| Oct. 18, 2002 #272 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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) JEB BUSH'S DAUGHTER GETS 10 DAYS IN JAIL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Gov. Jeb Bush's daughter was sentenced to 10 days
in jail and led away in handcuffs Thursday after being accused of
having crack cocaine in her shoe while in drug rehab. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Noelle Bush, 25, kissed her aunt Dorothy Koch as a sheriff's deputy
cuffed her behind the back. Koch is the sister of President Bush and
the governor, who was not in court. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a statement, the governor said he realizes that his daughter must
face the consequences of her actions. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Every parent of a child with an addiction understands that the long
road to recovery is never easy and that there are numerous challenges
along the way," he said. "This is a very difficult time for all of us
... and I pray every day our beautiful daughter will once again know a | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) DRUG CZAR BLASTS TREATMENT OPTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ohio Voters Urged to Reject Proposal | ||||||||||||||||||||
COLUMBUS - U.S. drug czar John Walters toured a halfway house yesterday
to make his case against Issue 1, but he faced questions about the need
for more federal funds and better research to help criminals who have
abused drugs and alcohol re-enter society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
At a news conference later, Mr. Walters blasted Issue 1 as a
"command-and-control ballot initiative" that would weaken the ability
of society to use "compassionate coercion" to help nonviolent drug
offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Americans have been told, in too many cases by people who have a
political agenda, that our prisons are full of low-level, nonviolent
drug offenders," said Mr. Walters. "That's not true. It's not true here
and it's not true in other places." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Part of this disease is denial. The reason the criminal justice system is so important to have proportionate sanctions as well as a channel for help is it makes people face this problem of denial," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) THE RIGHT TO FEEL BETTER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As Maine continues to struggle with a medical marijuana distribution
system, Valerie Corral -- a woman who has established a successful
medical marijuana cooperative, and seen it attacked by John Ashcroft
- -- offers some advice | ||||||||||||||||||||
Valerie Corral speaks, at Luther Bonney Auditorium, on the
USM/Portland campus, October 25. Call (207) 780-4289. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The medical marijuana debate is one I've always had a difficult time
wrapping my head around. It seems, a priori , to be a non-issue. How
is it possible that the government has no problem with doctors
prescribing powerful drugs like percocet, vicodan, oxycontin, and
morphine for folks to take home, but objects to doctors granting
permission for very sick patients to grow and smoke a little dope --
even after states vote to allow it? | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Watch Mike & Valorie Corral, Friday Oct 18th, 8 & 11 PM ET
Fox News, O'Reilly Factor | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) CANADA'S POT PROPOSAL WORRIES UNITED STATES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
TORONTO - American officials caution they may be forced to drastically
slow trade across the northern U.S. border if the Canadian government
relaxes its marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The changes being considered by Prime Minister Jean Chretien's
government would make the penalty for getting caught with a joint
similar to a traffic ticket. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By contrast, the zero tolerance policy of the United States makes
possession of even small amounts illegal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. drug policy experts say decriminalizing marijuana in Canada will
increase drug use in America and trafficking by organized crime
elements on both sides of the border. Washington would respond with
tighter border checks that could hinder trade crucial to the Canadian
economy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We intend to protect our citizens. We would have no choice," said John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A drug reform initiative in Ohio may change the focus of its
campaign. Financial backers of the initiative, which mandates
treatment for some drug offenders, said they may take money that was
going to be used to promote the initiative, and use it to support
the Democratic challenger to Republican governor Bob Taft, because
of Taft's efforts to derail the initiative. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Florida, the drug court process will remain open to the press.
Lawyers for Noelle Bush were unable to persuade a judge to close her
drug court hearings to the public. At the open hearing, the judge
also sent Bush to jail for 10 days in the wake of accusations that
she possessed crack while in treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
While the troubles of the president's niece have been widely covered since she tried to forge a prescription, a similar story with a more tragic conclusion took place last week in Arizona. A woman who had forged a prescription was shot and killed by police as she allegedly tried to leave the pharmacy where she presented the prescription. | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. drug warriors aren't gaining much trust or credibility in
Colombia. Some Colombian farmers who were persuaded to grow
alternatives to coca have now seen their legal crops destroyed by
U.S. fumigation efforts. Finally, the FDA has approved new drugs,
including buprenorphine, for heroin addicts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) ISSUE 1 SUPPORTERS COULD DECIDE TO BACK HAGAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Blaming Gov. Bob Taft for the apparent
failure of Issue 1 to gain support among Ohio voters, backers of the
issue may be ready to throw their campaign cash behind Democratic
gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Issue 1 would require Ohio judges to offer treatment rather then
jail to certain drug offenders. Polls indicate the proposed
constitutional amendment is likely to be defeated in the Nov. 5
election. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"If we can't pass drug reform in Ohio through the initiative process because the governor's stacked the deck against us, it may make more sense for us to try to change who the governor is," said Bill Zimmerman, head of the Ohio Campaign for New Drug Policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He said a decision on whether to shift the issue's television advertising money to support of Hagan will be made after Tuesday night's first debate between Hagan and the Republican governor. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) NOELLE BUSH'S DRUG-COURT HEARING WILL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC, JUDGE RULES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a ruling hailed Tuesday as a victory for public access, an Orange
County circuit judge denied a request from attorneys for Noelle Bush
to close drug-court proceedings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Circuit Judge Reginald Whitehead, who oversees the county's
drug-court program, concluded in his 16-page opinion that the
public's right to have access to court proceedings outweighed a
drug-treatment patient's right to privacy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Whitehead also scheduled a hearing for Thursday to determine whether
the 25-year-old daughter of Gov. Jeb Bush can stay in her program or
whether she will be returned to the regular criminal-justice system
for violating rules in the drug-treatment program. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) SUSPECT IN DRUG FRAUD SHOT BY POLICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CHANDLER - A woman suspected of forging a prescription at a drive-
through pharmacy was fatally shot Friday by a Chandler police
officer after she struck his motorcycle with her Camaro, police
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An 18-month-old child in the car with her was unharmed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Workers at the Walgreen Drug Store at Dobson and Warner roads called
police shortly before 3 p.m. to report a prescription fraud in
process, Chandler police Sgt. Mark Franzen said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"They were attempting to stall the person in the outside bay," he
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
When the motorcycle officer arrived, the woman, Dawn Nelson, of
Ahwatukee, "attempted to leave that area," Franzen said. "She struck
the officer, who was on his police motorcycle." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Details of what happened next were sketchy Friday evening. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) LEGAL CROPS' DAMAGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CANA BRAVA, Colombia - Surveying his charred landscape that once
contained a promising harvest of "lulo," a pulpy, orangelike tropical
fruit, Victoriano Mora admits that he used to grow coca like thousands
of other farmers in Putumayo province. Top Stories | ||||||||||||||||||||
But after the first U.S.-financed aerial sprayings destroyed his
coca crops last winter, Mr. Mora said, he, like many other farmers
in Putumayo, began eradicating his coca plants and cultivating legal
crops such as lulo, plantain and yucca on his 12-acre farm deep in
the Colombian Amazon. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But on Aug. 10, five U.S.-provided spray planes came anyway, turning his food crops into a scorched-earth nightmare. "There is nothing of coca," Mr. Mora said of his current farm. "I feel tricked." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Mora is one of 37,000 farmers who signed voluntary eradication pacts in Putumayo with the Colombian government in exchange for help growing legal crops and marketing them. But in recent interviews with dozens of farmers in that province, the heart of Colombia's coca growing region, they say that their legal crops are being sprayed in the most ambitious U.S.-driven effort to date. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) FDA APPROVES HEROIN DRUG FOR ADDICTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON (AP) - Heroin addicts who are going through withdrawal
will be able to use new drugs to curb their cravings. And it's the
first time such drugs can be prescribed at a doctor's office instead
of at a treatment clinic. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Food and Drug Administration approved the drugs, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Heroin and other opiate addicts have had few treatment options and limited access to them. Methadone has been prescribed for more than 30 years to treat heroin addiction. It is tightly regulated, approved to be dispensed in only a few drug treatment clinics. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Buprenorphine, however, can be prescribed at doctor's offices, which
greatly improves access to treatment. It comes in the form of a
tablet that is placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve. It
causes weaker narcotic effects than methadone. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The drug war brings huge sums of money to law enforcement - where
does that money go? In Michigan, it apparently goes to erect
billboards designed to help a county sheriff get reelected. However,
the money doesn't seem to be trickling down to the agents on the
street. Reports from Mississippi indicate that state narcotic agents
are underpaid, forcing some to hunt for food for their family. A
state politician wants to raise those salaries. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A lawsuit in Washington, D.C. charges that young, minority males are
regularly subjected to police who probe underwear and beyond for
drug evidence. And, in a rare bit of good prison news, the outgoing
governor of Michigan has commuted a number of mandatory life drug
sentences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) RIVAL SAYS SHERIFF MISUSED FORFEITURES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Franklin Police Chief Ken Bohn said he will file complaints with
five county, state and federal agencies alleging that Milwaukee
County Sheriff David Clarke misused drug forfeiture dollars for
political gain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He expects to announce today his request that the Milwaukee County
district attorney's office, the Milwaukee County Ethics Board, the
state attorney general, the state Elections Board and the U.S.
attorney's office all investigate Clarke's use of the forfeiture
money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bohn said he would do so even if he weren't trying to unseat Clarke
during the Nov. 5 general election for sheriff. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I believe so strongly in trying to stop the abuses of a program
that I think is absolutely valuable to law enforcement that I'll
take the risk of it appearing political to preserve that program,"
he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bohn questions Clarke's use of nearly $10,000 to buy his department's Chevrolet Tahoe, which Bohn said the sheriff has used while campaigning, as well as $2,000 spent on billboards about an identity theft awareness campaign - that included Clarke's photograph - three weeks before the September primary election. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) NARCOTICS AGENTS: HIGH RISKS, LOW PAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Agent Geoff Still hunts deer in the
fall and turkey in the spring. But it's not for sport, it's to put
meat on the table for his wife and two children. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Still's family counts on him to harvest enough game during hunting
season to freeze for meals year-round. The lion's share of his
$25,500 salary goes for household expenses, leaving $100 a month for
groceries and gas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
His job fighting illicit drugs pays so little that Still, an agent
for two years with eight years' law enforcement experience, said he
has considered quitting for a bigger salary elsewhere. | ||||||||||||||||||||
State Rep. John Reeves, chairman of the House Committee on Fees and
Salaries of Public Officers, wants to stem agents' resignations by
awarding them hazardous duty pay. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Under Reeves' proposal, an agent earning an entry-level salary of
$23,976, for example, would get $29,970 with a 25 percent hazardous
duty pay premium, plus any accrued overtime. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) INVASIVE D.C. POLICE SEARCHES ALLEGED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The chaos of the D.C. police raid, with officers banging on the door
of his Northwest Washington apartment building and chasing his
cousin up the stairs, was over. William Turner III said he and his
grandfather weren't carrying drugs, didn't have outstanding warrants
and were just waiting for the police to leave. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Then, Turner alleges, a D.C. police officer took them to the
basement and used his hands to search in Turner's underwear and
probe between his buttocks. The officer, he said, also made Turner's
73-year-old grandfather strip naked from the waist down in a hallway
between apartment units. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'm for police procedures. I love them cleaning up the | ||||||||||||||||||||
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit yesterday alleging
that such searches are an "unjustified, unlawful and noxious custom
and practice" of the D.C. police department. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The suit was filed against the District and unnamed police officers
on behalf of Mitchell Fernandors, a Mount Rainier man who said he
was given a similarly intrusive search last October on a Northeast
Washington street. It alleges that "such searches are performed
disproportionately on young, African-American and Hispanic persons
in low-income neighborhoods." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) ENGLER SHORTENS PRISON SENTENCES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
9 Commutations Tied To Changes In Drug-Lifer Law | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. John Engler has quietly commuted the sentences of 14 prison
inmates -- including nine so-called drug lifers -- this year, a
flurry that nearly doubles the prison terms Engler has cut short
since taking office in 1991, records show. | ||||||||||||||||||||
With more than two months to go before Engler leaves office, the 14 commutations are the most by a Michigan governor in one year since 1973, when Gov. William Milliken commuted 21 murder sentences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Another four drug cases are likely to cross the governor's desk
before he leaves office Dec. 31. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An Engler administration official said Monday the increase is due
largely to 1998 changes in Michigan's so-called drug-lifer law. The
revisions allowed hundreds of inmates serving mandatory life terms
in drug cases to be considered for release after serving 15 or more
years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The nights are getting longer and colder, and the tricking hour nears, what's that skulking through the American countryside scaring young and old alike? Is it the Great Pumpkin? Or the Headless Horseman? No, it's just U.S. Drug Czar John Walters spreading fear and loathing far and wide on his "Spook the Electorate/Drug Lie" tour, 2002. During stops in both Arizona and Nevada last week, Walters denounced the marijuana decriminalization initiatives in both states as being "hoaxes" played upon the ignorance of voters. Pro-reform rallies in both states suggested that such federal pressure was not appreciated on state matters. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Kentucky, a school teacher who was fired after asking actor Woody
Harrelson speak to her class about legalizing hemp (even though the
administration gave her permission to do so) has been given the
right to sue the district for wrongful dismissal. The Supreme Court
of Kentucky backed Donna Cockerel's right to file suit, agreeing
that teachers don't lose their right to free speech in the
classroom. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Britons who were disappointed to learn that medical marijuana activist Colin Davies had been sentenced to 3 years in prison last Monday got a bit of good news this week. Brad Stephens, who uses cannabis to alleviate the symptoms of cervical spondylosis (a degenerative neck and spine disease), was cleared by the magistrate of cannabis possession, making him the first person in the U.K to be cleared of possession charges on the grounds of medical necessity. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And in the Australian province of South Australia, a group of MPs
calling themselves the Australian Parliamentary Group for Drug Law
Reform has asked the provincial government to rethink its proposed
plan to ban indoor hydroponic cultivation of cannabis, claiming that
the decriminalization policy put in place in 1987 was successful in
separating the hard and soft drug market for users. Does the Great
American Pumpkin Czar have a ready answer for that? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) DRUG CZAR'S NEVADA VISIT PROMPTS RALLIES FOR, AGAINST QUESTION 9 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The nation's drug czar visited Las Vegas to again denounce marijuana
decriminalization, inspiring the latest round of dual pep rallies
for Question 9 opponents and proponents. | ||||||||||||||||||||
John Walters, who oversees all federal anti-drug programs and
spending, said he did not come to the valley to wave his finger at
Nevadans over the high-stakes ballot initiative. But the country's
director of drug control policy encouraged Nevada voters to view
marijuana -- often depicted as relatively benign by hemp advocates
-- as a gateway drug that can destroy lives and lead pot smokers to
use harder drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
It was Walters' second visit to Las Vegas in the past three months to speak out against the proposal to relax Nevada marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) DRUG CZAR URGES 'NO' VOTE ON ARIZONA POT PROPOSITION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The nation's drug czar was in Tucson and Phoenix on Wednesday urging voters to defeat Proposition 203, the "medical marijuana" initiative that would decriminalize possessing small amounts of the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's a kind of general insult to the people of this state that this
measure got on the ballot," Walters said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He added that it's "cruel and irresponsible" to say marijuana is
safe. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Jeffrey Singer, a Phoenix doctor who supports the measure, said
flatly that marijuana is not addictive. He added that numerous
studies have been conducted indicating that marijuana does have
redeeming medical qualities. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) KENTUCKY HIGH COURT LETS FIRED TEACHER SUE DISTRICT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A teacher who was fired after inviting actor Woody Harrelson to
speak to her fifth-grade class about legalizing hemp will be able to
sue the Shelby County schools after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling
yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The high court refused to consider the school district's plea that
Donna Cockrel's case should have been thrown out before it got
started. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The justices' decision upholds a directive from the 6th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals that teachers do not lose their free-speech rights
in a school or a classroom. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) CANNABIS SMOKER WINS U.K. MEDICAL USE VICTORY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A MAN who suffers from a painful spinal condition became the first
person yesterday to be cleared by magistrates of cannabis possession
on the ground of medical necessity. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brad Stephens, 45, said that smoking cannabis was the only way to
ease the pain of his spinal condition without large doses of
morphine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The magistrates accepted it was a medical necessity for Mr Stephens
to take the drug and found him not guilty. He was released, but the
magistrates ordered the cannabis resin, which has an estimated
street value of UKP 300, to be destroyed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) SOUTH AUSTRALIA GROUP WANTS MARIJUANA RETHINK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A NATIONAL parliamentary group on drug reform has urged the South
Australian Government to rethink its proposed ban on hydroponically-
grown cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal Labor MP Duncan Kerr said it again would create a situation
where the courts were clogged with minor offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
He said the marijuana decriminalisation laws introduced by the
Bannon Labor government in 1987 had been "pretty successful" in
separating pot smokers from users of such other illicit drugs as
heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
From Mexico this week comes a disturbing report of the | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Quezon City, Philippines, five members of a narcotics unit
apparently crossed the line when they were caught killing a drug
suspect after ransacking his home. Witnesses say the five officers
executed the suspect, an army reservist, last week. Over in the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, agency chairman Anselmo Avenido
ordered lifestyle checks: too many officers are taking drug-bribes,
say officials. "Corrupt agents of the law" are "aiding and abetting
drug syndicates," lamented one Philippine Senator. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Afghanistan, reports continue to confirm the past year has been a
bountiful one for the growing of opium and the refining of heroin. A
San Francisco Chronicle report indicated that the US-backed Northern
Alliance continues to profit from the trade. Shrewdly, Time Magazine
last week attempted to lay blame for the Afghan drought and starving
children at the feet of cannabis users the world over. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Toronto, Canada, additional allegations against a narcotics unit there surfaced last week, as more victims step forward to document the police corruption. The drug squad is accused of running a shakedown racket; drug "suspects" were robbed of cash and valuables, beaten, and threatened by police. Some 150 cases have so far collapsed since the rogue squad's activities have come to light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) MORE THAN 600 SOLDIERS DETAINED IN INVESTIGATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY -- About 600 Mexican soldiers have been | ||||||||||||||||||||
The soldiers of the 65th Infantry Battalion are being held in facilities in the city of Guamuchil, Sinaloa, 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) northwest of Mexico City, said Benjamin Laureano Luna, president of the non-governmental Mexican Front for Human Rights. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"They have been confined to the barracks, cut off from communication
and subjected to torture and cruel and degrading treatment," Luna
said in a telephone interview. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The women discovered that they had kept them (the soldiers) on their knees, with their hands behind their heads, that some had been hit or lost teeth and others had torture marks," Luna said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) CPD CHIEF: 5 AWOL COPS TO FACE CHARGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
AUTHORITIES are now preparing criminal charges against five Central
Police District (CPD) cops implicated in the summary execution of an
Army reservist in Quezon City last week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The five policemen, Police Officers 1 Henry Garcia, Noel Fabia,
Joseph Mike Prado, Ramon Velasco, and a certain Gadal, all assigned
to CPD Station 11's Drug Enforcement Unit, are suspected of killing
Cris Gonzales last Wednesday morning. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gonzales, whose body was found inside a drum at a vacant lot near the corner of Mindanao Ave. Ext. and Regalado St., has a string of criminal cases, including drug trafficking, car theft and robbery. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Witnesses told investigators that the five policemen killed Gonzales following a raid on Gonzales' home in Banawe at dawn Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) CHECKING ILLEGAL DRUGS; CHECKING HIGH-LIVING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
IT'S "cleansing" time at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA). | ||||||||||||||||||||
But ironically, the target are not those who are high on drugs but anti-drug law enforcers themselves who are into "high-living". | ||||||||||||||||||||
A "lifestyle check" on all law enforcement agents have been ordered
by PDEA Chairman Anselmo S. Avenido in the wake of allegations that
pervasive corruption remains the biggest stumbling block to the war
against illegal drugs being waged by the government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It has become evident that the drive against the scourge of illegal
drugs is being derailed from within - my corrupt agents of the law
who are aiding and abetting drug syndicates," Senator Loren Legarda
has warned earlier. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(22) AFGHAN ALLIES' HEROIN HABIT A DILEMMA FOR U.S. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officials Say Northern Alliance Warlords Up to Old | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Whatever the case, after a brief hiatus in which the Taliban fought
for the region against the Northern Alliance, the Imam Sahib lab and
others like it are working full-time again, said Antonella Deledda,
the regional representative of the U.N. Office for Drug Control and
Crime Prevention. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"There has been a disruption of networks and facilities of drug-
trafficking in Afghanistan, but they are being restructured now,"
said Deledda, who is based in Tashkent, the capital of neighboring
Uzbekistan. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.N. drug-control experts expect between 2,000 and 2,700 tons of
Afghan opium to enter the market this year, up from 185 tons in
2001. At the peak of its opium production in 1999, Afghanistan | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(23) WASTED: THE DROUGHT THAT DRUGS MADE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Afghanistan's Villages Are Drying Out-Because Hash Farmers Need The
Water | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ask the villagers of Dalicharbolak how bad things are in the desert and they show you a boy named Saifudden. He is five, but looks two. He is too weak to walk, crawl or do anything but loll in his bearer's arms. He is bald, and his arms and legs are like sticks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
I haven't seen water in our ditches for four years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And all for chaars." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chaars is charas-hashish, pressed cannabis resin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Baking in the midday sun, marijuana bushes the size of a man give
off the same dank stench that permeates hip parties from New York
City to New South Wales. For the decade before the Soviet army
invaded in 1979, the teahouses of Afghanistan were the toking
tourist's hangout of choice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And even during 23 years of war, when the Afghans fought the Soviets and then one another, the hash trade thrived. "Afghan black" remained a staple sale for cannabis dealers across the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
And last year, in the final weeks of the Taliban, Amsterdam's
coffee-shop owners even boasted they were doing their bit for the
war on terror by buying blocks stamped with a golden Northern
Alliance stencil reading "Freedom for Afghanistan." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Perhaps the starkest illustration of what cannabis is doing to Afghanistan is to be found at the village of Deh Naw, half an hour to the north of Mazar along Afghanistan's main north-south highway. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Just out of sight of the hash hills upstream, the desert is
swallowing Deh Naw whole. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(24) POLICE DRUG SQUAD HIT WITH LAWSUITS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Former Suspects Allege Wrongful Arrests, Beatings and Illegal
Searches By Officers | ||||||||||||||||||||
Former drug suspects are suing the Toronto Police, claiming they are
owed millions of dollars for wrongful arrests, beatings and
warrantless searches - -- and for cash and valuables they say went
missing from their homes, businesses and safety-deposit boxes during
raids in the late 1990s. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Quigley claims a group of six drug officers led by Staff
Sergeant John Schertzer beat him unconcious, made him sign a release
saying he wouldn't seek damages for his injuries, and failed to
return thousands of dollars they seized from his mother's
safety-deposit box. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Clewley said that scores of criminals have benefited from light
punishments or were handed get-out-of-jail-free cards when an
estimated 150 drug cases collapsed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Vietnamese family that ran a karaoke bar that police searched for
heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuyen Vi Nguyen said he got a bloody nose in a raid as plainclothes
police ransacked his Grange Street business, Thy Restaurant and
Karaoke. | ||||||||||||||||||||
His daughter, 9 at the time of the raid, said she asked an officer
to produce a search warrant and that he responded by threatening to
put her and her baby sister in a shelter. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Many items, including safety-deposit-box keys, were seized. The Nguyens said they later discovered that large amounts of cash and jewellery, including diamonds, were missing from their deposit box. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Journey For Justice Reports | ||||||||||||||||||||
See Nora Callahan's comments from the first stop. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NarcoNews Site Redesigned | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's got a new look and it's now searchable. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
SSDP Site Redesigned | ||||||||||||||||||||
SSDP is proud to announce the arrival of our new website and the
Students Helping Students Merchandise Campaign. We have many new and
exciting things going on so go ahead and check it out. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The site will be constantly updated, so please check back often. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A special and heartfelt thanks to Matt Elrod and the rest of our friends
at Mapinc (mapinc.org) for making this possible. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Remember, the SSDP National Conference is only a couple weeks away -
http://www.mpp.org/conference | ||||||||||||||||||||
Have a great weekend | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shawn Heller | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans Against the War on Drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This is the non-profit being set up by Governor Johnson so he can continue to work on drug policy reform after he leaves office. The goal of the organization is to influence elected officials to support reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Addiction Strikes Dior Family: Grassroots Protest | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fashion designer Christian Dior has launched a massive ad campaign to market a new fragrance and makeup line called 'Dior Addict.' | ||||||||||||||||||||
http:/www.dior-addict.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Faces and Voices of Recovery is coordinating a diverse coalition to
launch a protest called: Addiction is Not Fashionable. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MARIJUANA EDUCATOR GUIDE AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES | ||||||||||||||||||||
New Tool for Teaching Middle and High School Students about Marijuana
Risks | ||||||||||||||||||||
A free drug-prevention guide is now available for middle and high
school educators to help them deter teens from marijuana use. Created
by The New York Times Newspaper in Education program, "Anti-Drug
Education with The New York Times: Focus on Marijuana" is available
online at: | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/NIE/focusonmarijuana/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Government Spreads Lies About Marijuana | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Bruce Mirken | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is disturbing to see drug czar John Walters continuing to spread
misinformation about marijuana, and even more disturbing to see
newspapers like The Times-News repeating such misstatements
uncritically. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For example, Walters sounds the alarm at the number of teens and
adults entering rehab for marijuana, suggesting that this is proof
that the drug is dangerously addictive. But Walters leaves out a
critical fact: The government's own figures show that the majority
of people entering marijuana treatment are in treatment because they
were forced into it after being arrested. To use these | ||||||||||||||||||||
Surgeon General Carmona's claim that marijuana changes the brain in
ways similar to heroin and cocaine has been refuted so often it's
hard to believe he can say it with a straight face. As University of
Southern California psychology professor Mitchell Earleywine, author
of "Understanding Marijuana" (Oxford University Press, 2002) wrote
recently, "Marijuana's effects barely resemble those of alcohol and
cocaine and have next to nothing to do with heroin ... Only one
study has shown any changes in brain structure associated with early
marijuana use, and it's unclear whether the marijuana actually
caused those changes." | ||||||||||||||||||||
We agree with Walters and Carmona that teens should be discouraged
from using marijuana or other intoxicants. But -- as Carmona's own
figures about usage demonstrate -- marijuana prohibition has utterly
failed to achieve that result. Indeed, in a recent Columbia
University study, teens rated marijuana as being easier to purchase
than cigarettes or beer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rather than spreading urban legends, our government drug warriors
need to take an honest look at the data and consider that a
different policy might do a better job of protecting both teens and
adults. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bruce Mirken, Washington, D.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Victoria, British Columbia activist Chuck Beyer had seven Letters to
the Editor published last month, and 62 archived at | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Journey for Justice Gets Off to Strong Start | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Kevin Zeese I just returned from the first stop on the November
Coalitions' Journey for Justice. The Journey had an incredibly
strong send off from the Detroit/Ann Arbor communities. They set a
standard for other communities to emulate, meet and hopefully -- as
good as Detroit was -- surpass! | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Michigan stop included seven events, along with a number of
media opportunities. As Congressman John Conyers, the ranking member
of the Judiciary Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives (and
who will be Chairman of Judiciary if the Democrats retake the House)
said at the main event in Detroit -- "If the victims of the drug war
stand united they will form a political constituency that could end
the drug war." That is the essence of the goal of the Journey for
Justice -- to activate a constituency of people directly effected by
the drug war so that they can become an effective army against the
drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Events began on Friday, October 11 with a small meeting with a half
dozen African American men in Detroit. After meeting with Nora and
Chuck -- discussing the drug war, sentencing, lack of treatment --
they agreed to form a new chapter of the November Coalition. One
thing they said -- that became a common refrain for the weekend --
was "it is time for the various races to work together to end the
drug war." If you want to get active with the new November Coalition
chapter contact Amanda at: . Amanda reports
that the new November Coalition chpater will be holding meetings at
the Unitarian Church in Detroit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The next event was held at the University of Michigan that night.
The SSDP chapter of U of M worked with the Drug Policy Forum of
Michigan to organize the event. A November Coalition slide show was
shown at the beginning -- highlighting the lives of many drug war
victims and providing key facts about the drug war. Nora, Chuck and
I spoke along with representatives from SSDP and DPF MI.
Approximately 60 people attended the event on a Friday night. About
half of the attendees joined us in a march where we carried signs
urging an end to the drug war and chanted slogans through Ann Arbor
after the forum. The goal of these events was to give attendees the
tools they need to become more activeand effective in working for
reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nora filmed a local television show the next morning --"For My People" -- a discussion show where the impact of the drug war with a special focus on its impact on the Black community was discussed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The main event for the Journey in the Detroit area was held at the University of Detroit School of Law. The Saturday event, lasting from 1 to 5:30 PM was attended by over 100 people. Happily, two members of Congress attended -- Rep. John Conyers and Representative Cheeks-Kilpatrick (who also happens to be the mother of the Mayor of Detroit). To have two members of Congress attending, just a few weeks before very important elections, was a major coup for the Journey for Justice and DPF MI. Rep. Conyers is strongly with the reform movement -- he believes the drug war needs to be ended and wants to see us develop the political base needed to effect the national legislative process. He congratulated the Journey for its effort at building a national grass-roots base. Rep. Kilpatrick began agreeing that there is "No Justice in the War on Drugs" -- the slogan of the November Coalition and also applauded the national coalition building of the Journey for Justice. She noted "we are all recovering from something."= Rep. Kilpatrick, while still needing some education on some drug policy issues, understands that the drug war is unjust -- DPF MI and others will build with her from there. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interestingly, opposition to reform felt a strong need to be at this
main event. Indeed, when I was in the hallway I overheard an
opponent of reform on her cell phone saying -- "we need to get some
people down here to speak up" - a handful of opponents did show up
and did speak against reform during question and answer periods.
However, they were largely ineffective.= The opponents came
primarily from people in the drug treatment industry. Having
opponents in the room actually enhanced the dialogue as attendees
were able to hear their arguments and the effective reform responses
to them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For more of this report, see: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's just a plant. It's not psychoactive. How can it be illegal? It's like outlawing powdered sugar because it looks like cocaine." | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Jason Burk, who led an effort to get a non-binding referendum in
his Massachusetts voting district asking residents to support
industrial hemp. | ||||||||||||||||||||
See http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1926/a01.html for more details. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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