| Feb. 3, 2006 #435 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) U.S. CONGRESS PROBING MEXICAN INCURSIONS IN TEXAS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- A House panel has opened an investigation into Mexican
military incursions into the United States and its chairman will travel
to El Paso, Texas, on a fact-finding trip tomorrow. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Michael McCaul, Texas Republican and chairman of the
investigations subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee, will
meet with law-enforcement officials in El Paso and will hold a hearing
Tuesday in Washington. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's one of three things -- Mexican military, drug dealers dressed as
Mexican military or the cartel buying them off," Mr. McCaul said
yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The investigation comes after a high-profile incident Jan. 23 in which
U.S. law-enforcement authorities in Hudspeth County, Texas, confronted
several men in Mexican military uniforms who were accompanying drug
smugglers. The "soldiers" were in a camouflaged Humvee with a mounted
.50-caliber machine gun. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Incursions have been reported before, and Department of Homeland
Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said earlier this month there are
about 20 a year, but said the number is declining and called concern
over the issue "overblown" and "scare tactics." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) AUSTRALIA: HARD LINE ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
CANNABIS smokers may be forced to take counselling sessions on the
links between marijuana and mental disorders to avoid being charged on
a first offence, in a rewriting of NSW drug laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Daily Telegraph has learned Premier Morris Iemma called for a
review of the cannabis cautioning scheme to send a stronger message
about the effects of marijuana on mental health. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the real crackdown will be brought to bear on those caught growing
high strength (hydroponic) cannabis - now thought to be a significant
factor in rising mental health problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Government is about to introduce what it claims will be the most
hardline legislation in the country, with people facing 10-year jail
sentences for growing as few as five hydroponic plants. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sentences of 20 years will be made law for crops of 200 plants. A range
of new offences will also apply to people who expose children to
hydroponic drug houses. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Iemma has undertaken a complete rewriting of cannabis laws in
response to concerns from health authorities that it is a significant
contributor to the mental health crisis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"No one wants to see a young person who has made a genuine mistake,
unfairly punished," Mr Iemma said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"But we can't downplay the health and social consequences of regular
cannabis use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) US NM: MEDICAL POT CLEARS SENATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
By an overwhelming majority, the state Senate on Tuesday approved a
bill that would allow sufferers of serious medical conditions to smoke
marijuana without fear of prosecution. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Strong majorities of both political parties contributed to the 34-6 passage of SB258, sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I think it's wonderful," said Essie DeBonet, an Albuquerque AIDS
sufferer who has lobbied for the bill the past two sessions. "The
Senate showed their concerns for people." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Although an assistant to the White House drug czar flew to New Mexico
to testify against the bill last week, 12 of the Senate's 18
Republicans voted for it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
With two of the Senate's most socially conservative senators -- Sen. Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque; and Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington -- voting for the first time in favor of a medical-marijuana bill, it might seem that the political landscape has shifted for this issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
However, to become law, the bill first must make it through the House,
where last year's bill died as a "hostage" in political wrangling over
an unrelated bill. Most involved in the issue agree the House won't be
as easy as the Senate -- especially during the last half of a short
session. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) SPENCER'S HIT WITH PARAPHERNALIA CHARGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. -- The manager of the Spencer's Gift store at the Oxford Valley Mall and the CEO of Spencer's Gift, LLC had drug paraphernalia charges lodged against them after police seized water "bongs" and other marijuana-related items, police said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Spencer's CEO and President Steven Silverstein, 46, of Summit and store
manager Wayne Oles, 53, of Philadelphia, were charged with delivery of
or possession with the intent to deliver drug paraphernalia and
criminal conspiracy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The misdemeanor charges come after a raid on Sept. 21, 2005 when
Middletown police Detective Dan Baranowski went to the store and bought
a $39.99 bong, or "hookah" and a number of posters depicting marijuana
and one that said "Johnny likes thin girls, but he never turns down a
fattie." | ||||||||||||||||||||
A "fattie" is street slang for a large marijuana cigarette or blunt,
Baranowski said in the affidavit of probable cause with the criminal
complaint. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He also purchased a poster that had a picture of a jar filled with a
green substance that appeared to be marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
When Baranowski visited the retail store on Sept. 14 he also saw key
chains, T-shirts,, hats, leis of imitation marijuana leafs, stationary,
incense, headbands, boxer shorts, candles, ice cube trays, coasters,
dishes, glasses, phone books, chess sets, cookie cutters and more
depicting marijuana themes or pictures some of which were subsequently
seized, according to the affidavit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
There may be repercussions for county supervisors in California who
have challenged the state's medical marijuana law. A San Diego
County man has been inspired to run for a spot on the board in
response to the board's actions on the issue. In Delaware, it seems
there's only one elected official who's dedicated to work against
the state's needle exchange ban. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Also last week, New Yorkers can get paid for clean urine; a unified
broadcast media in an Oregon town spreads drug war propaganda; and
addiction expert Maia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Szalavitz explains the trouble with "tough love." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) MAN'S SUPERVISOR RUN PROMPTED BY POT SUIT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
An Ontario resident upset with the Board of Supervisors' decision
last week to join a lawsuit that seeks to overturn California's
medicinal marijuana laws announced Tuesday his intention to run
against Supervisor Gary Ovitt in the June election. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kenneth Michael White, 31, said he would not accept campaign donations or, if elected, meet with lobbyists. He told supervisors at a board meeting that they were "defending the wrong policy" by supporting San Diego County's lawsuit against the state. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) SENATOR WON'T QUIT ON NEEDLE EXCHANGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Delaware and New Jersey are the only states in the nation that do
not allow drug users to legally obtain clean needles. In Delaware, a
prescription is required to buy or possess a hypodermic needle, even
for diabetics. | ||||||||||||||||||||
About 43 percent of Delaware's AIDS cases are caused by intravenous
drug use, compared with just 25 percent nationally. Also, Delaware's
HIV infection rate is the fifth-highest in the nation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, D-Wilmington East, has been fighting to reduce those numbers, pressing for years for a pilot needle-exchange program in Wilmington run by the Division of Public Health. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Senate Bill 60 would allow the use of a mobile health van to offer
clean needles in exchange for dirty ones and to offer HIV testing,
health counseling and other services to encourage drug addicts to
seek treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Henry thought she had made a breakthrough last spring when the bill
was approved by the Senate. But things have gone downhill since, and
now the legislation has stalled. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) NEW YORK ADDICTS CAN CASH IN ON STAYING CLEAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Treatment Program Patients Earn Vouchers For Passing Drug Tests | ||||||||||||||||||||
NEW YORK -- Even at age 18, Jessica knew she had plenty of reasons
to quit OxyContin. The addictive painkiller consumed her life, made
her sick and devoured every dollar she had. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So when a treatment program offered her an additional incentive -- a
small payment for every drug-free urine sample -- it initially
struck her as a bit silly, especially when her first clean test
earned her $2.50. But soon she had enough money to pay some bills
and buy a new compact disc player. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"At first, its sort of like, 'Yeah, yeah. Whatever,"' said Jessica,
who agreed to be interviewed on the condition that only her first
name be used. "But once we got going, it was kind of nice to be
rewarded for doing something good." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The idea of paying people to stay sober has caught on around the
country as a growing amount of research has indicated it may help
keep notoriously fickle addicts in treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) TV SHOW ZEROES IN ON DRUG ABUSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Local television anchors are going back to school. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Actually, they already have. And you can see on local TV stations
the work they have done with students at four Lane County high
schools. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The half-hour special, to be broadcast Sunday at 6 p.m., is the
seventh annual "One Voice: Media United Against Drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The special is a collaboration between the Lane Education Service
District, Lane County Health and Human Services, all major
television network stations based in Lane County and Eugene area
radio stations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The goal is to provide the community with a way to prevent, treat and diminish drug and alcohol use and abuse - and its consequences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For this year's special, the four local TV stations - KVAL, KEZI,
KMTR and KLSR - adopted a high school's audiovisual class this past
fall. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Local anchors mentored the students as they planned, organized,
filmed, edited and produced vignettes about how drugs and alcohol
can affect high school students' lives. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) OPED: THE TROUBLE WITH TOUGH LOVE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is the ultimate parental nightmare: Your affectionate child is
transformed, seemingly overnight, into an out-of-control,
drug-addicted, hostile teenager. Many parents blame themselves.
"Where did we go wrong?" they ask. The kids, meanwhile, hurtle
through their own bewildering adolescent nightmare. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I know. My descent into drug addiction started in high school and
now, as an adult, I have a much better understanding of my parents'
anguish and of what I was going through. And, after devoting several
years to researching treatment programs, I'm also aware of the traps
that many parents fall into when they finally seek help for their
kids. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Many anguished parents put their faith in strict residential rehab programs. At first glance, these programs, which are commonly based on a philosophy of "tough love," seem to offer a safe respite from the streets -- promising reform through confrontational therapy in an isolated environment where kids cannot escape the need to change their behavior. At the same time, during the '90s, it became increasingly common for courts to sentence young delinquents to military-style boot camps as an alternative to incarceration. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But lack of government oversight and regulation makes it impossible
for parents to thoroughly investigate services provided by such
"behavior modification centers," "wilderness programs" and
"emotional growth boarding schools." Moreover, the very notion of
making kids who are already suffering go through more suffering is
psychologically backwards. And there is little data to support these
institutions' claims of success. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nonetheless, a billion-dollar industry now promotes such tough-love
treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
All those cold sales medication laws to reduce methamphetamine abuse seem to be having an effect: Increasing the trade from Mexico. Maybe that explains all the attention that has been drawn to problems at the border, including an alleged confrontation between U.S. and Mexican military, and the discovery of another huge cross-border smuggling tunnel. Also last week, a man sentenced to life on apparently mistaken meth dealing charges may be released after 5 years in prison; and a Wisconsin report shows the state could save big money by treating, instead of jailing, drug offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) POTENT MEXICAN METH FLOODS IN AS STATES CURB DOMESTIC VARIETY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
DES MOINES -- In the seven months since Iowa passed a law
restricting the sale of cold medicines used to make methamphetamine,
seizures of homemade methamphetamine laboratories have dropped to
just 20 a month from 120. People once terrified about the neighbor's
house blowing up now walk up to the state's drug policy director,
Marvin Van Haaften, at his local Wal-Mart to thank him for making
them safer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Mr. Van Haaften, like officials in other states with similar
restrictions, is now worried about a new problem: the drop in
home-cooked methamphetamine has been met by a new flood of crystal
methamphetamine coming largely from Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sometimes called ice, crystal methamphetamine is far purer, and
therefore even more highly addictive, than powdered home-cooked
methamphetamine, a change that health officials say has led to
greater risk of overdose. And because crystal methamphetamine costs
more, the police say thefts are increasing, as people who once
cooked at home now have to buy it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) MEXICAN OFFICIAL BLAMES U.S. TROOPS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Mexican official suggested Thursday that it was American soldiers disguised as Mexicans who were involved in an armed standoff Monday along the Rio Grande with U.S. law-enforcement officers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez said in a news conference that
U.S. soldiers have helped drug traffickers in the past, but offered
no proof in this instance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Members of the U.S. Army have helped protect people who were
processing and transporting drugs," Derbez said. "And just as that
has happened ... it is very probable that something like that could
have happened, that in reality they were members of some of their
groups disguised as Mexican soldiers with Humvees." | ||||||||||||||||||||
White House officials would not comment on Derbez's claim and
referred all questions to the Department of Defense. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Defense Department spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, said
officials from both Mexico and the United States are investigating
the incident on the Texas border. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) U.S. WARNS ABOUT TIES TO TUNNEL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Immigration Officials: Drug Cartels Threatened Those Who Used, Built | ||||||||||||||||||||
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SAN DIEGO - Those associated with the longest and one of the most
sophisticated tunnels ever discovered along the U.S.-Mexico border
may be in grave danger, U.S. officials said Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it had received
intelligence that a Mexican drug cartel behind the tunnel had
threatened the people who used it or were involved in its design or
construction. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The agency appealed to those at risk to seek out U.S. officials at
Mexican border crossings and pledged to do everything possible to
protect them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) WRONGLY CONVICTED, MAN MAY BE FREED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Judge Overturns Jury's Verdict Because of Error | ||||||||||||||||||||
Five years ago, Paul Magnan was sentenced to 25 years to life for
dealing methamphetamine after a case built on two pieces of
circumstantial evidence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police found a Camel cigarette box full of drugs in a pickup truck
that Magnan, a Camel smoker, was leaning against. In Magnan's pocket
was $300, a large amount of money for a homeless man. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Magnan may soon be freed amid indications that courtroom errors
left the jury with a distorted view of this evidence. A judge threw
out the conviction -- which had been Magnan's third strike --
earlier this month, finding that Magnan's attorney ignored his
innocent explanation for the money: His mother had wired him several
hundred dollars a week before his arrest, so he could fly to visit
her. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) COUNTY COULD SAVE MILLIONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The savings could be huge if Wisconsin treated-instead of jailed-small-time drug offenders, a study has concluded. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The state, including its counties, could save half a billion dollars
a year in the long run, and Rock County could save $18 million a
year if low-level nonviolent drug offenders received treatment
instead of time behind bars, according to a study released today by
an organization called Justice Strategies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Justice Strategies credited legislative leaders-chiefly state Sen.
Carol Roessler, R-Oshkosh, and Rep. Gary Bies, R-Sister Bay-for
requesting the study, which was commissioned by the Drug Policy
Alliance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to its Web site, Drug Policy Alliance is "the nation's
leading organization working to end the war on drugs. We envision
new drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human
rights and a just society in which the fears, prejudices and
punitive prohibitions of today are no more." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Among the study's findings: | ||||||||||||||||||||
- -- Wisconsin's prison population has doubled from 11,000 to 22,000 since 1995. Since 2000, 60 percent of new prisoners are behind bars for substance-abuse offenses, including drunken driving. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (15-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The world is watching as activists rally in Placer County, California to show support for Steve Kubby, who is now fighting for his life in a jail cell and is asking for edible forms of his medicine to control his symptoms. Is the justice system intent on creating his worst case scenario, or will Steve survive his ordeal? | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to SAFER, a short-lived victory could possibly be the
first time in U.S. history that a state legislative body voted to
remove state penalties for recreational marijuana use, but so-called
"sanity" prevailed as we quote from this article, "An amendment
making it easier for Denver pot smokers to escape prosecution slips
into a bill...Lawmakers later killed the amendment but the event did
provide for some hilarity ... " Funny, huh? | ||||||||||||||||||||
So just what is funny in the pot movement? When a NORML chapter
hosts a public joint rolling contest, is it brave, crazy, or funny?
You decide... | ||||||||||||||||||||
Instead of lobbying for regulation out of concern for public health and safety, the police choose to warn marijuana users to be wary after learning dealers may be lacing pot with crystal meth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) POT ACTIVIST ASKING TO USE DRUG IN JAIL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medical marijuana activist Steven Wynn Kubby has asked a Placer
County judge to let him use cannabis in a nonsmoking form while he
serves a 120-day jail sentence in Auburn for a drug conviction in
2000. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An attorney for the 59-year-old Kubby, who says he will die unless
he's allowed to use marijuana to treat a rare form of cancer, made
the request Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) LAWMAKERS PASS, KILL, POT MEASURE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Here's what happens when lawmakers don't pay attention: An amendment
making it easier for Denver pot smokers to escape prosecution slips
into a bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That's what happened Friday in the Colorado House. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lawmakers later killed the amendment but the event did provide for some hilarity as well as pointed comments about what is perceived to be Denver's hypocrisy when its come to following state laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) NORML PARTICIPANTS TO ROLL IN GRASS REVOLUTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Locals will be looking to smoke the competition as the Kottonmouth
Kings weed out the amateurs from the experts at the 2nd annual Isla
Vista Joint Rolling Contest this Saturday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) POLICE SAY SOME DOPE METH-LACED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Delta police are warning marijuana users to be wary after learning
dealers may be lacing pot with crystal meth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police say dealers can easily lace the drug in an attempt to hook
smokers with meth's highly-addictive qualities. | ||||||||||||||||||||
New information obtained by police suggests some dealer may already
be lacing their pot, which has caused grave concern for Lower
Mainland police departments. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The problem is that the mixture, which is undetectable to the naked
eye, can cause "extremely serious medical and health-related
issues." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-23) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Like the Mayor of Davao City Philippines, Tomas Osmena, the Mayor of
Cebu City is "not exactly sad" over numerous extra-legal summary
executions in his city. Why? Because the victims were said by police
to be suspicious characters. You know, drug suspects. So don't go
"making it difficult for our policemen to react aggressively" says
the Mayor. The good mayor of Cebu was reacting to news that the
Archdiocese of Cebu is investigating the over 100 summary executions
of drug suspects since just 2004. Led by Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal
Vidal and Msgr. Achilles Dakay, the Archdiocese of Cebu last week
called on the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to
investigate the illegal murders. The summary executions of two more
police-alleged drug suspects last week in Cebu City punctuated calls
from the Archdiocese for official investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"A coca farmer is going to be in charge of the fight against drugs,"
announced newly-elected Bolivian President Evo Morales, to the
cheers of hundreds of coca farmers last week. Morales appointed
Felipe Caceres, a long-time coca farmer and MAS party supporter.
President Morales has repeatedly pledged to allow the millennia-old
tradition of coca growing to continue in Bolivia, while fighting
cocaine at the same time. Cultivation of up to 30,000 acres of coca
is already legal in Bolivia. Morales has urged increased production
of coca leaf to be used in medicines, in toothpastes, and in
soft-drinks like Coca-Cola. | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. papers remained mum on a recent European Parliament resolution
that calls for governments to "take into consideration the proposal
of licensed production of [Afghan] opium for medical purposes, as
already granted to a number of countries." But the Korea Herald last
week let the news slip: a European Parliament resolution calls for a
change in the U.S. zero-tolerance approach. The worldwide shortages
of traditional opium-based painkillers that are said to be "huge",
and the 45 million people with HIV/AIDS in poor countries, "imply
that the potential legal demand for medicinal opiates is even
higher." The European Parliament resolution echoes an earlier report
by the Senlis Council which recommended re-legalizing the growing of
opium by farmers in Afghanistan. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) TOMAS 'NOT SAD' ABOUT CEBU CITY MURDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NBI Has 'Material Evidence, No Witnesses' | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena is not proud of the vigilante killings but said, "I'm not exactly sad when a criminal gets shot." | ||||||||||||||||||||
He made the statement when sought for his comment on reports that
the Archdiocese of Cebu already finds it "useless" to approach and
ask him to do something about the unsolved murders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It is a question of dosage," he said, admitting that City Hall
cannot just stop the investigation into the vigilante-style killings
since city officials are duty-bound to uphold the law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But that does not mean "making it difficult for our policemen to react aggressively because it's going to be bad also," Osmena said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, according to archdiocesan
media liaison officer Msgr. Achilles Dakay, wants the NBI to take a
look into the 116 unsolved vigilante-related murders since Dec. 22,
2004. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) BISHOPS TAKE UP MURDERS ISSUE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The killing of two brothers in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel, Cebu City
last Sunday deepened the Cebu Archdiocese's concern about Cebu's
peace and order. The archdiocese is turning to the National Bureau
of Investigation (NBI) 7 to take action on the killings that have
claimed 116 lives since Dec. 22, 2004. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Msgr. Achilles Dakay said that as soon Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal
Vidal returns from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) meeting in Manila, a manifesto will be drafted to
request the NBI to step into the case. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The document will also condemn the "senseless" killings, said Dakay,
Cebu Archdiocesan media liaison officer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vidal has expressed dismay that Cebuanos no longer care about human lives given the number of times he has condemned the killings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rolly is said to be an ex-convict and known for his drug business in
the area. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) 2 LOREGA BROTHERS GUNNED DOWN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
TWO brothers died and a 10-year-old boy was wounded in a
vigilante-style shooting inside a house in Barangay Lorega-San
Miguel, Cebu City last night. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Both shot in the head, brothers Rodrigo and Roderick Legaspi had no criminal record, but police believe that the assailants were after Rodrigo because of his alleged involvement in the drug trade. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) COCA GROWER TO FIGHT DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SHINAHOTA, Bolivia - President Evo Morales on Saturday appointed a coca leaf grower to lead the country's fight against drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Morales announced the appointment of Felipe Caceres, a co-founder of
his Movement Toward Socialism party, during a trip to the heart of
Bolivia's coca-growing region. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"A coca farmer is going to be in charge of the fight against drugs,"
Morales said, wearing a hat of woven coca leaves. He drew loud
applause from hundreds of people, many of them coca farmers,
gathered in this lush jungle town. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Morales, who as a candidate pledged to roll back U.S. efforts to
curb coca growing in his country, the world's third-biggest cocaine
producer, took office a week ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The cultivation and sale of small amounts of coca is legal in
Bolivia, with the limit set at 30,000 acres. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The plant is prized by Bolivian indigenous farmers for traditional
medicinal uses and herbal teas. Indians in Bolivia chew coca, a mild
stimulant, to ward off hunger and altitude sickness. Morales has
said he wants to increase production of the leaf for use in
medicines, toothpaste and soft drinks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(23) AFGHANISTAN'S OPIUM FUTURE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This month, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on
Afghanistan that could pave the way for a new and more open-minded
approach to counter-narcotics strategies worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In fact, the resolution calls on the participants at a conference of donors, to take place in London at the end of January, "to take into consideration the proposal of licensed production of opium for medical purposes, as already granted to a number of countries." | ||||||||||||||||||||
This proposal was originally made by the Senlis Council, an
independent organization based in Paris, during a workshop in Kabul
last September. The text introduced by the European Liberal
Democrats, with the support of virtually all political groups in the
European Parliament, is revolutionary, not only because it goes
against conventional thinking, but also because it raises the issue
above the stagnant reality of the "war on drugs." In Afghanistan,
that so-called war has essentially been based on eradication
campaigns and alternative livelihood projects, which have achieved
only scant results. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Indeed, the United Nations estimates that just six countries prescribe
78 percent of the total legal production of opiates, implying shortages
of opium-based painkillers in many of the United Nations' 185 other
member states. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hence the potential legal demand is huge. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Moreover, the United Nations also estimates that there are 45
million people living with HIV/AIDS in countries where health
systems are either absent or very poor, and that over the next 20
years there will be some 10 million new cases of cancer in the
developing world. | ||||||||||||||||||||
These estimates, together with poor countries' additional needs when
natural catastrophes strike, imply that the potential legal demand
for medicinal opiates is even higher. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An increase in production of "medical" opium would address its lack
of availability worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It would also provide Afghan peasants, who have been growing poppy
despite forced eradication of the plant and incentives to change
crops, with an option that is regulated by law and that, in time,
could have an impact on the heroin trade. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MESSING UP THE SYSTEM | ||||||||||||||||||||
A dizzying chronicle of Marc Emery's first 3 decades battling with police, feminists, censors, drug enforcement and Canada at large. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
2006 DRUG POLICY REFORM CONGRESSIONAL VOTER GUIDE | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Survey of The U.S. House of Representatives on Drug Policy Reform | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Report by the Drug Policy Alliance Network | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
AFGHAN OPIUM CONUNDRUM | ||||||||||||||||||||
Four Years On, the West Searches for Answers | ||||||||||||||||||||
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CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
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MPP'S ROB KAMPIA DISCUSSES SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S ATTACK ON THE CCUA | ||||||||||||||||||||
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MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES NEWS UPDATE | ||||||||||||||||||||
January 2, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DRUG WAR REFORMER PEACE SUMMIT II | ||||||||||||||||||||
First of two videos from the Drug War Reformer Peace Summit II in
Toronto, Canada, January 28-29, 2006. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MAPS VS DEA PODCAST | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jag Davies, MAPS staffer, has prepared a podcast telling the story of
the MAPS lawsuit against the DEA, seeking a license to grow marijuana
for government-approved research. | ||||||||||||||||||||
To hear a podcast, featuring interviews with Dr. Lyle Craker, Rick
Doblin and Al Byrne, go here: | ||||||||||||||||||||
You can read background information, media coverage, and court
transcripts from the case on the MAPS website: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
STEVE KUBBY IS IN THE PLACER COUNTY JAIL | ||||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
JOB OPPORTUNITY AT SSDP | ||||||||||||||||||||
Students for Sensible Drug Policy and DanceSafe are seeking
Publications Coordinator. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Application Deadline: Friday March 3rd, 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
JOIN US FOR "HOW TO INCREASE DRUG POLICY REFORM IN YOUR LOCAL MEDIA" | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thu. Feb. 09 / 06, 08:00 p.m. ET, Presented by DrugSense and MAP | ||||||||||||||||||||
Join leading hearts and minds from the drug policy reform movement as we discuss ways to write Letters to the Editor that get printed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
DATA CAN'T PROVE THAT MARIJUANA CAUSES MENTAL ILLNESS | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Jim Grose | ||||||||||||||||||||
Re: We need the truth about marijuana, Sept. 15. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Letter-writer L.S. Davidson proposes more research on the long-term
effects of marijuana use. She specifically proposes a data base,
with hospital psychiatrists collecting data on patient use and
illness. | ||||||||||||||||||||
There are several problems with this approach. | ||||||||||||||||||||
First, we would only have data on people who have used marijuana and
are seeking treatment. What about all those who have used marijuana
but are not suffering from mental illness? What about all those who
have used marijuana, are suffering from mental illness but are not
seeking treatment? To compute rates we would need the total number
of users and the number who suffer from mental illness. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even so, this would not reveal any cause-effect relationship.
Smoking marijuana may predispose a person to mental illness. Mental
illness may predispose a person to smoke marijuana. Which came
first, the chicken or the egg? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additionally, a third unknown factor may predispose a person to both
mental illness and smoking marijuana; that is, both are effects and
neither is the cause of the other. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In fact, the necessary data are already collected by Statistics
Canada. The Canadian Community Health Survey collects | ||||||||||||||||||||
Why reinvent the wheel? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jim Grose, | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
By NORML | ||||||||||||||||||||
February 2, 2006 - Juneau, AK, USA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Juneau, AK: House representatives voted this week to reject Senate provisions that sought to overturn a 1975 Alaska Supreme Court ruling (Ravin v. State) upholding the right of citizens to possess up to four ounces of marijuana in the privacy of their homes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Senate had approved the provisions, which would make the
possession of less than four ounces of marijuana a misdemeanor and
the possession of greater amounts a felony, as amendments to House
Bill 149, which primarily addresses the manufacturing of
methamphetamine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
However, last night the House voted 23 to 15 to send the bill back to the Senate, ordering them to withdraw the changes. If the Senate refuses to do so, a conference committee of representatives and senators will try to reach a compromise that both chambers can agree | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
A similar, 2005 stand-alone version of the marijuana bill failed to
garner a vote in either chamber. | ||||||||||||||||||||
NORML's Legal Counsel Keith Stroup praised the House for voting down
the Senate's anti-marijuana provisions. "These provisions,
introduced at the behest of the Governor, had not been properly
debated by House lawmakers," he said. "The Senate's attempt to merge
these provisions with a popular anti-methamphetamine bill that had
been previously approved by the House was a cynical attempt to try
and recriminalize cannabis without engaging in any substantive
legislative debate." | ||||||||||||||||||||
If the conference committee approves the proposed marijuana
penalties, it will likely force the Court to revisit its 1975
ruling. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If that happens, the Court will likely rebuff the legislature,
Stroup predicts. "The right to privacy is more important to the
Court and to most Alaskans than the Governor's ill-advised war on
marijuana smokers," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In 2004, the Alaska Supreme Court rejected a petition by the state
attorney general's office to reconsider a September 2003 Court of
Appeals ruling finding that the possession of marijuana by adults
within the home is constitutionally protected activity. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For more information about NORML, see http://www.norml.org | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I don't know how you do it back East, but this is the people's house. Everybody has a right to be here just as much as you do. When you said this to us, you showed us where you were really at. I don't think you should go to a state and say such things about their people." - New Mexico Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, responding to a presentation against medical marijuana by an official from the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by guest editor Deb Harper (), International content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||
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