| Sept. 10, 2004 #366 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) US NV: RULING SOUNDS PETITIONS' DEATH KNELL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CARSON CITY -- A court decision Wednesday probably ends the chances of
groups trying to place petitions legalizing marijuana and throwing out
the $833 million tax increase on the Nov. 2 ballot, their leaders
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It looks like this legal decision has shut us out," said Jennifer
Knight, communications director of the Committee to Regulate and
Control Marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Without those signatures, I think it is over," said tax opponent
George Harris, chairman of Nevadans for Sound Government. "We are
done." | ||||||||||||||||||||
They made the comments after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal by the marijuana committee to count signatures on its petition that were rejected by the secretary of state's office. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) CN BC: COMPASSION CLUB OPERATOR SEES POT CHARGES STAYED BY JUDGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Longtime marijuana activist Ted Smith and co-accused Colby Budda have
had drug charges against them stayed in a ruling by provincial court
Judge Loretta Chaperon. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Both men were charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking, stemming from a January 2002 raid on Smith's storefront
Johnson Street business, known as Ted's Bookstore. Smith has
consistently maintained the store is run as a "compassion club,"
meaning it distributes marijuana to people with chronic illness who
find relief from using the drug. Staying a charge still allows it to
be reactivated within a year, but they rarely are. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In her written reasons for judgment, Chaperon cited an earlier case
which, like Smith's and Budda's, rested on the contention that
marijuana was being used for a compassion club. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Although the scrutiny of potential members was not as stringent as
the government might have wished, they were doing the job the
government was not doing, namely providing a reliable supply of
marijuana to those in need of it." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) CN BC: POLICE RAID CAFE THAT SOLD POT, ARREST SIX PEOPLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dozens of Vancouver police officers arrested six people Thursday
evening in a raid on a busy Commercial Drive cafe that openly sold
marijuana. Vancouver police spokeswoman Const. Sarah Bloor said the
six arrested inside Da Kine cafe face charges of trafficking a
controlled substance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Outside, some in a crowd of over 200 people taunted police officers, who blocked Commercial between Parker and Napier streets for several hours after the 6 p.m. raid, stopping business at about 20 shops and delaying shooting of a Hollywood movie, The Fantastic Four. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The crowd cheered as The Peg General Store played Bob Marley's songs,
Get Up, Stand Up, and I Shot the Sheriff, while others smoked
marijuana or debated with police manning barricades. | ||||||||||||||||||||
More than 100 people continued protesting late into the night, blaming
the media for putting Da Kine in the spotlight and accusing police of
wasting money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) DEA, DOCTORS ISSUE GUIDELINES ON USE OF POWERFUL PAINKILLERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Drug Enforcement Administration and top pain specialists yesterday
jointly issued detailed new guidelines designed to reassure worried
doctors that they will not be prosecuted for prescribing high doses of
powerful morphine-based painkillers for patients who need them for
intractable pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The guidelines also make clear that doctors have responsibilities to
ensure that their patients are not abusing prescription opioids such
as OxyContin and are not doctor-shopping to collect narcotics for
illicit sales. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The new document, which will be distributed to law enforcement
agencies and all doctors who apply for DEA approval to prescribe
controlled drugs, is an effort to resolve a controversy that has
bedeviled pain specialists. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An earlier consensus paper failed to clarify the issues, leading to a situation in which many patients with severe pain have been turned away by doctors and pharmacists concerned that prescribing and dispensing opioid painkillers would get them in trouble with the law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
While acknowledging limited data to make such a judgement, a newspaper story out of California attacked the state's Proposition 36 program, which was designed to divert drug offenders toward treatment instead of prison. One undeniable fact: Whatever the impact of Prop 36, California's prison population continues to grow. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A surprising editorial was printed in the typically prohibitionist
Denver Post, which articulated the conservative position against the
drug war. Also, a look at how more kids in one community are getting
caught with prescription drugs, and a memorial for the Rainbow
killings, which took place three years ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) EVER WONDER IF THOSE PROMISING PROPOSITIONS EVER DELIVER? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Well, Prop 36 Was Supposed to Help Drug Offenders Stay Out of Prison
and Save Us Millions. In Many Cases, It Didn't Deliver. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Although Proposition 36 requires an annual report card on the law's
progress be provided to voters, a dearth of credible and complete
information exists. An SN&R examination of the available data, and
interviews with government officials and other sources, has found
that the alliance's billion-dollar-savings calculation and other
claims of triumph rely on what may be several questionable or
otherwise unreliable assumptions. | ||||||||||||||||||||
One state-government official who has analyzed prison-system and
SACPA data said that virtually none of the claimed savings has yet
to be realized. Other dissenting voices, some reluctant to speak out
publicly, have expressed other doubts about the success and
effectiveness of SACPA. Police, prosecutors, defense attorneys and
judges all describe substantial troubles with Proposition 36. Some
problems directly contradict promises made by Proposition 36
advocates, and others fall into the category of unintended
consequences. Low graduation rates for treatment-program
participants, racial disparity in treatment allocation, an increase
in drug-related criminal activity, expanded prison and jail
populations and other related issues are cited by those who work
with the law daily. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) EDITORIAL: IT'S TIME TO RETHINK AND REFORM DRUG LAWS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thoughtful conservatives such as William F. Buckley are joining the
call for sweeping reforms, including legalization, taxation and
regulated sale of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
America's war on drugs is now in its 90th year. Federal law first restricted access to cocaine, heroin and related drugs in 1914. Marijuana was outlawed in 1937. Now, after nine decades of largely futile and often counterproductive efforts at drug prohibition, the time has come to reevaluate and reform America's drug laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
All wars have casualties, and this one is no exception. According to
a recent report from the Independent Institute in Oakland, Calif.,
there are now more than 318,000 people incarcerated in the United
States for drug-related offenses. The U.S. spends about $33 billion
a year prosecuting this war, and law enforcement makes about 1.5
million arrests per year, according to Boston University economist
Jeffrey A. Miron. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wars - especially long and fruitless ones - inevitably generate war protesters. What is striking about the new wave of criticism of the drug war is how much of it comes from conservative sources. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) DRUGS MEANT FOR MEDICINAL USE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO SCHOOLS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
KINGSPORT - Have you checked your medicine cabinet lately? If not,
maybe you should. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prescription drugs, meant to help people deal with a medical problem, are finding their way into schools across the country and landing middle and high school students in a world of hurt. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And local schools are no exception. In fact, the majority of the 53
zero-tolerance drug cases in Sullivan County schools last year and
about half of those in Kingsport City Schools the past few years
have involved prescription drugs brought from home. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"When we get zero-tolerance problems in multiple numbers, it's
usually a situation where one child brings prescription drugs from
home that they've gotten out of the medicine cabinet and a number of
children for whatever reason - whether it's peer pressure or
experimentation - take (or possess) the drugs," Director of Sullivan
County Schools Glenn Arwood said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's less than a month into the school year and already two middle
schools - one in the city and one in the county - have dealt with
zero-tolerance cases involving multiple students and prescription
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) RECALLING RAINBOW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CASSOPOLIS -- The downpour didn't matter. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Neither did their soaked-through clothing or the smeared writing on
their signs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The dozen or so people who met outside the old Cass County
Courthouse on Monday afternoon to remember their friends, Tom
Crosslin and Rollie Rohm, couldn't have cared less that the skies
had opened up to drench their outing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's very important to remember," said Jacob Karr who came to Cassopolis from outside Traverse City, Mich., for the memorial vigil. "We can't forget; otherwise, they could do it again." | ||||||||||||||||||||
"They" refers to the FBI or law enforcement in general, while
"again" refers to the killings of Crosslin and Rohm after a four-day
standoff at Rainbow Farm Campground near Vandalia over Labor Day
weekend 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The two men -- seen by their friends as martyrs of the war on drugs -- had become outspoken activists for the legalization of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Newsday published an interesting look at how prisons help to
increase the political power of towns that have them, while
decreasing the political power of neighborhoods where all the
arrests are taking place. In more encouraging news, another set of
drug task forces are seeing their budgets cut, this time in
Kentucky. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Elsewhere, more of the usual drug war enforcement overkill this
week, with a boat ripped up by the Coast Guard and a mother
convicted of delivering crack to her child. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) CENSUS' CELL COUNT STEALS VOTING POWER | ||||||||||||||||||||
With planning for the 2010 census already under way, a question is
in play that will affect future elections: where to count the
nation's exploding prison population? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since the first census in 1790, prisoners have been counted where
they're locked up, not where they previously lived. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But now that there are close to 1.5 million prisoners nationwide, the traditional counting method takes voting power away from liberal urban areas like New York City, where most prisoners come from, and gives it to conservative rural communities, where most prisons are. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's time the U.S. Census Bureau gave states the data they need to
reverse this dynamic. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prisoners are barred from voting in New York and 47 other
states. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But they count for purposes of drawing lines for legislative
districts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) DRUG TASK FORCE FUNDING SHRINKS STATE TREATMENT, EDUCATION (Top)STRESSED | ||||||||||||||||||||
OWENSBORO, Ky. - A Western Kentucky drug task force has had its
funding cut as the state shifts resources to drug treatment and
education. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This comes as a bit of a surprise," said Cheyenne Albro, director
of the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, which covers a 10-county
area. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The task force lost more than $70,000 in funding from the federal
Edward Byrne grant administered by the state each year for
law-enforcement purposes, Albro said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last fiscal year, the task force received $454,000 of the
$7.5million awarded through the grant program to the state, said
Chris Gilligan, spokesman for the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety
Cabinet. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Pennyrile task force requested $456,000 for the current fiscal
year, which began in July, and was awarded $381,427 of the
$6.9million awarded to the state, Gilligan said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) BAYOU SHRIMP BOAT CAUGHT UP IN NET SET FOR DRUG SMUGGLERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Skipper tells of being boarded, searched by U.S. Coast Guard
personnel | ||||||||||||||||||||
BAYOU LA BATRE -- Three weeks ago, deep in the southern Gulf of
Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded a shrimp boat piloted by a
local boat captain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The sailors spent three days tearing apart the vessel while searching for drugs that they never found, the captain said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Now, Coast Guard officials are inviting the captain to file a
complaint, and say they might pay for the damage. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"That's really nice of them, now that we've been waylaid without
cause, and the boat I'm supposed to deliver is ripped to bits," said
Jimmy Nelson, 67, the boat's captain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) WOMAN GUILTY OF DELIVERING CRACK TO HER UNBORN SON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
AMARILLO - A woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to delivering crack to her unborn son, avoiding trial in a case that could determine the boundaries of a state law intended to protect the unborn. | ||||||||||||||||||||
As part of her plea agreement, Tracy Ward, 30, retained her right to
appeal, said her attorney, Joe Dawson. The deal averted trial over
the question of whether a mother's actions can be prosecuted under a
law that classifies a fetus as an individual. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ms. Ward, who admitted smoking crack cocaine in the days leading up to her son's birth in early November, will be sentenced Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
She faces between two and 20 years in prison on the second-degree felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance to a child. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Dawson said he has requested probation and intensive drug
treatment. "She hopes the judge grants her the help she needs," Mr.
Dawson said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
It looks like the grace period for California compassion clubs came
to an end last week with the DEA raid of the Capital Compassion Care
dispensary located near Sacramento. Following a couple of upper
court decisions supporting the production and distribution of
medicinal cannabis in the state, some advocates were hopeful that
the federal government would spend its time and resources elsewhere.
This hope was dashed last week when DEA agents raided the Roseville
dispensary and destroyed its garden in neighboring Newcastle. No
arrests have been made in connection with the raids. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our second story looks at the petition that wouldn't die: the Nevada personal use initiative. This week the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule whether or not the initiative - which would legalize possession of up to an ounce of cannabis for adults - has gathered enough signatures to get on the November ballot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our third story looks at the expected introduction of a medical
cannabis Bill in the New Jersey legislature. The bi-partisan Bill
may be introduced by the end of the month. Our fourth story takes us
to Amsterdam North, where the Vancouver City council will review the
business license of a Commercial Drive cafe called Da Kine following
admissions by the owners that they are openly selling cannabis out
of the storefront. And lastly this week, a story from the New York
Times about James Burton, who in 15 years went from being a drug war
prisoner in the U.S. for the production and sale of cannabis, to
being one of 2 licensed cannabis cultivators for the Dutch
government's Office of Medicinal Cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) SACRAMENTO MEDICAL POT SHOP SHUT DOWN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal agents Friday raided a Roseville medical marijuana
dispensary and the owner's Newcastle farm, seizing hundreds of
plants that had been the root of a neighborhood uproar. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug Enforcement Agency officers simultaneously served federal
search warrants at Richard Marino's business and home. Marino, who
opened the Capitol Compassionate Care dispensary in January, said
the raids were a complete surprise. | ||||||||||||||||||||
No arrests have been made. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) NEVADA MARIJUANA REFERENDUM MAY GET NEW LIFE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nevada voters may get a chance to legalize marijuana after all, the
secretary of state's office announced Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A day after Secretary of State Dean Heller announced the marijuana petition drive fell 1,925 signatures short of what's needed to qualify for the Nov. 2 ballot, his assistant said 2,360 previously rejected signatures could put the petition over the top. | ||||||||||||||||||||
These are signatures of newly registered voters in Clark County that
U.S. District Judge James Mahan ruled last month should not be
counted. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana appealed that
decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court is
expected to rule by Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) UNLIKELY PAIR OF STATE ASSEMBLYMEN SEEKS TO LEGALIZE MEDICINAL (Top)MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's an unlikely meeting between left and right: A self-described
ultra-conservative lawmaker has joined with one of the Assembly's
most liberal members to draft a bill to support the medical use of
marijuana in New Jersey. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The conservative lawmaker instead wants to use this bill to send a
message to the federal government - in particular, the Food and Drug
Administration - to rethink its message to doctors. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Physicians should be allowed to prescribe drugs as they see fit,"
Carroll said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If the bill, to be introduced this month, makes it through both
legislative chambers and passes the governor's desk, New Jersey
would join nine other states that have legalized medicinal
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) CITY OF VANCOUVER CONSIDERS OPTIONS AS STORE SELLS POT AGAIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The future of Vancouver's newest pot store will likely be determined
at a city licensing hearing on Sept. 15. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Barb Windsor, the city's deputy chief licensing inspector, yesterday
confirmed the hearing date, adding a recommendation can be made to
council to suspend or revoke the licence of the Da Kine Smoke and
Beverage Shops Inc., which has been selling marijuana and hashish
for the past four months. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"They have a business licence to operate as a limited-service food
[vendor], sell packaged food, sell smoking paraphernalia and other
goods," Windsor said, adding the shop is allegedly violating its
licence by selling marijuana and violating a health-department bylaw
by allowing dope smoking. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) A MARIJUANA SALESMAN SEEMS TO LOSE ANOTHER ROUND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
James R. Burton, who once served a year in federal prison, still
gets a kick out of the signs at his marijuana plantation here
reminding employees whom to call in the event of an emergency: the
Dutch police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sixteen years ago, Mr. Burton did time in the maximum security jail
in Marion, Ill., and lost his family farm in Bowling Green, Ky.,
after being caught with an estimated $112,000 worth of marijuana
that he said he needed to stave off glaucoma. Last year, the Dutch
government gave him a five-year contract to grow more than 10 times
that much. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri last week reiterated her
desire to execute those convicted of "drug-related" crimes. The
President made her remarks in a speech presented to a | ||||||||||||||||||||
Colombian officials went to Washington D.C. last week with hat in
hand to ask for continued U.S. dollars for "military aid". The U.S.
is happy with Colombia's progress in fighting drugs (though cocaine
output from Colombia more than meets illegal U.S. demand for it).
But the Bush administration, whose own human rights record comes
increasingly under attack after revelations of U.S. torture in Iraq,
is protesting Colombia's human rights record. While the U.S. has
given more than $3 billion to the South American nation since 2000,
only about $65 million in military aid is even at risk in the latest
squabble over human rights abuses in Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Israel, President Moshe Katsav proclaimed he will not pardon nor
cut the sentences of "drug dealers". (Remember that in Israel, as in
the U.S., the act of sharing a marijuana cigarette can carry a
distribution charge.) As is customary, Katsav voiced a deep concern
for the children over his decision to harshly apply punishments to
adults for violations of drug prohibition. The president made his
remarks at a prohibitionist powwow held last week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And finally this week two articles from Canada, where the Charter of
Rights has proved irksome to police. A Winnipeg woman had drug
charges against her dismissed after it was revealed that police
there violated her rights. Police suspected the woman was buying or
selling something, so they conducted a warrantless search on her. In
a related item, the top Canadian court was asked by the chief
prosecutor (representing police) to "revisit" an important court
decision involving how far police can go in similar "fishing
expedition" searches for drug evidence when accosting potential
suspects. Federal Crown Prosecutor David Frankel asked the Supreme
Court to clarify its decision limiting police fishing expeditions,
complaining that the ruling was too vague. The Supreme Court will
look at the matter later this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) PRESIDENT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRUG DEALERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Despite protests from both international and national human rights
groups, President Megawati Soekarnoputri reasserted on Sunday her
support for the death penalty for drug dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking during the launch of a national campaign against drug abuse
and trafficking here, Megawati said a maximum punishment was
necessary due to the imminent danger of drug-related crimes among
youth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Due to the great dangers of drug abuse that has threatened our
younger generation, I will uphold the capital punishment for all
drug-related crimes," Megawati said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last month saw the execution of Indian national Ayodhya Prasadh
Chaubey, who was convicted in 1994 of smuggling heroin into the
country. Thai nationals Saelow Praset and Namsong Sirilak, who were
also convicted in connection with the case, are on death row, after
failing in their appeals for a presidential pardon. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
District courts across the country, particularly those of Tangerang
and Banten provinces, have sentenced 27 drug dealers to death within
the past year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 1997 law on narcotics stipulates a maximum death sentence for
drug-related crimes, but cases of drug abuse have been on the rise
over the last five years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to the latest survey from state-owned University of
Indonesia, 3.9 percent of children have tried drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Drug-related criminals account for half of all criminals we arrest now," National Narcotics Agency chief of operations Comr. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara said before the launch of the campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In her speech, Megawati also warned of drug trafficking, which had
reached youths in rural areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In addition, she expressed her concern that drug abuse was also
found among elementary school students. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We have to raise community awareness and commitment to the fight
against drug abuse and trafficking. Just say no to drugs," Megawati
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) COLOMBIA MAKES CASE TO KEEP U.S. AID (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Colombia's attorney general arrived in Washington Tuesday in an
effort to ease growing concerns in the Bush administration that the
country is not doing enough to curtail human rights abuses, risking
the loss of up to $65 million in military aid. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Bush administration has generally lauded Colombian President
Alvaro Uribe's achievements in security and counternarcotics, citing
a broad array of data, from declining kidnapping rates to a drop in
coca plantations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Colombia dispatched its attorney general, Luis Camilo Osorio, to
brief State Department officials Tuesday and U.S. Attorney General
John Ashcroft today as top administration officials hardened their
language on alleged human rights abuses in Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The United States has disbursed more than $3 billion to the country
since 2000 in an effort to cut drug production and weaken
narcotics-funded illegal armed groups. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
A negative certification to Congress of Colombia's human rights
record could stop the disbursement of up to $65 million of this
year's $259 million military aid package for Colombia, according to
State Department officials. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
He said the United States, though heartened by achievements in
security and counternarcotics, was ``troubled by the persistent
problem of impunity.'' | ||||||||||||||||||||
''Despite some prosecutions and convictions, the authorities rarely
brought high-ranking officers of the security forces charged with
human rights offenses to trial,'' the official added. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) KATSAV: NO REDUCED SENTENCES FOR DRUG DEALERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
President Moshe Katsav has pledged that he will neither pardon nor
reduce the sentences of convicted drug dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Katsav gave this assurance on Sunday at his annual meeting with the
National Authority for the War Against Drugs NAWAD). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Deeply concerned about rising statistics of drug and alcohol abuse,
both within and outside the work place and particularly among youth,
Katsav called on the government, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and
Labor, the Israel Manufacturers Association and employers throughout
the country to spare no effort in fighting drug and alcohol
consumption. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to data made available to him by NAWAD said Katsav, 40 per
cent of fatalities in the work place and 47 per cent of injuries
could be attributed to drug and alcohol abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) POLICE BOTCH DRUG CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Woman walks after judge rules officers committed 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A judge dismissed drug charges against a Winnipeg woman yesterday, ruling city police committed five serious breaches of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms when they caught her carrying crack cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The decision is the third drug case thrown out of court since July
because of actions by Winnipeg police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provincial court Judge Wesley Swail agreed with the submission from defence lawyer Martin Glazer that the two officers had no right to: | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Arrest the woman under the Highway Traffic Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Force her to empty her pockets. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Question her about money she produced. Search her car and purse
without a warrant. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Ask her if she owned a pink box of crack cocaine and a crack pipe
found in her car without having given her the required right to
counsel and to remain silent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The seriousness of these breaches... dictates that the admission of
these articles into evidence (the drugs and paraphernalia) would, in
all the circumstances, bring the administration of justice into
disrepute," Swail said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police admitted they conducted a warrantless search on Eric Sinclair's vehicle within minutes of stopping it in the North End. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(22) TOP COURT ASKED TO REVISIT KEY POT RULING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court of Canada has been asked to revisit a landmark
decision on a Winnipeg drug case on the grounds it remains unclear
how far police can go in searching potential suspects. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police officers across the country can no longer play hunches and go
on "fishing expeditions" for evidence when questioning potential
suspects, the country's highest court ruled in July. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The decision overturned the Manitoba Court of Appeal and ruled
Winnipeg police had no right to search the pocket of a native man
found walking downtown in December 2000. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Although police found 27.5 grams of marijuana on Phillip Mann, the evidence has been discarded on the grounds it was illegally obtained. As a result, Mann was cleared of drug trafficking charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their
pockets," Justice Frank Iacobucci wrote in a majority decision that
divided the high court 5-2. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a rare move, the federal prosecutor has now asked the Supreme
Court to clarify its decision. Federal Crown prosecutor David
Frankel claims the court's definitions were vague and should be
clearly spelled out so that police forces can instruct their
officers accordingly. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court will examine the application for the review later
this fall. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cultural Baggage Radio Show | ||||||||||||||||||||
War of Terror/ War on Drugs | ||||||||||||||||||||
Respecting the third anniversary of 9/11 we analyze the symbiotic
relationship of the war on drugs to the war of terror. Guests include,
Nick Gillespie of Reason Mag., Eugene Oscapella of Canada, Former DEA
agent Cele Castillo and Eric Sterling of the Criminal Justice Policy
Foundation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Chew On This : A Documentary | ||||||||||||||||||||
"For Us, Coca is Life" | ||||||||||||||||||||
Produced and Directed by The Narco News J-School Video Team | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Decision Time In Vancouver / By Richard Cowan, Marijuananews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The City of Vancouver has been presented with the perfect opportunity not only to free itself from the disastrous burdens of cannabis prohibition, but also to reap huge rewards for doing so." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Published at Marijuananews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
A Live Chat About Election 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
What impact will the upcoming election have on drug policy reform?
Neither President George W. Bush nor Sen. John Kerry is a perfect
advocate for our cause. Minor-party candidates speak eloquently
against the "war on drugs," but how relevant is their input in
what will be a very tight race? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ethan Nadelmann, executive director, and Bill Piper, director of
national affairs, will tackle these questions and yours as well,
in an online chat Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. (EST). Please watch
this page for the link to the chat. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NORML Canada Launches New Website | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It is our hope here at The National Organization of Reform of Marijuana Laws in Canada that you find your time here both helpful and informative. We have added many new features such as Canadian marijuana news (compliments of the Media Awareness Project),and a legal registry where you can find legal help that is familiar with marijuana law and other associated issues." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
'Crack Babies' Talk Back | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mariah Blake, Columbia Journalism Review. September 9, 2004. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"In the midst of drug war hysteria, crack babies became an emblem
of the havoc drugs wreak and a pretext for draconian drug laws.
But crack babies, it turns out, were a media myth, not a medical
reality." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana Reform To Tap Grassroots | ||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Armentano, AlterNet. September 8, 2004. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"A bumper crop of initiatives addressing marijuana policy and enforcement will appear on various state and municipal ballots." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
POT LAWS DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Sarah J. Christensen-Schmidt | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Marc Emery was supposed to speak at the Lethbridge Community College
on March 25, concerning political activism and the importance of
voting , with the cannabis movement as an example of these values.
He was arrested for passing a joint in Saskatoon and detained for
three days, so I spoke on his behalf with my brother Charlie
Christensen. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Well, judgment day has come in Saskatoon and Marc was charged with
trafficking. The reason? Judge Albert Lavoie said he was going to
set precedent. For whom and what? For all those peace-loving,
kind-spirited potheads who like to share what they celebrate with
other consenting adults? Or perhaps it was to halt political
activism? What's next? Will the Lethbridge Peace Network be targeted
for passing out hugs at an anti-war rally? They stand for peace,
respect, freedom, and love -- so does Marc Emery. | ||||||||||||||||||||
My Canada does not waste money on jailing peacemakers. My Canada protects them. My Canada does not ignore the truth, and does not spread propaganda about pot. My Canada does not penalize those who stand up for equality and justice. My Canada defends human rights. My Canada believes in upholding the peace, not destroying it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So where's my Canada? | ||||||||||||||||||||
I think it's time to stand up and speak out, not only about pot
issues, but also about peace issues, about responsibility for the
individual. If the laws harm the people more than the substance,
should we really continue harming people? NO! Trust that we
Canadians will make the best choices for our lives and when given
the freedom and trust to do so, we will! | ||||||||||||||||||||
I never thought I would feel like a teenager asking permission as a
grown adult. Please Canada, I promise to be good and responsible if
you let me -- but if you say no without good reason, you'll have to
be prepared to deal with the backlash. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We are adults, and we have the right to govern our own minds and
bodies. And for everyone who agrees with me, whoever sees the harm
of our marijuana laws, write Hon. Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, 284
Wellington St., Ottawa, ON K1A 0H8 to urge him to make positive
changes towards the decriminalization bill. Postage is free. Use
your voice! | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sarah J. Christensen-Schmidt, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH - AUGUST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
We recognize William Bradley of Kitchner, Ontario, Canada for his six letters to the editor published during August, bringing the total that we are aware of to 17. You can review all his published letters at http://www.mapinc.org/writers/William+Bradley | ||||||||||||||||||||
All of MAP's Published Letters recognitions - Letter of the Week -
Letter Writer of the Month - and our Platinum, Gold, and Silver
Awards - are found at http://mapinc.org/lteaward.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The State Of The African American Male In Chicago | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Bryan Brickner | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We are concerned with the continuing plight of African American men
who are seeking work and cannot find it, who are sick and dying
unnecessarily to soon, and who are disproportionately represented in
the criminal justice system." - Representative Danny K. Davis, 7th
Congressional District (IL) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alright, no time like the present. That's what I kept being reminded
of at the State of the African American Male (SAAM) Conference held
at Malcolm X College (http://www.saamchicago.org/). | ||||||||||||||||||||
In one of the long hallways in the lobby of the college they have Malcolm X's car. It is an old car. The age of the car jumps out at you because you begin to see what change means: Long term, it all ages. We learn that it is the present that matters, and that's what the conference, hosted and sponsored by Representatives Danny K. Davis, Jesse L. Jackson, and Bobby Rush, wanted everyone to be aware of. I found myself impressed with the can-do-punk attitude coming from the podium: Do it yourself. You might find that phenomenon uncommon coming from a conference sponsored by Liberals. Here were the Liberals telling people not to look for the government to bail them out - they said start a business, become an entrepreneur. | ||||||||||||||||||||
These are good suggestions, goals and lessons. The issue is implementing them. Below are some of the statistics working against black males. No sympathy here is needed: I just wanted you to have an idea of where things stand today. Look at the statistics provided by Representative Davis and put a real life with the numbers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* In 2001, the Illinois Department of Corrections released 15,488
prisoners to the city of Chicago, 90% were male and 85% were African
American. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Since the 1995 Reform Act, 35,600 or 62% of African American males
have dropped out of a CPS high school and only 22,000 or 38%
graduated. | ||||||||||||||||||||
* Nearly one out of two black males between the ages of 20-24 is
neither in school or working. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If there were easy solutions, they would already be done. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Teach Lerone Bennett, Executive Editor, Ebony Magazine, is an
impressive speaker.= While he was giving his Keynote Address on
Saturday at the conference, someone in the hall kept softly
encouraging him to speak further - to speak with passion - and
he did. The audience member kept saying the word "Teach". Bennett
would get going on one of his intellectual rolls, one of those mind
walks where the speaker keeps bringing you along. Bennett would be
saying something like "The trick of oppression is to make oppression
the proof of oppression" - then from the audience member "Teach"
- with Bennett not missing a step - "I'm tired of apologizing for
men, and it's good to see Hellraisers gathered once again!" -
Teach - "There are three things we need to add to our calling,
three things to keep in the forefront of our work together -
Service, Struggle, and Excellence." Teach. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The day went on and on like that. Teach. We need more of that. I'm
partial to the idea, being a teacher, but we are all teachers. Spend
time with humans and you become a teacher: it is one of those things
we do, right or wrong, no matter what we are up to. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bennett ended his talk by listing some of the threats facing our
communities - Jim Crowism, black economic depression, and a drug
plague = - and a plan for change. Bennett called for a "Crusade"
against hard drugs: he said, "The number one problem was the flow of
hard drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Think again of Malcolm's car. We've been fighting hard drugs since
before that car was made and before Malcolm had his effect on
America. Why are we still fighting hard drugs the same way -
making felons and incarcerating?= It's like an old war where we keep
sending the soldiers up the hill for one last charge. What is wrong
with us? The drug market should be controlled like any other.
REGULATE. The government is abdicating this issue to the power of
the street: this power, built on the same things all illicit markets
are built on, money and violence, is destroying communities. I know
we don't care, but let's at least try something else. If the flow of
drugs is destroying communities, and we can't turn the flow off,
although we have spent billions trying, what is it we should do?
Regulate the market, which removes the violence from the trade, and
give treatment to those in need. Money saved, people helped, and
communities served and protected: it is no utopia - it is suppose
to be the basics. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bennett closed with a call for investment, a government program, but
one based on the tradition of the New Deal. Bennett said we should
invest $40/50 billion in a development program along the lines of
FDR's 1933 Civilian Conservation Corps. This is old-fashioned urban
and economic development. I'll let the experts decide on the wisdom
of this approach. Two ideas that come to mind are the savings
involved in regulating the flow of drugs rather than imprisoning
drug users, and the cost of another government economic development
program: the war in Iraq. We have spent $151 billion on the
government program of invading and rebuilding Iraq: this is at a
cost of $1,600 per American household, and the cost will go higher.
If we can invest that much in the Iraq program, investing in the
urban and economic development of our cities seems wiser, and far
cheaper. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The present will do that, as we make choices all the time, and it
makes you think of things - Like which communities and cities
should we be investing in? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kanye West, Chicago's hip-hop sensation, has this line on his recent
album - "We weren't suppose to make it past 25, jokes on you we
still alive". | ||||||||||||||||||||
- To the living. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bryan W. Brickner, PhD is a Senior Editor for Newtopia - http://www.newtopiamagazine.net - where this report first appeared. He teaches reading and math in Chicago, is on the Board of Directors for Ideal Reform - http://www.idealreform.org and Illinois NORML - http://www.illinoisnorml.org, and is the author of The Promise
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We've never been serious about security. Security has always been
aimed at drugs. These guys have demonstrated to us that we don't need
a Star Wars missile defense. All it took was two tickets from Boston
to L.A." - Lou Reed | ||||||||||||||||||||
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content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (),
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