cannabisnews.com: Drug Czar Gets Cool Reception in S.F. Drug Czar Gets Cool Reception in S.F. Posted by CN Staff on November 18, 2003 at 08:02:30 PT By Josh Richman, Staff Writers Source: Oakland Tribune San Francisco -- White House drug czar John Walters received a chilly welcome Monday as he brought his 25-city tour to the Bay Area -- dozens of protesters blasted his stance against medical marijuana, and even his host said he'd been disingenuous. Walters held a news conference in the drug recovery center at the Tenderloin's Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, which he praised as having "a clear record of achievement" in helping addicts rebuild their lives. He said he's touring the country's biggest cities to meet with local officials and tour anti-drug programs so they can more effectively work hand-in-hand with strategies, priorities and goals he sets as the Bush Administration's director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. But federal drug policy has clashed with California's for years, most notably since the state passed its medical marijuana law in 1996. Federal law still deems all marijuana cultivation, possession and use illegal, and Californians who've believed themselves protected have been convicted of federal crimes. Walters said he met with San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan and several city and county supervisors. "Our conversations have been relatively productive," he said, with all parties wanting to bring more resources to bear more effectively against the drug addiction and drug-related crime plaguing this and other cities. "There have been some differences of opinion ... and we'll probably continue trying to work those out." But that won't mean softening the federal government's stance against medical marijuana, he said. "I can't say something is true that's not true and still be effective in my job," he said. "I can't make it go away by lying, by saying, 'It's OK, it's really medicine,' when it's not." Walters said smoked marijuana has not met the government's testing standards as a safe and efficacious drug, and he criticized deep-pocketed donors who bankroll medical marijuana initiatives, "reprehensibly" using sick people's suffering to argue in favor of drug legalization. But Walters declined an invitation -- repeated to him publicly Monday by Glide pastor Rev. Cecil Williams -- to discuss the issue with local medical marijuana activists at noon today, also at Glide Memorial. Walters said he wants to debate initiative funders George Soros, Peter Lewis and John Sperling, but they've refused, and he won't debate their "employees or consultants ... You get Soros here, and I'll be here." Outside, about three dozen protesters bearing an effigy of Walters and signs depicting him with a Pinocchio-length nose chanted, "No more lies, no more arrests!" Williams came out to greet the crowd after Walters' car pulled away. "I think he was a little cautious about being so overt" in supporting federal prosecution of medical marijuana providers, Williams said of Walters. "I could tell he was fudging, there's no doubt about it." And Williams was critical of Walters' refusal to debate today. "If it's going to be solved, it will be solved on this level, with the people." Steph Sherer, director of Berkeley-based Americans for Safe Access, said Walters talks from both sides of his mouth by stating marijuana hasn't gone through the federal drug-testing process. "We would love for it to go through the process," she said. "The research is there, and now we have to figure out how to get the medicine to people who need it."Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)Author: Josh Richman, Staff WritersPublished: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 Copyright: 2003 MediaNews Group, Inc. Contact: triblet angnewspapers.com Website: http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Related Article & Web Site:Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.org/S.F. Officials Warned on Dispensing Medical Pot http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17824.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #34 posted by FoM on November 18, 2003 at 21:21:50 PT Had Enough I'm not sure about Hollywood but I do believe that dreams can come true. I've had dreams come true for me. Dreaming and believing and planning and hoping make things happen. Sometimes it takes a long time and you get very discouraged but if you hang on in time your dreams might come true. Without dreaming nothing would ever be accomplished. Nothing would happen. One area that I believe people miss sometimes is they dream about an end result rather then the big picture. Letting one thing fold into another and is really very lack luster is how dreams will come true. [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by Had Enough on November 18, 2003 at 21:10:46 PT Hollywood C-News FoM, Get ready to pack your bags:-) It would be cool if this could happen, who knows anything is possible. At least it is being talked about anyway. We all have a dream, most things start out this way. [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by Virgil on November 18, 2003 at 20:32:11 PT Soros would tear Walters to tears One thing about losing credibility is that you can never believe any one statement. Soros may have declined to meet with Walters because he is a treasonous pig or the format was being dictated by Walters as well as the moderators and setting. Who knows. It is this article that appears at The Atlantic by Soros that proves he can hold his own in intellectual thought much less wipe the floor with someone defending such a wrong position at great expense to the people of the country and what would be credibility of the country if there were such a thing. Here is The Atlantic article- http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/12/soros.htmIt is clear Walters can see that the GW extracts will make their way to the United States and the last shred of defensible ground is having smoked marijuana. He never mentions that it could be eaten or vaporized as he walks a very strict path on what ground is left to defend. If the two took turns at asking each another question of his own choice, I am not sure that Walters would all but cry as his position is first disingenuous and clearly vicious and malicious and indefensible with intellectual honesty.I would love to hear his answer to "Why is marijuana illegal" as the Canadian Supreme Court will have to explain under article 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedom. The big event of the introduction of GW extracts blows all resistance out of the water. The EU has rolled out a red carpet path to their introduction and their is not a chance in mythological hell that Canada and Australia will not have extracts. When India gets on board there is one sixth of the world on extracts or at least the natural substance in some form.If Walters promotes Marinol as legal THC I would say that at drugstore.com the highest dose is a 10 mg. pill and the largest option of 60 pills $849.92. That makes each pill 14.16. It would take 100 pills to make a single gram and that gram would cost $1416. There are 454 grams in a pound meaning that a pound would cost $628,864. Walters is promoting robbery of person and public treasury and also death. One pound of pot is worth more than what a person might make in an entire lifetime after taxes when a person could grow that much THC in a small back yard in one summer. A little ice and some straining and you can have bubble hash of strong THC with other cannabinoids that even make the THC better.It is insane to accept the lies, robbery, murder and treason of the man chosen by the government to promote continuation of a policy that is against the public welfare and shamefully marketed at taxpayer expense to be borne by the present children throughout their lives.Walters has no choir now and even the chanters would abandon him if he were to appear for one hour on the subject of marijuana on national television. Walters is in hiding and soon will be in exile. I wonder if his children will claim him when the cannabis curtain falls. It is not about cannabis. It is about turning things upside right at politicians that espouse jail for cannabis have failed a litmus test to the least acceptable definition of freedom to an informed mind.It is past tender and kindling waiting on a spark. There is an accelerant on it all as people really are dying from this insanity and people are being robbed of money, freedom, dignity, peace of mind, and a good night's sleep night in and night out by murderous, treasonous, lying scum like Walters.Show me the debate with Soros. It ain't going to happen because Walters is not that stupid. [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on November 18, 2003 at 20:07:54 PT Arthropod I am amazed when I find out some of the talent that considers CNews a part of their day. I doubt we could get a tv show. That takes money. That we don't have but dreaming about it is nice too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by Arthropod on November 18, 2003 at 20:02:12 PT: First musical guest right here I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat. I'm in a local heavy metal band called Doublethink, I talked to the guys about it and they all said they would love to be on a C-News tv show. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by FoM on November 18, 2003 at 19:12:20 PT Nuevo Mexican Done! [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 18, 2003 at 19:06:18 PT Please remove comment 26.... I'm not sure what I did! Thanks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 18, 2003 at 19:04:03 PT It could happen! Hello George Soros! Thanks for the post, FOM,Had Enough! Heck, we could team up with BUZZFLASH.com and CNN and FOX would be history. Hey AL GORE TV! Make C-NEWS and Buzzflash daily features! LIke Lou Dobbs and Larry King! England would love it and it would spread in popularity to Canada and eventually the U.S. (it's a trendy thing). Just like the Cannabis movement, it would follow the same domino theory would apply. Who knows? Worth a try! Worked for Jimi Hendrix! Willie Nelson, will you perform? I hope something comes out of this thread!We could beat bush, and legalize cannabis at least twice as fast with a Pot-TV format. Kaptinemo, all, weigh in on this one! Anyway, prohibition is collapsing as fast as you can say: 'George save the Queen!' This story should convince the unconvinced:(3 Year long Fiesta at U.S. taxpayers expense!)Five Colombian generals caught stealing US aidHalf of all Colombia’s Police generals have been sacked after being caught spending US money - meant for paying snitches and fighting guerrillas - on diamonds, booze and chocolate during a three-year long fiesta. The scandal comes only days after the resignation of the Minister of Defence and the commander of the military forces, who has lost several hundred troops in combat with guerrillas in recent months.http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=364018&group=webcast [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by ekim on November 18, 2003 at 18:49:06 PT anyone heard about funding film online http://www4.fosters.com/News2003/November2003/November_18/News/reg_nh_1118h.aspTwo in N.H. delegation oppose MTBE clause in energy billDennis Kucinich has called for biofuels and Cannabis reform.I found this NH story because today I caught a small bit on TV cable about how a new way of funding a film is being tried out. Seems that its being done on line and funders have a piece of the movie. The movie was some thing about bill or Billy something and they already had 50 grand collected. I thought it said go to Citizen.com well I did and went to a NH paper instead. If anyone caught this and has the web site please post as it will show how a movie can be made and sponsored by those on line and sent to --Sundance or Hbo or just shown on the net. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Jose Melendez on November 18, 2003 at 18:41:51 PT compressed version: John Walters 'Drunk on C-Span' I compressed the John Walters "Drunk on CSpan" audio file to 13 mb:http://65.18.211.65/mp3/drunkvstoned.mov John Walters Defends Prohibition "Drunk on CSpan" 12.7 mb [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on November 18, 2003 at 18:06:45 PT Had Enough What a nice idea! I think we are making a good impact even without being on TV. The Internet is better then TV in my opinion. I love the Net! [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Had Enough on November 18, 2003 at 17:52:35 PT Nuevo Mexican You are on the right track, more coverage, more news, more exposure. We need the likes of famous people to step forward and let the truth be heard. I want my MTV too.this is from a post made at an earlier dateFoM Goes HollywoodHow about this“ The Cannabis News Network” with your host FoM Tonight’s guests are _______, _______, ______, and tonight’s musical quest__________. (Fill in the blanks with any body who posts information here. We even have musical quests (posters) that frequent this board that could blow Ted Nuggent away one suspects. Almost every one I see post here is most informed on many issues, not just one in particular. Any body with an IQ above any number can see this. Hence the meat of my subject. If this board were on TV, people watching sure would be a lot smarter than they are now. It is unbelievable and disappointing to see so many uninformed people in the 21st Century. Here is this message board that is literally a wealth of information, but what is it you see on “Must see TV”. Now if only this board could get the popularity of news shows like CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, etc., things in the world would change rapidly. Put it right between Fox & CNN, for channel surfers like myself. (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome comes to mind) The slogan of the show, “Informing the World, Truthfully Fair, Balanced, and Unafraid” I wish to thank the people who post to this board for their contribution to the “Brotherhood of Mankind” Carry On, WE THE PEOPLE demand it. Do not forget to VOTE, for I’ve had enough and I’m sure you have too! [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on November 18, 2003 at 17:45:32 PT Nuevo Mexican If Neil Young is reading this I say hello too! LOL! Thanks for the compliment! [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 18, 2003 at 16:53:57 PT I listen to FOM at K-CAN (well, read anyway!) If Neil Young is reading this, Hello! How about an article on your views published here at CNews! Just Kidding, kinda.C-News, FOM, and posters are so refreshing after 5 minutes of vacuous TV pundits, spinning the world into a bush-friendly zone. Remember 'I want my MTV!'? How about Neil doing 'I want my Cannabis News! I can always dream, can't I?Here's a poll that won't be widely reported on in the U.S.: (unless we make it known here) 'On Friday the British polling firm YouGov provided NEWSWEEK with survey data gathered in recent days. It doesn’t make pretty reading for Bush fans. By big majorities, Britons believe Bush is “not very intelligent” (62 percent), “insincere” (53 percent) and “not very well informed about the world” (62 percent). He also “does not care much about the views of people in other countries” (82 percent), is “a bad advertisement for America” (65 percent) and is “foolish” (63 percent).' http://www.msnbc.com/news/993833.asp?0cv=KB20&cp1=1Another poll you won't see:'Two-thirds of Londoners do not think it is the right time for President Bush to come to the UK, according to a This is London poll.' http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/7728748?source=TiLWith these polls going largely unreported, and a 'new' poll by the Guardian out showing support for his visit has grown, this is typical of a 'planted poll' bush-rove style, perfectly-timed to be gobbled up by the pliant press, waiting for the 'right' poll to broadcast through the 'mighty wurlitzer'.Cannabis prohibition is where prohibitionists practice their propaganda, and it is reflected in coverage of the masses excercising their right to free speech. It is the elite who matter, not the unwashed masses, ignore those protesters, they don't really have anything to be outraged about. (non-subliminal message, FOX style).This bush visit is going to change Everything!, Americans are finding out that the French aren't the only ones pissed off at bush, and it is safe to come out from behind the flag. Thank you Brits! From most of us at C-News, Solidarity! [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by AlvinCool on November 18, 2003 at 16:46:17 PT LTE Walters said he wants to debate initiative funders George Soros, Peter Lewis and John Sperling, but they've refused, and he won't debate their "employees or consultants ... You get Soros here, and I'll be here."---------------------------------------------------------------------------Isn't the above statement of Walters odd to anyone? After all George Soros, Peter Lewis and/or John Sperling shouldn't have to debate Walters, they should have to debate, by Walters logic, President Bush. Since Walters is George Bush's appointee and speaker for his George Bush's ideas. With that thought George Soros, Peter Lewis and/or John Sperling should have the same right to appoint someone to debate Walters as long as that person supports their ideas. After all that's all Walters does for Bush.If Bush told Walters tomorrow that the new position of the government would be to support medical use of cannabis, he would or he would be replaced. [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on November 18, 2003 at 16:14:33 PT I Know What The Best Anti Drug Ad Would Be This is just my opinion but I firmly believe that Moms and Dads need to pay attention to what their children are doing. Is it wrong to want to keep tabs on your child? I don't mean snooping in their room but keep them busy so they won't get bored. Boredom is normal for particularly a young person. Stay involved with your child. Love them and forgive them when they let you down. They might experiment with drugs but there is less chance of drugs taking over their life. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by Jose Melendez on November 18, 2003 at 16:02:31 PT ondcp ads Sorry, didn't it start playing right away, I'll post a lower bandwidth version."When kids have something to do after school they are less likely to get involved with drugs. Parents, the antidrug."Well if you test them and kick them out of extracurricular activites for pot use, what are they supposed to do? Go directly to jail? All 46 percent of youth, or just the black and brown ones?I wish more people would write ombudsman npr.org and ask them to do more marijuana articles, since ONDCP is running commercials. Tell NPR you demand balance from ONDCP ads. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by jose melendez on November 18, 2003 at 15:46:28 PT bandwidth sorry about the file sizes, I'll compress and post smaller files. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Had Enough on November 18, 2003 at 14:40:06 PT Harry Browne in Sacramento & San Francisco F r e e d o m W i r e/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/Harry Browne in Sacramento & San FranciscoHarry will be in Sacramento on Wednesday, November 19, debating a U.S. attorney on the War on Drugs. The debate will be at 4:30pm at the McGeorge School of Law, 3200 Fifth Avenue, Room A. The event is open to the public and admission is free.He also will be speaking at the International Investment Conference at the San Francisco Hilton on Sunday, November 23. He will have a workshop in the morning and a short speech in the late afternoon. Both will be on investment topics. For further information, call (800)282-7469.FreedomWire HarryBrowne.orghttp://www.HarryBrowne.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Dankhank on November 18, 2003 at 14:15:31 PT correction 67 Mb mp3yikes ...got 32 percent, now [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Dankhank on November 18, 2003 at 14:13:37 PT Download? Jose ...a 66 meg mp3?mahap you could warn us next time ...:-) [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by E_Johnson on November 18, 2003 at 13:28:40 PT The Drug War could destroy our whole nation If we keep teaching kids that the private individual does not exist, then we will weaken and undermine all American social institutions that are based on respect for the private individual.It's rather ironic that capitalists have now found themselves the ideal excuse for demolishing the philosphical foundations of capitalism.Drug free kids!You cannot have a society that supports the concepts of private property and private homes and private individuals, if you teach children that their bodies do not belong to them but can be invaded by legal force at any time to serve a social/political agenda. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Jose Melendez on November 18, 2003 at 10:34:00 PT They are trying to push through drug testing. from:http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/501993/Newswise — An overwhelming majority of Indiana high school principals believes that random testing discourages drug and alcohol abuse, according to a Ball State University study.Despite recent progress in combating abuse among adolescents nationwide, drug and alcohol abuse remain chronic problems. More than half of students have experimented with an illicit drug before they finish high school; one-third of 10th graders smoked marijuana in the last 12 months; and 30 percent of seniors had five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks.Random drug testing is an effective tool to combat this problem according to “The Effectiveness and Legality of Random Student Drug Testing Policies,” authored by Joseph McKinney, Ball State’s department chair of Educational Leadership.McKinney presented the results of his study at a White House-sponsored student drug testing summit that included John Walters, U.S. drug czar, and Rod Paige, U.S. secretary of education.“Ninety-four percent of high school principals believe that random drug testing programs discourage drug and alcohol abuse among students,” McKinney said. “These programs are not intended to catch and punish students, but to deter drug and alcohol use.”More than 70 percent of the principals surveyed reported a decrease in drug usage among students who were subjected to their schools’ drug testing policy when compared to a period without such testing programs.Without testing, 85 percent of the principals reported an increase in drug usage and there were 518 students suspended or expelled for drug- or alcohol-related incidents; that figure dropped to 352 in the presence of such programs.Nearly 90 percent of the principals also agreed that the testing also limits the effect of peer pressure by providing a legitimate reason to refuse drugs and alcohol.Of the 65 Indiana principals selected to participate in the two-part study, 52 responded, representing a collective student body of 52,300 students. -snip Testing for Drugs in Schools? [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Jose Melendez on November 18, 2003 at 10:28:26 PT seems like a square to me. "There is nothing square about Walters . . ."I agree he does not operate fair and square. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Virgil on November 18, 2003 at 10:20:41 PT Plumb, level. and square In carpentry everything needs to be plumb, level, and square in reference to the three dimensions. A plumb bob will tell you if everything is straight up and down and we know there is nothing straight up about Walters. A level will tell you if everything is parallel to the ground and we all know WaltersCo always slants things good to the rich or status quo and away from reason and freedom. A square will tell you if things are at 90 degrees and if your joints are straight and straight lines are then seen by, of all things running a line. There is nothing square about Walters as his favorite angle is 180 degrees of the truth or good policy and to even conceive of his thinking as being straight or straight forward is like saying light travels a crooked path, just look at lightning.The house the prohibitionist built isn’t worth a damn and it shows. Well here is the pitch for the design of the new roof- laughing grass is no dangerous plant much less a dangerous drug. Laughing grass is not as dangerous as peanuts. Peanuts are a dangerous drug. How goofy is that? How goofy is Walters and the prohibition model? The wrongness of cannabis policy is going to get so hot as to burn the house down. What a lovely thought. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Jose Melendez on November 18, 2003 at 10:01:38 PT Slurred speech. Imagine John Walters drunk. Now listen to this: John Walters: what he's really saying, in his own words. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Jose Melendez on November 18, 2003 at 09:57:55 PT cognitive? maybe. from: http://www.reason.com/links/links102303.shtml"Despite an 'alert demeanor', observation and examination repeatedly fail to demonstrate coherent speech, comprehension of the words of examiners or attendants, or any capacity to initiate or make consistently purposeful movements. Movements are largely confined to reflex withdrawals or posturing in response to noxious or other external stimuli. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Sam Adams on November 18, 2003 at 09:50:08 PT debate If Walters insists only the top man (Soros), then the debate should really be between Soros and Dick Cheney. Talk about pawns, Walters is the epitomy of one. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on November 18, 2003 at 09:07:20 PT: Walking, talking cognitive dissonance Straight from the horse's mouth, right here:*"I can't say something is true that's not true and still be effective in my job," he said. "I can't make it go away by lying, by saying, 'It's OK, it's really medicine,' when it's not."*Ah, but Johnny-me-lad, that's your job description in a nutshell - saying something that's not true, that is. Talk about a world-class Freudian slip...When public servants contradict themselves in public, it's a sign that the facts are showing through the bull. As to his claim that he won't debate with 'flunkies'...well, he sent "Dr." Andrea Barthwell to deal with Rob Kampia on PBS, didn't he? After HE had made the offer to debate. He claims Soros and the other Wise Men are the puppetmasters? Without even looking at all those millions of people who are behind this? Who've been there for years? More evasion, more dissembling, more prevarication, more lies.Johnny Pee, that yellow streak down your back gets wider very day. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by BigDawg on November 18, 2003 at 09:05:34 PT I don't quite understand Walters keeps bringing up the topic of debate. But he has YET to accept one.Now that he has publically said, "You get Soros here, and I'll be here" the time has come.Soros needs to take this one to task. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Jose Melendez on November 18, 2003 at 08:56:46 PT Liber-publi-crat. Maybe Arnold Shwarzenegger will consult with Steve Kubby on this issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Jose Melendez on November 18, 2003 at 08:53:01 PT Soros wants to expose your administration anyway! "You get Soros here, and I'll be here."Right.Sure.Fine.We could EASILY have a dozen or more cannabis acitvists feeding Soros the links and quotes from research and proof that exposes Walter's arguments.We could do it from here, all he would need is a laptop and an internet connection. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Virgil on November 18, 2003 at 08:38:42 PT Cannabis is a plant Does prozac have leaves and stems and roots with pretty little flowers. That is why prozac is a drug and cannabis is a plant. I cannot believe we have to pay for this propaganda and the government's madness on reefer.Marinol at a million dollars an ounce ain't no value people. Free cannabis is an extreme value. It is almost like giving away medicine, but it ain't no gd drug. Free medicine is what makes it priceless and only the upside down destroy priceless things. Walters is a murderer and that is just the start. That is no ad hominem. It is descriptive. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment