| October 22, 1999 #120 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NOTE: The important development below occurred after our deadline for
submitted news articles for this weeks issue. Thanks to MPP for the
useful analysis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BUSH BACKS STATES' RIGHTS ON MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10/20/1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- Gov. George Bush said he backs a state's right to decide
whether to allow medical use of marijuana, a position that puts him
sharply at odds with Republicans on Capitol Hill. "I believe each state
can choose that decision as they so choose," the governor said recently
in Seattle in response to a reporter's question. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chuck Thomas, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a medical
marijuana lobbying group, praised Mr. Bush as "courageous" and
"consistent on states' rights. I would hope he would be an example for
Republicans in Congress." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aides said Mr. Bush does not support legalizing marijuana for medical use. But his position supporting state self-determination opens the door to medical marijuana use in some places. President Clinton and most Republican lawmakers, by contrast, oppose all state medical marijuana legalization laws, saying they could lead to abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But Mr. Clinton -- in a move philosophically in tune with Mr. Bush --
has said Republicans in Congress went too far in seeking to block the
District of Columbia's medical marijuana ballot initiative, which won
69 percent support last year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The president recently vetoed the district's $4.7 billion budget
approved by Congress, in part because of a provision to overturn the
medical marijuana law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"For us, that's an issue of local control," of not "micro managing
local government," said White House spokesman Jake Siewert. The veto
was not about the merits of the issue, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Among the Republicans leading the charge against the district's law are GOP House leaders and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Bush supporter and chairwoman of the District of Columbia Appropriations Subcommittee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The district should not be "a haven for marijuana use, even for
medicinal purposes," Ms. Hutchison said on the Senate floor. "I don't
think we should take an illegal drug and allow it to be legalized in
our capital city." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington have
approved medical marijuana laws, giving the issue prominence in key
Western states. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Bush, campaigning for president in Seattle on Saturday, told reporters he felt certain that such a move was "not going to happen in Texas." The state has no direct referendums or voter initiatives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Although addressing the states' rights issue, Mr. Bush didn't comment
directly on the District of Columbia issue. His position of opposing
the medical marijuana but saying states should decide is unique among
presidential contenders, Mr. Thomas said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Staff writer Wayne Slater in Austin contributed to this report. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For more news on Governor Bush See: http://www.mapinc.org/bush.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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THE MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT'S ANALYSIS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
George W. Bush is the second most supportive presidential candidate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
George W. Bush's comment in support of states' rights on medical
marijuana makes him the second most supportive presidential candidate.
His position puts him in favor of H.R. 912, the states' rights medical
marijuana bill currently pending in Congress. Please see
http://www.mpp.org/912alert.html Unfortunately, Governor Bush was
also responsible for signing into law a bill that prevents local
communities in Texas from enacting their own medical marijuana policies.
Please see http://www.mpp.org/2states.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The most supportive declared candidate is Pat Buchanan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
During the last presidential campaign, Pat Buchanan was asked, "Would
you support the medical use of marijuana?", in an interview in the
North Carolina newspaper, The Charlotte Observer, on July 29, 1995
(page 12C). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He responded, "If a doctor indicated to his patient that this was the
only way to alleviate certain painful symptoms ... I would defer to
the doctor's judgement." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buchanan made a similar statement in Iowa when confronted by one of the eight patients who can legally use marijuana nationwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Donald Trump, who is considering a bid for the Reform Party
nomination, would be the most supportive candidate if he formally
declares his candidacy, in that he has come out in the past in favor
of marijuana "decriminalization," thereby opposing the policy of
jailing sick or healthy marijuana users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately, Bill Bradley, a former marijuana user, recently said he wouldn't change the medical marijuana laws now, thereby endorsing the status quo of arresting and incarcerating seriously ill people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
And there is little hope that Al Gore, also a former marijuana user,
will be much better. Vice President Gore, who has been with the
Clinton administration for more than six years, has not separated
himself from the views of the administration, which has waged the most
vicious war on medical marijuana users of any presidential
administration. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-2) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael Pollan authored another of his wry trademark comments on the inconsistencies implicit in a drug policy which uses a moral compass to differentiate "good" from "bad" psychoactive agents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In a less philosophical bent, Thomas Moore suggested that some "good"
agents confer greater economic benefits on their makers than
therapeutic benefits on their users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) A VERY FINE LINE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The same week that a Republican candidate for President spent
struggling to compose ever more tortuous nondenials of his drug use as
a young man, a former Republican Presidential candidate could be seen
in full-page advertisements forthrightly acknowledging his own use of
another drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The ability to draw and patrol distinctions of this kind becomes
critical in a society like ours, with its two thriving | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) NO PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Could It Be That Antidepressants Do Little More Than Placebos? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
America's love affair with antidepressant drugs is peculiar indeed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The big three - Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil - rank among the six best-selling drugs of any kind, and more than 130 million prescriptions were written for all antidepressants last year, according to IMS Health, a consulting firm. But these drugs are much less effective than many consumers and doctors believe. The newer antidepressant drugs post only marginal advantages over placebos in clinical trials for major depression, and cause frequent and unpleasant side effects. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If one combines all the Prozac studies in FDA files, it becomes clear that nearly 90 percent of the improvements reported by patients taking Prozac were also reported by the patients taking placebos. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (3-4) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Congress confirmed its ultra PC mood on drug policy by assigning GHB to Schedule 1; Libertarian Ron Paul cast the lone dissenting vote. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Some hope for a more rational future may be gained from the very
accurate critique of present policy printed in an influential student
newspaper. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) DEBATE OVER `DATE RAPE' DRUG STIRS ATTACK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, the lone House member to vote against a
bill to tighten restrictions on a so-called "date rape" drug,
characterized his opposition as anti-federalism. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"It is much easier to ride the current wave of federalizing every human misdeed in the name of saving the world from some evil than to uphold a constitutional oath which prescribes a procedural structure by which the nation is protected from what is perhaps the worst evil, a national police state," Paul said in a prepared statement on Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) WAR ON DRUGS DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The war on drugs has cost America a great deal of money and lives. For
the first half of our country's history, alcohol and other drugs were
legal, but for a short period in the 1920s, during alcohol prohibition,
a reversal of this policy saw crime rates quickly grow out of control.
Today, drug prohibition has resulted in this same upsurge of violent
crime in addition to new problems, such as a wave of unjustified
property seizure by the government and an explosion in the cost of
health care. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The war on drugs is little more than a drawn out, tragically amplified
version of the prohibition of alcohol earlier this century. It has
brought back the crime and drive-by shootings of the 1920s, allowed
unprecedented violation of property rights, and hindered the
development of life-saving drugs. It denies the rights and
individuality of American citizens and contradicts the entirety of our
political heritage. The war on drugs is nothing less than a war on
America. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (5-6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tobacco, our deadliest agent, remains legal and still isn't classified
as a "drug;" however a major cigarette manufacturer finally admitted
they addict and harm users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Be that as it may, a federal law intended to limit teen access to
cigarettes is noteworthy for non-enforcement; so much for concern over
"protecting the kids." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) PHILIP MORRIS - TOBACCO ISN'T SAFE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NEW YORK - The world's biggest cigarette company's acknowledgment that
smoking is dangerous and addictive is spurring renewed calls for
federal regulation of tobacco and greater efforts to keep children from
taking their first puff. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Philip Morris Cos. Inc., which owns the tobacco company that makes
best-selling Marlboro and other cigarettes, publicly acknowledged with
the debut of its corporate Internet site Wednesday that smokers face
serious health risks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) TOBACCO STILL READILY AVAILABLE TO YOUTHS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Law Aimed At Ending Sales To Teens Not Enforced, Study Concludes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A 1992 law aimed at ending sales of cigarettes and other tobacco products to minors through rigorous state-level checking has not been adequately enforced, a private analysis says. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most states and U.S. territories have neglected to investigate properly if their own laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors are followed and to prosecute when the laws are broken, said the study, released Wednesday and published in The Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not all responses to NM Governor Johnson's message were favorable- or
even rational. In addition to a spate of local criticism, Johnson was
pilloried in the Boston Globe by a writer who believes the drug war is
succeeding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) COLUMN: N.M. GUV IS 1 BLOKE OVER THE LINE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking at George Washington University last week, New Mexico Gov.
Gary Johnson invoked the biggest lie of the drug-legalization movement:
The drug war is a multi billion dollar flop. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Johnson is the first governor to call for unconditional surrender - the
legalization of cocaine and heroin as well as marijuana. He smoked pot
regularly as a student and found it delightful and salutary. ``I hate
to say it, but the majority of people who use drugs use them
responsibly,'' the Republican said. Clearly, Johnson hasn't spent much
time in prisons, rehab centers, homeless shelters, emergency rooms or
the seedier sections of our inner cities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (8-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
California voters who chose Gray Davis over Dan Lungren probably
didn't realize the extent to which they agreed on law enforcement and
prisons. Davis, who also vetoed a review of 3 Strikes legislation
last week, received strong criticism for his parole policy from a
conservative newspaper. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Bakersfield Californian reported on desperate conditions within the overcrowded prisons Davis is so committed to keeping full. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) POLITICS OF PAROLE: DAVIS IS RIGID AND WRONG ON PAROLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Pete Wilson was extreme when it came to parole. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He appointed a Board of Prison Terms dominated by ex-cops who almost
never granted parole. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In his first 10 months in office, Gov. Gray Davis has shown himself
even more extreme and unjust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In a recent article, the Los Angeles Times reports that of 1,489
hearings held since Davis took office, the board has granted parole
only 13 times. The governor revoked eight of those paroles outright
and returned the five others to the board for reconsideration. Nudged
by Davis, the board promptly reversed itself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) AUDIT FINDS DEFICIENCIES AT WASCO PRISON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Poor management and careless upkeep over several years has "needlessly
endangered both staff and inmates" at Wasco State Prison, according to
a scathing state audit released Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Warden) Candelaria, however, called the audit an opinion piece by
people with no experience in state corrections and said the citing of
problems and suggestions for improvement really came from him and his
staff. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's tough to maintain an institution holding 6,000 inmates when it was
designed to hold 2,900 and when the staff is overwhelmed with emergency
maintenance problems, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (10-11)) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Separate Houston Chronicle articles cast light on 2 delayed effects of the furor over profiling which erupted in New Jersey and spread nation-wide: more lawsuits and reduced revenue from traffic citations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(10) SUITS CHALLENGE 'ROUTINE' TRAFFIC STOPS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Critics Decry Racial Profiling As Police Tool | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rosano Gerald vividly recalled that summer afternoon in Oklahoma -- the drive across the state line, two highway stops by state troopers, and an aggressive search of his car that left his frightened son in tears. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawsuits similar to Gerald's are pending in California, Indiana, New
Jersey and Maryland. Bills requiring police departments to keep
detailed records of traffic stops, including the ethnicity of those
pulled over, have been filed in both houses of Congress, and the issue
is tentatively scheduled for hearings before a Senate subcommittee this
month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
California Gov. Gray Davis set off a firestorm last month when he
vetoed a bill that would have issued a similar mandate for every police
agency in his state, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) HPD WRITING FEWER TRAFFIC TICKETS UNDER NEW DATA-GATHERING POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Houston police have issued thousands fewer traffic tickets than usual
since Chief C.O. Bradford ordered them to collect data on the age, race
and sex of every person they stop. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bradford acknowledged that the drop is due at least in part to the
policy that went into effect Aug. 11. But he said the reduction in
traffic enforcement or ticket revenue is justified if it ensures that
police officers do not engage in "racial profiling" -- suspecting
criminal behavior because of an individual's race. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
About half of the projected shortfall already has been blamed on lower
traffic ticket revenue, and the steep drop-off this fall likely will
compound the problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mayor Lee Brown is cutting expenses by $9.3 million this year,
including $2.1 million from the HPD. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (12-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medical cannabis and hemp are at issue in two current cases involving
the US and Canada. The CSM printed a detailed and accurate account of
the plight of Renee Boje, an American seeking political asylum to
avoid a Draconian prison sentence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Also, an update on the obscene bird seed ploy makes clear that the DEA is attempting to destroy the North American hemp industry while using preservation of the American drug-testing industry as an excuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(12) CANADA AND US IN DRUG DEBATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A US woman seeks political asylum in Canada, claiming persecution in
marijuana case. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Ruth Walker Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A US woman wanted in California for conspiring to sell marijuana is
fighting extradition from Canada on the grounds that she is a political
refugee - from the war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Boje's lawyer) Conroy expects to lose the Nov. 1 hearing but to appeal
to Canada's federal justice minister. Boje "is in fear of what will be
done to her" if she goes to a US prison. Amnesty International released
a report earlier this year about human rights violations against women
in prison, which attracted widespread attention here. The levels of
abuse reported are a reason to consider the American justice system
"unjust and oppressive," according to Conroy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CONTENTIOUS CROP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(13) HEMP FARMERS GET CAUGHT IN THE WAR AGAINST DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On Aug. 9, U.S. Customs Service officials in Detroit made their move,
seizing 18,000 kg ñ of Canadian birdseed. It was a simple case of zero
tolerance. The seed came from industrial hemp, which, like marijuana,
is a variety of the species Cannabis sativa. Although it is illegal to
grow industrial hemp in most of the United States, it has always been
legal to import it. On the other hand, the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration will not allow any substance containing even trace
amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive agent in
marijuana, into the United States. So on the DEA's instructions,
customs locked the birdseed up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A DEA spokesman says the agency became concerned about hemp shipments
once it learned that seeds were being used to create edible products
such as granola bars, beer and cooking oil. "What happens to the
people," he asks, "who are using hemp oil to cook and THC turns up in
their drug test?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (14-15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On the medical cannabis front, the House vote on DC's budget inspired
an even better reprimand from the Chicago Tribune than from the
District's home-town newspaper. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile, the well-funded experiment in incremental change of drug
policy inched forward in Arizona. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(14) THE ANTI-DEMOCRACY IN D.C. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Almost a year after they voted on whether marijuana should be legalized for medical use, District of Columbia residents finally were allowed last month to count the vote. Unfortunately, thanks to some members of Congress, the outcome--overwhelming approval--may not count for much. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It is an affront to the spirit of democracy for Rep. Barr and those who
vote with him to treat the District of Columbia as if it were some sort
of colony and its people as vassals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A democratic nation cannot tolerate such anti-democratic behavior in its capital. If democracy is to mean anything in the nation's capital, Congress must butt out and let the decision of D.C. voters take effect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) MEDICAL POT BACK AS BALLOT INITIATIVE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MEASURE WOULD EASE JAIL TIME, DISTRIBUTION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Supporters of medical marijuana are heading back to the ballot box,
seeking a state distribution network for the drug and reductions in
sentences for possession. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opponents shouted, "I told you so!" charging that the measure is
another thinly veiled step toward decriminalization of not just
marijuana, but all drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"People are unhappy with the drug war, and they don't want
legalization," said Sam Vagenas of the People Have Spoken, the group
that backed medical marijuana laws in 1996 and 1998. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"They want something between legalization and what we're doing now.
That's what we're doing." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This evaluation of the cannabis ferment in Canada seems about right;
the worried Toronto Star piece on the rave phenomenon makes one wonder
why raves aren't more of an issue in the US. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(16) CANADA: MARIJUANA MANIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turn on a news broadcast or open the pages of many Canadian newspapers
these days and on most days you'll find yet another story on marijuana.
Whether it be the latest government decision to allow more sick people
(to) use it, a court case about why it should be decriminalized or the
latest strides made by law enforcement in combatting it, it would seem
the whole country is going to pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Generally, when issues move to the forefront with the speed that this
one did it means there is change coming. An increase in public dialogue
indicates that taboos are being broken and people are more comfortable
speaking their mind. Even the federal government, traditionally the
slowest moves (mover) in recognizing social change, is starting to make
rumbles - there is a shift on the horizon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) CANADA: AND THE PUBLIC RAVES ON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Are We Too High?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The cover of the latest issue of the American dance-culture publication
Urb poses a question that's taking on an unfortunate resonance within
the local rave community. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The widely reported fatal overdose of a 21-year-old man at a party last
weekend was the last thing the Toronto scene, already unnerved by two
other apparently drug-related deaths linked to raves this summer,
needed - not least because it has, once again, cranked the media's
middle-class-panic machine into overdrive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's easy to demonize counter cultural movements - even those as large
and, arguably, mainstream as the global rave phenomenon - because
they're alien to the larger population and generally denied a voice in
the outlets that do the demonizing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (18-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the US, the most trumpeted drug story of the week was the bust of thirty-plus on cocaine charges, allegedly as a result of US-Colombian cooperation. The Washington Post sounded a prudent note of skepticism. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The riches at stake in Colombia were alluded to by the Boston Globe,
while an article from the UK reported on the dimension most
misunderstood in the US: the relation between cocaine and a
long-running Marxist rebellion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(18) EDITORIAL: THE COLOMBIAN DRUG BUST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VICTORIES IN the war on drugs are rare, so it would be wrong to be too churlish about this week's arrest of 31 suspected cocaine traffickers based mainly in Colombia. Their capture is certainly a triumph of collaboration between Colombian and American law enforcement officials. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colombia's police chief has pledged that the suspects will be
extradited to America, a fate that the country's traffickers have
successfully avoided since 1991. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
That said, some skepticism is called for. Colombian drug rings have
been smashed before, with little obvious benefit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) LOBBYISTS WAR OVER BILLIONS IN ANTIDRUG AID TO COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - A request to spend up to $2 billion on Colombia's drug war has become one of America's most closely watched and contentious foreign aid issues, prompting a run of Colombian generals and human rights advocates to argue their cases with the Congress. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But after the swirl of lobbyists and weeks of White House meetings, the
Clinton administration may postpone the request until next year,
fearful that any proposal now would siphon funds from other foreign aid
programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
''This is an emergency situation,'' McCaffrey told the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. ''The Colombian democracy has to see a long-term
commitment to them - three years minimum.'' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He predicted that coca production, which jumped by 50 percent from 1990
to 1998 despite more than $600 million in US antidrug assistance, again
would show an increase this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) COLOMBIA: DRUGS FUND MARXIST MINI-STATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WOMEN guerrillas, armed and dressed in battle fatigues, guarded a
roadblock on the potholed gravel road leading to the cattle town of San
Vicente del Caguan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
They marked the gateway into a Marxist mini-state, which Colombia's
largest left-wing rebel group is carving from the peasant-populated,
cocaine-producing southern jungle regions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conference - "Student Leaders in Drug Policy and Justice," | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The first-ever national student conference of drug policy, "Student
Leaders in Drug Policy and Justice," is being held November 5-6, 1999
at George Washington University in Washington, DC. You can find more
information about the conference at http://www.ssdp.org, where
interested parties can register on-line. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MPP Page let's you express your opinion re Congress undermining of I-59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As you may know the house passed H.R. 3064 which effectively overturned
the will of the people of Washington D.C. on I-59 the medical marijuana
initiative. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MPP has placed a web page that enables you to easily email or fax your
senators and congress person to express your opinion on the bill
http://www.mpp.org/i59/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To find out how your representative voted see | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The newest version of 'THE KUBBY FILES' now on-line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Drug Prohibition does exactly the opposite of what it was intended to
do. Drug Prohibition creates violence; it creates more addicts; it
creates more dysfunction in society." Constable Gil Puder, Vancouver
City Police, "Stopping Traffik", Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,
http://www.tv.cbc.ca/witness/drugs/traffikmain.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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