Spend Money on Schools Instead

Spend Money on Schools Instead
New York Times
If we have any hope of healing the deep wounds of race in this country, we've first got to stop the bleeding caused by mass incarceration and the other ill effects of the failed "war on drugs." Thanks to our ramped up "war on drugs," when I walk in my .. 

War On Drugs read on...

Pat Robertson: Righting the War on Drugs

Pat Robertson: Righting the War on Drugs
CelebStoner
This war on drugs just hasn't succeeded. It's completely out of control. Prisons are being overcrowded with juvenile offenders having to do with drugs. And the penalties, the maximums, some of them could get 10 years for possession of a joint of ...

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Former police captain speaks to students on 'failed' war on drugs

Former police captain speaks to students on 'failed' war on drugs

Diamondback Online

Maddox — now a special assistant state's attorney for Baltimore County and member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition — spoke to nearly 30 students in Stamp Student Union Monday about the drug war's deadly consequences. "A big part of why I come ...

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In Mexico, Biden Rejects Drug Legalization Talk

In Mexico, Biden Rejects Drug Legalization Talk
Drug War Chronicle
The topic has become an increasingly hot one in the region, as Mexico's drug wars bleed over into its neighbors to the south, and some regional leaders are now calling for discussion of legalization. "It's worth discussing, but there is no possibility ...
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US drug war under scrutiny during Biden visit to Honduras.

US drug war under scrutiny during Biden visit to Honduras
Alaska Dispatch
As US Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Honduras to meet with Central American leaders today, the long accepted playbook on a top issue – the war on drugs – is coming under sharp scrutiny. In the past five years, drug-trafficking violence has led to ...
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Drug War Politics: Doing Biden's Bidding

Drug War Politics: Doing Biden's Bidding
Huffington Post
He's left little doubt about his mission: to lock in the regional drug war. Biden's visit comes amid mounting calls to end prohibitionist laws and move away from the military-based drug war. In Mexico City all day Monday, the vice president met with ...
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A drug bust that fueled Mexico's drug cartels; a controversial mountain lion ...

A drug bust that fueled Mexico's drug cartels; a controversial mountain lion ...
Los Angeles Times
William C. Rempel's Op-Ed article on the 1989 cocaine bust in Sylmar that ultimately strengthened the Mexican drug cartels illustrates the folly of the continuing war on drugs. This war is an arms race in which the opponent has no morals and no qualms ...
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Judge Jim Gray speaks to the War on Drugs « Libertarian Party of ...

Judge Jim Gray speaks to the War on Drugs « Libertarian Party of ...
Judge Jim Gray speaks to the War on Drugs. "Controlled substances is the biggest oxymoron of our lives. As soon as we prohibit something, we lose all control ...
libertarianpartyofcontracosta.wordpress.com/.../judge-jim-gray...

Biden Visits Mexico, Honduras Amid Calls to Debate Drug Strategy

Biden Visits Mexico, Honduras Amid Calls to Debate Drug Strategy
Bloomberg
Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, who has seen murders surpass 40000 since he declared war on the nation's drug gangs in 2006, has also shown a willingness to debate new tactics. The US, which in 2008 pledged $1.6 billion to fight drug gangs in ...
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State of Michigan buying new printer for medical marijuana cards | Michigan Radio

State of Michigan buying new printer for medical marijuana cards | Michigan Radio:

The state of Michigan has ordered a new printer that will allow it to produce 4,000 medical marijuana cards a day.

Rae Ramsdell, who oversees the program, says 40,000 people who don't have cards have been given a tamper-proof letter to show they're qualified to use marijuana for medicinal purposes.

'via Blog this'

It's A Gray Area: Drug prohibition has failed U.S., Mexico

It's A Gray Area: Drug prohibition has failed US, Mexico
Daily Pilot
Editor's note: Judge James P. Gray (Ret.) was a speaker Feb. 16 at the closing banquet of an international forum titled "Drugs Unbalanced — After a Century of Their Prohibition." The forum was sponsored by Mexico United Against Delinquency, ...
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Mr. Obama, Go Gentle on Honduras

Dear President Obama, now that the United States government has concluded its war in Iraq and is moving to withdraw all US combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, there will undoubtedly be new crisis regions and new reasons to deploy US soldiers and military advisers. While, personally, I sympathize with Ron Paul's counsel to stop trying to be the world's policeman, I'm enough of a realist to know this will not happen in my lifetime. In fact, there are already signs that the next neighborhood to host an expanded US military presence is Central America, and particularly my native country of Honduras. http://hondurasweekly.com/mr.-obama,-go-gentle-on-honduras-201203024916/

Gary Johnson & Judge Jim Gray Recorded Live Group Chat Video Event ...

Gary Johnson & Judge Jim Gray Recorded Live Group Chat Video Event ... "GOVERNOR GARY JONSON IS THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON I KNOW TO BE PRESIDENT OF OUR COUNTRY." ---Judge Jim GrayGovernor Gary Johnson will be hosting an on-line ... www.yowie.com/videochat/5vg-gary-johnson-judge-jim-gray

Treat marijuana like wine - Judge Jim Gray

Locals travel out of Napa County for medical marijuana Napa Valley Register Patients who use medical cannabis to treat their ailments say they have few local options when it comes to filling doctor-issued recommendations. Napa County has no authorized pot dispensaries. Most said they drive an hour or more each or every other ... See all stories on this topic »

Judge Jim Gray - Wall | Facebook

Judge Jim Gray - Wall | Facebook:


Retired Superior Court judge -marijuana strictly regulated will file voter initiative to regulate marijuana like wine.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-judge-to-file-initiative-to-regulate-marijuana-122028784.html

CARPE DIEM: Who's Winning the Drug War? According to Judge Jim Gray, Six Groups Are, Including The Terrorists

CARPE DIEM: Who's Winning the Drug War? According to Judge Jim Gray, Six Groups Are, Including The Terrorists:

'via Blog this'

ROUND TABLE MEETING WITH JUDGE JAMES P. GRAY, JUDY K. THOMPSON & RON NIEHOUSE (MCJ)

Judge Gray on the issues of Medical Cannabis and Cannabis Prohibition:

By: Judy Thompson & Ron Niehouse, Thanks to: Judge Jim Gray.

I did something highly unusual back on April 8th 1992 & held a press conference as a sitting judge saying our nation's drug policy is not working. We couldn't do it worse if we tried & I recommended at the time that we legalize heroin, cocaine & marijuana under a program that I set forth. I have not changed away from that at all except to learn that it really is not the legalization of drugs, it's the strictly regulated control of the drugs.

http://www.medicalcannabisjournal.net/submissions/archive/2010/round-table-meeting-with-judge-james-p.-gray

Judge James Gray talks about The Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act of 2012 Part 2 - Video

Judge James Gray talks about The Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act of 2012. A new initiative petition that will be submitted soon and most likely voted on in November of 2012 if enough signatures are gathered. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIMG8NZUO8U

Amazon.com: Wearing the Robe: The Art and Responsibilities of Judging in Today's Courts (9780757002427): James P. Gray: Books

Amazon.com: Wearing the Robe: The Art and Responsibilities of Judging in Today's Courts (9780757002427): James P. Gray: Books:

'via Blog this'

Amazon.com: Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed: A Judicial Indictment Of War On Drugs (9781566398602): James Gray: Books

Amazon.com: Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed: A Judicial Indictment Of War On Drugs (9781566398602): James Gray: Books:

'via Blog this'

USA: Regulate Marijuana like Wine | Marijuana.com

USA: Regulate Marijuana like Wine | Marijuana.com

USA: Regulate Marijuana like Wine NRAmerica /January 16, 2012 At the last ... traveling with an ounce of marijuana in your car will be treated EXACTLY like ...

 

http://www.marijuana.com/threads/usa-regulate-marijuana-like-wine.293635/

 

Jim Gray talking about America´s “failed and hopeless policy of drug prohibition”.

Judge Jim Gray: In Harm’s Way

Jim Gray talking about America´s “failed and hopeless policy of drug prohibition”. Describing himself as a “conservative judge” who has never used illicit drugs or marijuana, he nevertheless spells out why he believes that prohibition of cannabis is putting children and young people in more danger than regulation would.

http://marijuanacannabis.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/judge-jim-gray-in-harms-way/

http://marijuanacannabis.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/judge-jim-gray-in-harms-way/

Jim Gray: Voters Wanted To Regulate Pot Like Wine?

Retired Orange County Superior Court Judge Jim Gray, Orange County's favorite anti-drug war crusader, is pushing a ballot initiative for next year that would legalize marijuana for adults in California. Like Proposition 19, which failed at the ballot box last November, his proposal would allow anyone over the age of 21 to smoke marijuana for recreational purposes. 

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2011/07/jim_gray_voters_wanted_to_regu.php

Retired Superior Court judge wants marijuana strictly regulated and kept away from minors

Retired Superior Court judge wants marijuana strictly regulated and kept away from minors and will file voter initiative Wednesday with Attorney General to regulate marijuana like wine


SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif., May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- He was once a determined drug warrior, but now former Assistant US Attorney and Superior Court Judge James P. Gray believes the time has come to take marijuana out of the black market and regulate it instead. After years of witnessing the harm caused by outlawing marijuana, Judge Gray will file a voter initiative this Wednesday with the California Attorney General's office that will regulate marijuana like wine.


http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-judge-to-file-initiative-to-regulate-marijuana-122028784.html


A copy of Judge Gray's voter initiative and one minute video can be viewed at the Regulate Marijuana Like Wine website:http://regulatemarijuanalikewine.com/.
www.judgejimgray.com

War on Drugs

What If They Held a War on Drugs and Nobody Fought? The Ticker Bloomberg The only thing worse than asking the nations of Central America to fight our War on Drugs is to stick them with the tab. That in essence is what the US is doing. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Costa Rica's president Laura Chinchilla details the ... See all stories on this topic » Bloomberg

Does the "War on Drugs" Limit Supply? Real News Network Suggest Context Links Here PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Is there any evidence that the war on drugs now or previously has actually had any positive effect? What I mean by that, in terms of availability, it seems to me there's not a high school in the ... See all stories on this topic »

War on Drugs frontman shares studio experiences The Daily Progress The frontman for Philadelphia-based indie rock band the War on Drugs drenches his rambling lyrical road poems in a tasteful rush of sonic experimentation. On the band's latest album, last year's critically praised "Slave Ambient," Americana collides ... See all stories on this topic »

Has Obama Challenged the "War On Drugs" Asumptions? Real News Network Perhaps no issue, when it comes to domestic policy, divides Americans more than the issue of the war on drugs. Some people see it as an attack on young people, something that is putting many people into jail that don't belong there for nonviolent ... See all stories on this topic »

Historic bust showed the drug war can't win for winning Philadelphia Inquirer By William C. Rempel If the often-frustrating, 40-year war on drugs has taught us anything, it is that even success can have dangerous downsides. Here's an example I came across in researching a book on the downfall of the Cali cartel. See all stories on this topic »

THE DRUG WAR INSIDE Brooklyn Rail I have come to see that the drug war is like all wars, the same old story about a few controlling and profiting from the pain and suffering of the many. As Brandeis said, "We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated ... See all stories on this topic »

Community reaction to 'destructive' war on marijuana warning CBC.ca By Community Team An international panel that includes a one-time Supreme Court judge are calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to stop what they call the destructive, expensive and ineffective war on drugs. (John D McHugh/Associated Press) As ... See all stories on this topic » CBC.ca

Does the War On Drugs Do More Harm to America than Actual Drugs? Fox News (blog) "We really thought that these drugs made people evil," he told me. But 10 years ago Franklin decided that drugs -- even hard drugs -- do much less harm to Americans than does the drug war. "Drugs can be -- and are in many cases -- problematic. See all stories on this topic » Fox News (blog)

Thailand's War on Drugs gets tougher Thailand Business News By Olivier Languepin - Fri, Mar 2nd, 2012 A joint drug suppression operation of policed and military personnel confiscated over 4 million methamphetamine pills smuggled into Thailand's northern border province of Chiang Rai from neighbouring Myanmar. See all stories on this topic » Thailand Business News

Chalerm: Drug war success in 1 year Bangkok Post Deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung says he's certain the war-on-drugs national agenda will achieve its goal in one year, as promised by the government. He said this success would be the result of cooperation between police forces and the army in building a ... See all stories on this topic »

ON-LINE TOWN HALL TONIGHT, Judge Jim Gray

ON-LINE TOWN HALL TONIGHT
Reminder: Town Hall tonight, March 1, 2012. I will be joined for this informal on- line chat by a very special guest, Judge Jim Gray. We will be discussing the drug ...
www.garyjohnson2012.com/on-line-town-hall-tonight

Uncle Jim is more than a namesake - by Judge Jim Gray

As my father told the story, when he asked my mother to marry him, the only condition was that if they had a son they would name him after his younger brother Jim. I guess mom agreed, because that is what happened.

My uncle, James L Gray, was a special and unique man. He was a natural gymnast, golfer, skier and windsurfer, and also a natural leader. After graduation from UC Berkeley, and flying fighter airplanes out of Pensacola, Fla., during the Korean War, he returned to his native Southern California, bought a small house on Lido Island and sold heavy construction equipment for Hal Anawalt.

But one day he met a restaurateur named John McIntosh, the owner of the Snackshop and Coco's Restaurants, who wanted to open a steak house. Because of Jim's people and entrepreneurial skills, McIntosh asked him if he would be interested in being his partner. McIntosh already was highly knowledgeable in the food part of the business, so it became Jim's responsibility to learn and then oversee the bar and entertainment facets.

One evening as these plans were progressing, Jim was having dinner at our home in La Cañada and talking about what they were going to name their new restaurant. We had a great time discussing the possibilities. But eventually they settled upon John McIntosh's middle name, which was Reuben. And so the restaurant became known as Reuben's.

I went to the grand opening of the original Reuben's, which was on Coast Highway in Newport Beach at the present location of the Sol Restaurant. It became so successful that, with time, they opened more. So I also went to the grand opening of the Reuben's in Santa Ana, which became popular with many people in the area, including attorneys who worked at the courthouse.

Later they opened a Chinese restaurant next to the original Reuben's, which was called Wu Ben's. Unfortunately, even though the restaurant was successful, Jim said that the labor in providing quality Chinese food was disproportionate to their ability to get a proper return on their invested capital.

So they closed Wu Ben's and opened the first real nightclub in the area, which they called Isadora's. It was so successful that there was always a line of people waiting to get in. When I was in law school in 1971, Jim invited me to take a date to the Reuben E. Lee, and after dinner to go to Isadora's. But to avoid the line, Jim told me to go to the back door and tell them that I was his guest. So that is what we did. Of course, the manager didn't believe me when I said my name was Jim Gray, but after showing him my driver's license and him making a phone call, they put another table out for us. We had a great time.

The band, the Road Home, played there for years, and it was so good that people went crazy. Even so, when they announced their last number and asked people not to dance on the tables, I thought they were exaggerating. But they weren't because, but for that request, I probably would have been dancing on the tables along with most everyone else!

McIntosh and my uncle also opened the Gorda Liz on Bayside Drive, where the Bayside Restaurant now sits. This was a Portuguese-themed restaurant, and it was the most authentic, non-authentic restaurant I have even seen. One day Jim took us there for dinner, and requested we help him by ordering and trying every appetizer on the menu to see if each was satisfactory. It was my pleasure to help him out.

Eventually, Reuben's had restaurants nationwide, and they were so successful that they caught the attention of the Grace Lines Corp., which bought them out. Unfortunately, Grace Lines was too large an operation to devote the special care necessary for the continued success of a restaurant chain. So as the restaurants failed to keep up with the changing times, they slowly went out of business.

When things were going well, Jim traveled in some pretty big social circles, hanging out with George Argyros, Jim Gianulias and other highly successful people. But after he sold his stock to Grace Lines, Jim faced a weaker economy which caused him some problems in his later business ventures. Nevertheless, when he died in 2004, just shy of his 80th birthday, he still had a large turnout of friends and admirers at his memorial service. Fittingly the reception was one of the last functions at the Reuben E. Lee, which was then serving as the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, before it was dismantled.

Why was Jim still so popular? Because to have friends, one must be a friend. And that is what Uncle Jim was all his life. One of his traits was that he treated everyone the same.

As just one example, he treated his stepchildren exactly the same as his biological children, even in his inheritance. During his life Jim had two wives, and after those marriages ended in a divorce, he also had two girlfriends. And each of those four women was actually present at his memorial service. Who else that you have ever known could make such a claim? Only my Uncle Jim, and I salute him.

JAMES P. GRAY is a retired judge of the Orange County Superior Court, the composer of the musical revue "Americans All," which will be performed in September and October at Vanguard University, and can be reached atJimPGray@sbcglobal.net.

It's A Gray Area: Trip to the 'Promised Land' has a profound effect - by Judge Jim Gray

My wife, Grace, and I just returned from a two-week tour of Jordan and Israel sponsored by Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church in Corona del Mar.

What a great trip, and what a privilege to visit places I have read about in the Bible and elsewhere since childhood. It was truly sobering to think that we were standing in the places where so many important things happened throughout history!

As one of my best friends says, the Holy Land is a powerful place filled with confusion, but brings clarity to pilgrims seeking to know God. I agree and, first and foremost, this was a humbling religious experience. But it was so intensely personal that I don't feel I can share it with you, other than to ask you to pray for me, as I will pray for you.

Otherwise, as St. Augustine said, "Life is a book, and people who don't travel read only one page."

In that regard, there were many things I had not realized before this trip, such as how small Israel is. For example, the distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem is about five miles, to Jericho about 40 miles, and to Nazareth about 70.

Furthermore, and I don't think this is sacrilegious, often throughout our time in the Holy Land I kept wondering why God would have ever designated this place as the "Promised Land," where it is hot, dry and rocky. Why not Maui, Pacific Palisades or Newport Beach instead?

We started in Petra, Jordan, one of the great historic and archeological sites. The elaborate tombs of kings and nobles were sculpted straight out of the sandstone cliffs. And I am happy to tell you that Petra was not destroyed by Indiana Jones in his "Last Crusade" movie.

We also visited the Sea of Galilee, which is really a freshwater lake, and swam in the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on Earth's surface at 1,400 feet below sea level, and is so salty that it probably is impossible to drown. In fact, I couldn't even sit down in 18 inches of water because my legs kept popping up.

The ruins of the synagogue at Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee were truly moving. This was where Jesus spent most of his time teaching, where he gathered disciples, and also performed some of his miracles.

We also learned that as best as can be determined, actual history does not match some of the stories we have heard all of our lives. For example, Jesus was probably born in 4 B.C. around harvest time, which would have been in April instead of December.

And there probably weren't any "inns" as we think of them in Bethlehem. Instead there were numerous caves, some of which were reserved for people living communally, and others were left for the animals. So actually the innkeeper in the Christmas story has probably been wrongly disparaged throughout history, because by providing the space in a cave with the animals he was giving Mary some privacy during childbirth, which she otherwise would not have had.

And because they had little wood in the area, what we call the manger was probably a stone watering trough for the animals. But although these variances are interesting intellectually, they certainly do not make any difference in the religious significance of the stories.

Another place that really had an impact on me was the fairly new Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, which was built near the site where the Archangel Gabriel informed Mary that she had been chosen to bear the son of God. Within the basilica are large and deeply impressive murals from many countries of the world depicting the impact of that wonderful story from their perspective. My favorite murals were from South Africa, Japan and the United States.

But the most overwhelming experience was being inside the Old City in Jerusalem where we followed the Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa, and went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Being in the places where Jesus bore the cross, and was crucified, died, placed in a tomb and resurrected was beyond deeply moving and sobering. It really cannot be explained, but only experienced.

Although I am not Jewish, the Western Wall was also a place of deep impact. Their belief is that God is actually always present at this the nearest point to the destroyed Temple. And the people praying at this wall with such sincere devotion is something worthy of the utmost respect.

Throughout our trip all of us felt safe and even welcomed. But this certainly is a deeply troubled land where the Palestinians are obviously being occupied, and the evidence of past and present conflict is never far away. Throughout Israel are young men and women in the police or army, both Israeli and Palestinian, armed with machine guns. At the River Jordan we saw portable bridges that could be used by the army immediately in the event the bridges were destroyed.

And, of course, the tilt-up, 25-foot high cement wall in Jerusalem separating the Palestinian from the Israeli land, along with the armed checkpoints through it, were omnipresent scars. As a professional mediator of disputes, it continually went through my mind that all of this should be unnecessary.

If people would begin by understanding that there are no "solutions" to these problems that go back for hundreds and even thousands of years, that would be a good start. Instead there are only "resolutions," which will not be perfect, but the best that can be achieved under difficult circumstances.

Israelis should be ensured of their right to exist safely in their own land; Palestinians should have a designated country of their own, and be able to control their own water, power and movements; and all religious sites should be respected and as much as possible be under the control of the group that is affected by them.

Fortunately, the Palestinians now seem to be closer to having a responsible government with whom the Israelis and others can negotiate. The U.S. should step forward and exert some neutral and principled leadership to help bring a lasting peace to this confused place. Probably no one else could do it but us, and it is long since time for us to take that role.

JAMES P. GRAY is a retired judge of the Orange County Superior Court, the author of "A Voter's Handbook: Effective Solutions to America's Problems" (The Forum Press, 2010), and can be contacted at JimPGray@sbcglobal.net.

It's A Gray Area: A chance to support regulating marijuana - Judge Jim Gray

On Sept. 1 you will have a chance to help us make history. On this date there will be an event to support the Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Initiative that will be on the November 2012 ballot. Please join us.

The event will be hosted by Richard Moriarty at his Newport Beach Vineyards and Winery, 2128 Mesa Drive, Newport Beach, which overlooks the Back Bay from behind the Newport Beach Golf Course. This truly interesting winery isn't open to the public, and doesn't give public tastings, but Richard is opening his doors for us because he believes in this cause.

The honorary host for the reception will be Assemblyman Chris Norby, and Steve Downing, the former deputy chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, will be joining me as a co-host. The reception will be in the Wine Cave from 6 to 8 p.m. But it will be preceded by a VIP tour led by Richard. This will consist of not only the grounds of the winery, but he will also show us the Lamborghini that he has hanging from the wall of his living room. In addition, he will be "firing up" the Lamborghini's engine, which he has turned into a coffee table in his garage.

And marijuana is also the largest source of revenue for juvenile street gangs, Mexican drug cartels and lots of other thugs. By passing Regulate Marijuana Like Wine, we can take much of that money away from these violent groups. Of course, the additional benefit of being able to tax the sale of marijuana is not the reason to vote for this initiative, but the extra tax revenue won't hurt either.

Of course regulating marijuana like wine will not eliminate these criminal organizations, but today Mexican drug cartels are not planting illegal vineyards in our national forests in competition with Robert Mondavi. In addition, teenagers are not selling Jim Beam to each other on their high school campuses, but they are selling marijuana to each other all the time.

Why? Because it is illegal!

But this new initiative actually will make marijuana less for children than it is now. How is that? Because today under Marijuana Prohibition it is easier for young people to obtain marijuana, if they want to, than it is alcohol, because illegal marijuana sellers today don't ask for ID.

For the exact language of the initiative, visit http://www.RegulateMarijuanaLikeWine.com. You will see that the initiative expressly addresses what were perceived to be the defects of Proposition 19, which was on the ballot in November 2010. Thus, it expressly does not change any laws or regulations about driving a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana, people using or being impaired by marijuana in public or in the workplace, furnishing marijuana to anyone younger than 21, or allowing anyone younger than 21 to buy, possess, sell or use marijuana.

In addition, the initiative expressly prohibits any advertising of recreational marijuana. And instead of allowing each of California's cities to establish a regulatory system, it mandates the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control establish a workable system, with the wine industry being used as a model.

Yes, even under this new initiative marijuana will still be illegal under federal law for anyone to buy, use or possess. But does anyone honestly believe that the federal government has all of the answers? To the contrary, don't you agree with me that we in California are adult enough to decide how best to control our health, safety and welfare regarding marijuana and hemp?

Recently the Drug Enforcement Administration released a statement that marijuana has absolutely no accepted medical uses. Note that this pronouncement did not come from the U.S. surgeon general or any other medical professionals. Instead it came from police officers, who are literally attempting to practice medicine without a license, and who are purporting to be more of an authority than either the voters of California who passed Proposition 215, or the hundreds of medical doctors in our state who recommend the use of marijuana to their patients.

As you are probably aware, last June the Global Commission on Drug Policy, which includes a former United Nations secretary general and United States secretary of state under President Reagan, as well as former presidents of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, labeled the world's War on Drugs a complete failure, and called for its repeal. This action has already been called for by the United States Conference of Mayors, and just last week the NAACP made the same recommendation.

You and I now have a large opportunity to put those recommendations into practice. Personally I believe that the most effective and patriotic thing I can do for the country I love is to help us repeal the failed policy of Drug Prohibition. But you do not have to go nearly that far to believe that there must be a better way, particularly regarding marijuana.

If you want to help us find that better way, I invite you to support the Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Initiative on Sept. 1. Tickets are $150 and $1,500 for the VIP tour. For tickets, contact my friend Jason Pitkin at (949) 232-8882. If you attend, introduce yourself to me as a supporter because I will want personally to shake your hand.

JAMES P. GRAY is a retired judge of the Orange County Superior Court, the author of "Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed And What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs" (Temple University Press, 2011), and can be contacted at JimPGray@sbcglobal.net.

It's A Gray Area: Hall of Famers give back to younger players - by Judge Jim Gray

Thanks to Ron Yary, a former Outland Trophy winner at USC and Minnesota Vikings all-pro tackle, and Dr. Casey Cooper, a noted sports psychologist, the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame have established the Legacy Leadership Program here in Orange County. Through this program, Hall of Fame members mentor and establish a one-on-one relationship with deserving high school football players, which lasts a year or more.

The program goals are to help motivate and inspire high school players to make better choices on the field and, even more importantly, in the classroom and the community.

But this isn't just a feel-good program. Each Hall of Famer participates in a two-hour training session that provides insights for their mentoring. Then they sign a participation agreement whereby they promise to uphold the program's policies and guidelines.

Each Orange County high school can nominate one football player. The applicants and their parents will go through a brief orientation that spells out the benefits, guidelines and responsibilities required by their participation. Among other things, confidentiality and child abuse issues are discussed. Unfortunately, only two applicants can be selected, so the competition is fierce.

To qualify as a mentee, the football player must be entering his senior season, be a leader on his team, be highly regarded by his coach and have the ability to play football in college or professionally. The candidate may need some special focus and guidance to improve his classroom performance, and may also face adversity at home.

It is more than an honor to be nominated, because during the selection process applicants can attend several sessions dealing with athletic life skills training. Last year two of the presenters were former UCLA star running back from Tustin, DeShaun Foster, and former Long Beach Poly and USC linebacker and Super Bowl great Willie McGinist. Among other things, the presentations emphasized the importance of an education, and how it affects both their football careers and also their lives after their playing days are over.

The program coordinator monitors the mentees and Hall of Famers through personal contact and phone calls to ensure that both sides are satisfied.

Last year the committee selected Victor Silva of Godinez High School and Trey Madden from Mission Viejo High School as mentees. Victor has been mentored by Yary, and Trey's mentor has been Michael Haynes of the Patriots and Raiders.

These two young men also were invited as guests at last summer's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio. They were even able to be on the sidelines during the 2010 Hall of Fame game between Dallas and Cincinnati, where they had the opportunity to meet all the players and have private conversations with the other Hall of Famers.

After their Canton experiences, both young men were hosted at the Newport Sports Museum (and if you haven't visited that museum, you are really missing out!), and those in attendance said that it was really noticeable how the experience had changed them — for the better. Both appeared to have more confidence, and had developed more of a leadership attitude of helping their teammates and others both on and off the field.

This year's winners were just announced. They are Alipa Peters from Estancia High School and Alfonso Cacciatore from El Modena High School. So it will be interesting to see how they progress.

In addition to a great experience for all of the applicants and the two selected athletes, the program also provides an ongoing relationship with community partners, such as sports psychologists and sports museums, in an effort to provide mentoring and leadership to a larger number of young athletes.

As has been discussed several times in this column, someone will mentor our children. And if it is not their parents, coaches, scout or religious leaders or teachers, it will be drug dealers, members of juvenile gangs or other thugs. Because, say what you will, Charles Manson was really effective in finding and "mentoring" the lost souls that made up his "family."

So please join me in applauding Yary, Dr. Cooper, the NFL and the many other forces behind the Legacy Leadership Program in mentoring some of our young athletes. And maybe their action will stimulate all of us to redouble our efforts in establishing and maintaining mentoring other programs of our own.

JAMES P. GRAY is a retired judge of the Orange County Superior Court, the author of "A Voter's Handbook: Effective Solutions to America's Problems" (The Forum Press, 2010), and can be contacted at JimPGray@wsbcglobal.net.

It's A Gray Area: Making peace, even while in prison - by Judge Jim Gray

A few years ago, a woman named Susan Russo, who was serving a life sentence without possibility of parole at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, Calif., sent a letter to attorney Laurel Kaufer, saying that their prison environment was filled with conflict and violence, and there was a dire need and desire for change.

Could Ms. Kaufer help?

The answer was yes.

In response, Ms. Kaufer and her colleague, attorney Douglas E. Noll, established a peace mediation program at that prison, initially with 15 inmates as students, and it has been successful.

But it wasn't easy. These two mediation professionals soon found out that Ms. Russo was right. Confrontation and violence were a standard and routine part of almost everyone's existence at the prison.

Nevertheless, they established a program through using simple communication skills based upon listening — really listening. That means that the students were taught to listen to what other people were saying and then to acknowledge what the speakers said by repeating it back. The benefit is that this shows other people they are being heard, which is a huge ratification of their humanity — and also a proven way to reduce tensions.

By using this simple skill, the 15 female inmates were slowly able to reduce conflict and violence and bring some amount of peace to the prison. For example, rather than using pepper spray to break up potentially violent situations, prison guards started to call in Ms. Kaufer's students to mediate them. It often worked.

Of course, no one can avoid conflict. But the secret is for people in conflicts to understand that they have choices about how they will respond and react to them. Conflicts become destructive when people give in to anger, which then thwarts their ability to make good choices about how best to respond.

But choosing to listen, understand and confirm the other side's views and feelings often results in addressing the problems peacefully on their merits, instead of having them escalate to violence.

Teaching these lessons and skills to our children would be a wonderful gift.

So instruct the children close to you that the next time they become angry, frustrated or feel disrespected, to literally stop and take a moment to list as many choices as they can think of about how to respond. Then show them how if they stay focused upon their feelings and those of the other people involved, they will more than be able to arrive at a peaceful and beneficial outcome.

Life skills like these will bring permanent beneficial result into their lives.

Included in this approach is staying away from blaming, judging or criticizing others, because this is almost always counterproductive. When people take ownership of their own actions instead of blaming or criticizing others, they will most likely realize that they are captains of their own ship, that they are in control of their own destiny.

That has been the result at Valley State Prison. So far, none of the 75 inmates who have been certified as "Peacemakers" has even been reported to be involved with violence. In addition, since 30 inmates have been certified as mediators and another 20 as instructors, mentors and coaches, the program is now self-sustaining — maybe even transferable to other correctional facilities.

Furthermore, the participants hope that by the end of 2011, at least 20% of all of the inmates at Valley State Prison will have been certified as Peacemakers, which will go far in bringing peace into the entire facility. With results like these, it is not surprising that the program has been endorsed, even lauded, by the acting warden and the chief deputy warden.

Another tribute to the program is seen by the fact that the inmates themselves have donated more than $1,300 to pay for needed written materials. Because all of these contributions come from their wages of 21 cents per hour, of which 14 cents are automatically transferred to the California Victim Compensation Fund, this represents their earnings from more than 9,280 work hours!

In today's world, the Department of Corrections is not appropriately named, because it mostly has become a Department of Incarceration and Warehousing.

But we all must understand that most of those incarcerated will someday be released back into society. Wouldn't it be better if they had learned some coping and peacemaking skills before that occurs?

You can help this occur by making a contribution to the Fresno Regional Foundation for Prison of Peace, 5250 N. Palm Avenue, Suite 424, Fresno, CA 93704. People who are incarcerated really can use our help. For more information, visit http://www.prisonofpeace.org.

JAMES P. GRAY is a retired judge of the Orange County Superior Court, the author of "Wearing the Robe: the Art and Responsibilities of Judging in Today's Courts" (Square One Publishers, 2009), and can be contacted at JimPGray@sbcglobal.net or http://www.JudgeJimGray.com.