| Oct. 27, 2006 #472 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) WHERE'S JACKI'S MEDICINE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Mark Green Doesn't Support Medical Marijuana for Seriously Ill People | ||||||||||||||||||
Polls show that an astounding 80% of Wisconsin residents favor
legalizing marijuana for seriously or terminally ill patients if a
physician supports that course of therapy. | ||||||||||||||||||
But don't count Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green as a
member of the majority. | ||||||||||||||||||
Medical marijuana activists have been seeking answers from Green, the
son of a South African doctor, about his views on allowing seriously
ill people to use marijuana as part of a state-regulated program. When
Madison resident Gary Storck wrote to Green last year, Green's letter
indicated that he was against legalizing medical marijuana, even for
those suffering from debilitating medical conditions. "Smoking
marijuana, even in small amounts, carries health risks that exceed any
perceived therapeutic effects," Green wrote. "I believe current medical
options are superior to legalizing an addictive and dangerous illegal
drug." | ||||||||||||||||||
Jacki Rickert, founder of Is My Medicine Legal Yet? (IMMLY), wasn't
satisfied with that answer. "That's a belief, not a scientific fact,"
she said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Rickert, who suffers from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Advanced Reflex
Sympathetic Dystrophy, wants to know what these "superior" options are.
"Is there something that our doctors and pharmacists don't know?" she
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) RED RIBBON SPEAKER WARNS ABOUT MANIPULATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
RED BLUFF - Even very smart people can be fooled, this was the message
given to students, parents and teachers at Monday's Red Ribbon Week
Kick-off held at the State Theatre. | ||||||||||||||||||
Robert Fellows, motivational speaker and professional illusionist was
the keynote speaker. Fellows is a Harvard graduate with a master's
degree in theology and is well known for his message which promotes
self-responsibility. | ||||||||||||||||||
"No one wants to be trapped in jail," said Fellows. "But what is much
more dangerous is being trapped in our minds." | ||||||||||||||||||
He punctuated his remarks with illusions which kept the audience
laughing and scratching their heads. He did tricks with rings and even
escaped from a straitjacket. Fellows broke the number one magician rule
by explaining how some of it was done. However, he did this with a
purpose, to show just how manipulation can be used as mind control to
get people to do harmful things. | ||||||||||||||||||
"A lot of good people who have been taught all the right things make really bad decisions," said Fellows. "It's a natural human trait to want someone to lift the burden of making decisions for them." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In his book "Easily Fooled: New Insights and Techniques for Resisting
Manipulation," Fellows gives a list of common personality traits that
make people easily vulnerable to manipulation. | ||||||||||||||||||
He lists such items as stress, transition, dependency, unassertiveness,
gullibility, the desire to want simple answers to complex questions, an
idealistic view of things, disillusionment, unfulfilled desire for
spirituality, and traumatic experiences. | ||||||||||||||||||
To sum it up, he said basically, "That is anyone." | ||||||||||||||||||
Fellows told the audience that one of the reasons people do drugs or
make any kind of bad decision, even if they know the right decision is
that they put authority in other people. Most people want to be right
and be accepted. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) MONTHLY DRUG USE 'NOT THAT DANGEROUS' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
ALMOST 20 per cent of people do not believe monthly or weekly use of
amphetamines, heroin, ecstasy or hallucinogens pose great health risks,
a report has revealed. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Illicit Drug Use In Queensland report by the state's Crime and
Misconduct Commission analysed the views of 13,000 people over the age
of 18, between 2002 and 2005. | ||||||||||||||||||
While the majority of respondents believed weekly drug use to be
harmful, almost 20 per cent believed monthly use of hard drugs - dubbed
so because of the harm they can do - carried only moderate or slight
risks, or none at all. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sleeping pills and tranquilizers were thought to be the safest, with only 67 per cent believing their use carried great risks. | ||||||||||||||||||
Amphetamines and ecstasy were rated the same, with just over 20 per
cent believing there were moderate, slight or no risks involved with
using. | ||||||||||||||||||
Heroin was perceived to be the most dangerous drug, with nearly all
citing great risks involved with its use. | ||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis - a soft drug - was thought to be the safest, with less than
40 per cent believing its use carried a great risk. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) POT ACTIVIST TO GET NEW TRIAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Judge 'usurped' jurors' function by ordering conviction, top court
rules | ||||||||||||||||||
Jurors have an unassailable power to refuse to convict accused people
if they sense that a law or prosecution is unjust, the Supreme Court of
Canada ruled yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
A 7-0 majority ordered a new trial for a Calgary medical marijuana activist -- Grant Wayne Krieger -- concluding that Mr. Krieger was deprived of a probable acquittal when a judge instructed two conscience-stricken jurors that they had no choice but to convict him. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Unfortunately, the trial judge usurped the jury's function," Mr. Justice Morris Fish wrote for the court. "He evidently considered it his duty to order the jury to convict, and to make it plain to the jurors that they were not free to reach any other conclusion." | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Krieger, a 52-year-old man who suffers from multiple sclerosis,
admitted the essence of the offence at his trial. He proceeded to
throw himself on the mercy of the jury, explaining that he produced and
distributed the illegal drug in order to alleviate the suffering of
others. | ||||||||||||||||||
This rarely used legal tactic -- known as jury nullification -- has succeeded from time to time in cases where jurors sympathized with the plight of an accused person who was being prosecuted under a controversial law. Those who favour it believe that jury nullification is a vital safeguard against oppressive laws and unjust prosecutions. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In Oregon, after about six years of legal challenges, the State Supreme Court narrowly ruled in favor of the people vs. police when it comes to property seizures. The court ruled that police do have to follow a voter initiative that place restrictions on the forfeiture of cash and property. In Tennessee, an unusually forthright criminologist explains what makes the murder rate increase (hint: it's got quite a bit to do with drug prohibition). | ||||||||||||||||||
Also last week, in the wake of news that cannabis can help
Alzheimer's, comes more news that current conventional Alzheimer's
treatments don't really do anything. And, in Indiana, police seem to
be getting a little nostalgic for that allegedly lower potency meth
that the locals used to make, as opposed to the high grade stuff
coming from out of state. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) DIVIDED SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS RESTRICTIONS ON POLICE SEIZURES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Compromise Bill From Legislature Nullified by Ruling | ||||||||||||||||||
A divided Oregon Supreme Court decided Thursday to uphold
restrictions that voters approved on police seizures of property and
cash connected with illegal activity. | ||||||||||||||||||
Voters barred police agencies from using civil lawsuits to seize and
sell property unless it was tied to a criminal conviction of the
property owner. The measure also directed proceeds from such sales
to drug treatment rather than police operations. | ||||||||||||||||||
Police initiated 1,526 seizures in 2000, but after the measure
passed, only 389 in 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||
A legal challenge was filed in 2001 by the Lincoln Interagency Narcotics Team. Marion County Judge Pamela Abernethy upheld the measure in 2001, but a divided Oregon Court of Appeals overturned it in 2003. The high court, by a 4-3 vote, upheld Abernethy. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) CRIMINOLOGIST EXPLAINS REASONS BEHIND RISING MURDER RATE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Local residents who consider the right to bear arms a basic freedom
will probably be relieved to know a noted criminologist places the
responsibility for murder on individuals, not weapons. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It's not just guns. You can't blame it all on firearms," Dr. Jack
Levin said Thursday. "There are guns everywhere." | ||||||||||||||||||
He pointed out that in single-victim crimes, even when a semiautomatic weapon is used, the pistol is usually only fired once. | ||||||||||||||||||
He said the problem is there are "handguns in the hands of
youngsters who shouldn't have them." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
One notable period of low homicide rates was between the 1950s and
1965. With baby boomers creating a huge number of teenagers in the | ||||||||||||||||||
And while the rate rose and fell after that time, "in 1986, nobody expected the murder rate was going to spike again," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
He said the increase was attributable to the Reagan administration's
"War on Drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||
Levin explained that during that time a large number of adult drug
dealers were incarcerated, creating a "vacuum" in the drug market
that was filled by teenagers. | ||||||||||||||||||
He said these youths were not carrying semiautomatic weapons, but
small, easily concealed revolvers. | ||||||||||||||||||
"There's a big difference in a firearm in the hand of a 14-year-old
as opposed to a 44-year-old," Levin said, adding that during that
time period there were several incidents of individuals being struck
and killed by stray bullets. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Killing to protect their drug market is a big part of it," Levin
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) CORPORATE DRUGS USELESS AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S | ||||||||||||||||||
Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca have been making $2
billion a year selling useless pills to Alzheimer's patients (
including almost a million Medicare "beneficiaries" ). This is the
bottom line of a study published this week in the New England
Journal of Medicine that evaluated the effectiveness of Seroquel,
Risperdal and Zyprexa, drugs known as "atypical antipsychotics,"
which are routinely prescribed to Alzheimer's patients. A group led
by Lon Schneider, MD, at the University of Southern California
School of Medicine found that 80% of Alzheimer's patients they
studied stopped taking the drugs before the trial ended due to
ineffectiveness and side-effects. | ||||||||||||||||||
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health,
whose director, Thomas R. Insel, commented "We need to come up with
better medications." Indeed -more than 4.5 million Americans have
been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Its environmental causes remain
unknown ( the fake food must factor in ) and it is occurring with
increasing frequency. | ||||||||||||||||||
The rage associated with Alzheimer's is one of the conditions for
which Oregon doctors can authorize cannabis use. Perhaps Dr. Insel
should fund a study of its efficacy there -it's just a matter of
collecting the data. | ||||||||||||||||||
Paul Armentano of NORML has summarized the recent scientific
literature on cannabinoid therapy for Alzheimer's patients. It looks
promising: | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) IMPORTED METH: STATE'S NEW SCOURGE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
'Ice' Heats Up Amid War Against Indiana-Made Drug | ||||||||||||||||||
Greenwood police have seized $300,000 of methamphetamine -- a drug
that police in Indiana have been fighting hard to eradicate -- in a
bust involving a highly addictive and often-imported variety called
"ice." | ||||||||||||||||||
Police say ice, often three times as pure and expensive as its
Indiana-made counterpart, typically travels a route that begins in
Mexico, crosses the border and then is distributed across the United
States. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Police in a small Florida town have decided to take a shortcut to
justice, unfortunately like a number of other local police forces,
by encouraging people stopped for drugs to essentially buy their way
out of an arrest. Also last week, alleged drug corruption of a
police dispatcher; the National Guard wastes its time and that of
students; and Albany, New York is getting aggressive with
drug-related home forfeitures, whether all of the inhabitants are
guilty or not. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) BRADENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BYPASSING COURTS IN FORFEITURES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
BRADENTON -- For years, the Bradenton Police Department has quietly,
without judicial review, confiscated hundreds of thousands of
dollars in cash and property from people they arrested for drug
possession and other crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||
The police bypass the courts and confiscate money and property on
the spot through a department-created form called the "Contraband
Forfeiture Agreement." By signing it, a person agrees to relinquish
their property to the police and waive any rights they have to try
to get it back through the courts. | ||||||||||||||||||
In some cases -- including one last year where police seized more
than $43,000 from a man during a traffic stop -- people have signed
over cash and other property without ever getting charged with a
crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
The cash and revenue from other forfeited property, such as cars,
DVDs and TVs, go into a police bank account and is spent on
equipment, drug abuse prevention and community-based programs. The
bank account has reached $150,000 in recent years. | ||||||||||||||||||
Attorneys and constitutional law scholars say they are concerned Bradenton police may be pressuring people to sign away property -- and their legal rights -- without an attorney. State laws under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act say a person is entitled to have a judge, not a police officer, determine the merits of forfeiture. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Who knows what they are telling people to get them to sign it," said Sarasota-based defense attorney Henry E. Lee, who represented a woman last year in a police forfeiture case in Bradenton. "This is a source of revenue for the police, and it's just rife for abuse." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) DISPATCHER ACCUSED OF WARNING SUSPECT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Bexar County Sheriff's Department 911 dispatcher supervisor used
her position to look up the criminal histories of people in
connection with a marijuana-smuggling conspiracy she's accused of
participating in and to warn another suspect when law officers were
nearby, according to a court affidavit filed Monday. | ||||||||||||||||||
The sheriff's office was unaware of the alleged activity by Barbara Villarreal, a 14-year-employee who was arrested Saturday in an undercover federal sting, according to Deputy Chief Andy Lozano. | ||||||||||||||||||
Arrested by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
Villarreal learned Monday that she's facing five to 40 years in
prison on each of the two charges: conspiracy to possess with intent
to distribute marijuana, and possession with intent to distribute
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) NATIONAL GUARD HELPS STUDENTS 'STAY ON TRACK' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
With a Blackhawk helicopter, Humvees and a race car on school
grounds, it is not hard to get students' attention. | ||||||||||||||||||
And once the National Guard officers had the Fieldale-Collinsville
Middle School students' attention Thursday, they launched an
anti-drug program called "Stay on Track." | ||||||||||||||||||
The kickoff at the middle school was the first in Virginia, said
Chief Warrant Officer Thomas French, one of the program's
organizers, because that school was the first to work out scheduling
and other details. | ||||||||||||||||||
The program is sponsored by the National Guard Bureau, based in
Washington, D.C. | ||||||||||||||||||
Stay on Track is a 12-lesson program that combines drug use
prevention with the appeal of motorsports to combat peer pressure in
middle schools, said Sgt. Kenneth Muse, who teaches the program at
Fieldale-Collinsville and Laurel Park middle schools. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) HOMES NO SAFE HAVEN FOR DEALS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
ALBANY -- Albany County prosecutors are broadcasting a new message to drug dealers they hope will resonate with even hardened criminals: Sling drugs from home, and we'll even evict your mom. | ||||||||||||||||||
When police swoop in to raid suspected drug dens, family members can
and will be thrown out if they knew what was happening and did
nothing about it, authorities said. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We demand that everybody be evicted," Assistant District Attorney
Jessica Blain-Lewis, who has been bringing the cases since November,
said flatly. "It's going to be up to the judge to decide who knew or
should have known." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Despite the feds playing down their war on pot, NORML reports that in 2005, more marijuana users then ever were victimized by arrest. This is the highest number of people (and inadvertently their families), to be traumatized by the experience of being processed through the system...until the 2006 figures are released, that is. | ||||||||||||||||||
A more civil response to the war on pot can be found on ballots
around the country as the November 7 mid-terms loom. The two
statewide initiatives in Colorado and Nevada are joined by many
smaller local initiatives in South Dakota, California, Montana and
Arkansas. Hopefully these initiatives will continue to spread far
and wide with each election because many reformers are stepping up
and participating in various races as mainstream and third party
candidates. Despite the odds in some cases, they are all wished a
successful victory. | ||||||||||||||||||
Holy contrived monopoly! A private company in Canada that grows pot
for the federal medical cannabis program is expanding operations in
response to demand for their product - which many patients claim is
inferior to most blackmarket cannabis. Until it is successfully
challenged in court, the government plans to slowly phase out
allowing patients to grow their own, or designate someone else -
which will allow no choice other than inferior government-produced
product. | ||||||||||||||||||
Now to the other side of the world to see where the pot war at home
is heading if our efforts are not successful: Dumaguete City in the
Philippines will soon ban images of the ubiquitous pot leaf and
other illegal drugs. Although this is occurring in one city in one
developing country, is it only a matter of time before the idea of
suppressing this universal symbol and all it represents, will be
seized upon by other zealots around the globe? What a profound
psychological impact that will have on our concept of freedom of
expression. | ||||||||||||||||||
Lastly, the worst case scenario of the pot war insanity is
epitomized in an article about a Malaysia man who was convicted 13
years ago of trafficking 1kg of cannabis and lost all appeals of his
extremely harsh sentence. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) NORML REPORTS MARIJUANA ARRESTS HIGHEST EVER LAST YEAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana
Laws more people were arrested nationwide on marijuana charges last
year than ever before. | ||||||||||||||||||
In 2005, 786,545 people were arrested on marijuana charges, about
15,000 more than 2004 and more than double than 1990. | ||||||||||||||||||
"These numbers belie the myth that police do not target and arrest
minor marijuana offenders," said NORML Executive Director Allen St.
Pierre in a September NORML press release. "This effort is a
tremendous waste of criminal justice resources that diverts law
enforcement personnel away from focussing on serious and violent
crime, including the war on terrorism." | ||||||||||||||||||
He said a marijuana smoker is arrested about every 40 seconds. | ||||||||||||||||||
About 88 percent of the 786,545 arrested last year were charged with
possession, St. Pierre said. | ||||||||||||||||||
According to NORML, marijuana arrests outnumbered the total arrests for all violent crimes, including murder rape and robbery. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Enforcing marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers between $10 billion
and $12 billion annually and has led to the arrests of 18 million
Americans," St. Pierre said. "Arresting hundreds of thousands of
American who smoke marijuana responsibly needlessly destroys the
lives of otherwise law abiding citizens." | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) COLO, NEV TO VOTE ON EASING POT LAWS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
DENVER -- Colorado and Nevada could become leaders in the movement
to legalize marijuana, when voters decide Nov. 7 whether to remove
all penalties for adults 21 or older possessing up to an ounce of
the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
Alaska is the only state that allows penalty-free possession of
marijuana, the result of a court decision in August striking down
part of a state law that made it a misdemeanor for adults to have
less than 1 ounce of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
In addition to the two statewide ballot measures, at least five
cities are letting voters decide whether to direct police to make
enforcement of marijuana laws a low priority. Those towns: Missoula,
Mont.; Eureka Springs, Ark.; and three California communities --
Santa Cruz, Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Last year, 54% of Denver voters approved a similar measure for the city, but it has had little impact because most cases are prosecuted under state law. "The city initiative didn't change anything," says Vince DiCroce, head of the city attorney's prosecution staff. | ||||||||||||||||||
A Rocky Mountain News poll in late September showed 53% of Colorado
voters oppose this year's referendum, while 42% favor the marijuana
measure. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In Nevada, where voters defeated a legalization measure in 2002 by
61%, this year's measure is broader than the one in Colorado. It
would allow adults to possess up to an ounce, but also boost
criminal penalties for drivers who cause death or serious injury
while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Colorado and Nevada are among 11 states that treat possession of small amounts of marijuana as misdemeanors or petty offenses. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) POT BUSINESS GROWS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SASKATOON - The federal Conservative government may have slashed
research funding into medical marijuana earlier this month, but
Prairie Plant Systems Inc., the Saskatoon company that has the
contract to grow pot for approved medical users, was not negatively
impacted. | ||||||||||||||||||
In fact, company president Brent Zettl says a one-year extension of
the contract to grow the marijuana at a secure underground growth
chamber located in a Flin Flon mine workings was signed Oct. 1. It
actually calls for a doubling of the volume for the coming year and
more revenue for his company. | ||||||||||||||||||
"At this stage of the game we're supplying about 300 to 325 people on a monthly basis who have an exemption for medicinal purposes who have a medical condition that grants them that exemption." | ||||||||||||||||||
The number of patients gaining that exemption is growing so the
legal medical marijuana program is now close to running out of
supply, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We're shipping out somewhere between 32 and 35 kilograms a month
and we currently produce about 20," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) MARIJUANA IMAGES DISPLAY BAN EYED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Starting this December or January next year, people in Dumaguete
City wearing T-shirts, baseball caps or backpacks with printed
images of illegal drugs will be apprehended and either fined or
imprisoned. | ||||||||||||||||||
The ban will start once the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor
Noel de Jesus is approved. | ||||||||||||||||||
De Jesus, in his resolution, said the local government unit has the
duty to protect the morality of society, particularly the youth,
against the eroding influence of drug abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||
He said many parents and other concerned people are in consternation
especially during trade fairs or annual celebrations, when items or
things that display pictures and emblems of certain dangerous drugs
or illegal substances are sold indiscriminately. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
But there are exceptions when the display of images or symbols of
dangerous drugs is allowed. | ||||||||||||||||||
These are when the image bears a caption that identifies the
substance as dangerous drugs; if it is used for scientific pursuit
and educational exercises; and during dangerous drugs education
campaigns, De Jesus said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The fine ranges between P500 and P1,000 for the first offense, a 60-day community service for the second offense, and both fine and imprisonment of not less than six months for the third offense. | ||||||||||||||||||
De Jesus said proprietors or managers of commercial or business
establishments found violating the ordinance will also be held
liable. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) ELECTRICIAN'S DEATH SENTENCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjum and
Federal Court Justices Arifin Zakaria and Nik Hashim Nik Ab Rahman
rejected Mohd Azhar Saad's counsel Datuk K. Kumaraendran's
contention that the Court of Appeal had erred in law when it
accepted his client's statement made to a lance corporal at the time
of his arrest. | ||||||||||||||||||
In November 1994, the High Court found Mohd Azhar, 38, guilty of
trafficking in the drug at the Bukit Kayu Hitam immigration complex
in Kedah on July 6, 1993. | ||||||||||||||||||
His appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed in August 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||
Yesterday, Kumaraendran told the Federal Court that for a statement
to be admissible as evidence, it must be made to a police inspector
or an officer of higher rank. | ||||||||||||||||||
Deputy Public Prosecutor Manoj Kurup countered that the evidence of
trafficking was overwhelming as Mohd Azhar had been caught in
possession of the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Prohibitionists in Washington D.C. must be proud of prohibition this
week, as violence among rival Mexican drug lords ended in a series
of brutal beheadings which included some law enforcement personnel,
all just in time for "Red Ribbon Week." While many see the violence
as another crop of Al Capone-like traffickers vying for market
share, Mexican officials insist that "the violence is a sign that
[police] have made progress dismantling the major organized crime
families." Recent arrests of figures alleged to be "drug lords" in
Mexico resulted in bloody turf battles as rival drug gangs step into
the vacuum left by the earlier arrests. | ||||||||||||||||||
This week Canadian and U.N. officials rejected conclusions offered
in a report drawn up by the The Senlis Council, which recommended
that Afghani farmers simply be allowed to grow opium as legal
painkillers "to meet Third World demands." While pooh-poohing the
idea that farmers just be paid market rates for their opium (a
fraction of the current drug-fighting funds Western governments pour
now into Afghanistan), Canadian military officials admit that
drug-lords would indeed be cut out of the deal. "[D]rug lords might
have a different view of the Senlis buyers and the potential loss of
their $2.3-billion-US-per-year revenue stream." | ||||||||||||||||||
In a frank admission of how drug prohibition works in the U.K., a
row was created in the press after police were accused of dropping
drug investigations to focus on violent crime, and also because
annual drug arrest quotas had already been met. The uproar followed
claims by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary that two police
divisions in North Wales were told not to bother investigating
certain drug arrests because "further arrests would lead to a higher
target the following year," according the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The row apparently stemmed from an internal police memo that
suggested a shift from enforcing victimless anti-drugs laws to
crimes which have identifiable victims. The order to focus less on
drug crimes was to help "exceed our targets for burglary, violent
crime, vehicle crime and hate crime," read the internal police memo
which started the row. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(18) WITH BEHEADINGS, DRUG GANGS TERRORIZE MEXICO (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
An underworld war between drug gangs is raging in Mexico, medieval in its barbarity, its foot soldiers operating with little fear of interference from the police, its scope and brutality unprecedented, even in a country accustomed to high levels of drug violence. | ||||||||||||||||||
In recent months the violence has included a total of two dozen
beheadings, a raid on a local police station by men with grenades
and a bazooka, and daytime kidnappings of top law enforcement
officials. At least 123 law enforcement officials, among them 2
judges and 3 prosecutors, have been gunned down or tortured to
death. Five police officers were among those beheaded. | ||||||||||||||||||
In all, the violence has claimed more than 1,700 civilian lives this year, and federal officials say the killings are on course to top the estimated 1,800 underworld killings last year. Those death tolls compare with 1,304 in 2004 and 1,080 in 2001, these officials say. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mexico's law enforcement officials maintain that the violence is a sign that they have made progress dismantling the major organized crime families in the country. The arrests of several drug cartel leaders and their top lieutenants have set off a violent struggle among second-rank mobsters for trade routes, federal prosecutors say. The old order has been fractured, and the remaining drug dealers are killing one another or making new alliances. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||
(19) POPPIES TOUTED AS A GOOD THING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Canadian and United Nations experts are dismissing key elements of a
report by an international think-tank that urges Canada to take the
lead in developing new NATO strategies in Afghanistan such as
legitimizing poppy production to meet Third World demands for
painkillers. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Senlis Council report, originally released in June, was
submitted to a symposium yesterday, where the Conference of Defence
Associations dismissed its main recommendation as superficial and
nonsensical. | ||||||||||||||||||
The paper by Norine MacDonald, the development and security think
tank's lead field researcher in Kandahar province, says the military
situation in southern Afghanistan has declined dramatically in
recent months due largely to a failure to win the hearts and minds
of the local populace. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Her recommendations include a call for implementation of a
poppy-licensing system in Afghanistan to allow production of
much-needed pain-relieving medicines such as morphine and codeine
for developing countries. | ||||||||||||||||||
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reported in its
Afghanistan Opium Survey 2006 that opium poppy acreage increased 59%
last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
Afghan opium production - some 6,100 tonnes, worth more than $50 billion U.S. annually - accounts for 92% of global opium supply. | ||||||||||||||||||
Brian MacDonald, a military analyst with the Conference of Defence
Associations, called the Senlis proposal a "novel" approach, but
added that a price analysis of the opium trade suggests there
wouldn't be much incentive for farmers to participate. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Mind you," he wrote in response to the Senlis paper, "it would only
cost about $760 million a year to meet the drug lord price, which
might well be a bargain. | ||||||||||||||||||
"On the other hand, the drug lords might have a different view of
the Senlis buyers and the potential loss of their | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(20) STOP TRACKING DRUG DEALERS, WE'VE ARRESTED ENOUGH ALREADY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A police force criticised for its supposed liberal stance on drugs
was yesterday accused of ordering officers to stop logging
intelligence about drug dealers because they had already hit the
annual arrests target. | ||||||||||||||||||
The HM Inspectorate of Constabulary claimed that two divisions
within North Wales Police were "instructed" not to enter the
information on the force computer as further arrests would lead to a
higher target the following year. | ||||||||||||||||||
The HMIC's annual report into the force said the order was later
withdrawn but claimed it reflected "a worrying aspect of performance
culture". | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The force's figures so far this year show a 63 per cent drop in charges and summonses for Class A supply, from 83 to 30. | ||||||||||||||||||
The force is led by Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom, who has been
criticised for his crusade against speeding motorists and a
relatively liberal attitude to drug policy. He has called for some
drugs to be legalised. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PROPOSITION 215 TEN YEARS LATER | ||||||||||||||||||
Medical Marijuana Goes Mainstream | ||||||||||||||||||
MPP Foundation's report examining the impact of California's landmark
medical marijuana law. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LORETTA NALL MAKES MEDIA SPLASH | ||||||||||||||||||
Loretta on Countdown with Keith Olbermann: | ||||||||||||||||||
On MTV Canada: | ||||||||||||||||||
On Fox and Friends | ||||||||||||||||||
See more at http://nallforgovernor.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
WHAT IF CIGARETTES BECAME THE NEW PROHIBITION? | ||||||||||||||||||
According to a recent survey of registered voters by Zogby
International, 45% of Americans would support a federal law making
cigarettes illegal in the next five to ten years. 57% of 18-29 year
olds were in favor of the idea. These numbers prompt a series of
questions | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
REGULATE MARIJUANA IN NEVADA WEBISODE #3 - "HIDE AND SEEK" | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
CRACKS IN THE SYSTEM | ||||||||||||||||||
ACLU Releases Crack Cocaine Report, Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986
Deepened Racial Inequity in Sentencing | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Please Support Reform - Vote! | ||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday, November 7th is Election Day. How folks like you vote could
have a real, substantial, impact on drug policy reform - and our laws -
in the years ahead. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
RETIRED COP SAYS "VOTE YES ON QUESTION 7" | ||||||||||||||||||
By Howard J. Wooldridge | ||||||||||||||||||
To the Editor, | ||||||||||||||||||
As the debate takes place on October 17th, keep this in mind. | ||||||||||||||||||
As an organization of hundreds of law enforcement professionals, we
support the Nevada effort to have the government, not criminals,
regulate marijuana. Marijuana prohibition reduces public safety.
Road officers in Nevada will spend about as much time searching for
a baggie of pot, as they do searching and arresting DUIs.
Detectives/narcs who bust those who sell adults an ounce of pot are
not at that moment searching for child molesters, rapists and those
breaking into our homes. | ||||||||||||||||||
During my 18 years of police service I was dispatched to zero calls generated by the use of marijuana. What else do you need to know that pot use by adults in their home is not worth police time? | ||||||||||||||||||
Officer Howard J. Wooldridge ( retired ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
(www.leap.cc ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Washington, DC | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
10 Steps To End The Drug War | ||||||||||||||||||
By Mark Greer | ||||||||||||||||||
While the main purpose of DrugSense is to encourage accuracy and
honesty in the media with respect to illegal drugs, our goal is
ultimately to stop the costly and ineffective drug war. Through our
extensive archive of more than 170,000 articles on all aspects of
drug policy, we have identified 10 specific steps that would result
in ending prohibition as we know it. | ||||||||||||||||||
1. Grant agronomist Lyle Craker a license to grow medicinal-grade | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
2. Pass the Hinchey-Rohrbacher Amendment. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
3. Accept the Petition to Reschedule Cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
4. Make Afghani opium available to pharmaceutical companies. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
5. Defund the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
6. Increase funding for needle exchange and safe consumption sites. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
7. Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Sentencing. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
8. Free non-violent drug prisoners and stop the Federal trials of Marc | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
9. Develop citizen oversight boards for SWAT squads. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
10. Pass as many lowest-priority marijuana initiatives as possible. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Of course, we at DrugSense know that many more steps need be taken
to move away from drug policies based on fear, prejudice, and
misinformation, and toward policies grounded in science, reason, and
compassion. If you have an idea or step that could be added to this
list, please post it to | ||||||||||||||||||
While you are at it, please make a contribution to help fund the
hard work that makes such a list possible. | ||||||||||||||||||
You may also mail a check or money order to: | ||||||||||||||||||
14252 Culver Drive #328 | ||||||||||||||||||
Do not forget about our matching funds grant! Every dollar you
donate will be matched by a generous funder. Your contribution will
have twice the value! http://www.drugsense.org/donate/ | ||||||||||||||||||
Help change drug policy now! You can begin by pushing for these 10
steps and by donating to DrugSense to promote more sensible
policies. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mark Greer is the Executive Director of DrugSense | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the
individual who can labor in freedom." - Albert Einstein | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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: | ||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by
Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection
and analysis by Deb Harper (), International
content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (),
Layout by Matt Elrod (). Analysis comments
represent the personal views of editors, and not necessarily the
views of DrugSense. | ||||||||||||||||||
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