DrugSense Weekly - June 13, 2008 #553

DrugSense Weekly - Domestic News- Policy - June 13, 2008 #553

There's a series of "what's wrong with this picture" stories in prohibition news this week: George Bush is set to dine with drug convict; a long-time activist was arrested because his money allegedly smelled like cannabis; the FDA is spending more resources on becoming drug cops and falling behind in its mandate of ensuring drug safety; and the drug war is getting so bad in some Mexico cities that even missionaries are cancelling trips there, rightfully concerned that even God won't protect them prohibition-related violence.

DrugSense Weekly - Law Enforcement and Prisons - June 13, 2008 #553

Last week, the Washington Post took a look at the readjustment process former prisoners who have had sentences reduced thanks to new sentencing guidelines on crack. In the UK, illegal drug use within some prisons is said to be at epidemic levels. And the judge who became famous for smoking pot at a Rolling Stones concert is now speaking out about addictions. All well and good, but as our last story indicates, just because someone claims to have overcome drugs, they may not be the best role model to encourage others not to use drugs.

DrugSense Weekly - Cannabis and Hemp- - June 13, 2008 #553

Yet another well-argued, evidenced-based report calling for cannabis regulation has emerged from Scotland. However, it seems the Scottish government has asked the parliamentary librarian to shelve it in the basement with the ACMD report, Le Dain, Schafer, La Guardia, Runciman and Nolin.

The New York Times took a long look at the recent backlash against the nascent medicinal cannabis industry in California, admirably including sound bites from many familiar voices of the cannabis law reform community.

In addition to the issues surrounding medicinal cannabis in the workplace and in public spaces, medicinal cannabis laws are forcing states to accommodate patients in custodial relationships with the criminal justice system.

Cannabinoid research pioneer Billy R. Martin passed away last week.

DrugSense Weekly - International News - June 13, 2008 #553

Argentina appears to be joining nearby Brazil and Uruguay in halting arrests for simple drug use or possession. The change happened after Argentinean legal tribunals ruled laws penalizing drug use were unconstitutional. "We have to stop being hypocrites," pled Argentinean minister of justice, security and health Anibal Fernandez earlier this year. "Young people also get sick from the consumption of alcohol and pills, which they get freely, and we criminalize those for possessing a marijuana cigarette."

Surprise, surprise: as many other trials have shown before, when heroin addicts are simply prescribed the pharmaceutical grade stuff, their lives stabilize. In Montreal, Canada, the first trial of prescribed heroin in North America is coming to a close. "What was surprising was that, as their lives gained stability, many came only twice a day," noted the lead researcher. "Because the heroin was free, people thought an escalation in use would occur. But this didn't happen." Other fears proved unfounded, as well. "There was a fear we'd attract more users by giving out free heroin." Don't expect grandstanding politicians to listen; such studies are regularly ignored by government. Meanwhile, the right-wing government of Stephen Harper vowed to appeal the B.C. Supreme court ruling that allows Insite to remain operating. With over 90% of Canada's anti-drug budget going to law enforcement, a powerful law enforcement lobby keeps a stranglehold on politicians and resources.

In Scotland, media and politicians alike were aghast at the very idea: supervised injection centers should be established, and cannabis should be legalized. The idea came from a think-tank which was set up by the Scottish Parliament. Response from prohibitionists was predictable. "We believe that people should be assisted to get off drugs, not helped to take them," said member of parliament Annabel Goldie. Scotland's punitive drug prohibition laws have earned the region the distinction of having "the highest drug-related death rate in Europe."