Pubdate: Thu, 02 May 2002
Source: Eugene Weekly (OR)
Copyright: 2002 Eugene Weekly
Contact:  http://www.eugeneweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/136
Author: Nicole Hill

MARIJUANA MARCH

Legalization Activists Plan Worldwide Protests.

"The War on Drugs" should really be called "The War on Some Drugs," 
according to supporters of hemp reform and legalization. Cannabis sativa, a 
plant that once budded proudly among America's lush foliage, today is 
locked behind bars with the rest of Drug War perpetrators. The opiate and 
coca plants are also on the DEA's most wanted list for their psychoactive 
properties.

In 1937 marijuana became illegal to grow under an act established by the 
Federal Bureau of Narcotics. "But there was never a public vote about it," 
says Jonathan Gustek of the Hemp Education Network, a UO advocacy group. 
Gustek is also a musician for The Thirteenth Tribe, which will provide 
beats for Eugene's 3rd Annual Peace March Saturday, May 4. Supporters of 
industrial and medical marijuana legalization will begin marching at noon 
from 24th Street and Amazon Parkway to the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza.

The prohibition of marijuana can be credited to emerging plastic and 
chemical corporations, not societal addictions and health problems, Gustek 
explains. "Dupont, for example, started creating nylons [fiber] in the 
1930's and didn't want the competition," Gustek says. Hemp, the fibrous 
stalk of the marijuana plant, is well known for its value in rope, clothes, 
paper, plyboard and other building materials.

As supporters often reiterate, 10,000 acres of hemp generates enough paper 
and pulp to save 41,000 acres of forest. Even so, the federal government is 
not willing to dabble in "narcotics" by permitting industrial production. 
Last month the DEA went to the 9th District Court in an attempt to pull all 
products made with hemp oils, seeds and fibers from stores. However, the 
court ruled against requests to expand the statute on what defines products 
containing THC.

The Associated Press also reported that the General Accounting Office 
recently looked into the medical marijuana programs in Oregon and three 
other states to evaluate potential abuse. A total of nine states have 
medical marijuana programs. Oregon state officials were questioned about 
the medical marijuana law and the number of patients and doctors involved. 
Some medicinal marijuana supporters are concerned that the federal 
government's recent visit was an attempt to interfere with states' rights, 
as with Attorney General John Ashcroft's battle with Oregon over the 
state's assisted-suicide law.

Meanwhile, the federal anti-drug budget has risen to $19 billion and 
resulted in 646,000 arrests for simple possession in the year 2000 alone. 
And little research seems to indicate that severe drug sanctions leads to a 
decrease in abuse among communities.

"The reason why these drugs are illegal is not because of our children, 
it's because of the black market." Kris Millegan, a history writer for High 
Times magazine says. "It keeps the economy humming."

Millegan suggests taking marijuana out of the black market and creating a 
state-regulated legal market, reducing prison populations and creating a 
taxable industry to support schools. "We don't need a vice model," he says, 
referring of the punitive manner in which law enforcement deals with the 
issue. He suggests the plant be made available through state liquor stores 
or state-regulated shops.

Others question the feasibility of advertising marijuana in the market. 
"Who would the target audience be? How are you going to advertise something 
like this?" David Fischer asks, counselor for Addiction Counseling 
Education Services, a local private non-profit. ACES provides substance 
abuse treatment, of which 40 percent of their clients are struggling with 
psychological addiction to THC. Physical withdrawal symptoms are not 
common, Fischer says, but he does see prevalent life changes that occur in 
individuals as a result of recreational use. People tend to mold their life 
around smoking, only engaging in activities that would include getting 
high, he says. Smoking becomes a way of coping.

But Fischer doesn't see marijuana as the "gateway" drug, leading to use of 
harsher intoxicants, as it is commonly portrayed. "Nicotine is really the 
drug that opens that door," Fischer adds. If the prohibition of THC were 
really about health, he continues, we would see more drugs off the market.

Protestors in the Million Marijuana March, which spreads over six 
continents worldwide, will hit Eugene streets once more to declare the 
unconstitutional nature of prohibiting such a calming herbal inebriant.

Two petitions are currently in circulation. "Personal Privacy 2000" would 
allow hemp to be grown industrially and accessed only by people 21 and over 
who would not be allowed to sell it. Another petition deals with creating 
state-licensed dispensaries that would allow more immediate medical 
attention for patients seeking the herb. Under this amendment, nurse 
practitioners and naturopaths would also have authority to write prescriptions.

Voters passed Oregon's medical Marijuana law in 1998 and new polls show 
increasing support of existing laws.

"It's not just about smoking pot," Gustek says." Although, he sees nothing 
wrong with it. "It's about citizens' constitutional right to limit 
government, not to be limited by government."
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