cannabisnews.com: Wolf Blitzer Reports Transcripts: Legalize Pot?










  Wolf Blitzer Reports Transcripts: Legalize Pot?

Posted by CN Staff on August 08, 2002 at 22:14:26 PT
Wolf Blitzer Reports - August 8, 2002 
Source: CNN.com 

O'BRIEN: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Miles O'Brien. Wolf Blitzer has the day off. Coming up, Nevada's push to legalize marijuana. Should the other 49 states follow suit? A Nevada ballot initiative that would legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana is drawing some unusual support. The board of the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs has voted unanimously to endorse the plan. Rob Piercy of CNN affiliate KTNV has our story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)ROB PIERCY, KTNV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On one side, metro police is undersheriff.UNDERSHERIFF DICK WINGET, LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE: It's not in our community's best interest and we should not stand for it.PIERCY: On the other, the president of NCOPS.ANDY ANDERSON, NEVADA CONFERENCE OF POLICE AND SHERIFFS: I think what we're talking about is we're talking about prioritizing our usage of police manpowers.PIERCY: And to add yet another voice, the man spearheading Nevada's marijuana initiative. BILLY ROGERS, NEVADANS FOR RESPONSIBLE LAW ENFORCEMENT: What this initiative does is it protects people who are responsible and punishes those people who are irresponsible.PIERCY: In the wake of yesterday's unanimous vote by NCOPS to support the initiative, all sides are now regrouping for the final three months before it's put to the people.WINGET: NCOPS represents cops but in this case, NCOPS is way off base and they are not saying what the majority of cops in our state think.PIERCY: Under Sheriff Richard Winget couldn't believe yesterday's votes. He says NCOPS' endorsement sends a bad message to not only voters but kids.WINGET: This will send a message to our kids -- if the cops say it's OK -- even though a lawsuit is not OK for the young kids, they'll think it is OK.PIERCY: NCOP president, Andy Anderson disagrees. He says this is simply about smart law enforcement.ANDERSON: We're talking about limited resources and we're talking about not wasting a bunch of that on cases that'll never get prosecuted.PIERCY: That's a stance shared by Billy Rogers and the Nevadans For Responsible Law Enforcement and one he says is shared by cops even if they won't admit it publicly.ROGERS: They'll tell you that, you know, they're spending too much time arresting people for small amounts of marijuana.PIERCY: A small amount for some, creating a great deal of controversy.(END VIDEOTAPE)O'BRIEN: And that report came from Rob Piercy of our affiliate, KTNV and we appreciate that.And joining us to talk about these strange political bedfellows and the initiative itself, Asa Hutchinson, director of the Drug Enforcement Agency and Robert Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project Group, a group dedicated to legalizing marijuana.Mr. Hutchinson, let' begin with you. Given all the matters that police have to deal with these days -- courts are clogged, the jails are full -- isn't it time to relax some of the laws as it relates to marijuana?ASA HUTCHINSON, DIRECTOR, DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY: Whenever you have good news in our society about the reduction of drug use, I don't think we ought to be changing policy. The recent Pride Survey showed that teenage use of illegal drugs was down for the first time in eight years. This is good news. Let's have a consistent message out there. And I know Nevada will look at this, but I hope that they'll consider the fact that -- do they want to be a tourist area that attracts people who want to use drugs in their state? And do you want to encourage state action that would be -- continue to be a violation of federal law...O'BRIEN: Of course -- well, this is...HUTCHINSON: These are very serious issues.O'BRIEN: This is a state with very relaxed laws as it relates to prostitution, so perhaps that isn't really an issue.Mr. Kampia, what about this issue of messages though? Is this the wrong message to send to young people that wink, nod, if it's under three ounces it's OK?ROBERT KAMPIA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT: Well, right now, the policies that are on the books aren't working. I mean the federal government's own surveys show that year after year high school seniors find marijuana much easier to obtain than alcohol or cigarettes and those are regulated items. And so, the reason for this is that because marijuana is completely unregulated that those who sell marijuana in Nevada and elsewhere are criminals and they don't actually card you for age. Under this proposal, if Nevadans support it and pass it in November, adults who are 21 or older will be able to use marijuana without being arrested and sent to prison and those under 21 will be penalized if they can actually somehow obtain it.O'BRIEN: Mr. Hutchinson, the argument is essentially that there's no way to stop this, that marijuana is here to stay and why not just allow it in certain reasonable ways. What's the matter with that line of argument?HUTCHINSON: Well, first of out all, it's a harmful drug and the question is how do you discourage its use in our society to everyone including young people. And I think that we are making progress in that arena even though it is true that it is a drug that is widely available. But is there not some inconsistency that we would arrest someone for 100 pounds of marijuana, bringing it into the state whenever you would allow someone to possess three ounces of that accountability.O'BRIEN: Well, why -- Mr. Hutchinson, why not regulate it and tax it and make it a source of revenue for the federal government?HUTCHINSON: Well, again, I think that you would be increasing and encouraging use of it. You want to discourage use of harmful drugs. In this case, the argument is law enforcement resources -- the best signal is that it's still a violation of the law and that we should not encourage its use by saying we're just going to give a traffic ticket for its use. The fact is we're providing treatment, we're providing efforts to discourage the use and that's the direction that we ought to go. O'BRIEN: Mr. Kampia, marijuana is bad for you. Why would you want to make it legal?KAMPIA: Well, it's not like marijuana would be introduced for the first time in Nevada. The point of this initiative is that tens of thousands of people in Nevada are already using this and they're buying it from the criminal market now. We believe that, first, that adults who use marijuana responsibly should not be arrested and sent to prison for it. At the same time, we should also maintain penalties for driving dangerously while under the influence, distributing marijuana to minor, smoking marijuana in public places; those penalties should remain on the books. And as a way of undercutting the criminal market, you want to bring marijuana in off the streets and regulate it.O'BRIEN: Mr. Hutchinson, will the federal government try to take a stance on this one way or another or will you let the states do what they want to do, in this case, Nevada --perhaps if voters adopt this -- allow some relaxation of marijuana laws?HUTCHINSON: Well, it's a decision the Nevada voters will make, but they will only impact state law. It would remain a violation of federal law and that message is very important whether it's California, Nevada or Arkansas. Possession of controlled substances is a violation and that includes marijuana.Our enforcement priorities -- obviously, we're looking at methamphetamine, heroine, cocaine. Marijuana is just simply one of the responsibilities that we have. But I think that regardless of what Nevada does, clearly, it will remain a violation of federal law and I think that should be a concern. We don't need to have divergent viewpoints on a harmful drug such as marijuana.O'BRIEN: Asa Hutchinson, Robert Kampia, thank you very much for shedding some light on this debate for us. We appreciate it.HUTCHINSON: Thank you.O'BRIEN: Here's your chance to weigh in on this story. Our "Web Question of The Day" -- Should it be legal for adults to possess small amounts of marijuana? We invite you to vote at CNN.com/Wolf. And while you're there, send us your comments. We'll try to read some of them on the air each day, also, read our daily on-line column at CNN.com/Wolf. There, today, just in the nick of time.Snipped: Complete Transcripts: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0208/08/wbr.00.htmlSource: CNN (US Web) Show: Wolf Blitzer ReportsShow Date: August 8, 2002Copyright: 2002 Cable News Network, Inc. Website: http://www.cnn.com/ Contact: cnn.feedback cnn.comRelated Articles & Web Sites:NRLEhttp://www.nrle.org/Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/Crossfire Transcripts: Pot Legalization in Nevada http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13684.shtmlPolice Union Leader Rebukes Support of Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13675.shtmlMarijuana Ballot Issue: Police Back Legalization http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13657.shtmlPolice Support Pot Initiative http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13652.shtml

Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help





Comment #12 posted by VitaminT on August 09, 2002 at 08:22:38 PT
There's work to do in Indiana!
I guess in Indiana it's against the law to advocate for the reform of unjust laws!?!From: Dana York - IN NORML 
Sent: Friday, August 09, 2002 10:13 AM
Subject: Indy Star: IN NORML/State Fair ArticleWill HigginsFair's rejection leaves NORML doing a slow burn      August 09, 2002 The people at Indiana NORML, a branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, for several years had thought how nice it would be to be part of the Indiana State Fair: all those people, all those potential converts. This year NORML went for it. It applied for a booth in the Exposition Center.       
             
 It was no sale. Fair Director Bill Stinson explained in a letter that booth space was already taken. NORML bought the explanation, too, until one of its members came upon a later e-mail from the fair seeking booth operators. NORML pressed for an explanation. The State Fair now says the e-mail was a mistake -- "it said we were accepting applications when we weren't," Stinson's spokesman, Andy Klotz, said Tuesday. "It was a computer deal, something about the folder being full." Further, Klotz went on, NORML shouldn't have been told it was a space issue but, rather, the truth: "We don't feel comfortable having a booth promoting an action that is illegal in the state of Indiana. That was Bill's (Stinson's) call, and he stands by it." Stinson stands by it through his spokesman, at least; he himself declined to be interviewed. In any case, NORML was out, and its directors miffed. Steve Dillon, a NORML board member (who is also a well-known Libertarian), said a lawsuit may be coming. "Somebody is politically chicken," he said. "It would have been an interesting booth." "We were going to limit our discussion to industrial hemp," said Neal Smith, another NORML board member, explaining that farmers could grow the stuff not to sell to stoners, but rather for use in building materials, paper, even fuel. "Indiana could supply the vast majority of the nation's energy needs with hemp fuel," Smith said. For now, though, it's against federal law to grow hemp for any reason. For now, the State Fair's exposition hall looks pretty much like it always looks. There are booths hawking sewing machines. And political candidates. And recliner chairs that jiggle relaxingly. Pills that help you "lose weight, feel great." Photos of Dale Earnhardt. Decorative license plates depicting cocker spaniels, smiley faces, Confederate flags. And toys -- stuffed animals, rubber balls, simulated dog doo. Brian Lipscomb of the Delaware County Sheriff's Department manned the Indiana Sheriffs' Association booth, and though he had not heard NORML might have been his neighbor, he was relieved they weren't. "Society doesn't need another legal intoxicant," Lipscomb said. Floyd Bernhardt, who was selling golf clubs, noted that his father drank too much and became difficult. Marijuana, he said, "would dull the senses, like alcohol. . . . I don't believe in promoting anything that causes heartaches." But other booth operators, such as Anne Meyer and Pat Klinge of the Lutheran Laymen's League, said they wouldn't be offended by NORML. "I would think it would be all right," said Meyer, a grandmother. "Pat?" Klinge: "I don't think we want to be judgmental. We're representing the Lutheran Church." Meyer: "I'm not representing the church when I say this, but I think all drugs should be legalized -- take the crime out of it, and make it their responsibility. It would be exciting to have that booth next to us. It would draw a crowd. I think controversy is interesting. It would be boring if we all felt the same way." Klinge: "You're always going to offend someone." Meyer: "We could be offending someone."________________________________________________________
 Will Higgins' column appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can contact him at 1-317-444-6043 or via e-mail at will.higgins indystar.com. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #11 posted by Sam Adams on August 09, 2002 at 08:10:47 PT
I had the same impression EJ
Asa seems very professional - it could be the drug war, it could be any policy, he's just doing his job - really just being a spokesperson. And considering that he's constantly taking a beating, he's holding up pretty well. They'll have trouble recruiting the next one.Very exciting though - the drug czar is really being rocked back on his heels, every time he appears, the host of the show attacks - using the lethal weapon of common sense. He's even been challenged/heckled when he appears in public. During the 80's and 90's it was all feel-good appearances before cheering crowds.As Richard Cowan says, once the media wakes up, it's all over within a few years.
[ Post Comment ]

 


Comment #10 posted by TroutMask on August 09, 2002 at 07:38:07 PT

Vote Now!
The CNN poll:http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/wolf.blitzer.reports/-TM
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #8 posted by The GCW on August 09, 2002 at 07:17:04 PT

I'm experiencing computer problems.
My e -mail is bringing up about 16+ receiving mail thingy's and they are all saying things like: sorry unsendable message... and it has some effect of slowing things up...--- oh well, I can not even open it now.When the littlist thing happens on the computer, I'm quick to be suspicious, because, of this work.The drug war lords, and that empire, would jam a computer and more...
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #7 posted by whatever on August 09, 2002 at 06:58:15 PT

the question of the day
on cnn.com/wolf says that out of 5905 votes 5319 (90%)say yes marijuana should be legalized and 586 (10%) say no. Lookin good to me.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #6 posted by goneposthole on August 09, 2002 at 06:07:31 PT

Teen drug use at an eight year low
The decrease in drug use among teens coincides with the reduction of the number of prescriptions of Ritalin.

[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #5 posted by The GCW on August 09, 2002 at 04:36:44 PT

related LTE, that will not go to MAP, but relevant
Doesn't this person know it is people that smoke cannabis that support terrorism?  
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/opinion/letshea08092002.htmLetter: Fight back on Sept. 11 Friday, August 9, 2002While not everyone can get to a ceremony marking the one year anniversary of Sept. 11, we all can mark the day by striking back at the financial backing of these terrorists. Do what you can to not consume energy that day.Do not buy gas on Wednesday the eleventh of September.Do not run any unnecessary appliances.Turn off computers, radios etc. when not in use.By reducing the amount of fuel we use we cut back on foreign oil purchases. Reducing demand reduces revenues that will eventually fund terrorist attacks.This will also limit the power of Iraqi and other dictator-led regimes propped up by oil.Send a very strong yet peaceful message to those that hate us, for all our liberties and vices, that we will not relinquish them under duress or extortion.KEVIN SHEA, Hopkinton
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #4 posted by Hopeful Freeman on August 09, 2002 at 01:48:58 PT

Take a step back... and look with an open mind
"HUTCHINSON: Well, first of out all, it's a harmful drug and the question is how do you discourage its use in our society to everyone including young people. And I think that we are making progress in that arena even though it is true that it is a drug that is widely available. But is there not some inconsistency that we would arrest someone for 100 pounds of marijuana, bringing it into the state whenever you would allow someone to possess three ounces of that accountability.O'BRIEN: Well, why -- Mr. Hutchinson, why not regulate it and tax it and make it a source of revenue for the federal government?HUTCHINSON: Well, again, I think that you would be increasing and encouraging use of it. You want to discourage use of HARMFUL drugs."----Harmful drugs... How exactly would one consider a drug to be harmful? If it doesn't have medicinal properties? If you can overdose on it and die? Maybe it just has to have some seriously bad long term side affects. Sounds a lot more like what Alcohol a Federally excepted drug does. One that can kill you in one night compared to a Federally unexcepted drug(and untaxed) that helps ease the suffering of many without the fear of death or unexpected aggression. It can even be made into thousands of materials from soap to rope."HUTCHINSON: Well, it's a decision the Nevada voters will make, but they will only impact STATE LAW. It would remain a violation of FEDERAL LAW and that message is very important whether it's California, Nevada or Arkansas. Possession of controlled substances is a violation and that includes marijuana.  Our enforcement priorities -- obviously, we're looking at methamphetamine, heroine, cocaine. Marijuana is just simply one of the responsibilities that we have. But I think that regardless of what Nevada does, clearly, it will remain a violation of federal law and I think that should be a concern. We don't need to have divergent viewpoints on a harmful drug such as marijuana."----It would remain a violation of FEDERAL LAW. Over 70 million people in the U.S. have tried marijuana, and millions of people have been put behind bars because of this LAW. Now these millions of people that have been prosecuted DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY were caught enjoying the DESIRED EFFECTS of a plant that eases pain and enlightens moods. I do agree on a few things.. "Marijuana is just simply one of the responsibilities that we have." Marijuana Researchers World-Wide tell you it is usefull in so many ways and most of the time our government has scientists look at it they find the opposite. As of now Canadian and most European researchers look at the data and see such a helpfull plant. This sends a bad message to not only voters but kids. Humans are not stupid, especially not kids, ignorant... maybe, but not stupid. Many police men don't like to reveal there occupation because they aren't looked up to these days. Legalization could actually be something that would help kids look up to the police with respect once again.

[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #3 posted by E_Johnson on August 09, 2002 at 00:41:32 PT

Is it just me or....
Asa sounds pretty low key after listening to McCaffrey howling like a banshee about the potheads from California.At least Asa can go for a whole interview without saying pothead. That's one point for him.I don't know why but some strange feeling in my gut tells me that Asa knows marijuana prohibition is doomed but he's just fulfilling his contract to draw out the inevitable for as long as possible so it can be milked to the max by the profiteers.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on August 09, 2002 at 00:31:34 PT

Gosh he started with a bang
O'BRIEN: Welcome back to CNN. I'm Miles O'Brien. Wolf Blitzer has the day off. Coming up, Nevada's push to legalize marijuana. Should the other 49 states follow suit? The other 49 states? Wow, talk about moving the issue forward.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #1 posted by FoM on August 08, 2002 at 22:17:06 PT

Related Article
By Miles O'Brien, CNN 
 Fighting the War on Drugs and Terror 
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13679.shtml
[ Post Comment ]





  Post Comment