| April 14, 2000 #146 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VALUES AND THE WAR ON DRUGS / Rev. J. McRee Elrod | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[Delivered at several Unitarian churches in British Columbia] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Often, I think, we fail to make a basic distinction between our more
basic values and our more transitory opinions. Values are usually
formed early in life, and usually remain fairly constant. While formed
early, values may not be considered or articulated until later, if
ever. Opinions evolve. If you have the same opinions as five years
ago, and still hold the same ones five years hence, you are perhaps
inactive from the ears up! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
My values had to be formed, and articulated, by the time I was 19. I
was almost expelled from university for supporting the application of a
Black student for admission. I was in a room with the Dean of my
College, the Minister of by Church, the Judge of the County Supreme
Court all telling me I was wrong. I knew I was right. (Probably the
beginning of my pigheadedness. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Let me attempt to state those values. You will notice some similarity
to the Unitarian statement of principles, which gave me new ways of
saying that to which I already adhered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The ultimate value is the self aware human personality. That which
damages it is evil; that which helps it is good. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Human personalities are to be respected and their rights protected regardless of colour, religion, ethnicity, sex, or sexual orientation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Human personalities develop best in at atmosphere of intellectual
artistic, economic, and political freedom. They require a society which
guarantees their basic material needs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The philosopher who has most influenced me is J.S. Mill, particularly
his "On Liberty". | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
While human personality is the supreme good, that personality exists in
a society, and that society exists in a natural world. Humankind is
part of the interwoven web of existence. Humankind should not wantonly
cause unnecessary pain to any living creature, or wantonly destroy any
species or part of nature. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These are the basic values by which I have attempted to live for some
years. My opinions, on the other hand, evolve and change, often as the
result of discussions and experience. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before attempting to relate the values I have outlined to the question of drugs (about which my opinions are in flux) perhaps a statement of personal experience with them is in order. As those of you who know me are aware, I need no artificial assistance in lowering my level of inhibitions. In fact, a handy dandy drug which raised them a tad might be in order. So it is not moral strength but lack of need which explains the fact that I have never in my life smoked nicotine or pot, or used alcohol beyond wine or cider with a meal. My abhorrence of needles, if nothing else, would keep me away from injected drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Do you remember the scene in "Days of Wine and Roses" in which the heroine Lee Remick is descending the elevator gobbling a chocolate bar? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It was a harbinger of her susceptibility to becoming addicted. It
that's any indication, not to mention my ongoing affair with DQ
milkshakes, it's just as well I've not been tempted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Of my six children, one has had difficulty with drug abuse. Among my
friends, more have suffered from muggings and robberies to pay for
another's habit, than have suffered from the ill effects of drug use
themselves. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The question for me is, what approach to the ill effects of drugs would
be most in accord with the values outlined earlier? There is no
question in my mind that the use of drugs is not good for the user in
most instances, although there is little correlation between the harm
and the legal status of the drug, and the harm created by moderate
recreational use is far less damaging than the legal consequences of
being caught doing so. There are exceptions of course: the terminally
ill cancer patient among them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
My six children have suffered far more from their use of nicotine and
alcohol than their use of pot. What methods, between the legality of
nicotine and illegality of pot, would best discourage their use, and
best reduce the accompanying damage to society? The argument that pot
is a "gateway drug" has no validity in my view. Not only do most later
coke users drink Coco-Cola first, but the primary reason pot serves as
a gateway drug is that it does not have the ill effects predicted, and
users have already become accustomed to disregarding and disbelieving
the law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In terms of "sending the wrong message to youth" is concerned, my son
points out that his daughters are quite capable of understanding why
they are only allowed a sip of wine, while their parents may drink a
glass. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He also points out that hard drugs are easier for his children to
obtain in a school yard than nicotine or alcohol, because the former is
outside rational regulation. The same can be said for availability in
prisons. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currently the success of authorities in intercepting hard drug shipments is actually measured in the increase of street price, and the resultant increase in house break-ins, sometimes resulting in the violent death of elderly residents. Other societies, and ours in the 19th century, showed that drug addicts could be maintained in their habits while functioning in society. The 20th century change in our treatment of drugs some have attributed to racial prejudice: anti Chinese in the case of heroin, and anti Mexican in the case of pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
My experiences lead me to favour the repeal of all criminal drug laws,
and the treatment of drug addiction as a social and medical problem.
This is not an advocacy of drug use, whether it be overindulgence in
alcohol, any use of nicotine, some form of hemp, or the hard drugs. It
is a judgment of what might be the most effective way of reducing drug
addiction, and even more importantly, reducing the harm done to society
by drug addiction. Drug use is a victimless crime, until that drug
addict turns to violence to support the habit. That violence is a law
created phenomenon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Half, I think it is now, of all prisoners are there because of drug
offences. Over half of muggings, house break-ins, and store hold-ups
are to support expensive drug habits, habits which are expensive
because of the laws against them. Over half the ill effects of drugs,
and most of their ill effects on society, would be solved by
decriminalizing them, and treating their abuse as a social and medical
problem. We seemed to have learned nothing from the failure of
prohibition, which among other things created the organized crime
system in the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Among the strongest opponents of drug decriminalization are the drug
producers and dealers. Their profit, and motive for hooking new users,
would vanish. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I suspect there will always by a percentage among us who because of
physical, chemical, psychological, or personality difficulties, will
turn to drugs. Our task as a society, it seems to me, is to determine
what methods will do most to minimize the damage to them and to society
of drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our task as Unitarians is to attempt to bring rational and value
related discussion to this vexed question. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy COMMENT: (1-4) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This selection of articles has been arranged to demonstrate a simple
point: the more its failures and excesses become known, the more the
drug war becomes intrusive, disruptive, and defensive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To emphasize that point, we've altered the format a bit: more
articles, shorter excerpts and an increased reliance on the
juxtaposition of headlines: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) QUESTION ON FAFSA CONFUSES APPLICANTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue students who left question 28 on their Free Application for
Federal Student Aid forms unanswered will still be eligible for
financial aid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Department of Education decided that students who left the
question blank meant to say that they had not been convicted of using
illegal drugs, despite the fact that a blank answer actually means they
have been convicted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before this year, a student could be denied financial aid due to a drug
conviction, but only when a judge made it a part of the student's
sentence. Now, it is considered when students apply for financial
aid.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hall does not know if the question will be changed for next year's form. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) DRUG SCANNERS RAISE CONCERN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Are there any limits to Iowa's war on drugs? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
After seeing high-tech ion scanners used to screen Iowa prison visitors and truck drivers for traces of controlled substances, civil libertarians wonder where the machines will be used next. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Our main concern is that current Iowa law does not provide any assurance against the use of these" in the business workplace, said Ben Stone, executive director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) ARE RANDOM DRUG SEARCHES AT A BUS STOP IN BREEZEWOOD APPROPRIATE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
BREEZEWOOD, Pa. -- Luzetta Zilch knows the drill as well as any of the
other Greyhound Bus drivers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
She wheels her bus in for a half-hour layover at the Post House
Cafeteria... After passengers file off, plainclothes state troopers
appear, asking if their drug dog can sniff the luggage in the bus cargo
bay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Most people don't seem to get bothered by it," she said as she talked
shop ... and finished a quick lunch ... "But a few of the passengers,
people from Europe, get a little upset, though. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"They think it's strange that people in a free country would be doing
this." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) HOMECOMING QUEEN WANTS EXPULSION REVERSED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Gulf Shores High School homecoming queen will ask a federal judge to
reverse her expulsion that came after a drug-sniffing police dog
detected suspected marijuana fragments in her parents' car parked in
the school lot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (5-6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As usual, confusion prevails; these two items about U.S. Customs - a
day and a coast apart- couldn't be more contradictory: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) MORE BLACK WOMEN SEARCHED, REPORT SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
African-American women returning from abroad were disproportionately
singled out for strip-searches by U.S. Customs Service inspectors at
airports, according to a congressional report scheduled for release
today. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) CUSTOMS SAYS IT'S CHANGED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Customs Service, stung by a congressional report showing African American women returning from overseas trips were disproportionately singled out for strip searches at airports, said yesterday that policy changes put in place last year are taking hold. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unmindful that claims of drug war "success" don't comport well with drug scare propaganda, meth stories continued. One even turned up in the Bay Area- followed by an embarrassing discovery a day later. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) ILLICIT METH LABS DEVELOP NEW SOURCE OF INGREDIENTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cold Pills Being Stolen From Pharmaceutical Firms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For drug traffickers, the thefts were the equivalent of strolling out the gates of Fort Knox with sacks full of gold. As many as 20 barrels of a common over-the-counter cold pill - coveted by those who can easily cook it into methamphetamine - vanished from a pharmaceutical plant in Vacaville before authorities caught on in 1998. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Showing that their arrogance is covered by a remarkably thin skin,
ONDCP heightened the impact of Dan Forbes' revelations with some
unguarded complaints about him and MAP. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) ONLINE JOURNALIST TANGLES WITH FEDS OVER ANTIDRUG AD POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There's a new battlefront in the White House war on drugs. Daniel Forbes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forbes, 44, is the freelancer who recently authored two big stories for
the online magazine Salon ( http://www.salon.com ) that revealed a
controversial financial link between the media and the government's
antidrug campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In a March 30 letter to Salon, ONDCP assistant director for strategic planning Robert Housman, said "it is clear that Dan Forbes ... is more than just a disinterested reporter in search of a story. Mr. Forbes has been a regular contributor to the Media Awareness Project's Website, an organization that essentially advocates for the legalization of drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This area is where the drug war elephant is hardest to overlook; although clearly motivated by politics, John Di Iulio's candid admission opened a major can of worms- as demonstrated by the comment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Continued bad news out of LA; typically, a Times poll looked carefully
at every possible factor- except drug laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
An upstate NY town's disappointment with the Prison-Industrial-Complex mirrors that experienced in California's Central Valley. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Florida, an academic blasted Congressional thinking on drug policy
with unusual vigor. Is change finally in the air? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(9) CRIMINOLOGIST - CHILDREN OF INMATES MOST AT-RISK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nationwide, 2 million children have at least one parent behind bars,
and many of the young people are destined to follow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Criminologist John J. DiIulio said no single group of Americans is
more at risk of abuse and neglect, educational failure, illiteracy,
chronic joblessness, welfare dependency, drug or alcohol addiction,
out-of-wedlock births, crime and delinquency, incarceration and
premature death .... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The reason why children are affected so much is because of women
(inmates) who have children," said David Keys, assistant professor of
criminal justice and sociology .... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keys said he thinks the "war on drugs," is responsible for some of the
problems in the criminal justice system. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I think we took a simple-minded approach to the problem," he said.
"Now, we're living with the ramifications of it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) RAMPART REVELATIONS UPSET CITY RESIDENTS, UNDERCUT CONFIDENCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Rampart police corruption scandal is contributing to a malaise in
Los Angeles, helping to raise questions about the city's health and
image, devastating public impressions of the Los Angeles Police
Department and fueling strong sentiment for the appointment of an
independent commission to investigate the crisis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Those findings, culled from a new Times poll, suggest that the scandal has had a deep effect on Los Angeles' sense of itself, sowing doubts despite a strong economy and continuing reductions in crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) THE TOWN THAT LOVED PRISONS PAYS A VERY STIFF PRICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IN THE 1980s, when the country was fighting a war on drugs, and Mario Cuomo was building more prisons than any other governor in New York history, there was a poor rural village named Malone, N.Y. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Malone's farms and businesses were struggling and there were no jobs for its sons and daughters, so the village officials had an idea. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We'll build us a prison!" the officials said. "That will bring
construction jobs, prison jobs and food-service jobs. A prison will
save our community." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sherwin sees a dream that has gone sour. " It was get a prison and your community is set," he says. "But look around, is this heaven?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) OPED: LAWS ON DRUG SENTENCING INSULT JUSTICE. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As you file your federal income tax returns this month, look at what
you pay and think what you could buy with the $264,000 being spent to
incarcerate Floridian Brenda Valencia, who is serving a mandatory
12-year federal drug sentence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
So, 14 years after their adoption, mandatory minimum drug sentences continue to fill our prisons with low-level, non-violent offenders. Judges are forced to impose mandatory minimum sentences in nearly all cases. And - surprise! - we taxpayers keep footing the bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The arch-conservative Heritage Foundation published a damnation of
medical use by McCzar clone James McDonough, who surrounded the
grudging admission that cannabinoids are medicine with every
"marijuana" canard ever written. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawrence Altman of the NYT took a different tone in describing a
University of Iowa conference educating physicians and others on
efforts to develop a commercial aerosol for delivery of specific
natural cannabinoids. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(13) MARIJUANA ON THE BALLOT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
While it has long been clear that chemical compounds found in the
marijuana plant offer potential for medical use, smoking the raw plant
is a method of delivery supported neither by law nor recent scientific
evidence. The Food and Drug Administration's approval process, which
seeks to ensure the purity of chemical compounds in legitimate drugs,
sets the standard for medical validation of prescription drugs as safe
and effective. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diametrically opposed to this long-standing safeguard of medical
science is the recent spate of state election ballots that have
advocated the use of a smoked plant - the marijuana leaf - for
"treating" an unspecified number of ailments.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) COMPANY DEVELOPING MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL USES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IOWA CITY, April 9 -- By cultivating marijuana and testing the most
promising of its more than 100 ingredients, a British pharmaceutical
company hopes to develop drugs for a variety of ailments, a company
official said at the first national conference for health professionals
about the medical uses of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GW Pharmaceuticals hopes to start testing on a small number of people
in the United States later this year, Dr. Guy said. The company has
held discussions with all appropriate American agencies, but Dr. Guy
declined to say where the tests would be conducted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (15-16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We finally get to mention the Santa Cruz ordinance we should have
highlighted two issues ago; hey, no one's perfect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A reprieve on another worthwhile article: the current Utne Reader
carried Ted Williams' excellent piece on hemp which first appeared in
Audobon last century. The account of Anslinger and the MTA is
fascinating. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(15) SANTA CRUZ PREPARES FOR LAW SANCTIONING MEDICINAL MARIJUANA GROUPS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SAN JOSE, Calif. - As Santa Cruz prepares for final adoption of
a law sanctioning medicinal marijuana groups, city officials are
trying to figure out who's going to oversee the growing groups of
ailing tokers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The ordinance, approved in a unanimous vote of the city council March
28, would become law May 11, or 30 days after its final reading on
Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) HIGH ON HEMP: DITCHWEED DIGS IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Miracle Crop? Dangerous Drug? Political Football? Exploring America's
On-again, Off-again Love Affair With Hemp. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I confess that I am a user of hemp. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Australian government, under pressure from increasing overdose
deaths is taking new diplomatic initiatives with Myanmar, the source
country for most of the heroin Down Under. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(17) AS AUSTRALIAN POLICE TRY TO STEM THE TRADE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Australian Government has begun cooperating with Burma's military
rulers to challenge drug lords who are dumping cheap heroin on
Australia's east coast, despite claims that elements of the military
regime are themselves linked to major traffickers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The sensitive policy gamble is aimed at encouraging the Burmese Government to tackle, or at least inform on, the shadowy heads of drug empires based in the opium growing region of Burma's far north. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It seems that the US efforts to reduce coca production in Bolivia and
Peru were not without cost; now just one more boast McCzar will have
to swallow unmade. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(18) ECONOMIC PROTESTS DISRUPT BOLIVIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cocaine Crackdown, Water Rates Denounced | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LA PAZ, Bolivia Police walked off the job in the country's two largest
cities, and Indian farmers massed outside the third-largest city Sunday,
protesting, among other things, the government's destruction of the
once-thriving cocaine industry and high water prices. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (19-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From Canada, the shameful treatment of American fugitive Renee Boje
received favorable coverage in the Ottawa XPress; hopefully larger
papers will pick up the story. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Also from Canada, there's news of a growing harm reduction movement
around the "club drug" ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(19) CANADA: COLUMN: U.S. HARSH MARIJUANA LAWS: WAR OR WITCH HUNT? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As history illustrates, every war claims innocent casualties, pawns in a fight that are often spawned by government-vested interests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Renee Boje is a victim of the United States' War on Drugs -- a battle which has escalated from the early 1980s to a $20 billion a year witch-hunt, incarcerating more Americans than those charged with murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault combined, says Eugene Oscapella, director of the Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) CANADA: A SAFE RAVIN' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Underground revellers preach how to party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
People in the city's rave underground say they're taking their own
steps to stop overdoses and rampant drug abuse at the popular dance
parties. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Several rave-goers got together over the winter to form Rave-Safe, a
volunteer group that hands out pamphlets on recreational drug use at
raves around town. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rave-Safe's philosophy of "harm reduction" means it doesn't preach
abstinence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (21-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Two "chronic" international stories: British government intransigence toward cannabis and America's desire to plunge into a Colombian civil war were updated; in Britain, the government's ill-timed move to extend pub hours drew hoots and catcalls from Simon Jenkins. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Two analyses of FARC, Colombia, and America's drug war- could be termed "Policy" and "Policy lite;" each is well worth reading. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(21) UK: COLUMN: A COCKTAIL OF DOUBLE STANDARDS, MR STRAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What is Jack Straw about? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alcohol is Britain's most lethal and socially disruptive drug. Each
year 33,000 people die from its effects. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hold on old chap, protests our bonhomous Home Secretary, that is all
rather over the top. We should put such sober thoughts behind us, raise
a glass, have one on him and for the road. Are we not all liberals
together? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Two weeks ago, Mr Straw confronted another archaic law regulating the
private and social behaviour of the British people. It was the Police
Foundation's Runciman report (in which I declare an interest) on the
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The Home Secretary screamed and cursed and
tore it up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) OUR NEW WAR IN COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Clinton administration is proposing an escalation in United States foreign aid to Colombia so large that it will predictably alter the course of domestic politics and internal violence in that country. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colombia is already the third-largest recipient of US foreign aid,
after Israel and Egypt, having received $289 million in 1999. As the
current aid bill now stands before Congress, the government of President
Andres Pastrana would receive $1.574 billion in direct economic assistance
during the next three years. About one fifth of the funds ($274 million)
would be spent on assistance in economic development and general
improvements in the country's legal and human rights situation. The
rest of the money would arrive in Colombia in the form of military
training funds and equipment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This military help is being presented as indispensable to the fight
against the cultivation of coca leaf in southern Colombia and the
consequent export of cocaine to the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense/MAP Growth/Popularity Graphs On-line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Don't miss this one! A number of at-a-glance reports have been developed that track growth and site popularity for the DrugSense and MAP's organizations. Particularly impressive among these is the Webtrends.net comparison that demonstrate the DrugSense/MAP site to be more popular than ONDCP, PDFA, CASA and DARE combined. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NORML Files Formal FCC Complaint Against ONDCP for Payola Scam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It seems while others talk about the violation of the payola laws by
the ONDCP, NORML is acting. They deserve a good word. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Richard Lake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Q. Wilson in Wall Street Journal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Too late for this weeks edition but here's a heads up regarding the latest update of the medical/intellectual argument for prohibition- straight from the horses mouth- as it appears in today's Wall Street
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A New Strategy for the War on Drugs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This article will generate a Focus Alert and will be in the news
archive by press time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Tom O'Connell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MarijunaNews Relaunches With a New Twist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
April 10, 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I am very pleased to announce the return of MarijuanaNews and the launching of the 4:20 MarijuanaNews radio on http://www.Pot-TV.net/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Starting Monday, April 10, 2000, MarijuanaNews will resume publication of news analysis, and a complete news update will be available weekdays in Internet audio on Pot-TV.net "live" stream at 4:20 PM and again at 7 PM Pacific time, and it will soon be available "on demand" by clicking on the appropriate icon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Richard Cowen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The April edition Heroin Times Newsletter is available at: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This issue includes an article on the Future of Drug Policy by Mark Greer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This article will also be published in this months edition of the Drug Policy Foundation newsletter. http://herointimes.com/stories.html#top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Jerry Schoenkopf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"A law overcharged with severity, like a blunderbuss overcharged with
powder, will each of them grow rusty by disuse, and neither will be
resorted to, from the shock and recoil that must inevitably follow
their explosion." -- Caleb Colton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what DrugSense can
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