| May 16, 2003 #300 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) BLAIR TAKES LEAD IN WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Tony Blair is to convene an international conference to encourage
European Union countries to do more to tackle Marxist terrorists who
control Colombia's drug trade. | ||||||||||||||||||
Senior Bush administration officials hailed the initiative as an
important new step in assisting the Oxford-educated President Alvaro
Uribe, who is said to have impressed the Prime Minister in talks at
Downing Street last July. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jose Aznar, the Spanish prime minister, is understood to be another prime mover behind the conference, to be held in London in July. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Basque terrorist organisation Eta and the IRA have assisted the
narco-terrorist group Farc (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia). | ||||||||||||||||||
Colombian traffickers have recently begun to send more cocaine to Europe, where it has three times the street value as it does in America, while increasing the supply of heroin to the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Colombian issue is likely to gain greater prominence now that
the Iraq war is over. Mr Wolfowitz and Mr Blair are said to share
the view that the Colombian leader is a committed democrat. The
meeting, due to take place on July 10, will draw representatives
from the United States, major European countries and | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(2) BAD BUZZ? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Keeping Close Eye on Canada Pot Proposal | ||||||||||||||||||
Resentful Canadian legislators who want to decriminalize carrying
around a decent-sized stash of marijuana are accusing their prime
minister of giving in to U.S. meddling aimed at nipping the domestic
drug plan in the bud. | ||||||||||||||||||
[tee hee] | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada delayed introducing a proposal to decriminalize marijuana
possession after its justice minister met Tuesday in Washington with
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. | ||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister Jean Chretien is taking a pounding from opposition
legislators angered that his administration floated the proposal
with U.S. officials before discussing it with them. Reacting to
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon's meeting with Ashcroft, New
Democrat leader Jack Layton said, "There goes Canadian sovereignty
up in smoke," The Associated Press reported. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The original proposal would have decriminalized possession of 30
grams or less, and had been slated to be introduced in Parliament
this week. Cauchon downplayed suggestions that the delay was
prompted by U.S. pressure, and said he would introduce the proposal
shortly after the legislature's recess next week. | ||||||||||||||||||
According to Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the U.S.-based
Drug Policy Alliance, some Canadian politicians were expressing
concern about possible U.S. retaliation for the policy. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I think they are feeling bullied and intimidated, especially with
Cellucci and Walters being so strident and threatening," Nadelmann
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Noting that many Americans support reducing or eliminating prison
sentences for minor drug-possession offenses as well as the medical
use of marijuana, Nadelmann said the Bush administration is pushing
an extremist position with an "ideological fervor not unlike Carrie
Nation and the temperance movement." | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada's move toward decriminalizing pot, Nadelmann said, would
highlight that extremism. "It's one thing for the Bush | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(3) WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING, CANADA? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The issue of decriminalizing marijuana is first and foremost about
safeguarding kids and Canada should be attentive to the threat that
marijuana poses to youth. | ||||||||||||||||||
We know that neither Canada nor the United States has been able to
keep its two legal drugs -- alcohol and tobacco -- out of the hands
of teenagers and children. Members of Canada's Parliament should
keep this in mind as they consider any proposal to decriminalize
marijuana, because the drug's sharp edges undercut claims that
smoking pot is a harmless recreation. | ||||||||||||||||||
Research at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
(CASA) has established a statistical relationship between the use of
tobacco, alcohol and marijuana and the use of harder drugs such as
cocaine, heroin and acid. | ||||||||||||||||||
Examining data from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control survey of
11,000 ninth- through 12th-graders, CASA isolated teen use of these
"gateway" drugs from other problem behaviours. The conclusion: Among
teens with no other problem behaviours, those who drank, smoked
cigarettes and used marijuana at least once in the past month are
almost 17 times likelier to use another drug such as cocaine, heroin
or LSD. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(4) LOWE'S: JUST SAY NO TO PAINT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Associated Press CHARLOTTE - In recent weeks, Lowe's stores have quietly introduced a nationwide policy to put age requirements on customers buying certain products that can be used as inhalants. | ||||||||||||||||||
Last weekend, the Wilkesboro-based home improvement chain
backtracked on its original ban of 2,000 products, cutting the list
to about 1,200 after some consumers complained about not being able
to buy basics such as latex paint and motor oil. | ||||||||||||||||||
[What are Canadians smoking?] | ||||||||||||||||||
"That's not something Lowe's should decide - whether our children
should buy this and that," said Lowe's customer and shareholder
Carol Lee, whose 19-year-old daughter was turned away after trying
to buy latex paint for her rental home last week. | ||||||||||||||||||
Law enforcement and many consumer advocates praised the move as a
significant step toward reducing "huffing" - inhaling toxic vapors
from household products to get a quick high. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Lowe's officials said many customers have raised questions and
complaints about the new policy. | ||||||||||||||||||
But Jack Gillis, director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America, said the benefits to consumers from the Lowe's policy outweigh the in-convenience of a small number. | ||||||||||||||||||
"There are sacrifices that have to be made for the greater good," he
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada is again a major focus for drug policy reform watchers this
week, even as federal officials there apparently bowed down before
their counterparts in the U.S. in recent days. Read about all the
developments in this week's Cannabis section. | ||||||||||||||||||
A new sense of tolerance may be brewing in Canada, but if a report
on college drug arrests can be believed, students may be becoming
less tolerant of drugs, and more willing to call police when they
hear the gurgle of a bong in the next dorm room. Or it could just be
that more college students are using drugs, so more are getting
caught. | ||||||||||||||||||
Colleges may be getting tougher on drugs, but perhaps some students
can relax as they enter the work force. The level of drug testing in
the work place seems to be growing at a slower pace. That may help
to explain a story featured in this space last week that showed
drug-testing firms trying to woo drug court professionals into
recommending at-home drug-testing kits. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Utah, the state supreme court placed restrictions on the ways
roadblocks can be used by police to search out various types of
crime. Legislators in Florida, on the other hand, are attempting to
launch a harsh crackdown on the theft of cable TV services by
connecting such crimes to the illegal drug trade. Could cable piracy
be the gateway theory's missing link? | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(5) DRUG AND ALCOHOL ARRESTS INCREASED ON CAMPUSES IN 2001 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug arrests at the nation's colleges increased for the 10th consecutive year, rising by 5.5 percent in 2001. The number of liquor arrests also increased in 2001, rising 4.7 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||
Many college police officials attribute those changes to tougher enforcement on campuses, and some of them say students are increasingly intolerant of substance abuse among their peers -- and more likely to contact campus officers when they confront it. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Others say that the sharp increases or declines in the number of
arrests from year to year may have little to do with a university's
policies. Bruce N. Kline, assistant director of Penn State's police
department, says he cannot explain why the university's drug arrests
(most of which were for marijuana) leveled off: In 2000, Penn State
made twice as many drug arrests as it made the previous year, but in
2001, the total fell by two, to 173. | ||||||||||||||||||
Yet Mr. Kline says that students are becoming "more conservative"
about drug use and that resident advisers are enforcing campus rules
more tightly than before, a view that is shared by campus police
officials elsewhere. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It used to be that if there was a drug arrest made on campus, it
was the result of the initiative of police themselves. But now we're
seeing more residents reporting the smell of marijuana" in
dormitories, Mr. Kline says. "It's attitudes that are changing, not
policies. Students are becoming more aware of the consequences of
drugs and alcohol and how they relate to other crimes." | ||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile, some health researchers say the increases reflect their
findings that use of drugs and alcohol has risen nationally in
recent years. A report by Harvard University's School of Public
Health, for example, finds that marijuana use by college students
increased nearly 22 percent from 1993 to 1999. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(6) SOME FIRMS SAY NO TO DRUG SCREENING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
They are the staples of a modern-day job search: a polished resume,
glowing references and a clean urine sample. | ||||||||||||||||||
Without fulfilling that last criterion for a satisfactory drug
screen, applicants at many U.S. companies can forget about
employment. | ||||||||||||||||||
In the almost two decades since the federal government launched its
"drug-free workplace" promotions, tests for illicit drugs have
become standard for thousands of employers. The tests have been
credited with everything from higher productivity to decreased
worker compensation claims. Tests are given to 25 million people
annually, with an additional 25 million workers subject to
screening. | ||||||||||||||||||
But as thousands of displaced workers hunt for jobs in the economic slump and hiring has slowed, the $737 million drug-testing industry's expansion in workplaces has slowed accordingly. | ||||||||||||||||||
And some employers are also less willing to spend money for drug
testing if they do not believe that it contributes to the bottom
line. | ||||||||||||||||||
Growth of the drug-testing industry, which averaged more than 12.5
percent annually during the 1990s, has tapered off to only about 1
percent a year. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(7) ROADBLOCK USE CURBED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Utah Supreme Court cautioned police against conducting
multipurpose roadblocks Friday, reversing the drug convictions of a
man stopped on Interstate 70 three years ago. | ||||||||||||||||||
The justices took issue with the roadblock, set up four miles west
of Salina, because it had been billed as a driver license and
registration check but included checks for other violations,
including driver impairment and seat belt use. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Here, the checkpoint was ostensibly a driver's license check, but included a half-dozen other checks unrelated to driver license violations," Chief Justice Christine M. Durham wrote for the court. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We see no justification for allowing the state to use the interest in enforcing the driver's license requirement as the predicate for permitting officers to conduct investigations for which they would otherwise need a warrant, probable cause, or reasonable suspicion." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(8) BILL BACKERS LINK DRUGS, CABLE THEFT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
TAMPA - What do illegal access to cable service and the drug trade
have to do with each other? | ||||||||||||||||||
Plenty, say those who recently pushed a bill through the Florida Legislature to further safeguard the cable industry against piracy. | ||||||||||||||||||
Officials say cable operators lose $350 million every year in
Florida, and the state loses $30 million to $40 million in taxes
because of cable theft. | ||||||||||||||||||
And Rep. Dave Murzin, R-Pensacola, co-sponsor of House Bill 79, said authorities have frequently recovered narcotics and guns during raids on stash sites for lifted cable boxes, descramblers and other equipment used to illegally receive and transmit cable signals. | ||||||||||||||||||
Charlie Dudley, general counsel of the Florida Cable | ||||||||||||||||||
"One of the things they do to launder their [drug] money is sell
cable descramblers," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The arguments seem to substantiate the need for cracking down. | ||||||||||||||||||
But some in the technology, electronics and telecommunications
industry say the broadness of the legislation could have a negative
effect on their businesses. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A disturbing story out of Canada shows why mild decriminalization
efforts by the nation's ruling party won't be enough to curb the
worst prohibition-inspired crime. According to a story in the
Winnipeg Free Press, an innocent young woman was kidnapped and
sexually assaulted by drug gang members because they thought she was
withholding information about the theft of eight ounces of marijuana
and a few thousand dollars. | ||||||||||||||||||
Back here in the states we are reminded that some of the worst prohibition-inspired crime is committed by police themselves. In California, just as an officer from the notorious Rampart Division is being sentenced for drug charges, press reports indicate the officer was also allegedly also involved in even worse crimes, including armed robberies of drugs committed in uniform. | ||||||||||||||||||
In New York, a NYC former cop was sentenced for laundering more than
$4 million while he was on the force. And the rot of corruption
apparently spread beyond police to prosecutors in Tulia, Texas,
where the imprisoned continue to wait for justice. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(9) DRUG TRADE TRIGGERS HORROR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SUSPECTED drug traffickers out for revenge kidnapped and raped an
18-year-old woman whose only connection to an earlier drug robbery
was the colour of her skin -- she's black like the robbers -- police
said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||
They say the attack is an example of how innocent people can be
victimized by those involved in Winnipeg's drug trade -- a trade
police say is partly controlled by the Hells Angels. | ||||||||||||||||||
"This is an example of what can go wrong," Winnipeg police Major
Crime Insp. Blair McCorrister said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Police say the woman was kidnapped April 7 from a city residence by
three men armed with guns. Court documents reveal a semi-automatic
pistol and imitation handgun were used. | ||||||||||||||||||
Earlier, two men armed with guns had forced their way into a home on
Mapleglen Street in the Maples area of the city and stole $3,000 in
cash and half a pound of marijuana from a man police believe is an
associate of the Hells Angels. | ||||||||||||||||||
McCorrister said the woman was abducted because the suspects thought
she knew who stole the marijuana and money. | ||||||||||||||||||
Police say the three kidnappers took the woman to various locations
as they conducted a citywide search for the drug robbery culprits.
She was constantly threatened with death along the way. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(10) OFFICERS RAN RING FOR ROBBERIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A former LAPD officer awaiting sentencing on drug trafficking
charges is suspected of running a criminal network with friends,
relatives and other police officers who stole drugs, money and
property in home-invasion style robberies, sometimes while wearing
police uniforms, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Ruben Palomares, a former officer in the Rampart Division, and his
cohorts allegedly used police squad cars while committing some
robberies, the newspaper reported, citing law enforcement documents
and people with knowledge of the investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||
Palomares, 33, is expected to be sentenced Wednesday on separate
drug charges. He pleaded guilty last year and could receive 15 years
in prison. His attorney declined to comment Sunday, pending
sentencing of his client. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(11) EX-COP GETS SIX YEARS FOR MONEY LAUNDERING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A former New York City police officer from Glen Cove has been
sentenced to 6 years in prison for laundering as much as $4 million
for Colombian cocaine dealers in Queens. | ||||||||||||||||||
Homero Zapata, 40, was arrested after he was stopped three years ago
for speeding on Interstate 95 in South Carolina and police found
cocaine-contaminated cash in his car. A drug-sniffing dog had been
called to the scene by sheriff's deputies, who said Zapata was
acting too nervously for a speeder, according to Assistant U.S.
Attorneys Bonnie Klapper and Wayne Baker. | ||||||||||||||||||
The dog detected $200,000 in the back seat of his car under a
blanket that Zapata's wife, Liliana Lopez-Zapata, had been using,
prosecutors said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Zapata was suspended and then resigned from the police department
after the speeding stop. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(12) FILING FAULTS DA IN TULIA DRUG CASES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutor Knew Undercover Agent Wasn't Credible, Attorneys Say | ||||||||||||||||||
The Swisher County prosecutor who got drug convictions against 38 defendants in Tulia knew that a key witness, undercover agent Tom Coleman, was not credible but aggressively pursued the cases anyway, court documents urging dismissal of all the convictions argue. | ||||||||||||||||||
The filing states that District Attorney Terry McEachern gave
conflicting accounts - during the original trials and again during a
deposition before a special hearing in March called to review the
convictions. He testified about when he became aware of negative
information about Mr. Coleman's past, including his arrest on a
theft charge from Cochran County. | ||||||||||||||||||
The 129-page court filing is part of a recommendation to the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals to dismiss all the convictions. The
documents were prepared by special prosecutors and attorneys for the
38 defendants and signed by retired state District Judge Ron Chapman
of Dallas County, appointed to review the cases. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The findings are very significant because they make clear that the
constitutional violations related not only to Coleman but to the
entire prosecution team," Mitch Zamoff, an attorney for one of the
defendants, said Thursday. "Although [Judge Chapman] found Coleman
to be totally unbelievable, it is clear that this case is about more
than just one rogue police officer." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
With Canada set to announce the decriminalization of the personal
possession of up to 15 grams of cannabis (while toughening of
penalties for cultivation and distribution), this week's hemp and
cannabis section focuses on reactions to this policy shift from both
sides of the border. Our first story looks at Canada's attempt to
mollify the U.S. federal government over its proposed | ||||||||||||||||||
This week's fourth story looks at the expanding U.S. attack against
the makers and distributors of drug paraphernalia. In Boston, local
police have taken over where the DEAs operation "Pipe Dreams" and
"Headhunter" left off, busting local head shops and pipe dealers in
the city's downtown core. And finally, the controversy surrounding
High Times founder Tom Forcade's will simply refuses to die - former
editor Andy Kowl and "Ask Ed" author Ed Rosenthal are in an Arizona
court fighting for a share of stocks willed to "loyal employees" by
Forcade over 20 years ago. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(13) CANADA, U.S. TO HAVE POT TALK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Justice Minister Martin Cauchon travels today to Washington to allay
U.S. concerns over the Liberal government's plan to ease its
marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||
Cauchon is expected to outline the government's plan to beef up the
National Drug Strategy, with more emphasis on law enforcement
against traffickers and "illegal growing operations" and less
emphasis on individual, recreational users of pot. | ||||||||||||||||||
Although the government has signalled for months it will
"decriminalize" marijuana, the plan triggered an outcry from law
enforcement officials in the United States. Now, sources say, the
Liberals have decided to retain possession of small amounts as a
"criminal" offence while at the same time easing sanctions under the
law. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(14) OTTAWA'S MARIJUANA PLAN IRKS U.S. (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada's plan to decriminalize marijuana, making possession of the
country's potent weed no more serious than a traffic ticket, has the
Bush administration fuming. The view from Washington is that the
mellowing of Canadian drug law will result in even more smuggled
bales of ''B.C. Bud,'' ''Quebec Gold,'' and ''Winnipeg Wheelchair''
-- the last so named because of its supposedly disabling effect on
users -- reaching American pot puffers. | ||||||||||||||||||
For years, Canadian courts, if not police, have taken a far more lax attitude toward marijuana than do most jurisdictions in the United States. Such a laissez-faire approach, according to law enforcement officials on both sides of the border, has enabled biker gangs and Asian organized crime groups to make Canada a powerhouse of hydroponic pot production, with thousands of high-tech, indoor operations in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec yielding hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of heady product. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(15) NOW, THEY DON'T LIKE OUR MARIJUANA PLAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. drug czar John Walters frowns on Canada's plan to decriminalize
marijuana possession. | ||||||||||||||||||
The move could unleash a flood of pot into the United States, he warns, and provide funds for terrorists. In retaliation, the Americans might insist on careful inspection of all Canadians crossing the border, causing long delays and disrupting business. | ||||||||||||||||||
"You expect your friends to stop the movement of poison to your
neighbourhood," Walters says. | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada suggests, in return, that Walters and his boss, President
George W. Bush, chill out. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(16) POLICE TAKE AIM AT GLASS PIPES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"I sell everything for tobacco," he said, "and that's what everybody
talks about when they come in here - whether it's for water pipes,
hand-held ones, or dry pieces." | ||||||||||||||||||
The police aren't buying that explanation, though, and for now,
nobody will be buying bongs at Sugar Daddy's. | ||||||||||||||||||
"They are selling pipes and other products used for smoking
marijuana and other drugs, and it's in violation of general laws,"
said Boston Detective Sergeant Daniel Linskey, who is leading an
effort to stop stores he calls "head shops" from selling items that
police believe are used with illicit substances. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Although Linskey said his efforts to curb head shop activity sprang
from an antiterrorism patrol of Kenmore Square, where he "happened
to discover Sugar Daddy's, who then told me about the Hempest," the
local crackdown follows national initiatives. In late February,
federal authorities charged 55 people in 10 states with trafficking
illegal drug paraphernalia as part of Operation Pipe Dreams. Among
those arrested were 17 owners and employees of head shops in Idaho
and Eastern Oregon. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft also has
announced four indictments against national distributors of drug
paraphernalia in Michigan, California, and Texas as part of another
investigation, Operation Head Hunter. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(17) OWNERS OF PRO-POT MAGAZINE FEUD WITH FORMER EMPLOYEES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
At the center of the fight is a trust fund established by Forcade in
1974, the year High Times was founded, to control the magazine and
its related businesses. The fund's only assets were shares in High
Times. | ||||||||||||||||||
The shares were to be distributed to loyal employees who had served
for more than 10 years on Jan. 1, 2000 - effectively transferring
ownership of the publication from the nonprofit trust to longtime
employees. | ||||||||||||||||||
Those shares were distributed, but former editor and publisher Andy
Kowl and columnist Ed Rosenthal, the self-described "guru of ganja,"
say they were unfairly cut out of the deal. They blame members of
Forcade's family, including his cousin John Goodson, the Phoenix
lawyer who oversaw the trust. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-23) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
UN officials expressed muted "concern" last week over recent Thai
police death squad activity. In a meeting with Thai senators who
oppose the death squad killings of drug "dealers", UN bureaucrats
decried the large numbers of victims. | ||||||||||||||||||
Two pieces from Vancouver, Canada this week. The first is a column
profiling drug reform activist Ethan Nadelmann, following a recent
drug policy conference in that city. And the mayor of Vancouver
finds himself in hot water, after a human rights group report
exposed police brutality tactics in the crackdown on drug users in
the Downtown Eastside. | ||||||||||||||||||
In New Zealand last week, authorities and media struggled to contain
the furor that erupted after it was revealed an epileptic patient
was advised by an Epilepsy Association officer to take cannabis for
relief. The man, a stroke victim, was prosecuted after his small
medicinal grow was raided by police. Approved medical experts were
trotted out before the press to denounce use of cannabis and urged
continued punishment of users. | ||||||||||||||||||
And finally this week from the UK, recent reports show questions continue to swirl around the circumstances of heroin poster-girl Rachel Whitear's death. Whitear's parents allowed sensational photos of a dead Rachel grasping a heroin-filled syringe to be used in a shock-ad anti-drug campaign in 2001. But now questions about the events surrounding her death point to the possibility foul play was involved, and that Rachel did not die of an overdose, experts say. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(18) UN CONCERNED BY HIGH DEATH TOLL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Senate Panel Wants Govt Accountability | ||||||||||||||||||
The United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime expressed concern
yesterday over the high number of deaths as a result of the
three-month policy on drug suppression in Thailand. | ||||||||||||||||||
Although showing satisfaction about the Thai efforts in tackling
drug problems, Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the UN
agency, was worried about the high number of victims. | ||||||||||||||||||
He raised his concerns in talks with Sorajak Kasemsuwan, assistant
to the foreign minister. | ||||||||||||||||||
About 2,300 people were victims of drug-related killings during the three-month drug suppression campaign. Only half of them have obvious involvement in the drug business. Police admitted to only 51 extra-judicial killings blaming the rest on drug traffickers killing off each other to prevent police getting to the top bosses. | ||||||||||||||||||
``We hope the Thai government will investigate all cases and abide
by its laws,'' Mr Sorajak quoted him as saying. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(19) WAR-ON-DRUGS ARGUMENTS BASED ON BIG LIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Ethan Nadelmann blew into town from south of the border a few days ago to provide a much-needed antidote for the drug-war hysteria being spread here in recent weeks by his countrymen. Nadelmann is the New York-based head of the Drug Policy Alliance, considered the leading drug policy reform organization in the United Sates. | ||||||||||||||||||
It's not his first trip to Vancouver. Over the years, he worked with former Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen and city staff to develop Vancouver's four-pillar drug strategy. He describes Vancouver as an "outpost of pragmatic European thinking" and "a symbol of science-based public health drug policy in North America." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Success in Vancouver and nationally on the issues of harm reduction
and decriminalization of pot would seriously undermine the American
war on drugs. It would also make Nadelmann even more dangerous to
the White House as a reformer than he is now. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(20) MAYOR TO MEET HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Former foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy has agreed to
facilitate a meeting next month between Mayor Larry Campbell and a
New York-based human rights group that delivered a damning report
last week on the police department's drug crackdown in the Downtown
Eastside. | ||||||||||||||||||
Campbell asked the members of Human Rights Watch to return to Vancouver after he criticized their report for reflecting "only a partial understanding of the issues at work" and casting a pall over the four-pillar drug strategy and the city's reputation. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Titled "Abusing the User: Police Misconduct, Harm Reduction and
HIV/AIDS in Vancouver," the report alleges instances of police
"beating and otherwise mistreating drug users in custody, conducting
public strip searches and using petty allegations such as jaywalking
to justify stops and searches." | ||||||||||||||||||
The report also documents a significant reduction in the use of
needle exchange programs and other life-saving services related to
fear of police abuse and harassment among drug addicts. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(21) CANNABIS RISKY RELIEF FROM STROKE EFFECTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Lookout Point man's life changed 18 months ago when he suffered a
stroke. Now, the 32-year-old is racked daily by shaking and
seizures. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The husband, who was previously a self-employed shearer, is unable
to work and his wife has had to leave her job in order to care for
him, after he underwent brain surgery to remove a blood clot the
size of an egg from his head. | ||||||||||||||||||
Epilepsy drugs appeared to do little to stop the fits, the couple
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
An Epilepsy Association field officer quietly advised the couple
marijuana was sometimes effective in treating the symptoms of
epilepsy and they decided to give it a go. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
This came to an end last month, when police found 11 cannabis plants
in their house and another in the garden. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"If that's what works for us, we should be left alone. We aren't
doing anyone any harm and we haven't got a lot going for us at the
moment." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(22) THORACIC SOCIETY URGES CAUTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Dunedin man appeared before the Dunedin District Court last week
after he was caught growing cannabis to help relieve the
debilitating symptoms of epilepsy. At the same time, the medical
profession and politicians debated the merits of cannabis as
therapy. JOANNA NORRIS talked to two people with differing
perspectives. | ||||||||||||||||||
The harm caused by inhaling smoke into the lungs may outweigh the
therapeutic benefits of cannabis, University of Otago respiratory
specialist Associate Prof Robin Taylor believes. | ||||||||||||||||||
Prof Taylor, president of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, said more research on the therapeutic benefits and alternative forms of cannabis was needed before any law changes. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Thoracic Society believed the therapeutic benefits of active
ingredients in cannabis needed to be carefully studied through
appropriately conducted clinical studies. | ||||||||||||||||||
If the studies showed symptoms were relieved, the law should be modified to allow the use of cannabis in a medical setting. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Thoracic Society believed it was important to make the
distinction and urged consideration of medical trials before any law
change. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(23) HEROIN DEATH GIRL'S PARENTS SET FOR BODY TO BE EXHUMED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The parents of Rachel Whitear, whose dead body was found kneeling
with a syringe in its hand, are preparing themselves for the
prospect of having her body exhumed. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Photos of the 21-year-old were used in Rachel's Story, an anti-drugs
video for schools, released last year. The video shows how an
intelligent young woman from a good family, with a place at
university, died a drug addict in a bedsit in Exmouth, Devon, in May
2000. | ||||||||||||||||||
But it has since emerged that Whitear might not have died of an
overdose. There are disturbing questions surrounding her death --
and the possibility of someone else being involved. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
At the inquest into Whitear's death, coroner Richard van Oppen
concluded he was 'certain' she did not die of an overdose.
Toxicology results showed there was not enough heroin in her blood
to kill her, and he recorded an open verdict. | ||||||||||||||||||
Questions have also been raised over the police investigation into
her death. Her flat was not fingerprinted until two weeks after she
died, the family believe, because police regarded her death as just
another drug overdose. There were also question marks over the role
of Whitear's on-off boyfriend Luke Fitzgerald. She had left him the
day before. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
'I have never used the word 'murdered', but there is the possibility
she was not alone when she died. There are still a lot of questions
to be answered. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Televised Discussion About Cannabis Reform In Canada | ||||||||||||||||||
Phil Lucas, Matt Elrod, David Hadorn and Ted Smith on "The New VI" (CIVI-TV Channel 53, Victoria) discussing Canadian decrim: | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
How Canada Could Have A Major Impact On The World By Legalizing
Cannabis | ||||||||||||||||||
By Richard Cowan at Marijuananews.com | ||||||||||||||||||
"If the Canadian politicians and people just knew the power that
they have to change the world by restoring freedom to the American
people and the global victims of the drug war, I think that they
would rise to the occasion." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Drug Czar John Walters discusses Canadian drug policy on the
O'Reilly Factor. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Original Reefer Madness Radio Shows | ||||||||||||||||||
A bunch of the original reefer madness radio shows, covering from
the 1920's through 1950's | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Pictures from the DrugSense dinner at the NORML conference, San
Francisco, April 2003. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court Of Canada Hears Constitutional Challenge | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Moral Obligation | ||||||||||||||||||
By Gary Storck | ||||||||||||||||||
In announcing his global AIDS initiative, President George W. Bush said, "Fighting AIDS ... is rooted in the simplest of moral duties: When we see this kind of preventable suffering ... we must act." | ||||||||||||||||||
With November 2004 fast approaching, Bush's plan seems designed to
show the president has a heart. But, if Bush really cares about
preventable suffering, why has he directed Attorney General John
Ashcroft to go after California medical marijuana providers and
patients? | ||||||||||||||||||
Research has shown medical marijuana is beneficial to AIDS patients,
and this is particularly true in Africa, where people may be too
poor to even buy an aspirin, much less have a pharmacy to buy one
at. A medicine like cannabis, which can be grown locally, may be the
only medicine these AIDS patients have access to. | ||||||||||||||||||
Yes, President Bush, we must act. Acknowledge that it is immoral to
withhold a medicine from patients who can benefit and do everything
in your power to make medical marijuana legally available both at
home and abroad. | ||||||||||||||||||
Gary Storck, | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
300 Weeks Of DrugSense | ||||||||||||||||||
By Stephen Young | ||||||||||||||||||
Published continuously since 1997, DrugSense Weekly distributes its
300th issue today. | ||||||||||||||||||
DSW has evolved significantly from its first edition, which can be viewed here http://www.drugsense.org/dsw/1997/ds97.n01.html | ||||||||||||||||||
Issue 300 isn't radically different from issue 299 or 301, but everybody loves a round number, so it's hard to resist this opportunity to reflect, and to thank many collaborators. | ||||||||||||||||||
We aim to offer a comprehensive sampling of the most interesting and
relevant drug policy news each week. It wouldn't be nearly as
comprehensive without the Media Awareness Project and its
volunteers. | ||||||||||||||||||
MAP is the primary conduit for news about drug policy - not only for
DSW, but for the whole drug policy reform movement. Hardworking
newshawks and editors ensure that the DrugSense Weekly staff have
several hundred items from which to choose for every issue. My
fellow editors at DSW sift through each seven-day batch to pick
about two dozen articles we find to be most crucial. | ||||||||||||||||||
Philippe Lucas and Doug Snead utilize their wealth of knowledge about drug policy to chose important articles and put them into context with insightful comments. Matt Elrod exercises his keen news sense to pick late breaking items for the "This Just In" section. Matt also selects most of the "Hot Off The Net" items before formatting the whole newsletter for both email and the web. | ||||||||||||||||||
Our "Letter of the Week" feature, which includes a weekly vote among MAP editors and DSW staff, is coordinated by Derek Rea. Richard Lake tabulates "Letter Writer of the Month." And, until recently, Jo-D Harrison had been recording the sadly defunct audio version of DSW. | ||||||||||||||||||
The current staff was fortunate to inherit a solid format developed by Tom O'Connell, the newsletter's longest serving editor, who cranked out about 180 issues of DrugSense Weekly during his tenure. During most of that time, Tom did the bulk of the work on the newsletter with backup from Matt, Richard, Jo-D and Mark Greer. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tom Hawkins edited the first 30 issues or so. I've never met or
corresponded with him, but I applaud Tom for getting the ball
rolling. | ||||||||||||||||||
Finally, thanks to all the readers out there, particularly any who
have taken the time read this far. Good for you for continuing to
follow the news about the drug war, disturbing as it often is. I
think I can speak for the other staff in saying we know you can use
the information from DSW to work for positive change. We hope your
efforts will lead to this newsletter's redundancy before we put out
another 300 issues. | ||||||||||||||||||
If you ever have any comments, questions or criticisms regarding
DrugSense Weekly, please send them along - | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"Whatever happened to using the law to make things illegal, and
e-mail to send messages?" | ||||||||||||||||||
-- The Ottawa Citizen, Cheech And Cauchon, May 15 2003, | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense
offers our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what
DrugSense can do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO DRUGSENSE ON-LINE | ||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||
|
 | current issue | this issue |