cannabisnews.com: The Week Online with DRCNet, Issue #143 The Week Online with DRCNet, Issue #143 Posted by FoM on July 01, 2000 at 09:00:47 PT Publication of Drug Reform Coordination Network Source: DRCNet Activist Alert: Shadow Conventions to Challenge Democratic and Republican Conventions: The Lindesmith Center drug policy think tank has joined with the organizations Call to Renewal, National Campaign for Jobs and Income Support, Common Cause, United for a Fair Economy, Public Campaign and author and syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington, to present "Shadow Conventions 2000: A Citizens' Intervention in American Politics." The Shadow Conventions will challenge the major political parties on the issues they would most like to ignore: poverty, campaign finance, and the bankruptcy of the war on drugs. On July 31st, through August 2nd, the first Shadow Convention with these and many other participating groups will challenge the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. On August 14-16, in Los Angeles, the second Shadow Convention will convene and challenge the Democratic Convention. Each Shadow Convention will devote a full day to each of these three issues, with the second day of each event, August 1st and 15th, devoted to drug policy. DRCNet will be participating in these history-making events, and we urge advocates of social change to come out and be part of one or both. DRCNet doesn't have general policy positions on how to address problems like poverty and corrupting campaign finance influences -- just as the organizations focused on non-drug issues might not have overall positions on the war on drugs. But there are clear interrelationships between these three issues that can make the discussion very fruitful, in addition to the substantial publicity and attention to our cause that the events could draw. For example, the mass incarceration of minorities in the drug war, and the urban violence from the drug trade, caused by drug prohibition, are among the primary forces standing in the way of addressing urban blight. And campaign finance has definitely had a major impact on drug policies; for example, the great economic power of the California prison guards union (see our California initiative article below) and the influence of a helicopter manufacturer on the Colombia spending package (see our "link of the week," also below). Participating with the organizing groups are a broad range of activists, political leaders and celebrities, including Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Paul Wellstone (D-MN); Governor Gary Johnson (R-NM); Representatives Tony Hall (D-OH), Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), John Lewis (D-GA), and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); Warren Beatty, Geoff Canada, John DiIulio, Al Franken, Jesse Jackson, Jonathan Kozol, Paul Krassner, Lewis Lapham, Skip Long, Bill Maher, Mary Nelson, Eugene Rivers, Harry Shearer, Ron Silver, and Diana Jones Wilson, more to be announced. Whatever your views are on how to best address poverty and campaign finance, we hope you'll come out and be a part of rejuvenating the national dialogue on these important issues. Further information is available online at: http://www.shadowconventions.com and stay tuned to DRCNet for ongoing updates. TABLE OF CONTENTS:1. ACTIVIST ALERT: Shadow Conventions to Challenge Democratic and Republican Conventions http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#shadowconventions2. New York: Chief Judge Orders Statewide Drug Diversion Plan, Reformers Applaud Softly, Raise Caution Flags http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#statewidediversion 3. California Sentencing Reform Initiative Draws Powerful Opponents, Reformers Dramatically Ahead in New Poll http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#initiativefoes 4. Oregon Okays Medical Marijuana For Alzheimer's Agitation, New Initiative Moves Forward http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#oregonokay 5. High UN Official Calls for Global Attack on Internet Drug Information http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#unagain 6. China Marks UN Anti-Drug Day, Executes Dozens, Killings Come in Wake of McCaffrey Visit and US-China Agreement http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#chinakillings 7. French Education Minister Broaches Cannabis Decriminalization, Ecstasy Quality Controls http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#francedebate 8. Greens Nominate Nader, Questions Remain on His Support of Drug Reform Planks http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#nader 9. Dutch Parliament Approves Resolution to Allow Regulated Marijuana Cultivation http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#dutchcannabis10. REPORT: Risk of Marijuana Arrest Varies Greatly from State to State, County to County http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#marijuanareport11. ALERTS: Free Speech, California, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Washington State http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#actionalerts12. Link of the Week: Arianna Huffington on Campaign Finance and Colombia http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#linkoftheweek13. HEA Campaign http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#heacampaign14. Event Calendar http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#eventcalendar15. EDITORIAL: Summary Executions http://www.drcnet.org/wol/143.html#editorialANAHEIM: Those of you in or near the Anaheim, California area this weekend, please stop by and visit us in the Exhibitors section of the Libertarian National Convention at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, today through early Sunday afternoon. We don't know whether or not there's an admission fee for the exhibits. Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: