| March 16, 2001 #191 | ||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
(1) IN SENATE DEBATE ON DRUGS, 'TRAFFIC' MOVES MINDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
As depicted in the critically acclaimed movie "Traffic," the national
crusade against drugs is a well-intentioned flop that squanders billions on
efforts to disrupt supplies while doing little to curb demand through
programs such as drug treatment and education. It is a message, apparently,
that has not gone unheeded on Capitol Hill. | ||||||||||||||||
In a case of policy imitating art, or at least echoing it, a Senate hearing
room yesterday resounded with pleas for a "balanced" and "holistic"
approach to fighting drugs in which treatment and education programs are
elevated to the same importance as law enforcement agencies charged with
targeting drug producers and importers. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(2) TALKING WITH ALAN I. LESHNER, PHD, NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE DIRECTOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Bethesda, MD -- Since Alan I. Leshner, PhD, took the helm of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 1994, the agency's annual budget has
nearly doubled, to $781 million, supporting much of the world's research on
the biology of addiction, genetic and environmental risk factors, and
addiction prevention and treatment. | ||||||||||||||||
Of the two dozen institutes that comprise the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), NIDA is in a unique position. Addiction is, arguably, more
politicized than any other medical issue, putting Leshner and his views
under a spotlight. He is quoted almost weekly in major newspaper and
magazine articles as the authority on the subject. Such visibility comes
with a price, though, as Leshner has been attacked on all fronts -- for
being both too soft and too harsh on drug issues. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(3) SWITZERLAND: JUST SAY YES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
The Swiss Move To Legalize The Cultivation, Sale And Consumption Of Marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||
Switzerland may no longer be known just as the land of chocolate and
cheese; marijuana could soon become as much a part of the Alpine
landscape as edelweiss. | ||||||||||||||||
Last week the Swiss government approved a law, still to be endorsed
by the Parliament, that legalizes the production, sale and use of
marijuana, making Switzerland's policy toward the drug one of the
most liberal in Europe. Sale of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine
will remain illegal. | ||||||||||||||||
"No research shows that marijuana is more harmful or addictive than
alcohol and tobacco," says Georg Amstutz, spokesman for the Federal
Office of Public Health. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(4) CANADA: HIGHEST COURT TO HEAR POT LAW CHALLENGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Hemp Shop Owner Says Marijuana Is Harmless | ||||||||||||||||
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's highest court agreed today to hear a convicted pot
smoker's claims that federal marijuana laws are unconstitutional because
the drug is harmless. | ||||||||||||||||
Chris Clay, 30, the former operator of a hemp boutique in London, Ont., was
convicted in 1997 of drug possession and trafficking charges for selling
cannabis to an undercover police officer. | ||||||||||||||||
In Clay's original trial, Ontario Superior Court Justice John McCart
admitted he was convinced marijuana was harmless and caused no serious
mental or physical damage. | ||||||||||||||||
But the judge ruled it would be up to Parliament to determine what's
illegal and said the drug charges didn't infringe on Clay's constitutional
rights. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
We're still czarless and an almost eerie silence cloaks the whole
subject of drug policy; against that background, the complaints of a
hawkish Boston columnist sounded almost strident. | ||||||||||||||||
Whatever drug policy statements have emanated from Washington have been peripheral: the cutback in security for Federal Housing was for fiscal - not Fourth Amendment - reasons, as the President made clear. | ||||||||||||||||
Although the administration is keeping mum on drug law enforcement, voices of opposition and skepticism are being raised in the hinterland - some are predictable, others less so. That College students rebel at additional penalties isn't surprising, but a medical marijuana bill in Texas and a scornful editorial on drug testing city employees in West Virginia were, to say the least, unexpected. | ||||||||||||||||
Even the normally hawkish Tulsa World called for "demand reduction." | ||||||||||||||||
Prodding the Bushies to cut treatment and prevention a bigger slice of
the federal budget was Joe Califano, who seems to be redefining the
war on drugs as a war on dopamine. | ||||||||||||||||
Whatever they decide, the new administration still has to deal with
Congress; a quote from Speaker Hastert suggests that selling them any
appearance of "softer on drugs" won't be easy; although even he did
endorse "more treatment." | ||||||||||||||||
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(5) BUSH DESERTS POST IN THE WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Almost seven weeks into his administration, President George Bush has
yet to appoint a drug czar. For a nation in which addiction has become
a chronic problem and drugs take a devastating toll, that does not
inspire confidence. | ||||||||||||||||
There are three names on the short list for director of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy: former Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.),
Florida drug czar James McDonough and Maricopa County, Ariz.,
prosecutor Rick Romley. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
In the meantime, a decade of neglect has taken its toll. Eight states
and the District of Columbia have passed medicinal pot measures, a
significant step toward legalization. Billionaires like George Soros
have poured millions into these initiatives, with no one except
mom-and-pop anti-drug groups to oppose them. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(6) BUSH: SCRAP PUBLIC HOUSING DRUG PUSH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON (AP) - Since the First Bush administration, federal dollars have paid for security officers, alarm systems and after-school activities for youngsters in poor public housing projects. | ||||||||||||||||
President Bush, however, has proposed scrapping the Public Housing Drug
Elimination Program, saying it has had "limited impact" and that
"regulatory tools such as eviction are more effective at reducing drug
activity in public housing." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(7) USG SUPPORTS DRUG PROVISION REPEAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Ohio State joined the list of schools across the country fighting the
government's war on drugs when USG passed a resolution at its Wednesday
meeting to support the repeal of the drug provision attached to the
Higher Education Act, which denies students federal aid if they have
been convicted of a drug-related offense. | ||||||||||||||||
The vote, passed unanimously, was in stark contrast to the decision made last spring to support the drug provision by a vote of 15 to 1. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Also on hand was Shawn Heller, George Washington University graduate
and national director of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, which has
groups at over 80 campuses. | ||||||||||||||||
Heller said he doesn't expect the legislation to pass through in this congress but hopes to drum up enough support so that in 2002 he and supporters will see an easier chance in removing the drug provision. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(8) INTO THE MAINSTREAM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
A Battle Waged For Decades, The Legalization Of Marijuana Has Recently Reappeared On State Legislative Agendas Across The Nation. | ||||||||||||||||
The medicinal use of marijuana in Texas may soon stand up to the
judicial gavel if a bill proposed by representative Terry Keel gains
approval. | ||||||||||||||||
The bill was introduced Feb. 27 to the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
of the Texas House of Representatives to allow offenders to use the
defense that possessing the illegal drug was recommended by their
physician. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(9) DRUG TESTING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Start With Goldman | ||||||||||||||||
ONE question comes to mind when listening to Charleston Mayor Jay
Goldman propose testing every city employee from garbage collectors to
every member of City Council for drugs: What, exactly, has he been
smoking? | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(10) WAR ON DRUGS NOT YIELDING MUCH FRUIT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
The State Department's annual report on the war on drugs says the
international effort faced "serious challenges" in 2000 but "continued
to bear fruit." | ||||||||||||||||
The fine print reveals a much more discouraging picture: Plenty of
challenge, but very little fruit. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
But the real bad news is that even if, by some miracle, the war on drugs could drastically reduce the supplies of cocaine and heroin, the users would find handy, easy-to-buy homemade substitutes. | ||||||||||||||||
The answer to the drug problem is not to cut off the supply. It is, somehow, to reduce demand. That means rehabilitation of problem users and preventing young people from taking up the habit in the first place. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(11) A TURNING POINT ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
President Bush has an opportunity to lead a budding revolution in the
nation's policy on substance abuse. For the First time in the nation's
many wars on drugs, the forces are there to balance and strengthen all
four legs of the effort against abuse and addiction: research,
prevention, treatment and law enforcement. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Recently scientists have found that all substances - nicotine, alcohol,
cocaine, heroin, marijuana - similarly affect brain levels of dopamine
(the substance that gives pleasure). Coupled with CASA's finding that
an individual who gets through age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol
or using illegal drugs is virtually certain never to do so, these
scientific discoveries point to more effective ways to battle substance
abuse and addiction. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(12) HASTERT URGED MEETING BETWEEN BUSH AND DALEY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert said Monday he urged President Bush to sit down for a private, one-on-one lunch with Mayor Daley today during the Republican president's First official visit to Chicago. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
War on drugs: Hastert said he believes the federal government must do a
better job stopping drugs from entering the country, stopping drug
dealers from "laundering" their profits through banks and legitimate
business and providing treatment for drug addicts. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: ( 13-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Governor Pataki finally unveiled his proposal for softening the
infamous Rockefeller laws. Unsurprisingly, they are accompanied by
proposals toughening parole and probation. A (coordinated?) article in
the hard line Post trumpeted lurid tales of crime committed by parole
violators and also offered a hint at the real issue: keeping prison
cells full by one means or another. | ||||||||||||||||
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(13) PATAKI PROPOSES CHANGES IN DRUG SENTENCING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Nearly two months after he pledged to loosen the state's strict
mandatory sentencing laws for drug offenders, Gov. George E. Pataki
released a detailed bill yesterday that would reduce prison sentences
in some instances but would also add new penalties for marijuana
convictions. He also wants to reduce the state parole board's authority
to grant early release from prison. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Under his proposal, those who are arrested repeatedly on charges of marijuana sales and possession would face felony charges, instead of misdemeanor charges as they do now. His bill would also stiffen penalties for possession and sale of large quantities of marijuana, and impose tougher sentences on those arrested on drug charges in parks. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(14) THUGS SET FREE TO STRIKE AGAIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Thousands of ex-cons are allowed to roam the city's streets after committing parole violations, many of them ending up back behind bars only after going on violent new crime sprees, a Post probe has found. | ||||||||||||||||
In the past few months alone, dozens of paroled thugs, including
killers, sex offenders and armed robbers, have terrorized people in
their homes, on subways and on the street, when they should have been
sent back to prison for violating parole. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
According to state officials, the state prison population recently
dropped for the First time in 27 years. | ||||||||||||||||
The Pataki administration attributes the drop to new policies granting
early release to larger numbers of nonviolent felons, which has left
about 2,000 prison slots open. | ||||||||||||||||
These empty cells could easily be filled by parolees who violate the terms of their release, cops and prosecutors told The Post. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (15-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Two thoughtful items focused on how a militant drug policy affects
basic police attitudes; the Houston Chronicle's Thom Marshall found
reason to agree with Joe McNamara that it's detrimental, while a
thoughtful Ohio editorial agreed with Justice Steven's lonely dissent,
agreeing that the social harm inflicted often exceeds the questionable
benefit gained. | ||||||||||||||||
At a Topeka hearing, the police argument could be paraphrased as,
"why should we go to the trouble of stealing if we can't keep the
loot?" | ||||||||||||||||
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(15) DRUG WAR IMPACTS ATTITUDE OF POLICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
A couple of our Houston police officers E-mailed harsh criticisms
following the recent account here of a woman who was found by a jury to
be mentally incompetent to stand trial. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Joseph McNamara knows a great deal about the effects the drug war has
had on police. | ||||||||||||||||
At a citizens' commission on U.S. drug policy, McNamara testified: "We
have created a kind of culture within American police departments with
the war on drugs that has produced not only gangster cops in thousands
of cases across America, but we have also corrupted the rank-and-file
cops. They have forgotten what their mission is. | ||||||||||||||||
"They are not soldiers in a war; they're peace officers with a
fundamental duty to protect human life." | ||||||||||||||||
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(16) PITTING DRUGS AGAINST RIGHTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Last month the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a ruling that said it's
OK for police to keep you out of your home if they reasonably believe
you would destroy evidence of criminal wrongdoing that might be inside.
You might ask, isn't a man's home his castle? | ||||||||||||||||
Well, since the vote was 8-1, with Justice John Paul Stevens
dissenting, the foremost constitutional lawyers in the country said
that the case boiled down to a "probable cause" issue. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Stevens dissented on this point. He didn't believe that the
circumstances - a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge - rose to the
level of urgency needed to detain McArthur. | ||||||||||||||||
For our money, that could be said for much of our nation's war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
The government went to a lot of trouble and expense - testing our civil rights along the way - in prosecuting a man for a tiny amount of pot. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(17) KANSAS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS OPPOSE REFORM FORFEITURE BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
TOPEKA - Kansas law enforcement officials on Monday strongly opposed a
reform forfeiture bill that would send money seized in drug cases to
education. | ||||||||||||||||
Currently, law enforcement agencies can keep most of the money once it
is legally confiscated. | ||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement officials told the House Judiciary Committee that if
their agencies were not allowed to keep drug money, forfeitures could
become extinct in Kansas. | ||||||||||||||||
"The question becomes, why would a local law enforcement agency seize property for forfeiture, subject themselves to additional investigations, hearings, and possible civil liability when they do not receive any of the proceeds?" asked Dan Dunbar, Douglas County assistant district attorney. "The answer is, they will not." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
In Switzerland, the government's plan to legalize production and sale
of small amounts of cannabis moved closer to reality, although the
right wing opposition has promised a close vote. | ||||||||||||||||
In the US, where hemp and medical marijuana bills continued their two
pronged assault on conservative state legislature legislatures, a
major advance was scored in New Mexico: although a hemp bill died on
the floor of the House, the medical marijuana bill was narrowly
approved. That means Governor Johnson will sign a compromise version
into law in the near future. | ||||||||||||||||
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(18) SWISS MOVE TO LEGALISE CANNABIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
The Swiss Government is recommending to parliament the legalisation of
cannabis, as well as the sale and production of small amounts of soft
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
The government argues that the move brings the law into line with
reality. | ||||||||||||||||
Surveys have shown that one in four young people smoke cannabis and it
is widely available in big towns. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
The cabinet also proposed a flexible approach to prosecuting use of
other illegal drugs while still adhering to international treaties to
fight drug abuse. | ||||||||||||||||
But this liberal approach is likely to meet tough opposition in
parliament. | ||||||||||||||||
Our correspondent says there are fears that decriminalising cannabis
could turn Switzerland into a haven for drug tourists. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(19) HEMP-LEGALIZATION BILL DIES IN HOUSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
SANTA FE - A proposal to legalize the production of industrial hemp, a relative of the marijuana plant, failed in the House on Sunday amid criticism that it would be the First step in drug legalization. | ||||||||||||||||
The measure would have allowed New Mexico farmers to grow hemp that was
certified by the state Department of Agriculture, said Rep. Pauline
Gubbels, R-Albuquerque. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Opponents of the measure, which failed 37-26, said growing hemp is
prohibited by the federal government. They also said the crop wasn't
economically viable and could be tinkered with to produce enough THC
to produce a high if the plant was smoked. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(20) MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL SQUEAKS BY HOUSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Those who want to allow patients to use marijuana to treat certain medical conditions won a slim but significant victory Monday when the state House of Representatives approved a "medical marijuana" bill. | ||||||||||||||||
Supporters call it the "Compassionate Use of Marijuana Act," but opponents insist the bill is a "smokescreen" for legalizing drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Because both the House and Senate passed their own bill on medical
marijuana, it is not clear what will happen next. If the House passes
the Senate bill - or if the Senate passes the House version - that
bill would go to Johnson to sign. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (21-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
A small Bay Area newspaper provided the complex details in the recall
election faced by Marin County DA Paula Kamena; the case took on added
significance as neighboring Sonoma County, which also voted heavily in
favor of 215, prepares to try two operators of a San Francisco buyers'
club on felony charges of growing for sale. | ||||||||||||||||
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(21) KAMENA RECALL HOT BUTTON ISSUE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Paula Kamena would like everyone to please stick to the subject.
District Attorney Kamena is quick to remind anyone who will listen that
the petition to put her recall election on the ballot had only to do
with family law court issues stemming from the Carole Mardeusz case,
and nothing to do with her stance on medical use of marijuana or
anything else. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(22) CANNABIS CLUB POT-GROWING TRIAL BEGINS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
The state's first jury trial on suppliers to cannabis clubs got under way yesterday, pitting Sonoma County's vigorous prosecution of pot growers against the more tolerant views in San Francisco. | ||||||||||||||||
While San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan openly supports
medical marijuana clubs, Sonoma County District Attorney Mike Mullins
said he doesn't want his county to be transformed into a pot garden
for the Bay Area. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (23-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Australia's prolonged heroin glut, had produced record overdose deaths has apparently been succeeded by scarcity for which reasons aren't clear yet. Rather than relief, fears over new health risks have arisen. | ||||||||||||||||
Despite - or perhaps because of - the scarcity, there's a large backlog
of candidates for detoxification with Naltrexone. | ||||||||||||||||
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(23) ADDICTS RESORT TO OTHER DRUGS DURING HEROIN SHORTAGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
The current national heroin shortage is being felt among users, with
some injecting other drugs such as cocaine and painkillers to help them
through withdrawal. | ||||||||||||||||
The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre questioned 200 users
about the shortage. | ||||||||||||||||
The shortage is forcing some users off heroin and on to drugs such as cocaine and benzodiazepines, to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(24) LIVING HOPE IN ST KILDA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Simon Rose has no doubt it's true. After all, the printed warning they
issue patients at his clinic, The First Step, in Carlisle Street, St
Kilda, spells out the danger in capital letters: | ||||||||||||||||
"THIS IS NOT A THEORETICAL SITUATION. PEOPLE DIE WHEN THEY CEASE | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (25-27) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
One might conclude (correctly) from the next two reports, that illegal
drug markets exploit poor countries with weak or unstable governments;
however, a report from Canada confirms that the same forces are
capable of overwhelming law enforcement on a regional basis, even
within affluent Western democracies. | ||||||||||||||||
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(25) FIJI A PACIFIC PARADISE FOR ORGANISED CRIME - POLICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Organised crime groups are targeting South Pacific nations such as
Fiji to aid in the trafficking of drugs and people, the International
Policing Conference was told yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||
The Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mr Mick Palmer, said
sophisticated criminals were looking to work through nations where
there was "internal disruption or disharmony" and weaker drug laws to
maximise their chances of success and lower their chances of being
caught. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(26) CARIBBEAN HAMPERED ON DRUG FLOW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Caribbean authorities said Friday they are hampered by limited resources as they try to stem the drug flow that accounts for an estimated one-third of U.S.-bound cocaine shipments. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
While the flow of cocaine through Haiti has decreased, Jamaica has
become the region's leading transshipment point, the report said. It
estimated 79 tons of cocaine moved through Jamaica in 2000, compared to
34 tons in 1999. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(27) COPS LOSING FIGHT TO SHUT DRUG DENS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
If you run a drug house in Calgary, the odds are you'll get a speeding
ticket before you'll be busted for dope. | ||||||||||||||||
Calgary citizens have given the addresses of more than 200 suspected
crack houses, pot-growing operations and meth-amphetamine labs to city
police. | ||||||||||||||||
But most of those tips have yet to be acted on. "We can't get to them,"
Calgary Police Service Insp. Joan McCallum of the organized crime unit
told the Sun. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (28) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
From the US point of view, Colombia remains the major focus of international attention; a detailed article in Reason magazine makes clear just how noxious and debilitating our efforts have been. | ||||||||||||||||
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(28) PLAN COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
As the United States becomes ever more deeply enmeshed in Colombia,
individual Americans here, conscious of the threat of kidnapping or
guerrilla attack, are rarely seen in public. | ||||||||||||||||
Equally difficult to Find is any concrete effect of the $2.2
million-a-day US aid program. | ||||||||||||||||
With the country now into the third year of a crushing recession, factories remain shuttered while the unemployed sell tangerines, shoelaces, cookies and bootleg CDs on the clogged streets. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Against this backdrop, the US plan to put four-fifths of its mammoth
aid program into a Colombian military buildup seems to many the precise
opposite of what is needed. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
MAP's Writer's Resources - A Wealth of Useful Information | ||||||||||||||||
Any activist that isn't familiar with MAP's Writer's Resources web page should definitely review it regularly. It has a wealth of information from activism training material to letter writing tips. Check it out: | ||||||||||||||||
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The Flow Magazine - The Hemp Internet | ||||||||||||||||
The Flow's purpose is to Create a Powerful Presence for Hemp in
Cyberspace. To Gather in large numbers people of Like Mind, so that we
may be able to Smoke, Grow, Wear or Use Hemp products in PEACE and
HARMONY, together on The Flow. | ||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Announcing DrugSense NET RADIO - Hear Here! | ||||||||||||||||
YES! You heard it here first!! DrugSense is now broadcasting drug news
via the net. A 15 minute daily summary of news from the Media
Awareness Project (MAP) and a reading of the DrugSense Weekly
newsletter is presented in Real Audio format. The possibilities are
endless as DrugSense takes the plunge into the next level of Internet
media production. | ||||||||||||||||
A few weeks ago our radio station was announced in our February 16th
newsletter, http://www.drugsense.org/dsw/2001/ds01.n187.html#sec2. We
have polished our production schedule since that time and are
successfully landing the daily slot before most folks on the east coast
start their morning coffee-surfing session. The weekly newsletter is up
and ready by Friday mornings. | ||||||||||||||||
Our ultimate goal is to become a 24-7 Internet media center which
accentuates our mission to provide accurate drug policy information in
order to heighten awareness of the extreme damage being caused by the
"War on Drugs." | ||||||||||||||||
To this end, we will be adding interviews with drug policy leaders,
advising of upcoming events, alerting activists of current media
coverage and methods of reacting to them (such as our group letter
writing efforts or Focus Alerts) and more. | ||||||||||||||||
We also hope to eventually add important and/or timely video clips to
enable activists to be aware of broadcast media coverage on drug policy
issues. This will provide an easy vehicle for responding to this
coverage thereby beginning to influence and educate the broadcast media
much in the way the Media Awareness Project (MAP) has helped to
influence and educate the print media. | ||||||||||||||||
The format will be very similar to any other news station. 15 minutes
of daily news will play at the top of every hour. The rest of the hour
will be filled with rotating field interviews, expose, guest speakers,
and public access/talk radio type programs. | ||||||||||||||||
Please visit and use this new Drug policy information service. We hope
you will find it yet another convenient method of keeping abreast of
drug policy developments among the array of services provided by
DrugSense. | ||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
"The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men
of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding." | ||||||||||||||||
-- Justice Louis D. Brandeis | ||||||||||||||||
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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
do for you. | ||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||
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We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter
writing activists. | ||||||||||||||||
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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. | ||||||||||||||||
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Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See | ||||||||||||||||
MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO DRUGSENSE ON LINE | ||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |
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