| Feb. 14, 2003 #288 | ||||||||||||||||||
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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) US VA: 2002 HOMICIDE RATE ATTRIBUTED TO DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
More than a third came at year's end | ||||||||||||||||||
The average homicide victim in Richmond last year was a 30-year-old
black man shot during a drug dispute, according to city police
statistics. | ||||||||||||||||||
More than 60 percent of the city's homicides last year were
drug-related, with crack cocaine being the No. 1 drug involved and
heroin running a close second. | ||||||||||||||||||
Most of the killings - 79 of 84 - were committed with a firearm. | ||||||||||||||||||
Most of the victims - 74 of 84 - were male. | ||||||||||||||||||
And most of them - 69 of 84 - were black. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Anyone who says drugs don't kill just needs to take a look at the
numbers," Richmond Police Chief Andre Parker said Monday during a news
conference announcing a recent drug sweep. | ||||||||||||||||||
Last August, Richmond police teamed with local offices of the Drug
Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney's office to target open-air
drug dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||
Since the law-enforcement groups started cracking down on drug
operations, the number of homicides has risen. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) RIOTING IN BOLIVIA KILLS 20; PRESIDENT UNDER PRESSURE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
LA PAZ, Bolivia - Tanks formed an iron curtain in front of Bolivia's
presidential palace Thursday as a second day of violent protests swept
the Andean nation and calls grew for President Gonzalo Sanchez de
Lozada to resign. | ||||||||||||||||||
The death toll climbed to at least 20 on Thursday as scattered violence and looting continued across the country. A clash between police and soldiers, who have feuded for decades, sparked the clash, which was joined by citizens angry over an unpopular income tax. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday, authorities met union-led anti-government demonstrations in
the capital city of La Paz with bullets and tear gas. Bolivian media
reports said at least two looters were shot to death and 12 others
were injured, some gravely. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sanchez de Lozada, 72, known by his nickname, Goni, said through his
Cabinet chief that he would not resign. | ||||||||||||||||||
Unions, indigenous groups and political opponents Thursday launched
what they promised would be nationwide highway blockages and other
protests aimed at toppling the pro-U.S. government that took office in
August. | ||||||||||||||||||
Leading the opposition effort is Evo Morales, who came close to
winning the presidency last year and whose Movement to Socialism Party
now controls about a third of Bolivia's Congress. | ||||||||||||||||||
Morales champions poor, mostly indigenous farmers who grow coca, the
plant from which cocaine is made. In a heated address to demonstrators
in La Paz's Plaza de San Francisco on Thursday, Morales called for
civil unrest. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) US CA: MEDICAL POT ACTIVISTS PLAN WEEK OF EVENTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Picnic Set For Golden Gate Park; Also Protests At Federal Buildings | ||||||||||||||||||
Bay Area activists are planning events throughout the next week to raise awareness and support for medicinal use of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
The week begins with a picnic and planting event at noon Saturday
outside the Conservatory in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Organizers will place the first of 215,000 marijuana seedlings they
hope to plant in honor of Proposition 215, a 1996 state ballot measure
that legalized the use of medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
Participants are encouraged to wear gardening clothes and bring
shovels and rakes. | ||||||||||||||||||
At 4 p.m. Saturday, activists will erect a marijuana leaf banner atop
San Francisco's Twin Peaks. At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the Compassion and
Care Center will host a party and short film presentation at 122 10th
St., San Francisco. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
For more information, call Americans for Safe Access at (510) 486-8083
or go to www.safeaccessnow.org | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) CN MB: DOC ISSUES PAMPHLET ON SAFE ECSTASY USE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug Unit Cop Fears False Sense Of Security | ||||||||||||||||||
After ecstasy took another young victim last weekend, a Winnipeg doctor says he is willing to risk controversy to save lives. | ||||||||||||||||||
"As a professional, it's important to put the right information out
there," said Dr. Gary Podolsky, owner of Skylark Medical Clinic at 264
Tache Ave. "This is preventive medicine." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Podolsky, specializing in sports and travel medicine, said he knows
the pamphlet might be viewed as an ecstasy "how-to." | ||||||||||||||||||
"Bottom line, drugs are bad for everyone. I would like people to
access the proper care sooner rather than later. People can say
whatever they want." | ||||||||||||||||||
Det.-Sgt. Mark Pruden, Drug Unit, said there is nothing illegal about what Podolsky is doing, although it might raise some eyebrows. | ||||||||||||||||||
"If the medical community want to put something out like this, that's
their issue," he said. "It's definitely going to cause controversy
because here's a doctor talking about it honestly." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Is there a fresh wind blowing in the federal drug war? Reading coverage of the new "strategy report" from the Office of National Drug Control Policy might make one think so. ONDCP officials are boasting smaller budgets with more resources devoted to treatment. However, an analysis by the Drug Policy Alliance, included below as the feature article of DrugSense Weekly,= indicates the changes have more to do with creative accounting than anything else. | ||||||||||||||||||
The hyping of increased funds for treatment doesn't jibe with actual
resource allocation by the Justice Department. A report from the
Washington Times shows that only a fraction of federal money devoted
to treatment was actually spent last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
In other treatment news, more critics are casting a skeptical eye at
the Bush administration's push for faith-based treatment. Also,
residents of Washington, D.C. who voted for more treatment for drug
offenders won't be getting it, thanks to a judge's decision. And,
methadone, long used to keep addicts of heroin, is being treated as
another demon drug by the popular press. | ||||||||||||||||||
Finally, as the feds crack down on prescription abuse, they to pay
for such a crack-down. It looks like funds will come from taxing
doctors, pharmacies and pharmacists, who will certainly pass the
costs onto consumers. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) U.S. TO EXTEND DRUG TREATMENT, TARGET TRAFFICKERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - The United States unveiled plans on Wednesday to extend
its "war on drugs" through education campaigns, improved treatment
access and disruptions of overseas drug markets. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Office for National Drug Control Policy, bolstered by new
funding, including an extra $600 million for addiction treatment
vouchers, said in its 2003 strategy report that youth drug use had
begun to decline for the first time in 10 years. | ||||||||||||||||||
John Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, said the funds would help his office meet the White House
goal of reducing drug use by 10 percent over two years and 25
percent over five years. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) FUNDS TO FIGHT DRUGS GO UNUSED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Justice Department spent less than half of the $336 million it allocated in fiscal 2001 for programs to reduce demand for drugs despite a long-standing department policy intended to break the cycle of illicit drug use and its resulting violence through aggressive reduction in demand, a report said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
A 103-page report by the Justice Department's Office of the
Inspector General also said the Drug Enforcement Administration, the
nation's front line against illicit narcotics, spent $3 million on
demand- reduction programs in fiscal 2001, two-tenths of 1 percent
of the agency's $1.4 billion budget. | ||||||||||||||||||
The report also said the Justice Department's Office of Justice
Programs, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and the
Bureau of Prisons, along with the DEA - a Justice Department agency
- spent $163 million on demand-reduction programs in fiscal 2001 -
not the $336 million it reported to the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP.) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) RELIGIOUS INDOCTRINATION DRESSED UP AS SOCIAL WELFARE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
This message is to anyone who thinks that the separation of church
and state is a vital component of American liberty: Wake up and
start hollering. Our president is conducting a full frontal assault
on this vital right, and few beyond a handful of civil liberties
groups are paying any mind. | ||||||||||||||||||
During the State of the Union address, Bush asked Congress to
approve $600-million over three years for drug and alcohol
treatment. Noble as this may seem, Bush is turning the effort into a
way to divert public dollars to religious groups. | ||||||||||||||||||
His invited guests for the speech were Tonja Myles of the "Set Free
Indeed Program" at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, La., and
Henry Lozano of Teen Challenge California. Bush, who wears his
religion not only on his sleeve but as a very loud tie, held up the
"Set Free Indeed" program as a model, calling its work "amazing." He
was telling America that this is the type of program we should be
pouring federal dollars into. | ||||||||||||||||||
But if you look at the program's Web site, you'll see that the services provided are, well, "services." "We believe that recovery begins at the Cross," says the group's mission statement. "We rely solely on the foundation of the Word of God to break the bands of addiction." So much for professional treatment protocols. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) JUDGE REJECTS D.C. PLAN TO TREAT DRUG OFFENDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
An initiative passed by D.C. voters last fall that would require the city to offer treatment to scores of nonviolent drug offenders cannot take effect because it illegally dictates how the D.C. government must spend its money, a judge ruled yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
The ruling by D.C. Superior Court Judge Jeanette J. Clark was a
victory for the D.C. government, which filed suit to block the
initiative from becoming law. D.C. officials said the measure would
generate huge costs and jeopardize the future of an existing drug
court. | ||||||||||||||||||
Voters overwhelmingly approved Initiative 62, which was meant to
give certain nonviolent drug offenders the option of having their
criminal cases dismissed by entering drug treatment programs. The
treatment was supposed to take the place of jail and be overseen by
the D.C. Department of Health, not the court. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) METHADONE VAULTS INTO ROLE AS KILLER DRUG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PORTLAND, Maine - Methadone, a drug long valued for treating heroin addiction and for soothing chronic pain, is increasingly being abused by recreational drug users and is causing an alarming increase in overdoses and deaths, federal and state officials say. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Florida, methadone-related deaths jumped from 209 in 2000 to 357
in 2001 and 254 in just the first six months of 2002, the latest
period for which data are available. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Out of no place came methadone," said James McDonough, director of
the Florida Office of Drug Control. "It now is the fastest rising
killer drug." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) DOCTORS TO PAY TAB FOR NEW DRUG FIGHT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Bush team plans to double licensing fees for physicians, pharmacies and manufacturers to combat the abuse of prescription medicine. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Bush administration plans to double licensing fees on doctors, pharmacies and drug makers to expand the government's fight against prescription drug abuse, which is growing rapidly across the nation. | ||||||||||||||||||
Officials said the fee increase will be disclosed in the next few
days by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which polices the
distribution of prescription drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The drug war takes another young life as a 14-year-old girl is shot
by DEA agents in Texas. The DEA and a friend of the victim at the
scene tell conflicting stories about what happened. The
repercussions from reckless drug law enforcement is also being
played out in Ohio, where a disabled man is about to lose his home
because of a faulty drug raid. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Indiana, a man is suing police who he says strip-searched him in
public.= His lawyer said such public searches, including cavity
searches, had been performed in public. And an editorial in the San
Antonio Express-News is calling for an investigation of a Texas
city. The former City Manager of Kingsville, Texas accuses a local
sheriff of scheming to allow drug dealers to take control of the
Kingsville City Council. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) GIRL SHOT AT DEA STAKEOUT IS DEAD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
As Ashley Villarreal lay in the hospital and drew her last breaths
Tuesday, a friend challenged the official version of how federal
agents days earlier shot the 14-year-old daughter of a drug
trafficking suspect. | ||||||||||||||||||
The eyewitness account came as Ashley's family requested that she be
taken off life support. She died at 6:14 p.m., a hospital spokesman
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Daniel Robles, a family friend and housemate who was with the teenager during Sunday's stakeout by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, offered the conflicting narrative. | ||||||||||||||||||
The agents were there to get the girl's father, Joey Angel
Villarreal, a three-time convicted drug offender who turned himself
in and was charged with cocaine trafficking a day after the
shooting. | ||||||||||||||||||
Federal authorities have said an agent opened fire when a darkened
car accelerated toward him. | ||||||||||||||||||
But Robles said that, to him, in the passenger seat, and to the girl
behind the wheel, it looked like a darkened car was accelerating
toward them. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) RETIREE'S LIFE TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Samuel Higgins thought he'd have a restful retirement in the home he
loves. He'd worked for more than 28 years on General Motors assembly
lines, often double shifts, in Norwood and Indianapolis. But at 62,
instead of rest, mostly Higgins is getting stress. | ||||||||||||||||||
In 1999 police raided his home, a condominium in Mt. Auburn, looking
for drugs and for his son. Three years later, he's still fighting in
court to get reimbursed. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In November 1999, police acted on what they thought was a reliable
tip. A confidential informant said one of Higgins' sons was in on a
major cocaine purchase and had stowed the drugs and money at his
father's place. | ||||||||||||||||||
The police got a warrant and bashed in the front, side and rear
doors. | ||||||||||||||||||
They emptied all of Higgins' closets, punched a large hole in the
ceiling, and up-ended the flowers and plants, caking dirt into the
wall-to-wall carpet. | ||||||||||||||||||
A videotape taken by Higgins' brother shows speakers and vents
ripped from walls, a large rattan chair broken in half, personal
papers and photos covering the floor so densely you can't see the
rug. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) MAN FILES LAWSUIT, SAYS PUBLIC STRIP-SEARCH VIOLATED RIGHTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
INDIANAPOLIS -- James S. Campbell says Indianapolis police officers
told him he fit the profile of a drug dealer, so they strip-searched
him -- in public. | ||||||||||||||||||
Campbell brought a federal lawsuit against the Indianapolis Police
Department on Friday, alleging his constitutional rights were
violated during the June incident. He is seeking damages and wants a
judge to bar police from conducting stripand body-cavity searches in
public. | ||||||||||||||||||
Campbell's attorney, Michael Sutherlin, said he believes at least
100 others have been subjected to such public searches in Central
Indiana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) EDITORIAL: KINGSVILLE ALLEGATIONS REQUIRE FEDERAL PROBE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Serious allegations have been raised about the confluence of drug
trafficking and local politics in Kingsville. | ||||||||||||||||||
These claims, detailed in recent Express-News reports, merit a
full-scale investigation by the FBI. | ||||||||||||||||||
The ongoing saga features an unusual lawsuit filed by now-suspended
City Manager Hector Hinojosa. He charged that drug traffickers
engineered a plot to seize control of the City Commission and remove
Police Chief Sam Granato. | ||||||||||||||||||
Hinojosa's federal lawsuit, filed Jan. 13 and dismissed a little
more than two weeks later, also alleged that Kleberg County Sheriff
Tony Gonzalez was close friends with local drug dealers and wanted
Granato out. Gonalez denied the allegations. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (15-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
California continues to be ground zero in the power-struggle between
federal-state marijuana laws that dominate domestic headlines this
week. In an extremely rare move, several jurors who convicted Ed
Rosenthal, publicly denounced the trial and their role in convicting
him. | ||||||||||||||||||
Californians realize that a strong, coordinated effort of all
stakeholders,= with 80% public support as polls suggest, is needed
to provide the impetus and strength to repel federal zealots who are
intent on abolishing individual and state rights. Prop 215 has
become a symbolic and literal battleground and who become the
winners and who are the losers in this fight will play a significant
role in so many lives. | ||||||||||||||||||
On that note, another California city council offers tangibility to
the concept behind the state medical marijuana program and doctors
attempt to band together to stave off persecution. Also, an
important ruling in the Whitaker case could put another serious dent
in the feds offensive. | ||||||||||||||||||
Some international articles sound like they come from a different
planet or straight out of a novel, but incredibly in other parts of
our very own world such as Italy, teenagers can smoke joints on
school trips, as long as they are sharing them rather than selling
them, an Italian court has ruled.= In Jamaica, Rastafarians scored a
legal victory that may pave the way to more. | ||||||||||||||||||
The flip side is the not surprising news that the Canadian
government is appealing a landmark Superior Court ruling that issued
ultimatums to the government to get its medical cannabis program
together. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) JURORS WHO CONVICTED MARIJUANA GROWER SEEK NEW TRIAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SAN FRANCISCO - In an unusual show of solidarity with the man they
convicted last week, five jurors in the trial of a medicinal
marijuana advocate issued a public apology to him today and demanded
that the judge grant him a new trial. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In a striking demonstration of how deep the divide remains between
federal and California laws on medicinal uses of marijuana, the
jurors were joined by the San Francisco district attorney and two
members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Rosenthal's lawyers said they had filed a motion to have the
indictment against Mr. Rosenthal dismissed. If that fails, they
said, they will file a motion for a new trial. If that should also
fail, the lawyers said, they will appeal the verdict to the United
States Court of Appeals. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL OKS POSSESSION OF POUND OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SAN DIEGO - The City Council approved scaled-back medical marijuana
guidelines Tuesday night that allow sick people with a doctor's
recommendation to possess a pound of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The council also eliminated provisions that would have allowed
patients to grow marijuana plants outdoors. They can still grow a
limited number of plants indoors. [snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Critics of San Diego's action said the guidelines would send a mixed
message to young people. But advocates said the issue was strictly
about helping sick people. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Extremists on all sides are trying to co-opt this issue. This is not about their agenda. This is about quality of life for the sick and suffering," said Juliana Humphrey, chairwoman of the city's Medical Marijuana Task Force, which drafted the guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) DOCTORS WITHOUT ORDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
So many doctors who recommend cannabis have found themselves under investigation by the Medical Board of California --which can revoke or suspend their licenses-- that Frank Lucido, MD, has called a conference to compare notes and discuss a coordinated response. | ||||||||||||||||||
The docs will meet in Berkeley on March 8. One of their chief
concerns is that the Medical Board has never issued guidelines
according to which they can discuss cannabis with their patients.
(Tod Mikuriya, MD, has been requesting and suggesting guidelines
since 1996.) Another concern is that almost all the complaints that
have triggered Medical Board investigations have come not from
patients or their loved ones, but from law enforcement or other
third parties. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
'It should not initiate an investigation simply because some individual, such as a park ranger or a law enforcement officer or even a judicial officer, simply disapproves of the very idea that a patient has a physician's recommendation to use cannabis.' | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
'And how is the Medical Board supposed to determine whether or not a physician might have breached the standard of care?' asked Mead rhetorically. 'Proposition 215 specifically includes a number of serious medical conditions [cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, and migraine.] In addition, it applies to 'any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.' That's very broad, and the Medical Board can ensure that the physician has some support for his or her opinion. But that support need not come from double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. | ||||||||||||||||||
Most off-label prescription is not supported by such evidence. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
'The ultimatum was clear,' wrote Judge Drozd in his order; and if
the feds were indeed functioning as the hammer for local law
enforcers, it would be vindictive prosecution --and grounds for
dismissal. Now the burden is on the U.S. Attorney's Office and their
Placer County cronies to prove their innocence. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) PASS THE DUTCHIE, DON'T SELL IT, JUDGE TELLS KIDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Italian teenagers can smoke joints on school trips, as long as they
are sharing them rather than selling them, an Italian court has
ruled. | ||||||||||||||||||
Francesco, a student from Rome, was caught with enough hashish for 40 joints during a school excursion two years ago when he was 17, and fined =A41,250 ( ?830) for selling it to his classmates. | ||||||||||||||||||
He appealed saying he had bought the hashish on behalf of a "smoking
group"= of friends and simply collected their financial | ||||||||||||||||||
The court ruled on Thursday that this constituted "group
possession", and was therefore not a crime. The substance "could
easily have been consumed during the many days of the trip", the
court ruling said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) RASTAFARIANS WANTED SOME RESPECT FOR THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"They'll give Bob Marley an honourary degree. | ||||||||||||||||||
"But they wouldn't want a Rastafarian to marry their daughter," said Dilipi Champagnie, an affable Rastafarian priest who won the right yesterday, in a landmark legal case, to minister to prison inmates. | ||||||||||||||||||
The case dealt with the religious rights of Mr. Champagnie, who
serves at the Church of Haile Selassie in a gritty part of West
Kingston, and Kevin Hall, a 26-year-old prison inmate serving a
15-year sentence for a gang-related murder. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana is illegal in Jamaica, but it's widely used here, and
Rastafarians use it in religious ceremonies. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Shortly before the court was to consider the case, Jamaican
authorities agreed to respect the religious rights of Rastafarian
priests and prison inmates. | ||||||||||||||||||
Lawyers for the plaintiffs said the settlement would pave the way
for Rastafarians to petition Parliament to grant their churches
tax-exempt status and to allow Rastafarians to use marijuana legally
as part of their sacraments. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) FEDS APPEAL POT RULING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Ottawa is appealing last month's landmark Superior Court ruling that ordered the federal government to fix its medicinal marijuana regulations or provide a legal source and supply to sick people. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Laws which put seriously ill, vulnerable people in a position where
they have to deal with the criminal underworld to obtain medicine
they have been authorized to take, violates the constitutional right
to security of the person," Lederman wrote. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (21-26) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The bloodletting in Thailand soared to over 140 this week, as
government police continue a wholesale slaughter of "dealers" and
"addicts" in that country. Reports indicate police are shooting
people indiscriminately under the cover of a national pogrom against
drug users. Police in some regions announce that "drug dealers and
addicts" must surrender to police, for conversion and treatment.
Other reports say police death squads use lists of suspected addicts
as execution lists. Suspects are shot, drugs are "found," the case
is then closed. Government officials are given a bounty. Suspected
addicts not killed in summary street-executions by police are
rounded up and taken to camps. Over 2,200 police checkpoints are set
up, according to reports. On the other hand, Thai officials who are
caught face a more lenient treatment. After some 13 Thai "officials"
were caught with positive drug tests, other officials announced that
they must quit, or face punishment. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Indonesian press claims universal support for Indonesian government plans to begin execution of drug offenders. Officials, experts, and authorities, claimed the Jakarta Post, say that drug offenders (unlike other types of criminals) must die immediately because of the great dangers drugs pose to "youngsters." | ||||||||||||||||||
Not wanting to feel left out of the government stampede in Thailand
and Indonesia, the Iranian government last week announced plans to
"round-up addicts who have been released." Speaking through the IRNA
news service (a mouthpiece of the Iranian government), the head of
Iran's Anti-Narcotics bureau Ali Hashemi announced "a projects"
(sic) to "round-up addicts" would be undertaken by police. In Iran
as elsewhere, the "addicts" described are mostly cannabis users. The
IRNA report admitted that of 56 tons of drugs seized last year, 46
tons (about 82%) were of cannabis resin. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(21) LAST CHANCE FOR DRUG OFFENDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PHUKET TOWN: Police have given drug dealers and addicts | ||||||||||||||||||
The leeway in the campaign was announced by Pol Col Paween
Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, and Phuket
Town District Chief Weerawat Janpan, who said the dealers would have
a chance to be converted and the addicts would be weaned off their
habits. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi, who is leading the anti-drug drive in Phuket, has also urged addicts and dealers to turn themselves in. | ||||||||||||||||||
Addicts can contact the Phuket Town District Office, the Governor's office, Phuket Town Police Station, Chalong Police Station, Phuket Public Health Office or their nearest public health center. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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(22) WAGE WAR ON DRUGS BY THE RULES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The government announced it is waging a war against amphetamines, setting a target to eliminate them from the kingdom within three months after Feb 1 of this year. Governors and district police chiefs that fail to accomplish this shall be heavily punished. | ||||||||||||||||||
Simultaneously, rewards for the seizure of amphetamines leading to
convictions were increased to three baht a pill as an incentive for
arresting officers, which include civil servants, policemen and
armed forces officials. | ||||||||||||||||||
Not surprisingly, we have since seen such headlines as "Drug murders
escalate to 18 a day," "17 shot dead daily in drug-related cases" or
"24 more shot dead, sacrificed to amphetamine gangs." | ||||||||||||||||||
No one protests or even disagrees with the war. But after reports of
so many murders, there are pressing concerns that state officials,
especially policemen, might be abusing their power and taking
justice in their own hands through extrajudicial murders, risking
the lives of innocent people. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In addition, some unknown parties may easily take advantage of the
situation by killing their opponents and leaving some pills on the
bodies. No one would know for sure, but what is certain is that when
someone is murdered and it is assumed the victim was involved in the
illicit drug trade, the police will drop the investigation and close
the case. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
A few days after the war started, 23-24 killings had been reported
in the news.. The police admitted being responsible for only four of
the deaths, the rest were presumably committed by drug traffickers
taking action among themselves. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(23) DEATH TOLL IN THAILAND'S WAR ON DRUGS PASSES 140 IN FIRST NINE DAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
At least 144 drug suspects have been killed in the first nine days
of the Thai government's latest crackdown on the drugs trade, a
report said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The shooting of drugs suspects, while not unusual in Thailand, has caused concern among domestic and international human rights groups, who worry that authorities may be conducting extrajudicial killings. | ||||||||||||||||||
Few observers believe that a gang war has spontaneously broken out
to coincide with the three-month campaign. Somchai Homlaor,
secretary-general of the Asia Forum human rights group, said: "The
only sensible conclusion is the police are sending out death
squads." | ||||||||||||||||||
A military source said part of the drug trade was carried out by
corrupt police who had good reason to dispose of people who might
confess their crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
A further 159 suspected dealers and traffickers were detained at
some of the 2,292 checkpoints set up nationwide, the authorities
said. In the northern city of Chiang Mai, 50 small-time dealers
surrendered to police in a single day. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(24) TESTS FIND 13 OFFICIALS TO BE USERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Thirteen officials in Mae Fa Luang district have tested positive for
drugs and will have to quit or face serious punishment. | ||||||||||||||||||
About 360 officials, soldiers and local people took part in a recent
oath-taking ceremony at Doi Tung development project site, Mae Fa
Luang. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
After the ceremony, everyone was tested for drugs and 13 officials
tested positive for opium and methamphetamines. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Wan Nor said officials and local leaders must wash their hands of
drugs by Feb 15 or face the toughest measures. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(25) MIXED REACTIONS TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Families of drug addicts were split over the death sentence for drug
dealers while legal experts agreed that capital punishment was
appropriate given the menace they pose to society. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
She said her brother had lost his job because of heroin, and once
also spent five months in prison. | ||||||||||||||||||
"He is now a living skeleton who needs a constant supply of heroin,"
Arisanti said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Recently, President Megawati Soekarnoputri rejected requests for a
pardon by six convicts on death row, including a drug dealer, a move
that was supported by Muslim leaders. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Executions became standard fare in the country following the
abortive coup in 1965, blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party (
PKI ). Since 1978, at least 38 people have been officially executed
by the state, mostly political prisoners. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Henri Yosodiningrat, a lawyer who founded the Anti-Narcotics
National Movement ( Granat ), said that drug dealers deserved to be
executed as they bring disastrous consequences to the country's
youngsters. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
He said the death sentence should be imposed on traffickers regardless of the amount of drugs illegally traded. [snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, a legal expert from the University of
Indonesia, said the death penalty was appropriate for drug dealers
as it would deter others from committing such a crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Drugs cause damage to youngsters, therefore the death sentence is
worth the negative impacts," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Although Harkristuti was ambivalent about the effectiveness of the
death sentence for other major crimes, she agreed that if all legal
proceedings had been undertaken in the case of drug dealers, they
should be immediately be executed. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(26) DRUG ADDICTS TO BE ROUNDED UP NATIONWIDE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Tehran -- Presidential Advisor and Head of Iran's Anti-Narcotics
Headquarters Ali Hashemi said here Saturday that a projects to
round-up addicts who have been released will be carried out with the
help of police, Judiciary, and Prisons Organization. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
It added the consignment included five tons of opium, 47 tons of
hashish, six tons of morphine, three tons of heroin and one ton of
other assortment of drugs, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Hashemi said that 267,500 people have been arrested in the period,
'of which 67 percent are addicts and 32 percent are booked for
smuggling-related offenses'. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Despite all the efforts, drug production in neighboring Afghanistan
is expected to surge this year. According to unconfirmed reports,
most of the regions under the US control in the war-devastated
country are being gone under poppy cultivation. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Will the Rosenthal Case Destroy Federal Medical Marijuana Enforcement? | ||||||||||||||||||
By Kevin Zeese | ||||||||||||||||||
"Throughout U.S. history unjust verdicts have led to dramatic
change. Indeed, the birth of the United States was sparked by a
verdict in favor of the crown in Paxton's case challenging the
warrantless searches by the King's soldiers of colonial homes and
businesses. John Adams, who later became a leader in the revolution
and the second president of the United States, was a young court
reporter and at the time of the verdict he wrote, 'Then and there,
the child Independence was borne.'" | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
VIEWS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WAR ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
"We received 36 e-mails criticizing our Feb. 2 editorial, the second
of two editorials attacking illegal drug use in Laclede County.
Here are the e-mails, unedited and uncensored, except for the
addresses and the phone numbers of the writers. While we don't
agree with their views, we also don't want to be responsible
for them to be harassed." | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.lebanondailyrecord.com/display/inn_opinion/news06special.txt | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
MARC EMERY BIRTHDAY BASH | ||||||||||||||||||
Marc's staff and friends send their birthday wishes and acknowledge the many accomplishments he has to look back on in his 45th year. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
2/12/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||
A new Partnership for a Drug-Free America survey found that the
majority of U.S. teenagers believe there is little risk in
experimenting with ecstasy, CNN reported Feb. 11. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
WHITE HOUSE ANTI-DRUG ADS FOSTER "PRO-DRUG" BELIEFS IN TEENS, | ||||||||||||||||||
February 13, 2003 - Washington, DC, USA | ||||||||||||||||||
"Little Evidence" That Post-September 11 Ads Linking Drug Use
To Terrorism Are Having Any Favorable Impact On Youth | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Support Medical Marijuana Act | ||||||||||||||||||
By Bryan Epis | ||||||||||||||||||
I would like to ask the readers of the Chico Enterprise-Record to
please write Congress and ask them to pass the "States Medical
Marijuana Rights Act." You can easily do this by going to
http://www.stopthedrugwar.org/medicalmarijuana/.=A0 It can be done
in just fivewww.stopthedrugwar.org/medicalmarijuana/. It can be
done in just five minutes. This act will allow people following
state medical marijuana laws to not be thrown in federal prison for
10 years. | ||||||||||||||||||
It will also stop vindictive county district attorneys and sheriffs who despise California's medical marijuana law from conspiring with federal agents to circumvent California law, by prosecuting medical marijuana cases in federal court, where the jury isn't allowed to hear the truth, and isn't allowed to apply California law. | ||||||||||||||||||
I could never have been convicted in state court, and that's why my
case was turned over to the federal government. According to a
recent Time/CNN poll, 80 percent of Americans believe that an adult
should be able to use marijuana legally for medical purposes, and
Congress isn't listening to the American public. | ||||||||||||||||||
I am a Chico resident who was recently sentenced to 10 years in
federal prison for the "crime" of "following California's medical
marijuana law." I can be reached at: Bryan Epis, POW, 09636-097,
3600 Guard Road, Lompoc, CA 93436. | ||||||||||||||||||
Please spend five minutes to help me, my 8-year-old daughter and
thousands of other California citizens who are being terrorized by
the federal government. Thank you. | ||||||||||||||||||
Bryan Epis, | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Fuzzy Math in New ONDCP Report | ||||||||||||||||||
By Drug Policy Alliance | ||||||||||||||||||
Using new accounting procedures, this year's White House Drug
Strategy, released February 12, for the first time ever conceals
billions of dollars spent on incarcerating drug offenders and
certain law enforcement efforts by excluding these categories from
the budget and including inflated expenditures on treatment
services. | ||||||||||||||||||
Recent polling by Peter Hart Research Associates shows that nearly
two-thirds of Americans want treatment, not incarceration, for
nonviolent drug offenders and the 2003 Drug Strategy | ||||||||||||||||||
Although, the 2004 Drug Control Budget (which accompanies the
Strategy) is yet to be released, an analysis of the summary budget
numbers outlined in the Strategy revealed that by hiding the costs
of incarceration, military activities and other known costs of the
drug war, the Office of National Drug Control Policy was able to
bring their enforcement to treatment ratios more into line with
public sentiment. Last year, the Office stated it spent 33% of the
drug war budget on drug treatment and prevention activities while
67% went to law enforcement and interdiction. This year, despite
making no substantive spending changes, the Office claims to be
spending 47% on drug treatment and only 53% on law enforcement
activities. In addition, the office appears to inflate its numbers
by including alcohol treatment, which by law is specifically
excluded from their scope of responsibilities. | ||||||||||||||||||
The White House s 2003 National Drug Control Strategy is deceptive
in numerous ways: | ||||||||||||||||||
* The Drug Czar Distorts the True Cost of the Federal Drug War | ||||||||||||||||||
The new 2003 Drug Strategy shows the federal government spending
only about $11 billion dollars a year, when the real cost (more
accurately reflected in last year's drug strategy) is around $20
billion. ONDCP said it will not count drug war expenditures by many
law enforcement agencies, while acknowledging that these agencies
will remain focused on drug control efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||
* The Drug Czar Distorts the Amount Spent on Treatment vs. the
Amount Spent on Law Enforcement | ||||||||||||||||||
By reducing reported law enforcement costs, eliminating reported
prison costs, and artificially boosting reported drug treatment
expenditures, ONDCP Director John Walters attempts to make the drug
war look more compassionate. Although the actual drug war budget
maintains focused on supply reduction (with nearly 70 percent of the
budget), the new drug strategy makes the assertion that spending is
almost split evenly between supply and demand efforts. This
distortion makes the drug war look more humane, and makes it harder
for drug treatment and prevention groups to advocate for needed
additional funding. | ||||||||||||||||||
* The Drug Czar Stops Counting the Cost of Imprisoning Nonviolent
Drug Offenders | ||||||||||||||||||
ONDCP reduces the official estimate of federal drug war costs by
eliminating "agencies that mainly focus on the consequences
associated with the activities of other primary counterdrug
agencies." This means, among other things, not counting the costs of
imprisoning federal nonviolent drug offenders at about $3 billion a
year. According to the ONDCP, "Although these [prison costs] are
real costs to society, they do not factor into the core of drug law
enforcement decisions made by national policymakers." Yet these
costs result directly from federal drug war policies. | ||||||||||||||||||
* The Drug Czar Appears to Over-Report Treatment Expenditures | ||||||||||||||||||
Although ONDCP stops counting many law enforcement expenses, it appears to continue counting many "drug treatment and prevention" expenses for agencies not actually involved in drug war efforts. It may also fraudulently increase the amount of federal drug treatment expenditures reported to Congress and the public by counting money spent reducing alcohol abuse, even though ONDCP's charter specifically excludes alcohol from its scope of responsibilities. | ||||||||||||||||||
On the basis of these falsified claims, Drug Policy Alliance
recommends that Congress bar ONDCP from adopting these accounting
changes and develop procedures to ensure that the drug war budget is
always based on facts - not politics. | ||||||||||||||||||
For more information on Drug Policy Alliance, see www.drugpolicy.org | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Love is a word that is constantly heard, | ||||||||||||||||||
-- Ogden Nash | ||||||||||||||||||
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