From: Eliezer S. Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Date: Mon Jan 31 2000 - 22:17:03 MST
>From: "Drug Policy News Service" <dpf-mod@dpf.org>
>To: <dpfnews@dpf.org>
>Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 14:52:18 -0500
>Subject: [dpfnews] ACTION ALERT-Meth Bill Outlaws Any Drug Speech
>
>**********************************************
>ACTION ALERT -- Meth Bill Outlaws Any Drug Speech
>**********************************************
>
>Action is urgently needed to block passage of S.486, the DEFEAT Meth Act.
>In addition to containing hefty sentencing enhancements for illegal
>production of both amphetamine and methamphetamine and significantly
>increasing funding for law enforcement, the bills most threatening aspect
>is its less publicized restrictions on drug related speech.
>
>The bill makes it illegal "to teach or demonstrate the manufacture of a
>controlled substance, or to distribute by any means information pertaining
>to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of a controlled substance."
>
>This provision was aimed ostensibly at preventing the Internet publication
>of instructions on how to make methamphetamine. In reality however, it
is a
>mandate so broad that it criminalizes any published speech about illegal
>drugs, even if that speech is aimed at reducing the harms associated with
>drug use. For example, the bill would apply to information about safe dosage
>levels of illegal drugs and which combinations of drugs pose dangers. It
>would apply to explanations about how to use marijuana for medicinal
>purposes. It would apply to instructions on how to identify psilocybin
>mushrooms in the wild, or extract codeine from Tylenol 3. In short, anything
>that could possibly be "intended" to encourage drug use.
>
>Additionally, the bill makes advertising any information that could
lead to
>the sale of drug paraphernalia a felony. This would mean that if one
were to
>post the address of a head shop to a newsgroup, or the e-mail address of
>someone who makes water-pipes as a hobby, it would be a crime
punishable by
>three years in jail, even though head shops themselves remain legal. Under
>this bill, even linking to a paraphernalia site is illegal.
>
>Given the vague and inclusive interpretation of federal conspiracy laws,
>almost any information about criminalized drugs and any dissent against
>existing drug laws could be construed by federal law enforcement as
>furthering drug crimes. Any anti-Drug War website could be shut down
>directly, or indirectly because Internet service providers, who could also
>be prosecuted under the law, would refuse to host such sites.
>
>S.486 already passed the Senate by a voice vote on Nov. 19. The bill is now
>awaiting House action. Chris Cannon, the sponsor of the House version
of the
>bill, told the Village Voice in a recent article that legislators supporting
>the bill were pushing for hearings in March, and wanted to pass the bill
>this year, sooner rather than later."
>
>The importance of S.486 cannot be understated. With it, Congress is quietly
>attempting to escalate the drug war to a whole new level, one which grossly
>assaults the civil rights of every American citizen, particularly the
>freedom of speech. If it becomes law, the publishers of drug related Web
>sites and books could wind up in jail, or out of businessincluding DPF.
>While hearings may not take place until March, it is critical that House
>members hear voices of opposition as early as possible. The Drug Policy
>Foundation urges you to contact your representative and tell them to oppose
>S.486.
>
>To Call: Find out who your representative is by calling the U.S. Capitol
>Switchboard at (202) 225-3121.
>
>To Fax, Write a Letter or E-mail: Call the Capitol Switchboard, then call
>your representatives office to get the fax number. You can e-mail your
>House members by going to www.house.gov . Letters can be addressed to your
>representative as follows:
>
>Honorable [name of your representative]
>U.S. House of Representatives
>Washington, DC 20515-1101
>
>
>____________________________________________
>
>Drug Policy Foundation
>"Creating Reasoned and Compassionate Drug Policies"
>
>4455 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite B-500
>Washington, DC 20008-2328
>ph: (202) 537-5005 * fax: (202) 537-3007
>www.dpf.org
>
>
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>To unsubscribe, e-mail: dpfnews-unsubscribe@dpf.org
>For additional commands, e-mail: dpfnews-help@dpf.org
>
>To receive a hard-copy of the Drug Policy Foundation's bi-monthly
>newsletter, The Drug Policy Letter, please join DPF by sending $35+ for
U.S. memberships ($20 for students and seniors), or $40 for international
memberships to:
>
>The Drug Policy Foundation
>4455 Connecticut Ave., NW
>Suite B-500
>Washington, DC 20008-2302
>
>Tel: (202) 537-5005
>Fax: (202) 537-3007
>Web: www.dpf.org
attached mail follows:
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Neil
>From: "Drug Policy News Service" <dpf-mod@dpf.org>
>To: <dpfnews@dpf.org>
>Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 14:52:18 -0500
>Subject: [dpfnews] ACTION ALERT-Meth Bill Outlaws Any Drug Speech
>
>**********************************************
>ACTION ALERT -- Meth Bill Outlaws Any Drug Speech
>**********************************************
>
>Action is urgently needed to block passage of S.486, the DEFEAT Meth Act.
>In addition to containing hefty sentencing enhancements for illegal
>production of both amphetamine and methamphetamine and significantly
>increasing funding for law enforcement, the bills most threatening aspect
>is its less publicized restrictions on drug related speech.
>
>The bill makes it illegal "to teach or demonstrate the manufacture of a
>controlled substance, or to distribute by any means information pertaining
>to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of a controlled substance."
>
>This provision was aimed ostensibly at preventing the Internet publication
>of instructions on how to make methamphetamine. In reality however, it is a
>mandate so broad that it criminalizes any published speech about illegal
>drugs, even if that speech is aimed at reducing the harms associated with
>drug use. For example, the bill would apply to information about safe dosage
>levels of illegal drugs and which combinations of drugs pose dangers. It
>would apply to explanations about how to use marijuana for medicinal
>purposes. It would apply to instructions on how to identify psilocybin
>mushrooms in the wild, or extract codeine from Tylenol 3. In short, anything
>that could possibly be "intended" to encourage drug use.
>
>Additionally, the bill makes advertising any information that could lead to
>the sale of drug paraphernalia a felony. This would mean that if one were to
>post the address of a head shop to a newsgroup, or the e-mail address of
>someone who makes water-pipes as a hobby, it would be a crime punishable by
>three years in jail, even though head shops themselves remain legal. Under
>this bill, even linking to a paraphernalia site is illegal.
>
>Given the vague and inclusive interpretation of federal conspiracy laws,
>almost any information about criminalized drugs and any dissent against
>existing drug laws could be construed by federal law enforcement as
>furthering drug crimes. Any anti-Drug War website could be shut down
>directly, or indirectly because Internet service providers, who could also
>be prosecuted under the law, would refuse to host such sites.
>
>S.486 already passed the Senate by a voice vote on Nov. 19. The bill is now
>awaiting House action. Chris Cannon, the sponsor of the House version of the
>bill, told the Village Voice in a recent article that legislators supporting
>the bill were pushing for hearings in March, and wanted to pass the bill
>this year, sooner rather than later."
>
>The importance of S.486 cannot be understated. With it, Congress is quietly
>attempting to escalate the drug war to a whole new level, one which grossly
>assaults the civil rights of every American citizen, particularly the
>freedom of speech. If it becomes law, the publishers of drug related Web
>sites and books could wind up in jail, or out of businessincluding DPF.
>While hearings may not take place until March, it is critical that House
>members hear voices of opposition as early as possible. The Drug Policy
>Foundation urges you to contact your representative and tell them to oppose
>S.486.
>
>To Call: Find out who your representative is by calling the U.S. Capitol
>Switchboard at (202) 225-3121.
>
>To Fax, Write a Letter or E-mail: Call the Capitol Switchboard, then call
>your representatives office to get the fax number. You can e-mail your
>House members by going to www.house.gov . Letters can be addressed to your
>representative as follows:
>
>Honorable [name of your representative]
>U.S. House of Representatives
>Washington, DC 20515-1101
>
>
>____________________________________________
>
>Drug Policy Foundation
>"Creating Reasoned and Compassionate Drug Policies"
>
>4455 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite B-500
>Washington, DC 20008-2328
>ph: (202) 537-5005 * fax: (202) 537-3007
>www.dpf.org
>
>
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>To unsubscribe, e-mail: dpfnews-unsubscribe@dpf.org
>For additional commands, e-mail: dpfnews-help@dpf.org
>
>To receive a hard-copy of the Drug Policy Foundation's bi-monthly
>newsletter, The Drug Policy Letter, please join DPF by sending $35+ for
U.S. memberships ($20 for students and seniors), or $40 for international
memberships to:
>
>The Drug Policy Foundation
>4455 Connecticut Ave., NW
>Suite B-500
>Washington, DC 20008-2302
>
>Tel: (202) 537-5005
>Fax: (202) 537-3007
>Web: www.dpf.org
>
>
>
--
NeilRest@enteract.com
{#}----------------------+[ GT/PFRC -- Science Fact and Science Fiction ]+---
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