| Sept. 20, 2002 #268 | ||||||||||||||||||
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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) COURT BLOCKS D.C. VOTE ON MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Efforts to legalize marijuana for medical purposes in the District were
blocked yesterday when a federal appeals court overturned, without
explanation, an earlier court ruling that had cleared the way for the
issue to be put before D.C. voters. | ||||||||||||||||||
The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reversed a ruling by the U.S. District Court, which in March declared unconstitutional a congressional amendment that prevented the city from spending money to put a medical marijuana initiative on the ballot. | ||||||||||||||||||
The three appellate justices said in their order that they made the ruling yesterday because today is the city's deadline for printing ballots for the November election. Appeals judges David S. Tatel, Merrick B. Garland and Stephen F. Williams said their decision "will be more fully explained in an opinion to be filed at a later date." | ||||||||||||||||||
The decision ends a 14-month campaign by the District-based Marijuana Policy Project to again put the marijuana initiative before voters. It would protect from arrest people who, on the advice of their doctors, use marijuana to alleviate nausea, stimulate appetite or ease pain. Eight states have similar medical marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||
This is the second time that the measure has been blocked in the
District. In 1998, D.C. voters passed a similar initiative, 69 percent
to 31 percent. But a congressional rider to the D.C. appropriations
bill prevented the initiative from taking effect. | ||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Robert L. Barr Jr. (R-Ga.), who sponsored the rider, said in a
statement yesterday that "despite a concerted public relations
campaign to distort the real dangers of drugs, such as marijuana, the
pro-drug lobby ran head-on today with the rule of law and a court,
which recognized the right and responsibility of Congress to protect
citizens from dangerous, mind-altering narcotics." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) LEGALIZE ALL DRUGS, U.S. GOVERNOR TELLS VANCOUVER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
VANCOUVER - Before he addressed a conference on this city's
staggering drug problem, Gary Johnson, the Governor of New Mexico,
went for a walk through the Downtown Eastside, where addicts
openly smoke crack cocaine and shoot up heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Those people, if they were in the United States, would be in jail,"
Mr. Johnson would say later. | ||||||||||||||||||
But what he saw in Vancouver's streets, where illicit drugs are
openly sold and consumed, didn't convince him to soften his message.
Mr. Johnson is an advocate of legalizing all drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Watch Governor Johnson's address online at: | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) LEGALISE ALL DRUGS WORLDWIDE, SAYS MOWLAM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Mo Mowlam, the former cabinet minister responsible for drugs policy, is
calling for the international legalisation of the drugs trade as part
of a more effective drive to combat terrorism. | ||||||||||||||||||
Writing in the Guardian today, Ms Mowlam says: "Rather than bombing
civilians in various Muslim countries, the United States and Britain
should begin to take a more intelligent approach to the international
drugs trade, namely to legalise it internationally." | ||||||||||||||||||
Ms Mowlam, already an advocate of the legalisation of cannabis in Britain, is unlikely to find her latest proposal embraced by Downing Street but she will find support from some drugs specialists, who believe the battle to stop trafficking, with its inextricable links with terrorism, cannot succeed through mere suppression. | ||||||||||||||||||
In her article she joins another ex-cabinet minister, Chris Smith, in
questioning the need to topple Saddam Hussein, arguing instead that an
effort to neutralise the illegal trade will do more to win the war
against terrorism. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) SANTA CRUZ DEFIES U.S. ON MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
City Officials Vow to Defend Medical Uses | ||||||||||||||||||
SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Sept 17 -- There were speeches from lawyers about
freedom and pleas from doctors for compassion and some rhetoric against
the Bush administration. Then the patients began to roll forward in
their wheelchairs to get their prescriptions -- their marijuana buds
and pot cupcakes -- on the steps of City Hall. | ||||||||||||||||||
The gaunt AIDS patient said marijuana helped him eat again. An elderly
man with post-polio syndrome grinned and picked up his vial. A patient
suffering from pancreatic cancer simply said "thank you." Then Jodie
Lombardo, who has lupus, decried the recent bust of the popular
medical-marijuana cooperative here as inhumane and asked what federal
authorities would do if their own loved ones were sick and needed the
relief these patients say they find in this weed. | ||||||||||||||||||
With the mayor and most of the city council in attendance, Santa Cruz
today pledged that its efforts to deliver marijuana to the sick and
dying would continue -- despite the armed raid by federal agents two
weeks ago against a marijuana pharmacy that has been openly operating
here for years. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We are not the enemy," said Valerie Corral, one of the founders of the
medical marijuana cooperative. "Our message is not about defiance, but
peace, and we plead for the same from the government." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The feds seem to be fixated on casual cannabis use. A new series of ads highlights the alleged pitfalls of marijuana. Most news outlets followed the script suggested by the ads, but some reports touched on criticism suggesting the ads will continue their expensive, taxpayer-funded failure. Of course, the feds might be facing a backlash on marijuana, as California medical marijuana raids last week continues to generate an outcry and a favorable coverage of that outcry in the mainstream press. More on that issue can be found in this week's Cannabis news section of DrugSense Weekly. | ||||||||||||||||||
In New Jersey, a high school is part of a pilot program that uses
drug residue detection kits around the school to check for traces of
drugs anywhere in the school. Those detection kits probably won't be
looking for Ritalin, and the federal propaganda campaign won't focus
on the fact that the stimulant is not harmless. However, Ritalin
sent a number of students from a California high school to the
emergency room last week. | ||||||||||||||||||
And, in Illinois, a conference of drug counselors were shocked to
find police using a drug dog to sniff hotel corridors in the wee
hours, and wake up guests deemed suspicious by the dog. Local police
said the practice is long-standing, and a hotel manager said
complaints are rare. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) PARENTS WARNED ON POT'S TOLL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- The nation's drug policy director warned parents
Tuesday against trivializing the dangers of marijuana to their kids,
warning them that more teens are addicted to pot than to alcohol or
to all other illegal drugs combined. | ||||||||||||||||||
Many parents and children have outdated perceptions about marijuana,
said John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy. They believe marijuana is not addictive, that it's less
dangerous than cigarettes or that it has few long-term health
consequences. | ||||||||||||||||||
In reality, more teens enter rehabilitation centers to treat
marijuana addiction than alcohol or all illegal drugs combined,
Walters said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) NEW DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A new round of anti-drug ads that start running on TV today pack a
tough message about the "terrible things" - from street violence to
drug cartels - that drug users unwittingly support. | ||||||||||||||||||
But the question that has haunted past anti-drug ad campaigns are expected to resurface with this batch. Will the ads actually work? | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Drew Pinsky, an addiction expert, said the new anti-drug ads
were well executed, but some viewers could interpret the ads'
depiction of a dangerous black market of drug dealers as support for
the argument that marijuana should be legalized. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I will say, unfortunately, a lot of young adults and college students will say 'you are right, this does support a crime network; if the drug was legal, you wouldn't have that,'" Pinsky said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) TESTS LOOK FOR DRUGS' RESIDUE IN TOMS RIVER, SOUTHERN SCHOOLS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Toms River Regional and Southern Regional school districts
quietly began testing for drug residue on commonly used surfaces
such as locker doors and bathroom stalls in January with field kits
long used by law enforcement agencies. | ||||||||||||||||||
Under a federally funded pilot program that examines the
effectiveness of the kit in a school setting, the two Ocean County
districts last semester tested dozens of surfaces in public areas
where administrators suspected that students may have used drugs,
school officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||
While results have not been released, an official for the company
that produces the testing kits said drug residue was found in all
participating schools. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) 13 TEENS TREATED FOR RITALIN INGESTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Thirteen Antelope Valley High School students were treated at a
hospital Wednesday after taking illicitly obtained Ritalin, and about
150 of the prescription-only pills were confiscated on campus,
authorities said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Three became seriously ill from an overdose, officials said. The others
showed symptoms of grogginess or incoherence. All had been released
from Antelope Valley Hospital by evening. | ||||||||||||||||||
"They are all OK," Principal Mark Bryant said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) HOTEL DRUG SWEEP SURPRISES DRUG TREATMENT EXPERTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Evelyn Boyd-Young, a registered nurse who heads a substance abuse
program in a Greenwich, Conn., hospital, is used to dealing with
drug issues. But she said she'd never been suspected of potentially
dealing drugs - until Friday night, when she said a loud knock on
her hotel room door awoke her. | ||||||||||||||||||
It wasn't room service. It was two uniformed cops and a big dog. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"It was a scary thing to wake up to," Boyd-Young recalled. "They
asked if they could come in, and I didn't know what to do. They had
a big dog in front of me." | ||||||||||||||||||
She said the officers told her they routinely patrol the hallways of local hotels, with the hotel's permission, and their drug-sniffing canine had shown an interest when they passed by her room. | ||||||||||||||||||
The cooperative practice is common in suburban hotels, which are
sometimes used for illicit youth parties or as venues for drug
deals. Charges of possession of controlled substance with intent to
deliver resulting from such sweeps are a frequent sight in the
Rolling Meadows courthouse, which serves Cook County's Northwest
suburbs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
It was a rather slow week in law enforcement and prison news -
mostly the usual corruption and overkill associated with drug law
enforcement. An internal investigation of a former deputy chief in
the Los Angeles Police Department showed that the former
high-ranking cop was indeed involved in a money laundering scheme
with his drug-dealing son. The LAPD doesn't have the ability to
punish the former deputy chief at this point. Incidentally, the
deputy chief oversaw the internal investigation into the Ramparts
corruption scandal for the department, even though the FBI warned
that he himself was corrupt. In New York, a high-ranking police
official was fired from the force, even though he was recently
acquitted on corruption charges. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Colorado, the militarization of the local drug war continues.
Police are using an armored personnel carrier to bust meth labs. And
in St. Louis, a police officer was reported to have accidentally
shot a drug suspect during a traffic stop before chasing him for 25
miles. No drugs or weapons were found on the suspect. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) LAPD PROBE ALLEGES EX-DEPUTY CHIEF LAUNDERED DRUG MONEY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
LOS ANGELES -(AP)- A confidential police department report has found that a retired deputy chief for several years helped launder money from his son's sprawling cocaine ring, a newspaper reported Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Los Angeles Times reported that the police department probe
found that Deputy Chief Maurice Moore, who retired earlier this
year, allegedly retrieved, delivered, stored and laundered hundreds
of thousands of dollars in illicit profits. Moore allegedly acted on
behalf of his son, who ran the drug operation from federal prison,
according to the LAPD's internal investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The FBI in December 1999 sent a letter to then-Chief Bernard C.
Parks telling him about their agents' suspicions that Maurice Moore
was involved in a major drug ring. | ||||||||||||||||||
Chief Parks received the report in the midst of the Rampart
corruption scandal, which was sparked by a rogue police officer who
told of unjustified shootings, beatings, evidence planting and drug
dealing by other officers. | ||||||||||||||||||
Despite the FBI's concerns, Parks allowed the deputy to help direct the department's official inquiry into the Rampart scandal. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) CAPTAIN IS FIRED AFTER VERDICT IN POLICE TRIAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
One of the highest-ranking New York City police officials ever
indicted in a drug corruption case was fired yesterday, the
authorities said last night. | ||||||||||||||||||
The official, Dennis M. Sindone, 40, was a deputy inspector when he was arrested in May 2001 on a drug-related corruption charge, and was demoted to captain. He was acquitted by a federal jury in March, but still faced the possibility of departmental charges. | ||||||||||||||||||
Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly dismissed Mr. Sindone based on
findings from a departmental judge, said Deputy Commissioner Michael
P. O'Looney, the department's chief spokesman. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Sindone was accused of conspiring with a fellow officer and a
drug dealer to steal $60,000 from a drug supplier in 1996. He was
charged with one count of violating the civil rights of the drug
supplier whose money was stolen. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) RIG PUTS METH LABS IN THE TANK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Methamphetamine manufacturers, beware. You may find yourselves in
front of a whole new weapon in the war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
The North Metro Drug Task Force is making use of a retrofitted 1981
Peacekeeper armored personnel carrier to help protect officers as
they raid meth labs. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Federal Heights Police Department acquired the bulletproof
vehicle about two years ago as part of a military-surplus program.
But the carrier, which had been used by the Air Force, required a
significant amount of work and has been in operation for only a
year, said Deputy Police Chief Mitch Lovett. | ||||||||||||||||||
The task force has borrowed the vehicle for at least three drug
raids since January, said Lt. Lori Moriarty, who considers it a
valuable resource. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It's pretty much solid steel," she said. "It's perfect for
fortified buildings or if you want to get up very close but you're
afraid of shots coming through cars." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) KINLOCH POLICE OFFICER SAYS HE ACCIDENTALLY SHOT MOTORIST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Kinloch police officer said he accidentally shot a motorist during
a traffic stop early Saturday then chased the man for 25 miles into
Maryland Heights. | ||||||||||||||||||
The officer, Walter Wilson, the former police chief in Kinloch, said
he stopped the man about 3:40 a.m. at Martin Luther King Boulevard
and Suburban Avenue in Kinloch. | ||||||||||||||||||
He suspected the motorist, a 24-year-old man from Bridgeton, was
involved with a drug transaction, Wilson said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wilson says he reached through the car window to grab the man's keys
in the ignition, and his drawn gun accidentally fired. The shot hit
the man in the shoulder. | ||||||||||||||||||
The motorist sped away, knocking Wilson to the ground. Wilson jumped
into his patrol car and gave chase. | ||||||||||||||||||
Officers from several departments joined the chase, which ended at a cul-de-sac on Galaxy Place in Maryland Heights. Wilson and other police officers blocked the suspect with their cars. Wilson fired several more shots at the motorist, St. Louis County police said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Police did not find any drugs on the suspect, Wilson said. The
suspect was unarmed. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Amid the flurry of DEA busts and upcoming medicinal cannabis
protests, a more positive event took place on Saturday as Boston
Commons was flooded by 35,000 happy hempsters attending the 13th
annual Freedom Rally. Meanwhile, the arrests and prosecutions
continued in California. Robert Schmidt, owner of "Genesis 1:29", a
Petaluma compassion club, was arrested and charged with
manufacturing, possession with intent to distribute, and assaulting
a federal agent when his farm and club were raided, and 3500 plants
were seized. | ||||||||||||||||||
The members of the city council of Santa Cruz,joined WAMM volunteers
in distributing cannabis from the courtyard of city hall on Tuesday
in protest of the DEA raids on the medicinal collective. Here now is
another thoughtful article examining the incredible impact of last
week's raid on WAMM, Valerie and Mike Corral, and those that they've
worked so hard to help. | ||||||||||||||||||
And finally, two different U.S. interpretations of the Canadian
Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs report, which recommended
the immediate legalization of cannabis in Canada. First, a frank
examination of current DEA busts in light of the Senate report by
Steve Brown. Second, a Globe and Mail article quoting U.S. Drug Czar
John P. Walters criticizing the report and its recommendations
during a speech in Detroit, Michigan. | ||||||||||||||||||
With the mid-term election around the corner in the U.S., and
important court battles upcoming in Canada, the next few weeks may
determine the next few years of North American Drug Policy. You can
play your part in determining the outcome: write a letter, make a
phone call, or send an email to your local press and politicians
addressing these important issues. Your voice matters; our voice
matters - we will be heard. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) THOUSANDS GATHER FOR MARIJUANA RALLY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
About 35,000 marijuana legalization advocates, area students, and
politicians converged on Boston Common yesterday for the 13th annual
Freedom Rally. | ||||||||||||||||||
The six-hour gathering, which some have dubbed ''Hempday,'' featured
speakers, live band performances, appearances by Green Party and
Libertarian gubernatorial candidates, and more than 25 vendors
selling anything and everything pot-related. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Fifty-two people were arrested, most on drug-related charges, said
Officer John Boyle, a Boston police spokesman. Boyle said no serious
disturbances were reported during the event. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) MARIJUANA CLUB OWNER CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The owner of a Petaluma marijuana club was arraigned Friday on drug
charges that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. | ||||||||||||||||||
Robert Schmidt, 52, was arrested Thursday by federal agents who
raided a ranch near Sebastopol where he had been growing marijuana
since March. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The maximum penalty for the drug charges is life in prison and a $4
million fine; the assault charge carries a maximum sentence of three
years plus a $250,000 fine, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Jacobs
said in a statement Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
He said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized 3,454 marijuana plants from the Martin Lane ranch west of Sebastopol. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) ODD TWISTS LEAVE COUPLE IN CENTER OF POT DEBATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Mike Corral is a soft-spoken man with a love for all things that
grow. His wife, Valerie, with a shock of auburn hair, exudes a
spiritual presence and has a bright smile. | ||||||||||||||||||
Except for a few of life's twists and turns, the couple say they
would be living a quiet, private life in the mountains. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I love being in the garden," Mike Corral said, standing in a barren patch of dirt on the property where they live north of Davenport. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) THE WHOLE OMELET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
You probably don't have to smoke dope to understand our nation's
drug policies, but it might help. As of late, our | ||||||||||||||||||
The list of those the federal government has targeted for arrest, persecution, intimidation and property seizure for what is legal medical marijuana operations under state law continues to grow, and government officials for the most part, go along in silence, allowing the rights of the citizens of California to be trampled. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) CANADA'S POT POLICY UNDER FIRE FROM U.S. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada's marijuana policy is flawed by a lack of information and
outright lies, according to the highest-ranking drug official in the
United States. | ||||||||||||||||||
John Walters, director of U.S. national drug-control policy, sharply
criticized Ottawa yesterday for allowing ill people to smoke pot and
for considering relaxed antimarijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Walters said at a Detroit news conference that Canada has done
insufficient research, so it cannot justify liberalizing its
cannabis policy. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-23) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The European Union proclaimed that it would "help" Afghans to stop
producing opium, as a way to limit drug abuse within the EU. To that
end, Danish Justice Minister Lene Espersen stressed cooperation with
other EU dignitaries. No specifics were given on what could be done
in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, meanwhile, after months of news
concerning Afghan opium, we hear some news about the nation's
marijuana production. Reports are that cannabis growing is well
underway. Farmers declare they will ignore government dictates to
kill the bumper crop, which is said to cover the northern part of the
country. | ||||||||||||||||||
A small drama is unfolding in the Netherlands, involving a Canadian citizen, due process, and the prosecution-uber-alles mind-set of the US. A Canadian accused of conspiracy to smuggle cannabis from Canada to the U.S. was snagged by US agents, while preparing to board a flight from Holland back to Canada last week. His case had been winding through Canadian courts for some time; apparently the lust of U.S. prohibitionists to jail the man overrides Canadian law. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Western Australia, unelected bureaucrats have decided that drivers
must be randomly tested for "drugs" (meaning, cannabis). Ignoring
earlier Australian research showing cannabis users to be less likely
to be at fault in fatal accidents than drug free drivers, police are
lobbying for the added testing powers. | ||||||||||||||||||
And finally this week from the UK, heroin trafficking charges against
a 13-year-old girl from West Yorkshire were dropped. The girl had 11
kilos of heroin when arrested at Manchester airport last April, after
arriving from Pakistan. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) EU PLEDGES TO HELP AFGHANS STOP PRODUCING HEROIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The European Union said on Saturday it would help Afghans stop producing heroin as a way to earn a living in a drive to fight drug trafficking and drug abuse inside the EU. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Afghanistan is an area of priority," said Danish Justice Minister Lene Espersen, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency. "What we have to do is cooperate with (EU) foreign ministers on what we can offer the Afghan people instead of producing heroin." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Espersen did not specify what kind of aid the 15-nation bloc would
offer to Afghanistan. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) FARMERS RETURN TO GROWING CANNABIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
KABUL (NNI): Cannabis farmers in Afghanistan who stopped growing the
drug crop under the Taliban rule have started once again. The
Taliban outlawed growing of the plants, which grow naturally in the
area on a commercial basis. | ||||||||||||||||||
But fields of cannabis plants some well over 6ft-high, line part of
the main road leading west from Mazar-e-Sharif, the biggest city in
northern Afghanistan. | ||||||||||||||||||
With the main harvest expected in one to two months, growers in the
roadside village of Khana Abad said they would ignore government
warnings to tear up their crops. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(21) CANADIAN IN DUTCH JAIL WANTS TRIAL AT HOME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Roberts was charged in 1999 with conspiring to smuggle B.C.
marijuana to the United States. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and
the RCMP worked together on the operation. | ||||||||||||||||||
While Roberts, 54, faces charges in both countries, his case has
dragged through Canada's court system for three years. | ||||||||||||||||||
But a week ago, Roberts flew to Europe. During his flight home, U.S.
authorities pulled him off a plane in the Netherlands to face
extradition to the U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jaroen Henekamp, with the prosecutors office in the Netherlands,
said his only way out could be Canadian intervention. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(22) RANDOM TESTS URGED TO CATCH MOTORISTS USING DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
RANDOM drug testing of drivers could be introduced under a proposal
before the State Government. | ||||||||||||||||||
The West Australian understands that the Government's drink and drug
driving task force has made a submission that legislation be drafted
to help catch the rising number of people driving while affected by
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
The WA Police Service is also believed to have made preliminary
inquiries about obtaining portable roadside saliva testing kits to
run a pilot program to test for drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Roadside saliva tests, which can involve a swab which takes up to 90
seconds, can only be used as a preliminary test and a blood sample
would be required for a conviction. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Research by a team of Queensland doctors has highlighted the danger
of cannabis use in young drivers. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(23) SMUGGLING CASE AGAINST DRUG MULE, 13, DROPPED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Girl Caught With Heroin 'More Sinned Against Than Sinning' | ||||||||||||||||||
The case against a 13-year-old girl thought to be Britain's youngest
drugs mule collapsed yesterday when a court heard that she was "more
sinned against than sinning". | ||||||||||||||||||
The teenager from Bradford, West Yorkshire, who cannot be named for
legal reasons, was arrested at Manchester airport in April after
stepping off a flight from Pakistan with 11kg of heroin - with an
estimated street value of UKP900,000 -concealed in six cushions and
a black leather jacket in her luggage. | ||||||||||||||||||
She was due to be tried at Manchester crown court on a charge of
drug smuggling, but the prosecution said it would be inappropriate
to continue the proceedings against her and offered no evidence. A
formal verdict of not guilty was recorded. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
RISE UP FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA! | ||||||||||||||||||
Come to Sacramento - Monday, September 23 | ||||||||||||||||||
Demand Bush Pardon Bryan Epis & End War on all MMJ Patients | ||||||||||||||||||
All medical marijuana patients, supporters, organizers, and activists
in California are needed for what is shaping up to be a major medical
marijuana mobilization to Sacramento on the 23rd! | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
THEY LIVE AMONG US | ||||||||||||||||||
Cartoon by Mark Fiore | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAIDS | ||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
David Borden, Executive Director, | ||||||||||||||||||
This morning I heard the sad news that DC's new medical marijuana
initiative would not make the ballot after all. The effort to
merely have our votes on this issue in DC recognized as votes
has been a long and tortured one, a "Homer's Odyssey" as
organizers at the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), sponsors of
this year's initiative campaign, have described it. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATES WANT POT FROM OTTAWA | ||||||||||||||||||
TORONTO - A group of seven people who smoke pot for medical
reasons have gone to court to force Ottawa to provide them
with marijuana to treat their illnesses. | ||||||||||||||||||
They say their constitutional rights have been violated | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||
Show featuring Canadian Senator Pierre Claude Nolin and Eugene
Oscapella, along with an interview with Valerie Corral of WAMM is
now online. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug War Hurts | ||||||||||||||||||
By Thomas J. O'Connell | ||||||||||||||||||
Editor -- Your trenchant analysis of school testing scores sees
through hype and confusion to point out what it really comes down
to: poverty. | ||||||||||||||||||
It's not difficult to see the important role played by our drug war
in the transfer of wealth from the lowest rungs of the economic
ladder to the very highest. Increased policing, prison construction
and a greatly expanded prison population have all siphoned money
away from education and health care while at the same time serving
to keep the targeted populations mired in poverty. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tom O'Connell, | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
TRANSCRIPT OF CALL TO AN ORLANDO POLICE DISPATCHER | ||||||||||||||||||
Editor's note: In place of a more traditional feature article, this week we run an actual document from the drug war that illustrates some of the reality behind the rhetoric.The following conversation between an Orlando Police Department operator and a client at the Center for Drug-Free Living was taped on Sept. 9 taped by Orlando police. It was published last week by the Orlando Sentinel. | ||||||||||||||||||
Orlando Police Department Operator: You're being recorded. | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: Yes, I'd like to make a report please. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: OK, what happened. | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: I am located at the Center for Drug-Free Living, and I would
like a police officer to come out, please. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: What address are you at, ma'am? | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: (gives address) | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: OK, can you tell me what happened? | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: This is basically a treatment center for women with children. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: Yeah. | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: And one of the women here was caught buying crack cocaine
tonight. And a lot of the women are upset because she's been caught
about five times. And we want something done because our children are
here, and they just keep letting it slip under the counter and
carpet. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: Your name? | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: I'm anonymous. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: Well, we're going to have to meet with someone. | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: OK. Can I put all the girls? Because we're all here; we're
all here wanting to talk to someone. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: Who was she caught buying the drugs by? Who caught her
buying the drugs? | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: The staff. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: Pardon me? | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: Staff. They said, you know, because it's basically Noelle
Bush. And she keeps getting out of it. Because every . . . she does
this all the time and she gets out of it because she's the governor's
daughter. But we're sick of it here 'cause we have to do what's
right, but she gets treated like some kind of princess. And
everybody's tired of it, you know. We're just trying to get our lives
together, and this girl's bringing drugs on property. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: OK. And the staff caught her? | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: Yes. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: They caught her today? | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: Yes. This is just about 30 minutes ago. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: And she's still there though. | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: Yes. And she is on probation, I guess. And all kinds of
stuff. I don't know what all that is. But . . . And procedure is that
they would call the police, but they're not doing it here because of
who she is. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: OK. So the staff is refusing to do anything about it. | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: Because of who she is. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: OK. OK. OK, if you don't want to leave me your name
that's fine. But somebody needs to meet with the officers when they
get there. | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: OK, we'll be out front. Do you know how long . . . | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: OK. All of you will be out front? | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: Yeah. There's 24 of us. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: OK. Hopefully, it will be within the next maybe 15 or
20 minutes. It may be longer depending on how many officers are
available now. | ||||||||||||||||||
Caller: OK. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPD Operator: All right. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"Obviously the passion for power is one of the most moving passions
that exists in man. All democracies are based on the proposition
that power is very dangerous, and that it's extremely important not
to let any one man or any one small group have too much power for
too long a time. What are the British and American Constitutions
except devices for limiting power?" | ||||||||||||||||||
-Aldous Huxley, interview from 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense
offers our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what
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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 () | ||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||
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