| Feb. 19, 2005 #388 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) LEPP'S LAWYER DECRIES RAID (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
UPPER LAKE -- Eddy Lepp's attorney, Dennis Roberts, believes that a
raid on Lepp's property and his arrest early Wednesday morning could
have been a retaliatory action by the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"My reaction is that the arrest is vindictive, vindictive,
vindictive," said Roberts, who pointed out a federal judge in San
Francisco on Feb. 7 ordered the DEA to return personal property taken
from Lepp's residence along with marijuana in a raid conducted last
August. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lepp and Roberts say federal chief justice Marilyn Hall Patel, acting
on a written motion by Roberts, had ordered federal government
officials to appear in court to explain why they had not returned
what Lepp described as "non exculpatory property." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Roberts said some of the material taken by the DEA were written
records that will be critical to Lepp's defense when he goes on
trial in federal court. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Eddy and his wife, Linda Senti, have reportedly been allowed to
continue to smoke marijuana for the cancer from which both of them
suffer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) OFFICIALS' SURPRISE DRUG SEARCH AT HIGH SCHOOL TURNS UP NOTHING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
KILLEN -- Drug-sniffing police dogs and officers with five law
enforcement agencies conducted a surprise inspection at Brooks High
School on Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And they found exactly what they had hoped to find -- nothing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The search of the school and vehicles in the parking lot came up
clean, according to Killen Police Chief Mark Parker. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We did not find any narcotics or drugs," Parker said. "We're
realistic and know there are some drugs around, but we didn't
find anything today." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The chief said agents found a small amount of tobacco, and another student had ammunition in his vehicle from a recent hunting trip. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The police department randomly searches the school at least once
a year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday was the year's first inspection, Parker said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It's not a rule that we search once a year," he said. "Who knows,
we might be back tomorrow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) ECSTASY TRIALS FOR COMBAT STRESS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
American soldiers traumatised by fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan
are to be offered the drug ecstasy to help free them of flashbacks
and recurring nightmares. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The US food and drug administration has given the go-ahead for the soldiers to be included in an experiment to see if MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, can treat post-traumatic stress disorder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Scientists behind the trial in South Carolina think the feelings of
emotional closeness reported by those taking the drug could help
the soldiers talk about their experiences to therapists. Several
victims of rape and sexual abuse with post-traumatic stress
disorder, for whom existing treatments are ineffective, have been
given MDMA since the research began last year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Michael Mithoefer, the psychiatrist leading the trial, said: "It's
looking very promising. It's too early to draw any conclusions but
in these treatment-resistant people so far the results are
encouraging. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"People are able to connect more deeply on an emotional level with
the fact they are safe now." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) CITY PROSECUTOR FACES DRUG CHARGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MANCHESTER -- City prosecutor Kenneth Bernard, brother of an accused
murderer and brother and uncle of three murder victims, is charged
with three counts of possessing marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bernard, 34, is free on $1,000 personal recognizance bail and is to
be arraigned on March 10 in Manchester District Court, where he
prosecuted individuals on violations and misdemeanors, including
possession of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bernard is charged with possessing marijuana on Nov. 30 at his
then-120 Huse Road home, and having it in his possession twice on
Dec. 4, again at his home. He has not been on the job since Dec. 4,
when he was placed on paid administrative leave by the city
Solicitor's Office. On Tuesday, he turned himself in to police, who
had obtained a warrant for his arrest. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The investigation began Nov. 30 when Bernard's wife, Donna, called
police. She directed officers to the top left drawer of a bureau
in the master bedroom, where they found a bag of marijuana, Sgt.
Richard Charbonneau wrote in an affidavit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
She then escorted the officers to the basement and showed them a
partly burned marijuana cigarette left on a shelf. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Bernards are in the process of getting a divorce. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
She said she found the marijuana in Bernard's sock drawer on
Nov. 29 when she stopped at the house to pick up some personal
belongings and was putting some laundry away. Mrs. Bernard
told the detectives that after seeing the marijuana she | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This week, two brave women in different parts of the country stood up to drug dogs in different ways. In Illinois, a legislator calls for the drug testing of all driver's education students; and in Florida, a jury determines that a Purdue Pharma sales rep was not forced to promote unlawfully high doses of OxyContin to doctors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) LAWMAKER WANTS TO KEEP DRUG DOGS ON A LEASH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Reasonable belief" that drugs are in someone's car would be needed,
not "ear-piercing or dreadlocks," for police in Illinois to use
drug-sniffing dogs under a bill filed Monday by Rep. Monique Davis
(D-Chicago). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The measure is a response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision based on an Illinois case. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan argued in favor of the dogs' use before the high court, which agreed with her in overruling an Illinois Supreme Court decision. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"In my opinion, this will lead to a police state," Davis said,
subjecting "innocent motorists, college students and especially
people of color to the harassing, frightening and embarrassing
experience of a dog search." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Police need more evidence than "ear-piercing and dreadlocks" to pull
a driver over and call in the dogs, she said. Davis cited
protections in the U.S. and Illinois constitutions against searches
and seizures that lack probable cause. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) STUDENT'S "DEFIANCE" LEADS TO SUSPENSION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A claim that her civil rights were being violated got Pleasant Valley High School junior Meghann Trott suspended for three days. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A drug-sniffing dog visited the school for a random drug check
Tuesday afternoon and Trott refused to leave her belongings in Dan
Beadle's sixth-period science class. She claimed it violated her
civil rights to be subjected to random searches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
According to Ginger Picchi, assistant principal, the dogs are
provided by an outside service and have been used at both Pleasant
Valley and Chico high schools since the beginning of the 2004-05
school year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The decision to use Interquest Detection Canines at the high schools
was approved by the Chico Unified School District's board of
trustees in August 2004. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Picchi explained that the school conducted assemblies in the fall to
inform the students about the process. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"This is the first student who has refused," said Picchi, and she
had not heard complaints from any others. "Students have been very
receptive." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The inspections are unannounced, Picchi said, and the administration
isn't even warned. Typically, the dog and handler visit three or
four classrooms, accompanied by an assistant principal or the campus
supervisor. The students are asked to leave the classroom with the
teacher, leaving all their belongings in place. The entire process
takes about five minutes. Often the dogs are taken to the parking
lot to sniff the vehicles there,= too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Trott said she was concerned about the school policy that allowed
dogs to check for drugs on campus, so she contacted the American
Civil Liberties Union about the issue and received a letter in
return. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
She believed the letter had also been sent to the administrators of
all high schools in Chico, and according to Trott, the ACLU
supported her belief that she had the right to refuse random
searches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) BILL WOULD REQUIRE DRUG TESTS FOR DRIVERS PERMITS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A state legislator wants to require all Illinois high school students to take drug tests before they could get their drivers permits, a move he believes could keep teens off methamphetamine by threatening what's most dear to them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's part of a growing list of bills in Springfield this year that
would tighten restrictions on young drivers, who are responsible for
a disproportionate number of the nation's highway accidents. Other
pending bills in Illinois would add new restrictions and
requirements on young drivers in terms of drivers' education fees,
seat belts, cell phones and even car purchases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) OXYCONTIN'S MAKER CLEARED IN SUIT OVER SALES TACTICS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
TAMPA - A federal jury on Tuesday found in favor of the maker of the
drug OxyContin, ruling against a former sales representative's
claims that the company wanted her to break the law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
With the jury's verdict, Karen White, of Lakeland, lost her lawsuit
against Purdue Pharma Inc. in which she alleged she was fired Aug.
12, 2002, because she refused to break the law by pushing doctors to
prescribe high doses of the potent pain pill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Attorneys for Purdue Pharma denied that the company's marketing
practices were illegal, and they argued White was fired because of
her poor sales numbers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
White's attorney, Robert McKee, had asked jurors to award White
$138,000 in lost wages plus five times that amount, or $690,000, for
emotional pain. After the verdict, McKee said he and White would
consider appealing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The drug war's strain on the legal system continues to show. Last
week, a North Carolina district attorney's office said it will stop
prosecuting drug cases it can't win, though officials said they
still plan to prosecute plenty. In Oklahoma, officials are
cautiously considering a measure that would narcs access to tax
records of people under investigation. Elsewhere,= the upheaval in
sentencing guidelines continues; while one South Carolina newspaper
carries two stories about the risks, temptations and consequences
for police trying to enforce prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) COUNTY TO WHITTLE ITS DRUG CASELOAD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office warned police
officers in a recent e-mail memo that it plans to "crack down" on
which drug cases it will prosecute. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We will now adopt the policy that we will only take a case in which we have `a reasonable likelihood of success at trial ...,' " stated the memo sent to police from the DA's felony drug supervisor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We have to cull 36 cases to try from approximately 200 Traffickers,
350 Sellers, 25 Habitual Felons, and the 2000+ defendants charged
with possession." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The tougher policy, first reported Tuesday by the Observer's news
partner, WCNC, means anywhere from 100 to 200 cases a year might be
rejected for prosecution, according to the DA's office. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But Mecklenburg Assistant District Attorney Bill Stetzer, who wrote
the memo and heads a team of seven drug prosecutors, said thousands
of defendants charged with drug offenses would still be prosecuted
each year. Most of those cases never go to trial, he said, because
defendants plead guilty. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) COMMITTEE DELAYS DRUG AGENCY BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Action on a bill to give state narcotics investigators access to
Oklahoma Tax Commission records was delayed Thursday by the House
Corrections and Criminal Justice Committee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The state Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs is seeking the
ability to subpoena state tax forms filed by people under
investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We're asking to be able to access that information and then use it
during prosecution," said Scott Rowland, attorney for the state
Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bill author Rep. John Nance, R-Bethany, agreed to delay a vote in the committee so more work can be done on the measure. Several committee members were concerned about releasing tax filings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) SWEEPING REVIEW OF SENTENCES ORDERED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hundreds of Inmates Are Affected by Ruling That Lifts Mandatory
Terms, U.S. 9th Circuit Finds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Hundreds of federal prisoners in California and eight other Western
states will have to be resentenced under a ruling by the U.S. 9th
Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The ruling was the first action from the appeals court after a
landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision last month on sentencing in
federal cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government's sentencing guidelines could not be binding on judges. As a result, federal judges are free in pending cases to give prison terms that are shorter or longer than those called for under the guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But the ruling left unclear how to handle the cases of prisoners who
had already been sentenced under the guidelines. The high court left
that issue for lower courts to decide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) DRUG BUST GOES AWRY; SUSPECT SHOT, KILLED | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Undercover officers shot to death a young man who tried to run them
over after a staged drug deal, the Spartanburg County Sheriff's
Office said late Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The State Law Enforcement Division was called to investigate shortly
after the 7 p.m. shooting, said Maj. Dan Johnson with the Sheriff's
Office. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investigator Wendy Alley with the Coroner's Office identified the
deceased as Aaron Clark Gray, 24, of 145 Raintree Drive in
Spartanburg. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Johnson would not release the names of the two officers involved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The officers had completed a drug buy on Overhill Circle near
Highway 9 when they tried to arrest the man, Johnson said. He then
tried to run them over in a yet unidentified vehicle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) UNION OFFICER CHARGED WITH TRADING SEX FOR CRACK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A Union police officer faces charges of swapping crack for sex and
other illegal conduct over the past seven years following a State
Law Enforcement Division investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SLED agents arrested 35-year-old Rodney Curt Johnson Thursday
morning. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"A lot of the people were shocked that this happened -- disbelief,"
said Union Public Safety Chief Sam White. "We talked about it,
everybody that was working today." Johnson, a full-time officer
since 2000, was released from Union County Jail Thursday night on a
$20,000 bond. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Judge Jeff Bailey denied the Herald-Journal access to Johnson's 7
p.m. bond hearing.He is charged with three counts of misconduct in
office -- attempting to use his position and/or Union Public Safety
property to gain sexual favors, warrants state. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
With the Illinois state government embroiled in a medicinal cannabis
debate, we begin this week with 2 stories examining this contentious
issue. The first story outlines the scope of the bill sponsored by
Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago), which would allow legitimate users to
possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 12 plants. Under McKeon's
plan, users would be issued ID cards by the Department of Human
Services, which would oversee the program. Unfortunately this
proposal is facing some vocal opposition from former deputy drug
czar Andrea Barthwell, who has been crisscrossing the state
denouncing Bill 0407. Our second article is a great op-ed by Rep.
McKeon, who criticizes Barthwell's misguided, misleading
anti-cannabis propaganda efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In our third article we follow Pot-TV anchor and U.S. Marijuana
Party founder Loretta Nall, who is currently in Florida protesting
the use of undercover officers posing as students in high school
drug busts. Our fourth article takes us to the enchanted land known
as Mendocino County, where local agriculture officials are asking
the state to allow them to certify and label organically grown
medicinal cannabis as such. And lastly this week, a very good
editorial from the Globe and Mail criticizing a recently released
NIDA-sponsored study suggesting that heavy users of cannabis -
which are described in the study as smoking between 78 and 350
joints a week - may be permanently altering the blood flow to the
brains (see last week's DSW for study details). As the author of the
editorial concludes, "this is one study the occasional pot smoker
can safely forget about. Those who took part in the study certainly
won't be able to remember it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) EXPERT RAILS AGAINST MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
About a dozen people, some of them in education or counseling,
turned out in Mount Vernon Wednesday to hear Dr. Andrea Barthwell
talk about the need to take marijuana seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Barthwell has embarked on a lecture series presenting the dangers of
marijuana use -- particularly in the face of Illinois House Bill
407, which would create the Illinois Medical Cannabis Act. Barthwell
is the former deputy director for Demand Reduction from the White
House Office of National Drug Control Policy -- otherwise known as
the deputy drug czar. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Illinois Medical Cannabis Act, sponsored by Rep. Larry McKeon,
D-Chicago, would allow a person diagnosed with what the bill
describes as a "debilitating medical condition" to be a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) LIES CLOUD MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEBATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As a legislator, I am used to political disagreements, and I enjoy a
healthy debate. But when a former White House official crisscrosses
our state, deliberately spreading misinformation about a proposal to
protect some of our most vulnerable citizens, that's where I draw
the line. [snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As a person living with AIDS, those last two are particularly important to me. I know firsthand how tough this disease is to beat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But Andrea Barthwell, former deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, is telling a different story. She is crisscrossing Illinois giving a series of lectures claiming that medical marijuana is "a cruel hoax," not supported by the medical community at all.= To hear Barthwell tell it, I'm the pawn of a sinister cabal of "legalizers"= who "use the pain and suffering of patients" to further their nefarious agenda. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
What utter nonsense. Unfortunately, Barthwell has turned down my
offer to debate the issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) MARIJUANA ACTIVIST VISITS HIGH SCHOOL HIT IN DRUG BUST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Loretta Nall, the news anchor for Pot-TV.net makes it very clear:
She wants to keep drugs out of the hands of kids, and to do that,
she feels marijuana should be treated like tobacco and alcohol, by
regulating, taxing and controlling it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Alabama woman, who said she may run against Judge Roy "Ten
Commandments" Moore in the 2006 gubernatorial election as part of
the Libertarian Party, wants to see marijuana legalized and then
controlled. What she says she doesn't want to see is police posing
as students in schools for drug busts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I don't think it is fair. It is completely immoral and downright
evil to put police officers posing as students in high school, then
trick kids into breaking the law and giving them a 15-year
sentence," she said recently, standing along Daniels Way waiting for
Jupiter High School students to leave for the day. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Youthful experimentation is a human trait," she said, "and we need
a sensible drug policy that deals with the issue from a helpful
social standpoint. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) ORGANIC VEGGIES, WINE - WHY NOT POT? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mendocino County, known for its organic wine and beer, may soon add
marijuana to its list of certified organic products, a sign cannabis
has become a mainstream crop. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
County agriculture officials are asking the state if they can
legally certify medical marijuana as an organic product and regulate
local pot farms, as they do pear orchards, vineyards and other
crops. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Only in Mendocino County," laughed Carre Brown, administrator of
the county Farm Bureau, which represents farmers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We're going to be groundbreakers again. Maybe," said county
Assistant Agricultural Commissioner Tony Linegar. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) WILL THE REAL DOPES IN THIS MARIJUANA-USE STUDY PLEASE STAND UP? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
How Much Marijuana Does A Research Volunteer Need To Smoke To
Demonstrate That Dope Is Bad For Your Brains? Apparently, Up To 350
Joints A Week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In a study financed by the U.S. government, scientists measured
blood flow in the brains of volunteers who smoked different amounts
of weed. So-called "light users" smoked from two to 15 joints a
week; moderate users toked 17 to 70 joints per week; and heavy users
puffed away at from 78 to 350 joints per week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Still, it's hard to take a study seriously when the participants
have to almost chain-smoke joints in order to produce negative
clinical results. This is one study the occasional pot smoker can
safely forget about. Those who took part in the study certainly
won't be able to remember it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
After publicly hailing extra-legal killings of drug suspects earlier
this year (see the Jan 7, 2005 issue, #382), and praising Davao City
Mayor Duterte (a staunch supporter of Davao death squad activity),
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo this week ordered her
government to investigate the executions. The killings in Davao, over
50 so far this year alone, are widely attributed to police. Police
create blacklists from old drug arrests; suspects are then shot in
broad daylight in front of their homes or work. Don't expect much to
happen: Jesus Dureza, the presidential assistant appointed to
investigate insists he's the wrong man for the job. In Davao City,
meanwhile, the prescient Mayor Rodrigo Duterte (who earlier
demonstrated amazing depth of knowledge concerning the motives of the
DDS - Davao Death Squad), proclaimed this week that there were
exactly two more "big-time drug lords" somewhere in Davao City. The
mayor claimed the two run methamphetamine pill factories which are on
the mayor's turf. Mayor Duterte is slated to meet with US Ambassador
Francis Ricciardone later this week concerning "Baker Piston," an
operation in Davao where the U.S. military is helping train
Philippine police to fight the "drug problem." Bush administration
appointee Ricciardone, a hearty supporter of drug prohibition brought
to the citizenry at gunpoint, has remained silent over Davao death
squad activity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
US Prohibitionists seeking to use the Mexican government to force
the drug war on unwilling Mexicans are facing a stubborn problem. No
sooner than Washington can prop up another gung-ho drug warrior, the
warriors are tempted by (prohibition provided) money. In Mexico, as
a Knight Ridder piece explained last week, the so-called "Zetas"
continue to make a mockery of U.S. sovereignty in Mexico. The Zetas
are former Mexican "elite commandos," expensively trained by the
U.S. to steal, kill and destroy in their quest to arrest
(ever-elusive) drug kingpins. Trouble is, the Zetas simply switched
sides and now help the narco-traffickers. This is nothing new:
officials in places of drug-fighting authority have historically
been corrupted by tax-free profits made possible only by (drug)
prohibition. The Zetas are just more open about it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(19) PROBE OF DAVAO KILLINGS SET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered authorities to investigate
the spate of 51 killings in Davao City, which are being blamed by
human rights groups on a vigilante squad. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In her visit last week, the President directed presidential
assistant Jesus Dureza to look into these incidents. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I am turning over the responsibility to PA Dureza to look into the
investigation of the vigilante killings in Davao City and in
Mindanao," said Arroyo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
However, Dureza deftly sidestepped the issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"There are proper agencies that are responsible for the | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The culprit is a group called "Davao Death Squad," which goes after
criminals or those with police records. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(20) MAYOR: 2 MORE DRUG LORDS IN DAVAO CITY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DAVAO CITY -- At least two more big-time drug lords who are directly involved in manufacturing illegal drugs in the region are walking around freely in Davao City, said Mayor Rodrigo Duterte Sunday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He added that reports from the field tend to show there is one more
major shabu laboratory somewhere in Bukidnon, in the outskirts of
Davao City. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The two suspects, he said, were also involved in the manufacture of
methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in the raided laboratory in
Dumoy, Talomo District last December 31, 2004. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(21) MAYOR TO FINALLY MEET RICCIARDONE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will finally meet US Ambassador
Francis Ricciardone when the latter comes to Davao on February 18
with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In his television program "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" Sunday,
Duterte said he will meet the U.S. envoy as part of his official
duty being the chief executive of the host city. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The President and Ricciardone are scheduled to visit Davao this
Friday to attend the culmination of the Baker Piston. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Baker Piston is a joint project of the Philippine and the U.S.
governments in the exchange of information and technology on how to
better fight the drug problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(22) DRUG FIGHTERS SWITCH SIDES, AID TRAFFICKERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mexico's War On Drug Gangs Pits The Army And Police Against Former
Elite Anti-Drug Commandos Who Now Work For Drug Bosses | ||||||||||||||||||||||
NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico - As the Mexican government dispatches federal
police and soldiers to cities along the U.S. border to stanch a war
between rival drug gangs, the major challenge they may face are the
Zetas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
These former Mexican elite commandos, trained to combat drug
traffickers, have switched sides. Prosecutors say Zetas are accused
in more than 200 killings and now control much of the illegal
activity in this swath of northern Mexico, severely hampering police
on both sides of the border. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
No one knows precisely how many former commandos are in the employ
of drug cartels. But their work is well known in the cities of Nuevo
Laredo, Reynosa and Matamoros, hard against the U.S. border, where
they control neighborhoods and watch for any outsiders who might be
government spies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
They're thought likely to have been responsible for the execution Jan. 20 of six prison employees near the federal maximum-security prison at Matamoros. And it was the fear that they were plotting to bust out jailed drug traffickers that prompted a crackdown Jan. 15 at the La Palma prison in central Mexico, where one of the country's best-known drug bosses, Osiel Cardenas Guillen, was housed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Should Be Worried | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"There's no antecedent to this type of phenomenon," said Jorge
Chabat, a political analyst who studies the drug trade. "The
majority of other criminals don't have this type of training. They
move like guerrillas, appear in one city and then another. They're
not a traditional army . . . Their violence is sophisticated, and
that should worry the Mexican government." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LEFT UNCONSIDERED ABOUT DRUG TASK FORCES | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Scott Henson at Grits For Breakfast | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2005/02/left-unconsidered-about-drug-task.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
CAGW HIGHLIGHTS WASTEFUL SPENDING IN WAR ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
February 16, 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(Washington, D.C.) - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today called upon the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to shape up or ship out by significantly reducing funding and re-organizing its high-intensity drug trafficking program, which has devolved into little more than another method for members of Congress to bring tax dollars home to fund superfluous projects. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste,
fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
EU STEPS UP BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The European Commission has adopted and sent to the Council and the European Parliament a EU Drugs Action Plan for 2005-2008 whose main aim is to significantly reduce the prevalence of drug use among the Union's population and to reduce the social harm and health damage caused in our countries by the use of and trade in illicit drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-135626-16&type=News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
MY MARIJUANA'S NOT LEGAL YET? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
by Jackie Johnson, Wisconsin Radio Network | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A man who says he's "living proof" that marijuana is a safe and
effective medicine urges legislators to make it legal. The Wisconsin
Coalition for Safe Access holds its lobby day at the state capitol.
Gary Storck of the medicinal marijuana advocacy group (also with Is
My Marijuana Legal Yet?, or IMMLY) points out that cannabis is
natural and safe, unlike some other widely accepted medications
that have recently been taken off the market -- or at least warned
against -- by the FDA. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
THE KIDS AREN'T ALRIGHT! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The US Marijuana Party with Loretta Nall | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In the land of "Champagne Wishes and Caviar" Dreams Loretta Nall
discovers the "Kids Aren't Alright"! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Join Loretta as she travels to Palm Beach, Florida to talk with
students attending highschools targeted in "Operation Old
Schoolhouse". | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
LIVE AUDIO WEB CHAT WITH SASHA AND ANN SHULGIN | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday, February 22 at 3 PM PST / 6 PM EST | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance will be moderating
a discussion with Dr. Sasha Shulgin, the noted psychedelic chemist
and pharmacologist, and his wife Ann Shulgin, the beloved writer
and therapist. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/ctt.asp?u=1696787&l=78278 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MARIJUANA IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Boyd R. Critz, IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Re. Jan. 25 story, "Speaker, pot potency higher": | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Using Dr. Barthwell for this, given her government position, is akin
to having Joseph Goebbels give a speech on Judaism. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana has been cultivated for thousands of years for potency.
It's the oldest drug known to man and has been found in | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Those of us who live with pain on a daily basis could use this drug
for analgesia, menstrual cramps, joint pain, arthritis, glaucoma and
nausea. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's impossible to overdose on pot or the doctors would crow about
it. The Dutch grow different strains for different uses, and their
society hasn't fallen into rot. Cigarettes and alcohol are far more
deadly. Dr. Barthwell needs to go back to D.C. and find another
toady job with Bush. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Boyd R. Critz IV, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Two Excessive Displays At The Medical Marijuana Hearing | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Stephen Young | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I headed down to the Illinois statehouse in Springfield yesterday to
see a committee hearing on medical marijuana. Unfortunately, the
bill failed to be voted out of committee, so there it remains. Yet
many interesting things took place; Pete at Drug WarRant has a
complete report at | ||||||||||||||||||||||
To me, the day was typified by the two incidents involving heavy
security and seemingly harmless middle-aged white men. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
One man was named John Walters; the other was named Irvin Rosenfeld.
Both came from out of state to testify at the hearing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
John Walters, of course, is the federal drug czar. This political
appointee flew in at taxpayer expense with a full entourage,
including several serious-looking security people. The intense
security detail was there, I suppose, to protect the czar from the
good people of Illinois. Or, perhaps, to give an otherwise bland
and unimpressive bureaucrat a sense of authority. Either way, it was
unnecessary overkill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Walters insisted he wasn't there to influence the legislative
process - an obviously false cover story contradicted by his very
presence (when else does he show up at a state level committee
meetings?) and indicative of his sincerity in general. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Physically isolated by his security team, intellectually insulated
by rigid ideology, I wonder if Walters even carries the capacity for
recognizing the difference between a truth and a lie. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And, indeed, he and his allies did not want to acknowledge the truth
of the other fellow who found himself surrounded by security at the
state house. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Irving Rosenfeld came to Illinois by himself from his home state of Florida and offered an unimpeachable, fact-based presentation on his experience with medical marijuana. One of the seven surviving patients in a federal medical marijuana program, Rosenfeld gets eleven ounces shipped to his pharmacy by Uncle Sam every 25 days. He's been smoking roughly 12 government joints a day for 22 years. He and his doctors know that it helps relieve the pain from a rare bone disease called multiple congenital cartilaginous exostoses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He believes that the marijuana has not only extended his life, but
made his disease bearable for all these years. He's had | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The government does give marijuana to patients. I'm living proof,"
he told reporters during a press conference. "I'm also living proof
that it works well. I'm also living proof that the government
doesn't want to know how well it works. If they want to do research,
all they have to do is contact me." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He brought a tin can full of marijuana cigarettes that he picks up
at his pharmacy each month and showed them to a room full of
astonished state legislators during the hearing. Shortly after his
presentation, he found himself surrounded by four burly state
security officers. They wanted to ask him some questions, and they
didn't want the press to follow, so some other reporters and I were
barred from the elevator where he was hustled away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fortunately, one of the reporters had a good idea where they were
taking him. I followed her and watched as Rosenfeld faced what
seemed like an unofficial interrogation over his medicine (asked
repeatedly whether Rosenfeld was under arrest or being detained, the
security officers would only say, "No comment."). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I thought Rosenfeld was a hero before, but watching his grace under
pressure amazed me. He was polite and cooperative with the officers,
effectively educating them, while remaining firm about his rights
and the limits of their intrusions (he was not going to let the tin
can out of his sight, and I don't blame him). | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He showed them many documents confirming his situation, and offered phone numbers for his pharmacy as well as a DEA agent with whom he is on friendly terms. Eventually the officers got confirmation they deemed acceptable and let him go, but not before an officer finally acknowledged that Rosenfeld was being detained, and he was removed from the sight from reporters. In a few minutes he was free to go. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rosenfeld said such things happen when he speaks up. Why does he
continue to do it? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Because, unlike sicker patients who have more trouble with mobility,
he can, he said. And because citizens have the right to spread the
truth in America. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
So it goes in the drug war. If you're a private citizen, obeying the
law and exercising clearly established rights, prepare to be hassled
by security. If you are a political appointee engaging in legally
questionable behavior and spreading false and defamatory insinuation
as fact, then you are entitled to the best protection taxpayer money
can buy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In a more sane world, Rosenfeld wouldn't face any scrutiny from law
enforcement, but Walters sure would. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen Young is an editor with DrugSense Weekly, author of
Maximizing Harm and operator of decrimwatch.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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