| January 21, 2000 #133 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A DrugSense publication | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our 'Visionary' Drug Czar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Can you say "drug czar?" Journalists use the term because no one can
remember the alphabet-soup in the phrase "Director of the ONDCP." But
this week after revelations that Gen. Barry McCaffrey has been paying
the networks to inject his reefer-madness world view into primetime TV
shows, the abbreviation is obvious: it's the Office of National Drug
Censorship and Propaganda. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We now know that those scary overdose scenes on "ER" were bought and
paid for out of McCaffrey's billion-dollar drug-war-chest. What kinds
of drug-scare themes and Drug War endorsements can we expect on TV
shows in weeks to come? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How about a Martin Luther King special that shows racial profiling and high African-American incarceration rates in a favorable light? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Perhaps a 4th-of-July TV movie endorsing no-knock drug raids,
clarifying the logic of seizing property from legally innocent
citizens, and featuring a cameo appearance by Georgia Congressman Bob
Barr to show how free/fair elections can be cancelled for the good of
all citizens. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maybe we'll see a light-hearted "LA Law" episode on those wacky cops in
the Rampart precinct of Los Angeles. Student study guides, supplied by
the DEA, will include "Knowing when extortion should be ignored" and
"Corruption? What the heck. It's for a good cause." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the edification of Californians and those in other states that
passed those pesky medical marijuana bills that McCaffrey hates so
much, CBS will feature the authoritative legal documentary
"States-rights: Old idea, bad idea." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
And for his grand finale, to be aired nationwide on Veterans' Day, Gen. McCaffrey can rig a heroic script for a TV mini-series depicting a full-scale military invasion of Colombia. The "TV Guide" program synopsis: "Watch piles of coca leaf blazing in the tropical sun while peasants scurry into the jungle to plant corn and beans instead." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
According to confidential sources, the Clinton administration, having
defended McCaffrey's payola program, is planning to use his novel
approach to aid enforcement of other laws, as well. Their priorities
are predictable. For programs to air between April 1 and April 15th,
broadcasters will be paid hefty sums by the IRS to insert subliminal
messages into prime-time shows: "I WANT TO PAY MY TAXES. I WANT TO PAY
MY TAXES." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
An anonymous Clinton aide projects wide applications of McCaffrey's
approach in government. "An ounce of brainwashing is worth a pound of
enforcement," he said. American law and politics may never be the
same. Thanks, Barry! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
McCaffrey's ostensible "anti-drug" messages are also pro-Drug-War
messages supporting a burgeoning federal drug-enforcement bureaucracy
(at $18 billion it's 36 times the size of the inflation-adjusted 1970
drug budget). Irrational fear of drugs leads to an irrational
embracing of a Drug War which, in its totality, is morally questionable
at best, and morally reprehensible in many respects. U.S. media should
spend as much time describing the drug prohibition problem as they do
the drug addiction problem. They are equally serious. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In his Drug War zeal, McCaffrey has betrayed democracy, which thrives
on the free flow of information and opinion. Government-hired speech
defeats the First Amendment as effectively as direct censorship. In a
free society, the government must follow, not shape, the will of the
people. McCaffrey should resign. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy COMMENT: (1-3) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It was set to be a good Sunday for McCzar; his picture in living color
on the cover of a nationally distributed Sunday newspaper insert;
inside there was an adulatory puff piece which portrayed him as the
second coming and allowed retelling of some of his most egregious
lies- but wait! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On Thursday and Friday, the e-zine, Salon uncorked a one-two punch in
the form of Dan Forbes' report describing how ONDCP has been using tax
dollars to compromise the First Amendment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) HE HAS A BETTER WAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The first thing you should know about Barry McCaffrey is that he didn't
want his current job. Yes, director of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy (ONDCP) is a Cabinet-level appointment made by the
President. But McCaffrey wasn't particularly interested, his friends
and associates told him not to take the job, and reporters said the
ONDCP was "a mess." McCaffrey had all but decided to say "no." But
then, as McCaffrey tells it, "My dad asked me, 'Do you think you can
make a difference?' I answered, 'Yes, of course.' And he told me to
take the job." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I tell my wife I've become a crier in this job - listening to stories,
seeing lives ruined," he continues. "Heroin changes the neurochemistry
of your brain, so you are literally incapable of loving another person
in the same way." Even marijuana is much more potent today than just 10
or 20 years ago, he adds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Some of McCaffrey's strongest views involve drug legalization. "To say
that the legalization of drugs will make them less harmful to the
person and society just doesn't make any sense." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) DRUG MONEY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How The White House Secretly Hooked Network TV On Its Anti-Drug Message | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advertisements urging parents to love their kids and keep them off
drugs dot urban bus stops across America. Anti-drug commercials fill
Channel One in the nation's schools and the commercial breaks of
network TV -- most notably a comely, T-shirt-clad waif trashing her
kitchen to demonstrate the dangers of heroin. We've come a long way
from Nancy Reagan's clenched-teeth "Just Say No." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Few Americans, however, know of a hidden government effort to shoehorn
anti-drug messages into the most pervasive and powerful billboard of
all -- network television programming. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) PROPAGANDA FOR DOLLARS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When The White House And The TV Networks Got Together To Put Anti-Drug Messages In Prime-Time Television, Were They Breaking The Law? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Salon exclusive published Thursday described a hidden government
campaign to insert anti-drug messages into TV programs. The arrangement
was concocted by the office of the nation's drug czar, Gen. Barry R.
McCaffrey, and its ad buyer and was carried out by the six networks:
ABC, CBS, NBC, the WB, Fox, and, this TV season, UPN. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The arrangement raises legal questions. Some observers think the
government may have run afoul of the nation's anti-payola regulations.
Payola entered public consciousness during the 1950s, when rock 'n'
roll impresarios were convicted of bribery for paying DJs and radio
stations to play specific records. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (4-6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Had it been any area but drug policy, such arrogant trampling of both
the First Amendment and a Congressional directive might have triggered
cries for McCzar's resignation- or worse. So far, the response of the
nation's print media, while generally critical, is often flip and
definitely lacking in outrage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Curious behavior for our self-appointed guardians of the First
Amendment: it seems that drug policy money- like drug money- speaks
with a loud voice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) COLUMN: DRUG OFFICE SNEAKS MESSAGE INTO PRIME TIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I don't mind if TV writers and producers choose to send simple messages
through their shows: Say no to drugs. Talk to your children. Fasten
your seat belt. Love thy neighbor -- but use condoms. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It violates the movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn's advice: ``If you want to send a message, try Western Union.'' But it's only TV after all. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What's alarming is when the government becomes the scriptwriter, manipulating public opinion with the public's money. The secrecy makes it more sinister: If it's OK to have the drug czar approving scripts, how come nobody knew about it till Salon broke the story? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
``Big Brother is watching you,'' George Orwell warned in ``1984.'' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As it turns out: You're watching Big Brother. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) EDITORIAL: JUST SAY 'NO' TO BIG BROTHER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The failing war on drugs has caused so much collateral damage to America's precious constitutional safeguards that it may have been unrealistic to think our most precious one would go unscathed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What really hurts, though, is the way media executives sold the First
Amendment so cheap. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reality or promotion? Artistic freedom or government bribe? The new
giants of Big Media each need to assign someone who can determine and
patrol the difference. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A prescient piece by Paul Armentano of NORML described potential problems with ONDCP's ad program back in October. Ironically, MAP only received the item last week; it's eerily appropriate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) BOUGHT AND SOLD: DRUG WARRIORS AND THE MEDIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Americans pride themselves on their independent press. Yet some media
outlets and networks are compromising their autonomy and objectivity by
welcoming the federal government as a major paying advertiser. This
alarming union is the latest outgrowth of the "war on drugs," and the
launch of a new $775 million White House campaign to promote its
objectives through television, radio, and print advertising. The
message to media moguls is simple: Promote the continuation of the drug
war in advertisements, editorial content, and features, and we, as
federal officials, will reimburse you by spending millions of taxpayer
dollars for ads. The better government mouthpiece you are the more
advertising space we will buy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The implications of the publishing industry's new alliance with the
federal government are disturbing. Michael Hoyt, senior editor for the
Columbia Journalism Review, warns that the industry's involvement
sacrifices credibility and journalistic integrity. "I don't think that
the MPA should be urging members to provide editorial support for
anything at all," he says. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The federal government's marijuana policy has long been based on
propaganda. Government witnesses advocated passage of America's first
prohibitive federal marijuana law in 1937 by telling Congress that
marijuana consumption inevitably causes violence, insanity, and death
among users. In different eras, various other myths have gained
prominence (marijuana kills brain cells, marijuana causes amotivational
syndrome, marijuana harms sexual maturation and reproduction, and so
on), but few have been abandoned. Indeed, many of the reefer madness"
tales that were used today to generate support for early anti-marijuana
laws continue to appear in the government's media campaign and
bureaucratic reports today, despite scientific studies demonstrating
the contrary. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In addition, by waving taxpayer dollars, federal officials are
presenting many within the Fourth Estate with a conflict of interest
that threatens not only their credibility and objectivity, but also
their ability to maintain a proper role as a watchdog over big
government and its policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How likely is the media to question the drug-war party line when the
warriors are some of their biggest advertisers? The feds are spending
$775 million of your hard-earned dollars to find out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Jersey lived up to its own utopian image by directing police to
enforce teen prohibitions on alcohol and tobacco. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) STATE CRACKS DOWN ON YOUNG WHO USE TOBACCO AND LIQUOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(TRENTON, Jan. 10) -- In a burst of prohibitive zeal aimed at New
Jersey's youth, state lawmakers voted today to make it illegal for
people under 18 to buy or possess tobacco products, or for those under
21 to drink alcoholic beverages on private property. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The under-age-drinking bill, which is supported by police and municipal officials throughout the state, would close a loophole that has made it difficult for the police to crack down on rowdy summertime house parties and backyard keggers at rental houses along the Jersey Shore. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But the tobacco ban is opposed by many police officials and most leading anti smoking groups, who say it would achieve little and could even make smoking more appealing to rebellious teenagers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pressure for prison reform came from an unexpected directions: rampant
HCV in California's vast gulag is finally attracting attention and
could force some changes at the top. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) RETHINK PRISON POLICIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reform of the system will require new leaders and cooperation across
ideological lines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the last year, state investigators have uncovered scores of problems
in California prisons, from substance-abusing inmates to guards goading
prisoners into fist fights. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hepatitis C currently afflicts about half a million Californians in and out of prison, far more victims than in any other state. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
State legislative leaders haven't done much to help. In Sacramento,
prison reform remains a highly charged issue, dominated and held back
by ideology. Political posturing will not solve problems like the
spread of hepatitis C and the failure of prison officials to keep track
of violent parolees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Solutions will come only when smart policies are crafted by prison officials working in tandem with legislators and the governor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Further erosion of personal liberty by another maddening 5-4 decision;
this time it was O'Connor and Kennedy joining the 3 doctrinaire
fascists. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(9) POLICE HAVE AUTHORITY TO STOP SUSPECTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled today that
Chicago police were justified in stopping a man who ran after he
spotted officers in an area known for drug trafficking. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Nervous, evasive behavior is a pertinent factor in determining
reasonable suspicion" to justify a stop, Chief Justice William H.
Rehnquist wrote for the court. "Headlong flight -- wherever it occurs
-- is the consummate act of evasion." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
His opinion was joined by Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia,
Anthony M. Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our weekly Rampart update had more disasters to report in LA's slowly
unfolding police scandal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(10) 4 MORE COPS RELIEVED OF DUTY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Four more police officers who worked in the Rampart
division have been relieved of duty and prosecutors expect more
convictions tainted by misconduct to be overturned, the Los Angeles
Times reported Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The officers were relieved of duty last week, the Times reported, citing anonymous sources. That means 20 officers have been relieved of duty, suspended without pay, fired, or who have resigned as a result of the worst police corruption scandal to hit the city in decades. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eleven criminal convictions have been overturned and four inmates have been released from prison as a result of the scandal in which officers are said to have framed people for crimes they didn't commit, lied in court to obtain convictions and in some cases shot innocent people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutors said more than 40 more convictions may be overturned as they continue their review of potentially tainted cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (11-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Protection of "the kids" justifies most drug war police activity. The
reality is often different. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A 25 year old Texan killed in his own home by a special drug task force wasn't helped at all; the futures of 25 Arkansas high schoolers rounded up after a sting probably weren't brightened very much either. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(11) COUNCIL PROBES 2 COP GROUPS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San Marcos Residents Voice Complaints | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SAN MARCOS. City police officials are facing tough questions from City
Council members concerned about the cost-effectiveness and oversight of
two special task forces. Residents have complained about the task
forces to the City Council, which asked their leaders to come back next
month with status reports on their operations, which target drug
dealing and underage drinking. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"With blood now shed and life now taken, how much does this drug task
force really cost?" Southwest Texas State University professor Harvey
Ginsburg said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Several residents told the council Monday that early morning raids to
catch non-violent, street level dealers or users are too risky. They
said Windle easily could have been picked up at work later in the day
without incident. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Texas Observer magazine also reported the task force rented a room at a Wimberley resort for four months for a paid informant who threw parties where teens as young as 14 were given alcohol and drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) DRUG STING AT SCHOOL NETS TEENS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TEXARKANA -- The local police had heard the complaints, the fears of
parents, teachers and students. They told tales of illegal drugs,
violence and gangs at Texarkana's Arkansas High School. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We had heard from parents about major problems in the school. We heard that drugs were rampant," Police Chief Bob Harrison said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In response, police assigned an undercover officer to infiltrate the
1,000-student school in August, where he could mingle with students,
learn the system and see crime from the inside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
That six-month investigation has led to the arrest of about 25 youths
and adults, most facing charges related to the buying or selling of
illegal drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medical cannabis remains a hot topic; in DC, the MPP assisted three
medical users with an Op-Ed that was published in the conservative and
generally unenlightened Washington Post. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On the left coast, the Coastal Record, a newspaper which couldn't be
more different, published a provocative article that deserves a much
wider audience. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
More painful incrementalism: an editorial in the Redding Record-Searchlight urging return of plants to Rick Levin, the first medical cannabis user acquitted by a jury in California. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(13) OPED: PAIN OR PRISON? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last March the three of us received our 15 minutes of fame. The National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) featured our medical case histories in its landmark report, "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base." IOM included us as three living examples to illustrate its conclusion that "there are some limited circumstances in which we recommend smoking marijuana for medical uses." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This isn't just our opinion. A statement urging HHS to modify its new guidelines was signed by a range of organizations including the AIDS Action Council, the National Association of People With AIDS, the California Pharmacists Association and the National Black Police Association. The coalition argues that "many of the new guidelines would still be too cumbersome to enable research to move forward as expeditiously as possible" and that patients who are already using medicinal marijuana should not have to live in fear of being arrested. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We hope HHS takes heed. Our lives depend on it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Greg Scott lives in Florida, Barbara Douglas in Iowa and Jim Harden in
Virginia. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) MEDICAL MARIJUANA: HEALTHCARE MIRACLE AND DRUG WAR VICTIM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The largest minority is the last to be freed from legal persecution and flat out denial of their constitutional rights. Marijuana users, former and current, are mainly silent in demanding that their natural rights be recognized, or they're coughing. Medical marijuana is still held in shackles although the people have voted to set her free. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Without tokers restaurants would be hard up for help, no janitors would
be cleaning your toilet, no ditches dug, walls built, fewer painters,
carpenters, accountants even. We are everywhere, but we're still stoned
in the back of the bus. Law enforcers used to say we don't make the
laws we just enforce them, yet with their continued persecution of
medical marijuana users in California and other states, they've shown
the lie to that. They are so delusional that some even claim medical
authority. If you're in an accident who do you want to show up first,
the Drug Czar or a paramedic? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) LEGAL POT USER SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO HIS 'MEDICINE' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We're having a difficult time understanding why the Shasta County
Sheriff's Department is reluctant to give back marijuana belonging to
medicinal user Richard Levin. The word "absurd" comes to mind. So does
the old joke about "Who's on first?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If the recommendations of the Police Foundation are as anticipated in
the Economist, PM Tony Blair is sure to face strong pressure from
buddy Bill Clinton. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eventual easing of Britain's cannabis prohibition seems inevitable in
the long term, however. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(16) GOING DUTCH? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Police Foundation report is about to recommend major changes to Britain's drugs law. The government should respond without delay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The most far-reaching inquiry into drugs legislation for a quarter of a century will call next month for the decriminalisation of cannabis use and a fundamental shake-up of Britain's drugs laws. The findings of a committee set up by the Police Foundation, an independent research body partly funded by the Home Office, will provoke controversy and put pressure on the government to rethink its approach to drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (17-19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A continued hard line is likely in this hemisphere, however. Canada
was roped into token participation in our Colombian adventure; despite
its headline, the Star expressed satisfaction; what can they be
thinking? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary Albright completed her grand drug tour of Colombia, Panama,
and Mexico bravely putting a good face on what is- in reality- a
dreadful mess. Not to worry- 1.3 billion can go a long way in
postponing recognition of that reality. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(17) EDITORIAL: COLOMBIA'S NO-WIN WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Should Canadians care about faraway Colombia? Yes. Its cocaine and heroin
exports poison lives here. And Marxist insurgents have destablilized the
country of 40 million, which borders oil-rich Venezuela and Panama, as well
as Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
So Prime Minister Jean Chretien's government is right to offer to help President Andres Pastrana battle the narco-barons and the guerrillas who have taken the lives of 35,000 people in the past 30 years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) ALBRIGHT HAILS MEXICO'S ANTI-DRUG PERFORMANCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hints Passing Evaluation Likely | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OAXACA, Mexico (AP) -- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, hailing
close ties with Mexico, all but promised Sunday that Mexico need not
fear a failing grade next month in the Clinton administration's annual
evaluation of its neighbor's counter drug performance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) OPED: U.S. FUELS CIVIL WAR IN COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
THE Clinton administration's recent proposal of a $1.3 billion military
aid package to Colombia can only worsen human rights in a country with
one of the worst human-rights records in the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colombia's civil war has been raging for more than three decades now.
Increasing funds and arms to the Colombian military will only prolong
that bloody conflict. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) END WAR ON DRUGS, CONFERENCE CONCLUDES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SEATTLE -- Vancouver and other B.C. cities must assume responsibility for their drug problems and not wait for provincial or federal initiatives, according to health-care specialists from around the globe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At the first international conference on Preventing Heroin Overdose: Pragmatic Approaches, the consensus was that North American cities must abandon the War on Drugs and push for more treatment and services. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Public health officials said a range of measures is usually required
that could include safe injection sites, providing addicts with
Naloxone (a drug used to counter the effects of an opiate overdose),
and prescription heroin programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The conference was sponsored by the Lindesmith Center, a U.S-based drug
policy lobby group and think-tank, various Washington State agencies,
and a handful of B.C. groups including the Vancouver/Richmond Health
Board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Besides Kendall and Campbell, attendees from B.C. included Vancouver
social planner Donald MacPherson, Health Board executive Jack Altman,
NDP cabinet minister and Downtown Eastside MLA Jenny Kwan, Vancouver
police officer Ken Frail and members of the Vancouver Area Network of
Drug Users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"My head's swimming," Frail said after attending several of the sessions. "I wish more of us [police officers] had a chance to come, because I hadn't realized just how big a problem this is." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Bio Alledges Gore Used Marijuana For Years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A DRCNet Exclusive by Adam J. Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Week Online with DRCNet (www.stopthedrugwar.org) has learned that Newsweek Magazine decided late Friday to postpone publication of an excerpt of a Gore biography featuring eyewitness accounts of Al Gore's regular and continued drug use over a period of years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Topical News Shortcut to all the ONDCP Payola Scandal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Matt Elrod has generated a topical shortcut to dozens of news articles on the ONDCP Payola Scandal. Thanks to Matt and all our hard working NewsHawks and editors for providing this valuable information resource. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Declaration of Independence - Time to Reinstitute its Timeless
Principals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sanho Tree Recently reminded us of how poignant and on target the Declaration of Independence is for our cause. He did a slight rewrite making it even more so which we hope to provide in URL form in the near future but in the meantime we suggest that you take a look at the original and view it in the light of todays "war on drugs." You will be surprised at how timely and pertinent this ageless document is in our fight to maintain freedom while opposing those who favor tyranny. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/declaration/declaration.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -- Thomas Jefferson - The Declaration of Independence | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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