| August 31, 2001 #215 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Listen On-line at: http://www.drugsense.org/radio/ | ||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) US: HYPOCRISY 101 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Our president got to the White House despite a blizzard of nasty
cocaine jokes from late-night comics and other pundits who lampooned
the hard-drinking past of George "D.W.I." Bush. College students
should be identifying with Bush. Like the commander-in-chief, they
project to certain segments of society the image of reforming party
animals groping for respectable adulthood. | ||||||||||||||||||
But students aren't identifying with Bush. Many are furious with
him. | ||||||||||||||||||
Campus activists across the country are mobilizing for fall protests
against a year-old requirement that applicants for federal financial
aid disclose if they have "ever been convicted of possessing or
selling illegal drugs?" | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) UK: EUROPE'S ANTIDRUG BASTION RECONSIDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
As Britons Debate Easing Drug Policy, Some London Police Try Softer
Enforcement In Minor Marijuana Cases. | ||||||||||||||||||
LONDON - In years past, people caught smoking marijuana in the south
London neighborhood of Brixton could expect to be arrested. But now,
police are giving them a warning, confiscating the drug, and sending
them on their way. | ||||||||||||||||||
Britain, which has long had the strictest policies in West Europe on
narcotics use, is showing signs of a possible relaxation in official
attitudes toward marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) US CA: MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENT ACQUITTED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
OROVILLE - A Butte County jury late Thursday acquitted a Cohasset man
of all charges in what was being termed the area's first medical
marijuana trial. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jurors said they believed Joseph Michael Rogers, 44, was out to help
the sick, not for personal profit, when he started a local
medical-marijuana co-op in 1999. | ||||||||||||||||||
The jury deliberated less than three hours before finding Rogers not guilty of felony cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale. | ||||||||||||||||||
A jubilant Rogers hugged several friends outside the courthouse in
Oroville. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I'm obviously very happy," the defendant said, calling the verdict
an "incremental victory for Prop. 215," the 1996 initiative that
allowed ill people to use marijuana with a doctor's recommendation
in California. | ||||||||||||||||||
Deputy district attorney Clare Keithley argued to Rogers' jury that he had "aided and abetted" a Paradise couple in cultivating about 190 pot plants in three different locations for the purposes of sale. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Rogers' attorney, Kevin Sears of Chico, responded the only thing his
client was guilty of was "aiding and abetting the sick in this
county." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) PRESSURE IS ON IN COLOMBIA TO LEGALIZE DRUG TRAFFICKING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA, Colombia - Long dismissed as the stuff of dope smokers' fantasies, the idea of decriminalizing the production and use of drugs appears to be winning support across Colombia, prompted in part by a U.S.-backed attack on the nation's illicit drug crops. | ||||||||||||||||||
The movement favoring a reduction or elimination of criminal
penalties for people involved in the drug trade is rapidly gaining
support from mainstream opinion makers and high-powered Colombian
politicians, although few are willing to predict whether it will
produce any marked change in the war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The problem is that the law of the marketplace is overtaking the law
of the state. We have to ask, is legalization a way out of this?"
former President Ernesto Samper said in an interview. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Last week's fascinating gamut of written opinion suggests that
dissatisfaction with the drug war is growing. | ||||||||||||||||||
In a widely reprinted column, Washington insider David Broder addressed his concerns about our policy to the just-confirmed DEA Administrator, perhaps as a device to show that the putative "czar" is considered too controversial for confirmation hearings. | ||||||||||||||||||
Another Washington columnist also ragged Hutchinson on drug policy--
but over quite different complaints. | ||||||||||||||||||
Then there was the understated complaint of Illinois economist
Charles Manski: the drug war has no real interest in its own
results -- which led him to a crushing indictment. | ||||||||||||||||||
Against this background of obliquity, error, and timidity, Jerry
Epstein's straightforward analysis of our policy's failure was a
breath of fresh air. | ||||||||||||||||||
And just to show that reformers are no longer alone, I've added two
more explicit editorial denunciations of our leaderless policy from
quite different sources. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) A DEBATABLE WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The high esteem in which former representative Asa Hutchinson of
Arkansas is held by his colleagues was demonstrated by the 98 to 1
Senate vote confirming him last month as the new director of the Drug
Enforcement Administration. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Hutchinson will need all his skills in his new job, for the nation is
clearly about to embark on a long-overdue debate on the so-called
"war on drugs." ... but John Walters, Bush's choice to head the White
House Office of National Drug Control Policy, has been in limbo,
awaiting a confirmation hearing since May. ... At least until
Walters's fate is resolved, Hutchinson is in the hot seat on Bush
administration policy toward drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The whole "war on drugs" cries out for reexamination. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) MEDIA GRASS FIRES FACE DEA CHIEF (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Former federal prosecutor, three-term Arkansas congressman, and Clinton nemesis, Asa Hutchinson, took over the beleaguered Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) last week. The so-called mainstream media was there. But you wouldn't know it from their coverage. | ||||||||||||||||||
Instead of focusing on the new administrator's recognition of the
challenges his 4,561 special agents face ... the potentates of the
press decided the "big story" was Mr. Hutchinson's intent to enforce
federal laws against the use of "medical marijuana." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
At his swearing-in ceremony, the press asked Mr. Hutchinson to
respond to past DEA gaffes -- like the failure to adequately
supervise paid informants. But in the great scheme of things, that's
the least in a long legacy of past policy catastrophes that he
inherits. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) U.S. SHOULD ANALYZE EFFECTIVENESS OF DRUG POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The nation has long struggled to reconcile two approaches to control
illegal drug use - to view it as an illness that can be treated, or
as a crime that should be punished. Drug policy has reflected both
ideas. However, the way the nation spends money clearly demonstrates
the current emphasis. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
And yet, even though tough enforcement policies have been in place
for many years now, it still is not clear how these measures affect
illegal drug use. I recently chaired a committee of the National
Research Council that examined the data and research available to
inform U.S. drug policies. We found that the nation lacks the
necessary information to gauge the effectiveness of current
enforcement activities. For a public policy of this magnitude, that
is simply unconscionable. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DRUG WAR HAS BEEN COSTLY FAILURE FOR DECADES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
There is a killer loose in Harris County, Texas. There have been 60
overdose deaths there in June and July of this year compared to 5
last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
Now in August, another 15 in one weekend. | ||||||||||||||||||
Even though the killer stalks in every neighborhood in the country,
we're unlikely to identify the killer correctly. | ||||||||||||||||||
Most will say the culprit is drugs, but in truth it is a drug war whose results have always been the opposite of its intentions. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Many drug war supporters are as addicted to this war, and as much in denial, as any drug addict; they believe the answer lies in more of the same thing that got them in trouble in the first place. | ||||||||||||||||||
Government must be held accountable for decades of costly failure.
But it will never happen until citizens inoculate themselves against
political propaganda through education. | ||||||||||||||||||
Demanding open hearings, debate and discussion would be a start. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) UNWINNABLE 'WAR' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Present Drug Policy Doomed To Failure | ||||||||||||||||||
As the second day of the U.S.-Mexico Border Summit begins at the
University of Texas-Pan American, it's interesting to note what isn't
on the conference agenda. Missing from all the seminars on trade and
business and health and the environment is any frank talk about the
drug policies of either nation. | ||||||||||||||||||
They might not want to talk about it, but attendees at the border summit need to admit what more and more citizens of the United States and Mexico have concluded: The "war" on drugs is a failure. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) COSTLY DRUG WAR GOING NOWHERE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
American drug policy is on automatic pilot and heading nowhere.
Despite overwhelming evidence that the expenditure of billions of
dollars has failed to significantly curb the drug problem in the
United States, the same repudiated tactics are turned to year after
year because, it seems, the idea of dramatic new thinking is
unacceptable to our leaders. | ||||||||||||||||||
No rational discourse, no poll showing the bulk of the American
people hunger for change, seems to embolden any politician to try to
seize the controls and head in a positive direction. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT:(11-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In other news, a huge drug bust in California highlighted what has
been the perverse nature of the "meth problem" - the more labs are
busted, the more they spring up. | ||||||||||||||||||
Although the federal attitude toward MDMA remains unflinchingly
tough, their first attempt to apply "crackhouse" law to raves in New
Orleans seems to have come a cropper. | ||||||||||||||||||
Even though there is great dissatisfaction with the WOD, the nation is undergoing ever more drug testing without too many complaints, | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) METH PRODUCTION REACHES 'EPIDEMIC' LEVEL ON COAST SPECIAL REPORT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
LOS ANGELES - They stormed in after midnight, kicking down doors ...
More than 100 federal agents and local detectives ...nabbed yet
another gang of suspected methamphetamine traffickers. | ||||||||||||||||||
The raids this week culminated an 18-month investigation ... that led to the arrest of nearly 300 people on drug or weapons charges. ... | ||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement authorities acknowledge that the results are another sign of just how pervasive and sophisticated the illicit methamphetamine trade has become in many parts of the state. ... | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Federal narcotics officials say that use of the drug across the
country has doubled in the past seven years... | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) RAVING LUNACY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The prosecution of local rave promoters under a federal "crack house"
law was ill-conceived from the start -- so much so that, two months
after a plea bargain was supposed to end the case, the whole matter
is still tangled up in court. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) MORE STUDENTS ARE FACING DRUG TESTING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Starting this school year, four students per week among those
involved in extracurricular activities at Fulton (Ill.) High School
will take a drug test. | ||||||||||||||||||
Every student at Alleman High School in Rock Island, as a condition
of enrollment in the parochial school, submits a hair sample sometime
throughout the school year to test for the drugs PCP, cocaine,
ecstasy, marijuana, opiates and methamphetamine. | ||||||||||||||||||
United Township High School in East Moline is thinking of
implementing a drug-testing policy. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The dominant news of the week related to how the size and
composition of America's prison population has been changed by the
drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||
In an unusually stern editorial, the Washington Post took AG
Ashcroft to task for the satisfaction he expressed with federal
incarceration figures. | ||||||||||||||||||
A NYT editorial took a frank look at that state's politics and the
importance of notoriously unfair Rockefeller drug laws to the health
of rural upstate economies. | ||||||||||||||||||
Another unpleasant reality: the composition of its prison population
has the U.S. is dodging a "racist" label at an upcoming UN
conference. Columnist Neal Pierce, who had trouble spelling
"Glasser," wrote that-- based on the evidence -- racism is a
reasonable conclusion. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) CORRECTIONS POPULATION AT RECORD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of adults behind bars, on parole or on
probation reached a record 6.47 million in 2000 - or one in 32
American adults, the government reported Sunday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Over the past two decades, the number of adults in the corrections
system has tripled, so they now make up 3.1 of the country's adult
population, compared with 1 percent in 1980, said Allen J. Beck, a
chief researcher | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) MISPLACED PRIORITIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
ATTORNEY GENERAL John Ashcroft responded to the Justice Department's latest figures on drug prosecutions by claiming that they prove that "federal law enforcement is targeted effectively at convicting major drug traffickers and punishing them with longer lockups in prison." The data the department released show almost the opposite: ... | ||||||||||||||||||
The growth in federal drug prosecutions over the past two decades has
been prodigious. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Another striking feature of the department's data is the
disproportionate role that marijuana seems to be playing in federal
drug prosecution. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) FULL-EMPLOYMENT PRISONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A recent Times article about the economic woes of upstate New York
towns dependent on prisons raises a nagging little fear about the
future of criminal justice reform....Advocates who found it difficult
enough to convince state legislators that drug treatment is better
than incarceration for low-level offenders are wondering if they will
also have to fight the perception that a vote for reform is a vote
for unemployment. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
New York's drug-driven prison expansion, while providing jobs to
largely white upstate communities, has devastated black and Hispanic
neighborhoods in the cities. Though most drug users are white, 94
percent of the people jailed for drug offenses are black or Hispanic.
These inmates, their families and communities suffer when the state
chooses long prison terms for these offenders rather than drug
treatment. ... | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) WILL THE WORLD CONDEMN U.S. WAR ON DRUGS? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Impact Of Our Policies Has Become Profoundly Racist | ||||||||||||||||||
The United States, rarely shy about condemning other nations for
human rights abuses, will get a dose of its own medicine when the
World Conference Against Racism opens in Durban, South Africa, on
Aug. 31. | ||||||||||||||||||
The target: America's "war on drugs" and the charge that it is
inherently racist because black men are being imprisoned for drug
offenses at 13 times the rate of white men. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Drug prohibition has become a replacement system for segregation," says Ira Glazer, director of the American Civil Liberties Union. "It has become a system of separating out, subjugating, imprisoning substantial portions of a population based on skin color." | ||||||||||||||||||
One winces at the harsh words. Few of the legislators who wrote
today's laws anticipated such outcomes. But the results are negative
enough to give strong credence to the charges of racist policy being
leveled against our country. And we have no one to blame but
ourselves. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18 - 22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
With harvest time approaching in North America's massive outdoor
cannabis crop, it is encouraging to read a poll suggesting that U.S.
support for the legalization of cannabis has reached a 30-year high.
And yet as activists ready state legalization initiatives in
Michigan and Nevada prepares itself for the implementation of
its medical marijuana program, a doctor in Oregon is forced to defend
himself for prescribing cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
Encouraging news from down-under: New Zealand has just approved its
first hemp seed distributor; the first domestic harvest is slated
for around Christmas. Meanwhile, in Australia, a | ||||||||||||||||||
Willful ignorance reigns on so many fronts (a study was just
released showing that 30 000 Americans were charged with federal
drug offenses in 1999, more than double the number charged in 1986
at the height of the crack epidemic), but on September 10th a siege
of common sense may challenge the intransigence of present federal
drug policy; New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is set to debate
medicinal cannabis with new DEA head Asa Hutchinson on national
radio. The broadcast will available over the net at | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) OREGON STATE, DOCTOR CLASH OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
State health officials said Friday that they'll ask about 800 patients with pending medical marijuana applications signed by the same physician to waive their privacy rights so it can be confirmed whether they have a legitimate, ongoing relationship with the doctor. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The controversy stems from the disclosure in July that a single doctor, Molalla osteopath Phillip Leveque, had single-handedly signed for 40 percent of the state's 2,227 medical marijuana card-holders. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) MARIJUANA ATTAINS RECORD SUPPORT IN US (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
34% WANT TO END BANS, SURVEY SAYS | ||||||||||||||||||
Support for legalizing marijuana is at its highest level in more than
30 years, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll. | ||||||||||||||||||
The poll found that 34% favor legalizing marijuana use while 62%
oppose. That's the most support for legalization since pollsters
began asking the question in 1969. | ||||||||||||||||||
Support for legalization had been constant at about 25% for 20 years
before the USA TODAY poll recorded a rise to 31% in August 2000 and
34% earlier this month. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) PLAN FOR LEGAL MARIJUANA IN AUSTRALIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
MARIJUANA smoking would be decriminalised, fines cut, and users able
to grow 10 plants without conviction under secret recommendations to
State Parliament. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Herald Sun has obtained a taxpayer-funded report, one of the most
detailed undertaken into marijuana in Victoria, revealing how to
soften the state's drug laws. The report backed civil penalties as
small as $50 for repeat marijuana smokers and said growing 10 plants
or less constituted a small amount for personal use. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The 240-page report was handed to Parliament's powerful Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee shortly before Steve Bracks became Premier. Only a few copies are believed to have been printed. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(21) NEW ZEALAND HEMP SEED DEALER GETS LEGAL APPROVAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Mac McIntosh, of Wellington, is the first dealer to legally order imported cannabis seeds for growing industrial hemp in New Zealand. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Health Ministry signed off Mr McIntosh's licence to deal in hemp
seed for industrial use yesterday, and last night he placed his first
orders for 14 varieties of hemp with curious names like Felina 19 and
Fedora 34. | ||||||||||||||||||
He will supply Canadian and Hungarian hemp seed to 11 growers
approved by the Health Ministry to take part in industrial hemp
growing trials covering 55 hectares (138 acres) at secret locations
around New Zealand. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(22) LOCALS SIGN ON TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN MICHIGAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A local petition drive is underway to amend the state Constitution to allow people to grow marijuana in their home for personal use. | ||||||||||||||||||
The attempt to legalize limited marijuana use was intended for a 2000
ballot issue, but fell short of that year's election. Supporter
Saginaw attorney Greg Schmid and others think they can get the
300,000 signatures needed to put the proposal before the voters in
2002. | ||||||||||||||||||
That proposal would allow adults 21 and over to grow marijuana in their home for personal use. They would not be allowed to use it while in a car, in public or near children, Schmid said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
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Government coca and poppy eradication in Colombia has been "successful," declared the commander of the U.S. Southern Command this week, and that was the reason drug production had increased in the region. At the same time however, the DEA chief in Bogota revealed "a dramatic increase in heroin purity and seizures." | ||||||||||||||||||
An earlier Canadian Medical Association editorial that urged safe
injection centers be established continues to reverberate in papers
across Canada. The Edmonton Sun this week suggested a pilot project
be set up to prevent overdose deaths.In Australia, the Australian
Capital Territory assembly rejected pleas for a referendum on the
issue of supervised heroin injecting rooms. | ||||||||||||||||||
Visiting the United States this week, the Jamaican Prime Minister
announced he had found persuasive reasons to decriminalize cannabis
use for adults, both as a medicine and for religious purposes.In the
UK, the belief that UN conventions precluded drug reform was
questioned when a leading charity group reported government "could
easily abolish imprisonment for drug possession" without breaking
international agreements. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(23) U.S. SAYS 'PLAN COLOMBIA' IS SUCCESSFUL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador ( AP ) -- The spraying of coca and poppy
plants in Colombia has been so successful that drug producers are
fleeing elsewhere in Latin America, the commander of the U.S.
Southern Command said Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We need to assist Colombia's neighbors so that the criminals aren't allowed to move around so easily," Gen. Peter Pace, the head of U.S. Latin American forces, said during a visit to El Salvador's capital. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(24) COLOMBIA'S HEROIN TRADE IS FLOURISHING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
A Guambiano Indian living on a reservation a half-hour drive from the nearest paved road, Almendro, 48, sees nothing wrong with her illegal crop. "It just brings in a little money for food," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||
But U.S. and Colombian officials are sounding an alarm over a
dramatic increase in the number and size of U.S.-bound shipments of
heroin seized in recent months, and a possible boom in poppy
cultivation. | ||||||||||||||||||
While Colombia grows only 2 percent of the world's opium poppies, its
heroin accounts for 66 percent of all U.S. seizures and 72 percent of
the total seized on the East Coast, according to the Drug Enforcement
Administration. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Hospitals are flooded with overdoses in Miami, in Orlando, all along the East Coast, North Carolina, South Carolina, Baltimore, New York and New Jersey, everywhere, because of this," Arreguin said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Signs of growth in the heroin trade are everywhere in Colombia,
racked by a bloody war in which leftist guerrillas and rightist
paramilitaries finance themselves by protecting the illicit drug
markets. | ||||||||||||||||||
Colombian police recorded seizures totaling 1,650 pounds of heroin in the first half of this year, three times the figure for the same period in 2000 and 25 percent higher than the total seized last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(25) LET'S GIVE SAFE SHOOTING GALLERIES A CHANCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
And what if the taxpayers could save hundreds of thousands of
health-care dollars a year simply by treating injection drug users as
patients, not criminals? | ||||||||||||||||||
Would that change your mind? The Canadian Medical Association Journal
hopes so. In an editorial last week, the CMAJ called for safe,
supervised injection rooms, where injection drug users ( IDUs ) can
shoot up with clean needles and untainted water. | ||||||||||||||||||
The reasons are compelling. About 100,000 Canadians inject cocaine
and heroin, the CMAJ pointed out. As well, over one-third of new
cases of HIV infection and more than 60% of new cases of hepatitis C
result from injection drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||
According to one study published in the journal, Vancouver IDUs
frequently visit hospitals for preventable injection-related
complications. | ||||||||||||||||||
The main reasons for emergency visits and hospital admissions?
Pneumonia and skin abscesses - both attributable to unsafe injection
techniques. | ||||||||||||||||||
The study also noted that HIV-positive addicts use $1,752 more hospital resources a year than non-infected junkies. Average Canadians, of course, cost the health system far less than addicts. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(26) AUSTRALIA: GOVT'S HEROIN PLANS STALLED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug-law reform could be stalled in the next term of the Assembly
after Health Minister Michael Moore and cross-bencher Trevor Kaine
voted against a referendum yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Chief Minister Gary Humphries, who expressed bitter disappointment
over the Assembly's decision to block a referendum, re-affirmed the
Liberal Party's policy to oppose an injecting room trial or heroin
trial unless the matter went to a referendum. | ||||||||||||||||||
The policy was unlikely to change in the next Assembly, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(27) JAMAICAN PM FINDS ARGUMENTS FOR DECRIMINALIZING GANJA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Jamaican Prime Minister Percival Patterson said on Monday that he found "persuasive" the arguments for decriminalizing the private use of ganja, the local term for marijuana or cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
A commission of inquiry in Jamaica has recommended decriminalizing
ganja for private use for adults, for medicinal purposes or as a
religious sacrament. | ||||||||||||||||||
Patterson, who is on a private visit to Washington, told reporters he
wanted parliament to discuss the commission's report in the autumn
and the government would then recommend whatever legislative
amendments are needed. | ||||||||||||||||||
Asked what he thought of the report, he said: "I find the
recommendations of the report persuasive." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(28) DRUG REFORM 'NOT LIMITED BY TREATIES' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
THE claim that drug laws could not be reformed without breaching
international treaties was challenged yesterday by a leading drugs
charity. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Government could easily abolish imprisonment for drug possession and replace it with fines or other civil punishments, said Drugscope in a report European Drugs Laws: The Room for Manoeuvre. | ||||||||||||||||||
Small-scale drug suppliers could also be dealt with by civil
measures, it said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The report said that in the UK possession of drugs carries a maximum
of seven years in jail. In The Netherlands possession is not punished.
In Italy it is not a criminal offence, and is dealt with by civil
penalties. In Spain possession is punished by a fine. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug Policy Central Debut | ||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense has long sought to support other drug policy reform
organizations by providing free or affordable internet services, web
sites, mailing lists, etc. | ||||||||||||||||||
In an effort to meet a growing demand for affordable and reliable
internet services within the reform community, we are proud to
announce "Drug Policy Central", an internet service provider for
non-profit organizations dedicated to drug policy reform. Those who
lack funding will be able to benefit through a grant application
process. | ||||||||||||||||||
We provide a wide variety of services including; site hosting, web
design, mailing lists and management, email accounts, newsfeeds,
databases, forms, streaming media, custom programming, various levels
of technical support and more. | ||||||||||||||||||
Much remains to done on the Drug Policy Central site; the support
tracking system, help and faq files, additional web-based tools,
etc., but then, good web sites are always under construction | ||||||||||||||||||
A special thanks to webmaster Debra Harper for her dedication and
patience. | ||||||||||||||||||
Welcome to http://www.drugpolicycentral.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
CRRH & HempTV have several new streaming videos online for your
perusal. | ||||||||||||||||||
ABC News' Downtown 8/29/01 edition went to the Netherlands to examine
their drug policy, with visits to Dutch "coffee shops" where cannabis
is quasi-legally sold, interviews with the Dutch health minister and
ex-US Drug Czar, and then looks at street drugs & heroin policies and
asks, in an online poll, "Does legalized marijuana keep people off
harder drugs?" To watch this 13:20 video, go here: | ||||||||||||||||||
We also have a brief advertisement produced by www.jeffandtracy.com
that was recorded at the largest pro-marijuana rally in history, the
8/19/01 Seattle Hempfest, where they ask, "Who do you love who smokes
marijuana?" To see the ad, go here: | ||||||||||||||||||
The 8/27/01 edition of CRRH's weekly TV show, Cannabis Common Sense
#170, is online too. To view it, go here: | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by: CRRH, http://www.crrh.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Sioux vs. DEA, Round Two | ||||||||||||||||||
Federal agents have destroyed Alex White Plume's industrial hemp crop
for the second year running. But the courts may soon decide
whether Native Americans can grow THC-free cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.motherjones.com/web_exclusives/features/news/hemp_update.html | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver Medical Marijuana Summit Video | ||||||||||||||||||
The Vancouver Medical Marijuana Summit video speeches will be
released over the next few weeks and can be viewed online at
http://www.POT-TV.net. One of the first installments featuring
Victoria Compassion Society Director (and DrugSense Weekly
cannabis section editor) Phil Lucas. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
How To Build A Marijuana Political Party In Your State | ||||||||||||||||||
Shows how to use the internet to form a Marijuana Political Party with a full slate of candidates in your state in 6 months. | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted By: Chuck Beyer | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Text Of Jamaican Report On Ganja | ||||||||||||||||||
The full text of the Jamaican Report on Ganja hasn't been officially
released yet, but it has been leaked, and a copy is available in MS
Word format. | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.stcl.edu/faculty_pages/faculty_folders/terrell/csa/jamacrpt.doc | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted By: Buford Terrell | ||||||||||||||||||
== | ||||||||||||||||||
Tonight, Friday, 31 August, NBC Dateline will run a segment on
Colombia and the Santo Domingo massacre and cover-up. | ||||||||||||||||||
It seems the segment will run at 9pm EST/8pm CST FRIDAY, AUGUST
31 - 9:00 PM ET | ||||||||||||||||||
Geraldo Rivera investigates how your tax dollars are at work.
Interviewing men and women on all sides of this bitter and bloody
conflict, viewers can decide for themselves whether any effort can
stop the drug trade as long as there are Americans ready to buy
these drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by: Sanho Tree, http://www.ips-dc.org | ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Poisonous Market | ||||||||||||||||||
By Larry Nickerson | ||||||||||||||||||
Harris County (Houston) authorities reported that 15 people died in a
48-hour period recently, the results of a deadly batch of heroin or
cocaine. No doubt many good people will say this is more reason to
prosecute a drug war. But is it? | ||||||||||||||||||
From the era of Prohibition come the same kind of horror stories of
poison brew that occurred over and over again during those years.
There are several books in the Fort Worth library system that detail
this. | ||||||||||||||||||
One of the Harris County victims was a 16-year-old girl. Perhaps she
had been dabbling in drugs for a long time. Or perhaps this was her
first mistake. Whatever way it was, I am sure her family was
devastated. | ||||||||||||||||||
I think this is more reason to seek a market for these drugs that is
regulated, rather than the completely uncontrolled black market that
now exists. | ||||||||||||||||||
Meantime, it is possible that some of the same poison batch is on its way to the Fort Worth area. I am going to guess that most teenagers and other possible illegal drug customers don't read the news. | ||||||||||||||||||
Larry Nickerson, | ||||||||||||||||||
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Honorable Mentions | ||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Swan Song And Fearless Prediction | ||||||||||||||||||
By Tom O'Connell, http://www.mapinc.org/to/ | ||||||||||||||||||
In January, 1998, when MAP's Drug News Archive was less than a year old and the weekly even younger, I agreed to pinch hit as News editor until one could be found. The synergy was exciting; for the first time, a steady feed of drug policy items was being received, edited and filed in a searchable data base available free to the general public, and I had the weekly challenge of deciding which items were the most significant and the privilege of saying just why I thought so. | ||||||||||||||||||
The original trickle of submissions to the archive has since become a
flood, well beyond the ability of one person to keep track of,
necessitating two volunteer associates to handle the Cannabis and
International sections for the past few months. It's now time for me
to step aside; this issue (215) will be my last. After the first of
September, the Weekly will be created by a whole new staff led by
Steve Young, who will also select items and make comments on Policy
and Prison issues. | ||||||||||||||||||
I've received an invaluable education along the way; my first major conclusion was that Joe McNamara's observation," the drug war can't stand much scrutiny," has proved even more true than I first imagined. | ||||||||||||||||||
Another conclusion: the American press cuts our drug policy an
enormous amount of slack; is generally true, but not nearly to the
degree it was a few years ago. Since Buckley's fateful February '96
editorial in National Review, the drug war has been receiving a
steadily mounting volume of accurate and well informed criticism;
although still nowhere near what it should be getting. | ||||||||||||||||||
My final conclusion is more in the nature of a prediction: although the Bush Administration has been able to keep a lid on drug policy news for the past eight months, that may be about to change quickly. The reason for both the lid and the potential for sudden change is the same and can be summed up in two words: John Walters. | ||||||||||||||||||
John Ashcroft and Asa Hutchinson, the first Bush nominees for posts
relating to drug policy had their own harsh critics, but they also
had powerful forces working for their confirmation. Of those,
perhaps the most powerful was their status as former Members of
Congress. Walters has no such protection, and so many observers saw
his well documented hawkish approach to incarceration as so
notoriously inappropriate that his nomination has already been
trashed to an unprecedented degree. It's thus obvious why the
administration hasn't pushed for confirmation hearings before a
Judiciary Committee now under Democratic control. However
dissatisfaction with our drug policy has also been bubbling away
behind the scenes and there have also been some well publicized
moves away from the doctrinaire U.S. position by Mexico, Canada,
Great Britain, Portugal and Australia. | ||||||||||||||||||
It just might be that John Walters' long delayed confirmation
hearings could finally provoke the kind of free wheeling debate
the drug war has avoided so successfully for so long. | ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"Thought that is silenced is always rebellious ... Majorities, of
course, are often mistaken. This is why the silencing of minorities
is necessarily dangerous. Criticism and dissent are the indispensable
antidote to major delusions." --Alan Barth, "The Loyalty Of Free Men,"
1951 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
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Content selection and analyses by Tom O'Connell (),
Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Phillipe Lucas
(), International content selection and analysis by
Doug Snead (), Layout by Matt Elrod | ||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||
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