| Feb. 8, 2002 #237 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Listen On-line at: http://www.drugsense.org/radio/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) US: EDITORIAL: DRUGS AND TERRORISM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
During The Super Bowl The Office Of National Drug Control Policy Ran Ads Connecting Drugs With Terrorism. Is That Really Fair? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
THE FAMOUSLY FLUSH Office of National Drug Control Policy bought $3
million worth of advertising during the Super Bowl. We can leave aside
the general question of whether government agencies ought to be
spending the public's money to--in effect--lobby that very same public
to keep shelling out money for them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
We can leave aside, too, whether it's worth spending more money on a
single-afternoon binge of anti-drug propaganda than it would cost to
build a train station for a small city, or bring an internationally
renowned production of the Ring Cycle to an opera-starved metropolis, or
supply the air force with 120 daisy-cutter bombs to be used in the war
on terrorism. (About as much money, in fact, as it cost to build the
stadium the Super Bowl champion Patriots have played in for the past 31
years.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But, as I say, let's leave that aside and focus on the content of
the ads. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) CANADA: U.S. POT WAR COMES NORTH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
EVER SINCE THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT leaked word a little more than
a year ago that it was considering adding Canada to its list of
major drug-exporting countries -- thanks to massive bud exports from
grow operations -- cops here have been anxious to prove they're not
going soft on weed. Police forces across the country have been on a
rampage, busting any and every grow operation in sight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The rash of busts culminated last week in the much-publicized
cross-country Operation Green Sweep, which police say netted law
enforcement authorities more than 46,000 plants, most of them destined
for the U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"That's all we're concentrating on right now," Hogarth says. "It's
becoming all-encompassing." The story is much the same in BC and
Quebec, where hundreds of pot-growing operations have been busted every
year of the last three. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This country was supposed to be reviewing its drug policy. Both the
Senate and House have struck committees to re-evaluate our drug laws.
The courts have mandated decriminalizing pot for medical purposes.
Polls on both ends of the political spectrum, including the right-wing
Fraser Institute, have turned over a new leaf, declaring the "war on
drugs" a failure and advocating decriminalization. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But if Operation Green Sweep and the hundreds of busts that preceded it prove anything, it's that reefer madness is back -- with a vengeance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) US: CHECK AISLE 7 FOR WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Law: Here's The Latest Buzz: The DEA Has Ordered All Hemp Foods Off
Grocers' Shelves. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There's a guy you have to know to get the stuff. Isn't there always?
You know a little something about him and vice versa, so everything's
cool. In hours the feds will put down the hammer and then things will
really get tense. This should be easy. A phone call, a short drive, and
you make the hemp connection. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
No time to waste. You drive into a wind-whipped parking lot, slipping
into the dim, greasy lamp light, going through the steps again. No
surprises pal, not tonight. Save it for your birthday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) AUSTRALIA: DOPE LESSENS ECSTASY HARM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
THE harmful effects of ecstasy on brain cells and people's moods could
be lessened by smoking dope at the same time, a world-first study by
Australian researchers has found. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sydney University associate professor of psychology Iain McGregor and
a research team found in experiments on rats that ecstasy causes
anxiousness and a depletion of brain messenger cells. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
However, when rats are given ecstasy and cannabis together they have less depletion of brain cells and are less anxious. While they are not as badly affected as rats given cannabis alone or no drugs, the effects are not as bad as those brought about by ecstasy use alone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The dismal results of drug interdiction efforts appear even more
dismal, as a new government report shows that some drug seizure
numbers have been doubled, as different agencies claimed credit for
the same load of drugs. It's no surprise that numbers are being
fudged by the drug warriors, but some solid data showed the benefits
of drug reform in Baltimore and California. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A scathing report explored the virtual non-existence of scientific
support for the DARE program, while a report from California also
critiques current drug education. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Despite the evidence against the drug war's effectiveness, a public
transit system in Boston is going to court to avoid placing
advertising on the system that challenges drug war mythology. And
that mythology was pushed to another level this week as new
prohibitionist propaganda debuted at the Super Bowl. This is your
brain ... this is your brain on a six-week, multi-million-dollar,
cross-media blitz that tries to blame casual drug users for
terrorism. Any questions? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) DRUG SEIZURES ARE COUNTED TWICE, GAO SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Reports by the Coast Guard, Customs Service and Pentagon do not add
up, the office found. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal agencies that oversee drug seizures on the high seas are
double-counting the same cocaine confiscations, according to an
investigation by the auditing arm of Congress. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Coast Guard, Customs Service and Department of Defense are each
taking credit for many of their joint seizures and presenting them
to Congress as if they acted alone, the General Accounting Office
says in a report to be released Monday. A copy of the GAO report
was obtained by the Inquirer Washington Bureau. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) BALTIMORE DRUG PROGRAMS PROVE EFFECT, STUDY FINDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Significant Drops In Crime And Abuse | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An independent evaluation of Baltimore's drug programs shows
significant drops in crime and drug abuse up to a year after addicts
start treatment, findings that suggest the city is finally making
headway against its seemingly intractable heroin and cocaine
problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The study, to be released today, is the most rigorous review ever of
the $52 million public drug-treatment system. Researchers tracked
drug tests, arrest records and other data on almost 1,000 patients
in 16 city programs for a year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The study's findings were drastic and consistent. Within a month
after entering treatment, use of alcohol, cocaine and heroin each
fell by more than 60 percent. One year later, the classic point at
which to look for relapse, the changes stayed: Heroin use dropped 69
percent, cocaine use dropped 48 percent, and criminal activity
dropped by 64 percent. Also a year later, those in the study worked
twice as many days a month and earned $200 more a month in legal
income. And they reported far less risky behavior such as using
needles to inject drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) JUDGES SAY NEW DRUG LAW IS WORKING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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About 30% of Los Angeles County defendants sentenced to drug rehabilitation rather than prison or county jail under Proposition 36 either failed to show up or dropped out of treatment programs in the first six months the new law was in effect, officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
However, judges and county officials say they are pleased with the
early results, considering drug users are the ones being served by
California's novel sentencing program. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The preliminary indication is that this is working," said Carol Morris Lowe, director of planning for the county Alcohol and Drug Program. "We're going to have to refine it and tweak it, but I think it's a good start." Proposition 36, approved in 2000 by 61% of the voters, requires that nonviolent drug offenders convicted of possession, use or transportation of drugs for personal use be offered treatment and probation rather than being locked up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DARE TO CHANGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) programme is an even bigger scandal, if only because it operates on such a large scale. DARE is conducted by police officers in 80 per cent of American schools. Children are taught that all drugs - including alcohol and tobacco - are equally harmful and given tips on the best ways to "just say no". In the past Glenn Levant, the programme's founder, regularly demonised researchers for faulting his programme, calling their work "voodoo science" and accusing them of "kicking Santa Claus" and "setting out to find ways to attack our programmes". | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But a year ago he changed his tune. The government, embarrassed over
the absence of any sound data supporting DARE, threatened to
withdraw funding. No published, peer-reviewed study has found that
DARE reduces drug use among adolescents, while several have
indicated increased use among participants. Yet it took more than 18
years and a dozen solid negative studies of thousands of children
before the point hit home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
More remarkable still, at the same time that Levant was reflecting
on the ineffectiveness of his programme, he announced that he'd
received a $13.7 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation to revamp it. DARE is so deeply entrenched in so many
schools, that the foundation decided it would be better not to start
from scratch. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The media's ambivalent attitude towards DARE surely influenced its
decision. Just weeks before Levant's announcement, a reporter from
the Long Island-based tabloid Newsday, one of the largest local
newspapers in the US, summed up the DARE debate in the following
way: "Different camps cite conflicting studies, some indicating that
DARE is effective and some that it isn't." If Newsday had done a
five-second Web search to check both sides' citations, it would have
found that the real data supports only one position. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) ANTI-DRUG FEAR TACTIC MIXES THE MESSAGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Just say no" doesn't cut it and the billions spent on drug
education aren't working either, says medical sociologist Marsha
Rosenbaum. Addressing a parent education session at Campolindo High
School last week, Rosenbaum criticized DARE-type drug education
efforts and debunked more than a few myths. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rosenbaum directs San Francisco's Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy
Foundation, advocates for national drug policy reforms, including
legalization of medicinal marijuana and changes in both the criminal
justice and education arenas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Eighty-one percent of American people have used a drug in the last
week. Fifty percent use a prescription drug. Paxil, Zoloft and
Prozac use has tripled in the last year. These are psycho-active
drugs," she says. "Ritalin? Kids see that one up close ... America
is not drug- free and kids know it. When they see a line outside
Starbucks, they know what that's for." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) MBTA ASKS COURT FOR FREEDOM TO DISAPPROVE ADS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There are lots of great places to debate American drug laws, or
promote alternative churches, or discourage binge drinking. But the
MBTA doesn't think its subway cars, trains, or buses are the proper
forum for political discussion and embarked yesterday on its latest
legal fight over advertisements it deems offensive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In the face of numerous legal defeats, the Massachusetts Bay Transit
Authority is back in federal court, this time defending its right to
refuse ads questioning marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's the T's fifth legal battle against a would-be advertiser in
three decades, but the lawsuit by the drug law reform group Change
the Climate is the first to go to trial. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the courts, it's a relatively straightforward question of First Amendment Law: Do free speech protections apply to advertisers? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) NEW PITCH IN ANTI-DRUG ADS: ANTI-TERRORISM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The ads by the President's Office of National Drug Control Policy
aired during last night's Super Bowl marked an escalation in the
selling of the administration's war on drugs -- for the first time,
the illegal narcotics trade is linked to terrorism. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Previously, government anti-drug messages focused on how users harm
themselves. The two Super Bowl ads, which cost nearly $3.5 million
to place during the widely watched Fox television broadcast, claim
that money to purchase drugs likely ends up in the hands of
terrorists and narco-criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The ads kick off a four-to-six-week nationwide campaign, which also includes ads on radio and in 293 newspapers (including The Washington Post), an augmented Web site (www.theantidrug.com) and teaching materials to be distributed to middle and high school students. Walters estimated the campaign's cost at $10 million. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (12-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Extensive corruption within a drug unit in Buffalo, N.Y. could be
exposed as officers go on trial to face a number of allegations.
Drug-related police corruption is nothing new, but other drug
corruption stories should have raised some eyebrows. Two different
stories about priests who allegedly dealt drugs broke last week,
along with a story of a local fire chief who was arrested for
involvement in illegal drug sales. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In California, the family of an 11-year-old boy who was killed in a
drug raid in 2000 was awarded $450,000 in a lawsuit, and they've got
others pending. Despite the terrible results of this kind of
paramilitary-style drug law enforcement, training continues to go on
around the country. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Maine officials are learning a lesson about the economics of
prohibition after implementing a tobacco ban in state prisons.
Tobacco cigarettes are reportedly selling at twice the price of
cannabis cigarettes in prison black markets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) TRIAL CASTS SPOTLIGHT ON WORK OF DRUG UNIT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
While Darnyl Parker and three other Buffalo narcotics detectives go
through a well-publicized corruption trial in U.S. District Court, a
fifth narcotics detective recently admitted to engaging in felony
cocaine trafficking while he was supposed to be arresting drug
dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As part of his plea deal, Rene Gil agreed to tell federal agents all
he knows about illegal activities by Buffalo police officers,
including "embezzlement, theft, violations of civil rights and
public corruption." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In the federal court trial, meanwhile, the star prosecution witness
claimed last week that Parker once told him that $5,000 a month was
"the going rate" for bribing a narcotics detective. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) JAIL TIME LOOMS FOR PRIEST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Crandall Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Charges | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In keeping with the faith he defied, the Rev. Thomas Crandall
confessed to crimes in U.S. District Court on Friday that left his
unsuspecting Milton parishioners aghast. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Standing in a green jumpsuit before Chief Magistrate Roger Vinson, the Roman Catholic priest pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 5 grams of methamphetamine and an indefinite amount of Ecstasy, waiving his right to a jury trial. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Crandall, 47, who never again will be allowed to lead a parish,
faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five to 40 years in federal
prison and fines as high as $4 million. His incarceration will be
followed by five years of supervised release. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) ZAPATA FIRE CHIEF ARRESTED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Zapata County lost its fire chief Wednesday night after he was arrested allegedly driving the "scout vehicle" in a smuggling operation that involved more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gonzalez has served with the Zapata County Fire Department for 18
years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) SEPULVEDAS SETTLE FEDERAL LAWSUIT OVER DEATH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The family of an 11-year-old Modesto boy killed during a SWAT raid
has agreed to a $450,000 settlement in a lawsuit against the federal
government, a lawyer for the family confirmed Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawyers for the Sepulveda family and government reached the agreement after marathon talks last week. The family's legal action against the city of Modesto and police officers is still pending. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Sepulvedas' deal with the U.S. government could make it difficult for the city to win its own lawsuit against the federal government over the death of Alberto Sepulveda on Sept. 13, 2000. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) SQUAD TRAINS FOR DRUG TASK FORCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
HUMBOLDT - More than a dozen area police officers are undergoing
weeklong federal training to better handle the risks involved with
drug-related crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A U.S. Defense Department drug interdiction group, known as Joint Task Force Six, is providing the training. During the week, the officers will learn how to execute high-risk drug warrants and how to deal with hostage situations. Officials say this is the first time such training has been offered in rural West Tennessee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Officers spent Tuesday getting firearms training at the Humboldt
Police firing range. The next three days will involve activities
including vehicle assault, officer recovery and "dynamic entry." The
latter is "going in, kicking down doors, that kind of situation,"
Stan Hernandez, a master sergeant, said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) TOBACCO BECOMES MOST-WANTED ILLICIT DRUG IN PRISON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Tobacco has become the hottest illicit commodity in Maine prisons since 2000, when the Legislature banned smoking in state prisons. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Like other addictive drugs, tobacco commands exorbitant prices in prison. Some inmates have accumulated huge "tobacco debts" they are unable to pay. Many prisoners and even a few guards have been tempted into the illegal trade by the potential for huge profit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Prisons like the one in Windham still cope with more serious drugs
being smuggled in: prescription painkillers, methadone, heroin and
methamphetamines. In addition, staff members have intercepted
steroids, protein drinks and even tattoo equipment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But tobacco has displaced much of the other contraband because it is
so valuable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The amount of marijuana and drugs like that we confiscate now has really diminished. There's more money in tobacco and a better market," Herring said. Most of the 620 prisoners housed in the Windham prison smoke cigarettes, when they are able to obtain them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A cigarette can cost between $7 and $10 inside the prison, twice the
price of a marijuana joint, Herring said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
New Mexico Republican Governor Gary Johnson's campaign to lessen the
state's drug laws has hit a few snags. A plan to make personal
possession of cannabis a civil (rather than criminal) penalty has
been tabled by a house committee, and warnings from the state
Attorney General suggest that an addition to New Mexico's medical
marijuana bill calling for state-sponsored cultivation and
distribution, may render the bill federally unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, in Vermont, lawmakers have brought forward a motion to
legalize cannabis use for medical purposes. A similar state bill
died last year without receiving a hearing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
On January 30th Canadian police authorities showed their concern over the surging number of marijuana grow operations with Operation Green Sweep. The nation-wide operation executed 149 search warrants and led to 136 arrests. Over 46,000 marijuana plants were seized. Unfortunately this came on the heels of news and rumours that Health Canada's medical cannabis distribution system was being delayed indefinitely. Health Canada is apparently analyzing the 250kg grown by their contracted supplier, Manitoba's Prairie Plant Systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
P.S. Bad news that didn't get press yet this week. On February 8th
the U.S. DEA's ban of edible hemp products goes into effect. Fly
your freak hemp-flags at half-mast, my friends; the federal
government may come after those next. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) NEW MEXICO MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION PLAN DIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SANTA FE -- A proposal to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana
for personal use appears to be dead for the year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A House committee voted unanimously Tuesday to table the most
controversial measure of Gov. Gary Johnson's drug reform package. It
would have provided for only civil penalties, rather than criminal,
for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by people 18 years or
older. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) NEW MEXICO MEDICINAL POT LAW MIGHT FACE CHALLENGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The New Mexico Attorney General's Office is raising a red flag over
a provision added to the medicinal marijuana bill making its way
through the Legislature. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Assistant Attorney General Michael Cox warned in an analysis of the
bill that a change designed to make the measure comply with federal
law might actually make it unconstitutional. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Senate Public Affairs Committee revamped the measure, Senate Bill 8, to allow the state to cultivate and distribute marijuana to patients suffering from specific debilitating illnesses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) VERMONT LAWMAKERS RENEW BID FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday that would make marijuana available to seriously ill people who could be helped by it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The measure, which is similar to one introduced in the Vermont House
last year, would allow patients with certain disorders to grow
marijuana for their own use if they had a statement from their
physician saying its potential benefits would likely outweigh its
risks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The bill would make such users exempt from prosecution, and is similar to measures that have passed in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, said Rep. David Zuckerman, P- Burlington, the lead sponsor of the bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) RAIDS ON GROW HOUSES SPAN ALL OF CANADA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Police officers from city, regional, provincial and federal forces
swept down on home-grow marijuana operations from Nova Scotia to
British Columbia today. "Police executed 149 search warrants across
Canada by 3:30 p.m. (ET)," Det. Mike Klimm, spokesman for police in
Ontario's York Region, said Wednesday afternoon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We've made 136 arrests and laid 289 charges. ... A total of 46,796
plants were seized in the raids." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
About 500 officers from more than 20 agencies were involved in the
raids. In addition to the marijuana plants, police seized growing
equipment worth about $3.2 million, Klimm said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) WAITING FOR YOUR SHARE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S 256 KILOS OF LEGAL POT? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The real shame," St-Maurice says, "are reports that Health Canada
is looking to delay their medical marijuana distribution yet another
year." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Possibly true. Health Canada is currently sitting on 250 kilos of
primo bud with 10 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content,
direct from their $5 million grow-op at the bottom of a Manitoba
mineshaft, which they're seemingly in no hurry to deliver. Boris
St-Maurice expressed concern that with former Justice Minister Anne
McClellan in charge, Allan Rock's medical marijuana pipe dream may
soon go the way of the roach clip. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Not so, asserts Health Canada spokesperson Andrew Swift: "A change of minister would have absolutely no impact on the marijuana program." Distribution delays are necessary, he explained, "because it's currently being tested to make sure that it is a safe, reliable strain of homogenized marijuana, suitable for medical use." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
So, how long will that take? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I couldn't say," he said. "Months, maybe more. I wouldn't put a
deadline on it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (23-26) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
So, it turns out oil might have something to do with the U.S. getting involved in Colombia. Military efforts will go toward protecting a pipeline in the South American nation, but the Bush administration also wants to pump more aid for anti-drug efforts into the region. In Thailand, local mobs are deciding who is a drug user and who isn't, based on information from secret informers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Scary as that is, there's good news from the UK, where another
police official is pushing greater drug reform. The head of North
Wales Police wants heroin to be distributed to addicts. And some
fascinating research was reported in Canada suggesting that opiate
antagonists might actually help to enhance the pain-killing quality
of opiate drugs without raising tolerance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(23) BUSH SEEKS MORE AID FOR WAR IN COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Millions Would Help Protect Oil For U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA, Colombia -- A top-level Bush administration delegation
announced plans Tuesday to widen U.S. involvement in Colombia's
civil war. Under the plan, the United States would provide training,
weapons and aircraft to Colombian troops to protect a pipeline
carrying U.S. oil. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We are committed to help Colombians create a Colombia that is a peaceful, prosperous, drug-free and terror-free democracy," said Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He said the Bush administration would ask Congress for $98 million
to strengthen a Colombian army brigade to guard the 490-mile Cano
Limon pipeline, whose oil field is operated by U.S. firm Occidental
Petroleum Corp. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The aid comes on top of already massive U.S. assistance intended to wipe out cocaine and heroin production in the Andean nation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Bush administration sent Congress a fiscal year 2003 budget
Monday that included money for training a second antidrug brigade as
part of a 14-percent increase in anti-narcotics spending in the
Andean region. Of the $731 million proposed for the regional effort,
$439 million was for Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(24) NAME-AND-SHAME STRATEGY USED IN DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
BAN PA-KWOW (Thailand) - The authorities have a new weapon in their
war on drugs in the Golden Triangle area: a secret ballot that
residents can use to shame suspected users and pushers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Informers in these small, close-knit communities are encouraged to
tell on friends, relatives and neighbours. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The secret forums were introduced in Chiang Rai province, about 640
km north of Bangkok, last October. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
So far, 340 of 1,510 villages have held these forums. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Though the gatherings do not follow court-like procedures, it is
assumed that the opinion of a majority of villagers is a safeguard
against score-settling and malicious finger-pointing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(25) GIVE ADDICTS FREE HEROIN, SAYS CHIEF CONSTABLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A chief constable has called for heroin to be prescribed free to
Britain's 300,000 addicts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Richard Brunstrom, the head of North Wales Police, wants heroin
possession to be decriminalised and people caught with small
quantities of the drug to be treated. His comments are the latest
proposal by a senior police officer for a more liberal approach to
drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Brunstrom said pure heroin should be provided on prescription for
addicts, because that would remove the need for users to commit
crime to pay for their habit. He told Police Review magazine:
"Heroin does not make you commit crime; it gets you addicted. If you
could get free heroin you wouldn't commit crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We know that a third of all crime is committed by people to get
money to support their drug habit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"In theory, at least, if we gave away heroin to those people who needed it, they should not need to commit crime and crime should go down. Why are we allowing these people to become criminals? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(26) BREAKTHROUGH IN PAINKILLING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
NEWS - Researchers at Queen's University have made a discovery that
could lead to safer and more effective use of morphine and other
painkillers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Their groundbreaking research, which could change the way people
suffering from chronic diseases deal with severe pain, will appear
next month in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental
Therapeutics. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Khem Jhamandas, who headed the research at Queen's, said his
team found that small doses of drugs known as opioid antagonists -
normally used to block the toxic effects of opioids such as morphine
- can actually enhance painkilling action. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Their surprising finding also showed that the combination of small
amounts of opioids and opioid antagonists stopped the development of
a tolerance to morphine, and in cases where tolerance had already
developed, it was actually reversed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The experiments conducted at Queen's reveal that in cases where
tolerance had developed, the effectiveness of morphine was restored
to between 80 and 90 per cent of the original dose. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ONDCP Drugs and Terror Quiz | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If you're using drugs in America, whether you're shooting heroin,
snorting cocaine, taking Ecstasy or sharing a joint in your friend's
back yard, evidence is mounting that what you're doing may be connected
to events far beyond your own existence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An American is kidnapped overseas. A Latin American political candidate
is assassinated. What does this have to do with you? If you're using
drugs, the answer could be: plenty. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Now more than ever, it's a global marketplace. Like most potential
consumers, you're a target for one of the world's most profitable
businesses. What does this have to do with terrorism? Let's find out
what you know in the following quiz: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Listen as Votehemp Debates DEA's Asa Hutchinson On Public Radio | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Asa Hutchinson says he will "listen to science" on this NPR radio
broadcast. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Check out this link: http://www.wamu.org/ram/2002/p2020130.ram | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Report On Heroin Prescription Trials In The Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
See Latest ONDCP Anti-Drug Ads And Rate Them | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If you, your friends, and your members want to see the anti-drug ads
and rate them go to: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.ifilm.com/superbowl scroll down to the ONDCP ads, and
click on "Rate and Review." The direct links to the rating pages
are: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilm/product/film_info/0,3699,2419298,00.html http://www.ifilm.com/ifilm/product/film_info/0,3699,2419299,00.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ethan Nadelmann On The O'Reilly Factor | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A transcript of a discussion over new drug/terror ads is at: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The video from the show is currently available in Windows Media
Player format at http://www.homeisschool.org/video/nadel1.WMV (for
low bandwidth) and http://www.homeisschool.org/video/nadel2.WMV for a
bit more bandwidth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Government's War on Raves Went Too Far, Louisiana Court Rules | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A press release from The American Civil Liberties Union - which
scored a victory when U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous ruled
that prosecutors cannot force the organizers of a rave dance party
to ban pacifiers or glow sticks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.aclu.org/issues/drugpolicy/cases/McClure_v_Ashcroft/McClure_v_Ashcroft.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Super Bowl Ad Out of Bounds | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A WorkingForChange action alert | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?ItemId=12761 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense Chat with Catherine Austin Fitts | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Join us online, Sunday, Feb 10, 8 pm EDT, when our special guest will be Catherine Austin Fitts, http://www.solari.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
With the ever breaking news about the Enron scandal, its tie ins
to the Anderson auditors, the Harvard Endowment Fund, Hud, Dyn
Corp and the launder of perhaps trillions of dollars by the same
corrupt businessmen and politicians that perpetuate the drug
war, Catherine has been very busy. This should be a visit we
will all remember. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse 30th Anniversary | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Sense for Drug Policy will be running an ad around the 30th anniversary of the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse. The anniversary of the report is March 22. If any other organization is planning on a media campaign about the Commission or would like to participate in such a campaign, please contact CSDP, , to coordinate efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft PDF: http://www.csdp.org/ads/shafer.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I found the story "Hounding the Public" informative, and I think
Wayne Laugesen did a good job getting the perspectives of supporters
and detractors of "sniffer dogs" . | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The one thing that was missing, however, was any indication of how reliable the dogs really are, particularly in the case of drug searches. Last year, drug charges against a Tennessee couple were dismissed after a judge determined the drug-sniffing dog that led police to a drug stash was more likely to be wrong than right (see: www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1376/a08.html?1283 for the story). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Testimony in the case showed that the dog indicated drugs 225 times
over two years, but officers found drugs in only 80 of those cases.
Defense lawyers in that case were smart enough to check the record,
but how often does that happen? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This reminds me of urine testing, where the automatic assumption is
that the tests must be right, even though there are plenty of false
positives (and false negatives) reported every year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's yet another price we pay for the ridiculous war on drugs - putting
more faith in pee and animals than we do in our fellow man. Dogs and
urine analysis have their own dangerous flaws, and those flaws can
hurt people more than they help. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen Young, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Roselle, Ill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honorable Mention Letters of the Week | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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PUBLISHED LETTER TO THE EDITOR WRITER OF THE MONTH - JANUARY | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Each month this year we will recognize a different Letter to the
Editor writer for the number of published letters in the previous
month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A big Way to Go to Dave Michon of Eau Claire, WI for the 17
published letters in January and a total of 42 published letters
that we know of. You can review Dave's letters here: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dave is also an active participant in the Drug Policy Forum of
Wisconsin, http://www.drugsense.org/dpfwi and MAPTalk, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The New Propaganda | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Jay R. Cavanaugh, Ph.D. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Many awoke this Monday to see a full-page advertisement in their
morning newspaper (i.e. the Los Angeles Times), vividly linking the
use of illicit drugs with murder of families in Colombia. The
message is simple; the use of banned drugs is a direct contribution
to worldwide terrorism and the slaughter of innocents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Some now feel they are in the world of 1984 and "Newspeak". Wasn't
it just a few months ago that the United States gave a 43 million
dollar reward to the Taliban for suppressing opium production?
Didn't we just read that the "War on Terrorism" had resulted in the
new planting of poppies in Afghanistan? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Columbia the United States is funding one side in a civil war
where extremists on both sides are reaping blood money from the
cocaine trade. Did the U.S. declare war on the right wing death
squad "narco-terrorists" in Columbia? Or just the left wing
"narco-terrorists"? Is the question now academic since the
government makes clear that it is the appetite for banned drugs here
in America that is responsible for worldwide terrorism? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sensible citizens in local communities have already decided that
folks with drug abuse problems need treatment not incarceration.
They have also decided that honest and intense education for our
children is far past due. They resent the twisted logic of the
government in its latest propaganda effort. We used to call
announcements from our government "news". Now, few are sure just
what to call it. If our fellow citizens are responsible for
terrorist murder, is the government now calling on "war" on them?
Are we to send folks experimenting with banned drugs or medicating
with such, to Guantanomo Bay for imprisonment in cages? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Just who is America fighting? Are we fighting the sick and dying who
find relief from medical cannabis? Are we assaulting our young
people for using bad judgment in youthful experimentation? Why do I
keep thinking this is some bad re-run of uptight and stupid parents
raging at their children when what really bothers them is that they
can't pay their bills or get over the abuse they received as
children? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
These are questions that must be answered and answered quickly. The
entire world is watching America destroy itself and threaten
innocents everywhere in what started as a noble cause. It is time
for moral sensibility, cool logic, and open debate before perverted
personal and cultural attitudes undermine the values that hold
America together. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The "War on Drugs" was a failure from the start. Linking it to the
"War on Terror" only paints the current war with the stink of the
last wars hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"When looking for wit, wisdom, knowledge or intelligence in a
newspaper, any newspaper, your only hope is the Letters column."
- Edward Abbey, "Hayduke Lives!" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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