| February 2, 2001 #185 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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This Just In- | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) JOHNSON TO INCREASE TREATMENT MONEY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SANTA FE -- Hoping to attract Democratic support for his drug-policy
reforms, Gov. Gary Johnson will propose spending increases for drug
treatment and prevention programs in New Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||
Johnson will unveil a $5 million treatment package later this week and
will recommend that state money from a settlement with tobacco companies
be used to pay for the budget increase. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) FREE TO BE DEPORTED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Julie Colon never planned on becoming an activist. But two years ago,
when her mother sent her a newspaper clipping from prison about a new
group for drug offenders' relatives, Julie, then 20, decided to check
it out. She discovered that prisoners' families were trying to repeal
New York State's strict drug laws by holding protests around New York
City, and so she began attending their rallies. Carrying a poster with
her mother's photo--and surrounded by other inmates' relatives--Julie
imagined her efforts might help repeal the so-called Rockefeller drug
laws. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) RICK ROMLEY BEING CONSIDERED FOR U.S. DRUG CZAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley is under consideration to replace U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey, Romley's office confirmed Monday. | ||||||||||||||||||
The job opened early in January when McCaffrey stepped down after five years as head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) OPED: WAR ON ILLEGAL DRUGS SHOULD BE ESCALATED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In his Jan. 11 opinion, "DRUG WAR'S CAUSALITIES OUTNUMBER IT'S VICTORIES."
David Klinger of the pro-legalization Cato Institute castigated the war on
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
The view was seriously deficient in reality and simply reverberated the din
of the pro-pot lobby. | ||||||||||||||||||
Klinger wrote that he had never seen anyone "overdose on marijuana or
influence anyone to do anything more violent that attack a bag of potato
chips." He's probably never seen anyone die of tobacco either, buy surely
he would not claim tobacco is harmless and marijuana has far more carcinogens
than tobacco, not to mention a host of other deleterious consequences that
are particularly hazardous for children. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-7) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Dubya's failure to yet name a drug czar led some to some to fear- and others to hope for- a softening in policy, but a veteran observer, writing for the Houston Chronicle, predicts little change. | ||||||||||||||||||
Not that there's widespread satisfaction- witness Wm. F. Buckley's column in the same issue- but changing what's become a national religion- despite its obvious shortcomings- is proving difficult. | ||||||||||||||||||
In fact, "religion" may offer the best directional clue; isn't Ashcroft little more than a preacher with a badge? As we go to press, Bush created a new post and named an unlikely intellectual to fill it. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) BUSH URGED TO HANG TOUGH IN DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- Earlier this month, a group of key Republican legislators
sent President Bush a letter that firmly warned him not to back off on
the nation's fight against narcotics traffickers. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"One of the reasons Bush appears a bit reluctant to grab this problem
in a high-profile way is that it is difficult to build a consensus,
even among Republicans," Walters said. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The conservative side is split between the hard-core law-and-order
people and those who are more libertarian, who don't want the federal
government deeply involved in people's lives." | ||||||||||||||||||
In the end, Bush will have a difficult time significantly changing the anti-drug culture, both liberals and conservatives predicted. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) DRUG WARRING IS AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The new president has a great deal on his mind, added to which is the burden, imposed by past legislation and executive order, to conclude the civil war in Colombia. That isn't the stated reason for our intervention in that part of the world. We're all over the place in order to stop the production and export of drugs, notably cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) A LEAP FOR FAITH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
GEORGE W. BUSH advertised his compassionate conservatism repeatedly on
the campaign trail, and yesterday he took a step that he said would
help translate that rhetoric into action. | ||||||||||||||||||
The president signed two executive orders, one to set up a White House
office to promote social work by religious organizations, the other to
instruct federal agencies to play their part in cooperating with faith
groups. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
But Mr. Bush appears to know that. In a sign that he does not want his
initiative to be seen as a sop to the Protestant religious right within
his party, yesterday's signing ceremony was attended by nonreligious as
well as religious charities, by Catholic, Jewish and Muslim groups as
well as by Protestant ones. The two officials Mr. Bush has appointed to
lead his initiative, John DiIulio and Stephen Goldsmith, are Catholic
and Jewish respectively. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (8-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
An interesting contrast in attitudes toward policy was found in Iowa; the undergraduate newspaper carried a strong denunciation of the drug war; even as the legislature prepared to toughen penalties for ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) NO GAINS IN THE DRUG WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A lot of film critics are keen on the movie "Traffic," a cautionary tale about the war on drugs and the people who buy, sell and use them. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Traffic" makes the cynical and accurate if unoriginal observation that both sides are in bed with the other. Both sides want the drug war to continue because it keeps people on both sides employed, including the politicians and drug dealers who support the drug war for personal gain. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) STATE MOVES TO COMBAT PARTY DRUG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Most users of ecstasy are said to be between 12 and 24 years old. | ||||||||||||||||||
Authorities are gearing up to fight the youth party drug, ecstasy,
fearing that its use is poised to skyrocket in Iowa. | ||||||||||||||||||
A six-state task force that combats methamphetamine is shifting its
focus to include club drugs, such as ecstasy, U.S. Attorney Stephen
Rapp of Cedar Rapids said Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Bruce Upchurch, Iowa's drug policy coordinator, said drug informants
and young people increasingly report encountering ecstasy around the
state. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (10-11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Joe Califano provided two examples of why point of view is so important when interpreting data: like Leshner, he has no problem arresting people who may have been born with a "disease." | ||||||||||||||||||
Also data demonstrating the "insanity" of current policy is no reason
to challenge fundamental assumptions; only to spend more on coerced
treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) BRAIN CHEMICAL MAY EXPLAIN ADDICTION TO FOOD, DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who become addicted to drugs and
those who eat compulsively may experience similar changes in brain
chemistry that keep them coming back for more, experts suggested here
Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
This theory is just one put forth at a conference on the relationship
between substance abuse and eating disorders. While it is well known
that people who suffer from bulimia and anorexia nervosa are more
likely to abuse drugs, alcohol or nicotine, the reasons why remain
unclear. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Researchers still do not know or fully understand all of the driving
forces behind the (co-occurrence) of eating disorders and substance
abuse,'' said Joseph A. Califano, Jr, president of the National Center
on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York
City, one of the event's sponsors. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) REPORT ON STATE DRUG ABUSE COSTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
States spend billions of dollars cleaning up the "wreckage" of drug,
alcohol and cigarette abuse--about as much as they pay for higher
education--but little of that money goes to treatment and prevention
programs, according to a private study released Monday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"This is truly insane public policy," said Joseph A. Califano Jr.,
president of National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at
Columbia University, which conducted the study. "States that want to
reduce crime, slow the rise in Medicaid spending, move mothers and
children from welfare to work and responsible and nurturing family life
must shift from shoveling up the wreckage to preventing children and
teens from abusing drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Common sense and fairness won an important victory when the Ninth
Circuit upheld an earlier ruling preventing the public housing
eviction of tenants for drug possession by relatives. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) HUD'S DRUG RULE OVERTURNED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Appeals Court Says 'One-Strike' Policy Evicts Tenants Unfairly | ||||||||||||||||||
Saying Congress never intended to drive innocent people from their
homes, a federal appeals court overturned the government's "one-strike"
policy, which let public housing authorities evict tenants for drug
activity they knew nothing about. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Every review of "Traffic" becomes, of necessity, a statement of the
reviewer's own take on policy; one of the most astute to date was
written by Reason Editor Nick Gillespie. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) THE 13TH STEP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Even some drug war opponents buy into its lies. | ||||||||||||||||||
Why is it that ostensibly pro-drug movies can never quite deliver the goods, can never quite depict drug use as something other than depraved? | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
So it is with Traffic, the new Steven Soderbergh film that's been
called "a blistering look at our nation's hypocritical and useless war
on drugs" (to quote a typical rave review). Though the movie mounts an
extensive and generally effective critique of the drug war in its
current, hyper-militarized version, it also recycles a number of
hysterical myths about drug use that could have come straight out of an
old Dragnet episode. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Indeed, Traffic trades heavily in the related and well-worn ideas that
drug use is a cry for help--at one point, Caroline avers she is "angry"
at the world--rather than an enjoyable pastime; that drug use destroys
the will of a user rather than reflects it; and that to use drugs is by
definition to abuse drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A huge Florida payoff illustrates just why drug cases have become like
lottery tickets for some departments; and why they often have priority
over other types of law enforcement. | ||||||||||||||||||
In another venue, recipients of drug crime proceeds are now being sued
to recover money which they were supposed to turn over to schools- but
didn't. | ||||||||||||||||||
A report from Oklahoma shows how the surge in meth labs has multiplied
police work in many rural areas. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) DRUG CASE TEAMS SHARE $47 MILLION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Crime, they say, does not pay -- a moral truism, but undeniably there's
money in it. | ||||||||||||||||||
Take the earnings of Colombian drug smuggler Julio Cesar Nasser-David
and his former wife, Arana -- $47 million and change -- which were
given Wednesday to 11 Florida police agencies, the Customs Service and
the IRS. | ||||||||||||||||||
That's scarcely a fourth of all the cash, about $200 million,
confiscated by the U.S. and Swiss governments from the | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) KC POLICE SUED IN DRUG CASES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Highway Patrol Also A Defendant On Forfeiture Issue | ||||||||||||||||||
A class-action lawsuit has been filed in Jackson County on behalf of
hundreds of people whose money or property may have been taken
illegally by police in drug cases. | ||||||||||||||||||
The lawsuit stems from a Clay County judge's ruling earlier this month that ordered the Kansas City Police Department to return more than $34,000 plus interest to an imprisoned drug felon, Vincent Karpierz. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The class-action lawsuit names the Kansas City Police Department and
the Missouri Highway Patrol as defendants. It cites one case involving
a $38,000 seizure. | ||||||||||||||||||
If it is approved by a judge, the lawsuit will cover similar cases that occurred in the last five years, said James McMullin, one of the two lawyers who filed the lawsuit. During that time the two agencies have handed off millions of dollars in cash and property to federal agencies. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) DAS FRUSTRATED IN DRUG-CASE BACKLOG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The war on drugs in eastern Oklahoma may be deadly serious business, but
it's also a series of games. | ||||||||||||||||||
Numbers games and waiting games. | ||||||||||||||||||
While sheriffs across the region boast of huge increases in drug
arrests, and federal courts sentence more offenders, the district
attorneys' offices in rural counties find themselves in an incredibly
expanding black hole of backlogged cases. They feel caught between a
greater number of arrests on one end and the inability of crime labs to
keep up. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"If there are more arrests but no additional prosecutors, it does no good," he added. "If there are more prosecutors but no more drug technicians to analyze the evidence, then you still have a breakdown." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Despite official denials, an ongoing NYPD case is starting to take on
aspects which are eerily similar to the LAPD's Rampart Division
scandal. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) OFFICER, SOBBING, RECALLS SECRET LIFE OF CRIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The fear of getting caught had passed, as had the shame of pleading
guilty before a federal judge to charges of armed robbery and murder
conspiracy. So the only thing that remained for Anthony Trotman
yesterday was to tell the tale of his startling transformation from a
New York City police officer to a member of a brazen Brooklyn robbery
gang. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
With so many tales of mayhem spilling from Mr. Trotman's mouth, it was easy to forget that he was not the defendant in the case but merely a witness. Indeed, only one of the crimes that Mr. Trotman mentioned yesterday -- the 1997 armed robbery of H. L. Gross Jewelers in Garden City, N.Y. -- was directly linked to Mr. Woodard, the man on trial. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
It took four years, but a Sonoma County jury's firm rebuff of the local sheriff's malevolent prosecution of Alan MacFarlane should deter similar cases. Much anguish, expense, and outright suffering might have been avoided if there had been leadership in Sacramento. | ||||||||||||||||||
The cops did much better in South Dakota; a medical use bill was killed in committee last Wednesday; the hemp bill died on Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) SR PATIENT ACQUITTED IN POT CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In a verdict that could change the way prosecutors handle medical
marijuana cases, a Santa Rosa man was acquitted Monday of charges that
he had more pot than necessary for his medical needs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Both sides agreed that the acquittal of Alan MacFarlane of felony
cultivation could help establish standards for how many plants medical
marijuana patients can grow. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
MacFarlane, 47, was the first medical marijuana patient to undergo a jury trial in Sonoma County, and jurors rejected the prosecution's contention that he was growing much more than he needed for himself. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL GOES UP IN SMOKE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Legislators just said no this morning to cultivating marijuana for
medical uses while leaving the door open to growing its sister plant
for industrial uses. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sen. Ron Volesky, D-Huron, introduced both SB73, medical marijuana, and
SB86, industrial hemp, to the Senate State Affairs Commitee. The former
bill was weeded out of the committee's list of legislation to consider
while the latter will linger at least until Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) HEMP BILL PLOWED UNDER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PIERRE -- A state legislative committee decided Friday that South
Dakota farmers shouldn't grow industrial hemp. | ||||||||||||||||||
Members of the Senate State Affairs Committee said they worry that law
enforcement would have trouble distinguishing hemp plants from
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Bob Newland of Hermosa, who supports legalizing marijuana for medical
purposes and industrial-hemp production, called the committee action "a
tragedy." | ||||||||||||||||||
"I think this is essentially a 10th Amendment issue -- states rights,"
Newland said. "George W. Bush said during his campaign that he was in
favor of letting states decide about industrial hemp and medical
marijuana." The Legislature had the opportunity to change the state law
but did not take it, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (21-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
When most Americans think of Mexico and Colombia, drug trafficking and
cartels come immediately to mind; not so with Canada. But that may all
be changing as these two articles suggest. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to American demand, smuggling across the border is growing.
North of it, a turf war for market share is raging westward from
Quebec. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(21) HELICOPTER, GUNS SEIZED IN CROSS-BORDER DRUG BUST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Lower Mainland criminals used a $600,000 Aerospeciale Astar helicopter to smuggle marijuana into the U.S. Cocaine, handguns and other weapons may have been brought into Canada on the return flights. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
On Sept. 10, when Organized Crime Agency officers and Abbotsford City
Police searched an Abbotsford house, a known member of an "outlaw
motorcycle gang" was present. Police seized $250,000 in U.S. currency,
$104,000, 20 pounds of marijuana, one kilogram of cocaine, two loaded
handguns and other weapons. From a vehicle in the yard the police seized
another two kilograms of cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(22) ROUGH RIDE: CROSS-CANADA SHOWDOWN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Sun Media special section takes an in-depth look at organized biker
crime across the nation | ||||||||||||||||||
The lawmen and the outlaws are heading for a national showdown. | ||||||||||||||||||
The feds are poised to reveal new, tougher laws to combat criminal gangs, and they're aiming those laws directly at bikers. | ||||||||||||||||||
At the same time, the bikers are consolidating their forces, swallowing
smaller clubs into the roughest of the outlaw big leagues: the Hells
Angels, the Bandidos, the Outlaws. | ||||||||||||||||||
This 12-page special report by Sun Media reporters and photographers tracks the national expansion of the Hells Angels - Alberta in 1997, Saskatchewan in 1998, Manitoba in 1999, Ontario in 2000 - and their rivals the Bandidos, who have now made their first patches in Canada. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (23-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Although Plan Colombia's assault on coca in the Southern province of
Putamayo began in late 2000; detailed reports from the field just
started flooding in last week. | ||||||||||||||||||
Initial resistance to the spraying seems to have been lacking and
damage to non-coca crops might have been severe; it's much too early
to access overall impact on the cocaine trade. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(23) COLOMBIA: FUMIGATION FIGHTING COCA FARMS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S.-Backed Plan's Aim: Cut Cocaine Source | ||||||||||||||||||
LA ISLA, Colombia - To many coca farmers in this South American
nation's Putumayo province, the government's warning of a massive
U.S.-backed offensive to destroy their illegal crops seemed like a
vague, distant threat. | ||||||||||||||||||
They had been growing cocaine's main ingredient virtually unchallenged
for decades, and they saw little incentive to sign on to a volunteer
program to rid themselves of the cash crop. | ||||||||||||||||||
However, when the fumigation planes swooped down Dec. 22 over this
tiny farming community in the southern province of Putumayo, the
herbicide they sprayed destroyed not only their target, the coca, but
basic food crops as well. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(24) U.S.-BACKED ANTIDRUG OFFENSIVE IS CREATING PROBLEMS IN COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SANTA ROSA DEL GUAMUEZ, Colombia (AP) -- The planes swooped in at
treetop level, trailing a fine mist of herbicide over fields of coca,
corn and banana as combat helicopters clattered overhead, the door
gunners ready to crush any resistance. | ||||||||||||||||||
For the governments of the U.S. and Colombia, the aerial spraying
mission in the Indian village of Santa Rosa del Guamuez was among the
first in a controversial counterdrug effort in the world's largest
cocaine-producing region. | ||||||||||||||||||
But already the strategy is running into problems and fueling deep
resentment. The planes killed not only coca -- the base ingredient of
cocaine -- but the food crops and pasture. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (25) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
President Fox's bravado recalls the sustained offensive launched by Colombia's cartels after their government's 1987 decision to allow its citizens to be extradited to the US for drug prosecutions. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(25) MEXICO: FOX DECLARES WAR ON DRUG TRADE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Mexico's President Vicente Fox has warned that drugs traffickers could
launch a violent backlash against the crackdown planned by his new
government on crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Fox pledged to "totally reinvent" the police units used to fight the drugs trade in Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||
He also proposed that Mexican drug offenders should be sent to the US to serve their jail sentences. American officials have estimated that 70 per cent of the cocaine entering the US passes through Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Los Angeles Times January 31, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
'JUST SAY NO' WINS FEW POINTS WITH RAVERS / BY MARSHA ROSENBAUM | ||||||||||||||||||
The big news out of a recent key study measuring trends in high school
drug use was that while the use of all illegal substances had leveled
off last year, regular Ecstasy use among 12th-graders had increased
significantly up from 5.6% in 1999 to 8.2% in 2000. A survey released
in November by the Partnership for a Drug Free America showed a similar
pattern. | ||||||||||||||||||
This information culminates a year of news about Ecstasy, also known by
its chemical name, MDMA. Nearly 1,000 news reports told of increased
supply and demand, as indicated by Drug Enforcement Administration and
Customs seizures, as well as arrests of distributors associated with
organized crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
There were reports of adverse reactions to the drug, even fatalities.
Emergency room visits increased as several "ravers" attending huge, all
night dance parties collapsed and convulsed. Nine young people died
from taking adulterated substances (known as "fake Ecstasy") containing
poisonous substitute chemicals. Finally there were National Institute
on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, reports of possible changes in the brains of
users and fluctuating levels of the mood controlling chemical
serotonin. This troubling news inspired a federal program designed to
alert the public, and young people in particular, to the dangers of
Ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||
Although TV programs and ad campaigns have sent out the alarm about
MDMA, use has continued to rise among teenagers. To understand why, it
is important to understand the experience of Ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||
I first learned about MDMA in a 1985 Time magazine story. The then
legal stimulant had a very small place on the drug scene since the
1970s. A clever marketing decision to call it "Ecstasy" resulted in
attracting an eclectic mix of affluent enthusiasts. Avantgarde
therapists were joined by New Age professionals, Deadheads and Dallas
yuppies. | ||||||||||||||||||
I wanted to know more about the euphoric drug called "a six hour
orgasm" by some and "penicillin for the soul" by others, so in 1987 I
launched the first federally funded sociological study of Ecstasy users
in the U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
In interviews with 100 adults averaging 35 years old, we learned that
regardless of the user's background, his or her descriptions of the
benefits of Ecstasy were consistent. The feeling on MDMA was described
as complete acceptance of and by others. Users talked of diminished
fear and an increased ability to communicate. We heard much about
expressions of tolerance and love as defenses melted away. Most
striking, the individuals told us they derived these positive feelings
from precious few other settings. | ||||||||||||||||||
If mature adults found MDMA use so fulfilling, I could only imagine how
alluring it would be for teenagers in their adolescent struggles.
Although teenagers hadn't been part of the Ecstasy scene back then, it
was only a matter of time and availability. | ||||||||||||||||||
As a parent, I worry about possible adverse effects of Ecstasy on the
human brain. I applaud a $ 54million research program supported by NIDA
and urge further studies of potential long term damage. I urge careful
dissemination of research findings because teenagers are not likely to
be deterred by hysterical warnings about possible problems in their
distant future. When I ask teenage users why they have not heeded
government warnings of possible brain damage, these veterans of "just
say no" express deep cynicism. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Oh yes," said one 18-year-old regarding problematic brain changes
attributed to Ecstasy, "they told us about that with marijuana too. But
none of us believes we have holes in our brains, so we just laugh at
those messages." | ||||||||||||||||||
I am very concerned about the use of MDMA in dangerous settings. Most
of the Ecstasy related problems at raves can be attributed to dancing
too hard and too long and becoming overheated and dehydrated. Young
people need to know that heatstroke can be avoided by cooling off and
drinking water. Perhaps the most significant problem facing would be
MDMA users is deadly adulterants masquerading as Ecstasy. I support
efforts of organizations like DanceSafe, which tests pills to determine
whether they are potentially dangerous look alikes or the real thing.
Young people are concerned too, as evidenced by their own efforts to
educate themselves about Ecstasy's dangers. | ||||||||||||||||||
We could, of course, continue to try (unsuccessfully) to scare teenagers into abstinence, as we have for two decades. But I believe a more realistic, pragmatic approach to Ecstasy is "harm reduction." While, of course, we would rather they abstained completely, teens should have accurate information about Ecstasy to avoid serious mishaps. This may sound heretical, but safety should be the bottom line. | ||||||||||||||||||
Marsha Rosenbaum directs the San Francisco office of the Lindesmith,
Center Drug Policy Foundation and is coauthor with Jerome E. Beck of,
"Pursuit of Ecstasy The MDMA Experience" (SUNY Press, 1994). Web site,
http://drugpolicy.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||
Copyright 2001 / Los Angeles Times | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
GET INTO "THE STATE OF ECSTASY" ON-LINE! | ||||||||||||||||||
"The State of Ecstasy: The Medicine, Science and Culture of MDMA" conference will be webcast live TODAY, Friday, February 2 from 9:00AM-5:30 PM (Pacific Time) at http://www.drugpolicy.org/ecstasy/ | ||||||||||||||||||
For a conference program, see | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Medical Marijuana Mission Web Site | ||||||||||||||||||
This is a great site dedicated to educating about Medical Marijuana. It
is run by a very special lady, Alison Myrden. She's just a little petite
thing, but has made a lot of noise resulting in the advancement on the
Canadian front. She has been a great friend to me throughout my legal
battle. Please visit this site and sign her guest book. | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by D. Fawcett | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
The Los Angeles Citizens' Commission on U.S. Drug Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
I came across some remarks by Joe McNamara that were delivered at an
Institute for Policy Studies event called "The Los Angeles Citizens'
Commission on U.S. Drug Policy. | ||||||||||||||||||
McNamara and others delivered powerful testimony and the text is contained in an IPS report. Click on the link below to read the government-corruption section. Also in the IPS report are remarks by Eric Sterling, I think Sanho Tree, and others whose names are familiar. | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.ips-dc.org/downloads/addicted-testimony-govtcorrupt.pdf. | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Don Beck | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
The Australian Institute of Criminology has released Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice No. 158, Print Media Reporting on Drugs and Crime, 1995-1998 by Michael Teece and Toni Makkai ISBN 0 642 24176 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
In any modern society, the media provide important sources of
information about matters beyond people's personal experience. This
applies especially to social deviance, including drugs and crime. How
the media report drugs and crime, therefore, has a great impact on
public debate about, and ultimately on policy decisions related to,
drugs and crime. There has been much criticism of the way in which
the media report on drugs and crime. However, there have been relatively
few systematic empirical studies of the media's portrayal of drugs and
crime in Australia. | ||||||||||||||||||
The full text of this paper is available on the Institute's website at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi158.html | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by John Myrtle | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"Pugsley's First Law of Government: All government programs accomplish the opposite of what they are designed to achieve." -- John Pugsley | ||||||||||||||||||
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