cannabisnews.com: Deputy Drug Czar Will Blast Marijuana Ballot Issue Deputy Drug Czar Will Blast Marijuana Ballot Issue Posted by CN Staff on October 12, 2008 at 18:36:45 PT By The Grand Rapids Press Source: Grand Rapids Press Michigan -- The U.S. deputy drug czar will be in Grand Rapids Monday to campaign against an initiative on the state's Nov. 4 ballot that would legalize marijuana use for serious medical conditions such as cancer and glaucoma.Scott Burns, named by President Bush to head the nation's drug control office in 2007, will speak at a 1:30 p.m. press conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. He will be joined by state Court of Appeals Judge Schuette and members of the Michigan Sheriffs' Association. The poll has strong support in recent polls. A late September poll commissioned by the Detroit Free Press and Local 4 TV station showed 66 percent of likely voters favored the proposal with 25 percent opposed and 9 percent undecided.In previous appearances to campaign against medical marijuana proposals in other states, Burns has argued that legalizing the drug sends the wrong message to kids and that characterizing it as medicine downplays he potentially harmful effects.Complete Title: Deputy Drug Czar Will Blast Marijuana Ballot Issue in Grand Rapids Stop MondaySource: Grand Rapids Press (MI)Published: October 12, 2008Copyright: 2008 Grand Rapids PressContact: pulse grpress.comWebsite: http://www.mlive.com/grpress/Related Articles & Web Site:Stop Arresting Patientshttp://www.stoparrestingpatients.org/CA Shows Why Medical Marijuana is Dangeroushttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24219.shtmlVote Yes on Proposal 1 for Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24207.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by kaptinemo on October 14, 2008 at 02:58:19 PT: Thank you, PotPal For that MPP link...which calls the drug prohibitionists out on their lies.Just think: if the organizations that are shown to be bald-faced liars decide to take on the MPP in court for having shown their statements to be lies, they won't have a leg to stand on, as the preponderance of evidence favors the anti-prohibitionist side. And that evidence is potentially explosive in nature, such as the deliberate burying on the government's part in 1974 (and again in 1994) of the taxpayer-funded studies that proved cannabis had tremendous potential as an anti-cancer agent. Another reason why they've never tried that tack might be that by doing so would allow anti-prohibition forces to inform any potential jury of the history of cannabis prohibition, itself. Which would be a revelation to a great many African- and Hispanic Americans to learn about how ancient racial bigotry held towards them manifested into modern national policy.I've always contended that should cannabis prohibition itself become the subject of a court case, with sworn testimony and penalties for perjury being invoked, cannabis prohibition would die with the fall of a judge's gavel. For all that the prohibs have was built on a foundation of lies.If anti-prohibitionist forces continue to use such plain language as the word 'lies' to describe what the prohibs have been doing, the prohibs will have to respond legally sooner or later...and it's a response that will be fatal to their side to make. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on October 13, 2008 at 17:00:23 PT potpal I'm hoping too. Soon the election will be over and we will know the direction we are heading. These last couple of weeks are tense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by potpal on October 13, 2008 at 16:45:33 PT new world Hopefully the next administration will not fund the war on some drugs and not spend taxpayer money to continue lying to the taxpayer. Prohibition is the crime.http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/#102772 [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on October 13, 2008 at 16:43:30 PT LaGuardia I'm keeping my fingers crossed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by LaGuardia on October 13, 2008 at 16:17:59 PT Maybe No More Drug Czar in 2010 At least the Drug Czar's office is slated by law to terminate on September 30, 2010. That means either: (1) Congress reauthorizes it; or (2) Congress lets the sucker die.I sincerely hope for the second option and, considering how ineffective the ONDCP is, I would be surprised if it were reauthorized. But if Congress does reauthorize it, I bet that it will have a very different set of rules. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 13, 2008 at 13:30:00 PT Just Say 'No' Says Deputy Drug Czar By Rod Kackley, NewsRadio WOOD 1300 News TeamMonday, October 13, 2008http://www.wtkg.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=125494&article=4398650 [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by kaptinemo on October 13, 2008 at 05:43:13 PT: He works for a Fed agency that is REQUIRED to lie From Pete Guither's place: The Drug Czar is required by law to lie http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2007/10/09/theDrugCzarIsRequiredByLaw.htmlSo...how is it that the good people of Michigan are supposed to believe someone who is paid to disseminate mis- and disinformation? Someone who, because of his own agency's mandate against debating drug law reform, seeks to have nothing but captive audiences who have no ability to hear another side on this issue? Alright, then. If Mr. Burns wants to give testimony, if Mr. Burns is to appear before the legislature to provide officially sanctioned information, then let him be sworn in as any witness is required to be under such circumstances.If Mr. Burns is unwilling to do so, then the legislature is under no compunction to take anything he says as possessing any gravitas at all. Indeed, the legislature should consider such a refusal as being indicative of the basic mendacity that is the foundation of cannabis prohibition. For the only thing that Mr. Burns can say with any truthfulness under oath is that Federal law prohibits cannabis. Anything else out of his mouth would be punishable for perjury. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by fight_4_freedom on October 12, 2008 at 20:48:33 PT We've been waiting for you Mr. Burns So I hate to tell you that unfortunately for you, nobody here in Michigan is going to fall for your lies. But if you insist, let the battle begin.VOTE YES ON *PROPOSAL 1* [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on October 12, 2008 at 20:43:01 PT The GCW Compassionate Conservatism is like walking softly but carrying a big stick and then using that stick whenever they want. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by The GCW on October 12, 2008 at 20:27:00 PT Question What ever happened to compassionate conservatism? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by afterburner on October 12, 2008 at 19:18:58 PT ONDCP's Mission Is Not in the Best Interest of USA If Scott "Burns," then why is he trying to stop patients from medicating with the same medicine that the federal government sends to the survivors of the Compassionate New Investigational Drug program?Compassionate New Investigational Drug program http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compassionate_Investigational_New_Drug_program [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on October 12, 2008 at 18:43:12 PT The poll has strong support in recent polls ... Yeah, so send some Federal troops to illegally influence a state election issue ... On a mission from God! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment