| April 25, 2003 #297 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) MARIJUANA CASE CRUMBLING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CEDAR CITY - Felony drug charges against three California men carrying
medical marijuana prescriptions at the time of their arrest could be
dismissed now that a judge has ruled police illegally obtained the
evidence against them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We are very happy this is over. It's been an interesting 35,000-mile
journey," said Dennis Peron, 57, from his home in California on
Thursday. "This case was about the Fourth and Sixth Amendments. The
Fourth Amendment is put there to protect us from police coming into our
homes or private rooms and conducting illegal searches. They had plenty
of time to get a warrant and they didn't do it." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Peron was arrested at a Cedar City hotel in November 2001 and charged
with a third-degree felony count of engaging in a criminal enterprise
and a misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. John Entwistle Jr.,
38, and Kasey Conder, 19, also were arrested on charges of third-degree
felony possession with intent to distribute and misdemeanor possession
of drug paraphernalia. If convicted, the men could have been sentenced
up to five years in prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fifth District Judge J. Philip Eves ruled Monday that since police did
not have a search warrant when they entered the men's hotel room all
evidence obtained during the search was inadmissible. Evidence obtained
later from the men's vehicle must also be tossed, even though police
had a warrant for that search, the judge ruled. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) EX-AGENT INDICTED IN TULIA DRUG CASES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The undercover officer who ran a controversial drug investigation in
Tulia four years ago was indicted Thursday on charges of lying under
oath during recent hearings to determine if the convictions he
obtained were legitimate. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A three-count indictment handed up by a Swisher County grand jury
accuses Tom Coleman, 43, of making false statements about legal
problems he faced in another county while working for the
Panhandle Drug Task Force. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"These were the three strongest cases," said Rod Hobson, a Lubbock
attorney who is working as a special prosecutor on the Tulia
investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coleman could not be reached for comment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) FEDERAL DRUG CZAR WON'T FACE PROSECUTION IN STATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
AG Finds Anti-Marijuana Campaign Allowable In Nevada | ||||||||||||||||||||
CARSON CITY -- National Drug Czar John Walters will not be prosecuted
for violating state election laws, the secretary of state's office
announced Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Deputy Secretary of State Renee Parker said it would be futile to
try to prosecute Walters for failing to turn in legally required
campaign contributions and expenditure reports. She said an attorney
general's opinion found he was acting within the framework of his
position last year when he campaigned against legalizing marijuana in
Nevada. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"There is nothing we can do," Parker said. "Our own attorneys are
telling us we will lose." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jonathan Andrews, a special assistant state attorney general, decided
that Walters did not have to file the campaign reports required of all
candidates and groups that advocate for ballot questions because of an
1890 U.S. Supreme Court decision. That decision held federal officials
are immune from state action when exercising the functions of their
offices, according to Andrews. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) LAWMAKERS WONDER IF STATE IS GETTING ITS SHARE OF SEIZED DRUG MONEY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ATLANTA -- Little of the money state police officers seize from drug
traffickers winds up helping them fight crime as a 1974 law intended,
according to government report that has lawmakers wondering whether
changes are needed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Instead, state law-enforcement agencies opt to let local police claim
the money in hopes they'll donate a share to the state. Often, local
departments do donate cars for undercover use, computers or money for
equipment, but some state cops told investigators they don't feel they
always get their share. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In 2001, state judges ordered the forfeiture of more than $8 million
worth of cash and property confiscated from 2,830 instances where it
was found near illegal drugs, according to the Georgia Department of
Audits and Accounts. Until the department published its report in
October 2002, no one knew how much was forfeited because there is no
mechanism for the state to regularly collect the data. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Burke Day is among those worried something is out of balance, and
the Tybee Island Republican sponsored legislation to sniff out the
situation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I've been trying to figure out where does it go," Day said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
His resolution to create a study committee of legislators stalled because House Speaker Terry Coleman believes there are already too many special study committees. Yet, he has the same questions Day has. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's worth looking into," said Coleman, D-Eastman. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
After a week off, we need to catch up on two terrible bits of
drug-related legislation crammed into the Amber Alert Bill at the
last minute: the Rave Act and guidelines that would reduce judicial
discretion in sentencing. The bills were so bad, perhaps sponsors
had no choice but to pass them stealthily. | ||||||||||||||||||||
More recently, a California city and county are fighting against raids on medical marijuana facilities by suing the feds who conducted the raids. But even as its own cities rebel against absurd marijuana policies, the U.S. is still threatening our sovereign neighbor to the north over possible plans to go soft on pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Maybe the feds should be investigating what's happening at an
alleged anti-drug program in North Carolina. Even though the
foundation is chaired by a member of the U.S. House, it can't seem
to account for the public money it has been receiving. Or the
federal narcs might want to collaborate with education officials to
study the possible upside of prescription drug abuse. A new report
describes students who use illicitly obtained pharmaceuticals like
Ritalin and Adderall not as medicine, nor to party, but to help
their grades. This is your brain on drugs? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) DRUG BILL TARGETING RAVE SCENE NEARS PASSAGE DESPITE CRITICS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - His controversial proposal to crack down on all-night
dance parties where illegal drugs are used or sold is on the brink
of becoming law, but Sen. Joseph Biden insists he's not out to stop
the music. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At issue is a bill -- once known as the "RAVE Act" -- that has drawn fire from civil liberties groups and grass-roots activists as an unfair attack on the events, popular with teenagers and young adults, where the drug "ecstasy" is a common ingredient. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Delaware Democrat's proposal went nowhere last year in either
the House or Senate. But this year he renamed it the "Illicit Drug
Non-Proliferation Act" and slipped it into a larger crime bill
during a House-Senate conference. The bill cleared Congress last
week, and President Bush has said he would sign it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) CRIME BILL WOULD CURB JUDGES' POWERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill that Congress recently passed setting up a national alert
system for child abductions includes provisions that have created an
uproar among federal judges and legal scholars because they limit
judicial discretion in sentencing criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Critics say the limits would be an assault on judicial independence
and a step toward unraveling sentencing reforms enacted two decades
ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'm a Republican, but I don't think this is good legislation," said
John F. Keenan, a federal district judge in New York. "I don't know
of any federal judge who thinks it's a good idea. It further erodes
the discretion and power that trial judges have." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Judges often defend their need for discretion by citing cases involving minor participants in the drug trade, like "mules" caught transporting drugs and girlfriends or spouses of drug dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It was harrowing," said one judge, speaking about his experiences
in sentencing such people to extended prison terms. "You really felt
like a total instrument of injustice." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Many have been angered by the way the provisions on judicial
discretion were inserted, with little debate as part of the
politically popular Amber Alert legislation. The bill sailed through
Congress last week, not long after a missing Utah girl, Elizabeth
Smart, was reunited with her family. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) SANTA CRUZ SUES FEDS OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAIDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The city and county of Santa Cruz has sued
Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Drug Enforcement | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is an opportunity for us to stand behind the people in our
community who are the most needy," said Santa Cruz Mayor Emily
Reilly. "This is what we do well in Santa Cruz." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in San Jose, comes in
response to a DEA raid last September at a small pot farm located on
a quiet coastal road about 15 miles north of town. Agents uprooted
about 165 plants and arrested the owners, Valerie and Michael
Corral. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The raid outraged local officials and many community members in this
coastal town where police and sheriffs work closely with medical
marijuana users and growers, and the Compassion Flower Inn - a bed
and breakfast inn for medical marijuana users - operates openly just
a few blocks from downtown. [snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) CANADA'S PENDING DRUG LAW IRKS U.S. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Decriminalization Of Marijuana Likely To Strain Relations, White
House Says | ||||||||||||||||||||
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says he has not consulted his
American counterparts on his plans to relax Canada's marijuana laws
-- prompting a warning from a White House official that sidelining
the U.S. could become another irritant in relations between the
federal government and Washington. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Failure to talk to the Americans about pending marijuana laws is
akin to Canada unilaterally setting up "open-air toxic waste
sites"along the border, said Tom Riley, public affairs director for
the White House office of drug control policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I think there is a bit of an analog here," said Mr. Riley,
repeating U.S. drug czar John Walters' assertion that eased drug
laws will trigger tighter security checks for Canadians who cross
the border. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) FOUNDATION LOSES STATE FUNDING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Warrenton drug counseling program with U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance as
its board chairman has lost state funding after failing to account
for how it spent $450,000 in public money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The John A. Hyman Memorial Youth Foundation is required to file an
annual audited financial statement with the Department of Correction
to receive roughly $225,000 annually -- its sole source of income.
After receiving no statements for the 2001 and 2002 budget years,
Correction Controller Paul Gross said in a letter Jan. 7 to the
foundation that he would release no more money until he had the
statements. "You would think that a private, nonprofit agency would
have an annual financial report prepared for them by their
accountant," Gross said Tuesday. "But I have not received it as of
today." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 18-year-old foundation, which operates from a church basement,
has already admitted failing to file financial reports to the
Internal Revenue Service, as required by law. The reports, called
Form 990s, show how a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation received and
spent its money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For several years, the foundation has received yearly allotments of
$200,000 to $250,000 from the state Department of Correction for
counseling programs. Though the money comes from the Correction
budget, the department does not evaluate the foundation's programs.
That is left to legislative review committees. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) HIGH SCORES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ever since ADD became an almost fashionable diagnosis in the mid-'90s, there have been reports from across the country of high school and college kids selling their pills or giving them away to kids who want to get high or just study harder. Although data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that abuse of the stimulants Ritalin and Adderall has leveled off in the last few years, it's still a source of concern. In May 2000, Terrance Woodworth of the Drug Enforcement Administration offered congressional testimony that noted the dramatic increase in prescriptions for the two drugs in the past ten years -- hence the wider availability of the pills. In the early '90s, Ritalin was one of the most stolen drugs in the country. There were even reports of "attention deficit scams," where a parent or other adult would get medication for their ADD child and then use it or sell it instead. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's hard to say if arrests for illegal use of the drugs have gone
up -- the Harris County District Attorney's office doesn't track
them specifically. And police from the Houston, Fort Bend and Spring
school districts say their biggest problem is still the old standby:
marijuana. Then again, a pill that was legitimately prescribed to
nearly six million American schoolchildren in 2001 might be a lot
easier to conceal in a classroom than a joint -- although kids are
sometimes found out. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
An official charge is expected soon against one Dallas police
officer involved in the "Sheetrock Scandal," in which fake drugs led
to real prosecutions and jail terms. It's unclear whether other
officers will be charged. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Canadian study has attempted to quantify the rates of AIDS and
Hepatitis in the nation's jails, and the results are disturbing.
Canadian prisoners are 10 times more likely to be infected with
either disease than a member of the general public. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In California, some police insist they will ignore a recent state
court decision that allows the possession of drug paraphernalia. The
cops have no choice, they say, because the laws are so terribly
"confusing." One wonders if more mental (and perhaps moral) clarity
should be required for a career in law enforcement. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And two deliciously ironic postscripts to recent drug stories in the
news. The District Attorney in Swisher County, Texas, where the
infamous Tulia trials took place, was arrested for driving under the
influence of alcohol and drugs in another state. And it turns out
that book at the center of an expensive constitutional battle
between a Colorado bookstore and local drug investigators wasn't
about drugs at all. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) CHARGES EXPECTED IN DRUG SCANDAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Indictment Of Dallas Officer Would Be First In Fake-Narcotics Case | ||||||||||||||||||||
The attorney for a suspended Dallas police officer said Tuesday that
federal authorities told him they will ask a grand jury to indict
his client on charges of falsifying records in a series of bogus
drug cases. Senior Cpl. Mark Delapaz, a decorated undercover
narcotics officer, has been on paid administrative leave since
January 2002, when the FBI began investigating how paid confidential
informants were able to set up dozens of innocent people on charges
involving fake drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A federal grand jury has been hearing witness testimony and reviewing records in the case since at least December. One person familiar with the investigation said he expected the grand jury to complete its work as early as Wednesday, but it could go longer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An indictment on misdemeanor civil rights charges against Cpl. Delapaz would mark the first charges against an officer in connection with the Police Department's fake-drug scandal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) HIV RATES 10 TIMES HIGHER IN PRISONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
TORONTO - A federal government report shows HIV and hepatitis C
infection rates in federal prisons are rising and at least 10 times
higher than in the general population. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Correctional Service of Canada prepared the report last year but never released it. CBC News obtained a copy of the report. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report, the first of its kind, suggests that 1.8 per cent of
inmates in federal prisons have HIV. About one-quarter of all
inmates have hepatitis C. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The rates are significantly higher among female inmates. Close to five per cent have HIV and more than 40 per cent have hepatitis C. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Among male inmates, the highest infection rates are in Quebec. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report says those rates are likely under-reported, since only about one-quarter of all inmates undergo the voluntary testing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It says most of the infections are likely caused by sexual contact
and sharing needles to inject drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) SHERIFF: LEGALIZING PARAPHERNALIA NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE (Top)ENFORCEMENT EFFORT | ||||||||||||||||||||
VICTORVILLE --Despite a recent appellate court decision making marijuana smoking paraphernalia legal to possess, representatives of San Bernardino County Sheriff Gary Penrod said narcotics arrests will proceed as usual, including confiscation of the equipment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"State law is very confusing when dealing with marijuana from our
perspective," said San Bernardino County Sheriff's Detective Robbie
Ciolli of the Sheriff's Marijuana Eradication Team. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If a pipe, bong or smoking device is confiscated in an arrest and
discovered to have resin or marijuana in it, someone can be
arrested, Ciolli said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"While you can still buy pipes over the counter legally, everything
depends on what is in the pipe should you be detained on a marijuana
charge," Ciolli said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For some, the move just adds another wrinkle in the state's confusing treatment of marijuana offenses and legislation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) U.S. DRUG POLICY PLOT THICKENS AFTER DA'S DUI (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Some people probably think I just go looking for trouble, but I
swear this one just fell in my lap. The day after I submitted my
latest column on the Tulia drug bust a couple weeks back, I saw in
this paper that Swisher County District Attorney Terry McEachern
failed a field sobriety test in New Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Seems Mr. McEachern had between one and three drinks with his dinner
and a Valium for dessert, then navigated his Jeep on down the road
badly enough to be apprehended. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I'm sure some people are giving Mr. McEachern the horse laugh over this one. I mean, think about it: The man commissioned to enforce our laws against drug abuse is, like Shakespeare's engineer, hoist on his own petard, as it were. This must be pretty funny to some. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But it isn't funny to me. Mr. McEachern has graphically illustrated
two of the things that are wrong with our current policy on drug
abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The first is the distinction between legal and illegal drugs. This
distinction is artificial. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) EDITORIAL: TATTERED BUT TRIUMPHANT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The authorities wanted it. The bookstore owner concealed it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lawyers got involved. Judges were summoned to courtrooms. Briefs
were filed. Sidebars were had. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And taxpayers were billed for way too much. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It was all in a vain effort to unearth one of Denver's best-kept
secrets, held for more than three years by Joyce Meskis, owner of
the Tattered Cover bookstore, and her lawyer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Exactly what book did suspected methamphetamine maker Chris Montoya
buy from her bookstore to create all the fuss? | ||||||||||||||||||||
A book on Japanese calligraphy, of course. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Let us be the first to say: When Japanese calligraphy is outlawed,
only outlaws will perform Japanese calligraphy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug task force investigators, obviously, were chasing their own
tails on this one. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16-19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Having just recovered from the buzz of another highly entertaining
and successful NORML conference in San Francisco, your editor was
shocked to hear that Canada's Office of Cannabis Medical Access was
considering abandoning the most potent (20-25% THC) of the three
strains currently under development for research and eventual
distribution because it was too hard to grow! What exactly is it
that I do in my closet for about $300 that $5.75 million and all of
Health Canada's best minds can't quite seem to master? Reporter Dean
Beeby should be congratulated for exposing this tax-payer funded
exercise in failure and futility. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our second story is an update on American drug war refugee Steve
Kubby's experimental cancer treatment at Edmonton's Cross Cancer
Centre. It is notable for the incredibly offensive title referring
to Kubby - a legal user of medicinal cannabis - as a "pothead
refugee". I wonder if the same writer would refer to other cancer
patients using codeine to treat their pain as "doped-up opiate
addicts"? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our third story is an examination of the ONDCP head John Walters' expensive, deceitful and unsuccessful battle to stem marijuana use in America by the Nation's Silja J. A. Talvi. And finally, a Time magazine review of Eric Schlosser's new book "Reefer Madness", in which the writer of the highly successful "Fast Food Nation" brings his critical eye to the war on drugs by examining the U.S.'s underground cannabis industry, migrant labour, and pornography. | ||||||||||||||||||||
My thanks once again to NORML for an amazing conference; now if
you'll excuse me, I must rest up for next year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) OTTAWA MAY ABANDON HIGHLY POTENT POT STRAIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A strain of government-certified marijuana is extremely potent but
difficult to grow, and may eventually be abandoned as too much
trouble, officials say. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The flowering tops or buds of the strain, grown for Health Canada in
a vacant mine section in Flin Flon, Man., contain between 20 and 25
per cent THC, the most active ingredient of marijuana, laboratory
results show. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We don't want high-maintenance plants," said Cindy Cripps-Prawak,
chief of Ottawa's medical marijuana program. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The second strain is producing a respectable THC content as well, between 13 and 18 per cent in its buds. Those levels are more in line with the needs of clinical trials, said Cripps-Prawak. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) POTHEAD REFUGEE WAS TREATED HERE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A cancer patient and U.S. citizen who sparked controversy by making
a refugee claim so he can smoke medical marijuana has undergone
experimental treatment in Edmonton. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And Steve Kubby, 56, told The Sun yesterday he might soon be back
for another round of treatment aimed at wiping out his adrenal
cancer. For now, he said, weed works best. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kubby is awaiting an Immigration and Refugee Board ruling after
testimony wrapped up this week at his Vancouver hearing. Board
spokesman Melissa Anderson told The Sun only one U.S. citizen has
ever been granted refugee status in Canada. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
And B.C. Canadian Alliance MP Randy White won another unusual
application: to have Kubby's hearing opened to the public. White
said in a news release Kubby is fleeing prosecution, not
persecution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"If the Kubby case is successful, how many of the 30,000 medical
marijuana users in the state of California alone will we see at our
border?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) DRUG CZAR BATTLES HORDES OF CRAZED POTHEADS! (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
He'll huff, and he'll puff, and he'll blow your house down. He'll act out violently, get your next door neighbor's daughter pregnant, and he may even be supporting terrorism while he's at it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This imaginary pot smoker composite is drug czar John Walters's big bad wolf, and only a duct-taped cottage window seems to stand in the path of the cannabis-fueled monster that lurks around the corner. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That, and $150 million earmarked in the current fiscal year to
further a propagandistic anti-marijuana campaign, courtesy of
Walters's Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Full-page
advertisements from the ONDCP in national newspapers and magazines
(including The Nation) are just the latest gambit aimed at
generating a heightened sense of parental anxiety and moral panic,
suggesting that aggressive or violent behavior - and even psychosis
- are among the consequences awaiting young people who try
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Professor Earleywine, who wrote last year's "Understanding
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[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) KEEP OFF THE GRASS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Author Of Fast Food Nation Takes On America's Shadow Economy --
Pot, Porn And Migrant Labor | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's amazing that Eric Schlosser is still capable of being shocked.
As the author of Fast Food Nation, the best-selling indictment of
the burger-and-fries industry, he has peered into some pretty nasty
grease traps. But get him started on marijuana laws, and he's almost
at a loss for words. "Some of these people are facing 20 years in
prison for selling a glass water pipe with a pot leaf on it. I mean,
that's just unbelievable. When you think about the fact that the
typical convicted murderer in the U.S. does 10, it's...it's reefer
madness." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Schlosser isn't attacking the pot industry here; he's going after
the institutional hypocrisies that force it underground while
leaving far more damaging practices, like the abuse of migrant
workers, to fester openly. What ties Reefer Madness together is
Schlosser's passionate belief that America is deeply neurotic, a
nation divided against itself into a sunny, whitewashed mainstream
and a lusty, angry, deeply denied subconscious. He just might be the
shrink America needs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (20-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Austria, European policymakers and organizations called for
decriminalization, predicting the United Nations' "war on drugs"
would fail. "The war on drugs cannot be won because it is a war on
human nature," declared Sir Keith Morris, former British ambassador
to Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the Netherlands, a majority of Dutch lawmakers support Maastricht
Court president Lampe for the legalization of soft drugs.
Criticizing jamming the judicial system with a huge proportion of
petty drug cases, Lampe noted this hindered the prosecution of
serious crimes. Added MP Griffith: "Drugs are a part of our society,
you have to live with that." | ||||||||||||||||||||
A North Korean cargo ship was held by Australian officials last week
after an alleged $48 million dollar heroin cache was discovered
onboard. The boat was chased by Australian special forces troops
after it ignored requests to stop. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Peruvian coca farmers, angry over US-imposed eradication efforts,
marched into the capital city of Lima, and met with President
Alejandro Toledo. The coca farmers' demands include an end to forced
eradication, larger quotas of legal coca, and the release of their
jailed leader, Nelson Palomino. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis could slow the effects of aging, according to researchers at the Institute of Neurology in London. It may also help prevent Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and other diseases. Writing in Lancet Neurology, professor Alan Thompson revealed, "members of this family of compounds ... have previously unknown qualities, the most notable of which is the capacity for neuroprotection." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(20) WAR ON DRUGS QUESTIONED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
VIENNA, Austria -- A group of European policymakers and | ||||||||||||||||||||
They said narcotics should be treated like alcohol and tobacco --
legal, but under state health controls. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The war on drugs cannot be won because it is a war on human
nature," Sir Keith Morris, former British ambassador to Colombia,
told a news conference called during a meeting of U.N. anti-drugs
agencies. "History shows that no society ever existed which was
`drug-free.'" | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"In the five years since the U.N. launched its war on drugs, the
numbers show the use of all the major drugs has increased ... as
well as drug-related deaths from overdose and HIV/AIDS," said Marco
Cappato, an Italian member of the European Parliament | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) CHAMBER FOR LEGALISATION OF SOFT DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE HAGUE - A large majority of the Second Chamber supports the plea
of the Maastricht Court president Lampe for legalisation of soft
drugs. Only CDA [Christian democrats] wants to keep marijuana and
hash under criminal law to prevent the Netherlands from being
flooded by drug tourists. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Only CDA wants to keep hash under criminal law. CDA advocates strict
adherence to current tolerance policy. "We must tune our drug policy
with neighbouring countries. Otherwise we only import more drugs
misery", CDA MP Van Haersma Buma says. VVD [liberal conservatives]
MP Griffith states that the opinions of Judge Lampe are in full
agreement with the opinions of her party. "Drugs are a part of our
society, you have to live with that." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Court president Lampe Last weekend criticised the clogging of the
judicial system by the large amount of drugs cases. Other serious
crimes remain unsanctioned or their trials are greatly delayed.
Lampe thinks that legalisation of drugs, starting with soft drugs,
can help. | ||||||||||||||||||||
PvdA, VVD, SP, LPF, GroenLinks and D66 support the plea by Lampe
with respect to marijuana and hash. "Wise words from a man who
knows", PvdA [labour party - hb] MP Albayrak says. Two years ago a
proposal by PvdA to legalise soft drugs achieved a minute majority.
"But the government refused to do anything with it. We call upon the
new cabinet-to-be to take this almost Chamber-wide desire
seriously". | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(22) 30 NORTH KOREANS HELD AFTER $48 MILLION OF HEROIN SEIZED IN (Top)AUSTRALIA | ||||||||||||||||||||
SYDNEY, Australia - The captain and crew of a North Korean cargo
ship were charged Monday with aiding and abetting a $48 million
heroin shipment in a case that could highlight illicit efforts by
Kim Jong Il's regime to prop up the communist state's moribund
economy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The North Koreans were arrested after a five-day chase that ended
Sunday when Australian special forces troops rappelled out of a
helicopter and boarded the 4,480-ton Pong Su in heavy seas about 75
miles northeast of Sydney. Authorities began pursuing the ship after
it repeatedly ignored police demands to stop. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
At trial, prosecutors likely will say if they believe North Korea
was directly involved. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Pong Su's captain and 29 crew - all North Koreans - were
formally charged on Monday with aiding and abetting the import of an
illegal good. They were refused bail and were to due to appear in
court Tuesday. They were not required to enter pleas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Scott Schaudin, a lawyer representing the North Korean crew, said
Monday the evidence against them was weak. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"On the facts that I read I thought they (would) have difficulty
proving their case, grave difficulty," he said outside the court in
Sydney. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(23) COCA FARMERS SEEK PROTECTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LIMA, Peru (Reuters) Peruvian farmers who marched into Lima this
week met with President Alejandro Toledo on Wednesday, presenting
demands they hope will protect their coca crops, the raw material
for cocaine, the government said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coca farmers -- who launched a broad protest April 8 that has
included strikes, blocked highways and a long march by foot and by
truck to Lima -- were meeting with Toledo at his presidential
palace, a palace official said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The chief demands by coca farmers, known as cocaleros, include the
suspension of forcible coca eradication, a larger quota of legally
grown coca, subsidies for alternate crops and freedom for their
jailed leader, Nelson Palomino. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(24) MARIJUANA MAY SLOW EFFECTS OF AGING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis, the third most popular recreational drug after alcohol and tobacco, could become as widely used as Aspirin in the 21st century. | ||||||||||||||||||||
There is growing evidence that its compounds may protect the brain
against the damaging effects of aging. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Although the drug distorts perception and affects | ||||||||||||||||||||
Scientists at the Institute of Neurology in London, say the "huge
potential" of cannabis compounds is emerging, as understanding of
its biological and pharmacological properties improves. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Professor Alan Thompson and his colleagues wrote in Lancet
| ||||||||||||||||||||
"Basic research is discovering interesting members of this family of
compounds that have previously unknown qualities, the most notable
of which is the capacity for neuroprotection." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The natural system of cannabinoid receptors plays a role in
maintaining the balance of chemicals in the brain, which regulate
the rate at which neurons fire. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By altering this system, scientists believe it may be possible to
slow or prevent the process of brain decay. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
He added: "Cannabis has gone from the drawing board into trials in
record time, largely because of patient pressure. Hopefully it will
work and be acceptably safe." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NEW BOOK: JEFFREY'S JOURNEY | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey's Journey is a determined Mother's journal of what she had
to go through in the battle to be able to treat her son with medical
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE INTERVIEWS FROM NORML CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||||||||||
4:20 Drug War News and the Cultural Baggage one hour shows this week
feature interviews with those attending the recent San Francisco
NORML Conference. | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 minute "4:20" news spots on mp3 are available at | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday features Dennis Perron. Tuesday has Richard Cowan of
marijuananews.com and Canadian Senator Pierre Nolin. Wednesday Elvy
Musika, one of the 7 federal MMJ patients is online. Thursday,
medical patients William Britt and Jackie Rickert say their piece.
Friday has Shawn Heller of Students for Sensible Drug Policy and
Steph Sherer of Americans for Safe Access. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
IS ADDICTION A MATTER OF CHOICE? | ||||||||||||||||||||
By John Stossel | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The United States has elevated addiction to a national icon. It's
our symbol, it's our excuse," says Stanton Peele, author of The
Diseasing of America. | ||||||||||||||||||||
There are conflicting views about addiction and popular treatments.
So, we talked with researchers, psychologists and "addicts" and
asked them: Is addiction a choice? | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Living/stossel_addiction030421.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
THE TEARS OF AN AIDS WIDOW ... | ||||||||||||||||||||
at the United Nations-Commission on Narcotic Drugs 46th Session 2003
by Andria Efthimiou-Mordaunt, of the John Mourdant Trust, posted at
DrugWar.com, April 22, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Imagine the Scene, the suits, the 'diplomacy' and then the lies.
Lindholm Malou, a Green MEP from Scandinavia and arch-prohibitionist
and friends present 1 million anti-drug signatures from parents and
others concerned that their children will not end up destroyed by
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
GW PHARMACEUTICALS RESPONDS TO CANNABIS CULTURE MAGAZINE | ||||||||||||||||||||
by Pete Brady (25 Apr, 2003) | ||||||||||||||||||||
UK med-pot researchers defend their research and methods in the
face of criticism from Cannabis Culture Magazine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
BRAZIL'S ATTORNEY GENERAL WANTS DRUGS DECRIMINALIZED | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I favor the decriminalization of drug use," says Márcio Thomaz
Bastos, to a Congressional Committee. | ||||||||||||||||||||
by Al Giordano, A Narco News Global Alert, April 17, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
The battle is on in the Lula administration to form a new drug policy,
and the biggest gun yet has entered the battlefield on the side of
Civil Society: Attorney General Márcio Thomaz Bastos. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Illegal Drugs More Attractive | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Loretta Nall | ||||||||||||||||||||
Editor, The Auburn Plainsman: | ||||||||||||||||||||
I have been reading with interest the many stories about the "Meth" epidemic in our state. Meth is a devastating drug that consumes its users lives, ravages their bodies and endangers the community. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The reason that meth has become so popular is because it only stays
in your system for 72 hours thus diminishing the risk of failing a
urine test. The natural non-addictive herb marijuana can be detected
for 45 days. | ||||||||||||||||||||
People can cook up a brew of toxic chemicals quicker and more covertly than they can tend to a garden of beautiful healthy herbs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
When will our society realize that the more we criminalize marijuana
the greater the likelihood of harder drugs being introduced to the
market becomes? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana prohibition has consistently led to an increase in hard drug use and addiction, both here in the United States and in the many countries around the world to which the American drug war has been forcibly exported. Many developing nations found themselves without the economic power needed to preserve their native culture. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The drug war has consistently failed for 30 years. It is time to try
a new approach. Make marijuana legal and you diminish the meth
problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loretta Nall, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Back to Basics at 2003 NORML Conference | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Stephen Young | ||||||||||||||||||||
My experience at the 2003 NORML conference was perceived between a
pair of red-eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
My flight to San Francisco arrived at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, so I got little sleep before the conference started at nine. And I knew I faced another overnight flight back home in just about 60 hours. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But my fatigue vanished as I ran into friends and was warmed by the common understanding I sensed among everyone at the conference. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The line up was great - speakers included leaders from the worlds of sports, entertainment, academia, law and even government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
SF District Attorney Terrence Hallinan welcomed the conference to the city. Hallinan offered the most cheerful greeting NORML could expect from a district attorney anywhere in the U.S. He also showed he knew what he was talking about, getting a little choked up as he described visits to medical marijuana clubs in the city. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Some presenters were well known for their work outside the marijuana
reform movement. They included actor Woody Harrelson; ACLU President
Nadine Strossen; retired NFL star Mark Stepnoski; sex-advice
columnist and author Dan Savage; filmmaker Ron Mann; travel writer
and television host Rick Steves; and Canadian Senator Pierre Claude
Nolin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Each presented a unique perspective on the issue. I particularly
enjoyed the presentation by Rick Steves. Along with comments on the
mind opening value of travel itself ("If everybody traveled right
before they voted, we wouldn't need this organization.") he provided
amusing details about his efforts to open the minds of tour groups
traveling in cannabis-friendly countries. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other presenters may not have been as famous, but they all offered
critical information. Conference guests heard the latest news about
federal medical marijuana prosecutions in California; the legal
status of edible hemp (it's not against the law yet!); developments
in Canada; and clinical trials for medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
There were so many excellent presentations and panels - too many,
unfortunately, to mention them all. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Of special interest to MAPsters and other Internet activists was the
session on the Internet with MAP's Webmaster Matt Elrod, Richard
Cowan of Marijuananews.com, Jeanette Irwin of the Drug Policy
Alliance, and Cliff Schaffer of the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy.
They discussed the past and future of online drug reform. Jeanette's
presentation included notes of concern about the web's increasing
privatization and attacks on privacy, trends that could make our job
more treacherous and difficult. | ||||||||||||||||||||
More cheerful was the DrugSense/MAP dinner. Volunteers, staff, and
friends joined to enjoy each other's company and talk about the
success of our organization. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other moments I recall: Sitting up and paying attention when the
excellent panel on "Women and the War on Drugs" (Sheigla Murphy,
Pamela Lichty and Deborah Smalls) chatted about how to discuss drugs
with children; being a bit startled when Eugene Oscapella strung
together all the violent rhetoric coming out of the U.S. regarding
efforts to relax cannabis laws in Canada, even though I'd heard most
of it in bits and pieces before; and wondering why isn't there
anyone in the Illinois legislature who talks about medical marijuana
the way California Rep. Mark Leno does. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I had to fly home on the second aforementioned red-eye Saturday
evening, so I missed the party at the end of the conference. It was
a small disappointment, but it couldn't diminish an otherwise
excellent experience. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen Young is an editor at DrugSense Weekly, author of Maximizing
Harm, secretary of Illinois NORML, and firmer than ever in his
belief that marijuana users (and other drug users) should not be
arrested. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The whole course of human history may depend on a change of heart in
one solitary and even humble individual -- for it is in the solitary
mind and soul of the individual that the battle between good and evil
is waged and ultimately won or lost." -- M. Scott Peck. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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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