OLD LYME -- Comparing the war in Iraq to the nation's 40-year-old War on Drugs, former Green Party gubernatorial candidate Clifford Thornton continued his efforts Monday to decriminalize illegal drugs. "I'm not here promoting drug use," Thornton told the Southeastern Connecticut Chapter of the League of Women Voters. "I'm here promoting a sound, logical policy." Thornton said the United States spends $2 billion a week at all levels of government -- local, state and federal -- to battle drugs. Yet the federal Drug Enforcement Agency admits capturing only 10 percent of the illegal drugs in the country each year, he said. [continues 447 words]
A reader to my blog by the name of Bruce posted this comment: "Next time you talk with Congressman Courtney please ask him about this: http://majorityap.com/?q=node/18." The Web page is a Republican-leaning group calling itself the Majority Accountability Project. The specific item under discussion is the effort of the Marijuana Policy Project to decriminalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The Accountability Web site points out how the marijuana lobbying effort is being focused at new House members, and specifically singles out U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, for taking a $2,000 campaign contribution from the marijuana group's political action committee. [continues 683 words]
NORWICH -- Lawyers for Dr. Mitchell Moffat and his brother-in-law, Thomas Furman, entered not guilty pleas Friday in Norwich Superior Court. Moffat, a former emergency room doctor at The William W. Backus Hospital, and Furman face dozens of drug-related charges stemming from an investigation into alleged illegal prescriptions. Moffat, who lives in Canterbury, is accused of writing more than 100 prescriptions for illegal drugs. Furman, who lives in Colchester, is accused of being the recipient. "It's a little premature to be commenting at this point," said attorney Ray Hassett, representing Furman. "We've only just received the arrest and investigation reports, and we need to review them." [continues 200 words]
COLCHESTER -- No one will ever accuse Clifford Thornton of shyness. The 61-year-old retired businessman and Green Party candidate for governor is passionately blunt in describing what he sees as the failure of government -- and unconcerned if some find his sharp and pointed criticisms offensive. "That's because I'm not a politician," he said during lunch last week at Peg's Vintage Diner in Colchester. "I'm not going to cater to you just to get your vote. I'm going to tell you the truth. And all great truths start as blasphemy. [continues 522 words]
NORWICH -- About a dozen supporters of using marijuana for medical purposes protested Friday U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons' opposition to a proposal prohibiting federal agencies from arresting such users in states that legally allow it. What they hadn't expected was drawing Simmons' personal attention. "As you know, there is a great debate on this issue," Simmons, R-2nd District, told the small gathering outside the Norwich Courthouse across the street from his office. "Even here in Connecticut, not everyone is in agreement on this issue, and I haven't seen the evidence yet to convince me to change my view." [continues 476 words]
