| August 27, 1999 #112 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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A DrugSense publication | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Listen to be Heard / by Rose Ann Fuhrman | ||||||||||||||||||||
Inhale deeply and often? Never smoke the stuff? Worried about the environment? Can't stand hypocrisy? Just wanna get high? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Motives vary among legalization proponents but our concerns overlap.
Similarly, we have goals in common with the most vehement "lock `em up
and throw away the key" anti-drug crusaders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"No way!" you say? | ||||||||||||||||||||
Way! Although we would butt heads with the right-wingers on personal freedom issues, very few people want their taxes squandered on policies that increase their chances of being robbed or shot and diminish their rights while doing nothing to reduce drug use. We don't have to agree upon the merits or evils of hemp to agree that prohibition is a waste of taxes, hurts innocent people and virtually eliminates all uses of the plant except the one most Drug Warriors object to--recreational use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Usual approaches to the argument for legalization prompt stock answers
from opponents--answers borrowed from rhetoric repeated so often over
the decades it has attained mythological power. Although the mythology
is based on fabrications, blatant untruths and disproved assumptions,
most believers have sincerely felt there are valid concerns that we
should not ignore. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By resisting temptations to stereotype people who disagree with us
(just as we wish not to be stereotyped) we can learn what the concerns
are and respond with information that makes a difference. Listening is
one of the best ways to ensure we will be heard. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We don't have to hit them first thing with a challenge to their whole
belief system about marijuana. We can commiserate with law-and-order
fans about big-time smugglers who make huge bucks while respect for law
enforcement takes another dive every time someone's grandma is dragged
off to jail for growing herbal medicine. (So what if she happens to
enjoy a little buzz too?) | ||||||||||||||||||||
By focusing first on shared concerns and building from there, I have
convinced Reagan fans who are just as antidrug as he is (or pretends to
be) to lobby for legalization. My favorite convert is in her 70s, an
organic gardener and fiscal conservative who still loves Reagan (who we
have learned not to discuss in order to preserve our friendship), and
she's a real hempster. When traveling, she points out places hemp
should be planted for paper and erosion control. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Legalization is not the product of pie-in-the-sky liberals. It is not
the exclusive property of the tie-dye set; it is the sensible thing
to do. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Prohibition is not a long-held tradition in this country--it is a
half-century-long aberration that serves no one's long-term best
interest. The choice is not between legalization and a drug-free
society. The choice is between legalization and a level of violence and
disrespect for law that would make Al Capone weep and Elliot Ness go on
a bender. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's hard for me to get used to the fact that I have anything in common
with William F. Buckley Jr., but I do. We don't agree on much, but we
agree that prohibition is a futile and destructive policy. It is not
necessary for us to have the same reasons for our opinion, it is enough
that we are on the same side of the legalization issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Diversity within the legalization movement makes agreement over
strategy difficult, but it strengthens us. We are a cross-section of
society. There is someone in our ranks who can speak to just about any
part of the population. If you ever doubt it, just picture the director
of NORML in his three-piece suit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
We include fiercely independent conservatives who don't want government
messing with them or spending their money, bleeding-heart liberals out
to save the world, daily tokers, nontokers, defenders of the
Constitution, veterans, pacifists, judges, police chiefs,
environmentalists, and on and on. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I fall into several categories including nontoker, environmentalist,
bleeding-heart defender of the Constitution, and over the past few
years I have found myself in a surreal situation: I try to convince
long-time marijuana users to support the movement. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Do you really think you're gonna legalize it?" (whaddya mean me?)
"What's gonna happen to me if I sign that initiative?" These are
frustrating, though understandable, responses from citizens who
contribute to society and are afraid to voice an opinion in the land of
the free. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I suggest you tokers recruit more nontoking, justice-loving, pragmatic,
bleeding-heart people like me to speak up and make it safe for the
frightened (not paranoid) hempsters out there who enjoy a joint or a
bong instead of a Bud or a Burgundy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By the way, if someone is going to abuse a substance, which I don't
recommend, I'd choose a giddy visitor to an unseen planet over a sloppy
or violent drunk any day. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Now that I've finished this piece, I think I'll have a beer. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Originally printed in the April, 1994 issue of High Times. Rose Ann Fuhrman's columns appear frequently in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News-Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The news week began with the latest statistics from the National
Household survey on drug use, which despite obvious shortcomings is
still regarded as the most reliable survey available for measuring
illegal activity. This year's survey gave policy supporters the first
news they have had to cheer in years: a minimal decrease in teen use
of cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) TEEN DRUG USE FALLS AFTER RISING THROUGH 1990S (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Teen drug use fell last year, with about one in 10
teen-agers using marijuana and other drugs, the government reported
today. Officials say it's solid evidence that the nation has turned a
corner after rising drug use through the mid-1990s. Overall, drug use
among Americans of all ages remained level, but use among young adults
continued its steady rise, according to the annual household survey of
25,500 people ages 12 and up. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse also measured cigarette
smoking and found it down to 27.7 percent overall, the lowest rate
recorded. But smoking remained steady among teens and continued to rise
among young adults. Cigar use edged up. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (2) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Governor Gary Johnson's position on illegal drugs continued to gain
national publicity; given the contrast between his position and that
of the governor of a neighboring state, it should remain in the news
for some time to come. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(2) NM GOVERNOR SAYS DRUG WAR ISN'T WORKING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Critics Say Johnson Needs To Clarify His Vision, Goals | ||||||||||||||||||||
SANTA FE, N.M. - The conservative Republican governor of New Mexico has
answered the drug question. "Yes" to marijuana. And "yes" to cocaine.
Gov. Gary Johnson dealt with the question when he was first elected in
1994 and is not shy about discussing his drug use in the early 1970s.
Now, Mr. Johnson is calling the war on drugs "a miserable failure." He
has become the highest-ranking elected official in the nation to call
for an unfettered debate on the decriminalization of illegal drugs,
starting with marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Johnson says he is not sure what he wants to do, either. He says he
wants to explore any and every idea, including legalizing and taxing
all drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At the governor's prompting, the League of Women Voters will hold town
hall meetings throughout New Mexico next month to talk about the drug
war and its impact on society. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Looking ahead at these conferences, what is the latest and greatest
idea with regard to moving the drug economy above the line with regard
to decriminalization?" he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (3-5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Without question, the week's drug policy news was dominated by reaction to the shifting responses of George W. Bush to press questions about possible prior use of cocaine. Whatever else his reaction revealed, the candidate appeared surprisingly unprepared for what should have been an obvious question as both he and his advisors blundered from one poorly though out position to the next. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The capper came Sunday, when the Bush camp shifted from defense to
offense by going after the press; not a wise move for an untested
candidate at the very beginning of his campaign for the nomination.
Even sources normally friendly to Bush have tumbled to his
vulnerability on the hypocrisy issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(3) EDITORIAL: MR. BUSH'S DRUG DODGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. George W. Bush of Texas has run into a distracting and potentially dangerous patch in his Presidential campaign. The issue is whether he ever used cocaine or other illegal substances during his youth. Mr. Bush has been dancing around the question for several days, creating the impression that he probably did experiment with cocaine and that he believes evasion rather than an honest answer is the best response. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) BUSH LOSES MOMENTUM AFTER DRUG QUESTIONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Partial Answers Leave Political Pundits Baffled | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- Why now? For months, George W. Bush successfully dodged
questions about whether he used drugs with an artful reply that he
acted irresponsibly in his youth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
His sudden decision to offer partial, unsatisfying answers is baffling. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The hubbub over have-you-ever questions squandered momentum that Bush
had built with a convincing victory in Iowa's straw poll last Saturday.
It also exposed weaknesses that were ignored or unnoticed while his
campaign rocketed almost effortlessly to the top of the Republican
field. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) BUSH RECORD SHOWS TOUGH STANCE ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
He Increased Penalties, Cut Treatment In Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
AUSTIN Whatever did or didn't happen in his youth, George W. Bush's
most recent history with drugs has been to stiffen punishments and lock
up more people who use or sell them. | ||||||||||||||||||||
As Texas governor, Mr. Bush has slashed prison drug-treatment programs,
increased criminal penalties and placed hardships - such as losing
welfare benefits or driver's licenses - upon those who abuse illegal
drugs. Although some GOP opponents say he should come clean about
whether he ever committed a felony by using cocaine, supporters say his
record on drugs is strong and clear. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ms. Richards, a Democrat, had been presiding over the largest prison
building program in the nation, adding about 75,000 beds. With the
growth, Ms. Richards championed rehabilitation programs, saying crime
would only continue unless one of its root causes - drug and alcohol
addiction - was addressed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
She added treatment slots for 12,000 inmates at a cost of $380
million. During the campaign, Mr. Bush assailed the program as costly
and unproven. "Incarceration is rehabilitation," he said at the time.
When Mr. Bush assumed office, he cut the program by more than half - to
5,800 beds and a two-year budget of $188 million. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (6) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a move reminiscent of its failed "know your customer" proposals,
the federal government is proposing to zero in on lower profile
financial institutions serving less affluent customers | ||||||||||||||||||||
(6) US MOVES TO CUT DOWN ON MONEY LAUNDERING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - The Clinton administration, saying it is stepping up
the war on drug-related money laundering, will require thousands of
check-cashing, money-remitting and currency exchange businesses to
register with the U.S. government. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Treasury Department officials said the new regulations aimed at
businesses ranging from giant money remitters such as First Data
Corp.'s Western Union unit to small, storefront check-cashing firms -
were designed to give law enforcement officials a better look at an
industry that they said had in some cases provided drug dealers a handy
way to launder their cash. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
John DiIulio, who might properly be called an incarceration
intellectual, created ripples a few months ago by announcing that "2
million prisoners are enough" in the Wall street Journal. On Monday he
offered a peek at another card: increased use of probation and
enforced drug and alcohol "treatment." | ||||||||||||||||||||
A kinder, gentler police state? | ||||||||||||||||||||
(7) THE NEXT STEP IN THE WAR ON CRIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Next Step in the War on Crime VIOLENT crime has dropped 26 percent
nationwide since 1993. But murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault
and youth violence are hardly less prevalent today than they were in
the late 1950s and early 1960s, when crime in the streets" first
alarmed average Americans. And the factors behind the drop to date may
be reaching the limits.State prison beds for example, are filling up
and becoming more costly. | ||||||||||||||||||||
What now? We are not even close to maxing out on the vast, and vastly
cost effective, crime fighting potential of the single most important,
but least understood, component of the justice system: probation. On
any given day, more than 3 million persons, including more than 1.6
million felons, are on probation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Each year, probationers commit millions of felonies. Ex-probationers in
state prison in 1991 alone were responsible for some 6,400 homicides
committed while "under supervision". Judges compel more than 90 percent
of probationers to get drug treatment, pay restitution, or meet other
specific conditions. But about half of probationers do not comply, and
nearly 300,000 are officially on "absconder status," meaning totally
out from under even the pretense of control or monitoring. Nor does
probation really help most offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile, in the real world, the figures on probation were released.
The total number on parole and probation increased to a record level
despite a significant drop in the number of prisoners released and an
increase in the average length of time served. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Welcome to the American Police State. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(8) RECORD 4.1 MILLION AMERICANS ON PAROLE OR PROBATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Americans on parole or probation at the end of 1998 numbered more than
4 million for the first time ever last year, but differences in
policies made for wide variations among the states, the Justice
Department reports. There were large declines in the number of adults
on parole in several states, including Virginia, down 37 percent, and
North Carolina, down 30 percent, the department's Bureau of Justice
Statistics said Sunday. In contrast, Ohio had a 66 percent increase in
parolees and Idaho reported a 55 percent jump. A change in Ohio law
contributed to its increase, said Thomas P. Bonczar, a bureau
statistician. "A lot of states are passing mandatory parole," he
explained. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At the same time, the increase in the number of parolees was balanced
by states that have toughened their laws to keep offenders in prison
longer. The national release rate declined from 37 per 100 prisoners
in 1990 to 31 in 1997, while average time served increased from 22
months in 1990 to 27 months in 1997, Bonczar said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
In an interesting side bar to the review of a soon-to-be released
biography of Carl Sagan, the late Astronomer's avid and rewarding use
of cannabis was revealed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(9) CARL SAGAN AVIDLY SMOKED MARIJUANA, FRIEND REVEALS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SAN FRANCISCO - The late astronomer and author Carl Sagan was a secret
but avid marijuana smoker, crediting it with inspiring essays and
scientific insight, according to Sagan's biographer. Sagan Using the
pseudonym "Mr. X," Sagan wrote about his pot smoking in an essay
published in the 1971 book "Reconsidering Marijuana." The book's
editor, Lester Grinspoon, recently disclosed the secret to Sagan's
biographer, Keay Davidson. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Davidson, a writer for the San Francisco Examiner, revealed the
marijuana use in an article published today in the newspaper's
magazine. "Carl Sagan: A Life" is due out in October. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I find that today a single joint is enough to get me high . . . in one
movie theater recently I found I could get high just by inhaling the
cannabis smoke which permeated the theater," wrote Sagan, who wrote
popular science books such as "Cosmos," "Contact" and "The Dragons of
Eden." In the essay, Sagan said marijuana inspired some of his
intellectual work. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Grinspoon, Sagan's closest friend for 30 years, said Sagan's marijuana use is evidence against the notion that marijuana makes people less ambitious. "He was certainly highly motivated to work, to contribute," said Grinspoon, a psychiatry professor at Harvard University. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Starting with the billboard campaign in San Francisco, an even-handed Christian Science Monitor report gave an impressive (and probably accurate) update on public opinion re: the legal status of cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(10) POT ADVOCATES PUSH LEGALIZATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ads Urge Ending Penalties For Recreational Marijuana Use, As Medicinal
Use Gains Ground. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a year when Woodstock makes headlines and Austin Powers does well at
the box office, another 1960s phenomenon is attempting its own
comeback: legalization of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even as the courts, law enforcement, and the federal government
continue to wrestle with growing acceptance of marijuana for medicinal
purposes, advocates have begun the first serious campaign in decades to
erase penalties for its recreational use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Opponents worry about a nascent softening of marijuana laws in general,
and object in particular to the ripple effect of this newest campaign.
"This message is dangerous because it tells teens that marijuana is a
benign drug," says Joseph Califano, president of the National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York. In
reality, marijuana is a gateway drug that can lead to use of cocaine
and other harder drugs, according to the center. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Most polls show strong public support of medical marijuana use, but
most people do not favor legalization. Positions on decriminalization,
where recreational use is punished with fines rather than jail, are
less clear and depend on how the questions are phrased. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Colombia | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Although there was little in the way of new developments from
Colombia, the situation there continued to receive considerable
scrutiny as the United States announced plans for expanded military
aid under the guise of stepped up "anti-drug" operations. That
illegal drug markets are intimately associated- one way or another-
with all involved parties, including the United States, seems beyond
dispute. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A steadily deteriorating situation in Colombia, together with a
Presidential campaign already preoccupied with personal drug use
issues, together promise to keep drug policy in the news for the
foreseeable future. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(11) MORE AID LIKELY FOR COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Leader must first step up drug war | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- The Clinton administration is preparing to greatly step
up military and economic aid to Colombia in response to fears that the
growing strength of drug-financed guerrillas there could undercut
counternarcotics efforts across the Andean region. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Senior U.S. officials warned President Andres Pastrana last week that
he risks losing U.S. support if he makes further concessions to the
insurgents in an effort to restart stalled peace negotiations, said
sources familiar with the talks. But the officials, White House drug
czar Barry R. McCaffrey and Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering,
also told Pastrana the United States will sharply increase aid if he
develops a plan to strengthen the military, halt the nation's economic
free fall and fight drug trafficking. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Colombia is a disaster, and I don't see any way around that," said
McCaffrey, a retired general who recently proposed spending an
additional $1 billion in the Andean drug-producing region, with about
half of the money going to Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Colombia reportedly produces 80 percent of the world's cocaine and about 70 percent of the heroin found in the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) INCREASED U.S. MILITARY AID TO COLOMBIA WON'T CURB DRUG TRAFFICKING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE LONG-NEGLECTED conflict in Colombia is emerging as Latin America's
major crisis and pulling the United States ever more deeply into an
unwinnable war. Escalating political violence, an entrenched
insurgency, increasing illicit drug production and growing concern from
Colombia's neighbors about the conflict spilling over have policymakers
in Washington searching for a solution to the problems besetting
Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) SPECULATION RIFE ABOUT US ROLE IN COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Talk Of Military Involvement To Fight Rebels Escalates | ||||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA -- Emblazoned across a recent cover of the weekly magazine
Cambio was the headline "Intervention." Its red, white and blue letters
were set against the background of a photograph showing a U.S. fighter
pilot in his cockpit and at the ready. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Never has there been so much talk about a United States military
intervention in Colombia," a note on the cover read. "How close is this
possibility?" | ||||||||||||||||||||
From newsrooms in Bogota and other regional capitals to towns and rebel
camps in the Colombian jungle, speculation is rife about the
possibility of a direct U.S. military role in Colombia's escalating
conflict with leftist insurgents. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Faced with what in effect has become a single war, American military authorities fighting cocaine smuggling have started sharing intelligence about the rebels with Colombia's armed forces. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Events in Mexico continued to show how American drug policy is
destabilizing that nation and putting real social progress out of
reach: everyone assumes the brutal public slaying of a popular TV
personality was "drug-related," and no one believes that yet another
reorganization of the forces charged with fighting the drug war will
solve the problem of endemic corruption. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(14) MEXICO: DRUG CARTEL MAY BE TIED TO TV STAR'S DEATH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY -- An alleged lieutenant from one of Mexico's most feared drug cartels has been arrested in the June 7 killing of TV star Francisco "Paco" Stanley, the newspaper Reforma reported Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The murder of Stanley, 56, a comedian and host of several variety shows
through the years, rocked this crime-weary nation. It was stunned
further when Stanley's sidekick, Mario Bezares, was placed under house
arrest in July on suspicion of ordering the hit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) MEXICO UNVEILS NEW FEDERAL POLICE FORCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY - Mexico unveiled a new federal police force Wednesday,
responding to citizens' clamor for more protection from kidnappings,
highway robberies and other crimes plaguing the nation. The so-called
Federal Preventive Police (PFP), a force of more than 14,000 officers
including 5,000 military police, will also work to crack down on
illegal immigration, unlawful arms possession and drug trafficking,
officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (16-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Across the Atlantic, a Gary Johnson-like call was heard in the House
of Commons, while the futility of the drug war was underscored by a
short item in the Examiner. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(16) UK: LIB DEM LEADER CALLS FOR DEBATE ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Civil libertarians and drugs law reformers last weekend welcomed a
public commitment by the Liberal Democrats' new leader, Charles
Kennedy, to campaign for a royal commission to rethink the Government's
entire anti-drugs strategy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The charity Release called it "a defining moment in the development of
British drug policy", while one of several vocal Labour campaigners,
Paul Flynn MP, congratulated Mr Kennedy on being "caught in possession
of an intelligent policy on drugs". | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) IRELAND: OPED: A LOSING BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE prevalence of HIV and hepatitis infection among Ireland's prison
population is truly alarming. The findings of a survey published today
show five of the country's prisons are in the high risk category while
four others are rated as posing a medium risk. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Grim statistics issued by Trinity College researchers confirm the
impression that the country's prisons are awash with drugs, especially
those in Dublin. It is frightening to learn that no fewer than 21% of
those injecting drugs first began doing so while in prison. More than
half the prisoners shared needles and 60% of women prisoners injected
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
GWBUSH SITE UPDATED | ||||||||||||||||||||
Check out Zack Exley's site additions after the free-for-all this last
week. The prisoner letters are great, don't miss it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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THE LATEST ON BUSH | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to Matt Elrod we have a URL that returns all the latest news on
G.W. Bush | ||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.mapinc.org/bush.htm returns the last two weeks worth of
Bush-related news. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMON SENSE FOR DRUG POLICY AD CAMPAIGN | ||||||||||||||||||||
CSDP continues to run anti-prohibition ads in print media. Many of
these ads are online at: http://www.csdp.org/ads/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
The latest to be added to the CSDP website is "A police view on the War
on Drugs", a statement by Chief Hubert Williams, President of The
Police Foundation. The ad appeared in The New Republic, The National
Review and The Weekly Standard. It appears in the current issue of The
Nation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly."
-- Abraham Lincoln | ||||||||||||||||||||
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