| Jan. 31, 2003 #286 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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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) BUSH'S DRUG PLAN: A VIOLATION OF CHURCH-STATE DIVIDE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
His Proposal To Provide Vouchers For Treatment May Fund Programs That
Don't Meet Federal Standards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
NEW YORK - Wanda Haskins believes she's fully qualified to head up a
successful drug-treatment program. The reason is simple: "Been there,
done that," says the former crack addict. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Although the Virginia native has no formal training, she's now the
director of New Life for Girls, a nondenominational Christian
drug-treatment center in the Bronx. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Such situations are at the crux of the controversy over President
Bush's pledge this week to create a $600 million program to help an
additional 300,000 people receive drug treatment over the next three
years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
While the substance-abuse treatment community welcomed the overall program as a significant step, many are also wary of its details. It would create a voucher program that would allow individuals a choice of where to receive treatment - and included is a provision that could allow federal dollars to be used to support faith-based programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But still, the fact that drug treatment was even mentioned in Mr.
Bush's State of the Union address was seen as victory. "Drug treatment
has been woefully underfunded for many years," says Dr. Peter Provet,
president of Odyssey House, a substance-abuse agency based in New York.
"Proposing to allocate a significant amount of money toward treatment
is very, very important." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVIST ROSENTHAL'S FEDERAL DRUG TRIAL TURNS SURREAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
They viewed the glossy color photographs of meticulously tended
marijuana mother plants flourishing under timed lights inside an
Oakland, Calif. warehouse. Then they watched a videotape showing DEA
agents uprooting nearby marijuana cuttings to determine which had
roots, and could thus be considered "plants" under the federal
sentencing guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It was all in a day's work for jurors in the ongoing, and often
surreal, federal drug trial of former High Times advice columnist
"Ask Ed" Rosenthal, who is facing 20 years in prison for cultivating
medical cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal prosecutors have built their case against Rosenthal by barring pre-trial testimony of Oakland city officials who said Rosenthal grew the plants for the city's medical marijuana program. But the government has subpoenaed testimony from an array of people who simply saw the plants, including a fellow grower, the proprietor of a medical cannabis club, Rosenthal's landlord, an electrician and even a fireman. These legal tactics offer a blueprint of the government's strategy to halt the distribution of medical marijuana in California - and perhaps in the other seven states that have voted for it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) FREEDOM IN NEAR FUTURE FOR INMATES AFFECTED BY REPEAL OF MANDATORY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Convicted of cocaine possession, James DiVietri
has spent the past 11 years in prison and expected to spend nearly 10
more years behind bars. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But he becomes eligible for parole March 1, along with about 1,250 other
first-time, nonviolent drug offenders. As many as 700 of them could be
home by September, state prison officials say. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A bill signed on Christmas Day by outgoing Gov. John Engler repealed Michigan's tough but widely criticized drug-sentencing law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The original 1973 law, which made possession of 650 or more grams of
illegal drugs punishable by mandatory life imprisonment, was aimed at
drug kingpins. Instead, it swelled the prison population and parole
officers' caseloads with lower-level, less dangerous offenders, critics
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I spent 4 years prosecuting major narcotics cases before becoming a
judge," Timothy Kenny, co-chief judge of Wayne County Circuit Court,
told The Detroit News for a Thursday story. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The reality was, however, that the people that were getting the 20-30
(years in prison) and mandatory life sentences were not drug kingpins.
We were locking up for a lifetime individuals with drugs who were only
peripherally involved." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) SIGN OF DRUG RING'S PRESENCE: TENANT MEETING WAS QUIET, TOO QUIET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Last March, the police went to a tenant association meeting at a
Brooklyn housing development expecting an earful about a growing drug
problem in Coney Island. But when a detective asked the gathered
residents about drug sales, he was met with silence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The police soon learned that the muted response had nothing to do with
whether the residents of Ocean Towers, a federally subsidized housing
complex, were troubled by a thriving drug trade there. The tenants so
feared reprisals by drug dealers, who they believed were sitting in
their midst as the police fielded questions, that no one spoke up,
police officials said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A detective at the meeting sensed their discomfort and distributed
business cards, and a short while later, his phone began to ring with
tips from the residents, including confirmation that the dealers
sometimes attended the meetings. Those calls, and the 10-month
undercover investigation they prompted, led to the arrests of 25
people, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said at a news conference
yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As a result of a new strategy in investigating and prosecuting such
cases, all but two of those arrested have been charged with conspiracy
and will face lengthy prison terms if convicted, said Charles J. Hynes,
the Brooklyn district attorney, who announced the arrests with Mr.
Kelly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"This case was a great example of members of the community and the
police working together to rid the neighborhood of drug dealers," Mr.
Kelly said. Those charged, he added, "intimidated their neighbors, and
they were responsible for numerous robberies and other crimes in the
area." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-10) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The arrogant pomposity of professional prohibitionists might be
funny if they weren't so dangerous. While insisting on zero
tolerance and no exceptions in the drug war, some prohibitionists
seem to feel they are above the law. Exhibit A: Federal drug czar
John Walters has refused to respond for requests for information
from Nevada officials about compliance with state election laws.
Very czar-like behavior from someone who a few months ago said, "We
don't have czars in this country ... People have fought and died so
we don't have that system." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Exhibit B: Police in Utah who have decided not to turn asset
forfeiture funds over to the state, despite voter-approved law that
requires such action. Strange, police often say they don't choose
which laws to enforce... | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Exhibit C: The city council of Tampa, Fla. has approved an ordinance
that makes it against the law to behave like a drug dealer, even if
you are not dealing drugs. Seems difficult not to ignore many
provisions of the The U.S. Constitution in order to enact such a
law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Moving from smug superiority to short-sighted stupidity, a Wisconsin
attorney says his client could have offered information on terror
operations, if police hadn't chosen to focus merely on his drug
crimes. In more upbeat news, a judge ruled New Jersey activist Ed
Forchion should not be punished for merely speaking about marijuana;
and the Chicago Tribune painted a grim picture of the DARE program's
future in Illinois and elsewhere. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) DRUG CZAR WON'T RESPOND TO NEVADA CAMPAIGN LAW COMPLAINT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
CARSON CITY, Nev.- The national drug czar has declined to respond to
complaints that the he broke Nevada law by not filing reports on money
spent opposing November's marijuana ballot initiative. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Marijuana Policy Project, which backed the defeated initiative to allow possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana, said drug czar John Walters failed to submit his campaign finance report. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller asked Walters for a response
earlier this month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But the Office of National Drug Control Policy said in a letter
received Tuesday by Heller that Walters is immune from enforcement
of Nevada's election laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) STATE NOT GETTING FORFEITURE FUNDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Utah's state auditor says there is money missing from state coffers
-- funds that should have come to the state treasurer's office
through the seizure of property from police investigations of drug
crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In letters to Utah Senate President Al Mansell and House Speaker
Marty Stephens last week, auditor Auston Johnson said that Utah's
controversial Utah Uniform Forfeiture Procedures Act (UUFPA), also
known as Initiative B, is not being enforced. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Under the act, the money -- some $237,999 in cash and property with an undetermined value collected from 28 cases in Salt Lake, Davis and Weber county investigations -- should have gone from the police to the state treasurer and then into the Uniform School Fund. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Instead, district judges presiding over drug cases awarded the funds back to the investigating agencies, Johnson's letter says. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) COUNCIL OKs DRUG ORDINANCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
TAMPA - Not everyone running for city offices agrees with the Tampa
City Council's unanimous decision Thursday to approve a new
ordinance making it illegal to act like a drug dealer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mayoral candidate Don Ardell and council hopefuls Kelly Benjamin and
Joe Redner have spoken out against it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Benjamin, challenging Councilwoman Rose Ferlita in District 2, said
he knows firsthand why neighborhoods want action against drug
dealers because he decided to run for office in part because he was
attacked while walking near his home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But he opposes the ordinance. It underscores "an already failed drug
war," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) LAWYER: DRUG WAR TRUMPED TERROR WAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
David Mandell calls it a perfect illustration of "why the United
States is not going to win the war on terrorism." A local defense
attorney, Mandell recently handled a federal court case in which his
client, who's from the Middle East, tried to share information about
individuals and groups who may be funding terrorism and planning
attacks. But the feds, he says, blew it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"This is a guy who could have provided information on terrorist
activities and terrorist cells," says Mandell, speaking on condition
that his client, who fears for the safety of family members back
home, is not named. "And instead of trying to work with this guy,
they just burned him on drug charges. That shouldn't be our priority
when public safety is threatened." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) JUDGE GRANTS NJWEEDMAN INJUNCTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The NJWEEDMAN, Ed Forchion, won a major battle yesterday in his
ongoing legal volley with the State of New Jersey. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
United States District Court Judge Joseph E. Irenas granted Forchion
a preliminary injunction, thereby freeing him from the Burlington
County Jail, where he has been since late summer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As of press time last night, Forchion had yet to be released, but his lawyer, John Vincent Saykanic, said his release is imminent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Mr. Forchion is a freedom fighter," said Saykanic, "and this
opinion is a victory not only for Mr. Forchion, but for the First
Amendment." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) NOW MANY `JUST SAY NO' TO DARE IN SCHOOLS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As DARE America celebrates its 20th anniversary, the nation's most
widely used school-based drug prevention program is struggling with
a credibility crisis that has devastated the organization
financially and threatens its survival. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois DARE officials predict half the schools in the state
offering the program will drop it by the end of this year. Police
departments in Skokie, Chicago Ridge and Peoria already have dropped
the program, and officials in Des Plaines and Carpentersville are
considering eliminating it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Like many such programs, Drug Abuse Resistance Education is
struggling with drastic budget cuts at the state and local levels.
But DARE's problems go deeper than the fiscal crisis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Over the past decade, a flurry of studies--by the U.S. surgeon
general and the General Accounting Office, among others--found no
significant difference in drug use between DARE graduates and
students never exposed to the curriculum. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (11-15) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Virginia, technical violations of parole and probation, many of
them having to do with drugs, are responsible for about ten percent
of the state's prison population. These extra prisoners add stress
to an bulging jail and prison systems throughout the county. Jails
are "overflowing" in one Missouri county, thanks to increased drug
arrests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Attention on the incarceration crisis focuses on cells and money, but there are other aspects as well. Prisoners are being infected with disease while imprisoned. Then, they are increasingly bringing the disease with them when they return to society, according to a new government study. A different report shows that federal prison officials continue to fail to maintain drug-free jails. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And, in Oakland, Ca., a group of narcotics officers are on trial for corruption after allegedly using kidnapping and the beating of suspects as tactics that led to success in the drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) TECHNICAL VIOLATORS MOUNT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Roughly 10 percent of Virginia's prison population are criminals who were released but who committed what authorities call "technical" violations of their probation or post-prison release rules. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
That's an estimated 3,000 inmates - enough to fill several state
prisons - who were initially sent to prison for crimes that occurred
after the sentencing reforms of 1995. They are reimprisoned, on
average, for 22 months at a cost of nearly $21,000 per prisoner a
year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical violations of release rules may still involve criminal
conduct - usually drug use detected by a test - but they are not the
result of a new criminal conviction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
According to Larry Traylor, spokesman for the Virginia Department of
Corrections, typical reasons for such violations are substance
abuse, failure to attend required treatment programs, absconding and
failure to follow required instructions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) SHERIFFS: JAILS OVERFLOWING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. - County jails in Southwest Missouri are straining under the growing number of people being arrested for drug crimes, authorities say. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Some area jails are bulging at the seams, and county sheriffs are
left scrambling for bed space to house inmates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Lawrence County, the crowding has forced officials to seek the help of other counties, costing thousands in local tax dollars. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sheriff Doug Seneker said the county jail, built in 1986, was
designed for a maximum capacity of 26 prisoners but can hold as many
as 40 when mattresses are placed on the floor. But throughout most
of 2002, the county had far more than 40 prisoners in custody,
Seneker said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) INFECTIONS IN NEWLY RELEASED INMATES ARE RISING CONCERN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
According to a study released today at a conference sponsored by the
federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 1.3
million inmates released from jail or prison in 1996 were infected
with hepatitis C. That was 29 percent of the 4.5 million cases
nationwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Similarly, newly released inmates accounted for 35 percent of the
34,000 Americans with tuberculosis in 1996, the study found. And
newly released inmates accounted for 13 to 17 percent of Americans
infected with H.I.V. or AIDS, the study estimated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The problem has become so acute that health care officials and prisoner rights groups are calling for widespread testing of prison populations for hepatitis C and faster treatment of prisoners. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The centers also issued new guidelines urging states to test all
prisoners with a history of intravenous drug use and other risky
behavior for hepatitis C. Sharing needles and unprotected sex are
common ways the virus is spread. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) FEDERAL PRISONS FIGHT DRUG SMUGGLING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- Using everything from a baby's diaper to burritos,
smugglers regularly get illegal drugs to federal prisoners, even at
the highest-security institutions, Justice Department investigators
said Wednesday | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Inmate visitors are the major source of drugs. But Justice
Department Inspector General Glen Fine found that mail and prison
staff also bring in marijuana, heroin, cocaine and other drugs at
the nation's 102 Bureau of Prisons facilities, demonstrating a need
to upgrade interdiction efforts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investigators measured inmate drug use several ways: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There were an average of 3,080 inmates who tested positive for drugs
each year from 1997 through 2001, an average rate of about 2 percent
nationwide. High-security prisons had a higher positive drug test
rate, at more than 3 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fifty federal inmates have died of drug overdoses since 1997. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) OAKLAND'S POLICE 'RIDERS' ON TRIAL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
OAKLAND, Calif. - At the high point of their careers, the so-called
"Riders" were considered the best and the brightest, veterans whom
rookie police officers tried to emulate. Their specialty: bringing
in reputed drug dealers in record numbers from the crime-plagued
streets of West Oakland. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Now, three of the four rogue officers are on trial here for using dishonest and sometimes brutal tactics in making those arrests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Clarence "Chuck" Mabanag, 37; Jude Siapno, 34; and Matthew Hornung,
31, are charged with a total of 26 criminal counts, including
kidnapping, the beating of falsely arrested suspects, and submitting
falsified police reports. A fourth officer, Francisco "Choker"
Vazquez, considered the Riders' ringleader, fled before prosecutors
were able to charge him. Vazquez, 45, is believed to have left the
country and is being sought by the FBI. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The alleged abuses came to light after a rookie officer, just 10
days on the job and fresh out of the police academy, resigned and
reported his former co-workers' activities to the police
department's internal affairs division. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (16-20) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The continuing legal saga of cannabis auteur/activist/cultivator Ed Rosenthal took a strange turn this week, as Bob Martin, Director of the 10th Street Compassionate Care Center, testified against Rosenthal in exchange for immunity on his statements. Ironically, Martin remains one of San Francisco's most active distributors of medicinal cannabis. Our second story addresses some of the questionable interpretations of an Australian twin study published by the American Journal of American Medical Association that reportedly upholds the "Gateway Theory". Jacob Sullum of Reason Online Magazine outlines many legitimate criticisms of the NIH funded study, including a recent RAND study that effectively debunked the role of the "Gateway Theory" in drug policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Our next story shows how Missouri law student Anthony Johnson
successfully placed a proposal on the ballot for the April 8th civic
elections that would effectively legalize the medical use of
cannabis and depenalize possession of under 35 grams in Columbia.
And our fourth story reports that Dr. Dennis Israelski, director of
research for San Mateo County, has been requesting stronger cannabis
from the federal government for his local AIDS research. Dr.
Israelski states that participants of the study have complained of
the poor quality of the NIDA-supplied cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And lastly, leaders of Israel's pro-pot Green Leaf party were
unexpectedly invited to the U.S. embassy to discuss their
legislative agenda. According to polls, the party is likely to win
at least one seat in this week's national elections. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) SAN FRANCISCO POT ADVOCATE HELPS FEDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
To the federal government, Bob Martin is a key witness against
medical marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal: on Thursday, he testified
Rosenthal once carted two boxes of plants into a Sixth Street pot
dispensary in the outer Tenderloin. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But to hundreds of patients who regularly pick up their herbal medicine at his 10th Street Compassionate Care Center, Martin remains one of The City's most active distributors of medicinal pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The apparent contrast between Martin the government witness and
Martin the proud purveyor of medical marijuana was one of the most
interesting things to emerge Thursday in the trial of Rosenthal, a
high-profile marijuana expert who has been writing about the drug
for 30 years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) HIGH ROAD: MARIJUANA AS A "GATEWAY" DRUG (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By the 1950s, Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry
Anslinger had backed away from his claim that marijuana turns people
into murderers. Instead he began arguing that it turns them into
heroin addicts. "Over 50 percent of those young addicts started on
marijuana smoking," Anslinger told a congressional committee in
1951. "They started there and graduated to heroin; they took the | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Half a century later, this idea, known as the "gateway" or "stepping stone" theory, remains a bulwark of marijuana prohibition. Its durability is largely due to its ambiguity: Because it's rarely clear what people mean when they say that pot smoking leads to the use of "harder" drugs, the claim is difficult to disprove. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) PROPOSAL TO EASE MARIJUANA PENALTIES TO BE ON COLUMBIA BALLOT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ready for a shocker from College Town, U.S.A.? A University of
Missouri-Columbia student group wants the city to relax penalties
for possessing small amounts of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But before you roll your eyes, take note: Columbia's recurrent
pro-pot movement this week made its biggest stride in decades,
securing space for a proposed marijuana ordinance on the city's
April 8 ballot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The measure -- thought to be the first of its kind in Missouri or
Kansas -- would allow seriously ill residents to use marijuana if a
doctor recommended it and would significantly reduce the punishment
for possession of less than 35 grams of the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Best of all, backers say, is that most minor marijuana cases would be disposed of with fines in municipal court, shielding students from criminal prosecution that could jeopardize their education. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) CALIFORNIA DOCTORS WANT BETTER MARIJUANA FOR STUDY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Nearly two years after its launch here, doctors conducting a
groundbreaking medical marijuana study want better quality weed from
the federal government. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The County has waited at least six months for a response from
federal agencies, officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The 3-year County study seeks to discover whether marijuana "cigarettes" can be safely dispensed to HIV-AIDS and cancer patients to treat symptoms and side effects of disease treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
However, some believe the apparently low-grade marijuana used in the
program -- grown at the University of Mississippi by the federal
government -- has discouraged participants who can treat themselves
with the drug through other channels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) AMERICAN EMBASSY HOSTS POT PARTY IN JERUSALEM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaders of Israel's pro-marijuana party, who may win their first
parliament seat in next week's national elections, were unexpectedly
invited to the U.S. Embassy yesterday to explain their | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Members of the Green Leaf Party, whose emblem is an Israeli flag
with a marijuana leaf, said they were asked by U.S. officials about
their legislative agenda - in particular whether they support
legalization of drugs other than pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (21-24) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
With opium production soaring back to record high levels in
Afghanistan, the governor of Nangahar Province last week warned that
cracking down will drive farmers back into the hands of the Taliban.
"Poppies are the sustenance of our people," noted the governor, who
added that farmers are losing patience with government eradication
schemes and promised payments have fallen far short of what is
needed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Bolivia, after weeks of protests opposing government coca eradication which resulted in the police killings of at least 10 peasant farmers, the Bolivian president began talks with the coca farmers last Sunday. Led by Evo Morales, the farmers promised road blockades would continue until their requests are met. Farmers are asking that soldiers be withdrawn from coca growing areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Colombia, U.S. Special Forces last week began to occupy positions
near the 500-mile long oil pipeline, a frequent target in Colombia's
long-simmering civil war. Occupation by U.S. Special Forces, and the
fortification of strategic hamlets in Colombia indicate a shift from
an ostensible counter-narcotic emphasis, to an admitted
counterinsurgency role. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The ex-top prosecutor in Peru, Nelida Colan, was fined about
$500,000 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in
protecting corrupt intelligence officials and drug traffickers. In
1996, Colan was said to have ignored evidence a cocaine dealer
bribed the head of a Peruvian spy agency. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) CRACKDOWN ON AFGHANISTAN'S OPIUM FARMS MAY SPARK TERROR, LEADER WARNS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
JALALABAD, Afghanistan - The governor of Nangahar Province in
eastern Afghanistan warns that the central government's crackdown on
poppy farmers could create terrorist recruits and shatter the
fragile peace in this former Taliban stronghold. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Haji Din Mohammed, in an interview this week with Knight
Ridder, blamed the tensions on the slow flow of aid to the region.
He said farmers needed support for the transition from growing
lucrative poppies, from which opium and heroin are made, to
legitimate but less profitable commercial crops, and warned that
Afghans are losing patience as fighting continues but promises of
aid go unfulfilled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Poppies are the sustenance of our people," Mohammed said. "It has
been economically necessary. Our people are hoping and expecting to
be compensated and helped by international aid so they don't have to
grow poppies. Afghans have been misused by foreign governments
before. If they feel they are being misused again with false
promises, there will be problems. That is when they will turn to the
terrorists." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A farmer can earn $600 to $1,000 per kilogram of opium (about 2.2
pounds), compared with $1 per kilogram for rice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(22) BOLIVIAN PRES BEGINS PEACE TALKS WITH COCA GROWER LEADERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COCHABAMBA, Bolivia --The president began peace talks with coca
leaders, 12 days after thousands of growers shut down the nation's
largest highway over the government's plan to eradicate illegal
crops. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada began the talks Sunday and said
they would continue into the coming days even though coca leaders
have not yet lifted the blockade. Since Jan. 14, protesters have
blocked the highway with tree trunks and boulders. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The protests have killed 10 civilians and two soldiers. Local human
rights groups said 100 people were injured and about 1,000 were
detained by soldiers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Evo Morales, the coca leader who lost to Sanchez de Lozada by only
two points in last year's presidential election, said the growers'
blockades will continue until the government agrees to a series of
demands to alleviate poverty. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The demands include an immediate withdrawal of soldiers and the
demilitarization of the coca growing region, along with a promise
that Bolivia's government will not sign a free trade agreement with
the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The government estimated the blockade cost the nation $80 million in
lost commerce. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(23) U.S. TROOPS ENTER COLOMBIA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Special Forces Begin Dangerous Training To Protect | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ARAUCA, Colombia - American Army Special Forces teams moved last
week into what a senior U.S. intelligence official calls "the most
dangerous place in Colombia," to begin training Colombian soldiers
to protect an often-bombed 500-mile oil pipeline that runs along a
porous border with neighboring Venezuela. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The arrival of the Green Berets signaled a more aggressive U.S. effort
to help Colombian forces fight the guerrillas of the leftist National
Liberation Army, or ELN, and newcomers to this region from the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Until now, American
efforts have been aimed almost exclusively at curtailing cocaine and
heroin production. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(24) EX-PERU ATTORNEY GEN. SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR CORRUPTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LIMA -- A court has sentenced Peru's former attorney general - for years accused of protecting once-feared intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos - to 10 years in prison on corruption charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In addition to the prison term, delivered late Thursday, the
criminal court fined former Attorney General Nelida Colan the
equivalent of $570,000. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Colan, once considered a close Montesinos ally, is accused of having
quashed or shelved several criminal investigations aimed at the
former intelligence chief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In 1996, Colan ignored testimony from a high-profile cocaine trafficker that he had paid Montesinos $50,000 a month in exchange for use of a jungle air strip to ferry out shipments of raw cocaine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Montesinos is in a maximum security prison facing dozens of charges
including influence peddling, drug trafficking and human rights
abuses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DEA MOVES TO SCHEDULE TWO MORE "HALLUCINOGENS" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Drug Enforcement Administration moved to place two more
"hallucinogens" into Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances
Act. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/dll/amt_5-MeO-DIPT_%20alert.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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STOP THE FEDERAL ASSAULT ON PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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DRUG CZAR SUPER BOWL AD FEATURES ANTI-ABORTION SUBTEXT | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Daniel Forbes -- forDrugWar.com, January 30, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Outcome dictated by ONDCP? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
No, the White House anti-drug ads don't work, the latest, stealth report from the federal government indicates. Commissioned by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and conducted under the auspices of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, it states: "There is no evidence yet consistent with a desirable effect of the [Media] Campaign on youth." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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CANADIAN UNITARIAN DRUG POLICY PANEL | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A 60 min video featuring selections from a panel on alternatives to drug prohibition held in Victoria, British Columbia, April 6, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The panel was sponsored by the Social Responsibility Committee of the
First Unitarian Church of Victoria, organized by Matthew McRee
Elrod, Webmaster of UUDPR, http://www.uudpr.org/canada/ and in part
funded by a grant from the UUA. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Panelists included Matthew McRee Elrod, Prof. Barry Beyerstein, MP Libby Davies, Dr. David Hadorn and Rev. J. McRee Elrod. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Anyone else wishing a copy may order it for $25.00 CDN from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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COURT ORDER FOR RETURN OF KUBBY MARIJUANA NOW ONLINE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SECHELT, B.C. -- Crown Counsel Don Fairweather and Steve Kubby both
signed off on an order today that requires the RCMP to return Mr.
Kubby's marijuana and grow equipment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A second order requesting, "restraining, preventing or injuncting the
Sechelt RCMP from any future seizures, harassment, tresspassing or
other negative acts towards the applicant or his family, in retaliation
of his application or otherwise," was withdrawn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Judge Dan Moon has already agreed to the terms and is expected to sign the order on Monday. Mr. Kubby is planning on picking up his equipment and approximately 3/4 pound of cannabis on Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A copy of the order, already signed and approved by Crown Counsel on behalf of the Attorney General of Canada, may be viewed at: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Who Benefits In Country's Ongoing War On Drugs? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Dean Becker | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Drugs are more available, more pure and less expensive than ever
before. The trillion dollars spent on prohibition has been of great
benefit - for the drug cartels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
On Dec. 13, the outgoing chair of the United States Government Reform Committee, Dan Burton, stated: "Don't just talk about killing people like Pablo Escobar, who is going to be replaced. What would happen if we started addressing how to get the profit out of drugs?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In 1995, former CIA Director William Colby stated: "The Latin American
drug cartels have stretched their tentacles much deeper into our lives
than most people believe. It's possible they are calling the shots at
all levels of government." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Even Galveston County Sheriff Gean Leonard glimpsed the light; he
states: "I 've been at it for 30 years and I don't see an end to drug
trafficking." After 88 years of prohibition, shouldn't we determine who
really benefits from this drug war? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dean Becker, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Biden Introduces New RAVE Act | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By The Drug Policy Alliance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Several weeks ago we warned you that last year's RAVE Act was
incorporated into Sen. Daschle's domestic security bill (S. 22). It
gets worse. Senators Biden (D-DE), Grassley (R-IA), Feinstein
(D-CA), and Lieberman (D-CT) have introduced it as a stand-alone
bill (S. 226 - which is not posted on thomas.loc.gov yet. We'll link
from our site, http://www.drugpolicy.org , once it becomes
available). It's not called the RAVE Act. Nor does it have a
findings section talking about raves or electronic music. It's now
called the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act. DON'T BE FOOLED!
It's the RAVE Act in new clothing. If enacted, it would harm
innocent business owners, undermine public safety, and stifle free
speech and musical expression. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Your help is needed to stop this disguised RAVE Act from becoming
law!!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
* Fax your two Senators. Tell them to oppose S. 226 the Illicit
Drug Anti-Proliferation Act. You can use our convenient system:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Or find your Senators's fax number at: http://www.senate.gov | ||||||||||||||||||||||
* Please forward this action alert to your friends and family. The Senate needs to know that voters find this bill unacceptable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For more information on the RAVE Act and S. 226 see: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
We need your support to stop this bill! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For more informatoin about the Drug Policy Alliance, see
http://www.drugpolicy.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I can't tell you how many kids told me DARE introduced them to drugs.
The problem with DARE, other than that it's a multimillion dollar
conglomerate in the business of selling T-shirts, is that it takes
the burden off parents to raise their kids." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Tim Balderman, Police Chief of Chicago Ridge, Ill. on why his
department dropped DARE last year after 13 years. For more details,
see http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n130/a08.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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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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