| December 22, 2000 #179 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
The directors, editors and staff of DrugSense wish all the MAP Editors and Newshawks, our contributors and our readers a very merry Christmas | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
NOTE: Lester Grinspoon, DrugSense, and Mark Greer are all mentioned in
the Thom Marshall article below calling for some sensible alternatives
to flawed and unreliable drug testing policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
TEST FOR ABILITY, NOT FOR DRUG USE / By Thom Marshall - Houston Chronicle | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Someone made a mistake on the machine delivering the air mixture to
David Atkinson of Kemah, 260 feet below, quickly ending his career as a
deep-sea diver and almost ending his life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Atkinson, 40, managed to make it back to the surface and, after
spending a couple of hours in the decompression chamber, thought he was
going to be OK. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But he had sucked down too much water, he said, and within a couple of
weeks developed respiratory problems that prohibit his working again as
a diver. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If he hadn't made it back up, he said, everyone involved in the operation on that offshore oil rig would have been tested for drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Since he had, however, and since he thought at the time he was going to
be OK, no testing was done. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Still, Atkinson believes the incident occurred "because people I
counted on were stoned." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Evidence of use lingers He said there are many jobs and activities that people are not legally permitted to perform if under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that can impair judgment or performance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Atkinson fears that if it becomes legal to use marijuana, it will
render invalid the testing methods currently used. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
That is because, unlike alcohol, evidence of marijuana lingers in the system long after its effect has worn off, so if a person tests positive after an accident, he said, "There is no way to know if it was used on the weekend `on my own time' or shortly before." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana often is taken onto offshore rigs by those who work there,
Atkinson said, and he said he knows of people who died "because of
marijuana use on the job.I know alcohol kills also, but it's not as
easily carried or concealed in many situations." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He said he smoked marijuana in high school and has many friends who
smoke it now."Find a way to keep it off the job, and I'm all for
recreational use," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I forwarded Atkinson's e-mail to Dr.Lester Grinspoon in the department
of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He has been studying cannabis since 1967 and has written several books
about marijuana and other drugs.On his Web site ( www.marijuana-uses.com ),
Grinspoon identifies himself as among "the more than 70 million
Americans who have used cannabis -- and possibly among the more than 10
million who use it regularly." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Grinspoon said there is no foolproof method to detect incompetence to
drive an automobile or operate other machinery.He said future drugs
will pose similar problems to marijuana in that a person may test
positive long after the drug exerts any influence on abilities to
operate equipment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The technology is available "It seems to me that the only sensible
approach is to develop a system that prevents the operator from turning
on the particular machine if he fails a `capacity to operate' test,"
Grinspoon said."This would mean fitting every automobile and complex
machine with a computer-generated battery of simple, quick tests of
reflexes and cognition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Failure of this test would indicate impairment that would make it impossible to arm the ignition.The impairment might be the result of alcohol, another drug or Alzheimer's disease. In any event, the impaired operator would not be able to start his machine.It is now technologically possible to develop such ignition links." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I also contacted Mark Greer, executive director of the California-based
organization DrugSense ( www.drugsense.org ), "a nonprofit drug-policy
information resource." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Greer said that rather than drug testing of individuals, he "would much
rather see a method of impairment analysis developed to determine
competency to operate machinery or provide public transportation, for
example.This would also identify people who are tired, upset, ill or
otherwise unable to work safely." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He cited studies that "suggested that cannabis users are more cautious
than individuals who have consumed nothing and are significantly safer
than those who have consumed alcohol." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Existing drug laws did not prevent Atkinson's mishap, Greer said, and
in fact those laws created a black market that cannot be controlled or
regulated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
His organization "neither endorses or condones drug use, especially on
the job," he said, adding: "The best ways to reduce potential harms
associated with drug use are public education and a legal market, which
can implement sensible regulation." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Greer http://www.DrugSense.org/
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Monitoring the Future," that most trusted of all dubious attempts to
measure drug use under prohibition, revealed little change in the rate
at which juveniles- tomorrow's users and addicts- experiment with
illegal drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
How to deal with them; jail or "treatment?" is the new burning issue. A profile in Newsweek touched on evidence that present policy is both irrational and unfair and an Op-ED in USA Today applauded the new emphasis on treatment, but punishment remains the norm throughout most of the nation. Two items from Houston newspapers dealt with the tragic consequences of a drug arrest on the lives of individual users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) REPORT: TEEN DRUG USE UNCHANGED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
American teenagers are using illegal drugs just as much as they were last year, and they are using the "club drug" ecstasy more, but they are smoking less, a government report issued yesterday found. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An annual survey of eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders--ages 13 to
18--found that the use of illicit drugs, including marijuana, generally
remained unchanged in the past year. It is the fourth year in a row
that the use of any illicit drugs among teenagers has stayed level or
declined. The survey of 45,000 students in 435 schools across the
nation shows a higher use of ecstasy, also known as MDMA, among all
teens and slightly more heroin use among some. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) OBSESSED WITH OBSESSIONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gamblers, new mothers, over-eaters, and substance abusers. One might say
they're all obsessed, making them a lot like psychiatric researcher Nora
Volkow. Her particular obsession is figuring out why people become
obsessed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The addict's brain may be doubly jinxed. Fewer receptors not only make
people more vulnerable to addiction but also may prevent them from
feeling normal pleasures-like love or a sunset. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) VOTERS SET TRENDS IN APPROACH TO DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lame-duck politicians have a tendency to speak unpopular truths. So it
would seem with Bill Clinton, who declared in Rolling Stone magazine
that those using or selling small quantities of marijuana should not be
jailed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But further drug-law reform is inevitable, because the existing system
isn't working. This country has imprisoned millions of people, wasted
billions on enforcement, and sacrificed civil liberties. Yet the
illicit drug trade continues to spawn crime and attract kids. And tens
of millions of Americans still use drugs some, like actor Robert Downey
Jr., even after serving time in prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Thankfully, voters increasingly are saying enough. They know the
answers to drug abuse aren't easy but they also know the drug war is a
spectacular failure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) TOUGH ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Prisons Are Filled With Users Who Pick Jail Over Probation And
Treatment. Welcome To Round 42 Of The War On Drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Attorney Marc Carter had a client, 18 years old. A first-time offender,
she'd been smoking crack cocaine since she was 14. She was the mother
of a young child. Everyone involved in the case agreed that what she
needed was rehabilitation, Carter says, and the court gave her an offer
of drug treatment and probation. Her alternative was six months in
county jail, which would mean 90 days. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"You ask a crackhead what do you want to do: 90 days in the county or do you want to go through three years of treatment and probation?" he says, smiling ruefully. She turned them down and did the time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) WILL COMPASSION BE PART OF FUTURE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Listening to President-elect George W. Bush speak of his hopes and
plans and declare his intention to do his best for all Americans, I
couldn't stop thinking about Dalton Smith. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I had just returned from visiting with Smith and his attorney in time
to catch Bush's victory speech on national TV. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bush said: "After a difficult election, we must put politics behind us
and work together to make the promise of America available for every
one of our citizens." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Smith's outstanding record as a student was not a consideration under
the zero tolerance rules that our schools and so much of our society
have embraced in recent years. Steinmeyer said his client faces
misdemeanor charges for the marijuana and felony charges for that half
tab of Xanex. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (6-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Despite voter support in California and lip service in the press for
"treatment," the reality is that punishment still dominates budgets
and official attitudes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The implications of preferentially arresting and disenfranchising
one's most loyal supporters may dawn on Democrats after Florida- but
who knows for sure? A speech by a notorious liberal suggested that at
least some members of the party may be getting it; but what about
Biden, Feinstein, Davis, and other notorious hawks? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) STUDY KNOCKS LACK OF FUNDS FOR DRUG FIGHT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Governmental bodies in Cook County spend four times as much money on
drug enforcement than they do on drug treatment and prevention, yet
illegal drug use continues to rise, according to a new study to be
released today. Of the nearly $1.2 billion spent by federal, state and
local governments to combat drugs locally in 1997 - the most recent
year analyzed - some $976 million went to arrest, incarcerate and
prosecute. The remainder went to treatment and prevention, according to
the three-year study done by Roosevelt University's Institute for
Metropolitan Affairs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) BLACK EX-FELONS AND GORE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the past month the Congressional Black Caucus, the NAACP, and
nearly every civil-rights group have loudly protested that thousands of
blacks were "Jim Crow-ed" - turned away for various technical reasons -
at the polls in Florida. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Blacks make up a little more than 13 percent of Florida's population.
And of the nearly 1 million blacks who voted in the election in
Florida, 93 percent voted for Gore. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
At the start of Clinton's presidency in 1993, 1.4 million inmates were
stacked up in America's prisons. Nearly 2 million are there today; half
are black. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) REP FRANK CRITICIZES PUNITIVE DRUG POLICIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It is impossible to keep drugs out of a free society like America, and
the nation's public policy must change to reflect that reality, said
Rep. Barney Frank '61 (D-Mass.) yesterday during a speech at the ARCO
Forum. Frank assailed the war on drugs, condemning the practice of
mandatory minimum sentencing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I think America's drug policy is the single most mistaken public
policy we have in America," he said. "The cure is indisputably worse
than the disease." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In the first of what should be many articles summarizing McCzar's
tenure, the AP's George Gedda stressed his lack of qualifications and
his poor judgment of Latin politicians. He also opined that Colombia
would be his legacy, but failed to mention the huge increase in drug
arrests during McCaffrey's term. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Whether one sees the public's attitude towards drugs as part of a mysterious cycle or dependent on an evidence-based policy, it's clear that those attitudes are shifting and McCaffrey is wise to leave now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(9) OLD SOLDIER LOOKS BACK ON DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON (AP) - Barry McCaffrey says his experience at West Point did
nothing to prepare him for the misery and human destruction that he's
seen in his five years as the nation's anti-drug chief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
``I never knew anybody who used cocaine or marijuana,'' he said. That
goes for his high school and college days, too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
With his drug policy under fire from Republicans, President Clinton
recruited McCaffrey as his drug-war point man 10 months before the 1996
election | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of McCaffrey's tenure has been
his support for a significant increase in U.S. help for the counterdrug
effort in Colombia, the world's No. 1 producer and distributor of
cocaine. The bulk of the $1.3 billion package is earmarked for the
Colombian military. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(10) PUBLIC LOSING ITS STOMACH FOR DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Support Grows in U.S. for Decriminalization | ||||||||||||||||||||||
While the federal government continues to soldier on with its 30-year
war on drugs, the U.S. public has gone increasingly AWOL. Popular
support for the anti-drug campaign has eroded in recent years, and
opinion polls show that a growing number of residents believe the
effort has been ineffective. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
At the same time, a number of states have taken steps to decriminalize
drug offenses -- sometimes in direct conflict with federal drug control
policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Support (for legalization) went up in the '70s and back down in the '80s," said Tom Smith, director of social survey for the university. " | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"But since 1990, it has been going up steadily … from 16 to 33 percent
this year." "When you see a doubling of support for anything in a
decade, that indicates a pretty substantial shift of public opinion
about it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-13 ) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug arrests at all levels have been greatly increased by a federal
program organizing local police into anti drug task forces in
designated "High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas." Despite his
oft-quoted, "we can't arrest our way out of the drug problem,"
McCaffrey's legacy includes a large increase in low level arrests
through expansion of HIDTAs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The strains of processing so many arrests and housing so many convicts are beginning to show; witness articles from El Paso and Mississippi. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(11) ASSISTANCE COMING IN METH WAR - VALLEY IS GETTING NEW FEDERAL FUNDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- The San Joaquin Valley will be getting new federal
funding to fight methamphetamine, while the country will be getting a
new drug czar to oversee the efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Fresno County funds, moreover, are only part of the boost being
given the nation's meth-fighters. The nation's High Intensity Drug
Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program is getting an 8 percent budget
increase, some of which will probably trickle down to the valley as
well. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(12) NUMBER OF COURT CASES STILL INCREASING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Authorities in El Paso are calling for more courts and more funding
because federal prosecutors are handling more than four times as many
criminal cases as they were six years ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Increases in drug and illegal immigrant cases are particularly visible.
But criminal cases have increased across the board, and every agency in
the El Paso division needs more help, from the courts to the U.S.
Attorney's Office to the U.S. Marshal's Office, said Bill Blagg, U.S.
attorney for the Western District of Texas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(13) PRISONS - DRUG COURT PLAN SHOULD BE INCLUDED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Conspicuously absent from the options state lawmakers are mulling to
relieve prison crowding is creating a system of drug courts -- to
relieve crowding and reduce crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Corrections Commissioner Robert Johnson met with state lawmakers Monday
and discussed three options: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Do nothing and let the number of prisoners reach 22,097 by 2004 -- 906
more than expected beds can hold. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Give early release to inmates with non-violent and drug crimes for time
off for good behavior, with the number reaching 21,593 by 2004 -- 402
more than capacity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Let non-violent and drug crime inmates earn good time and be paroled
resulting in a surplus of 1,069 beds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As noted in COMMENTS on policy, this increased emphasis on imprisonment runs directly counter to popular sentiment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The imminent departure of an eight year president during a Jubilee
Year has sparked an articulate call for Executive Clemency. An LA
Times article gets some of it right, while two columns and an OP-ED by
Eric Sterling hone in accurately on the details. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(14) SEASON OF HOPE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Inmates serving lengthy prison terms for drug offenses find that the
last days of a presidency--when an outgoing chief has little to
lose--may bring their best chance at clemency. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It is unwise to walk the halls of a prison with a smile, so Billy
Langston strains to keep up a "mad dog" look that tells other inmates
not to mess with him. Yet despite his best efforts, the corners of his
mouth keep winging upward against his will. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A campaign is underway from many quarters to persuade Clinton to grant
clemency to an entire class of federal inmate: nonviolent drug
offenders who have received decades-long sentences, often for first
time offenses, under mandatory federal sentencing guide lines enacted
in the 1980s. Under federal law, sentences for most drug crimes are
determined by the quantity of drugs, without regard to the defendant's
record, motives or likelihood of re-offending. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(15) MR. PRESIDENT, SHOW MERCY AND GOOD SENSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As a lame-duck president with no political capital at risk, President Clinton has an opportunity to restore fairness and common sense to the way this country treats nonviolent, small-time drug offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Eric Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, estimates that 24,000 of the current 146,000 federal prisoners are low-level drug offenders, with no violence on their records, no involvement in sophisticated criminal activity and no prior commitment | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(16) 'TIS THE SEASON TO FREE NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
THIS SHOULD be the perfect time for President Clinton to commute the sentences of low-level nonviolent drug offenders in federal prison. Clinton recently told Rolling Stone magazine that drug sentences "in many cases are too long for nonviolent offenders" and that federal mandatory minimum laws, which often force judges to mete out harsh sentences to low-level drug offenders, need to be "re-examined." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He told Rolling Stone it was too late for him to act. Wrong. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(17) PARDON ME, PLEASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Before Turning Out The Lights, Mr. President | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In a few weeks Bill Clinton will walk out the door of the White House.
He will leave behind a legacy for historians to debate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Part of his legacy will be the doubling of the number of people
incarcerated in federal prisons, part of America's climb to the summit
of the world's incarcerators. However, he still has time to shape his
legacy in this regard. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The sentence in the Constitution that names him commander in chief also
gives him the power to reprieve federal prisoners. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An unusual source provided a penetrating insight into the possible
significance of a ruling on medical use by the Supremes. After
Florida, can anyone predict what they might do? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Seemingly undeterred by pending Supreme Court scrutiny, the governor of Hawaii signed a bill listing the details of permissible medical use. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(18) PRIVATE BEHAVIOR COULD BECOME CRIMINAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Perhaps the greatest impediment in the quest for a constitutionally mandated right to privacy is the issue of drugs, and that issue is now on the front burner. Marijuana has become the primary test. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The medical aspects to the case make it more palatable. But the reality is that it is about privacy, not medicine. Non-medical drug use is bad. So is alcohol and so is smoking. So are diets high in saturated fats. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
People often do things that are bad for them, and it is the government's
obligation to warn them of the dangers inherent in these self-destructive
activities. But there is a huge gulf between warning and criminalizing,
between filling rehab centers and filling jails. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(19) GOVERNOR APPROVES MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Ben Cayetano has approved rules governing the possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes. They take effect next week Thursday. Under a law passed earlier this year, doctors can get a registration certificate for their patient to use marijuana to ease pain caused by debilitating diseases such as cancer and AIDS. The fee is $25. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ted Sakai, director of the Department of Public Safety, announced the
rules Tuesday, allowing certified patients to possess up to three ounces
of marijuana and to grow up to seven plants -- three mature and four
immature. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The US is arrogantly trying to muscle its Caribbean neighbors into restricting human rights in the name of drug purity. What else is new? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
From Australia; a highly regarded physician organization came out
forcefully against punitive, US style drug enforcement and solidly
behind harm reduction ("minimisation"). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
US drug policy, as cloned around the world, has created global criminal markets; thus, the report from Brazil is no surprise. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Even as staid a nation as Canada is experiencing gang warfare over
control of drug sales. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The situation in Colombia has been described by several special
reports to US newspapers, but none has done it better than veteran
correspondent Robert Collier. His last installment analyzes public
acceptance of a our venture into a Latin American war as a function of
their approval of the drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
That would suggest big trouble for Plan Colombia sooner, rather than
later. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(20) U.S. URGING SHIFT IN CARIBBEAN DRUG LAWS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ORANJESTAD, Aruba (Boston Globe) -- The U.S. government, in its zeal to
fight money-laundering by drug traffickers, has been pressuring
Caribbean countries to enact laws that would be unconstitutional in the
United States, U.S. and foreign officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. officials defended the policy in recent interviews, but Caribbean officials and some U.S. legal authorities decried it as hypocrisy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(21) CORRUPTION'S ROOTS DEEP AND WIDE-REACHING IN BRAZIL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A Parliamentary Report Released Last Week Accuses More Than 800
Officials At All Levels Of Organized Crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL -- The longest and most detailed investigation into narcotics trafficking and organized crime ever carried out in Brazil has found that drug-related corruption and money laundering have become so widespread that the country is unable to properly fight the problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An unprecedented inquiry carried out by a commission of lawmakers with
wide-reaching powers spent more than a year investigating organized
crime. Their damning report named 824 people it accuses of crimes ranging
from drug trafficking to gun running to tax evasion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(22) COCAINE FUELS DRIVE-BY MAYHEM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Police Blame Shootings On Gangs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cocaine is feeding the recent spate of gang-related drive-by shootings
in Winnipeg, police say. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It's not so much a matter of quantity, it's who's controlling it,"
police spokesman Const. Bob Johnson said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investigators believe two rival gang factions are responsible for at
least seven drive-by shootings on the streets of Winnipeg since last
month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(23) DRUG WAR IN THE JUNGLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COSTLY DRUG WAR BACKED BY FRAGILE CONSENSUS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fourth in a four-part series. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Criticism In U.S. Emerging From Left And Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In the 1980s, when President Ronald Reagan sent weapons and CIA agents to
fight leftist revolutionaries in Central America, debate raged in Congress
and protests flared on U.S. streets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
More than a decade later, with President Clinton gearing up a similar military effort in Colombia, the reaction has been little more than a yawn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The difference is the peculiar politics of drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawmakers and average Americans alike have supported the $1.3 billion
Colombian aid package,which passed Congress in June and began to be
delivered in September, as a necessary step to stop the flow of cocaine
and heroin to U.S. streets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"No one wants to seem soft on drugs," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San
Francisco, a critic of current U.S. policy. "The White House and
Congress don't ever want to be seen as not doing all they can to stop
the flow of drugs -- even if it's the wrong policy." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gradually, however, dissent is emerging along a confusing jumble of
ideological fault lines. Many politicians and analysts are predicting
that the aid to Colombia may soon become as controversial as Reagan's
anti-communist crusades in Nicaragua and El Salvador. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ABC Asks: Who do YOU Think is Doing Something Worthwhile but Goes
Unnoticed? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ABC News wants to know people doing great things..... | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Who do you think is making a difference in the 21st century? Does someone in particular spark your curiosity? Someone who is doing great things but going unnoticed? We'd like to hear who you would choose for us to profile in our 21st Century Lives series. Click here to e-mail us your suggestion: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Kim Hanna | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
DEA Proposes Outlawing Hemp Products | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The DEA's announcement of their proposed regulations regarding Hemp was
published in the Federal Register on Thursday, November 30, 2000. Three
rules are to be published simultaneously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.globalhemp.com/News/2000/December/dea_regulations.shtml http://www.globalhemp.com/News/2000/December/dea_proposal.shtml | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Doug McVay - Common Sense of Drug Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Late breaking but important news articles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollywood Kicks the Habit
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
US CA: Pair Claim Win In Pot Case Mistrial
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Criticism in U.S. Emerging from Left and Right
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Come the millennium, month 12, in the home of greatest power, the
village idiot will come forth to be acclaimed the leader."
-- Nostradamus (1555) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what DrugSense can
do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter
writing activists. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk | ||||||||||||||||||||||
See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
DONATE TO DRUGSENSE ON LINE. IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |
 | current issue | this issue |