| June 28, 2002 #256 | ||||||||||||||||||
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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) UK: YARD CHIEF PRAISES CANNABIS LENIENCY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A POLICE experiment in relaxing cannabis laws was hailed as a
statistical success by one of Scotland Yard's most senior officers
yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Ian Blair, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said a pilot
scheme in Lambeth, South London, under which anyone found in possession
of cannabis was given a warning, had cut police workload and increased
arrests. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Blair told a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority: "It is
undoubtedly, in statistical terms, a success. We have saved about two
man years (of officer time)." Facing criticism from police authority
members about the scheme's implementation, he said there were 740
warnings for cannabis possession between January and May this year,
compared with 249 in the same time last year. Arrests for cocaine and
heroin had risen and 1,200 extra "stop and searches" for suspected drug
offences were made. | ||||||||||||||||||
He praised Commander Brian Paddick, the Lambeth officer who began the
scheme and is being investigated. "Whether the experiment is a success
or not, his achievement is being bold enough to take an innovative
approach," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[end] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) US CA: LEGAL GLITCH HALTS POT TRIAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Judge In The Case Learns That The Defendant Never Entered A Plea. | ||||||||||||||||||
The trouble-plagued marijuana trial of Bryan James Epis may have hit an
insurmountable obstacle Thursday -- the defendant has never entered a
plea. | ||||||||||||||||||
The charges on which Epis is being tried are contained in an indictment
returned by a federal grand jury on Jan. 30, but there was no
arraignment. | ||||||||||||||||||
On Thursday morning, the jury heard opposing attorneys' opening
statements and the government began presenting its evidence. After the
lunch break, however, defense lawyer J. Tony Serra brought the
procedural glitch to the attention of U.S. District Judge Frank C.
Damrell Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||
The judge put one of his law clerks to work on what impact the
oversight will have. Later, when the jury was excused for its
mid-afternoon break, Damrell observed, "It would appear that this
indictment is in trouble." | ||||||||||||||||||
Serra agreed, arguing that "the charges now don't exist." | ||||||||||||||||||
The judge responded, "That would be my conclusion." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
It was a disconsolate Damrell who left the bench Thursday after
remarking woefully that state funds spent on the trial thus far
may have been wasted. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) US: PUBLIC-HOUSING EVICTIONS OVER DRUGS UPHELD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Supreme Court Ruling Suggests Tenants Have A Responsibility To Police
Their Families. | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - The US Supreme Court has given its endorsement to a
potentially powerful - if somewhat indiscriminate - weapon in the war
on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
In a unanimous ruling yesterday, the nation's highest court upheld a
provision of federal law that permits public-housing authorities to
evict longtime tenants for the drug-related activity of family members
or guests even when the tenants didn't know about it. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We hold that Congress has directly spoken to the precise question at
issue," writes Chief Justice William Rehnquist in an 11-page decision.
Federal law "requires lease terms that give local public housing
authorities the discretion to terminate the lease of a tenant when a
member of the household or a guest engages in drug-related activity,
regardless of whether the tenant knew, or should have known, of the
drug-related activity." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) US: COURT EXPANDS SCHOOL DRUG TESTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Children attending public schools can be required to submit to random drug tests, even when school officials have no reason to suspect widespread use of illicit narcotics. In a major exception to Fourth Amendment prohibitions against suspicionless searches, the US Supreme Court has given a green light to public schools across the nation to use random drug-testing procedures on a wide variety of children. The high court said in a 5-to-4 decision announced Thursday that the deterrent effect of such drug testing was enough to overcome Fourth Amendment privacy protections. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas says, "The need to
prevent and deter the substantial harm of childhood drug use provides the
necessary immediacy for a school testing policy." He adds, "Testing
students who participate in extracurricular activities is a reasonably
effective means of addressing the school district's legitimate concerns in
preventing, deterring, and detecting drug use." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In a dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the school's policy violated
Fourth Amendment protections. "It is capricious, even perverse," she
writes. The "policy targets for testing a student population least likely
to be at risk from illicit drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Another week, another U.S. Supreme Court blow against the jury system. This time, the supremes decided that judges can add time to prison sentences if the judge believes the defendant used a gun. This was only days before a Supreme Court decision that is expected to widen drug-testing of students. Elsewhere in bad judging decision, a federal judge in California tossed out an entire jury pool for a medical marijuana case - the judge was apparently worried the citizens knew too much about their power as jurors. A prominent medical marijuana activist was also arrested outside the courthouse for allegedly distributing information about the rights of juries. | ||||||||||||||||||
The likelihood that hair-based drug tests discriminate against African-Americans was raised again in Boston, as a relatively high rate of black police officers failed the tests. In other drug testing news, editorial from Ohio suggested that a "one strike, you're out" policy for drug tests of firemen was too extreme. | ||||||||||||||||||
While the U.S. drug war is hurting police and firefighters within our borders, the battle had even grimmer implications for Latin America. In Bolivia, residents are alleging that US-sponsored mercenaries hired to fight the drug war are spreading terror in the region. And in Mexico, the terror-related border crackdown is being blamed for huge increases in drug use in border cities. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) COURT: GUNS CAN LENGTHEN SENTENCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court Upholds A North Carolina Sentence, Saying Judges Can Decide Whether Defendants Used Guns In Their Crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that
judges can lengthen the prison sentences of people who use guns
while committing other crimes, even if they had not been convicted
of, or charged with, a weapons violation. | ||||||||||||||||||
With the 5-4 decision in a North Carolina case, the justices avoided
a ruling that could have upset prison sentences of thousands of
inmates nationwide and put in doubt sentencing laws in almost every
state. | ||||||||||||||||||
At issue was federal prosecutors' practice of winning convictions for federal crimes such as drug dealing, then having a judge consider stiffer sentences because weapons were involved. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) JUDGE ACCUSES DEFENDANT OF TRYING TO SWAY WOULD-BE JURORS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A long-smoldering medical marijuana case burst into flames Monday when a Sacramento federal judge accused the defendant of trying to taint the prospective-juror pool and had him briefly arrested. | ||||||||||||||||||
All 42 would-be jurors were disqualified by an outraged U.S.
District Judge Frank C. Damrell Jr. when he learned that some of the
panelists were given a first-person statement attributed to
defendant Bryan James Epis, and a pamphlet purporting to explain how
jurors are manipulated by judges. | ||||||||||||||||||
Prospective jurors' exposure to the literature triggered a heated
exchange between Damrell and an agitated J. Tony Serra, who insisted
his client had nothing to do with the distribution. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Underscoring the hostile atmosphere was a federal drug agent's
arrest of a leading pro-marijuana activist. Jeffrey Jones, who was
arrested outside the courthouse during the Epis hearing, was later
brought before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows. Jones was
cited for a misdemeanor attempt to influence jurors by handing out
the literature and released pending trial. Jones heads the Oakland
Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative, which provided pot to patients
suffering from AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other serious ailments.
It was hit with an injunction two weeks ago by a federal judge in
Oakland. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) DRUG TEST FOR HUB OFFICERS STIRS BIAS FEAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In the three years since the Boston Police Department began a
random, mandatory drug test based on hair samples, nearly twice as
many minority officers have tested positive for drugs as their white
counterparts, prompting advocates for the officers to question
whether the test is racially biased. | ||||||||||||||||||
According to figures released by the department yesterday, 45
officers have tested positive for drugs, 2 percent of the
2,178-member force. All officers are tested annually, but at random
times. | ||||||||||||||||||
Of those 45 officers, 16, or more than one-third, were white, while nearly two-thirds of those testing positive were minorities. Of the 29 blacks and Hispanics who tested positive, the vast majority, 26, were black. No Asians have tested positive for drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||
In an interview yesterday, Commissioner Paul F. Evans stressed that
the number of officers testing positive was small. He said he would
not comment on the high number of black officers testing positive
for drug use, mostly cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) EDITORIAL: ONE STRIKE, AND YOU'RE OUT? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Three Firefighters Pay A Steep Price For A Stupid Mistake | ||||||||||||||||||
If an Ohioan is caught with a small amount of marijuana, the
punishment resembles that for a speeding ticket: a $100 fine and no
jail time. In Akron, the punishment can be far more severe if you're
a member of the safety forces. Three Akron firefighters with a total
of 63 years of experience have been forced out of work because they
tested positive for marijuana. They were not under the influence on
the job. That brings to 10 the number of firefighters who have lost
their jobs because of the city's drug policy. | ||||||||||||||||||
While everyone involved regrets the incident, officials say their
hands are tied because the city's policy against drug use, hardened
in 1998, eliminates any leeway. | ||||||||||||||||||
Granted, these are public servants who knew the rules and should have known better than to do something so dumb. Firefighters and police officers should be held to a higher standard of conduct. But when state law refuses to draw such a harsh line, it would seem the policy could be revised to allow for an element of discretion. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) U.S. ROLE IN COCA WAR DRAWS FIRE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The wary residents of this sweltering town in Bolivia's remote
Chapare jungle have a nickname for the uniformed newcomers:
"America's mercenaries." | ||||||||||||||||||
The Expeditionary Task Force, the official name for an armed unit of 1,500 former Bolivian soldiers, is paid, fed, clothed and trained by the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, the Bolivian capital. Since setting up camp 18 months ago on three bases around this town of 2,000 inhabitants, the troops and their assault rifles have become a common sight on the local highway, putting down protests along the steamy jungle road by peasants combating a sweeping, U.S.-backed campaign to eradicate the area's biggest cash crop -- coca. | ||||||||||||||||||
The force, which has tripled in size since its inception, has become
one of the most contentious signs of Washington's involvement in the
drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. and Bolivian military officials say the unit has played a vital
role in an aggressive attempt to eradicate coca from the Chapare
jungle, a region larger than Connecticut that provided the basic
ingredient for almost half the world's cocaine during the 1980s and
1990s. Although the soldiers are directly salaried by the U.S.
government, American and Bolivian officials describe the outfit as
"a group of reservists" within a regular Bolivian army brigade and
commanded by regular Bolivian officers. | ||||||||||||||||||
But a growing number of critics are calling the force an abusive
irregular army whose existence violates Bolivian law. And the unit,
described by Latin American scholars as the first of its kind in the
drug war, has been accused of using excessive force and committing
human rights abuses, including murder and torture. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) MEXICAN ADDICTION RATES RISE AS U.S. BORDER SECURITY TIGHTENS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY -- After years of dismissing cocaine as a U.S. problem,
Mexicans are finding that it's their problem, too. | ||||||||||||||||||
Government drug treatment clinics that saw 3,000 abusers a year in
the 1990s now see 50,000. Abuse used to be largely confined to the
northern Mexican states from which U.S. cocaine smuggling operations
were launched. Now it has seeped south to big cities such as Mexico
City and Guadalajara. | ||||||||||||||||||
There, powdered cocaine, with its high price limiting its use to Mexico's upper classes, has given way to $2-a-rock crack so cheap that it's luring street kids away from sniffing solvents. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
What happens when a regional drug task force is disbanded? Like a
bitter divorce, some parties involved fight over who gets to keep
the high-tech tools obtained by the force - at least that's what's
happening in Arkansas. | ||||||||||||||||||
On the heels of a drug-scandal involving a Louisiana judge, a South Carolina magistrate has been asked to step down after he was allegedly caught distributing cocaine. A California family found some justice - if two and a half million dollars can compensate for the life of a young boy who was gunned down during a botched drug raid. Also fighting for justice is a Louisiana doctor who sued prosecutors who have been investigating the doctor on drug charges. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) DRUG GEAR DISPUTE LEADS TO INVENTORY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
ROGERS -- State auditors were at the Rogers Police Department on
Monday inventorying more than $100,000 worth of drug-fighting gear
caught in a bureaucratic tug-of-war. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Arkansas attorney general's office, which has threatened to sue
Rogers for the return of the equipment, asked the Arkansas Division
of Legislative Audit for the inventory. The Rogers-based 19th
Judicial District Drug Task Force purchased the equipment before
disbanding in 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We're attempting to get an accounting of what equipment is there
and what condition it's in," attorney general spokesman Jim Pitcock
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
State Drug Director Bill Hardin said he's been asking Rogers Police
Chief Tim Keck to turn over the surveillance cameras, night-vision
gear and other equipment to the state for more than a year. Hardin
oversees distribution of grant money and operations for the state's
drug task forces. | ||||||||||||||||||
Keck said Rogers bought some of the equipment in question with city
money. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) SUMTER MAGISTRATE SUSPENDED, ASKED TO STEP DOWN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The state Supreme Court has suspended the judgeship of Warren
Curtis days after the Sumter County magistrate was arrested on
drug charges. | ||||||||||||||||||
Curtis was placed on interim suspension Monday by the court's
chief justice "because he has been charged with a serious crime
... and because he could pose a substantial threat to the public | ||||||||||||||||||
Curtis, 43, was arrested last Thursday in the parking lot of a
Food Lion on U.S. 378 and charged with distribution of cocaine,
possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of
cocaine within one-half mile of a school. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) FAMILY OF BOY TO GET $2.55M (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Modesto 11-Year-Old Was Killed In Drug Raid. | ||||||||||||||||||
The family of an 11-year-old Modesto boy killed in his home during a
narcotics sweep has settled a wrongful-death lawsuit against the
city and several of its police officers for $2.55 million. The total
is in addition to the $450,000 settlement the family will receive
from the federal government for the boy's death. | ||||||||||||||||||
San Francisco lawyer Arturo J. Gonzalez, who represented the family
of Alberto Sepulveda, said Wednesday that the $3 million total
settlement is believed to be the largest paid by government for the
wrongful death of a child. | ||||||||||||||||||
The boy's father, Moises Sepulveda, still faces criminal charges in
connection with the raid in September 2000 on the family home in
which his son was shot in the back while following an officer's
orders to lie face down on the floor. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) DOCTOR SUES TERREBONNE PROSECUTOR OVER DRUG INVESTIGATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A New Orleans-area physician wants local authorities who suspect him of illegal drug trafficking to put up or shut up and has filed a $30 million lawsuit in federal court to get his point across. | ||||||||||||||||||
But Terrebonne Parish prosecutors are branding the suit a ruse
intended to derail a complex and lengthy investigation into the
alleged appearance of drugs such as the time-release painkiller
oxycontin ending up on local streets. | ||||||||||||||||||
Terrebonne officials say their efforts will continue when a special
grand jury reconvenes next month. | ||||||||||||||||||
The civil rights suit was filed Friday at U.S. District Court in New
Orleans by Dr. Walter O. Sanders Jr. of St. Tammany Parish. It
alleges that a Terrebonne Parish prosecutor and drug investigators
are turning his pain-management and psychiatric practice into a
ruin. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (15-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
With elections looming this fall, many interesting U.S. state
initiatives have made their way unto the November ballot. In South
Dakota, a modest initiative that would allow for the legal
cultivation of hemp has apparently submitted enough signatures to
appear on the November ballot. | ||||||||||||||||||
With the drug war an obvious legal, ethical and moral failure, many
religious groups have come forward in their criticism/condemnation
of current policy of interdiction and incarceration. Christians for
Cannabis and Universal Unitarians for Drug Policy Reform are just
two of the most vocal anti-prohibition organizations, remarking that
the drug war is an immoral approach to what they consider to be more
of a health problem. | ||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile, the UK continues the push-pull of drug policy reform and liberalization. This week it was revealed that police officers in all 8 of Scotland's Police forces have been advised not to arrest those caught with cannabis for personal use. The police organizations have apparently been frustrated that 45,000 drug cases were dropped last year by the over-burdened legal system. | ||||||||||||||||||
And just as it appears that the UK is finally managing to distance itself from ineffective, U.S.-style prohibition, a visit by Asa Hutchinson (who was attending a crime conference in London) has resulted in criticism by the head of the DEA. Hutchinson complained that the much-hyped "softly-softly" approach used in a Lambeth pilot program, which calls for officers to issue warnings, rather than fining or arresting, those using cannabis for personal purposes, has led to increase in marijuana use in the area. Hutchinson conveniently ignored evidence showing that the program has led to a huge financial savings while also allowing officers to focus on hard drugs and violent crime. Regardless of U.S. criticism, Scotland Yard may extend the pilot scheme to the rest of London by year's end. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS TO DECIDE ON INDUSTRIAL HEMP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota -- South Dakota voters will be able to
decide whether to legalize hemp in November's election. | ||||||||||||||||||
More than 13,000 signatures calling for the South Dakota Industrial Hemp Act to go on the ballot were turned in to the Secretary of State's office, state Election Supervisor Chris Nelson said Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
If passed, the proposal would draw a legal distinction between hemp
and marijuana, paving the way for the legal development of hemp in
the state. Under the proposal, hemp would be a legal crop if it
contains no more than 1 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the
substance in marijuana that makes people high. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) HIGHER IMMORALITY? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
For Some Religious Groups, Drug Laws Do More Harm Than Drugs
Themselves | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Christians for Cannabis, which describes part of its mission as "to
provide encouragement, support and prayer for the [Christian
cannabis user] subculture as a whole and those that work on its
behalf," may be the extreme, but it is not the only religious group
advocating an end to the war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Presbyterian Church (USA), the Unitarian Universalist
Association of Congregations, the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the
Religious Society of Friends and the Progressive Jewish Alliance are
among the groups that have lent their support to a call by the
National Coalition for Effective Drug Policies to redirect efforts
to curtail drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||
These organizations all make clear that their opposition to current
drug policy is based not on support for drug use, but out of a
belief that the war on drugs has done more harm than good and that
it is essentially immoral. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) LET THEM SMOKE DOPE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
POLICE officers have been told not to arrest anyone caught with
cannabis for personal use, the Sunday Mail can reveal. | ||||||||||||||||||
All eight Scottish forces adopted the secret policy because they were wasting time arresting suspects with small amounts of the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Police have become frustrated after prosecutors binned 45,000 drug
cases last year - one in five of all reported. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) U.S. OFFICIAL ATTACKS UK DRUG TACTICS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The controversial pilot scheme that relaxes Scotland Yard's attitude towards cannabis possession has been criticised by the head of the US drug enforcement administration for increasing drug usage. | ||||||||||||||||||
Asa Hutchinson, director of the DEA, said that the scheme in
Lambeth, south London, had led to a rise in cannabis users and led
children to believe it was legal. | ||||||||||||||||||
The pilot programme, which has been running since July last year,
means people caught with cannabis are given on the spot warnings,
rather than being cautioned, arrested and possibly charged. An
interim study carried out during the first six months of the scheme
indicated it had been a success and led to it being extended. This
is seen as a sign that the commissioner, Sir John Stevens, is keen
for it to roll out across the capital. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In grand ceremonies and self-congratulatory pageants, some of the most repressive regimes worldwide celebrated "International Anti-Drugs Day," falling over one another to announce ever harsher measures against drug users. Leading the pack was China, which proudly announced the summary executions of 27 "drug criminals." (No mention was made of China's burgeoning organ trade.) In the United Arab Emirates (another nation known for careful attention to human rights), authorities denounced drug users and, warning of the dangers drugs posed to children, bemoaned "140 million hallucinogen addicts in the world." Another UAE paper revealed that "hallucinogen addicts" actually referred to cannabis users; cannabis being "the most widely consumed substance with 144 million users," citing UN figures. | ||||||||||||||||||
The new Progressive Coalition party in New Zealand thinks it has a great idea to woo voters: "an across-the-board anti-drugs strategy." Ballyhooed by Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton at an election rally, this exciting and novel way to capture the hearts and minds of New Zealand's voters consisted of ... increasing drug punishments. | ||||||||||||||||||
In the UK last week, a Home Office study showed an 8 percent rise in seizures of crack cocaine in the year 2000 over the previous year. In Scotland, use of crack cocaine increased by more than 200 per cent over the past five years, according to the report. In Ireland, meanwhile, customs officials announced that seizures of "drugs" were five times greater this year than last. This was due to a 10,000% increase in seizures of "herbal cannabis", which, explained the Irish Examiner, was "the lesser used but more potent type of the drug." | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) AT LEAST 27 EXECUTED IN CHINA FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
At least 27 convicted drug criminals were executed in China to mark Wednesday's international anti-drug day, while scores of others were sentenced to death or to prison terms, state press reports said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Fourteen people were sentenced to death in China's southwestern Sichuan province on Tuesday, with nine of them immediately taken to the execution grounds and shot, the China News Service reported. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
China does not publish statistics on executions numbers. Rights
group Amnesty International documented 2,468 last year, but has
suggested the true figure could be much higher. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) CALL FOR UNITED EFFORT TO FIGHT DRUG USE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The UAE celebrates today International Anti-Drugs Day in a festival organised by the Ministry of Interior's anti-narcotics committee. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Brig. Sharafuddin Mohammed Hussain, Assistant Dubai Police Chief for Criminal Investigation, called for joint efforts to fight drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Drug awareness campaigns are a joint responsibility since drugs
have bad economic, social, and psychological impacts on society," he
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
"UN statistics have shown there are 13 million cocaine addicts, and
140 million hallucinogen addicts in the world." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Brigadier Khalfan Khalfan Abdullah, Director of the Criminal
Investigation Department of Dubai Police, said that 82 per cent of
the world narcotics are consumed by young people aged below 30
years. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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(21) MORE PEOPLE FALLING PREY TO LURE OF DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The number of drug users worldwide increased by more than 27 per
cent in five years, according to a report entitled Global Illicit
Drug Trends 2001 issued by the United Nations Drugs Control
Programme ( UNDCP ). | ||||||||||||||||||
In 1997, there were 141 million drug users worldwide, with this
number reaching 200 million in 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||
This figure represents three per cent of the world population and
4.2 per cent of the global population aged 15 and above. | ||||||||||||||||||
According to data on illicit drug trends, the number of cannabis and amphetamine-type stimulant users increased between 1998 and 1999, while the consumption of cocaine and heroin fell in the same period. | ||||||||||||||||||
However, cannabis remains the most widely consumed substance with
144 million users, followed by amphetamine-type stimulants with 29
million, and cocaine with 14 million. | ||||||||||||||||||
Opiate consumers account for more than 13 million of whom 9 million
are heroin users. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(22) ANDERTON OPENS CAMPAIGN WITH ANTI-DRUGS POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Politicians are getting soft on drugs because they want to be seen as fashionable, says Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton. | ||||||||||||||||||
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Anderton launched the new party's election campaign at the weekend, standing side-by-side with veteran crooner Sir Howard Morrison to sing Pokarekare Ana and jointly attack drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Anderton said yesterday that if he were part of the new
government, as Prime Minister Helen Clark has promised he will be,
then an across-the-board anti-drugs strategy would be a cornerstone
commitment. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
He said his party would push for special penalties for criminals who
supplied drugs to children, would work with principals to get drugs
out of schools, and would strengthen drug rehabilitation programmes
in prisons. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(23) CRACK BECOMES THE NEW HEROIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Home Office warned that Britain was on the verge of a crack
epidemic that could see crime figures spiralling even further out of
control. | ||||||||||||||||||
The latest Home Office figures released yesterday showed that
compared with 1999, there was an 8 per cent rise in seizures of
crack cocaine in 2000 with that figure expected to double for the
year 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Scotland the figures are among the worst in the UK with the use
of crack cocaine increasing by more than 200 per cent over the past
five years and street sales of the class A drug increasing by an
estimated 250 per cent since 1997. | ||||||||||||||||||
Speaking at a national drugs conference yesterday, Bob Ainsworth, the Home Office minister, warned that the use of crack was spiralling out of control, putting poor communities and young people at risk from the crime and violence associated with the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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(24) CUSTOMS DRUGS SEIZURES SOAR 500% (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
THE value of drugs seized by customs officials jumped by more than 500% last year, with ( euro )60.6m worth discovered in 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||
The bulk of the rise was due to an increase of more than 10,000% in
seizures of herbal cannabis, the lesser used but more potent type of
the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We've had a highly successful year in the drugs area, but we're not
complacent. This is a very difficult trade to intercept," said Frank
Daly, chairman of the Revenue Commissioners. | ||||||||||||||||||
Launching Revenue's Annual Report 2001, he said the successes were
mainly due to sophisticated intelligence work on the part of customs
officers, rather than chance or routine checks. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The key factor in our success is intelligence-gathering and
profiling of individuals and consignments," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Supreme Court Drug Testing Decision Online | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Medical Marijuana as a Mitzvah | ||||||||||||||||||
"The purpose of the Beth Am Women's Medical Marijuana Project is to
educate faith communities. Judaism's mitzvot to show compassion for
the sick and to seek social justice make medical marijuana an
important issue for all Jews." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
United States Government vs. Bryan Epis | ||||||||||||||||||
"Californians need to protest the federal government crackdown on
California Medical Cannabis Dispensaries. This is the first federal
case involving a dispensary that is going to trial." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Journey for Justice | ||||||||||||||||||
The November Coalition has suggested a Journey for Justice this Fall. This is a great opportunity for outreach, community organizing and developing media attention for our cause. | ||||||||||||||||||
We are looking to have events scheduled that would take | ||||||||||||||||||
A map of the US divided into eight regions is available at:
http://www.november.org/tempmaps/mainstates.html | ||||||||||||||||||
Below the map is a possible itinerary -- this is only to give
you an idea about a possible schedule. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Flex Your Rights | ||||||||||||||||||
Flex Your Rights is a nonprofit educational organization working
to train individuals to protect their civil liberties during police
encounters. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
REFORM DRUG LAWS - A ROCKEFELLER'S PLEA | ||||||||||||||||||
By Laurance S. Rockefeller | ||||||||||||||||||
To the Editor: | ||||||||||||||||||
Re "Swapping Blame as Drug Law Rift Widens in Albany" (news article,
June 20): | ||||||||||||||||||
As the New York Legislature considers a revision of the drug laws, I
hope that it will make a fresh, open-minded review of all the best
evidence. | ||||||||||||||||||
In New York, harsh drug laws are associated with my brother Nelson.
In light of what was known 29 years ago, as governor, Nelson
advocated such laws. But I am convinced that in light of current
knowledge, he would today be open to a fresh look at the issue.
Above all, he was a practical and humane leader. | ||||||||||||||||||
The losses in this war are now well known. We have far too many people in jail for too long for relatively minor offenses. Families are destroyed, creating another generation of dysfunction. | ||||||||||||||||||
The economic cost of the war is huge. Enforcement and imprisonment
have become major components of federal and state budgets to the
neglect of other pressing needs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Further, overly harsh laws and punishments have reduced faith in government, which is essential to the functioning of a democracy. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thus, in light of these factors, the time is ripe for legislative
action. | ||||||||||||||||||
Laurance S. Rockefeller, | ||||||||||||||||||
New York | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Unitarian Universalist Association Breaks New Ground in Drug Policy
Reform | ||||||||||||||||||
By Chuck Thomas | ||||||||||||||||||
June 22, 2002 The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations passed a Statement of Conscience calling for "Alternatives to the War on Drugs." The religious denomination representing more than 1,000 congregations throughout the United States declared, "We do not believe that drug use should be considered criminal behavior." | ||||||||||||||||||
The comprehensive Statement of Conscience was passed at the 2002
General Assembly of the denomination (headquartered in Boston,
Massachusetts) by a two-thirds majority of delegates from the
congregations. Recognizing that "the consequences of the current
drug war are cruel and counterproductive," the Statement calls for
"alternatives that regard the reduction of harm as the appropriate
standard by which to assess drug policies." | ||||||||||||||||||
The denomination's Principles recognize the "worth and dignity of
every person" and advocate "justice, equity and compassion in human
relations." The Statement of Conscience declares that the punitive,
coercive drug policies of the United States violate these core
religious principles. | ||||||||||||||||||
Specific proposals include: | ||||||||||||||||||
-- "Establish a legal, regulated, and taxed market for marijuana.
Treat marijuana as we treat alcohol." | ||||||||||||||||||
-- "Remove criminal penalties for possession and use of currently
illegal drugs, with drug abusers subject to arrest and imprisonment
only if they commit an actual crime (e.g., assault, burglary,
impaired driving, vandalism)." | ||||||||||||||||||
-- "Drug use, drug abuse, and drug addiction are distinct from one
another. Using a drug does not necessarily mean abusing the drug,
much less addiction to it. Drug abuse issues are essentially matters
for medical attention. We do not believe that drug use should be
considered criminal behavior." | ||||||||||||||||||
-- "Make all drugs legally available with a prescription by a
licensed physician, subject to professional oversight. End the
practice of punishing an individual for obtaining, possessing, or
using an otherwise illegal substance to treat a medical condition,"
and allow "medically administered drug maintenance" as a treatment
option for drug addiction. | ||||||||||||||||||
This groundbreaking Statement of Conscience goes beyond what any
other religious denomination has thus far adopted. Unitarian
Universalists plan to encourage other people of faith to follow
suit. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We are hopeful that this powerful Statement will pave the way for
other denominations to join the movement for more just and
compassionate drug policies," said Charles Thomas, executive
director of Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform, the
denomination affiliate that facilitated the congregations' study and
development of the Statement of Conscience. | ||||||||||||||||||
Read the entire Statement online at: http://www.uudpr.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||
Chuck Thomas is executive director for Unitarian Universalists for
Drug Policy Reform | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"I know from my own experience that when I was at West Point, the fact that tobacco, in every form, was prohibited, and the mere possession of the weed severely punished, made the majority of the cadets, myself included, try to acquire the habit of using it." | ||||||||||||||||||
-- Ulysses S. Grant, from "Personal Memoirs," 1885 | ||||||||||||||||||
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