| July 8 ,1998 #054 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A DrugSense publication | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
EDITORS NOTE: | ||||||||||||||||
The On-line version of this article contains a great deal of
additional information cites and related articles at: | ||||||||||||||||
Prison Labor: The American Way? | ||||||||||||||||
Its Chinatime again and our elected officials are pontificating and
proselytizing about human rights and "basic freedoms" as only they know
how. It seems the Chinese still stubbornly refuse to follow our
egalitarian lead. Of course they don't yet have 1.3 million citizens in
jail, nor do they spend $35 billion a year on nuclear weapons but no doubt
they will when they get democracy right. They're improving though, or so
we're told; improving so much that we're apparently obligated to reward
"them" with billion dollar business partnerships, and, a chance to roll red
carpet over bloodstains on Tienenman square. | ||||||||||||||||
You may recall from recent years one of the main reasons given why China
ought not receive most favored nation status among other goodies was their
ongoing use of prison labor to produce goods they then sell on various
markets. The situation was considered both "slavery" and -- even worse --
an "unfair trade practice." But, judging by the deafening silence that now
surrounds the issue, you could be forgiven for inferring this was one of
the "areas of improvement" Clinton has spoken so proudly of during his
current escape to China. You would be wrong. China uses prison labor as
always. What has changed is the realization by U.S. officials that we're
doing the exact same thing here. Yes folks, were talking MADE IN THE USA .
. . by convicts. | ||||||||||||||||
In exchange for literally pennies a day, Federal prisoners (20% of the
total U.S. prison population) produce more than $1.35 billion dollars worth
of goods each year for UNICOR, a Federal Bureau of Prisons "company." U.S.
prison labor revenues are estimated to reach $9B by the year 2000. With
their piss ant paychecks prisoners can purchase medical care, commissary
items, and make restitution where ordered. And with what's left over they
can prepare a nest egg with which to begin their new lives upon
emancipation (so they won't have to return to crime to support families)
The over 6000 items produced by prisoners include furniture, electronics,
vehicle components, clothing, textiles, toner cartridges, eye ware, gloves,
brooms, envelopes and draperies. All are available through UNICOR's bizarre
electronic catalogue. | ||||||||||||||||
Prison labor profiteers and advocates (one hesitates to call them
organizers) mysteriously circumvented trade union opposition in the 1950's
by asserting that these goods would only be sold to government agencies and
thus workers need not be concerned -- a delightful non sequitur since who
would manufacture the goods if not for prisoners? $1.35 billion a year
sounds like more than a few U.S. jobs to me? | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Drug Policy & The Media - | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Concerted attacks by the Washington Post, LA Times, and New York Times on Gary Webb's 1996 expose of mid-Eighties connections between the CIA, Contras, and LA street dealers had the effect of discrediting the story, produced from Webbs's editor a strange mea culpa, and eventually led Webb to resign from the Mercury- News to write a book. The full story of both the events in question and their equally strange reportage may never be known, but CIA denials are totally unconvincing and all the involved newspapers have lost credibility. | ||||||||||||||||
As if to confirm the Hollywood adage about sequels, "Meth, Son of
Crack" is not scaring the public nearly as much as the original crack
scare of the Eighties. | ||||||||||||||||
Given its perception- on the cusp between a "fun" drug and a valid
therapeutic agent- it was only a question of time before a black
market for Viagra appeared. That it surfaced on the Internet
shouldn't surprise us, of all people. | ||||||||||||||||
Even D.A.R.E. can be smeared. It appears that all their recent bad
press was not deserved. This newsletter arranges the news to point out
drug war lunacy, but we have never found it necessary to make anything
up. | ||||||||||||||||
Of all the articles published this past week, the last may be the most
important. When the president of a conservative national medical
organization makes a case for a change in drug policy, it's
significant. The column deals specifically only with addiction and
methadone maintenance as examples, but it strongly infers the entire
policy is wrong. | ||||||||||||||||
GARY WEBB INTERVIEW BY SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN | ||||||||||||||||
In August 1996, San Jose Mercury News reporter Gary Webb's "Dark
Alliance" series documented how the CIA helped Nicaragua's contras
sell crack cocaine in South Central Los Angeles. The contras used
the drug money to finance their war against Nicaragua's leftist
government. | ||||||||||||||||
To most readers, the credibility of Webb's investigation was beyond
dispute. The articles spurred congressional hearings and reports
from departments such as the federal customs Office corroborating
Webb's allegations, even though many government agencies tried to
withhold information from investigators. The northern California
chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists named Webb
journalist of the year for the "Dark Alliance" series. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
MEDIA BLITZ AIMS TO STEM 'MONSTER' METH PROBLEM | ||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO -- Attorney General Dan Lungren introduced a federally
funded media campaign yesterday meant to stem the use of
methamphetamine, a powerful stimulant he said has "spread like a cancer
throughout this state." | ||||||||||||||||
The campaign features television, radio and billboard ads discouraging
meth use and a new World Wide Web site where users can find information
on the drug known variously as "meth" and "crank." | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
VIAGRA ONLINE | ||||||||||||||||
THANKFUL AS many men may be by the easy availability of Viagra over
the Internet, federal and state officials should waste no time in
cracking down on companies that sell the drug without requiring
traditional prescriptions. | ||||||||||||||||
Chronicle science writer Carl T. Hall reported that one of the
companies peddling the exceedingly popular anti-impotence pill as
well as other prescription medicines on the Internet required only
a short, customer-completed ``medical history'' form. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
GROUP SUES WRITER FOR SHAM ARTICLE | ||||||||||||||||
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The national police anti-drug group D.A.R.E. is suing a former staff writer at The New Republic who admitted making up material in his articles, including at least one about D.A.R.E. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
Editors at The New Republic apologized earlier this month to
readers after finding that Glass, 25, fabricated all or part of 27
of the 41 articles he wrote for the publication. | ||||||||||||||||
It wasn't clear how much of the D.A.R.E. stories were made up. One, in The New Republic, accused D.A.R.E. of covering up the program's problems and intimidating people into not exposing them. | ||||||||||||||||
The New Republic said some D.A.R.E. critics were pressured to
soften their opinions, as Glass had written, but it acknowledged
that Glass made up at least four people, the suit said. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
THE NATIONAL WAR ON DRUGS: BUILD CLINICS, NOT PRISONS | ||||||||||||||||
Current thinking about how to treat drug addiction is in a state of
rapid flux. The basis of this revolution is the gradual accretion
of knowledge about the pathophysiology, treatment and social
consequences of drug addiction. All of this information is coming
together into a coherent view that points toward needed changes in
public policy. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Courts & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Typically, cops always want more latitude to search; lately, the
Supreme Court has been giving way the store to law enforcement-
especially if it's a drug case; this doesn't look too good for the
Constitution. | ||||||||||||||||
In a case is almost certain to go the way to the SC, this decision severely limiting immunity in return for testimony will take away a major drug war prosecutorial technique if allowed to stand. | ||||||||||||||||
The Corcoran story is very ugly and the major California dailies have
the facts. This could be one of several serious problems for Lungren
in November | ||||||||||||||||
A plausible scenario which could lead to an urgent rethinking of
policy in many states is the concurrence of a prison riot over
conditions and a fiscal crisis precipitated by an unaffordable
corrections budget. | ||||||||||||||||
NATIONAL ASSN. OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS FILES AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF TO | ||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON, June 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, the National Association of Police Organizations, Inc. (NAPO), representing more than 4,000 police unions and associations and over 220,000 sworn law enforcement officers from across the nation, submitted a legal brief in support of law enforcement officers in the case of Patrick Knowles v. State of Iowa, a Fourth Amendment vehicular search and seizure case. | ||||||||||||||||
This case directly bears on the authority of law enforcement officers
to protect themselves and the public by conducting a search for
weapons, whenever they stop a motor vehicle for a traffic violation and
issue a citation instead of making an arrest (assuming there is
authority to do both). | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
COURT RULES OUT PROMISES OF LENIENCY | ||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement: The appellate judges say prosecutor's offers of
reduced sentences are a violation of federal law. | ||||||||||||||||
Denver-In a decision that could hamstring prosecutors, a federal
appeals court ruled that it is illegal for the government to promise
leniency to witnesses in exchange for testimony. | ||||||||||||||||
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 3-0 ruling Wednesday
that the practice amounts to buying testimony. The court said its
decision will not "drastically alter" the government's practices, but
lawyers disagreed. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
WAS PRISON PROBE A WHITEWASH? | ||||||||||||||||
CORCORAN, Kings County - For seven years, California turned a blind eye
to the deadliest prison in America, where 50 inmates were wounded or
shot dead by guards. | ||||||||||||||||
Gov. Wilson and the man who wants to succeed him, Attorney General Dan Lungren, finally examined Corcoran State Prison last year. The result was a whitewash - a pair of investigations that never probed a single fatal or serious shooting, the Los Angeles Times has found. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
PRISON DISTURBANCE CREATES A WAKE-UP CALL | ||||||||||||||||
The troubles at the Fox Lake Correctional Institution in recent days
should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed recent
developments in Wisconsin correctional policy. The latest moves by the
state Department of Corrections to transfer Wisconsin inmates out of
state represent the worst sort of stop-gap policy-making and it is no
wonder that the prisoners whose lives will be most affected by those
moves would react negatively. | ||||||||||||||||
This may not justify the decision Sunday night of several hundred
angry prisoners at Fox Lake to refuse to report for an evening head
count. But it does explain their action. | ||||||||||||||||
As many as 300 inmates joined in the protest against the state's
expanding use of transfers. As crowding in Wisconsin prisons has
reached a critical stage, the transfers have become an integral
part of state corrections policy. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Hemp & Marijuana | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Just when you thought you had a handle on all the non-psychoactive uses of the marvelous hemp plant, along come a few more. | ||||||||||||||||
Ever since the backfire of McCzar's attempt to thwart 215 by
intimidating physicians, local law enforcement- just as hostile to
medical pot- has been pushing felony cases against selected buyers'
club operators and also harassing patients, as reported here. Sadly,
they've had short term success. However California voters, who thought
they were freeing patients from the criminal market, may not look
kindly on what's transpired. | ||||||||||||||||
More bad news for McCzar and Alan Leshner, NIDA spinmeister: another
potential therapeutic benefit of cannabis. It will be interesting to
hear what they come up with. | ||||||||||||||||
HURDS COULD BE KENTUCKY PRODUCT | ||||||||||||||||
Animal bedding is an example of a market for a hemp product that
Kentucky might have a unique advantage in, according to the
Economic Impact of Industrial Hemp in Kentucky, which was released
yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||
Hemp hurds, from the woody, pulpy middle of the stalk, are often
just a byproduct of processing the plant. When the hemp fibers are
removed from the plant, 68 percent of the plant -- the hurd -- is
left. | ||||||||||||||||
In England and France, which together grow more than 35,000 acres
of hemp, hurds are primarily used for animal bedding. | ||||||||||||||||
Because of Central Kentucky's proximity to the thoroughbred horse
industry, hemp grown and processed here would have a ready-made
market, the study suggests. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
EVIL WEED NO MORE: HEMP PLANTS ARE IDEAL FOR CREATING BEAUTY PRODUCTS | ||||||||||||||||
Here's the dope: The hemp plant, also known as cannabis sativa or
marijuana, is one of the best moisturizers around. | ||||||||||||||||
The evil weed is, in fact, jam-packed with essential fatty acids and amino acids, making it an ideal ingredient for beauty fare ranging from soaps to face creams, shampoo, healing salves and even lip balm. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
PROSECUTORS WANT MARIJUANA CO-OP PATIENT RECORDS | ||||||||||||||||
LONG BEACH, Calif. ( AP) -- A medical marijuana co-op will resist Orange County prosecutors' efforts to obtain health records of hundreds of people who use the drug for pain, a defense attorney said. | ||||||||||||||||
"It's a fishing expedition," said Long Beach attorney Robert L.
Kennedy, one of two lawyers representing the Orange County
Cannabis Co-op. Its founder, Marvin Chavez, and a volunteer
worker, David Herrick, have been charged with felony marijuana
sales. | ||||||||||||||||
Kennedy said he would ask a judge to quash subpoena requests for
members' medical records at a July 10 hearing in Santa Ana. The
co-op has about 200 members. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
CANNABIS "IS STROKE HOPE' | ||||||||||||||||
Extracts of the marijuana plant could one day be routinely used to
prevent brain damage after stroke, according to United States
government scientists. | ||||||||||||||||
A team led by the British-born biologist Aidan Hampson, at the US
National Institute for Mental Health, in Maryland, has discovered
that two active components of cannabis - compounds called THC and
cannabidiol - will each act to prevent damage to brain tissue
placed in laboratory dishes. | ||||||||||||||||
The experiments, to be reported next week in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal an unexpected potential use for a drug known for centuries to have valuable medical properties. The discovery is likely to increase pressure to make marijuana and its derivatives more widely available for use on prescription. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
Perhaps because their drug market is a relatively recent phenomenon,
Irish press reports on the drug war often contain a na=EFve enthusiasm
reminding one of the US in the Seventies. It will take them a few
years to learn that one "big player's" arrest is merely another's
business opportunity. | ||||||||||||||||
The cited volume of drug trafficking in Nigeria may surprise some readers as much as It surprised me. Given its endemic corruption, Nigeria is a ideal venue for a flourishing iIlegal market. | ||||||||||||||||
Domestically, negotiations with Panama over continued American
military presence in the region will depend a lot on the status of the
drug war as policy and also on the credibility of interdiction as a
viable strategy. Nations in the region must knows it's a war the US
has no realistic intention of "winning," but it's also a dandy excuse
for a military presence. | ||||||||||||||||
A follow up on last week's Swedish article seemed in order, especially since the small, embattled group of activists deftly used their scolding by authorities as a vehicle for having the Lindesmith letter to Kofi Annan published in Swedish newspapers for the first time. | ||||||||||||||||
VICTORY CLAIMED IN BATTLE WITH DRUG BARONS | ||||||||||||||||
MANY ``big players'' have been driven out of business by the
Criminal Assets Bureau which has effectively targeted drug barons,
according to the Government. | ||||||||||||||||
Justice and crime is one area where the Government claims that many
of its pre-election promises have been met in its first year in
office. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
BOOMING TRADE IN CUT-PRICE DRUGS ADDS TO NIGERIA'S WOES | ||||||||||||||||
HANGING in wooden cages suspended from the ceiling, dancers dressed
in belt-length skirts performed high-speed hip jiggles that would
have snapped the spines of lesser mortals. | ||||||||||||||||
A young prostitute fired up a joint coated with cannabis oil, inhaled deeply and sat back to enjoy the heady mix of sex 'n' drugs 'n' rock 'n' roll at Nigeria's most famous nightclub - The Shrine. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
In Nigeria, the transshipment point for 40-60 per cent of the world's
heroin, and at least a third of all cocaine consumed in Europe,
oblivion comes cheap. | ||||||||||||||||
The discount prices for drugs have caused an explosion of abuse that
threatens to undermine the social fabric of a nation already staggering
under the weight of decades of military rule, corruption and
unemployment. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
"NO ONE DEMANDS COCAINE IN THE GROCERY STORE" | ||||||||||||||||
The Swedes who signed the New York Times drug war proclamation
answer Social Minister Margot Wallstrom: "Specify your accusations
of drug liberalism". | ||||||||||||||||
Social Minister Margot Wallstrom demanded in her DN guest editorial 21/6 that the twelve Swedes who signed a proclamation on narcotics policy submitted to the UN Secretary General should "Come forwards and explain more clearly what it is they are really after". | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
The proclamation has not yet been seen by Swedish newspaper
readers, although those who signed it have been characterized in
the media as ignorant, deceived, ambiguous, cowardly and more. In
order to clarify what we have said and not said, we here cite the
letter. | ||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||
"We believe that the global war on drugs is now causing more harm
than drug abuse itself." | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
"We The Sheeple" | ||||||||||||||||
As mentioned in this weeks feature article "We The Sheeple" is a powerful web site on prison, forfeiture and related issues. It has a collection of cases sorted by category that most will find chilling indeed. | ||||||||||||||||
Check out http://www.sheeple.com/ | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
TIP OF THE WEEK | ||||||||||||||||
Form a Powerful Reform Group in Your State or Locality | ||||||||||||||||
DrugSense is looking for leaders to help form state based email activist
groups. We will provide free email lists, web page support and guidance so
that your group can be effective at taking action in your state to bring
about reform. | ||||||||||||||||
All that's required is a good faith effort to collect the email addresses
of about 20 (recommended starting number) reform minded individuals in a
given geographical area. DrugSense will help train the group in NewsHawking
letter writing and other methods of local activism that can make a big
difference in a short time. | ||||||||||||||||
Anyone interested in forming such a group or requiring more information
please contact Mark Greer at | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||
`If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person
were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in
silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be
justified in silencing mankind' - J.S. Mill - | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what DrugSense can
do for you. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors and Newshawks. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Please help us help reform. Send any news articles you find on any drug
related issue to | ||||||||||||||||
PLEASE HELP: | ||||||||||||||||
DrugSense provides this service at no charge BUT IT IS NOT FREE TO PRODUCE. | ||||||||||||||||
We incur many costs in creating our many and varied services. If you are
able to help by contributing to the DrugSense effort please Make checks
payable to MAP Inc. send your contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |