| Nov. 16, 2001 #226 | ||||||||||||||||||
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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 CT: JOHNSON, HUTCHINSON TO DEBATE DRUG LAWS AT YALE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Back in the early 1980s LSD guru Tim Leary and Watergate burglar G.
Gordon Liddy used to tour college campuses together for boisterous
but generally good-natured debates about drug laws. Well, now there's
the Gary and Asa Roadshow. | ||||||||||||||||||
Following their lively nationally broadcast debate in Albuquerque about drug policy in September, New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and Drug Enforcement Administration head Asa Hutchinson are taking their show on the road, debating tonight at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
A Yale announcement is at http://www.yale.edu/opa/current/story8.html Audio of the last debate is at http://www.justicetalking.org/shows/show182.asp
http://www.mapinc.org/find?155 (Lindesmith Center)
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(2) US CA: RULING OVERTURNED FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO -- A federal district judge in Sacramento has overruled a
magistrate judge's order on how prosecutors must handle at least
6,000 client and patient files seized from an attorney-physician
couple who advocate the medical use of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows last month ordered
prosecutors to use an independent, court-appointed special master to
review the files and determine which of them the government could
legally access. He also ordered that the special master segregate
initial-visit questionnaires and medical records of the clients and
patients and return those documents to the couple. | ||||||||||||||||||
But U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. overturned both
orders, ruling that the evidence supports the prosecutors' contention
that they are entitled to review all the documents, including
computer-generated files. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) US: D.C. STUDIES TAKING AWAY DRUG BABIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Measure Could Delay Treatment, Some Say | ||||||||||||||||||
Babies born with drugs or alcohol in their blood would automatically
be taken from their mothers' custody under legislation before the
D.C. Council, part of wide-ranging revisions proposed for the city's
child protection system. | ||||||||||||||||||
Unveiled yesterday, the proposal is dividing the child protection
community between those who believe babies should be safeguarded at
all costs and those who call the measure Draconian and say it would
result in more infants being exposed to drugs and alcohol. They argue
that mothers may avoid prenatal care out of fear they would lose
their children. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) CN BC: ADDICTS TO GET HEROIN UNDER RESEARCH PROJECT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
VANCOUVER -- A federal-government agency will give doctors money to
provide heroin to about 125 drug addicts in Vancouver, Toronto and
Montreal, under a national research project searching for an
effective way to cut crime and control the cost of caring for
injection-drug users. | ||||||||||||||||||
The usually illegal drug could be offered by next summer to people
who have been addicted more than a year, said Mark Tyndall, program
director of epidemiology at the B.C. Centre for Excellence in
HIV/AIDS. He said yesterday that addicts in the program must have
tried at least twice to get off heroin by using the substitute drug
methadone. Under the Narcotics Control Act, heroin can be prescribed
by doctors to patients in hospital. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5 - 11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In the wake of raids of medical marijuana providers in California,
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has attacked another state
initiative: Oregon's assisted-suicide law. Using the U.S. Supreme
Court decision that denied medical necessity as a defense for
medical marijuana distributors, Ashcroft showed he doesn't
understand the ruling any better than many in the mainstream press.
A federal judge has blocked Ashcroft's attack for now, though there
are reports that one crucial drug used in assisted suicides seems to
be in short supply in Oregon. Moves against medical marijuana and
assisted-suicide left many observers skeptical about the Bush
administration's alleged commitment to states' rights. | ||||||||||||||||||
The medical marijuana raids in California continued to draw near universal condemnation from the press - this week widely syndicated columnist David Broder weighed in, despite his own past criticisms of state initiatives. Broder noted the absurdity of attacking sick people during a war against terrorism, and the Village Voice took a thoughtful look at how the war in Afghanistan might affect the illegal drug market at home. No speculation is needed in Baltimore, as drug scarcity ignited a wave of violence in the city. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) ASHCROFT BASED ORDER ON POT RULING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PORTLAND - Attorney General John Ashcroft has based his legal
challenge to the only assisted suicide law in the nation on a Supreme
Court ruling on a seemingly unrelated issue - using marijuana for
medical purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||
Last week, Ashcroft said doctors in Oregon cannot legally prescribe
federally controlled drugs to hasten death. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Oregon Death with Dignity Act has been twice approved by voters
and since 1998 has allowed at least 70 terminally ill patients to ask
their doctors for a lethal overdose of drugs to end their lives
before their pain and suffering become unbearable. | ||||||||||||||||||
But Ashcroft said a unanimous Supreme Court ruling last May on
medical marijuana forced him to reconsider whether the Oregon law
conflicts with the federal Controlled Substances Act. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) JUDGE BLOCKS BID TO UNDO OREGON'S 1997 SUICIDE LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon doctors can prescribe lethal medicines again
to terminally ill patients who want to end their lives now that a
judge has temporarily blocked a federal order that had essentially
shut down the state's unique assisted-suicide law. | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. District Judge Robert Jones granted a temporary restraining order Thursday barring U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's directive, which had said Oregon doctors who use the assisted-suicide law would lose their licenses to prescribe federally controlled drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jones' ruling was a victory for Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers,
who had sued the government along with several terminally ill
patients and others. The order is effective until Nov. 20, when Jones
has scheduled another hearing. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) DRUG USED IN SUICIDE SCARCE, DOCTOR SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SALEM, Ore. - Patients allowed to obtain prescriptions to end their
lives under Oregon's suicide law may still not be able get the drugs,
doctors say. | ||||||||||||||||||
A statewide shortage of seconal, a barbiturate key to the drug
cocktail, means those prescriptions can't be filled. | ||||||||||||||||||
Eli Lilly, maker of the drug, did not respond to requests for
information Friday. But Salem oncologist Dr. Peter Rasmussen, who has
assisted a number of patients using the law, said he wonders whether
some political strings are being pulled to keep the drug out of
Oregon. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) STATES' RIGHTS UNDER FIRE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Attorney General's Actions Show Shift In White House Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
Attorney General John Ashcroft is an ardent advocate of states' rights, as he demonstrated in 1998 when he praised a pro-Confederacy magazine for defending "Southern patriots" like Jefferson Davis. | ||||||||||||||||||
His boss, President Bush, told campaign audiences last year that the
federal government was too big and too active outside its proper
sphere -- and even suggested that states should decide whether to
legalize medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
But Ashcroft's actions toward doctors in Oregon and toward medical
marijuana suppliers and physicians in California have led some
analysts to question the administration's devotion to curbing the
powers of the federal government. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) DEA MARIJUANA MADNESS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Coast Guard vessels that had been patrolling the Caribbean to
intercept drug smugglers are now protecting harbors. Customs agents
are focusing on bioterrorism. | ||||||||||||||||||
[DEA Head Asa] Hutchinson assured reporters that he agreed with the
new priorities, but acknowledged that the DEA is struggling to "pick
up the slack." | ||||||||||||||||||
All of which makes it very strange, in my view, that on Oct. 25 about
30 DEA agents spent six hours in a raid on the Los Angeles Cannabis
Resource Center, a source of marijuana for patients with doctors'
prescriptions for its use as a painkiller. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
No arrest warrants have been issued since the raid, and a spokesman
for the U.S. attorney's office told me it will be "some time" before
any prosecutions are decided. But the center has closed its
dispensary because, as Imler said, "we do not want to distribute
black market products." Now, Duran added, "we have 960 patients out
in the parks, looking for drug dealers to get their marijuana, which
is exactly what the city didn't want." | ||||||||||||||||||
No one has alleged -- let alone proved -- that anyone obtained
marijuana without a medical prescription. Why in the world is the
Bush administration fighting this battle, when there are so many more
important wars to be won? | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) HOW GLOBAL HEROIN SHIFTS COULD HIT HOME: THE DOPE ON DOPE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Like the U.S. bombing raids in Afghanistan, another aspect of the
war--the Taliban's reported dumping of stockpiled heroin on the
international market to raise quick cash--has seemed a distant
reality on these shores. | ||||||||||||||||||
The geography that spares Americans from firsthand views of Afghan
rubble and refugees blunts any immediate impact from the heroin glut
here, unlike in some areas of Europe or Southwest Asia where street
prices have halved. | ||||||||||||||||||
Yet early observers warn that the aftermath of September 11 has to affect U.S. heroin, if not the illicit drug trade at large. | ||||||||||||||||||
The only question is to what extent. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) CITY POLICE TO REDEPLOY OFFICERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Actions taken in bid to curb outbreak of killings, violence; 'This is
like a forest fire'; Shootings linked to high drug prices, more gang
fighting | ||||||||||||||||||
Concerned about a monthlong spike in homicides and shootings,
Baltimore police officials are redeploying officers and ordering
commanders to work night shifts to get a better handle on violence,
some of which appears to stem from higher drug prices. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Police officials said they were still trying to get a handle on what
sparked the increase in homicides - nearly one a day since Oct. 1.
From Oct. 7 to Nov. 3, 68 people were shot - a 45 percent increase
over last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (12 - 16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Three seemingly unrelated stories from Iowa this week illustrate the
absurd cycle of drug law enforcement. One story acknowledged that
vice stings do little to deter offenders; another showed that Iowa
prisons are becoming jammed with drug offenders; while a third story
noted that prison budgets are being slashed - meaning drug treatment
behind bars will be scaled back. | ||||||||||||||||||
In other news, a North Carolina police officer was caught dealing
drugs; and in Texas, local police are facing a lawsuit because they
terrorized a grandmother during a mistaken drug raid, allegedly as
the real targets looked on and planned accordingly. Strangely, the
headline for that story portrays the police as the real victims of
their own mistake; surely the grandmother would have a different
interpretation. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) VICE OPERATIONS DO NOT STOP MOST OFFENDERS FOR LONG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In this year's downtown vice sweep, Davenport police arrested 64 suspected drug dealers, prostitutes and pimps during a three-day period. Three weeks later, 40 of those suspects are out of jail. | ||||||||||||||||||
Every year, Davenport police deploy dozens of officers to sweep a
four-block area for drug and sex crime suspects. | ||||||||||||||||||
Police and experts agree the results are limited. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
A computer analysis of their criminal records shows a group of people
being arrested for the same types of crimes over and over and
receiving fines, probation and short jail stints. | ||||||||||||||||||
Even serious prison time doesn't always deter. One of the suspected
drug dealers received a 10-year prison term for a drug offense in
1996. Yet, since 1999, he has been arrested and convicted seven times | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) DRUG OFFENDERS CROWD STATE PRISONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Iowa's war on drugs is having a major impact on the state's prison
population, which is forecast to grow by 52 percent to 12,318 inmates
over the next decade. | ||||||||||||||||||
A new report by the Iowa Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning shows the number of drug offenders entering Iowa's prisons has nearly doubled over the past five years. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, there were a record 891 drug criminals admitted to the state's prisons, compared to 466 drug convicts in 1996. | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug crimes are the most common offense of new Iowa inmates,
representing 27 percent of all prison admissions. Two-thirds have
been involved with methamphetamine, said Lettie Prell, a state
criminal justice researcher. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) BUDGET CUTS FORCE PRISONS TO LAY OFF 150 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Cuts To Come In Services, Not Guards | ||||||||||||||||||
About 150 employees of the Iowa Department of Corrections will be
laid off because of state spending cuts. | ||||||||||||||||||
Iowa Corrections Director W.L. "Kip" Kautzky said Friday the layoffs
were necessary despite the Legislature's action Thursday restoring $3
million to his agency's budget. | ||||||||||||||||||
He said he would try to retain prison staff who directly supervise
inmates and to keep parole and probation officers who have regular
contact with offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||
There will be cuts in drug treatment, medical and dental services, prison maintenance, food service, chaplains and prison libraries. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) POLICE CHIEF RESPONDS TO OFFICER'S ARREST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
THOMASVILLE -- A city police officer arrested Monday was charged
after an investigation initiated by the department on a tip from an
informant. Sgt. Russell McHenry, 32, of 5524-B W. Market St.in
Greensboro was arrested shortly after 9 p.m. Monday and charged with
trafficking in MDMA (ecstasy), conspiracy to traffic in MDMA,
possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and conspiracy
to deliver marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
The 11-year-veteran of the Thomasville Police Department was released
from the Guilford County Jail in Greensboro Tuesday after a bond
hearing. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) 6 MONTHS AFTER BOTCHED DRUG RAID, POLICE STILL ARE PAYING FOR MISTAKE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Maria Flores had just gone to bed when the smoke bomb shattered a
window of her Southeast Austin home. | ||||||||||||||||||
By the time she reached the front door, Flores said, the Austin SWAT
team had kicked it in -- guns drawn and aimed at her head. Officers
shoved her to the ground, bound her hands and ransacked her house,
searching for kilos of cocaine and the violent criminals who
trafficked the narcotic. | ||||||||||||||||||
But the SWAT team had the wrong house. Next door, the intended
targets of the raid were watching and, police say, ditching their
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"For about 20 minutes, I was on the floor crying, wondering, 'What's going on?' " Flores said. "I'm just glad my grandkids weren't there." | ||||||||||||||||||
Flores, who said she can't work because of the injury to her side,
has hired a lawyer to sue the Police Department. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (17 - 21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A flood of critical editorials and columns reflected the public's
outrage at the DEA's recent move against California cannabis medical
growers, users and suppliers. At a time when US domestic security
should be a priority, it seems particularly callous and cruel for
the Bush administration to spend valuable time and resources
harassing the critically and chronically ill and those who supply
them. The policy has drawn criticism from many, including San
Francisco DA Terence Hallinan, who has called on the feds to stay
away from the city's medical marijuana dispensaries. | ||||||||||||||||||
The UK continues its brazen move towards legalization. Stockport, a
small city in Southern England whose previous claim to fame was a
hat museum, is home to "The Dutch Experience", the UK's first
Dutch-style coffee shop. The small restaurant, which was busted on
its opening day, hasn't been harassed since. Meanwhile a poll of
police agencies, court workers and drug counselors conducted by
Drugscope, a government funded organization, reported that 81% of
those surveyed supported licensed distribution of cannabis to the
public. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Canada the push-and-pull of drug policy liberalization continues
its strange, awkward dance. Dr. Keith Martin, the Canadian Alliance
MP who introduced a private members bill to the House of Commons
that would make personal possession of cannabis a finable offence,
has suggested that up to three quarters of the house supports his
motion. The bill will be voted on in the near future, although
critics have pointed out that private members bills rarely become
law. | ||||||||||||||||||
This week Ontario Provincial Police produced a search warrant and
seized files from the Brighton Independent pertaining to a story the
paper ran on Dianna Bruce, a legal medical marijuana user recently
arrested for cultivation and possession and distribution to other
legal medical users through her medicinal cannabis organization,
Lady Dyz Helping Hands. Employees for the paper have suggested that
the heavy-handed approach taken by the police was due to their
editorial support of drug law reform. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) LOW TIMES: S.F. POT CLUB CLOSES, FEARS RAIDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Several people gathered Nov. 1 inside the yellow-and-purple walls of
Cannabis Healing Californians, a pot club on 10th Street. It wasn't
the sort of scene one might expect -- there was no giggling, no
napping, no "dude, where's my pipe?" comments. | ||||||||||||||||||
There are 1,200 people in the club's database. Most suffer from AIDS
or cancer; to get marijuana, they must show a California ID, a
doctor's recommendation, and a cannabis ID card issued by the city's
Department of Public Health. They come to get weed and also to take
advantage of yoga classes, massage, acupuncture, and nutritional
advice -- all free. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Now the club, one of several city dens where the afflicted can find a
little bit of comfort, is in the process of shutting down. The owners
say they think the Oct. 25 Drug Enforcement Administration raid of a
respected club in West Hollywood is the opening shot in a large-scale
attack on medical marijuana by the Bush administration. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) ROLL UP, ROLL UP AT BRITAIN'S FIRST CAFE FOR DOPE SMOKERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The directions from Stockport Tourist Information were enthusiastic.
'Turn left on to the A6, and walk across the open land. You can't
miss it,' said the telephonist. Stockport, which has until now been
famous only for its hat museum, has never seen anything like it. Over
the last two months hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been
making determined pilgrimages there from London, Edinburgh, Carlisle
and Milton Keynes. They come by train and car in pursuit of news
spreading by word of mouth and internet: Stockport is home to
Britain's first-ever Amsterdam-style coffee shop. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
From its opening at 10 in the morning to closing at 10 at night, the Dutch Experience is packed with people rolling joints, inhaling deeply and grinning peacefully. By lunchtime last Wednesday, there were at least 50 people in its two rooms, by evening over 100. No one bothered to hide this still illegal activity. It's all totally open. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) UK POLICE SAY: SELL THE DRUG IN SHOPS AND PUBS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis should be sold at licensed outlets such as pubs, cafes and
shops, according to a confidential survey of police forces, courts,
probation officers and drug care workers. Eighty-one per cent of the
300 groups surveyed said that a system of licensed distribution
should be introduced as soon as possible. | ||||||||||||||||||
The lawful sale of cannabis is seen by campaigners as the next step in liberalising the drug after its reclassification as a class C substance, announced last month by Home Secretary David Blunkett. | ||||||||||||||||||
The survey, conducted among the members of the government-backed
charity DrugScope, will ignite fierce controversy. Anti-drug
campaigners are furious at the increasingly relaxed attitude of
police towards the drug. A licensing system would cover cafes and
pubs, and GPs would be able to prescribe the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) ONTARIO POLICE GET WARRANT TO SEARCH NEWSPAPER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Staff at an Ontario weekly newspaper say an impending police search
is an attempt at intimidation because of its editorial stance on
Canada's medical marijuana law. | ||||||||||||||||||
Stasha Connolly, owner and publisher of the Brighton Independent, was
notified last week that Ontario Provincial Police were obtaining a
search warrant to gain access to a reporter's notes and other
material relating to an illegal marijuana operation, said the
newspaper's editor, Bart Kreps. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We feel we're being hassled simply for writing about a group of
people that the police and the court system is treating unfairly," he
said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.gov.on.ca/opp/welcome/english/writeus.htm
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(21) MAJORITY OF HOUSE FAVOURS POT BILL, CANADIAN ALLIANCE MP SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
OTTAWA -- Canadian Alliance MP Keith Martin says a majority of
federal politicians, including Liberals, support his private-members
bill calling for the decriminalization of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I think the government will be open to it," Dr. Martin, a physician,
said before MPs began debating the bill yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Bill C-344 would impose a system of fines -- up to $1,000 -- rather than criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of pot. | ||||||||||||||||||
Last month, the federal government said it will allow an open vote on the subject, which will take place at a later date. However, private-members bills rarely pass in the House of Commons. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
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Reports from Afghanistan continue to stress the dangers of
unleashing cheap opium and heroin upon the world. Republican Mark
Souder and others in Congress emphasize "dark synergies between
narcotics trafficking and international terrorism." Yet a Time
Magazine piece last week confessed no evidence existed "Bin Laden's
al-Qaeda network ever used Afghan heroin to finance its suspected
terrorist activities." | ||||||||||||||||||
The Philippine National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention
Coordinating (DEP) Center reported 2.2 million Filipinos are
"full-fledged drug users." Decrying the "drug menace," reports did
not give a breakdown of specific drugs considered. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Glasgow, Scotland, a "drug court" has been launched. The idea, "inspired by drug courts in America and Canada" will use testing with threat of prison to stop "drug mis-users committing crime to feed their habits." The types of drugs covered were not given. | ||||||||||||||||||
Colombian President Andres Pastrana last week visited the US, seeking more money to "fight drug traffickers" who fund "terrorist groups like those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks." Officials in both nations admit that the US, which is already providing $1.3 billion in aid, is now unlikely to become further entangled. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(22) SMACK IN THE MIDDLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Taliban Won Plaudits And Profits For Banning Opium. But War Will
See The Drug Trade Surge. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In Washington, lawmakers claim the Taliban and suspected Saudi
terrorist Osama bin Laden are cohorts in the drug trade. At a recent
Congressional hearing, Republican Mark Souder spoke of the "dark
synergies between narcotics trafficking and international terrorism."
While some extremist Afghan clerics argue that drugs are a legitimate
weapon to undermine Western society, there is no evidence that bin
Laden's al-Qaeda network ever used Afghan heroin to finance its
suspected terrorist activities. An Arab diplomat in Islamabad claims
that most of bin Laden's funds come from rich Islamic sympathizers in
the Gulf States and in the Middle East. "Bin Laden has access to
plenty of money. He doesn't need to dirty his hands with drugs," the
diplomat says. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(23) 2.2 M FILIPINOS ARE DRUG USERS - AGENCY REPORT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
THE PHILIPPINES has up to 2.2 million full-fledged drug users, helped
by around 500,000 drug pushers who bring the drug menace to the
communities, the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention
Coordinating ( DEP ) Center reported Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Chief Supt. Miguel Coronel, executive director of the DEP Center, said results of a Social Weather Stations survey commissioned by the DEP Center in July 2001 showed that a majority of those who admitted having used illegal drugs were aged 25-34 and belonged to the Class D. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(24) FIRST US-STYLE DRUG COURT IS LAUNCHED IN SCOTLAND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
THE first American-style drug court in Scotland was launched in
Glasgow yesterday in an attempt to clamp down on addicts and the
crimes they commit. | ||||||||||||||||||
The two-year pilot scheme will deal exclusively with repeat
offenders. Its aim is to help them lose their dependency and
re-integrate them into normal society. The court will target addicts
over the age of 21 who have shown a willingness to leave the world of
drugs and have proven their ability to change through a series of
rigorous screening tests. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(25) COLOMBIAN LEADER SEES A DRUG LINK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Colombian President Andres Pastrana Friday urged
continued U.S. efforts to fight drug traffickers, who he said were
funding sources for terrorist groups like those responsible for the
Sept. 11 attacks. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saying he had the "moral authority" to speak out against terrorism
because his country had struggled against it for so long, Pastrana
urged U.S. officials not to give up in fighting drug traffickers as
it focused on finding those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on
the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(26) ASKING FOR AID, COLOMBIANS CITE TERROR; U.S. DEMURS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"If we are going to combat terrorism, we need all the arms are our
disposal to do it, "Mr. Pastrana told reporters in Washington on
Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
But American officials who work on Colombia policy, as well as a top
Colombian official, said they did not expect the United States to
change course. "It is wishful thinking on the part of those
Colombians who would like us to become more involved," a State
Department official said by telephone from Washington. | ||||||||||||||||||
American policymakers, preoccupied with the war in Afghanistan and
anthrax scares, believe that Colombia policy is safely on "auto
pilot," said one Congressional aide. | ||||||||||||||||||
"There is interest in Congress in Colombia, and there will continue
to be," said Tim Rieser, an aide to Senator Patrick J. Leahy,
chairman of the appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations.
"But I would think it's fair to say it is not getting the same
degree of attention as it did a year ago." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) announces a national,
multidisciplinary conference to examine the growing trend of so called
"fetal rights" measures around the country, January 25-27, 2002 in New
York City, at Mt. Sinai Hospital, cosponsored by the Mt. Sinai-based
Clinical Education Initiative (CEI). | ||||||||||||||||||
For more information visit: http://www.advocatesforpregnantwomen.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
CDC has released a new report on HIV trends 1993-1997 for selected
populations of the US. | ||||||||||||||||||
"HIV Prevalence Trends in Selected Populations in the United States:
Results from National Serosurveillance, 1993-1997" | ||||||||||||||||||
A PDF version has also been posted at: | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/hivprevalence/hivprevaltrendspop.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Abstracts Available From International Medical Marijuana Conference | ||||||||||||||||||
Cologne, Germany: The International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) is making abstracts available from their first-ever IACM Conference on Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Berlin, Germany. | ||||||||||||||||||
The IACM is offering a 38-page volume of abstracts (in English only) for $10 (US) or 20 marks (Germany). Abstracts will also be reprinted in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics. An online version of the Journal's charter issue is now available online | ||||||||||||||||||
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For more information, please visit the IACM's website at: | ||||||||||||||||||
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McNamara, Zeese, Lee and O'Connell visit NYT | ||||||||||||||||||
A transcript. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Eric Sterling's Visit To The DrugSense Chat Room | ||||||||||||||||||
A transcript. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Lynn Paltrow's Visit To The DrugSense Chat Room | ||||||||||||||||||
A transcript. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense Chat With Chris Conrad | ||||||||||||||||||
Join us on Sun. Nov. 18, 2001 8PM Eastern in the Drugsense Chat
Room , http://www.drugsense.org/chat/, when our special guest
will be author, speaker, consultant and expert witness Chris
Conrad, http://www.chrisconrad.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Focus On Drug War Has Been Too Excessive | ||||||||||||||||||
By Mike Plylar | ||||||||||||||||||
The author of the Nov. 4 letter, "Drug policy needs to be revisited," is right on the money, but I think he misses some other serious problems with our current law enforcement dictated drug policy. | ||||||||||||||||||
In light of America's latest war, a closer examination of our foreign
and domestic policies is overdue. | ||||||||||||||||||
Can we afford the luxury of an excessive, deadly and disastrous civil war, like the war on drugs, which devours fully 50 percent of all our law enforcement resources, while terrorists, wishing Americans the gravest of harm, live, move and train right here among us? | ||||||||||||||||||
Are our national priorities skewed? Ask any postal worker: If the
white powder leaking from an envelope turns out to be cocaine,
instead of some truly lethal biological agent, would they feel
relieved? In their situation, how would you feel? Thank God it"s only
cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||
While Americans have chased each other for decades, dedicating
phenomenal amounts of our national assets, searching for all manner of
illegal plants, pills, powders and the like, our real enemies have
literally invaded us. We all continue to pay the price for our
government's drug war blunder. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mike Plylar, | ||||||||||||||||||
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Honorable Mention Letters Of The Week | ||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Response To Voth's "Guidelines For Prescribing Medical Marijuana" | ||||||||||||||||||
By Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D. | ||||||||||||||||||
Editor's note: The following was written in response to a piece
published at the web site for the Western Journal of Medicine
( http://www.ewjm.com/cgi/content/full/175/5/305 ) by notorious
prohibition propagandist Dr. Eric Voth. Dr. Mikuriya kindly added
additional comments for DrugSense Weekly. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Guidelines for prescribing medical marijuana" is about as useful as
going to a right to life counseling clinic about abortion or
contraception. | ||||||||||||||||||
First, since cannabis is not available in any pharmacies there is no
prescribing of cannabis, as such, and physicians can merely express
their first amendment rights to recommend or approve the use of the
drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
Second, Dr. Voth includes false statements in the guise of questions
to the practitioner warning about dangers to pulmonary, immune, and
driving skills, and habituation. I recently presented a paper at the
first International Congress of the Association of Cannabis as Medicine
in Berlin that was sponsored by the German Society of Addiction
Medicine. Cannabis Substitution: Harm Reduction Treatment for
Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence was well received. | ||||||||||||||||||
Third, none of the over 6500 patients in my practice nor other California physicians providing statements of recommendation and approval have reported any problems enumerated by Dr. Voth. | ||||||||||||||||||
We continue to monitor and provide evaluation as needed for other
medical interventions as indicated. | ||||||||||||||||||
I, personally, am certified in Addiction Medicine by ASAM and CSAM,
having been research psychiatrist in charge of marijuana research
at the National Institute of Mental Health Center for Narcotics and
Drug Abuse. I have studied the drug since 1959. | ||||||||||||||||||
The fear I have is not from malpractice suits from patients or families
but from harassment by the California Medical Board, Police, DA's, and
now the DEA. | ||||||||||||||||||
The collective findings in the states--supporting medical marijuana protection for management of chronic serious illness using a medicine more effective than "mainstream" medications--cannot be further denied. | ||||||||||||||||||
We have much more to fear from toxic federalism with misuse of the DEA
to implement a counterreform domestic terrorist campaign by
extrajudicial seizure of patient records. At a time when we need
solidarity and protection. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Addendum | ||||||||||||||||||
I would like to add to my editorial by questioning the legitimacy of
such clearly dissimulative material presented by Dr. Voth. And I
would question his representation that he has no vested interests.
Purely political content misrepresented as medical practice guidelines
should be filtered out by the editorial perogative. | ||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately, the only things that get expurgated are descriptions of
non smoked rapid drug delivery systems- Vaporization. The IOM study he
cites elected to omit any mention of the vaporizers that were
demonstrated to the team of investigators at the Oakland Cannabis
Buyers Cooperative during their site visit. | ||||||||||||||||||
But this sort of dissimulation of the "guidelines" is emblematic of
the dishonesty and manipulative quality of the cannabis | ||||||||||||||||||
I never cease to be amazed at the varieties and manifestations of mind poisoning through lies and censorship result from the removal of cannabis from prescriptive availability by the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. | ||||||||||||||||||
And how the ensuing dark ages of clinical information is a breeding ground for opportunists and poseurs who profit from ignorance and deception. My colleagues and I would welcome the opportunity to consult on patients and provide him the opportunity to see for himself. But I fear that it would be too confusing by providing him with facts. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"Power-worship blurs political judgment because it leads, almost unavoidably, to the belief that present trends will continue. Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible." | ||||||||||||||||||
--George Orwell, 1950 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analyses by Stephen Young (), 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. | ||||||||||||||||||
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