WBAY News – Pre-Interview with Jay Selthofner at Oshkosh, WI Forum on the failed Drug War

WBAY video of Jay Selthofner’s interview before the ACLU forum about the Drug War at the Oshkosh Library on February 13, 2013 is broken, sorry.

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There is a time for tie dye, and then there is a time when what is really needed is a suit and tie.  Northern Wisconsin NORML would like to say Thank You to our former Executive Director and current Treasurer, Jay Selthofner, for representing our movement so accurately and professionally in the press, and for always keeping it classy.  Thank you for all you do to organize, educate and plan these types of events. Thanks for the countless other things you do in your attempts to help change the un-just marijuana laws in our state. You’re an awesome example of how to be an effective activist!

The forum lasted for 2 hours, and it was fascinating.  All 5 speakers and the presenter made excellent and diverse points.  Even those of us who have studied these topics for years learned some new things.

One of the things I walked away contemplating after this forum, is that when you are an activist, it is vitally important to network and share stories, experience, and knowledge with each other. None of us is as strong as all of us.  Together, we can accomplish great things!  Hearing 6 varying perspectives on the Drug War by 6 different types of educated experts, who have had 6 different life experiences, and hearing their unique reasons for opposing the  war on drugs, was an eye opener.  Thank you very much to the organizers and speakers, as well as the Oshkosh Public Library for hosting the event!

The discussion panel included:

• Hariprasad S. Trivedi, M.D., D.M.
• Kirk W. Everson, Wisconsin Criminal Defense Attorney
• Jim Gierach, former Chicago prosecutor in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Director with Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
• Jay Selthofner, Cannabis Consultant with THC Indicastries and NORML Director
• Richard Martin, Executive Director with Northern Wisconsin NORML

To learn more, read the original press release for the event:
https://www.northernwinorml.org/2013/02/06/press-release-forum-legalizing-marijuana/

It’s important to keep educating the public in order to dispel tired old propaganda, myths and misinformation about hemp, cannabis, and its’ uses.  In order to be effective activists, we need to become familiar with the *real* facts and scientific studies, as well as data and figures on the dire economic, social, environmental, health, and other effects of prohibiting marijuana. And then, we need to share that information with everyone and anyone who will listen.

The truth will set us free.  Speak your truths whenever and wherever you can, to whomever will listen. Reason, logic, compassion, and justice will eventually prevail if we keep on educating ourselves, our fellow activists and potential activists, the public, our lawmakers, and law enforcement.

Change is already starting to happen.  The people have spoken time and time again with their vote.  Will our elected officials and public officials finally decide to move forward with the times and respect the voice and will of We the People, or do we need to fire them and hire new public employees who will?

Remember to thoroughly check out the candidates before you vote.  Stop voting for prohibitionists just because they belong to the party you always vote for.  Vote outside the box.  Vote for the candidates who actually best represent your point of view.  Vote for the candidates who respect things like freedom, democracy and compassion.  Do not vote for those who would profit off of criminalizing nature.  Do not vote for those who profit from harming their fellow human beings because they have chosen to use a beneficial and medicinal plant.  Do not vote for those who do not respect freedom and democracy.

Do you know how many people Cannabis has killed?  Zero.  There is no lethal dose of marijuana that could kill you, that you would be capable of smoking or eating. It is physically impossible to overdose on cannabis and die from it.

Now on the other hand, how many people do you think have been brutally killed by the DEA and other government organizations (using taxpayer sponsored guns, uniforms, employees) because they used, or were suspected of using this medicinal, non-toxic, non-lethal plant?

As USA Today reports, an astonishing 70,000 to 80,000 militarized police raids take place on an annual basis in America, many of them on mistaken suspects and many of them ending with injury or death for police and citizens alike. (Source: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-14-noknock14_ST_N.htm)

All this cruelty and violence towards otherwise law-abiding, peaceful citizens, for what? For committing the victimless crime of wanting to use a plant which can combat glaucoma, nausea, pain, cancer, and more?  All of this violence over a plant which has killed no one, ever?

Wisconsin, do you think this is an acceptable use of tax dollars? Do you think it’s a compassionate way to treat sick people? Don’t you think it’s time to move Onward, Upward and Forward instead?

This valentine’s day, please find it in your heart to support Marijuana Law Reform in Wisconsin, and in our nation. Don’t take freedom for granted. Yours, or anyone else’s.

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Uploaded on Jun 16, 2011

Note: This video contains graphic images of violence and mature language. Viewer discretion is advised.

“No Knock Raid,” written and performed by Toronto-based musician Lindy, is a searing indictment of one of the most aggressive, ubiquitous, and mistaken tactics in the War on Drugs.

Consider only the most recent raid to cause a national outrage: On May 5, 2011, 26-year-old Jose Guerena, who survived two tours in the Iraq War, was shot and killed during a raid on his house by a Pima County, Arizona SWAT team that fired dozens of bullets through his front door. Guerena, married and a father of two, had just finished a 12-hour shift at a local mine. Law enforcement sources claim he was involved in narco-trafficking but have yet to produce any evidence supporting that claim. Officers involved in the death have been cleared of wrongdoing.

Guerena’s death is not an isolated incident. As USA Today reports, an astonishing 70,000 to 80,000 militarized police raids take place on a annual basis in America, many of them on mistaken suspects and many of them ending with injury or death for police and citizens alike.

As Reason Contributing Editor Radley Balko and others have documented, the militarization of standard police practice is a direct consequence of the modern-day War on Drugs, started 40 years ago by President Richard Nixon – and perpetuated by every administration since. (For a comprehensive report on the failure of the drug war to achieve any of its stated goals, read “Ending the Drug War: A Dream Deferred,” by Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.)

“No Knock Raid” written and performed by Lindy.

Produced and directed by Hawk Jensen.

Performance footage directed by Victor Tavares and Zachary Koski.

About 4.50 minutes.

For longer clips of the police raid footage used in the video, go here (March 7, 2008); here(October 17, 2008); here (February 11, 2010); here (October 16, 2010); and here (May 5, 2011).

For Reason’s coverage of drug policy, go here.

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