Action Alert

Since 1992, MTV has produced and aired programs like "The Real World," which feature young people consuming large quantities of alcohol and then engaging in reckless, violent, destructive, and oftentimes illegal behavior. Yet it has never once shown a cast member consuming marijuana, which the network almost surely prohibits and undoubtedly discourages. Please visit http://tinyurl.com/y8elkmn and take just a few seconds to sign SAFER's on-line petition calling on MTV to stop driving its cast members to drink and "start getting real." In the real world, millions of people use marijuana and every objective study on it has concluded it is far safer than alcohol for them and society. Yet in "The Real World" and other reality shows like "Jersey Shore," MTV makes sure alcohol is always available in abundance -- and that cast members never make the safer choice to use marijuana instead. Recently, things have gotten more out of control than ever. On this week's episode of "The Real World," an extremely drunken cast member shoved another off the tall ledge of the staircase outside their house, resulting in him being taken away on a backboard by paramedics. And just a couple a months ago MTV's new reality show, "Jersey Shore," received worldwide attention when a drunken young man at a bar punched one of the female cast members hard in the face after she accused him of stealing some drinks purchased by a fellow castmate.* You can help us draw much-needed attention to MTV's dangerous "alcohol only" reality programming by visiting http://tinyurl.com/ y8elkmn today and taking just a few seconds to sign: --- A petition in support of SAFER MTV programming --- Future cast members of "The Real World," "Jersey Shore," and other MTV reality shows should be allowed to use marijuana as a safer recreational alternative to alcohol. In the real world, millions of adults enjoy using marijuana responsibly, and every objective study on it has concluded it is far safer than alcohol both for them and society. Yet MTV embraces -- and often encourages -- the use of alcohol by its cast members, and it prohibits them from making the rational choice to use a less harmful substance instead. "The Real World," "Jersey Shore," and MTV's other reality shows should stop driving cast members to drink and "start getting real."

THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD ON CANNABIS ********************************************************************** DrugSense FOCUS Alert #434 - Thursday, 25 February 2010 Today major newspapers across Canada printed articles with headlines like 'Strengthen Medical Marijuana Laws, UN Drug Watchdog Warns' which appeared in the National Post: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10.n140.a11.html The key paragraph from the article states "The Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board said Canada is operating outside international treaty rules aimed at minimizing the risk criminals will get hold of cannabis grown under the program." The Board has only the power to encourage governments to act in accordance with the United Nations Conventions on Narcotic Drugs. Governments are free to express their sovereignty as their laws allow. The media is more often than not clueless about this. Understanding this may help you to counter the issues raised in your letters to the editor and your other efforts in support of marijuana law reform. MAP's news clippings are updated a few times each day at http://www.drugnews.org/ Some may touch on this issue, but many will not. Most clippings are worthy of consideration for your letter to the editor writing efforts. ********************************************************************** The Board's report is at http://www.incb.org/incb/en/annual-report-2009.html and Chapter III, Americas is at http://mapinc.org/url/8FhqCC7M. The paragraph about the United States and cannabis is below. 400. While the consumption and cultivation of cannabis, except for scientific purposes, are illegal activities according to federal law in the United States, several states have enacted laws that provide for the "medical use" of cannabis.41 The control measures applied in those states for the cultivation of cannabis plants and the production, distribution and use of cannabis fall short of the control requirements laid down in the 1961 Convention. The Board is deeply concerned that those insufficient control provisions have contributed substantially to the increase in illicit cultivation and abuse of cannabis in the United States. In addition, that development sends a wrong message to other countries. The Board welcomes the reaffirmation by the Government of the United States that cannabis continues to be considered a dangerous drug. The Government has also underscored that it is the responsibility of the Food and Drug Administration to approve all medicines in the United States. The Board notes with appreciation that the Government, following new guidelines on prosecution, which stipulate that activities should not focus on individuals who comply with "medical" cannabis regulations in states, has confirmed that it has no intention to legalize cannabis. The Board is concerned over the ongoing discussion in several states on legalizing and taxing the "recreational" use of cannabis, which would be a serious contravention of the 1961 Convention. The Board emphasizes that it is the responsibility of the Government of the United States to fully implement the provisions of the 1961 Convention with respect to all narcotic drugs, including cannabis (see paragraphs 61-64 above). ********************************************************************** Suggestions for Writing LTEs Are at Our Media Activism Center http://www.mapinc.org/resource/#guides ********************************************************************** Prepared by: Richard Lake, Senior Editor www.mapinc.org === DrugSense provides many services at no charge, but they are not free to produce. Your contributions make DrugSense and its Media Awareness Project (MAP) happen. Please donate today. Our secure Web server at http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm accepts credit cards and Paypal. Or, mail your check or money order to: DrugSense 14252 Culver Drive #328 Irvine, CA 92604-0326. (800) 266 5759 DrugSense is a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the expensive, ineffective, and destructive "War on Drugs." Donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

DrugSense FOCUS Alert #433 - Tuesday, 16 February 2010 For newspapers to print a series of articles about heroin is rare. The Los Angeles Times printed, starting on the newspaper's front page each day, an in depth series Sunday through today. The sidebar, below, appeared at the end of each article. Here are the links to each article: Sunday: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n111/a09.html Monday: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n114/a01.html Tuesday: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n117/a03.html Your letters to the editor may be sent by using the webform at http://mapinc.org/url/bc7El3Yo - which recommends letters of about 150 words or less - or by email to [email protected]. Sustaining all the activities of DrugSense in support of the reform community is difficult in these hard economic times. Please consider giving what you can. Details are at http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm. ********************************************************************** ABOUT THIS SERIES Times staff writer Sam Quinones is the author of two books about Mexico, where he lived for 10 years. For this series, he traveled to Colorado, Idaho, Ohio, West Virginia and Xalisco, Mexico, to track the spread of black-tar heroin. He interviewed police narcotics officers, federal drug agents, prosecutors, public health officials, addiction experts and imprisoned former dealers and addicts across the U.S. Sunday: Pushing heroin into the heartland. Monday: Black tar packs a deadly punch. Tuesday: Drug money transforms a backwater. latimes.com/blacktar An audio slide show and other resources are available online. ********************************************************************** Suggestions for Writing LTEs Are at Our Media Activism Center http://www.mapinc.org/resource/#guides ********************************************************************** Prepared by: Richard Lake, Senior Editor www.mapinc.org === DrugSense provides many services at no charge, but they are not free to produce. Your contributions make DrugSense and its Media Awareness Project (MAP) happen. Please donate today. Our secure Web server at http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm accepts credit cards and Paypal. Or, mail your check or money order to: DrugSense 14252 Culver Drive #328 Irvine, CA 92604-0326. (800) 266 5759 DrugSense is a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the expensive, ineffective, and destructive "War on Drugs." Donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.