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Officer Arthur Tesler allegedly filled out an affidavit stating that a confidential informant purchased crack cocaine at Johnston’s home. When later questioned by authorities, the informant denied ever being at the residence, which prompted further investigation by local authorities and the FBI. Upon investigation, authorities learned that Tesler, along with Gregg Junnier and Jason Smith had been falsifying documents for quite some time.

The raid that led to the death of Johnston was based off of false paperwork stating that drugs were present in the home. When the police came to raid Johnston’s home, they used a no-knock warrant (obtained through falsified statements). Thinking she was being robbed, she shot her old-style pistol once, way over the officers’ heads and through her front door. The police returned fire, shooting 39 times and hitting her five. After she was dead, Officer Smith planted marijuana in the home to cover his tracks.

All three officers, along with several others from the Atlanta Police, including a sergeant, have been fired and arrested for these preposterous acts.

All three officers apologized for their role in her murder. During the court proceedings, ex-officer Jason Smith said, I pray daily for Ms. Johnston. I also pray other officers in Atlanta will have the moral fortitude I didn’t have. The officers are splitting the cost of Johnston’s funeral, which totaled $8,180, and are now facing jail time: Jason Smith was sentenced to 10 years, Greg Junnier and Arthur Tesler were sentenced to six and five years, respectively. After serving their prison terms, all three men are to serve three years of supervised release.

This poor woman is yet another victim of the War on Drugs, and I can’t help but feel that this is also a hate crime. Ten years for planting evidence, lying under oath, obtaining a warrant under false pretenses, and murdering a 92 year old black woman – does this really seem like justice to you? If rolls were reversed – Johnston an elderly white woman, the cops black – I strongly believe there would have been a much different outcome.

Obama’s in The House! On January 20th, Barack Obama was inaugurated into the White House as the first African-American President in history. With this inauguration comes a lot of hope on the Marijuana Law Reform front – President Obama has admitted to using marijuana, and has said several times that he believes the War on Drugs has been “an utter failure” and that we need to rethink the laws concerning marijuana use. He has also been supportive of the medical marijuana initiative, and has promised to stop the raids of medical marijuana patients and dispensaries where they are legal.

Is Change Coming to the Drug Czar’s Office? Former Seattle Police Chief, Gil Kerlikowske, has been appointed as our nation’s next Drug Czar. Although Kerlikowske is a cop, he is from Washington, a state that has allowed the use of medical marijuana under doctors’ orders, and made marijuana-related ‘crimes’ their cops’ lowest priority. According to Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML, “Whereas Kerlikowske’s White House predecessor (John Walters) refused to even acknowledge that cannabis possessed even the slightest hint of therapeutic value, Seattle’s exiting police chief accepted the law and has made few, if any, efforts to undermine it.” Let’s be optimistic that some good might come of this…

Obama’s (Half)Brother Arrested for Marijuana Possession. On January 31st, George Obama, the half-brother of President Barack Obama, was arrested in Kenya for the possession of Marijuana. Although this happened a world away, I would hope this hits close to home and reminds our new President just how ridiculous marijuana prohibition really is.

Michael Phelps is the Gold Medal Winner of Bong Hits. On January 2nd, News of the World reported that Michael Phelps was pictured taking a bong rip at a South Carolina house party in November. Phelps later apologized for his “regrettable behavior” blaming bad judgment for his “youthful and inappropriate” act. Even after the apology, the Kellogg’s Company chose not to renew Phelps’ sponsorship contract because his behavior is “not consistent with the image of the company.” As a result, NORML has asked the Cannabis Community to boycott Kellogg’s.

Marijuana Law Reform is America’s Top Political Priority. In November, I made a post urging everyone to get Marijuana Law Reform on the agenda at Change.org. I am now happy to report that legalizing the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana was voted number one out of the top ten ideas to change America, with 20,158 supporters!

Obama’s transition team has established a website recently with an agenda of things to be addressed once Obama is in office. Looking at the current list, I was upset to see that Marijuana Law Reform is not even mentioned. Thankfully, the website has a page asking for OUR ideas to help solve challenges facing our country.

That means it’s up to us to get Marijuana Law Reform on the list! All you have to do is go to the page linked above to contact Obama and his transition team, and demand change of the current marijuana policy. Thanks to the wonderful people at NORML, you can even include the three suggestions below:

1. President Obama must uphold his campaign promise to cease the federal arrest and prosecution of (state) law-abiding medical cannabis patients and dispensaries by appointing leaders at the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Department of Justice, and the US Attorney General’s office who will respect the will of the voters in the thirteen states that have legalized the physician-supervised use of medicinal marijuana.

2. President Obama should use the power of the bully pulpit to reframe the drug policy debate from one of criminal policy to one of public health. Obama can stimulate this change by appointing directors to the Office of National Drug Control Policy who possess professional backgrounds in public health, addiction, and treatment rather than in law enforcement.

3. President Obama should follow up on statements he made earlier in his career in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana by adults by calling for the creation of a bi-partisan Presidential Commission to review the budgetary, social, and health costs associated with federal marijuana prohibition, and to make progressive recommendations for future policy changes.

As if this hasn’t been said enough – This is the time for change! I cannot urge you enough to write this letter to the President Elect and get Marijuana Law Reform on the agenda. You already showed that it’s what you want by voting for it in the election – Now is time to make your voice heard and tell them why and how!

Not only have we just made history by electing the first black man as president, but we’ve made even more progress on the law reform front.

For the first time in history, a decriminalization initiative appeared on the statewide ballot in Massachusetts, and voters passed it by a huge majority. This initiative will rid all penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace it with a fine of one-hundred dollars. This fine can be paid through the mail, much like a traffic ticket, without the need for attorneys or court appearances.

Another huge step was taken in Michigan, where voters passed MPP’s medical marijuana initiative, making Michigan the thirteenth Medical Marijuana state. Michigan is the first state in the Midwest, and the second largest in the country, to permit the use of medical marijuana by seriously ill patients.

According to an email I received from Rob Kampia, the Executive Director of the MPP, “As a result of tonight’s victory, almost one quarter of the nation now resides in states with medical marijuana laws.”

For the first time in a very, very long time, I am proud to be an American citizen. Maybe this all means everyone is getting their shit together and the sand out of their vaginas. Here’s to hoping…

Similar to the laws in effect in the other 12 medical marijuana states, this bill allows registered patients to grow plants for their own medicinal use. As soon as the Federal government gives the state permission, it will start regulating distribution. A.4867B is more strict in that it will apply strictly to patients with life-threatening or debilitating conditions, who’s doctors believe marijuana would be the most effective treatment.

Monday, June 23rd, is the day the Senate will adjourn, and New York state needs you to help convince the Senate, and Joe Bruno, to pass this legislation. First, call Joe Bruno. Urge him to bring the bill to a vote. After that, call your senator, whether you already have or not, and have them commit to asking Joe Bruno to bring the bill for a vote.

With nearly the entire state medical community and 76% of voters supporting medical marijuana, there is no good reason for them not to take up the bill! Many senators, including Joe Bruno, have expressed their support for medical marijuana; it’s up to you now to make them take action on their words.

Being a New Yorker, this hits very close to home. This man doesn’t live even an hour away from me. I really, truly hope that legislation passes and New York becomes the 13th Medical Marijuana state, not only for my own sake, but for everyone in New York suffering like Mr. Aldrich.

If you’re from New York, I urge you to please visit NYPatients.org and contact your legislator. All you have to do is fill your information into the form – The letter is pre-written for you. It can’t get any easier than that! You can also learn more about this issue by going to NYCompassionateCare.org.

In 2002, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to uphold the decision to allow random drug testing for athletes and students who participate in extracurricular activities, but testing the entire student body exceeds current Supreme Court authorization, and they’re more likely to do harm than good.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health warns that:

• · School-based drug testing programs could decrease student involvement in extracurricular activities and undermine trust between pupils and educators.
• · Mandatory drug testing may motivate adolescents to switch from using drugs with relatively low morbidity and mortality, such as marijuana, to those that pose greater danger (such as inhalants), but are undetectable by screening tests.
• · Widespread implementation of drug testing may also inadvertently encourage more students to abuse alcohol, which is associated with a greater number of adolescent deaths than any other illicit drug.

If I had to take a drug test to compete on the swim team or take part in the Red Ribbon Club when I was in school, I wouldn’t have joined either. (Yes, believe it or not – I was in the Red Ribbon Club. I plead temporary insanity and would like to assure you all that my brain is now functioning properly again.) I didn’t even smoke pot in High School! It’s just the principle of the fact — What I do (or don’t do) outside of school (or even work) is my own personal business and I don’t believe that anyone should have the authority to tell me otherwise.

Thankfully, it seems our nations’ students feel the same way I do. According to a 2003 study, “Drug testing, as practiced in recent years in American secondary schools, does not prevent or inhibit student drug use.”

Yet another way America’s War on Drugs is a complete and utter failure.

If this is the case, why has New York City been the ‘Pot Bust Capital’ of the world for the past 10 years? According to an article I read on AlterNet by Steven Wishnia, police and crackdown defenders are giving a few reasons:

• · Making large numbers of arrests for minor offenses has reduced major crimes
• · It’s an easy way for police supervisors to show their precincts’ productivity
• · It’s an easy way for individual officers to get overtime
• · It keeps a reserve of officers occupied

Almost 400 thousand people were arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession in the past ten years, and a new study sponsored by the New York Civil Liberties Union says the crackdown is both racist and fraudulent:

• · Five out of six of the people arrested were black or Latino.
• · Nine out of ten were male.
• · Most were under the age of 25.

An estimated two-thirds to three-quarters of the people arrested were not even smoking the marijuana! They usually had it well concealed inside their clothing. Why are they still getting arrested? They are victims of police scams. Police officers stop people near suspected dealing spots and tell them that they saw them coming out; if they give up what they’ve got, all they’ll get is a ticket. If they fall for it and hand over the marijuana, they’re charged with possession of marijuana open to public view.

According to Wishnia, this is all thanks to Rudolph Giuliani’s decision to make public toking a top police priority. Though Giuliani’s not in office anymore, new Mayor Michael Bloomberg is continuing with his legacy. And hypocritically, I might add: When asked if he’d ever smoked pot, Bloomberg declared, “You bet I did — and I enjoyed it!”

This war on drugs needs to end! Deborah Peterson-Small, one of the authors of the NYCLU study, states that it violates the spirit of the state’s decriminalization law: “The ban on public smoking was originally intended to apply only to people creating a public nuisance, not to someone lighting up discreetly in the alley behind a jazz club.”