Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Great News From Congress!

U.S. House and Senate negotiators agreed on Tuesday on the final details of the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which contains at least three BIG victories for reformers:

* Washington, DC will finally be allowed to implement the medical marijuana initiative that voters overwhelmingly approved in 1998 but has been blocked by Congress each year since then.

* Funding for the White House "drug czar's" ad budget has been slashed by more than a third of its size last year. Studies have repeatedly shown that these ads actually cause teens to use more -- not fewer -- drugs.

* Washington, DC will be able to use federal funds to implement syringe exchange programs.

Here's how Congressional appropriators themselves describe the news:
Removing Special Restrictions on the District of Columbia:...Also allows the District to implement a referendum on use of marijuana for medical purposes as has been done in other states, allows use of Federal funds for needle exchange programs except in locations considered inappropriate by District authorities...

...

National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign: $45 million, $25 million below 2009 and the budget request, for a national ad campaign providing anti-drug messages directed at youth. Reductions were made in this program because of evaluations questioning its effectiveness. Part of the savings was redirected to other ONDCP drug-abuse-reduction programs.
Finally, some great news from Congress!

27 comments:

  1. Wow, this is the best news I've heard in some time. Thanks to everyone who helped make DC a little bit more free. Now to put a law in effect...let's go!

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  2. Wow, that's great to hear. My personal policy fetish is marijuana law, but the needle exchange news will probably help the most people. It's also great to see the ONDCP's propaganda funding decreased substantially.

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  3. Could This be the great beginning of some Common Sense approaches towards both Current and Historical uses of Tax dollars that could result in fiscal Responsibility?

    Focus remaining dollars towards Harm Reduction Programs through Education! Harm Reduction Programs work when we have enough information about any and All substances we consider consuming BEFORE we consume anything!

    Thank you Congress!

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  4. That's one small step for a congress and one gi... er small step for America. :)

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  5. Ironically, I don't care at all that it has to do with marijuana law, just that in the capital of our nation some common sense concerning drug policy is FINALLY happening!

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  6. when is NY going to get it lol

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  7. Slightly rewritten, supplemented, And linked at dailykos. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/9/812470/-Some-GOOD-NEWS-from-Congress!-Drug-Policy

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  8. Finally some logic out of Washington. Now, how long before Congress rectifies the crack cocaine sentencing disparity?

    Enough of this drug war charade!!!!!!

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  10. Credit due Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) who as Chair of the Appropriations Committee led the House conferees. Thank him via his Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Obey/15174295458?filter=3

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  11. Let's see. Let's run ads all over tv showing pictures of people using drugs to people who normally are not thinking of using drugs or at least aren't at that moment.

    hmmm.

    What will the affect be?

    I wonder if McDonalds thinks showing pictures of people eating hamburgers actually STOPS people from eating hamburgers?


    Vivzizi

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  12. This is a step in the right direction indeed! The truth of the matter is, the people who are going to smoke pot will, regardless of legality, those who already don't are not likely suddenly become stoners if it is legalized. Lets free up jail space and tax dollars for better uses. Legalize it, have a structured controll of its distribution, tax it like alcohol and tobacco.

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  13. This is a sick joke right? Congress actually did something smart?

    I want to believe...

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  14. Hi everyone - thanks for all the great comments and welcome to blog for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. We're a group of cops, judges and prosecutors who want to end the War on Drugs. Like you, I am pleased with the changes announced yesterday.

    Ben Masel - thanks for the suggestion. I will send Dave Obey a note via Facebook when I get home from work tonight.

    Cheers, Dave

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  15. If you have any doubts about cannabis being a medicine, or simply wish to educate yourself about its many medical uses, please run a search on "Granny Storm Crow's list- July 2009" for links to hundreds of MMJ studies and articles. And it's about time congress got something right for a change! Thank you, ladies and gentlemen!

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  16. i am very happy knowing that my tax dollars are going to fund a 'healthier' use of heroin to a drug addict thats eventually gunna eat up my tax dollars in rehab or a hospital or both. thank you obama.

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  17. One of the under reported effects of cannabis is a wonderful sense of well being. It is this sense of well being that is responsible for the many medicinal claims attributed to cannabis. It is much easier to ignore discomfort and pain if you have this sense of well being. Furthermore:
    I do believe the end is coming for millions of law enforcement creatures, courts and cities who have had their lips firmly engaged and sucking at the tit of cannabis prohibition for so many years. And the seizure and forfiture laws that seem to me to be an afront to the 4th amendment to the US constitution will suffer too. Oh glory be! The will of the people trumps the ignorance of the law. We will not beg anymore, we will demand you change these laws that have ruined and imprisoned countless of good citizens. We will withhold our votes to anyone who does not get off the fence and work to end these moronic laws, quite simply! Upward of 50 million voters are shouting...Are you listening?

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  18. illegality makes it more attractive to children, plain and simple. it's why I started smoking ciggs. this is good news.

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  19. Well, it would be nice to see drug money go to education, healthcare, and childcare.

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  20. The tide is beginning to turn. I spoke with a person today who thinks that in 2075 people will still be getting locked up for using drugs.These and many other post on other blogs convince me otherwise.

    Georje in baltimore,md

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  21. just goes to show you ,anything for money.don't take it wrong i think its great but it only happened because the country is broke.what will it take to legallize prostitution?

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  22. Yep, it's time to start bringing in the cannabis profit to our elected leaders. It's about time.

    Morons.

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