cannabisnews.com: State's Drug Czar Declines to Debate Marijuana Use State's Drug Czar Declines to Debate Marijuana Use Posted by FoM on April 20, 2000 at 03:30:44 PT By Michael Rowett, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Source: Arkansas Online Arkansas' top drug enforcement official says he declined to participate in a forum on the medical use of marijuana because it's his job to enforce existing drug laws, not express his views on proposed changes. State Drug Director Bill Hardin of Little Rock said Wednesday that the state Department of Health, not his office, is charged with addressing whether to legalize marijuana for medical uses. Hardin said that's why he declined an invitation from the Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas to take part in the panel discussion to begin at 6:30 tonight at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Donaghey Student Center, Conference Room A. "The governor's administration will be represented in that discussion by someone from the Health Department," Hardin said. "I'm not in a position to debate the merits of the law. I just enforce the law as it currently exists." Dr. Richard Nugent, the state of Department Health's medical director for maternal and child health, is to participate in the forum, along with: Fayetteville Alderman Kyle Russell, a third-year law student at the University of Fayetteville School of Law. Denele Campbell of West Fork, president of the Alliance for Reform of Drug Policy in Arkansas, a group sponsoring an initiated act to grant people with debilitating illnesses exemption from criminal prosecution for using marijuana. A.J. Gokcek of Fayetteville, a third-year law student at the UA-Fayetteville School of Law. The forum will be moderated by Hans Baer, a UALR anthropology professor and faculty sponsor of the Green Party on campus, the sponsor of the event. It is free and open to the public. Published on Thursday, April 20, 2000Copyright © 2000, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.Related Articles:Group Seeks Aid to Legalize Medical Pothttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4616.shtmlOpposes Medicinal Marijuana, Agency Sayshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4593.shtmlMedical Marijuana Activists Kick Off Drivehttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4387.shtmlPryor OKs Ballot Title For Proposal On Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3112.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by legalizeit on April 20, 2000 at 08:05:33 PT typical chicken response Just like the cops, as they shoot innocent people to death in their own homes... "I don't make the laws, just enforce them."Whoever came up with the idea of having "drug czars" should be held accountable for the imbeciles s/he has promoted to positions of power in state and federal governments.He's just too scared his straw-man positions will go up in a proverbial bong hit (on 4:20 Day at that!!)At least the czar hints that pot legalization is more of a health than a law-enforcement issue. Doesn't make me trust him one iota more, though. He sounds like a carbon copy of the Head Bizarro. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: