EVENTFUL WEEK IN STATES' DRUG WARS

The week of Sept. 19 was an interesting and eventful one in the War on
Drugs; particularly concerning marijuana. It started off with a skirmish
between a presidential candidate and members of the press, had a couple of
full-fledged assaults on democracy and ended with a call for common sense
in the mindless war on drugs.

Presidential candidate Bill Bradley was being interviewed on Sam
Donaldson's and Cokie Roberts' Sunday morning TV talk show. During the
interview with the former senator, Donaldson decided to stick the Bush
question to Bradley. Have you done drugs? To Bradley's credit, he did not
flinch, and said something like, "Sure, I smoked marijuana a couple of
times in college."

What Donaldson did not expect was the table to be turned on him. Bradley
asked Donaldson the same question! Mr. Donaldson stiffened, gulped and
managed to stammer that he had also smoked pot. The vignette did not stop
there, it was Cokie Roberts' turn. This well-respected and accomplished
reporter lowered her head to avoid eye contact with the camera and mumbled
something in the affirmative.

Monday, the Washington, D.C., Board of Elections was ordered by federal
Judge Roberts to release the vote results that had been suppressed for
nearly 10 months by congressional action and presidential concurrence. For
those who are not aware, in November 1998, District of Columbia citizens
voted on a ballot initiative on the medical use of marijuana for serious
illnesses with a doctor's recommendation, but were denied the results of
their vote.

Congressman Bob Barr, R-Ga., slipped in a quick bill to suppress the vote.
The citizens of Washington, D.C., have just now learned they had voted
overwhelmingly in support of the ballot initiative by a more than 2-to-1
margin. Congress has vowed to overturn the medical marijuana vote.

Wednesday, the citizens of Colorado found out that they, too, were the
subject of government action that challenged the principles of democracy.
In the summer of 1998, Secretary of State Vikki Buckley was presented with
a petition containing more than 80,000 signatures asking for a referendum
on medical marijuana. Buckley rejected the petition saying there were not
enough valid signatures.

This summer, Buckley died of a heart condition, and her successor, Donetta
Davidson, discovered the petitioners did indeed have more than enough valid
signatures. As a result, Secretary Davidson ruled that the question will be
on the November 2000 ballot. Sixty-six pages of petitions were found in
Vikki Buckley's desk after her death.

On the other side of the country, Maine has scheduled a medical marijuana
referendum question for this November's election. Approval of this
referendum would allow Mainers to possess a usable amount of marijuana for
medical use if a physician believes it would help prevent patients
suffering from persistent nausea and vomiting due to cancer treatment,
seizures and a few other specified ailments. A Maine poll released this
week found overwhelming support for the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

In fact, it was nearly the same percentage as the suppressed Washington,
D.C., vote with 69 percent supporting the referendum.

The week wrapped up Friday with some wise words from Hugh Downs on his
final night on the TV show "20/20". He has long kept his opinion of our
failed drug policy under wraps. Mr. Downs quite clearly stated his support
for decriminalization of marijuana. He went on to say the federal
government should respect the states' referendums on medical marijuana.

At this time, 20 percent of United States' citizens live in states that
have passed a medical marijuana referendum. But Congress still believes it
is their duty to override democracy in their zeal for a drug-free nation.

Do you want to see a congressman or senator squirm? Ask them if they
support the suppression of democracy in their Jihad, the Holy War on Drugs.