| August 13, 1999 #110 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NOTE: Significant sections of this outstanding op-ed were snipped in
order to keep the Weekly within size limitations. Subscribers are
strongly encouraged to review the entire article at: | ||||||||||||||||||||
RETREAT, RECOVER FROM THE DRUG WAR | ||||||||||||||||||||
There is a new political wind blowing across the United States that
some elected officials are beginning to notice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The "drug war" no longer has carte blanche with the public. By every
measure, the drug war is failing and is now creating new and larger
social problems. Polls show more of the public support legalization
than believe the drug war will succeed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Political leaders such as New Mexico Gov. Gary E. Johnson are calling
for a debate on the obviously failed drug policy. Minnesota Governor
Jesse Ventura has also called for reform and Hawaii Governor Cayentano
led the fight for medicalization of marijuana in their last legislative
session. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Their calls echo the views of President Ronald Reagan's Secretary of
State and current Texas Gov. George W. Bush advisor, George Shultz;
former U.S. Attorney General Elliot Richardson; Nobel Laureate Milton
Friedman; numerous federal judges; and the progressive Mayor of
Baltimore, Kurt L. Schmoke. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nationally, a coalition of "unusual suspects" has called for a
redirection of drug control funds away from law enforcement toward
prevention and rehabilitation. Among them: the Service Workers Union
International of the AFL-CIO; the NOW Foundation; the NAACP; the United
Methodist Church; the American Public Health Association; Latino
Commission on AIDS; Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse; Volunteers of
America and YWCA. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The New Mexico Alliance for Drug Policy Reform member organizations
currently includes The New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation; The New
Mexico Harm Reduction Coalition; New Mexicans For Compassionate Use;
Delta-9 Re-Legalization Coalition; The Hemp Coalition of UNM; the
Albuquerque AIDS Brigade; and the New Mexico Green and Libertarian
Parties. The alliance is inviting any organization interested in drug
policy reform to sign on in support of Governor Johnson's call for
discussing the drug war and possible alternatives. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Why are people starting to speak out against the drug war? Because over
the last two decades the drug war has gotten more expensive in both
monetary and human terms. At the same time the failure of the drug war
has become more evident. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The conclusion: if we can't win the drug war after spending over $100
billion in less than a decade, then we need a new strategy and new
social policies to address drugs in our society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Despite spending hundreds of billions of dollars on arresting drug
users and sellers, on criminal prosecutions, and on building jails and
prisons to incarcerate millions of Americans, it would be difficult to
find one drug-free high school and very few middle schools in New
Mexico or our country. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The horrific violence in our communities being reported every night on the news is not because of drugs but the violence caused by drug prohibition. The drug-dealing black market is regulated through violent street justice. Is this what we want for the communities where we are trying to raise our children? Our country has already gone through this disaster earlier in this century with alcohol Prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The drug war has endangered our country's health in other ways. The
United States is facing epidemics in AIDS and hepatitis C. Both
diseases are driven by intravenous drug users sharing contaminated
syringes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nationally, Congress has taken the most effective prevention strategy,
needle exchange, off of the table even though it can slow the spread of
HIV by 50% without increasing drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The law-enforcement approach to drug control costs tens of billions of dollars annually and has led to the destruction of lives devastation to families and communities, and exacerbated race relations. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The nation's drug czar would have us believe that our only choices are
to continue to criminalize 70 million Americans who have used drugs or
throw up the white flag in surrender. | ||||||||||||||||||||
However, there are alternatives. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A comprehensive alternative drug-control strategy has been developed by
a coalition of organizations. The New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation was
one of the signatories. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(See http://www.csdp.org/edcs/ for a complete copy.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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To learn more about joining The New Mexico Alliance for Drug Policy
Reform and the member organizations and their projects, please contact
Steve Bunch at The New Mexico Drug Policy Foundation, (505) 344-1932,
or e-mail: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy COMMENT: (1) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
One of the week s first articles dealing with policy was this OCR
editorial examining reasons for the more prominent role FARC
guerrillas are playing in Colombia. As the week wore on, other papers
weighed in, but this analysis remained unsurpassed; sadly, it was
obviously ignored by rivals, whose advice was mainly fatuous (see
13-14) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) THE FUTILE WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The crash of a United States RC-7B intelligence aircraft in Colombia has highlighted the rapidly escalating U.S. involvement in the Colombian government's war against that country's guerrilla insurgency movement - and brought to public attention how blurred the line between the war against political insurgents and the War on Drugs has become. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drug warriors plump for military intervention overseas, of course,
because they know that prohibition in this country doesn't work and
can't work without drastic measures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Undermining the U.S. Constitution, creating a "drug war" exemption to
the Fourth Amendment, spending ten times more in a single year than was
spent during ten years of alcohol prohibition, seizing property and
huge expenditures on propaganda haven't worked. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (2) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile, the drug war's image took a severe hit when cocaine smuggling charges were leveled against the wife of a senior US military commander at precisely the time our involvement in that country's civil war was receiving maximum attention. Ouch. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(2) U.S. COLONEL'S WIFE NAMED IN COLOMBIA DRUG SMUGGLING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
By ROBERT D. McFADDEN | ||||||||||||||||||||
In April and May, Laurie Anne Hiett, the wife of an Army colonel in charge
of all United States military operations in Colombia, mailed six packages
to New York City from the American Embassy in Bogota. Each was sealed in
plain brown paper and weighed several pounds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the names of the recipients were fictitious, and the packages turned
out to contain a total of 15.8 pounds of pure cocaine with a street value
of up to $230,000, according to a criminal complaint filed on Thursday in
federal Court in Brooklyn charging Ms. Hiett and two others in a bizarre
drug-trafficking conspiracy that took advantage of the embassy's special
mailing privileges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (3) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
With each passing week, drug war excesses become apparent to a few
more people. Conservative Richard Cohen, probably still believes in
coerced treatment, but is at least rational and humane enough to
understand that "treatment" of Robert Downey Jr. with three year in
prison makes no sense whatsoever. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(3) FREE ROBERT DOWNEY JR. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
When it comes to movie stars, I subscribe to the Ronald Reagan Rule. Reagan used to tell his aide Michael Deaver that if you liked someone on the screen, chances are you would like them in person, too. That's one reason why I think the imprisonment of Robert Downey Jr. is an outrage. From what I've seen on the screen, I think he's a nice guy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We tried rehabilitation and it simply hasn't worked," Mira said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Yes. But what other addiction is punishable by jail? We don't send
alcoholics to prison unless they kill someone. When, though, was an
alcoholic imprisoned for three years merely for being unable to stay
sober? | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (4) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Doctrinaire interests have been attempting to cancel the First
Amendment ever since the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Among the
zanier of many such attempts is the bill just introduced by Senators
Hatch and Feinstein. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(4) HATCH-FEINSTEIN ACT TRAMPLES FIRST AMENDMENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ANN ARBOR, Mich. In a time when cynicism about the democratic process
is at an all time high, there still remain instances that re-invigorate
public faith in the federal government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Often inter-party alliances, where a Democrat and a Republican
temporarily ignore their fundamental differences for the sake of the
nation's general welfare, are considered to be examples of politics at
its best. But a recent pact between Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen.
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to drive the Methamphetamine
Anti-Proliferation Act through the Senate is nothing Americans should
be excited about. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans should have no tolerance for lawmakers who demonstrate such a
lack of respect for the principles of free speech and a free press. A
democratic government has no business censoring information simply
because it contradicts someone's agenda. No matter how worthy one may
regard it as being, no goal is worth the sacrifice of the free flow of
information. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a more personal arena, Presidential hopeful George W. continued to stonewall reporters on his past cocaine use . Everyone agrees that's his right; but his refusal has political ramifications; it could also become a way for drug policy to emerge as a campaign issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(5) THE COCAINE QUESTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Political pundits and most Republican candidates for president are, more or less, in agreement that Texas Gov. George W. Bush should have to answer reporters' questions on whether he has ever used cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The conventional political wisdom is that Bush will rue the day he
declined to answer the cocaine question and said, "I don't like
trash-mouth politics.'' It's widely predicted Bush will be unable to
avoid an answer, if for no other reason than that a fellow Republican
is likely to confront him later in the campaign. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As reported earlier; California's powerful prison guards union (CCPOA)
not only had openly supported a rival candidate of the Central Valley
DA who dared indict one of their members in the Corcoran affair, that
same member was recently rehired at another prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That the killings of inmates continues should surprise no one. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(6) STATE PRISON VIOLENCE PERSISTS, REPORT SHOWS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Corrections Department Defends Prevention Efforts | ||||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO - Three prisoners were shot to death by guards breaking up inmate fights, and a dozen other inmates died in clashes between prisoners as violence persisted in state prisons last year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The number of deaths attributed to violence was just one fewer than in
1997, and non-lethal fights among inmates in California's overcrowded
prisons increased over the previous year, a recently released state
Corrections Department report shows. | ||||||||||||||||||||
While acknowledging new department policies aimed at curbing the use
of deadly force by guards, prisoner rights advocates criticized state
corrections officials. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (7-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As asset forfeiture grows in importance to police agencies, it's also
becoming one of the most noticeable of drug war abuses. It figures
that finding out how the cops dispose of drug war loot (and other
seized property) would be as difficult as tracking down "drug
criminals" on the other side of the law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
An investigative series in New Bedford Times-Standard recalled Karen
Dillon's reports in the Kansas City Star earlier this year; sloppy
oversight and no accountability- exactly what one should expect when
public officials are licensed to steal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(7) REFORM DRUG ASSET SEIZURE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the war on drugs, law-enforcement bodies ranging from the US Justice Department to rural sheriffs have themselves become terribly addicted to an intoxicating substance. It's not crack or heroin they're strung out on. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's the money and property these enforcement groups seize each year from thousands of Americans under the often false assertion that the wealth is connected to the drug trade. In truth, these seizures have as much to do with padding department budgets as with keeping streets safe. And they trample fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution in the process. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Henry Hyde (R) of Illinois wants to rehabilitate our law-and-order officials. Mr. Hyde, no dove on crime issues, led the fight in Congress in June for passage of the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The bill, now under debate in the Senate, would help prevent police and
others from such acts as wrongfully seizing entire homes on little more
than hearsay of drug involvement. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DRUG LOOT FUELS DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Editor's note: This is the first part of a two-day series on how the
assets of drug traffickers are distributed and spent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mattapoisett Police Chief James F. Moran drives a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria sedan with all the options, thanks to a trio of South African drug dealers who happened to set up shop in his seaside town. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the decades since drug forfeiture laws first took effect in
Massachusetts and across the nation, revenues from the confiscated
assets of drug dealers have taken on a major role in financing law
enforcement. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) FORFEITURE RECORDS OFTEN DIFFICULT, COSTLY TO OBTAIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(New Bedford) -- Gaining access to records on how much drug forfeiture
money flows into law enforcement coffers and how it is spent can be
difficult. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Standard-Times has tracked down information about state and federal
forfeitures in an effort to understand how the law works, how much
money it diverts into law enforcement coffers and how that money is
expended. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
State law requires district attorneys to file reports with the House and Senate committees on ways and means on the percentage of drug forfeiture funds spent on rehabilitation, treatment and other anti-drug or neighborhood crime watch programs. But both the House and Senate committees refused to release those reports to the newspaper. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Owen Eagen, a spokesman in the office of state Sen. Mark C.W.
Montigny, D-New Bedford, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means
Committee, said the committee was exempt from the Freedom of
Information Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
This is the second part of the Madison, WI Capital Times series
describing how pot prosecution has become a mainstay of the expanded
war on drugs. Nothing new here, but their objective description of
the rapacious law enforcement tactics used against a model citizen is
as chilling as it is complete. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(10) THE WAR ON POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE SECOND OF TWO PARTS- BUSTED! | ||||||||||||||||||||
In The Eyes Of The Law, Jim Swanson Is A Dangerous Criminal. But Does
His Punishment Really Fit His Crime? | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Feb. 19 of this year, Jim Swanson forgot to put his trash at the end
of his driveway in rural Spring Green. Spurred by this simple act of
negligence and anonymous tips, Sauk County sheriffs deputies invaded
Swanson's property and took pictures of his house and shed with an
infrared camera. Three days later, James George Swanson, 49, was in the
Sauk County Jail, charged on two counts: Possession of THC with Intent
to Deliver, and Manufacture of THC | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
What has happened to Jim Swanson is part and parcel of the War on Drugs--which is, in fact, primarily a war on pot. An Isthmus article last week detailed the huge number of criminal prosecutions by the Dane County DA's office for possession of often tiny amounts of marijuana. This article describes what can happen to people at the other end of the marijuana supply chain, largely as a result of federal laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n783.a05.html
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COMMENT: (11-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In California, medical cannabis remained in the news; to no one s
surprise, B.E. Smith received the maximum sentence allowable from a
doctrinaire federal judge whose remarks are a model of drug war
lunacy. Smith thus became the first patient sentenced by the feds,
despite following state law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Just as Smith's trial ended in Sacramento, another began in nearby
Auburn; jury selection finally began in the long-awaited trial of
Steve and Michelle Kubby. The Sacramento Bee provided a detailed and
surprisingly objective (for them) account (last minute posts as this
is written report that a continuance to February 00 has been granted
because of Michele's pregnancy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(11) JUDGE SLAMS GROWER OF `EVIL' POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prop. 215 Backer's Sentence Tougher Than Feds Sought | ||||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO -- The first Californian to fight federal drug charges using
the state's voter-approved medicinal marijuana law was sentenced Friday
to 27 months in prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||
B.E. Smith, an outspoken proponent of Proposition 215, was convicted in May of felony marijuana possession and cultivation on federal land. | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr., imposing a higher sentence
than prosecutors sought, said Smith has shown an "utter disdain for
federal marijuana law." | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Marijuana is an evil in American society and a serious threat to
people," Burrell told a courtroom packed with Smith's supporters. "The
public is only going to be protected from further crimes if Mr. Smith
is incarcerated." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE HAILS TRIAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ex-Candidate Sees Courtroom As Forum | ||||||||||||||||||||
As a judge and four attorneys questioned a panel of Placer County
citizens, looking for jurors qualified to hear a drug cultivation and
possession trial, Steven Wynn Kubby discreetly left the courtroom to
medicate himself. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Kubby's "medicine" is marijuana. He smokes it about 10 times a day, he
says, to stay alive. His doctor says Kubby's life has been "improved
and extended" by the therapeutic use of marijuana, and an initiative
passed by California voters says it's permissible for him to grow and
possess pot for "personal medical purposes." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
But authorities in Placer County contend that Kubby and his wife,
Michele, stepped over the line in January when they cultivated an
in-house nursery of 265 marijuana plants, 110 of them fully grown and
budded females, at their Squaw Valley home. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
After an appropriately pessimistic headline and first paragraph, the Christian Science Monitor's editorial writer offered amazingly bad advice on Colombia. Did he forget we lost the Viet Nam war? | ||||||||||||||||||||
A somewhat more realistic assessment from the International Herald
Tribune at least tumbled to the fact that the "small, elite Army
unit(s), with US-provided training" recommended by the CSM article are
already in place; they re the ones which have been murdering human
rights workers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(13) COLOMBIA: ANOTHER VIETNAM? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Attacking narcotics at their origin has been a tactic in the US "war
against drugs" ever since its inception in the 1980s. But the US is
losing in its most important battlefront: the rural areas of Colombia
that produce cocaine and heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||||
True, spraying has taken vast acres out of production. But farmers just
relocate, often with the protection of Colombia's leftist guerrillas.
The guerrillas earn some $600 million a year "taxing" drug production
and guarding cartel labs and airstrips. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Under these circumstances, US aid to Colombian security forces should
increase, but the focus should stay on narcotics. One innovative step
is the recent creation of a small, elite Army unit, with US-provided
training and equipment, devoted to antidrug work. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) COLOMBIA WAR'S FIRST VICTIM: ACTIVISTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Both Sides Target Rights Workers | ||||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA, Colombia---Senator Piedad Cordoba was sitting in the waiting
room of a Medellin clinic, leafing through her appointment book when
more than a dozen masked and heavily armed assailants burst through the
door. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mrs. Cordoba, president of the Senate's Human Rights Commission, was
blindfolded and whisked into a waiting car. Then she was flown by
helicopter to a mountain hideout where she met the country's most
powerful rightist paramilitary leader, Carlos Castano, whose forces she
had accused of committing atrocities as part of their long conflict
with Marxist rebels. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The country is so polarized as a result of this nightmarish internal
conflict, and the issue of human rights is so politicized, that there
is a tendency to overlook atrocities committed by the forces one may
sympathize with, said Jose Miguel Vivanco, executive director of the
Americas division of Human Rights Watch. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ireland's burgeoning drug market continues to expand, perhaps as a
consequence of newly acquired prosperity and tighter ties to Europe
through the EUC. The Irish press continues to write almost exclusively
from within the "evil drug" paradigm, rarely questioning the wisdom of
prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(15) IRELAND: LINING UP FOR THE COCAINE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ireland's young drug users are starting to switch from ecstasy to cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The new preference for cocaine is happening amid fears that ecstasy can
cause serious psychological damage and can sometimes lead to suicide as
users ``come down'' from the high that ecstasy induces. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Seizures in cocaine have increased dramatically in recent years. Last
year alone, there was a thirty-fold increase in the volume of cocaine
seized by Gardai. Seizures increased from 11 kilos in 1997 to 333 kilos
last year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
One seizure alone in Cork contained 600 kilos, worth pounds 40 million. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Many observers consider it extremely disturbing that some celebrities
have effectively given cocaine free and dangerously irresponsible
advertisement by celebrating its use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last April, Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler was banned for four games
and fined pounds 32,000 by the FA and a similar fine by his club after
he mimicked cocaine snorting on the white line of the penalty area
after scoring a goal. [snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (16-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In Australia, opposing views on cannabis mirror the cognitive
dissonance which has so long paralyzed the country on heroin related
issues: reformers and hard liners are in as much disagreement over
treating cannabis as a misdemeanor as they have been on maintenance
trials and injecting rooms. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(16) AUSTRALIA: RUGENDYKE WANTS TOUGHER CANNABIS LAWS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Canberra's system of on-the-spot fines for cannabis offences was
impossible to enforce with most offenders simply ignoring them,
Independent MLA Dave Rugendyke said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Failure to pay the fines had been allowed to go unchecked; no warrants
were issued by police or the courts to fine defaulters and no
statistics were publicly available. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Rugendyke - a former police officer - said he intended to introduce
his own legislation in the Legislative Assembly later this month
seeking to 'recriminalise' cannabis offences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) AUSTRALIA: TOUGH DRUG LAWS 'NO DETERRENT' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tough anti-cannabis laws fail to deter most offenders from using the drug again and can often have serious long-term social costs, including relationship breakdowns and loss of employment, a study has found. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The report also says prohibitive drug laws often mean that offenders
caught with small amounts of the drug are more likely to become further
involved with the police. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
B.E. SMITH Web page announced | ||||||||||||||||||||
Please see B.E.'s web page at http://www.besmith.org/ B.E. was just sentenced to 27 months in prison in California on marijuana cultivation charges despite being a Medicinal Marijuana patient and provider. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH | ||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense Volunteer of the Month Derek Rea | ||||||||||||||||||||
This month we recognize Derek Rea. Derek is, and has been since late
last year, maintaining the Published Letters Archive. Over 800
published letters have been posted so far this year, at:
http://www.mapinc.org/lte/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Additionally, Derek is an active member of the MAP news clipping editing/posting team, having posted over 1,600 news items. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Upon receiving news of this recognition Derek wrote: "What a surprise! But really I'm just a hard working stiff who thinks this whole WOD thing has just gone too far, and someone has to start speaking up. The letters people write to the newspapers helps us all out." | ||||||||||||||||||||
We asked Derek to answer some questions, and here is his response: | ||||||||||||||||||||
DS: When and why did you become involved in drug policy reform? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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DS: How did you get into being a MAP volunteer? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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DS: What do you consider the most significant story/issue of the past months? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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DS: What are your favorite websites, besides the MAP/DrugSense sites? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The November Coalition http://www.november.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Lindesmith Center http://www.lindesmith.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ya-Hooka http://www.yahooka.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
DS: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers of the
weekly? | ||||||||||||||||||||
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DS: Thank you, Derek, for all that you are doing! Derek Rea's name will be added to the list of honored volunteers on the following web page within the next few days: http://www.drugsense.org/dswvol.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"A life predicated on being obedient and taking orders is a very
comfortable life indeed. Living in such a way reduces to a minimum
one's own need to think." -- Adolf Eichmann (in writings reported in
the NY Times, 8/13/99) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense offers
our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what DrugSense can
do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||||||
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We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, Newshawks and letter
writing activists. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk | ||||||||||||||||||||
See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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NOW YOU CAN DONATE TO DRUGSENSE ONLINE AND IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE | ||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense provides many services to at no charge BUT THEY ARE 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 visit our convenient donation web site at http://www.drugsense.org/donate.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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