From

I am having a difficult time in getting an interview with anyone dedicated to further enforcement of the drug prohibition laws. I understand that you see great harms in marijuana, more so than with heroin or cocaine, at a time when many are calling for reform of all these laws, more especially so in regards to marijuana.

Will you or your designate from the ONDCP please make yourself available for up to half an hour to discuss the recent Reuters release which indicates that according to you, Mr. Walters, the "more potent marijuana of today" has become a major threat to our society.

We air our programs on 11 radio stations in the US and Canada, to include Houston, San Francisco, Boulder, Knoxville and Eugene, Oregon. I may not have the clout of Limbaugh or the listenership of Hannity, but my shows are among the top draws for scientists, doctors and lawyers looking for the latest information about the mechanisms of the drug war. My guests have included: Milton Friedman a Nobel Laureate, Congressman John Conyers and the CEO of G.W. Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Geoffrey Guy. We have interviewed well over a hundred politicians, scientists, district attorney's, authors, policemen, former DEA agents, wardens, doctors, prisoners, patients and providers.

Format? I would first seek to do a live "debate" with Mr. Walters and one other to debate myself and my one designate regarding the idea of "potent pot" and addiction thereto.

If not a debate or live, then a pre-recorded discussion between myself and Mr. Walters on the subject of potent pot.

Failing that, then I would send a list of questions in advance with no follow up questions, a simple, recorded Q&A.

And lastly, if no recording is to be done, how about I send some questions and you answer them via email?

-----Original Message-----
From: Dean Becker [mailto:dean@cultural-baggage.com]
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2004 5:00 PM
To: deVallance, Jennifer L.
Subject: Please defend the US drug war policy

I sent this same basic message to the attention of Tonya Salstrom back on July 23.

I was prevented by his agents from speaking to Mr. Walters on Thursday of last week when he was in Houston. The agents would not even pass on by business card.

All I am asking for is one half hour, any time of day with the Czar or his designate, by phone or in person, choose from the options listed below..

Thank you for your request, Mr. Becker. Can you please tell me the name of your radio program and the specific stations that broadcast the program in the cities you mention?

Cultural Baggage, the "Unvarnished Truth about the Drug War" is my weekly one half hour show, it is recorded each Tuesday night, but we can pre-record Mr. Walters or his designate if need be.

These shows are stored at : http://www.cultural-baggage.com/kpft.htm (RAM files are also online for quick listening.)

Other shows I occasionally produce on KPFT include "Earth 101" which are 2 hour programs. On May 4th we had a panel of experts discussing medical marijuana. Guests included: Canadian Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, Philippe Lucas of the Vancouver Island Compassion club, Angel Raich whose marijuana case "Angel Vs. Ashcroft is headed to the Supreme Court, Mary Lynn Mathre RN and Al Byrne of "Patients Out of Time", Ed Rosenthal the Guru of ganja and Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access. Link to real media file (MP3 Avail): http://www.cultural-baggage.com/ramtorm/earth805.ram

My stations include: Pacifica in Houston and Galveston, San Francisco, Druango, Colorado, Olympia Wa., Knoxville Tn., and a half dozen smaller stations in Benbow WV, Kamloops BC, and other college stations who carry either the 4:20's, Cult Bag or both.

Prior guests have included Warden Rich Watkins, Congressman John Conyers, Jeff Blackburn, (Tulia Defense Atty.), Jack Cole (Dir.) & 6 other members of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Eric Sterling (Pres. Criminal Justice Policy Foundation), Steve Kubby, (Noted Pot Activist), Ed Rosenthal, ("Guru Of Ganja"), Judge James P. Gray, (Author "Why our Drug Laws Have Failed"), Jacob Sullum, (Author "Saying Yes in Defense of Drug Use"), Chris Red of Narconon, Roger Goodman of King County Bar Assoc., Mike Gray, author of "Drug Crazy, Retired Officer Howard Wooldrige, Former DEA Agent Cele Castillo, Boris St. Maurice of Canadian Marijuana Party, Mark Stepnoski, (Former Dallas Cowboy), Greg Gladden of the ACLU, Nora Calahan of November.org, Al Giordano, publisher of narconews.com, Alan Bean, Tulia Minister, Kevin Zeese of Common Sense for Drug Policy, David Duncan, professor at Brown University, Dr. Al Robison, Professor of Parmacology UT Health Science Center, Canadian Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, George McMahon, one of 6 surviving Federally supplied marijuana patients, Eugene Oscapello of Canadian Drug Policy, Chuck Thomas of Unitarian Universalist Church, Member of European Parliament Chris Davies, Rev. Edwin Sanders and more...

The DA of Harris County (Houston) was a guest a few weeks back, and he said if the people of Texas wanted to legalize marijuana it "would not hurt his feelings at all."

Mr. Walters, (et al), the drug war is ending, whether it takes a year or ten, its demise is approaching. Those who stand for truth, justice and reality will be re-elected, gain in stature, be part of the future of governance of this country. Those who stand firm for the century old lies and superstitons that support terrorists and criminals of every stripe will find themselves cast aside.

We both want to get these drugs out of the hands of criminals, lets share our thoughts with my listeners.

Dean Becker

Drug Truth Network : KPFT Houston, KPFT Galveston, The "X" in Kamloops B.C, WZRD in Chicago, KZFR in Chico California, WVJW in Benwood WV, KDUR Durango CO, KFAR Knoxville TN, KPOO in San Francisco! KAOS in Olympia Wa, & Now on Access Houston TV

Sir, I want to state my stance as cleanly as I can, this is my "sound bite" used for other media:

"The day we regulate the distribution of these "illegal" drugs to adults is the day we destroy Osamma's profits in Afghan opium, we take away the reason for which most street gangs exist, we basically eliminate drug overdose deaths and take away the jobs of those selling drugs to our children. In so doing we immediately have fifty billion dollars each year to spend on treatment and other health services, defense and education."

Sir, what I'm suggesting, is that I could help you and all those who are (in my opinion) holding this "hot potato".

Due to the nature of my programs, the #1 concern/priority for my guests is discretion. This holds especially true for you sir. I simply want to make progress.

Define your parameters, I will respect them and invite you and your experts back for further discussions.

(There's lots of strong, breaking news, sufficient and apropos, let's talk about it).

Thank you for the information and for your interest in having an ONDCP official on your show. It certainly appears as though you have had some interesting guests on your show. While we will be unable to accommodate your request, we wish well in your future endeavors.

It seems disingenuous for Mr. Walters to go on a not too large "network" in Canada, (the Bill Good Show), when he represents the people of the United States, (the vast majority of) my listeners. Your organizations' silence in defending the drug war speaks volumes.