Tavis Smiley, Guest Host SMILEY: The president takes action and has some asking this -- is he taking a turn to the right? Plus, will Obama make history and push to make marijuana use legal? Not if opponents can help it. Marijuana -- the debate with Montel Williams, Stephen Baldwin and others next on LARRY KING LIVE. Good evening. I'm Tavis Smiley sitting in for Larry tonight. SMILEY: President Obama yesterday, speak of the president, also, as we all know by now, held an online town hall meeting yesterday. He noted the Internet community had a high interest in having him answer a question on legalizing marijuana to help the economy. So he addressed it. [continues 3460 words]
LOU DOBBS, HOST: And disturbing evidence tonight of the tremendous dangers of marijuana. Researchers now say marijuana may cause serious long-term brain damage to addicts. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You run the risk that the alterations that you produce today will manifest themselves in 10 years or 20 years. (END VIDEO CLIP) ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS TONIGHT, news, debate and opinion for Wednesday, February 21st. Live in New York, Lou Dobbs. DOBBS: Good evening, everybody. [snip] DOBBS: Let's take a look now at some of your thoughts. [continues 1705 words]
LOU DOBBS, HOST: Tonight, scathing criticism of bureaucratic blunders by the FBI and the Department of Justice in the war against radical Islamist terrorists. We'll have that special report. Also tonight, prescription drugs helping drive the fastest growing type of substance abuse in this country. [skip to segment] DOBBS: In the war within tonight, the prescription medicines in your own home are a source of the fastest-growing substance abuse in this nation. The government's set a goal to cut prescription drug abuse by 15 percent over the next three years. Today issuing new guidelines on how to prevent those drugs from reaching your children and abusers. [continues 535 words]
Sitting in for Lou Dobbs, Christine Romans. ROMANS: The war on drugs in this country is being fought at the federal, state and local level as law enforcement officials try to crack down on drug smuggling and drug sales. But what you might find surprising is what's happening in some of the wealthiest circles in this country. Private donors are spending millions of dollars to promote the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana. Bill Tucker reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's just a plant, that's all. Not a dangerous drug. It's a children's book, where farmers grow it and parents, doctors, mayors, even presidents use marijuana. It's aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds. [continues 956 words]
Second Coroner's Examination Finds 14-Year-Old Suffocated A teenager who died at a Florida boot camp was suffocated by guards who were restraining him, a medical examiner has determined. The teen's mother hailed the findings, saying "the truth is out," but a lawyer for one of the guards accused the examiner of giving in to political pressure. Martin Lee Anderson, 14, died in January after he was restrained and struck by workers at the boot camp for juvenile offenders. [continues 814 words]
Doug Wead Says Recordings Were Not Meant for Public NEW YORK (CNN) -- The author who secretly recorded his conversations with then-Gov. George W. Bush told CNN Monday he should give the tapes to the president despite lucrative offers to sell them. Doug Wead -- a former aide to President Bush's father, George H.W. Bush -- recorded about nine hours of conversations with the Texas governor while he was considering his run for the White House. On the tapes, the president appears to admit to past drug use and says he won't join some conservative Christians he sees as "kicking gays." [continues 897 words]
HIGHLIGHT: In the ongoing war on drugs, the federal government today is claiming a significant victory. A newly released survey found drug use among teenagers had declined 11 percent over the past two years. That exceeds the White House's target of 10 percent. CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In the ongoing war on drugs, the federal government today is claiming a significant victory. A newly released survey found drug use among teenagers had declined 11 percent over the past two years. That exceeds the White House's target of 10 percent. [continues 906 words]
KING: Oakville, Ontario, hello. CHAMNEY: Hi, Mr. Maher, I'm absolutely thrilled to be speaking with you. MAHER: Well, I'm thrilled to be talking to you, too. CHAMNEY: My question for you is, do you plan on staying behind the marijuana mission? I don't know if you've realized... MAHER: I do. CHAMNEY: But you've saved peoples' lives up here in Canada and the United States. It was because of you discussing it on TV and a Web site called The Marijuana Mission that made my family understand what marijuana does for people. And it actually stopped my grandma's seizures. So, I'm no longer considered an epileptic just because I smoke it every day. And I appreciate you so much. And we talk about you up here all the time. You should run for Congress, sir. [continues 355 words]
TULIA, Texas -- When Kizzie White applies for a job this week, the information on her application form will be different. The mother of two was one of 38 defendants convicted in a drug sting on the word of an undercover agent who later was charged with perjury. She and 34 other involved in the bust were granted pardons Friday by Gov. Rick Perry. "We actually can put on our application 'never been convicted of a felony"' said White, 26. "I'm really free, and I thank God I am." [continues 397 words]
[Monday, 4 August] DOBBS: Tonight, we begin a series of special reports this week on the war on drugs. We call it "The Forgotten War." It's a war that costs American taxpayers $12 billion a year to stop the flow of drugs into this country. Lisa Sylvester reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After 30 years of fighting the drug war, U.S. law enforcement officials have been changing their approach. Instead of simply looking at the drug war based on supply and demand, they now look at it as a business, attacking growers, shippers, wholesalers, and retailers. [continues 6734 words]
DOBBS: Bill, thank you -- Bill Tucker. Turning now to another trend that is concerning many in this country, the growing use of antidepressant drugs. Those drugs are among the most widely prescribed medications in the country, a $14- billion-a-year industry. Many of the consumers -- and there are millions of them -- are children and adolescents. And that is troubling some health professionals, who worry that, instead of helping depression, some of these drugs may in fact be worsening conditions. Kitty Pilgrim reports. [continues 1100 words]
[snip] DOBBS: This week, we are reporting on "The Forgotten War," the war against drugs. Secretary of State Colin Powell has recommended that the United States resume its backing of anti-drug flights over Colombia. Reuters quotes unnamed administration officials who say President Bush is likely to approve the recommendation. Those flights were halted two years ago after an aircraft carrying a U.S. missionary was shot down in Peru. It had been mistaken for a drug running plane. Last night here, we reported on efforts to control the international supply of drugs before they enter this country. Tonight, we report on what's being done to stop drugs produced in this country as we continue our series of special reports, "The Forgotten War." [continues 538 words]
DOBBS: Tonight, we begin a series of special reports this week on the war on drugs. We call it "The Forgotten War." It's a war that costs American taxpayers $12 billion a year to stop the flow of drugs into this country. Lisa Sylvester reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After 30 years of fighting the drug war, U.S. law enforcement officials have been changing their approach. Instead of simply looking at the drug war based on supply and demand, they now look at it as a business, attacking growers, shippers, wholesalers, and retailers. [continues 1915 words]
Journalist Eric Schlosser looks at the some of the busiest sectors of the underground empire in his new book. It's called, "Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Market." He is also the author of the best-selling, "Fast Food Nation." We are delighted to have Eric with us today on IN The MONEY. Welcome. ERIC SCHLOSSER, AUTHOR: Thanks for having me. CAFFERTY: How big a problem is this if, in fact, it is a problem, and I assume it is, and why should Andy or myself or you care? [continues 1140 words]
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: I want to bring in our "House Call" right now. Federal agents are concerned about the growing use of an herb that can alter perception and induce visions. The little-known herb is available on the Internet. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is looking into it. He's here this morning at the CNN Center. Salvia, is that right, Sanjay? [continues 1054 words]
Rights Groups Have Accused The Thai PM Of Authorizing A Shoot-To-Kill Policy BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's prime minister has defended his controversial war on drugs trumpeting the successful conclusion of a campaign that left more than 2,200 people dead in a three-month period. Speaking to journalists in Bangkok Wednesday Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra denied accusations of extra-judicial killings and said the world should be grateful that Thailand was taking such a tough line on drugs. "The success of this campaign has helped the whole world, especially the Western countries," he said. [continues 264 words]
DETROIT, Michigan (AP) -- A federal appeals court Wednesday struck down Michigan's program to test welfare recipients for drug use. The decision by a 12-member panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses an October ruling by a three-judge panel from the same court. Michigan was the first state to pass such a program, and many other states have been watching the case progress. Officials for the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the class-action lawsuit in 1999 on behalf of all Michigan welfare recipients, said upholding the program could have set a dangerous precedent. [continues 250 words]
Ahead on NEWSNIGHT: the strange case of Ed Rosenthal. The state of California said he was growing medical marijuana legally. The federal government thought differently. A short break and NEWSNIGHT continues from New York. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) BROWN: Coming up on NEWSNIGHT: the clash of marijuana laws and the man caught in the middle. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) BROWN: I always want to comment on that, but I don't get them all. The next story is two great debates wrapped up in one story. The debate on the surface dates back a few decades: whether sick people should have legal access to marijuana. But the debate underneath dates back a few centuries: just how much the federal government in Washington can tell the people out in the states what to do. [continues 976 words]
ANNOUNCER: Next, he was growing pot to ease the pain -- legally. Now he's going to jail on drug charges. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ED ROSENTHAL, MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE: For the first time in my life I find myself questioning the court system and how the letter of the law can circumvent the intent of the law. (END VIDEO CLIP) ANNOUNCER: The jury that convicted him says they were duped, when CONNIE CHUNG TONIGHT returns. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHUNG: There are no do-overs in legal cases. But some jurors who served on one California case are now wishing there were. [continues 1616 words]
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (CNN) -- Two third-graders at a Florida elementary school are facing felony charges Wednesday after police said they were found to have 15 plastic bags of marijuana. Port St. Lucie police said a cafeteria worker at the Rivers Edge Elementary School told them a 9-year-old boy had shown her a plastic bag of what appeared to be pot. The boy had 12 small bags of marijuana, according to a police report. The student admitted he attempted to sell some of the bags to another third-grader, according to police. A second pupil was found in possession of three bags, police said. He told police he got them from the first boy on the bus on the way to school. [continues 215 words]
