Maptalk-Digest Thursday, January 1 1998 Volume 97 : Number 565
SENT: LAT re McWilliams
From: (David Hadorn)
Dr. Kleber at CASA
From: (David Hadorn) (by way of Richard Lake <>)
Re: Peter McWilliams bust
From: Jim Rosenfield <>
Where's the justice in our legal system?
From: Pat Dolan <>
Re: Peter McWilliams bust
From: Pat Dolan <>
Jackboots in Los Angeles
From: Jim Rosenfield <>
Jackboots in Los Angeles
From: Jim Rosenfield <>
Sent re: Anti-Smoking Crusade is Just a Witch Hunt
From: Alan Mason <>
McWilliams writes back
From: Jim Rosenfield <>
Sound off: Marijuana as Medicine
From: Pat Dolan <>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subj: SENT: LAT re McWilliams
From: (David Hadorn)
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 22:43:58 +1300 (NZDT)
Dear Editor,
I recently received word about the raid on Peter McWilliams' home, in which
Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized two years of work from this
internationally respected writer ("Agents Raid Home of Writer on Medical Use
of Marijuana," Dec. 18) The raid appears to have been motivated, at least
in part, by Mr McWilliams' criticism of the DEA over their decision to
launch a criminal investigation into the producers of 'Murphy Brown', who
had the temerity to show medical marijuana in a positive light.
Where was The Times' editorial expressing concern (if not outrage) at this
heavy-handed assault on First Amendment rights? Surely freedom of speech
and freedom of the press have not become such cheap commodities in the
United States!?
Are you sure the DEA won't take exception to something the Times writes and
come no-knocking on your door? Who knows, you might even want to
editorialize against the insane war on drugs someday.
Remember, first they came for the Jews . . .
David Hadorn, MD
(165 words)
[contact info]
------------------------------
Subj: Dr. Kleber at CASA
From: (David Hadorn) (by way of Richard Lake <>)
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 08:30:13 -0500
My brother sent me the October 3, 1997 issue of The Chronicle of Higher
Education which has a good article on Columbia University's National Center
on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Ethan Nadelmann is quoted as describing
Joseph Califano as "essentially a reincarnation of the old temperance
warriors." He also got the biggest picture!
Just to summarize (I still don't have OCR). The story begins with a
description of how reporters credulously copy down whatever Califano tells
them, such as his spin on that rat research we chewed on several months ago.
Califano: "The days of marijuana as a safe drug are over. This research has
crowned marijuana a 'hard drug'".
But the part that burn me the most comes from CASA's infamous medical
director, Dr Herbert Kleber, apparently the only Columbia U-tenured person
on the CASA staff. Kleber was quick to label the rat research as the
"smoking gun" he has been looking for linking marijuana use to the
production of cravings for hard drugs.
Quoting from the article:
"The argument that marijuana is a 'gateway drug' is key to [CASA's] goal. .
.For every 100 people who have tried pot, 28 have tried cocaine, and only
one uses cocaine weekly. . . .CASA's medical diretor, Herbert D Kleber,
responds that the risk that a marijuana smoker will try cocaine is no
different from -- and even greater than -- the risk that a smoker will get
lung cancer. 'The people who say most marijuana smokers don't try cocaine
either don't understand risk ratios, or disingenuously pretend not to,' he
says. He is convinced that there is a biochemical trigger that leads
marijuana users to seek other drugs. 'We just haven't found it yet.'"
Is 28 percent more than 50 percent, Dr. Kleber? Maybe Dr. K doesn't
understand what the word "most" means -- or is disingenuously pretending not
to. Either way, this guy is a disgrace to the medical profession and to
Columbia University. Isn't it amazing that Columbia would give tenure to
Kleber after they were burned by his cut-from-the-same-cloth fellow drug war
pseudo-scientist, Gabriel Nahas? Frankly, I don't think I'd trust any
research coming out of Columbia University -- not if this is how much
respect they have for the truth. BTW, Columbia's president, Gerge Rupp, is
on CASA's board of directors, along with Nancy Reagan and Betty Ford.
Something needs to be done about this situation. . . But what?
David
------------------------------
Subj: Re: Peter McWilliams bust
From: Jim Rosenfield <>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 07:30:53 -0800
This needs a letter and phone call campaign
At 05:38 PM 12/31/97 EST, you wrote:
>I'm a little surprised that we haven't seen more outrage expressed on these
>lists concerning the first-amendment violating bust of Peter McWilliams.
>Reading the details of the bust as posted by Doug Keenan really makes my
>blood boil. Anyone who has read (at least) his "Ain't nobody's business if
>you do" and Daily Variety ad knows he is one of the movement's most
>important writers. The DEA took everything he has without even documenting
>the reason! Has this sort of goose-stepping become so commonplace that it
>can pass almost without comment? But this is one of our own, and surely we
>have to do something to help. Any ideas?
>
>
>David
>
>
>
Jim Rosenfield
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
tel: 310-836-0926 fax: 310-836-0592
http://insightweb.com
------------------------------
Subj: Where's the justice in our legal system?
From: Pat Dolan <>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 07:50:33 -0800
Newshawk: Pat Dolan
Source: Detroit News, LTEs
Pubdate: Jan 1, 1998
Contact:
Subject: Where's the justice in our legal system?
Wednesday, December 31, 1997: Where's the justice in our legal system?
As a Michigan state trooper who has served the citizens of southeastern
Michigan for the last four years, I am offended by the Dec. 22 article,
"Case dismissed: Justice denied."
It is obvious that The Detroit News is in business to sell newspapers even
at the cost of defamation of character when it castigates troopers with
whom I have had the honor of working. There are always two sides to every
story, and The News obviously just told its side.
This article names troopers, rips them apart, and then writes a disclaimer
that the troopers could not be reached for comment. Did The News think to
contact the troopers' superiors? Was The News' attempt to contact the
troopers one phone call or many? The troopers I know who were mentioned in
the article are not afraid to talk to reporters - just like they are not
afraid of arresting the violent criminals they take off the street everyday.
The criminal justice system in Detroit has problems all the way around:
judges and magistrates taking the bench three hours late; officers and
troopers not receiving subpoenas on time; and, light sentences some judges
hand down to violent criminals.
The majority of Detroit police officers and state troopers take great pride
in protecting citizens from criminals. We arrest them, and we want to see
them behind bars. It is irresponsible for The News to assert anything
different.
Dwayne L. Gill, Marshall Regarding "No show cops set crime suspects free"
(Dec. 22): One way to help would be to pass laws permitting written
affidavits by the police to be acceptable for the suspect's initial court
appearance. I'm sure there would be many who would plead guilty.
Those who wish to fight the case and question the officer could reschedule
the case. Anything would be better than what we have now. Too many go free
without punishment.
Richard Barc, Detroit
Thanks to The News for making people aware of this horrendous situation -
which itself is a crime ("Case dismissed: Justice denied," Dec. 22).
Victims are addressed so poorly while perpetrators have all the rights.
It was mentioned that Oakland County handles far fewer cases than Wayne.
Could it be that battered women, for example, are not taken seriously?
Could it be that if you live in a mobile home park, these types of crimes
occur and no one cares?
We need to get educated. This article is a step toward that education. The
media is a positive tool at getting things accomplished.
Karen Baughton, South Lyon
Copyright 1997, The Detroit News
We welcome your comments. E-mail us at
------------------------------
Subj: Re: Peter McWilliams bust
From: Pat Dolan <>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 07:53:09 -0800
At 11:36 AM 1/1/98 +1300, you wrote:
>I'm a little surprised that we haven't seen more outrage expressed on these
>lists concerning the first-amendment violating bust of Peter McWilliams.
>
I'm one of the guilty ones David. I felt outraged too and reflected on it
for a little while. Then I thought: well, he's a writer. He'll know what to
do.
Besides it's down there in the states. What cd I do anyway?
I must think of Hillel more often: If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am for myself alone, what am I? If not now, when?
I can plead a debilitating lack of energy which at times amounts to
complete exhaustion. But even so, I cd have raked up enough energy to say:
Hi! The bastards! Any way I can help? And left it at that.
I will do that before the moon is new.... That's a proomise.
Peace!
pd
------------------------------
Subj: Jackboots in Los Angeles
From: Jim Rosenfield <>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 08:10:35 -0800
Dear Editor:
Regarding the raid of Peter McWilliams' home and research material (Mc
Williams is author and publisher of more than 35 books which have sold more
than ten million copies. Books have appeared
five times in the New York Times best-seller list. McWilliams celebrated 30
years as a self-publisher in June.) (Dec 17, 1997 -
Author ... Has Work On Medical Marijuana Seized By DEA) On
his personal experiences with medical use of marijuana by the Drug
Enforcement "Administration" I am moved to remind us of something said some
fifty two years ago by Pastor Martin Niemoller. I really hesitate, even
though we have many opportunities, nowadays, to remember his words, because
I don't mean to minimize the suffering and sacrifices of the millions who
fell to intolerance not so long ago.
Because of who Peter McWilliams is
and his accomplishments as a writer and especially in bringing some real
light to the controversial issue of medical marijuana, because of the way
the DEA grabbed his computers, his backups and every bit of research
material, and because McWilliams has been openly and vocally critical of DEA
practices very recently. Because over 300,000 people were arrested for
marijuana use in 1991 and over 642,000 in 1996. And also because Peter
really has personally suffered greatly, largely at the hands of the drug
war run amok, this passage needs reminding, now ...
"... they first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I
wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I
didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the
Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came
for me -- and by that time no one was left to speak up.
Jim Rosenfield
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
tel: 310-836-0926 fax: 310-836-0592
http://insightweb.com
------------------------------
Subj: Jackboots in Los Angeles
From: Jim Rosenfield <>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 08:20:36 -0800
Dear Editor:
Regarding the raid of Peter McWilliams' home and research material (Mc
Williams is author and publisher of more than 35 books which have sold more
than ten million copies. Books have appeared
five times in the New York Times best-seller list. McWilliams celebrated 30
years as a self-publisher in June.) (Dec 17, 1997 -
Author ... Has Work On Medical Marijuana Seized By DEA) On
his personal experiences with medical use of marijuana by the Drug
Enforcement "Administration" I am moved to remind us of something said some
fifty two years ago by Pastor Martin Niemoller. I really hesitate, even
though we have many opportunities, nowadays, to remember his words, because
I don't mean to minimize the suffering and sacrifices of the millions who
fell to intolerance not so long ago.
Because of who Peter McWilliams is
and his accomplishments as a writer and especially in bringing some real
light to the controversial issue of medical marijuana, because of the way
the DEA grabbed his computers, his backups and every bit of research
material, and because McWilliams has been openly and vocally critical of DEA
practices very recently. Because over 300,000 people were arrested for
marijuana use in 1991 and over 642,000 in 1996. And also because Peter
really has personally suffered greatly, largely at the hands of the drug
war run amok, this passage needs reminding, now ...
"... they first came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I
wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I
didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the
Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came
for me -- and by that time no one was left to speak up.
Jim Rosenfield
Culver City CA
310-836-0926
Jim Rosenfield
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
tel: 310-836-0926 fax: 310-836-0592
http://insightweb.com
------------------------------
Subj: Sent re: Anti-Smoking Crusade is Just a Witch Hunt
From: Alan Mason <>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 08:25:17 -0800
To The Editor:
William Rusher's 12/30/97 editorial was an enlightening look at the
moralistic overtones of the anti-smoking crusade. However, the
anti-smoking witch hunt is but a feeble cousin to the darker witch-hunt
that has been going on in this country for over 75 years - the War On
Drugs. A witch-hunt that, in the view of Richard Lawrence Miller, author of
"Drug Warriors and Their Prey," bears a chilling resemblance to the
attempted extermination of the Jews in Nazi Germany.
Although the words "drug abuse" tend to bring to mind images of
barely-functioning addicts committing crimes to get their next fix, the
fact is that the majority of illegal drug use in the US involves the use of
marijuana by otherwise productive and law-abiding citizens. Unlike tobacco,
pot has no known lethal dose and has never been proven to cause any of the
diseases caused by tobacco. It has a history of benign social and medical
use by cultures around the world for thousands of years. Its social use by
adults, when examined outside of the fact that it is illegal, is very
similar adult alcohol use - it is more often used than abused. The primary
danger in using it is that one will be arrested.
Were Mr. Rusher to examine the War on Drugs as he did the War on Tobacco,
he might conclude his editorial with the sentence, "Doing good by putting
people in prison for 20 years or more, seizing their property, destroying
their families, and in general ruining their lives is too much fun." At
least we aren't burning drug users at the stake in the town square. Yet.
Alan Mason
contact info
------------------------------
Subj: McWilliams writes back
From: Jim Rosenfield <>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 09:05:29 -0800
>X-Sender:
>X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32)
>Date: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 08:46:04 -0800
>To: Jim Rosenfield <>
>From: Peter McWilliams <>
>Subject: Re: forward to Anthony Lewis
>Resent-From: <>
>Resent-Date: Thu, 1 Jan 98 11:55:11 EST5EDT
>Resent-To:
>
>This is great.
>
>You might want to include "A Personal Note From Peter McWilliams" ("A
>Friendly Rape") as an attachment, and/or link people to www.mcwilliams.com
>for further information.
http://www.mcwilliams.com/
http://marijuanamagazine.com/
http://www.marijuanamagazine.com/RAPE.htm
>
>Thank you.
>
>Keep those cards and letters going out!
>
>Enjoy,
>
>Peter
>
>
>At 08:37 AM 1/1/98 -0800, you wrote:
>>Mr. Lewis, in the past you have taken a very clear-eyed and principaled
>>stand about the drug war.
>>
>>Surely you must have heard of ...
>>
>>December 18, 1997
>>Author: Sue McAllister, Special to The Times
>>
>>AGENTS RAID HOME OF WRITER ON MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA
>>
>>Federal drug agents Wednesday searched the home of a man who is writing a
>>book about the medical use of marijuana and who has been questioned in
>>connection with the arrest of a pot activist, authorities said. ... an
>>upcoming book by Peter McWilliams, whose Laurel Canyon home was searched
>>Wednesday.
>>
>>
>>
>>.............
>>
>>
>>Mr. Lewis, please speak out aboutthis unconscionable action by the DEA.
>>Please mobilize other writers to speak out about this. Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>>Jim Rosenfield
>>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---
>>tel: 310-836-0926 fax: 310-836-0592
>>http://insightweb.com
>>
>
>
------------------------------
Subj: Sound off: Marijuana as Medicine
From: Pat Dolan <>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 1998 11:07:36 -0800
Newshawk: Pat Dolan
Thursday, November 13, 1997
Source: The Detroit News
Thursday, November 13, 1997[detnews.com home page]
Contact:
FYI
Note: Apologies if this was already posted. However, published ltrs give
amny useful
tips for what is likely to make it. Also ideas for LTEs. pd
The Detroit News recently asked readers: Should the state allow patients
with cancer and other serious illnesses to get a prescription to use
marijuana for pain and nausea relief? Here are the responses:
"It's absolutely ridiculous that a doctor can say to a patient, 'See if you
can find some marijuana to relieve your pain and nausea though I can't
prescribe some.' That is exactly what was said to three friends of mine who
were suffering and in agony and the drug would have enabled them to eat. It
was necessary for me to locate some (at a humongous price) to give them
their relief. All three have since died but they told me how grateful they
were for my help. Frankly, I'm not interested in marijuana, but I'm
strongly in favor of it being accessible to everyone; if not, at least let
the doctors practice their profession as best they can." Rosemary Harnden
Royal Oak
Medical community is split If the medical community is split over whether
marijuana can offer relief to the sick, it does not make sense for the
state to put its foot down on this issue one way or the other. The state
should butt out and we should hold the physicians responsible for what they
prescribe. Pradeep Srivastava Detroit
Opponents lack logic Although I wouldn't touch marijuana for any reason
personally at this time, I could not help to see how far short of the truth
of logic the opponents of medical marijuana actually are.
Your article cited three reasons. Let's take them on at a time: * It would
send a mixed message to the public since the government campaigns to
convince consumers that all smoking is bad and that marijuana is a
dangerous drug.
Our government is already sending a mixed message by telling us that
smoking is bad while at the same time it is pouring millions (if not
billions) into subsidies for tobacco farmers.
* The federal government, which banned its use in 1937, still labels
marijuana as a dangerous drug, which contains hundreds of compounds, some
suspected of causing cancer. When was the last time you saw a person who
has AIDS or cancer worried about getting cancer? AIDS victims and terminal
cancer victims are mostly interested in easing their suffering and living
as much of their lives as fully as possible in the short time they have
left. Who are we to deny them that.
* Letting voters determine whether marijuana is a safe medicine is a bad
public policy.
So, I suppose lawyers and politicians are better at making medical
decisions than the average voter? This is just plain arrogance on the part
of politicians in Washington, Lansing and even city hall. All medical
decisions are ultimately the responsibility of the patient or his or her
family if the patient cannot speak himself (or herself) with hopefully the
consultation of a medical professional.
Allowing your personal views on the validity or invalidity of medical
marijuana is a cruel and unchristian way of forcing people to suffer
needlessly at the hands of politicians need to micro manage each and every
person's life.
It's about time we restore the freedom of people (even if it's just the
dying ones) to relieve their suffering any way they see fit. And if you
somehow disagree with one of those ways (such as assisted suicide in my
case) try the power of persuasion instead of the force of government to
convince them otherwise. You'll be surprised at how much better life gets.
Bill Carver Eastpointe
Medicinal use is OK Marijuana should be allowed for medicinal purposes. I
am not a marijuana smoker, nor do I have many friends that are. In most
cases, marijuana is used to make you hungry, and calm the nausea so you do
not throw up the food and medicine you have just ingested. If you aren't
hungry and throw up when you are able to eat, how can you expect to survive?
Shane Matthew Kneip
Use doesn't hurt society I'm a strong proponent of medical use of
marijuana. Marijuana usage by adults, especially if prescribed by a doctor
and especially if it used to ease the symptoms of the big three (glaucoma,
AIDS-related wasting, chemotherapy-related nausea), does not adversely
affect society at all.
In fact, it would probably help society -- providing tax-paying jobs
supplying/growing marijuana, reduce the illegal drug trade, and facilitate
taxation of marijuana sold for medicinal purposes.
Marijuana should also be removed from the Schedule 1 drug list so its
medicinal uses can be studied more freely, and so the American public can
finally be truthfully informed as to the reality of marijuana, its side
effects, its long-term effects, and how it compares to present
pharmaceutical products available to treat the same symptoms.
Peter McWilliams, on a side note, is a fabulous author. His book _ Ain't
Nobody's Business If You Do; the Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in a Free
Society _ is an authoritative text on the subject of legalizing marijuana
and various other consensual crimes.
Alissia Kass Huntington Woods
Citizens can make choices
I strongly support the movement for legal medical marijuana use. The real
crime here is the fact that our government can justify denying terminally
and otherwise ill patients marijuana, a substance that has proven to ease
the pain and suffering caused by their diseases, without being able to show
that it is a dangerous drug.
Furthermore, who decided that American citizens were not capable of making
their own decisions? It is more than a shame when slanted public policy
interferes with basic human rights.
Amanda Rosman Birmingham
'An inalienable right' Thank you so very much for presenting this issue to
the public. As a San Franciscan now living in Grand Rapids, I am very much
aware of the opposition to medical marijuana among the public in Michigan.
That a natural growing substance that has proven over many years to have
medicinal benefits for people in pain, can be opposed by so many who call
themselves "Christians", and who are so morally myopic, is hard to understand.
I don't use marijuana recreationally nor for medical purposes, but I
support what I feel is an inalienable right for those who do.
With regard to the governor opining that synthetic substitutes are
available, I wonder if he's speaking from personal experience, or has he,
in his spare time, been awarded a degree in medicine? The fact is that
substitutes invariably cause more damage than they do good.
Someday in the future, Michiganders will look back and wonder how people
here in this time could have been so incredibly stupid.
Lee Neidow Kentwood
Copyright 1997, The Detroit News Comments? home page]
------------------------------
End of Maptalk-Digest V97 #565
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