CC Summer 1995: Milestones

Milestones
Significant events from around the world

May 9-10 (USA)
A gathering of law enforcement officers from across the USA gave their overwhelming support to an end to the War on Drugs at a Law Enforcement Summit Conference held at the Hoover Institution. The group was addressed by former secretary of state George P. Schultz, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke of Baltimore, and Mayor Frank M. Jordan of San Francisco.

May 16 (AUSTRALIA)
Australia's first legal planting of hemp seeds within living memory took place in South Australia. It was part of a trial which could result in the full-scale production of cannabis fibre for commercial use. The hemp was planted on a one hectare site at Arthurton on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula.

May 18 (USA)
The California Assembly approved a bill to legalize the medicinal use, possession, and cultivation of marijuana by patients with a physician's recommendation. Supporters are optimistic that it will also pass the State Senate. Since Gov. Wilson has indicated he will veto the bill, activists are planning an initiative drive to put the bill on the 1996 ballot. The initiative drive, scheduled to begin August 15th, is sponsored by Californians for Compassionate Use, (415) 675-9985.

May 23 (CANADA)
The Ministry of Health announced that it had issued seven cannabis cultivation licenses to four individuals for the 1995 growing season. It is not known at this time if more licenses were issued after this date.

June 6 (USA)
Former Justice Department official Michael Abell and two former federal prosecutors were among more than 60 people charged by the DEA for being part of a drug smuggling conspiracy. Abell is a lawyer who once headed the International Affairs Division of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and was charged for activities occuring after he left government service and began to represent cartel leader Gilberto Rodriguez-Orejuela.

The Boston Globe ran an opinion piece the next day about the indictments of the federal prosecutors. It said "drug money is unstoppable. When the prosecutors have to be prosecuted, it's time to give up. The drug war is over. We lost."

June 9 (HOLLAND)
The Dutch Chiefs of Police unanimously agreed that the fight against the drug trade had failed, and they advised the Dutch government to make every possible effort to promote a further decriminalization of the trade in "soft" drugs internationally.

June 12 (USA)
The Oregon Senate killed an effort to recriminalize marijuana possession due, in part, to the lack of support from key Republican Senators and from effective last- minute lobbying by concerned Oregonians.

June 15 (CANADA)
Bill C-7, the proposed Controlled Drugs & Substances Act, was withdrawn until next year. The announcement was unexpected and explained as being necessary for the "democratic process." See page 16 for more information.

June 18 (CANADA)
The Province newspaper reported that simple drug possession in Vancouver would no longer be prosecuted under new federal guidelines. This victory is the first step towards total decriminalization. For the complete story see page 16.

June 21 (USA)
The Journal of the American Medical Association printed an article which explained how doctors should be able to prescribe marijuana for their patients. The article was by NORML Board Chairman, Lester Grinspoon, MD of Harvard Medical School and James B. Bakalar, also of Harvard. Although it does not reflect the official position of the AMA, it was printed after review by the Journal's editorial board.
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