| August 3, 2001 #210 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Listen On-line at: http://www.drugsense.org/radio/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) SEATTLE POLICE CRACK DOWN ON MEDICAL-POT PURVEYOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Last week, 77-year-old Ruby Seals felt good enough to come to the Green
Cross Patient Co-op in person to pick up her marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
Before that, she was in a hospice, battling pancreatic cancer. But
marijuana, she says, helped her turn around the pain and vomiting
that caused her to lose more than 60 pounds. | ||||||||||||||||||
This week, Seals won't be able to get the marijuana her doctor
recommended. On Joanna McKee's West Seattle garage door is a big
sign: "CLOSED." Beside it, she posted the "cease and desist" letter
she received Friday from the Seattle Police Department. | ||||||||||||||||||
McKee has been openly helping patients get marijuana for nearly a
decade, providing what she calls "a community service" to help
qualified patients avoid buying pot on the street. | ||||||||||||||||||
Now, less than two months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that
California cannabis clubs cannot legally distribute marijuana as a
"medical necessity" for seriously ill patients, McKee must decide
whether it's worth the risks to continue her mission. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(2) SEN. WARNER SEEKS OXYCONTIN HEARING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Sen. John Warner called Tuesday for a Senate committee to hold hearings on what he called "the emerging crisis of OxyContin abuse." | ||||||||||||||||||
A member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee,
Warner is asking the panel to conduct an inquiry at a time when the
prescription painkiller is coming under increased scrutiny from
federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the
Drug Enforcement Administration. | ||||||||||||||||||
Warner, R-Va., wrote in a letter dated Tuesday to the committee's
chairman, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., that abuse of OxyContin has
"spawned a crime wave in Southwest Virginia and across the border
into Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(3) REPORT ISSUED IN PLANE'S DOWNING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Lax Procedures Are Cited In Peru Shoot-Down | ||||||||||||||||||
The scene taped by the infrared camera on the nose of the CIA
aircraft is soothingly calm. For nearly 45 minutes, a small plane
moves through billowing clouds over northern Peru, blissfully unaware
it is being followed. | ||||||||||||||||||
Inside the CIA cockpit, a voice recorder catches the low beat of pop
music and the English and Spanish radio conversations of two American
pilots and the Peruvian official aboard as they guide a Peruvian
A-37B toward the suspected drug flight. But to each other, and in
pidgin Spanish to the Peruvian official, the Americans mention their
rising doubts that the plane contains a drug smuggler. Busy on his
radio as the fighter closes in, the Peruvian turns to them and says,
"What?" | ||||||||||||||||||
Suddenly a loud voice breaks into the tape, screaming, "Me estan matando! Me estan matando!" They are killing me. They are killing me. | ||||||||||||||||||
"No!" yells one of the CIA pilots to the Peruvian. "Don't shoot! No
mas, no mas." | ||||||||||||||||||
The Peruvian, in turn, shouts into his radio to the fighter pilot.
"Stop! No mas! No mas!" No more. | ||||||||||||||||||
The other CIA pilot expels a breath. "God," he murmurs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(4) CANADA: ROCK 'OPEN' TO LEGAL MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
'Time For A Discussion' On Changing Drug Laws, Health Minister Says | ||||||||||||||||||
Health Minister Allan Rock says he has an "open mind" on calls to
decriminalize marijuana and welcomes an upcoming review of the
contentious matter by a Commons committee. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Rock made the comments yesterday after he toured an underground
mine in Flin Flon, Man., where the first official crop of
government-sanctioned marijuana is being grown. The marijuana will be
made available to sick Canadians who are granted government approval
to smoke it for the alleviation of pain and the debilitating symptoms
of various diseases. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Rock said Canada's medical marijuana policy -- which is far more
liberal than other countries such as the United States -- is based on
"compassionate" grounds and he predicted it will eventually be
matched by other nations around the world. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Rock indicated he's not worried about how others, such as the
U.S. government, might react to Canada's decision to exempt
pot-smoking sick people from prosecution. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We are going our own road on this. We are Canadians. We have made
our own judgment. We are reflecting our own values ... I will look
first to Canadian needs and interests, rather than the opinions of
others around the world." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
An Economist tour de force--easily this Summer's policy highlight --
made the case for legalization with a painstaking analysis of the
variables. A must read for anyone with a serious interest in policy,
it will predictably be ignored by American warriors. | ||||||||||||||||||
Peter Schrag, writing in American Prospect, took a similar -- albeit
more polemical -- tack in summarizing reform's recent PR and
political gains. | ||||||||||||||||||
Washington insider David Broder's own confusion confirms that recent
changes in public mood are still misunderstood -- especially inside
the Beltway. | ||||||||||||||||||
The culprit policy remains czarless. Despite the AP headline,
Washington reality suggests the White House is in no hurry for
confirmation hearings. | ||||||||||||||||||
Another observer, forty miles from Broder-- but much closer to the
consequences of our drug policy, described the impact three decades
of it have had on Baltimore. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(5) EDITORIAL: THE CASE FOR LEGALISATION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Time For A Puff Of Sanity | ||||||||||||||||||
IT IS every parent's nightmare. | ||||||||||||||||||
A youngster slithers inexorably from a few puffs on a joint, to a
snort of cocaine, to the needle and addiction. | ||||||||||||||||||
It was the flesh-creeping heart of "Traffic", a film about the
descent into heroin hell of a pretty young middle-class girl, and it
is the terror that keeps drug laws in place. It explains why even
those politicians who puffed at a joint or two in their youth
hesitate to put the case for legalising drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
The terror is not irrational. For the first thing that must be said
about legalising drugs, a cause The Economist has long advocated and
returns to this week( see survey ), is that it would lead to a rise
in their use, and therefore to a rise in the number of people
dependent on them. Some argue that drug laws have no impact, because
drugs are widely available. Untrue: drugs are expensive -- a kilo of
heroin sells in America for as much as a new Rolls-Royce -- partly
because their price reflects the dangers involved in distributing and
buying them. It is much harder and riskier to pick up a dose of
cocaine than it is to buy a bottle of whiskey. | ||||||||||||||||||
Remove such constraints, make drugs accessible and very much cheaper,
and more people will experiment with them. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
A legal market is the best guarantee that drug-taking will be no more
dangerous than drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco. | ||||||||||||||||||
And, just as countries rightly tolerate those two vices, so they
should tolerate those who sell and take drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(6) A QUAGMIRE FOR OUR TIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
At least since 1996, when voters in California and Arizona approved
ballot initiatives legalizing the medical use of marijuana, Americans
have been trying to send the same message to Washington, D.C.: The
nation's escalating, $20-billion drug war is a disastrous and costly
failure that is stuffing the prisons, ruining thousands of lives both
here and abroad, and producing few perceptible gains--except maybe in
the careers of politicians. | ||||||||||||||||||
With every passing year, the message becomes louder. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
A government of drug-war militants like Bob Barr, Asa Hutchinson, and
John Walters may be the best way to move the rest of the country
toward moderation. Every time thoughtful voters hear that old
reefer-madness rhetoric, the credibility of the larger antidrug
message is undermined--as is the legitimacy of a national drug policy
that, despite administration talk about treatment, is still rooted in
the criminal justice system, not in the medical system. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(7) CULTURE WARS: WHERE DO WE STAND? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The largest city in the Granite State is blessedly free of
presidential candidates this summer, but it is not devoid of
controversy. | ||||||||||||||||||
A rock concert that drew an estimated 10,000 young people to a city
park last Sunday night produced more than 80 complaints to police and
touched off what Mayor Robert Baines told me was, for him, an
unprecedented furor. | ||||||||||||||||||
As late as Thursday, the front-page headline in the Union Leader, New Hampshire's biggest paper, read, "Concert War Rages ..." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Having covered some of those initiative battles, I know that George
Soros and the two fellow multimillionaires who have financed these
efforts generally have outspent their opponents by a wide margin. But
it's hard to maintain that the voters in all these different states
have been duped or brainwashed. Yet candidates who take a hard line
on drugs win at the polls -- even in the same states where these
initiatives have passed. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
This is just a small skirmish in the culture wars that increasingly
dominate our politics... it is hard to figure out what Americans
really want their government to do about such issues. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(8) WHITE HOUSE PUSHES FOR CONFIRMATIONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - The White House called on the Senate Friday to confirm
two nominees who face greater scrutiny now that their fate is in the
hands of a Democratic majority. | ||||||||||||||||||
The nominations of John D. Negroponte as U.N. ambassador and John P.
Walters to head White House drug policy have been denounced by some
Democrats and liberal groups. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Walters, a protege of former drug policy director William Bennett,
has been called a hard-liner in the drug fight, favoring tough law
enforcement measures and being skeptical of treatment programs and
other efforts to reduce demand | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(9) HOW CAN CITY REBUILD IN AN OPEN DRUG MARKET? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The singing - ...is audible over the traffic noise of morning rush
hour. It carries on all day, except for occasional breaks when a
police car passes or parks nearby. It sounds cheerful, upbeat - a
teen-aged tenor ... | ||||||||||||||||||
Knockdown! Get your Knockdown! Got that Knockdown! | ||||||||||||||||||
Knockdown is heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
I am working for a few days in the West Baltimore neighborhood of
Sandtown with my 15-year-old daughter. We are volunteering our very
limited skills to Habitat for Humanity ... | ||||||||||||||||||
Still, Sandtown resembles a patient hooked to a heart-lung machine,
its progress made possible only by huge, steady injections of money
and labor from outside. Even when the hammers are banging and the
power saws whining with the sounds of housing resurrection, the drug
dealers' siren song can be heard.... | ||||||||||||||||||
The heroin hawker is a block away. I can't see him, but he sounds
like a boy about my daughter's age. ... | ||||||||||||||||||
And then there's a third voice, a friendly competitor peddling a
different escape. Rock! Rock! Got that Rock! | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Back around 1950, ... Baltimore's population was nearly 1 million.
Today it's 650,000, and the result of that plunge can be seen in the
boarded houses pocking every demoralized neighborhood. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Articles about the Navy emanating from both coasts underscored the armed forces' looming club drug problem: potential users are heavily concentrated in the military age group and those prone to use them are often the same personnel the services would most like to retain. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(10) MILITARY'S DRUG WAR TARGETS 'RAVE' FAVORITES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
SAN DIEGO -- Alarmed by rising use of Ecstasy and other "party drugs"
by military personnel at bases nationwide and abroad, the services
are striking back by increasing random drug testing, booting out
first-time offenders and court-martialing anyone caught selling
narcotics. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Within the past year, club drugs have become our No. 1 court-martial
prosecution for drugs," said senior prosecutor Lt. Cmdr. Paul
LeBlanc, adding that all 12 of his West Coast prosecutors are
handling such cases. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(11) DRUGS, LACK OF MONEY HURTING NAVY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Admiral Says He Fully Supports Another Round Of Base Realignment,
Closure | ||||||||||||||||||
NORFOLK - The Atlantic Fleet is doing a good job at keeping its
sailors and protecting its many bases in Hampton Roads. | ||||||||||||||||||
But drugs are taking a toll on retention,... | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Natter talked about meeting sailors who had been caught doing drugs
and were being kicked out of the Navy. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I was struck with how sharp they were. It made me want to cry." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT:(12-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In other drug news, a series in the Philadelphia Inquirer hyped the OxyContin scare; also from Philly: "wets," or formaldehyde soaked cigarettes have given law enforcement something else to worry about. | ||||||||||||||||||
Finally, the release of federal data on "drug mentions" during ER
visits (a stat of dubious utility) gave newspapers something to
report with their own local spin. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(12) OXYCONTIN INVASION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PRESCRIPTION ABUSES TURN A NEW DRUG BAD | ||||||||||||||||||
A Powerful Painkiller Brings A Deadly High | ||||||||||||||||||
First Of Three Parts | ||||||||||||||||||
Ron Hyman, co-owner of Esterson's Pharmacy in Fishtown for more than a decade, had never heard of a Bensalem doctor named Richard Paolino before last July - much less handled one of his prescriptions. | ||||||||||||||||||
So Hyman was more than surprised by the flurry of prescriptions that began to come from Paolino, 16 miles away, for patients Hyman did not recognize. And the pharmacist was alarmed that the prescriptions called for unusually large doses of the powerful painkiller OxyContin, often coupled with orders for the sedative Xanax. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(13) EMBALMED CIGARETTES GAIN POPULARITY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Embalming fluid is becoming an increasingly popular drug for users looking for a new and different high - one that often comes with violent and psychotic side effects. | ||||||||||||||||||
Users - mainly teen-agers and people in their 20s - are buying tobacco or marijuana cigarettes that have been soaked in the fluid, then dried. They cost about $20 apiece and are called by nearly a dozen names nationwide, including "wet," "fry" and "illy." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(14) CLUB DRUGS SEND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO HOSPITALS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Club drugs, including Ecstasy and GHB, are sending increasing numbers
of young people to the hospital with toxic reactions and overdoses,
emergency-room data released Tuesday shows. | ||||||||||||||||||
Emergency rooms in 21 metropolitan areas tracked by the Drug
Abuse Warning Network reported 4,511 emergency visits involving
Ecstasy in2000. That's a 58% increase over 1999. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Although drug-related visits to emergency rooms stayed the same or decreased in 14 of 21 cities, seven metro areas reported overall increases: Seattle (32%), Boston (28%), Los Angeles (22%), Miami(20%), Chicago (16%), Minneapolis (12%) and Phoenix (9%). | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (15-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A fascinating situation has come to light in Oregon: a state Supreme
Court decision has effectively blocked law enforcement's favorite
tactics for trapping "drug criminals." | ||||||||||||||||||
In another setback for drug law enforcement, a drug dog in Virginia
was effectively "decertified" for registering too many false
positives. | ||||||||||||||||||
NY's Republican governor has made yet another offer to soften harsh Rockefeller drug laws; however, politically; there appears little chance a deal will be made in this legislative session. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(15) NO LIE: OREGON LAW HALTS UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PORTLAND - If you're a federal agent in Oregon these days, the law
requires you to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth - even when you're working undercover. | ||||||||||||||||||
And that has brought major law-enforcement operations all over the
state to a virtual standstill. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
As a result, the state attorney general's office, the FBI and the DEA
have halted virtually all big undercover operations, and local police
agencies have canceled most covert operations in drug cases that
could end up in federal court. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(16) CHARGES DISMISSED IN CASE LINKED TO RELIABILITY OF DRUG DOG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A federal judge dismissed a drug charge Thursday against a Virginia couple after a federal prosecutor requested the charge be dropped. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugh Ward's motion asking for the charge to be dismissed without prejudice against David M. Stonebreaker, 34, and Pamela L. Whitmore Stonebreaker, 32, did not specify the reasons. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The judge had based his decision on a finding that Falco, a German
shepherd used as a drug-sniffing dog by the Knox County Sheriff's
Department, is wrong more times than he's right when searching
vehicles in the field. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(17) DETOX NEW YORK'S HARSH DRUG LAWS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Pataki has proven that he's serious about reforming New York's
outdated and draconian Rockefeller drug laws. Now it's up to the
state Senate and Assembly to follow suit. | ||||||||||||||||||
Pataki sought changes last year, but the Legislature refused to act.
He introduced another bill in January. The Assembly said the proposal
denied judges adequate discretion in sentencing nonviolent offenders
...This week, the governor offered a compromise that ought to please | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon
Silver say they support reforming the laws, but the issue does not
yet seem to be a priority in either chamber. That ought to change,
now that Pataki has charted a sensible middle course. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Editors from Florida and Jamaica did not pull any punches while
asserting that the end of marijuana prohibition is much closer than
any U.S. public servant seems willing to publicly admit. The French
Health Minister became the next international representative to
speak logically about it. | ||||||||||||||||||
An informative series from Maclean's Magazine covered the history of
Canada's marijuana prohibition and their current situation through
the viewpoints of two citizens. | ||||||||||||||||||
Even though the media seems to be doing a better job at revealing
the fallacies of our current policies, a bit of reefer madness still
crept in from a doctor in the UK - including the 'ol myth that
smoking pot causes men to grow breasts! | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(18) A DRUG TEST TO WATCH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Unlike our U.S. Supreme Court, which recently ruled 8-0 that federal controls on marijuana trump efforts by the states to allow its legal distribution for medical purposes, an Ontario court of appeals ruled last year that Canada's government must modify its marijuana laws to make the drug accessible for users with chronic or terminal illnesses. | ||||||||||||||||||
But one side effect of this acknowledgement that marijuana may offer
some limited medical benefits is a growing chorus of voices calling
for its decriminalization. A committee has been formed in Canada's
House of Commons to examine the possibility of moving in that
direction, with proponents of decriminalization coming from some
surprising quarters, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and a Parliament member from
the neo-conservative Canadian Alliance. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(19) THE GANJA CULTURE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
We note that the National Commission on Ganja is nearing the end of
its work. Some nine months of hearings have been held in all parishes
aimed at framing recommendations about possible decriminalisation of
the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In short, ganja is part of Jamaican culture even beyond the ritual
usage that is fiercely defended on religious grounds. | ||||||||||||||||||
The negative side of ganja, of course, is the trafficking which is a major part of the crime scene. It will be difficult to separate this illegal aspect from the recreational or religious usage; which is what decriminalisation is all about. But the effort must be made. | ||||||||||||||||||
Maintaining a purely hardline stance against ganja is no more tenable than the 1919-33 Prohibition against alcohol was in the USA. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(20) FRENCH HEALTH MINISTER SAYS MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED; (Top)ADMITS PRACTICING EUTHANASIA | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
He also admitted in the interview that he had used marijuana and said
he would like to regulate its use in France. He said cannabis is less
dangerous than alcohol or cigarettes. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I'm not going to say you cannot smoke marijuana. It would be ridiculous to close your eyes to reality," he said. "Tobacco is more addictive than hash. As far as I know, no one has ever died from smoking cannabis. But in France 60,000 people die each year from smoking cigarettes. People also die from drinking too much alcohol." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(21) REEFER MADNESS: THE SEQUEL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Grass, pot, ganja -- whatever you call it, it's still a crime to
smoke it. Is it time to relax the country's drug laws? Many
Canadians say yes. | ||||||||||||||||||
Emily murphy was the first to sound the alarm. In 1922, the Edmonton
magistrate and suffragette was railing against the scourge of drugs.
Her sensationalist best-selling book, The Black Candle, let loose on
the evils of such substances as opium, heroin and "marahuana." Few
Canadians had heard of marijuana at the time, fewer still had tried
it. Murphy, already famous and popular for her "Janey Canuck" books
of personal observations, made certain their initial impression would
be indelible. Smokers, she quoted a police chief as saying, "become
raving maniacs and are liable to kill or indulge in any form of
violence." Once addicted, she added, there were only three ways out
-- "insanity . . . death . . . abandonment". | ||||||||||||||||||
Ludicrous, certainly. The world knows better now. But at the time, it was enough to convince Parliament to ban cannabis -- marijuana and the more potent variant, hashish -- the following year. And nearly 80 years later, Canadians are still living through the bad trip. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(22) CANNABIS KILLS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
One of the social paradoxes of the 21st century is that the more
environmentally friendly and green a person's lifestyle, the more
likely he or she is to discuss the evils of pollution, carcinogens,
the dangers of DNA research and questions of genetic make-up -- while
enveloped in the blue haze of cannabis smoke. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Men who smoke too much cannabis may well, for instance, develop heavy
breasts. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (23-26) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The great fanfare that welcomed Pino Arlacchi as the UN's drug czar
apparently won't be repeated upon his departure. One British
newspaper has reported that Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, has
asked Arlacchi to step down, while another UK paper exposed a new
round of allegations regarding corruption and mismanagement under
Arlacchi's watch. | ||||||||||||||||||
Despite that international drug war failure and a growing call to reform drug laws in Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair wants to ignore the whole issue. The location of Blair's renewed commitment to prohibition was ironic: Jamaica, battered by drug cartel violence and embroiled in its own debate on cannabis laws. While Blair is still trying to hold the line, a chilling editorial from Thailand hails the escalation of the drug war through the use of capital punishment. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(23) ANNAN ORDERS HEAD OF UN DRUGS AGENCY TO STEP DOWN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Pino Arlacchi, head of the United Nations programme to combat the
international drugs trade, has been told to step down. | ||||||||||||||||||
Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, told Mr Arlacchi that he must leave the organisation when his contract finishes at the end of February. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Annan has been careful not to voice his frustration over Mr
Arlacchi openly. The secretary general made his request privately,
leaving the Italian diplomat an opportunity to be seen leaving on his
own accord. | ||||||||||||||||||
The move follows months of controversy over Mr Arlacchi's management
style that has put in doubt the future of the UN's programme of
fighting the international drugs trade. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(24) UN DRUG AGENCY FIASCO EXPOSED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
New Evidence Questions Competence Of Vienna Hq's Italian Director | ||||||||||||||||||
Evidence of gross mismanagement and possible corruption at the Vienna
headquarters of the United Nations agency fighting drug crime has
been obtained by The Observer . | ||||||||||||||||||
It casts further doubt on the competence of the agency's executive
director, Pino Arlacchi, a former Italian senator who made his name
fighting the Mafia. His contract will not be renewed when it expires
in February. | ||||||||||||||||||
Arlacchi has already been bitterly criticised for his leadership of
the agency, where staff morale is at rock bottom. But with the change
of governments in the U.S. and Italy he has lost key allies and
funding. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(25) NO SOFT LINE ON DRUGS - BLAIR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Yardies Targeted As PM Rejects Liberalising Law | ||||||||||||||||||
Tony Blair set his face against any relaxation of Britain's drug laws as he flew into Jamaica last night to discuss better ways of containing drug-related crime and violence afflicting both countries. Britain's internal debate on the possible decriminalisation of both hard and soft drugs has been developing rapidly, while Jamaica has had a national commission examining the options since last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
Despite a growing ground-swell of support for some degree of reform
of drug laws, Mr Blair remains adamantly against liberalisation in
Britain. "I am against it," he told colleagues at the start of a
six-day tour of Central and South America. | ||||||||||||||||||
After meeting his Jamaican counterpart last night, Mr Blair said that
with 30 murders in Britain linked to Caribbean drugs gangs it was
essential that the two countries stepped up their law enforcement
efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(26) EDITORIAL: DEALERS DON'T DESERVE PITY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Thailand has moved ahead with its tough campaign against drugs. Last
Wednesday, the Criminal Court sentenced 19 traffickers to death in
cases involving more than two million methamphetamine pills and 9kg
of heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Prior to Wednesday's sentencing, there were reports the army was
considering setting up "killer teams" to hunt and eliminate
influential drug producers and traders. The reports caused an uproar
among people opposed to such violent methods. They say it is a
violation of human rights. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Drugs are like a weapon. People who possess drugs are in possession of a lethal weapon. That's why they deserve the death penalty. | ||||||||||||||||||
People engaged in the drug trade may be likened to the "scum of the
earth". They are monsters in the guise of humans, and should be
dealt with harshly. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
TV Station Profiles Gary Storck | ||||||||||||||||||
Gary Storck, DPFWI web & listmaster, is featured on the site of
Channel 3000. | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.channel3000.com/news/stories/news-89832820010731-170728.htm | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
The US State Dept.'s report on the shootdown of a US missionary plane in April of this year is now available online. The URL for a copy is: | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.state.gov/g/inl/rls/rpt/pir/index.cfm?docid=3D4397 | ||||||||||||||||||
The report is fairly lengthy and for now is available only in HTML as
a webpage. | ||||||||||||||||||
Watch the cockpit video and listen to the conversations at: | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2001/08/02/vo.peru.plane.usst.med.exclude.html | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Doug McVay, http://www.drugwarfacts.org/, and SanhoTree,
http://www.ips-dc.org/projects/drugpolicy.htm | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Pot-Use Study: No Ill Health Effects | ||||||||||||||||||
The government says smoking pot is bad for your health, particularly
in the long run. But four of the seven people it supplies have been
looked at from every angle, and researchers conclude that their
marijuana use hasn't hurt them a bit. | ||||||||||||||||||
MISSOULA, MT - In the first study of its kind, four recipients of
federally provided medical marijuana were examined for the health
effects of their long-term cannabis use-and none showed any serious
adverse effects. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
The Campaign for Effective Criminal Justice (CECJ), an organization
of over a dozen distinguished leaders in law enforcement, politics,
business, and clergy intent on reforming New York's drug sentencing
laws, has launched a new web site at: | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Illegal Drugs Writer Says Nonaddicts Pay Price Of Failed War | ||||||||||||||||||
By R. C. Horton, | ||||||||||||||||||
To the Editor: | ||||||||||||||||||
In the July 19 Texarkana Gazette a column by Russell McDermott on the
drug war really hit the nail on the head. His idea really makes sense
because if a person really wants something bad enough he/she will find
a way to get it. | ||||||||||||||||||
In the war on drugs a lot of money is spent on first detection, then on prosecution, then on incarceration, then on an attempt at rehabilitation. Why not use some of that money as McDermott suggested to furnish the drug addicts with the drugs at no expense and keep them from the dangerous things they do to obtain them as they do now. | ||||||||||||||||||
When I was young (I'm 81 now) drugs were available at the corner drug
store and you could buy paregoric over the counter. Almost all parents
kept a small bottle in the house to help their small children through
teething and colic. We knew the dangers and were careful not to overdo
this method. These same babies, including myself, grew up to serve in
the service of their country in World War II and Korea. In my 10 years
in the service I never even heard it mentioned. | ||||||||||||||||||
I realize that many well-meaning people will say that this would
increase the use of drugs, however McDermott gave the answer to that.
He suggested that such as school field classes might visit the
distribution places to let the students see how addicts really are.
This should discourage the glamour of drugs. These same people might
also say that drug addicts are dangerous and they are in the present
circumstances. With the availability of free drugs the need to provide
would be eliminated, thus reducing the need for crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
I'll assure you that I am not an addict and seldom take even an aspirin.
My thoughts are like McDermott's, save the cost of enforcing an almost
impossible law and pass on the savings to the taxpayers who pay for
this problem. | ||||||||||||||||||
R. C. Horton, | ||||||||||||||||||
Texarkana, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Honorable Mention Letters of the Week | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Lessons From The Tulia Freedom Ride | ||||||||||||||||||
By Tracey Rochelle Hayes, Joe Ptak and Noelle Davis | ||||||||||||||||||
On July 22 and 23 a Freedom Ride from Austin to the Never Again Rally in Tulia was held. This was a historic event that, as Rev. Ed Sanders said was "pregnant with possibility." This inspirational event brought together hundreds of people - white, Latino and black - in a call for justice and an end to the war on drugs. Below is an article by the organizers of the Freedom Ride. Hopefully, these experience will help you develop similar events in your community. Photos of the Never Again Rally will soon be on the website of the Friends of Justice: | ||||||||||||||||||
Articles and other materials on the rally can be seen at: | ||||||||||||||||||
Links to many press reports are also at the end of this article. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
The experience of organizing the Tulia Freedom Ride was like
experiencing a poem as it was being written. The apparent simplicity
of the idea versus the reality of it's execution reveals the
complexities involved in developing relationships with many individuals
displaying a variety of motivational levels and aptitudes all at once.
Consistently keeping our eyes on the goal, and adapting to rapidly
changing circumstances with grace and humor, we achieved all of our
short-term goals, placing us in perfect position to achieve our
long-term goals. | ||||||||||||||||||
The seeds have been planted and are sprouting. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Vision: | ||||||||||||||||||
We based our vision of the "Freedom Ride" on the actions of early civil rights workers who brought together black and white, rich and poor, minister and sinner into a common struggle for equality and justice. | ||||||||||||||||||
Our goal was to take a diverse group of people, significant in size
and representation, to stand in solidarity with the Friends of Justice,
ACLU, NAACP, LULAC, etc., and families of the incarcerated on the 2nd
anniversary of the sting at the "Never Again" rally held July 22, 2001
in Tulia, Texas. | ||||||||||||||||||
In going to Tulia, we hoped in addition to making a physical presence
at the rally, we wanted to leave behind emotional and material support
to the affected community with plans to return and develop political
support in the future. | ||||||||||||||||||
The essay continues at: | ||||||||||||||||||
Tracey Rochelle Hayes, | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom,
courage." - Thucydides, "Funeral speech for Pericles" | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Content selection and analyses by Tom O'Connell (),
Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Jo-D Dunbar
(), International content selection and analysis by
Stephen Young (), Layout by Matt Elrod
() | ||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO DRUGSENSE ON-LINE | ||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |
 | current issue | this issue |