NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre
C-Span TV: Marijuana Legalization and California Ballot Initiative Prop. 19 To Be Debated and Discussed This Saturday; NORML Director Allen St. Pierre vs. Former DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson
October 8, 2010
Dear NORML Members and Supporters:
I’ve been invited back to C-Span to debate and discuss the topics of cannabis legalization, and specifically California’s upcoming vote on Prop. 19, a measure that if approved by the voters will effectively legalize cannabis in America’s most important state politically and economically.
Former Drug Enforcement Administration chief and Republican congressman from Arkansas Asa Hutchinson has stepped up to argue in favor of the status quo and continuing into a ninth decade of Cannabis Prohibition.
The live interview is scheduled to broadcast Saturday morning (10/9/10) on C-Span TV, 9:15am – 10:00am (eastern…sorry west coasters!). Like most C-Span shows, the public is invited to ask questions or make short commentary.
To watch online, go to: http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN.aspx
This C-Span interview is likely the result of the Wall Street Journal publishing an unprecedented jointly signed letter earlier this week by every previous DEA administrator predictably calling for the Obama administration to actively oppose politically viable cannabis legalization voter initiatives in places like California (just the way they did).
Is the body politic (and the mainstream media that has so aptly aided and abetted these technocrats’ blatant disregard for democracy, science, compassion and common sense) really, really nervous about the cataclysmic blow that California voters are about to level on a self-evidently failed federal government public policy—another ‘war’ lost by government?
What do you think?
See you on the TV and kind regards,
-Allen St. Pierre
Executive Director
NORML
Washington, D.C.
**If you’re a CA resident, please make sure to vote for Prop. 19 on November 2nd…if you don’t live in CA and support ending Cannabis Prohibition, please donate now to: yeson19.com
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In Allen’s defense, he is the Executive Director and appearing on C-SPAN. He needs to be as approachable to a senior citizen inside-the-beltway policy wonk audience as possible.
Sucker punches are more my domain.
I believe there is a link to the archived episode on our front page at http://norml.org
Watched Allen and what an easy day for him, all the callers wanted to address formers DEA guy and he was trying to defend his point but they just kept bombing him with more questions. Allen was cool and calm and to the point, just sucks that the moderator didnt make sure he got to rebut what the DEA guy said! Just a lot of lies from the DEA guy and more truth from the callers and Allen, when will they learn the people are speaking we want the war on drugs over!
So, my east-coast a** didn’t get the email until this afternoon! Is there anywhere that I can watch it? or did I miss out? :(
Allen St. Pierre never hit Asa with any good sucker punches. Like asking for an explanation of exactly why marijuana was made illegal to begin with—
“Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men’s shadows and look at a white woman twice.” (Hearst newspapers nationwide, 1934)
“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana can cause white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.”
- Federal Bureau of Narcotics Director Harry J. Anslinger,
“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races”
- Federal Bureau of Narcotics Director Harry J. Anslinger, 1930
“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality and death.”
“Marijuana is the most violence causing drug in the history of mankind.”
“[Smoking] one [marihuana] cigarette might develop a homicidal mania, probably to kill his brother.” (see US Government Propaganda To Outlaw Marijuana - http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/t3.htm )
The next question is why lies belong in the legal code.
Not a marijuana user myself but but I am extremely frustrated by right wing attempts both increase government regulation (on things that they don’t like) and with the same breath call for the decrease of government involvement in the lives of Americans. They speak about freedom but what they really are after is ideological shift in the US from a reasonable progressiveness to a more narrow, oligarchical, homogeneous society where rights can be freely abused due to its leaders promotion of ignorance and fear.
My “west coast” a** was up and watched. Hutchinson spewed the same tired old nonsense. He made all sorts of presumptions, some of which were just ridiculous, like the idea that prop 19 would lead to the federal government suing, like they did in Arizona about illegal immigration.
The problem is, marijuana and immigration are not the same. If prop 19 opened the door to interstate and or international trade in marijuana, then yes, I can see federal intervention. However, prop 19 is about individual freedoms, and resource spending in our state only.
Hopefully its been dvr’d for Russ, and he can pick it apart in more detail and finesse than me!
Go intellectually kick his ass, Mr. St. Pierre!
Be sure to put him in a nice bind, such as asking whether drug policy is based on science and fact, or ideology. I’m sure he’ll say science, then you can bombard his stupid ass by mentioning the Schaffer commission report, or why the DEA didn’t pay any mind to their own judge, Francis Young, etc.
LOL, what the hell am I giving you advice for? You’re the expert!
Anyway, go get him!