| July 16, 2004 #358 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) US CA: SUPERVISORS PASS MEDICAL POT ORDINANCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eureka -- Humboldt County supervisors Tuesday approved a county
ordinance setting guidelines for medical marijuana. The ordinance
essentially mirrors District Attorney Paul Gallegos' prosecution
guidelines he introduced last year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Patients can possess up to 3 pounds of processed buds per year, which
is the expected yield produced from growing only enough plants to fit
within a 100-square-foot area. The board's vote was 4-0. Chairwoman
Jill Geist was not present for the vote because she had a scheduled
meeting with the county grand jury. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The board's decision, which came after months of having the ordinance reviewed by a task force, brought applause from the 20 or so medical marijuana patients and advocates who attended the meeting Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I think there's a certain amount of courage in what the board did,"
said Chris Conrad, a consultant with Safe Access Now. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Conrad said the fact that Humboldt County now has an ordinance bolsters efforts by medical marijuana advocates around the state working to get local governments to enact similar guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
While mostly happy with Tuesday's decision, some medical pot advocates
said there are some issues they hope can be revisited in the future.
For instance, some patients say 3 pounds of medical marijuana buds per
year may not be an adequate amount, especially considering some
counties and cities allow up to 6 pounds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) CHINA DEFENDS DEATH PENALTY FOR TRAFFICKERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BEJING (AP) -- A top Chinese anti-drug official on Wednesday defended his country's frequent use of the death penalty against drug traffickers amid stepped-up efforts to control growing narcotics use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The comments by an official of the National Narcotics Control Commission follow appeals by human rights groups for China, which executes hundreds of traffickers a year, to abandon the death penalty. | ||||||||||||||||||||
China had more than one million users of illegal drugs last year, up
five per cent from 2002, said Yang Fengrui, the commission's deputy
secretary general. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The government hopes to rehabilitate drug users so they can "return to
society" but has no qualms about "severe punishment" for criminals,
Yang said at a news conference. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The Chinese masses applaud giving the death penalty to drug
traffickers," he said. "Drug trafficking has severe social
consequences. It's equal to killing people." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) US SC: 3 DOCTORS FIGHT JAIL TIME AMID APPEALS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
FLORENCE - Three former doctors from the defunct Comprehensive Care
and Pain Management Center in Myrtle Beach should remain free on bond
because they may have been convicted and sentenced improperly, their
lawyers said Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"That's not a technicality," said attorney Eli D. Stutsman, who has
appealed the convictions based on the legal standard used. "That is
huge." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The doctors' lawyers also plan to appeal their sentences based on a
recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding information juries should
consider before sentencing, Stutsman said. Lawyers want the doctors
free while the appeals are pending. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jackson, Alerre and Bor-deaux are among seven doctors sentenced in
what prosecutors said was their largest case involving doctors charged
with overprescribing narcotics, including the potent painkiller
OxyContin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Wednesday, Stutsman said appeals have been filed asserting that
prosecutors convicted the doctors with a case based about 70 percent
on whether the drugs prescribed at the pain clinic were medically
necessary. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He said prosecutors stressed throughout the trial that the drugs
distributed were not medically necessary, instead of saying the drugs
were prescribed outside normal medical practice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) US: INEFFECTIVE, EXPENSIVE DRUG WAR RAGES ON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
We just passed the halfway point of 2004 and it is time for an update on the "war on drugs." Sad to say, it is still going strong. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to the website www.drugsense.org, we have spent more than
$20 billion so far this year on this "war," putting us on a pace to
surpass last's year's expenditure of $39 billion. | ||||||||||||||||||||
More than 800,000 people have been arrested for drug offenses so far
(377,780 for marijuana), and if this pace continues, more than 1.5
million will have been arrested by the end of the year. Thus far, more
than 120,000 people have been sent to prison for drug law violations,
and if the trend continues, we will have sent 236,800 to prison for
this "crime" by year's end. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Doctors in California who prescribe pain medication may get a bit of
protection from overzealous law enforcement if new bill is adopted
in the state legislature. A doctor's prescribing patterns would need
to be analyzed before arrest, and records would need to be returned
in a timely manner during an investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Is a short but undistinguished (and reportedly undignified) stint in
the drug czar's office enough to launch a high profile political
career? We must express our doubts, but a former assistant drug czar
who resigned last week is trying to find out in Illinois. Also last
week, a Salon article looks at parents who use illegal drugs, and
the Washington Post reports on proposed increased penalties for
dealing drugs near treatment centers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) CALIFORNIA BILL CALLS FOR PHYSICIAN REVIEW OF PRESCRIBING (Top)PATTERNS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutors oppose legislation to allow doctors to examine evidence
against doctors before an arrest is made. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stories of doctors being the subject of showcase arrests because of
their prescribing volumes have made the medical community
uncomfortable, but when two of these arrests occurred in the far
northern California district of state Sen. Sam Aanestad, DDS, he
decided to do something about it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Aanestad introduced the Medical Crimes: Investigations and
Prosecutions bill endorsed by the California Medical Assn. The bill
calls for a physician review of a doctor's prescribing patterns
before an arrest is made and also for the timely return of any
medical records seized during an investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"He doesn't believe law enforcement should be involved in dictating
the standards of care in a developing field of medicine," said Dr.
Aanestad's chief of staff, Brett Michelin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill, which passed the Senate by a 33-1 vote, is also supported
by the Medical Board of California. It is opposed by the California
District Attorneys Assn. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) BUSH'S DEPUTY DRUG CZAR EYES RYAN'S SPOT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CHICAGO - House Speaker Dennis Hastert smiled Friday when asked what
Illinois Republicans are looking for in a candidate to replace Jack
Ryan in the race for U.S. Senate. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Somebody that can win," Hastert said. "Raise money and win, that's
the key." | ||||||||||||||||||||
A new name making the rounds a day after state Sen. Steve
Rauschenberger declined to run is Andrea Grubb Barthwell, the Bush
administration's deputy drug czar who resigned Friday to explore the
possibility of a candidacy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, meanwhile, has yet to
publicly say if he was even interested. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Barthwell, a physician from River Forest, had been deputy director
of the Office of National Drug Control Policy since 2002, focusing
on reducing demand for drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal law barred her from seeking the Republican nomination while she worked for the government, so Barthwell said she resigned so she could legally discuss the possibility with state GOP leaders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) DO YOU PUFF, DADDY? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
How do you tell your kids to stay away from drugs when you used to
do them, or -- gasp -- still do? What if you don't think drugs are
so very wrong? | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The people I have spent the last decade working and playing with
have inhaled more than a few puffs and taken a variety of trips down
Alice's rabbit hole. Yet some way, somehow they have turned into
able and impressive members of the republic. | ||||||||||||||||||||
These are people with good jobs, who engage in charitable pursuits
and who rarely cut in line at Whole Foods. We've taken some of our
old vices with us into adulthood without burning down the house or
checking into rehab. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We've done a good job prolonging our adolescence, but now we're
facing adulthood's ultimate gut check: children. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And when it comes to kids, we have a drug problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||
What to tell the children about past -- and, in many cases, current -- drug use ain't easy. Should we practice what we preach? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Should we lie? Where do you draw the line between being a hypocrite and protecting your kids? Are we worse parents if we get high in front of our kids than if we have a couple of stiff drinks? | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) PROBE CONFIRMS DEALING OF DRUGS NEAR D.C. CLINICS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
House Measure Seeks Stiff Penalties For Sales Outside Treatment
Centers | ||||||||||||||||||||
Frequent and often blatant narcotics dealing outside several
Washington drug treatment centers regularly undermines the efforts
of addicted patients and those working to help them, according to a
federal investigation released yesterday during a congressional
subcommittee hearing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Newspaper coverage of rampant drug dealing near the D.C.
government's largest methadone clinic prompted the House Judiciary
Committee to call for the probe. During the past 14 months,
investigators with the U.S. General Accounting Office made more than
50 visits to five D.C. treatment clinics to conduct surveillance.
They did not have to look hard to find illegal dealing, according to
the report, describing the areas surrounding the city's treatment
centers as "a virtual bazaar of illegal drug dealing." | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Some of the drug dealers at these locations were brazen about their
activities," the report stated. "For instance, on three occasions,
dealers approached [an investigator] and asked if he wanted to buy
drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Perhaps being aware of what happened in Tulia and elsewhere, the
residents of a small town in Texas are expressing concern about a
proposed police drug crackdown in the primarily minority community.
In Kentucky, huge chunks of local budgets are being used to fund
prisons. In one county, 20 percent of the county's budget is being
used to fund prissons. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Tennessean looks at two drug cases with vastly different law
enforcement responses. And in Florida, not only are drugs still in
the streets, but multi-pound bales of cocaine are showing up on
shores of local beaches too. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) BLACK RESIDENTS DON'T WANT WAR ON DRUGS TO GET OUT OF HAND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A concern about police conduct and respect for citizens' rights in
the crackdown, to start Aug. 1, brought about 20 residents to the
municipal courtroom to meet with Conroe Police Chief Charlie Ray.
The meeting placed individual citizens and community organizations
of Dugan, the mostly black area the crackdown will target, in a
position to ask questions and express their concerns. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The War on Drugs in Conroe was declared in June by Mayor Tommy
Metcalf and supported by Ray. It has already received unanimous
approval from the City Council to be funded from a citation
collection agency. The effort will include more officers and
undisclosed tactics to the tune of more than $300,000 between Aug. 1
and Sep. 2005. Monday night many citizens made reference to the
crackdown as "the mayor's plan" since he first introduced the idea
and the funding source. However, Mayor Tommy Metcalf was not present
at the meeting due to a previous family obligation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Conroe resident Carl White said he questioned whether the War on
Drugs was just another way to place young minorities behind bars
with no real rehabilitative process or alternatives. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We want to see the streets cleaned up but we don't want young black
men being (wrongly) harassed," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) LEADERS: JAILS ARE MOST PRESSING BUDGET CONCERN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
When Tommy Turner became LaRue County judge-executive in 1986, his
jail budget was $70,000. Today, it's $1.3 million. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Such numbers illustrate the most pressing financial problem facing
Kentucky counties today, many judge-executives say. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And for elected officials who find their tax revenue not nearly
keeping up with the skyrocketing jail budget, there doesn't seem to
be any escape. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The jails are going to destroy small counties," said Estill
Judge-Executive Wallace Taylor, who, in an effort to save a little
money, got in hot water recently for using a jailed murder suspect
to do clerical work. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Although people complained about that, it's a safe bet that few
realize that 20 percent of Estill County's total budget is going to
its jail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This year, Kentucky counties will transfer about $100 million from their general funds to their jail budgets, said Vince Lang, executive director of the Kentucky Judge/Executive Association. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) RECENT LOCAL CASES SHOW AGENCIES' FLEXIBILITY ON DRUGS OFFICERS (Top)FIND | ||||||||||||||||||||
Law officers have wide discretion in enforcing drug laws in
Tennessee, two recent incidents show. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In one case, federal airport screeners found a misdemeanor amount of
marijuana in a couple's suitcase at Nashville International Airport.
The contraband was confiscated by airport police, but no criminal
charges were filed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In another, private guards at the Greyhound bus terminal in downtown
Nashville found psychedelic mushrooms on a 19-year-old headed to the
Bonnaroo music festival. Metro police were called and the young man
was charged with felony drug possession. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The cases highlight inconsistencies inherent in the law-enforcement
system, said David Raybin, a Nashville defense attorney and an
expert on state law. The reason for the discretion authorities have
is to ensure that the power of law-enforcement agencies is diffused,
Raybin said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) 80 POUNDS OF COCAINE WASH UP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office is looking for the owner of
80 pounds of cocaine that washed ashore last weekend on Navarre
Beach. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It ranks among Santa Rosa County's largest drug hauls in value and
quantity. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A bale of 28 bricks wrapped in plastic and burlap was confiscated,
similar to hundreds of pounds of cocaine plucked from Gulf of Mexico
over the last month off south Louisiana, said Santa Rosa sheriff's
spokesman Deputy Jerry Henderson. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The cocaine is 90 percent pure, Henderson said. The estimated total
value is $1.5 million. But if the cocaine would be "cut" and resold,
its actual street value could be higher, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We've had some wash up," said Maj. John Marie with the Plaquemines
Parish Sheriff'sOffice in Louisiana. "We received 2 kilos (about
41/2 pounds)." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This week's hemp and cannabis section begins with fresh criticism of
the federal Canadian cannabis supply (including quotes by your
faithful editor). Following widespread dissatisfaction and potential
health concerns over the first batch of federal marijuana, Health
Canada began the distribution of this new, supposedly stronger batch
of cannabis in May. Early reports suggest that the new "now with
less stalk!" batch simply isn't up to snuff. | ||||||||||||||||||||
More news on upcoming U.S. cannabis initiatives this week: first a
story about the Arkansas medicinal cannabis initiative, where
grassroot efforts by the Arkansas Alliance for Medical Marijuana
continue to gather signatures despite a financial pull-out by MPP;
and second, a story about the anti-reform opposition currently
rallying to defeat largely symbolic medicinal cannabis initiatives
in both Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And from Europe this week, Swiss health officials have warned that a
recent crackdown on shops selling cannabis for personal use could
result in sending users to black-market dealers of more dangerous
substances. Meanwhile from England a recent study suggests that
arrests of cannabis users have only dropped by 9% since the drug was
rescheduled as a class C substance earlier this year. The
rescheduling was meant to focus police resources on more dangerous
drugs as well as to lessen the penalty for the personal use of
cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) MEDICAL USERS SPURN NEW BATCH OF HEALTH CANADA POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Some patients are spurning a new batch of government-certified
marijuana, dismissing Health Canada claims that it's a stronger,
better quality smoke. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Nobody should smoke this stuff until we see test results ourselves and until we get an explanation from Health Canada about what happened with the first batch," Philippe Lucas said Monday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We've called right now for a moratorium on the use, research and distribution of this cannabis by all legal medical users." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lucas says his group had the first batch tested by independent labs,
which found the THC content to be less than half the advertised
level of 10.2 per cent. Internal documents from Health Canada also
suggest the material contains other potentially harmful | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) CAMPAIGN TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL 'POT' NOT OVER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Arkansans who've been campaigning for years to legalize marijuana as
medicine say they'll continue their attempt to put the question
before voters, with or without the financial backing of an Ohio
billionaire. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The national organization supporting the Arkansas Alliance for
Medical Marijuana announced last week that it's pulling out of the
state effort, citing the slim chances that a proposed initiative
would qualify for the ballot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But state supporters, dismayed by a costly campaign that may have
produced fewer petition signatures than needed, announced Monday
they'll pick up where the national campaign left off. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) MEDICAL POT ON DETROIT, ANN ARBOR BALLOTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Their battle cry is: "Not in my state, not in my county, not in my
city, not in my neighborhood." | ||||||||||||||||||||
City and suburban leaders are standing shoulder to shoulder in a
unified front to fight a proposal to legalize medical marijuana,
which will appear on the ballot in Detroit on Aug. 3. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On the other side of the issue is the Detroit Coalition for
Compassionate Care, which advocates marijuana use to relieve the
suffering of patients in pain. The group collected the signatures in
November 2003 necessary to put the issue on the ballot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) YOUNG POT SMOKERS AT RISK FROM DRUG DEALERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A nationwide clampdown on shops selling cannabis risks driving pot
smokers into the arms of dealers pushing hard drugs, warn health
officials. | ||||||||||||||||||||
They say drug dealers could be the main beneficiaries of
parliament's decision not to decriminalise cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reports say dealers can net SFr70 ($57) on a gram of cocaine, compared with SFr15 on the same amount of cannabis. Dealers can be expected to push hard drugs for profit, Meier told swissinfo. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"There is a danger that [the users] not only can buy cannabis, but
also heroin and other hard drugs," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) CANNABIS USERS TARGETED DESPITE CHANGE IN LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police are still catching more than 400 cannabis users a week in London despite a move to relax the law, new figures show today. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Metropolitan Police data, released to the Evening Standard,
dispels the public impression that officers would turn a blind eye
once the drug was downgraded to class C. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the first three months after the law changed in January, police
recorded 5,643 offences a week in London, down only nine per cent
from the same period a year earlier. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Investigations over police corruption in the Durham Regional Police Service's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) are widening. The Ontario, Canada drug squad has been the focus of a broadening corruption investigation since 2003, and now involves 30 police officers, authorities report. Dejected officers, said the Port Perry Star newspaper, feel "battered" and "disheartened" over publicity surrounding allegations of corruption at the Drug Enforcement Unit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last week pledged to
restore a system "gone supposedly in the name of the separation of
church and state." The president made her remarks at a photo-op
honoring drug police and politically correct Philippine church
officials who enthusiastically support prohibition. "I would like to
instruct our Department of Education to allow (non-government
organizations) of various religions to teach values formation once
again in our public schools," explained Arroyo. President Arroyo
proceeded to hand out awards to those with exemplary values. Drug
task force commanders like Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay of
the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Archbishop of Cebu
Ricardo Vidal were lauded by Arroyo for "support of the government's
anti-drug campaign." Meanwhile in Manila, other drug warriors,
including the head of an anti-drug unit, were fired with charges
pending after they were caught trying to extort P600,000 from a
store owner. The victim was threatened with drug charges if he
didn't pay off police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In nearby Indonesia, time is running out for foreign defendants
condemned to be executed for drug offenses. The spate of
prohibition-related executions inched closer as President Megawati
Soekarnoputri rejected clemency pleas last week. Police officials in
Indonesia, like their counterparts in the United States, also direct
national drug policy, and are anxious to execute drug offenders. The
director of the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency had earlier
called for executing drug offenders as soon as possible. Human
rights campaigners called for ending the death penalty as contrary
to basic human rights, as well as being ineffective in preventing
drug offenses. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) OFFICERS BATTERED AND DISHEARTENED OVER OPP INVESTIGATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 19 month long OPP investigation into the Durham Regional Police
Service's Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) has left the former members of
the 12-man elite anti-drug squad battered and disheartened according
to sources within the police service. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The battle that had been, until recently, a quiet one within the
walls of the Durham Regional Police, has now spilled out into the
public domain as one veteran officer now faces discipline charges
and others are going public with their concerns. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The investigation began to reveal itself back in January of 2003
when the 12 member DEU was informed that the administration of the
DRPS had been presented with allegations of possible criminal wrong
doing, according to Tom Bell of the Durham Regional Police
Association. Sources close to the case, including a former drug
officer with several years experience who has asked not to be named,
said that rumours immediately began that the informant was a former
member of the unit who had been removed from it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
It read, in part, "as the result of allegations of misconduct
involving a few members of our drug unit, I have asked the O.P.P. to
conduct a thorough and independent investigation." | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to those close to the case, the move sent the Drug
Enforcement Unit into a tail-spin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Selby also noted that the total number of officers now notified
they may be of interest to the internal Police Services Act task
force is closer to 30. Of those, Mr. Selby now confirms that eight
officers are the focus of the PSA task force. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile the internal PSA task force continues to review files,
Det. Tom Andrews PSA hearing has been set over until early Sept. and
there is still no word if any charges will result from the
allegations that saw one of the most successful anti-drug operations
in Ontario shut down. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) CATECHISM RETURNING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
President Arroyo ordered the Department of Education yesterday to restore the teaching of catechism in public schools nationwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking at the first anniversary celebration of the Philippine
National Police anti-drug task force, Mrs. Arroyo said she was
concerned that values formation was no longer part of the public
school curriculum. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"But now that system is gone supposedly in the name of the
separation of church and state," she said. "And that is why I would
like to instruct our Department of Education to allow | ||||||||||||||||||||
Values formation will help strengthen the moral and spiritual fiber
of school children in their formative years, she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mrs. Arroyo said the anti-drug task force under the command of Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay is one of the chief enforcement arms of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Among the awardees in yesterday's ceremonies was Archbishop of Cebu
Ricardo Vidal who was recognized for his support of the government's
anti-drug campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Assisted by new Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes, PNP chief Director
General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Aglipay, Mrs. Arroyo presented a
glass trophy to Vidal and the outstanding policemen awarded for
their part in busting drug syndicates. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(20) WPD DRUG BUSTER BUSTED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE head of the Western Police District's anti-drug unit has been
sacked due to numerous complaints of extortion against him and his
men. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay said Supt. Marcelino Pedroro,
Jr. should be relieved while the extortion complaint is being
investigated. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pedroso and his men were accused of trying to extort P600,000 from a Chinese storeowner in Binondo, Manila. The businessman was told that drug charges will be filed against him if he did not pay up. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Aglipay, head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF), vowed to file charges against Pedroso and his men should they be found guilty of the accusations against them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon earlier ordered Pedroso
investigated after four of his men and those from the intelligence
unit were accused of shaking down a Chinese couple. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Among those arrested was Senior Insp. Wilfredo Abordo, head of the
Manila police station 8 anti-drug unit. Abordo was captured inside
Camp Crame last month for his involvement in the kidnapping of
suspected drug lord Benito Chua in Las Pinas City. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Abordo, a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)
Class '98, and 13 others were charged with kidnapping before the
Department of Justice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) DEATH SENTENCE WON'T STOP DRUG DEALERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Human rights campaigners have reiterated their call for end to the death penalty, which they say has proven ineffective in deterring drug dealers and is against the basic human right to live. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"There is no empirical data that supports an argument a country
which has the death penalty can drop its offending rate lower than
countries that don't apply capital punishment," Indonesian Legal Aid
and Human Rights Association (PBHI) director Hendardi said on
Saturday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hendardi said only God, not the state, had the right to take
peoples' lives. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The right to life is the fundamental right of every human being.
(The government) should forthwith scrap any rules legitimizing the
death sentence," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Thursday, President Megawati Soekarnoputri rejected requests for
clemency by seven more drug traffickers on death row, most of them
foreigners. The decision was taken more than four years after they
submitted their pleas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hendardi criticized Megawati for delaying her decision to reject the
offenders' requests, saying it meant the convicts had received a
double punishment -- imprisonment and a death sentence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"All of the president's decisions to turn down clemency pleas come after (the convicts) waited for years in prison. When their pleas were rejected, most had already been in jail for 10 years," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
While she accepted the imposition of death penalty, a prominent
University of Indonesia criminologist, Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, also
criticized the slow process. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
There are many convicts on death row but only one offender has been executed during the past 10 years -- a Malaysian, Chan Ting Tong alias Steven Chong, who was shot by a 12-man firing squad in 1994. | ||||||||||||||||||||
National Narcotics Agency (BNN) director Comr. Gen. Togar Sianipar
has demanded all death row drug traffickers be executed as soon as
possible to deter others committing such crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK DATABASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In an effort to show our appreciation for and encourage letter
writing, we announce the Letter of the Week in our DrugSense Weekly
newsletter. Derek Rea, one of our many indispensable volunteers, has
managed this task since its inception several years ago. Derek
selects 5 letters at the beginning of each week, sends them to
several other hard working volunteers to gather their votes for the
best letter. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Recently he raised his hand again and worked with co-webmaster Jo-D
Harrison to create and implement a database to store and display
this information. The extraordinary results can be viewed on our
website at | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
PROFESSIONAL PROHIBITIONIST CONSIDERS RUN FOR U.S. SENATE | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Richard Cowan at Marijuananews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Frankly, I find myself with a very mixed reaction. In a moment I
will explain why I think that Barthwell is completely unsuited for
public office, but I think that her being a Senatorial candidate
would make debating the Drug War, and especially the war on medical
cannabis users, unavoidable. " | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DARE TO KILL FAMILIES | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Joel Miller at Lewrockwell.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
THE THIRD ANNUAL TOKER'S BOWL 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Video from this unforgettable 4 days and nights, 22 strains, theme parties, pot smoking contests, music, Cannabis Day celebration, boat cruises and glass shows hosted by Cannabis Culture. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
TOMMY CHONG OUT OF JAIL! | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tommy Chong, just released from his 9 month stay in Club-Fed for
selling glass pipes, talks to Jay Leno about his time in jail,
the charges laid against him in the Bush Administrations 'Operation
Pipe Dreams' and his plans for the future, which include a new
movie with Cheech. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOW TO DRINK ABSINTHE | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Dave Walsh, Blather.net | ||||||||||||||||||||
posted at DrugWar.com, July 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
So much has been written about absinthe, yet it's so poorly understood. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
07/13/04: Votes and 2nd Chances | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tommy Chong, Denele Campbell, Goodwille Pierre, Dr. Claudia Jensen of USC, Karen Heikkala, Terry Hogg and a Drug Truth Editorial. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK | ||||||||||||||||||||
APPLY LAWS EQUALLY | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Loretta Nall | ||||||||||||||||||||
I read with interest the case of Sen. Richard Shelby's son, who was
found in possession of 13.8 grams of hashish after flying into
Atlanta from London in 1998. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Claude Shelby was released from federal custody after being fined $500 and turned over to the county. He never served any jail time. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shelby's stance on drug use and possession is, "Drug abuse and
drug-related crimes are among the greatest ills that plague our
nation. We must take a strong stand against drugs, and I support
strict punishment for individuals involved in the possession or
distribution of illegal drugs. While I understand your concerns
about mandatory penalties for nonviolent offenders, I believe that
our nation's drug problem is serious enough to warrant harsh
sentences." | ||||||||||||||||||||
I implore the citizens of Alabama to ask Shelby why he and his
family are immune to the laws by which they govern the rest of us.
He should tell us why we should vote for him this election if he
does not even hold the power of his own convictions when it comes to
his kids and their crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Apply the laws equally or not at all. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loretta Nall President of Alabama Marijuana Party and U.S. Marijuana
Party Alexander City | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH - JUNE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
We recognize Larry Seguin of Lisbon, New York for his two letters to
the editor published in June, bringing the total that we are aware
of to 96. Besides writing letters, Larry is a very active Media
Awareness Project volunteer, serving as a MAP editor, newshawk, and
letter writer. He is also a member of ReconsiDer | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Letter Writer of the Month recognition is based on simple
counts. The writer with the most letters posted at | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEDICAL MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Montel Williams | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our government is fighting a war against some of our most vulnerable citizens, and U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga. can help to stop it. Until Congress acts, thousands of Americans fighting for our lives against deadly and disabling illnesses will remain in danger. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In 1999 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and it felt like a
death sentence. I was living in mind-numbing pain, like my feet were
on fire every day, and I was terrified about my future. | ||||||||||||||||||||
My doctors wrote me prescriptions for some of the strongest
painkillers available - drugs like Percocet, Vicodin and Oxycontin.
I knowingly risked overdose just trying to make the pain bearable.
In desperation, I even tried morphine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
These expensive, powerful drugs brought me no relief. What they did
do was turn me into a zombie, so incoherent and unable to function
that I couldn't possibly take them when I had to work. You can't
host a talk show when you're drugged out of your mind. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Life as I knew it had ended. I couldn't sleep. All I could do was
cry and think about how to end my misery. Yes, I even attempted
suicide. Twice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Then a friend suggested I try marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Skeptical but desperate, I tried it. It was like a miracle. Three
puffs and within minutes the excruciating pain in my legs subsided.
I had my first restful sleep in months. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I am one of many thousands of Americans - people battling for their
lives and dignity against MS, cancer, AIDS and other terrible
illnesses - who have found that marijuana provides relief when
conventional medicines fail. Nine states - Alaska, California,
Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington -
now have laws protecting such patients from arrest and jail under
state law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Many of this nation's leading medical and public health | ||||||||||||||||||||
Government officials sometimes claim that medical marijuana should
remain illegal because there is only anecdotal evidence that it
works. This claim just isn't true. In 1999, the National Academy of
Sciences issued a landmark report - which was funded by the White
House drug policy office - finding that marijuana does, in fact,
benefit many patients. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the federal government continues to wage a war on medical marijuana patients. Armed Drug Enforcement Administration agents have been raiding patients and caregivers complying with their states' laws. In one such raid, DEA agents actually pointed automatic rifles at the head of a paralyzed woman and ordered her to stand. When she said, "I can't," they handcuffed her to her bed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Am I the only one who thinks this is crazy? Believe me, I am no fan
of recreational drug use, but that's not what we're talking about
here. This is about giving the sick and the suffering, who are
acting on their doctor's recommendations and within their states'
laws, their rights and their dignity. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Congress will soon have an opportunity to stop this war on the sick.
An amendment - known informally as the Hinchey-Rohrabacher
amendment, after its Democratic and Republican co-sponsors - will
soon be offered to the appropriations bill that funds the U.S.
Justice Department. This amendment will bar the DEA from arresting
patients in states that permit the medical use of marijuana. It will
have no effect in states without medical marijuana laws, and it will
not affect laws against recreational marijuana use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
One year ago, this legislation got 152 votes on the House floor - an impressive start, but still 66 votes short of passage. This year, U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall should vote for this simple, humane legislation so that it can receive the 218 votes it needs to pass. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Don't you think seriously ill patients have enough to deal with
without living in fear of armed federal agents kicking in their
doors to haul them off to jail? Shouldn't you let Congressman
Marshall know? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Montel Williams hosts a nationally syndicated talk show. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Toward no crimes have men shown themselves so cold-bloodedly cruel as in punishing differences in belief." - James Russell Lowell | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by
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and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International
content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (),
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