Russel challenges Hillary over marijuana

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News from Russell for Senate
For more information: Jeffrey Russell, 518-4953641; info@RussellForSenate.org

RUSSELL ADVOCATES MEDICAL MARIJUANA

ALBANY, NY -- (05/22/2006; 1215)(EIS) -- Jeffrey T. Russell, the Libertarian Party of New York's candidate for U.S. Senate, criticized the government, for swelling the prison populations with non-violent drug offenders. The criticism was in response to the announcement yesterday that one in every 136 U.S. citizens is behind bars.

"The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, and the majority of people in our prisons right now are there for non-violent drug offenses," Russell told supporters Sunday night. "The situation has not improved since 1984," he said, referring to his own arrest in 1984 for possession of 7 pounds of marijuana. He was sentenced to 4 years in jail and served 16 months.

Russell is challenging incumbent Hillary Rodham Clinton because of her position on many key issues, including her refusal to endorse legislation allowing doctors to prescribe the medical use of marijuana. "It is beyond me how any politician can deny the use of medicine to sick, dying people who are in pain," he told supporters. "Senator Clinton should be ashamed." He believes many New York voters feel the same way and that they will be looking for an alternative to the war on drugs being waged by the Democrats and Republicans.

Russell has been a member of the Libertarian Party since 1980 and is a longtime Libertarian activist. He says he joined the Libertarian Party because it is the only party that consistently defends individual liberty. Russell is a retired computer programmer. He lives in Saratoga County with his wife, son and daughter.