cannabisnews.com: Johnson To Debate Medical-Marijuana Laws on Radio Johnson To Debate Medical-Marijuana Laws on Radio Posted by FoM on August 25, 2001 at 16:10:43 PT By Steve Terrell, The New Mexican Source: Santa Fe New Mexican Gov. Gary Johnson will be in the national spotlight with his views about drug-law reform once again next month when he debates the new head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Asa Hutchinson, on a national radio show. The debate is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sept. 10 at The University of New Mexico's Continuing Education Conference Center, 1634 University Blvd. The debate is free and open to the public. Questions from the audience will be allowed. The show will be broadcast sometime in the fall on Justice Talking, a weekly show on National Public Radio hosted by radio journalist Margot Adler. It will be available over the Internet at: http://www.justicetalking.org/Johnson has appeared in several national forums over the past two years, calling for liberalization of drug laws.Hutchison, until taking the DEA job this year, was a congressman from Arkansas. On the drug issue, he is Johnson's polar opposite.Hutchison recently called for increased enforcement of federal marijuana laws in states that allow the medical use of marijuana. Johnson backed legislation that would have set up a medical-marijuana program.According to a news release from the Lindesmith Center, "The debate will cover a broad range of drug-policy issues, including mandatory minimum sentencing, incarceration versus treatment, legalization of certain substances and quantities, and whether our federal government should emphasize prevention and education or drug interdiction."The event is sponsored by KUNM-FM 89.9, UNM's School of Law and the National AIDS Brigade. Source: Santa Fe New Mexican (NM)Author: Steve Terrell, The New MexicanPublished: August 25, 2001 Copyright: 2001 The Santa Fe New MexicanContact: letters sfnewmexican.comWebsite: http://www.sfnewmexican.com/Related Articles & Web Site: Justice Talkinghttp://www.justicetalking.org/Medical Pot Quagmirehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10696.shtmlDEA Chief Tough on Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10677.shtmlPot's U.S. Poster Boy - National Posthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9905.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #21 posted by dddd on August 27, 2001 at 02:25:14 PT Astounded ...that's what I am,,,and strangely proud,that Judge Gray halesfrom my home of Orange County,CA.He's making some waves thatare not easily ignored.....it's a good thing.things could be worse.....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by mayan on August 27, 2001 at 02:13:42 PT What Debate? It's Over!!! mayan's prediction -Miniature Gary Johnsons: 420Assa Hutchinson: -2 [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Patrick on August 26, 2001 at 15:55:50 PT Darn Just caught the tail end of Judge Gray. Wow. He even said vote out of office any politician not willing to examine the drug laws of this country. Finally, we are having serious examination and debate on this topic. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on August 26, 2001 at 14:24:55 PT m segesta Your're welcome.I'm going to watch it too. I like Judge Gray. Actually I like the spirit of about all serious drug policy reformers. They have compassion. Compassion is good. Trying to eliminate us is trying to eliminate a culture. We are a culture. We are The Drug Culture! We know the good, the bad and the ugly about drug use. No one should try to isolate any group. I don't take any drugs now but I'm glad I did way back when. I've learned a lot about drug use and abuse. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by m segesta on August 26, 2001 at 14:12:22 PT: Thanks FoM Thanks for the "plug" FoM; I was going out for a walk but no will postpone that until after I hear Judge Gray whose writings I enjoy tremendously. I have not yet heard him speak, though. For purposes of clarity, he will be on Book-TV, a weekend production of C-SPAN-2, as the Bushies Soc. Sec. Reform Commision (boring and discouraging) is taking up the main C-SPAN screen. I say the "work" of that commission is discouraging because EVERYONE knows Soc. Sec. is going broke and MUST BE REFORMED, yet nothing gets done; how can we ever hope for reform when most Americans don't even know how badly our public health-controlled substances laws are so bad? [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by FoM on August 26, 2001 at 12:24:36 PT C-Span Today - 5:31 PM - Judge James Gray Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed Barnes & Noble BooksellersJames Gray , Orange County, CA SpeechWhy Our Drug Laws Have FailedBarnes & Noble BooksellersCosta Mesa, California (United States)ID: 165681 - 08/11/2001 - 1:14 - $29.95 Gray, James, Judge, Orange County, CA, Supreme Court (2000-)http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/cspan.csp?command=dfullscheduleJudge Gray talked about his book Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs, published by Temple University Press. Comparing the war on drugs to the failed alcohol prohibition policies of the early twentieth century, the book asserts that the drug trade remains entrenched in our communities. The author says that current drug laws put our youth at risk, waste resources and cause an erosion of rights. Judge Gray said decriminalization as opposed to legalization is the solution. He lists reasons why existing drug laws are ineffectual and offers alternative programs in other countries, particularly Switzerland, as strategies that could improve U.S. results. Judge Makes News Along With Rulingshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10727.shtml What's New in Drug Policy Reform [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on August 26, 2001 at 11:17:41 PT Morgan I know how hard it is too do public speaking. I didn't do well in school in that department. I got sick a lot and stayed home from school on debate days. My heart was in my throat! Those were the days my friend. I'm sure glad those days ended! LOL!What I've learned since those days is if a person has knowledge about a subject the words will come.That's why Bush has trouble talking! That's bad of me to say but oh well it's the truth.A question I'd like asked:I would like to know how locking up a person who uses medical marijuana is a benefit to society. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Morgan on August 26, 2001 at 10:38:05 PT Good Idea FoM How about we collect questions from the readers here on this board? Then decide which are the best to present.I would be more than happy to submit them to the moderator. If, on the other hand, I am asked to get up and ask my own question, I'm think I'll have to pass.I'm afraid I suffer from a fear of public speaking. I'm the shy, retiring type who prefers to go through life quietly observing the world around me. And this is what I want to do at this debate. Observe. I'm thinking that the fear of having to get up in front of God and everybody would distract me from this goal.Maybe there's someone else here who is better suited for this task?************************************************************ [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Morgan on August 26, 2001 at 10:05:41 PT P.S. I know you're out there I know that there will be many people who read this forum, attending this debate. (C'mon, I know you're out there!) Let me know you're there.This is what we'll do. The debate is set to start at 4p.m.At 4:20pm (if the debate is actually in progress), ...cough. Clear your throat. Blow your nose.Maybe this symphony of bodily functions will be picked up on the audio.Wouldn't that be fun?********************************************************************************************************************* [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on August 26, 2001 at 10:05:15 PT Morgan Thanks Morgan,You'll do a good job. I found out when I went to Talk Back Live on CNN everyday years ago that if you follow the flow of the show they would use your comments. My comments were used frequently which was nice. I remember this one. It was when McCaffrey was talking about the drug war and they put my words up when he was talking. It said: We Need To Start Treating Our Nations Drug Problem With Compassion!Now that was a few years ago and now we are trying to do that but we weren't back in 97. Things are changing. Not fast enough but changing. Maybe you could write down a few questions that we would ask if we were able to go and the ones that you feel might get the best chance at getting answered ask, if you are given the chance. It's hard because you should stay within the spirit of the forum and to have a few different questions would cover lots of bases. What do you think? [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Morgan on August 26, 2001 at 09:43:52 PT You can count on it FoM, I would be delighted to report back to this distinguised forum my impressions of this debate.I have no experience in reporting, but I'll do my best.I attended a small-town meeting a while back that was put on by the city council, in reaction to a series of heroin overdoses in this area. I'm sure they heard plenty from the public to 'do something' about this problem. So, this was their way of 'doing something'.It was a lightly attended meeting. About fifty people or so showed up. All ages and groups. (It wasn't advertised very well.)We heard from about six 'officials'. Five were for continuing prohibition, and one was sitting on the fence. Plus we heard from a couple of mothers whose children had died from heroin ODs.I tried gaging the audiences reaction to all this speechifying, and couldn't pick up any clear signals. They mostly sat there stoically, but one young couple sitting near me, towards the back, got up and disgustedly left about 3/4's of the way through the words. 'Same ol' shit' I heard one mutter.After the words, instead of taking questions from the audience, they divided us up into about 5 groups of 10, and led us into five different rooms where a couple of the lesser 'officials' led a 'question' session. I say 'question' session because there was no 'question and answer'. The 'officials' did dutifully write down the questions and suggestions on big pieces of paper taped to the wall, though.Out of this little group, I judged about 7 out of the ten were anywhere from "legalize it already" to "I at least appreciate the fact that Governor Johnson has brought this out". One of the ones opposed to any kind of legalization, was a greiving mother whose son had OD'd and whose daughter was a junkie and headed for a similar fate. I barely had the courage to bring up in front of her that if heroin were legal, there would be far fewer overdoses. But I did. And felt like a shmuck for doing so.A young reporter from the local paper attended our little group long enough to hear from one gentleman who was opposed to War on some Drugs and then left. This 'question' session went on for another hour or so, and then we left.The next day, I picked up a paper to see if there was anything on this meeting. Yep, right there on page five, lower half, bottom side column. An article on how the City Council held a meeting with the public, with quotes from the officials about continuing the status quo, and one sentence from this gentleman who spoke up against it. (Hell, this guy had a whole plan worked out about ending it, which he had printed up and handed out to everybody.) Overall, I judged from this article that this reporter had attended a similar, yet different, meeting than the one I had been to. (Perhaps he had ripped the Time/Space Continuum and found himself in Bizarro World. You remember....superman?... nevermind.)Anyway, I wasn't too surprised at this. Dissapointed, yes. It's one thing for someone to tell you that the Media in this country of 'free speech' was controlled, and another to see for one's self.This is what I'll be looking for at this debate. I know it will be 'scripted' as much as possible. I know ol' Asa will use mountains of 'percentages' as his main weapon to try and bury any logic that Governor Johnson will bring up. (Old Commie debating trick #23)If this is to be televised, I'll look for camera angles (i.e. shooting from beneath the speaker makes the person look more 'heroic') Lighting. (One can do a lot with shadows.) Sound. Will the questions from the audience be heard? (Of the few C-Cpan shows I've seen, only the speakers seem to be miked.) How are the questioners chosen? How will the questions be chosen? Who chooses?Image. An old adage from the advertising world; "Image is everything." This is the information age. Physical force is no longer the only weapon at a goverment's disposal to control it's populace. The government and corporate Amerika have had a long and succesful run in controlling the symbols and images that make up our perception of the world around us. This age is coming to an end. Through the advent of the Internet, we, the people are gaining back the control.But I'm still not sure whether we, the people, want it.********************************************************** [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Aragorn on August 26, 2001 at 08:47:06 PT A matter of pride Perhaps our vicious and dumb drug policy is beginning to draw to a close. By allowing discourses such as this to take place, and by shifting governmental policy in response to consequential public pressure, our political bureaucrats can save face. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Hope on August 26, 2001 at 08:13:53 PT Debate What is happening? Will the DEA really allow this to happen? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on August 25, 2001 at 20:17:40 PT Morgan Oh please tell us what you thought after you see and hear the debate. That would be great. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I hope Dr. Russo can try to make sure that Governor Johnson has a copy of The Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics. Maybe someone would want to e-mail Governor Johnson, Hemp for Headaches. I've never emailed him but someone that has might want to take on this project. Just a thought. http://www.montananorml.org/docs/Hemp_for_Headache.PDF [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Morgan on August 25, 2001 at 19:47:53 PT Lucky Me I live near Albuquerque and am planning on being there. It should be interesting , to say the least.I'll be especially interested in seeing this debate in person, and then contrasting my impressions with those of the Media.I've been waiting for something like this for a long time.********************************************************** [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on August 25, 2001 at 19:42:22 PT: My letter to C-SPAN As a regular listener to C-SPAN ( I listen on my commute to Virginia, and back to Maryland every day, and try to catch the program on the Web at work), I would suggest that C-SPAN cover the important debate concerning drug policy being held on September 10th (at The University of New Mexico's Continuing Education Conference Center, 1634 University Blvd) between Governor Johnson of New Mexico and newly assigned head of the DEA, Mr. Asa Hutchinson. This, to my knowledge, is the first time that any government functionary has had a face to face debate with an elected official who is quite vocal in his opposition to current government policies on this most crucial subject. It is a sign of the increasing importance of public discourse on a heretofore unbroachable subject. For far too long, those who have pointed out the basic unworkability of America's War on Drugs have not been able to make their case to anyone but those residing in academia. Due to government pressure on media outlets to conform to 'public service' guidelines - with threats of de-licensing if they did not toe the government's 'party line' regarding illicit drug policies - this voice has been all too often silenced. But now this is changing.I hope that C-SPAN will remain on the cutting edge of political media by covering this extraordinary occasion. Thank you for your time.Sincerely,(Me) [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on August 25, 2001 at 19:37:40 PT Transcripts: Hutchinson Discusses U.S. Drug Policy CNN EVANS, NOVAK, HUNT & SHIELDSAsa Hutchinson Discusses U.S. Drug PolicyAired August 25, 2001 - 17:30 ET http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0108/25/en.00.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 25, 2001 at 19:14:57 PT Here's The Information http://www.cspan.org/http://www.cspan.org/about/contact.aspPostal MailAddress all non-electronic correspondence to: C-SPAN 400 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 650 Washington, DC 20001 TelephoneContact C-SPAN about inquiries or offer comments: Front Desk (202) 737-3220 Jobs Line (202) 626-7983 Viewer Services: (765) 464-3080 (programming questions) C-SPAN Archives: (877) ON CSPAN, (877) 662-7726 (order videotapes) Washington Journal: Democrats (202) 737-0001 Washington Journal: Republicans (202) 737-0002 Washington Journal: Others (202) 628-0205 E-MailContact the C-SPAN Staff electronically regarding questions and suggestions. Viewing Questions Viewer Services: Questions about program air times and videotapes, as well as comments about C-SPAN programming. (viewer c-span.org) Events: Suggest a public event that you think C-SPAN should cover. (events c-span.org) Web Site Questions Community Manager: Questions and suggestions about participating in C-SPAN's online community (manager c-span.org) Online: Questions and comments about the C-SPAN web site. Please use this address for web site-related questions ONLY (online c-span.org)General comments should be sent to viewer c-span.org. Educational Outreach Questions C-SPAN in the Classroom: Learn about current C-SPAN educational initiatives and free resources (educate c-span.org) The C-SPAN School Bus: Find out when the Bus is coming to your neighborhood or request a visit ( educate c-span.org) Programming QuestionsThe Washington Journal: Ask C-SPAN Guests C-SPAN Radio (radio c-span.org) Book TV (booktv c-span.org) [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by ekim on August 25, 2001 at 18:57:57 PT: I second the call for C-SPAN to show this debate Please FOM lets post the address to C-SPAN and ask all readers to forward this to them. I wonder how thousands of your readers can make a difference, lets see. Thanks mike [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by p4me on August 25, 2001 at 16:53:21 PT: debates for television Asa should have to go to ever single state and talk to ever governor on live network telivision. Hundreds of thousand of people going to jail and their famililies need to hear from our freedom robbing IMPRISONATOR, The unconquerable.More debates and less arrest.I toke and I vote. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by PoisonedFor4YrsSoFar on August 25, 2001 at 16:21:16 PT I would LOVE to see this in person If this were near me or if it was inany way feasible for me to be there I would love to see this in person. It should be taped and broadcast on CSPAN. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment