(04/01/02): Fundraiser for DCCC on Saturday April 13th

It is becoming clear that the Kilpatrick Administration is intent on derailing the democratic process by keeping the Detroit Medical Marijuana Initiative off of this August's ballot in Detroit.  Despite the fact that the initiative language was reviewed by the city, that the requisite number of signatures was collected and that the signatures were certified by the City Clerk . . . Kwame is intent on litigating the inititative from the August ballot.  In order to assist with legal defence we are encouraging Metro Detroit Activists to attend the "Wine Tasting Fundraiser" described below.

"Wine Tasting Fundraiser" to benefit the "Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care" (DCCC) on Sat. April 13th, 7 to 10 pm at the Detroit Gaelic League (Irish-American Club), 2062 Michigan Ave... 3 blocks west of old Tiger Stadium.  Minimum requested donation is $35 per person. Hors d' oeuvres, door Prizes, raffles and the like will be availible. Come what may, it  will honor the memory of drug policy reform activist and martyr Peter McWilliams and give all of us a part in the Detroit Medical Marijuana Initiative. There is no obligation for anyone to attend if unable. Checks should be made payable to the "Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care" and mailed to: 660 Woodward Ave, suite 1141,  Detroit, Mich. 48226. As this is a legal ballot initiative, corporate or individual checks in any amount will be accepted. We are determined to see this through, come what may.

(02/10/02): DCCC Chairman meets with Detroit's New Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick

DCCC Chairman Tim Beck met with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Sat Feb. 9th at 3:50 pm. The meeting was brief. When asked about his position on the Detroit Medical Marijuana Initiative in front of several witnesses he said: "I'm not for it, "I'm not against it, I don't endorse it and I'm not going to fight it. Just keep doing your thing man."   This statement is consistent with an earlier statement the Mayor made to drug reform activist Adam Brook, when Adam questioned him on the same issue shortly after his election as Mayor......  On the legal front, either by accident or design, neither the Detroit Law Department or any other entiy filed the paperwork necessary to keep the initiative off the ballot within the commonly accepted 30 day window of opportunity, which officially closed on Feb. 7th. DCCC legal counsel intends to move aggressivly this comming week to lock in this advantage and smoke out any legal opposition that may still be lurking under the rocks.  Will keep you updated as things evolve.  Seems like we are running on a real good track at the moment.  All the best, Tim B.

(01/28/02):Detroit's New Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, to discuss the Detroit Medical Marijuana Initiative on February 7th:

Tim Beck, Chairman of the Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care (DCCC), provided some insights as to why February 7th is significant for the Detroit Medical Marijuana Initiative (DMMI):

"The significance of February 7th is that this is the final deadline for the city council to either pass this measure into law  or vote to send it to the voters in the next election (in August) if the Detroit Legal Department does not make a move by that date, then the law is very clear---- it must go to the voters, the council has no choice. We suspect the Law Department will wait until the last minute, in order to keep things in suspense and keep us guessing. This would be the most effective strategy in order to destabilize what we have going.  If they don't make a move, then in theory as we know it, we should be home free."  

"The Law Department must issue some ruling prior to Feb. 7th. If they don't, then in theory, we "win".  So..... all we can do is wait out their threats. We are not going to make any further legal moves until they do---- which could be any day. We will let you know immediately when something develops."

In a recent email from Tim Beck (01/27/01) he confirms that a meeting with Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, is being scheduled for this deadline date of February 7th.  Let us just hope that Kwame turns out to be a progressive thinker who will at least allow the voters their right to vote on the merits of the DMMI this August.  More importantly let us hope that Kwame does not use this meeting to announce his strategy to derail DMMI:  an initiative that has already received certification by the voters of Detroit.

(01/14/02): The City of Detroit may be attempting to derail
the Detroit Medical Marijuana Initiative (DMMI):

Beginning In November 2001 Tim Beck, Chairman of the Detroit Coalition for Compassionate Care (DCCC), launched a ballot initiative in the City of Detroit which goes by the name of the Detroit Medical Marijuana (DMMI) initiative.  The DMMI  is similar to an initiative that was successfully executed  in Mendocino, CA.  If the voters of Detroit pass this initiative, in August 2002, the following should occur:

* The city charter will be amended to make users of Medical Marijuana the Police Department's lowest priority
* Funding for prosecution of all such cases will be eliminated.

If it is not yet obvious, NAC, thoroughly endorses this initiative and will do everything in our power to make sure it gets on the Detroit ballot in August, 2002.   Other supporter of DMMI include: (1) former Detroit Police Chief Isaiah McKinnon, (2) Wayne State University School of Medicine Professor Dr. Eugene Perrin (3) Wayne County Commissioner George Cushingberry Jr and (4) NAC editor Professor Hemp.  Professor Hemp believes that the voters of Detroit will pass this initiative IF they get the chance.

Tim Beck was very careful to follow all of the proper guidelines pertaining to initiatives in the City of Detroit.   Prior to collecting voter signatures, for DMMI, the language was cleared with the City of Detroit.  In less than two months Tim was able to collect more than the required 6,141 signatures and the City quickly certified that the required number had been collected.  In a perfect world the DMMI should have a guaranteed place on the ballot.  But a cloud appeared on the horizon somewhere around the second week of January, 2002.

The DCCC anticipates some kind of legal action as early as this coming week (01/14/02) to stop the DMMI initiative from appearing on the Detroit ballot in August.   According to a reliable high level Detroit government official, the Detroit Law Department will institute some kind of legal action based upon the premise that that the proposal is an "illegal" initiative.  The Metro Times (01/15/02), through Election Department Director Isa Azzouz, also confirmed that "the city's legal eagles were squawking.  The purported rational, for derailing DMMI,  is expected to go something like this:

*  Detroit City Council cannot "prioritize" the affairs of any city department (only the Mayor has such authority, according to this reasoning).   The City Council also has the option , according to the City Charter, to pass the initiative into law within sixty days of signature certification.  In this case the initiative would pass without going to a vote.
*  But the City Council is prohibited from passing such a law in the first place.
*  Therefore the voters have no authority to do so either, through a ballot initiative.

DCCC legal counsel believes they are on firm legal ground. For you lawyer types out there the original petition language contains a "severability" clause, so that should they prevail with this argument, the DMMI can still cut funding for  medical marijuana prosecution, since the City Council clearly retains authority over the City budget.  In other words, the initiative will still accomplish its goal.   DCCC believes,  if  they do make such a legal move, it is simply a kind of nuisance/SLAPP legal  action to "bleed" the DCCC financially and force them to capitulate the fight.  The DCCC can categorically assure all concerned that they have the resources to see this through, and have no intention of just "going away."

After working for Drug Reform, over the last 14 years, nothing really surprises me anymore.  And it would not surprise me, in the least, if the directives against DMMI are coming directly from the White House itself.  In the wake of passing Medical Marijuana Initiatives, in 9 states, the federal narcocracy is becoming apoplectic.  And since the first Medical Marijuana initiative passed in California (Prop. 215 in November 1996) there has been a concerted effort to develop a hierarchical communication network which goes all the way from the Federal Department of Justice to your local police station.  Any drug reform activity is detected by their "radar" and prioritized for action.  In December Bush increased the funding for the anti-drug group CADCA from $8 million to $50 million per year.  The purpose of all of these actions is to snuff out any sensible action towards drug reform by the American people.

What these Drug War zealots need to understand is, despite the financial support of philanthropists such as George Soros (who has put up the money to gather signatures for many of the state Drug Reform initiatives) it is the American voter who has consistently passed these initiatives.  The American people don't want this Drug War anymore!  And very soon we will begin to assert our power by voting these idiots out of office.  Now here is something I think they might understand.

Namaste,
Professor Hemp (01/16/02)