| February 18, 1999 #86 | ||||||||||||||||||
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A DrugSense publication | ||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Marijuana Policy Project has convinced the Associated Press to
write a story about Renee Emry-Wolfe's upcoming medicinal marijuana
trial. Most newspapers in the country have already had this story wired
into their offices, and then they will decide whether or not to print
it. Please read the article at http://www.mpp.org/renee_ap.html, then
do the following: | ||||||||||||||||||
1. Call your local newspapers and any major newspapers in the state; | ||||||||||||||||||
2. Ask to speak to a news editor who decides which AP stories to print | ||||||||||||||||||
3. Explain to the editor (or whomever you end up talking to) that | ||||||||||||||||||
4. Tell them, "I know that lots of your readers would be interested in | ||||||||||||||||||
5. If they do not agree to print it, ask some of your friends to call | ||||||||||||||||||
Whether or not you call any newspapers, if you see the story in print,
please mail a copy to the Marijuana Policy Project at P.O. Box 77492,
Washington, DC 20013. | ||||||||||||||||||
Good luck! | ||||||||||||||||||
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 8, 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||
Protesters Blast Justice Department for Prosecuting Medicinal Marijuana
User | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nearly two dozen protesters picketed in front of
the D.C. Superior Court this morning, protesting the U.S. Department of
Justice's prosecution of a multiple sclerosis patient for smoking one
medicinal marijuana cigarette. Renee Emry-Wolfe, who needs marijuana to
treat the spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis, faces six months in
D.C. jail. | ||||||||||||||||||
When Emry-Wolfe, 38, arrived in court, she learned that the trial,
scheduled to begin today, will be delayed for the second time since she
was arrested on September 15, 1998, for smoking marijuana in the office
of U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Florida). The indigent mother of three
from Ann Arbor, Michigan, will have to return to D.C. for a third time
on April 26. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It is outrageous that the thugs at the U.S. Department of `Justice' are working to put a multiple sclerosis patient in jail for using her medicine," said Chuck Thomas, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thomas sharply criticized the federal government through his megaphone as the demonstrators held up signs and shouted, "Stop arresting patients," "Free Renee," and "Medical Marijuana Now!" | ||||||||||||||||||
"When I was arrested in September, I spent the day in a cold cell with violent women," said Emry-Wolfe. "I shivered so hard that I almost had convulsions. If I am sent back to jail and have to live without my medicinal marijuana for six months, I will be bedridden. Even worse, I could start a downward spiral that would kill me in a few years." | ||||||||||||||||||
"It is mind-boggling to see people with so little compassion that
they are willing to prosecute Renee," said Thomas. "President Clinton
once held a joint in his hand just for fun, and now he is letting his
federal prosecutors go after a patient for possessing the same amount
for medical purposes." | ||||||||||||||||||
"It's not enough for them to prosecute her -- they have to torture
her, too, by making her leave her children and fly to D.C. every few
months for a trial, only to have the case delayed again and again when
she gets here," said Thomas. "This cruel treatment of patients is
typical. Renee's case exemplifies why the laws must change. It's time to
remove criminal penalties for patients like Renee." | ||||||||||||||||||
- END - | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Drug Policy, Domestic Division- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-4) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Last week, several important drug policy items broke into the news:
early in the week, the Veep was entrusted with announcing ONDCP's
annual budget for the first time; he obliged with an appeal to
spirituality. Cynics might be forgiven for noting that since nothing
else has worked, it may well be time for some incantations to be
combined with the money (18 billion). | ||||||||||||||||||
Speaking of money, could it be that the kids' empty feeling Gore
laments actually results from having to attend schools made shabby by
ravenous prison budgets? | ||||||||||||||||||
By any realistic assessment, our drug policy is a disaster,
nevertheless, Clinton, Gore and McCaffrey found tiny nuggets of hope
in the debris. They also promised "accountability" in 2007- when they
will be long gone. | ||||||||||||||||||
An interesting aside: amidst the puffery which always accompanies
these events, McCaffrey felt constrained to warn of trouble around the
bend (deeper into the tunnel?)- in Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||
While some editorial writers dutifully agreed that the sow's ear is a silk purse, a growing number, like Joanne Jacobs, were openly hostile. | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) GORE: DRUG POLICY TO TACKLE `SPIRITUAL PROBLEM' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- Releasing the administration's annual drug control
strategy Monday, Vice President Al Gore called drug abuse a "spiritual
problem" and said that young people beset with feelings of emptiness
and alienation are more likely to succumb to "messages that are part of
a larger entity of evil." | ||||||||||||||||||
In response, Gore called for greater efforts to improve schools and
create economic opportunity for young people, especially in minority
and low-income communities. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) ACCOUNTABILITY PROMISED FOR DRUG EFFORT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Hammering home the need for a drug-control strategy that measures
success and failure, the Clinton administration is announcing a five-
part plan designed to cut the size of the nation's drug problem in half
by 2007. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
President Clinton said that while "there is some encouraging progress
in the struggle against drugs . . . the social costs of drug use
continue to climb." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) MAJOR ANTIDRUG EFFORT IS UNVEILED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Colombia, Meanwhile, Is Seeing An Increase In Cocaine And Opium
Production. | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- Even as they announced an optimistic plan for combating
drug abuse in the next decade, federal officials disclosed yesterday
that they have seen an alarming new "explosion" of cocaine production
in Colombia. | ||||||||||||||||||
Cultivation of cocaine has jumped 26 percent in the past year in Colombia, with signs of an increase in opium production there as well, said Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, the White House drug czar. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) FEDERAL `DRUG WAR' STRATEGY IS BOUND TO FAIL -- AGAIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Treatment Is The Best Weapon | ||||||||||||||||||
"WE must mount an all-out effort to banish crime, drugs and disorder
and hopelessness from our streets once and for all," said Vice
President Al Gore Monday, announcing this year's plan for the war on
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
It's the same old strategy, and it's likely to produce the same old
results. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
\AuthorJoanne Jacobs
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Drug Policy, Mexican Division- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A perennially thorny issue, certification of Mexico's anti-drug effort
generated more press attention than usual this year. Probable
reasons: Clinton's last minute visit, the scale of corruption
revealed under Salinas and the recent murder conviction of his
brother, Raoul. Also Mexico's present performance is so poor, it
simply can't be hidden; finally the issue gives Congressional
Republicans a post-impeachment reason to bash Clinton. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mexico, despite its desire for certification, has done little to help
its own cause. Nevertheless, the White House, for compelling economic
reasons, has signalled that it wants Mexico certified, come what may.
The coming battle will be a measure of Clinton's post-impeachment
political clout. | ||||||||||||||||||
(5) MEXICO STRAINS DRUG ALLY STATUS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
CONGRESS MAY LIFT CERTIFICATION | ||||||||||||||||||
Mexico has produced such dismal results in combating drug trafficking in the past year that Mexican and U.S. officials say they are braced for an aggressive attempt by the U.S. Congress to decertify its southern neighbor as an ally in the drug war and add it to the "black list" of nations judged failures in the antidrug effort. | ||||||||||||||||||
By almost any measure, Mexico made no significant progress in reducing
drug trafficking and corruption in 1998, and in many categories
actually showed poorer results than in the previous year, according to
U.S. officials and a review of U.S. performance expectations. Even
some Mexican officials agreed. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) MEXICO REJECTS EXTRADITION FOR 5 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY -- Mexico on Sunday rejected a U.S. extradition request for
five men wanted in the largest money-laundering case in U.S. history,
saying it would instead try them here. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) MEXICO SLAMS U.S. DRUGS CERTIFICATION POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - A top Mexican official criticised
the United States on Friday ahead of a visit by President Bill
Clinton, saying Washington's practice of certifying allies in the
war on drugs was unfair and inhibited cooperation. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mexican Interior Minister Francisco Labastida said his country would never accept the annual U.S. practice of deciding whether to certify that Mexico is doing its part in the war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (8-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Several weeks ago, a KC Star series by Karen Dillon charged that the DEA was helping local law enforcement divert seized assets from education and retain them for cops. Her allegations have prompted an investigation; they also raise questions about the eventual fate the money and property seized by local police in other jurisdictions. | ||||||||||||||||||
Despite threadbare rhetoric about "cracking down" on illicit drugs, the police have never succeeded in keeping them out of prisons. Another example of this failure was reported last week from Baltimore. | ||||||||||||||||||
Because then-Governor Nelson Rockefeller was pursuing national office,
New York passed mandatory minimums a decade before the feds. Although
the guv departed prematurely, his legacy lingers; last week, a timid
proposal to reduce sentences emanated from the state's chief justice
and received an equally timid endorsement from the governor; a
beginning? | ||||||||||||||||||
(8) DRUG MONEY INVESTIGATION TO BE STARTED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Missouri has begun an audit of the way police departments deal with seized property, State Auditor Claire McCaskill announced Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Police have been diverting from public schools millions of dollars
seized in drug cases. State law requires such money seized by police to
go through a state court, which usually designates the money to be used
for educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) 19 INMATES MOVED IN BID TO BUST DRUG RING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Md. Prison Group 'Too Influential' | ||||||||||||||||||
With a massive show of force to deter any outbursts, prison guards and
state police yesterday removed 19 inmates from Maryland's maximum
security House of Correction in Jessup to break up a network that
officials said was dealing drugs and bootleg liquor in the
1,200-prisoner institution. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) DRUG REFORM: IT'S TIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
New York state's chief judge leads the way in addressing the inequities
of the Rockefeller laws | ||||||||||||||||||
After 25 years, it's hard to find anyone who still believes in the
deterrent effect of the Rockefeller drug laws. While those laws were
intended to make New York state a national model of zero tolerance for
drug crime, they have instead become an occasion of too many
miscarriages of justice. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Marijuana & Hemp | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In California, the arrest of Steve and Michele continued to hold
interest and focused on the shabby way patients have been treated in
the aftermath of a winning vote on proposition 215. | ||||||||||||||||||
Elsewhere, an intelligent update on recent laboratory cannabinoid
investigation provided talking points against the obdurate
know-nothing stance of NIDA, ONDCP and legions of gung-ho deputy
sheriffs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Finally, it appears that Jesse Ventura's surprise victory may have
paved the way for Minnesota to be the first state to break the DEA's
anti-hemp strangle hold on American agriculture. | ||||||||||||||||||
(11) AUBURN GRAND JURY TO HEAR KUBBY MARIJUANA CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Former Libertarian candidate Steve Kubby's marijuana cultivation case
will be presented to a criminal grand jury, a Placer County prosecutor
confirmed Monday. | ||||||||||||||||||
The grand jury hearing is set for Feb. 17. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) MEDICAL MARIJUANA COLLIDES WITH POWER POLITICS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The only thing government can do is crack down on crime. By making more
and more things a crime -- that's how government is able to expand its
power. --Steve Kubby, Libertarian Party candidate for governor, in an
interview last September | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Unfortunately, the fight over medical marijuana never has seemed to
have much to do with medicine. It's more about power, about who gets to
make the rules. And the passage of Prop. 215, it would seem, settled
nothing. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) HUMAN BODY FOUND TO PRODUCE ITS OWN VERSION OF MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Scientists hope to isolate the pain-killing powers of the natural
compounds | ||||||||||||||||||
Amid the various battles to legalize medical marijuana stands this
little-known fact: Our brains and bodies are flooded with a natural
form of the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
Called cannabinoids, after the euphoria-inducing plant Cannabis sativa,
this family of compounds blocks pain, erases memories and triggers
hunger. Newer studies show they may also regulate the immune system,
enhance reproduction and even protect the brain from stroke and trauma
damage. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) VENTURA SAYS HE'LL SIGN HEMP BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura says he supports a bill that would
legalize the growing of industrial hemp in Minnesota. Ventura says he
and Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson agree on it. He says
industrial hemp is used for many things. He and Hugoson agree it would
be a diversified product that farmers could use. He says if the bill
gets to his desk he'll sign it. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (15-19) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
For months, McCzar has been claiming reductions in coca planting in
Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador as drug war victories. Now, he's forced to
admit (yet another) defeat by the same tactic illegal markets have
always used: move away from pressure. | ||||||||||||||||||
Speaking of Peru, it provided McCaffrey with further reason to be embarrassed (if drug warriors can even experience embarrassment). | ||||||||||||||||||
Across the Pacific, Burma, which scored a propaganda success in
persuading Interpol to sponsor a heroin conference in Rangoon, is now
exploiting US and British refusal to attend. | ||||||||||||||||||
Australia, experiencing record overdose deaths from cheap Burmese
heroin (displaced from the US market by Colombian production), is
still in a fierce wrangle between harm reductionists and their
stubborn prime minister. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Germany, we have the refreshing example of a politician openly
favoring "legalization." OK. She's a socialist, but she did have to be
elected. | ||||||||||||||||||
(15) COCAINE PRODUCTION EXPLODING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
MIAMI, Feb. 12 (UPI) - Although drug production in Latin America is
dropping in some locations, the nation's drug czar says the supply of
cocaine from Colombia is ``exploding.'' | ||||||||||||||||||
Barry McCaffrey, head of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy, says coca production rose 26 percent in Colombia last
year. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
He says between 1995 and 1998, coca cultivation declined by 56 percent
in Peru and 22 percent in Bolivia. | ||||||||||||||||||
But he says increases in Colombia have offset those declines. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) PERU ARMY NO. 2 ARRESTED IN DRUG CASE, SOURCES SAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
LIMA, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The Peruvian army's second-in-command is under
arrest, the highest-ranking soldier ever held during a narcotics probe
in this major drug-smuggling nation, a lawyer and military sources said
on Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) MYANMAR RAPS BRITAIN, U.S. OVER DRUG TALKS BOYCOTT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
YANGON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government said on
Wednesday it greatly regretted decisions by the United States and
ritain to boycott an Interpol conference on heroin production and
trafficking to be held later this month. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) I WON'T BUDGE ON HEROIN: PM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug experts denounced the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, last night after he refused to drop his opposition to heroin trials despite new statistics showing a sharp increase in drug-related deaths. | ||||||||||||||||||
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Howard condemned proposals such as
heroin trials as glib and simplistic, and claimed the Government's
Tough on Drugs strategy had been a success. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) CONTRIBUTION TO ENDING THE WAR ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||
The'Nordkurier Online' (http://www.nordkurier.de) reports Martina Bunge, Schwerin social affairs minister, as voicing the opinion that legalizing drugs could be a contribution to ending the war on drugs. Such a 'blow for freedom' would not mean, however, that drugs could be sold in the supermarket stores. The regulated distribution of hard and soft drugs could dry up the market for the illegal commerce in drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
RealAudio Interview of Larry Hirsch MMJ Class Action Suit | ||||||||||||||||||
A RealAudio Interview about the first public hearing on the
pending class action therapeutic class action suit has been archived by
US Perspectives at: | ||||||||||||||||||
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FACT OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The National Guard currently has more counter-narcotics officers than
the DEA has special agents on duty. Each day it is involved in 1,300
counter drug operations and has 4,000 troops on duty. | ||||||||||||||||||
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"What is ominous is the ease with which some people go from saying that
they don't like something to saying that the government should forbid
it. When you go down that road, don't expect freedom to survive very
long." - Thomas Sowell | ||||||||||||||||||
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