| Nov. 3, 2006 #473 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) A VIRGINIA SHERIFF IS CHARGED WITH SELLING SEIZED EVIDENCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The sheriff of Henry County, Va., and 19 other people were charged
yesterday with taking part in a scheme to sell drugs and other evidence
seized from dealers back to the community. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The charges against the sheriff, H. Franklin Cassell, followed a
lengthy investigation by the United States attorney's office in
Roanoke. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal investigators began to suspect that the Sheriff's Department was involved in drug trafficking in 2005, officials said, when drug enforcement officials in Philadelphia intercepted a package containing the drug ketamine that had been mailed to a house owned by a sergeant with the department. Ketamine is often used in so-called date rapes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Among the 20 people charged are 13 current and former officers in the
department, a former United States Postal Service employee and a state
probation officer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The United States attorney, John L. Brownlee, said at a news conference
that the scheme had involved officers and former officers working with
drug dealers to distribute ketamine, cocaine, marijuana and steroids.
The members of the department worked with a drug ring to take a variety
of items seized from criminals, including not only drugs but also
firearms, cash, automotive equipment and even lawn mowers, the
indictment said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It is disgraceful corruption that they would take narcotics seized
from the community," Mr. Brownlee said, "and then members of law
enforcement would put them right back out there." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) U.S. PLANS TO SCREEN ALL WHO ENTER, LEAVE COUNTRY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Personal Data Will Be Cross-Checked With Terrorism Watch Lists; Risk
Profiles to Be Stored for Years | ||||||||||||||||||||
The federal government disclosed details yesterday of a border-security
program to screen all people who enter and leave the United States,
create a terrorism risk profile of each individual and retain that
information for up to 40 years. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The details, released in a notice published yesterday in the Federal Register, open a new window on the government's broad and often controversial data-collection effort directed at American and foreign travelers, which was implemented after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. | ||||||||||||||||||||
While long known to scrutinize air travelers, the Department of
Homeland Security is seeking to apply new technology to perform similar
checks on people who enter or leave the country "by automobile or on
foot," the notice said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The department intends to use a program called the Automated Targeting
System, originally designed to screen shipping cargo, to store and
analyze the data. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) WHEN DOES THE MEDIA HELP DRUG DEALERS? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A New York Times study published in September finds modern journalists
must act like drug dealers to avoid government spies and successfully
report big issues of possible government corruption. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reporters should use erasable notes and disposable phones with
untraceable numbers, the study suggests. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This means the National Security Agency isn't only after terrorists.
Brian Ross, the chief investigative reporter for ABC News, said in May
he uses similar techniques to avoid government spies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Is it lawful for government spies to keep a check on reporters? It is
by today's standard. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The FBI and CIA argue information leaked by government employees
potentially compromises their investigations. In the end, reporters
keep tabs on law enforcement and vice versa. It's an endless cycle of
preemptive information gathering that predates the civil rights
movement. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
With the war on drugs in its 36th year, many of the standards for
reporting on drugs related to prior restraint and the public's right
to know apply. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The media plays a vital role informing the public of drug policies and
related issues. The mainstream stories often focus on the latest
government study heralding the adverse effects of illegal drugs or the
police department's latest bust. Have you seen a story on how drug
dealers can avoid police and the Drug Enforcement Agency, or how one
can petition the government to legalize drugs? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Does the media cross a line when it publishes stories about the full
scope of any unlawful behavior? | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) TROUBLED TROOPS IN NO-WIN PLIGHT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marines Kicked Out for Conduct Linked to Stress Disorder Are Often
Denied Treatment by the VA | ||||||||||||||||||||
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Chris Packley returned from Fallujah in 2004
a top marksman on a sniper team showcased in the Marine Corps Times for
its 22 kills. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I was exceptionally proud of that Marine," says Gunnery Sgt. Scott
Guise, his former team leader. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He also came home with flashbacks -- memories of his friend, Lance Cpl.
Michael Blake Wafford, 20, dying on the battlefield. Packley says he
smoked marijuana to try to escape the images. He also left the base
without permission. "I wanted out," Packley says. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last year he got his wish and was expelled from the Marine Corps. As a
consequence, he lost access to the free counseling and medication he
needed to treat the mental wounds left from combat, according to
Packley, his former defense lawyer and documents from the Department of
Veterans Affairs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Scores of combat veterans like Packley are being dismissed from the
Marines without the medical benefits needed to treat combat stress,
says Lt. Col. Colby Vokey, who supervises the legal defense of Marines
in the western USA, including here at Camp Pendleton. | ||||||||||||||||||||
When classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) arise -
-- including alcoholism and drug abuse -- the veterans are punished for
the behavior, Vokey says. Their less-than-honorable discharges can lead
to a denial of VA benefits. Vokey calls it a Catch-22, referring to the
no-win situation showcased in Joseph Heller's 1961 satirical war novel
Catch-22. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The Marine Corps has created these mental health issues" in combat
veterans, Vokey says, "and then we just kind of kick them out into the
streets." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As elections featuring cannabis reform ballot questions approach, a
rare analysis of the actual economic impact of the cannabis market
was published by the Colorado Springs Business Journal. It indicated
that the market could be worth $80 million each year just in
Colorado Springs. You'd think some politician somewhere would
understand the value of establishing some sort of light tax instead
of paying for prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Red Ribbon Week wound up finally a few days ago, but not until
millions of students down to pre-kindergartners were indoctrinated.
Also last week, a columnist looks at the white pathology of drug
abuse; and bored with the terror war (or disgusted by incompetence),
a group of elite crime fighters allegedly want to get back to
chasing drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) MARIJUANA SALES, DISTRIBUTION MAJOR PART OF LOCAL ECONOMY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Impact in Colorado Springs Could Be Equivalent to $80 Million in
Retail Sales, Account for 1,100 Jobs | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Nov. 7, Colorado voters will decide whether to legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by any person over 21. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Initiative 44, which is modeled after an ordinance that Denver
voters approved in 2004, is seen by both supporters and opponents as
a first step toward comprehensive legalization and regulation of
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eliminate the legal, social and moral arguments, and one thing becomes very clear: even without Initiative 44, the marijuana trade in El Paso County is a major contributor to the local economy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 13.3
percent of Colorado residents use marijuana. Use spikes between the
ages of 18 and 25, a demographic in which fully a third of all
Coloradoans are users. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Colorado Springs, where age demographics trend younger than
statewide figures, as many as 15 percent of residents might be
marijuana users. Given a metropolitan population of 550,000, that
translates to 80,000 people. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement officials, users and dealers estimated that the
average marijuana user in Colorado Springs purchases/consumes about
three ounces annually at a cost of about $1,000. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That translates into a yearly retail market of $80 million, derived
from the distribution of 1,250 pounds of marijuana every month, or
41 pounds a day. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A typical Wal-Mart superstore, such as the one currently under
construction on Baptist Road south of Monument, generates $45
million in annual retail sales. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) TUG OF WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stomp out drugs. Stomp out drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This mantra could be heard echoing through the halls of Jefferson Early Childhood Center Wednesday as dozens of pre-kindergarten students paraded through the school with red ribbons in their hands. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jefferson Principal Karla Brock says it's important to get children involved in drug prevention and awareness programs at an early age. | ||||||||||||||||||||
To Brock, the earlier Jefferson teachers can start teaching students about safety and taking care of their health the better. | ||||||||||||||||||||
One way is to participate in Red Ribbon Week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It was Red Day, so we had all of the children wear red in support
of Red Ribbon Week," Brock said. "Everybody got red ribbons and red
bracelets, then we had a parade to stomp out drugs. Guest speakers
don't really work when you're 4 years old. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We have to be active and dress the part." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) OPED: OUR WHITE BROTHERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This country's media and think tanks are immensely focused on the
social pathologies of American Blacks. Whether the topic is about
single parent households, AIDS, crime, poverty, racism, the list
goes on. From reading and hearing, one may think that if a certain
segment of the Black population was not in America, all of our
social ills would disappear. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Just last week this columnist spoke about "our brothers" with hopes
that my words will help heal this community that has been oppressed
for generations and now finds itself trapped by a psyche that sees
impediments instead of opportunities. However, there are others in
media who write and report on the problems of Black America in hopes
of reinforcing their own racist stereotypes. Vices such as drug
abuse, homicide, promiscuity, sexual misconduct and disease are
problems that cross ethnic and class lines in America, but you would
never know that if the media were your only source of information.
Mainstream media focuses so much attention on the prevalence of
these problems in the black community that an outsider would think
that segments of white America does not wrestle with the same issues
in their homes and communities. Nevertheless, the truth is that
American Whites wrestle with these issues and various others that
are not prevalent in the black or brown communities. While the vices
are largely ignored, stigmatized blacks are further alienated in a
society that they have longed to find a place in. The constant
negative coverage leads many to devalue their own self worth and
lose interest in trying to achieve the American dream. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to the federal Center for Disease Control, white males are 4 times more likely than their black male classmates to be a regular cocaine user. White high school seniors are three times more likely to have used heroin, three times more likely to have smoked pot in the past years, seven times more likely to have used cocaine, and nine times more likely to have used LSD. The recent meth drugs cannot be found in the nation's urban centers but its suburbs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The story is the same with illegal use of prescription drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to the Justice Department, drug users tend to buy from same-race dealers, meaning most white users buy from white dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That's right, white dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ask yourself how many times you have turned on the evening news and
saw a story on white drug dealers and users? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Now think back to that occasion when you did see such a story and think about the adjectives used to describe the offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) INDIAN DRUG TRACKERS TO TAKE ON NEW ROLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Shadow Wolves, an elite group of American Indian drug trackers,
have been moved to Immigration and Customs Enforcement after
lawmakers complained the unit was not being used effectively by the
Homeland Security Department. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Based on the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation on Arizona's border
with Mexico, the Shadow Wolves have been assigned to the Border
Patrol since 2003 after the Homeland Security Department was
created. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Indian agents combine traditional tracking skills with modern police techniques to thwart drug and human smugglers. But they say they have become much less effective under the Border Patrol. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The change to Immigration and Customs was mandated as part of a
homeland security bill signed earlier this fall, said Lauren Mack,
the agency's Arizona spokeswoman. The move will allow the Shadow
Wolves to investigate drug and human smuggling cases instead of
spending most of their time on patrol. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This week: a rare court win for the public against lying cops in
Kentucky; a review of questionable police seizure laws in Florida; a
public policy group in Illinois finally understands that the drug
war is driving the prison crisis; and corruption is found in the
DEA. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) EDITORIAL: LYING-COP RULING PROTECTS RIGHTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kentuckians' civil liberties are a little safer today thanks to a
Kentucky Supreme Court ruling handed down last week. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In March 2003, Paducah residents Frederick Carl "Fritz" Krause III
and Joe Yamada pleaded guilty to cocaine and marijuana charges after
Kentucky State Police Detective Jason Manar came to their house in
the middle of the night and found drug paraphernalia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Manar told Krause a young girl had been raped inside the house, and that he needed to see if furniture matched the girl's descriptions. But there was no rape and no young girl - the officer was lying. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Krause challenged his conviction on the basis of the Fourth
Amendment, which requires law enforcement officials to obtain a
warrant before such searches. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a 5-2 ruling, the Supreme Court correctly said Manar's lie
"cannot be sanctioned," as reported in the Louisville | ||||||||||||||||||||
Manar's story, the Court said, "absolutely undermined" the
requirement that searches without warrants be voluntary and without
coercion. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police have long been given the latitude to lie to suspects during
interrogation. But that applies only to individuals who have already
been arrested and read their rights. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) SEIZURE LAW UNDER REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police's Policy Of Seizing Criminals' Cars Draws Criticism | ||||||||||||||||||||
A $10 bag of marijuana cost Jacquelyn Sweet nearly $1,000, with half
of that earmarked for the Bradenton Police Department. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sweet, arrested earlier this month on a misdemeanor possession
charge, instantly and unwillingly joined a growing list of residents
who have had their vehicles seized as part of a little-known city
ordinance. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A 21-year-old waitress who attends St. Petersburg College, Sweet
lost her car, handed over hundreds of dollars to a towing company
and found out the hard way that local cities have the right to take
cars for even the smallest of crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I'm like, what are you doing? I was upset," recalled Sweet, who
said the tow truck arrived minutes after the officer spotted the
small bag of marijuana in her car after pulling her over for
speeding. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I couldn't imagine how I was going to get it back." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Bradenton Police Department is among numerous agencies across Florida that consider the fine -- usually $500 -- a crime-fighting initiative that hits drug dealers and other crooks in the wallet. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But legal scholars say the fine amounts to state-sponsored
extortion, and even the Florida Supreme Court said this summer it
has "serious" constitutional concerns with the policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A pending case in an appellate court could doom the seizure policy
across the state and force law enforcement agencies to return
thousands of dollars collected in fines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) BUSINESS GROUP WARNS ABOUT RISING PRISON POPULATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A skyrocketing prison population, spiraling drug crime and juvenile
crime rates come under fire in a major study of Chicago-area crime
and criminal justice published today. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Chicago Metropolis 2020, a business-backed think tank, warns most of
the 40,000 prisoners released in Illinois this year are | ||||||||||||||||||||
"More than half will likely end up back in prison within three years
if present trends continue," the group's 2006 Crime and Justice
Index warns. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A shortage of rehabilitation programs for inmates, the large
distances between downstate prisons and prisoners' Chicago-area
roots and a massive increase in parolees help account for the high
reoffending rate, the report said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
While reported crime in the state has fallen since the early 1990s,
the prison population has continued to grow steadily since the early
1970s, the report said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) CHARGE: DEA AGENT TIPPED FRIEND (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEMPHIS -- A Drug Enforcement Administration agent has been indicted
on charges of tipping off a former high school classmate who was a
target in a drug trafficking investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tommie Purifoy II worked out of the agency's Miami field office and
turned himself in to authorities there, authorities said Wednesday.
He has been suspended without pay. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Purifoy is originally from West Memphis, Ark., and was a police
officer in Memphis from 2001 to 2004. He was in Memphis on personal
business on Aug. 21 and stopped by the local DEA office during a
wiretap operation, according to the indictment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A chart of people suspected in a major cocaine trafficking ring was
posted and he remarked that he went to high school with one of the
suspects, Brian Nicholas Williams. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"In the field of opportunity It's plowin' time again." -- Neil Young | ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans for Safe Access had an opportunity to highlight the
federal crackdown on marijuana dispensaries when DEA head Karen
Tandy came to town. Seven people were arrested on the not-so-level
playing field for holding their ground in wishing to speak with
Ms. Tandy, stakeholder to stakeholder. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loretta Nall turned a critique from an underhanded editorial into a colossal opportunity to get her message out about her run for Alabama Governor during a media frenzy about her cleavage. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to the Supreme Court of Canada, medpot activist Grant Krieger
had an opportunity to turn a bad court decision that convicted him
of trafficking cannabis to patients, into a fantastic court decision
from the highest court. In 7-0 majority, they upheld the principle
of jury nullification and ordered a new trial. The new trial will
determine whether this will result in a cannabis victory too, but it
is a clear victory for the jury system in Canada. | ||||||||||||||||||||
University Of Toronto philosophy professor Doug Hutchinson, a legal
cannabis exemptee, now has a smoking room to accommodate his need to
medicate with cannabis after a battle with administrators. He now
uses his situation as an opportunity to educate the public about pot
related issues. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We end with a reminder we are also plagued with senseless, lost
opportunities like the continuing ban on the hemp plant that spark
action for change. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS ARRESTED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SAN DIEGO - Angry medical marijuana patients were arrested Tuesday
when they staged a protest at a convention of federal Drug
Enforcement Agency agents at the San Diego Marriott in Mission
Valley. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officials from Americans for Safe Access, an Oakland-based group
that has advocated on behalf of medical marijuana patients, said
seven people were arrested, and one man cited, when the protesters
refused to leave the hotel after demanding to see DEA Chief Karen
Tandy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Local medical marijuana patients have been angered by a crackdown by
federal agents - supported by county law enforcement officials -
that has essentially shut down marijuana dispensaries. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) ALABAMA CANDIDATE CAMPAIGNS ON CLEAVAGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Loretta Nall, the Libertarian Party's write-in candidate for governor of Alabama, is campaigning on her cleavage and hoping that voters will eventually focus on her platform. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It started out as a joke, but it blew up into something huge," said
Nall, a 32-year-old with dyed blond hair. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Her campaign is offering T-shirts and marijuana stash boxes adorned with a photo of her with a plunging neckline and the words: "More of these boobs." Below that are pictures of other candidates for governor _ including Republican incumbent Bob Riley and Democratic Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley _ and the words: "And less of these boobs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Her Web site has a cartoon of someone stuffing bills down the front
of her low-cut top. And for $50 donation she apparently offers to
show a cartoon of herself flashing her breasts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nall is calling for the withdrawal of the Alabama National Guard
from Iraq, tax credits for sending children to private school and
home schooling, opting out of the No Child Left Behind Act,
legalizing marijuana, and not complying with the Patriot Act and the
Real ID Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Libertarian Party could not collect the 40,000 voter signatures
needed to get her name on the ballot, and she has not reached the
$25,000 threshold in contributions that would require her to file a
campaign finance report. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Despite the political handicaps, she knows how to get free
attention. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) POT ACTIVIST TO GET NEW TRIAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It is a topic that courts don't like talking about," said Alan Young, a law professor at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Krieger said that he now intends to run a similar defence at
both his retrial for the production charge and at a separate
trafficking trial he faces in Winnipeg. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police raided Mr. Krieger's house in 1999 and seized 29 marijuana
plants. At his 2003 trial, one of the two upset jurors told the
trial judge: "I believe that I could not live with myself if I was
part of a conviction of this man." | ||||||||||||||||||||
After the judge rejected their entreaties, the jury returned a guilty verdict. Mr. Krieger was sentenced to one day in jail. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) HIGHER LEARNING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A University Of Toronto Philosophy Prof Gets An Underground
Pot-Smoking Room | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hutchinson didn't get the go-ahead from Health Canada until last
February, but has been smoking pot on campus for a few years -- in
his "official" second-floor office, but also while hiding out in
tree branches and in a nearby garbage dumpster. "If I couldn't use
this marijuana here I'd have to kill myself -- either literally or
professionally," he says, adding he's been "a pothead all my life --
even when I was a Rhodes Scholar." | ||||||||||||||||||||
His smoking only became an issue last December, after several
students complained to college officials that they could smell weed
wafting from Hutchinson's office. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Hutchinson says his struggle has been well-supported by students --
although he smokes pot in their presence, he never lights up with
them. ("I don't offer. They don't ask.") It has, however, strained
relations with his peers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Still, he's frustrated, and defends his professionalism, and his
teaching: "I feel massively angry that people have negative views of
me based only on what goes into me and not a knowledge of what comes
out of me." | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) CONSIDER HEMP OVER CANOLA FOR OILSEED PRODUCTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Just about everyone would prefer biofuels to petroleum, but choosing
the right fuel crops for cultivation in North America isn't easy,
especially for Western states. That's because one of the most viable
crops - hemp - is legally off-limits. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Instead, canola is getting all the attention. The June 2006 report, "Assessment of Biodiesel Feedstocks in Oregon," prepared for the Portland Development Commission, presented canola as the best oilseed crop for the region. Last month, the Oregon Legislature's Emergency Board agreed to finance a $235,000 canola research study. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But not everyone is cheering over canola. Vegetable seed producers
have serious concerns not only over cross-pollination, but over the
potential for canola to spread diseases that are already a problem
in the Brassica species, including blackleg, Sclerotinia stem rot
and club root. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This is dangerous," said Sen. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, at the
legislative hearing. "There's no reason on God's green earth to
introduce a known weed and carrier of pests." | ||||||||||||||||||||
We might take our chances with canola if there were no alternatives,
but that's not the case. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 2002 American Society for Horticultural Science publication,
Trends in New Crops and New Uses, describes an excellent oilseed
alternative in a chapter entitled "Hemp: A New Crop with New Uses
for North America," | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
How ironic that a plant's medicinal value could be the very thing that prevents farmers from cultivating it to heal the earth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
There's just no stopping the Bolivians from growing their
traditional coca, though it is not from lack of trying force. Last
week in Bolivia, clashes between a "U.S.-trained anti-narcotics
unit," and coca farmers left two dead. While the Washington Times
have the issue as the coca farmers' "demands" which have caused the
bloodshed, the two men killed last week were coca farmers. Coca
growers reportedly have blocked roads used by the U.S.-trained
military drug squads amid renewed calls by the U.S. State Department
forbidding Bolivians to grow the coca plant. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. and other prohibitionist governments point the finger for
the existence of cocaine at coca farmers in South America, spending
billions annually to spray plant poisons on Colombian rain forests
to kill coca. But the Colombian government wants to share the blame.
Colombian vice president Francisco Santos held a press conference in
London this week, denouncing model Kate Moss for an alleged incident
in which Moss consumed cocaine. Santos seemed to suggest that Moss
be blacklisted. "To me it's baffling that somebody who helps cause
so much pain in Colombia is doing better than ever and winning more
contracts than ever." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two pieces this week show the simmering debate about "crime" in
Canada as the usual authoritarian smokescreen: when the boys come
home in caskets from foreign adventures, it is time to make a big
deal about "crime" at home (never mind that "crime" rates have been
falling for years). The minority ruling conservative party,
increasingly battered by TV images of Canadian-flag draped coffins
regularly parading home from Afghanistan, needs to divert public
attention. So Canadian conservatives are pushing for three-strikes
and mandatory minimum prison laws that have proven so profitable to
the prison industrial complex south of the border in the states.
Police, smelling blood and sensing increases in budgets and manpower
right around the corner, are predictably backing the new laws. Sold
to the public as "getting tough" on "violent crime", the laws are
instead invariably designed to pack prisons with petty drug
(marijuana) users and sellers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(18) COCA GROWERS RESIST BOLIVIA CRACKDOWN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia -- Indigenous coca farmers who helped put
President Evo Morales in power are violently resisting even the
token eradication efforts demanded by the United States to avoid
Bolivia's decertification as a country cooperating against drug
trafficking. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dissatisfied with new laws permitting peasant farmers to grow up to half an acre of coca for traditional use, the farmers are backing demands for increased acreage with road blocks and gunfights that so far have killed two growers and wounded two police officers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The government, which this week was manoeuvring in New York to
secure a two-year term on the U.N. Security Council, is divided on
how to proceed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It came to power in January with strong backing from Andean Indians who for centuries have used the coca leaf as a mild stimulant, and Mr. Morales, a former coca grower who heads Bolivia's largest coca-growing syndicate in the Chapare Valley, has repeatedly pledged to use "peaceful" means to limit cultivation of the leaf. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The State Department publicly warned Mr. Morales during his visit to
the United Nations in New York last month that Bolivia must
eliminate 12,000 acres of coca cultivation or face decertification
as a country cooperating against drug trafficking, which would mean
a cutoff of aid. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The statement followed talks in Washington with Vice President
Alvaro Garcia Linera, who agreed to eradicate roughly 15 percent of
the country's estimated coca acreage. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg also has called on Bolivia to renew joint operations with U.S. anti-drug agencies. But Mr. Morales has rejected U.S. calls to end his policy of permitting traditional coca farmers to cultivate up to 1 cato, or half an acre, of the crop. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officials of Bolivia's U.S.-trained anti-narcotics unit, the Special Force to Fight Crime and Narcotraffic, have reported that the excess production is controlled by drug traffickers. But police and army teams were pulled off eradication missions after a gunfight two weeks ago in Carrasco National Park in eastern Cochabamba province. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two coca growers were killed and two seriously wounded police
officers had to be evacuated by helicopter during the heavy exchange
of automatic weapons fire. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eleven soldiers including an army major were taken hostage. The
servicemen were released following negotiations with the government,
but several hundred coca growers then used dynamite to cut the main
road between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interior Minister Alicia Munoz has minimized the incidents. "These
conflicts are small. The government's anti-drug policy is macro. It
seeks to dignify the coca leaf and eliminate illegal cultivations
which exist in protected areas," she said as coca farmers threw up
more blockades in the Yungas Valley. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(19) COLOMBIAN ANTI-DRUG ASSAULT AIMED AT EUROPE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Colombia's vice president is taking a hard-hitting anti-drug message
to Europe, complaining about cocaine-snorting celebrities who he
says are financing the drug-fueled civil conflict bleeding this
South American nation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vice President Francisco Santos spoke of supermodel Kate Moss,
although she doesn't appear in the ads that he planned to unveil
today in London along with 13 European anti-drug czars. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Santos called Moss a perfect example of liberal European attitudes
toward drug use because she is enjoying a career comeback after a
British tabloid last year published photos of her apparently
snorting cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"To me it's baffling that somebody who helps cause so much pain in
Colombia is doing better than ever and winning more contracts than
ever," the vice president told The Associated Press. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Moss lost contracts after the photos were published, but her career
resumed after she spent time at a clinic in Arizona. She apologized
to "all the people I have let down" over the incident but was never
charged with any drug offense. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(20) OPPOSITION STILL FIGHTS TOUGHER LAWS ON CRIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
When political parties go before voters in an election campaign, we
put forward ideas and priorities to help people make an informed
choice. During the past 13 years in Parliament, I have worked hard
to have our laws place public safety, crime prevention and
punishment for violent crimes at the forefront. For too long, past
governments have focused more on moving violent offenders through
the system than preventing crime and protecting people who obey the
laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Conservative government is advancing legislation for mandatory
minimum sentences for serious, repeat and violent crimes. We have
also proposed legislation to limit the ability to give conditional
sentences and house arrest, especially for violent and repeat
offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The opposition parties had a chance to rise above their | ||||||||||||||||||||
Instead, they have shown they do not understand the nature of crime,
how to deal with it or how to protect Canadians from victimization
by criminals who have no regard for rules or public safety. The
public needs to let the Liberals, NDP and Bloc know how they feel
about their soft attitudes. If they don't want to change, Canadians
should hold them accountable for the impact of crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) CRIME - ARE CELLS AND BARS THE ANSWER? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lock 'Em Up And Throw Away The Key Sounds Great, But Decades Of
Experience Show Harsh Sentences Don't Work | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the aftermath of several gruesome shootings, people are asking
what meaningful steps can be taken to deal with crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The federal government response comes in a series of | ||||||||||||||||||||
While purporting to make our streets safer, these changes will have
dramatically negative effects for Canadians. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's not just the combined 140 years' experience of our agencies
that tells us the government measures will be catastrophic. The
bills face widespread opposition, from academics to criminologists
to community groups. Organizations like the Canadian Criminal
Justice Association and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network point
out that almost every empirical study indicates longer periods of
incarceration do not deter crime: they don't deter gun crime, they
don't reduce drug use, and they may actually increase the likelihood
of re-offences or recidivism. Negative experience is pushing
jurisdictions from Britain to Australia to reassess and retreat from
longer, mandatory minimum sentences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The government approach carries a staggering price tag. Estimates
put additional prison spending at $5 billion to $11.5 billion over
10 years. And unless our taxes go up, that can be predicted to strip
even more resources from the very social programs that could make a
difference. Conditional sentences can help here, too. While it costs
about $45,000 per year to incarcerate a provincial prisoner, the
costs of alternative justice like community supervision are a
fraction of that, around $2,000 per year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If we directed even a fraction of the billions earmarked for prisons
to health, education, housing, welfare, employment programs,
addictions and sexual-abuse treatment, and to agencies like ours
that assist offenders to re-enter society as law-abiding citizens,
the results would be enormously healing for individuals and
communities. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An iron-fisted approach to fighting crime doesn't work. We support safe communities. However, Bills C-9 and C-10 won't deter or rehabilitate offenders. They won't make our streets safer. We face a clear choice: a reactive, punitive response already demonstrated to fail, or an alternative course other countries have found to be both more humane and more effective. Canada needs the latter, a different vision of society from the brave new world the government is steering us toward--one that would be safer and healthier for all of | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LEAP OF REASON & REASONS FOR HOPE | ||||||||||||||||||||
An interview with Jerry Cameron of Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition and Eric E. Sterling of the Criminal Justice Policy
Foundation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
MARIJUANA CHURCH ON GERALDO | ||||||||||||||||||||
The founders of an Arizona church that considers marijuana a sacrament
have stepped down as leaders, saying pending federal criminal charges
make it impossible to fulfill their roles. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
SEVERAL STATES, CITIES TO VOTE TUESDAY ON MARIJUANA DEPENALIZATION | ||||||||||||||||||||
Washington, DC: Voters in three states and several municipalities will decide Tuesday on proposals to depenalize the possession and use of cannabis by adults. Below is a summary of each of these initiatives. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE LAUNCHES WEB FORUMS | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||||
WORKING WITH DIFFICULT PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCES | ||||||||||||||||||||
With Donna Dryer, M.D. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Practical Introduction to the Principles of Psychedelic Therapy | ||||||||||||||||||||
This 20-minute educational video teaches psychedelic drug users how to
minimize psychological risks and explore the therapeutic applications of
psychedelics. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUESTION 7 WEBISODE #4: "THE MEDIA CIRCUS" | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Question #7 campaigns are heating up. When Neal finds out Sandy
Heverly of "Stop DUI" is having a press conference at the Clark County
Library, he gathers some of his CRCM staff together to give Sandy a
little surprise. | ||||||||||||||||||||
== | ||||||||||||||||||||
HOW HARD SHOULD IT BE TO LEGALIZE POT? | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Vin Suprynowicz | ||||||||||||||||||||
"My point is simply that marijuana could be re-legalized fairly
simply, without spinning 5,000 words of legal stipulations -- as
Question 7 does -- without establishing any new regime of taxation
and regulation -- as Question 7 does ..." | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Oct-29-Sun-2006/opinion/10426391.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PLEASE SUPPORT REFORM - VOTE! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ANTI-POT LAWS DON'T WORK | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Neal Levine The Nevada Appeal recently ran an editorial against
Question 7, the marijuana initiative. Unfortunately, the authors
attributed many claims to our campaign that we have never actually
made. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We have always been straightforward with our argument: Our marijuana
laws don't work because anyone who wants to use marijuana can. In
the meantime, the criminal market for marijuana is financing the
activities of violent gangs and drug dealers. The Appeal claims
marijuana can be harmful, and we've never disputed that. But we do
state that marijuana is safer than alcohol - a regulated substance
that kills nearly 20,000 Americans every year by overdose - while no
one has ever died of a marijuana overdose. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The editorial claimed more people would use marijuana if it were
"more readily available." But marijuana is already widely available
- how else would 100 million Americans have tried it? | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Appeal states that there is no war on marijuana, yet Nevada law
enforcement spends $42 million every year in its attempt to enforce
the failed policy of marijuana prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Finally, we agree with the Appeal on at least one thing: voters should use common sense when deciding how to vote on Question 7. Allowing marijuana to remain in the criminal market, where it finances the activities of violent gangs and drug dealers, doesn't make much sense for Nevada. It's time for an alternative to the failures of marijuana prohibition. If you favor passing a sensible marijuana policy for Nevada, vote yes on Question 7 on Nov. 7. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Neal Levine | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
LEGALISING DRUGS IS AN OPTION THE WORLD IS NOW CONSIDERING | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Paul Walker | ||||||||||||||||||||
The other day I found myself chairing a meeting on the topic of
legalising drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reading the runes, it would seem that there is an international
movement growing in opposition to the current United Nations-led
universal policy of prohibition and, that by the year 2020,
regulated use and supply will replace prohibition in many UN member
states. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the year 2020 is a long way away. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So can we expect any change in the present policy in the nearer
future? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interestingly, the Parliamentary Science and Technology Select
Committee has recently produced a report, Drug Classification:
Making a Hash of it? which calls for a major overhaul of the
existing system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The way drugs are currently categorised into Class A, B and C is
done on the basis of the penalties they attract under the criminal
justice system rather than on the harm that they do. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Common sense suggests that the penalties should be proportional to
the harm done. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Select Committee proposes that any classification system based
on harm done must include tobacco and alcohol which together cause
about 40 times the total number of deaths from all illegal drugs
combined. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Applying a new categorisation system based on harm done proposed by
the committee, alcohol would probably be listed as a class A drug,
the fifth most harmful of all, and tobacco as a class B one, the
ninth most harmful. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This report shows how illogical the whole system is and how
confusing to the public. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On the basis of the current system, where drugs such as ecstasy and LSD are categorised as harmful class A drugs and alcohol and tobacco are not classified at all and are freely available, the public might reach the conclusion that alcohol and tobacco are not harmful. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This, of course, is not true and the proposed new classification
system would make this apparent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is time for a mature debate about our attitude to mind altering
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Alcohol use is legal but is increasingly problematic. Drugs such as
cannabis, heroin and cocaine are illegal and, while undoubtedly they
can cause problems, these are on nothing like the scale of those
caused by alcohol and tobacco. | ||||||||||||||||||||
So why are they illegal when by being so a huge global criminal
industry is given a licence to print money? | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is worth remembering that the United States tried alcohol
prohibition and lived to regret it and repealed it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In this country the equivalent of prohibition was introduced with
the enactment of the Misuse of Drugs Act in 1971. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is time to reconsider this and see whether it is not time to go
back to the pre-prohibition condition that existed in the UK before
1971. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At the very least we should initiate a mature debate on the topic
and perhaps not have to wait until 2020 for a change in policy.
Which is what my meeting was about. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Talking of alcohol and smoking, I was disappointed to learn at the
same meeting that the biggest drinks and tobacco companies in the
world are British. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It seems paradoxical that a nation that is so pre-eminent in public
health research and scholarship is also pre-eminent in profiteering
from harmful products like alcohol and tobacco. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And on a slightly lighter note, I also learned that the pint glass
was introduced by the brewers in the 1930s to boost the sales of
beer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Apparently, until then half pint glasses were the norm. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Paul Walker is chairman of PHA Cymru, the Welsh Public Health
Association. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to lose liberty; or
to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self."
-- Francis Bacon | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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