cannabisnews.com: Growing Crusade to Legalise Marijuana! Growing Crusade to Legalise Marijuana! Posted by FoM on July 16, 1999 at 11:00:58 PT By John Hiscock in Los Angeles Source: Electronic Telegraph CAMPAIGNERS for changes in America's marijuana laws hope a court appearance today of Oliver Stone, the film director, will help their growing crusade. Stone, 53, is to appear in Beverly Hills charged with drunk driving and possession of hashish after police stopped his car on a Los Angeles canyon road. More than 700,000 people were arrested last year for marijuana offences and there are 60,000 people in jail, says Chuck Thomas of the Marijuana Policy Project.Mr Thomas said: "The situation is getting out of hand and it is time the laws for possession of marijuana were eased. We hope that Oliver Stone's court appearance will bring attention to the problem and increase the pressure on politicians to change the law."He said that many of those jailed as dealers were growing plants or keeping supplies only for their own use. Stone, whose films include Platoon, Natural Born Killers and Nixon, also wrote Midnight Express, about an American jailed in Turkey for smuggling cannabis.Politicians are beginning to heed the calls for a change in the marijuana laws, prompted by voters in California and Arizona who passed laws allowing the cultivation of marijuana for medical purposes. But federal drug agents are closing down the "cannabis clubs".Campaigners for a change in the law were given a donation of £300,000 by George Soros, the billionaire financier, and there are several dozen clubs selling marijuana to those with Aids, cancer and other illnesses in five states. Federal authorities contend that a state law allowing marijuana cultivation cannot take precedence over federal drug laws.Pubdate: July 16, 1999Electronic Telegraph Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by FoM on July 16, 1999 at 15:54:20 PT: He Sure Is Talented! I sure hope he makes a movie out of it too. He is a great example of how drugs can be used creatively! He was friends wirh Timothy Leary I remember him saying when he was a guest on CNN's Talk Back Live. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Freedom Fighter on July 16, 1999 at 13:51:49 PT Oliver Stoned... Sorry, I couldn't resist.I only can hope that Mr. Stone will make a major motion picture of this event. Unfortunately it will most likely be a picture illustrating the so-called "dangers" of cannabis use as part of his plea bargain. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 16, 1999 at 12:49:44 PT: Oliver Says He Wasn't Stoned More On the Stone Story. This one is from E Online. Oliver Says He Wasn't Stoned [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 16, 1999 at 12:05:17 PT: Oliver Stone's Busted On Hash, Driving Raps - 6/12 Here's the original charges. Oliver Stone's Busted On Hash, Driving Raps-6/12/99 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 16, 1999 at 11:49:57 PT: Drug Charges Filed Against Stone! MSNBC Los Angeleshttp://www.msnbc.com/local/KNBC/BEVERLY HILLS, July 16 – Oscar-winning director and decorated veteran Oliver Stone pleaded not guilty Thursday to two charges of possession of controlled substances. The felony counts stem from his arrest last month on suspicion of driving drunk. Stone, 52, has been free on $12,000 bail since his June 9 arrest in the 2200 block of Benedict Canyon Drive. The Oscar-winning director of: “Platoon,” “Born on the Fourth of July,”“Natural Born Killers,” “The Doors” “Wall Street” and “JFK” entered the plea in Beverly Hills Municipal Court. In addition to the two felony counts, Stone faces one misdemeanor count of possession of small quantities of fenfluramine, phentermine and Meprobamate, and two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence. Fenfluramine and phentermine are the ingredients found in fen-phen, a central nervous system stimulant widely used by dieters until 1997, when the FDA linked the drug combination to heart valve problems. Meprobamate is a muscle relaxant or sedative. In the felony charges, Stone is accused of possession of a small quantity of Hydrocodone, a strong pain medication similar to Vicodin, and a small amount of concentrated cannabis. The complaint alleges that Stone’s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit of .08. Stone was arrested after a Beverly Hills police officer in an unmarked car noticed a black 1987 Ford Mustang headed north and being driven erratically on the winding mountain road. Pubdate: July 16, 1999 Drug Charges Filed Against Stone! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 16, 1999 at 11:37:14 PT: Oliver Stone Faces Drug Charges! July 16, 1999 Mr. Showbiz News http://mrshowbiz.go.com/index.htmlAnd you thought Jim Morrison did a lot of drugs. Oliver Stone, director of 1991's drug-heavy rock biopic The Doors, has pleaded innocent to charges of driving under the influence and possessing controlled substances. He was arrested June 9 after driving his Mustang erratically through Beverly Hills. Found among the director's mobile pharmacy was a small amount of concentrated cannabis; Hydrocodone, a strong pain medication; fenfluramine and phentermine, the stimulants that make the FDA-nixed diet drug fen-phen; and Meprobamate, a muscle relaxant. Perhaps he was on his way to visit fellow misbehavers Charlie Sheen (Platoon) or Robert Downey Jr. (Natural Born Killers)? Stone faces one misdemeanor count for the fen-phen and Meprobamate and two misdemeanor counts for driving under the influence. Stone, who won Academy Awards for Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July, has been free on $12,000 bail since his arrest.Reuters contributed to this story. Oliver Stone Faces Drug Charges [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: