| July 4, 2003 #307 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) ANCIENT VALLEY A LAST HAVEN FOR BOLIVIA COCA GROWERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
ASUNTA, Bolivia (Reuters) - Connoisseurs of coca, chewed by Indians
since the Inca Empire, say the most succulent of the green leaves grow
in Bolivia's Yungas Valley. | ||||||||||||||||||
Too succulent, perhaps, for their own good. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The government and Washington want to bury us," said Dionisio Nunez, a
cellphone-carrying Indian farmer and legislator in one of the last
places on Earth where the leaf, also used to make cocaine, is still
legally grown and sold. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Yungas is kind of a Napa Valley of coca where 500 years ago "sacred
leaves" were packed on llamas to supply Inca emperors across the Andes
and where even now picture-postcard coca terraces grow as far as the
eye can see. | ||||||||||||||||||
This area will likely be the new battleground in the U.S-backed war to
eradicate cocaine in Bolivia, a battle that has sparked violent
protests by Indians elsewhere in the country which is the world's
third-largest cocaine producer after Colombia and Peru. | ||||||||||||||||||
While U.S.-trained soldiers have eradicated much of Bolivia's coca
crops, 30,000 acres in Yungas are reserved by the government for
farmers to grow coca for its traditional uses -- to ward off hunger,
pay respect to Andean gods or cure illnesses. | ||||||||||||||||||
But a production boom in recent years has fed suspicions that farmers
are illegally exceeding the quota and that growing amounts of leaves
are being made into cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) NOT ALL POT SMOKERS MELLOW ON CANNABIS DAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Angry Speakers Say Sick People Can't Legally Get Marijuana | ||||||||||||||||||
Organizers hoped the afternoon would be a call to "get up, stand up,
stand up for your rights," but for much of the crowd at the eighth
annual Cannabis Day on the Dartmouth Common, it was more a chance to
"get together and feel all right." | ||||||||||||||||||
With the music of Bob Marley and Pink Floyd blasting, a clear sky and
an extraordinary number of ice cream vendors on hand, the day may have
been more suited to relaxation than activism. | ||||||||||||||||||
Organizer Mike Stackhouse said he thought the day's speakers, including several medical marijuana users and a Rastafarian, irate about restrictive marijuana laws, would spur recreational users into action. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Hopefully (they'll take away) some hope and some purpose to be active
in their own right," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
"There are a lot of young people here and maybe by the time they hit
voting age, they're going to vote with what's in line with their
beliefs." | ||||||||||||||||||
The mellow mood on Tuesday may itself have made a point. | ||||||||||||||||||
"There are a lot of lies perpetrated about the drug. We're here to
expose those lies," Mr. Stackhouse said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) END OF A DESPERATE LEGAL BATTLE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
'Okey dokey. Night-night." These were the last words Elizabeth "Biz"
Ivol , the Orkney multiple sclerosis sufferer and famed manufacturer of
cannabis chocolates, spoke to me on Tuesday evening, as we finished
arranging for me to interview her the next day at her home in Herston,
South Ronaldsay. | ||||||||||||||||||
Facing charges of cultivating, possessing and supplying cannabis, she sounded tired: all hell was going to break loose at her cottage next day, she reckoned, as the media descended, following the reconvening of her trial in Kirkwall for what she and her many supporters argue was simply helping alleviate the pain of other MS sufferers. | ||||||||||||||||||
Then there was that certain other matter: following the conclusion of
that trial, as she had publicly promised, Biz Ivol would take her own
life, painkillers washed down with Champagne being one suggested
method. She had already taken delivery of an environmentally friendly
cardboard coffin. | ||||||||||||||||||
By the time my flight touched down at an overcast Kirkwall around one
o' clock on Wednesday, however, things had changed dramatically. The
Crown had dropped the case on medical grounds - a case which many feel
should never have reached the courts in the first place - and Biz Ivol
had been rushed, unconscious, to hospital at Kirkwall that morning,
suffering from a suspected drug overdose. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) DONALD M. TOPPING / 1929-2003 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
UH Linguistics Professor Pushed for Medicinal Marijuana | ||||||||||||||||||
Donald M. Topping, a retired University of Hawaii professor and advocate for medicinal marijuana, died Sunday at his Manoa home. He was | ||||||||||||||||||
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Born in a suburb of Huntington, W.Va., Topping spent more than half his
life in Hawaii. For 35 years he worked for the University of Hawaii as
a linguistics professor and administrator. Topping believed that
everyone should teach, his wife, Priscilla, said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Topping co-founded the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii in 1993 and served
as president for 10 years. He and the group pushed for the legalization
of medical marijuana in Hawaii. | ||||||||||||||||||
"His last work was his favorite," Priscilla Topping said. He really
liked "educating people about the dangers of drugs and telling them the
truth." | ||||||||||||||||||
The Drug Policy Forum persuaded former Gov. Cayetano to back a bill to
legalize medicinal marijuana in Hawaii. | ||||||||||||||||||
Topping battled cancer for about 15 years. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The drug czar plans to tour 25 major U.S. cities to "study" local
drug policy and share information about what's working. Expect very
short meetings. In other federal news, the DEA is offering help to
cities fight against drugs by placing agents locally. In Hawaii, DEA
officials are trying not to build too many expectations, saying they
won't "cure things." | ||||||||||||||||||
The DEA has succeeded in one area: restricting free speech through
the RAVE Act. DEA officials now insist new guidelines regarding the
RAVE Act have been implemented so incidents like the cancelled
NORML/SSDP benefit in Montana won't happen again. | ||||||||||||||||||
From Utah, a new ruling against police who took money from drug
busts despite a voter-approved measure directing the money to
schools. And in Maryland, a state committee will discuss a grand
jury report out of Baltimore suggesting a broad range of drug policy
reform. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) WHITE HOUSE TO STUDY CITIES' DRUG PROGRAMS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Baltimore On Itinerary As Officials Seek To Promote Success Stories | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- The White House announced a plan yesterday to visit
Baltimore and two dozen other cities to study community drug
strategies, in an effort to circulate ideas that seem to be having
some success. | ||||||||||||||||||
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy then plans to
create a Web site and produce a report to distribute its findings to
cities. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The major cities have been particularly ravaged by the drug
problem," said John P. Walters, the White House drug policy chief,
who is leading the effort. "We want to collect the data and make it
available to help people see what is successful." | ||||||||||||||||||
The initiative will provide no new money to the cities, a fact that
drug policy analysts said could limit its effectiveness. Some also
expressed skepticism that the office would be open to ideas at odds
with the administration's views, such as its opposition to
alternative methods such as needle exchange programs. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Our only concern is, are they going to be honest and really try out different or alternative policies?" said Bill Piper, an associate director for the Drug Policy Alliance, a Washington-based group that advocates fighting drug abuse through social programs and treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The Bush administration has a certain perspective on drug
treatment," Piper said. "So far, in terms of alternative ideas,
they've been very aggressive in opposing them." | ||||||||||||||||||
Walters' office will pay for him and a group of staffers to travel
to the cities, beginning in the next few months, and compile
statistics and research. But the cities would bear the cost of
assigning their own staffers as "partners" to the drug policy office
and of producing information, statistics and contacts. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) DEA: WE CAN'T SOLVE ALL OF KAUA'I'S DRUG PROBLEMS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
NUKOLI'I -- Don't expect a federal Drug Enforcement Administration presence on the island to immediately work to stem the flow of illegal drugs to and around the island, a DEA agent said. | ||||||||||||||||||
While federal, state and county elected officials are working hard to get full-time DEA agents assigned to work on Kaua'i's drug problems, their presence alone won't be a panacea, said Christopher G. Tolley, demand reduction coordinator and public information officer for the U.S. Department of Justice DEA office in Honolulu. | ||||||||||||||||||
"By no means can we come in here and cure things for you," he said
at the annual meeting of the Hawaii State Association of Counties at
the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort here Tuesday morning. | ||||||||||||||||||
A DEA presence on the island would not replace county and state law
enforcement, but rather work with local authorities to attack drug
dealers using federal laws which are stricter than state or county
ordinances, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) EAGLES GET DRUG LAW CLARIFICATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Drug Enforcement Administration in Washington, D.C., has issued
guidance to its field offices nationwide after an incident in
Billings involving enforcement of a new anti-drug law. | ||||||||||||||||||
On May 30, a DEA agent visited the local Eagles Lodge and told the
manager that the business could be fined up to $250,000 if it
allowed the Billings chapter of the National Organization for the
Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) to hold a fund-raiser concert there
and people attending smoked marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
The lodge canceled the concert date. Public outcry locally and nationally prompted the DEA to clarify to its agents how to interpret and enforce the law, spokesman Will Glaspy said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Glaspy said the memo sent to the field offices is confidential, but
much of the information is posted on the agency Web site:
http://www.dea.gov | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Why was the Eagles Lodge contacted by the DEA? | ||||||||||||||||||
The regional office of the DEA in Denver will no longer comment on the issue. The agent who warned the Eagles Lodge in May is under the jurisdiction of the Denver office, and Glaspy wouldn't discuss whether the agent had been reprimanded. Glaspy said he didn't know all the details of the Billings incident but gave his agency's position in the event that the same scenario presented itself in the future. | ||||||||||||||||||
"With the recent legal guidance that we've provided to the field
offices, a place like the Eagles Lodge -- it would not apply to their
situation." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) SCHOOLS THE WINNERS IN FORFEITURE DECISION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff prevailed Thursday in three
Salt Lake County property forfeiture proceedings that he hopes will
set a precedent for the retrieval of a quarter of a million dollars
in seizures he says law enforcement agencies illegally pocketed last
year. | ||||||||||||||||||
Third District Judge Tyrone E. Medley ruled that Salt Lake County
Attorney David Yocom broke the law by awarding to police departments
money and property seized in three drug busts that rightfully belong
to schools. The judge ordered law enforcement agencies to transfer
all proceeds to the state treasurer who, after deducting costs, will
turn the money over to the Uniform School Fund. | ||||||||||||||||||
The decision is an important step toward resolving six months of controversy about how to interpret a citizens initiative approved by 69 percent of Utah voters at the November 2000 election. It may also ease activist fears about abuse of government power and end the mudslinging between activists and law enforcement agencies, which argued the initiative made it harder for them to fight crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
In a statement issued shortly after the ruling, Yocom said he will
quickly decide whether to appeal. In the event he does not appeal or
the ruling is affirmed, he promised to turn over to the state all
questionable forfeiture proceeds. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) DRUG OF CHOICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING ON GRAND JURY REPORT | ||||||||||||||||||
The Maryland General Assembly's Special Committee on Substance Abuse
will hold a hearing in early July based on the findings of a 2003
Baltimore City Grand Jury Report that suggests new ways for the justice
system to deal with drug-addicted defendants--including legal
distribution of controlled substances. The hearing comes only two
months after Gov. Robert Ehrlich became the nation's first Republican
governor to sign a medical-marijuana bill into law. The committee,
chaired by Sen. Ralph Hughes (D-40th), will consider the grand jury's
findings and recommendations, as well as the opinions of those both for
and against drug reform, to determine the need for new legislation and
programs to handle drug-related crime and problems. | ||||||||||||||||||
Among other things, the grand jury -- made up of 23 Baltimore residents
-- recommended providing comprehensive care for substance abusers,
diverting drug-addicted individuals to treatment rather than
incarceration, making use of criminal citations rather than arrests for
certain crimes, and exploring the idea of legal, regulated distribution
of narcotics. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Another story about a mistaken drug raid on an innocent New Yorker.
This time, the New York Times finds multiple mistakes leading to a
raid at the home of a 68-year-old former Marine. He said he
generally admired police, but he didn't understand why they had to
act like "storm troopers." Embarrassing as such stories are for
police, there is a reward for finding drugs and drug money where you
don't always expect it. An Oklahoma sheriff is using $900,000 in
seized drug money to double the area he polices. | ||||||||||||||||||
And prison reform measures debated in state legislatures over the spring have been signed into law. Texas and Missouri will divert some non-violent drug offenders away from incarceration. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) POLICE RAID GONE AWRY: A MUDDLED PATH TO THE WRONG DOOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Early on a Wednesday morning in May, officials from two law
enforcement agencies broke down the door to an apartment of a frail
man, Timothy Brockman, threw a stun grenade inside -- setting a
carpet on fire -- then ordered him out of bed and handcuffed him as
he lay face down. His two cats, Rocky and Tito, vanished for hours.
His next-door neighbors, afraid that the building had been bombed by
terrorists, fled with their pajama-clad children. | ||||||||||||||||||
The authorities, from the Police Department and the federal Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were searching for
criminals or criminality, but they had gone to the wrong place. They
found only Mr. Brockman, a 68-year-old former marine and retired
factory worker who uses a walker to make his way around his
neighborhood in the northeast Bronx. | ||||||||||||||||||
By all accounts, he is a law-abiding citizen. His door is decorated
with an American flag decal, and a yellow ribbon dangles from his
window for the American troops overseas. | ||||||||||||||||||
What led the police to his apartment was, of course, a desire to
fight crime -- specifically, to find illegal guns and drugs and the
people who deal in them around the Edenwald Houses, the public
housing complex where Mr. Brockman lives. | ||||||||||||||||||
Yet the seriousness of their purpose and the gravity of their
tactics were not matched in the preparations for the raid. In a
series of interviews, the police and federal officials described the
path they followed to Mr. Brockman's home as muddled by erroneous
information, the belief in a phantom informant, and most
significantly, the failure to resolve a glaring discrepancy at the
core of their mission: which apartment the criminals were supposed
to be using. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) RECOVERED DRUG MONEY TO BOLSTER SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Canadian County Sheriff's Department is remodeling and expanding its offices with $900,000 received from a drug bust two years ago. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sheriff Lewis Hawkins said he also has been able to buy 19 used
patrol cars, allowing for the fleet to be replaced with cars with
lower mileage. Hawkins said without the money, he would have only
been able to replace about six to eight cars this year. | ||||||||||||||||||
"That is the most money I have ever seen in one pile in my life," he
said. "I will never forget it." | ||||||||||||||||||
In August 2001, a county deputy stopped a van on a routine traffic
stop that yielded $1,284,313 in drug-related cash. The county's
portion was $900,000, with federal authorities getting the remaining
funds. Hawkins said he got the funds three months ago, and is eager
to put the money to use. | ||||||||||||||||||
Hawkins intends to buy an additional six cars, maybe within the next
few months. He also said the money can be spent on equipment for the
cars and other capital improvement projects. | ||||||||||||||||||
The money allowed the department to expand its offices into the
former election board next door, almost doubling the size of the
area. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) CHANGE AHEAD FOR DRUG CASES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Many Offenders Will Receive Treatment In Lieu Of State Jail | ||||||||||||||||||
Thousands of low-level drug offenders in Texas will now go to
treatment programs instead of state jails, a fundamental change in
prosecution that was sparked by inequities in sentencing in Harris
County. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Houston Chronicle reported in December that local prosecutors
sent 35,000 small-time drug offenders to state jails or prisons in
the past five years, a wildly disproportionate number for the
county's population. | ||||||||||||||||||
During hearings in Austin this spring, state lawmakers grilled a
Harris County prosecutor over the imbalance. | ||||||||||||||||||
The bill, one of 1,300 that Gov. Rick Perry signed into law after
the close of the legislative session earlier this month, mandates
probation and substance-abuse treatment instead of jail for
first-time felons caught with less than a gram of most drugs. It was
sponsored by Rep. Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie. | ||||||||||||||||||
The law, which goes into effect Sept. 1, is predicted to lower the
state jail population by 2,500 people and save the state $30 million
over the next five years. | ||||||||||||||||||
Local officials applauded the law, even as they realized it would
leave them scrambling to establish more treatment facilities.
Supporters said it will keep drug addicts from turning into hardened
criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) HOLDEN SIGNS BILL RELAXING SENTENCING LAWS FOR SOME OFFENDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Seeking to slow the swell of Missouri's prison population, Gov. Bob Holden signed relaxed sentencing laws Friday aimed primarily at nonviolent, first-time criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||
The sentencing law changes are projected to result in 1,400 fewer
people entering prison annually -- enough to counter, or at least
slow, an inmate influx that has doubled the state prison population
over the past dozen years. | ||||||||||||||||||
Missouri has more than 30,200 inmates dispersed among about 20
institutions. The state anticipates spending about $575 million this
coming fiscal year on the Department of Corrections, which also
oversees people on probation and parole. | ||||||||||||||||||
The new laws, which take effect immediately, encourage shorter
prison terms and probation for some nonviolent offenders and stress
community treatment programs for some drug offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Good news for hemp advocates this week: the U.S. Appeals Court
overturned the DEA's ban on hemp food and edibles for not following
proper bureaucratic procedure. The court found that the DEA did not
give enough advanced warning of the ban and failed to do adequate
public consultation. Unfortunately, the court did not rule on the
constitutionality of the ban, so this is just a temporary reprieve
for the hemp foods industry. | ||||||||||||||||||
Our second story brings mixed news from the U.K., where the
trafficking case against MS sufferer Biz Ivol has been dropped due
to her poor health. While supporters rejoiced, Ivol stated that she
was disappointed that she would not get her day in court, and plans
to commit suicide as soon as her discomfort becomes intolerable. She
blames her deteriorating health on the stress brought on by the bust
for supplying cannabis chocolates to fellow MS sufferers over 2
years ago. | ||||||||||||||||||
And from California, a comprehensive article on Lynn and Judy
Osburn, the Ventura county couple who were busted in September of
2001 while growing plants for the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource
Center. | ||||||||||||||||||
Our final article this week is a look at the importance of the cannabis economy for tourism in Vancouver, British Columbia. Now that Vancouver/Whistler have been selected to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, locals will soon be able to show off their world-class "greenery", to compliment the beautiful scenery. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) APPEALS COURT REJECTS DEA BID TO OUTLAW HEMP FOODS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A federal appeals court on Monday overturned a U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration ban on the sale of food containing hemp, saying the
agency failed to give enough advance warning or allow for public
comment before imposing the rule. | ||||||||||||||||||
The 2-1 ruling Monday by a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not decide the constitutionality of a hemp food ban, but merely determined that the government did not follow proper bureaucratic procedure when it announced the ban in October 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In a sharp dissent, Judge Alex Kozinski called the majority's ruling
"gratuitous," and predicted the ban will ultimately prevail. "The
most likely outcome," he wrote, "is that we will uphold the
regulation." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) UK MS SUFFERER MAINTAINS SUICIDE THREAT AS DRUG CASE IS DROPPED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A terminally ill cannabis campaigner said yesterday she will commit
suicide despite hearing that the criminal case against her will be
dropped. | ||||||||||||||||||
Biz Ivol, who suffers from MS, was arrested two years ago following
allegations that she was supplying cannabis to other people with the
debilitating disease across the UK. | ||||||||||||||||||
It is believed Ms Ivol's agents notified her that the case, due to
call at Kirkwall Sheriff Court in Orkney today, would not proceed
further because of the deterioration of her health. | ||||||||||||||||||
Ms Ivol said that she would continue with plans to end her life after her symptoms worsened during the court case, which attracted widespread media attention to the medicinal use of cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) UP IN SMOKE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Lynn and Judy Osburn were preparing for a day of working with their horses on September 28, 2001, when they heard the deep thump of a helicopter suddenly shattering the silence of the Ozena Valley. A line of 15 unmarked SUVs and one Ventura County Sheriff's car pulled up to their horse gate as their four dogs exploded in furious barking and horses scattered through the sage scrub in a panic. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Osburns knew instantly what was going down. Every county and
federal official from Ventura to downtown L.A. knew they grew
marijuana; the Osburns had met with them and discussed it openly.
Somewhere on the property was allegedly a field of 270 tall, stinky
plants about ready to harvest. Lynn, 53, and Judy, 50, gathered
themselves, then stepped out of the cabin-style home they'd built
themselves and into the brilliant mountain light, hands high so no
one would have any reason to shoot. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=2204601 Truth in Trials Act (HR 1717) http://www.mpp.org/USA/
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(17) VANCOUVER TOURISM: GONE TO POT? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver is world renowned as a vacationing stoner's paradise. | ||||||||||||||||||
It is a reputation that has taken many years to cultivate, feeding
on the growth of a vibrant marijuana industry, a tolerant legal
atmosphere and active promotion by commercial ventures looking to
profit from visiting cannabis aficionados. Yet even though Vancouver
is known as the Amsterdam of the Pacific Northwest, reefer related
businesses have a tenuous existence, operating as they do under the
cloud of prohibition. Even though B.C.'s economy has become
dependent on the marijuana trade, the law still makes the sale and
possession of marijuana technically illegal. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
To the chagrin of U.S. and Colombian prohibition officials, a
Colombian court decreed that the US-backed spraying of herbicides be
stopped in Colombia. The spraying was ordered stopped until the
effects of the herbicide used could be evaluated. Farmers had long
claimed the aerial spraying of coca plants damaged other crops and
caused illness in humans. The US-backed Colombian regime, claiming
the spraying is safe, immediately appealed the ruling and vowed to
continue regardless. | ||||||||||||||||||
Led by Dr. Connie Fozzard, a group of doctors attending the annual
British Medical Association conference surprised onlookers by
calling for the legalization of all drugs last week. Suggesting that
even drugs such as cocaine and heroin be sold through government
outlets, the physicians noted that drug prohibition "simply doesn't
work." | ||||||||||||||||||
New Zealand customs officials seized a shipment of hemp products which were to be sold in a store belonging to controversial Greens MP Nandor Tanczos, who was embroiled in controversy earlier this year over his admission that he had used cannabis in the past. Tanczos called for clarification of New Zealand's hemp and cannabis laws. "Potentially, an importer of hemp jeans could be prosecuted for importation of a Class C controlled substance," noted Tanczos. | ||||||||||||||||||
And in Australia, despite earlier assurances that his government
would introduce legislation allowing trials of medicinal cannabis,
New South Wales Premier Bob Carr announced that any such bill would
be put off until the next session. Carr cited problems with cannabis
supply, as well as "moral" and legal issues, as reasons to delay
considerations of medical cannabis trials. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(18) COLOMBIA HALTS DRUG ERADICATION TO DO HERBICIDE STUDY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA - A court has ordered the suspension of a U.S.-funded drug
eradication program until the effects of the herbicide on human
health and the environment can be scientifically established,
according to a ruling made public Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Government officials immediately said they would appeal the
administrative court ruling to the State Council, the nation's
highest court for government matters. Because the Colombian
government is not legally bound to comply with the ruling while an
appeal is underway, the government said it will continue spraying
coca and opium crops throughout the country. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The United States, which has poured millions of dollars into the
eradication program, was not immediately concerned with the ruling.
Because the appeals process can take months and sometimes years, the
possibility of any actual suspension in the spray program would be
''quite a ways off,'' a U.S. official said. | ||||||||||||||||||
In the June 13 ruling made public Thursday, the Administrative Court
of Cundinamarca province ''orders the temporary suspension of aerial
spraying with the herbicide glyphosate until studies on the effects
of the chemicals are conducted,'' court president Estela Carvajal
told The Herald in a telephone interview. | ||||||||||||||||||
While U.S. and Colombian officials argue that the weed-killer
glyphosate is safe, farmers and indigenous groups on the ground say
it has affected their health and has even killed off some livestock.
Environmentalists claim that the large-scale spray program is also
affecting waters sources and wildlife. | ||||||||||||||||||
Carvajal said that in addition to public health studies in rural
areas that have been sprayed, the court ordered compliance with an
environmental management plan to reduce spraying's impact on the
ecosystem. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) DOCTORS CALL FOR DRUG LEGALISATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Doctors will today make an extraordinary call for the legalisation
of all drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Yet at the British Medical Association's annual conference today,
dozens of doctors will back radical moves to make illegal drugs
including heroin and cocaine available from authorised government
outlets. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
They say so-called recreational drugs, such as ecstacy and cocaine
should be quality controlled, taxable and made available in purified
form from licensed outlets. | ||||||||||||||||||
Dr Connie Fozzard, who leads support for a motion urging relaxation of the law, said: "I have no doubt that it would be wise to decriminalise drugs. At the moment, some of the problems are due to the fact that they are not getting the drug in pure form. | ||||||||||||||||||
"This would not happen if they were available from licensed
premises. We are an adult society, and should treat people as
adults." | ||||||||||||||||||
She is expected to be backed by dozens of colleagues, including Dr
Keith Brent, of the Junior Doctors' Committee, who said:
"Prohibition of drugs simply doesn't work. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Something different needs to be done, and that is to legalise
everything. If the authorities provided drugs, that would be a way
of monitoring it." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(20) TANZCOS' HEMP IMPORT SEIZED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Customs has seized a shipment of hemp products destined for an
Auckland store co-owned by Greens MP Nandor Tanczos. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Hemp Store Aotearoa has filed papers in the Manukau District
Court seeking to have the Customs Service release the products,
worth about $20,000. | ||||||||||||||||||
The consignment contains hemp tea and a brand of smoking mixture
from Germany called Knaster Hanf. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Tanczos said customs had cleared such products before and he was
unsure why this shipment had been seized. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Tanczos said he did not blame customs for taking action, although
the service had been "inconsistent" in its approach to hemp
products, and a law change was required. | ||||||||||||||||||
He has proposed an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Act that would
establish a THC content threshold which would distinguish between
marijuana and hemp. | ||||||||||||||||||
His private member's bill, introduced in May 2001 to deal with the
issue, is expected to come before the primary production select
committee again in a few weeks. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Until the law is changed there is confusion about whether the laws governing marijuana apply to hemp, which is not psycho-active. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Potentially, an importer of hemp jeans could be prosecuted for
importation of a Class C controlled substance." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||
(21) MEDICAL CANNABIS BILL DELAYED: CARR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Preliminary legislation to allow the medical use of cannabis has
been delayed until the next session of parliament because of its
complexity, NSW Premier Bob Carr said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The government must overcome many difficult legal and moral issues
before the trial can go ahead, including how to control the supply
of medicinal cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Carr said an exposure bill for the scheme would be released late this month, with a three week consultation period to follow. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"In particular, we need to carefully consider options | ||||||||||||||||||
The government wanted the exposure bill tabled in the current
parliamentary sitting, Mr Carr said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Carr announced in May the government would set up a four-year
trial to allow the medical use of cannabis to alleviate the chronic
suffering of people with severe pain. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
UN GLOBAL ILLICIT DRUG TRENDS REPORT | ||||||||||||||||||
The UN's International Drug Control Program/UN Office on Drugs and Crime
has released the new edition of the annual Global Illicit Drug Trends
report. | ||||||||||||||||||
It's available from | ||||||||||||||||||
An executive summary is available in PDF from | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
SMOKING JUDGE STRIKES BLOW FOR POT PUFFERS | ||||||||||||||||||
Mary Southin, B.C.'s smoking judge, is in the news again. This time,
it's not because of her tobacco addiction, which caused a flap because
of the cost the government incurred to allow her to keep puffing away
at her job on the Court of Appeal. | ||||||||||||||||||
This time, it's a different kind of smoking that brings one of our most
outspoken justices to public attention: pot smoking and her change of
heart on the war on marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||
A MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF BILL O'REILLY | ||||||||||||||||||
From The Progressive Review - http://prorev.com | ||||||||||||||||||
"The study examined O'Reilly's interview [sic] with Jacob Sullum who
has written an important new book on drugs, 'Saying Yes: In Defense of
Drug Use.' Using the advanced technology of Microsoft's Word Count, the
Review determined that Sullum only got in 35 more words than the
interviewer, O'Reilly. O'Reilly got in the longest statements - 89 and
104 words - while Sullum in 35 exchanges only managed to say more than
50 words (a little less than a half minute) on three occasions. In
42.85% of the exchanges Sullum only managed to get in five words or | ||||||||||||||||||
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SOUDER ASKS FDA FOR FULL TRUTH ABOUT MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||||
By David Brody, Family News in Focus, July 2 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||
A U.S. congressman is calling on the FDA to set the record straight
on so-called medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., has written a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling on the agency to do a better of job of educating the public on the facts about marijuana. Some say pot alleviates pain. The congressman wants the record to be set straight. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
"DECRIM" WON'T APPLY IN ALL PROVINCES, SAY LAW EXPERTS | ||||||||||||||||||
by Reverend Damuzi, Cannabis Culture Magazine (01 Jul, 2003) | ||||||||||||||||||
Arrests, trials, records will continue everywhere | ||||||||||||||||||
Many of Canada's provinces aren't eligible for so-called
'decriminalization' under the proposed Bill C-38 because of the way
the proposed law is written. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
YET ANOTHER 'OOPS, WRONG HOUSE' DRUG RAID | ||||||||||||||||||
by Preston Peet, for DrugWar.com, July 1, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||
At dawn in your own apartment, you lay in bed petting your two cats as
you ponder what you'll make for breakfast. Suddenly the door explodes
into the apartment, followed closely by a stun grenade that catches
your carpet on fire, then a herd of yelling, armored local and federal
agents burst in waving guns, ordering you not to move and to lie on the
floor. | ||||||||||||||||||
Continues with numerous links: http://www.drugwar.com/oopswrong.shtm | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
ACCEPTABLE MEDICINE | ||||||||||||||||||
By Jim Miller | ||||||||||||||||||
Dr. George DiFerdinando, the state's deputy health commissioner,
decided last year that seriously ill and dying patients in New Jersey
do not need marijuana as medicine. He said there were acceptable
alternatives for those who would use marijuana as medicine and refused
to implement New Jersey's 1981 Controlled Dangerous Substances
Therapeutic Research Act, which would make legal federal marijuana
available to patients in New Jersey under a doctor's care and
supervision. | ||||||||||||||||||
DiFerdinando met my wife Cheryl three years ago as she lay in her
reclining wheelchair. She could not move her arms or legs after 30
years of multiple sclerosis. He saw her pain. He heard her tell him
that marijuana relieved her pain and spasticity. He sure didn't tell
Cheryl to her face that she already had "acceptable medicine." Cheryl
Miller, my wife and the light of my life, passed away June 7. I can
assure you her legal prescription medicine was not acceptable. Cheryl
didn't smoke marijuana. She ate it. When it was available, she had less
pain. Now that was acceptable. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jim Miller, | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
BILL TO PROTECT OHIO PATIENTS READY FOR INTRODUCTION | ||||||||||||||||||
By Jim White | ||||||||||||||||||
News that Democratic state Representative Kenneth Carano will step
forward as the first elected patient advocate and introduce
legislation to protect Ohio medical marijuana patients from
prosecution has sparked enthusiasm among grassroots supporters who
have been calling the switchboard in Columbus trying to find out if
their representatives are supporting the measure. | ||||||||||||||||||
Grassroots activists are spreading the word and organizers are
putting pressure on the legislature and distributing educational
materials to the media as well as legislators and other interested
organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||
Carano has promised to bring the bill to the attention of the Ohio House of Representatives the moment he has four republican co-sponsors, an inside source revealed. With 80 percent of Ohioans in support of such a measure, introduction can't be far away. | ||||||||||||||||||
An Act of Compassion | ||||||||||||||||||
Compassionate use of cannabis is legal in Canada and most of Europe,
but federal law in the United States does not recognize marijuana as
having any "accepted medical use," ignoring modern sciences'
understanding of the plant. | ||||||||||||||||||
Under the Bush administration, the Justice department and Attorney
General John Ashcroft have increased federal prosecutions of medical
patients in the state of California, citing only the "need to
enforce federal law". | ||||||||||||||||||
State activists hope to push back against the misguided Justice
Department and offer a little comfort and compassion to sick and
dying patients. | ||||||||||||||||||
What It Does | ||||||||||||||||||
The bill, known as the Ohio Medical Marijuana Act or OMMA, is out of
the legislative services commission and ready for introduction. The
bill would create a patient registry with the department of health
and require that patients and caregivers be issued identification
cards. | ||||||||||||||||||
The only legal source of medical marijuana in the United States is
controlled by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, and only seven
patients out of potentially millions in the United States receive
medical marijuana from NIDA. These seven patients receive about 300
pre-rolled cigarettes each month. | ||||||||||||||||||
NIDA has no provisions for providing marijuana to states that permit
the use of medical marijuana. Lacking a reliable government
controlled source, most state medical marijuana bills are drafted to
permit the cultivation and possession of marijuana, and this one is
no exception. | ||||||||||||||||||
The bill provides for the possession of up to 1000 grams of dried
marijuana and for a number of plants to be grown for medical use,
and it includes provisions for the state health department to enact
regulations to assess and categorize which ailments and patients
will be treated with cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
Left Out in the Cold | ||||||||||||||||||
Ohio patients were incensed after Governor Voinovich dismantled an
"affirmative defense" clause for medical marijuana in 1997. The
clause permitted judges and juries to consider medical-use testimony
provided by physicians and other health care officials, and whether
or not marijuana was being used for medical purposes when
determining sentencing. | ||||||||||||||||||
The action left hundreds of patients out in the cold and at the
mercy of criminal gangs in order to obtain their medicine. While the
bill protects patients against state prosecutions, where most
marijuana offences are tried, the federal law would still remain in
effect - a task congress needs to take up. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"At the heart of liberty is the right to define ones own concept of
existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human
life." - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, Lawrence v.
Texas | ||||||||||||||||||
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