cannabisnews.com: White House Gets Permission To Lie White House Gets Permission To Lie Posted by CN Staff on March 12, 2004 at 15:59:31 PT For Immediate Release Source: Common Dreams Washington -- Responding to a request by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), the General Accounting Office (ONDCP), the investigative arm of Congress, yesterday gave the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy unfettered permission to mislead the public in the name of opposing "drug legalization."In the run-up to the November 2002 elections, ONDCP campaigned aggressively against state ballot measures to reform marijuana laws and other anti-drug policies. Part of this effort was a letter to local prosecutors from ONDCP Deputy Director Scott Burns, which made a number of statements considered misleading by experts, including the claims that "marijuana and violence are linked" and "no credible research suggests" that marijuana has medical uses.In an April 2, 2003, letter, which is available on-line at: http://www.mpp.org/WarOnDrugCzar/complaints/gao_complaint.html Paul asked the GAO to investigate whether the Burns letter violated the ban on use of taxpayer funds for "publicity and propaganda" as well as the longstanding GAO position that "the government should not disseminate misleading information."In its March 10 response to Paul, the GAO declared, in essence, that the truth or falsity of ONDCP's statements is irrelevant. "ONDCP is specifically charged with the responsibility for `taking such actions as necessary to oppose any attempt to legalize the use' of certain controlled substances such as marijuana," wrote GAO General Counsel Anthony Gamboa. "Given this role, we do not see a need to examine the accuracy of the Deputy Director's individual statements in detail." GAO's response: http://www.mpp.org/pdf/GAO_response_0304.pdfThe declaration appears to contradict prior GAO actions. In 1976, for example, the GAO ruled that a pamphlet about nuclear energy was "not a proper document for release to the public" because of its misleading and one-sided statements."Amazingly, the GAO has ruled that the truth simply doesn't matter in the so-called `War on Drugs,'" said Steve Fox, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "This is even more shocking than the simultaneous GAO ruling on the administration's Medicare ads. In that case they suggested the ads were perhaps in a gray zone, but here they are saying that accuracy is irrelevant and lying is not a problem. We believe the American public expects better from their government."Contact: Marijuana Policy Project Bruce Mirken: 202-543-7972 or 415-668-6403 Source: Common Dreams (ME)Published: Friday, March 12, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Common DreamsContact: editor commondreams.org Website: http://www.commondreams.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #21 posted by FoM on March 15, 2004 at 10:26:18 PT kapt Our government is corrupt. Maybe we will see change if Kerry beats Bush. One thing I know it sure can't be worse then it is now. If Kerry fails us then we are doomed. That's how I feel. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by kaptinemo on March 15, 2004 at 05:17:22 PT: So, Uncle has formal permssion to lie? At the risk of seeming flippant, "So, what else is new?". Given that the entire enterprise of *formal* cannabis prohibtion began with the (bald-faced) lie told by a Congressional staffer that the AMA supported MJ prohibition when it most decidely had not, this is merely acknowledgeing another 'open secret' about prohibition: that government's lie.Like a fish, the rot in this country's government starts at the head and works it's way down. With an Administration that lies us into wars, can we credibly expect other branches of it to be truthful? [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by FoM on March 14, 2004 at 19:25:13 PT BGreen I looked on the New York Times for the one article mentioned in your link but it is a pay article now. Born on the Fourth of July was an intense movie for me. It was about a Vietnam Vet and his name was Ron Kovic. Lots of pot smoking for comfort in that movie. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004Y7T6/qid=1079320852/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-3766743-7410360?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846 [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by FoM on March 14, 2004 at 19:07:18 PT BGreen He looked like my friends too way back in those days. I am from the east coast. I wasn't born there but I was raised there. I was Catholic and he looked like many of the boys in our school. Either you were Jewish or Catholic. Very few Protestants were in our area. Now the area isn't that way but it was for many years. It isn't that way out here. I remembered how different it was when we moved to Ohio. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by BGreen on March 14, 2004 at 18:59:21 PT Here's A Story I Found Vietnam Marijuana Iraqby Fred GardnerAlthough the modern medical marijuana movement began in San Francisco in response to the AIDS epidemic, it could have taken off in the early '70s when wounded Vietnam vets began smoking the herb openly in the VA hospitals. When I got wind of this phenomenon (you could smell it on the spinal-cord- injury wards) I did not understand its implications. I knew that marijuana could help ward off despair, but not that it eased pain and spasticity. I didn't really get it. I thought the way to help and protect the wounded vets was to not publicize their use of marijuana.SNIPPEDThe Reverend Bud Green Vietnam Marijuana Iraq [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by BGreen on March 14, 2004 at 18:50:36 PT I think it'll be a good show I saw a preview clip showing Kerry testifying before congress and he just looked like one of the guys I've always hung around.The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on March 14, 2004 at 18:12:05 PT BGreen I like HardBall. I'll watch it tomorrow. I'm sure Nixon didn't like Kerry back then. He was a pot smoking anti-war protester with a lot of guts! It could be an interesting show. Thanks! [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on March 14, 2004 at 08:35:29 PT Jose and BGreen John Kerry isn't perfect but Bush is another story. Bush is the kind of man that I personally always have found obnoxious. I could listen to Kerry speak and not feel the same way. My opinions are more instinctive rather then political. Thanks again! [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by jose melendez on March 14, 2004 at 03:24:42 PT kerry banner Here are two graphics I put together to promote Kerry for president:http://www.pipepeace.com/rx/img/conServed.gifhttp://www.pipepeace.com/img/faithRight.gif [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by BGreen on March 13, 2004 at 23:40:43 PT Nixon Hated Cannabis Smokers ... AND KERRY! Hardball with Chris Matthews Monday at 7 p.m. ET Richard Nixon's secret tapes. Find out why the President considered John Kerry a threat 30 years ago. Is the release of this once-classified recording good or bad for Kerry?We have the nixon tapes proving his culture war in complete disregard of the truth, and now we have tapes of nixon livid over Kerry's testimony before congress, with his long hair and dressed in his combat fatigues with his war medals pinned to his chest.I think Kerry understands us. He was a cannabis smoking long-haired war protester and nixon hated him just as much as nixon hated us.I know Kerry has played the political game which has hurt people, especially the cannabis users, but I look at it like we want people to look at jury duty; you have to do what you have to get in the position to make a difference.Kerry's friends, all of these hall of fame 60's musicians getting popped for cannabis possession can tell Kerry that the cannabis today is no stronger than much of what was smoked in the 60's and 70's. That's something that is incriminating if *we* try to tell people that. Garfunkle, Crosby and Willie Nelson will have Kerry's ear.The Reverend Bud Green Hardball with Chris Matthews [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on March 13, 2004 at 16:45:36 PT Patrick Thank you so much. The way I see this presidential race could well be altogether differently then many. I am the kind of a person who believes in extending the olive branch. I can't really deal with 4 more years of Bush. I don't think our country can either. I do believe that John Kerry has the demeanor to at least try to get us back in a better standing with other countries. If Bush is re-elected we could wind up in a world war. My concern is for our existence as a respected society. We must get respectability back if it isn't too late. I don't want to upset anyone. This is my site but it is our site too. CNews is a sum total of all of us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Patrick on March 13, 2004 at 16:31:48 PT FoM I'm behind you 100%. A banner here is no different than a political sign in one's front yard or a bumper sticker supporting a favorite candidate of choice. FoM this website is like your front yard. The neighbor's should respect your viewpoint even if they don't agree so plant that sign! That's democracy in action. Politics aside we have lived under cannabis prohibition since before I was born. Many presidents belonging to each of the two parties have overseen cannabis prohibition. They challenge each other every four years to run the executive branch of this government. That's our reality. And the mudslinging has begun in earnest this time. Whilst I don't like all the negativity standing by and doing nothing (not voting) is worse. I would love to see a third party rise and take advantage of the inherent but overlooked power a two thirds vote offers legislatively but it ain't gonna happen this year or anytime soon. I'm a registered nonpartisan voter and getting Bush out of office is more important this go around than my vote making a statement.Bush said it best himself, "you're either with us or you're against us." In this presidential election truer words don't exist. You're either voting for him or against him. Vote! [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on March 13, 2004 at 14:48:41 PT An Important Note I want to mention something. I have given this a lot of thought and I hope you will hear me out. I've asked Ron to put up a John Kerry banner. I know that we have had a Dennis Kucinich for President link but we know that the dreams of those here about Dennis haven't come to be. I feel bad for those who care and or cared that much about Dennis. The reason I want a banner is because I keep reading on John Kerry's board that people want answers and so do I. I've found that sometimes I'm the one who must put the first step forward and endorse John Kerry before he will know we are serious. CNews is a very big web site anymore. If you get upset with me I hope you will understand. I really felt a need to do this. That's the only time I do what I consider is radical. I love all of you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by RasAric on March 13, 2004 at 09:34:23 PT Hey Be Green...(4th from the start of this thread) The only real problem now is that the majority, much less the majority of the minority, of the US citizens are not aware of this ruling which ALLOWS FOR GOVERNMENT LIES AND PROPAGANDA to continue as ususalAlthough this knowledge is ever increasing [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by The GCW on March 13, 2004 at 05:18:44 PT More to shake Our heads... Well worth the download time! Click here: GRAND THEFT AMERICA Note: turn on your speakers... Cheers, Click here: (GRAND THEFT AMERICA) http://www.bushflash.com/gta.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Patrick on March 12, 2004 at 22:08:10 PT I wasn't kidding …about being in a police state. Check out this headline:FBI pushes for broadband wiretap powers http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4515410/ISPs, Net phone services would all have to rewireA far-reaching proposal from the FBI, made public Friday, would require all broadband Internet providers, including cable modem and DSL companies, to rewire their networks to support easy wiretapping by police.Ashcroft is hard at work even from intensive care!Ok ok that's insensitive I admit, but isn't Ashcroft treatment of cannabis users even worse? [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Patrick on March 12, 2004 at 21:38:29 PT In Order To Form A More Perfect… LIE the GAO declared, in essence, that the truth or (falsity) of ONDCP's statements is irrelevant. "ONDCP is specifically charged with the responsibility for `taking such actions as necessary to oppose any attempt to legalize the use' of certain controlled substances such as marijuana," wrote GAO General Counsel Anthony Gamboa. "Given this role, we do not see a need to examine the accuracy of the Deputy Director's individual statements in detail."Truth is irrelevant??? We have assumed control. We have assumed control. Resistance is futile.Oh excuse me, "truth or falsity is irrelevant." So truth in the government accounting office is irrelevant? Would a civil war be irrelevant? Or is it only relevant if you seek to change a government that no longer believes in the truth? What good is the "rule of law" without the truth? Without truth we exist only in a police state. One no different than Iraq was. No other frame of mind different than the GAO or ONDCP will be tolerated! Where will they send us, to21st Century prison camps? Cremation? Lying as opposed to truth is now the rule of law, the "policy" of government is truth is irrelevant? Say it ain't so. Please, say it ain't so. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by BGreen on March 12, 2004 at 20:22:21 PT We Can Use This For Our Benefit Our position remains unchanged for the last 30+ years while the government's line changes more often than the weather.If you factor in the variable of lying, it's easy to see why their position changes so often.If they would have been ordered *not* to lie, then the people could take the government's word on the subject (even if they continued to lie as usual.)Now, EVERY WORD THEY SAY IS SUSPECT! People have believed them because they felt our government would never lie to us.This ruling applies to every position in the government. You have a job to do and you'll do whatever it takes to get it done, EVEN IF IT INCLUDES LYING!The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Petard on March 12, 2004 at 19:05:24 PT I did not have sex Let's see now, Clinton almost got impeached for making a statement that was misleading and possibly untrue. In Bushy Boy's house though it is now acceptable to state misleading and untrue "facts". I guess this gets Bushy Boy off the hook for the Iraq WMD statements too? Look out now, here comes more of those "pot kills brain cells" type lies. We need a revision of Al Franken's book to come out about lying liars and the lies they tell, this one about the Off-White House and the GAO. This oughta give Halliburton the green light to scam more of the taxpayers $'s too.America, Home of the Free (free to lie that is), Land of the Brave (brave enough to boldy lie where no lie has gone before). [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by John Tyler on March 12, 2004 at 18:15:42 PT Government lies We all knew the government lies, now it is offical. The government will lie when it suits their purposes. This is disappointing because we would like to think our gov. is better than that. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by cloud7 on March 12, 2004 at 17:23:45 PT Wow! What can I say? I want to be surprised, but lying has been the standard practice for quite a while now. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment