| Apr. 13, 2007 #494 | ||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
(1) FORENSICS EXPERT EXPLAINS MARIJUANA TESTING MYTHS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
When a student is caught in possession of marijuana, there is little
they can use as an excuse to get out of being arrested or slapped with
a hefty fine, according to Mahmoud ElSohly, a research professor at
the Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of
Mississippi. | ||||||||||||||||
As part of the Forensic Science Seminar Series, ElSohly made his
presentation, "Marijuana in Forensics," to about 60 students and
members of the community in Pastore Chemical Laboratory Friday.
Referring to his latest research, ElSohly talked about the fact and
fiction of marijuana usage and why certain defenses for positive
marijuana testing don't hold up in court. | ||||||||||||||||
"When the tests come back positive for marijuana, some people say, 'I
went to a party and people were smoking pot,'" ElSohly said. "This
issue has been studied to death." | ||||||||||||||||
ElSohly said the party scene he described would be an example of
passive inhalation, something that could not cause a marijuana test to
show up positive. "There's no way you'd be up to the physical
guidelines," he said. | ||||||||||||||||
ElSohly said another excuse that wouldn't hold up in court would be
the "hemp seed" defense. Hemp seed and oil contain small amounts of
THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which are responsible for the
psychometer effects of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||
According to ElSohly's research, hemp seed and oil can be found in 120
different products on the market today. Because the amount of THC is
significantly less, however, ElSohly said students that using hemp
products as an excuse for a positive drug test would be disappointed
in a police officer or an employer's reaction. Like passive
inhalation, there would not be enough THC in a sample after ingesting
hemp to meet the guidelines for "testing positive." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(2) DRAWING THE LINE ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
The drug prohibition causes crime," proclaims Jerry Cameron to a room
filled with rapt libertarians. A former police chief with FBI and DEA
training, Cameron is doing "penance" for his seventeen-year law
enforcement career in the "war on drugs." He spends an hour setting
forth the case for the total decriminalization of all drugs to the
Students for Individual Liberty's delight. | ||||||||||||||||
Sadly, Cameron takes it too far. Although he spends most of his time discussing the legalization of marijuana, he supports legalizing all drugs and even wants the government to hand out free heroin. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Criminalizing marijuana is simply indefensible. It has no serious ill-
effects, is not physically addictive and to overdose you have to smoke
about your own body weight in pot (which is impossible because you
will pass out long before that). Conversely, current drug laws end up
resulting in increased crime, racist enforcement, and overcrowded
prisons. This is not the case for hard drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
They are highly addictive and have been proven to cause serious, long- term medical problems, but Cameron wants the government to hand them out for free. As long as libertarians support the legalization of all drugs, they'll continue to be pigeonholed as a one-issue party. | ||||||||||||||||
What's worse, people will continue to ignore the need to legalize
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||
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(3) PARENTS' HEALTH ADVICE UNDER FIRE FROM SCHOOLS WATCHDOG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Smoking and binge drinking among teenage girls have reached worrying
levels because parents and teachers make the health risks seem less
important than those of illegal drugs, the schools watchdog, Ofsted,
said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||
Most young people correctly saw cigarettes and alcohol as a far greater threat and the school curriculum must change to reflect that, it said. Pupils also felt let down by adults who were reluctant to talk about sensitive issues such as sex and relationships, Ofsted said. Instead, young people turned to magazines for advice. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
The report on personal, social and health education was based on 350
school inspections over five years. | ||||||||||||||||
It said: "Many adults are concerned about young people's involvement
with illegal drugs, but the overwhelming majority of young people
identify correctly that tobacco and alcohol are the greatest drug-
related dangers." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(4) MEXICAN TRAFFICKERS DEFY CRACKDOWN WITH GORY PUBLIC CHALLENGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Gangs Use Brazen Displays to Intimidate | ||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY -- Drug traffickers are waging a highly effective
publicity campaign in Mexico that began with a chilling show of
brutality in Acapulco: two police officers' heads, streaming with
blood, were stuck on metal spikes outside a downtown building with a
fluorescent cardboard sign. "So that you learn to respect," it read in
thick black letters. | ||||||||||||||||
The spectacle a year ago in the Pacific resort set off a ghoulish
trend among the drug lords battling for billion-dollar smuggling
routes into the United States. They have since left a trail of bodies
and bloodstained notes across Mexico, with a goal of spreading fear -
-- a sense of dread so deep that rivals, police, witnesses and even
President Felipe Calderon won't dare cross them. | ||||||||||||||||
Regular citizens used to be left out of crime battles. | ||||||||||||||||
No longer. The drug gangs now publish newspaper ads and tack
threatening notes to corpses with ice picks or tape them to trash bags
filled with body parts for public display. They are even using the
Internet, posting a video on YouTube.com that showed the apparent
beheading of an alleged hit man. | ||||||||||||||||
"Before long, they're going to have their own TV program, 'Narconews,'
where they drag out their dead for show," drug expert Jorge Chabat
joked grimly. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Just when we thought ephedrine was safely tucked behind the
counter...some folks in Arkansas have initiated a civil action suit
against pharmaceutical companies for not keeping their legal product
from meth cooks. | ||||||||||||||||
Both the U.S. Senate and House have introduced bills which would
require insurance companies to cover mental health and addiction the
same way they cover physical illnesses. A journalist, Maia
Szalavitz, warns that treatment funding must require proof of
efficacy or much of the money may be wasted on programs which do not
work. | ||||||||||||||||
And, yes, there is actual scientific research on addiction. The
Journal of the American Medical Association published an article
covering advances in these studies during the past year which can
lead to better treatment. | ||||||||||||||||
One of our heroes, Arianna Huffington, decried the total lack of
dialogue about our failed drug policies by 2008 presidential
hopefuls. Her column points out that even Obama, who actually admits
to a past drug problem, has not said a word and certainly hasn't
offered any solutions. | ||||||||||||||||
Closing this section with a column by a New York philosophy professor. He makes some excellent points about the harms caused by drug prohibition but, unfortunately, feels it will never end. | ||||||||||||||||
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(5) SHARP JOINS INDEPENDENCE COUNTY SUIT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
ASH FLAT -- The Sharp County Quorum Court voted Monday to join a
class action lawsuit against a pair of pharmaceutical giants and
some distributors of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. | ||||||||||||||||
The vote was 8-0 with one justice absent. | ||||||||||||||||
The purpose of the lawsuit, filed in circuit court by Independence
County last month, is to recoup damages that counties have incurred
while combating methamphetamine use and addiction. | ||||||||||||||||
The suit contends that ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are the only ingredients that makers of the illegal drug methamphetamine cannot make on their own but must obtain from over the counter drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(6) OPED: WHEN THE CURE IS NOT WORTH THE COST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
ON its face, providing equal coverage for mental and physical
illnesses sounds like a good idea, something only a managed-care
bean counter could oppose. To that end, Representatives Jim Ramstad,
Republican of Minnesota, and Patrick Kennedy, Democrat of Rhode
Island, have introduced the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and
Addiction Equity Act. | ||||||||||||||||
Named for the senator who was long an advocate for mental health
"parity," it would require that private insurers pay for as much
treatment for mental illnesses and addiction as they do for physical
illnesses. | ||||||||||||||||
Senators Ted Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Pete Domenici,
Republican of New Mexico, have introduced a similar bill in the
Senate. President Bush has said he will sign the legislation if it
passes. | ||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately, this change would not be as benign as it appears.
Unless mental health parity is tied to evidence-based treatment and
positive outcomes, generous benefits may become a profit bonanza for
providers that does little to help patients. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Without financial incentives to provide treatments that are known to
work, many mental health professionals stick with what they know, or
pick up on the latest fad, or even introduce their own untested
innovations - which in turn are spread by testimonials and credulous
news media coverage. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
According to a review by the Institute of Medicine in 2006, only
10.5 percent of alcoholics received "care consistent with scientific | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
If we want to provide genuine help for the 33 million Americans with mental health and drug problems, giving more no-strings-attached money to providers via insurance mandates is not the answer. It is dangerous to blindly bolster useless and even harmful treatments while failing to support proven therapies. Coverage must be tied to outcomes and evidence. And payment should be dependent, at least in part, on health improvements, not just services received. We need parity in evidence-based treatment, not just in coverage. | ||||||||||||||||
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(7) BRAIN SCANS, GENES PROVIDE ADDICTION CLUES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Scientists using advanced brain imaging and genetic testing to probe
the physiological basis of addiction are gleaning new insights into
these disorders and how to treat them. | ||||||||||||||||
A symposium sponsored by Brookhaven National Laboratory (Upton, NY),
held in conjunction with the American Association for the
Advancement of Science's annual meeting in San Francisco in
February, highlighted several advances in addiction science made
over the past year. Researchers presented findings from brain
imaging studies revealing the importance of memory and drug-related
cues in addiction, the role of monoamine oxidase-inhibiting
compounds in cigarette smoking, the damage to inhibitory controls
caused by methamphetamine use, as well as results from studies
suggesting that genomics could be used to better tailor addiction
therapies. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Harder to explain is another key component of addiction: the intense craving or desire that addicted individuals experience when they are exposed to drug-associated cues, such as persons with whom they used the drug, places where they used the drugs, and drug paraphernalia. Now, however, brain imaging techniques are giving scientists a window on what happens in an individual's brain during craving. | ||||||||||||||||
To probe this response, Volkow and her colleagues at Brookhaven
National Laboratory used positron emission tomography (PET) scans to
obtain an indirect measurement of dopamine levels in the brains of
18 cocaine-addicted individuals under two conditions: while watching
videos of people buying and using cocaine and also while watching
videos featuring nature scenes (Volkow et al. J Neurosci.
2006;26:6583-6588). | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Brain imaging studies also are providing evidence that | ||||||||||||||||
Edythe D. London, PhD, of the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and
Biobehavioral Science at the University of California in Los
Angeles, and colleagues have used PET scans and radiolabeled glucose
to monitor and compare brain activity in methamphetamine-addicted
individuals who have abstained from the drug for 4 to 11 days with
that of controls (London ED et al. Arch Gen Psychiatry. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
London said the findings suggest that methamphetamine use leads to a
loss of function in parts of the brain that control emotion. This,
she said, may explain why methamphetamine users often are involved
with serious crimes and violence and why they have difficulty
abstaining. "It could be that they misinterpret environmental
stimuli and react in a strong way," she said. | ||||||||||||||||
She and her colleagues are now studying whether modafinil, a drug
used to treat narcolepsy, might help in treating methamphetamine
dependence. The drug has been shown to improve inhibitory control in
healthy individuals and in those with | ||||||||||||||||
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(8) Column: DRUG PROHIBITION -- LOST LIBERTY, MONEY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
As the Iraq War drags into its fifth year, there is a far more
destructive policy that has been going on for decades, drug
prohibition. This prohibition is offensive in at least in part
because of its utter contempt for liberty. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Some nanny-types argue that drug use isn't harmless because persons
harm others through impaired driving, stealing to support their
habit, drug-fueled violence, etc. There are a couple things to note
about this argument. First, these activities are already illegal and
can be combated by directly targeting them. In fact, the massive
resources used to track down drugs might end up diverting resources
needed to prevent violent crime. | ||||||||||||||||
For example, according to anthropologist Michael P. Ghiglieri,
citing Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the 90's, only about 38% of
murderers were sentenced to prison. | ||||||||||||||||
Second, if this argument warrants drug prohibition, it provides an
even stronger case for alcohol probation. It's hard to imagine
anyone who isn't a blood enemy of liberty wanting to criminalize
alcohol again. | ||||||||||||||||
Third, if we allow the criminal law to protect against | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Even if drug prohibition didn't involve a dizzying lack of respect
for liberty, it probably doesn't pass a simple cost-benefit
analysis. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
The federal drug control budget in 2006 was $12.5 billion. Since
numerous state and local agencies also spend vast amounts of time
and energy pursuing marijuana and other threats to the free world,
one can imagine that the costs here are considerably greater than my
low-end estimate of $34.5 billion. | ||||||||||||||||
Worthy of special contempt is the Drug Abuse Resistance Program (DARE) program. According to a 1998 study by Professors Ronsenbaum and Hanson of the University of Illinois at Chicago, DARE has no impact on the long-term rate of drug use by children who go through it. Other sources claim that this is the same result found in all major research into DARE's effectiveness. Despite the lack of evidence for its effectiveness, in 1996 it was administered in 70% of the nation's school districts, reaching 25 million students. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Another significant cost is the shredding of the Constitution in
pursuit of recreational drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
In the absence of convincing evidence that the benefits of
prohibition outweigh its costs, it's better to err on the side of
liberty. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Like alcohol prohibition, drug prohibition tramples on liberty and
doesn't clearly past the cost-benefit test. Sadly, it's probably
here to stay anyway. | ||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
It has long been evident that we just can not incarcerate our way
out of drug usage. There are daily reports about overcrowded jails
and prisons shifting "criminals" from one cage to another in an
attempt to avoid judicial wrath. Surely we can not be far away from
the day when citizens will insist on better answers. | ||||||||||||||||
One of those citizens, though, will not be the Texas Sheriff who had his son arrested for using meth. The Sheriff claims his only two choices were prison or death. He 'hopes' his son will not relapse and I hope they might both discover the treatment option. | ||||||||||||||||
A Daily Tar Heel editorial correctly claims the increasing number of
older inmates behind bars will soon need to be addressed. All the
contractors enjoying prison building profits may need to switch to
secure nursing home construction. | ||||||||||||||||
One of our heroes, Arianna Huffington, decried the total lack of
dialogue about our failed drug policies by Democratic 2008
presidential candidates. She points out that even Obama, who
actually admits to a past drug problem, has not said a word and
certainly hasn't offered any solutions. Her column also covers the
disparities of 'justice' which lead to this war being carried on the
backs of minorities. | ||||||||||||||||
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(9) COUNTY ONE OF 42 LOOKING AT NEW JAILS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
No Mower Countian should for a moment think the county is alone in
its jail-justice center saga. | ||||||||||||||||
In fact, there are 42 Minnesota counties presently studying expanding or building new jail and justice center facilities. | ||||||||||||||||
That's what the Mower County Board of Commissioners and selected
staffers learned at the recent Association of Minnesota Counties'
legislative conference. | ||||||||||||||||
David Hillier, 3rd District county commissioner, said Tuesday the 42
jail and justice center issues did not include counties who have
attempted to solve issues of their own by building new facilities,
such as the recently opened Steele (3 years ago) and Freeborn County
(last year) jail and justice centers. | ||||||||||||||||
Ironically, both counties are presently shopping around the
availability of jail beds to other counties discussing how to
address their own jail over-crowding and district court security
issues. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
According to Hillier, the commissioners learned at the AMC legislative conference the state is reimbursing the county only $13 per day in per diem costs for housing short-term offenders in county jails, while the costs are $55 or more in per diem alone. | ||||||||||||||||
"We have a serious problem here as far as housing prisoners is
concerned," Hillier said. "According to the last statistics, in 1988
there were 3,600 prisoner beds in Minnesota. | ||||||||||||||||
"Last year -- 2006 -- the number of adult beds in the state grew to
over 9,100," Hillier added. "That's why we have 42 counties
considering building new jails." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(10) SHERIFF SPEAKS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AT METH MEETINGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Bowie County Sheriff James Prince has a unique perspective when it comes to dealing with methamphetamine users and their families. | ||||||||||||||||
Three and a half years ago, he had his own 31-year-old son arrested on drug charges. "It's a tough thing to put your kid in jail, but a lot of people are doing it. The alternative is a whole lot worse. | ||||||||||||||||
I told my son I would rather see him in jail than in a casket"
Prince said. Prince spoke Tuesday night in Redwater, Texas, at the
first town hall meeting held by the Bowie County Sheriffs Office and
the East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. He said he
caught a plane to Georgia when he received a phone call saying his
son might be doing drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"I hope and pray he stays off it" the sheriff said. Prince said parents of meth users should not be ashamed if their sons or daughters are on drugs. "You have not done anything wrong" he said. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(11) Editorial: GERIATRICS IN JUMPSUITS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
State needs to address aging in prisons to save money North Carolina
has a problem with old people and prisons: There are increasing
numbers of the former in the latter. | ||||||||||||||||
Because of longer sentences, especially for drug-related crimes,
more often people approach retirement age while sporting orange
jumpsuits. | ||||||||||||||||
According to a 2006 report on aging in N.C. prisons, the 50
years-and-older group was the fastest growing age bracket in our
inmate population. While the total number of inmates has increased
by 16 percent in the past five years, the elderly incarcerated
population has jumped 61 percent. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
This is a burden on the state financially, not just because of the
ever-growing need for cell space but also because medical and mental
health care for elderly inmates costs about three times as much as
that for prisoners in younger age brackets. | ||||||||||||||||
The sad part is that the elderly poor probably receive more
comprehensive health care within the prison system than outside its
walls. It might actually be a worse punishment to send them out to
tackle the Medicaid and Medicare systems - which is a commentary on
those systems, and not an appeal to punish elderly inmates more
harshly. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
One possible solution is to shorten sentences for non-violent
crimes, but because no politician seeking re-election wants to be
branded as being against the "War on Drugs," this is not a likely
scenario. | ||||||||||||||||
A fix that N.C. officials have proposed is to release terminally
ill, low-risk elderly inmates to hospices, while placing other
elderly prisoners or prisoners with disabilities in secure private
facilities. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(12) COLUMN: UNEQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
THERE IS ONE SUBJECT BEING forgotten in the 2008 Democratic race for the White House. While all the major candidates are vying for the black and Latino vote, they are completely ignoring one of the most pressing issues affecting those constituencies: the failed "war on drugs" -- a war that has morphed into a war on people of color. | ||||||||||||||||
Consider this: According to a 2006 report by the American Civil Liberties Union, African-Americans make up an estimated 15 percent of drug users, but they account for 37 percent of those arrested on drug charges, 59 percent of those convicted and 74 percent of all drug offenders sentenced to prison. Or consider this: The United States has 260,000 people in state prisons on nonviolent drug charges; 183,200 (more than 70 percent) of them are black or Latino. | ||||||||||||||||
Such facts have been bandied about for years. But our politicians
have consistently failed to take action on what has become yet
another third rail of American politics, a subject to be avoided at
all costs by elected officials who fear being incinerated on contact
for being soft on crime. | ||||||||||||||||
Perhaps you hoped this would change during a spirited Democratic
presidential primary? Unfortunately, a quick search of the top
Democratic hopefuls' Web sites reveals that not one of them -- not
Hillary Clinton, not Barack Obama, not John Edwards, not Joe Biden,
not Chris Dodd, not Bill Richardson -- even mentions the drug war,
let alone offers any solutions. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Obama has written eloquently about his own struggle with drugs but
has not addressed the tragic effect the war on drugs is having on
African-American communities. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Avoidance of this issue comes at a very stiff price (and not just the more than $50 billion a year we're spending on the failed drug war). The toll is paid in shattered families, devastated inner cities and wasted lives (with no apologies for using that term). | ||||||||||||||||
During the 10 years I've been writing about the injustice of the drug war, I've repeatedly watched as politicians paid lip service to the problem but then ducked as the sickening status quo claimed more victims. Here in California, of the 171,000 inmates jamming our wildly overcrowded prisons, 36,000 are nonviolent drug offenders. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
A 2000 study found that 1.4 million African American men -- 13
percent of the total black male population -- were unable to vote in
the 2000 election because of state laws barring felons from the
polls. In Florida, 1 in 3 black men is permanently disqualified from
voting. Think that might have made a difference in the 2000 race?
Our shortsighted drug laws have become the 21st-century | ||||||||||||||||
Shouldn't this be an issue Democratic presidential candidates deem
worthy of their attention? | ||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
The California state government is looking at medical cannabis once again, only this time it is the taxman who is treading into the murky gray waters. Tax assessors hope to be rewarded with millions of dollars from all cannabis dispensaries instead of the current patchwork of clubs that pay tax. Some stakeholders support the added legitimacy, while others fear possibly owing eight years worth of taxes and sharing information which could be seized by the feds. | ||||||||||||||||
Madison Wisconsin activists kept the spotlight on a legal case that involved sharing a joint between two friends at a cannabis festival, which led to the Dane County Board asking the District Attorney to justify the costs of dropping the misdemeanor charge to pursue felony prosecution. The prosecutor had previously claimed money and resources are very tight, so some assurance was needed that the DA's office was "conserving its resources for pursuit of serious crimes." | ||||||||||||||||
Some Denver, Colorado citizens are concerned democracy is being
mocked by police who defiantly arrested 11 per cent more people
since voters approved an initiative to remove all penalties for
possessing one ounce or less of cannabis several years ago. The
Charlie Brown logic for pursuing this path is, "It's still state law
- we can't be selective about the laws we enforce." | ||||||||||||||||
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again", could be the
motto of House politicians in New Hampshire who once again passed a
bill to control and regulate the hemp industry. The Senate killed it
two years ago, and even if it evolves further this time, there is
still the DEA to contend with. However, with momentum and
perseverance, it will just be a matter of time before U.S. farmers
grow one of the most useful plants on the planet. | ||||||||||||||||
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(13) SOME AREN'T STOKED ABOUT NEW TAX (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
For the first time since voters passed Proposition 215 more than a
decade ago, state tax assessors are reaching out to the state's
estimated 150 to 200 medical marijuana retailers to get them to pay
their state and local sales taxes. | ||||||||||||||||
In February, the state Board of Equalization sent out a special
notice to sellers of medical marijuana, urging them to obtain a
seller's permit like any other retailer. | ||||||||||||||||
"If you sell medical marijuana, your sales in California are
generally subject to tax and you are required to hold a seller's
permit," according to the notice. | ||||||||||||||||
It goes on to warn sellers that "if you do not obtain a seller's
permit or fail to report and pay the taxes due, you will be subject
to interest and penalty charges." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
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(14) BOARD MEMBERS RIP MARIJUANA PROSECUTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Four liberal Dane County Board members are questioning the district
attorney's decision to pursue a felony drug charge against a Madison
man who declined a deal to plead guilty or no contest to misdemeanor
marijuana possession. | ||||||||||||||||
In a letter to Democratic District Attorney Brian Blanchard, the
board members note the county's top prosecutor recently raised
concerns about budget constraints and asked county officials for
more staff. | ||||||||||||||||
The letter - signed by Progressive Dane Sups. Ashok Kumar, Al
Matano, Kyle Richmond and Barbara Vedder - criticizes Blanchard's
office for filing a felony charge against a county resident who
allegedly "handed a marijuana cigarette to a colleague during a
demonstration in favor of relaxation of anti-marijuana law in
Downtown Madison." | ||||||||||||||||
"The decision to file and pursue such charges calls into question the district attorney's office commitment to conserving its resources for pursuit of serious crimes," the letter states. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
(15) LEGAL POT ACTIVISTS ANGRY AT POLICE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Possession Busts Rise Despite City Voters' OK | ||||||||||||||||
Marijuana legalization advocates say they are furious with Denver
police for arresting more people for misdemeanor possession after
city residents voted to legalize the weed in 2005. Mason Tvert, who
led the charge to get marijuana legalized, said the group will hold
a noon news conference today at the steps of City Hall to decry the
findings. | ||||||||||||||||
Arrests for most minor crimes rose in Denver last year, and rose
faster than marijuana arrests, following a change in policing
philosophy. | ||||||||||||||||
But Tvert said nothing can justify an 11 percent spike in marijuana
possession arrests last year. | ||||||||||||||||
"If there's one, it's too many," Tvert said. "They (police) have the
discretion not to arrest." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Tvert plans to have retired Denver police Lt. Tony Ryan on hand to speak for retired law enforcement officers who favor legalization. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
One person not sharing that idea is City Councilman Charlie Brown. | ||||||||||||||||
"It's still state law," Brown said. "We can't be selective about the
laws we enforce." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
(16) N.H. HOUSE APPROVES GROWING HEMP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The House voted Thursday to allow farmers to
grow hemp - a close relative of marijuana - despite federal hurdles
to planting the controversial crop. | ||||||||||||||||
Supporters pointed out that hemp, which has a very low content of
THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, has unfairly been
characterized as the same as marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"No one confuses water with vodka though they look the same," Owen
said. | ||||||||||||||||
Hemp can be grown only with permission from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. North Dakota farmers are currently trying to get DEA permission to grow hemp under that state's rules. | ||||||||||||||||
"This is in the end an issue of liberty. Small farmers in the state
need all the help they can get," Owen said. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Hemp can be grown legally in other countries. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (17-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Ex-drug czar under Bill Clinton, and Gulf War Army General Barry McCaffrey had a "trip report" from his recent trip to Afghanistan published by the Washington Post last week. "Afghanistan is now a narco-state," declared McCaffrey. But, it is the Brit's fault: "The British have the lead for the [counter-drug] program" but won't spend enough money to make Afghanistan be drug free. Not to worry, because there's no problem which can't be solved by more force and more police in Afghanistan. "This should be a 10,000 man [local] program, supported by a $250 million [U.S.] program -- with an in-country presence of 200+ DEA agents." Laments McCaffrey, There are no real jails -- or prosecutors -- or judges -- or squad cars." | ||||||||||||||||
Despite one of the world's harshest prohibitionist regimes in
Indonesia, the number of children taking illicit drugs continues to
rise there. Insp. Gen. Mudji Waluyo, from the Indonesian National
Narcotics Agency said drug use was up some 400 percent from 2005
among students in "elementary, junior high and senior high schools",
and this in a country which enthusiastically executes people for
selling small amounts of prohibited drugs. "All those figures show
us how rampant drug abuse is among students in Indonesia," admitted
Mudji. Ironically, many of the young Indonesians polled indicated
one reason they took drugs was as an "escape from authoritarian
treatment." | ||||||||||||||||
And finally this week, we leave you with two different re-writes of
the same alarmist salvia divinorum article written by Kenyon Wallace
of the Canadian Press, which was picked up by papers all over Canada
last week. The Saskatchewan newspaper, The StarPhoenix, emphasized
that police power might be at risk with the headline "Police
Powerless As Psychedelic Herb Remains Legal." True, only "four cases
of adverse reactions to salvia" have been documented by Health
Canada (making salvia remarkably safe compared to, say, aspirin or
Viagra or anything else). But no matter: because young people may
get some, or it might be used by a person driving, it must be made
illegal for everyone, say police, eager to add salvia to list of
plants police may arrest people for possessing. The Edmonton Journal
in Alberta slugged the piece as "Hallucinogenic Herb Being Abused By
Young People - Health Canada", and likewise buried the fact that few
adverse reactions to salvia have occurred. But even though The
Journal declared that salvia is "being abused", Health Canada can't
make it illegal "until we have sufficient scientific and empirical
data that concludes it has the potential for misuse and abuse,"
admitted a Health Canada spokesman. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
(17) McCAFFREY SEES 2007 AS A CRUCIAL YEAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
"We Are Now in a Race Against Time." | ||||||||||||||||
When retired Army Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey visited Afghanistan in
February for meetings with 23 senior Western and local military,
intelligence and political officials, he came away with a cautiously
optimistic view of the prospects for reform and political stability
there. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"Afghanistan is now a narco-state. The opium/heroin take is $3.1
billion -- which is 1/3 of the GNP. The British have the lead for
the [counter-drug] program and are not adequately resourced for the
effort. There is no single unifying leadership for the U.S. nor
international effort." | ||||||||||||||||
"If we do not get a serious and sustained effort on counter-drug operations . . . we will fail to achieve our objectives. . . . This should be a 10,000 man [local] program, supported by a $250 million [U.S.] program -- with an in-country presence of 200+ DEA agents." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"We can, without question, achieve our U.S. national objective of a
functioning law-based state -- with a performing, non-drug economy
-- which rejects sanctuary for terrorism. This is a cross-over
year." | ||||||||||||||||
"The effort to create the Afghan police force is currently grossly
under-resourced with 700 U.S. trainers. . . . In Iraq, we have 7000
U.S. police trainers. . . . In Kosovo, we had 5000 police mentors. .
. . We have trained 60,000 Afghan police, but we have no idea where | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
We must lose the 'Expeditionary' mindset. Reconstruction in this
destroyed nation is going to take 25 years." | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
(18) DATA SHOWS STUDENTS TAKING ILLICIT DRUGS ON THE RISE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Despite a nationwide anti-drug drive, the country continues to see
more cases of drug use by schoolchildren, a top anti-drugs
campaigner said Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||
"The number of illegal drug users continues to increase annually,
with 81,702 of them students of elementary, junior high and senior
high schools," head of the Narcotics Abuse Prevention Center at the
National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Insp. Gen. Mudji Waluyo, said as
quoted by Antara, in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. | ||||||||||||||||
He was referring to 2006 data collected by the agency across the
country. | ||||||||||||||||
Addressing a seminar on the Use of Information Technology in the
Campaign against Drug Abuse and Trafficking, which was held in the
auditorium of the East Kalimantan Governor's Office, Mudji said the
agency recorded a total of 8,449 elementary school students who had
used drugs last year. It was nearly a 400-percent increase from the
2005 figure of 2,542 students. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"All those figures show us how rampant drug abuse is among students
in Indonesia," Mudji said. | ||||||||||||||||
Quoting the survey conducted by the BNN, Mudji said 86 percent of
respondents said that they had consumed drugs due to the influence
of their environment, another 74.15 percent said that they had used
drugs just for fun and another 70 percent said that they had turned
to drugs to escape from authoritarian treatment at home or at
school. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
(19) POLICE POWERLESS AS PSYCHEDELIC HERB REMAINS LEGAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
OTTAWA -- An easily available herb that packs a powerful psychedelic
punch has some federal health officials recommending strict
controls. | ||||||||||||||||
But Health Canada says it can't regulate the use of salvia divinorum
until there's more evidence of its dangers. | ||||||||||||||||
Department documents obtained by The Canadian Press under Access to
Information law say salvia is being used by adolescents and young
adults for its hallucinogenic properties. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Department spokesperson Jason Bouzanis said salvia has been known to cause hallucinations, out of-body experiences, unconsciousness and shortterm memory loss. But that's not enough to declare it illegal. | ||||||||||||||||
"We can't make any recommendations to place salvia under the
Controlled Drug and Substances Act schedules until we have
sufficient scientific and empirical data that concludes it has the
potential for misuse and abuse," Bouzanis said. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
An October 2006 report by the natural health products directorate of
Health Canada, which is responsible for assessing safety among all
marketed health products, highlights four cases of adverse reactions
to salvia. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Despite being aware of salvia's potentially harmful effects, the
RCMP can't crack down on the herb because it's legal. | ||||||||||||||||
"As far as including salvia included under the Controlled Substances
Act, that's Health Canada's responsibility," said Sgt. Nathalie
Deschenes. | ||||||||||||||||
"The RCMP is always concerned about any substance or product that
may put the safety and security of Canadians at risk." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Missouri and Louisiana have criminalized the herb and there are
proposals to make it illegal in Alaska, Illinois, Oregon and
Wyoming. | ||||||||||||||||
Dr. Bryan Roth, a professor of pharmacology at the University of
North Carolina, Chapel Hill, is very concerned about the
availability of the herb. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"The distribution is totally unregulated so unsuspecting teens or
even children younger than teenage years might chance upon it and
that's a recipe for disaster." | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
(20) HALLUCINOGENIC HERB BEING ABUSED BY YOUNG PEOPLE - HEALTH (Top)CANADA | ||||||||||||||||
Salvia Divinorum Can't Be Declared Illegal Without More Data | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
A December 2005 report by the marketed health products directorate,
an arm of Health Canada, recommends that salvia divinorum be placed
under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"We can't make any recommendations to place salvia under the
Controlled Drug and Substances Act schedules until we have
sufficient scientific and empirical data that concludes it has the
potential for misuse and abuse," Bouzanis said. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
It is a species of sage, which belongs to the mint family, and is
most commonly found in Mexico, where indigenous Mazatec shamans have
used it for centuries for spiritual journeys. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
An October 2006 report by the natural health products directorate of
Health Canada highlights four cases of adverse reactions to salvia.
One case involves a 16-year-old Canadian boy who reportedly became
incoherent, suicidal and threatened to kill police officers after
taking a single tablet in March 2005. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
But for one salvia user, the concerns are unnecessary. "Salvia is so
intense, most people only try it once or twice," said Ryan (Big P)
Poelzer, who works at the Urban Shaman, a popular botanical store in
downtown Vancouver. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
THE U.S. "WAR ON DRUGS" IS AN ASSAULT ON SOUTH AMERICA'S POOREST | ||||||||||||||||
By Benjamin Dangl | ||||||||||||||||
Cocaine may be considered a scourge in America's cities, but in the
Andes, the plant from which it's derived is a way of life that
provides food, shelter, healthcare and education. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||
04/06/07 - Panel : Are we winning the war on drugs? / with Stan Furce
of HIDTA/ONDCP, Marcia Baker of Phoenix House & DTN/LEAP member Dean
Becker. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Listen Live Fridays 8:00 PM, ET, 7:00 CT, 6:00 MT & 5:00 PT at
http://www.kpft.org/ | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
BUSH (STILL) LOVES D.A.R.E. | ||||||||||||||||
By Marsha Rosenbaum | ||||||||||||||||
As President Bush declares April 12 "National D.A.R.E. Day," ideology
and emotion once again trump science and truth. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA? | ||||||||||||||||
A Cross-National Empirical Examination | ||||||||||||||||
by Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, [et al.] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
LONG TERM USE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS BY FEDERAL LEGAL PATIENTS | ||||||||||||||||
U.S. government grown medical marijuana is sent to several patients remaining on the I.N.D. program. In 2002, Elvy Musikka, George McMahon ... all ¯ and Irvin Rosenfeld appear in Portland, OR to discuss their health and experience of 20 years using medical Cannabis. Hosted by Mary Lynn Mathre of Patients Out of Time. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
CELEBRATE NARCO NEWS' 7TH ANNIVERSARY IN NEW YORK CITY | ||||||||||||||||
Sign-Up Today as a Sponsor of a Great Party for a Worthy Cause | ||||||||||||||||
By Al Giordano | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
LEGALIZING DRUGS COULD STEM CRIME | ||||||||||||||||
By John F. Ferry, M.D. | ||||||||||||||||
Section one of the April 3 edition of The Advocate was dominated by
stories about the terrible epidemic of murder and other criminal
activity causing great distress in New Orleans. | ||||||||||||||||
All these problems could be eliminated with one stroke of the government's pen. Decriminalize the use and sale of drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
Because these drugs are illegal, their price is very, very high.
Nevertheless, many people are willing to risk long jail sentences,
murder people, or be killed themselves trying to get the drugs for
their own use or to sell at huge profits. | ||||||||||||||||
Undeniably, our society would be better off if no one used or sold
these drugs. | ||||||||||||||||
But, equally undeniably, the government's "War on Drugs" has failed.
These items are readily available. Don't we ever learn? | ||||||||||||||||
In the 1920s and early 1930s, our government decreed that since we
would all be better off if no one consumed alcoholic beverages,
alcohol consumption was made illegal. | ||||||||||||||||
All the curses the use of alcohol brings on society would be
eliminated. This was called the "Noble Experiment." | ||||||||||||||||
Wow! Were they wrong. | ||||||||||||||||
After all, all Al Capone ever did was to go into the liquor
business. The difference was that his profits were so high that he
eliminated competition with submachine guns rather than with low
prices and good service. | ||||||||||||||||
Reasonable men saw that the experiment had failed. Alcohol was once
again made a legal substance for sale and consumption. The nation
has survived. | ||||||||||||||||
I hope that my fellow readers of The Advocate do not take this
letter to indicate that I favor, promote or recommend the use of
mind-altering substances. I do not | ||||||||||||||||
But experience teaches that outlawing their use does not decrease
their use. It only creates a lot of outlaws. | ||||||||||||||||
John F. Ferry, M.D. | ||||||||||||||||
retired physician/artist | ||||||||||||||||
New Iberia | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH - MARCH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
DrugSense recognizes Alan Randell of Victoria, B.C. for his two letters published during March which brings his career total, that we know of, to 442. You may review his superb letters at | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Making the Most of DrugSense | ||||||||||||||||
PDF version: http://www.drugsense.org/flyers/DSServicesFlyer.pdf | ||||||||||||||||
By Mary Jane Borden | ||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of
taking care of them." | ||||||||||||||||
-- Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826). | ||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by
Jo-D Harrison (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and
analysis by Deb Harper (), International content
selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), Layout,
TJI and HOTN by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||
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