Join Together has been a useful online publication for news and information of interest, particularly for those in the prevention and treatment arenas.
Join Together’s point of view is pretty far from that of Drug WarRant, yet I’ve often found their drug policy news coverage useful, and have often found robust discussions in their comments.
This afternoon, I received this note:
Dear Reader,
I am very happy to announce that effective next Monday, April 4, Join Together will become part of The Partnership at Drugfree.org. You will continue to receive your Join Together news as usual, with a fresh look, and have immediate access to the extraordinary resources that The Partnership at Drugfree.org has created for parents and communities.
Stable, long-term funding for free services like Join Together is always hard to achieve. You and more than 50,000 other leaders in prevention, treatment and policy throughout the country have relied on our daily news to stay current with research, policy, and practice. We have worked hard to not let you down.
That is why I am so pleased that Steve Pasierb, the President of The Partnership at Drugfree.org, and his colleagues have exciting plans to expand and improve Join Together in the coming years, while retaining the independent voice and commitment to evidence over ideology that has been the foundation of our relationship with you. [emphasis added]
Why do I find that hard to believe? I’ll admit that JoinTogether’s recent connection to CASA didn’t turn then into Joe Califano, but becoming a subsidiary of a blatant propaganda organization like drugfree.org, and believing that you’ll retain editorial integrity, seems awfully naive.
Why do you think drugfree.org has the resources to take on this operation, while they were unable to get the resources on their own? The difference is precisely because The Partnership pushes ideology over evidence, and there are a lot of interests out there that are happy to fund that.
Current Join Together staff members will remain at the Boston University School of Public Health. They will work in a new collaboration with the team at The Partnership at Drugfree.org to ensure a smooth transition of our news service and website content and to develop new joint projects to expand and strengthen Join Together screening and education services.
We will publish in our current format through Thursday, March 31. To allow for testing of the new online systems, we will not publish a daily newsletter on Friday. On the following Monday, April 4, Join Together will relaunch with a new home at www.drugfree.org and a new email design.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Join Together.
Sincerely,
David Rosenbloom
Director
Join Together
R.I.P.
Sad, so sad.
Yeah,very sad no not drug free we need a Reefer Mad Free America.
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/medical-marijuana-what-means-your-state
Sad too,watched Dr. Oz show today talked about Legalizing Pot,Dr. Oz made a few good points but he missed the boat on issue also he wants use of Medical Cannabis Limited to Pain issues,It’s like if it’s used for Depression,Anxiety,Stress.PTSD, it crosses the line and makes like not legitimate those are just as serious ailments and conditions has physical pain,but did not seem to want to be included in even by Montel Williams who appeared on show. The comments were pretty good on different sites too.It seems the pro-hibs were the Rudest on the show while Pro-pot folks keep there. cool better, some of you here must have seen it already yeah the gentleman from Norml Allen St. Pierre was there and that I’m sorry Robotic Fraking Idiotic,Andrea Barthwell was there she just vomited out the same old insipid talking points, she sounded so heartless to the folks in pain,in audience.
Also a young addiction expert or councilor said it was less dangerous to be addicted to opiates than Pot I almost fell out of my chair, that statement was insane on so many levels. I don’t need to explain good Lord I’m like how many have died across the world from opiates,Rush Limbaugh lost his hearing opiates might have been mitigating factor,opiates can ruin your intestines I good go on and on, if you have not seen clip watch it it’s worth it at one point he was almost screaming hysterically and waving papers from some report ASAM is what he refereed to it was a very entertaining segment on Dr.OZ but sad.
The Pro0hibs in that room were in total panic mood.Dr. did argue a bit with a gentleman about the length of time it getting the dispensaries established in New Jersey While folks were pain the bickering back and fourth was not getting any results meanwhile folks were not getting any Marijuana, Dr. OZ said that if by July I think, and no results he would call him back and I think scold him a bit.
I think some want dispensaries gone for good.
And Bummer I think Brian Bennett and Duncan you are wright Even in Calif and elsewhere it’s sad, they are going, after dispensaries its either raids,IRS,NOW LATEST its San Diego CA passing very restrictive regulation that will close 165 dispensaries and make them go through insane hoops to reopen and such.
http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2011/03/san_diego_passes_restrictive_new_medical_marijuana.php
Vicki, San Diego doesn’t really figure into the meme of shutting down the dispensaries. The clowns that run the San Diego government circus would be doing pretty much exactly the same thing even if every other government authority said “who cares, let ’em get high”. Seriously, that has to be the government with the lowest average IQ in the country. San Diego County v State of California in 2009 had to be the most idiotic, tortured piece of “reasoning” I’ve ever seen in a case taken to the SCOTUS. There was no basis whatever for them to think that they could win that case.
I’ll bet the Justices thought it was a waste of their time and resented just having to write the note telling SD they weren’t granting certiorari.
To even approach the level of stupidity we witness daily in San Diego someone on our side of the table would have had to try to prosecute a case that the cannabis laws violated the 3rd Amendment to the US Constitution. Yes, I realize that the 3rd is the one that keeps soldiers from dropping by your house and sacking out for he night.
What a joke!
A “user friendly” rehabot? His fork tongue unmasks his ulterior motive kimosabe. Hasn’t failed or empowered Cartel’s, juuuuuuuuuuust… Reduce demand, now there’s uniqueness. Asylums over Prisons? Same bait and switch. We want to treat your problem even if it isn’t a problem and we want you to make the choice or we will be happy to make it for you. Hopefully not by force. That’ll be $3000.00 + Pisstasting. Still slipping in that old demonizing, shame and blame. Now matter how hard they study they can never learn the simple lesson that some people enjoy toking doobies. For his own mental health he should get over it. Move on.
Pete’s showing up at hawaiinewsdaily
Joined Together By Pete Guither Mar 29, 2011
Cultural Baggage Radio Show Transcript May 27, 2009
Common Sense for Drug Policy
David Rosenbloom: Join Together and CASA merged on May 1st, 2009
Pretty weak evidence that the uses of marijuana, which are promoted as medical marijuana, pretty weak evidence that it really is an effective medication, in its smoked form, lot’s of anecdotes, but very little evidence. I think that neither side really wants to do the controlled, clinical trials that would be required to treat this like a medicine, like all other medicines get tested. I just don’t see any of that going on, any place.
I think that if somebody is addicted to alcohol or marijuana
The voters in a number of places have spoken quite loudly that they would prefer treatment rather than incarceration.
Elwood: What kind of music do you usually have here?
Claire: Oh, we got both kinds. We got country *and* western.
~ Blues Brothers, 1980
There is an important experiment that is going on in the state of Hawaii where instead of sending people who are addicted to drugs to jail, they are releasing the with the certainty of consequences if they test positive. That is proving in experimental studies to be a pretty positive way of helping people get off and stay off of drugs.
I think that the notion that you could regulate this market – legalize and regulate the market for what you call plant goods – is naive. You could no more regulate the use of marijuana than you can regulate the growth of grass.
It’s not the prohibition that empowers these guys, it’s the demand for their product. The demand for their product is in part created by their marketing the drugs illegally or legally. So, reducing the demand for drugs is what is going to put these guys out of business.
David Rosenbloom
Director, Join Together
Professor, Community Health Sciences
Office 580 Harrison Ave, 3rd Flr
Phone (617) 437-1500
Email david@jointogether.org
Dean Becker: There are organizations, like the Multi-disciplinary Organization for Psychedelic Studies and they have been working with the University of Massachusetts to try to get permission to grow, I think ten grams of marijuana, if I am not mistaken, a small amount. Yet, the DEA has blocked them every step of the way. I wonder if there isn’t a need for more full reporting of that situation by CASA?
Ow, you fat penguin!
~ Sister Mary Stigmata hits Elwood with her stick
Something odd came up when I tried to do some research on this drugfree.org. Isn’t this an org associated with the infamous Partnership for a Drug Free America, formerly the even more infamous child-torturing STRAIGHT, Inc?
The Semblers founded (and Betty is still chair of) the Drug Free America Foundation, which is a different organization than the Partnership for a Drug Free America. The Partnership was born out of advertising companies and first gained prominence with “This is your brain on drugs.” I don’t know if the Semblers, or DFAF, were ever involved with PDFA.
I am asking because I found something from a few years back that gives the impression that there is a sort of vulture’s competition for victi – umm, errr, ‘patients’ – going on between various ‘anti-drug’ organizations.
Bound to happen, I suppose. With all that taxpayer money that was available back then, and isn’t anymore, the vultures are bound to squawk and snap at each other for what’s left.
Calvina Fay Prohibition Inc
Kids Helping Kids began as Straight-Midwest and over time was incorporated into Pathway Family Center (owns/owned 4 known programs). Pathway Family Center was founded by Terri Nissley, a “satisfied” Straight, Inc. cult parent who wants to continue in the torturing and brainwashing kids for profit industry. Kids Helping Kids (a Pathway Family Center program) has closed or is closing according to recent reports. Closing after years of protesting against fraud, abuse, and torture at the Milford, OH location.
Drug Free America Foundation,
formerly known as Straight, Inc.
It is currently led by Betty Sembler and Professor Calvina Fay.
From 1976-1985 it was known as Straight, Inc. and had a reputation for abusing kids as a drug rehabilitation program. In 1985 it changed its name to Straight Foundation, Inc. in order to protect its money and its principals from civil suits. In 1995 it was changed again to Drug Free America Foundation. DFAF is a national and international drug policy think tank and provider of services for drug free work places.
Drug Free America Foundation was founded by Ambassador and Mrs. Mel Sembler through private means and now performs special projects, drug abuse education and prevention and drug free workplace programs through tax-deductible contributions as well as federal grants and contracts.
At least 10 children have lost their lives as a result of their participation in a wilderness therapy program (AKA “Brat Camps”) who failed them in the worst way imaginable. These are their stories as told through media reports, opinion and commentary.
Anti-Drug Campaigns Dumb Down Vital Message
Calvina Fay is the Executive Director of Drug Free America Foundation and Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.) From 1976-1985 it was known as Straight, Inc. and had a reputation for abusing kids as a drug rehabilitation program. Mel Sembler and his wife Betty founded Straight, Inc. In 1985 it changed its name to Straight Foundation, Inc. in order to protect its money and its principals from civil suits. In 1995 it was changed again to Drug Free America Foundation. DFAF is a national and international drug policy think tank and provider of services for drug free work places.
Pissing on Drug Warrior Graves
Cover-Ups, Prevarications, Subversions & Sabotage
From the Daily Show: “You can’t have people going out and selling anything and everything and declaring it a medicine. Where do you draw the line on it?”
~ Calvina Fay – Drug Free America Foundation
“I tend to draw the line at what my doctor’s think will work. Or I ask a spokeswoman for A Drug Free America. I feel them equally qualified when it comes to my health.”
~ Jon Stewart – Daily Show Host
Duncan thanks for iluminating, I think the clowns in Utah have lower IQ’S or are tied with the San Diego when it comes around to all around idiocy all around in most areas of governance
I was so disgusted at the news of the merger of JT & PDFA that I sent them an email explaining why I was unsubscribing from their newsletter.
Probably won’t do a bit of good…but at least I’ll not receive PDFA propaganda in my email.
More commonly known as “circling the wagons..tighter!”