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What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Chairman The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer, Vice Chairman Dana L. Farnsworth, M.D., and Executive Director Michael R. Sonnenreich take phone calls from reporters. Caller: What else do you believe will be necessary, other than publicizing this report to convince those you believe marijuana is a threat to the cherished American values and therefore should be kept in total prohibition. Shaffer: believes in open discussion on the issue. He has seen the beginning of a change in attitude in the country and they need to continue telling the truth about marijuana in order to inform people. Caller: What is your comment to the minority report, to the effect that the commission has failed to set forth a clear enough standard which will adequately info the public of their obligations in these recommendations if they are enacted by the state? Shaffer: emphasizes that this was a unanimous report on the basic recommendations. There were footnotes, but no minority reports. Farnsworth: comments that he believes that any solution will see some degree of disagreements. Marijuana is likely to cause people to disagree. There is no easy solution, but this should serve to elevate the level of the debate. Shaffer adds that they are a commission to recommend policy, they do not get into specifics, but they are following the language of the law.
What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Chairman The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer, Vice Chairman Dana L. Farnsworth, M.D., and Executive Director Michael R. Sonnenreich take phone calls from reporters. Caller: Dr. Farnsworth, the commission report makes it clear that the use of marijuana is greatest among young people, although it adds the interesting fact that 75% of these young people are no longer in school, one gathers that most of the use of marijuana begins in the school years, and even in the early school years, if I remember correctly, you have not looked with approval on the use of marijuana particularly by young people. If you would tell us, what in the studies done by the commission have changed your mind about the seriousness of the use of marijuana by young people? Second how much initiative to you think schools should take in refusing to allow their students to smoke marijuana? Farnsworth: says that his enthusiasm for marijuana has been limited all along. On the other hand the occasional use of marijuana does not do any physical harm and may not do any psychological harm, but on the other hand it does not help the individual. So Farnsworth's general opinion does not differ much from what it has been over the years. Mainly the decision of the commission is that the laws are unenforceable. Caller: Would you say something about the fact that the commission is returning some of the responsibility to the institutions rather than expecting the law to carry it all. Farnsworth: says that the schools and colleges need to have discussions about the true meaning of its use. The idea exists that some of the attraction to marijuana is the fact that it is illegal, by decriminalizing it, they should take away some of its attraction. Schaffer: feels that schools do need to take the lead in helping young people to have all the fact, which will help their discouragement policy.
What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Chairman The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer, Vice Chairman Dana L. Farnsworth, M.D., and Executive Director Michael R. Sonnenreich take phone calls from reporters. Caller: In view of the Commission's anti-marijuana position, especially as it relates to the discouragement of the use of drugs, why didn't the Commission go on record as totally opposing marijuana? Schaffer: states that the discouragement policy is much better than prohibition. They found that the current possession policy has little functional benefit in discouragement and has great social cost. Also, the truth gives the individual the right to make personal choices. Finally discouragement gives a more effective way of dealing with the problem. Other countries emphasis the family as the control for drug abuses. Caller: The Commission seemed the outline the no harmful effects in the moderate use of marijuana. But doesn't this glamorize or encourage the use of weed rather than deter the use of it? Farnsworth: mentions Brill's Law. Bad laws do not make a good drug. He points out that the facts point to few short term effects but they do not know about the harm caused by marijuana in the long term. Since they do not have this information, they cannot formulate opinions on the basis on information that is not scientific.
What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Chairman The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer, Vice Chairman Dana L. Farnsworth, M.D., and Executive Director Michael R. Sonnenreich take phone calls from reporters. Caller: I'm curious to know what information you developed that led to believe for certain that marijuana is causatively related to motivation problems. At one point in your report you said that there are many reasons that people in the United States may be getting alienated which have nothing to do with drugs. At another point you said you couldn't prove anything from foreign experience. Then in a rather tortured paragraph you suddenly said there is a causal relationship. What's the evidence? Farnsworth: says that colleagues involved with moderate marijuana use find that their efficiency is reduced and when they stop their efficiency returns. Also observations from multiple sources show that marijuana diminishes motivation. Caller: The other question I have is this problem of motivation and severe incapacitation, according to your report relates to a very small minority of people, perhaps 2% of the United States. Do you have any idea about the cost of law enforcement? What arguments can you give that those costs are worth it? Shafer replies: We feel that the cost of law enforcement with respect to the private possession penalties is much too high, in relationship to the results obtained. We feel those costs should be much more readily directed toward the pusher, the trafficker, the supply. Caller: If marijuana were not now illegal and if we did not have the tremendous amount of misinformation in the general public that your report demonstrates, would you be in favor of making it illegal, if we were starting from scratch. Schafer: replies that from what we know now, he would take no different stance from the report.
What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Chairman The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer, Vice Chairman Dana L. Farnsworth, M.D., and Executive Director Michael R. Sonnenreich take phone calls from reporters. Caller: It seems that in a first reading of the report, it glosses over the increasing evidence claimed by many that marijuana is the opening wedge ( gateway drug ) into the drug subculture, not necessarily a stepping stone for its use, but an introduction to the mysticism and the other dangers. Schafer: claims that the effects of marijuana ingestion do not lead to experimentation with other drugs, but a person using any psychotropic drug like marijuana or alcohol seems to have an inclination toward using other drugs. "Some of our most serious addicts started out smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, started out on amphetamines... Once a person decides to use any one substance, there is a tendency toward multiple drug use." Caller: Isn't there a conflict in allowing private use of pot in a home, isn't that going to encourage the younger children to see the whole drug scene as socially approved? Farnsworth comments that we are NOT encouraging use, simply decriminalizing. Younger children may see that older people immersed in the drug culture are not doing well.
What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Chairman The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer, Vice Chairman Dana L. Farnsworth, M.D., and Executive Director Michael R. Sonnenreich take phone calls from reporters. Caller: "Most of what we've tried in drug abuse education has really been brainwashing. You do what we think you should do. Most of the institutions we use, the church, the family, are not effective in influencing young people any longer." Schafer: says that their recommendations will help educators, families, and churches, to present honest and credible information to young people about marijuana, advice that kids will see as helpful and realistic, not authoritarian mind control. Farnsworth: makes another comment on the harsh laws of drug possession. There will always be disagreement on policy.
What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Chairman The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer, Vice Chairman Dana L. Farnsworth, M.D., and Executive Director Michael R. Sonnenreich take phone calls from reporters. Caller: National Commissions have been making reports on major problems in the country for a number of years. Mainly they've gathered dust on shelves. What are you and the commission going to do to influence state officials, Congress and the President to accept your recommendations and to push for the legislations to make them law. And secondly, I'm curious as to why you spent 30 minutes with President Nixon last night and did not discuss the substance of the report. Why didn't you use that time to push the recommendations on the President. Schafer: says that the Congressional members of the Commission have volunteered to sponsor the bill. As far as the Commission is concerned, we have sighted the facts and made our recommendation and the American people must read and analyze them. Reports that are factual are followed. President and I spoke for some time, but he is waiting for the President has a chance to read it.
What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Chairman The Honorable Raymond Philip Shafer, Vice Chairman Dana L. Farnsworth, M.D., and Executive Director Michael R. Sonnenreich take phone calls from reporters. Caller: Will you have a chance to get back to the President and talk to him about the report personally? And secondly, I'm intrigued as someone who covered the initial hearings of your commission and who listened to some of the questions by members of the commission to people who had suggested some of the same things that you have recommended. The change I have noticed over the year in the position of the commission. What has happened to the members of the commission and how can we translate this information to the American public? Schafer: agrees that he has learned a lot about the field and many people in America will receive better information. Many preconceived notions were dispelled. Michael R. Sonnenreich: comments that the President was aware that marijuana was a special issue and the President knew that there would be education on the subject.
What To Do About Marijuana: The Shafer Report
Schafer makes a conclusion. " Considering the range of social concerns in contemporary America, marijuana does not in our considered judgment rank very high".
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems
MS of male moderator standing before computer databank mainframe; he speaks in Arabic of the machine behind him. Man demonstrates the electronic game, Merlin, the Electronic Wizard. Audio exclusively in Arabic.
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems - CAT Scan
Woman w/ large brain tumor receiving CAT scan at Columbia Presbyterian in New York: EST shot Columbia University medical building; MS's & CU's patient on her back being moved into CAT scan machine; MS's Technician working at computer; CUs cylinder turning around woman; CU's computer screen. Audio exclusively in Arabic.
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems - Aerials of Dubai
Aerials of Dubai showing high rise buildings, waterway and ships. Audio exclusively in Arabic.
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems - NASA
TLS of a US rocket launching. TLS of a satellite in a dim warehouse. Animation of a satellite orbiting earth, sending signals. CU of a satellite's refracting mirror. More satellite photos of earth. Audio exclusively in Arabic.
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems - NASA
MS's technicians using computers & satellite photos to map the earth. MS's & CU's technicians viewing satellite photos on a light board. CU computer keyboards. Satellite photo of earth. Audio exclusively in Arabic.
1970s- Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems
Cut to MS of host standing before mainframe, closing show.
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems - Education
Male and female Saudi college students taking notes in class. Teacher writes on the blackboard. Exclusively in Arabic.
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems - Newspaper
CU montage of "modern" newspaper system in Detroit, MI: computer screens, newsroom, keyboards, typography blocks, information punch press, industrial printing press rolling out latest edition. Exclusively in Arabic.
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems - Education
American elementary school students using early electronic learning devices (learning to add and subtract with small portable calculators/computers masquerading as toys. High school students using calculators in math class. Exclusively in Arabic.
1970s - Early Advances in Telecommunications Systems - Manufacturing
Laser discs being manufactured. Early computers being used (typing, printing, etc). CU's of silicon computer chips (microchips?) being mass-produced; CU's scientists inspecting product. ECU's early IBM printer in operation. CU's electrical devices monitoring lab progress. Exclusively in Arabic.
Hostage: The Abridgement of International Laws
DO NOT USE Opening titles.
Hostage: The Abridgement of International Laws
1979 newsreel of demonstration in Tehran, Iran: Islamic militants march with large Arabic banners, eventually AK-47 assault rifles; VO talks about Iran taking hostages from American embassy, then demanding the return of the exiled Shah (a corrupt former Iranian leader who had sought asylum in the U.S.).
Hostage: The Abridgement of International Laws
Host Paul Berry in studio, introducing show, giving situational background information.
Hostage: The Abridgement of International Laws
November 28th, 1979 President Jimmy Carter speaking at press conference where he condemns Iran's actions, saying they have reprehensively violated international law. "The actions of Iran have shocked the civilized world. For a government to applaud mob violence and terrorism, for a government actually to support and, in effect, participate in the taking and the holding of hostages is unprecedented in human history. This violates not only the most fundamental precepts of international law but the common ethical and religious heritage of humanity. There is no recognized religious faith on Earth which condones kidnaping. There is no recognized religious faith on Earth which condones blackmail. There is certainly no religious faith on Earth which condones the sustained abuse of innocent people. We are deeply concerned about the inhuman and degrading conditions imposed on the hostages. From every corner of the world, nations and people have voiced their strong revulsion and condemnation of Iran and have joined us in calling for the release of the hostages. (cutaway shots of a United Nations Security Council hearing on the Iranian Hostage crisis.) Last night, a statement of support was released and was issued by the President of the United Nations General Assembly, the Security Council, on behalf of all of its members. We expect a further Security Council meeting on Saturday night, at which more firm and official action may be taken to help in obtaining the release of the American hostages." (End of the speech is heard over a shot of the UN)
Hostage: The Abridgement of International Laws
General view of UN Security Council meeting. US Ambassador to UN Security Council Donald McHenry speaking at the hearing; says that the international community condemns the violation of international law. "There is in the United States a unity of purpose, a disciplined sensitivity to the needs of peace, a determination to search out for a peaceful means to bring this dispute to a just conclusion, and also a determination to do what must be done to protect our fellow citizens and the rule of law. That unity of purpose is shared by all Americans. Mr. President, the hostages must be freed.