| June 17, 2005 #404 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) HOUSE VOTES DOWN POT PROVISION | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Amendment Would Have Stopped Prosecutions for Medical Marijuana | ||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- A week after the Supreme Court ruled that medical marijuana laws in California and nine other states are no bar to federal drug prosecution, the House voted down an amendment that would have stopped the Justice Department from bringing such cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
While medical marijuana advocates never thought they would have the votes to bar federal prosecutions, some had predicted that, because of the heightened interest after the Supreme Court's ruling, they would do better than the 264-161 vote they received Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said Tuesday that House Minority Leader
Nancy Pelosi had been working the issue hard among Democrats and that
he felt certain there would 180 or more votes for the amendment to a
2006 Justice Department funding bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Still, there was some comfort in Wednesday's vote for medical marijuana advocates. Since 2003 when the chamber took its first vote to bar spending money on federal prosecution of medical marijuana users, the number of members saying no to that idea has dropped by 11. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We pick up votes each time as we continue to educate the public,"
said Steve Fox, communications director for the Marijuana Policy
Project. "This is just a matter of time." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) US RI: PANEL OKS MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
PROVIDENCE - The House Health, Education and Welfare Committee gave a
ringing endorsement to medical marijuana legislation Wednesday,
providing hope that the General Assembly has enough votes to override
an expected gubernatorial veto. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Buoyed by the 10-2 committee vote, the bill's sponsor, Rep. Thomas C.
Slater, D-Providence, predicted he would get more than 60 votes on
the House floor, or about 80 percent of the chamber. Last week, the
Senate passed a nearly identical bill 34-2. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Both chambers need 60 percent approval to override a veto. But Slater
said he hoped the override vote wouldn't be necessary. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"This is big out there in the public," Slater said. "The governor usually listens to the public. I hope he listens to them this time." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The legislation would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for patients
with debilitating or chronic diseases, such as cancer, AIDS, multiple
sclerosis or Crohn's disease. Patients would receive a registration
card from the Department of Health that would allow them to grow up
to 12 marijuana plants or to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana
without fear of state prosecution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) PHILIPPINES: DRUGGIES CAN NOW RENEW LICENSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SUSPECTED drug dependents can now easily renew their driver's
license without submitting any pictures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Highly reliable sources close to Land Transportation Office
chief Anneli Lontoc said because of lack of "Web cam" in all
LTO licensing offices nationwide, anybody can renew his license
without any problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Drug testing is the basic and primary requirement to renew and
get a driver's license from LTO," the sources said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The sources said that if the agency will use a Web cam, it can
easily detect whether a person getting or renewing his driver's
license is a drug dependent or not. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
When the agency was still using Web cam, they managed to prevent
some 3,000 suspected drug users from getting or renewing their
driver's license in just six months, they added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) COLUMN: BLAME U.S. DRUG POLICY FOR THE BOLIVIAN UPRISING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Congress did not repeal the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution
in 1933 because it had decided alcohol abuse was passe. It did so
because it judged that the costs of Prohibition were higher than
the benefits and that a regulated market would be a better way to
manage a popular but sometimes harmful depressant drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The unintended consequence of Prohibition was the rise of violent
organized crime and the spike in official corruption that
accompanied it. After 13 years of Prohibition, most Americans
didn't like what Al Capone et al were doing in the streets and to
the country's legal institutions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
That's something to think about in light of the death spiral of
democracy in Latin America's Andean region, the center of gravity
for coca growing and processing and the bull's eye of the U.S. war
on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The money available through asset forfeiture appears more attractive
to some Oregon legislators than the will of the voters. Lawmakers
are still pushing to overturn an initiative that limited the use of
asset forfeiture. They say they need the money to maintain the
prohibition on meth, which is proliferating despite (or, more
probably, because of) prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The governor of Massachusetts is also trying to shove bad drug
policy down the throats of the public via the school system.
Fortunately, some experts are criticizing the plan. Also last week:
In North Carolina, the drug war brings the military to a domestic
mission; Big pharmaceutical companies are beginning to realize they
need to start their own small scale drug war in order to avoid being
caught up in the big one via government regulation; and Florida
police are keeping a close eye on cow dung in order to save the
children from drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) PROPERTY FORFEITURE BILL HEADS TO SENATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SALEM - The Oregon Legislature is moving closer toward reversing a
popular 2000 ballot measure that made it harder for police to seize
and sell your property. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Under Measure 3, such forfeitures could only occur after a person
was convicted of a crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But with that initiative under appeal in the Oregon Supreme Court, the House voted 39-18 for legislation last week that would clear the way for law enforcement to resume that controversial practice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
House Bill 3457 now heads to the state Senate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The justification offered by supporters: The extra millions will help police fight the state's drug epidemic, and some proceeds will be sprinkled among other worthy causes, such as drug courts, toxic lab cleanups and relief nurseries that help at-risk kids. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I don't really like to overturn the voters' decisions, but we are in a desperate position with the meth battle and we need all the resources we can get," said Rep. Gene Whisnant, R-Sunriver. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) OPED: AN F FOR SCHOOL DRUG TESTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LIEUTENANT Governor Kerry Healy unveiled a plan to identify teens
with drug problems through high school drug testing programs, which
were ruled legal by the United States Supreme Court in 2002. The
Bush administration has also been a proponent of high school drug
testing, and has set aside millions of dollars in federal assistance
for local school districts. Dr. John Walters, the director of the
President's Office of National Drug Control Policy, has previously
described drug testing in schools as a "silver bullet" solution to
the epidemic of substance abuse among our youth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
We are in favor of any approach that helps, but we disagree with the
widespread implementation of high school drug testing programs for a
number of reasons. First, we are skeptical that any single public
policy will solve this complex problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
We also believe that implementation of drug testing should await
scientific evidence that it is both safe and effective -- and we
have neither. Laboratory testing for drugs is an invasive and
complex procedure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In order to ensure the validity of the specimen, urination must either be directly observed -- an embarrassing procedure for all -- or the collector must use a protocol that includes temperature testing, controls for adulteration and dilution, and documentation of a continuous chain of custody in handling. In a recent national survey we found that very few physicians have the expertise to collect specimens properly, and we doubt that most schools have staff that can. Without proper controls, students can easily falsify urine samples. Even when proper collection procedures are used, it is fairly easy to fool drug tests, and our clinical experience indicates that most drug-involved youth are all too familiar with ways to do so. One need only browse the Internet to see the array of products whose sole purpose is to thwart the validity of drug tests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) IN WAR ON DRUGS, ASHEVILLE GETS A WELCOME FAVOR FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Naval Reserve Seabees are putting their military construction skills to work in the war on drugs. This is yet another reminder of how reservists are more than just a supplement to the regular forces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Deaverview, a public housing project on the west side of Asheville,
is Ground Zero in the war on drugs. In one nine-month period in
2003, as police were starting their stepped-up patrols in public
housing, officers answered 74 calls regarding drugs in Deaverview,
making it the most common offense reported. In 2004, most of the
city's 625 police calls about drug dealing related to public
housing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The campaign, begun under former Police Chief Will Annarino, has continued under Chief Bill Hogan. So has the drug dealing. A Citizen-Times report last year said, "The drug dealing in Deaverview is much like a fast-food drive-through, with buyer after buyer driving into the neighborhood in search of a good deal." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's not just the buyers who come into Deaverview. So do many of the
sellers. One facet of the stepped-up patrols was a police
recommendation that some 75 people be banned from the properties.
Some of those had been evicted from public housing, while other
never had lived there. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In the case of Deaverview, dealers can sneak in through the woods at
the back of the project and escape the same way when confronted by
police. The inability to contain the problem makes the police task
all the harder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Enter the Seabees. Members of the local unit are leading a community effort to build a fence around Deaverview. "We want to make it hard on the drug dealers from the outside who use this as their playground," said Vice Mayor Carl Mumpower. "If we stop their escape hatch, we'll dramatically reduce the amount of drug activity." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DRUG MAKERS MOVE TO HALT NEW CONTROLS ON COLD MEDICINES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cold Medications Have Become A Headache For The Drug Industry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug makers lost the battle with states that wanted to move "behind
the counter" all cold medications containing pseudoephedrine, which
can be used to make the illegal stimulant methamphetamine. Now, in a
different tactic, the drug industry is supporting states' efforts to
prevent minors from buying cold remedies that contain another drug
that sometimes is abused, dextromethorphan, but to allow the
medicines to remain in the store aisles. Dextromethorphan,
familiarly called DXM, is an ingredient in dozens of | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Some teens have been consuming large quantities of DXM products to get high and hallucinate - -- often called "robotripping" (derived from Robitussin) or "skittling." While the practice isn't new, it has gained attention in the past year from a growing number of reports of teens overdosing. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about DXM abuse. It said the warning was prompted by "5 recently reported deaths of teenagers that may be associated with the consumption of powdered DXM sold in capsules." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An FDA spokesman said the agency is investigating the illegal sale
of the powdered form of DXM; the spokesman wouldn't provide more
details. Last year, DXM products brought in $858.8 million in sales,
according to market-data researcher ACNielsen, and the drug industry
doesn't want to see that chunk of business move behind the counter
with PSE. The industry "suffered through these PSE issues for so
many years," says Mary Ann Wagner, vice president of pharmacy
regulatory affairs for the National Association of Chain Drug
Stores. "When they saw DXM, they said, 'Never again' and are trying
to get in front of it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Toward that end, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents makers of over-the-counter drugs, is taking action. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The trade group supports DXM bills pending in six states -- California, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island -- most of which seek to prohibit the sale of DXM products to minors, while keeping the products on store shelves. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) 2 ARRESTS MUSHROOM INTO DRUG PROBE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A Combination Of Cow Dung And Rain Might Translate Into Jail Time
For Two Mushroom-Poaching Teens | ||||||||||||||||||||||
FORT PIERCE - The season's heavy rains recede slowly, leaving small,
muddy puddles in a cow pasture along Jenkins Road in suburban Fort
Pierce. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Here, spoon-sized caps of maturing beige mushrooms peek through
tufts of vibrant green grass. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The moist field is fertile ground for an abundance of these mushrooms -- the psychedelic and potentially poisonous kind. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Magic mushroom" pickers often flock to rural pockets of the
Treasure Coast during the wet season in search of the mushrooms that
sprout from small piles of dung and contain a hallucinogen similar
to LSD, called psilocybin. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Two St. Lucie teens were arrested on trespassing charges last week
after deputies found them at the Jenkins Road pasture with a bag
stuffed with mushrooms. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
St. Lucie sheriff's deputies seized the mushrooms, and the regional
crime lab in Fort Pierce is testing them for psilocybin. If the
mushrooms contain the hallucinogen, the teens could also be charged
with a felony. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"There are two things we respond to: the trespassing and then the mushrooms," said Ken Mascara of the St. Lucie Sheriff's Office. . | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The sheriff's offices in Martin and St. Lucie counties regularly
patrol rural areas and sometimes use helicopters or block off areas
to catch suspected pickers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Still being blamed for a wave of identity theft, illegal drug users
are new being labeled as mail thieves. At the same time, a police
chief is being charged as a meth dealer, while another officer is
charged is fired after being accused of falsifying evidence in drug
cases. Also this week, an interesting story out of North Carolina
which purports to trace the path which takes illegal drugs from the
urban market to the rural market, and how the drug war seems to
facilitate the process. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) POLICE CONNECT RISING MAIL THEFT, DRUG USE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
When a law-enforcement officer pulled over Anthony Chandler in April for driving his motorcycle through a Lake Wales stoplight, the deputy said he found a pipe with traces of methamphetamine in Chandler's pocket and learned his drivers license was fake. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chandler also had more than 30 pieces of stolen mail, including
thousands of dollars in checks written out to a local Christian
camp, the deputy said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Authorities throughout Central Florida say the problem of mail and identity theft has never been as bad as it is now, with Polk County investigators estimating that 75 percent of their ID-theft cases involve drug abusers. Phoenix officials attributed a rash of mail thefts to meth addicts, while in Washington state at least 90 percent of identity thefts are perpetrated by drug users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The problem is thought to be so widespread that a U.S. senator introduced legislation in April calling on the federal government to study the link between methamphetamine users and identity theft. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug users often steal hundreds of pieces of mail from private and
community mailboxes, enabling them to steal money and fraudulently
buy big-ticket items to support their addiction. The rapidly growing
Four Corners area, where Lake, Polk, Orange and Osceola counties
meet, has seen a rash of such thefts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) WHEN POLICE CHIEF IS INDICTED FOR METH, IT'S 'THE TALK OF THE (Top)TOWN' | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SEBREE - Police Chief Bobby Sauls promised to protect the community when methamphetamine began moving into rural Western Kentucky. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The 65-year-old, gray-haired policeman and one other officer in the
department worked to seize clandestine meth labs and comfort
citizens. The mayor lauded them for their efforts guarding the
town's 1,700 residents from meth's reach. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
So when he was indicted on two meth-related charges this spring, the news shocked the quiet town 30 miles south of Evansville, Ind. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It'll all come out one of these days, and it'll be a little
different than you all think," said Sauls, a former Webster County
sheriff who grew up in this town. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Sebree, where dozens gather at The Purple Opry every Saturday to
listen to live bands play bluegrass standards, some question whether
the accusations are true. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It's the talk of the town, everywhere you go," said Betty Catlett, 77, who works at The Sebree Banner, the weekly newspaper her family owns. "Some folks just think it can't be true, and others do." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) DETECTIVE OFF POLICE FORCE, CHIEF SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
HIGH POINT -- The High Point police detective accused of using false
information to obtain a search warrant in a drug case is no longer
employed with the police department, Chief Jim Fealy confirmed
Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Scott M. Gordon's employment with the force ended Friday, the same
day an internal investigation into his actions ended. Fealy would
not say whether Gordon, 34, was fired or resigned, citing personnel
rules. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The bottom line is he is no longer employed by the High Point
Police Department," Fealy said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gordon had been on paid administrative leave since the investigation
began in late May. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The special prosecutor division of the N.C. Attorney General's
Office will determine whether criminal charges are warranted against
Gordon, who joined the force in 1997. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Attorney General's Office agreed to handle the criminal
investigation after being contacted by Guilford County District
Attorney Stuart Albright, who said Friday that his office asked out
of the case to avoid an appearance of impropriety. Guilford
prosecutors have worked closely with Gordon over the years, Albright
said. Suspicions of misconduct by Gordon came to light last month
when a group of High Point officers reported inconsistencies in a
report filed by Gordon, Fealy said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(Corruption - United States)
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(13) COCAINE TRAIL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Violence, Intimidation At Heart Of Crack Trade | ||||||||||||||||||||||
HUNTINGTON -- The city of Huntington has learned the hard way that behind the shadows of a smalltime crack cocaine street dealer is a violent world of drug trafficking that begins in South America and spreads like wildfire to U.S. cities both large and small. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement officials say the people involved in the drug trade
in Huntington -- whether they come from Detroit, Columbus, Ohio, or
the Tri-State -- are no different than other traffickers across the
country. These incidents have shaken Tri-State residents and shed
light on what police say is a thriving enterprise controlled by
traffickers from large metropolitan areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In the Tri-State and Kanawha Valley, dealers from Detroit and
Columbus control the market. In southern West Virginia, traffickers
from Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia are prevalent. And in the
Northern and Eastern panhandles, dealers from Pittsburgh,
Washington, D.C. and New York make frequent visits. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The drugs flowing into West Virginia come from all over," said Jeff
Wallenstrom, resident agent for the Drug Enforcement | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Although the last few weeks have seen some disappointing legal and
political decisions for U.S. patients who use medicinal cannabis, we
begin our newsletter with a great article from USA Today touting
that despite the recent Supreme Court ruling to overturn
Raich/Monson and Wednesday's failure to pass the Hinchey-Rohrabacher
bill (which would have barred the DEA from arresting cannabis
patients following state law), seven more states are still pushing
ahead with medicinal cannabis legislation. On the heels of the
Supreme Court decision, a poll by the Marijuana Policy Project
suggests that U.S. lawmakers and legislators are out of step with
public opinion in regards to therapeutic cannabis. The poll of 732
registered voters from all major parties shows that 68% of Americans
don't want to see the federal government prosecuting medicinal
cannabis users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
More on med-pot in California this week, with the New York Times
looking at plans to regulate the state's various medicinal cannabis
programs and dispensaries. The feeling amongst many activists and
supportive politicians is that regulations are necessary to address
municipal concerns over the perception of unfettered access to
cannabis by non-medical users, as well as to stem potential
redistribution to the recreational market. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
From the U.K. this week, Britain's Medicines and Health Care
Products Regulatory Agency upheld a decision citing the need for
more research on the efficacy of Sativex on MS-related symptoms,
which could delay approval for the drug for another 12-18 months.
This was to the dismay of Dr. William Notcutt, a GW Pharmaceutical
researcher who expressed frustration at a decision which he suggests
will effect thousands of Britsh currently suffering from intractable
chronic pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) STATES STILL PUSH FOR MEDICAL POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawmakers Say Congress Is Out of Step With Public on Issue | ||||||||||||||||||||||
State lawmakers in several states are pushing ahead with medical-marijuana legislation, despite a recent Supreme Court ruling and the U.S. House of Representatives' rejection Wednesday of a bill that would protect medical-pot users from federal prosecution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawmakers in at least seven states -- Alabama, Connecticut,
Minnesota, New Mexico, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin -- say
they will continue efforts to pass laws allowing residents to use
marijuana for medical reasons. Some say, however, that recent
federal action may dampen their chances for success. Others are
halting their plans. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. House, by a 264-161 vote Wednesday, rejected an amendment
that would have barred the Justice Department from prosecuting
medical-marijuana users who are following state laws. Proponents,
including 15 Republicans and 145 Democrats, picked up 13 votes from
last year but still fell far short of the majority needed for
passage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) POLL FINDS OPPOSITION TO POT RAIDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Results Released One Day Before Congress Considers New Bill | ||||||||||||||||||||||
On the eve of a vital vote in Congress, medical marijuana advocates
Monday unveiled a new poll showing significant public opposition to
federal raids on patients who use pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A poll of 732 randomly selected registered voters across the nation
found 68 percent said the federal government should not prosecute
medical marijuana patients now that it has been given the go-ahead
to do so by last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The sentiment was slightly higher among men than among women, among
those under 45 than those older and among Democrats than among
Republicans or independents. But no demographic group's majority
supported the raids. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) EVEN WITHOUT A FEDERAL PUSH, CALIFORNIA REINS IN MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The best sellers at the Green Cross medical marijuana dispensary
here are whipped up in the kitchen of Kevin Reed, the founder and
president. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fresh-baked marijuana cakes. Marijuana cookies with Ghirardelli
chocolate chips. Marijuana peanut butter, lollipops, peanut brittle
and espresso truffles. Each comes packaged with a warning: "Please
keep out of the reach of children and pets." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Reed, 31, a former mobile home salesman from Alabama who moved
here after being arrested twice for marijuana possession, said the
warning was added to the sweets when a customer reported that "their
grandma ate one of them." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Incredible Edibles, as the confections are called, account for
40 percent of sales at the Green Cross, a thriving nonprofit
organization in a neighborhood of hip bars, trendy restaurants and
Victorian row houses. The 150 or so customers it serves each day can
pay with Visa or MasterCard and need only a doctor's recommendation
to gain entry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) DOCTOR FURIOUS OVER CANNABIS DRUG BAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A Norfolk doctor hit out last night at health authorities for
refusing to license a cannabis-based pain relief drug he developed
in trials at the James Paget Hospital, Gorleston. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Consultant anaesthetist Dr William Notcutt described the decision as
"bureaucracy gone mad" and warned it had implications for thousands
of patients suffering from chronic pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He criticised the Department of Health's Medicines and Health Care
Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for basing its decision on
information from one study, instead of considering the range of
studies available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The setback comes only weeks after the same drug, Sativex, was
licensed for use in Canada. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Philippine prohibitionist death squads (believed to be police)
continue to kill drug suspects without cumbersome legal formalities,
such as trials or convictions. Last week three more people were
gunned down in public and in broad daylight. Philippine police don't
investigate in such cases. As drugs suspects are murdered,
Philippine Vice Mayors in the Metro Manila Anti-Drug Abuse Councils
(AMMADAC) met last week to solve "the drug menace". Rhetoric was
deep as officials at the politically correct photo-op mumbled
platitudes about being "honored and proud" in "fighting the drug
menace with other anti-drug crusaders," working toward a "drug-free
metropolis." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The border town of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, was taken over by Mexican
Federal special forces last week in an effort to replace "corrupted"
local police forces. Nuevo Laredo, said to be "besieged" by violent
drug smugglers, sits on the border with the U.S. and has long been a
transit point for drugs coming into Mexico's northern neighbor.
Suspected of involvement with drug traffickers, hundreds of police
were detained in the sweep. The move follows the murder of Nuevo
Laredo's most recent chief of police, who was killed only a few
hours after taking office. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And in Bali, Indonesian prosecutors have appealed Schapelle Corby's 20-year sentence as too lenient. The government lawyers are hoping to have Corby's sentence extended to life in prison. Corby was convicted of smuggling 4.1 kilos of cannabis into the harsh Islamic republic. Western observers were dismayed at the harshness of Corby's sentence, especially after the comparatively light sentence imposed on a Balinese disco bomber who killed many Australians. Corby's legal team last week hired a popular Indonesian soap opera star to plead Corby's innocence to the Indonesian people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) VIGILANTE-STYLE KILLINGS CONTINUE; 3 MORE DEAD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
THREE people were killed vigilante-style while a man remains in
critical condition after unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen shot
them in separate incidents Wednesday afternoon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The victims were identified as alias Robot, 17, of Trading in Quezon
Boulevard, this city; Alvin John Latagan, 19, of Leon Garcia Street,
Agdao; and Rolando Albaracin, 45, father of eight, of SIR, New
Matina. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Santa Ana police said the incident was not reported at their
precinct. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Robot was allegedly involved in a gang riot in Quezon | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Basanez' wife (name not identified) said her husband was involved in
the sale of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Marilou, Albaracin's wife, claimed her husband was involved in
illegal drug trade. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The total number of victims of vigilante-style killings has reached
104 victims since January this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) VICE MAYORS DRAW UP ACTION PLAN AGAINST DRUG MENACE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The newly-organized Association of Metro Manila Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Ammadac), composed of the vice mayors from the 17 cities and municipalities in Metro Manila, will hold an anti-drug summit on June 17 to map out a Metro-wide action plan against illegal drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, concurrent chairman of
Ammadac, said the summit, to be held at the Hotel Intercontinental
Manila, will consolidate all the anti-drug campaign efforts and
experiences of local governments of Metro Manila. The shared
experiences will form the basis for drawing up plans and programs to
achieve their vision of a drug-free metropolis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao will join Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay as special guests in the event. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mercado said Ammadac is a body for coordinating the anti-drug
campaigns of the LGUs of Metro Manila and will provide a forum for
sharing relevant information and resources. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We in Makati are honored and proud for this opportunity to share
the Makati experience in fighting the drug menace with other
anti-drug crusaders," Mercado said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Organized and hosted by the city government of Makati through the
Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Madac), the conference also aims to
strengthen Ammadac which was launched recently to achieve a united
approach in solving the drug menace. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) TROOPS TAKE OVER VIOLENT MEXICAN CITY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
FEDERAL FORCES REPLACE POLICE CORRUPTED BY DRUG SMUGGLERS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico - Residents of this besieged city awoke Monday to find their police force gone, replaced by Mexican special forces troops who took over this border community stung by drug violence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
They also detained hundreds of local police officers suspected of
being in cahoots with drug traffickers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationwide, officials said, 71 people have been arrested in Operation Safe Mexico, which the government says will target 14 cities that are being overwhelmed by drug traffickers and their paramilitary armies. At least 600 people have been killed nationwide in drug-related violence this year, most of them in border states. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The attorney general's office in the border state of Tamaulipas made
a point Monday of telling reporters they are making progress in
their fight against traffickers and have seized more than 10 tons of
marijuana and arrested 113 people this year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In a country where police of all stripes -- federal, state and especially local -- often work for drug traffickers instead of citizens, the sight of dozens of federal agents and special-forces soldiers toting AR-15 assault rifles left many residents elated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) PROSECUTORS LODGE CORBY APPEAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutors in Bali have formally asked for an increase in the
sentence handed to convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle
Corby. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Corby was sentenced to 20 years jail and fined for carrying 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into Indonesia in her bodyboard bag. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The defence has added an Indonesian soap star, Anisa Tri Hapsari, to
its team. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Working under recently hired Jakarta commercial lawyer Hotman Paris
Hutapea, she will act as an information officer to try to persuade
ordinary Indonesians of Corby's innocence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
RENEE BOJE ORDERED OUT OF CANADA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
by Pete Brady, special to Cannabis Culture (16 Jun, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Famed activist-refugee faces deportation and US imprisonment | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
You can view the official report by Canadian Justice Minister Irwin
Cotler in PDF format at: http://americanmarijuana.org/boje/
or http://www.streamload.com/JodieGR/boje.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
RENEE BOJE GRANTED BAIL IN B.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Case adjourned until Sept 30 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver ? A California woman who has been denied refugee status and
ordered to return to the United States to face marijuana charges was granted bail
on Friday as she fights her extradition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Renee Boje's case was adjourned until Sept. 30 in B.C. Supreme Court. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
MARIJUANANEWS WORLD REPORT JUNE 16, 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
with Richard Cowan | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Canada Orders Renee Boje to Surrender. We Interview Her. "Reps" Ignore
People; Vote Against Protecting Patients. Media Ignore Democracy. Baghdad on
the Border: Mexican Army Occupies Nuevo Laredo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
NEWSPAPER PRINTED OPINIONS IN RESPONSE TO RAICH | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense FOCUS Alert #310 - Saturday, 11 June 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As we predicted in the last FOCUS alert the press did have a field day with the Raich decision. See http://www.mapinc.org/alert/0309.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Click below to find links to editorials, columns and OPEDs which we believe are from newspapers that accept letters to the editor from writers outside their circulation area. We suggest you write to those nearest you first, and then as many of the rest of them as you wish. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
WAR ON CRIME, NOT ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Norm Stamper, AlterNet. Posted June 15, 2005. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In an excerpt from his new book, 'Breaking Rank,' a former police
chief describes how America is losing its fight against drugs -- and
why we should consider decriminalization. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
NUEVO LAREDO'S GUNS, MADE IN THE U.S.A. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Dan Feder, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ricardo Sala writes of the human costs of a military incursion into
northern Mexico that is unlikely to make much of a dent in that
region?s drug supplies. Another unavoidable, ugly result of this increased
militarization is one the Mexican government is well aware of: a stepped-up arms
race between and among narcos as they face more and better-armed enemies.
And where do those gangsters get their guns? The same place everyone else
does ? from the United States arms industry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
ALLIANCE CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Please join the Alliance and nearly 30 other organizations in
building a movement for reason, compassion and justice at this year's
international drug policy reform conference. Online registration is
now open, and signing up early will keep your cost down and ensure
that you get a spot! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
https://secure3.ctsg.com/dpa/register/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD LAKE! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project's "Senior" drugnews editor will be turning
sixty-five on Saturday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sixty five years of standing up for what you believe in seems like a
life well spent to us. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MARIJUANA RULING HURTS THE SICK | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Dwayne Howell | ||||||||||||||||||||||
To the Editor: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court's decision on the medicinal use of marijuana (
"Justices Say U.S. May Prohibit the Use of Medical Marijuana," front
page, June 7) is a severe blow to cancer patients and others with
debilitating diseases who desperately need a measured, alternative
form of pain relief. Simple compassion mandates that patients at the
end of their rope - or life - should be afforded the means to find
some peace from their pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
California and eight other states recognized those needs, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society joined with other advocates in submitting an amicus brief in this case, seeking injunctive relief from the prying interference of federal agents into this doctor-approved treatment for patients with limited options. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
That the court found a rationale for federal jurisdiction in this
case based on the broadest interpretation of interstate commerce is
questionable. The tragedy is that the Justice Department can
continue harassing sick people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DWAYNE HOWELL | ||||||||||||||||||||||
President and Chief Executive Leukemia and Lymphoma Society White
Plains | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Spreading Truth | ||||||||||||||||||||||
by Robert Rapplean | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The challenge inherent in correcting our nation's drug policies
isn't so much one of changing laws as one of changing truth. The
word "truth" is often mistakenly thought to refer to something that
is beyond argument and immutable. Sometimes people mistake truth for
fact, sometimes they are engaging in wishful thinking, sometimes
they have just never thought about the meaning. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Facts are those pieces of information you can trace down to a reproducible source. For instance, most of our readers know that marijuana is a relatively harmless substance from our personal experimentation, from our observations of others who use it, and from the many studies and papers published by organizations such as the World Health Organization. All of these are reliably reproducible sources, and since there are several such sources, we can and should feel confident in the solidity of this fact. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Truth, on the other hand, is acquired via hearing enough people tell you something, via anecdotal evidence, and via unverified feats of logic. Seriously, that's it, nothing more. We often assign various people with "authority" positions, and believe what they say more than we believe the words of others. Examples of authority figures include priests, politicians, scientists, and our mothers. Sometimes one opinion is all it takes, to make something true in the face of copious scientifically-derived evidence to the contrary. A few good examples of one-time, no longer true statements for most people are that the world is flat, Venus is covered with lush vegetation, and marijuana induces violence. A few good examples of statements that are still true for most people are the big bang theory, the idea that the government can protect us from terrorist attacks, and the theory that interstellar travel is impossible in a human lifetime. For some people evolution is truth, for others creation is truth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If we want to advance the drug law reform cause, then we have to
start realizing that we won't succeed merely by changing the minds
of a few politicians. In order to succeed we must change the truth
accepted by the general public. Our strength lies in the growing
body of evidence in our favor. In our path lies seven decades of
superstition, misinformation, and fears fed by those greedy for
power. These are the things which have created the truth which we
must alter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The typical person will change their truth if enough of the people
around them start to espouse an opposing view. Have you ever
wondered why a third of the population isn't enough to make the rest
of us wonder if this viewpoint might have a little substance? What
most of us don't realize is that "the drug war should be reformed"
isn't the truth that we're trying to spread. What we're trying to
spread is WHY the drug war should be reformed. We think that hitting
people with a lot of reasons increases the chance that they'll pick
up on one of them, but truth doesn't work that way. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As stated above, truth is acquired when you hear something from
enough people. Because each of us espouses a separate reason, none
of these reasons get spoken often enough for people to listen, to
accept, to adjust their world view. In the minds of the listeners it
looks like we're grasping at straws. If we really want to expand the
drug law reform movement we need to pick a single truth, a single
reason, and stand unanimously behind it. Like a chorus of Horton's
Whos on a dust speck speaking one single truth in unison, it can't
help but sink in. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Picking that one truth is just a matter of learning from history. Medical marijuana has worked that way, but it has only resulted in changes in the laws for medical use. Similarly, hemp, dietary, and energy arguments would only result in changes in how non-THC hemp is distributed, with no impact on the larger drug war issue. What we need is a single truth that strikes at the very heart of the drug war, or even at the idea of prohibition itself. We need a truth that will stand up to the closest examination, and be supported by untainted research. We need a truth that will tell people that the war on drugs is not just inconvenient, not just wasteful, but is outright harmful even to those it is supposed to protect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
When we find that truth, we all need to hold onto it and speak it
with regularity and conviction. Those around us will hear it, and
they will tell others. The truth will spread until we are a strong
enough majority that the government can no longer dismiss us as
selfish, as deluded, as insignificant. In this way, we can bring
into existence a world where one more policy is based on fact
instead of fear. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Rapplean is a political analyst and activist, and is director
for Parents and Educators for the Reform of Drug Laws - | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Posterity has picked practically all its heroes from the agitators."
- Heywood Broun | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by
Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection
and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International
content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (),
Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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