| May 2, 2003 #298 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) EVERYBODY MUST GET STONED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The economic climate may be chilly, but the global cannabis industry is experiencing a spectacular, unprecedented boom. On the eve of the latest Million Marijuana March for legalisation, John Walsh introduces a special investigation into one of the burning issues of our time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Anyone who thinks the British hedonist's relationship with cannabis and
its brethren extends no further back than the Isle of Wight Festival or
the Summer of Love in 1967 may be surprised to learn of a dope-fest
that took place on the coast of Bengal in the 1670s. It was recorded by
an English sailor called Thomas Bowrey, who'd been watching, with his
friends, the elation and euphoria of the locals after drinking a
concoction called bhang, made from crushed cannabis mixed with water.
They decided to try it themselves, bought a pint of bhang each (costing
sixpence), locked themselves in a house to keep safe from prying eyes,
and signed up a local fakir to record what happened. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) CANADA'S DRUG POLICY DRAWS U.S. WARNING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ottawa's plan to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and Vancouver's move to open North America's first injection site for drug users likely will force the U.S. to tighten border controls to prevent increased drug trafficking, said David Murray, special assistant in the Office of National Drug Control Policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The two initiatives have caused dismay among U.S. officials fighting
the war on drugs, as American media like the Wall Street Journal, the
Los Angeles Times, and 60 Minutes have recently started to focus on the
Vancouver initiative, as well as on Canada's plans for a new drug
policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"This is a critical juncture for Canada," said Murray, who flew to
Vancouver for a day of meetings with local police, health groups,
municipal politicians, and media to talk about U.S. and Canadian drug
policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He said the decriminalization initiative "is a matter we look upon with
some concern and some regret." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Murray emphasized it's up to Canadians to make their own decisions, but
he warned that if Canada decriminalizes marijuana, as Prime Minister
Jean Chretien said publicly for the first time this week that his
government will do, the existing harmony between the two countries will
be ruptured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) CANNABIS 'COULD KILL THOUSANDS' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular cannabis use may be as dangerous as smoking in the long term,
claims a UK drug expert. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Professor John Henry, a toxicologist at Imperial College London, says he
fears that deaths attributable to cannabis could soar. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There are currently an estimated 3.2 million people in the Britain who smoke cannabis regularly, compared with 13 million tobacco smokers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Smoking tobacco is believed to cause approximately 120,000 "excess deaths" a year through heart disease, lung cancers and other illnesses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"For example, one could calculate that if cigarettes cause an annual
excess of 120,000 deaths among 13 million smokers, the corresponding
figure for deaths among 3.2 million cannabis smokers would be 30,000,
assuming equality of effect." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) SEEDS OF HOPE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Considering its estimated 25,000-plus uses -- for producing food, fuel,
medicine, paper, plastics and even dynamite -- the most wasteful thing
you could probably do with hemp is smoke it. Jake Bowers describes
hemp's potential to transform agriculture and the plant's demonisation
by huge and competing industrial interests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In a scrubbed-out cow shed at the end of a rutted track in East Sussex, a seed packed with all the potential to transform British agriculture and save the planet is slowly taking root. Where cows once crapped and chewed the cud, Henry Gage is hunched over a lap-top germinating his plan to free one of the most 'dangerous' plants on the planet. This year Gage plans to grow 1,000 acres of hemp (Cannabis sativa L) across Britain. Yet Gage is no home-grown drugs baron but an energetic young farmer, and he doesn't want us to smoke his crop but eat it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The big news is happening up north, as Canada debates how marijuana
laws should be reformed. See this week's Cannabis section of
DrugSense Weekly for many developments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Down here in the US, the drug war is all about the money. As states
scramble to deal with budget shortfalls, legislators are taking a
hard look at anti-drug programs. In Nevada, some lawmakers have
realized that a lot of money is being spent on programs that haven't
faced strict evaluation. Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani is
leading a charge to cut funding for drug control programs that don't
work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Massachusetts, a state legislature wants some asset forfeiture
money to go to drug treatment instead of law enforcement. A local
district attorney is predictably opposed to the idea. Also in Mass.,
a neighborhood is blaming cuts in drug treatment funding for
increases in crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And don't look for the big pharmaceutical firms to find a cure for
addiction. Again, it's about the bottom line. Even if an addiction
cure was possible, the companies don't know how they would be able
to profit since most addicts are uninsured, according to a story
from the Wall Street Journal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) ASSEMBLY MEMBERS QUESTION MULTITUDE OF ANTI-DRUG PROGRAMS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Assembly Ways and Means members on Wednesday questioned the
multitude of anti-drug programs funded by the state. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, said there are
dozens of programs getting grants from a variety of sources from
criminal justice to education to health and human services and that
lawmakers don't have any idea how much they overlap, which ones are
working and which ones aren't. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We need to pull all drug money into one place and let's see what's
working," she told deputy superintendents of education Doug Thunder
and Keith Rheault. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
She was joined by Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, and
veteran Assembly member John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I agree with Chris," said Marvel. "We looked around in all these
budgets and you're right: there's all kinds of drug money. But we
don't see results." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) REP. WANTS DRUG MONEY FOR TREATMENT; DA DISAGREES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
NEW BEDFORD -- State Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral filed a bill recently
proposing to redirect 20 percent of drug forfeiture money toward
substance abuse treatment programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash seized during drug raids is currently used only for law
enforcement and is distributed between the district attorney
prosecuting the case and local police departments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Treatment, education and prevention are part of the war on drugs,"
said Rep. Cabral. "Under this bill, the money that is found (on drug
dealers) is still allocated to the local police and DA, but only up
to 80 percent of it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bristol County District Attorney Paul F. Walsh Jr. has fought the
bill in its various forms for many years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"This is the same bill Tony has filed every year for the last 10
years," Mr. Walsh said. "I am totally opposed to it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The money from forfeitures has helped keep the battle against crime funded, and that's what forfeiture laws were designed for, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) NEIGHBORS SEE RISE IN CRIME, BLAME BUDGET CUTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Neighborhood activists report that prostitution is spreading. In
recent weeks, they have seen an unusual increase in burglary. And
they're not surprised. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"In the past few weeks crazy things started happening," said
Neighborhoods United chairwoman Suzanne Braga. "We're starting to
see prostitution, breaking into homes is on the rise. ... The last
time I heard of so many cars broken into was in the '70s." And,
because of cuts in health care and substance abuse programs,
neighbors fear the crime wave will continue to swell. Their concern
is that as methadone treatments are cut off, substance abusers in
rehab will relapse into a life of crime in order to satisfy their
addiction. Hundreds of recovering SouthCoast drug users lost their
MassHealth insurance on April 1 and are now denied access to
treatment, according to local substance abuse clinics. Thousands
more in the region will follow, they say, if last week's House
budget proposal for fiscal year 2004 passes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Weakened methadone programs would be gutted and some claim they would face extinction. Support for methadone would be eliminated by July 1. Cuts to treatment programs in the past two months by the governor and legislature are already showing their effects: Outreach workers claim that former addicts are back on the streets in search of their next fix and the money to pay for it. Pam Maloney of New Bedford wants prostitutes "out of my neighborhood." With her young son in her car, she has been approached on two occasions by prostitutes begging for money. "It appears that prostitution is a means of supporting drug habits," she said. "It makes me very uncomfortable to know that they wander in our neighborhoods." Lt. Richard Spirlet of the New Bedford Police Department said the department does not keep a running tally of such statistics and was unable to verify any claims of recent neighborhood crime trends. "There is not just one thing that makes a crime wave go up," Lt. Spirlet said. "It can be the economy, it can be the lack of methadone treatments, it can be a multitude of factors." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) WHY TREATING ADDICTS IS TOUGH PLAY FOR DRUG FIRMS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Larry Bloch is one of those rare folks with degrees in both medicine
and business from Harvard. Recently, his biotech company created an
enzyme that breaks down cocaine molecules and is highly effective in
rats given a cocaine overdose. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Bloch (M.D.) is thrilled. Mr. Bloch (M.B.A.) isn't so impressed. "There's a very large business risk" to developing cocaine treatments, he says. The company where he serves as chief financial officer, Applied Molecular Evolution Inc. of San Diego, hopes the government will pay for the next stage of research because it isn't sure its investors want to put their own money on the line. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Bloch's experience is all too common. Scientists are discovering
more medications that seem to help addicts, and given the huge
social costs of addiction one would expect those medications to be
rushed onto the market. Instead, they limp through development,
hobbled by a shortage of funds and lack of interest from big
pharmaceuticals companies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Why? In a word, economics. If a drug company finds a cure for
cancer, insurers and the government will include it among their
covered treatments and pay almost whatever price the company wants.
The cure's discoverer also will reap a bonanza of good publicity. So
drug companies spend billions of dollars of their own money each
year studying cancer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For addiction, the calculations are different. Few companies want to
be tarred by association with junkies, and the size of the market is
uncertain. While some insurers are covering a new medication called
buprenorphine for heroin and painkiller abusers, coverage of
methadone, an older treatment, is less common. As a result, even
addicts lucky enough to have insurance can pay several thousand
dollars a year out of pocket for methadone, says Chris Kelly, the
head of a methadone-users group in Washington. Of course, many
addicts are uninsured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Texas law enforcement agencies are feeling the fallout from two different drug-related scandals in the state. After one officer was charged in the Dallas fake drugs scandal, it appears police and prosecutors who worked on the cases are at odds about what really happened and who's really to blame.= Texas legislators are also introducing new legislation to regulate undercover agents to avoid another Tulia, even as Tulia prisoners remain incarcerated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A pair of strange stories from the south rounds out our section this
week.= In Mississippi, the state drug czar is investigating why two
planes used for drug operations by his agency were suddenly
transferred to other agencies. And in North Carolina, two local cops
are in trouble after apparently serving a search warrant on a
suspect who was also being targeted by state and federal agencies.
The suspect then told the feds evidence had been planted by the
local officers, leading one of the officers to resign. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) FAKE-DRUG FUROR SPLITS POLICE, PROSECUTORS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mistrust, frustration linger as agencies' accounts conflict | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The early days of Dallas' fake-drug scandal caught top-level police
and prosecutors off guard, but in public they appeared united to
solve the problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
More than 15 months later, this united front has crumbled amid an FBI investigation that led to an undercover narcotics officer's indictment Friday. Three former paid Dallas Police Department informants already have pleaded guilty to civil rights charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For the first time, key players in each agency agreed to describe
what was going on behind the scenes as the fake-drug scandal
unfolded. Their accounts conflict in many areas, pointing to
increasing friction between the agencies and even mistrust among top
officials. Prosecutors and police officials say they can still work
together effectively. Police officials are speaking out now in
response to comments from prosecutors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) TULIA CASE PROMPTS BILLS AIMED AT UNDERCOVER AGENTS' EVIDENCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
AUSTIN - With dozens of drug convictions under review in the
controversial Tulia sting, lawmakers are considering bills that
would require undercover officers to gather more evidence in order
to prosecute drug cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Civil rights groups are pushing the bills in light of a judge's
recommendation that the convictions of 38 mostly black defendants
from the Panhandle farm town should be dismissed because they were
based on questionable testimony from a single undercover agent
accused of racial prejudice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Under bills before both the House and Senate, investigators would need to produce some kind of corroborating evidence to support an undercover officer's testimony in order to gain a conviction. In short, they need something to prove the undercover agent isn't making the whole thing up. Civil rights groups such as the Americans Civil Liberties Union and the League of United Latin American Citizens support the bills. Some law enforcement groups, however, say it places a new, sometimes dangerous, burden on police. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The Tulia incident has certainly brought a lot of attention to the
issue but we would point out it was the failure of more than just
the agent but a failure of the entire criminal justice system," said
Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk, a spokesman for the Sheriff's
Association of Texas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) MBN CHIEF SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK LOTT IS INVOLVED IN PLANE TRANSFER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
JACKSON (AP) -- State Bureau of Narcotics chief Frank Melton said
Friday he believes U.S. Sen. Trent Lott was not involved in the
transfer of MBN planes to agencies on the Gulf Coast. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Melton said during a news conference that the planes were not Lott's
to transfer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The state auditor's office and the Bureau of Narcotics are
investigating how the planes were given to the Harrison County
sheriff's office and the Hancock County Port Authority. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Melton said he does not know when the investigation will be finished, but when it is, he will release a complete, unedited report. Some MBN files were missing when the investigation began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An internal report obtained last week by The Associated Press quotes a confidential source as saying the transfers in 1999 and 2000 were allegedly made at the request of a former aide to Lott, R-Miss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In 1999, the bureau transferred an $800,000 Beechcraft King Air to
the Harrison County Sheriff's Office. The next year, the bureau
transferred a Cessna 206 to the Hancock County Port Authority. Both
transfers were made at no cost. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) ACCUSED LUMBERTON POLICE OFFICER RESIGNS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
LUMBERTON - A police officer who was accused of planting evidence on
a suspected drug dealer resigned Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The former officer, James Jordan, was placed on administrative leave in January. Jordan and Lt. Leon Oxendine, who also was placed on leave, were being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lumberton police Chief Robert Grice refused comment on Jordan's
resignation. He referred questions to James Moore, the city's human
resources director. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
District Attorney Johnson Britt, who had been out of town, said he
didn't know that Jordan had resigned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He said the allegation against Jordan and Oxendine came as a result of an undercover federal investigation late last year involving the State Bureau of Investigation, FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Britt said a task force was working undercover at a Lumberton motel
when Oxendine, Jordan and other officers came to the motel with a
search warrant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"As a result, it blew the investigation," Britt said. "The (federal
and state officers) questioned the target in a debriefing. He made
allegations that the Lumberton police officers had planted evidence
in a house where he was arrested previously." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Wow! There was so much news from up North this week that this edition of the hemp/cannabis section is devoted to the progress and problems of Canada's crumbling cannabis prohibition. Our first story is a comprehensive look at Canada's changing drug laws by the Sun papers' Jason Botchford. Our second story reports on a new Sun-Ledger poll that suggests that 83% of Canadians would like to see the laws governing cannabis use and possession relaxed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Our next story examines the inadequacy of Canada's current medicinal
cannabis program: Prairie Plant Systems (PPS), the government's
contracted grower of medical grade cannabis, is currently
considering a lawsuit against the federal government for making
misleading and detrimental comments about its grow operation. Our
fourth story shows why PPS should be concerned; Health Canada
officials recently visited Holland to examine the possibility of
distributing cannabis through pharmacies. Apparently Health Canada
is currently considering buying Dutch cannabis for distribution to
legal users of medicinal cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Of course much of this could be moot if the upcoming constitutional challenge of our cannabis possession laws is successful. Our last story examines the first such challenge to Canada's marijuana laws, which is to be heard by the Supreme Court of Canada on May 6th. That maple leaf always did look a little bit like hemp, didn't it? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) O CANNABIS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Within arm's reach, on some plush leather couches under a Jerry
Garcia image, a pack of college students from Seattle whittle away
the brunch hour, smoking pot and marvelling at what has become
accepted practice in Canada. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We love the atmosphere here, it's just like Amsterdam, but in a way it kind of makes me sad," said Jamie Lalli, 21, who chose Canada as a vacation spot after reading about its acceptance of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Canada has all this freedom. It seems so progressive. And here we
are coming from the United States which was supposedly built on
freedom and progression but instead, in comparison now, it's like
we're from a very conservative, backward country." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's a sign of Canada's high times. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
What would have landed these people in handcuffs 10 years ago is now common. It's a reflection of how this country's view of marijuana has dramatically changed in 20 years, thanks to a wave of pot popularity started on the West Coast more than a decade ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) POT SUPPORT GETTING HIGH IN CANADA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
PUBLIC SUPPORT to relax Canada's marijuana laws is rising quickly,
according to a new national poll that shows a decisive 83% want pot
prohibition to be less stringent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Only 14% of respondents to a Sun-Leger poll said they supported the
status quo and thought marijuana should remain illegal in all
circumstances. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It seems that with just 14% now saying it should be illegal, that's really saying people think changes needed to be made soon in some way, shape or form," said Leger Marketing pollster Lesli Martin. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) CANADIAN MEDICAL POT FIRM MULLS LEGAL ACTION OVER DELAYS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The company hired to grow marijuana for medical use is threatening
legal action against Ottawa, as the process to supply the drug to
sick Canadians bogs down. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In a confidential letter to Health Minister Anne McLellan, Prairie
Plant Systems Inc. president Brent Zettl says the government has
negatively affected the company's ability to raise capital and to
develop other lines of its business's enterprises. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In his letter, Mr. Zettl asks the minister for a response to
inaccuracies Mr. Zettl believes were contained in a series of
newspaper articles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Without a response (which was the case for previous requests), I
will have no choice but to consider other measures to protect the
Company's reputation," says the letter, a copy of which has been
obtained by The Globe and Mail. "This is particularly important to
us in light of the fact that Health Canada has prohibited the
Company speaking publicly on the project." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) CANADIAN OFFICIALS CONSIDER DUTCH EXAMPLE OF PHARMACY SALES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Under pressure from the courts to reform its medical marijuana
policy, Health Canada is considering a Dutch option in which
marijuana would be made available to needy patients at the corner
pharmacy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior Health Canada officials visited the Netherlands in February to learn more about a new law that allows pharmacies to distribute government marijuana to patients with a doctor's prescription. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The law, which became effective March 17, makes the Netherlands the
first country in the world to treat marijuana like an ordinary
prescription drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It's an option, like there are many options," said Beth Pieterson,
a Health Canada official who met with her counterparts in Amsterdam
from Feb. 18 to 21. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) CANADA'S HIGHEST COURT TO HEAR MARIJUANA CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
An Abbotsford lawyer will have a second opportunity to challenge the constitutionality of Canada's pot laws this spring, but worries that a delay in the federal justice minister's decision on the decriminalization of marijuana will delay the case again. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawyer John Conroy is representing Victor Eugene Caine, one of three
appellants claiming the cannabis laws violate rights protected under
Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It will be the first time a constitutional challenge of Canada's
marijuana laws is heard in the country's highest court. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
While the United States only encourages genocide against plants in
drug producing countries - with harm to people just collateral
damage - Thailand has shown the way: just murder users and suppliers
for an eventual drug free society. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In a hard hitting OPED from the United Kingdom the truth many governments and prohibitionists do not want to here is exposed: 42 years of United States driven UN efforts to reduce drug use have only increased it - the war on drugs is doing far more damage than the drugs themselves. But in UN doublespeak failure is success. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As the Canadian government talks about making a minor reduction in
the harm caused by its cannabis laws, Canadian reporter Jason
Botchford encourages debate by writing about the more practical and
successful Dutch experience. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And the Australian state of Western Australia appears to be moving
to make changes in its cannabis laws. Unlike in the United States,
users need fear only state laws in Australia as there are no federal
laws that apply to users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) THAILAND DECLARES WAR ON DRUGS A MAJOR SUCCESS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Thailand's three-month war against drugs ended Wednesday with the
prime minister declaring it a major success - despite international
concern about nearly 2,000 unexplained killings during the
crackdown. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Describing the drug trade and growing addiction as public enemy No.
1, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had launched an all-out war
against drug pushers starting Feb. 1, giving security forces three
months to control the scourge. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We've eradicated about 90 percent (of the problem)," Thaksin told
reporters Wednesday. He didn't elaborate. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Thaksin said the government would be able to "eradicate all drugs in Thailand" by Dec. 2. He didn't comment on the high death toll. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
About 1,900 people have been killed nationwide since Feb. 1, the government says. Police acknowledge shooting 42 suspects. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The United Nations and human rights groups say they fear many of the
killings may have been summary executions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(19) PROHIBITION, MARK TWO (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It is 42 years since the UN set out to eradicate the use of illegal drugs,= with results that we see all around us: the last marijuana smoker races the last speaker of Scots-Gaelic towards extinction; redundant cocaine dealers beg pathetically on the streets; the scourge of heroin has been banished forever from the planet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
That, as Polly Toynbee showed in these pages last week, was the
impression a Martian might have got from attending the UN's
half-time review of its current 10-year drugs plan in Vienna earlier
this month. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The head of the UN office on drugs and crime, Antonio Maria Costa,
cheerily announced that his organisation was on target to deal with
the problem by 2008: "Drugs control policy works," he said.
Presumably, his job has given him access to some great | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This insanity keeps a lot of bureaucrats in work and holds off any
unpleasantness with the policy's chief promoters, the US. The
American approach that failed in the security council over Iraq -
bribe, blackmail or batter your opponents into submission - has
successfully prevented any fresh international thinking about drug
control for decades. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Allegedly liberal-minded governments such as Britain's tinker with
cannabis laws to save a little police time, while the piles of used
needles grow higher. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile, a war that began when heroin, cannabis and cocaine were
confined to a small, louche minority has successfully spread them
worldwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It is a re-run of the American booze prohibition experiment, played
out globally and indefinitely. But the extraordinary reach of the
ongoing catastrophe is largely hidden. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(20) DUTCH TREAT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
AMSTERDAM - It takes about a five-minute walk after arriving at Central Station to realize you've just landed on Fantasy Island. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's just one small part of one city in the Netherlands, but it has
become a flashpoint for the international marijuana debate, a
legendary tourist stop which deals marijuana as regularly as Las
Vegas dealers end up with blackjack. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A city, and a country, where people can wander into certain cafes
and buy a small amount of cannabis without fearing arrest or
prosecution. A drug policy some say is the most effective in the
world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"In Holland, we believe you can do what you want as long as you don't bother anyone else," said Wernard Bruining, who was one of the first to have a coffee shop licensed to sell pot in the 1970s. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Back in 1972, the founder of the Mellow Yellow Coffeeshop had no
idea he was part of a revolution which would be watched and studied
by the rest of the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Marijuana won't go away," Bruining said. "I think that one day all
of Europe will be like Holland." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It's already happening as Great Britain, Belgium and Switzerland,
among other countries, are moving toward more liberal treatment of
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In the Netherlands, marijuana is not legal although it would be hard
to tell after walking by many of the 300-odd Amsterdam coffee shops
which sell it. "Coffee shop" in Holland literally means a place
which sells weed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana is treated separately from hard drugs and is | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It has created a rather indifferent view of pot from the nation's 15
million citizens and one of the lowest pot-smoking rates in the
industrialized world. The latest United Nations study on global drug
trends shows that the Netherlands wouldn't even crack the top 50 in
marijuana consumption. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The annual percentage of people older than 15 who smoke pot in the Netherlands is 4.1%. In comparison, 8.9% of Canadians do. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Although the coffee shop system has been effective, there are many
opponents who would like to see them closed. It's clear there will
be some changes as a new coalition government -- led by the
Christian Democratic Appeal, a conservative party -- takes charge.
The coalition has said it would like to shut down half of the 800
coffee shops in the Netherlands. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It would be a sweet thing if we could eventually retract
decriminalization," Piet-Hein Donner, the acting Dutch minister of
justice, said recently. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But he admitted the government was stuck with a political reality of
the current landscape and thought it best to give priority to
tackling other forms of crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(21) POLL SHOWS SPLIT ON NEW CANNABIS LAWS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
WA'S proposed cannabis laws have divided the community and look set
to be a defining issue at the next State election. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The latest Westpoll indicates less than half the community endorses
the move to decriminalise the use and cultivation of small amounts
of the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Under the laws, which passed through the Legislative Assembly this month, recreational users caught with two plants will be fined $200. Users with less than 30g of the drug will be fined up to $150. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Westpoll showed 46 per cent of people supported the changes and
41 per cent opposed them with the remainder unsure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Of the 33 per cent of people who admitted having smoked cannabis, 65
per cent supported the proposed laws. Under 35s were far more likely
to support the new laws than older people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Health Minister Bob Kucera said the Westpoll, which showed more
people supported the new legislation than opposed it, vindicated the
Government's stance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"My experience has been that when people are presented with the
facts of the legislation, they are very comfortable with it," he
said. "People should remember that the legislation reflects the
recommendations of the Community Drug Summit, where people based
their approach on evidence - not emotion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Under these laws, if you use cannabis or grow cannabis you will be engaging in an illegal act and you will be penalised. End of story." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Al Giordano, published at Narconews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"With the extinction of the its underground nature, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER COMMITS TO DECRIMINALIZATION "SOON" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Richard Cowan, published at Marijuananews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"As always, the devil is in the details, and Chretien has only said
that it will be like a traffic ticket. 'So you will have another
ticket, for losing your senses, or something like that.' Isn't that
cute! ... Does this mean a nationwide campaign of reefer madness and
stiffer penalties for growers?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
CBC RADIO | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As it Happens | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Criticize it, don't legalize it. Dr. David Murray, Special Assistant
to the ONDCP, urges Canada not to make a hash of its cannabis
possession laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
POT-TV : Series : Drug War Vigil Film Festival | ||||||||||||||||||||||
These are the entries in the latest Drug War Vigil Society
film festival. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
HOFMANN'S POTION: THE EARLY YEARS OF LSD | ||||||||||||||||||||||
National Film Board of Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Featuring interviews with many LSD pioneers, Hofmann's Potion is
much more than a simple chronicle of the drug’s early days. With its
thoughtful interviews, beautiful music and stunning cinematography,
it is an invitation to look at LSD - and our world - with a more
open, compassionate mind. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
JIM CROW MUSEUM | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
THERAPEUTIC HISTORY OF CANNABIS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A Timeline of Marijuana Research and Regulation, a superb four page PDF
handout, is now on line at: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This timeline, interspersed with relevant quotes, traces marijuana's progress through the U.S. research and regulatory system. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Please feel free to use this timeline in your own work. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mary Jane Borden | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
MILLION MARIJUANA MARCH | ||||||||||||||||||||||
More Than 200 Cities, 30 Countries To Hold Marijuana Rallies This
Weekend | ||||||||||||||||||||||
May 1, 2003 - New York, NY, USA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
New York City, NY: Marijuana law reform activists in over 200
cities worldwide will hold marches this weekend to protest the
criminalization of cannabis. The annual global event, known as the
"Million Marijuana March," begins Saturday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
IMAGES FROM THE NORML CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://ssdp.org/SSDP_ROOT/18_SSDP_Gallery/Galleries/norml03/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
INTERVIEWS | ||||||||||||||||||||||
KPFT Cultural Baggage radio show features a large number of interviews
made at the conference. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Establishment Won't Alter Drug Laws That Benefit It | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Mett Ausley | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Editor, the Tribune: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Proposition 1's sponsors reasonably expected little official
opposition to their modest proposal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Paradoxically, marijuana's widespread popularity ensures that
official interests will fight every inch of reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug enforcement is a wellspring of largesse for the criminal
justice sector, and marijuana violations dwarf all other drug
offenses combined. This massively inflates the apparent magnitude of
the "drug problem" and swells enforcement funding accordingly. When
marijuana arrests pay for jails, prosecutors, training and other
goodies, it's not surprising to find officials opposed to any
relaxation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This hidden agenda might explain why the local officials who
ceremoniously proclaimed their unanimous opposition seemed
incongruously lacking in zeal and awkward in articulating their
rationale. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The drug czar's emissaries were plainly disingenuous. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Any challenge to current drug policy boils down to a petty turf
battle with criminal justice interests who've long held absolute
sway. Giving pragmatists a seat means sharing power and resources,
and dilutes the rigid moralism that caters to a loyal but
unsophisticated anti-drug core constituency. Any threat to the
doctrinal supremacy of prohibition, police and punishment provokes a
barrage of rationalization, diversionary skepticism and derisive
stereotyping of reformers as countercultural "legalizers" or elitist
dilettantes. This time the Office of National Drug Control Policy's
flacks must have calculated that "pointy-headed intellectuals' "
rhetoric might backfire in Columbia. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This redoubt of self-interest must be confronted before reform
initiatives can get a fair test. Drug policy has been corrupted to
suit the wants of a few, and things will get worse as long as this
continues. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mett Ausley Jr., | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Review: Jeffrey's Journey | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Reviewed By Philippe Lucas | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Jeffrey's Journey: A Determined Mother's Battle For Medical
Marijuana For Her Son by Debbie and LaRayne Jeffries, 80 pages, L.P.
Chronicles, $9.95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Jeffrey's Journey" is the very real and harrowing story of a young
boy named Jeffrey and his inner battle with severe emotional and
behavioral problems. Written by Debbie and LaRayne Jeffries - the
boy's mother and grandmother - Jeffrey's tale takes him from the
depths of prescription drug despair, to the high of successful
cannabis-based treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Before Jeffrey even reached adolescence, he had been diagnosed with
multiple emotional and behavioral conditions: ADHD (Attention
Deficit Hyperactive Disorder), PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder), OCD(Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), ODD (Oppositional
Defiant Disorder), IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder), and
Bi-Polar Disorder...to name but a few. Along with these diagnoses
came a plethora of pharmaceutical treatments: from Adderall to
Zoloft and Zyprexa, Jeffrey was prescribed over a dozen | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This was a rapid and significant transition for the Jeffries family,
who describe themselves as conservative Christians. Debbie admits
that when California's Proposition 215 (which led to the
legalization of medicinal cannabis in California) appeared on the
state ballot, she voted against it. However, after contacting WAMM
(Wo/Men Alliance for Medical Marijuana) and speaking with
founder/director Valerie Corral and speaking with an informed
physician, she decided to try this untested therapy. Debbie recounts
the morning of Jeffrey's introduction to marijuana therapy through
cannabis-laced muffins: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Within 1/2 hour of ingesting the first piece of muffin, I had a new
child. We were driving to school, and as I merged into a new lane of
highway traffic, Jeff looked over at me and smiled, "Mommy, I feel
happy, not mad, and my head doesn't feel so noisy!"" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
This was the beginning of a successful treatment regimen that soon led to Jeffrey being able to make friends and have an 8th birthday party with other kids at the local Chuck E. Cheese's, something that would have been previously unthinkable for the Jeffries. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sadly, there have been some setbacks. Last year's federal bust of
the WAMM cannabis garden led to a break in Jeffrey's line of
medicine led to a decline of his emotional/behavioral state. This
was only restored once the Jeffries' were able to once again access
the particular strain that helped calm Jeffrey's mind and resultant
behavior. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Jeffrey's Journey" is the tale of a family's sorrow and
desperation, and the hope that finally came from an unlikely source:
cannabis. Although therapeutic cannabis is by no means a cure-all,
it has been able to give the Jeffries happiness where there was once
only fear and frustration. As I finished Jeffrey's Journey, I had to
wonder how many more families might be struggling with similar
problems, and how many severely emotionally handicapped children
might benefit from the information in this brave book. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Philippe Lucas is Director of Communications for DrugSense. He is
also the founder and director of the Vancouver Island Compassion
Society, a medicinal cannabis organization based in Victoria, B.C.,
http://thevics.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will
not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education
will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and
determination alone are omnipotent." - Israel Regardie | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 special guest editor
Richard Lake (), Layout by Matt Elrod
() | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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