| March 2, 2001 #189 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
This Just In- (1) Recalling Folks Clinton Didn't Pardon (2) Medical Marijuana Draws Fire (3) The Year of Common Sense? (4) Canada: U.S. Says Jump, We Say How High? | ||||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This Just In- | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) RECALLING FOLKS CLINTON DIDN'T PARDON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
HERE'S a not-so-trivial trivia question for you: Under which president did
the most Americans go to prison for serious crimes: Ronald Reagan, Bill
Clinton or the first George Bush? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Here's a hint: He likes to give out lots of pardons. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) MEDICAL MARIJUANA DRAWS FIRE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Housebill would OK patient's use with approval by doctor. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A bill that would strengthen defense against prosecution for those
using marijuana with a doctor's approval met with resistance Tuesday
from some legislators who fear it could lead to completely legalizing
the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Authored by Reps. Terry Keel, R-Austin, and Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen,
chairman of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, HB 513 would
allow those arrested for possessing marijuana to avoid prosecution by
proving that they use the drug under a doctor's orders for a "bona
fide medical condition." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) THE YEAR OF COMMON SENSE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This year was shaping up to be the year that Nevada finally started to
inject some common sense into its Draconian drug laws, albeit a small,
narrowly tailored and entirely conventional bit of common sense. But on an
issue that has so long gone without, a single step in the right direction
can make up for years of ignoring reality. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) CANADA: U.S. SAYS JUMP, WE SAY HOW HIGH? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Canada's Justice Minister, Anne Mclellan, Lets Washington Dictate
Canadian Drug Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Any Canadian who has ever wondered just who is in charge of this
country's policy on illegal drugs got a clear answer from Justice
Minister Anne McLellan last week: The government of the United States is
in charge, that's who. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
We may have a drug czar by the time you read this, but it's unlikely
the policy dispute will be completely resolved; no czar by March 2
suggests an intense debate, indeed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It seems even bureaucrats now understand that while the public may not
agree completely with commentators like Andrew Sullivan, they want
less punishment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
What's in dispute is how to change (or appear to change) direction.
The CSM reviewed "demand reduction" steps taken thus far-- all without
consulting Washington. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A rare pundit, North Carolinian Jerry Klein, for example, even went so far as to suggest the right answer: regulate all drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Molly Ivins also took note of warrior uncertainty while reminding us
she is one of the few syndicated columnists who understand how bad our
policy really is. | ||||||||||||||||||||
As we prepared to go to press with this issue, no less authority than
the NYT weighed in on the side of "demand reduction;" do you remember
how 2/3 of California's newspapers opposed Prop 36? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) ADMINISTRATION HAS NO DRUG CZAR, NO CONSENSUS YET ON DRUG POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Bush administration has not yet named a new czar to lead the
nation's war on drugs, prompting lobbying by Republican leaders,
conservative groups and issue activists worried that delay could weaken
the long struggle. But the new administration is divided on how the
drug war should be fought: | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
A top official said Bush "is paying full attention" to filling the job
and will have an answer soon. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) TRB FROM WASHINGTON - FINE LINES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The most frustrating part of the interminable debate about the "war
on drugs" is the word "drugs." Strictly speaking, after all, there is
no war on drugs in this country; there is a war on some drugs.
America boasts a vast legitimate pharmaceutical industry, and
personal expenditures on its products go up every year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The war on soft drugs is built on such logical sand that it cannot be sustained forever--just as the once-clear distinction between health and pleasure is now disintegrating, and only our residual cultural puritanism is propping it up. In a country dedicated to the pursuit of happiness, where happiness is reducible to a chemical, surely the "war on drugs" will not be the only casualty of this development. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) EDITORIAL: DRUG DEMAND - A NEW START (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Some lip service was paid to reducing the demand for illegal drugs in
the United States during last week's meeting between Presidents George
Bush and Vicente Fox. Getting at the demand side of the narcotics
equation has always made sense, doing something about demand has been
another matter. Drug treatment and education, two key pillars of a
demand strategy, have typically taken a back seat to law-enforcement
crackdowns on traffickers and users. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But there's evidence antidrug priorities may be changing. A number of states are showing signs they're wearying of the burden drug prosecutions and convictions put on their penal systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) COLUMN: IS ANYBODY LISTENING? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
On the way out of the movie theater after seeing Traffic a few weeks ago, I told my friend that I was depressed by the film … | ||||||||||||||||||||
I was discouraged, not for the obvious reasons, but because I was
afraid the majority of people who see it will probably miss the movie's
point. Judging by some comments made by Charlotte's Mayor Pat McCrory
recently, it turns out those fears were on the mark. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
There are only three things that will make any difference, Mr. Mayor: | ||||||||||||||||||||
1. That you learn finally that more cops and jails won't change anything. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2. That you spend the money instead in giving people the real facts | ||||||||||||||||||||
3. That when people ignore truthful advice and get themselves into | ||||||||||||||||||||
That's what Traffic was about. Is anybody listening? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) A MOMENT OF RIGHTNESS FOR BUSH ON THE DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
AUSTIN -- That was quite a remarkable moment that George W. Bush had in
Mexico. .. consider the implications of the president of the United
States saying in Mexico: "One of the reasons why drugs are shipped, the
main reason why drugs are shipped through Mexico to the United States,
is because United States citizens use drugs." And that's not the first
time that Bush has pointed out that our problem is not supply but
demand. Now, this does not necessarily mean that Bush has thought
through the policy implications of his statement. Policy does not,
actually, interest him much. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And it is also possible that he's suffering from cognitive dissonance on the subject, a disconnect common to politicians of all stripes. But the futility of the War on Drugs is apparent to everyone except politicians terrified of the dread accusation "Soft On Drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) ADJUSTING DRUG POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is rare for a Hollywood movie to stimulate meaningful debate about social policy, but that has been the case with "Traffic," ... | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
With new leadership both in Washington and in Mexico, this is a good
time to think anew about the most effective ways to deal with a social
problem that has fueled widespread violence and corruption ... The
White House has yet to declare its intentions on drug policy, and has
not nominated a replacement for Barry McCaffrey as the director of
national drug control policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But President Bush and members of his cabinet have made comments lately that suggest they maybe willing to shift the emphasis of American policy from eradicating the supply of drugs to reducing the demand for them... | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Bush has acknowledged his own problems with alcohol earlier in
life. Shortly before taking office, he told CNN that drug treatment
programs needed to be strengthened. "Addiction to alcohol or addiction
to drugs is an illness," he said. "And we haven't done a very good job,
thus far, of curing people of that illness." As a Republican with a
conservative base, Mr. Bush may be better placed than Bill Clinton was
to bring a reluctant Congress around to that view. He should use the
powers of his office to do so. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (11-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Seemingly bad news for US drug warriors: European teens, in a survey
patterned on "Monitoring the Future" claimed to smoke only half as
much pot as their American counterparts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For Joe Califano, the "answer" is disarmingly simple, parents who can
afford to should spend more time with their kids. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking of "Monitoring the Future," its creator, in an interview with the home town paper, revealed a pedestrian view of policy and surprisingly wooly-headed take on the significance of Prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) STUDY FINDS TEENAGE DRUG USE HIGHER IN U.S. THAN IN EUROPE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
American teenagers are far more likely than their European peers to use
marijuana and other illicit drugs, but European teenagers are more
likely to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, according to a study of
31 nations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The study, released yesterday at a meeting of the World Health Organization in Stockholm, compared the results of 1999 surveys answered anonymously by 14,000 10th-grade students in the United States and 95,000 10th-grade students in 30 European countries. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) PARENTS CALLED THE KEY TO KIDS AVOIDING DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- Children who live with attentive parents stand a better
chance of never using drugs than do those with "hands-off" parents,
survey findings showed Wednesday. However, there were troubling signs
regarding the availability of some drugs to the nation's teens, warned
Joseph Califano, president of the National Center on Addiction and
Substance Abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) U-M EXPERT JOHNSTON: 'WE WILL NEVER WIN' WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lloyd Johnston, a research scientist at the University of Michigan, has headed the federally funded Monitoring the Future study of drug use and other behaviors among American students and young adults since 1975. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. What has been the trend of drug use during the 25 years you've
been doing these surveys? | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. This illicit drug epidemic really started in the mid-to late 1960s.
The counterculture took some drugs at least as symbolic of its defiance
of societal norms, particularly marijuana and LSD. That legitimated
drug use for broad sectors of society, particularly youth. We've never
really gotten back to before that era (in drug use), and we may not for
a long time. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two nationally syndicated columnists excoriated Clinton for his crass
betrayal of principle on his way out of office. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ironically, simply by calling attention to the issue, Clinton's hypocrisy may actually advance the cause of sentencing reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) CLINTON TOO LATE ON SENTENCING REFORM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Black Americans have been screaming about the disparate
sentences for crack and powder cocaine for a decade - ever since it
became clear that the main effect of the 1988 drug-control legislation
was a wildly disproportionate incarceration rate for black drug
offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Six days before he left office, President Clinton came riding to the
rescue. Well, maybe not to the rescue, but he did recommend that the
next sheriff give serious thought to forming a posse to do something
about the problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The recommendation came in a Jan. 14 op-ed piece the lame-duck
president wrote for The New York Times. He spoke with considerable
passion about his desire that America move toward racial fairness and
reconciliation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
As it happens, he had a chance at least to engage the crack/powder
fight as early as his first term in office.... | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) CLINTON DIDN'T TAKE PARDONS FAR ENOUGH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
He should have done something about the thousands of nonviolent drug
offenders serving long, mandatory sentences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Almost as troublesome as the last-minute pardons President Clinton
decided to grant rich, powerful and connected figures like financier
Marc Rich are questions about the pardons he failed to issue to
hundreds of very ordinary people caught in the legal traps of our
misguided "war on drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
So what did Clinton decide? | ||||||||||||||||||||
In his final day in office, following up on a handful of earlier drug case pardons, he included 22 drug offenders in his final pardon list. | ||||||||||||||||||||
What a dismal showing, when one considers that Clinton could
legitimately have pardoned hundreds, ideally thousands! | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even worse, it turns out that one of the lucky 22 who received a
presidential commutation looks more like a drug kingpin than an
innocent victim. His name: Carlos Vignali Jr., a major player in a Twin
Cities cocaine ring before his 1994 conviction and 15-year sentence for
a major interstate cocaine shipment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bottom line: America's entire anti-drug strategy needs revamping.
Clinton had a chance to start with the humblest victims. He failed. But
the rationale for the status quo is crumbling. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (16-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In an interesting contrast of opposite coasts, the Seattle DA has
become a champion of treatment over incarceration; but in NY, only the
DAs oppose softening the Rockefeller laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deborah Small had a message for them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Another irony: newspapers in both states seem to solidly favor reform; perhaps they learned something from California after all. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) TREAT OFFENDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Punishment Is Deserved, But The Ultimate Goal Is More Important | ||||||||||||||||||||
No drug offenders need treatment or punishment? King County Prosecutor
Norm Maleng suggests they need both. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maleng, one of the state's longest-serving Republican politicians, has
gone on the record supporting legislation that would decrease the
amount of time drug dealers serve in prison. The measure would save the
money that would have been spent on the additional incarceration to
invest in treatment programs tied to drug courts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is an exciting conversation that could bring worthwhile change. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Despite the increased punishment and so-called deterrent, prosecutors
are filing more felony drug charges than ever before, which has
resulted in the incarceration of more nonviolent drug offenders than
ever before. Around 22 percent of Washington's prison inmate population
is serving time for drug crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) A CALL FOR SHORTER DRUG SENTENCES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
OLYMPIA - Despite a call from key law-enforcement officials to ease
Washington's drug laws, some conservative legislators said yesterday
they will fight such efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'm not willing to go there," said Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn. "I
think this is the wrong direction." | ||||||||||||||||||||
King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and others involved in the state's
criminal-justice system converged on Olympia yesterday to support
legislation that would reduce sentences for some drug offenses and
use the savings in prison expenses to expand local drug-treatment
programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) CITY POWER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tell DAs to Uncuff Drug-Law Reform | ||||||||||||||||||||
FROM Gov. George Pataki and Chief Judge Judith Kaye to the New York
State Catholic Conference, there is near unanimity on the need to
reform the state's Draconian drug-sentencing laws. But there's one
influential group of New Yorkers who oppose meaningful change: the
county prosecutors. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The state District Attorneys Association has launched an aggressive
campaign to prevent any reform of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Every year
they bring out the same old arguments: ... | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's time to debunk these arguments on their merits and expose the
district attorneys' position for what it truly is-a strategy of using
the public's fear of violent crime to keep sentencing control in their
own hands. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis and Hemp | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a week filled with news, two items epitomize the irony of the
medical use issue: California announced plans for studies that could
actually settle the issue; even as the AG's (welcome) amicus brief
served to remind us that the Supremes might soon render science as
irrelevant as the counting of votes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) CALIFORNIA TO TEST VALUE OF MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The four studies approved by the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research
are the first step by the state to set concrete guidelines for use of
the drug by patients who suffer illnesses such as AIDS, multiple
sclerosis, cancer and glaucoma. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) LOCKYER JOINS LEGAL BATTLE OVER POTCLUB IN OAKLAND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medicinal Marijuana Not Feds' Business, State Tells High Court | ||||||||||||||||||||
The state of California and a host of civil liberties and medical rights groups are siding with an Oakland pot distribution club in a standoff with the federal government over the future of medicinal marijuana laws to be considered next month by the U.S. Supreme Court. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a brief filed Tuesday in the Supreme Court, Attorney General Bill
Lockyer argued that California has the authority to enforce its
voter-approved medicinal marijuana law without interference from the
federal government | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (21-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Elsewhere, the governor of Illinois reverted to his conservative form
by vetoing a bill to study hemp, while an NBA player blew a whistle on
his colleagues for recreational use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) HEMP BILL VETOED BY RYAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug Concerns Cited In Blocking Study | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. George Ryan on Friday rejected legislation that would have allowed
two state universities to study industrial hemp, a biological relative
of marijuana that some people eyed as a potential cash crop for
struggling Illinois farmers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In his veto message, Ryan said he has "always tried to support our
state's largest industry, agriculture, and I have gone to great lengths
to open up new and viable markets for our .. . many agricultural
products." | ||||||||||||||||||||
But he cited several concerns with Senate Bill 1397, saying those "must
be addressed before I would consider a bill to allow even the study of
industrial hemp in the state of Illinois." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) OAKLEY - UP TO 60 PERCENT OF PLAYERS USE MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
AUBURN HILLS--Charles Oakley says the league has gone to pot. Literally. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a stunning declarative that was washed aside by the flood of trades last Thursday, Oakley, the Toronto Raptors forward, told the New York Post that as much as 60 percent of the league's players smoke marijuana and that, "You've got guys out there playing high every night." | ||||||||||||||||||||
If what he says is true, then the league is getting cleaner. Remember a
couple of years ago the New York Times did a survey that said 70
percent of the players were getting high. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (23-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The UNDCP, which often functions as the "Voice of America" on drug
policy matters, took specific issue with both Australia-- over
proposed injecting rooms-- and with Canada over its alleged leniency
toward cannabis and ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(23) U.N. ATTACKS HEROIN INJECTING ROOMS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A United Nations report has criticised Australian States for attempting to set up heroin injecting rooms in defiance of the Federal Government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report, to be released today by the UN's International Narcotics Control Board, said "spreading heroin use" in Australia had led to a rising death toll. The report said harm reduction should be part of a strategy to deal with the problem, but the real focus for Australia should be on measures to reduce the number of heroin abusers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(24) U.N. BODY CRITICIZES CANADA OVER DRUG CONTROLS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The United Nations' International Narcotics Control Board has
criticized Canada for its lax attitude toward illegal growers of
cannabis and failure to control illicit production of drugs such as
``ice'' and ``ecstasy.'' | ||||||||||||||||||||
In its annual report released last night, the board says Canadian
courts have been issuing sentences to cannabis growers and couriers
that essentially amounted to just a slap on the wrist. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (25) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Increased affluence and entrepreneurial spirit, the relative youth of
China's population, in tandem with MDMA's growing popularity and the
relative ease of manufacture all suggest that nation will soon become
a leading supplier. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(25) CHINA, HONG KONG DRUGS WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Customs officers in Hong Kong and southern China are setting up a
special task force to tackle a major surge in drug smuggling into the
former British colony. | ||||||||||||||||||||
There's been a dramatic rise in the number of seizures of drugs like ecstasy, produced in increasing quantities in mainland China. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (26-28) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Amid conflicting reports of the "success" of the initial spraying of
Colombia's coca fields, both presidents prepared to discuss the next
steps in the dangerous adventure Dubya inherited from the departing
Bill Clinton. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The use of mercenaries also continued to attract attention, but the
most ominous note was sounded by an academic who points out that
Colombia's civil war is only tangentially and recently related to the
illegal drug trade. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(26) PLAN COLOMBIA FACES SCRUTINY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bush, Pastrana To Hold First Meeting Tuesday | ||||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA, Colombia -- Asked recently whether Colombia's myriad problems ever gave him nightmares, President Andres Pastrana said he slept well. "It's when I wake up that the nightmares start," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But as Pastrana readies for his first meeting with President Bush on
Tuesday, he might be losing some sleep over a U.S. president and
Congress much different from the ones that sent him $1.3 billion last
year in mostly military aid for a crackdown on Colombia's narcotics
industry. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Today, Washington is rife with doubts about the U.S. policy of
interdicting drug trafficking abroad, the stress on military aid to
Bogota, the Colombian security forces' ability to fight and their
alleged links to right-wing paramilitary killers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(27) PRIVATE U.S. CITIZENS FIGHTING DRUG WAR IN COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Flying missions over guerrilla-infested coca fields or staffing remote radar stations in the jungle, private American citizens are working perilously close to the front lines of the drug war in Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Referred to as "contractors" by the Washington agencies who hire them
and "mercenaries" by critics, they are supposed to number no more than
300. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Yet with the U.S. government "outsourcing" much of its drug war aid to
these contractors, officials are already indicating that the ceiling
needs to be raised. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(28) COLOMBIA: FIRM FOUNDATIONS FOR DISASTER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA -- The number of killings in this country's grinding civil
conflict tops 5,000 a year. Paramilitary gunmen, once shadowy killers
who operated in a few regions, have spread across the country. And
rebels, despite agreeing to resume peace talks, continue to threaten
the state. | ||||||||||||||||||||
To many in America, Colombia's problems can be summed up in one word: cocaine. But the strife tearing at Colombia has roots that predate the drug trade, anchored in festering, decades-old disputes over land, worsened by the lawlessness of Colombia's vast countryside. | ||||||||||||||||||||
They reach back into the 19th century, when land-owning strongmen ruled
like feudal lords. Indians were pushed off tribal lands; whole
communities were driven into the Andes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Kubby Files on POT-TV | ||||||||||||||||||||
Michele and Steve talk it up with cyber-activst Mark Greer, and discuss his vastly influential
Media Awareness Project Website, www.mapinc.org | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hosts Steve and Michele Kubby talk to the very influential but little known behind the scenes
cyber activist and webmaster, Matt Elrod. Learn from Matt how you can make a difference
in the world from the safety of your home computer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Mike Gray Featured on CNN TalkBack Live | ||||||||||||||||||||
The War on Drugs: Winnable Battle or Lost Cause? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Ex Cop Mike Ruppert Exposes CIA Drug Trafficking | ||||||||||||||||||||
Created by a former agent of LAPD narcotics, this site examines the
double game of the U.S. government in its policy of a war on drugs and
exposes, with the support of documents, the involvement of the CIA in
the drug traffic…. You will find there a variety of files on various
subjects consisting of analyses and reports, news stories, a list of
publications and a monthly newsletter. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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NGA Adopts Drug Policy Resolution | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Western Governors Association adopted a policy resolution on Drug
Policy in the West at the Recent NGA meeting. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Herer's "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" Full Text Available On-line | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jack Herer has given permission to place the "Electric Emperor" (the
CD-ROM version of Jack Herer's "The Emperor Wears No Clothes") on the
web. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The web site http://www.electricemperor.com/eecdrom/ now has the entire
text of the main body of Jack's classic book, much of the appendix text
(with more to come), the pictures from Jack's book (many now
colorized), plus additional pictures, music, videos, and animations
from the CD-ROM. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Featured in Rolling Stone. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Due to the busy week in drug policy news we're posting this
abbreviated Feature Article for the sake of brevity. Click the URL for
the entire superb article from the issue of Rolling Stone now on the
news stands. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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STUDENTS VS. THE DRUG WAR | ||||||||||||||||||||
Now That Washington Has Turned Its Repressive Drug Policies Against
Students, A Growing Campus Network Is Fighting Back | ||||||||||||||||||||
When Shawn Heller and Brian Gralnick joined Students for Sensible Drug
Policy in 1998, as sophomores at George Washington University, SSDP
was just a handful of students from Rochester Institute of Technology.
One of them, Kris Lotlikar, was working in Washington, D.C. at the
Drug Reform Coordination Network. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[Continues: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n331/a02.html] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lindesmith Center - Drug Policy Foundation http://www.drugpolicy.org/ http://www.stopthewar.com/ DanceSafe http://www.dancesafe.org/
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Washington is not America. It has become an alien city-state that rules
America, and much of the rest of the world, in the way that Rome ruled
the Roman Empire." -- Richard Maybury | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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