| Nov. 28, 2003 #327 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) PA. COURT ALLOWS LAWSUIT AGAINST SCHOOL DRUG TESTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
HARRISBURG - A desire to discourage drug use among students is not a sufficient reason to justify "suspicionless" drug screening targeted at student-athletes, parking-permit holders, and participants in extracurricular activities, the state Supreme Court has ruled. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The justices on Thursday turned down the Delaware Valley School
District's attempt to have a lawsuit in Pike County dismissed,
meaning a legal challenge seeking to block the testing can proceed.
The challenge was filed by two sisters, who had passed the drug
screening and have since graduated, and their parents. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The family's lawyer said the ruling provides Pennsylvania students
with privacy rights beyond the limits of a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court
case that upheld random testing of participants in an Oklahoma
school district's extracurricular activities. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"What the Pennsylvania court did is [it] said, 'Well, the Pennsylvania Constitution does recognize the privacy right.' That is, it affords the students [a] broader right of privacy than the U.S. Supreme Court held," said the lawyer, Robert N. Isseks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) NEW LAWS CLEAR WAY TO WA FIELDS OF HEMP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NEW laws introduced in the Legislative Assembly yesterday will clear the way for people in WA to grow and process industrial hemp. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But strict licensing and controls will prevent flourishing fields of
hemp being used as a cover for illegal cannabis crops, according to
Agriculture minister Kim Chance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The long-awaited legislation allows for the development of a
commercial hemp industry in WA. Hemp is now allowed to be grown only
on trial plots under strict rules. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The legislation will let farmers cultivate commercial crops of
industrial hemp, which contains less than 0.35 per cent of
tetrahydrocannabinol and has no effect as a drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
People will be able to grow hemp only when licensed, which will
involve a series of tests and police checks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Growing industrial hemp without a licence will carry a $10,000
penalty. Breaching licence conditions can attract a $5000 fine and
the possible loss of licence. Penalties under the Misuse of Drugs
Act could also apply. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) PREGNANT ADDICTS FACE RISE IN PROSECUTIONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Regina D. McKnight was found guilty in 1991 of killing a fetus by using cocaine. Surveys in California have put the number of women who take illegal drugs during pregnancy at about 11 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
NEW YORK (KRT)-- Stacey Gilligan is accused of drinking so much
vodka during her eighth month of pregnancy that her baby was born
drunk. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tayshea Aiwohi is charged with consuming such huge amounts of
crystal meth while she was pregnant that her son died of
methamphetamine poisoning two days after his birth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Regina McKnight was convicted of using so much cocaine during her
pregnancy that her baby was stillborn. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Across the country, prosecutors increasingly are leveling criminal
charges against women who abuse drugs or alcohol while pregnant. The
charges range from misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of
a child to criminal homicide. At least two women who were convicted
were sentenced to life in prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) FINAL ASSAULT IN WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bangkok police launched a major onslaught yesterday against the drug
trade ahead of a planned declaration of victory in the government's
war on drugs next Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
More than 3,000 officers raided and searched several locations
around the city, particularly in Klong Toei where the drug problem
has been toughest to uproot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"There were 204 locations targeted in Bangkok. A total of 3,211 police officers were involved in the operation," said Lt-General Thani Somboonsap, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He said that the main targets were in small communities of the Klong
Toei slum, long associated with the drug trade. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thani said that 121 suspects were arrested for possession of drugs.
Among the illicit drugs seized were 532 methamphetamine tablets and
1,100 grams of marijuana, in addition to a number of firearms and
ammunition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interior Minister Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said that he believed all
76 provinces would be able to declare victory over the drug trade by
next Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The ongoing battle between drug warriors and reality continued last
week. Reality edged ahead again despite desperate efforts from its
opponents. For example, U.S. officials suggested that the
northeastern United States were being flooded with Colombian heroin,
and then proclaimed that the heroin flow somehow represents a
success the alleged anti-drug effort known as Plan Colombia. And, in
Iowa, police are standing by their assessment that most of the
state's methamphetamine traffic is coming from Mexico or California.
Not so, say users and treatment specialists claiming that most
product is made locally. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Another blast of reality came from Canada, where a survey showed
that more young people use marijuana than tobacco. Where are the
save-the-children types touting the success of regulation over
prohibition? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Faculty at the University of Southern Mississippi seemed startled by
the reality of a new drug policy that would prohibit employees from
reporting to work with any detectable amount of drugs in their
systems. Some university staff are speaking out about the new
policy. And some good news in California, where prominent drug war
realist Judge James Gray will be running for the U.S. Senate on the
Libertarian ticket. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) HEROIN POLICING BEING SOUGHT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thirty-six state prosecutors have asked the federal government to do
more to block an "alarming" increase in the flow of heroin from
Colombia into the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a letter, the 36 attorneys general told Secretary of State Colin
L. Powell and drug czar John P. Walters they had seen "firsthand the
affects this poison has on our country's youth." They asked the
officials to devote their "attention and resources ... to this
rising problem." | ||||||||||||||||||||
"In 2000, Congress approved an aid package, now commonly known as
Plan Colombia, to assist that country in fighting the illegal drug
industry within its borders," the prosecutors said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"While this joint effort by the United States and a cooperative
Colombian government has been successful in eradicating coca plants,
commensurate pressure must be applied to the opium fields that have
proliferated in Colombia." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) IS IOWA'S PLAGUE HOMEGROWN? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement leaders have been saying for a decade that most of
Iowa's methamphetamine comes from huge labs in Mexico and
California, but some treatment counselors and recovering addicts
disagree. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Dennis Weis, who runs one of the state's largest meth-treatment
programs, said his clients tell him that in recent years, local
manufacturers have become the dominant suppliers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Everyone who comes in here is either making it himself or knows
someone who makes it," said Weis, medical director of the Powell
Chemical Dependency Center in Des Moines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"You listen to law enforcement, and they say 90 percent of it is
coming from Mexico," he said, shaking his head. "Is that for job
security, or what? They're after the big, glamorous bust. They're
looking for the guy living in a mansion in Guadalajara. Meth isn't
glamorous. It's a dirty, nasty thing." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ken Carter, director of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement,
said agents base their estimates on drug seizures and interviews
with the dealers they arrest. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Carter said out-of-state meth tends to be about 25 percent pure, while homemade meth is about 75 percent pure. But he said Iowa still sees huge shipments of the Mexican version. The explanation may be that the small, local labs can't supply nearly enough of the drug to keep up with Iowans' voracious appetite for the drug, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Carter laughed when told of quietly voiced suspicions that his
agency overestimates interstate trafficking in order to snare
federal grants. "I get that federal grant money because of our
runaway lab problem," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) STUDY FINDS MORE KIDS SMOKE POT THAN CIGARETTES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana use among Penticton's youth mirrors a recent national survey that found more teenagers smoke pot than cigarettes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I would agree with that study," said Danny Highley, a Pathways:
Addiction Resource Centre counsellor, who deals with drug abuse at
Princess Margaret Secondary School. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"There is so much information going into tobacco prevention and in many ways, we have got tobacco addiction in our society on the run." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The study - a Health Canada poll released this October - found marijuana use has reached a 25-year peak. Fifty-four per cent of 15- to 19-year-olds said they had smoked marijuana more than once. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cigarette smoking on the other hand continues to decline among young
people, with the latest national figures showing that 22 per cent of
teens smoke regularly, according to the survey. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DRUG, ALCOHOL POLICY ANGERS SOME AT USM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Several faculty and staff are upset with a revised University of
Southern Mississippi substance abuse policy that prohibits employees
from reporting to work or remaining on the job with any detectable
level of alcohol or illegal drugs in their systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The standards it sets are outrageous," said Frank Glamser,
president of the Southern Miss chapter of the American Association
of University Professors. "Does it mean if you have a beer with your
Mexican lunch, you're in trouble? If you have a cognac-laced cherry,
are you in trouble? If you have a few beers at night and come in
early, are you in trouble?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
USM officials approved the policy Nov. 3 and began distributing it
by mail this week. Employees are required to sign forms that they
have read and understand the policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Risk management director Jack Hanbury wrote the document to bring
the university into compliance with the federal Drug Free Workplace
Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) JUDGE GRAY, A DRUG-WAR FOE, WILL RUN FOR SENATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As crusades go, Judge James P. Gray's fight to legalize drugs has
been a long and lonely one. | ||||||||||||||||||||
His advocation of treatment instead of jail time for drug offenders
has gained some converts, but Gray's views remain largely on the
outskirts of acceptability. Some of his closest friends disagree
with his opinions, and his most vicious opponents accuse him of
being a biased, negative role model. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Gray is dogged in his long-held belief that legalization is the
only way to solve what he says is an increasingly unsuccessful war
on drugs. He lectures at least once a month on his views, this week
to a county bar association, next month to a group of Alaskan
Libertarians. In the latest chapter of the conservative judge's
uphill struggle, Gray has become a Libertarian and announced
Wednesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The odds of unseating Democrat Barbara Boxer in next year's election
are long, but the opportunity to show the major parties that his
message resonates with voters is victory enough for him. "Every
single vote I get will legitimately be seen in favor of repealing
drug prohibition," said Gray, 58, the day before announcing his
candidacy at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana. "The
other side is going to want to get my votes, and to do that they'll
have to change their drug policy. If that happens, I'll have won."
Gray is hoping to get 15% of the vote, a longshot for a third-party
candidate. His campaign slogan targets the apprehension that
mainstream voters might feel: "This time, it matters." A lifelong
Republican, Gray said he switched this year because the Libertarian
message of greater individual freedoms better aligns with his own.
Libertarians in California are looking to Gray's candidacy to bring
legitimacy and an improved turnout for the party, which | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A reminder from Texas that justice remains elusive in the drug war.
The only trial related to the fake drug scandal in Dallas ended in
acquittal, though the police officer charged may face a federal
indictment as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana is catching up with other states in prison overcrowding. The
problem is getting so bad that some people are talking about drug
sentencing reform in the state. In South Carolina there must be
plenty of prison space left, because police are setting up some
pretty silly sting operations. A health food store was among
businesses raided for selling products that claim to alter the
results of drug tests. If convicted, suspects could face three years
in prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brightening up an otherwise dreary news week was the Illinois
Supreme Court, which took a rare stand for the Fourth Amendment by
limiting the circumstances in which police can perform drug searches
on cars. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) JURORS ACQUIT EX-OFFICER IN DALLAS' FAKE-DRUG CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fired Dallas narcotics Detective Mark Delapaz walked out of a federal courtroom Tuesday vowing to regain his police badge after jurors in his federal civil-rights trial found him not guilty of lying about bogus drug arrests that sent innocent people to jail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jurors deliberated for more than five hours before reaching a
unanimous not-guilty verdict on six federal charges that could have
sent him to prison for 10 years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The jury's verdict is a mile marker in a nearly two-year federal
investigation that leaves several major questions unanswered,
ranging from the quality of oversight within the Dallas police
narcotics division to the practice of employing illegal immigrants
to aid in the war on drugs. City Attorney Madeleine Johnson said
Tuesday night that she would offer Mr. Delapaz his job back
Wednesday. She said Mr. Delapaz had been on paid leave until he was
indicted, at which time he was fired. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But she emphasized that he faces further scrutiny. The FBI had asked
the city not to conduct an administrative investigation of Mr.
Delapaz until its criminal investigation was complete. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) PRISONER GLUT IS WORST SINCE '60S | ||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana facilities built for 16,000 now hold 23,000, officials say | ||||||||||||||||||||
State officials say crowding in Indiana's 24 prisons has reached
levels not seen in decades, potentially forcing them to place bunks
in prison classrooms and recreation areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is the worst crowding we've faced in at least 40 years," said
Department of Correction spokeswoman Pam Pattison. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Larry Landis, a member of the Prison Sentencing Commission established by the General Assembly in August, goes even further. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is the worst it's ever been," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The combination of the prison crowding and the state's fiscal
problems has some calling for easing penalties for certain drug
offenses. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mandatory drug sentences and other tough crime measures have swelled
prison populations in Indiana and throughout the country, said
Landis, who is executive director of the Indiana Public Defender
Council. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) 5 ARRESTED IN UNDERCOVER DRUG STING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The York County drug task force arrested five people Friday after an
undercover investigation at local businesses into the sale of
detoxifying substances for masking drug tests. Five Rock Hill
businesses, including three alternative stores and two GNC
franchises, were caught in the sting, according to York County
Sheriff's Office reports. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Arrested were: [NAMES DELETED]. | ||||||||||||||||||||
All except Maley have been charged with one count apiece of unlawful
possession and sale of adulterants (first offenses), said
investigator Jody Long of the York County Multijurisdictional Drug
Enforcement Unit. Each misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty
of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Everybody seemed pretty adamant that they didn't know it was
illegal to sell adulterants to cleanse your urine for drug tests,"
Long said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Selling detoxifying substances, or adulterants, which come in the
form of liquid, pills and chewable tablets, is only illegal when
businesses sell them to cleanse the system of illegal drugs, Long
said. It became against the law recently, and authorities began
enforcing it this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's a matter of the person (store employee or owner) knowing that
you're trying to defraud a drug test," Long said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT CURBS POLICE POWERS IN CAR SEARCHES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A traffic stop does not give police license to conduct a
full-fledged criminal investigation, the Illinois Supreme Court
ruled Thursday in two different cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The court reversed a marijuana conviction of Roy Caballes, who was
stopped for driving 71 mph in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 80. While
a state trooper wrote him a warning ticket, another trooper walked a
drug-sniffing dog around his car. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The dog reacted, and the troopers found marijuana in the trunk. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutors argued that, under U.S. Supreme Court rulings, letting
police dogs sniff outside the car does not violate the Fourth
Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure because
the dogs do not actually enter the car. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Justice Thomas Kilbride wrote in a 4-3 opinion, "The police
impermissibly broadened the scope of a traffic stop in this case
into a drug investigation." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The same lineup of justices also reversed a drug possession conviction for Raymond Harris, a passenger in a car stopped in Will County. A sheriff's officer stopped the car for an illegal left turn. He requested identification from Harris because he was considering letting Harris drive the vehicle back, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The officer discovered an outstanding warrant for Harris' failure to
appear in court and arrested him. He found a pea-size rock of
cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The warrant check was not supported by a reasonable, articulate
suspicion that [Harris] had committed or was about to commit a
crime," Justice Charles Freeman wrote. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Both good and bad news from California this week: the three people
charged for growing and distributing cannabis through the Los
Angeles Cannabis Resource Center were sentenced to 1 year of
probation. Although this is as good a verdict as may have been
expected under the circumstances, prosecutors added to the
controversy surrounding the club's involvement with the federal
government in unrelated prosecutions by crediting the 3 men with
helping to investigate the Bel-Air mansion grow operation that
eventually led to the arrest and imprisonment of Todd McCormick, and
resulted indirectly in the death of Peter McWilliams. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And now for the bad news: The Hayward Hempery, one of Alameda
Counties oldest and most respected clubs, has been ordered by city
council to close its doors. Cheryl Adams, the club's owner and
director, plans to fight this decision. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our third story is an indepth look at the very real problems with Maryland's new medical marijuana defense law, and why it really isn't improving the lives of those it was intended to help. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This week's fourth article looks at a new Nevada TV ad campaign
sponsored by the Marijuana Policy Project. Although the article
contains a few factual errors, it's great to hear about an
information campaign aiming to dispel some of the drug war myths
being perpetrated by the federal government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And lastly, a story from Canada about a legal medical user who was robbed of his medicine and successfully put forth an insurance claim for his cannabis. If insurance companies now recognize cannabis as a medicine, can the government and medical community be far off? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) PROBATION GRANTED TO 3 WHO GREW, SOLD POT AS A MEDICINE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a victory for advocates of medicinal marijuana, officers of a
defunct West Hollywood cannabis club were sentenced Monday to one
year of probation for growing and selling marijuana to hundreds of
people with cancer, AIDS and other serious ailments. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Supporters of the defendants packed the Los Angeles courtroom as
Scott Imler, Jeffrey Farrington and Jeff Yablin were ordered to obey
federal drug laws, undergo random drug testing, and complete between
100 and 250 hours of community service. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutors credited the men with helping them investigate a
separate drug case, in which a Bel-Air man tried unsuccessfully to
use a medicinal marijuana defense, and with not fighting the
government's forfeiture claims against their property. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) EAST BAY POT DISPENSARY TO CLOSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This year will mark both the 10th anniversary of The Hayward Hempery
and the likely closure of its pot dispensary as a result of a
surprise City Council decision Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The council was scheduled to consider the grandfathering of The
Hempery and the Local Patients' Cooperative -- both on Foothill
Boulevard near B Street -- as part of a compromise agreement that
evolved from a city task force on medical marijuana. The
dispensaries, including a third one that recently opened in the same
vicinity on Foothill, have been operating in violation of Hayward's
zoning law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The council instead voted 7-0 to sanction Local Patients'
Cooperative and the new Hayward Patients' Resource Center, a revival
of the former B Street Helping Hands Patients' Center. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That means The Hempery -- one of Alameda County's best-known and
oldest medical marijuana suppliers -- will have to close its
dispensary. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) MEDICAL MARIJUANA'S SIDE EFFECT: FEAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
This year, Maryland legislators passed a law to reduce penalties for
those caught using marijuana for medical purposes. Though still
opposed by many who think the state has gone too far toward making
marijuana legal, the law isn't a panacea for people like Holland -
those for whom it was designed to help the most. If she is caught
with marijuana, she is breaking the law. She can be arrested. She
can be prosecuted. And if a judge doesn't believe her story, she can
be jailed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Forced to 'Sneak' | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We're in a better situation than we were, but we're not home free
yet," she said. "It's still requiring that you sneak around and
hide." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Possession of marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and Holland fears constantly that the Drug Enforcement Administration will knock on her door. Dr. Andrea Barthwell, deputy director for demand reduction at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, rejects the term "medical marijuana," instead calling it "medical excuse marijuana." She says those who push for laws like Maryland's are "feeding off the pain and suffering of people" in pursuit of their real goal: complete legalization of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) SMOKIN' AIRWAVES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Marijuana Policy Project, the group that contributed funding to
Nevadans promoting the initiative petition campaign that placed
marijuana legalization on Nevada's 2002 ballot, is now running
television commercials in Nevada comparing high teen marijuana use
here with lower teen use in the Netherlands. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The commercials use a split screen showing Nevada teens on the right
side of the screen wearing shirts reading "67%" and Dutch teens on
the left in shirts reading "28%." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Using statistics on teen use from the White House Office of Drug
Control Policy and the Center for Drug Research, the TV spots argue
that well-regulated but legal marijuana in Holland produces fewer
teen users than the current policy of outright prohibition in the
United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) POT WAS INSURED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saskatchewan Government Insurance has received a claim for a supply
of marijuana stolen from a home. The claim may be the first of its
kind since new federal rules governing the use of medical marijuana
came into effect last summer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"If you have home insurance and it's a medical supply, there would be coverage," said government insurance spokesman Earl Cameron. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's no different than prescription drugs. Legal property is
covered, and illegal property is not." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A head of the U.S. DEA proclaimed last week that the Thai war on
drugs was a success. The Thai "drug war" -- a bloody pogrom
denounced as murderous (when Thai police death squads summarily
executed some 2,000 drug-using suspects in 2003 alone) and
ineffective (as illegal drug use continues unabated in Thailand) --
was violently escalated by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"Temporarily, we look at it as successful," crowed DEA official
William Snipes. Snipes did not mention the over 2,000 suspects
murdered by Thai police death squads in the last year. Neither did
the career U.S. drug warrior reveal the measures used to determine
success has been achieved. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Six Vancouver police officers last week plead guilty to beating drug
suspects, yet remain suspended with pay. According to reports, the
officer wish to remain on the force. The lawyer for the six
admittedly assaultive police officers noted (correctly) that there
are many precedents for police officers remaining on the force,
despite convictions for brutality and assault. Excusing the
officers, Tom Stamatakis, president of a Canadian police union said
that "from time to time" goodly drug police may "make mistakes." The
little "mistakes" officers made in this case include taking drug
suspects to a deserted city park at midnight, and beating them, one
by one. Oopsie! | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kenyan prohibition bureaucrats announced a new 'gateway' theory last week after proclaiming booze, tobacco, qhat and huffing are stepping-stones to youthful cannabis use. "Bhang [marijuana] smoking is introduced through alcohol, cigarettes, miraa [khat] and inhalants," revealed Joseph Kaguthi, National Coordinator of the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse in Kenya. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Elsewhere in Kenya, authorities are baffled as to why glue-sniffing has not lessened in the nation, despite a government bureaucrat's dictate criminalizing this act issued last August. "But it is as if he did nothing," the East African Standard newspaper reported last week, "every street kid in Nairobi walks with a bottle of glue on his mouth." What is the problem now, according to experts? Not enough law enforcement pressure on glue merchants and street kids. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(19) U.S. OFFICIAL DECLARES WAR ON DRUGS A SUCCESS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A senior U.S. drug official yesterday hailed Thailand's war against
drugs as a success. | ||||||||||||||||||||
William J. Snipes, the regional director of the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration, said the war on drugs has been
effective. | ||||||||||||||||||||
``Whether that's a lasting effect, we'll have to wait and see.
Temporarily, we look at it as successful,'' he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
He was speaking at the Bang Pa-In industrial estate where seized
drugs worth about 2.9 billion baht were incinerated, including 19
million methamphetamine pills, marijuana, heroin, ketamine liquid
and ecstasy pills. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The government began a violent crackdown on drugs in February and
plans to announce the country drug free ahead of the King's birthday
on Dec 5. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(20) POLICEMEN PLEAD GUILTY TO ASSAULT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver officers charged in beatings of suspected dealers | ||||||||||||||||||||
VANCOUVER -- In a surprise development, six Vancouver police
officers charged with beating suspected drug dealers in a city park
last winter have each pleaded guilty to the assaults. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Their trial had been scheduled for next summer, but yesterday all
six men pleaded guilty to three counts each of assault. They are to
be sentenced next month. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The convicted officers, all uniformed constables, are: Christopher
Cronmiller, Raymond Gardner, Duncan Gemmell, James Kenney, Gabriel
Kojima and Brandon Steele. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Each admitted taking part in the early-morning assaults on Grant
Wilson, Jason Desjardins and Barry Lawrie last January. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The police drove the men in a paddy wagon to a Stanley Park beach
and, one by one, beat all three. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) KENYANS ARE NOT CONSUMERS OF THE IMPORTED DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Contrary to common belief, not many Kenyans are consumers of the
imported drugs - cocaine, mandrax, hashish and heroine. Kenya's
biggest drug problem, according to the National Co-ordinator of the
National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse, Joseph Kaguthi,
is cigarette smoking, alcohol, miraa and bhang. | ||||||||||||||||||||
These are the drugs whose potential for abuse by children below the
age of 21 is causing great worry to the authorities. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bhang smoking is introduced through alcohol, cigarettes, miraa and
inhalants. One out of eight of those who take alcohol, which
according to Kaguthi removes any forms of social inhibitions, end up
being alcoholics. In Western Province, 89 percent of children aged
between 10 and 24 are today taking alcohol. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) GLUE SNIFFING GOES ON DESPITE ORDER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NAIROBI -The Attorney-General criminalised the inhaling of glue in
the country last August. His act came after a long time of waiting
and it sounded a splendid thing to do at the time. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But it is as if he did nothing: Sniffing of glue as any one will
tell him continues with the same usualness it used to even before
the good A-G thought it wise to criminalise its sale. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Criminal Law (amendment) Act 2003, No 46, says that any person found distributing substances declared by the Minister for Health as harmful to children will be liable to imprisonment for three years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This notwithstanding, every street kid in Nairobi walks with a
bottle of glue on his mouth. And they do not care whether it is
legal or not to do this. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Where do they get the glue? Of course, from the same sources they have always been getting it from. The sellers are still very much in business, regardless of the law. They sell the glue to the kids and get a quick buck. Of course the law turns the other way. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Having the AG enact a law against glue-sniffing was one tiny victory
in the war against drugs and substance abuse. The challenge, as can
now be seen, is to enforce the law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But who is supposed to do this? Not the National Agency for the
Campaign Against Drug Abuse which has no powers to arrest. Not the
AG's office whose role is only to prosecute. Not the Children's
Welfare Department. This is the turf of the police, the provincial
administration and the public health officers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Cultural Baggage radio show from Tuesday, Nov 25th, featuring
Retired officer Jack Cole, the Executive Director of Law Enforcement
Against Prohibition, http://www.leap.cc/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
MP3: http://www.cultural-baggage.com/Audio/FDBCB_112503.mp3
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Mitch Earleywine, author of "Understanding Marijuana, a New Look at the Scientific Evidence." Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 EDT, 6:30 CDT and 4:30 PDT on Pacifica Radio on the net at: http://www.kpft.org | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DEEP INSIDE GOOSE CREEK | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our roving reporter Loretta Nall gets the details behind the drug
raid on Stanford High in Goose Creek, South Carolina. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
THE BATTLE FOR CANADA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Richard Cowan Returns to Pot-TV With A Special Series On The Battle
for Canada. Calls for Unity In Cannabis Community. International
Debate on Prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
THE FUTURE OF U.S. DRUG POLICY | ||||||||||||||||||||
National Center on Addiction & Substance Abuse Debate | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rangel, Charles B., U.S. Representative, D, New York (State) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Schmoke, Kurt, Mayor-D, Baltimore, MD | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bennett, William, Director, Office of Natl. Drug Control Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Johnson, Gary, Governor, R-NM | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NORML TESTIFIES IN JAMAICA IN SUPPORT OF MARIJUANA LAW REFORM | ||||||||||||||||||||
November 26, 2003 - Kingston, Jamaica | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kingston, Jamaica: NORML Executive Director Keith Stroup testified
before members of Parliament on Wednesday in favor of | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Legalization Is The Only Cure | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Kirk Tousaw | ||||||||||||||||||||
Re: Police crackdown on grow-ops | ||||||||||||||||||||
First, kudos on presenting a view that differs from the official
police line, with your quotes from Dana Larsen and Marc Emery. The
other paper that covered this story, which shall remain nameless,
didn't bother to print any alternative views. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is important that your readers understand that every time they
read about violence associated with grow-ops, or hear reports of
unsafe wiring, the blame must be laid at the feet of government
policy-makers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prohibition has been an abject failure and, as the Senate recently
concluded, causes society more harm than good. When police and city
officials decide to waste their scarce resources and our tax dollars
waging war on a plant, we should be outraged. When Parliament
refuses to do the right thing - legalize marijuana for adult use -
we all suffer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We suffer because prohibition causes harm. We suffer because freedom
is trampled. We suffer because sick people are denied access to
their medicine (some grow-ops exist to supply compassion clubs). We
suffer because our tax dollars are wasted and a substantial source
of tax revenue is ignored. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is time that we abandoned the failed prohibitionist policies of
the past and move in a new direction. Legalization and regulation of
the marijuana industry is the only practical remedy to the problems
of black market violence and unsafe grow operations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kirk Tousaw, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mythic Symbols of Good and Evil | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Doug Snead | ||||||||||||||||||||
Religious and mythological symbols of good and evil are very useful
in demonizing prohibited or targeted drugs. Drugs (declared illegal
by politicians) are said to be as the forbidden fruit in the Garden
of Eden. Thus, declare police and prosecutor, "illegal" drugs are
sinful to use. It is therefore the duty of government, declare
unselfish government officials and authorities, to cast out the
hated drug user from the garden of society (or rather, to jail and
enslave the drug user for profit). As Adam and Eve were beguiled by
the devil, so (asserts a government deeply respecting an
establishment of religion), have drug users been demonically
beguiled and possessed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Like Prometheus, drug 'dealers and users' distribute fiery, powerful, forbidden substances to Man. Like Zeus, government officials and authorities boom out in Olympian tones that only government gods may distribute drugs. Like Prometheus, drug users must be eternally chained and punished for their sins against authority. Like Pandora, drug users are a scourge to mankind. In their ignorance and depravity, users of forbidden substances open a Pandora's Box, loosing swarms of evil plagues upon the people. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug users are variously described as fallen, demons, fiends,
vampires, heartbreaking little imps, miserable craven slaves, no
better than animals. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Nobody plans to become a addict . . . It's time we stop telling
ourselves lies and get away from all uses of drugs. When we were
little kids we enjoyed life without any chemical aids," as one
writer put it. "Adam and Eve were told not to eat a certain fruit,
because everything in the garden was not for their use; the same
applies to us. [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Drugs Put These Hearts In Chains," a headline lamented. Drugs were
said to turn good children into imps. "When drugs rule, they ruin
lives by burning out the core of those involved, rendering an empty
shell, turning bright eyes into sneaky eyes and smiles into smirks.
Drugs trample love in trade for money and crush those hearts that
care."[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"There are still people out there who make money off of people's
misery and death. And they're out there poisoning our children and
families," another prosecutor explained. [3] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Drug dealers are bloodsuckers who prey on the vulnerability of
others, so now we're going to take their blood money off them," a
police official revealed. [4] | ||||||||||||||||||||
One U.S. government official crowed about the results of pressure
applied to the Afghani government. "He was told by farmers that 'the
Taliban used a system of consensus-building.' They framed the ban
'in very religious terms,' citing Islamic prohibitions against
drugs, and that made it hard to defy, he added. Those who defied the
edict were threatened with prison." [5] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Adults must always be imprisoned for smoking marijuana. Otherwise,
say drug warriors, flaming sword in hand, the fallen shall be
condemned to living the degraded lives of beasts. "Once this
'gateway drug' to stronger drugs is opened, those depend(ent) on
drugs, will behave no better than animals, selling themselves and
their families, and becoming slaves to the master who controls the
drugs." [6] | ||||||||||||||||||||
[1] Jimmie Smith, "Some Things Just Not For Us", Frederick News
Post, Mar. 12, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
[2] Tom Dunlap, "Drugs Put These Hearts In Chains", Redding Record
Searchlight, Feb. 11, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
[3] Chaka Ferguson, "Drug Raids Net More Than 50 Arrests",
Albuquerque Journal, Feb. 7, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
[4] South Western Times, "Police Take Assets In First Use Of New",
Feb. 15, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
[5]Barbara Crossette, "Afghanistan: Taliban's Ban On Growing Opium
Poppies Is Called", New York Times, May. 20, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
[6]Jean Foo, "Opium Dens A Warning", Vancouver Sun, Jun. 5, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Doug Snead is an editor with DrugSense Weekly and author of a book about drug war propaganda, from which this excerpt is taken. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Vices are their own punishment." - Aesop | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||
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