| Oct. 7, 2005 #420 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||||
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) DRUG MONEY AND THE CHURCH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Revelation About Donors Sparks Uproar | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY - When a Mexican bishop declared that drug traffickers often donate to the church, shock waves ran through this predominantly Roman Catholic nation -- not because the news was a surprise, but because admitting it was tantamount to confessing that nothing, not even God, is sacred when it comes to organized crime in Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Provoking the uproar were Bishop Ramon Godinez's comments to reporters
that donations from drug traffickers are not unusual and it's not the
church's responsibility to investigate. He argued that the money is
"purified" once it passes through parish doors. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Just because the origin of the money is bad doesn't mean you have to
burn it," Godinez, of the central state of Aguascalientes, said last
month. "Instead, you have to transform it. ... We live on this, on the
offerings of the faithful." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Organized crime, especially drug trafficking, and the threat it poses
to public safety are among Mexicans' highest concerns. And it's not
just the criminals they worry about. They also distrust the public
agencies responsible for tackling crime -- prosecutors, police, the
judicial system, politicians -- all of which are perceived to be
corrupt to some degree. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The church, on the other hand, is still held in high esteem. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Of all the institutions in Mexico, the church is ranked No. 1 in terms
of people's confidence," said Roderic Ai Camp, an expert on Mexican
religion at Claremont-McKenna College in California. It is "the one
institution they find morally superior and basically honest and serving
the interests of the average Mexican." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(2) CANNABIS SMOKING LEADS TO CRIMINALITY, JUDGE TELLS ARSONIST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A judge issued a warning about what he believes to be a clear link
between cannabis and crime when jailing a drug user. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Judge Anthony Niblett told an arsonist who had set fire to his former
girlfriend's house while under the influence of the drug: "Those whose
minds are steeped in cannabis are capable of quite extraordinary
criminality." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sentencing Peter West, 33, a habitual drug user, at Hove Crown Court,
East Sussex, he added: "Your brain has been steeped in cannabis for
most of your adult life." | ||||||||||||||||||||
He described West as a danger to the public after hearing how the blaze
gutted the three-bedroom house in Partridge Green, West Sussex, and
left his girlfriend and her two young children with just the clothes
they stood in. He had set light to her house in a rage fuelled by
cannabis and vodka, the court was told. | ||||||||||||||||||||
West, from Cowfold, West Sussex, was a heavy cannabis smoker and also
used heroin, cocaine and crack. Lisa Williams, his former partner, told
police that West had become increasingly moody and aggressive in the
weeks before the attack. On the night of the arson he suddenly punched
her and said he was going to burn down the house with all of them
inside. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(3) MARIJUANA EFFECTIVE AGAINST MORNING SICKNESS: STUDY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
92% of Pregnant Users Surveyed Report Relief | ||||||||||||||||||||
The controversial use of medicinal marijuana as a weapon against
pregnancy-induced morning sickness has been given a boost in a B.C.
study to be published by a British journal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
While women are traditionally told to avoid drugs and alcohol during pregnancy, one researcher from each of the Vancouver Island and B.C. Compassion Societies and the University of B.C. and the University of Victoria looked to see if pregnant therapeutic users of medical marijuana reported relief from their nausea and vomiting. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The researchers found that 92 per cent of the women surveyed rated
pot's effect on morning-sickness symptoms as either "very effective" or
"effective." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The study will be published by the Journal of Complementary Therapies
in Clinical Practice, likely in 2006, said Philippe Lucas, co-author of
the report. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is the first time that compassion-club-based research will be published in a peer-reviewed, Elsevier-listed medical journal," said Lucas, who founded the Vancouver Island Compassion Society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
UBC breastfeeding and marijuana expert Roberta Hewat was reluctant to
comment on the study, but said that two major academic texts say
marijuana use during pregnancy was "contraindicated" because it
suppresses milk production. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(4) BACK IN SADDLE, PREACHING DRUG LEGALIZATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
After blowing into town yesterday on a one-eyed painted pony, a lanky
Texan named Howard Wooldridge looked a bit beleaguered. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He had just arrived in Manhattan from the West Coast, but not on the
red-eye, having left Los Angeles on March 4 on horseback and riding
some 3,300 miles to New York. He rode, he said, about 25 miles a day,
six days a week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Wooldridge and Misty, his 11-year-old pony, took the Broadway Bridge from the Bronx and rode down the West Side on Broadway. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He wore dirty jeans, three neckerchiefs and a dusty Stetson. His arms
were sunburned and his face weather-beaten. | ||||||||||||||||||||
His bedroll was tied behind his saddle, and a bag of carrots stuck out
of a saddlebag. He held Misty's reins in his chamois herder's gloves.
He ambled down the sidewalk nodding to passers-by and using greetings
like "Howdy" and "Mornin'." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Woolridge, 54, a former police officer in Michigan and seasoned
horseman, made the trip to gain publicity for his campaign to legalize
drugs, the same reason he and Misty rode from Georgia to Oregon in
2003. As mothers pushing strollers came up to pet Misty, Mr. Wooldridge | ||||||||||||||||||||
His T-shirt bore this slogan: "Cops Say Legalize Drugs. Ask Me Why." His tales from the trail included one about a near collision with an Amish family in a horse and buggy near Amsterdam, N.Y., and another about falling asleep with Misty in the grass in front of a Wal-Mart in Oregon, only to have a team of police officers surround him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"They said: 'Don't move. Is that horse dead?' " he recalled. "They said
they had just gotten a call that a cowboy killed his horse and was
sleeping next to it." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The race for the Governor's seat in Alabama is going to be interesting, with drug war/prison system critic Loretta Nall in the running. The establishment could get pretty uncomfortable in the state, just as the federal drug control establishment must be getting uncomfortable as it's attacked by increasingly angry federal legislators over methamphetamine control. Meth madness continues in the private sector with eBay jumping on board last week, and a supposed link between meth and those who work in the energy industry. In more upbeat news, a working blueprint for enlightened drug education comes out of a California school district. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(5) PRISON REFORM ADVOCATE ANNOUNCES RUN FOR GOVERNOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ALEXANDER CITY -- Drug policy and prison reform advocate Loretta
Nall has announced that she will be running for governor of Alabama
in the 2006 election. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nall has traveled throughout the country, Canada and South America
speaking on "zero-tolerance" drug policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Here in Alabama, the drug war has given rise to the current Alabama prison crisis, which is costing Alabamians millions of dollars a year with only negative returns in exchange," Nall said in a news announcement today. "It is destroying families and putting our children at greater risk by allowing unrestricted access to drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nall said she's running for governor because drug policy is a
crucial issue in the state and that the other candidates "are too
afraid to engage in a rational, scientific discussion," according to
her news release. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The other candidates are not up to addressing these important but
controversial issues surrounding drug policy because they have built
their political careers on meaningless slogans like 'Tough on Drugs'
and 'What about the children?' which, in fact, do nothing to deter
drug use or protect children," said Nall. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(6) U.S. DRUG CZAR, AIDE FACE METH CRITICISM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Policy - A Republican Congressman Calls For The Aide To Resign After
A Briefing On Efforts To Curtail The Drug | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- The chairman of a House panel that oversees drug
policy on Wednesday called for the resignation of a top aide to
White House drug czar John Walters, and he came close to demanding
that Walters step down as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., spoke after a closed-door briefing in
which Bush administration officials described their efforts to halt
the spread of methamphetamine abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Souder, chairman of the House committee that authorizes the
activities of Walters' office, called the presentation "pathetic"
and "an embarrassment." He said officials seemed more interested in
defending the status quo than developing a meaningful national meth
strategy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"If they continue to defend the way they're going," he said, "it's
time for some of the top people to resign." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Souder said later in an interview that he specifically wanted the
resignation of Dave Murray, a Walters adviser, who led the briefing.
But Souder also suggested Walters should go, as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(7) EBAY PROHIBITS SALES OF METH INGREDIENTS ON ITS WEB SITE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug War - The Auctioneer Is Having Difficulty Keeping Up With
Changing State Laws Governing Sales Of The Drugs | ||||||||||||||||||||
Online auction giant eBay has banned sales of medication containing
the chemicals pseudoephedrine and ephedrine, a move that drug
enforcement officials said Thursday will cut off an emerging
pipeline for the illicit methamphetamine trade. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Internet auctioneer added the key chemicals used to make
methamphetamine to its list of prohibited items Monday, company
spokesman Hani Durzy said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(8) METH FUELS OIL AND GAS BOOM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug Use Among Drill-Rig Roughnecks Worries Authorities | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sheriff Buddy Grinstead, a solidly built cop's cop who benches 300
pounds, is only beginning to wrap his ham-hock-sized arms around the
drug problem that he says is swallowing his county. | ||||||||||||||||||||
As he drives his unmarked white SUV down Craig's main drag, Grinstead points out a low-slung motel, where Craig police recently busted dealers with methamphetamine, the cheap, synthetically produced stimulant known for its long-lasting high. Not a block farther, he nods at a run-down apartment, a well-known crash pad for addicts. Up the hill, behind the main street, he pauses at a well-kept ranch-style home, where, a few years ago, a local developer was busted for cooking and selling the highly addictive drug, which traces its chemical lineage back to the stamina or "pep" pills given to Allied and Axis soldiers during World War II. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Throughout the years, methamphetamine has claimed victims from
across the socio-economic spectrum, but Grinstead and energy
industry insiders say it has recently become epidemic on the oil and
gas rigs sprouting in the dusty expanses around Craig. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(9) OAKLAND HIGH HELPS CRAFT DRUG REFORM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
National Advocates Say a New Method May Have More of an Effect | ||||||||||||||||||||
A new strategy that national drug-policy reform advocates say is a
better means of keeping teenagers off drugs is partly based on a
program used for years at Oakland High School. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Drug Policy Alliance on Thursday unveiled "Beyond Zero
Tolerance," a booklet providing a blueprint for overhauling how
schools address teen drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Zero tolerance is the ideological basis for the practices we want
to change -- it's the mantra of the drug war as we know it, and it
applies to education as much as it does to law enforcement," said
booklet author Rodney Skager, professor emeritus of education at the
University of California, Los Angeles. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the booklet, Skager writes that he was first introduced to the
concept of "interactive drug education" by Charles Ries, who runs
the UpFront drug program now in its eighth year at Oakland High
School. Ries also was on Thursday's conference call unveiling the
strategy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Essentially, our philosophy is that we create safe environments in which students can discuss their feelings about their using, their friends using, their families using or not using," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A suspect in an upcoming drug trial related to the Cali Cartel
allegedly wields so much power that prosecutors want jurors to
remain anonymous during the case. Also this week, a series of
stories that make you wonder whether the corruption that occurs
around police enforcement of drug laws is spurred mainly by bad
intent or plain incompetence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(10) PROSECUTOR SEEKS ANONYMOUS JURY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
TAMPA - When Joaquin Mario Valencia-Trujillo, an alleged leader in
the Cali Cartel, goes on trial in four months, a federal prosecutor
wants jurors to remain anonymous. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Valencia-Trujillo has tampered with the justice system in the past, according to a government court filing that says he has hired "hit teams" to kill possible witnesses and has paid attorneys to represent drug traffickers who might testify against him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Valencia-Trujillo's efforts resulted in the slayings of four people
in the United States at the hands of the Colombian hit teams,
according to the government court filing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(11) FACILITY'S CEO BOASTED ABOUT BETTER SECURITY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As the New York Container Terminal in Mariners Harbor was trumpeting tightened security measures and enjoying an improved public image from 2000 to 2003 -- when it was known as Howland Hook -- a cocaine smuggling operation allegedly was under way at the site. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal agents yesterday announced 22 arrests in connection with the
cocaine, which they say traveled from Colombia through the 187-acre
Staten Island facility and ports in California. | ||||||||||||||||||||
One of the accused, Alejandro Colon, worked as a longshoreman at the
Island terminal until he retired in February. The 63-year-old
Brooklyn resident is being charged with conspiring to import the
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(12) A $9,000 'ERROR IN JUDGMENT' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Inside Job Ruled Out in Money That Vanished From Sheriff's Office | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the nine months since someone walked out of the Catawba County
Sheriff's Office with $9,000 in seized drug money, authorities still
haven't found who took it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
They don't know how it disappeared. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And they have no idea where it is now. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the State Bureau of Investigation wrapped up its inquiry into the theft last week and has reached at least one conclusion: | ||||||||||||||||||||
No one from the Sheriff's Office swiped the cash. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Sheriff's Office does not plan to punish anyone about the missing money, though the employee under whose watch it disappeared has been reassigned, Sheriff David Huffman said Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It was just an error in judgment," Huffman said. "He just left it
layin'." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(13) DEAL ENDS POLICE 'MALA SANGRE' WHISTLE-BLOWER LAWSUITS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Austin To Pay $200,000 In Case; Officer Said He Was Transferred For Accusing Assistant Chief Of Interfering With Investigation | ||||||||||||||||||||
The City of Austin will pay $200,000 to settle a whistle-blower
lawsuit with an Austin police officer, ending one of the
department's most notorious sagas in recent memory. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officer Jeff White accused former Assistant Chief Jimmy Chapman of
having him transferred after White told an internal affairs
investigator that Chapman had interfered in aspects of a
drug-trafficking investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The mid-1990s investigation - code-named Mala Sangre, or Bad Blood - was led by federal agents with the help of local officers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It turned up leads that some Austin officers might have been
protecting and assisting drug dealers and using cocaine on duty.
None of the officers was prosecuted. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Thursday, the City Council unanimously agreed to settle the case
for $200,000: $100,000 for White and $100,000 for his lawyer, Don
Feare. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
We begin this week with news that Wisconsin is slowly moving closer
to becoming a med-cannabis state. A bill introduced by Rep. Gregg
Underheim has fifteen co-sponsors, and would allow physicians to
legally prescribe cannabis to those who might benefit from its use.
Also out of Wisconsin, a report that the Marijuana Policy Project is
seeking the support of college fraternities and sororities for
fundraising efforts to end the federal prohibition of cannabis. MPP
has sent information to over 2200 Greek houses as part of this
federal fundraising project. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our next story comes to us from Alberta, Canada, where construction
of a new $14 million hemp processing plant is soon to begin. With
the price of oil on a never-ending upward trend, hemp fiber is
becoming more financially competitive with petroleum-based fibers,
which may be a tremendous boost to the nascent Canadian hemp
industry. And lastly some sad news from New Zealand this week, where
Green MP Nandor Tanczos has just lost his re-election bid by a mere
1200 votes. In a depressing bit of irony, a pro-legalization group
called the Aotearoa Legalize Cannabis Party received 5748 votes,
essentially costing Tanczos the election, and taking the world's
only sitting Rasta MP out of Parliament. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(14) MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO BE PROPOSED IN ASSEMBLY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A bill condoning the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is
pending introduction in the Wisconsin State Assembly, a state
representative said Sunday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If passed, the legislation would allow physicians to recommend in
writing that patients who qualify could obtain marijuana legally.
While federal law currently overrides state law regarding the use of
medical marijuana, the matter continues to be adjudicated in the
court system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill is aimed to help relieve symptoms of people who suffer from
painful and debilitating diseases, like cancer and multiple sclerosis,
State Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, the lead author of the bill,
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Underheim said he began drafting the legislation after he was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer. Though he said he did not use marijuana while he battled the disease, Underheim talked to other cancer patients who said they benefited from the use of the substance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(15) PRO-MARIJUANA ORG. ASKS GREEK SYSTEM FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The national non-profit organization, Marijuana Policy Project, is
asking fraternities and sororities at UW-Madison and other
universities to raise money and awareness for its mission to make
marijuana legal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Similar to other non-profits, like the American Cancer Society, the
MPP has its own tax-deductible code for educational organizations.
This makes it possible for groups such as fraternities and
sororities to raise money for its causes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
MPP mailed out information about its organization to over 2,220
Greek houses for universities in every state, including University
of California-Berkeley and Cornell University. These mailings
included 20 UW-Madison fraternities and sororities, including Gamma
Phi Beta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(16) HEMP PLANT SMOKIN' IDEA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A new hemp-processing plant in Manitoba should be a boost to the fledgling industry, says the head of a hemp business near Delaware. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Demand is outstripping supply, so having additional capacity is
positive for the whole industry," said Geoff Kime, president of
Hempline Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kime said the spiralling cost of crude oil could give the Canadian
hemp processing industry a long-awaited breakthrough. He said
natural fibres like hemp are now competitive with petroleum-based
fibre products. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The rising price of oil has opened up the demand for hemp and flax
substantially," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(17) RASTA LA VISTA BABY: TANCZOS BITES THE BULLET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Greens have fallen short of getting another MP into parliament
and the house has lost its only Rastafarian member. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nandor Tanczos missed out on returning to parliament as the Greens'
seventh list MP by 1246 votes after the special votes were counted
yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tanczos said he had been optimistic of making it back and felt mixed
emotions at missing out. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I did want to do another term, I have a lot of unfinished business but at the same time I can spend more time with my family and I have other things I want to do. I will still be involved in politics, of which parliament is only one form, and not necessarily the best." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In international drug news this week, there was a burst of lurid "information" articles, often by police seeking to gain more power. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the U.K., the (normally sober) Independent newspaper last week
revealed that Afghan "opium farmers" were forced to sell their
daughters to "cover debts to traffickers," shades of Simon Legree!
This sensational new claim comes at a time of increasing calls for
(re-)legalizing opium in Afghanistan, so that it can be grown there
as it is in Australia, India and elsewhere. Ruling "drug companies"
vetoed that idea. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian tabloids proclaimed a national "Drug Shame" after U.S. drug police denounced Australia's laws as too lax. U.S. narcs also denounced Australia's air travel policies as too free, having too many direct-connect flights to places of which Washington D.C. does not approve. A DEA report complained of an Australian "lack of uniform drug laws," according to a report in the Sunday Telegraph. (Translation: Australian laws need to be made as harsh as the DEA would like.) Expect the Australian government to swiftly seize upon the U.S. narcs' "report" as reason to give more power to police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Canada, police (who gaze longingly to "the states", where police manpower and budgets are bloated beyond belief busting pot smokers) have begin another series of media events. The government-sponsored media events are designed to manufacture a consensus that more police need to be given more money and power, and that citizens need to be jailed longer (for pot). A spate of articles (tracing their origin to the RCMP) warned of a scary increase in helicopters shuttling the evil weed to the states. Another run of articles across the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta sensationalized demon methamphetamine, which is "More Poison Than Drug." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Not to fear, another series of articles in the western Canadian press promised that government action (in the form of more jail, increased police powers, confiscation of private property, and destruction of civil rights) would save the good people from meth demons. "We're not tough enough on major criminals" pledged government men, eager to seize money and property. While the "major criminals" were usually billed as (you guessed it) the demonic meth people, you can bet that will predictably morph to "drugs," to then include cannabis users and growers as the main targets for confiscation; victims of the profitable treatment and prison industries. Just like in the states. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(18) OPIUM FARMERS SELL DAUGHTERS TO COVER DEBTS TO TRAFFICKERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Afghan farmers prevented from growing poppies under a British-led
eradication programme have been forced to hand over their daughters
to drug traffickers to settle their debts, according to reports from
Afghanistan. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The claim is the latest in a series to dog the British effort to
curb Afghanistan's opium industry. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
A French think-tank called last week for the legal cultivation of
opium in Afghanistan. The Senlis Council pointed out the irony that,
while Afghanistan today provides 87 per cent of the world's illegal
opium, legal opium-based medicines are in short supply in
Afghanistan and all over the developing world. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A handful of countries, including Australia, India and Turkey, grow
opium legally for use in medicine under licences granted by the
United Nations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But drug companies have resisted the production of cheap versions of
their opium-based medicine, according to Jorrit Kamminga of the
Senlis Council. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(19) AUSTRALIA'S DRUG SHAME REVEALED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
AUSTRALIA is suffering an acute drug problem, according to an international report which found that the country has one of the highest rates of ecstasy and amphetamine abuse in the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration report, obtained under
Freedom of Information, paints a grim picture of illegal drug use in
Australia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report found that criminals are cultivating 5000ha of marijuana crops each year an area equivalent to more than 2500 Sydney Cricket Grounds and there are more than 200,000 heroin users in Australia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The extent of Australia's cannabis cultivation and dependency on
illegal substances is revealed in a new US intelligence report which
has been obtained by The Sunday Telegraph. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"As trade links with South America and immigration to Australia
increase, the opportunities for cocaine traffickers also increase,"
the report says. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"As the number of direct commercial airline flights between
Australia and South America increase, so does the opportunity for
courier smuggling." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australia's lack of uniform drug laws also attracts criticism in the
DEA report. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(20) FLYING SMUGGLERS GAIN GROUND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cars and trucks are still the preferred method for drug smugglers,
but helicopters and low-flying aircraft are starting to break into
the business in a big way, says the RCMP. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The amount of aircraft being used to move illicit drugs ... has
definitely increased over the last few years," said Randall Wong of
the RCMP's Border Integrity Enforcement Team. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) MORE POISON THAN DRUG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Part 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's known by numerous names: crank, ice, zip, to name a few. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's been making news headlines lately but it's not a new drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's methamphetamine or crystal meth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(22) FORCED TREATMENT WORTH A TRY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mayors and councillors pressed provincial cabinet ministers
Wednesday to explain why B.C. has been so slow to hit criminals in
their wallets by seizing illegally acquired property. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We're not tough enough on major criminals," Courtenay councillor
Larry Jangula told a public safety panel discussion during the Union
of B.C. Municipalities convention. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He pointed to crystal meth lab operators in particular. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The best way to deal with drug dealers is to seize their assets,"
Oppal said. "Some of us have been saying that for years. This
government listened to that and responded to that." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Solicator General John Les applauded local bylaws in Surrey and
Abbotsford that have proved an effective means for shutting down
marijuana grow-ops. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(23) RCMP CHRONICLES SCOPE OF ORGANIZED CRIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Report Assesses In Detail The Impact Of Gangs In B.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Outlaw motorcycle gangs continue to be the largest organized crime group in B.C., followed by Asian-based outfits and Indo-Canadian gangs, says a 2005 RCMP report obtained by The Vancouver Sun. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Scope and Impact of Organized Crime in British Columbia was
completed in June by RCMP headquarters in Vancouver, and details the
size, criminal activities and threat of gangs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report estimates the marijuana industry alone is worth $6
billion annually, and says criminal revenues now comprise about four
per cent of the provincial economy. "Marijuana alone appears of the
same order of magnitude as tourism or the fishery as a second-rank
industry in the province, and dwarfs [by comparison] the film
industry." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LORETTA NALL ON THE KEVIN ELKINS SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
Listen as Loretta battles prohibitionist ignorance and top Republican
Rep. Dick brewbaker on drug policy in Alabama. Classic Alabama
Politics! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CALIFORNIA COPS GO TO POT | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Craig Reinarman and Marsha Rosenbaum, AlterNet. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The California Highway Patrol and the LAPD deserve credit for taking
some small, positive steps toward drug policy reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DOES POT LEAD TO SUICIDE FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICES? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vague Commerce Clause precedents give free rein to personal preferences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Jacob Sullum | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
STOP THE WEED WITCH-HUNT | ||||||||||||||||||||
Renee Boje organized this Vancouver rally that features speeches from
a variety of weed fairies and local activists along with all the
familiar faces. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CANNABIS CONUNDRUM | ||||||||||||||||||||
A panel of experts came together at the Vancouver Library, in an open
forum, to discuss the cannabis issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
NORML LAUNCHES CASH PRIZE VIDEO BLOG CONTEST | ||||||||||||||||||||
October 6, 2005 - Washington, DC, USA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Washington, DC: Educate the public on the failure of cannabis
prohibition and compete for up to $5,000 in cash prizes in NORML's
first-ever Video Blog contest. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CJPF DRUGS AND ECONOMICS MEMO | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Criminal Justice Policy Foundation would like to share its monthly
publication, Drugs & Economics Memo. | ||||||||||||||||||||
You can view it at: | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.cjpf.org/newsletter/october/newsletter_october.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
The D & E Memo features brief analysis of current events and
legislation, along with announcements for CJPF news and | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Listen Live Fridays 8:00 PM, ET, 7:00 CT, 6:00 MT & 5:00 PT at
www.KPFT.org | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Help To Stop Draconian Drug War Bill | ||||||||||||||||||||
Take action through a Drug Policy Alliance Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=28147 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense recognizes George Kosinski of Gibsons, British Columbia,
Canada for his four letters published during September, bringing his
total that we know of to 16. You may read his published letters at
http://www.mapinc.org/writers/George+Kosinski | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
POLITICIANS SHOULD LISTEN TO PUBLIC ON MEDICAL POT | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Gary Storck | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks for your article about the new poll on support for medical
marijuana in Wisconsin, "State ready for medicinal marijuana" (
Sept. 28). These results echo the findings of a poll IMMLY
commissioned in 2002, which found even higher support using
different wording. According to the results of that sampling, from
February 2002, support stands at more than 80 percent ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is pertinent that state Rep. Gregg Underheim, R-Oshkosh, pointed
out scientific evidence showing that marijuana "enhances the
productivity of legally prescribed pain medications, which allows
the patient to be less dependent on pain-killers." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately, with medical marijuana's current illegal status under
state law, many state HMOs will not provide these kinds of
painkillers to patients who acknowledge using marijuana medicinally.
Patients are even being subjected to urine tests, and if they test
positive for cannabis, are being cut off from existing | ||||||||||||||||||||
There are many patients statewide wracked with pain who are facing
this cruel treatment. The Legislature has had medical marijuana
bills before it for a decade now. This is not a new issue, and
further delay only hurts our most vulnerable citizens. The
legislature has shown it can move quickly. Underheim is correct that
citizens need to make their overwhelming support known so this issue
can be settled this session. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gary Storck | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Who're The Real Dopes In The War On Drugs? | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Dennis Myers | ||||||||||||||||||||
A few days ago the King County, Washington government made it
illegal to throw computers and cell phones away. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That created, or expanded, a new industry - disposal of computers
and cell phones in Seattle and environs. New businesses formed,
other already existing firms expanded their operations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This kind of thing happens often. Government creates a need and the
business community rushes to fill it with goods or services we
didn't previously need. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For instance, some of those rental storage unit companies once went
to the Nevada Legislature and asked for a law that said they were
exempt from legal responsibility for the security of their storage
units. Such companies provide only two things, storage and security,
and the change would cut that burden in half, but the Legislature
passes liability waivers out like cookies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So the change was made, subject to a provision that renters had to
be warned on the rental contract to get insurance if they wanted
some protection for their property. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So a new industry came to be - the sale of insurance on the contents
of rental storage units. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I was reminded of all this when I heard about former Reagan cabinet member William Bennett's comments on aborting black babies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bennett was appearing on a call-in show and a caller asked him if it
were true that "the lost revenue from the people who have been
aborted in the last 30-something years could fund Social Security as
we know it today." | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the bloodless fashion that he has patented, Bennett said, "You know, one of the arguments in this book "Freakonomics" that they make is that the declining crime rate, you know, they deal with this hypothesis, that one of the reasons crime is down is that abortion is up ... But I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could - if that were your sole purpose - you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down. So these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bennett, who postures as a champion of values, is one of a number of
figures who are largely responsible for creating the multi-billion
dollar illegal drug industry. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After he served as President Reagan's education secretary, Bennett volunteered to become George Bush the Elder's drug "czar." | ||||||||||||||||||||
It may be a surprise to some people born in, say, the last thirty years to know that major drug abuse is a relatively new problem. It's a product of drug prohibition and punitive enforcement. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana wasn't outlawed until the year my mother was 20, and even
after that it wasn't rigorously enforced. Not until the Nixon
administration did Congress get serious about pouring massive
resources into crackdowns, and that policy died with Nixon's
resignation. President Ford dropped it, and President Carter didn't
revive it until the later stages of his administration. Since then
there have been unbroken tough enforcement under every president,
Democratic and Republican. | ||||||||||||||||||||
When Bennett took over the White House drug office, he wanted to
promote what he called "values." This means that drug use could not
be treated as a health problem, which it is. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Instead, it had to be a battle between good and evil, with drug
users considered criminals and health care professionals considered
accessories. Bennett preached kicking kids out of school for using
drugs, a surefire way of creating criminals. He counseled against
blaming drug use on "poverty and racism - which help to breed and
spread the contagion of drug use." It was self-contradictory, but so
it went. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The tough approach fell most heavily on those least able to protect
themselves, such as poor pregnant women (who were prosecuted for
child abuse if they took drugs) and African Americans. Bennett and
his cronies pursued policies that have nearly destroyed the black
family in the U.S. by leaving tens of thousands of households with
no fathers (there are heavier penalties for drugs used by blacks
than those used by whites), even as Bennett has preached about the
value of family. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And when all else failed, Bennett simply lied to make the problem
seem urgent, as when he claimed that use "of the most harmful drugs
is increasing" after seven years of declining drug use. (In a
book-length attack on Bill Clinton, values champion Bennett wrote
that, "if a man's word means nothing, it means nothing," whatever
that means.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The lure of the forbidden is the best sales pitch, and the nation is
saddled with a drug problem it never had before drug prohibition.
Punitive policies supported by Bennett and company have created a
gargantuan multi-billion international market and plenty of drug
warlords to supply it. If, as Bennett says, black kids grow up to be
criminals, it is because he helped create a criminal industry that
provides them with work. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dennis Myers is a veteran capital reporter for the Pahrump Valley
Times. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the
urge to rule." - H.L. Mencken | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense
offers our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what
DrugSense can do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by
Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection
and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International
content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (),
Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO DRUGSENSE ON-LINE | ||||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
 | current issue | this issue |