provide overdose prevention, recognition, and response training, including naloxone prescriptions, to people at risk for experiencing an opioid overdose. To date, this collaboration has provided training and prescriptions to nearly 1,000 people and heard reports from 250 of them that they used naloxone in an overdose situation. 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 bill will be heard later this month by the Senate Appropriations Committee and, if passed, will move on for a vote by the entire Senate later this year. # # # # For more information about the Harm Reduction Coalition, visit http://www.harmreduction.org.

[Courtesy of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice, Inc. and Tony Papa] Today, May 8, marks the 34 year anniversary of the signing of New York's infamous Rockefeller Drug Laws. In December of 2004 the laws were mildly modified but continue unabated to wreak untold havoc on poor communities of color across the Empire State. Below is a link to a powerful and edifying video/song written and performed by Hip-Hop megastar Jim Jones calling on Governor Spitzer to reform the cruel and unusual, and racially applied Rockefeller Drug Laws (now the Elliot Spitzer drug laws). The video serves as trailer for the newly released documentary Lockdown USA. Moreover, we have included a compelling editorial that appeared this week in the Huffington Post. The editorial was written by artist/activist and Rockefeller Drug Law survivor Anthony Papa. In the editorial, Mr. Papa urges not only the Governor Spitzer but also Lt. Governor David Patterson in particular NY Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to use their offices to follow through on their past commitment to push for the REPEAL of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Mr. Cuomo is one of the four major figures featured in the Lockdown USA documentary. All three public officials have been silent on the issue since their respective inaugurations. Mr. Papa, formerly of Mothers of the NY Disappeared, is now a media specialist for the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA). DPA has worked closely with the NY Mothers and the Kunstler Fund for the past 9 years in the popular movement to repeal the Rockefeller Drug Laws.(www.drugpolicy.org). Jim Jones Lockdown, USA Song http://www.drugpolicy.org/statebystate/newyork/lockdownusa/

ASA ACTION: Science Supports DQA Lawsuit ASA IN THE NEWS: Defending Election Fairness DISPENSARIES: Regulations Working in Many Cities RHODE ISLAND: Veto-Proof Margin for Medical Marijuana Bill MINNESOTA: Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill VERMONT: Medical Marijuana Law May Broaden ILLINOIS: Political Pressure for Medical Marijuana Bill NEW HAMPSHIRE: Locals Push for Legal Access TEXAS: Medical Marijuana Bill Considered CONNECTICUT: Massive Support May Spur Bill WASHINGTON: Medical Marijuana Law’s Limit Tested FEDERAL: California Dispensary Raid OREGON: Doctor Explains Medical Benefits CANADA: Activists Working Toward Better Policies _________________________________ ASA ACTION: Science Supports DQA Lawsuit The editorial in this week's edition of Science, the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, supports ASA’s lawsuit asking for a correction of the misinformation about medical marijuana being spread by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Such mention in one of the world’s most prestigious scientific magazines would be noteworthy on its own, but it’s even more so when the author is also the former FDA Commissioner. EDITORIAL: Turning the Tables with Mary Jane by Don Kennedy, Editor, Science ASA finally brought its case to federal court, asking it to substitute for the agency's false statement one that says, "Adequate and well-recognized studies show the efficacy of marijuana in the treatment of nausea, loss of appetite, pain and spasticity." Will the judge make HHS change, giving ASA the injunctive relief it seeks? We'll have to wait to see whether this case turns the tables on DQA, but it's already clear that HHS has violated its own DQA guidelines--going, you might say, one toke over the line. _________________________________ ASA IN THE NEWS: Defending Election Fairness ASA’s litigation over a narrowly lost local medical marijuana initiative may result in fairer and more accountable election results. The ability to re-count ballots cast on electronic voting machines is at issue, and a judge is siding with ASA. Many election observers have questioned the reliability of such voting machines; a positive ruling helps protect basic democratic principles. Judge scolds county for loss of files by Ian Hoffman, ANG Newspapers A state judge chided Alameda County officials Friday for giving away the only internal electronic records of a contested election to Diebold Election Systems Inc., after an appeals court ordered the county to preserve the records. The judge's scolding came as a medical marijuana group, Americans for Safe Access, sought penalties against the county for getting rid of its touch-screen voting machines last summer without first downloading the electronic ballots and internal logs related to contested Measure R, a marijuana dispensary initiative Berkeley voters rejected in 2004.

Through its annual Promoting Policy Change grant cycle, the Drug Policy Alliance seeks to broaden public support for drug policy reform. Policy Change grants fund strategic and innovative approaches to increase such support, including public education campaigns and organizing efforts. If this sounds like your organization, make sure to apply after you've read the guidelines at: http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/050307grants.cfm. The program provides both general operating support and project specific grants. Virtually all grant making is directed toward organizations working within the United States, with particular emphasis on state-based activity. Strategic, geographic or thematic collaborations are strongly encouraged. Generally, the cap on grants awarded during the Promoting Policy Change cycle is $50,000 although most awards are closer to $20-25,000. As well, applicants should be aware that the process is very competitive. DPA receives somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.5 million dollars in worthy requests but the fund has only 1.2 million to allocate. As a result, DPA will show some preference toward those groups with whom they have a pre-existing relationship and groups who demonstrate a clear understanding and application of broader drug policy reform. Grant applications are available now on the website and due by 8 PM EDT, Monday, June 18, 2007. Only proposals submitted by email will be considered. If you have any questions, please contact asha bandele at [email protected] .

[Courtesy of HEMP Embassy] Nimbin Cannabis Law Reform Rally one of the best despite... The police this year led the media to believe greater numbers of police would be present, but told us that there would be less. That made us distrustful, but at the event there were significantly less police. I estimate half the strength of last year. For reasons of their own, they wanted the public to think otherwise. The saliva testing Winnebago barely appeared, while we had a drug-wipe saliva testing kit make a false amphetamine positive as the ABC was recording the demonstration. We hope they use the recording. We believe the Winnebago may prove to be a white elephant, or a millstone, or both. We feel that this was one of the best organised MardiGrass weekends we have presented. We concentrated on running a full program in Peace Park, without gaps in activities so that people would be less prone to wandering away leaving a less attractive half filled venue. This year the nights were not as cold, and that helped make the night time program more enjoyable and better attended. The weather was good, and everything ran smoothly. In events using volunteers conflicts between members can emerge or some members may attempt to dominate, creating frictions that undermine morale and impede progress. We had an exceptionally trouble free MardiGrass Organising Body this year, and were blessed with exceptional MardiGrass volunteers from all over the world. I cannot praise their group spirit and dedication enough. They did everything asked, and came back for more. While last year's excessive police presence may have deterred some people, the people who came together for the 2007 MardiGrass were more determined than ever to show that we are no danger to anything, and that we are not criminals. The police have not deterred us, but united us. In 1937 there was a reefer madness campaign, which convinced millions of otherwise sensible people that cannabis caused instant insanity lust and murder. A new reefer madness campaign began in 2004, which left out the lust and murder, and reduced the number of instantly insane. The original reefer madness campaign created a prejudice, and the new reefer madness campaign seeks to sustain that prejudice through selective quotation, exaggeration and distortion of research. The truth will out eventually. The Nimbin Hemp Embassy and Nimbin MardiGrass will continue to oppose these unjust laws. The HEMP Olympix filled Peace Park this year as its reputation grows. Bob the Builder and Smurf set a new joint world record in the Speed Roll (3 papers plus filter) of 15 seconds in a tie for the Green Medal. In the roll off, Bob won in 17 seconds after Smurf stumbled. Bob also won the Green Medal again in the Artistic Roll this year, with a ‘rainbow coloured roses’ joint. The Growers’ Ironperson Event Green Medal was won by local lad Ruben in 71 seconds. The Womens’ won by Lily from France in 101 seconds. The Bong Throw and yell won by Gary the plumber for the second time with a throw of 39.1 metres, Sarah from England won the Womens’ with 27.8 metres. Nimbin HEMP Embassy Phone 66891842 – a/h 66897525

News & Opinion This Week 1. A Letter on Rape in Prisons 2. Why Can't Gay Dwarves Get Married In Middle-Earth? 3. A Woman's Brain Hit Harder by Alcohol Abuse 4. Sacrificial Wolfie B Upcoming Conferences and Events C Quote D How To Help E About HRP F Subscription Information ----- I. A Letter on Rape in Prisons By David Kaiser, Reply by Jason DeParle In response to The American Prison Nightmare (April 12, 2007) New York Review Of Books The following letter was received in response to Jason DeParle's "The American Prison Nightmare" in the April 12 issue of The New York Review. To the Editors: Jason DeParle's thoughtful and wide-ranging overview of American incarceration policy and its consequences hardly mentions rape in detention. Yet this is not a rare or trivial part of life behind bars. Neither is it, as some believe, an inevitable one. Prisoner rape has been largely ignored: by journalists, advocates, policymakers, and researchers. The available data therefore, especially on its frequency, are not very good. Still, it is possible to have some notion of the problem's magnitude. Recent studies of prisons in four midwestern states suggest that approximately 20 percent of male inmates are pressured or coerced into unwanted sexual contact; approximately 10 percent are raped.[1] Rates of sexual abuse in women's facilities, where the perpetrators are most likely to be male staff, seem to vary more by institution but are as high as 27 percent of inmates.[2] Since the US now incarcerates more people than any other country, both relative to population and in absolute terms, these percentages translate into horrifying real numbers. The congressional authors of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA), which DeParle does mention (and which is the only piece of federal legislation ever to address the issue), estimate in the bill's "Findings" section that in the twenty years preceding its passage over one million inmates were victims of sexual abuse in American facilities. That number should be recognized as something of a guess; but in the absence of more authoritative studies, it does not seem unreasonable. Prisoner rape is arguably this country's most serious human rights problem.

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. + FOUR New Videos Posted! 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 05/04/07 FIVE Houston City Council candidates discuss the drug laws MP3 MP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/FDBCB_050407.mp3 Century of Lies for 05/04/07 Marc Emery, publisher of Cannabis Culture magazine discusses potential life sentence in US prison for selling pot seeds, Black Perspective & Drug War Facts MP3 MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/COL_050407.mp3 4:20 Drug War NEWS 05/07/07 to 05/13/07 now online (3:00 ea.): Monday 05/07/07 LA Times: US Allies Seen as Losing Drug War, I of 2 Tuesday 05/08/07 LA Times II of II Wednesday 05/09/07 DTN Editorial, per R Givens I of II Thursday 05/10/07 DTN Editorial II of II Friday 05/11/07 Terry Nelson Reports for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Saturday 05/12/07 Poppygate Sunday 05/13/07 Drug War Facts & Black Perspective on Drug War 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 NEW VIDEO ONLINE! This week we uploaded 4 new videos to YouTube: 1. Report on National African American Drug Policy Coalition with Judge Arthur Burnett and Kurt Schmoke, former mayor of Baltimore. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKADap4bgYg 9:25 2. Lynn Paltrow, director of Advocates for Pregnant Women, dispels myths at National Methamphetamine Conference in Salt Lake City. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-9amUyx0YI 9:49 3. Dr. Robert Melamede: "Marijuana and the Free Radicals". Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yf9MwJZXod8 6:16 4. Sanho Tree of Institute for Policy Studies on Plan Colombia. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9kpC1XneKA 9.59 Please let us know what you think of this series of videos. Radio stations are invited to use the audio as they see fit. 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 713-848-6869

Thousands of people visit our Prison Art Gallery in Washington, DC, and/or our outdoor exhibit at the corner of K St and Connecticut Ave NW, DC. But what about the many art lovers and justice advocates who don't come to DC? Now we have a way for you to view and acquire outstanding prison art. Introducing our first ever online auction. It's being done in partnership with NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) who will use a portion of the proceeds to further its important work. As usual with any prison art we offer either on our own or through a distinguished nonprofit such as NORML, a substantial portion of the proceeds goes to the incarcerated artists who created the work. As a prisoner of 10 years duration (and currently a performing artist), our director Dennis Sobin insists on no less. Please click the link below to be part of the auction excitement. You'll be helping hardworking people in and out of prison while helping yourself to bargains in superb original art. For more information, see http://www.prisonsfoundation.org/. Directions: 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)

Contact: Philippe Lucas, tel: 250-884-9821, E: [email protected] or Kirk Tousaw, tel: 604-836-1420, E: [email protected] In May of 2004, the Vancouver Island Therapeutic Cannabis Research Institute (VITCRI), a research and cultivation facility overseen by the Vancouver Island Compassion Society, was raided by the West Shore RCMP. Mat Beren and Michael Swallow were charged with multiple counts of cannabis production, and over 900 plants were seized and destroyed, temporarily leaving the critically and chronically ill members of the VICS without a safe source of medicine. The ensuing court case and Constitutional challenge - which is taking place from May 9th-18th in B.C. Supreme Court, 850 Burdett Avenue - will establish that the federal medical cannabis program is violating the constitutional rights of critically and chronically ill Canadians by a) unnecessarily restricting access to the program; b) supplying an inadequate source of cannabis; and c) instituting arbitrary limitations on production and distribution. "This ineffective, onerous and expensive program has long been an impediment to safe access" says Philippe Lucas, a medical cannabis user and founder of the VICS, "and clearly isn't protecting Canada's sickest citizens from arrest for their use of medical cannabis". The VICS legal team consists of Mr. John Conroy QC from Abbotsford, BC, and Mr. Kirk Tousaw. Witnesses for the defense include Senator Pierre-Claude Nolin (chair of the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs), Dr. Robert Melamede (Biology professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs). "We look forward to challenging the constitutionality of these regulations and demonstrating to the court that Health Canada is not meeting its obligations to Canada's critically and chronically ill", says Mr. Tousaw. If successful, this challenge will make the legal medical use of cannabis more accessible, and potentially legalize the community-based distribution of cannabis. A similar challenge in Ontario from 2003 resulted with the courts striking down the prohibition on the recreational adult use of cannabis in Ontario, thereby legalizing the personal use of cannabis for over 18 months. This case may lead to a similar outcome in B.C.