| March 29, 2002 #244 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Listen On-line at: http://www.drugsense.org/radio/ | ||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) LAW OVERTURNED BARRING MARIJUANA VOTE IN D.C. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A federal judge in Washington yesterday overturned a law prohibiting D.C. residents from circulating or voting on a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, clearing the way for the measure to be put on the ballot, possibly as early as November. | ||||||||||||||||||
Proponents of the medical use of marijuana went to court in December
seeking an injunction barring enforcement of the federal law, which
effectively blocked D.C. residents from putting the issue before
voters. The ban was enacted by Congress in 1998 after an identical
legalization initiative was placed on the ballot and set off a home
rule confrontation with federal lawmakers. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) AID DIDN'T CUT COCA FARMING, U.S. SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
FLORENCIA, Colombia - State Department officials have concluded that an
alternative-development plan aimed at slashing drug crops has failed, a
decision that raises doubts about the U.S.-backed effort to eradicate
the primary source of narcotics on America's streets. | ||||||||||||||||||
Farmers in southern Colombia who signed voluntary agreements to
eliminate coca, the source of cocaine, in exchange for aid have
eliminated little or none of their harvest and have no intention of
doing so before a deadline later this year, according to a confidential
State Department report. | ||||||||||||||||||
As a result, U.S. Embassy officials have decided to abandon a plan to
encourage the substitution of other crops and products for coca.
Instead, they will concentrate on building large infrastructure
projects to provide jobs, and improve living conditions and
transportation. | ||||||||||||||||||
And they will rely on a controversial aerial fumigation program to show
farmers, mostly rural poor with small plots of land, that their coca
will be wiped out if they do not stop growing it. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) MARIJUANA CASE DISMISSED AGAINST 3 WHO HAD HEMP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"The whole thing is so silly because hemp is a separate plant from
marijuana. You can smoke a field of this stuff and you're not going to
get high. They were giving away legally manufactured products. It's
crazy." | ||||||||||||||||||
- Nick Eyle, Drug law reform advocate | ||||||||||||||||||
SYRACUSE - Marijuana charges against three protesters were dismissed
Thursday after lab tests on pretzels and candy bars made with hemp
showed no traces of the psychoactive chemical THC. | ||||||||||||||||||
City Court Judge Langston McKinney threw out the charges against
Jennifer Copeland, Patrick Head, and Gerrit Cain. They were arrested
Dec. 4 in front of the police station for handing out free samples of
the food products. | ||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana possession charges were lodged after a deputy took one of the
candy bars and a drug field test turned positive for the presence of
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) DOG FOUND NO DRUGS BUT BOY STILL SUSPENDED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Smell Of Marijuana: 'Zero Tolerance Gone Insane,' Lawyer Says | ||||||||||||||||||
OTTAWA - A 15-year-old boy suspended from school because a police dog
smelled marijuana on his jacket has retained one of Ottawa's top
criminal lawyers, saying he won't let the school board trample his
rights. | ||||||||||||||||||
Chris Laurin -- who had no drug in his possession -- wants the
Ottawa-Carleton Catholic School Board to apologize and erase the
suspension, or face a lawsuit. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Chris chose to become an advocate for youth," said his father, Michel
Laurin. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We're looking at litigation to change rights for teens. Chris is being
humiliated in front of his peers, and he didn't do anything wrong. I'm
very proud about how Chris is handling this." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A busy week for the Supremes began with oral arguments over
extending drug testing of athletes to other extracurricular
activities. It's no surprise that the majority seemed eager to agree
with the Bush Administration: minors have no civil rights worth
protecting. | ||||||||||||||||||
In a more positive vein, the Justices' attitudes toward the issues raised by Apprendi suggest they may decide that juries-- not judges-- will determine if mandatory minimums should apply. | ||||||||||||||||||
Finally, the high court approved the punitive eviction of whole families for one drug conviction by any member of a household. | ||||||||||||||||||
Editorial opinion on the school drug testing issue, widely split around the nation; revealed the depth of the abyss separating those who believe repression works from those who know it doesn't. The only good news: the majority of big city newspapers opposed testing. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) SUPREME COURT SEEMS READY TO EXTEND SCHOOL DRUG TESTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON, March 19 The Supreme Court appeared ready today to authorize a substantial expansion in drug testing of public school students beyond the category of student athletes, for whom the court has already found random drug testing to be constitutional. | ||||||||||||||||||
In an hour of spirited, intense and sometimes downright nasty argument, the justices examined the implications of upholding a program … that requires middle school and high school students to pass drug tests as a condition for participating in any extracurricular activity. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Most surprising was Justice Kennedy's implied slur on the plaintiffs
in the case. He had posed to Mr. Boyd the hypothetical question of
whether a district could have two schools, one a "druggie school"
and one with drug testing. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) SACRIFICING FREEDOM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court is on the verge of surrendering another slice of
freedom, this time to the war on drugs. At oral arguments this week,
a majority of the justices seemed ready to permit mandatory drug
tests for public school students involved in extracurricular
activities. Universal drug testing in the schools may not be far
behind. | ||||||||||||||||||
Whatever gain that drug testing might offer to the fight against
drugs is not worth the loss of freedom, privacy and dignity.
Mandatory drug tests demean our children and send them a loud
message: We don't trust you. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) KID'S RIGHTS, AN OXYMORON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Justices' Adult Decision | ||||||||||||||||||
It should go without saying, but in this era of hypersensitivity, we probably have to say it anyway: The fact that children cannot vote, drive, drink, etc., doesn't mean they have no rights at all. | ||||||||||||||||||
That disclaimer having been stated, we must say we found ourselves
reassured by the overall good sense on the subject of children's
rights that seemed to emanate from the nation's highest court last
week. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) SUPREME COURT RETURNS TO MANDATORY SENTENCING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A wary Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a case that
could cast a long shadow of doubt over mandatory minimum sentences
handed out to thousands of state and federal defendants across the
country. | ||||||||||||||||||
An attorney for North Carolina pawnshop owner William Joseph Harris
told the court that his client's seven-year sentence for selling
drugs should be thrown out because a judge, employing a lower
standard of proof than a jury would have, found that Harris had
"brandished" a gun during the drug deal. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) COURT UPHOLDS DRUG-USE EVICTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A unanimous Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the entire family of a
drug user can be evicted under the one-strike law passed to put down
a drug dealer's "reign of terror" in public housing. | ||||||||||||||||||
The high court reversed a decision of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals that called the government position "absurd" and had blocked
enforcement of a law passed after President Clinton proposed it in
his 1996 State of the Union message. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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COMMENT: (10-14) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other news confirms that despite continued enthusiasm for its
prosecution, the drug war continues to fail miserably. | ||||||||||||||||||
Air Force Academy is embarrassed by a drug scandal (which developed
despite rigorous urine testing). | ||||||||||||||||||
"Huffing" by low income kids and binge drinking by the more affluent
are still major problems. | ||||||||||||||||||
Other reports document that despite an increase in drug and alcohol
use, especially by youth; funding for treatment is being cut;
presumably as part of the fall-out from September 11-- even as more
money is appropriated to law enforcement. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) ACADEMY DRUG SCANDAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Random Testing Increased for Air Force Cadets | ||||||||||||||||||
Air Force Academy, Colo. - The U.S. Air Force Academy has stepped up drug testing and is putting more classroom emphasis on ethics amid the biggest drug scandal in the school's 47-year history. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thirty-eight cadets out of 4,300 have been implicated in the scandal
that began in December 2000. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) HUFFING OUT LIVES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Parents, listen up: One out of five kids today huffs, sniffs or bags
inhalants before graduation from high school. | ||||||||||||||||||
Called Hippie Crack and Poor Man's Pot, inhalants are vapors from
common household products intentionally inhaled to produce mind-
altering effects. The vapors go directly to the brain and the blood
stream. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Due to lack of insurance for many, the only way to treatment is
through the court system. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) THE BEVERLY HILLS BRATS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
THE tearaway son of rocker Rod Stewart has been arrested after he was found lying unconscious in the street, The Sun can reveal. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
It is the latest taste of trouble for the 21-year-old who is one of
the Beverly Hills Brats -- the nickname for the wayward children of
super-rich rock and movie stars. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sean was found by cops near the infamous Viper Room nightclub, where
Hollywood star River Phoenix died of a drugs overdose. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sean, who has attended a clinic for addiction to booze, was arrested
at 11.10pm. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS CUT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Legislators Trimmed $18 Million Over Two Years | ||||||||||||||||||
State legislators have cut more than $18 million in substance abuse
treatment funds for parolees, probationers and juvenile offenders
over the next two years. | ||||||||||||||||||
The budget, now before Gov. Mark R. Warner, has alarmed substance
abuse treatment professionals as well as advocates for inmates who
contend that, in the long run, cutting the treatment programs will
lead to more crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) HUTCHINSON BACKS METH BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - Drug Enforcement Agency chief Asa Hutchinson endorsed a
bill Wednesday seeking more than $60 million for the clean-up of
waste left by methamphetamine laboratories. | ||||||||||||||||||
Hutchinson, who authored similar legislation when he represented
northwest Arkansas in the House from 1997 until last year, said his
home state is plagued not only by local methamphetamine labs, but
also large amounts of the drug from California. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (15-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A visible result of the U.S. drug war is a runaway prison population
which has more than doubled since 1980. With recession, states,
which can't print their way out of deficits, are finding their
corrections budgets an increasing problem. | ||||||||||||||||||
The principal victims of this incarceration binge have been black and Hispanic; study after study leaves no doubt of their disproportionately harsh treatment under our drug laws. | ||||||||||||||||||
In this setting, a Dallas police scandal over the arrest and
conviction of poor Hispanics on trumped up cocaine charges required
a major degree of either incompetence or culpability from police and
prosecutors. | ||||||||||||||||||
That's only one reason the Justice Department's continued opposition to sentencing reform is as offensive as it is hypocritical. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) PRISON SYSTEM NEARS CRISIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A New Study Indicates That Longer Sentences And Lack Of Prison
Alternatives Have Left The State Prison System In A Critical
Situation. | ||||||||||||||||||
ALBANY -- The state prison system is just months from a crisis
unless the state develops more uniform sentencing guidelines and
alternatives to prison, a new study suggests. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) JAIL RATE FOR BLACKS TARGETED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
County Out Of Step, Prof Says | ||||||||||||||||||
Dane County's war on drugs was fought primarily against | ||||||||||||||||||
"The data is overwhelming," said Pam Oliver, a sociology professor
who analyzes drug, crime and imprisonment statistics. | ||||||||||||||||||
Dane County is above the state average for black imprisonment and
below the state average for white imprisonment, she said.
Fifty-eight percent of those sent to prison from Dane County are
black. | ||||||||||||||||||
The disparity is even more stark considering that blacks make up
only 6 percent of the county's population, Oliver said | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) SNOW JOB (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Two aggressive Dallas cops. One confidential informant. Hundreds of
pounds of cocaine. Fifty-three drug traffickers busted. Sound too
good to be true? It was. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
It seemed too good to be true-and before long it became clear that it was. In August a Dallas attorney named Cynthia Barbare was approached by relatives of 35-year-old Jose Luis Vega, … | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Little did the 41-year-old attorney know that she was about to blow
the lid off a conspiracy to plant large amounts of ground-up
Sheetrock disguised as cocaine or methamphetamine on poor Hispanics,
all of whom spoke little or no English, and get them sent to prison
on trumped-up charges of drug trafficking. The Sheetrock Scandal, as
it is now called, has embarrassing echoes of the controversial
drug-related arrests of forty black men and women in the Panhandle
town of Tulia in 1999... | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) CRACK, POWDER COCAINE CRIMES DESERVE SAME TERMS, U.S. SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Justice Department released a study yesterday
that confirmed there is disparity in federal sentencing between
crimes involving crack and powder cocaine, but said the difference
was not as wide as has been believed and suggested it be narrowed by
increasing penalties for possession of powder cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip | ||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Sentencing Commission has made a series of proposals that
would effectively reduce the sentences some first-time crack
offenders receive. | ||||||||||||||||||
That's the wrong way to go, Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson
told the commission yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Lowering crack penalties now would simply send the wrong message, that we care less about the people and the communities victimized by crack," he said. "It is something that we simply cannot support." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-23) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
For a proponent of democratic values around the world, the U.S.
certainly has a hard time following those same principles at home. At
the request of Rep. Mark Souder, Chairman of the House Sub-Committee
on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, the General
Accounting Office (which is the investigative arm of Congress) has
been looking into the medical marijuana programs in Oregon,
California, Colorado and Hawaii. The GAO has given no reason or
explanation for the investigations. Meanwhile, in Maryland, a House
vote that would have allowed for the use of medical marijuana by the
critically ill, was cancelled by House Committee Chairman Joseph F.
Vallario. Apparently the Chairman was afraid that the vote would pass.
Let's chalk up another victory for oppression, ignorance and
oligarchies. | ||||||||||||||||||
In the more rational climate recently rolling into the UK, a report
has shown that the more liberal attitude taken by Lambeth Police
towards personal use of cannabis (they issue cautions and confiscate
the drug rather than arresting users) has resulted in the saving of
1350 man-hours over six months. During the same period, police
confiscated 25% more drugs than last year and made 11% more arrests
for trafficking, showing that focusing police efforts on more serious
crimes has had a positive result. In other news, the New Scientist, a
British science magazine, has reported on the results of a major study
by British transport researchers. The study suggests that alcohol
impairs driving ability more than cannabis use. Alcohol use appears to
promote risk-taking behavior, while cannabis use seems to promote more
cautious driving. | ||||||||||||||||||
And in a final testament to the insidiousness of the Nixon era (and
the resulting disastrous social policies such as the war on drugs) and
of the arrogance of the federal government and centralized power, the
release of more secret Nixon tapes quotes his incredibly racist and
ignorant interpretation of cannabis use in America. Unfortunately, by
ignoring the recommendations to decriminalize personal use of
marijuana made by the Schaffer Commission (which Nixon himself
appointed), these unbearably idiotic ramblings can be seen as a direct
precursor to the ravages of the modern U.S. war on drugs. It must be
bewildering to the rest of the world that programs instituted by such
an obviously paranoid, delusional madman would continue to form the
basis of the failed and corrupt American drug policy. Alas, in the
U.S., democracy has apparently become an occasional convenience rather
than a guiding philosophical force; it is defended and praised when
it's politically expedient, and sadly, it's just as quickly ignored
when it challenges the beliefs of those we elect. | ||||||||||||||||||
Richard Nixon was anathema to American freedom and liberty; this generation has to put an end to his pointless and paranoid war on American civil liberties. We have to finally end the war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) FEDS SCRUTINIZE OREGON'S MARIJUANA LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
PORTLAND - For unknown reasons, the General Accounting Office, the
investigative arm of Congress, is looking into the medical marijuana
programs in Oregon and three other states. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It's a little baffling, and it's an uncomfortable kind of
bafflement," said Mary Leverette, acting manager of Oregon's
3-year-old program that allows sick people to grow and smoke
marijuana with a doctor's permission. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) VOTE CANCELED ON ALLOWING MARIJUANA USE BY PATIENTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A House committee chairman abruptly canceled a vote on a bill to
legalize marijuana use for critically ill patients when he realized
the measure would be approved. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I'll be damned if I'm going to pass something that's against federal law," Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr. told stunned members of the House Judiciary Committee last night. "I'm not going to put my hand on something that sends this kind of message to kids." | ||||||||||||||||||
The bill, which has bipartisan support, has come before the
committee twice before but has never been voted on. It would allow
cancer, AIDS and other terminally ill patients to use marijuana with
a doctor's consent. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(21) DRUG SEIZURES RISE SHARPLY IN LIBERAL BRIXTON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A LIBERAL approach to cannabis use pioneered by the controversial police commander Brian Paddick has coincided with a 35 per cent rise in the number of confiscations of the drug in Brixton, south London. | ||||||||||||||||||
Police also recorded an 11 per cent increase in drug trafficking offences, adding to the concern of critics, including some officers, that the experiment is attracting dealers to the Lambeth borough. | ||||||||||||||||||
Under the scheme, those found with cannabis are cautioned and the
drug confiscated. The intention is to concentrate resources on
trafficking and the misuse of hard drugs such as heroin and crack
cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(22) ALCOHOL IMPAIRS DRIVING MORE THAN MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A single glass of wine will impair your driving more than smoking a
joint. And under certain test conditions, the complex way alcohol
and cannabis combine to affect driving behaviour suggests that
someone who has taken both may drive less recklessly than a person
who is simply drunk. | ||||||||||||||||||
These are the findings of a major new study by British transport
researchers. The unpublished research, seen exclusively by New
Scientist, stops well short of condoning driving under the influence
of even small amounts of cannabis. But in a week which has seen
renewed debate in Britain surrounding the criminalisation of
cannabis, it throws an uncomfortable spotlight on a problem
confronting governments everywhere - how to deter the growing
numbers of cannabis users from "dope driving". | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(23) JUST WHAT WAS NIXON SMOKING? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Now that the latest tapes from the Nixon White House have been
released, the press is all over them with characteristic glee, eager
as always to remind us that not long ago the leader of the free
world was buggier than a flophouse blanket. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"You know, it's a funny thing, every one of the bastards that are
out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish. What the Christ is the
matter with the Jews, Bob? What is the matter with them? I suppose
it is because most of them are psychiatrists." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (24-29) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Linking "drugs" and "terror" as enthusiastically as ever, Bush
administration officials toured South America, proclaiming staunch
anti-drug resolve. | ||||||||||||||||||
Announcing "the world has called us into action," Mr Bush, who was in Peru last week, also announced the tripling of the amount of money sent to Peru, to $195 million. Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo obediently chanted the "drug-terror" theme, ballyhooing "a war with no ambiguities whatsoever against terrorism and drug trafficking." | ||||||||||||||||||
In Colombia, the head of the US secret anti-drugs police (the DEA) spoke to a friendly crowd at Colombian police headquarters in Bogota. The Bush administration, declared Asa Hutchinson, would remain steadfast in its "fight against terror, terror which the world now knows is funded to a large extent by drugs." The DEA chief also asked for more aid to the Colombian government to fight leftist guerillas. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Washington Times reported that while the Bush administration was
urging new aerial poppy eradication be undertaken in Afghanistan,
spraying the poppy fields was non-military, countered top US military
officials, and thus, "not our mission." | ||||||||||||||||||
And in a Thai-Burmese border firefight last week, the Thai army killed
thirteen Burmese porters. The Thai government suspected the porters
of smuggling methamphetamine pills (known locally as "crazy pills")
from Burma into Thailand. | ||||||||||||||||||
=== | ||||||||||||||||||
(24) TERROR, DRUGS TOP AGENDA FOR BUSH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The President Met With Leaders Of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador And Bolivia.
Trade Also Was Discussed Yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Bush and Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo pledged to mount a combined antiterror and antidrug effort while papering over U.S. displeasure with Toledo's reluctance to join neighboring countries in a call for eradication of coca, the plant from which cocaine is made. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The world has called us into action," Bush said. "This is a new
era." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(25) PRESIDENT BUSH AND PERUVIAN PRESIDENT TOLEDO (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Text Of A News Conference Saturday With President Bush And
Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo In Lima, Peru: | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
It is not a merely diplomatic visit, it is an official working visit. And we have touched on substantive issues which range from the open struggle against poverty, a war without border against terrorism and drug trafficking - I repeat, a war with no ambiguities whatsoever against terrorism and drug trafficking. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(26) DEA PREDICTS BROADER U.S. AID TO FIGHT COLOMBIA INSURGENTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
BOGOTA, Colombia ( AP ) -- The United States should soon be able
to help Colombia defend itself against insurgent groups and not
just drug traffickers, the head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration predicted Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
During a visit to the world's main cocaine producing nation, DEA
chief Asa Hutchinson said he expects the Congress will approve a
Bush administration request for authority "in fighting both the
terrorists and the drug traffickers" here. | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. and Colombian officials are increasingly using the term
"terrorists" to refer to leftist guerrillas and an illegal
right-wing paramilitary group fighting in Colombia's 38-year
war. Both have terrorized civilians and each is believed to
rely on profits from the drug trade. | ||||||||||||||||||
But until now, U.S. military aid to Colombia has been | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
With rebels moving ever deeper into the drug trade -- and in
some instances becoming "one and the same" as traffickers --
Hutchinson said broader military aid is justified. | ||||||||||||||||||
"President Bush remains committed to continuing the U.S.
support of Colombia in its fight against terror, terror which
the world now knows is funded to a large extent by drugs," he
said, during a speech at police headquarters in Bogota. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(27) MILITARY OPPOSES SPRAYING POPPIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The military officials, including representatives of the U.S.
Central Command, have argued in interagency meetings that
attacking Afghanistan's poppy fields is a nonmilitary function
that should be left to others. | ||||||||||||||||||
Proponents of the effort, in the White House and State | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan,
has rejected the idea of using U.S. military forces for poppy
crop eradication, according to a Pentagon official. | ||||||||||||||||||
"That's not our mission," an official quoted Gen. Franks as
saying. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(28) THAI TROOPS AMBUSH MYANMAR DRUG CARAVAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thirteen suspected drug smugglers were
killed when Thai troops ambushed a caravan attempting to smuggle
some 2 million methamphetamine "speed" pills across the border
from Myanmar, Thai army officers said Sunday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Thai officer said the drug smugglers waited at the border until
darkness. When they crossed into Thailand at about 8 p.m. they were
ambushed by a force of about 18 Thai troops. | ||||||||||||||||||
The smugglers, some of them wounded, fled back into Myanmar, the
country formerly known as Burma, leaving behind 16 backpacks, each
containing about 100,000 methampetamine pills, and a satellite
telephone. | ||||||||||||||||||
They also left behind 13 bodies, most of them believed to be ethnic Wa
porters forced to carry the drugs across the border. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense FOCUS Alert # 239 Fri, 29 Mar 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||
It Is Not OK To Evict Granny | ||||||||||||||||||
By now every daily newspaper in the United States has carried the
story about the Supreme Court deciding it is OK to throw entire
families out of public housing for the sins of one family member
or friend. And the editorials and OPEDs are starting to appear,
both for and against this decision. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Dan Gardner's New 'Crime and Punishment' Series of articles is at: | ||||||||||||||||||
Dan Gardner won the Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation's Edward
M. Brecher Award for journalism for his 16-part series, "Losing the War
on Drugs" which is at http://www.mapinc.org/gardner.htm | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
TV: Pot Refugees | ||||||||||||||||||
The superb quarter hour segment from CBC News about medicial cannabis patients who have moved to Canada is now online as a RealVideo file at: | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Mark Greer was interviewed on C-Span's Washington Journal on Saturday
March 23. C-Span features innovative web sites with a political/public
policy agenda on Saturday mornings. | ||||||||||||||||||
Watch the video at: http://www.drugpolicycentral.com/real/cspan.rm | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense Internet Radio, 03-29 | ||||||||||||||||||
Top News (realaudio) | ||||||||||||||||||
2002-03-28 South Africa: Legislator Champions Malawi's | ||||||||||||||||||
Weekly report: March 22, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||
Two studies were released this week on the success of a pilot program in Lambeth, England, in which cannabis offenders are given a warning only. One, from the Metropolitan Police, estimates that more than 1,300 hours of police time were saved during the first six months of the program because of the change. The police study is available as a PDF, or as a Word document at: http://www.met.police.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id02_0010 | ||||||||||||||||||
The second is a report of the results of a survey by the Police Foundation of Lambeth residents, which shows strong support for the cannabis policing scheme. That report can be downloaded from the Police Foundation at: http://www.police-foundation.org.uk/site/Reports.asp | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by | ||||||||||||||||||
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LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SOUDER DISMISSES CRITICS AS DRUG ADVOCATES | ||||||||||||||||||
by Ari Elias-Bachrach | ||||||||||||||||||
Recently, several members of Students for Sensible Drug Policy grilled
U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-4th, on his bill that denies financial aid to
a student convicted of a drug offense. | ||||||||||||||||||
On several occasions, Souder accused the organization of advocating
drug use. The accusations were misguided, unfounded and completely
inaccurate. | ||||||||||||||||||
At no time has anyone speaking for the organization advocated drug
use. SSDP does not advocate any form of drug use. Rather, its mission
is to promote an open, honest and rational discussion of alternative
solutions to our nation's drug problems. By labeling the entire
organization as advocating drug use, he has found a convenient way
to dismiss SSDP's arguments but has missed the entire point of the
democratic process. | ||||||||||||||||||
People are allowed and even encouraged to advocate new ideas and
policies. | ||||||||||||||||||
For Souder to ignore the facts and ideas that are presented and
instead slander the group as advocating drug use is completely
unfair. | ||||||||||||||||||
His constituents should not allow him to avoid the issue with
slander. | ||||||||||||||||||
They must make him address the issues. | ||||||||||||||||||
Ari Elias-Bachrach, | ||||||||||||||||||
President, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, | ||||||||||||||||||
Washington University St. Louis, Mo. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Honorable Mention Letters of the Week | ||||||||||||||||||
STUDENT DISAPPOINTED BY DRUG-TEST RULING
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ROCKEFELLER DRUG LAWS DON'T PROTECT US
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| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
What Can I do? | ||||||||||||||||||
Get Informed -- Get Motiviated -- Get Active | ||||||||||||||||||
Friends, | ||||||||||||||||||
Below is a revised list of the "What Can I Do?" document. As this is
a common question people ask this is a document we will be putting on
our web site, http://www.csdp.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||
It is designed so that any organization can do the same. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thanks to Howard Woolridge for getting this started and filling a void
in our materials. | ||||||||||||||||||
Kevin Zeese, President, Common Sense for Drug Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
* Get educated visit Drug War Facts http://www.drugwarfacts.org, the
MAP/DrugSense News archive (http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/) and the
drug library (http://www.druglibrary.org/). | ||||||||||||||||||
* Stay informed via e-newsletter, sign up at:
http://www.drugsense.org/lists/ | ||||||||||||||||||
* Find out what reform organization is working on issues you care most
about (see http://www.csdp.org/active.htm). Find where you can most
effectively spend some time and effort and do it. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Know who your politicians are, their email addresses and phone
numbers. Write to them, call them as often as needed. Remember, the
federal polticians don't read your mail, their aides do. Also with
federal politicians contact them in their district home office as well
as their DC office. Whenever your elected official speaks publicly
attend and ask reform questions publicly. Plant ideas, zingy one liners
into the heads of the aides making them think and hopefully like a
cancer, that aide will infect others with our thinking. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Meet with your state representative and state senator. Except when
the legislature is in session, it is not difficult to schedule a 15-30
minute meeting. Even if your representative is a die-hard drug warrior,
meet with him/her and get how you feel off your chest. Medical
marijuana is a great nail to use and drive it with the hammer that
millions of people don't have health insurance, thus they cannot afford
to go to the pharmacy. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Inform your clergy, urge them to devote a sermon to drug use/abuse
and the need to end the war on drugs. Refer them to http://uudpr.org/
and http://religiousleaders.home.mindspring.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||
* Be alert for local or regional community events. You can set up a
booth and attract attention and support. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Write letters to the editor. Send them to your local paper, national
magazines, the student paper of your alma mater, etc. Even if not
published, the editors will continue to get a sense of what is important
to people. If someone outside the organization writes a good letter,
find out their phone number, call them and let them know we exist and
they can join. Find writer's resources at http://www.mapinc.org/resource/
Sign-up for weekly "focus alerts" on media targets at | ||||||||||||||||||
* Speak up against prohibition/war on drugs, when someone mentions
another social problem show how it is connected to our failed drug
policy, e.g., no money for education – the US spends more on prison
building than on college building; hires more prison guards than
teachers. | ||||||||||||||||||
* For those who wish to wear their message and engage the public, a
custom t-shirt can be made by any custom shirt shop. Ask Howard
Wooldridge at for details. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Talk Radio--- know which stations have talk shows, share that
information with fellow reformers in your area. Let everyone know when
the topic of drugs is coming up so they can call in also. Think of and
distribute great one-liners and sound bites for talk shows i.e. A.
Prohibition guarantees the existence of drug dealers. B. Prohibition
hasn't worked since Adam & Eve bit on the apple. C. Studies show that
every drug dealer arrested, shot or killed has been quickly replaced.
How can arresting more drug dealers help keep drug dealers and drugs
away from my kids? | ||||||||||||||||||
* Write to the columnists of your local paper. Many now include their email addresses under their picture or somewhere. Urge them to do a piece on Prohibition, tying it to their area of writing. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Buy an extra copy of an especially good reform book and donate it to
your local public, school or church library. Alert the media, if the
school or library refuses to accept. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Start a local reform group, work with others of like-mind,
coordinate your efforts. If you want to learn how, contact us and
we’ll help: . | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"A time will come when a politician who has willfully made war and
promoted international dissension will be as sure as the dock and much
surer of the noose than a private homicide. It is not reasonable that
those who gamble with men's lives should not stake their own."
- H G Wells (1866-1946) | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), 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. | ||||||||||||||||||
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distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
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