cannabisnews.com: Federal Anti-Ecstasy Bill Extends Zero-Tolerance





Federal Anti-Ecstasy Bill Extends Zero-Tolerance
Posted by FoM on June 06, 2000 at 17:31:32 PT
For Immediate Release - June 6, 2000
Source: Centers For Cognitive Liberty
Following the lead of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), US Customs, and the DEA, and prompted by recent media attention regarding the drug ecstasy (MDMA), Senator Bill Graham of Florida (along with co-sponsors Grassley, Thomas and Biden) have introduced legislation calling for stiffer prison terms for ecstasy-related offenses and a blackout on certain information concerning the drug.Under The Ecstasy Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000 (S 2612):
* Federal sentences for ecstasy-related offenses would be significantly increased so that they are equal to the punishment imposed for federal methamphetamine-related offenses.  (Another section of the Bill orders increased punishment for GHB and GBL-related offenses).* Certain information concerning any “controlled substance” – not just ecstasy—would effectively be outlawed. Specifically, Section 6 of the Ecstasy Anti-Proliferation Act would make it a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine, to: "(a) teach or demonstrate the manufacture of a controlled substance, or to distribute by any means information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture, acquisition, or use of a controlled substance, with the intent that the teaching, demonstration, or information be used for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a crime; or(b) teach or demonstrate to any person the manufacture of a controlled substance, or to distribute to any person, by any means, information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture, acquisition, or use of a controlled substance, knowing or having reason to know that such person intends to use the teaching, demonstration, or information for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes an offense."* $5,000,000 will be allocated for training police to recognize and combat ecstasy, and for conducting school- and community-based anti-ecstasy classes.Similar to the anti-methamphetamine bills currently pending in the House and Senate, The Ecstasy Anti-Proliferation Act would make it a federal crime to disseminate harm reduction and/or responsible use information concerning ecstasy and other controlled substances, including medical marijuana. “The Ecstasy Anti-Proliferation Act ought to be renamed the Harm-Enhancement Anti-Free Speech Act,” said Richard Glen Boire, an attorney with the Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics, a law and policy center based in California. “Many of the deaths associated with MDMA can, in part, be attributed to the government’s zero-tolerance drug policy, which makes it hard for ecstasy users to get accurate information about how to reduce the harms associated with ecstasy use. Criminalization has also produced a black market with wide-spread adulteration of the pills and powders that are sold as ‘ecstasy.’  Threatening to put someone in prison for ten years for disseminating harm reduction information about ecstasy (or any other drug), not only violates the First Amendment, it puts our children at increased risk.”Currently, federal sentencing guidelines recognize that not all controlled substances pose the same harms, and that offenses involving the most harmful substances should receive the harshest punishment. For example, crimes involving marijuana are treated less harshly than the same crimes involving cocaine. "Inasmuch as the drug ecstasy is nonaddictive and is not associated with violence, it makes no sense to equate it with methamphetamine – a drug which is highly addictive and which can produce violent behavior in some users," said Boire. "There is simply no comparison between ecstasy and methamphetamine." Prior to being outlawed (and before it was given the street name “ecstasy”) MDMA showed promise as an adjunct to psychotherapy. However, since its outlawing in 1988 [fn1], scientific research on the drug has ground to a halt while illegal use has skyrocketed. On March 12 of this year, the US Customs Office reported that seizures of ecstasy bound for the United States soared in the first three months of 2000. “Outlawing MDMA has been a total failure,” said Boire. “Rather than ratchet up the punishment for ecstasy offenses, and scurry to outlaw important information about the drug, Congress ought to be considering a realistic and workable policy that is aimed at providing as much accurate information as possible and which aims to reduce the harm associated with using ecstasy. The current 'zero-tolerance' Prohibition policy is irresponsible, unworkable, and exacerbates the problems that drugs such as ecstasy pose to individuals and to society.” Note:1. An attempt by the DEA to control MDMA in 1985 was declared invlaid on September 18, 1987, by the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. (See Lester Grinspoon, M.D., Petitioner, v. Drug Enforcement Administration, Respondent (1st Cir. 1987) 828 F.2d 881.)   Following the decision, MDMA was officially placed in Schedule I effective March 23, 1988. About the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics:The Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics is a nonprofit law and policy center working in the public interest to protect fundamental civil liberties. The Center seeks to foster cognitive liberty – the basic human right to unrestrained independent thinking, including the right to control one’s own mental processes and to experience the full spectrum of possible thought. Contact Information: Web-site: http://www.alchemind.org/Telephone: 1-888-950-MIND (6463)Fax: 530-686-8265e-mail: info alchemind.org Click here for more information about The Ecstasy Anti-Proliferation Act.http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/lawlibrary/bills/antiecstasybill/antiecstasyindex.htmDirect Link To Article:New Federal Anti-Ecstasy Bill Extends “Zero-Tolerance” to Criminalize Free Speechhttp://www.cognitiveliberty.org/newsrelease/antiecstasy_20000606.htmCenter for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics: • PO Box 73481 • Davis, CA 95617-3481 • 1.888.950.MIND (6463) • info alchemind.orgCenters For Cognitive Libertyhttp://www.cognitiveliberty.org/Senator Graham's Press Releasehttp://www.senate.gov/~graham/pr0523.htmlSenator Grassley's Press Release http://www.senate.gov/~grassley/releases/2000/p0r5-23.htmIntroduction of Bill in Senate. (Graham, Grassley, Biden) Congressional Record for May 23, 2000 http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/lawlibrary/bills/antiecstasybill/antiecstasy_cr_may23cr.htmFor Immediate Release - June 6, 2000© Copyright Alchemind Society, 2000. 
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Comment #12 posted by kaptinemo on June 08, 2000 at 05:33:54 PT:
The Priorities of "Conservatives"
A few years ago, a controversial art exhibit had the "Conservatives" panties in a serious wad. Someone had draped an American flag on the ground in front of a podium that held a guest book. Anyone who wanted to sign the guest book had to walk on the flag to get to the podium...thus desecrating the flag.The "Conservatives" turned in Oscar-winning performances in imitating rabid dogs with their fulminations against this. (Lest anyone get the wrong idea, I personally *do* equate walking on the flag as being grossly disrespectful.) Yet, these same "Conservatives", who are oh-so-concerned about the the right of some (IMHO, misguided) artist's expression of Freedom of Speech, are about to commit an even more grievous insult against the very Constitution they have sworn to preserve, protect and defend. The Constitution they proclaim they want to 'conserve', intact, for our children.It is curious, isn't it, that those who proclaim the loudest to be defenders of Liberty are hell-bent on being its' pallbearers? That those who are sworn to protect the rights of the individual against encroachment upon those rights by the government are using that same government to degrade those same individual rights?Alice would feel right at home in this particular Rabbit-hole. Especially as we have the likes of Bill Bennett, Darryl Gates, Orrin Hatch and others shouting "Off with their heads!"When Life imitates Art, it isn't always as funny. 
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Comment #11 posted by CongressmanSuet on June 07, 2000 at 20:10:49 PT:
And lets not forget...
The Honorable Joe Biden, one of the major players in the sponsorship of so many of these tyrannical bills, wasnt this the same Joe Biden who basically lost his presidential bid many years ago when it was discovered he plagerised a speech from Nevele Chamberlain, or was it Churchill, while on the campaign trail? This is one time we dont want to forget the past....
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 07, 2000 at 18:12:23 PT
Sorry about the glitch
Hi Everyone, There seems to be a problem with double posting so I just reported it. I'm sure it will be fixed soon! FoM!
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Comment #9 posted by Bill St. Clair on June 07, 2000 at 17:19:01 PT:
House version
The house has a version of this same despicable bill, H.R. 4553, the Club Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000. Bill of Rights enforcement, now. Introducing such blatantly unconstitutional legislation should be a felony.
H.R. 4553
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Comment #8 posted by Bill St. Clair on June 07, 2000 at 17:18:37 PT:
House version
The house has a version of this same despicable bill, H.R. 4553, the Club Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000. Bill of Rights enforcement, now. Introducing such blatantly unconstitutional legislation should be a felony.
H.R. 4553
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 07, 2000 at 14:31:07 PT
Test
Hi Everyone, Just testing!
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Comment #6 posted by CongressmanSuet. on June 07, 2000 at 11:20:11 PT:
Lobo, I saw Rock do that monologue...
the other night, and it was damn good. Im not a big Rock fan, but he brought it home exquisitely. What I found particularly interesting was the audience's response. They laughed and clapped after each point he made. Ive said it before, and will say it again, cancer, AIDS, just about every viscious malady we have will never be cured. Oncologists going out of business? Federally funded AIDS hospices shutting down? Notice the emphasis on AIDS treatment, prolonging the lives of sufferers, all subsidized by Gov. money, which in turn has no problem paying 20 bucks for an aspirin. Cures are not profitable. Like Rock said, Polio is the last great cure we will ever see... and somewhere people were upset that they werent able to continue the Polio Cottage indudtry. Human nature is sickening at times... as an aside, its interesting to note that about 96% of all money raised by the American Cancer Society goes for the maintainence of the organization, rent for offices, salarys for administrative staff, and about 4% actually goes to research. Its all so sad...and its all so human.
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Comment #5 posted by CongressmanSuet. on June 07, 2000 at 11:19:28 PT:
Lobo, I saw Rock do that monologue...
the other night, and it was damn good. Im not a big Rock fan, but he brought it home exquisitely. What I found particularly interesting was the audience's response. They laughed and clapped after each point he made. Ive said it before, and will say it again, cancer, AIDS, just about every viscious malady we have will never be cured. Oncologists going out of business? Federally funded AIDS hospices shutting down? Notice the emphasis on AIDS treatment, prolonging the lives of sufferers, all subsidized by Gov. money, which in turn has no problem paying 20 bucks for an aspirin. Cures are not profitable. Like Rock said, Polio is the last great cure we will ever see... and somewhere people were upset that they werent able to continue the Polio Cottage indudtry. Human nature is sickening at times... as an aside, its interesting to note that about 96% of all money raised by the American Cancer Society goes for the maintainence of the organization, rent for offices, salarys for administrative staff, and about 4% actually goes to research. Its all so sad...and its all so human.
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Comment #4 posted by LOBO on June 07, 2000 at 01:04:34 PT
DEATH DEATH An MORE DEATH
Dose anyone not see a constant line here? It all points to death an destruction of American citizens by our goverment! All in the name of saving our children! It may sound like a joke an it was Quite funny when I first heard it But Chris Rock may of said it the best !"The goverment is nothing but a bunch of drug dealers" He went on to say an I may not be able to quote him word for word but it amounted to this ! The goverment get's you on the come back just like any street level dealer they hook you with a drug that gives you a feeling that is so good you got to get some more right ? Well the Goverment has cancer, aids,MS,an many many more deiseases that they prescribe drugs to prolong your life !Well just like the street dealer they get you on the come back ! you got to come back if you want to get that wonderful an great feeling of staying alive!Everybody now is saying he is crazy an I thought it was just a big joke myself untill I seen the latest study on cannabis shrinking tumors http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5972.shtmlAn to think they knew about this since 1974 it isn't scarry it is genocide plain an simple!!This really hits home to me I lost my step dad 4 years ago to cancer an to think for 26 years now they have been hideing something that with more reasearch in that amount of time may have saved his life! As Chris Rock said once more they don't want to cure the disease they want to make money on the come back!An now with all these bills going through congress to try an disrupt giveing out info on Medical Marijuana, helping someone with a serious addiction,or simply giveing out info on Over doseing to a teen that might want to experiment! It comes full circle once again to death!Now they are trying to make outrageous Laws against another drug before it has been fully tested !Here is a paragraph from this articale I hope you just read !Prior to being outlawed (and before it was given the street name “ecstasy”) MDMA showed promise as an adjunct to psychotherapy. However, since its outlawing in 1988 [fn1], scientific research on the drug has ground to a halt while illegal use has skyrocketed. On March 12 of this year, the US Customs Office reported that seizures of ecstasy bound for the United States soared in the first three months of 2000. I can now understand better through the eyes an jokes of a comedian !How our goverment operates in the same way as dealers off the street ! Is it really so hard to believve that in the face of a Growing an united movement to free the drugs an people so we can honestly be free to purse happiness,life,an liberty ! Our goverment wouldn't step on our constitutional righs,Destroy a naturaly growing plant to make synthetic drugs that cost more money an seem to do little to actually eliminate the disease,throw parents in jail an split up familes all to Knock off the other street dealers So they can be the biggest dealers in the hood!!
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Comment #3 posted by legalizeit on June 06, 2000 at 18:58:56 PT
Beavis and Butt-head do the Senate
This may be corny but this is the impression I get of our elected officials:----------------Butt-head: Uhhh, huh huhuhuuhuh hey Beavis!Beavis: What?!Butt-head: Uhhh, hey you know we are winning the war on drugs?Beavis: Yeah! Yeah! Hehehehe we have all these, like prisons and we have to go and, uh, weewee in a bottle before doing anything! Plus drugs are cheaper than ever!Butt-head: Yeah, uh huhuhuh then let's pass some more drug laws and watch even more people go to jail.Beavis: Yeah! Yeah! And they can watch our show in their cells and listen to all those judges and cops and parole officers and guards telling them how bad they are for putting something in their bodies of their own free will.Butt-head: Uhhh, yeah. The tobacco and alcohol companies love this crap. As long as the people don't know alcohol and tobacco are drugs, they won't know the difference. Let's keep attacking the least harmful drugs and tell everyone how bad they are and maybe they will get hooked on the legal ones.Beavis: All right then! let's introduce this legis, uh ligislation! (drinks some cola) I AM CORNHOLIO!! er, uh, I AM BILL GRAHAM! YEAH!! YEAHHHH! MAKE EVERYTHING BUT ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO ILLEGAL AND PUT UP AN ANTI DRUG CHECKPOINT AT EVERY BLOCK! AND A DRUG SNIFFING DOG IN EVERY PARKING LOT AND FREEWAY ENTRANCE! We are WINNING, WINNING, WINNING! OFF TO COLOMBIA! THEN THE REST OF SOUTH AMERICA! KILL THE ENTIRE RAINFOREST BECAUSE SOMEBODY MIGHT BE GROWING COKE IN THERE! THEN ERADICATE THE POT FIELDS IN ANTARCTICA! AND DON'T FORGET TO BRIBE THE OFFICIALS WE CORRUPTED DOWN THERE! WE HAVE TO MAKE A DRUG FREE WORLD!Butt-Head: Shut up, Beavis!People of the U.S.: Yeah, SHUT UP, BEAVIS!
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Comment #2 posted by Mari on June 06, 2000 at 18:57:58 PT
Anti-Bills
Are they going to go through the whole pharmacopia of controlled substances in hopes that ONE Anti-First Amendment bill gets passed??I am begining to suspect that this type of bill must be vital to whatever ultimate control they are aiming for.Are the big, bad Drug Warriors starting to decompensate?( A condition where psycopaths begin to act more erratic & escalate their psycotic behavior.This precedes a total breakdown of control & reason.)
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Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on June 06, 2000 at 18:20:52 PT
Insane drug warriors
These drug warriors are doing anything to slip these unconstitutional laws into effect, then they add $5,000,000 as an incentive to keep fighting. These guys will never learn.
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