| June 14, 2002 #254 | ||||||||||||||||||
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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) COLOMBIA'S DRUG EFFORT QUESTIONED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
GAO report criticizes country's failure to make use of U.S. military | ||||||||||||||||||
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Even as the Bush administration is lobbying to increase U.S. military
aid to Colombia, the South American nation is failing to do its part in
a joint military effort to combat narcotics trafficking, according to
an unreleased congressional report. | ||||||||||||||||||
The report, from the General Accounting Office, says Colombia has
failed to provide military pilots for 14 U.S.-supplied Black Hawk
helicopters, leaving the high-tech aircraft idle. | ||||||||||||||||||
It says the country's armed forces have not supplied all the personnel promised for programs training pilots and mechanics, and recently cut back on drug crop-eradication programs because of "political concerns." | ||||||||||||||||||
Plans for using U.S. military aid "have fallen substantially behind
schedule, and prospects for near-term fixes are bleak," according to
the brief report, which has not been released publicly but was provided
to relevant congressional committees this week. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) U.S. DRUG CZAR WARNS CANADA ON PLAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
QUEBEC (AP) - Canada should get tough on marijuana instead of decriminalizing the drug or allowing people to use it for medicinal purposes, U.S. drug policy chief John Walters said Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Canada's decision about how it handles this or other issues of
regulated substance is its decision. We respect that," Walters told
reporters during a two-day visit for an international meeting of the
College on Problems of Drug Dependence. | ||||||||||||||||||
But he made it clear the American government disagrees with recent
moves in Canada to liberalize drug policies. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy, said that of the 4.3 million Americans suffering drug
addiction, 65 percent are dependent on marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
Liberal drug laws in Canada would be a concern for the United States,
Walters said. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It certainly could become a problem if the trade is able to use our
borders as a vehicle to enhance their effectiveness to move drugs
across the border," he said of drug smugglers. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) POLICE CHIEFS SET TO EXTEND LAMBETH'S SOFT LINE ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Relaxed approach on cannabis possession will be rolled out to other parts of the country despite warnings about risk to schoolchildren | ||||||||||||||||||
Police chiefs are drawing up plans to extend the Lambeth experiment on
cannabis to other parts of the country, despite growing criticism of
the scheme. | ||||||||||||||||||
The move will see several forces in England and Wales warn, rather than arrest, many people caught with small amounts with the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
It is intended to tie in with the Government's decision to relax
cannabis laws, which David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, is expected to
announce next month. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) UK: DISPENSER COULD CUT HEROIN DEATHS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Addicts Would Get Carefully Controlled Doses | ||||||||||||||||||
Drugs deaths could be cut by using a dispensing device designed to
prevent overdoses. | ||||||||||||||||||
The government is backing a trial of new technology designed to
carefully measure drug doses. | ||||||||||||||||||
Officials hope it will can be used to reduce the number of heroin
deaths and cut crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
It should also cut the number of people injecting their drugs and the
rise of diseases like Hepatitis and Aids spread through sharing dirty
needles. | ||||||||||||||||||
The new technology was first designed to provide carefully measured
doses of cannabis-based medicine for the treatment of conditions like
multiple sclerosis. | ||||||||||||||||||
Controlled Doses | ||||||||||||||||||
But it is hoped that the Advanced Dispensing System, designed by GW
Pharmaceuticals, will help Britain's 250,000 heroin users take their
drugs in a more controlled way ensuring they get the correct doses each
time. | ||||||||||||||||||
People taking part in the trial will self administer either heroin or
methadone using programmable inhalers. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The failure of American drug policy as it applies to foreign affairs
was painfully apparent last week, as new details were released about
recent scandals. About $2 million in American anti-drug aid for
Colombia was allegedly stolen by a number of police officers,
including the highest ranks of drug enforcement. And an alleged
incursion by Mexican military officials into U.S. territory has been
linked to a massive marijuana smuggling operation through an
American Indian reservation. | ||||||||||||||||||
After six years of efforts, the City of Philadelphia has finally
stopped blocking efforts to bring a methadone clinic downtown. And
Supreme Court support for zero tolerance drug policies in public
housing continue to reverberate. A California mother faces eviction
because her son was caught with a marijuana pipe, even though the
mother has turned the boy over to law enforcement for drug problems
a number of times. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) PROBE OF MISSING DRUG FUNDS TARGETS OFFICERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Colombia | ||||||||||||||||||
The government is investigating 60 police officers, including top counter-narcotics commanders, in the disappearance of more than $2 million in U.S. funds earmarked for the war on drugs, officials said. The list of police officers under "disciplinary investigation" by the Colombian inspector-general's office includes Gen. Gustavo Socha, who resigned last month as chief of the counter-narcotics police; Col. Yadira Angelica Rivera, in charge of international relations; Col. Carlos Julio Rivera; chief of police aviation; and Col. Climaco Antonio Torres, chief of drug interdiction. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) POT SEIZURE LINKED TO RESERVATION SHOOTING INCIDENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Federal agents seized a ton of marijuana in the southwestern Tohono O'odham Nation just a few hours before a U.S. Border Patrol agent in the same area reported being shot at by Mexican soldiers. | ||||||||||||||||||
The coincidence of the smuggling attempt and the shooting has
convinced some Border Patrol agents that the soldiers were involved
in moving drug loads that afternoon. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Mexican government has denied that its soldiers were even in the
area where the shooting took place on the night of May 17. Further,
Mexican officials have suggested that criminals dressed in military-
style uniforms may have been responsible for the shooting, not
actual soldiers. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Tohono O'odham Nation spokesmen have declined to offer details of
the incident involving the ranger. However they acknowledged that
tons of marijuana are moving through the nation. | ||||||||||||||||||
In April, Tohono O'odham police seized 15,907 pounds of illegal drugs, almost all of it marijuana, tribal spokesman Matt Smith said. In the same month, customs agents working in the corridor where the shooting took place seized more than 22,000 pounds of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) METHADONE CLINIC WINS BATTLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
FRAMINGHAM - Selectmen last night struck a deal to end the six-year battle with Spectrum Health Systems over a downtown methadone clinic, and the decision earned them an earful from residents. | ||||||||||||||||||
The board voted 4-1 to settle with Spectrum, a move that essentially clears the way for opening the proposed Howard Street clinic. | ||||||||||||||||||
Selectman Ginger Esty cast the only vote against the deal, which
calls for both sides to drop pending lawsuits and pay their own
legal fees. | ||||||||||||||||||
With the town facing a suit that could cost upward of $1 million,
most board members said their decision was aimed at getting the best
deal available. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) DRUG PIPE MAY COST FAMILY ITS APARTMENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Marisa Perez never tried to shield her 17-year-old son from the law.
She hauled him to the juvenile hall or called San Jose police at
least four times in the last 2 1/2 years when he skipped out on
court-ordered drug programs. | ||||||||||||||||||
But after police arrested the teen last month outside his mother's apartment with a marijuana pipe, an eviction notice arrived that could force Perez and her three youngest children from the complex where she has lived for 13 years. Her landlord gave her until today to move out, but she plans to fight the eviction in court. | ||||||||||||||||||
``It's not their fault that I had it on me,'' her son said of the
pipe. ``I messed up.'' | ||||||||||||||||||
That doesn't help his mother's case. Perez, 34, is caught between a
teenager she can't control and a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling
that says public housing tenants can be evicted for illegal drug
activity by family members or friends -- even if they didn't know
about the drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A drug-planting judge and state that owns drug dens highlight a strange week in law enforcement and prison news. A Louisiana judge with "law and order" reputation has been taken into custody for allegedly plotting to plant drugs on a critic of his private business. Low in the story readers learn that drug dealing is also alleged at the business owned by the judge. And county officials are suing the state of Michigan, accusing it of owning drug houses. State officials say they should be immune from such a lawsuit. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Hawaii, the governor is recommending early release for some
non-violent prisoners, including drug offenders, in order to ease
prison crowding. And the Los Angeles Times editorialized against new
prison construction in California, noting the unseemly relationship
between the governor and the prison guard's union. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) JEFF JUDGE ARRESTED IN PLOT TO PLANT DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Feds Say Bodenheimer Targeted Critic Of Eastern N.O. Marina | ||||||||||||||||||
Jefferson Parish Judge Ronald D. Bodenheimer, whose 20-year career
as a tough-on-crime prosecutor paved the way for his election to the
bench three years ago, was arrested Wednesday and accused of
arranging to have illegal drugs planted in the vehicle of a man who
complained about the eastern New Orleans marina that Bodenheimer
owns. | ||||||||||||||||||
"You know this boy, the sad part about it is, he ain't got a shot,
he ain't got a chance, you know, he ain't gonna know what hit him,"
Bodenheimer is quoted in federal documents as saying about the
marina critic. | ||||||||||||||||||
Bodenheimer, 49, of Metairie, and Curley Joseph Chewning, 57, of
Chalmette, were booked with distributing and possessing with the
intent to distribute the drug OxyContin, a morphine-based
painkiller. They also were booked with conspiring to distribute and
conspiring to possess with intent to distribute the same drug,
according to the U.S. attorney's office in New Orleans. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The cooperating witness has been providing information about
Bodenheimer and the marina to the FBI since about 1999, federal
officials said. He also has filed numerous complaints with law
enforcement and regulatory agencies about drug trafficking, and
safety, permit and zoning violations at the marina, the government
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) DRUG HOUSES SEIZED BY STATE STILL OPERATING, COUNTY SAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
DETROIT (AP) - The county prosecutor is suing the state for
allegedly failing to control drug houses it seized because of unpaid
taxes. | ||||||||||||||||||
Twenty of the seized houses were later involved in drug raids, Wayne
County Prosecutor Michael Duggan said. He has filed lawsuits trying
to get the houses under control or demolished. | ||||||||||||||||||
"If we don't get the state to shut down its drug houses, in another
six months you are going to have all the drug dealing done out of
state-owned houses," Duggan said. | ||||||||||||||||||
State officials say they want to put an end to drug houses as well.
But in a hearing Friday in Wayne County Circuit Court about one of
the houses, a lawyer with the Michigan attorney general's office
said the state has sovereign immunity from such suits. | ||||||||||||||||||
As many as 10,000 Detroit homes are owned by the state. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) STATE STUDIES EARLY RELEASE OF HUNDREDS OF PRISONERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Governor Argues The Move Can Safely Ease Prison Crowding | ||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Ben Cayetano wants to release several hundred inmates early to
relieve prison overcrowding and get some prisoners into drug
treatment programs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Prison officials said earlier this week that they were looking into
releasing about 300 low-risk inmates early. | ||||||||||||||||||
"As far as I'm concerned, that number that they have recommended is
a little too small," Cayetano said yesterday after signing a bill
that requires probation and drug treatment instead of prison for
nonviolent, first-time drug offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Besides drug offenders who may be eligible for treatment, those being considered for early release include the elderly, terminally ill prisoners, those who can be deported and prisoners who have less than a year to serve before their release, officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) EDITORIAL: WRONG TIME FOR NEW PRISON (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Connect the dots. Last week, the Justice Department released a study
showing that the fanatical prison building boom in most U.S. states
in the 1980s and early '90s did not deter crime. In fact, the rate
at which inmates released from prison committed new crimes increased
from 1983 to 1994. The California Department of Corrections has
overspent its budget by $277 million and has a surplus of more than
10,000 costly prison beds since passage of Proposition 36, which
diverts some nonviolent drug offenders to treatment instead of
prison. | ||||||||||||||||||
Put it all together, and it is obvious that Gov. Gray Davis should
not spend $595 million building a new state prison in the Central
Valley town of Delano. Last month, a state Senate subcommittee
scratching for funds to restore some of the programs axed in the
governor's new austerity budget suggested that construction at
Delano at least be delayed. None of the state's top legislative
leaders, however, has seconded that recommendation. Legislators are
clearly loath to antagonize Davis on this. The governor has been
Delano's most ardent supporter since 1998, when the state was flush
with cash and the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn.
donated $2 million to his campaign. But in a year when his budget
has come up $22 billion short, surely Davis can recognize that
building Delano now would be a boondoggle. Facing similar fiscal
crises, four Republican governors have recently closed prisons to
save money. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Last week's cannabis news was dominated by the U.S. National Day of
Action organized by Americans for Safe Access. Actions protesting
the DEA's raids on California medicinal cannabis distribution
centers took place in over 50 U.S. cities, and lead to the arrest of
activists and drug reform leaders in Washington D.C.. In further
California news, the state's Supreme Court began to hear testimony
regarding the implementation of Proposition 215 last week. The court
will decide whether prop. 215 grants legitimate medical marijuana
users immunity from arrest, or merely provides for an affirmative
"medical necessity" defense in court. The court may also decide
whether local communities have a right to set different guidelines
than those of the state initiative. | ||||||||||||||||||
Like the DEA isn't enough of a problem. More bad news for California
compassion clubs: last Wednesday Healing Herbs, a central Berkeley
club was robbed at gunpoint, losing $1500 in cash and a pound of
cannabis to the thieves. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Canada, the Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs continued its national information gathering sessions. In Windsor they heard from Dr. Patrick Smith, an addiction specialist with Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, who called for legalization, arguing that cannabis was far safer than alcohol and tobacco. | ||||||||||||||||||
And finally in the UK, a committee found that a Scottish train
driver who was sacked after admitting to cannabis use during his
holidays was wrongly dismissed. Casey Jones would undoubtedly be
pleased. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) PROTESTERS ASK DEA TO CHANGE DRUG LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
To Francisco Garcia marijuana is a medicine that helps ease the pain
in the Vietnam veteran's aching leg. | ||||||||||||||||||
But to federal drug enforcement officials, smoking marijuana is a
federal crime because pot is an illegal drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Medical marijuana supporters, patients and city officials demanded
during the demonstration that the federal drug agency stop raiding
local medical marijuana dispensaries. | ||||||||||||||||||
The demonstration was a part of a national protest at 55 DEA offices
on "National Day of Action" for which participants had planned
non-violent civil disobedience events to disrupt | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) CALIFORNIA'S TOP COURT MULLS MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Five and a half years after California passed its medical marijuana
law, the state Supreme Court is about to consider what Proposition
215 really means. | ||||||||||||||||||
The court will hear arguments today in Los Angeles in the Tuolumne
County case of Myron Carlyle Mower, 40. The case began and will be
argued far from the Bay Area, but its effects here could be
profound. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The court will decide whether Proposition 215 of 1996 -- the
Compassionate Use Act that aimed to legalize medical marijuana use
-- confers immunity from prosecution, or whether someone must be
arrested and brought to trial before using the medical marijuana law
as a defense. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) ARMED ROBBERS TAKE OVER CALIFORNIA MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLUB (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A central Berkeley medical cannabis club was robbed Wednesday
afternoon after armed assailants held those inside hostage and made
off with marijuana and cash. | ||||||||||||||||||
The robbery occurred at about 2:40 p.m. after two Latino males,
armed with a gun and a knife, entered Medical Herbs, located on the
1600 block of University Avenue, Berkeley police Lt. Cynthia Harris
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Two others were waiting outside in a car during the robbery, Harris
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Anybody with information about this robbery can contact the Berkeley
Robbery Detail at 981-5742. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) CANADIAN DOC SAYS POT LESS HARMFUL THAN BOOZE AND TOBACCO; CALLS FOR (Top)LEGALIZATION | ||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco and should be
decriminalized, a federal committee examining the country's drug
policies was told Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
"If we discovered three drugs today and they were alcohol, tobacco
and marijuana, there isn't an expert in the country who would
recommend that marijuana be the one that is banned based on
individual and societal harm," Dr. Patrick Smith of the Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto told the Senate Special
Committee on Illegal Drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Smith said removing marijuana possession from the Criminal Code and
making it an offence punishable by a fine would not have any impact
on its use. | ||||||||||||||||||
And decriminalization would allow police to focus drug enforcement
efforts on growers and dealers, Smith added. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) SCOTTISH TRAIN DRIVER SACKED FOR HOLIDAY CANNABIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A TRAIN driver sacked for admitting he had smoked cannabis while on
holiday yesterday claimed a moral victory after an industrial
tribunal ruled he was unfairly dismissed. | ||||||||||||||||||
Alan Robertson confessed that he had used the drug two months before
the train he was driving was involved in a minor accident at
Edinburgh's Waverley Station. An employment tribunal ruled the
company was wrong to sack Robertson, from Inverness, but decided
that he should not be allowed to return to his job because he had
contributed to his dismissal. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Once again illustrating the futility of and harm caused by
prohibition, in Saudi Arabia reports last week say that nineteen
people died after drinking methanol-containing cologne. Alcohol is
prohibited in Arabia; predictably, people seek substitutes with tragic
results. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Brazil, a reputed "drug lord" murdered Brazilian journalist Tim
Lopes. Lopes, who had tried to report on a shantytown gathering, was
caught attempting to sneak into a party there. | ||||||||||||||||||
The president of the Philippines last week signed a bill into law to
more harshly punish drug dealers and users. The new law lowers the
amounts of drugs needed to trigger the death penalty or life
imprisonment, including death for those found with 500 grams of
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
In the UK, however, harm reduction is gaining ground as a new policy
asking that police not arrest "hard-drugs users" will take effect in
South London. Also in news from the UK, the governmental Advisory
Council on Misuse of Drugs issued a report urging that injection kits
be made available to addicts, in order to halt the spread of
blood-borne disease. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) 19 DIE, 17 HOSPITALIZED AFTER DRINKING COLOGNE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Nineteen people in Riyadh have died and 17 hospitalized after drinking cologne containing methanol, news reports said Sunday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Drinking alcohol is banned in Saudi Arabia and punishable by
lashings, fines and prison terms. Some people drink cologne as an
alcohol substitute. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(19) POLICE: JOURNALIST MURDERED BY DRUG LORD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Tim Lopes of Globo television was captured June 2 as he tried to
infiltrate a dance party in the Vila Cruzeiro shantytown where gangs
sold drugs and staged illicit sex shows. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) PRESIDENT SIGNS FOUR 'LANDMARK' BILLS INTO LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Republic Act 9165, known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002, aims to strengthen the government campaign to rid the country
of the rising drug menace. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Under RA 9165, the death penalty would be imposed on a person found possessing 50 grams of shabu, down from a high of 200 grams; 500 grams of marijuana; 10 grams of opium, heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy tablets and other drugs banned and deemed as dangerous by the law. | ||||||||||||||||||
If, however, the suspect is found possessing less than what has been
stipulated for the death penalty, the suspect would be jailed for
life. On cases when the amount of drugs found is less than five
grams, the penalty is 12 years in jail. | ||||||||||||||||||
The law also mandates random drug testing for students, private and
government employees. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(21) LONDON COUNCIL WILL 'NOT PURSUE' HARD DRUG USERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A radical policy calling for police to caution and not arrest
hard-drugs users is to be introduced in South London. | ||||||||||||||||||
The proposal, drawn up by the Liberal Democrat-dominated council,
would effectively see heroin and cocaine decriminalised in the
borough of Southwark. | ||||||||||||||||||
If successful, this policy of non-arrest will be extended to the 14
other local authorities the Lib Dems control across England and
Wales after their 2002 local election victories. | ||||||||||||||||||
However, Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman, said
there would be a zero-tolerance policy on drug dealers and anyone
found in possession of guns or knives. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(22) FREE DRUG INJECTION KITS TO HALT SPREAD OF HEPATITIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug addicts are to be handed free sterile injecting kits by the
state under controversial plans to combat a threatened epidemic of
potentially fatal diseases. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Home Office Ministers are now considering changing the law to allow
the distribution of the kits to try to prevent the virus spreading
through shared equipment. They could include tourniquets to help
isolate veins and clean vessels for 'cooking' heroin prior to
injection. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Government's Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs has recommended
lifting the ban on supplying 'drug paraphernalia', including citric
acid to be mixed with heroin and 'cooking' spoons. | ||||||||||||||||||
The recommendation is still being studied by Ministers but Home Office sources said they were expected to regard it favourably. 'We will certainly be looking at this very, very closely,' said one. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The advisory council's recommendations were backed by a recent Home
Affairs Select Committee report. | ||||||||||||||||||
A Home Office spokesman said no final decision had been taken. 'We
are studying the report and will publish a full response in due
course.' | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Why I Am Willing To Go To Jail For Medical Marijuana | ||||||||||||||||||
An essay by Kevin Zeese. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Open Letter: Daniel Forbes Responds To Richard Linnett | ||||||||||||||||||
Written after Advertising Age columnist attacks journalist's work. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Major Media Ignores National Protest Against DEA | ||||||||||||||||||
A MAP Focus Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||
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The American Alliance For Medical Cannabis Homepage Updated | ||||||||||||||||||
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D.C. Initiative Coalition | ||||||||||||||||||
Please visit http://www.dcinitiative.org/ and take a moment to ask your
Congressman to vote against any measure that would prevent residents of
the District of Columbia from making medical marijuana available for
patients suffering from AIDS, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. It is
quick and free. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thank you, Jason Young, Project Coordinator | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
ONDCP Media Campaign Evaluation | ||||||||||||||||||
The 4th semi-annual evaluation of ONDCP's anti-drug media campaign is
finally available online. Copies in PDF format can be downloaded from:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/despr/westat/index.html | ||||||||||||||||||
A copy of the executive summary is available from: | ||||||||||||||||||
According to the report; | ||||||||||||||||||
"There is little evidence of direct favorable Campaign effects on
youth. There is no statistically significant decline in marijuana use
or improvements in beliefs and attitudes about marijuana use between
2000 and 2001, and no tendency for those reporting more exposure to
Campaign messages to hold more desirable beliefs." | ||||||||||||||||||
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Police Powerless To Stop B.C. Marijuana Boom, Study Says | ||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver - A report on marijuana grow operations has renewed the debate over how the courts deal with people caught growing pot. | ||||||||||||||||||
B.C. Solicitor General Rich Coleman says it's time to look at stiffer sentences for people growing marijuana. "Frankly, I've not of the opinion that we should be soft in this province on drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||
The study of 12,000 cases shows only 2,500 of those busted were
convicted. Fewer than 500 went to jail, and most of them served
sentences of less than six months. | ||||||||||||||||||
However, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Wally Oppal says by itself, jail
does not eliminate crime. | ||||||||||||||||||
"All you have to do is look at the United States which imposes large
penalties and lengthy jail terms, and we know they do not have the
safest society," he says. | ||||||||||||||||||
Oppal says criminals generally think they're not going to get caught, and that they don't check to see what will happen if they do. | ||||||||||||||||||
Marihuana in British Columbia | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.icclr.law.ubc.ca/Site%20Map/Publications%20Page/Marihuana.htm | ||||||||||||||||||
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LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Smoke Screen | ||||||||||||||||||
By Howard J. Woodridge | ||||||||||||||||||
Fort Worth, Tex. - Lynn Crosbie's recent comments on marijuana
(Testing Positive With The Stoner Demographic -- June 5) reminded me
of Reefer Madness, the 1930s U.S. government propaganda film. I
especially liked her comment that users are, "by nature slow and
methodical people." | ||||||||||||||||||
I stopped using pot two weeks before starting the police academy.
During my seven years of use I became fluent in German and French,
received a BA and bench-pressed 130 per cent of my body weight. Slow
and methodical types include hundreds of professional athletes, the
current mayor of New York and the former president and | ||||||||||||||||||
I am neither for nor against marijuana. I do know that pot smoking causes law enforcement zero problems. The prohibition of pot causes police officers and others to die every day. And for what? | ||||||||||||||||||
Howard J. Wooldridge, | ||||||||||||||||||
Retired Police Officer | ||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
HOW MUCH DOES IT TAKE? | ||||||||||||||||||
By Mary Jane Borden | ||||||||||||||||||
How much does it take? How much public support is necessary to
change policy with respect to medical marijuana? At what point will
the public hold politicians accountable for their inaction on this
issue? | ||||||||||||||||||
A new report by the Ohio Patient Network, "The People Have Spoken: Medical Marijuana Polling 1996-2002," places the debate on medical marijuana in the context of public opinion by analyzing sixty-six separate polls on medicinal cannabis conducted after the passage of California Proposition 215. The Key Findings of this study are: | ||||||||||||||||||
- Since the passage of California Proposition 215 in 1996, sixty-six separate, scientific polls and studies have been conducted about medical marijuana both nationwide and in more than thirty states, representing the opinions of more than 50,000 respondents. | ||||||||||||||||||
- Of those respondents, more than two-thirds (68%) aggregately
support the medical use of cannabis. Those who oppose medicinal
cannabis represent only one quarter of the populace. | ||||||||||||||||||
- Favorable public opinion toward medical marijuana has increased
significantly over the past six years. | ||||||||||||||||||
- Polls taken prior to medicinal cannabis ballot initiatives
successfully predict their passage every time. | ||||||||||||||||||
- When the news covers medical marijuana, the public tracks it more
closely than most other health issues. | ||||||||||||||||||
- An estimated nine million people in the United States use cannabis
medicinally. | ||||||||||||||||||
- Over the last ten years, nearly one-quarter of a million people in
the United States have been arrested on medical-marijuana-related
offenses. | ||||||||||||||||||
- The public believes the reports of patients and health
professionals regarding the therapeutic value of cannabis; this
widespread support should compel lawmakers to shift the policy on
the issue. | ||||||||||||||||||
- Democrats who "strongly favor" candidates who endorse medical
cannabis outnumber those who "strongly oppose" it by seven to one.
Republicans who "strongly favor" such candidates outnumber those
"strongly opposed" by two to one. | ||||||||||||||||||
- As many as two thirds of the voting populace will reward
candidates who support medicinal cannabis. Fewer than one in four
voters would more likely cast their ballot for a candidate that
supports its prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||
- The depth and breadth of support for medical marijuana represents
a major opportunity for the political party that chooses to seize
it. By supporting this issue, the party can solidify its own base
while assuming leadership on an issue that also enjoys substantial
cross-party and general public support. | ||||||||||||||||||
Clearly, this is a document that should be read by every politician in the United States. The report not only analyzes these sixty-six studies, it also matches polling data to election results in order to create an easy-to-understand model of possible election outcomes should this issue receive major party support. A brief history of medicinal cannabis and the impact of its prohibition, both numerically and through personal accounts, are also covered. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The People Have Spoken" has been designed as a tool to provide
politicians with clear and compelling reasons to change the law.
Surely, sixty-six separate surveys conducted in the last five years
must be enough to tell politicians that the public has spoken about
medical marijuana. It is time for change. | ||||||||||||||||||
Please visit http://www.ohiopatient.net/Poll_Analysis.htm.
Presentation-quality PDF files of the report and its data tables can
also be downloaded from this site. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mary Jane Borden is a writer, artist, and activist in drug policy
reform from Ohio. She is a co-founder of the Ohio Patient Network
(http://www.ohiopatient.net) and serves on the staff of DrugSense as
Fundraising Specialist/Business Manager. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"John Walters addressing a meeting of scientists sounds analogous to
Mike Tyson addressing a feminist group or Rush Limbaugh addressing a
convention of logicians." | ||||||||||||||||||
David F. Duncan, DrPH, CAS, FAAHB, Clinical Associate Professor, School
of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island | ||||||||||||||||||
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offers our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what
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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 () | ||||||||||||||||||
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