-Caveat Lector- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =============================== NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org =============================== For release: December 21, 2000 =============================== For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =============================== After 4 million arrests, Clinton is a 'shameless hypocrite' on legalizing pot WASHINGTON, DC -- President Clinton is a "shameless hypocrite" for advocating the decriminalization of marijuana in a new Rolling Stone magazine interview -- after he stood by silently as 4 million Americans were arrested on marijuana charges during his administration, the Libertarian Party said today. "Shame on Bill Clinton for remaining silent for so long," said Steve Dasbach, the party's national director. "Where was this shameless hypocrite for the last eight years, as millions of Americans were arrested -- and tens of thousands were jailed -- for using a drug that Clinton himself used, and now admits should be decriminalized?" In the December 28 issue of Rolling Stone, Clinton strongly criticized the War on Drugs in general and marijuana laws in particular. In the interview, conducted days before the November election, the president asserted that "we really need a re-examination of our entire policy on imprisonment" of drug users, and said marijuana use "should be decriminalized." The remarks are "frankly, shocking," said Dasbach, because Clinton has waged a more vicious War on Marijuana than any other president in U.S. history. * Since Clinton assumed office, 4,175,357 Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, according to FBI figures -- 88% of them for simple possession. * The number of people arrested for marijuana increased during seven of the eight years that Clinton has been president, climaxing in a record 704,812 arrests in 1999. * Approximately 36,560 people are in jail today after being convicted solely of marijuana charges, according to the Washington, DC- based Marijuana Policy Project. * Clinton has "even taken the lead in prosecuting AIDS and cancer victims who use medical marijuana, and the doctors who prescribe it," said Dasbach. After California voters passed a statewide medical marijuana initiative in 1996, Clinton ordered his drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, to threaten California doctors with federal prosecution and loss of their licenses if they recommended the drug to their patients. Given these facts, said Dasbach, it's odd that Clinton chose to speak out against marijuana laws just a few weeks before he left office. "Why did Clinton remain uncharacteristically silent for eight years as more than 4 million Americans were arrested, handcuffed, and hauled down to the police station?" asked Dasbach. "And why did he continue his silence as thousands of Americans every day watched their lives, families, and careers destroyed by a crime that Clinton now admits shouldn't be a crime at all? Perhaps because Bill Clinton always cared far more about his own political viability than he ever did about doing what's right -- which makes him a coward with a capital C." However, it's not too late for Clinton to redeem himself, said Dasbach. "Instead of simply suggesting a re-examination of drug laws, Clinton should spend his remaining days as president trying to repair the damage he's done -- starting with a public apology and a presidential pardon for every American who has been victimized by marijuana laws," he said. "If Clinton really means what he said, it's his last chance to put justice above politics." -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBOkPwhtCSe1KnQG7RAQEgUQQAh8hJUWgzbCuBTSlhOdorGBcE0vVq3hpA Kh95IPKXow6x8OdpXAJ8z75bvvc2fGV/yo9M0Eq8kup4HUNSiSvEq0+F2qwoEzST BO/3bkvXgodvdEhJ0hnYxeY2Ej4/c+n/0XauUEdppWw0mNbb1Z2rx3LS3SQoOKHY hDQ44xgNfY4= =pBnP -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/ 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008 Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For subscription changes, please use the WWW form at: http://www.lp.org/action/email.html Alternatively, you may also send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with just the word "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" in the subject line. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. 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