Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Activism Alert: 
Newsletter: May-June 2009 Vol. 11 Issue 3
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The DPFOK serves the public with information and expert opinion
about legal and illegal drugs and the issues surrounding them.
Inside This Issue
1. Editor’s Desk: Please submit articles
2. Penalty Box: Review of OK County criminal cases
3. DPFOK Contact Information
4. DPFOK Membership/Contribution Form
*Distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.*
Chief Editor: Jeff Pickens
1. Editor’s Desk: Please submit articles
DPFOK Members and Friends,
In this issue I have published personal research on some criminal cases filed in Oklahoma County.
I would urge all members and supporters of drug policy reform to submit your own articles.
Your input is important and I want to publish it.
We could always reprint other organizations’ articles, but how does that help us grow as an organization?
We live in Oklahoma and should be observant enough to write about our local drug policy issues.
Even if it is a simple opinion piece, please send it to me.
Peace 2 ya,
Jeff Pickens
Howzkeepa@yahoo.com
Page 2
1. Penalty Box: Review of OK County criminal cases: by JP
*Definitions for this analysis:
Drugs only: This means that only drug charges were filed on a case.
Non-violent/ drugs/ other charges: This means that drug charges and other Nonviolent/Non-drug charges were filed on a case.
Non-violent/ No drugs: This is cases that have only nonviolent/non-drug charges.
Violent/Drugs: Violent charges and drug charges on a case
Violent: Violent charges with no drug charges
*Violent or non-violent is determined by the same classifications used by The Ok Dept. of Corrections.
*Cases are researched from oscn.net (Ok Supreme Court Network).
Part I. Approx. felony cases filed in Oklahoma County Dates: 3/1/09-3/7/09
Case numbers: CF-2009-1382 THRU CF-2009-1523 Total cases sampled: 141
Drugs only: 39/141 ( 27.6 % )
Non-violent/ drugs/ other charges: 14/141 ( 9.9 % )
Non-violent/ No drugs: 41/141 ( 29.1% )
Violent/Drugs: 2/141 ( 1.4%)
Violent: 45/141 (31.9%)
Part II. Itemized Drug Charges: For cases CF-2009-1382 THRU CF-2009-1523 Total charges: 75
Marijuana poss.: 15/75 ( 20.0%)
Cocaine possession: 7/75 ( 9.3 %)
Meth poss: 16/75 ( 21.3%)
Xanax poss: 1/75 ( 1.3%)
Ecstasy poss: 2/75 ( 2.7%)
Hydorcodone poss: 2/75 ( 2.7%)
PCP poss: 1/75 ( 1.3%)
Intent to distribute marijuana: 8/75 ( 10.7%)
Intent to distribute meth: 1/75 ( 1.3%)
Intent to distribute cocaine: 3/75 ( 4.0%)
Trafficking: 2/75 ( 2.7%)
Manufacturing c.d.s.: 1/75 ( 1.3%)
Poss. of drug paraphernalia: 7/75 ( 9.3 %)
Attempt to attain c.d.s. by
fraud, theft, or forgery: 4/75 ( 5.3% )
Maintaining a place for keeping
or selling controlled substance: 1/75 ( 1.3% )
Conspiracy for unlawful
distribution of CDS: 1/75 ( 1.3% )
Possession of proceeds
Derived from violation
of the Uniform C.D.S. Act: 2/75 ( 2.7%)
Possession or intent to
distribute c.d.s. within 2000ft.
of a school or park: 1/75 ( 1.3%)
Page 3
Part II. Approx. misdemeanor cases filed in Oklahoma County Dates: 3/1/09-3/7/09
Case numbers: CM-2009-828 THRU CM-2009-912 Total cases sampled: 85
Drugs only: 5/85 ( 5.9 % )
Non-violent/ drugs/ other charges: 5/85 ( 5.9 % )
Non-violent/ No drugs: 57/85 ( 67.1% )
Violent/Drugs: 0 ( 0.0%)
Violent: 17/85 (20.0%)
Blank (no charges were filed): 1/85 (1.2%)
Itemized Drug Charges: For cases CM-2009-828 THRU CM-2009-912 Total charges: 14
Marijuana poss.: 5/14 ( 35.7%)
Alprazolam poss: 3/14 ( 21.4%)
Hydorcodone poss: 3/14 ( 21.4%)
Poss. of drug paraphernalia: 1/14 ( 7.1 %)
Drug D.U.I. 2/14 ( 14.3% )
Pickens it Apart: An opinion analysis
I thought we were focusing on terrorism prevention and an economic crisis!
Why is the percentage of Drugs Only cases so high (Felonies: 27.6%; Misdemeanors: 5.9%)? This is approx. the same percentage of Drugs Only cases filed at the county level, across the state, for the last ten years.
Another question: Why are so many individual drug charges for marijuana, instead of more harmful substances ( e.g. Felonies: marijuana possession 20%, mari. distribution 10.7% ; Misdemeanors: marijuana possession 35.7%)? Could it be that other drugs are over-publicized to scare the population into supporting dishonest marijuana policies?
If criminal penalties are so effective, why are so many people still willing to use drugs? Why are the drug cartels and terrorist organizations being allowed such a large market share? Why aren’t we allowing less harmful substances like marijuana to be domestically produced, regulated and taxed? Why is our tax money continuing to pour into the prison system, overcrowded with non-violent drug users ( states: approx. 25%; federal: approx. 50%)? Why are the drugs still available, without consumer protection, if this is such a great way to control them?
3. Contact DPFOK:
Send submissions, contributions, membership forms, questions, and/or request for free trial issues of Newsletter to:
DPFOK, 601 S. Washington #203, Stillwater, OK 74074
Larry Bonnell (Ph.): (405) 714-1236, Jeff Pickens: Howzkeepa@hotmail.com
DPFOK Board of Directors (email): dpfok@sbcglobal.net web site: www.dpfok.org
4. DPFOK Membership/Contribution Form
One of the best ways to support our mission of drug policy reform is to become a contributing member.
Mail the form below or go to our online membership/contribution form at http://dpfok.org/donations.html
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Please complete the requested information and mail with membership fee and/or contribution
Please remember to check the appropriate line(s) below.
Anonymous contributions are great. We accept check, money order or cash.
Please take steps to conceal any cash sent.
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Make checks or money orders payable to: Drug Policy Forum of Oklahoma or Drug Policy Reform Network of Oklahoma
Mail to: Drug Policy Forum of Oklahoma, 601 S. Washington #203, Stillwater, OK 74074
*All memberships include a full year of our newsletter.
*All $ go to the ongoing mission of drug policy reform.
* The Drug Policy Forum of Oklahoma (DPFOK) is a non-profit 501-C-4 Public education organization.
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Drug Policy Forum of Oklahoma
