| Oct. 8, 2004 #370 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) DEPUTY DRUG CZAR OPPOSES LEGALIZING MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Scott Burns, a top federal official in the war on drugs, visited
Montana this week intending to discuss methamphetamine. But Burns
found himself talking instead mostly about marijuana, as Montanans
prepare to vote Nov. 2 on a ballot measure that would allow use of the
illegal plant for medical purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I cannot tell anyone how to vote," Burns said - but his
anti-marijuana message was clear. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is a con by people who want people to legalize marijuana in this
state," Burns said. "They always start with the medical marijuana
issue." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Burns, who is deputy director for state and local affairs in the Office of National Drug Control Policy, held a news conference Thursday in Billings at Rimrock Foundation, a private, nonprofit treatment center. He also met with local law enforcement and treatment center officials. Burns, formerly the county attorney of Iron County, Utah, made similar visits earlier this week to Helena and Missoula. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Initiative 148 would legalize the cultivation and possession of
marijuana for medical use in Montana. Patients could use marijuana
under medical supervision to relieve symptoms of cancer, glaucoma,
HIV/AIDS and other conditions defined by the state. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) POT LIMIT - 3 POUNDS PER YEAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Santa Cruz County Approves Medical Marijuana Ordinance | ||||||||||||||||||||
SANTA CRUZ - An impassioned audience greeted the Santa Cruz County
Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning, when the board unanimously
approved a new ordinance providing guidelines for medical marijuana
use in Santa Cruz County. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The decision will allow medical marijuana patients to possess up to
three pounds of dried cannabis buds (not leaves) per year, and users
can demonstrate medical need for more. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Patients will be able to grow "a 100-square foot canopy of mature
female cannabis plants," which will "typically yield three pounds of
dried and processed cannabis bud per year regardless of the number of
marijuana plants," according to the ordinance, which requires another
vote before it becomes a law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Valerie Corral, co-founder of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical
Marijuana, a Santa Cruz-based patient alliance that provides education
on the medical benefits of marijuana and ensures legal access to the
plant, was "grateful and pleased" after the decision. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We've made such great strides in this community. I believe this is a
good ordinance," Corral said, adding that it could be amended in the
future to include a greater growth area. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) UK: TORIES PLEDGE TO FIGHT DRUGS 'EPIDEMIC' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Conservative Party's "war on crime" will focus on fighting off the
threat of a hard drugs "epidemic", David Davis, the shadow home
secretary, has announced. | ||||||||||||||||||||
David Davis: Rehabilitation Is 'No Soft Option' | ||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking to party members at their annual conference in Bournemouth,
Mr Davis accused the Government of ignoring the escalating problem and
pledged to step up random drugs tests in schools. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Tories are also planning a tenfold expansion of rehab places which would force addicted criminals to choose between treatment or jail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Davis said that the "deadly and serious threat" of drugs was
ruining lives across the country. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Some people say that we've lost the war on drugs; I say we haven't begun to fight it. Fighting it will be my top priority." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Davis pledged to build more prisons, scrap Labour's early release
scheme and put more cash into prisoner education. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An extra 40,000 police officers would be recruited and freed of red
tape, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Conservatives are also taking a tough new stance on immigration,
promising that the numbers allowed into the UK would have to be
"substantially cut". | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's time to regain control, end political correctness, cut red tape,
enforce the law and send a clear and consistent message: we're not
going to be pushed around any more," Mr Davis said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) AREA ACTIVISTS ARRESTED IN D.C. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Four Bay Area activists were among more than a dozen arrested Tuesday
for civil disobedience on the steps of the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services in Washington, D.C., as they protested federal
marijuana policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Steph Sherer of Oakland, executive director of Berkeley-based
Americans for Safe Access; Stacey Swimme of Oakland; and John Shaw and
Alex Franco, both of San Francisco, were taken into custody but
released later in the day. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Several dozen protesters had turned out to demand the federal
government acknowledge marijuana has medical use and change its
policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans for Safe Access on Monday filed a legal petition with HHS
claiming the department is violating the Data Quality Act, which
requires federal agencies to use sound science in developing policies
and disseminating information. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Another study has shown that the federal anti-drug advertising
program is a fiasco. The feds are always demanding hard data about
the efficacy of things like medical marijuana. But they keep on
giving one more chance to this advertising program, even though it
should now be clear that it will never work. As noted in the
International section below, the Australian government finds itself
in a similar position. A story from Reason Magazine shows that maybe
the feds are learning a little bit about the dissemination of
trustworthy information: open distribution works better than
secrecy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The federal drug war as carried out by the FBI has shrunk since 2001, according to a new report, while San Francisco authorities still aren't impressed by an anti-drug program run by Scientologists that somehow made its way into the public school system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) ARE ANTI-DRUG ADS A BIG WASTE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The government has yet to prove that its $200 million-a-year media
campaign is effective, leading to all sorts of carping | ||||||||||||||||||||
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy on Oct. 4 chose a new advertising agency, Foote Cone & Belding, to lead its $200 million-per-year anti-drug advertising effort aimed at parents and children. The previous agency, Ogilvy & Mather, was accused of overbilling the government, but that's hardly the only controversy dogging the government's six-year-old anti-drug ad effort. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The ONDCP, headed by federal drug czar John Walters, spends its ad
budget buying time, space, and public-relation services for
anti-drug ads and promotions warning youngsters about the ills of
pot, ecstasy, glue-sniffing, and other such substances. The agency
also urges parents to monitor kids for drug use. For each ad paid
the ONDCP buys with tax dollars, media companies contribute a
matching ad. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It sounds like a public-service "slam dunk" in current | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) OPEN SECRETS - HOW THE GOVERNMENT LOST THE DRUG WAR IN CYBERSPACE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
For 36 years the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) quietly published a quirky monthly newsletter called Microgram for a small audience of forensic chemists. It was "law enforcement restricted," which meant you could obtain it only if you were a law enforcement official, a government investigator, or a forensic scientist. As far as the public was concerned, it was a secret. In January 2003 DEA officials started to make Microgram publicly available via the Web | ||||||||||||||||||||
www.usdoj.gov/dea/programs/forensicsci/microgram/bulletins_index.html), where it joined a vast sea of information about illicit drugs: how to get them, how to use them, why to avoid them, why laws controlling them should be either tightened or reformed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Microgram's release was mostly unnoticed, and its reception has been
subdued -- so subdued that even the chemical underground, where
people in years past might have found in the newsletter a wealth of
knowledge about how to synthesize and distribute psychoactive
substances, has hardly noticed it. Yet the seeming nonevent is
worthy of attention because it reflects the government's recognition
that their strategy to control drug use by controlling drug
information has failed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) ANTI-TERRORISM WAS POST-SEPT. 11 PRIORITY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - When the FBI shifted its focus to anti-terrorism
efforts, investigations targeting illegal drugs, organized crime and
white-collar crime took the biggest hit, according to a Justice
Department report Monday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report by Glenn A. Fine, the department's inspector general,
provides the first detailed look at where the FBI moved resources
following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fine said the review, which drew no conclusions about the wisdom of
the changes, did show that the FBI's changes "generally were in line
with its post-Sept. 11 priorities." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The greatest reduction occurred in the FBI's organized crime and
drug program, which lost 758 agents to counterterrorism matters
between 2000 and 2003. The largest cuts took place in investigations
involving Mexican drug organizations, primarily in the Southwest,
the report said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) CHURCH'S DRUG PROGRAM FLUNKS S.F. TEST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Panel of Experts Finds Scientology's Narconon Lectures Outdated,
Inaccurate | ||||||||||||||||||||
A free anti-drug program that teaches children concepts from the
Church of Scientology earned a failing grade Friday from public
health officials who were asked by San Francisco school | ||||||||||||||||||||
The program, Narconon Drug Prevention & Education, "often
exemplifies the outdated, non-evidence-based and sometimes factually
inaccurate approach, which has not served students well for
decades," concluded Steve Heilig, director of health and education
for the San Francisco Medical Society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In his letter to Trish Bascom, director of health programs for the
San Francisco Unified School District, Heilig said five independent
experts in the field of drug abuse had helped him evaluate
Narconon's curriculum. Heilig declined to name them but said four
were doctors certified in addiction medicine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The violence of the drug war sometimes spills beyond the drug war. In Texas, some U.S. drug agents are facing charges related to the claim that they allowed an informant to commit murder. In Kentucky, a police officer was acquitted for killing a drug suspect during a botched raid. In North Carolina, county commissioners have settled with a woman who was burned with a "flash bang grenade" during a drug raid. The woman said she had nothing to do with drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Also victimized by the drug war: the average taxpayer. A new report released in Illinois suggests that the state spent almost $250 million to lock up non-violent drug offenders in just one year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) U.S. AGENTS MAY FACE CHARGES IN KILLING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Immigration Informant Helped Kill Drug Trafficker, Officials Say | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Three U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents
are expected to face criminal charges in the death of a suspected
drug trafficker killed with the help of an agency informant,
according to officials close to the investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The veteran agents, who dealt directly with the informant, will
probably be charged with criminal negligence and, if convicted,
could face prison time, the U.S. officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
ICE's own investigation shows that the agency's informant, known as
Lalo, assigned corrupt Mexican police officers their roles in
several killings, called in gravediggers to bury bodies, and paid
off killers. The activities are detailed in ICE documents obtained
by The Dallas Morning News. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) EX-DETECTIVE ACQUITTED IN SHOOTING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Louisville Officer Killed Teenage Drug Suspect | ||||||||||||||||||||
LOUISVILLE - A jury acquitted a former Louisville police detective
yesterday in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old drug suspect whose
death became a symbol of simmering racial tensions between police
and the African-American community. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The former detective, McKenzie Mattingly, 31, showed no emotion as
the verdicts were read in Jefferson Circuit Court. The jurors -- 10
white and two black -- returned the partial verdict after more than
eight hours of deliberations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The judge declared a mistrial on a separate charge of wanton
endangerment after the jury was unable to reach agreement on that
count. Prosecutors said last night they have not decided whether to
pursue that charge. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mattingly was charged with shooting Michael Newby, 19, three times
in the back Jan. 3 during an undercover drug buy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Newby was the seventh black man killed by Louisville police since
1998. Mattingly is white. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) CUMBERLAND COUNTY PAYS BURNED WOMAN $10,000 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cumberland County commissioners have settled a complaint by a woman
who says she was badly burned during a drug raid. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The county has paid $10,000 to Tomika Smith, who was inside a home
that sheriff's deputies raided two years ago, officials reported
this week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Her lawyer, Haral Carlin, said Smith was an innocent bystander who
was on a date at the time. He said deputies tossed a flash grenade
onto the couch where she was sitting, causing her to be badly burned
July 1, 2002. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) SENTENCES FOR DRUG OFFENDERS CRITICIZED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sentences for drug offenders criticized The state could have saved
almost $50 million last year had it used more drug treatment
programs and alternative sentencing instead of jailing nonviolent
drug offenders, according to a community group-commissioned report
released today. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois taxpayers paid about $246 million to incarcerate nonviolent
adult offenders in 2003, according to "Sentencing Reform for
Nonviolent Offenses: Benefits and Estimated Savings for Illinois," a
study prepared by the Center for Impact Research on behalf of the
Developing Justice Coalition, whose members will meet with
policymakers and public officials today at noon at the Union League
Club of Chicago to discuss the findings. The number of Illinois
inmates -- 244,400 last year -- has been rising by 5.6 percent a
year from 1977 to 2002, with nonviolent drug offenders, including
those arrested for possession of small amounts of drugs, fueling the
increase, according to the report. That group accounted for about 25
percent of the adult inmates in 2003. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Much action from Illinois this week, where Mayor Richard Daley's comments in support of fining rather than arresting adult cannabis users have drawn attention from all sides of the issue. In other Illinois news, on Monday a bill that would legalize the use and cultivation of medicinal cannabis was heard by the House Healthcare Availability and Access Committee. The bill was shelved by the same committee last year, but is expected to be re-introduced next March. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And from Oregon, an in-depth look at the upcoming November medicinal
cannabis ballot initiative. The bill, which would force the state to
license non-profit medicinal dispensaries, could make Oregon one of
the most progressive and compassionate states in the union. Lastly
this week, an article about the U.S. Supreme Court's upcoming
agenda reports on the Ashcroft v. Raich case, in which the court
will determine whether the federal government has the right to
prohibit the personal cultivation and use of marijuana for medicinal
purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) ACTIVISTS CHALLENGE FEDS ON MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Berkeley-based organization announced Monday it will file a
petition with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
charging the agency with putting politics over science on the issue
of medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans for Safe Access believes the department provides bad information on marijuana's value as medicine, in violation of law that requires federal agencies to rely on sound science. | ||||||||||||||||||||
ASA's goal is to force the department to admit publicly that
marijuana is routinely used for medical treatment, which they hope
would help clear the way for easing restrictions on access to
medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) FINE, NOT CONFINE, MARIJUANA USERS? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mayor Richard Daley, a former prosecutor, runs the nation's
third-largest city with a pragmatic, law-and-order style. He wears
his hair short, and you'll never catch him in a Grateful Dead
T-shirt. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So when he starts complaining about the colossal waste of time and
money involved in prosecuting small-time marijuana cases, people
take notice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is absolutely a big deal," said Andy Ko, director of the Drug Policy Reform Project for the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington state.= "You've got a mayor in a major American city ... coming out in favor of a smart and fair and just drug policy." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) ILLINOIS HOUSE COMMITTEE TO HEAR TESTIMONY ON MEDICAL POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Once or twice every day, Julie Falco breaks the law to relieve her
multiple sclerosis symptoms. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eating illegal marijuana brownies, she says, allows her to stand up
straighter and walk more easily. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Falco worries about getting busted, and she believes the stress can worsen her symptoms. So today she plans to testify in favor of a bill that would legalize the medical use of marijuana in Illinois. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill would allow a patient with a "debilitating medical
condition" to legally possess pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The House Health Care Availability and Access Committee is holding
the 1 p.m. hearing at the Thompson Center. The committee shelved the
bill last March, but the measure likely will be re-introduced next
year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) OREGON MEASURE CALLS FOR MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Oregon wasn't the first state to permit sick people to smoke
marijuana when voters passed Measure 67 in 1998, but it was the
first to create a state-operated registry that issued cards to
patients. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Now, Oregon voters are again being asked to break new ground in the Nov. 2 election: Measure 33 would create the nation's first state-licensed nonprofit medical marijuana dispensaries, which would sell marijuana to cardholders. The initiative also would increase the amount of marijuana cardholders could grow and possess. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proponents say the measure would address one of the most oft-cited
problems with the current law: that patients find it hard to obtain
an adequate supply of marijuana because of restrictions in the
current law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) U.S. SUPREME COURT TO CONSIDER FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Ashcroft v. Raich, 03-1454, the court will determine whether the
federal government has the power to outlaw the personal cultivation
and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, even when the marijuana
stays in a user's home and never crosses state lines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Angel McClary Raich is a brain tumor patient in California whose
doctor advised her to smoke marijuana for pain relief. This is
permissible under a 1996 California law, but federal agents have
arrested medical marijuana users. So Raich joined a lawsuit in October
2002, asking a court to bar Attorney General John D. Ashcroft from
enforcing federal drug laws against her. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, based in San Francisco, sided with Raich last year, ruling that the federal government cannot punish drug use that does not affect interstate commerce. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Bush administration appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that an
exemption for personal use or free distribution would discourage the
consumption of lawful pain medicines and thwart Congress's intent to
regulate the drug market comprehensively. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Gung ho drug warrior Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand
announced this time it would be "all-out war" against Thais suspected
of involvement with prohibited drugs. Although Shinawatra had
instituted a bloody pogrom in 2002-2003 resulting in at least 2,500
summary executions of drug suspects, and although Shinawatra declared
victory in the war last December, this year Shinawatra declared war
again. Following the patten laid down 2002, Shinawatra again promised
to kill drug suspects. "If they want to see the Prince of Hell, let
me know," boasted Shinawatra. The Thai Prime Minister also warned
police to obey his anti-drug dictates, or suffer the consequences.
The slaughter of drug offenders, and the punishments meted out to
police for not enforcing prohibition harshly enough was all for the
kids, Shinawatra asserted. The "traffickers destroy youths' lives."
The prohibitionist U.S. government, evidently pleased with the
treatment Shinawatra has meted out to drug offenders, last week
pledged another $4.5 million to the Thai government for
"anti-narcotics" enforcement. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Some police in Ontario, Canada, have "discovered" that jailing drug
users serves to increase trade in prohibited drugs, rather than make
drugs go away. Police Chief Paul Hamelin of Midland, Ontario,
explained that jailing crack offenders allowed them to meet and
exchange information with other crack offenders across the province.
Stated the surprised chief, "we are beginning to see a correlation
between criminal activity in our community, and the Central North
Correctional Centre." While drug reformers have always noted jailing
drug users isn't decreasing drug use, it is rare for police to openly
admit it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian authorities in the state of Victoria can't understand why
"drug abuse" is rising, despite the hefty advertising budget spent to
scare people away from prohibited drugs. Australian bureaucrats had
"lost faith" in the propaganda campaign. "The Government knows it
doesn't work but they keep putting money into it," noted Australian
drug policy expert, Dr. Cameron Duff. "It has the political virtue so
the parents and community can see that the government is doing
something." Young Australians "don't trust the Government any more,"
added Duff. "As soon as they have a first puff of marijuana, 10 years
of drug education goes down the drain." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) PM'S WARNING TO DRUG DEALERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday warned drug dealers
against remaining in the trade while his government staged an "all-out
war" on drugs over the next year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Nobody will be able to help them if they continue dealing in drugs. If they want to see the Prince of Hell, let me know," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thaksin said that the government would carry out another round in the war on drugs from this month until October of next year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) THAKSIN ISSUES WARNING TO POLICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday threatened to transfer
officials who fail to prevent a resurgence of drug use and
trafficking, a day after he announced another round in his war on
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I am serious about taking action against drug traffickers.
Government officials, police in particular, must take action too as
these traffickers destroy youths' lives, ruin the economy and damage
the country," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
He called on officials or officers to complain directly to him if
they were abused for cracking down on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Every government agency must join forces in cracking down on
drugs," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He also told the Education Ministry to ask schools to look for
students suspected of sniffing glue or drug addiction. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) U.S. GRANTS USD 4.5 MILLION ASSISTANCE TO THAILAND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
For Anti-Narcotics, Law Enforcement, Regional | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Embassy Information Resource Center - U.S. Ambassador Darryl N.
Johnson and Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation
Director General Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda has signed an
agreement through which the U.S. will provide more than USD 4.5
million of assistance to nine narcotics and legal projects in
Thailand. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The projects cover the areas of criminal justice, law enforcement,
trafficking in persons, intellectual property rights, drug crop
control, demand reduction and regional cooperation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since 1974, the U.S. government has provided a total of over 85
million dollars to Thailand under the bilateral assistance program
for anti-narcotics and law enforcement activities. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) CRACK-COCAINE USE INCREASES THANKS TO JAIL - POLICE CHIEF (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Midland police are cracking down on criminals who are bringing crack
cocaine into the community. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At Monday night's council meeting, Midland Police Chief Paul Hamelin told council the prevalence of crack cocaine in the community is on the rise, and he attributed it to the Penetanguishene jail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Our intelligence officer reports that we are beginning to see a
correlation between criminal activity in our community, and the
Central North Correctional Centre," said Hamelin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
With the jail serving a large area, including Toronto, it gives
local criminals a chance to form relationships with people
throughout the province, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hamelin said he never guessed crime within Midland would be on the
increase as a result of the jail, which opened in 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is not something we anticipated with the jail. In the
beginning, there were more concerns of (inmates) moving to this
area, much like you see in the federal system." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) DRUG ABUSE SOARS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
YOUNG Victorians are ignoring the tough-on-drugs message: dope and
ecstasy use is soaring. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Melbourne survey found two in three young adults used cannabis in the past 12 months, and one in three used ecstasy or other drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The disturbing results come as the second phase of the Federal
Government's $27 million anti-drug campaign remains frozen because
of the election. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Drug Foundation youth drug studies director Cameron Duff
said some bureaucrats had lost faith in the campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The Government knows it doesn't work but they keep putting money into it," said Dr Duff. "It has the political virtue so the parents and community can see that the government is doing something. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"But government insiders will tell you to your face -- it doesn't
work." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Prime Minister launched the Tough on Drugs program in 1997. The most recent addition was TV advertising (2001-03) showing a drug user in a body bag and parents discussing drugs with their children. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
It found 63 per cent had tried cannabis in the previous 12 months,
and 33 per cent had used ecstasy or other illicit substances. A
similar study in 2003 found only 31 per cent had used cannabis in
the previous 12 months and just 12 per cent had used ecstasy or
other drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The latest survey, taken at Federation Square and the State Library,
showed 79 per cent of young adults would not think worse of someone
who had used cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We face the problem of being utterly ignored by giving a
preventative message," Dr Duff said. "We're trying to compete
against these pro-drug websites and the problem is a lot of that
material is factually based. They don't trust the Government any
more because there's a view the Government has exaggerated the
risks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"As soon as they have a first puff of marijuana, 10 years of drug
education goes down the drain." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MAP SEARCH SCREEN DOCUMENTATION UPGRADED | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ever wondered what all those forms, boxes and pulldowns on our MAP
Search Screen are? We have recently upgraded our Search Screen
Documentation in our ongoing effort to help you take full advantage
of our web site! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
BOLIVIAN DRUG WAR MYTHS FALL APART | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Alex Contreras Baspineiro | ||||||||||||||||||||
After Years of Struggle, the Government Recognizes Legitimate, Legal
Coca Cultivation in the Chapare | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
JURASSIC NARCS | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Stephen Young | ||||||||||||||||||||
A report from medical marijuana hearings in Chicago at | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://radio.weblogs.com/0138970/categories/decrimwatch/2004/10/05.html#a86 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NADELMANN CHALLENGES THE LANGUAGE OF THE DRUG WAR | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug Policy Alliance Executive Director Ethan Nadelmann writes that
criminologists are in a unique position to question the drug war
-- but often don't. The reason? The language used by drug warriors
makes the idea of punishing people for what they put in their
bodies seem like a given, when it doesn't have to be. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NEW "OPEN LETTER TO PARENTS" HIGHLIGHTS NEGATIVE IMPACT OF MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Recognizing the negative impact of marijuana on teen learning and
academic success, ONDCP launched the "Marijuana and Learning" outreach
effort to educate parents about the risks of teen marijuana use.
The effort features a new Open Letter that will appear in major
newspapers and periodicals on October 12, 2004. | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.mediacampaign.org/mg/print/ad_open_letter_to_parents.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
IS THE US PLAYING POLITICS WITH POT RESEARCH? | ||||||||||||||||||||
For three decades, politicians and bureaucrats have ignored research
on marijuana's role in cancer prevention | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Paul Armentano, Special to Betterhumans, 10/6/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://betterhumans.com/Features/Columns/Guests/column.aspx?articleID04-10-06-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL - HOW MARIJUANA AND WINE CAN IMPROVE OUR BALANCE | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Jacob Sullum | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
END DRUG PROHIBITION | ||||||||||||||||||||
By James E. Gierach | ||||||||||||||||||||
Regarding the 2004-2005 Cook County budget and the request for 200
additional correction officers: If Sheriff Michael Sheahan appears
before the Cook County Board of Commissioners, President John Stroger
might want to ask him, "What percentage of all new arrestees arriving
at the Cook County jail are there for so-called drug offenses? I
believe the answer is 90 percent. Ask him, "What percent are [in for]
weed?" Needless to say, the drug war continues to transform America
into a land of prisons and jails. Of course, inmates are
disproportionately youngsters of minority status who often live in
poverty. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois, Cook County, Chicago and our nation -- we all desperately
need an end to drug prohibition. It causes more harm than good. We can
all agree the drug war must end, but it will take some discussion to
decide what reasonable drug policy should replace prohibition. But the
time has come for that serious dialogue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Suppose the Cook County Board passed an ordinance making drugs a
county violation, then Cook County sheriff officers could start
issuing "P-Tickets" and collecting fines from marijuana offenders
rather than arresting them. Suburban municipalities could follow suit.
Gov. Blagojevich may also be amenable to solutions that reduce our
statewide dependence on prisons for drug offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I continue to believe there is no better place than the home of Al
Capone to start drug policy reform to regain control of drugs, our
streets, our kids and the Cook County budget. | ||||||||||||||||||||
James E. Gierach | ||||||||||||||||||||
Oak Lawn | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Supremacy, Taboos, and the Drug War | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Robert Rapplean | ||||||||||||||||||||
If you ask most people the difference between superiority and
supremacy, their first instinct is to rely on the technical meaning
of the words, or refer to the dictionary. In order to truly
understand what we mean when we use a word it is far more useful to
refer to a tool such as Google, which pulls up a sampling of English
usage as opposed to a standardized definition. Take a moment to try
that out with the words Superiority and Supremacy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
What we find is that superiority is the direct reflection of our
genetic need for competition. We compete in every imaginable way in
our society - work and play, physical, mental and emotional,
creative and logical. To the winners of these competitions go the
best jobs, food, mating partners - with nearly anything that
possesses varying levels of quality, the highest quality will be
distributed to those who are superior by some rating scale. In order
to facilitate this, we specifically divide the world into "US" and
"THEY" and then spend a lot of time figuring out how U.S. are better
than THEY, and thus more deserving of the finest things in life.
This comprises the roots of an entire genre of -ism's: racism,
creedism, classism etc. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Supremacy takes this concept to its ultimate conclusion. Supremacy
is when you believe that you are so far superior to THEY (Jews,
blacks, infidels, whatever) that you have the god-given right--or
perhaps duty--to persecute, imprison, or even kill all members of
the THEY sect, without having to demonstrate harm, and without
incurring repercussions. When you type Supremacist into Google, you
primarily receive links to Nazi and white supremacist (pro and con)
literature. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In its own way, the pursuit of supremacy is responsible for most of
the evils that beset mankind. Even the word "evil" reflects this,
being traced back to (proto-indo-european) "upelo-", which
translates to "uppity, overreaching bounds". Money isn't the root of
all evil - it's the pursuit of superiority. Money is just a commonly
accepted scoring system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If you translate "US" as those who don't use or abuse drugs and
"THEY" as those who do, then a lot of the motivation behind the drug
war starts to make sense. Having laws in place only serve to
validate US's belief in their supremacy over THEY. This validation
leads to more extreme levels of persecution of THEY, and less
thinking about the real details of the conflict. | ||||||||||||||||||||
One of the most telling clues to this may be found in the laws themselves, which are designed to persecute, not to correct. We don't want THEM to become US, because then we'd have nobody to be superior over. The proponents of this system continue to push for harsher laws despite all evidence disproving of allegations of harm. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eventually this snowballs into our current situation, where even
speaking out about the issue labels you as one of THEM, and nobody
can admit that it's wrong, because that would be giving up one's
superiority and accepting guilt and culpability in addition to
persecution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is unfortunate that the word supremacist has become a derogatory
term. It's frequently tossed around, and many people don't even
understand what they mean when they say it. Sadly, supremacy is a
very common ailment in the world today. Not being able to use the
word is like not being able to use "malnourished" or "infected" - it
only allows the problem to worsen. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is about time that this word was invoked regarding the war on drugs. Not in the sense of name calling, but in the sense of identifying a problem. Not yelled in anger, but stated in context with a full explanation to back it up. Not to create arguments but to create understanding. Not to start something, but to end it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Rapplean is a political analyst and activist, and is director
for Parents and Educators for the Reform of Drug Laws - | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and
breeds reptiles of the mind." - William Blake | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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