DOCSLIB.ORG

PATIENTSIN the CROSSFIRE Casualties in the War on Medical Marijuana

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
PATIENTSIN the CROSSFIRE Casualties in the War on Medical Marijuana PATIENTSIN THE CROSSFIRE Casualties in the War on Medical Marijuana Americans for Safe Access © Copyright 2004, Americans for Safe Access, Berkeley, California In loving memory of Cheryl Miller, Asha Davis and Harry McBride, this book is dedicated to all the people who might have been helped by medical marijuana but were denied it. Patients in the Crossfire was largely inspired by the book, Shattered Lives: Portraits From America's Drug War by Mikki Norris, Chris Conrad and Virginia Resner (Creative Xpressions, 2000). Many of the patients' stories and photos included in this publication were adapted from Shattered Lives and their other works -- Human Rights and the US Drug War (2001) and photo exhibit project (see www.hr95.org) that put a human face on the casualties of the Drug War. In addition, Mikki Norris put out a call to solicit new stories of patient harassment at the hands of the government and wrote up many of the stories that responded to this call. She contributed greatly to the making of this project and we appreciate her hard work. Her dedication is an inspiration. PATIENTS IN THE CROSSFIRE TABLE of CONTENTS Preface . 2 Introduction . .3 History of Cannabis as Medicine . .6 Research on Medical Applications . .7 INCARCERATED Jimmy Montgomery . .12 Will Foster . .14 Todd McCormick . .16 James Cox . .18 Marvin Chavez . .20 Bryan Epis . .22 James Burton . .24 Kevin Gage, Tom Kikuchi and Stephanie Landa . .26 Joe Pinson . .29 Michael Teague . .30 Larry Rathbun . .33 PROSECUTED Robert Randall . .34 Barb and Kenny Jenks . .37 Myron Mower . .38 Peter McWilliams . .40 Ed Rosenthal . .42 Norm and Pat Major . .44 Bernie Ellis . .46 Steve Kubby . .48 Mike Foley . .51 Sister Somayah Kambui . .52 Lynn and Judy Osburn . .55 PERSECUTED Shirley Dorsey . .58 “Brownie Mary” Rathbun . .59 Montel Williams . .60 Valerie and Mike Corral . .62 Don Nord . .64 Marlene Rasnick . .66 STEPPING UP Angel McClary Raich . .68 Dan Solano . .70 Cheryl Miller . .72 Where We Are Now . .76 About Americans for Safe Access . .79 PATIENTS IN THE CROSSFIRE PREFACE Every year in America more than 750,000 people are arrested for mar- ijuana crimes, most for simple possession. No good statistics exist to show how many of those people are using that marijuana for medical purposes, as the federal government and most states do not distinguish between recreation- al and medical users. But the reality is that hundreds if not thousands of those arrested are among the sick and dying who have found relief using one of humankind’s oldest and safest therapeutic substances. Many of them are using marijuana on the advice of their doctors. Many more have discussed with their doctors how the marijuana they consume helps with this or that malady. Even more are using it because it helps them feel better, with fewer side effects, than other medications but have never discussed it with anyone out of fear of prosecution or ostracization. Patients in the Crossfire tells the personal stories of people whose lives have been uprooted by prohibition. The casualties in the war on medical mar- ijuana are the people who are helped by it — people with cancer, MS, chron- ic pain, AIDS, glaucoma who have to choose between their health and prison. The refusal to acknowledge medical science and the pleas of doctors and patients is destroying lives. These are the stories of people who deserve our compassion, not federal prison. Yet many of them have been imprisoned for taking care of their own health or the health of others. Many have been prosecuted at great personal cost to themselves and their families. Some have been singled out for perse- cution because they have dared to openly challenge the current federal prohi- bition. And while courage has been required of all of them to fight for their health and their rights, recently a few have been winning, for themselves and all patients. 2 Americans for Safe Access PATIENTS IN THE CROSSFIRE INTRODUCTION Medical marijuana is one of those issues that I hope you never have to worry about. Until I needed it, I know I didn't. No one deserves to become sick or injured. But, unfortunately, some people do. If you can put some time into changing laws now, than maybe it will not be an issue when you or a loved one needs it. In 2000, I sustained a severe neck injury that left me with lack of mobil- ity in my neck, neurological spasms, and severe chronic pain. I had to take painkillers and muscle relaxants to deal with the injury, but after about a year I started having problems with my stomach and kidneys as a result of the medica- tions’ side effects. Six months later, my doctor put me on diuretics and warned me that I might have to start dialysis. I was 23 and terrified. One day in my doctor's examining room, my doctor shut the door behind him and asked, "Do you smoke marijuana?" I told him, "No" He then he asked, "Do you know anyone that does?" He told me that he did not know very much about medical marijuana, but he had had a few patients with similar conditions who were able to cut their medication intake in half by using marijuana. He said he did not want to put me on dialysis, and if I could find some, I should try it. This was the first time that I had ever really thought about marijuana as medicine. I think I had about the same amount of information that most Americans have about the subject. I was in favor of it in principle but did not know much about the state law. I thought medical marijuana was only for people with AIDS or cancer. My support came more from the opinion that people who are dying should not go to jail for using marijuana, than from actual knowledge about marijuana as medicine. But now I was facing my own medical crisis, and the choice between dialysis and marijuana seemed an easy one to make, regard- less of the law. Then came the hard part: access. I called everyone I knew and went through an embarrassing line of questioning: " Do you smoke pot? Do you know anyone that does?" Just like any peer group in the US, I was able to find a few casual users who were able to help me obtain some marijuana to try. I immedi- ately discovered that my doctor was right. It worked. It worked well. Not only was I able to cut my pain medication in half (eventually cut down to 1/5) and save my stomach and kidneys, but medical marijuana also did something I could not have imagined. It gave me my life back. Instead of having foggy days clouded www.SafeAccessNow.org 3 PATIENTS IN THE CROSSFIRE with opiate narcotics and muscle relaxants, I was able to think and act as I had before my injury forced me to take all those other medications. I soon found that it helped with more than just the pain I suffered. When I could take marijuana regularly, I had less problem with the muscle spasms in my neck and back that were slowly pulling my skull and jaw apart, and the side effects were so much less severe than the other drugs I was prescribed. At first it was not hard to get, but the amount I needed was exhausting everyone's supply. So I had to be passed on to the dealer's source. This was absolutely frustrating. I had an experience once were I waited in a Walgreen's parking lot for over 2 hours. When the person finally showed up, I somehow spooked him into thinking I was a cop or some kind of narc. Crying, I begged and pleaded with him not to leave without giving me the marijuana. I was in pain, frustrated and I did not know where to turn. Luckily, soon after that I got a call from a good friend in the San Francisco Bay Area who told me about the medical marijuana dispensaries there. I traveled up for a visit, and in the first moments in the dispensary I knew I would have to move. At my first visit, I found out more about marijuana as medicine than the first 5 months of experimenting. I was surprised to find how many different deliv- ery systems for marijuana were available: cookies, tinctures, vaporizers, salves, etc. As soon as possible, I moved to be closer to the dispensaries. A few months after arriving in the Bay Area, my real education about medical marijuana began. I was there when the feds came to arrest the celebrity cultivation expert Ed Rosenthal and shut the medical marijuana dispensary he was supplying. I couldn't believe the head of the DEA came to San Francisco to announce the raids, and that he was proud of keeping medicine from desperately sick and injured people like me. I started looking at federal law and policies and was horrified to find that while there had been a program for seriously sick Americans to gain access to government-grown marijuana, they had stopped accepting patients into the pro- gram because they were worried it sent the wrong message. I read the Shaffer Report, one of many comprehensive government stud- ies of marijuana that recommended all criminal penalties be removed, and found that my elected officials were ignoring the recommendations of experts. I discovered that citizens had petitioned the DEA to make marijuana available as medicine, but the government stalled for years before holding hear- 4 Americans for Safe Access PATIENTS IN THE CROSSFIRE ings.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Balpam Cover Processed in Desktop
    BALPAM COVER PROCESSED IN DESKTOP CONTENTS Pages Ballot Measures Brief Summary of the Measures. ..................................................................................... 4–7 Legislative Constitutional Amendments Prop. 1 Property Taxes: Contaminated Property. ................................................... 8–9 Prop. 2 Transportation: Funding. ............................................................................ 10–11 Legislative Initiative Amendment Prop. 3 Partisan Presidential Primary Elections. .................................................. 12–15 Initiative Constitutional Amendments and Statutes Prop. 4 Trapping Practices. Bans Use of Specified Traps and Animal Poisons. ... 16–19 Prop. 5 Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. Tribal Casinos. ....................................... 20–23 Prop. 6 Criminal Law. Prohibition on Slaughter of Horses and Sale of Horsemeat for Human Consumption. ..................................................... 24–27 Prop. 7 Air Quality Improvement. Tax Credits. .................................................... 28–33 Prop. 8 Public Schools. Permanent Class Size Reduction. Parent-Teacher Councils. Teacher Credentialing. Pupil Suspension for Drug Possession. Chief Inspector’s Office. ....................................................... 34–39 Prop. 9 Electric Utilities. Assessments. Bonds. ...................................................... 40–43 Prop. 10 State and County Early Childhood Development Programs. Additional Tobacco Surtax. .......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • February 9, 2008 the Free-Content News Source That You Can Write! Page 1
    February 9, 2008 The free-content news source that you can write! Page 1 Top Stories Wikipedia Current Events sentence of Raymond Mata Jr., who was convicted in the murder Hamas militants launch nearly 20 of three-year-old Adam Gomez. rockets at nearby Israeli towns. Mata's sentence was upheld by the •A fire in a nursing home in Egg, court but stayed it stating that Austria kills at least 11 people. when petitioning for a date, the state should establish that it has a •A student shoots two students "constitutionally acceptable and kills herself at Louisiana method of carrying out Mata's Technical College in Baton Rouge, sentence." Louisiana. •Scotland Yard detectives Greece defeats Finland 2-1 in Mitt Romney suspends his investigating the death of former friendly football match United States presidential Prime Minister of Pakistan The Greek national football team campaign Benazir Bhutto say that she died has defeated the Finnish from the effect of a bomb blast equivalent 2-1 in a friendly football Niece of Scientology's leader not gunfire. match. goes public with criticism •A woman attacks two pilots on The niece of Finland scored the first goal in the Eagle Airways flight 2279 from the Church of 66th minute when Alexei Blenheim to Christchurch, New Scientology's Eremenko managed to get the ball Zealand. The aircraft lands safely top leader to uncovered player Jari Litmanen, at Christchurch and the suspect David Miscavige, Jenna Miscavige who in turn put it past substitute is arrested and charged with Hill, has come forward publicly goalkeeper Chrisostomos hijacking and three counts of with criticism of the organization Michailidis.
    [Show full text]
  • Up in Smoke: Removing Marijuana from Schedule I
    UP IN SMOKE (DO NOT DELETE) 4/9/2018 12:38 PM UP IN SMOKE: REMOVING MARIJUANA FROM SCHEDULE I DAVID R. KATNER* I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 167 II. DESCRIPTION OF MARIJUANA AND PUBLIC OPINION .......................... 170 III. HISTORY OF MARIJUANA USES AND LAWS IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD ......................................................................................... 174 IV. CREATION OF SCHEDULES OF DRUGS ................................................ 177 V. EVOLUTION OF MEDICINAL APPLICATIONS OF MARIJUANA ............... 178 VI. ADDICTIVE? ........................................................................................ 181 VII. DISSEMINATED PROPAGANDA ABOUT MARIJUANA, AND LEGAL ARBITRARINESS .............................................................................. 184 VIII. RESCHEDULING MARIJUANA TO SCHEDULE II ................................ 190 IX. REMOVING MARIJUANA ALTOGETHER FROM FEDERAL REGULATION .................................................................................. 195 X. CONCLUSION........................................................................................ 202 I. INTRODUCTION Billions of dollars are spent each year arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating Americans convicted of possession of cannabis or marijuana.1 During the 1970’s, annual marijuana arrests ranged between 420,000 and 500,000 people each year.2 By 1995, there were roughly 600,000 marijuana arrests nationwide, with more Americans being imprisoned
    [Show full text]
  • Considering Marijuana Legalization
    Research Report Considering Marijuana Legalization Insights for Vermont and Other Jurisdictions Jonathan P. Caulkins, Beau Kilmer, Mark A. R. Kleiman, Robert J. MacCoun, Gregory Midgette, Pat Oglesby, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Peter H. Reuter C O R P O R A T I O N For more information on this publication, visit www.rand.org/t/rr864 Published by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. © Copyright 2015 RAND Corporation R® is a registered trademark. Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.html. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at www.rand.org/giving/contribute www.rand.org Preface Marijuana legalization is a controversial and multifaceted issue that is now the subject of seri- ous debate. In May 2014, Governor Peter Shumlin signed Act 155 (S.
    [Show full text]
  • Activists' Cases Riding on Raich and Booker
    —22— O’Shaughnessy’s • Spring 2005 Activists’ Cases Riding on Raich and Booker By Ann Harrison The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Ashcroft v. Raich will have far-ranging consequences for medical cannabis pa- tients, caregivers, growers and dispen- sary operators fighting federal marijuana charges. Directly at stake are the homes, the businesses and the freedom of at least 30 defendants. Their cases were put on hold following a December 2003 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals entitling Diane Monson and Angel Raich and her caregivers to use and cultivate marijuana under California law. The 9th Circuit injunction —which the Bush Administration challenged in Bryan Epis with daughter Ashley (above) after his release from month sentence before being allowed out on bail. While Epis was the U.S. Supreme Court— applies in the federal penitentiary at Lompoc in August 2004, pending the incarcerated, supporters publicized his plight on billboards in Cali- eight western states that have medical outcome of the Raich case. Epis had served 30 months of a 53- fornia. marijuana laws. The injunction has had an indirect The Blakely and Booker decisions sated for ninety-five percent of his grow, nabis Buyers Club. The three cases have effect, too, according to Attorney Omar could change the lives of 64,000 people and did not receive payment for the re- been bundled together as a single case, Figueroa, who says he is seeing differ- sentenced in federal court each year. maining five percent. All of the medical but they have different implications for ent enforcement practices in federal Ninety-seven percent of federal defen- cannabis that he grew was used inside the dispensaries involved.
    [Show full text]
  • San Diego Monday, February 25, 2008As of : 10:38 AM
    MyVote California High School Mock Presidential Primary Election 2008 Results By County: San Diego Monday, February 25, 2008as of : 10:38 AM School Name: Army and Navy Academy Green Party Votes % Jared Ball 0 #Num! Total Number of Ballots Cast: 84 Elaine Brown 0 #Num! Jesse Johnson 0 #Num! Democratic Party Votes % Cynthia McKinney 0 #Num! Joe Biden 1 3.45% Kent Mesplay 0 #Num! Hillary Clinton 1 3.45% Ralph Nader 0 #Num! Chris Dodd 0 0.00% Kat Swift 0 #Num! John Edwards 2 6.90% Mike Gravel 0 0.00% Libertarian Party Votes % Dennis Kucinich 0 0.00% John Finan 0 #Num! Barack Obama 25 86.21% Barry Hess 0 #Num! Bill Richardson 0 0.00% Dave Hollist 0 #Num! Daniel Imperato 0 #Num! Republican Party Votes % Bob Jackson 0 #Num! Sam Brownback 0 0.00% Michael P. Jingozian 0 #Num! John H. Cox 0 0.00% Steve Kubby 0 #Num! Rudy Giuliani 6 14.29% Alden Link 0 #Num! Mike Huckabee 2 4.76% Robert Milnes 0 #Num! Duncan Hunter 0 0.00% George Phillies 0 #Num! Alan Keyes 0 0.00% Wayne A. Root 0 #Num! John McCain 11 26.19% Christine Smith 0 #Num! Ron Paul 21 50.00% Mitt Romney 2 4.76% Peace and Votes % Freedom Party Tom Tancredo 0 0.00% Stewart A. Alexander 0 0.00% Fred Thompson 0 0.00% John Crockford 0 0.00% American Votes % Stanley Hetz 0 0.00% Independent Party Gloria E. La Riva 0 0.00% Don J. Grundmann 0 #Num! Cynthia McKinney 0 0.00% Mad Max Riekse 0 #Num! Brian Moore 0 0.00% Diane Beall Templin 0 #Num! Ralph Nader 1 100.00% Ballot Measures Yes Votes % No Votes % Ballot Measure 1 - Vehicle Registration Fee 3649.32% 37 50.68% Ballot Measure 2 - Required Voting
    [Show full text]
  • The Official High Times Cannabis Cookbook: More Than 50 Irresistible Recipes That Will Get You High
    CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION TO CANNABIS COOKERY CHAPTER 1: Active Ingredients Basic Recipes THC Oil (Cannabis-Infused Oil) Cannacoconut Oil Cannabis-Infused Mayonnaise Simple Cannabutter Long-Simmering Cannabutter Wamm Marijuana Flour Tinctures Quick Cannabis Glycerite Long-Simmering Ganja Glycerin Green Avenger Cannabis Tincture CHAPTER 2: Irie Appetizers Roasted Ganja Garlic Cannellini Dip Hookah Lounge Hummus Green Leafy Kale Salad in Brown Cannabutter Vinaigrette Obama’S Sativa Samosas Stuffed Stoned JalapeñO Poppers Sativa Shrimp Spring Rolls with Mango Sauce Ganja Guacamole Mini Kind Veggie Burritos Pico de Ganja and Nachos Kind Bud Bruschetta with Pot Pesto Stoner Celebrity Favorite: Lil’ Snoop Hot Doggy Doggs CHAPTER 3: Munchie Meals Reggae Rice and Bean Soup Cream of Sinsemilla Soup Tom Yum Ganja Stoner Celebrity Favorite: Texas Cannabis Chili Shroomin’ Broccoli Casserole Om Circle Stuffed Butternut Squash Chicken and Andouille Ganja Gumbo Time-Warp Tamales Red, Green, and Gold Rasta Pasta Potato Gnocchi with Wild Mushroom Ragu Big Easy Eggplant Alfredo Ganja Granny’s Smoked Mac ‘n’ Cheese Psychedelic Spanakopita Sour Diesel Pot Pie Cheeto Fried Chicken Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Mango Chipotle Glaze Pot-and-Pancetta-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Port Mushrooms CHAPTER 4: High Holidays Valentine’s Day, February 14: Sexy Ganja–Dipped Strawberries St. Patrick’s Day, March 17: Green Ganja Garlic Smashed Potatoes 4/20, Cannabis Day, April 20: 420 Farmers’ Market Risotto Independence Day, July 4: Sweet and Tangy Bar–B–Cannabis
    [Show full text]
  • Generally Recognized Candidate List February 5, 2008 Presidential Primary
    GENERALLY RECOGNIZED CANDIDATE LIST FEBRUARY 5, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Joe Biden Democratic Biden for President, Inc. P.O. Box 438 Wilmington, DE 19899 Phone: (302) 574-2008 Website: http://www.joebiden.com/home Hillary Clinton Democratic Hillary Clinton for President 4420 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203 Phone: (703) 469-2008 Website: http://www.hillaryclinton.com Chris Dodd Democratic Chris Dodd for President P.O. Box 51882 Washington, DC 20091 Phone: (202) 737-3633 Website: http://chrisdodd.com/home John Edwards Democratic John Edwards for President 410 Market Street, Suite 400 Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Phone: (919) 636-3131 Website: http://www.johnedwards.com Mike Gravel Democratic Mike Gravel for President P.O. Box 948 Arlington, VA 22216-0948 Phone: (703) 243-8303 Website: http://www.gravel2008.us Dennis Kucinich Democratic Kucinich for President 2008 11808 Lorain Avenue Cleveland, OH 44111 Phone: (877) 41-DENNIS Website: http://www.dennis4president.com/home Page 1 of 7 GENERALLY RECOGNIZED CANDIDATE LIST FEBRUARY 5, 2008 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY Barack Obama Democratic Obama for America P.O. Box 8102 Chicago, IL 60680 Phone: (866) 675-2008 Website: http://www.barackobama.com/ Bill Richardson Democratic National Headquarters - Albuquerque Office 111 Lomas Blvd. NW, Suite 200 Albuquerque, NM 87102 Phone: (505) 828-2455 Website: http://www.richardsonforpresident.com Sam Brownback Republican Brownback for President, Inc. Website: http://www.brownback.com John Cox Republican John Cox for President P.O. Box 5353 Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-5353 Phone: (877) 234-3800 Website: http://www.cox2008.com/cox Rudy Giuliani Republican Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, Inc. 295 Greenwich St, #371 New York, NY 10007 Phone: (212) 835-9449 Website: http://www.joinrudy2008.com Mike Huckabee Republican Huckabee for President, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Election Results
    Election Summary Report Date:02/02/08 Time:11:46:35 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION Page:1 of 2 Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races ZERO REPORT Registered Voters 143441 - Cards Cast 0 0.00% Num. Report Precinct 140 - Num. Reporting 0 0.00% PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED DEM PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED GRN STATES - DEMOCRATIC PARTY Total STATES - GREEN PARTY Total Number of Precincts 140 Number of Precincts 140 Precincts Reporting 0 0.0 % Precincts Reporting 0 0.0 % Times Counted 0/0 Times Counted 0/0 Total Votes 0 Total Votes 0 MIKE GRAVEL 0 N/A CYNTHIA MCKINNEY 0 N/A JOHN EDWARDS 0 N/A JESSE JOHNSON 0 N/A CHRIS DODD 0 N/A RALPH NADER 0 N/A HILLARY CLINTON 0 N/A JARED BALL 0 N/A JOE BIDEN 0 N/A ELAINE BROWN 0 N/A BARACK OBAMA 0 N/A KAT SWIFT 0 N/A BILL RICHARDSON 0 N/A KENT MESPLAY 0 N/A DENNIS KUCINICH 0 N/A Write-in Votes 0 N/A Write-in Votes 0 N/A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED LIB PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REP STATES - LIBERTARIAN PARTY Total STATES - REPUBLICAN PARTY Total Number of Precincts 140 Number of Precincts 140 Precincts Reporting 0 0.0 % Precincts Reporting 0 0.0 % Times Counted 0/0 Times Counted 0/0 Total Votes 0 Total Votes 0 BOB JACKSON 0 N/A ALAN KEYES 0 N/A WAYNE A. ROOT 0 N/A MIKE HUCKABEE 0 N/A STEVE KUBBY 0 N/A DUNCAN HUNTER 0 N/A JOHN FINAN 0 N/A FRED THOMPSON 0 N/A BARRY HESS 0 N/A TOM TANCREDO 0 N/A DAVE HOLLIST 0 N/A RUDY GIULIANI 0 N/A ALDEN LINK 0 N/A JOHN H.
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Marijuana the War on Drugs and the Drug Policy Reform Movement
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ FROM THE FRONTLINES TO THE BOTTOM LINE: MEDICAL MARIJUANA THE WAR ON DRUGS AND THE DRUG POLICY REFORM MOVEMENT A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction Of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in SOCIOLOGY by Thomas R. Heddleston June 2012 The Dissertation of Thomas R. Heddleston is approved: ____________________________________ Professor Craig Reinarman, Chair ____________________________________ Professor Andrew Szasz ____________________________________ Professor Barbara Epstein ___________________________________ Tyrus Miller Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Copyright © by Thomas R. Heddleston 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1 Chapter I: The History, Discourse, and Practice of Punitive Drug Prohibition 38 Chapter II: Three Branches Of Reform, The Drug Policy Reform Movement From 1964 To 2012 91 Chapter III: Sites of Social Movement Activity 149 Chapter IV: The Birth of Medical Marijuana In California 208 Chapter V: A Tale of 3 Cities Medical Marijuana 1997-2011 245 Chapter VI: From Movement to Industry 303 Conclusion 330 List of Supplementary Materials 339 References 340 iii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 2.1: Major Organizations in the Drug Policy Reform Movement by Funding Source and Organizational Form 144 Table 3.1: Characteristics of Hemp Rallies Attended 158 Table 3.2: Drug Policy Organizations and the Internet 197 Figure 4.1: Proposition 215 Vote November 1996 241 Table 5.1: Political Opportunity Structures and Activist Tools 251 Table 5.2: Key Aspects of Political Opportunity Structures at 3 Levels of Government 263 Figure 5.1: Medical Cannabis Dispensaries by Region and State 283 iv ABSTRACT Thomas R. Heddleston From The Frontlines to the Bottom Line: Medical Marijuana the War On Drugs and the Drug Policy Reform Movement The medical marijuana movement began in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1990s in a climate of official repression.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimated Amount of Tax Revenue Generated by Legalization
    THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS IS THE GRASS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAW?: THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA MICHELLE EVERT Spring 2010 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for baccalaureate degrees in Economics and Spanish with honors in Economics Reviewed and approved* by the following: David Shapiro Professor of Economics and Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies Thesis Supervisor and Honors Adviser Bee Yan Roberts Professor of Economics and Asian Studies Faculty Reader * Signatures are on file in the Schreyer Honors College. Abstract This thesis will discuss a variety of economic implications that could result from the legalization of marijuana. It will provide background information on marijuana laws and drug policy, including arguments for and against legalization. Next, the thesis will discuss the estimated tax revenue that can be obtained if marijuana were legalized, drawing on reports by Dr. Jeffrey Miron, Dr. Jon Gettman, and Max Chaiken. The following section presents a cost- savings analysis as argued by Dr. Jeffrey Miron. The thesis will then examine other economic issues affected by legalization and determines that there is the possibility for a successful hemp industry in the United States as well as positive economic implications for Mexico. Finally, the thesis concludes with a libertarian perspective on the issue to demonstrate the way a good number of economists view drug policy an alternative view of legalization outside of the mainstream Democratic and Republican perspectives. i. Table of Contents I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 II. Background Information ........................................................................................................ 4 III. Arguments For and Against Marijuana Legalization .........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Drug War Deadlock
    Hoover Press : Huggins/Deadlock hhugdw ch5 Mp_217 rev1 page 217 PART FIVE What about Marijuana? Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could. William F. Buckley, Jr. New York Post February 27, 1999 No drug matches the threat posed by marijuana. John Walters Office of National Drug Control Policy November 2003 Hoover Press : Huggins/Deadlock hhugdw ch5 Mp_218 rev1 page 218 Hoover Press : Huggins/Deadlock hhugdw ch5 Mp_219 rev1 page 219 An End to Marijuana Prohibition: The Drive to Legalize Picks Up Ethan A. Nadelmann Ethan A. Nadelmann is the founder and director of the Drug Policy Alliance. This selection first appeared in National Review, July 12, 2004. Never before have so many Americans supported decriminalizing and even legalizing marijuana. Seventy-two percent say that for sim- ple marijuana possession, people should not be incarcerated but fined: the generally accepted definition of “decriminalization.”1 Even more Americans support making marijuana legal for medical pur- poses. Support for broader legalization ranges between 25 and 42 percent, depending on how one asks the question.2 Two of every five Americans—according to a 2003 Zogby poll—say “the government should treat marijuana more or less the same way it treats alcohol: It should regulate it, control it, tax it, and only make it illegal for chil- dren.”3 Close to 100 million Americans—including more than half of those between the ages of 18 and 50—have tried marijuana at least Copyright ᭧ 2004 Ethan A.
    [Show full text]