What would an election year be without some high-grade (snark) hypocrisy about marijuana use?
From MPP's Bruce Mirken:
McCain’s VP Pick Acknowledged Marijuana Use
On Aug. 6, 2006, the Anchorage Daily News reported:
Palin said she has smoked marijuana — remember, it was legal under state law, she said, even if illegal under U.S. law — but says she didn’t like it and doesn’t smoke it now.
‘I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled.’
The paper quoted Palin as saying she opposed legalization of marijuana because of the "message" that would be sent to her children.
I know, you're all in shock that another politician admits using marijuana, but says they think it should still be illegal "for the children."
Pelosi, Biden, and Massachusetts decrim below the fold.
From MPP's Ben Morris:
Nancy Pelosi tells users at Digg.com to push for medical marijuana Quoting Pelosi:
"I myself have supported medicinal use of marijuana over and over again ... there just isn’t enough support for it," said Speaker Pelosi. She then called on the public to help raise awareness about the issue, saying, "We need people’s help to be in touch with their members of Congress to say why [medical marijuana] should be the case."
From a MPP email alert:
We just got some encouraging news from Massachusetts: 71% of Massachusetts residents support a landmark ballot initiative to decriminalize marijuana possession in the state, according to a new statewide poll from Boston's Suffolk University and the local NBC affiliate.
The initiative will be on Massachusetts' ballot this November 4. If it passes, it would remove the threat of arrest or jail for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana, replacing it with a $100 fine — which could be paid through the mail without lawyers or court appearances, just like a speeding ticket.
The survey results are here.
DPA's Ethan Nadelmann issues statement on Biden and his stance on the Drug War:
Sen. Joe Biden is unquestionably one of the chief architects of the modern war on drugs, but is also an unlikely ally in many important fights. He has been at the center of many of our national campaigns; perhaps more so than any other Senator.
"Earlier this year, Sen. Biden surprised many by introducing legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Hillary Clinton, to completely eliminate the 100-to-1 crack/powder cocaine sentencing disparity, leapfrogging more modest reforms put forth by Senators Kennedy, Hatch, Sessions and others. Like many members of Congress, he voted for the legislation in the 1980s that created the disparity. Unlike most though, Sen. Biden has the guts and humility to admit he was wrong.
but
On the other hand, Sen. Biden played a major role in enacting the draconian mandatory minimum sentences, in the 1980s, which have filled our prisons with nonviolent drug law offenders. And he sponsored the law creating the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), giving Bill Bennett and other drug war extremists a national stage and increased power. More recently, he passed the RAVE Act, which makes it easier for the government to prosecute bar and nightclub owners for the drug law offenses of their customers.
Please contact your Representatives via MPP about reforming marijuana laws! Support H.R. 5842 and H.R. 5843.