Import Temp

Medical Marijuana Scores Major Win as Court Upholds California Measures

Judge Sides with ACLU, Drug Policy Alliance and Americans for Safe Access in Affirming States' Ability to Depart from Federal Scheme

SAN DIEGO, December 6 - A San Diego Superior Court today handed a critical victory to medical marijuana patients nationwide, affirming the ability of states to exempt qualified patients from criminal penalties, despite federal policy that prohibits all marijuana use.

Margaret Dooley at 858-336-3685 or Tamar Todd at 510-229-5213

New Jersey State Assembly and Senate to Vote on Sterile Syringe Access Legislation to Prevent the Spread of HIV/AIDS

Voting Sessions Scheduled for Monday, December 11; Assembly session at 1 p.m.; Senate session at 2 p.m.; Bills Would Allow Municipal Syringe Access Programs and Non-prescription Sale of Limited Numbers of Syringes in Pharmacies
Public Health, Medical and HIV Prevention Advocates Rejoice As Life-Saving Legislation Moves Forward

Trenton- New Jersey is yet another step closer to allowing a life-saving syringe access program. The General Assembly and Senate will both hold floor votes on Monday, December 11 on Assembly bills 1852 and 2839 and Senate bill 494 respectively. The Assembly voting session is scheduled at 1 p.m. and the Senate voting session is scheduled at 2 p.m.

A1852 would allow for the establishment of municipal syringe exchange programs and A2839 would allow for non-prescription pharmacy sales of up to ten syringes.

Roseanne Scotti at 609-610-8243 or Tommy McDonald at 212-613-8036

San Francisco Board of Supervisors Vote Overwhelmingly to Deprioritize Adult Marijuana Offenses; Now Officially Lowest Law Enforcement Priority

Measure Supported by SF Police and Drug Policy Reform Advocates
SF Joins Seattle, Denver, Oakland, West Hollywood and More in Passing Measures that Free Police From Wasting Scarce Resources

On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8-3, to approve an ordinance deprioritizing low-level marijuana offenses by adults. The decision is pending the formality of a second reading next Tuesday.

With Tuesday's approval, San Francisco has sent a clear message that our country's marijuana laws are ripe for real reform. The county is not the first to pass such a measure.

Camilla Norman Field at (415) 713-2388

California's Medical Marijuana Laws Get Nod From Court

Ruling Would Deny Counties

San Diego--Medical marijuana patients around the country scored a major win today, as a California Superior Court judge issued a preliminary ruling that state medical marijuana laws can co-exist with the federal law that prohibits all use.

Following oral arguments by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Safe Access and the Drug Policy Alliance, as well as the California Attorney General's office, a San Diego Superior Court judge appeared poised to reject the contention of three California counties -- San Diego, San Bernardino and Merced -- that the state's medical mari

US Prison, Parole and Probation Population Skyrockets; 1 in 32 Adults Incarcerated or Court Supervised, Department of Justice Report Shows

Drug Offenses Account for Prison Population Boom
Incarcerating Nonviolent Drug Offenders Wastes Billions of Dollars; Destroys Lives

A record 7 million people - 1 in 32 American adults - were behind bars, probation or parole by the end of last year, according to a report released today by the Justice Department.

Drug law violations play a disproportionate role.

Tony Newman at 646-335-5384 or Tommy McDonald at 212-613-8036

Federal Appeals Court Slaps Ashcroft for Violating Constitution in Medical Marijuana Raids

Court Nixes Federal Police Jurisdiction Because No Interstate Commerce Involved in Patient

In a landmark ruling yesterday, a federal court in California affirmed the right of sick patients to grow and use marijuana to treat their illnesses. The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a 2-1 decision that so long as patients do not pay for the drug, they cannot be prosecuted by the federal government.

"After this case, patients can collectively breathe a sigh of relief" said Judy Appel, The Drug Policy Alliance's Deputy Director of Legal Affairs.

Tony Newman at 212-613-8026 or Elizabeth Mendez Berry at 212-613-8036

Prop. 36 'Realignment' Deferred, Probably Dead As a Concept

Gov. Davis Drops Proposal to Shift Prop. 36 to Counties Amid Legal Hurdles, Opposition by Legislators and Initiative Sponsors

SACRAMENTO, May 14 - Gov. Gray Davis effectively conceded defeat today in his effort to force "realignment" of Prop. 36 funds and programs, with his May revision of the budget punting the concept until next year.

Bill Zimmerman, who managed the campaign for Prop. 36 and serves on the Statewide Advisory Group supervising implementation, said, "TheDavis administration hatched a flawed plan for realignment and then failed to admit its own mistakes. That caused the whole package to be delayed.

Roberta Green, Campaign for New Drug Policies at (310) 394-2952 or Whitney Taylor, Drug Policy Alliance at (916) 444-3751

Proposed Bill Would Allow Drug Czar to Spend Taxpayer Dollars on Partisan Ads

In a First, White House Could Fight Local Reform Efforts and Candidates With Public Funds
House Committee Likely to Vote This Week

A House Subcommittee approved legislation last week that contains a provision allowing the White House to spend taxpayer money on television ads to influence voters to reject drug policy reforms. If enacted, the White House could launch an unprecedented advertising campaign to influence voters with their own money, including running government-sponsored ads against state and local voter-led ballot measures.

Tony Newman at 212-613-8026 or Shayna Samuels at 646-523-6961

Largest Ever Federally-Funded Study of Student Drug Testing Shows It Does Not Deter Drug Use Among Teens

Local School Districts Urged to Say No to Spending Precious Education Dollars on Useless Programs
Parents Organizing Against Drug Testing in their Children

Flying in the face of last year's Supreme Court decision allowing drug testing of students who participate in extra-curricular activities, the largest nationwide study of student drug testing recently found no difference in drug use rates between students of schools that have drug testing programs and those that do not.

Tony Newman at 212-613-8026 or Shayna Samuels at 212-613-8037
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