| November 30, 2001 #228 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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) DEA APPROVES UC SAN DIEGO MEDICAL MARIJUANA STUDY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001 SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Drug Enforcement Administration granted final approval Wednesday for the first university study on medical marijuana in recent memory. The agency said it hoped to introduce some science into what has been an emotionally-charged debate. Two professors of neurology at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center will study the effects of marijuana on patients with multiple sclerosis and those who suffer neuropathy, or nerve pain, associated with AIDS. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The studies are the first to emerge out of the Center for Medicinal
Cannabis Research at UCSD, a program created by the state Legislature
in 1999 to study the medical uses of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The studies will involve about 60 people who will be studied over a
period of several weeks. All subjects will smoke marijuana cigarettes
provided by the National Institute of Drug Abuse in Washington. Half
the cigarettes will look and smell like marijuana but will lack THC,
the active chemical compound in marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[remainder snipped] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) AUSTRALIA: CANNABIS FINES TO BOOST COFFERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE State Government could collect more than $1 million a year in fines from small-time cannabis users under proposed drug reforms. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Experts say the money should be put back into early drug prevention
measures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Under the Government's response to August's Community Drug Summit,
people possessing up to 25g of cannabis or growing two plants at home
face a fine instead of a criminal conviction. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If the Government matches the $50-$150 fines set in South Australia for first-time offences, and rates of cannabis use remain constant, it would collect more than $1 million, based on last year's arrests. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) US CA: REEFER MADNESS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal Agents Have Gone Out Of Their Way To Shut Down Dr. Mollie Fry
And Attorney Dale Schafer Of The California Medical Research Center
In Cool. Their Crime: Providing Marijuana To The Seriously Ill. They
Thought It Was Legal In California. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Late in the afternoon of Friday September 28, 2001, just as
11-year-old Caroline Schafer was arriving home with her brother,
Cody, and her father, she noticed to her surprise a line of dark,
late-model SUVs and pickups completely filling the long driveway
leading up to her hillside El Dorado County home. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"My first thought," Caroline said, "was that my mother had invited
some friends from her church group over for a visit." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) US: OPED: WE NEED A DRUG CZAR NOW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As a part of our painful national education about terrorism since Sept. 11, Americans now know more than they ever wanted to about bioterrorism, chemical weapons, and the threat of "suitcase bombs." And we have learned a great deal about the connection between terrorism and illegal drugs, including the fact that our enemies in Afghanistan have derived considerable sustenance and resources from the drug trade. This trade not only spreads addiction but is an inherent enemy of lawful order and democracy throughout the world: Just as heroin and cocaine destroy lives, so, too, do the heroin and cocaine trades destroy institutions of law and popular government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Illegal drug use, especially among our children, is a plague that has lacked serious federal attention -- from Democrats and Republicans, as well as from the executive and legislative branches. We must push back against the drug problem, because if there's one thing I learned as drug czar, it's that when we push back, the problem gets smaller. And to start the new push back, we need effective, informed, and aggressive leadership in the Office of National Drug Control Policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5 - 11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Supreme Court will be deciding on some important
drug-related cases soon which got some limited publicity this week.
But no legal eagles appear to be looking at the possible legal
ramifications of "drug-free school zone" laws and the growing
popularity of homeschooling. | ||||||||||||||||||||
OxyContin was big in the news this week, as statistics from Florida
showed rising death rates associated with the drug. Meanwhile, a
former prosecutor who criticized the drug is now an advisor to the
company that manufactures it. And the big guns of drug law
enforcement are looking for small fish in the illicit OxyContin
trade, as a bust in Tennessee showed this week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the narcs aren't focusing all their attention there - an
international coalition of drug law enforcers met in the U.S. this
week to look at the underground Ecstasy trade. They didn't like what
they saw. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) BORDER CASE TESTS FOURTH AMENDMENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Supreme Court To Hear Appeal On 'Reasonable' | ||||||||||||||||||||
A U.S. Border Patrol search that led to an arrest of a Douglas driver on marijuana charges will go before the U.S. Supreme Court this week in what could be a historic test of the Fourth Amendment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Laurence Benner, a professor of criminal law at the California
Western School of Law's Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy, said
the case "is going to be the bellwether of liberty in this changed
society we now live in after Sept 11." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Benner said the case asks the high court to determine what is "reasonable" in determining "reasonable suspicion" when law enforcement officers stop and question drivers. The high court's ruling could signal how far it is willing to expand police powers in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America, Benner said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) COURT SCRUTINIZES HOUSING AUTHORITY EVICTION POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
County-Inspired 'One-Strike' Program Is At Risk | ||||||||||||||||||||
In 1996, representatives of the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority
and Toledo police stood proudly by President Clinton's side on the
steps of the Capitol after he signed into law a | ||||||||||||||||||||
The authority had received national attention two years earlier when it adopted the policy, which has been credited with helping to turn the agency into one of the nation's top public housing operations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the one-strike policy that LMHA and officials across the country
used to try to clean up drug-infested housing developments could be
gutted depending on how a highly publicized case from California is
decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The case involves a 63-year-old grandmother from Oakland, Calif., who
was evicted from public housing when her daughter was caught with
drugs three blocks from the complex. No evidence was presented to
indicate that the grandmother, Pearlie Rucker, knew her daughter was
using drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The central issue is whether a tenant can be evicted even when he or
she is unaware that a family member or guest is in possession of
drugs. The right of public housing officials to evict leaseholders
for using drugs is not being questioned. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) JUSTICE-FREE ZONES? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Home Schools Could Make Drug Prosecution Yet More Draconian. | ||||||||||||||||||||
First, the good news: House and Senate negotiators, now hammering out education-reform legislation, are clarifying a troubling legal ambiguity regarding gun laws and home schools, one that could land gun owners in big trouble if any of their neighbors are home schoolers. The bad news: a similar ambiguity involves drug laws and home schooling, and there do not appear to be any efforts to address | ||||||||||||||||||||
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[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
But this legislative clarification, described in a November 6 press
release from the House committee, said nothing about drugs. There is
a labyrinth of state and federal laws restricting drugs in and around
schools, and they pose the same intriguing question arising from the
gun law: Do they apply to home schools? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Why does it matter? There are 850,000 home-schooled children in America. If the parents or siblings of any of these children sneak a few bong hits while the kids are away at camp, they may be liable under the same laws intended for playground drug pushers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DRUG DEATHS IN FLA. SKYROCKETING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The number of people dying in Florida after
abusing two popular prescription drugs skyrocketed in the first half
of the year, according to a state report. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deaths caused by lethal amounts of hydrocodone and/or oxycodone, the
active ingredient in OxyContin, increased from 152 in the last half
of 2000 to 217 in the first six months of this year, says the report
by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. | ||||||||||||||||||||
``Unfortunately, not just our state, but our nation as a whole is
experiencing an increase in deaths related to oxycodone and
hydrocodone,'' Commissioner Tim Moore said. ``This report should draw
our attention to those drugs which are not the traditional problems
in the state of Florida.'' | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) EX-PROSECUTOR BECAME ADVISER TO OXYCONTIN MAKER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Famularo's New Role Came Months After He Blamed Drug For Deaths | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nine months ago, Joe Famularo -- then U.S. attorney for Kentucky's
Eastern District -- described the narcotic painkiller OxyContin as an
"epidemic, like some sort of locust plague rolling through
southeastern Kentucky." | ||||||||||||||||||||
But upon leaving the U.S. attorney's job in June, Famularo became an
unpaid consultant for Purdue Pharma, the Stamford, Conn.-based
pharmaceutical company that has the exclusive right to produce and
market OxyContin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since then, Famularo has spoken on behalf of Purdue Pharma at a
Kentucky meeting of police chiefs and published an op-ed piece in the
Lexington Herald-Leader in which he defended the company and its
product. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) OXYCONTIN STING ENDS WITH ARREST OF MARYVILLE MAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Maryville man was arrested in his driveway Wednesday after he paid an undercover agent $11,000 for several containers of Oxycontin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police say the man planned to illegally sell the pills for a
projected $30,000 windfall. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 54-year-old ended up losing both the drugs and his cash. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After the former mechanic paid the undercover agent, Sheriff James Berrong and officers with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, Knoxville police and the FBI pulled up and arrested him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) DEA FORGES FOREIGN ALLIANCES TO COMBAT SPREAD OF ECSTASY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Drug Enforcement Administration has forged a new alliance with
law enforcement authorities in Europe and Canada to combat a dramatic
rise in the production, availability and use of the "party drug"
known as Ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug agents from the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA or Federal Criminal
Investigation Agency in Germany), and representatives from Canada,
the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Czech
Republic attended an international law enforcement conference at the
DEA academy in Quantico, Va., this week to discuss Ecstasy
trafficking. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The National Drug intelligence Center (NDIC), a Justice Department
agency assigned to collect strategic domestic counterdrug
information, recently warned that the production, availability and
use of Ecstasy had increased at an alarming rate, making its
potential threat equal to that of cocaine and heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Of the club drugs, none presents a greater threat than MDMA or
ecstasy," said the NDIC in a report in August. "When coupled with the
growing involvement of organized-crime groups in production,
transportation and distribution, the threat of MDMA potentially
equals that of more traditional drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (12 - 15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The drug war often turns expectations of law enforcement upside
down, as articles published this week illustrate. In Washington,
drug money seizures by police are being challenged by an activist
gathering signatures for an initiative that would modify the
practice. In Oklahoma, a drug lab employee was arrested for
allegedly selling clean samples to suspects. In Colorado, a former
undersheriff was sentenced for his role in a drug ring. And in South
Carolina, local police departments are considering opening their own
drug testing labs, despite concerns about accuracy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) DRUG LAW: COPS AS ROBBERS? INITIATIVE CAMPAIGN CHALLENGES (Top)DRUG-CASE SEIZURES | ||||||||||||||||||||
The sponsor of an initiative to change the state's forfeiture law
says he wants to protect innocent people from being robbed by police
trying to pad their budgets. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It is obscene," said Ernest Lewis, the sponsor of Initiative 256. "One guy lost, literally, a million-dollar airplane because he carried a passenger who carried drugs in his briefcase." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police say the claims are baloney and that for some departments, the
money they receive doesn't amount to much anyway. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Initiative 256 would prevent police from seizing a person's property
in drug cases until the person has been convicted of a crime. Current
law lets police agencies seize property at the time of arrest, when a
warrant is served or if authorities think the property poses a threat
to public safety. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) POLICE RAID DRUG-TESTING LAB, ARREST 1 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
An undercover police sting at an Oklahoma City drug and alcohol
testing laboratory has sent one man to jail, and potentially put
hundreds of Oklahoma County court cases in question. Joe Clay
Bouldin, 47, was arrested after a police team raided the Bulldog
Laboratory, 105 N Hudson Ave., Sgt. Jeff Lathan said. The laboratory
is in the Investors Capital Building next to the Oklahoma County
office building and courthouse. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bouldin was arrested Tuesday on complaints of preparing false
evidence and an outstanding warrant on a violation of the Employee
Security Act. He was being held Wednesday night at the Oklahoma
County jail on $8,000 bail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane said Bouldin was selling clean urine to people who went to the laboratory for drug or alcohol testing. The laboratory frequently is used in court proceedings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) SENTENCING CONCLUDES OURAY DRUG EPISODE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The last of 19 people charged in a methamphetamine case that brought
down the sheriff and two other law officers in picturesque Ouray
County was sentenced Tuesday to 6 1/2 years in federal prison. Denver
U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham imposed the sentence on
Federico Estrada-Garcia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement authorities said the ring operated for about two years, importing the drug to Ouray County from California. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The case revealed complicated, interlocking relationships and
rivalries among residents practicing the flourishing drug trade in
the small town at the base of the scenic San Juan Mountains on
Colorado's Western Slope. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Former undersheriff John Radcliff was sentenced to 19 years in prison
for his role in the ring. Radcliff protected ring members from
discovery by other law officers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) LOCAL CRIME LABS PURSUED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Intent Is To Speed Up Drug Testing And Other Processes But Cost Is
Steep, Credibility An Issue | ||||||||||||||||||||
Local law enforcement agencies frustrated by long waits to get test
results from SLED are setting up, and expanding, their own crime
laboratories. SLED Chief Robert Stewart admits SLED can't process
evidence fast enough and is encouraging local agencies to open the
labs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We are overwhelmed, especially our drug lab" Stewart said. "We don't have a timely turnaround on drug cases and it affects the courts." | ||||||||||||||||||||
But as local labs open, some wonder if they can keep up with the
operating expenses. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And even if they can, defense lawyers are worried about the quality
of the testing, claiming innocent people might be sent jail because
of faulty analysis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16 - 20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
It was a crazed and frantic week in the cannabis world. Americans
for Medical Rights, a group based in Santa Monica CA, is trying to
organize an initiative involving state distribution of medicinal
cannabis that is sure to challenge the federal government's right to
interfere with state rights. The group was active in supporting the
original prop. 215 medical marijuana initiative in California.
Sadly, Dennis Peron, one of the chief architects of that landmark
campaign was arrested in Utah this week and is facing a felony
charge of possessing marijuana for distribution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In other INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT US news: As a result of an October 9th DEA ruling, any US producer or retailer caught with edible hemp products after February 6th can be charged with possession of a controlled substance. First medical cannabis, now hemp ice cream; is it just me, or have things gotten a bit out of hand lately... | ||||||||||||||||||||
Activists in the UK continue to ride an unprecedented wave of drug reform and common sense. Protests continue in front of the Stockport police station over the arrests of staff and supporters of the Dutch Experience cannabis cafe. While in neighboring Scotland, Edinburgh based publisher Kevin Williamson announced plans to open a similar Dutch-style marijuana coffee shop in the nation's capital. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) A NEW TACK ON US MEDICAL POT USE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO -- Stung by a federal crackdown on medical marijuana in
California, activists are pushing toward a new ballot measure to test
a state's right to distribute pot as medicine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans for Medical Rights, the Santa Monica-based group that
promoted California's landmark medical marijuana initiative in 1996,
is eyeing such a test in one of three smaller Western | ||||||||||||||||||||
As now conceived, the measure would formalize a network under state
government control to distribute medical marijuana instead of leaving
to patients the job of acquiring the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) MARIJUANA CHARGE HITS PROP. 215 CO-AUTHOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SAN FRANCISCO -- A man who helped draft California's Proposition 215,
which allows certain patients to posses marijuana, was arrested by
police last week in Cedar City, Utah, for smoking a joint in his
motel room. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dennis Peron is facing a felony charge of possessing marijuana for
distribution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) EDIBLE HEMP BURNS OUT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
For seven years, the hemp ice cream produced in Das Agua's shop,
Original Sources, made him a successful businessman. Today it makes
him a criminal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Created with "milk" made from the ground seeds of industrial hemp --
marijuana's low-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) sister plant -- Agua's
Hemp I Scream may now be a controlled substance, thanks to an October
9 ruling by the Drug Enforcement Administration that deems illegal
any foods containing even a trace of THC, pot's psychoactive
ingredient. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The ruling delivered a heavy hit to Original Sources and other
companies across the country that are active in the hemp-foods trade.
"That was the DEA's attack on our twin towers," Agua says. "It's a
terrorist attack on hemp, to try and frighten away the profitability
of this wonderful industry. Hemp foods are a great way for people to
be more healthy, more wholesome." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) SCOTLAND SET FOR DRUG CAFE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PLANS have been unveiled to open a cafe in the Capital where cannabis
can be bought and smoked. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Edinburgh-based publisher Kevin Williamson, who helped launch the
career of controversial novelist Irvine Welsh, plans to take
advantage of the Government's softening stance on cannabis to open
the cafe as early as the spring. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Williamson said the cafe would provide a haven for the city's
cannabis users where they would be free to buy and consume the drug
without being exposed to gangland dealers who also peddle "hard"
drugs such as heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) 10 CHARGED AFTER POLICE STATION CANNABIS PROTEST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police have charged 10 cannabis campaigners who were arrested after
allegedly lighting up outside a police station. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
They were among 30 people involved in the protest in Greater
Manchester. The demonstrators had gathered outside Stockport police
station in protest about a raid on Britain's first Dutch-style coffee
shop. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Their protest was in support of veteran cannabis campaigner Colin
Davies, who was arrested during Tuesday's raid at the Dutch
Experience Cafe in Stockport. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
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In Western Australia, the Government expressed support for heroin
prescription trials, and for reducing cannabis punishments. Enduring
charges of going "soft on drugs," the government intends to drop
penalties for personal use and cultivation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Afghan drug news dispatches continue to emphasize the danger of
renewed opium planting by Afghan farmers. Meanwhile, US officials
promise that after military targets, "opium processing laboratories"
were to be bombed. It was not revealed how a laboratory could be
distinguished from other buildings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Indian drug agents have issued a warning after reports indicated the
Taliban has exported 400 tons of heroin since September. Indian
police are "on alert at all entry points from Pakistan," said one
official. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Lebanese government threatened poppy growers with life
imprisonment last week. Reports also say that more cannabis is
growing there since 1990, despite government threats. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The youth wing of the German Green party gave party leaders
marijuana in place of a traditional floral bouquet. "I'm not a
smoker, but one can always use this for baked goods," noted party
co-leader Claudia Roth, who accepted the cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) WA GOVT BACKS DECRIMINALISING MARIJUANA, HEROIN TRIALS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Western Australian Government has been accused of being "soft on
drugs" after declaring its support for heroin prescription trials and
a relaxation of cannabis laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Government today delivered its long awaited response to the
Community Drug Summit which was held in August. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It has ruled out the recommendation for heroin injecting rooms, but
has supported all the other recommendations including prescription
heroin trials. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Government plans to decriminalise the possession and cultivation
of cannabis for small time users. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) AFGHANISTAN TURNS AGAIN TO OPIUM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Taliban Too Weak To Enforce Ban On Growing Poppies | ||||||||||||||||||||
KHERABAD, Afghanistan -- Come spring, the poppies will be blooming in
Afghanistan again. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is the time for planting,'' said Abdul Wakil, a 54-year-old
farmer. "This year, 400 families here in the village will cultivate
it. We take the opium and put it in a bag. Then we search for
customers at the Friday bazaar.'' | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
He said he can sell up to 2,500 pounds of opium base on a good day.
That will produce about 275 pounds of heroin. On an average day, he
sells 600 to 700 pounds of opium. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(23) US BOMBING OF LABORATORIES CUTS HEROIN OUTPUT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
After bombing Taliban tanks, headquarters and troops, American pilots
were given a supplemental list of targets deemed to be almost as
important to US and European security - opium processing
laboratories, US officials said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bombing sorties have helped to disrupt the production of heroin
from the opium harvest, which had already been reduced by the Taliban
edict against poppy cultivation last year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A state department official yesterday confirmed that the opium and
heroin industry was one of the strategic targets of the bombing
campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"To the degree where we knew where the processing laboratories were, they were taken out, if they were in areas which were not close to anywhere where collateral damage would occur," the official said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(24) HIGH ALERT AFTER TALIBAN SENDS HUGE DRUG STOCKS TO PAKISTAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NEW DELHI Indian anti-narcotics agents have heightened vigil at all entry points from Pakistan following reports that the Taliban had sent nearly 400 tonne of heroin out of Afghanistan since September. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We are on alert at all entry points from Pakistan. We have specific
intelligence reports that the Taliban passed on all its drug stocks
to Pakistan along with processing machinery and laboratory
equipment," a senior anti-narcotics official told IANS. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(25) LEBANESE FARMERS FIND DRUG CROPS TOO PROFITABLE TO MISS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lebanon issued a tough warning to poppy growers yesterday,
threatening them with life imprisonment if they do not abandon the
drug trade. Cultivation of cannabis and opium poppies in the Bekaa
valley - a stronghold of Hizbullah - has increased dramatically this
year following the failure of efforts to find alternative crops for
the farmers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The acreage of cannabis grown in the valley this season was the
highest since the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war in 1990. Despite
government threats to destroy the crops and jail farmers for life,
the cannabis crop was successfully harvested, although it has yet to
reach the markets. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The government's failure to eradicate the cannabis, as happened in
previous years, has encouraged farmers to plant more profitable opium
poppies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(26) GERMAN GREEN LEADERS URGED TO SMOKE UP AND RELAX (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ROSTOCK, Germany, Nov 25 ( Reuters ) - The youth wing of the German
Greens gave party leaders a bundle of marijuana cigarettes on Sunday
and told them to relax. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The leaders were handed the hashish ( marijuana resin ) "joints"
after a fractious congress, which ended after the pacifist party
voted to back the Afghan deployment of German troops. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Instead of presenting the customary bouquet of flowers to leaders for
a successful meeting, the youth wing handed over a bundle of drugs
tied up with a red bow. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'm not a smoker, but one can always use this for baked goods," said Claudia Roth, co-leader of the Greens as she accepted the gift. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Plans To Counter IDEAS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Check out the interview with Matt Elrod of DrugSense about an upcoming prohibitionist conference in Vancouver and plans to counter | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.ideas-canada.org/ and the new counter website
http://www.ideas-canada.ca/ (under construction) and other activities
designed to counter this drug warrior attack on Canada's "permissive"
drug policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following link to the interview is a RealVideo file | ||||||||||||||||||||
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THE SECRET OF WORLD-WIDE DRUG PROHIBITION | ||||||||||||||||||||
The varieties and uses of drug prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By HARRY G. LEVINE | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Reason Cartoon On WOD And WOT | ||||||||||||||||||||
A little humor on grim topics. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Methadone E-Update From Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Alternatives to the War on Drugs : (Draft) Statement of Conscience
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations | ||||||||||||||||||||
This draft Statement of Conscience of the UUA builds upon four social
witness statements on drug policy adopted by the UUA between 1965 and
1991. In June 2000, the General Assembly of the UUA selected | ||||||||||||||||||||
This initial draft Statement of Conscience is being distributed to all congregations and districts for their reflection and feedback. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Download the Draft Statement of Conscience in Portable Document Format
from http://www.uudpr.org/uuasoc.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||||
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LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LIFE FOR A POT DEALER? COME ON ... | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Kirk Muse | ||||||||||||||||||||
To the editor: | ||||||||||||||||||||
I sure hope the citizens and taxpayers of Michigan and Indiana feel safer now that marijuana grower Chad Robinson has been given a life sentence ("Dale man given life sentence in drug case," Nov. 10). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Robinson's room and board will wind up costing the taxpayers about
three-quarters of a million dollars (30 years multiplied by $25,000
per year). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even though marijuana has never been documented to kill a single
person, there is always a first time. Terrorists may be able to crash
our passenger planes into our buildings, killing thousands, but at
least a pot grower will be off the streets. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kirk Muse, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver, Wash. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Honorable Mention Letter of the Week | ||||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL? | ||||||||||||||||||||
By M. L. Simon | ||||||||||||||||||||
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Is the international drug war starting to wind down? In a word, maybe. Which is a much better word than the usual no we have been getting for the last 80 some years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
First the good news in Britain - cannabis use has been essentially micro-criminalized. What the heck is micro-criminalized? It means that pot is not legal. But it also means pot is not very illegal, unlike the Class A drugs that include Ecstasy, LSD, heroin and cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pot was downgraded from a schedule B drug like amphetamines to a
schedule C drug like anti-depressants, steroids, and other prescription
drugs. Marijuana then goes from an arrestable offence to a ticket only
offence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
However, other laws against pot will still remain on the books giving
the police a wide latitude on who to arrest and what crime to charge
them with. The British police being sensible will turn their efforts
to solving real crimes rather than pursuing the minor vices of
otherwise law abiding citizens. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dealing and growing will still be illegal, but here again police in
Britain show great wisdom. Only the indiscreet will be charged. The
police will not be pursuing pot criminals. Not full legalization by a
long shot but this policy direction if pursued should lead to full
legalization in one to two years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Farther ahead in the race to legalization are Portugal, Spain, and
Italy who have effectively decriminalized personal possession of all
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The news in the Netherlands on the medical marijuana front is quite interesting. Medical marijuana is to become an official government health benefit. Patients with a doctors prescription for marijuana will be able to fill it at a local pharmacy. Quite a contrast with our DEA who have been arresting doctors in California recommending marijuana and confiscating their patient records as well as busting a medical marijuana dispensary run by the city of West Hollywood. This dispensary was run under California law with the blessing of the county sheriff and the involvement of a local city councilman. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It seems that the DEA in America is doing its best to drive this natural medicine underground. Despite the wishes of the voters in California. Isn't it great to live in a free republic where the wishes of the voters are respected? No doubt we are a light and a beacon to the world. Without agencies like the DEA America would be just another banana republic. More on this in my next column. | ||||||||||||||||||||
How about some good news on the American front. The American Senate
in its own small way seems to be wising up to the disaster in
Colombia. The President has asked for $731 million to fight
terrorism/drugs/communists (take your pick) in Colombia. The Senate
has reduced that number to $567 million. Not a huge reduction to be
sure but it is one of the first times that a President has gotten
less for prohibition enforcement in foreign countries than he asked
for. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our politician of the week is Dick Durbin. Dick earns our thanks as
well as our question. He voted against reefer madness jail 'em all
John Walters for drug czar. Thanks again Dick. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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M. L. Simon is an industrial controls designer and independent
political activist. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full
utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insight,
sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly
mad and dangerous world." -- Carl Sagan | ||||||||||||||||||||
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