| May 21, 2004 #350 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) US: STUDY FINDS MORE TEENS AVOID SOME HEALTH RISKS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Use of alcohol and tobacco down, seat belts up; but trends in obesity,
drugs pose problems | ||||||||||||||||||||
ATLANTA - When it comes to health, teens seem to be getting the
message. | ||||||||||||||||||||
High school students surveyed last year by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention smoked less, drank less and used seat belts and
bike helmets more frequently than their counterparts 12 years earlier,
according to an analysis released Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Students who said they had drunk alcohol fell to 75 percent from 82
percent between 1991 and 2003. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That comes as little surprise to Azeezah Goodwin, an eighth-grader at
Dutch Fork Middle School. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I believe that kids aren't engaging in as much risky behavior as they
used to," Goodwin said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"My theory on this is that it is not as glamorous as it used to be to
do dangerous things and 'live on the edge.'" | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We also have more information than we used to. We know that smoking
causes cancer, unprotected sex can cause STDs and unwanted
pregnancies, and that drinking and driving can kill you and others on
the road." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) US: HOUSE BILL AUTHORIZES TROOPS TO GUARD US BORDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
House bill authorizes troops to guard U.S. borders | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - U.S. soldiers could be asked to keep illegal immigrants
and potential terrorists out of the country under a bill passed in the
U.S. House of Representatives. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The House approved a defense authorization bill that includes an
amendment that would let American soldiers join U.S. Border Patrol
agents in guarding the borders with Canada and Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The amendment, championed by Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., passed the House late Wednesday 231-191. It stands little chance of surviving because it was not part of the Senate's defense authorization bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill is exactly what Glenn Spencer wants to hear. He is president
of the American Border Patrol, a Sierra Vista civilian group that
films illegal immigration and documents the Border Patrol's response
to reports of it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The will of the American people is beginning to express itself in the
Congress," Spencer told the Tucson Citizen yesterday. "We have to stop
this massive invasion of America." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Spencer said his group has 100,000 signed petitions in support of putting troops on the border, and he plans to turn them over to the federal government as a sign of support for the measure. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) NEW ZEALAND: CANNABIS-LEGAL STATUS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
JUDY TURNER (United Future) to the Minister of Justice: Is he satisfied with the current legal status of cannabis; if so, why? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Justice): The Government has no plans to change the current legal status of cannabis. That, of course, is part of an electoral agreement entered into by the Government and United Future. The Government also has concerns that the legalisation of cannabis would risk negative social consequences in a number of areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Judy Turner: Is the Minister convinced that the current legal status
of cannabis should be retained in light of the sudden influx of
patients to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital's psychiatric unit, which
staff attribute almost entirely to a particularly strong brew of
cannabis use, since it brings out psychotic and paranoiac tendencies
in young people? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hon PHIL GOFF: I think that it is well established in medical
research, and certainly by the Health Committee, which looked at this
issue, that the use of cannabis has very negative effects on those who
have pre-existing mental health disorders. That is one of the key
reasons why I think no party in this House should advocate greater use
of cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tim Barnett: What problems does the Minister see resulting from the
legalisation of cannabis? | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) US KY: DRUG TESTING UNDER FIRE AT WURTLAND SCHOOL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WURTLAND Tammy Stephens knows school districts have an obligation when
it comes to preventing students from abusing drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That, however, was no consolation Friday when she watched her son,
13-year-old Wurtland Middle School student Joshua Sizemore, endure a
school-administered drug test that subsequently yielded positive
results for the drug PCP. Following the advice of school officials,
Stephens took her son to the hospital for further, more specific,
tests for traces of PCP, benzodiazepines, cocaine, amphetamine,
cannabinoids, barbituates and tricyclic. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The hospital test results came back negative, leaving Stephens anxious
over the way the situation was handled and sensing that the whole
ordeal could have been avoided. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I hope a parent never has to go through what I went through on
Friday," said Stephens, a social worker in South Shore. "It was awful
- - like a nightmare come true." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The experience, she said, has left her with bad feelings about the
school's drug policy. She worries about the efficacy of the
school-administered tests - over-the-counter kits purchased at local
drugstores - and feels her son's confidentiality rights were
compromised when he was tested at school. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But school officials, who saw one WMS student taken to the hospital
earlier this month after taking PCP at the school, say they're doing
what they can to maintain an effective policy and only have students'
best interests in mind. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (-) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Another round of cops versus kids in the drug war last week. This
time, it was outside Baltimore where a police strip searched two
students after a drug-sniffing dog reacted to the students'
backpacks. As often is the case when young people are humiliated in
the course of the drug war, no drugs were found. As we pester and
nag children about drugs and other subjects, are we actually making
them more likely to use drugs? Yes, says a new study out of Canada.
Easy solution: prohibit nagging. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Of course, the drug czar and his minions would have much a job then. We can all expect to be pestered more by our doctors if deputy drug czar Andrea Barthwell has her way. And if legislator from Oklahoma gets his way, pseudoephedrine will be restricted nationwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Finally this week, we start a new, but probably irregular feature
called "Prohibitionists We Like." Honored this week is Vermont State
Representative Loren Shaw, who vowed not to seek reelection after
fellow Republicans offended him by voting to support a medical
marijuana law. We can only hope other opponents of medical marijuana
and drug policy reform will follow Shaw's shining example - then
they too can be "Prohibitionists We Like." Note to Rep. Shaw: If you
go back on your pledge not to run, your status as a charter
"Prohibitionist We Like" will be forfeited. (For more details on the
new Vermont law, please see the Cannabis & Hemp section of DrugSense
Weekly.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) SHERIFF TO REVIEW POLICY ON SEARCHES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kent School Community Troubled by Drug Sweep; Some Students Made To
Disrobe | ||||||||||||||||||||
CHESTERTOWN - The Kent County sheriff said yesterday that his office was on questionable legal ground when it sent four dogs into the local high school for a drug search without a warrant, patted down 16 students and ordered two female students to partially disrobe. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We were acting under what we thought was probable cause, and we
still believe there was probable cause," Sheriff John F. Price IV
said of the search April 16 - the subject of a growing controversy
in this Eastern Shore community. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"At the same time, it was an area that was unclear," Price said. "We
didn't know it was a gray area." | ||||||||||||||||||||
About 250 book bags in 12 Kent County High School classrooms were scanned by drug-sniffing dogs during the search, the sheriff said. He said the dogs "alerted" on 18 of the bags, whose owners were asked to undergo additional searches. Sixteen students were subjected to "pat-down" searches, while the other two received what the sheriff would describe only as "more thorough searches." | ||||||||||||||||||||
One of the two, Heather Gore, 15, said yesterday that a female
deputy ordered her to remove her skirt, then lifted her tank top,
exposing her breasts. Gore said she was then told to spread her legs
while the officer checked her underwear. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'm still just so embarrassed," Gore said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) 'NAGGED TEENS RISK SUBSTANCE ABUSE' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Survey Also Finds 22 Per Cent Aged 12 to 15 Had Been Drunk | ||||||||||||||||||||
OTTAWA -- The odds of adolescents getting drunk and using drugs are
relatively high if they see their parents as constantly nagging
them, Statistics Canada's first national study of alcohol and drug
use among 12- to 15-year-olds shows. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The survey of 4,296 young people, released Tuesday, found four in 10
had consumed one alcoholic drink at least once and more than one in
five (22 per cent) had been drunk. | ||||||||||||||||||||
About one-fifth (or 19 per cent) also reported having smoked
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The younger adolescents were not asked about hallucinogens --
including mushrooms, ecstasy and LSD -- but 11 per cent of teens
aged 14 and 15 reported having tried them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) WAR ON DRUG ADDICTION NEEDS DOCTORS ON FRONT LINE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Primary care physicians, for example, play a vital role in
conducting brief interventions for patients who use drugs regularly
but are not yet dependent on them. Brief interventions by primary
care physicians have already been shown to be effective in reducing
alcohol use by heavy drinkers. They have also long been used in the
successful fight against cigarette use. Forty years ago,
interventions with alcohol and cigarette users were unheard of. As
we learned more about those drugs' health dangers, knowledge was
translated into changes in curriculum, which has in turn made
Americans healthier. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The power of health messages communicated by physicians can now be
applied to help reduce substance abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For example, in training, medical students and residents see a
number of patients with addictive diseases. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Often we write, "Patient is a 39-year-old white female alcoholic. .
." as if the diagnosis were a relevant descriptor, with the same | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately, most of the time today the same standards do not
apply when it comes to substance abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) LEGISLATOR MODELS BILL ON STATE'S METH LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A month-old Oklahoma law aimed at reducing methamphetamine
production is being used as a model for national legislation that
will be introduced today in Washington. U.S. Rep. Brad Carson,
D-Claremore, said he will introduce the "Ephedrine Alkaloids
Regulation Act of 2004," a law that would make the tablet form of
pseudoephedrine and ephedrine controlled substances. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The drugs, legally used in cold and sinus medicines, also are used
as precursor chemicals for methamphetamine production nationwide.
Since 1991, the Drug Enforcement Administration has seized more than
38,500 meth labs in 48 states. That number does not include labs
seized solely by local and state agencies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Oklahoma, methamphetamine lab seizures increased 12,000 percent
between 1994 and 2003. Law enforcement agencies estimate that there
were from 30,000 to 60,000 meth labs in operation in the state last
year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) STATEHOUSE SHOCKER: LOREN SHAW NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Following a historic vote by the House of Representatives to approve
a bill that would allow severely ill patients to possess and consume
marijuana, Rep. Loren Shaw, R-Derby, told the House that he would
not be seeking re-election. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Moments earlier, representatives voted to approve a bill dealing
with advanced directives for health care. The bill was amended by
the House to include the creation of a program that allows certain
patients to use marijuana to treat chronic pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After the vote, Shaw addressed the House saying, "Mr. Speaker, I
thought I could make a difference when I ran for the House, but have
now found out different. For you Republicans who voted for this
bill, enjoy next year but I will not be part of your party and will
not seek re-election." | ||||||||||||||||||||
After the House adjourned, fellow legislators came up to Shaw and told him they sympathized with his position, but they begged him to reconsider and urged him to change his mind and seek re-election. Shaw said he "got the sword from my own party one too many times." He said the vote to support marijuana possession and use "really got to me" because "it's illegal - what don't they understand?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
That the drug war crowds prisons isn't news. But the ways it crowds
prisons can still be surprising. For example, more and more
prisoners are being sentenced to life, and that includes some
non-violent drug offenders. Another way to look at the prison
spending binge is to compare it to spending on other institutions
like higher education. Universities do not fare well in a recent
study. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The era of Sheriff Gerald Hege finally ends in North Carolina this
week. Hege, who billed himself as "the toughest sheriff in America"
survived other scandals, including an illegal drug ring operated by
his trusted deputies, but he couldn't get past an investigation
showing he threatened employees and manipulated crime statistics.
And in Missouri this week, a police chemist is in the center of a
scandal after he was accused of stealing methamphetamine from the
lab where he worked. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) LIFERS CROWD PRISONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - The number of prisoners serving life sentences has increased 83 percent in the past 10 years as tough-on-crime initiatives have led to harsher penalties, a study says. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nearly 128,000 people, or one of every 11 offenders in state and
federal prisons, are serving life sentences, according to the study
released Tuesday by The Sentencing Project, a Washington-based group
that promotes alternatives to prison. In 1992, 70,000 people had
life sentences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The figures, compiled from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and state
correctional agencies, also show the amount of time served by
criminals given life sentences increased from an average of 21 years
to 29 years between 1991 and 1997. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report said the increases are not the result of more crime,
since violent crime fell significantly during the period covered by
the study. Rather, longer mandatory sentences and more restrictive
parole and commutation policies are most responsible. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report cites one-size-fits-all "three strikes" laws requiring life sentences for any third felony conviction as key to boosting the number of lifers. Many are nonviolent drug offenders. Many of those given such penalties are nonviolent drug offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) PRISON SPENDING OUTPACES EDUCATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
There were no surprises. The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics
announced that in 2001 the United States spent a record $167 billion
on law enforcement and criminal justice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The growth was no surprise because every year the United States
locks up more people, setting a new record for high incarceration
since the previous year. The United States now holds 2.1 million
people in prison and jail. All that incarceration cost money, and it
all comes from someplace else. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Some money comes from hospitals. The new data reveal that law
enforcement expenditures have risen to match health care at 7
percent of state budgets. In 1995, states spent 9.7 percent of their
budgets on health care, so spending on health care has been
declining even as the population has been aging. Since 1977,
correction expenditures have increased more than twice as fast as
spending on health care. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
A careful look at who goes to prison indicates why increased incarceration does not correlate with public safety. The vast majority of new prison admissions during the 1980s and 1990s were people convicted of non-violent crimes. Two thirds of people imprisoned under California's three-strikes committed nonviolent offences, at annual costs of hundreds of millions of dollars. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Research by the Open Society Institute in New York City identified single blocks where more than $1 million is spent every year to lock up residents. Over half of these individuals are incarcerated for nonviolent drug crimes. They return after an average of less than three years, alienated and untrained, to the same unchanged block. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) EDITORIAL: GOOD RIDDANCE, SHAMELESS SHERIFF (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gerald Hege left the Davidson County Courthouse on Monday a common
criminal -- although the self-appointed "toughest sheriff'' in
America got off with a mere slap on the wrist. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hege had faced 15 felony counts, including obstruction of justice
and embezzlement. But he struck a sweet deal with prosecutors,
pleading guilty to only two charges and resigning from office. He
also must pay $6,200 in restitution and spend three years on
intensive probation. The remaining charges will be dropped. There
will be no trial. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hege could have gotten prison time, and perhaps that's why he was
agreeable to a plea. The state had no fewer than 67 sworn affidavits
from deputies who said they feared for their jobs after being told
by Hege that those who spoke against him "were going to be gone.''
The affidavits allege that he harassed employees, private citizens
and political rivals, engaged in racial profiling, falsified crime
statistics and endangered the public. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) PROSECUTORS FEAR HUNDREDS OF DRUG CASES IN JEOPARDY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Prosecutors in three southwest Missouri
counties fear hundreds of drug cases are in jeopardy because of
allegations against a chemist with the Missouri State Highway
Patrol. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officials said the chemist, who resigned Monday, is suspected of
stealing methamphetamine from samples he was testing. The Highway
Patrol, Springfield Police Department and Green County Sheriff's
Department are investigating the accusations, but the man has not
been charged with any crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutors said the chemist's credibility has been badly damaged,
and defense attorneys will pounce on that to bring his conclusions
into question. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Everything he touched is going to be an issue," said Christian
County Prosecutor Ron Cleek, who estimated that more than 100 of his
cases could be affected. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The United States moves another step forward this week in medical marijuana policy. A federal judge has ordered federal officials not to arrest or prosecute two California medical cannabis users. The judge was acting on another court decision that came in December. Also advancing the medical marijuana movement was the Vermont legislature, which approved a new state medical marijuana law. Despite its limitations, the Vermont so flustered a local prohibitionist legislator that the legislator has threatened not to run for reelection (see the Domestic News - Policy section of DrugSense Weekly for more details on that aspect of the story). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Not every legislature has the good sense of Vermont. Connecticut
officials voted down a medical marijuana bill last week. Elsewhere in
medical cannabis news, both major political parties in New South
Wales, Australia, want a medical marijuana trial to test medical
marijuana's effect on pain, but there's disagreement about whether
the cannabis should be grown locally, or imported in processed form.
And finally, a Canadian magazine reported on opponents of marijuana
prohibition as an international movement. We at DrugSense, an
international organization, have known this for a long time, but
it's nice to see others catching on too. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) JUDGE PROTECTS 2 MEDICAL POT USERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge in San Francisco, following
instructions of a U.S. appeals court, has issued a preliminary
injunction shielding two ill women from federal prosecution for
using medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. District Judge Martin Jenkins issued the injunction protecting Angel Raich of Oakland and Diane Monson of Oroville on Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The order bars officials of the U.S. Justice Department and Drug Enforcement Administration from arresting or prosecuting the women for using medical marijuana. The officials also are forbidden to seize the patients' marijuana or seek civil sanctions against them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The preliminary injunction was ordered by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals in San Francisco in December. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) MEDICAL POT OK'D; SESSION ENDING TODAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MONTPELIER - A measure legalizing the use and possession of
marijuana by people suffering from AIDS, cancer or multiple
sclerosis crossed its final legislative hurdle Wednesday, paving the
way for it to become law without the signature of Gov. James
Douglas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Senators, voting 20-7 in favor of the heavily lobbied bill, made
Vermont's Legislature only the second in the country - Hawaii is the
other - to legalize the use of medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill was sent to the governor, who confirmed that he would
decline to sign it, meaning the measure automatically becomes law in
five days. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vermont will become the ninth state with such a law on the books. In
seven of those states voters, not legislators, approved the medical
marijuana legislation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) NO APPROVAL FOR MEDICAL POT BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The war on drugs battled its way to the state Legislature during the
session just ended, where lawmakers debated a bill to legalize
marijuana for medical use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ultimately, the bill failed, not on its merits but because of
legislative wrangling that prevented it from reaching the state
Senate floor during this year's session. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The medical marijuana bill would allow residents to grow marijuana
in their homes for personal use, provided they receive a doctor's
prescription for the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) GROW MEDICINAL CANNABIS LOCALLY: BROGDEN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
New South Wales Liberal leader John Brodgen says he does not
understand why cannabis for use in a trial to help pain and
suffering among terminally ill people would have to be imported from
overseas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Opposition leader has suggested the drug could be grown locally. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Premier Bob Carr said that plans for the trial had stalled because
of delays with pharmaceutical companies in the UK developing an
inhaler, his preferred method of supplying the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He has raised the possibility of importing the drug from Canada,
where it is already used for medicinal purposes, rather than growing
it here. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He has written to Prime Minister John Howard, seeking his
support. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Mr Brogden says a home-grown solution might make the best
economic sense. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) GLOBAL MARIJUANA MOVEMENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stymied by a Liberal government that dismisses change to Canada's marijuana laws-saying they would be going against UN treaties and "international obligations"-the national marijuana movement is slowly sowing its own seeds to overgrow the rest of the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And Alison Myrden is at the razor-sharp end of the hoe. Myrden-the
NDP's Oakville candidate, a prominent marijuana cheerleader and
sufferer of MS and Tic Douloureux-is building an international
Rolodex with goals of launching a worldwide marijuana organization
and movement within a year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'm trying to bring people together from around the world," said
Myrden from her home in Burlington. "It's important to learn what
country is legal and what country is not." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Her networking abilities have sparkled as the feisty activist
gathered other excited cohorts from around the globe, all talking
about getting green in their hood. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Myrden is further upping her involvement by standing at the
international podium, with speaking engagements booked as a member
of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Though Myrden is new to the
LEAP speakers series, plans are being made for her to talk at
upcoming conferences in Boston and Dublin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The march of prohibition-corrupted government officials continued last week as Rudy Therassan, commander of the Haitian National Police Brigade, was busted by U.S. agents in Florida. Held for "conspiracy to import cocaine" into the U.S., Therassan is the second top Haitian cop to be arrested recently. Therassan was believed to be on the payroll of convicted trafficker Hector Ketant. Ketant had earlier denounced former Haitian president Aristide, accusing Aristide of being his partner in drug trafficking. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Kenya, a storm is brewing over testimony implicating a government
judge and a police commissioner. In testimony to a tribunal
investigating the judge last week, confessed members of a Kenyan
drug "syndicate" said judge Philip Waki and police commissioner
Edwin Nyaseda provided legal and police protection to the smugglers.
Expect this to be just the tip of the iceberg; prohibition makes
plants, which are no more difficult to grow than tomatoes, worth
their weight in gold so there is never any shortage of cash to
corrupt officials. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A tiny but cool breeze of sanity is drifting from Russia, as a new
law came into effect last week there that eliminated jail terms for
personal-use amounts of drugs. Police, predictably, bitterly
criticized the new law as restraining the war on drugs, even as drug
law reform groups in Russia praised it. "Now that police will stop
persecuting users, they can start focusing on real threats like
large-scale drug trafficking," noted Lev Levinson, head of the
Russian New Drug Policy organization. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ah, the power of small political parties! In the U.S., the "two
major parties" (Democrats and Republicans, which for all practical
purposes form a single party) work with bipartisan zeal to lock out
other parties. But in more democratic countries, third parties can
steer debates and have an impact. Take New Zealand for example.
There, the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP) this week forced
Te Tai Hauauru MP Tariana Turia to come out for cannabis
legalization, or face an expensive by-election. While issuing a
statement this week saying she had always supported cannabis
"decriminalisation" and "cannabis reform," she would not support
"legalisation." ALCP leader Michael Appleby: "I'm delighted we've
managed to extract that from her." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) FORMER TOP COP IN HAITI FACES U.S. DRUG CHARGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The one-time commander of the Haitian National Police Brigade was
arrested Friday in Miami on a drug charge, the latest government
official caught in a federal investigation of cocaine and corruption
under former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Papers filed in federal court in Miami identified the official as
Rudy Therassan, who headed the Haitian national police from 2001
until last August. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Therassan, 39, who according to property records owns an expensive home in Wellington, will be held in jail until he can be formally charged Monday before a federal magistrate in Miami with a single count of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. He is the second high-ranking Haitian law enforcement officer arrested for drug trafficking since Aristide left the country in February. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bush administration and U.S. Justice Department officials have said publicly that authorities in Miami are looking into whether Aristide, once a populist priest, was corrupted by drug money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
At his sentencing hearing, Ketant launched an angry tirade, accusing
Aristide of being his partner in the drug business before betraying
him to the DEA. Ketant also blamed Aristide and the Haitian
government for his brother's murder. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The affidavit states that Hector Ketant was paying Therassan to
protect his cocaine loads and the two became embroiled in a dispute
over price. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) WITNESS: JUDGE WAS IN DRUGS RING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NAIROBI | ||||||||||||||||||||
Suspended judge Philip Waki was part of a syndicate run by late drug
baron Ibrahim Akasha, a witness told a tribunal investigating the
conduct of the judge yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Mohamed Ghani Taib, who confessed he had been | ||||||||||||||||||||
He claimed that in also Akasha's payroll were former police
commissioner Edwin Nyaseda, Akasha's wives and children and other
close associates. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Taib claimed that Waki handled the legal side of the syndicate while
he, Nyaseda and other police officers in Mombasa escorted drugs to
different destinations within the Coast Province. Nyaseda was then
Coast Provincial CID boss. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Waki was judge and Akasha a drug dealer; so what business were they
doing together?" Taib asked Oraro. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Akiwumi, however, asked the witness why he was escorting the drug
convoys. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I was given security and I was promised I would not be arrested or
charged," Taib said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He also said that he did what he did for the money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) NO MORE JAIL TERMS FOR DRUG POSSESSION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Under a new law that came into effect this week, drug users can
possess a greatly increased amount of an illegal substance -- for
instance, 20 grams of marijuana or 1.5 grams of cocaine -- without
the risk of being thrown in jail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The law has been criticized by the Federal Anti-Drug Service, which
says it hampers the battle against drugs, but praised by those who
work to rehabilitate drug addicts, who predict more addicts will now
seek help. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Anyone caught in possession of these amounts or less cannot legally
be detained, a spokeswoman for the Moscow branch of the Federal
Anti-Drug Service said. Instead, a report will be filed and the fine
will be determined by a court. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This is a major change. Under the old standards, someone caught with
0.1 grams of marijuana, for instance, could be punished by | ||||||||||||||||||||
Foreigners, even those with deep pockets, should still take the new law seriously, however. Yelena Zhigayeva, a lawyer at the Moscow law firm Haarmann Hemmelrath & Partner, said that by law foreigners who violate Russian drug laws, even if it is only an administrative infraction, can be expelled from the country or denied re-entry. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lev Levinson, head of New Drug Policy, an advocacy group for drug
law reform, was the coordinator of the group. "This is a brave,
humane law," Levinson said. "Now that police will stop persecuting
users, they can start focusing on real threats like large-scale drug
trafficking." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) TURIA WILL TALK ABOUT CANNABIS REFORM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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A by-election looked set to go ahead on Monday after the ALCP said it
would stand unless Mrs Turia supported its aims. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
All the political parties represented in Parliament have said they will not stand candidates in the by-election, to be held on July 10. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officials have said that if no-one else put their name forward, Mrs
Turia would be declared elected. | ||||||||||||||||||||
However, ALCP leader and lawyer Michael Appleby said on Monday his party would stand in the by-election unless Mrs Turia backed the party's position of legalising cannabis use for those over 18. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mrs Turia issued a statement yesterday which said she had always
supported decriminalisation of cannabis use and would continue to
advocate "cannabis reform". | ||||||||||||||||||||
However, she said she did not support legalising the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
As a former associate health minister with interests in drug policy, she was very concerned to address the harmful aspects of drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I have advocated for decriminalising, which means that you still
have regulations around it." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Appleby said yesterday Mrs Turia's position on decriminalisation
was on the right track. "We're on the way. I'm delighted we've
managed to extract that from her." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Appleby said use of cannabis among Maori was "quite a bit higher"
than among non-Maori. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The problem with prohibition is in fact affecting Maori people far more probably than the foreshore issue or a lot of other issues. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We feel that we should be out there making sure that the whole problem of prohibition isn't swept under the carpet. And if in fact it takes a by-election to focus on that, then so much the better." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PRISONER ABUSE AND THE DRUG WAR - WHAT YOU CAN DO | ||||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert | ||||||||||||||||||||
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BEYOND PROHIBITION: PHILLIPE LUCAS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver Island Compassion Society member Phillipe Lucas criticizes
Canada's medical marijuana from Flin Flon Manitoba and why the model
that Canada is following is only half-way to the way Canadians For
Safe Access would like to see it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
POT TV NEWS SPECIAL ABU GHRAIB, USA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Abu Ghraib, USA Part 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following program contains scenes of police and prison guard
brutality, profane language, full frontal male nudity and torture
and humiliation. Intended for mature audiences with strong stomachs
only! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
REAL REFORM 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Real Reform 2004 represents the advocates, activists, experts and Rockefeller survivors' families who have led the struggle to end New York's inhumane, ineffective and wasteful Rockefeller drug laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
AIRLINE PASSENGERS AT RISK FROM DEA DRUG STING SHIPMENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Smuggling Case at JFK Airport Reveals Pattern of Corruption, and
Danger for Passengers | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Bill Conroy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chapter 13 of a book published by Narco News | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF ECSTASY | ||||||||||||||||||||
The May 13, 2004 issue of Nature has a three-page news story and an
editorial on MDMA/PTSD research, both of which are supportive of
opening the door to MDMA psychotherapy research. The article and
editorial, and a lengthy document with comments/corrections by Rick
Doblin, can be found on the MAPS website at: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
PROMOTING PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES TO THE WAR ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||||
by Charles Thomas, executive director, Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative
http://www.idpi.us/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
from Fellowship magazine "a magazine of peacemaking published by the
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR)" | ||||||||||||||||||||
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LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Legalization Could Have Positive Repercussions | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Richard Bradford | ||||||||||||||||||||
Re: "What about the societal repercussions of legalizing drugs?" by
Bill Cotterell (Capital Curmudgeon, May 6). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cotterell conjures up a perverse view of what might happen if we
legalize drugs, particularly marijuana. Yet he manages to completely
ignore the repercussions that a marijuana conviction has on a
person, his or her family and society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Not all individuals convicted of marijuana possession serve long
prison sentences, but they may face probation and mandatory drug
treatment, loss of driving privileges, loss of federal college
financial aid, personal asset forfeiture, loss of certain welfare
benefits such as food stamps, eviction from public housing or even
loss of child custody. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rather than drawing conclusions based on years of government
propaganda and hysteria, we need to open a dialogue on this issue.
Around the nation, communities are denouncing the traditional
punitive approach to marijuana law enforcement. Seattle and San
Francisco have passed legislation relaxing penalties for responsible
adult marijuana use at the local level. Today, 11 states have passed
laws that decriminalize the personal use of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This means about 30 percent of the adult population lives under some form of decriminalization. These states and cities removed criminal sanctions for personal amounts of marijuana, and studies show a significant savings in taxpayer dollars and police man-hours. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Richard Bradford | ||||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
If I were Contrarian-King of the United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Pete Guither | ||||||||||||||||||||
I have occasionally imagined how I would realistically change drug
policy if I was President, or had some other poliitical power, and
perhaps some day I'll share that with you. However, today I decided
to be different and imagined I was some kind of arbitrary King and
decided to retaliate by being contrarian. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* DEA agents who investigate doctors for prescribing pain medication
must have other DEA agents perform any medical procedures (like
heart transplants and brain surgery) that are needed by the agents.
After all, if DEA agents know so much about medicine... | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Putting a positive choice spin on drug testing, only those
students not participating in extra-curricular activities can be
drug tested, and only if there are extra-curricular options
available and they still choose not to participate. In a related
area, felons on parole can avoid drug tests by getting involved in
community service volunteer projects. (actually, this one makes a
little sense) | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Law enforcement officers who are part of no-knock drug task forces
must publicly list their names and addresses. Ordinary citizens are
allowed to wander through their home between the hours of 11 pm and
4 am and look through their drawers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Officers wishing to search a car for drugs must get a search
warrant from a judge specifying the make, year, color and VIN, along
with specific descriptions of the particular drugs they expect to
find. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Law enforcement agencies wishing to keep proceeds from Asset
Forfeitures must put up as bond an amount equal to the value of the
assets seized. If a judge rules for the property owner, the property
owner gets his assets back plus the bond, making a nice profit for
his trouble. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* School Principals who enforce zero-tolerance policies must get written permission from one of their students before taking an aspirin or any other medication (any time of day or night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Any laws passed that have criminal penalties are automatically
infinitely retroactive for those who voted for (or signed) the law.
This means, for example, that any Congressmen who vote for enhanced
drug possession penalties would be immediately liable under that law
for any drugs they took when they were young. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* The Drug Czar must wear a silly hat and a sign saying "I am a
liar" whenever he goes out in public, and whenever he talks about
drug statistics he must perform a leprechaun dance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* All DEA paperwork must be printed on hemp paper. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Inmates in federal prisons construct bongs and waterpipes, and
these are sold through an online store run by the Justice
Department, and administered by Tommy Chong. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Smugglers who are caught are sent back to their home country with
their drugs and told to try again. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* All law enforcement uniforms are made with material that smells
just like marijuana to drug-sniffing dogs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's fun! Got any to add? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pete Guither is the author of Drug WarRant - www.drugwarrant.com - a
weblog at the front lines of the drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"One of the most dramatic advantages of learning to use plants in
medicine is their relative lack of toxicity compared to isolated
derivatives of plants. This should be obvious. If you find something
in nature that has a biological effect, that affects animals, and
you attempt to concentrate that therapeutic power, you inevitably
concentrate toxicity because they're one and the same thing." -
Andrew Weil (for details, see | ||||||||||||||||||||
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