| Feb. 25, 2005 #389 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||||
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) STREET PRICE OF COCAINE FALLS DESPITE U.S. EFFORTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The drop in value has some drug experts questioning a $4.3 billion
federal strategy to stem the supply from Latin America | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since last year, federal drug officials have touted the success of a
$4.3 billion program they say has slashed the production of coca in
Latin America by a third. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But federal data released Thursday showed that the price of cocaine on the street was lower in 2003 than when the program began. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug experts say the data raise serious questions about the ability of the Andean Counterdrug Initiative to choke off the supply of cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"There is no evidence in these data, any more than there's been
evidence in the previous 20 years of data, that massive enforcement
succeeds in pushing mass market prices up," said Mark A.R. Kleiman,
director of the drug policy analysis program at UCLA. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a report prepared for John Walters, the White House drug czar, the Rand Corp. estimated that the price of a pure gram of powder cocaine dropped from $161 in 2000 to $107 in the first half of 2003. The price of crack cocaine fell from $219 per pure gram in 2000 to $190 in 2003. | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/price_purity/price_purity.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||||
Aides to Walters declined to comment on the report Thursday. State
Department officials also declined to be interviewed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(2) US SEEKS COLOMBIAN HELP ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||||
US counter-narcotics authorities are examining controversial policies
used in Colombia, the world's top cocaine producer, to formulate
efforts to combat the flow of drugs from Afghanistan, the world's
leading supplier of heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
John Walters, director of the US National Drug Control Policy, said
on Wednesday in Miami that methods used to combat drugs in Colombia
principally aerial fumigation were being studied to see how they can
be replicated in Afghanistan. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Under President Alvaro Uribe, who is strongly supported by Washington,
the area of land cultivated with coca, the plant from which cocaine is
made, has halved to about 212,000 acres, according to official
figures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Colombia's example shows that you can build institutional capacity and change the face of the threat of illegal narcotics, Mr Walters said. The Colombians have been very co-operative in helping to supply additional information on what they have done and how it works. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(3) STUDY: MARIJUANA SLOWS ALZHEIMER'S DECLINE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
New Spanish and Israeli research shows that a synthetic analogue of
the active component of marijuana can reduce the inflammation and
prevent the mental decline associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Although it was conducted on human brain tissue in the lab and in a
rat model -- but not in living humans -- the research is regarded as a
major step not only in understanding how the brain reacts to
Alzheimer's disease, but also in helping to develop novel drugs for
Alzheimer's and even Parkinson's disease. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prof. Raphael Mechoulam, a medicinal chemistry expert who discovered marijuana's active component (called THC), conducted the study with researchers at the Cajal Institute and Complutense University in Madrid, led by Maria de Ceballos. The study appears in Wednesday's issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, which is published by the Society for Neuroscience, an organization of more than 36,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and nervous system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(4) HARVARD SEEKS TO TEST ECSTASY DRUG ON THE DYING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BELMONT -- Harvard researchers are preparing for the first time in
three decades to conduct human experiments using a psychedelic drug, a
study that would seek to harness the mind-altering effects of the drug
ecstasy to help ease the crushing psychic burdens faced by dying
cancer patients. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the experiment, 12 terminal cancer patients would be given MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy, to determine whether the drug helps alleviate their anxiety. If the results are positive, the Harvard scientists said, they will push forward with large-scale tests that could make end-of-life ecstasy treatments generally available to terminally-ill patients. The experiment seeks to establish a medical use for a drug whose abuse has been on the rise among some young people, who use it recreationally for its euphoric effects. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A small but growing group of scientists contends the drug,
administered in a controlled medical setting, can improve mental and
emotional health. But critics, including some in the Bush
administration, said the experiment may destigmatize a dangerous
substance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Complicating matters, the experiment will be bankrolled by the
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a nonprofit
that advocates legalizing psychedelic drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The group, run by a longtime drug-legalization activist from Belmont named Rick Doblin, has ambitions to one day establish a nationwide chain of psychedelic therapy clinics that would dispense LSD, marijuana, and ecstasy to people with emotional problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A group of attorneys general from around the country has asked the
DEA to back off on pain doctors. Hard to say if the DEA will respond
to the embarrassing pressure, since the ONDCP is facing a series of
embarrassments this week, but still not backing down. A trial for
executives of an ad agency that made anti-drug propaganda for the
federal government revealed how dismal the effort was, and how the
ONDCP pushed hard to get propaganda incorporated into television
programs. The ONDCP was also stung for not properly labeling its
propaganda, despite protestations from high-profile congressional
drug warriors. The head of the ONDCP was touting drug courts last
week, but the head of a much lauded Illinois drug court found
himself under fire last week. And, in Virginia, the legislature is
fast-tracking a moratorium on methadone clinics. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(5) ATTORNEYS GENERAL STEP INTO PAIN PRESCRIBING DEBATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The group is asking the DEA not to impede "the legitimate practice of medicine," but the agency says it is not a barrier to care. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A new voice has joined the chorus claiming that recent actions by
the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration appear to impede the
prescribing of controlled substances to treat pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The National Assn. of Attorneys General, in a Jan. 19 letter, called
on DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy to meet with representatives of
the organization to "find ways to prevent abuse and diversion
without infringing on the legitimate practice of medicine or
exerting a chilling effect on the willingness of physicians to treat
patients who are in pain." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The letter was signed by the attorneys general from 29 states and the District of Columbia. The effort was led by Oklahoma Attorney General and NAAG Past President W.A. Drew Edmondson, who said he was approaching the issue from a consumer-protection standpoint. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(6) ONDCP TRIAL: SEIFERT TAKES THE STAND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NEW YORK - Shona Seifert, the former Ogilvy & Mather executive
accused of orchestrating a billings scam on the White House's
anti-drug ad account, on Tuesday testified in her own defense here
in U.S. District Court. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Seifert also described how the ONDCP began to become disenchanted
with Ogilvy less than a year after the agency took on the business.
"Client frustration was mounting rapidly," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At one point, former ONDCP director Alan Levitt wrote an e-mail that
said the agency, "for the record, it's doing a horrible job-yes
that's the word." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The same e-mail mentioned that the previous shops on the
account-Bates and Zenith Media-had done better. Levitt's particular
complaint was about the seriousness with which Ogilvy was taking the
media matches-the free ad time that TV networks had to agree to
provide if they wanted to get some of the paid advertising. The
matches were important, Levitt wrote, and "O&M is treating it as if
it weren't." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(7) PREPACKAGED NEWS GETS GAO REBUKE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
The Government Accountability Office warned federal departments last
week against using a popular public relations tool that already has
landed two agencies in hot water for breaking federal | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a Feb. 17 memo, Comptroller General David M. Walker reminded
department and agency heads that prepackaged news stories that do
not identify the government as their source violate provisions in
annual appropriations laws that ban covert propaganda. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It is not enough that the contents of an agency's communication may
be unobjectionable," Walker wrote. "Neither is it enough for an
agency to identify itself to the broadcasting organization as the
source of the prepackaged news story." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last month, Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), chairman of the House
Committee on Government Reform, said the GAO was wrong in ruling
against the drug control office because the agency's mission is to
produce media campaigns to prevent and reduce drug abuse. Davis and
Rep. Mark Edward Souder (R-Ind.) sent Walker a letter urging him to
withdraw the ruling and reconsider the law. They wrote that it was
the news organizations, not the agency, that had a duty to disclose
the source of the video news release. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Walker declined to overturn the ruling in a Feb. 15 letter. He wrote
that the drug control office was bound by the disclosure requirement
and that appropriations laws govern the behavior of federal
agencies, not of independent news organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(8) DRUG COURT PIONEER UNDER FIRE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
One of the most-recognizable names in Illinois for keeping drug
offenders out of jail is facing his own trial. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Wednesday, the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board leveled a 20-count
complaint against Kane County Judge James Doyle, accusing him of
violating the constitutional rights of defendants by engaging in
intimidation, violating privacy laws, denying legal counsel and
showing bias in his decisions. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The charges stem from a months-long investigation by the board of
five judges and two citizens into complaints from attorneys, a
probation officer and drug court participants. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The board's decision to move forward with what amounts to a civil
trial puts Doyle in rare company. Although nearly 500 complaints are
filed annually against Illinois judges, the board has found only 71
complaints valid enough in the past 34 years to launch a trial by
the Illinois Courts Commission. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(9) VIRGINIA HOUSE OKS EMERGENCY CLAUSE FOR METHADONE MORATORIUM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A bill establishing a moratorium on future methadone clinics will become law as soon as the governor signs it because of an emergency clause approved Thursday by the Virginia House of Delegates. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Mark Warner is expected to sign the bill within the next two
weeks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Most of Virginia's new laws go into effect on July 1 at the
beginning of the new fiscal year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The emergency clause was sought by Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate
City. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We had to act fast on this one. But now (the Virginia Department of
Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services) will
have the chance to have an in-depth review of these clinics and the
regulations that go with them,'' Kilgore said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
More death, mayhem and outrageous conduct on the front lines of the drug war this week, along with a lonely voice of reason in Iowa. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(10) CAMPBELL OFFICERS TO PLEAD GUILTY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutor Says He Will Ask Judge to Put Them in Jail Pending
Sentencing | ||||||||||||||||||||
Four Campbell County lawmen will plead guilty this week to the
beating and torture of a drug dealer, and federal prosecutors will
ask a judge to put them behind bars pending sentencing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A court date for a fifth Campbell County Sheriff's Department
employee accused in the two-hour attack on Lester Eugene Siler has
not yet been set. | ||||||||||||||||||||
David Webber, 40, who headed narcotics investigations for Campbell
County and is accused of being the ringleader in the alleged
torture, is set to plead guilty today to an information charging him
with conspiracy to violate Siler's civil rights. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Samuel Franklin, 42, a veteran detective at the agency and head of
its D.A.R.E. program, is scheduled to plead guilty Wednesday, court
records show. Rookie Deputy Joshua Monday, 24, and process server
Shayne Green, 35, are expected to plead guilty Thursday, according
to records. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(11) AUTOPSY: GRAY HIT 5 TIMES BY 3 SHOTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
After almost two weeks of speculation, the Spartanburg County
Coroner's Office released an autopsy report Wednesday for a man
killed by undercover sheriff's officers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Spartanburg County Coroner Jim Burnett said Aaron Clark Gray, 24,
was wounded five times from three gunshots from officers following a
drug buy two weeks ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Burnett said the Coroner's Office couldn't determine the total
number of shots fired, but only the number of times they believe
Gray was hit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Burnett said Gray's death is being ruled a homicide and the fatal
shot was to the forehead. Gray also suffered a grazing wound to the
chin, in and out wounds to the upper chest and a wound to the cheek
possibly from a bullet splitting, Burnett said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gray's family has said he was wounded seven times and the Rev. Jesse
Jackson held a news conference in Spartanburg earlier this week and
reiterated the number. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jackson said Gray was shot in the face four times, once in the back
of the head and twice in the chest. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Burnett said one bullet could lead to multiple wounds | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(12) STATE WANTS FORMER INMATE TO PAY COST OF INCARCERATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
BETHANY - After more than two years behind bars, recovering
narcotics addict Kathleen White figured she'd paid her debt to
society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
She was wrong. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In early January, White received an unexpected correspondence from
the state Department of Administrative Services: an itemized bill
for $67,165, which the Department of Correction says was the cost of
her incarcerations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'd heard about that, but I didn't think they'd do it to anyone who
didn't win the lottery," White said ruefully during an interview at
her mother's home in Bethany. "How dare (they) charge me to be
treated like a dog?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
White, 36, served time on charges of possession of narcotics and
violation of probation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
White and her attorney, Jack Keyes of New Haven, maintain White drew
attention to herself by filing a civil lawsuit against a former
friend's landlord. The lawsuit alleges the landlord's oven blew up
in White's face, causing her serious injury. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Keyes believes he has a good chance of winning a substantial sum for
White. Unfortunately for his client, the Department of Correction is
entitled to half of any money White wins from that lawsuit, and
White said the state medical insurance program is after the other
half. | ||||||||||||||||||||
White said she doesn't mind paying for the cost of her medical care
over the years in prison. But paying the Department of Correction
for her incarceration is another story. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Keyes says the department is making the claim under a rarely
enforced law that allows the state to recoup the cost of
incarceration if an inmate wins the lottery, inherits a substantial
amount of money or wins a legal claim. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(13) SPEAKER: IS STATE GOING OVERBOARD? | ||||||||||||||||||||
DES MOINES -- Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants said Thursday he
believes lawmakers are getting "carried away" in their zeal to crack
down on the sale of over-the-counter cold remedies that can be used
to make methamphetamine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rants, R-Sioux City, argues House and Senate bills go too far in seeking to limit the sale of pseudoephedrine -- a common nasal decongestant found in dozens of cold, flu and allergy medications. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lawmakers are considering limits with hopes of keeping the drug out
of the hands of meth makers. Senators voted 50-0 Thursday for
legislation restricting where Iowans can get pseudoephedrine and how
much they can buy daily or monthly. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But ultimately, Rants will decide whether the bill is debated or
shelved. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It seems like public policy is being driven without really thinking
about what the ramifications are for average, law-abiding citizens,"
Rants said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Everybody wants to get the meth cookers. But people are afraid of
politics and that they're somehow going to be accused of being soft
on crime if they allow people to buy two boxes of Benadryl," he
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This week we begin with solid evidence that progressive cannabis
reform can indeed take place under a Republican-led White House.
Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and James Jeffords have co-sponsored
the Truth in Trials Act introduced by Illinois Democrat Richard
Durban, which would finally allow defendants facing federal cannabis
charges to introduce any relevant evidence regarding medical use of
the drug. And from the president's own backyard, Rep. Elliot Naishat
(D-Austin) has introduced an affirmative defense medical marijuana
bill which would allow both patients and their physicians to
introduce evidence of medical use where relevant into state cannabis
trials. Republican state reps. Terry Keel and Suzanna Hupp have
co-sponsored the bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In other news, California has announced plans to issue medicinal
cannabis patient ID cards in 10 counties this summer. The
long-awaited pilot proposal is designed to protect legitimate
medical users from arrest and prosecution by police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last weekend's New York Times caused a bit of an uproar by reporting on taped conversations with President Bush from 1998-2000. In the conversations, which were recorded by a former Bush Sr. aide (aptly) named Doug Wead, the then Governor of Texas hints that he had used cannabis in the past, although all recent evidence suggests that he unfortunately didn't use nearly enough to gain significant insight, compassion or empathy. And lastly this week, news that Canada's governing Liberal Party will be debating a resolution to legalize and tax cannabis at their yearly party convention. The resolution, which was introduced by the Alberta Liberal caucus, suggests that taxing and regulating cannabis sales could raise over $3 billion a year for the federal government. In addition, otherwise uneventful political conventions could become far more entertaining. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(14) VERMONT SENATORS SIGN ON TO MARIJUANA BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vermont's Sens. Patrick Leahy and James Jeffords have signed on as
co-sponsors of a medical marijuana bill introduced by Illinois
Democrat Richard Durban. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Like the House version of the bill, the Senate Truth in Trials Act would end the federal government's gag on medical marijuana defendants in court, according to the Marijuana Policy Project. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By providing an affirmative defense to federal marijuana charges, it would not only ensure that defendants could introduce evidence about the medical aspects of their marijuana-related activities, but also keep them from being sent to federal prison if it is determined that they were acting in compliance with state medical marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(15) HIGHLIGHTS THURSDAY FROM TEXAS LEGISLATURE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEDICAL POT | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proponents of the medical use of marijuana on Thursday urged the
Texas Legislature to listen to their plea: Allow sick and dying
patients to turn to marijuana to relieve their pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Texans suffering from leukemia, multiple sclerosis, paralysis and
other afflictions told of the pain-reducing benefits of marijuana
and said medical marijuana users should be given grounds to avoid
prosecution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Elliott Naishtat, an Austin Democrat, has filed a bill that
would create a defense to prosecution for patients who are being
treated by a licensed physician and who use marijuana to relieve the
effects of a legitimate medical condition. The bill also offers
protection for doctors who discuss marijuana with their patients as
a treatment option, but it would not allow physicians to write a
prescription for marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Republican Reps. Terry Keel of Austin, a former sheriff and
prosecutor, and Suzanna Hupp of Lampasas are co-sponsoring the
proposal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(16) STATE WILL ISSUE ID CARDS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA USERS THIS (Top)SUMMER | ||||||||||||||||||||
California will begin issuing identification cards to medical
marijuana users in 10 counties this summer, part of a pilot program
designed to protect certified users from arrest and marijuana
seizures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The voluntary ID card program, developed by the state Department of
Health Services, will be expanded statewide by year's end, said
Norma Arceo, a spokeswoman for the department. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement officials hailed the move, saying it will simplify a confusing patchwork of local policies and make it easier to distinguish between legal marijuana users and criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(17) ON SECRET TAPE, BUSH IMPLIES HE USED MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Private conversations with George Bush secretly taped by an old
friend before he was elected president foreshadow some of his
political strategies and appear to reveal that he acknowledged using
marijuana, The New York Times reported Saturday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The conversations were recorded by Doug Wead, a former aide to
George W. Bush's father, beginning in 1998, when Bush was weighing a
presidential bid, until just before the Republican National
Convention in 2000, the Times said in a story posted on its Web
site. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bush also criticizes then-Vice President Al Gore for admitting marijuana use and explains why he would not do the same. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I wouldn't answer the marijuana questions," he said, according to
the Times. "You know why? Because I don't want some little kid doing
what I tried." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(18) LIBERALS TO DEBATE LEGAL, TAXABLE POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Delegates to the Liberal party convention next month will debate a
motion to legalize and tax marijuana sales, bringing in billions in
new tax revenue. Parliament is already debating legislation to
decriminalize marijuana, but a resolution by Alberta Liberals would
go much further. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It would tax the proceeds of legalized pot sales, which the resolution says would bring in $3 billion in revenue each year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Legalizing marijuana would be a serious blow to drug dealers and
organized crime financially," says the resolution for the March 5-6
gathering. Delegates are told part of the money could go to drug
awareness. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Philippine President Gloria Magapal Arroyo's administration
announced last week a ban on the death penalty, except for
kidnapping and "drugs." The Philippines, which has the death penalty
for trafficking in even small amounts of cannabis, has been plagued
by death squads who indiscriminately 'salvage' (summarily execute)
drug suspects and formerly arrested drug users. As it stands now in
the Philippines, admitted murderers won't be executed, but those who
sell about four ounces of pot can be executed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. prohibitionists are fuming mad at the Mexican government for
backing down on harsher conditions for drug "lords" (translation:
anyone in a Mexican prison). U.S. drug warriors, via a Washington
Post opinion piece last week, blasted Mexicans for refusing to ban
conjugal visits by Mexican inmates' wives. Making Mexican prison
conditions as harsh as possible for "drug lords" (and the other
200,000 people languishing in Mexico's jails) was seen by Washington
Post opinion authors Kevin Sullivan and Mary Jordan as imperative.
Why, do these U.S. prohibitionists say, should Mexico now eliminate
traditional laws that protected the liberty of all Mexicans? Because
violent "sophisticated modern-day drug cartels" exist, asserts the
Post. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nitrous Oxide sales are no laughing matter to zealous New Zealand
prohibitionists, who aim to restrict sales of laughing gas with a
new law. A New Zealand Health Ministry spokesman last week denounced
the sale of the gas as a danger at youth. To protect the kids, age
restrictions would limit sales to adults, and labeling changes would
warn that the gas was not for use as a drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And finally this week, a blow was given to a wild-west anything-goes style of bounty hunting, in Canada at least. A pair of U.S. bounty hunters were convicted last week for kidnapping a Canadian citizen and attempting to drag him into the states for skipping bail on past petty pot changes. The two errant bounty hunters were prosecuted in the U.S.; Canadian officials are seeking extradition to prosecute them for Canadian crimes related to the kidnapping, as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(19) BAN ON DEATH PENALTY STAYS, BUT NOT FOR DRUGS, KIDNAPPING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Malacanang said yesterday the moratorium on the implementation of
death penalty through lethal injection will stay indefinitely,
except for convicted kidnappers and drug traffickers, in order to
strike fear among criminal syndicates victimizing innocent
individuals. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye made the clarification after Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is poised to grant today a 90-day reprieve to 14 prisoners sentenced to death for rape. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It has not changed. The President would like to impose the death penalty, especially on kidnapping and drug-related cases. But for other (cases), the President prefers to be lenient," he said of the state-imposed moratorium on execution among Death Row convicts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
However, in her State-of-the-Nation Addresses, the President has
repeatedly ordered authorities to ready the lethal injection chamber
so that those convicted kidnappers and drug traffickers shall be
meted out with capital punishment affirmed with finality by the
Supreme Court. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(20) INMATES UNDERCUT DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
President's Efforts Stalled By Corruption | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY The drug traffickers' wives clicked through the halls of
Congress in high-heeled boots, glowering behind designer sunglasses.
For several days, they had been barred from La Palma federal
penitentiary, and they were upset that their usual privileges --
including conjugal visits -- had been suspended. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The visits were halted when the government sent hundreds of army
troops, backed by tanks and helicopters, to take control of La Palma
on Jan. 14, after federal officials learned that drug traffickers
were running criminal empires from their cells in the | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Gilberto Ensastiga, a congressman who listened to the wives' complaints, agreed that all prisoners had the legal right to family visits, and accompanied them to a meeting with the national human rights commission. Privileges were restored the next day. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even as President Vicente Fox vows to wage the "mother of all
battles" against drug traffickers, many criminal justice analysts
say his efforts are being undermined by outdated laws, lenient penal
policies and corruption inside the jails. As a result, one of Fox's
proudest accomplishments in four years in office, putting an
unprecedented number of drug cartel leaders behind bars, is turning
into a crisis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Almost 200,000 inmates are in 454 federal, state and local prisons,
and at some, inmates' wives and children are allowed to stay
overnight. Some prison yards resemble villages, with children riding
bicycles and prisoners earning money by selling tacos or renting out
videos. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Escaping from prison is not a crime in Mexico. There is no penalty
as long as another crime, such as assaulting a guard, is not
committed during an escape. As one Supreme Court justice has
explained, "The person who tries to escape is seeking liberty, and
that is deeply respected in the law." | ||||||||||||||||||||
A growing number of critics, however, question whether current laws
and prison regulations, many dating back 70 to 80 years, can deal
with the extreme violence caused by sophisticated modern-day drug
cartels that ship billions of dollars worth of marijuana, cocaine
and heroin into the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fox has proposed an overhaul of the prison and criminal justice
system that would give police broader authority to investigate
crime, rein in the excessive power of federal prosecutors, and
reduce the system's notorious reliance on confessions obtained by
torture. It would also give judges more flexibility to order
restitution or community service for minor offenders. The plan is
now before Congress. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) 'LAUGHING GAS' SALE COULD BE CURBED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Proposed New Law Could Restrict The Sale Of Nitrous Oxide As A
Recreational Drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A North Shore Times story revealed that dairies and adult shops are
selling small canisters of the substance, designed for whipping
cream, as a cheap high to youngsters. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Health Ministry's chief public health adviser Ashley Bloomfield
says nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a substance that
could be considered for regulation under the new laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This would include the age of sale and supply, advertising,
labelling and signage. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
She says the ministry discourages the misuse of all substances,
including nitrous oxide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(22) U.S. BOUNTY HUNTERS SENTENCED IN KIDNAPPING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eganville Man Was Taken Across Border | ||||||||||||||||||||
A pair of American bounty hunters who plucked a man from the Ottawa
Valley village of Golden Lake have received fines and jail for
trying to smuggle the Canadian across the border. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reginald Bailey and Robert Carden Roberts hunted for Kenny Weckwerth
in his home town of Eganville and nearby Golden Lake in | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Bailey's lawyer refused to comment, but Mr. Littlefield said Mr. Bailey had a previous criminal record that included assault charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The two bounty hunters worked for a private bail bond company in the
U.S., where accused criminals can hire such companies to put up
thousands of dollars to receive bail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The companies get their money back as long as the accused continues to attend court. Companies stand to lose their money when an accused flees, so bounty hunters are sent to track down anyone who runs off. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In November, federal agents would not allow Mr. Weckwerth, who had
twice been deported from the U.S., into the country. Mr. Bailey and
Mr. Roberts somehow convinced Mr. Weckwerth to say he was a U.S.
citizen. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Weckwerth told agents he had lost his wallet during a visit to
Casino Niagara, where Mr. Roberts had said the three "friends" had
stayed. The story unravelled when agents found Mr. Weckwerth's
wallet containing his Canadian identification. The wallet had been
placed inside a map beneath a passenger seat. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The judge mentioned the issue of enforcing the law while violating
it, said Mr. Littlefield. He said the judge also said the case had
caused international ripples. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After Mr. Weckwerth was grabbed, Ontario Provincial Police issued a
warrant for the bounty hunters' arrest on charges related to break
and enter, kidnapping and confinement. OPP Det. Colin Reinke said
yesterday police are currently getting extradition applications to
have the men face Canadian charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
EDUCATE ILLINOIS MEDIA ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
AN AUDIO WEB CHAT WITH DR. SASHA SHULGIN AND ANN SHULGIN | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Sasha (Alexander) and Ann Shulgin are pioneers in psychedelic
research and authored the landmark books PIHKAL: A Chemical Love Story
and TIHKAL: The Continuation. On Tuesday, February 22, 2005 they were
online with the Drug Policy Alliance to discuss topics from the "war
on drugs" to the use of MDMA in psychotherapy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL-BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
JOB OPENINGS AT MPP | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Marijuana Policy Project currently has 14 full-time job
openings, all of which are based in Las Vegas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The available positions are: * Campaign Manager * Field Director * 10 canvassers and 2 team leaders | ||||||||||||||||||||
Please visit http://www.mpp.org/jobs to see detailed job
descriptions for each of the above positions and instructions for
applying. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additionally, MPP is seeking proposals from accomplished and
creative videographers to direct and produce an inspirational 15- or
20-minute videotape/DVD that explains -- in emotional and
educational terms -- the horrors of marijuana prohibition and the
need to end it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interested videographers should visit | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WHITE HOUSE DRUG CZAR LAUNCHES BLOG | ||||||||||||||||||||
ONDCP Becomes First Cabinet-Level Agency to Launch Online Web
Log; New Web Site Will Showcase Nationwide, Local, and | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press05/022505.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
BLOGGER'S HEAD EXPLODES | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Pete Guiter at Drug WarRant - http://www.drugwarrant.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WEB SITE LOOKS AT MARIJUANA USE BY STUDENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||
Researchers at San Diego State University have created a Web site
allowing students to perform a confidential self-assessment of
their marijuana use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The researchers created e-TOKE -- the electronic THC Online
Knowledge Experience -- in response to research from the Harvard
School of Public Health showing that the percentage of college
students using marijuana is increasing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DRUG CZAR TESTIFIES ON ILLINOIS BILL HB 407, THE MEDICAL CANNABIS ACT | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug Czar John P. Walters testifies and answers questions in
Springfield, Illinois at a committee hearing on HB 407, The Medical
Cannabis Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON - ANOTHER INSPIRATION GONE | ||||||||||||||||||||
A commentary by Preston Peet | ||||||||||||||||||||
Posted at DrugWar.com, Feb. 21, 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'd hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone,
but they've always worked for me." | ||||||||||||||||||||
-- Dr. Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 - Feb. 20, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
'DRUG TESTING IS A BAD IDEA' | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Harold Caldwell | ||||||||||||||||||||
Concerning random drug testing of students, the Dothan Eagle editor
is absolutely correct. It is a totally insane idea to random drug
test students in Dothan schools. I was amazed when Superintendent
Leon Hobbs said he would back the idea if that is what the people
want. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is a very indecisive stance probably fostered by the fact that
the state teachers' union has not yet handed down the position
school employees must take. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Why should we randomly test students for drugs? Can we save a young
person from a life of crime and imprisonment? Of course not. All we
would have then would be a known drug user. If he or she does not
have a proper home environment, drug use and imprisonment are
probably inevitable. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Parents who are pushing for random drug testing in school are saying
to me: "My kid may be using drugs and I want you to find out for
me." That is scary. People who want the government to take over
their parenting responsibilities are way out in left field
somewhere. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is not the responsibility of the school to keep children off
drugs or to find out if they are on drugs. Since school is not an
industrial setting, a drug-using student is not a danger to his
fellow students. He or she may be a nuisance, but I don't see how
they could be a threat to life and limb. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug testing in school is a terrible idea. It would be a costly
investment with no return on monies invested. It would be a
nightmare to administer. It would lead to dozens or hundreds of
lawsuits by unhappy parents of children whose "rights" have been
trampled. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If the parents of Dothan want their children tested for drug use,
they can go to the drug store and buy a home drug testing kit. Then
stand up straight and be a parent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Harold Caldwell | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Remember Nguyen Tuong Van? | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Gary Meyerhoff | ||||||||||||||||||||
Days to execution: Unknown | ||||||||||||||||||||
As far as I know, 24-year-old Melbourne man Nguyen Tuong Van is
still in a cell at Singapore's Changi Prison facing execution. He
will be given less than 24 hours notice of his hanging; and we won't
be told until it is done. The Australian Government and our media
are failing him miserably. After ten months on death row, Nguyen
Tuong Van should be a household name. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I remember back when I was eleven years old. I was at a friend's
place and like most Australian homes the television was blaring
constantly in the background. I vividly remember stopping to watch a
report that Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers had been executed and I
remember a horrible feeling as I tried to make sense of what had
just happened. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Barlow and Chambers were hanged in Malaysia on July 07, 1986 for the
alleged trafficking of 141.9 grams of heroin. Back then, I didn't
really know what heroin was, but I knew who Barlow and Chambers
were. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Australian media lapped up the Barlow and Chambers case, using
it to sell more and more newspapers and to increase the ratings on
their news and current affairs programs. Australia's press gallery
went into a frenzy in an attempt to save the men. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For political reasons, this media pressure backfired. Rajendran
Kuppusamy, the Malaysian hangman who performed the executions, told
the Sydney Daily Telegraph newspaper in 1996 that the case was
rushed through the Malaysian legal system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The Attorney-General wanted us to make it fast, he didn't want to
delay the case," said Kuppusamy. "It was really fast because they
were getting pressure from all over." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Facing an election, Malaysian President Dr Mahathir Mohamad was
under immense pressure to show that he was the man prepared to
stand-up against the West - against White people. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Once the executions had happened the Australian news barons dropped
the story as quickly as the two young Australians had dropped
through the trapdoor in Pudu Prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The journalists returned to their usual mundane reporting and the
issue was dead. They might have failed to prevent the executions,
and possibly even contributed to the executions being rushed, but
Australia's press gallery had succeeded in imprinting the names
Barlow and Chambers firmly in the Australian psyche. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Almost twenty years after the deaths of Barlow and Chambers, Nguyen
Tuong Van, on his first trip overseas from Australia, was arrested
at Singapore airport. Police alleged that Nguyen was in possession
of 400g of heroin. A Singapore court sentenced him to death for this
crime in March 2004. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In stark contrast to events in 1986, Nguyen Tuong Van has been virtually ignored by the Australian Government and the media. Michael Fay, the white American kid who damaged a car or two and was flogged by the Singapore Government with the rattan cane, received more attention from the Australian media than this young Aussie from Melbourne. Nguyen Tuong Van is definitely not a household name! | ||||||||||||||||||||
Why are the media ignoring Nguyen? Is it because they can't
pronounce his name or is the real reason a little more insidious
than that? I mean, Schapelle Corby doesn't exactly roll off the
tongue and she has been turned into a media celebrity, not to
mention the millionaire Aussie yachtsman Chris Packer, recently
released from an Indonesian jail after serving three months for
failing to declare firearms. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I don't want to take away from the seriousness of Schapelle's situation. This young woman may also face the death penalty if she is found guilty of her alleged crime. Her trial has even been invaded by an Indonesian anti-drugs group demanding her execution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
With regards to media reporting though, there is obviously some sort
of double standard happening. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Brian Chambers, Kevin Barlow, Schapelle Corby and Chris Packer all
have one thing in common. They are all white Australians. Nguyen
Tuong Van's crime is that he is an Australian of Vietnamese origin.
Australia's predominantly white journalists (and our white Prime
Minister) have written him off as just another Viet boy dealing
smack, just like they write off the residents of the Block in
Redfern and Cabramatta in Sydney. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Like Singapore's judiciary, they ignore Nguyen's claims that he was only carrying the drugs in a desperate bid to pay off legal fees owed by his twin brother to a Sydney-based drugs syndicate. | ||||||||||||||||||||
During a recent visit to Singapore, Australian Prime Minister John
Howard held a meeting with his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong where he
put forward a half-hearted request for clemency. Mr Howard told the
Melbourne Age; "I believe there's a very good case for clemency but
people must understand that the laws of Singapore are well known and
I think we'll leave it at that." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Responding to the Age reporters question on whether the execution of
Nguyen would have an impact on bilateral relations between the two
countries, Howard said: "Look, I think we have to keep a balance
here." | ||||||||||||||||||||
What he is saying is that Australia's military relationship with Singapore is worth more to us economically than Nguyen Tuong Van. The Republic of Singapore Air Force has aircraft and personnel permanently stationed at the Pearce air force base north of Perth and Singaporean fighter jets and naval vessels are regularly in and out of the Northern Australian city of Darwin. Australian military personnel provide ongoing training to Singapore's soldiers, sailors and airmen and Australian naval vessels are often in Singapore undergoing repairs that would cost ten times as much back home. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our military alliance and the subsequent boost to the Australian
economy is not the only reason Howard is dragging his feet on this
case. Singapore isn't in the midst of an election and there doesn't
seem to be too much pressure from Singaporeans for Nguyen to be put
to death. Sadly it looks like race is a factor in Howard's laissez
faire approach to Nguyen's pending execution. Surely little Johnny
wouldn't let a white boy hang so easily? If Nguyen was called Barry
and he was from Vaucluse or Sydney's North Shore, Howard would be
doing everything in his power to stop the hanging. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Australian Prime Minister is acutely aware that the island
nation has executed more than four hundred people since 1991, mostly
for drug trafficking, giving Singapore the dubious distinction of
having the highest execution rate in the world relative to
population. If Nguyen hangs, Howard will have the dubious
distinction of being the Prime Minister who sat by while a young
Australian went to the gallows, just like he sat by while 353 asylum
seekers drowned in the SievX disaster. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nguyen awaits the results of John Howard's request for clemency. We can only hope and pray that 81-year-old Singaporean President, Sellapan Ramanathan Nathan, will find it in his heart to call off the execution. In the meantime, you might want to contact your local media and ask them one question; do they remember Nguyen Tuong Van? | ||||||||||||||||||||
As for Schapelle, we train Indonesia's troops too. This could be a sticky one for the Australian Prime Minister. Let's just hope that she gets a fair trial and that some sanity prevails in Bali. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gary Meyerhoff is a freelance journalist and an active member of the
Darwin, Australia-based drug law-reform group the Network Against
Prohibition ( http://www.napnt.org ). This article was published in
the NAPNT email digest on the 25th of February 2005. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism." - Hunter S. Thompson | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense
offers our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what
DrugSense can do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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 () | ||||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO DRUGSENSE ON-LINE | ||||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |
 | current issue | this issue |