cannabisnews.com: LAPD's New Chief Says He Backs Medical Marijuana LAPD's New Chief Says He Backs Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on December 07, 2002 at 16:52:58 PT By Joe Shea, American Reporter Correspondent Source: American Reporter In a brief exclusive interview with The American Reporter tonight, new Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton became the latest nationally-known law enforcement official to back the use of medical marijuana. "I have no problem with that," Bratton told AR after a crowded community meeting at the Selma Ave. Elementary School organized by area pastors and neighborhood groups. Bratton, famed for cleaning up New York City as its most recent police commissioner, also reiterated his opposition to the legalization of marijuana for personal use. "I am opposed to marijuana, and I support the national drug policy, but I have no problem with medical marijuana," he said. The subject arose when Los Angeles County HIV & AIDS Commissioner Richard Eastman, who is himself living with AIDS, approached Bratton to ask about his stand. Informed of Bratton's response, an AR Correspondent approached Bratton and verified his response. "Studies have shown that it is able to relieve the sufferers of pain, and I have no problem with its use for that," Bratton said. Bratton joins Los Angeles County Sherriff Lee Baca as a high-profile backer of medical marijuana. San Francisco legalized its use, and has been battling Federal officials over the spread of cannabis clubs that make the drug available to AIDS sufferers. A state medical marijuana initiative was approved by the state's voters in 2000 but is largely ignored by local officials because of Federal opposition from the Office of National Drug Policy, where Bratton has been an influential voice. "He is the first police chief in eight years that I've been a commissioner that has answered that quesion in the affirmative," said Eastman. The well-known AIDS activist said he has spoken with several other chiefs over the past decade and none have supported use of the drug. Eastman presented the chief with a lapel pin in the shape of a marijuana leaf that he acquired during the 1996 campaign to legalize pot in the state. The chief gingerly accepted it. Also in earshot as the chief spoke to the American Reporter was David Butow, a photojournalist with U.S. News & World Report. "I heard him say that," Butow said. "That's a story," he agreed. The community meeting, attended by 300 area residents and dozens of police officers, heard community concerns about the relationship between Los Angeles school police and the L.A.P.D., police chases and the sharp rise in gang violence in Los Angeles, where almost 300 murders have been attributed to gangs this year. Bratton disapointed some Hollywood community members who complained about the absence of foot patrols and adequate numbers of police officers, but won applause for his honesty when he told the audience that there is no money in the city's budget for the number of officers needed to meet the city's needs. Even with 300 new graduates from the newly-filled police academy, the net gain for the city will be just 120 to 150 officers, he said, as a result of retirements and other departures from the 9,000-man force. Source: American-Reporter (CA)Author: Joe Shea, American Reporter CorrespondentPublished: Vol. 8, No. 1991W - December 7, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Joe Shea The American ReporterContact: editor american-reporter.comWebsite: http://www.american-reporter.com/Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by dimebag on December 09, 2002 at 11:16:42 PT Humm Humm... Hes for Medical Marijuana, but not for personal freedoms.I see, it all seems soo clear to me now.Overgrow the U.S.ADimebag. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Tim Stone on December 08, 2002 at 17:41:54 PT Watch this guy...Alert! Bratton is jiving us. Does anybody remember during the '00 election campaign when candidate Bush claimed he was in favor of leaving medical cannabis to the states? And what happened? Bush selected Ashcroft, who then drew his daggers and aimed for the heart, for to kill the medical cannabis movement. Bush was back then, and still is a lying sack of sludge as far as "support" for any drug policy reform is concerned. And so is Bratton, since he comes to national notice primarily from his imagined success in lowering New York City crime while he was top dog cop there. And the way Bratton lowered the official crime rate was in part to entrap and arrest every possible cannabis smoker in the buroughs. Hundreds of thousands of tthem, year over year. Believe it: Bratton has come to national prominence on the backs of busted pot smokers and is here to kill med-pot, not to praise it. Watch what he does, darrn it, not what he says. He is not our friend. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 08, 2002 at 08:23:39 PT Just a Note Hi Everyone,I've been looking for news to post and I can't find any again today. This is a very slow time for news. December has always been very slow. This week Canada will be making very important decisions so I'm sure the news will be active. I read where the report on the 9th will be more about safe injections and issues around it but on the 12th will be about Cannabis. I'm keeping my finger crossed that they will allow personal growing in Canada. That would be very good news. Have a nice Sunday! What's New [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 08, 2002 at 07:49:04 PT Article from Snipped Source A Better Way? Jody Paterson, Times Colonist Sunday, December 08, 2002 A package of " safe" needles is destined for use by some of the 1,500-plus habitual injection drug users who live in the capital region. In Victoria and Duncan, 30,000 needles are distributed each month. It's late afternoon and stores around Victoria City Hall are starting to close up for the night. The darkness turns the volume up on the drug-dealing.In Centennial Square, clusters of teenagers suddenly converge, gathering into a jostling, laughing crowd of 20 or so. Somebody lights a joint. Off in the shadows, people huddle to conduct business.Asked where the heroin is sold, the teenagers gesture to the other side of City Hall, near the Douglas Hotel. One girl says the sellers in that area can be heard calling out, "Up!" or "Down!" -- cocaine or heroin -- as people walk by.Complete Article: http://www.canada.com/victoria/story.asp?id=E6AA689A-8927-49E2-A347-B879C55A938C [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by The GCW on December 08, 2002 at 06:59:07 PT Too goood: Sgt. MACEMON You know how sometimes names seem so appropriate? (I hate to mess with people's names, but can't resist this)And the Racine police still don't get it. "When we see probable cause to make an arrest, we do it," said police spokesman Sgt. Macemon. (about the Wisconsin theater bust...WISCONSIN RAVE REBELLION:[which is great news] http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2224/a06.html?397 ) The Green Collar WorkerIt’s time for superior citizens, to end what may be the original living sin, and Re-legalize cannabis. The prohibition of cannabis is against Christ God Our Father. Green & Red, cannabis and blood. What better time than Christmas, to ask prohibitionists (including Christians)to stop caging humans for using the plant cannabis. Credible drug law reform is crucial for America’s health. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 07, 2002 at 18:34:48 PT Hi Cannabis Crusader Here are a few articles. I think this might give you a good start. Hope you are having a nice holiday season! I just ate too many cookies! LOL!High Times for Alzheimers: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread14254.shtmlhttp://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/medical/challenges/litigators/medical/conditions/alzheimers.cfmhttp://www.alzforum.org/res/adh/hyp/#marijuanaI use Lavender essential oil and it helps me feel better. It's nice to find an article say that it helps with dementia too.Aromatherapy may help dementia patients http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/conditions/12/07/dementia.aromatherapy.reut/PS: I think Dr. Russo knows much more but I believe he isn't around currently. You might want to ask him when he gets back. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Cannabis Crusader on December 07, 2002 at 18:11:38 PT Alzheimer's Disease and cannabis info Could someone point me to some credible info on mj and Alzheimer's Disease.Thanks [ Post Comment ] Post Comment