| September 15, 2000 #166 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Journey for Justice" to Highlight Drug War Injustice Activists Call
for a Cease Fire in the War on Drugs / By Kevin B. Zeese, President,
Common Sense for Drug Policy, http://www.csdp.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Journey for Justice, a caravan of family members of drug war prisoners,
medical marijuana patients and their supporters, will travel through
central Texas from September 22-29th. The tour will include vigils,
street theater and rallies at key locations (see highlights below) that
highlight various aspects of America's failed war on drugs. For more
details see http://www.JourneyForJustice.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
While both George W. Bush and Al Gore are doing whistle stop tours of
their own, advocates of drug law reform will be talking about the
issues the candidates refuse to face; the hypocrisy of the drug war,
the racially unfair enforcement of drug laws, the erosion of civil
liberties and the massive government spending associated with blanket
prohibition. The Journey seeks to break the candidates silence on
alternatives to punitive policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This Journey, an echo of the Freedom Rides of the Civil Rights era, is
a roving caravan – a moving theatre. Costumed "prisoners" and "police"
will dramatize the abuses by guards and law enforcement, as a patient
in a wheelchair rides in a moving prison cell. The caravan will be a
visually stirring portrayal of the issues affecting American families.
We will be highlighting three critical aspects of the drug war: the
over-incarceration of non-violent drug offenders, police and prison
guard abuse in the drug war and the need for safe access to medical
marijuana by the seriously ill. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even though the Journey is a challenge to both Vice President Gore and
Governor Bush to discuss the need for new drug policies during the
presidential campaign, the Journey is occurring in Texas because Texas
highlights what is wrong with the US drug policy. The state recently
became the nation's incarceration leader and 21% of the Texas prison
inmates are non-violent drug offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Journey encourages everyone to ask tough questions of all the
candidates on Drug Policy issues. "While public officials admit to and
the media jokes about youthful indiscretions, thousands of Americans
who are now imprisoned have lost property, the right to vote and have
been fired from their jobs, said Journey Director Kay Lee. "To them
this is no joke." | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The drug war has damaged and destroyed millions of Americans, the
credibility of our representatives, and the future of our children,"
continued Lee. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Daily Updates of the Journey Will Be Available | ||||||||||||||||||||
Already a columnist in the Houston Chronicle has noted that the Journey
for Justice is coming to Texas. But we don't know what kind of press
reaction to expect. When the first Freedom Rides occurred during the
Civil Rights era only three publications - all from the African
American press covered them. We have the Internet and I will be
providing DrugSense and other outlets with a daily report on the
Journey for Justice. DrugSense will be distributing these updates
widely. You are encouraged to distribute them to others, particularly
the media. We want this to build until its climax in front of the
Govenor's mansion. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Be Part of History: | ||||||||||||||||||||
What Would You Have Paid to Be Part of the | ||||||||||||||||||||
We need your help to make the Journey a success - be a part of history
by joining us in Austin on September 29 for our march from the Capitol
to the Governor's mansion. You can get inexpensive tickets on Southwest
Airlines or by searching the net. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Money is also still needed. Funds are needed for gas and food for the
Journeyers. Any level of support will be appreciated. You can make a
tax deductible donation to Drug Policy Forum of Texas to support the
Journey. Their address is: 1425 Blaylock Road, Suite 109, Houston, TX
77055. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Highlights for the Journey for Justice | ||||||||||||||||||||
Press conferences will be held: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday, September 22nd at 12:30 pm at Tranquility Park in Houston (near
the Smith and Rusk entrance) Marchers parade through Houston starting
at the Harris County Justice Center calling attention to the racial
disparity of the drug war. Harris County's population is 18.2% black,
yet blacks make up over 60% of all drug arrests. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday, September 24th at 3:00pm at the Federal Women's Correctional Facility on Ursiline Rd. in Bryan This year the US prison population reached the 2 million mark, making us the world leader. The Journey will stand at the Female Correctional Facility as women make up the fastest growing segment of the prison population. An afternoon vigil is scheduled to coincide with prison vigils happening around the country. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday, September 29th at 12 noon at the Capitol Building in Austin near
Congress Avenue People from around the country will be joining the
final miles at the conclusion of the march. Hundreds are expected to
fill the streets of Austin - concluding at the Governor's mansion at
5:00 pm - demanding an end to the devastating effects of the drug war
on the fabric of American families. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (1-4) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last week, William Raspberry had one of the most widely published drug
policy columns in MAP history; this week he was outdone by WP
colleague George Will; both trashed Clinton's Colombian initiative-
but for quite different reasons. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even more gratifying: the signed editorial in a conservative
Midwestern daily also began with Colombia- but was far more direct
than either Will or Raspberry. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Also gratifying: Ralph Nader- with a little encouragement from Gary Johnson- took an unequivocal stand on drug prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sadly, Tom Campbell's campaign remains largely unknown in California. It's held back by GOP concession of the state to Gore and their own timidity on drug policy issues; thus allowing a convalescent (and complacent) Feinstein the luxury of near total silence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(1) THE COCAINE CANARD - PEACE THROUGH HERBICIDES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PRESIDENT Clinton's assurances that the United States will not get
involved in the Colombian civil war that the United States already is
involved in (with military personnel, equipment, training, financing,
intelligence) make sense if you think of the helicopters as farm
implements. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Will the United States ever learn? As long as it has a $50 billion
annual demand for an easily smuggled substance made in poor nations,
the demand will be served. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) EDITORIAL: WHERE ARE RESULTS IN WAR ON DRUGS? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
How Much More Will Be Spent On A Policy That Is Clearly Not Working? | ||||||||||||||||||||
President Clinton has just told Colombia the United States will commit
$1.3 billion to help that nation "combat cocaine trafficking," adding
that amount to the billions already thrown down the rathole otherwise
known as the "war against drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) MAKE MARIJUANA LEGAL, NADER URGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SANTA FE, N.M. Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader on Friday
advocated the legalization of marijuana as part of an overhaul of the
nation's "self-defeating and antiquated drug laws." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nader joined with New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, a Republican, in
criticizing the nation's "war on drugs" as a failed policy for fighting
drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) CAMPBELL DRUG STANCE COSTING HIM SUPPORT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO -- Republican Senate candidate Tom Campbell is starting to pay a political price for his unorthodox positions on drug policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last week, Campbell lost the endorsement of a Republican-oriented crime
victims' political action committee in part because of his drug policy
positions. The group opted to back Democratic incumbent Dianne
Feinstein. | ||||||||||||||||||||
During the campaign, Campbell has highlighted his opposition to the war on
drugs and his support for Proposition 36, a measure that would place some
people with drug convictions in treatment rather than jail. Feinstein
opposes the measure. | ||||||||||||||||||||
His views put him to the left of many Democrats and far to the left of
Republicans. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (5) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Washington City Paper, a free weekly, ran a 13 article series
looking at the ravages of the District's mid-Eighties crack
"epidemic," along with its destructive residuals. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CRACK! (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thirteen Pieces Of The Rock | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sometime in the next few months, the District of Columbia will pass an odd little milestone. Just about 15 years ago the exact date is lost somewhere in a hazy five-minute high, crack arrived in D.C. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The easily marketed, easily ingested cocaine derivative had already hit
a handful of other American cities by the time it rolled down New York
Avenue on buses from New York. But in Washington's fragile ecosystem,
the drug found particularly fertile soil. Well into 1986, crack roots
had grown deep and strong. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (6-7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As the battle over Proposition 36 heats up, an article in the OCR
confirmed that because "drug crime" is so prevalent, the number of
drug arrests reflects many factors- among them, the number of police
and their incentive to target drug users. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nevertheless, both the medical Mafia and the law enforcement
establishment are making great use of "accountability" when
dissembling to defend of the status quo. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) O.C. TEEN DRUG ARRESTS SOAR | ||||||||||||||||||||
TREATMENT LAGS LAW ENFORCEMENT | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bookings Climb 280% In A Decade, But Agencies Are Helping Fewer Minors
Than Five Years Ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Zero tolerance" drug policies aimed at young offenders have fueled a
massive rise in juvenile drug arrests, prompting some judges, police
officers and others to question whether enough is being done to help
teens break the habit. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Over the last decade, the number of Orange County minors arrested on
drug offenses leaped 280% while the juvenile population rose by just
16%, according to a Times analysis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) EDITORIAL: ACCOUNTABILITY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Addicts Need Treatment And Jail Time | ||||||||||||||||||||
Everybody has heard the word "denial" used in connection with drug
addiction. It means the addict denies he has a problem. It's a symptom
of the disease. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Professionals in the drug treatment field agree most addicts need some
sort of coercion in the early phases of recovery to break through the
wall of denial. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Proposition 36, the drug decriminalization initiative on the November
ballot, removes the consequences for addicts by banning jail time for
nonviolent drug offenders. And that's why a growing number of treatment
professionals oppose it, even though it would authorize $120 million to
be spent on drug treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (8-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Lucrative forfeiture laws stimulate police to make drug arrests; that
the public (and the judiciary) may finally be catching on was
signalled by the remarks of a Florida judge. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Most of us didn't know a forfeiture law was ready to be signed in
California: ironically, it required Karen Dillon- from Kansas City- to
call attention to a story the local press had ignored. | ||||||||||||||||||||
(8) DRUG-STAINED CASH WIDESPREAD IN SOUTH FLORIDA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Broward County sheriff's deputies seized $1,589 from a trespassing
suspect in April after drug-sniffing dogs detected traces of drugs on
the money. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last week, Circuit Judge Robert Lance Andrews told them to give it back. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Andrews' rationale: South Florida's cash supply is so infected with
illicit drugs that law enforcement officials can't seize money just
because a police dog doesn't like its smell. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nationally, critics say cash seizures are becoming increasingly common
-- to the point that law enforcement agencies rely on them to purchase
extras for their departments. But Andrews says decisions like his to
strike down such forfeitures are also on the rise. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) POLICE FORFEITURE REFORM IN CALIFORNIA SEEN AS A GUIDE FOR ENTIRE NATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Just a week ago a forfeiture-reform bill moving through the California Legislature would have created the nation's toughest law regulating the way police handle drug money they seize. | ||||||||||||||||||||
By the time the bill passed -- by just two votes in the last hours of the session -- the reforms it offered were strong but more modest. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And in that, experts say, other states such as Kansas and Missouri that will soon eye their own reforms can draw two lessons: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement has a powerful lobby. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It is possible to pass tougher forfeiture laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
As we went to press, the liberal Ninth Circuit tossed another
bombshell: sentence enhancing "facts" must be determined by a jury;
not simply adduced by judicial decree. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) 9TH US CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS REDUCES SENTENCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A federal appeals court in San Francisco has reduced a North Coast
marijuana sentence in a ruling that could affect dozens of pending and
future drug cases. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said yesterday
that juries and not judges must decide on the amount of drugs involved
in a criminal case when the amount is a factor that could increase a
sentence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
The appeals court said its ruling was required by a decision in which
the U.S. Supreme Court said in a New Jersey case in June that any fact
that increases a sentence "must be submitted to a jury and proved
beyond a reasonable doubt." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A suit brought in January 1997 was resolved when the temporary
injunction against disciplining physicians for recommending cannabis
was made permanent. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The ruling was a fitting background for Marsha Rosenbaum's Op-Ed
pointing out that not only hadn't McCzar's dire prediction about 215
come true, the government is still stonewalling publication of its own
study confirming that fact. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Also in California: opening arguments were finally heard in the case
which should define the degree to which a successful medical use
initiative should restrain aggressive policing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) DOCTORS CAN RECOMMEND MARIJUANA, COURT RULES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Licenses Protected: Decision Prevents Government From Disciplining
Physicians For Advising Pot To Patients. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Doctors have a constitutional right to recommend pot to patients, and
cannot be disciplined by the government for doing so, a federal judge
ruled Thursday in a decision that could have immediate implications for
physicians and patients across the state. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) FEDS' MYTHS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Studies Dispel Arguments That Passage Of Prop. 215 Led To Increased
Teen Drug Use | ||||||||||||||||||||
FOUR YEARS AGO, when Californians were about to vote on Proposition
215, the medical marijuana initiative, opponents predicted that if
seriously ill patients were allowed to use marijuana, recreational use
among young people would increase. Drug czar Barry McCaffrey warned:
"Teens stop using drugs when they become aware of the risks involved.
Sending them the wrong message that marijuana is medicine will cause
drug use to skyrocket." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
If any messages have been sent to young people, they are that our
system of government does not reflect voters' decisions when those
decisions are inconsistent with federal dogma. The reality is that
medical marijuana, this small step toward rational drug policy, has not
resulted in increased teenage use or in fewer arrests in the general
population. What surely has increased among young people is cynicism
and mistrust of our government's drug policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) KUBBYS SAY POT WAS FOR MEDICINAL USE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
D.A. Says They Were Growing The 265 Plants For Profit | ||||||||||||||||||||
A high-profile marijuana trial began in earnest Wednesday morning as
opening arguments painted the case facing a former gubernatorial
candidate and his wife as either a for-possession drug matter or
political persecution. Michele and Steven Kubby, the 1998 Libertarian
candidate for governor, face a combined 19 counts of illegal drug
possession, cultivation of marijuana for sale and possession of
paraphernalia.... | ||||||||||||||||||||
In his opening statement, Deputy District Attorney explained how the task force, a joint endeavor of several law enforcement agencies, came to suspect the Kubbys of cultivating marijuana for sale. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Recreational drugs and drug dealing;" that's what this case is about,"
he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (14-15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The government's amazing hypocrisy and their willingness to use bully-boy tactics against poor people was fully revealed in South Dakota, where the DEA "harvested" the Oglala Sioux's first hemp crop without a warrant and is now petitioning to destroy it as contraband. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) HEMP RAID STUNS FAMILY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Family Hopes Riding On Sale Of Crop Dashed By Federal Seizure | ||||||||||||||||||||
MANDERSON - The armed flak-jacketed federal agents that burst upon the White Plume tiospaye's property at dawn a week ago left in a storm of dust that coated the trees and bushes for yards away from the road. | ||||||||||||||||||||
As the sounds of the federal helicopters, planes, trucks and agents
faded, the White Plume family sat in dejection and shock, trying to
absorb and comprehend the far-reaching nature of the loss that had been
visited on them so suddenly. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The field that a few hours before had been crowded with tall, delicate,
fragrant green hemp stalks was now a scarred patch of ground, bare
except for clumps of frayed stubble. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) GIVE US BACK OUR HEMP! (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A question of sovereignty | ||||||||||||||||||||
RAPID CITY A bright blue sky served as backdrop to the stark white
concrete of the Federal building here last Friday as a crowd of 80 to
90 people gathered to show their support for the members of the Oglala
Sioux Tribe who had been trying to add industrial hemp to the paucity
of cash crops grown on the nearby Pine Ridge Reservation. Spanning the
age range from infants to elders, Indian and white, the famous to the
anonymous, they came together to protest the Draconian seizure of the
hemp that had been growing in two plots on Pine Ridge. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dan Gardner's Ottawa Citizen series is the most comprehensive recent
overview of the U.S. role in global drug policy ever written for a
newspaper. Gardner gets the history right; he also explores the
consequences of our global folly and explains why governments are so
reluctant to give it up. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Download all segments, combine it into one document and print it; it's
well worth studying: | ||||||||||||||||||||
(16) CANADA: WHY THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS FAILED: UNCLE SAM'S WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Uncle Sam's global campaign to end drug abuse has empowered criminals,
corrupted governments and eroded liberty, but still there are more
addicts than ever before. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On June 6, 1998, a surprising letter was delivered to Kofi Annan,
secretary general of the United Nations. "We believe," the letter
declared, "that the global war on drugs is now causing more harm than
drug abuse itself." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Yet, governments are all but unanimous in supporting drug prohibition.
There is little debate at the official level. It's not easy to imagine
alternatives to a policy that has been in place for decades, especially
when few people remember how the policy came into being in the first
place, or why. "War on drugs" is a compelling sound bite, whereas the
damage drug prohibition may do is complex and impossible to summarize
on a bumper sticker. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But the core reason the "war on drugs" completely dominates the
official policies of so many nations, including our own, is simple: The
United States insists on it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (17-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The balance of the international news provides ample confirmation of Gardner's thesis: the global war on drugs is a destructive folly; its "victories" are nothing more than seizures of product or arrests and imprisonment of the workers and customers in thriving criminal markets. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) CANADA: HEROIN BUSTS 'HUGE' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two major drug busts in the past week -- one in Toronto and one in
Vancouver -- have netted more heroin than Canadian police forces seized
in all of 1998. And the officer in charge of the Toronto investigation
says at least some of the illegal and highly addictive substance was
headed for the Hamilton area. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) IRELAND: PRISON DRUG DEALERS INFILTRATING OUR JAILS TOO EASILY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
THE revelation that there were 622 drug seizures in Irish jails over
the past two years might be taken as a sign that the problem of
addiction among prisoners is under control. Nothing could be further
from the truth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) MALAYSIA: 12 YEARS AND 10 STROKES FOR ECSTASY POSSESSION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
JOHOR BARU: A salesman was sentenced to 12 years' jail and ordered to
be given 10 strokes of the rotan by the High Court here yesterday for
possession of 3,643 Ecstasy pills. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) PAKISTAN: CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUG-TRAFFICKERS TO BE INTENSIFIED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ISLAMABAD (NNI) - Campaign against drug-trafficking by air is being
intensified by using all possible means which include the use of
detection machines, swifter dogs and coordinated and well-knit
intelligence system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Moin lamented that a number of drug-traffickers with Pakistani
passports are arrested in gulf states and other parts of the world
which brings a bad name to the country. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) SPAIN: BRITISH ACCUSED OF DRUGS BLUNDER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Spanish police blamed their British counterparts yesterday for being
unable to find up to ten tons of cocaine reported to be on board a
cargo vessel seized in what was billed as the biggest ever single drugs
bust in Europe. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Drug War | ||||||||||||||||||||
Zeese, Kevin, Vice President, Drug Policy Foundation | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mauer, Marc, Director, Sentencing Project | ||||||||||||||||||||
Elders, Joycelyn, Surgeon General (Fmr.), Department of Health &
Human Services | ||||||||||||||||||||
Huffington, Arianna S., Chair, Center for Effective Compassion | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reno, Janet, Attorney General, Department of Justice | ||||||||||||||||||||
Panelists discuss issues such as alternative sentencing, substance abuse treatment, felony re-entry programs, and disparate incarceration. | ||||||||||||||||||||
View a 90 minute streaming media clip at CSPAN The link is under
"Today's Feature: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation: Judiciary
Braintrust ... Watch Session 1" | ||||||||||||||||||||
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TLC-DPF Grant Proposals Sought | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation (TLC-DPF) is very proud to be administering the TLC-DPF Grant Program, which distributes approximately $1.5 million every year to drug policy reform efforts. The Grant Program funds a wide range of organizations, including those that specialize in criminal justice, drug policy, harm reduction, medical marijuana, methadone maintenance, and syringe exchange. | ||||||||||||||||||||
TLC-DPF provides three types of funding: project, general support, and
technical assistance. Project grants cover model programs, advocacy,
and targeted public education. Limited international funding is
available. Additionally, TLC-DPF has set aside funds specifically for
state-level multi-issue drug policy reform groups. | ||||||||||||||||||||
To read the most recent Grant Program guidelines (last updated August
1999), please visit http://www.dpf.org/GRANTS.html. The deadline for
the next round of TLC-DPF grants is October 1, 2000. Please take the
time to review the guidelines and consider submitting a proposal for
the upcoming grant proposal review. If you would prefer a hard copy of
the grant guidelines please send an e-mail to and
request one. | ||||||||||||||||||||
TLC-DPF is always interested in receiving feedback from potential and
current grantees. Feel free to write us if you have suggestions on how
to improve the grant-making process. We look forward to hearing from
you. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Robert Sharpe | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The "Best of The DrugNews Archive" Web Page Announced | ||||||||||||||||||||
An excellent collection of "Highlights from the DrugNews Archive" has
been created It is a personal selection and incomplete, but has a great
impact; a good reference e.g. for ignorant journalists. The "best of
the best" are bulleted as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Don't miss this great page: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Harry Bego | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
VOLUNTEER EDITORS NEEDED! (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
MAP Needs Your Help | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friends, we are about to start a new training session for volunteer
editors for the clipping service part of the Media Awareness Project.
We are looking for a few dedicated folks who are willing to help us
help reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Editors, the folks who process the items sent to . The
average volunteer editor puts in about a hour a day, taking time off or
reducing workload as needed or desired through an automated system of
workload sharing. A training guide for editors up at: | ||||||||||||||||||||
A great esprit de corpse has developed among our editors and help and
excellent training are provided. | ||||||||||||||||||||
For more details please see Senior Editor Richard Lake's informative post at: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00.n1368.a03.html | ||||||||||||||||||||
Below is just one of hundreds of appreciative posts we have received acknowledging the value and importance of the DrugNews archive. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Dear Friends at Mapinc: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Today I was called by a staffer to the Senate Judiciary committee
looking for information about the Byrne Grant program. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The first place I sent her was to MAPinc's website of over 44,000
drug-related news stories. While we were talking, I used the search
engine and found a recent, relevant article. | ||||||||||||||||||||
I am glad that I can rely on mapinc to provide the most comprehensive
and accessible database of information about drugs, and that I can
refer it to others with confidence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Eric E. Sterling, President | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"What are politicians going to tell people when the Constitution is gone and we still have a drug problem?" -- William Simpson, A.C.L.U. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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 ON LINE 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
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-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
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