| Jan. 14, 2005 #383 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) NEW SENTENCING BATTLE LOOMS AFTER COURT DECISION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lawmakers Move to Regain Control Over Prison Terms; 'Congress Has
Ample Power' | ||||||||||||||||||||
The fallout from Wednesday's landmark Supreme Court ruling quickly
emerged with initial moves yesterday by the Justice Department and
Congress to reassert control over federal sentencing and limit the
broad discretion the court gave federal judges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The court ruled that federal sentencing guidelines, enacted two
decades ago to standardize prison sentences nationwide, are
unconstitutional because they violate a defendant's Sixth Amendment
right to be tried by a jury. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The ruling may shift power back to the judicial branch for now, but
yesterday, Justice Department officials were scrambling to meet with
members of Congress and start crafting a legislative fix that would
swing power back their way. They want to revive the spirit and effect
of the 1984 Sentencing Reform Act, which sought to remove disparity in
federal prison terms and which paved the way for the | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The flurry of reactions and activity reflects the two lines of impact
expected from the landmark ruling. In the short term, judges, defense
lawyers and prisoners will seek to interpret the Supreme Court
decision. In the longer term, the outcome of the Congressional battle
will determine whether new, stricter sentencing rules will replace the
old guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) UK: THREE-MONTH BLITZ ON DRUG DEALERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Detectives have launched a three-month blitz on drug dealers after
police chiefs revealed millions of pounds is being spent in
Northamptonshire on illegal drugs every year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operation Crackdown will form part of a national campaign against
class A drug dealers and crack houses, with senior officers hoping the
project will help reduce the misery suffered by those who become
victims of drug users' crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Supt Dean Smith, the force's head of intelligence, said: "We are determined to bring to justice class A drug dealers and disrupt their class A markets by seizing their drugs, assets, firearms and ammunition. "By working with the public, we hope to increase the confidence they have in the work they are doing and this should generate more community intelligence for us to work with." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Insp Mark Lacey said: "Living near to a drugs supplier can make
people's lives a misery and we are trying to support the communities
and show them we are taking action. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"People are not going to be able to rest easy in their beds as we will
persist with these methods to continue our fight." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) EASING OF NEW YORK DRUG LAWS TAKES EFFECT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As a new law meant to ease the effects of New York's strict drug laws goes into full effect today, prosecutors, defense lawyers, prisoners and their families are still struggling to figure out how the complex law will work, whom it will help and how soon. One thing they all agree on is that the process is only beginning. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Outside Poughkeepsie, Thomas J. Whalen is trying to make sure that asking a court for a new sentence will be the fastest route to freedom for his longtime client, Roberto Charris, who has been in prison since 1989 serving a 20-year sentence for drug possession. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Near Niagara Falls, Miguel Ortiz Garcia is looking for help in
determining whether the new law will affect his sister, Lydia
Ortiz, given the complications of her case (among other things,
she fled before her trial, was convicted in absentia and is now
serving a sentence of 25 years to life). | ||||||||||||||||||||
And in Manhattan, where the drug laws appear likely to be a
political issue in the race for district attorney this fall,
prosecutors are reviewing files to see which prisoners they will
fight to keep incarcerated. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) SUIT FILED TO PUT POT INITIATIVE BEFORE LAWMAKERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CARSON CITY -- Backers of an initiative petition to allow adults in
Nevada to legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana on Wednesday
filed a federal lawsuit in Las Vegas asking for emergency action to
place the issue before the 2005 Legislature. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Marijuana Policy Project and the American Civil Liberties Union of
Nevada seek a preliminary injunction to force Secretary of State Dean
Heller to send the petition to the Legislature, which goes into
session on Feb. 7. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The lawsuit alleges Heller illegally disqualified the petition based
on a ruling that it did not have enough signatures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This motion is filed as an emergency motion in order to prevent the
irreparable harm that is already ongoing, but will accrue with
particular force on Feb. 7," the lawsuit notes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The complaint is signed by New York lawyers Matthew Brinkerhoff and
Sarah Nethburn for the policy project and Allen Lichtenstein for the
ACLU of Nevada. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a rare recognition of injustice, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled
that judges shouldn't arbitrarily add years to the sentences of
convicts. In a rare recognition of corruption, the Government
Accountability Office noted that the ONDCP is pushing propaganda as
news. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Also, a drug offender is being forced to be a propaganda tool
himself; the Texas Attorey General decided that doctors aren't
required to report drug-using pregnant women to law enforcement
authorities; and one powerful stimulant is being offered as a cure
for another. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) HIGH COURT: FEDERAL SENTENCING SYSTEM WRONGLY APPLIED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that federal
judges have been improperly adding time to criminals' sentences, a
decision that puts in doubt longtime sentencing rules. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The court, on a 5-4 vote, said that its ruling last June that juries
-- not judges -- should consider factors that can add years to
defendants' prison sentences applies as well to the 17-year-old
federal guideline system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The justices refused to backtrack from the 5-4 decision that struck
down a state sentencing system because it gave judges too much
leeway in sentencing. But the high court stopped short of striking
down the federal system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Justice Stephen Breyer said the federal sentencing system is at
least in part invalid because it forces judges to be driven by the
guidelines. But he said that the system could be salvaged, if judges
use it on an advisory basis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) DRUG CONTROL OFFICE FAULTED FOR ISSUING FAKE NEWS TAPES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shortly before last year's Super Bowl, local news stations across
the country aired a story by Mike Morris describing plans for a new
White House ad campaign on the dangers of drug abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||
What viewers did not know was that Morris is not a journalist and
his "report" was produced by the government, actions that
constituted illegal "covert propaganda," according to an
investigation by the Government Accountability Office. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the second ruling of its kind, the investigative arm of Congress
this week scolded the Bush administration for distributing phony
prepackaged news reports that include a "suggested live intro" for
anchors to read, interviews with Washington officials and a closing
that mimics a typical broadcast news sign off. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Although television stations knew the materials were produced by the
Office of National Drug Control Policy, there was nothing in the
two-minute, prepackaged reports that would indicate to viewers that
they came from the government or that Morris, a former journalist,
was working under contract for the government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) MAN MUST BECOME WALKING BILLBOARD AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Juan Curtis McCargo is a convicted drug offender whom a Fayette County judge would like to spend more time with school students. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even if youngsters in the Uniontown Area School District don't know
his name, chances are they won't forget the 29-year-old when they
see him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Under a court order handed down this week, McCargo, of 39 Whiteman
Ave., Uniontown, will appear regularly over the next eight weeks
wearing a sign telling students about the negative consequences of
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Judge John F. Wagner ruled on the issue after the county probation office alleged McCargo had violated the terms of a 2002 sentence by missing meetings, skipping fine payments, avoiding court-ordered community service and testing positive for marijuana use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) AG SAYS DOCS NEEDN'T REPORT MOMS' DRUG USE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
AUSTIN - State agencies and doctors are not required to report the use of illegal drugs by pregnant mothers, the office of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said in an opinion Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The opinion was sought by Rep. Ray Allen, R-Grand Prairie, who
sponsored a bill designed to protect unborn children against third
parties, such as drunken drivers and abusive spouses. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Allen asked Abbot in July to clarify the law after a West Texas
district attorney sent letters to physicians telling them to report
any "abuse of children by voluntary injection of harmful narcotics
by expectant mothers." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rebecca King, former district attorney of Potter and Armstrong
counties, said then that she would prosecute physicians if they
failed to report such drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) DRUG OFFERS COCAINE ADDICTS HOPE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Modafinil Boosts Alertness and May Curb Impulsiveness, a Penn Study
Shows. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After decades of failed attempts to find a drug that helps addicts
kick cocaine, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania say they
have finally found a medication that looks promising - a drug
currently approved to treat sleepiness. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Addicts who took modafinil - used to treat narcolepsy and help
pilots and night-shift workers stay alert - were about twice as
likely to avoid cocaine in a given week as those who received a
placebo pill, according to a small Penn study published this month
in the Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Patients taking the medicine, marketed as Provigil, were also nearly
three times as likely as unmedicated counterparts to stay off
cocaine for a three-week stretch - 33 percent vs. 13 percent, said
Charles Dackis, chief of psychiatry at Penn's Medical | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The usual: Corruption, lies, unnecessary secrecy and tooth decay
behind bars. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) BORDER PATROL AGENT HELD AFTER POT FOUND IN CAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A U.S. Border Patrol agent who led federal authorities on a
high-speed chase through the Imperial Valley was arrested early
Wednesday after agents allegedly found nearly 750 pounds of
marijuana in his government vehicle. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The arrest culminated a surveillance operation by the FBI and
inspector general's office of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, according to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S.
attorney's office in San Diego. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Border Patrol agent, Luis Francisco Higareda, was seen by a
federal agent meeting another vehicle at the U.S.-Mexico border near
Calexico, according to the complaint. The other vehicle was on the
Mexican side. Suspecting that a cross-border exchange had occurred,
agents gave chase. | ||||||||||||||||||||
About 20 miles later, the pursuit ended in Holtville. Agents
allegedly found drugs packed into 10 duffel bags. Also arrested with
Higareda was a Mexican illegal immigrant, Marcelino Verdugo-Cota,
authorities said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) SHERIFF SHAKES UP TOP STAFF IN CRIME-STATISTICS SCANDAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sheriff Ken Jenne announced changes in the Broward Sheriff's Office
Friday to rectify the underreporting of crimes and overreporting of
clearance rates. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne on Friday announced a sweeping overhaul of
his agency, capping a year of turmoil and scandal over its
systematic manipulation of crime statistics. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Four of the sheriff's command staff -- trusted members of his inner
circle -- are out. Twenty-nine detectives and sergeants have been
transferred, mostly to the road patrol. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And a controversial accountability system known as Powertrac --
which many critics have said encouraged deputies to "cook the books"
by underreporting crimes and closing cases through fraudulent means
-- will be dramatically changed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The shake-up followed last week's filing of criminal charges against
two of Jenne's deputies in connection with the crime reporting
scandal. More such cases are anticipated. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The scandal mainly involves deputies taking crime complaints, such
as burglaries and car break-ins, from crime victims only to
misreport them as noncriminal "suspicious incidents," a way to make
the crime rate appear lower than it actually is. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In addition, scores of criminal cases were "closed" by blaming them
on people who could not have committed the crimes. In some cases
people confessed to crimes even though they were incarcerated at the
time the crimes occurred. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By touting its low crime rate and high rate of solving cases, BSO
convinced several cities to merge their departments into the
sheriff's office. BSO is Broward's largest law enforcement agency,
patrolling more than a dozen cities in addition to unincorporated
Broward. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) DEA MUM ON RECENT CITY RAIDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
When an unmarked white panel van occupied by heavily armed officers dressed in camouflage enter a house just off a state highway, passersby might wonder what is happing. More so when they are escorted by a local law enforcement special operations team. | ||||||||||||||||||||
When it is said by neighbors and others that arrests were made and property was seized, concerned citizens may have some questions. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But when you find out it was an operation coordinated by the Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA), getting answers is complicated if
not impossible. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to the Nogales Police Department, two federal search
warrants were served by the DEA on Monday, Dec. 20 at 10:30 a.m. The
activity also was reported to the Nogales International by
motorists, including the driver of the newspaper's delivery van,
nearby neighbors and others. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Still, several attempts to gain information from Tony Ryan a special
agent in charge in Tucson, and Ramona Sanchez, the public
information officer in Phoenix were stymied because, they said,
under rules established by Department of Justice does they are not
allowed to talk about cases still under investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) INCREASING CASES OF 'METH MOUTH' BURDEN PRISONS' HEALTH-CARE (Top)BUDGETS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Look into the mouth of a longtime meth user, and you'll see one way
the drug marks its users. | ||||||||||||||||||||
You'll see teeth ground to mere nubs, others black with rot,
abscessed gums and other dental nightmares. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That's what Minnesota prison dentist Stephen Boesch sees with
increasing frequency in the mouths of inmates. | ||||||||||||||||||||
With a more than fivefold increase in the number of methamphetamine
offenders behind bars, the drug's effect on teeth is taking its toll
on the state prison budget's bottom line. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Meth offenders certainly bring added and unusual challenges to the
correctional system.... We are just starting to get our hands around
some of the physiological damage that occurs in some offenders and
the most dramatic of those are the dental problems," said Dennis
Benson, deputy corrections commissioner. "This adds to an already
insufficient health-care budget, which is very difficult for us to
manage." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This week's hemp and cannabis section begins with news from up north
suggesting that Canadian teens find it easier to buy cannabis than
tobacco on school grounds. The Health Canada report states without a
hint of irony that this is because the availability of cigarettes is
restricted to retail outlets that only sell them to adults. Umm
legalization and regulation anyone? This report kicks off a new
Canadian anti-cannabis campaign funded by the federal government. In
our second story, MPP has announced that it will appeal the Nevada
Attorney General's decision to deny a cannabis legalization petition
because it is short nearly 30,000 signatures. MPP argues that Nevada
was wrong to base the number of signatures needed for the petition
on the most recent federal election after being told the total would
be based on the election of 2002. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our third story is a report from Washington State showing a drop in
cannabis seizures across the Canadian border in 2004 as compared to
the previous year. A total of 5.5 tons of cannabis was seized in
2004, down from 7.7 tons in 2003. My question is whether this
indicate less cannabis being smuggled, or smarter smugglers? And
talking about smarter smugglers, in our fourth story a U.S. border
patrol agent is being held by American authorities after apparently
trying to smuggle 750 pounds of cannabis from Mexico in the trunk of
his car. And lastly, a column by Alice Collinsworth for the Oklahoma
Edmonton Sun calls for saner, more compassionate drug laws. After
all, we can't keep filling our prisons with non-violent border
agents... | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) EASIER TO GET POT THAN CIGARETTES: CANADIAN TEENS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana is perceived as easier to access than cigarettes on
Canadian school grounds, a newly released government report on
teenagers shows. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commissioned by Health Canada, the report was prepared for the
department's effort in developing coping and refusal skills among
teenagers. It said the easier access to marijuana is ironically due
to the legal age limit for smoking cigarettes and the fact that you
have to buy cigarettes through traditional outlets, such as corner
stores. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Based on focus groups held across the country, it also states that
marijuana is perceived among Canadian teens to be less harmful to
those who use it, compared to cigarettes, because of the effective
messages that participants have been exposed to on the health
effects of cigarettes and second-hand smoke relative to those of
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) MARIJUANA GROUP APPEALS NEVADA AG'S PETITION DECISION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Marijuana Policy Project Monday joined the American Cancer
Society in asking the Nevada Secretary of State's Office to reverse
its denial of its initiative petition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The groups collected signatures on their petitions for several
months and submitted them to Heller's office Nov. 9. But a month
after they submitted the petitions, the Attorney General's Office
issued an opinion saying they needed 83,156 valid signatures to
qualify instead of the 51,337 signatures they had been told were the
minimum throughout the petition campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The basis of the ruling was a requirement that petitions gather
signatures totaling 10 percent of the turnout in the "last general
election." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 51,337 total is 10 percent of the November 2002 turnout but - at
the request of overloaded county election officials - the petitions
weren't turned in until after the November 2004 elections and 10
percent of that turnout is 83,156 signatures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) LESS MARIJUANA SEIZED AT BORDER IN 2004 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. border protection agencies seized more than 5.5 tons of
marijuana coming into the country through Whatcom County from
January through November of 2004, down from 7.7 tons the previous
year, The Bellingham Herald reported Sunday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Still, the amount - enough B.C. Bud to fill three tractor-trailers -
was more than double the amount seized in typical years before Sept.
11, 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The federal government has spent millions of dollars more on
protecting Washington state's border with Canada since the terrorist
attacks of 9/11, adding about 200 border-related jobs, as well as
high-tech detection and intelligence equipment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The added scrutiny has led to greater drug seizures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) BORDER PATROL AGENT HELD AFTER POT FOUND IN CAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A U.S. Border Patrol agent who led federal authorities on a
high-speed chase through the Imperial Valley was arrested early
Wednesday after agents allegedly found nearly 750 pounds of
marijuana in his government vehicle. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The arrest culminated a surveillance operation by the FBI and
inspector general's office of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, according to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S.
attorney's office in San Diego. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Border Patrol agent, Luis Francisco Higareda, was seen by a
federal agent meeting another vehicle at the U.S.-Mexico border near
Calexico, according to the complaint. The other vehicle was on the
Mexican side. Suspecting that a cross-border exchange had occurred,
agents gave chase. | ||||||||||||||||||||
About 20 miles later, the pursuit ended in Holtville. Agents
allegedly found drugs packed into 10 duffel bags. Also arrested with
Higareda was a Mexican illegal immigrant, Marcelino Verdugo-Cota,
authorities said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A bail hearing was scheduled for Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) TIME FOR AMERICA TO GET REALISTIC ABOUT MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans are strangely ambivalent in their feelings about
marijuana. Nearly 100 million Americans over age 12 admit to smoking
pot at least once in their lives, and it's estimated that at least 5
percent of our citizens use marijuana on a regular basis. And these
aren't just scruffy-looking teenagers, either -- many professional
"older adults" admit to having a dime bag or two lying around the
condo. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I grew up in the pot-smoking days of the 60s and 70s, so I've heard
my share of arguments about marijuana usage. I never smoked myself,
but I knew plenty of people who did. Marijuana offenses are still
common; an estimated 700,000 arrests for possession are made in the
U.S each year. Yet a 2003 study says that 40 percent of Americans
now believe that marijuana should be treated the same as alcohol:
regulated, controlled, taxed, and kept out of the hands of children,
but decriminalized. | ||||||||||||||||||||
No other law is enforced so widely and yet deemed unnecessary by so
many people. Two upcoming cases in the U.S. Supreme Court illustrate
this double standard. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Another sad week of carnage in the Philippines, where | ||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile in the Philippines, the supply of shabu | ||||||||||||||||||||
Elsewhere in the zealously prohibitionist Philippine republic last
week, police and press touted "Operation: Private Eye," where
citizens can become paid police informants, denouncing drug suspects
for pocket money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In nearby Malaysia last week, police made the disturbing discovery
that for a free cell phone and a small salary, "drug distribution
syndicates" recruited kids as lookouts. Like U.S. bootleggers in the
1920s, the Kuala Lumpur lookout kids warn drug distributors when
police are in the area. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) RAMPAGE: 4 SLAIN IN 3 DAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
FOUR more persons were slain over the weekend bringing the number of persons killed by unidentified armed men to 11 since January 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Witnesses said that two men on board a motorcycle arrived and one of them pulled a handgun and shot Toroba repeatedly at close range. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Friday night, a 30-year-old drug surrenderee was also shot to
death in San Miguel, Barangay Centro, Agdao district. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) VISAYAS SHABU SUPPLY RISING, DESPITE RAID (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
EVEN after the raid on the shabu laboratory in Barangay Umapad,
Mandaue City last September, there still seems to be a high supply
of shabu in the Visayas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This is why PNP Chief Edgardo Aglipay believes there is another
laboratory in the area. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) 'OPERATION: PRIVATE EYE' POTENT WEAPON VS ILLEGAL DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's "Operation: Private Eye" is
fast becoming an effective weapon against rampant illegal drugs
trade in the country. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In an interview with the public service program "Kakampi Mo Ang Batas," PDEA Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Caisip revealed that the
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[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Caisip said that 11 shabu laboratories were discovered in 2004,
mainly through the help of Operation: Private Eye. "Aside from this,
we have also destroyed several marijuana plantations in Benguet and
other parts of Northern Luzon with the help of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"An informer can receive as much as P1.5 million for a large shabu laboratory while P500,000 and P1 million are given to those who can pinpoint a small and medium shabu laboratory," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) STUDENTS HIRED AS SPIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
KUALA LUMPUR: For at least RM30 a day and a free cellphone,
schoolchildren and teenagers are working for drug distribution
syndicates as their lookouts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
City Narcotics Department head Asst Comm Othman Harun said police
discovered that the syndicates recruited schoolchildren and
teenagers for the job following the arrests of 1,024 people,
including syndicate heads from the San Peng flats area. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"From our investigations, we found that they took in children as
young as 13 years old. Their main function is to inform the
syndicate when there is police presence in the distribution area,"
ACP Othman said here yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The children, who would "patrol" the area on their bicycles or
motorcycles, were paid on a daily basis, he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WHITE HOUSE ILLEGAL PROPAGANDA ABOUT DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense focus alert. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Listen online at 7:30 ET, 6:30 CT & 4:30 PT at http://www.kpft.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
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IF... DRUGS WERE LEGAL | ||||||||||||||||||||
Evidence from Switzerland suggests that prescribing heroin can reduce crime and increase levels of employment among addicts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Would drug legalisation really reduce crime overall, and would it
make drug use any safer? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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MAPS ALBERT HOFMANN BIRTHDAY BROADCAST | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Albert Hofmann, Ph.D., Dr. Pharm.(Hon.), Dr. Sc.Nat.(Hon.),
Head of the Pharmaceutical-Chemical Research Laboratories
(retired), Division of Natural Products, Sandoz, Ltd., | ||||||||||||||||||||
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LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
DOPE MORE DEAR THAN GOLD | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Dean Becker | ||||||||||||||||||||
Regarding the Chronicle's Jan. 3 editorial "Diversion/Reducing
penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana is a sensible
idea": This common-sense analysis should embolden readers to contact
their state legislators referencing the editorial as a strong
stepping-stone toward sanity in the drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The label of marijuana was used by the first drug czar, Harry J. Anslinger, to create "reefer madness" over a "creeping danger" infiltrating our nation by way of "Mexican hoodlums." Now forgotten by most is the fact that until 1937, cannabis was sold over the counter in a dozen varieties, including extracts and tinctures prescribed by doctors, and was listed for 70 years in the U.S. pharmacopeia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But no matter whether it was a conspiracy of media giants, a racial
roundup to corral Mexicans and blacks or a simple scam to ensure
billions in eternal profits for drug traffickers, the drug war is a
sham - top to bottom and worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our government claims we are winning the war on drugs, yet most drugs
are cheaper, purer and more available to our children than ever
before. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to the crackdown on cannabis users, the cost of this one drug is rising, and it can now cost more per ounce than pure gold. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Many proclaim it a great success that young people are using less
cannabis these days, but not mentioned is the fact that they are
inhaling more ( cheaper ) solvents. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dean Becker | ||||||||||||||||||||
Houston | ||||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Stands Alone in Hemp Ban / From NORML | ||||||||||||||||||||
The United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate
industrial hemp as an economic crop, according to Congressional
Resource Service (CRS) report published last week. Hemp is a distinct
variety of the plant species cannabis sativa that contains only minute
(less than 1%) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary
psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Farmers worldwide grow hemp
commercially for fiber, seed, and oil for use in a variety of
industrial and consumer products, including food. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"In all, more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, and North America
grow hemp," the report states, adding that the European Union
instituted a subsidy program in the 1990s for hemp fiber production.
"The United States is the only developed nation in which industrial
hemp is not an established crop." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal law makes no distinctions between cannabis and industrial
hemp, and makes it illegal to grow hemp without a license from the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). According to the CRS, "The
DEA has been unwilling to grant licenses for growing small plots of
hemp for research purposes," even when such research is authorized by
state law, because the agency believes that doing so would "send the
wrong message to the American public concerning the government's
position on drugs." As an example, the report notes that the DEA "has
still not ruled on an application submitted in 1999 by a North Dakota
researcher" to grow a trial plot of hemp in compliance with state law.
More than a dozen states have enacted laws authorizing the licensed
cultivation of hemp for research purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The federal ban on hemp cultivation and production is a direct outgrowth of the government's absurd war on cannabis," NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said. "This report should help to galvanize support among U.S. farmers, industrialists, and environmentalists for the legalization and regulation of hemp as an agricultural commodity." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The fact regulation and education work with tobacco suggests
marijuana, too, could be legal and well-controlled." | ||||||||||||||||||||
-- Winnipeg Sun, Jan 10, 2005, | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by
Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection
and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International
content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (),
Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||
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