| July 8, 2005 #407 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) CALIFORNIA SUSPENDS MEDICAL POT CARD PROGRAM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Citing uncertainty prompted by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling,
California health officials suspended a program on Friday that had
begun providing patients who smoke marijuana for medicinal reasons with
state-issued identification cards. | ||||||||||||||||||||
State Health Director Sandra Shewry has asked the state Attorney
General's office to review the court ruling to determine whether the ID
program would put patients and state employees at risk of federal
prosecution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I am concerned about unintended potential consequences of issuing
medical marijuana ID cards that could affect medical marijuana users,
their families and staff of the California Department of Health
Services," Shewry said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A spokeswoman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer did not immediately
return a call seeking comment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) MEDICINAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE HOPEFUL NEW DRUG WILL OFFER RELIEF (Top)FROM MS PAIN | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alison Myrden is excited yet somewhat apprehensive about becoming one
of the first people in the world to try a new prescription drug
designed to alleviate the intense pain experienced by some multiple
sclerosis patients. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 41-year-old local resident, who says she has suffered intense
facial nerve pain related to MS on a constant basis for about 10 years,
has begun using a new medication that is derived from the cannabis
plant. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Long an advocate and also one of a small group of legal users of
prescribed medicinal marijuana in cigarette form -- to help ease her
daily discomfort -- Myrden hopes that Sativex is not only a more potent
analgesic than traditional pot, but will become more socially
acceptable too. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
She said the initial results are not encouraging but acknowledged it is
far too early to know if she will be able to switch to Sativex
exclusively at some point. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) IMPORTING DRUGS, EXPORTING GUNS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police officers say West Virginia is a great place for crooks to do
business. And they worry the murders of four teenagers may just be the
beginning. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Law-abiding West Virginians may struggle to lure employers here, but
for out-of-state dope pushers and gun runners, our state is a great
place to do business. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Every day, in every city in West Virginia, we're importing and
exporting danger. The people on the front lines say if this keeps up,
the murders of four teenagers in Huntington could be just the
beginning. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The May 22 crime was so brutal and senseless that few of us could
imagine it happened in West Virginia. Four teenagers were gunned down.
Police believe drugs were the reason, and three of the victims likely
were killed just for seeing too much. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police believe it was just the most recent chapter in a long, violent
relationship between West Virginia and the major cities of the Midwest
and Northeast. But Ike McKinnon, former Detroit police chief, is
worried that these murders are an ominous sign of worse things to come
for West Virginia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) WR GRANDMA PUSHES FOR POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
At the ripe age of 64, Gramma Ganja is proud to say she's gone to pot.
And she was heartened to see Boston ranked No. 1 in the United States
in a recent federal survey of regions with the highest marijuana use.
What's more, there ought to be a law - legalizing pot - - said Jeanne
"Magic" Ferguson of West Roxbury, executive director of Gramma's for
Ganja (grammasforganja.org), who has been waging an Internet campaign
for marijuana since the mid-1990s. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"My son was smoking cannabis 30 years ago, my grandchildren are
suffering the consequences" of the law, Ferguson said. "My
granddaughter has just as much of a chance of going to prison as my son
did. That's why I do what I do." A grandmother of five who wears hemp
clothing, listens to Andrea Bocelli, belongs to the League of Women
Voters and ran for state representative in Washington state, Ferguson
said the first thing she ever did with marijuana was flush it down the
toilet - - after she found it in her 16-year-old son's drawer 30 years
ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That same year, a friend brought her some pot to try and she's been
toking ever since. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I can't wait until I can grow it in my back yard next to the asparagus
and broccoli," said Ferguson. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Are drug warriors interested in quality or quantity? It depends on
who you ask. Last week, local officials declared that meth was the
most serious illegal drug problem facing the country, citing the
growth of the industry, the problems commonly attributed to users
and the environmental mess that even small meth labs can make. They
also don't want to lose federal money for combatting meth. On the
other hand, federal drug warriors still see marijuana as the biggest
problem, and have been spending accordingly, strictly because pot is
consistently the most popular illegal drug. Interesting concept:
Popularity as an indicator of badness. Internationally, the drug war
isn't faring much better. A United Nations report shows the trade
growing, while U.N. officials seem to believe the same old tactics,
which have led to the growth, will make things better. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Aside from the money, there are other costs to the drug war, including the resurgence of syphilis in some cities. Also this week, a new drug-impaired driver bill, which defines impairment levels for some illegal drugs goes into effect in Virginia; while a federal agency actually corrected some misinformation about drug penalties. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) OFFICIALS ACROSS U.S. DESCRIBE DRUG WOES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Local officials from across the country yesterday declared
methamphetamine the nation's leading law enforcement scourge - a
more insidious drug problem than cocaine - and blamed it for
crowding jails and fueling increases in theft and violence, as well
as for a host of social welfare problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officials from the National Association of Counties, releasing results from a survey of 500 local officials nationwide, argued that Washington's focus on terrorism and domestic security had diverted money and attention from the methamphetamine problem in the states. | ||||||||||||||||||||
They pleaded with lawmakers to restore financing for an $804 million
drug-fighting program that the group said had been proposed for
elimination in the 2006 federal budget, and said the Bush
administration had focused its drug-fighting efforts too much on
marijuana and not enough on methamphetamine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is a national problem that requires national leadership,"
Angelo Kyle, the president of the association and a member of the
Board of Commissioners in Lake County, Ill., north of Chicago, said
at a news conference in Washington that was called to draw attention
to the problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) WORLD'S ILLEGAL DRUG TRADE SET AT $321B A YEAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Value Exceeds Gdp Of 90% Of Countries, UN Says | ||||||||||||||||||||
UNITED NATIONS -- The UN has for the first time estimated the worth
of the global illegal drug trade, saying in a report Wednesday it
exceeds the annual production of goods and services in almost 90 per
cent of the world's countries. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At $321 billion US, only large, rich countries have a greater gross domestic product than the total street takings for illegal drugs around the globe, and the figure is almost half of Canada's GDP. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The illegal drug trade also continues to grow, and is increasingly
linked to the financing of terrorism and the spread of AIDS, UN
officials warn. But production has been rolled back in some areas,
notably following crackdowns in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, which
has traditionally been called the "Golden Triangle" of opium poppy
cultivation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report says the three countries could be largely "opium free" by
2007, though there are additional concerns that reduced cultivation
is at the expense of an increase in human rights abuses and more
widespread poverty as farmers are prevented from growing the only
cash crop they have ever known. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The annual report comes from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which
says the negative impacts of the drug trade touch every society in
the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is not a small enemy . . . it is a monster," said Antonio
Maria Costa, head of the Vienna-based agency. "With such an enormous
amount of capital at its disposal, it is bound to be an extremely
tenacious one." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) THE GREAT IMITATOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Scourge Of Syphilis Re-Emerges, Deadlier Than Before | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fresh sheets of plywood now mask the first-floor windows of the
Better Donut Drive In. One story up, shards of glass give view to
the red brick building's abandoned interior, and weeds sprout freely
from its pitted concrete parking lot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The doughnut shop's best days may be well behind it, but like any
building, the phantom crumbling at the corner of Grand Boulevard and
Cass Street occupies its own little place in history. During the
crack cocaine boom of the early 1990s, this north St. Louis shop was
ground zero for the city's syphilis epidemic. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"On Social Security check day, a lot of old men would meet there,
drink coffee and eat doughnuts," recounts Frank Lydon, an
epidemiologist for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior
Services. "But there'd also be a big batch of young girls who'd
prostitute for those checks. We had a lot of syphilis coming out of
that old doughnut shop." | ||||||||||||||||||||
A few years earlier, crack cocaine had begun working its dark magic on the nation's urban cores. The notorious street war between the Crips and Bloods spilled out of southern California, and by 1990 the U.S. syphilis rate had crept to its highest peak in nearly 50 years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
St. Louis was behind the national curve, and it would take another
two years for the disease to arrive here in earnest. But when it
did, the city quickly grappled its way to the top. By 1993 the total
syphilis infection rate within the city limits soared by more than
2,100 percent, earning St. Louis the dubious distinction of Syphilis
Capital, USA. | ||||||||||||||||||||
To public-health workers, this was an epidemiological inevitability.
"Look at the eastern U.S.: All roads eventually lead to St. Louis,"
says Lydon, who came to the city as a greenhorn disease investigator
in 1993. "Coming up from the coasts, you could see the outbreak
popping up along the highways. The numbers kept getting higher and
higher as they converged on St. Louis." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The city held the nation's highest syphilis infection rate for four
years running, from 1992 through 1995, though rates dropped after
the 1993 peak. The brunt of the outbreak was borne almost
exclusively by the city's African-American population. More than 94
percent of all reported cases in 1993 were among blacks, and
investigators determined the disease had followed crack cocaine into
the city. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"St. Louis was a drug-redistribution site. People could easily take
the highway to St. Louis, break down their drugs and redistribute
them," Lydon explains. "These guys are coming in with diseases.
Eventually that ends up getting to your prostitutes, and from them
into the general population." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Twelve years later, Frank Lydon now heads the team of state disease
investigators who cover the city of St. Louis and ten outlying
counties. His cramped, windowless midtown office is festooned with
the detritus of disease prevention, including plastic bags that
spill over with HIV test kits, copious prevention literature and a
small red-and-white cooler ominously marked "STD." He's a slight
man, impeccably groomed, with straight brown hair, delicate hands
and wispy eyebrows that gather mass only at their outer reaches.
Style be damned, he dresses tidily in chinos, a short-sleeve Oxford
shirt and sensible brown leather shoes. He's also unfailingly
polite, which might throw you off when he holds forth about oral
dams or deviant sexual behavior with the same informality most
reserve for the weather. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"That was good old-fashioned epidemiological work. Real shoe-leather
stuff," he says, recalling the difficulty health workers had coaxing
sex-partner information from the syphilitic patients who turned up
at city health clinics. "It was a really difficult population to
work with, because they were afraid. Take a crack addict with
syphilis: Are they going to tell you where they caught it? Most
likely, no. They're afraid that if they give us the name John Doe,
and that's their dealer, they're going to lose their source of
drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DRUG LAW TARGETS IMPAIRED DRIVERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Driving under the influence of drugs becomes easier to prosecute in
Virginia as a tougher drug law takes effect today. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Approved this past winter by the General Assembly, the law establishes a blood concentration threshold for certain drugs, akin to blood alcohol content standards used in alcohol-related cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's included in a handful of new laws that target alcohol and drug
use, including increased penalties for hunting while intoxicated and
for refusing a sobriety test. Another law adds mopeds to the list of
vehicles subject to Virginia's DUI laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement officials credit the current 0.08 blood alcohol
concentration limit for reducing the number of intoxicated drivers
on Virginia roads. | ||||||||||||||||||||
No threshold levels existed for drugs, said Bob McDonnell, chairman
of the House of Delegates' Courts of Justice Committee and the GOP's
candidate for attorney general this fall. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That changed today. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Threshold limits have now been established for cocaine, | ||||||||||||||||||||
The intoxicating agent present in marijuana, | ||||||||||||||||||||
Del. Bill Carrico, R-Independence, said his original bill included
marijuana, but it was removed after lawmakers heard testimony from
marijuana advocates that too little statistical data exists to
establish a threshold of intoxication. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) EDUCATION DEPT. CORRECTS ERROR ON WEB SITE ABOUT AID POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Department of Education has removed from its Web site
incorrect information about the eligibility for federal aid of
students with drug convictions, despite saying last week that it
could not fix the error until late July. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The corrected page, on the part of the department's Web site with information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or Fafsa, now instructs students to complete a "drug-conviction worksheet" to learn if drug convictions affect their eligibility. Previously, the page incorrectly stated that students "must not have any drug convictions" to receive aid (The Chronicle, July 1). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Education Department officials said last week that the error would not be fixed until July 24, the day the contractor that maintains the Fafsa Web site was next scheduled to upload changes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Tuesday, however, Marianna O'Brien, of the Federal Student Aid
communications department, said that the change had been uploaded
last Friday. She said the contractor could fix the mistake ahead of
schedule because updates to content are less complex than other
types of changes to the site. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
You don't have to be a Boy Scout to be a undercover drug informant,
but some police in Connecticut seem to think it's OK for Boy Scouts
to be undercover informants. Boy Scout officials disagree, as do
some other law enforcement officials. Also, a man who says he was
unjustly imprisoned for marijuana sues; in Oklahoma, prison
populations and budgets continue to grow; and in Illinois, another
botched minor drug bust leads to death. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) POLICE EXPLORERS USED IN DRUG STING AT BARLOW HIGH SCHOOL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Easton Police Chief John Solomon used two teenage Police Explorers
at Joel Barlow High School to uncover drug dealing activity there,
and concealed this from their parents, newly released Superior Court
documents reveal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the covert operation ended when two police officers secretly
recorded the chief talking about it and notified the teens' parents,
the documents state. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"No one should know. If you are an informant, you wouldn't want anyone to know. I didn't do anything wrong," Solomon said Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Louis Salute, executive of the Yankee Council of the Boy Scouts, which oversees the Explorer Post, said it was definitely wrong. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Young people are there to learn about police work. They are not
supposed to be put in a situation of danger and they are not to be
used this way," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph Mason, an Easton officer suspended in connection with the incident, was arrested on eavesdropping and other charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) BURNS SUES STATE, CLAIMS PRISON TIME NOT MERITED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ROCHESTER - A Rochester man who was convicted of first-degree
possession of marijuana in St. Lawrence County has filed a notice of
intention to sue to collect damages against the State of New York
for 15 months he spent in state prison that he claims he didn't
deserve. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a statement signed by John J. Burns, 55 Swansea park, Rochester, before his attorney, who is also a notary public, Burns stated, "As a result of my arrest and conviction, I was incarcerated for approximately 799 days in the St. Lawrence County Jail and with the New York State Corrections. In addition thereto. I lost wages, was unable to continue relationships with friends and family and otherwise suffered both physical, emotional pain and suffering." | ||||||||||||||||||||
His attorney, John J. LaDuca, of the LaDuca Law Firm, also of
Rochester, had New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer served
with the notice of claim, according to Burns. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Burns said his attorney intends to amend the claim papers to include
St. Lawrence County with the state when the formal suit is filed
with the state' s Court of Claims. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The notice of claim reads in part, "John J. Burns against the State
of New York is for unjust imprisonment and conviction following my
arrest on Jan. 28, 2002, for Criminal Possession of Marijuana, first
degree, and ultimate release from prison on April 13, 2005 following
a decision of the Appellate Division, Third Department, reversing
the conviction and dismissing the indictment." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) RISING INMATE COUNT COLLIDES WITH BUDGET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
McALESTER - Lawmakers know it will take an infusion of cash to meet a $31 million budget shortfall for the state Department of Corrections, but it may take a groundshaking change in attitudes to address a booming prison population and crumbling facilities. | ||||||||||||||||||||
While steps can be taken to meet the immediate needs of state
prisons, lawmakers must still wrestle with chronic underfunding and
a prison population that has grown each year for the past 15 years
to the point that lockups are nearing capacity. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, said getting some of that work
done may take a shift in priorities. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I think it is worthwhile to look at the laws," Leftwich said. "Do
we want to send people away 20 years for writing a hot check? Do we
want to send them away 35 years for drug possession? | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We have to look at what do we want and what are we willing to
fund." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Getting tough on crime, a stance that has made Oklahoma a leader in
incarceration rates, comes at a cost. Addressing that cost will take
more than bailing out the Corrections Department this year, Leftwich
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We have got to come up with more prisons or more facilities for prisons or we have got to take a look at the laws," Leftwich said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Corrections Department received a $409 million budget for the
fiscal year that started on Friday. Corrections Director Ron J. Ward
said the budget falls $31 million below departmental needs and does
nothing to address $100 million in needed capital expenditures at
state prisons. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The capital needs include roof repairs at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester and other prisons, improvements to prison waste water systems and a variety of maintenance issues. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We have not been able to do any kind of security upgrades within the agency's budget in the last eight or nine years," Ward said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This year we added some metal detectors, items that are standard in other states, only after we put off some other capital needs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) STATE TROOPER KILLS GLASFORD GUNMAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Man Threatened Police In Drug Search | ||||||||||||||||||||
GLASFORD - A rural Glasford man was shot to death by an Illinois
State Police officer early Thursday after threatening officers with
a handgun as they were about to search his home for drugs, according
to police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officers from the West Central Illinois Task Force went to the home
of David L. Green, 47, at 27368 E. Birds Corner Road in Fulton
County, at 6:10 a.m., Illinois State Police Capt. Kenneth Yelliott
said Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After police entered, they were confronted by Green, who was armed
with a handgun and a "long gun," Yelliott said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After police told Green to drop his weapons, he pointed the handgun
at officers, who then fired at him, Yelliott said. The shooting
occurred upstairs; Green was alone in the house. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police gave Green first aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene
by the Fulton County Coroner's Office. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sheriff Dan Daly expects charges will be filed today against another
person connected with the case. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Daly said his agency has been a part of the West Central Illinois
Task Force for 14 years. He said serving a search warrant is "never
routine," and officers took extra precautions before knocking on
Green's door. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The shooting is under investigation by the Illinois State Police
Division of Internal Investigation. Daly said the investigation
could take weeks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In this week's first article, intrepid drug war scribe Fred Gardner
reports on this year's International Cannabinoid Research Society
meeting, where the big news was a presentation by NIDA-funded
researcher and pulmonary specialist Donald Tashkin revealing that in
a new study examining 1200 patients suffering from bronchial or
respiratory cancer, his team could find no link between smoking
cannabis and cancer. In fact, Dr. Tashkin's data indicates a
negative correlation between cannabis use and cancer, which may
suggest that cannabis smoke plays a protective role in the
development of respiratory cancers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our second story looks at the fall-out from the Supreme Court ruling
on medical marijuana, which has not changed the legitimacy of
state-based programs, but has caused much undo stress on medical
cannabis users. On that note, our third story announces that WAMM is
planning a march in Santa Cruz to protest the recent federal rulings
and DEA-led medicinal cannabis raids. The march will take place in
downtown Santa Cruz on July 16th. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lastly, we once again return to the legal courts of Indonesia, where
the Denpasar High Court has agreed to re-open the Corby Schapelle
case to allow the defense to introduce the testimony of 12 new
witnesses, including the alleged owner of the 4.1 kg of cannabis
found in Schapelle's boogyboard bag by Indonesian airport security
last October. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) STUDY: SMOKING MARIJUANA DOES NOT CAUSE LUNG CANCER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana smoking -"even heavy longterm use"- does not cause cancer
of the lung, upper airwaves, or esophagus, Donald Tashkin reported
at this year's meeting of the International Cannabinoid Research
Society. Coming from Tashkin, this conclusion had extra significance
for the assembled drug-company and university-based scientists (most
of whom get funding from the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse).
Over the years, Tashkin's lab at UCLA has produced irrefutable
evidence of the damage that marijuana smoke wreaks on bronchial
tissue. With NIDA's support, Tashkin and colleagues have identified
the potent carcinogens in marijuana smoke, biopsied and made
photomicrographs of pre-malignant cells, and studied the molecular
changes occurring within them. It is Tashkin's research that the
Drug Czar's office cites in ads linking marijuana to lung cancer.
Tashkin himself has long believed in a causal relationship, despite
a study in which Stephen Sidney examined the files of 64,000 Kaiser
patients and found that marijuana users didn't develop lung cancer
at a higher rate or die earlier than non-users. Of five smaller
studies on the question, only two -involving a total of about 300
patients- concluded that marijuana smoking causes lung cancer.
Tashkin decided to settle the question by conducting a large,
prospectively designed, population-based, case-controlled study.
"Our major hypothesis," he told the ICRS, "was that heavy, longterm
use of marijuana will increase the risk of lung and upper-airwaves
cancers." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We found absolutely no suggestion of a dose response." The data on
tobacco use, as expected, revealed "a very potent effect and a clear
dose-response relationship -a 21-fold greater risk of developing
lung cancer if you smoke more than two packs a day." Similarly high
odds obtained for oral/pharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer and
esophageal cancer. "So, in summary" Tashkin concluded, "we failed to
observe a positive association of marijuana use and other potential
confounders." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) COURT RULING VEXES MEDICAL POT USERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The pace of phone calls coming into the office of Ventura County
Alliance of Medical Marijuana Patients has quickened in the past
four weeks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Patients are fearful of arrest, unclear about how they can get
cannabis and unsure of the legality of what they are doing, because
the Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the federal
government can prosecute them for using even if it is legal in
California. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lisa Cordova Schwarz, alliance founder, answers the calls, offering
advice on everything from understanding the law and growing cannabis
to providing referrals to medical marijuana dispensaries and issuing
identification cards to verified patients. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We have been inundated with calls," Schwarz said. "I don't think
(the decision) set the movement back at all. I think it wreaked
psychological havoc on patients." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(16) MEDICAL POT PARADE SET FOR JULY 16 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Members of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana plan a July
16 march through downtown Santa Cruz -- while carrying some pot
plants. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The group hopes to attract 1,000 like-minded supporters to
participate in the noon march down Pacific Avenue as a protest
against an adverse U.S. Supreme Court ruling and recent raids of
medical marijuana operations in Northern California. | ||||||||||||||||||||
WAMM wants to make the statement that people who use marijuana as
medicine have legitimate health reasons, they are not just a bunch
of potheads and the general public supports the use of marijuana as
medicine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The "solemn event," added WAMM co-founder Valerie Corral, will also commemorate 154 members who have died since the group's inception. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(17) CORBY SHOCK AS TRIAL IS REOPENED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SCHAPELLE Corby's drug smuggling trial will be reopened so new
witnesses from Australia can be called. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Yesterday's shock decision by the Denpasar High Court paves the way
for her lawyers to call the 12 witnesses they say could win her
freedom. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It was greeted by whoops of joy and cries of "thank God" from her
lawyers and family. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corby's sister, Mercedes, was ecstatic. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"She is going to be relieved. It is really great news," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rosleigh Rose, Corby's mother, said she was "over the moon". | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's fantastic news and it's one step closer to bringing Schapelle
home," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
We have a full slate of international news this week, including "devastating" criticisms of the U.S.-led war on drugs, all of which likely will be overshadowed by the sad events in London on July 7th. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the Philippines, Davao City Senior Superintendent Conrado Laza
(earlier suspended by an emergency decree of the military and
Mindanao officials) denied that the Davao Death Squad (DDS) exists.
The DDS specializes in bold, broad daylight .45-caliber summary
executions of police-blacklisted drug suspects (complete with masked
executioners and motorcycle getaways). "Without these two very vital
documents, how can we say there's really the DDS?" asked a coy Laza
in a press conference last week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Three more stark admissions of the failure of prohibition were seen
in the international press this week, from Thailand, the U.K., and
Mexico. From Thailand, the Pattaya Mail newspaper ran a piece this
week which again admits the obvious: meth, pot "and the designer
drugs [are] now flooding the market in Thailand. ... drug related
incidents being clearly on the increase." Despite this, gung ho and
politically correct Thai officials, authorities and experts are in
agreement: more prohibition is the answer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The prohibitionists' splendid little drug war in Mexico seems to be
in trouble, if reducing the harms associated with drugs was ever
really the goal. Drugs flow freely and cheaply as always, despite
the increasingly harsh prohibition tactics, while only violence
seems to increase, according to reports. "If the United States is
not going to legalize drugs, then Mexico has to come to terms with
the narcos," noted political analyst Jose Antonio Crespo. Crespo
also revealed agreements "in the past to let 80 percent of the drugs
through" Mexico, which resulted in less violence. Back in
Washington, the democracy-loving Bush regime knows what's best for
Mexico: "just let them do whatever they want?" retorted a U.S.
Government official. Expect more of the same. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the U.K. this week, prior to the terror of the subway bombings
July 7, a "devastating" government report which admits the war on
drugs has failed was leaked to the British press. The report,
obtained by The Observer newspaper, showed that government
crackdowns on drugs had no effect or impact on production or use of
drugs. "The full report," according to The Observer, "provides a
powerful argument for legalising drugs so they are not controlled by
criminals." As expected, the U.K. government ignored the
conclusions, and hid the report. The Blair government instead
decided to increase police powers, and coerce users into forced
"treatment". Opposition parties and drug policy groups condemned the
attempted suppression of the report, renewing calls for
legalization. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And finally this week, harm reduction programs including needle
exchange and "drug substitution" will begin next January in, of all
places, Moslem Malaysia. Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said
drug substitution and needle exchange programs have been given the
green light."The earliest we can begin is in January. ... And I have
been told that in terms of amending the law, it can be done
administratively." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(18) NO DEATH SQUAD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
'Vigilante Group Does Not Exist' - Laza | ||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Superintendent Conrado Laza, former director of the Davao
City Police Office, is adamant that there is no evidence to prove
the existence of a vigilante group in the city. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking in a press briefing at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, Laza said
the police never had a proof, either documentary or testimony, from
confessed gunmen on the existence of an organized group behind the
killings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Without these two very vital documents, how can we say there's
really the DDS (Davao Death Squad)," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last week, Military Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro endorsed the
preventive suspension order against former Davao City Police Office
chief Sr. Supt. Conrado Laza, Chief Insp. Matthew Baccay, Chief
Insp. Filmore Escobal, and Chief Insp. Vicente Danao Jr. to
Ombudsman for Mindanao Antonio Valenzuela. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The move was based on the recommendation of graft investigation and
prosecution officer Luis E. Aquino who is investigating charges for
neglect of duty and inefficiency and incompetence in the performance
of their official duties. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(19) THE DEMON RETURNS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
After a long period of grace and continuing efforts by the Thaksin
government to eradicate drugs from the nation the menace is now
returning. The number of drugs cases during the initial suppression
period, which saw many alleged drugs dealers killed during the
attempts to weed out the problem at its roots, had actually dropped
dramatically. For the first time the country stood as one to remove
the insidious spread of drugs through society. The following second
round, undertaken with the aid of communities, was to ensure the
number of cases remained at bay. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drugs, however, do not disappear that easily. A third round of
suppression was put into action from April 1 to June 30. The focus
was on distribution, users and manufacturers, with the number of
arrests increasing for various offences including methamphetamines
(ya ba), marijuana and the designer drugs now flooding the market in
Thailand. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pattaya city administrators in their program to suppress drugs
revealed that the situation was worrying due to the increase of drug
related incidents being clearly on the increase, particularly around
the many entertainment venues where dealers lurk in the shadows
plying their goods. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Information from the Office of the National Narcotics Control Board
reveals that there is still a significant amount of drugs flowing
into Thailand from neighboring countries. Narcotics such as heroin,
marijuana, and the crystalline methamphetamine known as "ice" are on
the increase. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
As for the Thai people, it is time to join together once again to
stop the menace in its tracks. Everyone is encouraged to report
incidents via mail | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(20) MEXICO'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS IS A FAILURE, ANALYSTS SAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY - Mexico finally is fighting the war on drugs that the
U.S. government has demanded for decades: a frontal assault on drug
barons, their organizations and their merchandise, using the police
and military in concert with U.S. intelligence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
And the result in the United States? No noticeable drop in the supply
of cheap drugs - and an actual decline in the price of cocaine,
according to a new U.N. report. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Some analysts say Mexico's approach has not only failed to stanch
the flow of drugs but is also destabilizing the young democracy.
Mexico needs to turn back now, they say. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The Americans pressure us to carry out a head-on drug war, and when
the situation starts to get out of control, the Americans complain
that there is violence on the border," said political commentator
Jose Antonio Crespo. "There is no way of making them happy because
they always have some reason not to be." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"If the United States is not going to legalize drugs, then Mexico
has to come to terms with the narcos," he said. "There were
agreements in the past to let 80 percent of the drugs through, to
allow some seizures for the Americans and for the media, and there
was a lot less violence." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fox said recently that is not an option. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We have the strength, the capacity, the moral integrity to win this
battle," Fox said June 24 to mark the international day on fighting
drug abuse and trafficking. "What is at stake here is the future of
our girls, boys and young people." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dave Murray, a policy analyst with the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy, said that Washington understands the
sacrifice being made by Mexico, but that it also is in Mexico's
interest to fight the traffickers vigorously. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S.-inspired drug policies have been "a negative in terms of cost"
to such countries as Mexico and Colombia, said Gary S. Becker,
economics professor at the University of Chicago. He said the drug
war has hindered Colombia's economic growth rate and "the
preoccupation with cartels has hurt the country." | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Mexico may be moving in that direction," said Becker, who won the
Nobel Prize for economics in 1992. "This is a very expensive process
for the U.S. and other countries, and there's little bang for the
buck, as it were. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"My conclusion is that we have to look at more radical solutions
such as legalization of drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Becker acknowledged, however, that such a development is unlikely
any time soon, noting that "the vast majority of politicians are
unwilling to take on legalization in any serious way." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The State Department official said neither Mexico nor the United
States can afford to let up despite the prospect of "a long,
vicious, difficult struggle." | ||||||||||||||||||||
"What's the alternative? Just let them do whatever they want and we
won't have the violence? No, because then you'll end up with
complete control by criminal elements. I certainly don't want to
belittle the sacrifices ... but do you really want organized crime
running your country?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) SECRET REPORT SAYS WAR ON HARD DRUGS HAS FAILED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A secret Downing Street report on crack and heroin, suppressed by
ministers, has discovered that the government's war on drugs has
failed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The document, seen by The Observer, was one of several papers on key
areas of government policy prepared by the strategy unit at the
Cabinet Office and overseen by policy tsar Lord Birt. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Researchers found that stamping down on hard drugs through the
police and courts had little effect on production and found no
evidence that attacking drug supply had any impact on the harm
caused by heroin and crack users. The full report provides a
powerful argument for legalising drugs so they are not controlled by
criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The cost of crime associated with heroin and crack users was
estimated at UKP16 billion by researchers, but the report found that
the global crusade on drugs had coincided with a rise in
consumption. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Birt's advice to the Prime Minister remains secret, but one source
said he ignored the conclusions about the war on drugs and
concentrated on the finding that 30,000 'high-harm' drug users were
committing 21 million offences a year. As a result, he recommended
coercing drug users into treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The full findings of the 105-page report contained such a
devastating critique of the government's policy of prohibition they
are unlikely ever to be published. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said: 'It is totally
unacceptable if new evidence about harder drugs is being
suppressed.' | ||||||||||||||||||||
Danny Kushlick of the Transform Drugs Policy Foundation, campaigning
for an end to drugs laws, said: 'This is a devastating critique of
the government's policy and a powerful argument against prohibition.
Ministers should now publish the whole report and establish an
inquiry to balance the cost of the war against drugs against the
harm being done by the illegal trade in drugs.' | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Downing Street spokeswoman denied the pages had been suppressed to
avoid government embarrassment, but said they had been withheld
under the Freedom of Information Act, which exempts information
relating to security matters. Sections of the act relating to the
formulation of government policy had also been invoked. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(22) NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JANUARY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PETALING JAYA: The needle exchange and condom distribution programme
to check the spread of HIV among drug users is expected to start in
January. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said his ministry has decided
that the harm reduction programme, involving the two methods and
drug substitution therapy, will go ahead. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The earliest we can begin is in January. There are many people to
train. And I have been told that in terms of amending the law, it
can be done administratively," he said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MORE STUPID PROHIBITIONIST TRICKS | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Richard Cowan at Marijuananews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NOT A WAR ON DOCTORS | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Radley Balko at TheAgitator.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MEDICAL MARIJUANA CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||||||||||
TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN, SATURDAY, JULY 23RD | ||||||||||||||||||||
Starting at 2 p.m. at the UAW Hall, 703 Rose Street (corner of Rose
and Hannah). Speakers include medical marijuana patients Elvy
Musikka - who receives her marijuana from the federal government;
and Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes. Tickets are
$15. Dinner will be available for a donation, as well as evening
entertainment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The event is hosted by the Coalition for Compassionate Care which is
working towards a medical marijuana initiative for Traverse City.
Contact is | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MPP RADIO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Montel Williams, Angel Raich, and Tom Robbins featured in spots airing
nationally beginning in late June | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MARIJUANA NEWS WORLD REPORT | ||||||||||||||||||||
with Richard Cowan | ||||||||||||||||||||
Downing Street Says Report On Failure of Drugwar ?written two years ago
and a lot has happened since then.? Yes, Indeed! Dutch Crime Down. US
Prescription Drug Abuse Up. Prohibitionists Discover Online Seed Sales.
Pot Candy Withdrawn | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Listen Live Fridays 8:00 PM, ET, 7:00 CT, 6:00 MT & 5:00 PT at
www.KPFT.org | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NYPD ARREST 181 BLACK MEN IN QUEENS AFTER COP SHOT IN THE LEG | ||||||||||||||||||||
A New York police officer was shot in the leg with his own gun while trying to arrest a man allegedly smoking marijuana. During the following three days, police mounted a massive dragnet in the community, arresting a total of 181 black men in Queens. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
PHYTOCAN PHARMACEUTICALS | ||||||||||||||||||||
PhytoCan Pharmaceuticals is a research and development company
committed to producing a range of certified organic cannabis based
medicines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our goal is to seek new drug approval from Health Canada for certified
organic cannabis based medicines which clearly demonstrate safety,
quality and efficacy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Write A Letter With New DrugSense Focus Alert | ||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense offers all the tools you need to raise your voice about
the drug war. This week's alert is called "America - A Last Bastion
Against Harm Reduction." For all the details, see | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Are You A Registered DrugSense User Yet? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Just about a year ago, DrugSense launched its new website, which
offers enhanced resources for registered members. Check out the site
to see how you can benefit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE WAR ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Joseph McNamara | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mary Anastasia O'Grady's June 17 Americas column "Blame U.S. Drug Policy for the Bolivian Uprising," describing the manner in which the production of illicit drugs is destroying fragile democracies in Bolivia and other Andean countries, confirms my experiences as police chief of Kansas City, Mo., and San Jose, Calif., for 18 years. No matter how many arrests local police made for drug use and sale, the flow of drugs into the country never lessened. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Each year, at annual meetings of Major City Police Chiefs, the DEA
would give us the good news: U.S. efforts had helped one nation
reduce drug production. Then the bad news: drug production had
increased someplace else, including in our own nation, with lethal
substances like methamphetamine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It was the sausage effect. Squeeze one end, the other end expands.
And the violence and corruption in our own as well as other
countries came to resemble that of Prohibition as Milton Friedman
had predicted as long ago as 1973. Mr. Friedman noted that if U.S.
drug laws worked, other nations wouldn't have the lucrative American
trade. It's time to realize that, despite our best efforts, millions
of Americans spend billions of dollars on illegal drugs. Without
Prohibition, the profits would be no greater than that of alcohol.
When was the last time you heard of a Budweiser dealer being gunned
down in a drive-by shooting? The law of supply and demand is far
older and more powerful than the counterproductive laws passed by
Congress. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph D. McNamara | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug Czar: We Don't Care About Problems, Just Numbers | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Pete Guither | ||||||||||||||||||||
So a survey of sheriff's departments in 45 states found that most of
them think meth is the biggest problem they're facing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The White House, however, is not particularly interested in
adjusting their high-profile, expensive national campaign to
demonize marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"...the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy restated
its stance that marijuana remains the nation's most substantial drug
problem. Federal estimates show there are 15 million marijuana users
compared to the 1 million that might use meth," according to an
article on the survey. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Yep, better focus on those marijuana users. Blogger Wonkette puts it into perspective: "And that numbers thing? You know, there sure are a lot of jaywalkers compared to people who molest children..." ( see http://www.wonkette.com/politics/white-house/wh-has-reefer-madness-111288.php | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
So why is the Czar acting this way? Simple. Dealing with meth is
messy and complex and it doesn't help his numbers [and actually, the
ONDCP would take the wrong approach with meth if they were more
involved, but that's a different post]. | ||||||||||||||||||||
You see, back in the 90's the DEA and ONDCP got failing grades by the GAO for their inability to show that they were actually accomplishing anything (because, of course, they weren't). So the White House set a new goal for the ONDCP: reducing (by specific percentages) the number of illegal drug users in the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Of course, to a lot of people, that sounds like a wonderful goal.
But how do you actually accomplish a goal with such wording? Let's
say you wanted to help heroin addicts. Well, probably not a good
idea -- there aren't that many of them, and it takes a lot of work
to get them completely off drugs. Even if you're successful with a
lot of them, it would hardly register as far as a percent of drug
users. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So where can you get huge numbers and get them to quit easily?
Marijuana. It's the one most people use, and it's not even
addictive, so quitting is no problem. All you have to do is demonize
it and spread the propaganda, and promote drug testing, and you can
get a whole lot of people who were just using it now and then for
fun to stop. You won't do a thing for people who really have a drug
problem, but you'll reach your percentage goals of reducing drug
users in the U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This has been driving the entire ONDCP's agenda. Even including
blocking medical marijuana (medical marijuana use counts as federal
illicit drug use for the purpose of statistics). | ||||||||||||||||||||
An entire national policy based on demonizing people who are causing
no harm, and ignoring people who need help. Is that what they call
"compassionate conservatism"? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pete Guither is the author of Drug WarRant - www.drugwarrant.com - a
weblog at the front lines of the drug war, where this piece first
appeared. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction and division of society." - John Adams | ||||||||||||||||||||
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