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. . . a weekly service for the media on news items related to Marijuana Prohibition.

- DARE, THE LARGEST ANTI-DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE NATION, IS FOUND TO BE "INEFFECTIVE," ACCORDING TO RTI RESEARCHERS

On September 29, a long awaited, federally funded, and comprehensive academic review of the Drug Awareness Resistance Education (DARE) program will be published in the September American Journal of Public Health. The 2-year study was conducted at the prestigious Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in North Carolina, and NORML has received an advance copy of the report. NORML's National Director Richard Cowan commented that "it is sad that a program that is notorious for encouraging children to report their parents to the police does not even accomplish its stated goal of reducing substance abuse."

Facts on DARE (as cited in the RTI's report):

- DARE was established in 1983 in Los Angeles. DARE is the largest drug use prevention program in the nation. It is used in approximately 50% of local school districts nationwide, and it continues to spread rapidly.

- DARE is the only drug use prevention program specifically named in the 1986 Drug Free Schools and Communication Act. DARE receives 30% of its total funding through this federal grant alone.

- DARE is taught exclusively by law-enforcement officers and active National Guard personnel.

The following select excerpts from this unreleased report detail the researcher's conclusion that DARE is an ineffective drug use prevention program and that taxpayers' dollars might best be spent elsewhere:

- DARE "affected" participants "were substantially smaller than those of programs emphasizing social and general competencies and using interactive teaching strategies."

- "DARE's short-term effectiveness for reducing or preventing drug use behavior is small and less than for interactive prevention programs."

- "x [T]here is no evidence that DARE's effects are activated when subjects are older. Most long-term evaluations of drug use prevention programs have shown that curriculum effects decay rather than appear or increase with time."

- "Who teaches DARE and how it is taught may provide other possible explanations for DARE's limited effectiveness. Despite the extensive DARE training received by law enforcement officers [and National Guard -ed note], they may not be as well equipped to lead the curriculum as teachers."

- "Regardless of [the] curriculum leader, however, the generally more traditional teaching style used by DARE has not been shown to be as effective as an interactive teaching mode."

The study concluded, in part, "DARE's limited influence on adolescent drug use behavior contrasts with the program's popularity and prevalence. An important implication is that DARE could be taking the place of other, more beneficial drug use curricula that adolescents could be receiving." (emphasis added)

Today's Boston Globe reports, "With hundreds of millions of dollars at stake [approximately $750 million! -ed note], the Justice Department has decided to reject a study it commissioned that concluded that the country's most popular school-based drug prevention program doesn't work." [To obtain a copy of "How effective is DARE?", please contact co-author Susan T. Ennett, Ph.D., Center for Social Research and Policy Analysis, Research Triangle Institute, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194.]

- A TRUE BUT SAD TALE OF OKLAHOMA HEMP ACTIVISTS, MURRAY COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE GUTTING OF THE CONSTITUTION AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

On September 24, a group of Oklahomans wanted to have a camp-out for two days and one night. The organizers thought that the state parks surrounding Arbuckle Wilderness would be idyllic. Because their camp-out would be a political gathering of sorts, the organizers of the proposed camp-out sought the proper state permits to lawfully gather.

As luck would have it, the Park Ranger didn't happen to agree with the politics of this group of campers.

When an organizer of the proposed camp-out went to procure the proper state permits, he discovered that the Park Ranger had invited some of his "friends" (the local county sheriff and his protege, an FBI agent, and other law-enforcement officers) to take part in what should have been a perfunctory meeting. The Park Ranger, et al., attempted to persuade the organizer to abandon the idea of a small camp-out on government land. Having been denied a permit by the government, the disappointed organizer left the park without his permits. The group would simply seek an alternative site at a private campsite.

The group found a friendly commercial campsite owner who was willing to rent the group an overnight campsite. The fees were paid and the preparations began. Unfortunately, the sheriff of Murray County discovered the group's alternative plan and personally set out to ensure that such a gathering not occur in his county. The sheriff threatened and intimidated the organizer and the owner of the private campsite to not hold this constitutionally protected gathering of citizens. The sheriff rolled out a litany of threats, stating "we will arrest, we will stop all cars, we will search without warrant, we will make your lives miserable."

The sheriff then ran an advertisement in the local newspaper stating that the camp-out at this private campsite had been canceled. The organizers were not happy with the sheriff's blatant disregard for their rights as citizens but, feeling somewhat confident that the constitution would protect them from law-enforcement abuses, decided to proceed with their plans.

On Saturday, September 24, campers began to arrive at the Arbuckle Wilderness access road just a short distance from their rented private campsite. However, just 500 feet into the Arbuckle Wilderness the campers found the sheriff and his staff (including a drug dog), who stopped each and every car.

They asked for driver's licenses and proof of auto insurance. They intimidated and harassed the campers and illegally searched some cars. They told several prospective campers that the camp-out had been canceled. Only about 25 citizens plied their way to the campsite. The rest, after being lied to, returned to their homes.

When the news media made their way out to the campsite, the organizers explained to an attentive media that they would like to see cannabis utilized as a commercial cash crop for fiber, fuel, paper, power, medicine, and even recreation.

This was the political agenda the sheriff of Murray County wanted to stop. At any cost. [If you would like more information about this and the brave individuals who were willing to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to assemble, please contact Michael Pearson, Oklahoma NORML, at 405-840-HEMP.]

- MEDIA REMINDER: NATIONAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA DAY ON NOVEMBER 15

Very soon everyone will be hearing much more about this date-when there will be nationwide demonstrations led by medical marijuana users here in Washington, D.C., who will self-medicate in acts of civil disobedience with prominent physicians in attendance. This event will launch a sustained campaign for medical access to cannabis under the banner "STOP ARRESTING SICK PEOPLE!"

The Emergency Coalition for Medicinal Cannabis (ECMC) will have a press conference in the Edward R. Murrow Room at the National Press Club the morning of the demonstration. The D.C. demonstration will occur on the north side of the White House at noon. [Further details regarding this event will appear weekly in this space. For more details, contact Allen St. Pierre at NORML, 202-483-5500.]-- end --