| May 23, 2003 #301 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) MOVE WOULD LET DRUG CZAR CAMPAIGN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
House Republicans are attempting to lift long-standing restrictions on
a $1 billion anti-drug advertising program in a move that would allow
the White House to use taxpayer funds to engage in partisan political
activities and campaign against candidates or ballot measures favoring
the legalization of drugs.The provision was quietly tucked into a bill
reauthorizing the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
and is set for markup today before the House Government Reform
Committee. Currently, the office and its director, who is commonly
referred to as the drug czar, are barred by law from using their annual
$195 million anti-drug advertising budget for partisan, political
purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Under language included in a reauthorization bill authored by Rep. Mark
Souder (R-Ind.), the prohibition would be lifted when the ONDCP
director is acting "to oppose an attempt to legalize the use" of any
illegal drug. The measure was approved last week by the Government
Reform subcommittee on criminal justice, drug policy and human
resources. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As written, the provision would allow partisan radio, print and
television ads if the purpose were to oppose the legalization of drug
use. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) H - THE SURPRISING TRUTH ABOUT HEROIN AND ADDICTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In 1992 The New York Times carried a front-page story about a
successful businessman who happened to be a regular heroin user. It
began: "He is an executive in a company in New York, lives in a condo
on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, drives an expensive car, plays
tennis in the Hamptons and vacations with his wife in Europe and the
Caribbean. But unknown to office colleagues, friends, and most of his
family, the man is also a longtime heroin user. He says he finds heroin
relaxing and pleasurable and has seen no reason to stop using it until
the woman he recently married insisted that he do so. 'The drug is an
enhancement of my life,' he said. 'I see it as similar to a guy coming
home and having a drink of alcohol. Only alcohol has never done it for
me.'" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Times noted that "nearly everything about the 44-year-old
executive...seems to fly in the face of widely held perceptions about
heroin users." The reporter who wrote the story and his editors seemed
uncomfortable with contradicting official anti-drug propaganda, which
depicts heroin use as incompatible with a satisfying, productive life.
The headline read, "Executive's Secret Struggle With Heroin's Powerful
Grip," which sounds more like a cautionary tale than a success story.
And the Times hastened to add that heroin users "are flirting with
disaster." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) PM BACKS CANNABIS USE FOR PAIN RELIEF (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
PRIME Minister John Howard has backed the use of cannabis for pain
relief provided it is in specially-produced tablet or spray form and
dispensed by doctors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But Mr Howard emphasises his views on the medical use of cannabis
should not be interpreted as condoning any softening of Australia's
drug laws, condemning the WA Government's move to relax marijuana laws
as crazy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In a surprise endorsement of a controversial medical trial to be
undertaken in New South Wales, Mr Howard said he had no personal
objection to making cannabis available to patients suffering chronic
and debilitating pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Provided it is strictly as outlined by the NSW Premier, provided where
it is only where there is no mainstream treatment available, and
provided it doesn't take the form of being permitted to grow marijuana
- in other words it's dispensed in some way, tablet or spray - I would
give it in-principle support," Mr Howard told The West Australian
yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
On Tuesday NSW Premier Bob Carr announced a four-year trial of the
medicinal use of cannabis, under strict conditions, for the treatment
of chronic pain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) IS THE MEDICAL BOARD ON A CRUSADE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Three physicians and about a dozen cannabis-using patients attended the
May 8 meeting of the state Medical Board's Enforcement Committee to
decry investigations of doctors who have made a subspeciality of
monitoring cannabis use. The Board's chief Investigator, David
Thornton, sought to reassure the Committee (and the concerned citizens)
that his agents were not out to persecute doctors who approve marijuana
use. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Thronton described one "egregious example" of a physician whose "medical office contained a computer, a printer and a cash register. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There were no other instruments in that office. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There was very little the physician was doing medically in that office
to determine whether there had been an indication for a prescription.
You walked in, you paid your money, your name was put in the computer,
and a letter was generated." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Thornton testified that The Board has conducted only nine
marijuana-related investigations since the passage of Prop 215. "Nine
investigations in six and a half years is not a lot of investigations,"
he said. He supervises about 100 investigators working out of 12
offices statewide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
They are currently looking into about 1,500 cases; another 400-500 have been forwarded to the Attorney General for possible prosecution. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Of the nine doctors who have been investigated by the Board in
connection with marijuana approvals, eight fall into the
"subspecialist" category: Stephen Banister, Tod Mikuriya, William
Eidelman, Marian Fry, Frank Lucido, David Bearman, Mike Alcalay, and R.
Stephen Ellis. The ninth is a doctor named Robert Newport who
prescribed a drug for a family member on which the family member
overdosed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Since Newport had also approved the family member's use of marijuana,
Thornton lists the case as marijuana-related. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-11) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Office of National Drug Control Policy attempted a massive power
grab this week as federal legislators considered funds for the drug
czar's office. Proposed legislation would withdraw federal anti-drug
money from states that have medical marijuana laws, and allow the
ONDCP to use its propaganda funds to officially counter local
citizen initiatives. As of press time, the committee working on the
legislation had postponed a vote. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As the professional prohibitionists in Washington plan to spend
billions campaigning against anything that offends them, the Media
Awareness Project of DrugSense is under attack from a Canadian
member of parliament for "manipulating the media." We at DrugSense
would like to remind MP Randy White that if he feels strongly about
drug issues, he can use our services to manipulate the media too. In
fact, our feature article in DrugSense Weekly this week offers tips
on writing letters to newspapers. Of course, before he starts
writing, Mr. White might want to use the MAP archives to educate
himself on the issue first - his comments on drug policy indicate he
has quite a bit to learn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
For example, White might be surprised by a study publicized in the New York Times this week suggesting that drug testing in schools doesn't deter drug use. Schools in the study that drug tested students actually reported higher rates of drug use compared to schools that did not drug test students. But will it work for cabbies? Cab drivers could be compelled to take drug tests by local authorities under legislation approved in North Carolina this week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Speaking of bad legislation, the State of Illinois took a lead on
the path to worse drug policy last week as it banned the sale of the
popular stimulant ephedra. In more optimistic news from Boston, a
city councilor took a lead on the path to better drug policy by
suggesting it's time to end the drug war. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) HOUSE GOP TARGETS MEDICAL MARIJUANA STATES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington -- House Republicans are pressing for legislation that
would strip federal anti-drug money from local police in states that
have passed medical marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Groups opposed to strict criminal enforcement of marijuana laws said more than $11 million could be eliminated from state and local police budgets in "high-intensity" drug trafficking areas. The money would go to federal law enforcement officers on the grounds that local police would not be able to enforce marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The House bill is sponsored by Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., chairman of
the House Government Reform criminal justice subcommittee. His staff
director, Chris Donesa, said the switch is needed because the
federal government would take on an added burden, but emphasized the
money would be used in the same high-intensity areas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) BUYING INITIATIVES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A House committee is marking up a bill on May 22 that could strike
at the heart of ballot initiatives nationwide, significantly
undermining the efforts of drug policy reformers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A little-known segment of a bill reauthorizing the mission of the
nation's anti-drug agency could give the drug czar authority to use
taxpayer dollars to pay for media campaigns directly targeting state
ballot measures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If the bill passes, and agency chief John Walters uses public funds
to hammer initiatives the administration opposes, it would run
counter to the whole purpose of ballot initiatives, establish a
disturbing precedent for federal electioneering and hobble advocates
pushing for saner alternatives to the War on Drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) DRUG LOBBY STRONG: WHITE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A strong American pro-drug lobby group is manipulating the media
with an organized and effective letter-to-the-editor lobbying
campaign, said Langley-Abbotsford MP Randy White. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The purpose is to sway public opinion to support legalizing drugs,
he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The MP noted that the Abbotsford News, and many other newspapers,
publish letters from authors who live all over North America in the
opinion pages. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Newspaper opinion pages are a hot target spot for this lobby group,
said White. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Many of those letters to the editor are not truly representing the
public opinion of residents in our area," said White. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Those letters are basically providing free advertising to this
lobby group that wants drugs legalized." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) is headquartered in California and
states that its mission is to inform the public and promote
"balance" in media coverage about drug policies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) STUDY FINDS NO SIGN THAT TESTING DETERS STUDENTS' DRUG USE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug testing in schools does not deter student drug use any more
than doing no screening at all, the first large-scale national study
on the subject has found. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The United States Supreme Court has twice empowered schools to test
for drugs - first among student athletes in 1995, then for those in
other extracurricular activities last year. Both times, it cited the
role that screening plays in combating substance abuse as a
rationale for impinging on whatever privacy rights students might
have. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
But the new federally financed study of 76,000 students nationwide,
by far the largest to date, found that drug use is just as common in
schools with testing as in those without it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It suggests that there really isn't an impact from drug testing as practiced," Dr. Lloyd D. Johnston, a study researcher from the University of Michigan, said. "It's the kind of intervention that doesn't win the hearts and minds of children. I don't think it brings about any constructive changes in their attitudes about drugs or their belief in the dangers associated with using them." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) NEW LAW TO REQUIRE DRUG TEST BEFORE CAB DRIVER GETS LICENSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cab drivers in Jacksonville soon could be facing a drug test before
they can get a permit to drive a taxi. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The General Assembly approved a bill Wednesday that gives
municipalities the option of making taxi companies require
applicants to pass a controlled substance examination before issuing
a license. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It will be sent to the governor for his approval. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) EPHEDRA BAN OK'D (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Legislation prohibiting the sale of dietary supplements containing
the herbal stimulant ephedra passed the General Assembly late
Thursday, paving the way for Illinois to become the first state in
the nation to institute an outright ban. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Rod Blagojevich has pledged to quickly sign Senate Bill 1418,
which passed the House, 117-0. The Senate passed the bill 56-0 in
March. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ephedra-based products have been blamed for dozens of deaths,
including that of 16-year-old Lincoln Community High School football
player Sean Riggins, who took it along with caffeinated soda,
believing his athletic performance would be enhanced. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ephedra has been blamed for 117 deaths and 18,000 reports of adverse
effects, including seizures, heart attacks and strokes. It is
extracted from the Chinese herb Ma Huang and stimulates the body's
metabolic rate by increasing the heart rate and constricting blood
vessels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ephedra products are marketed as weight-control supplements and are sold everywhere from gas stations to discount superstores. They account for more than $1 billion in worldwide sales annually. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Under the legislation, any retailer or person caught selling ephedra
would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one
year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Repeat offenders would be charged
with a Class 3 felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and
a $20,000 fine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) CITY COUNCILOR: IT MAY BE TIME TO END WAR ON DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Boston city councilor Chuck Turner stunned his colleagues yesterday
by suggesting that heroin, cocaine and other drugs be legalized and
that America's war on drugs was harmed by the overthrow of the
Taliban. Turner, of Roxbury, likened anti-drug laws to the failure
of Prohibition while speaking at the weekly council meeting in
response to another councilor's proposal for a hearing into the
city's anti- drug strategy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We have spent billions on a war on drugs that is not working,"
Turner said. "Perhaps we need to end that war. I'm saying we need to
look at it and maybe spend those billions on education and treatment
and job training." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Turner claimed heroin in Boston neighborhoods has increased since American forces ended Taliban rule in Afghanistan in November 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (12-16) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Another innocent victim loses their life in the drug war, this time
after a heart attack induced by a drug raid in New York City. No
drugs were found; police blame a faulty tip. Also last week, the
victim of a mistaken drug raid in Nevada who fortunately survived
his ordeal was awarded a paltry $20,000 by the state. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Missouri, members of a drug task claim to be stunned that a
colleague committed perjury on multiple occasions by testifying that
he was present at the scene of drug raids when he was really
somewhere else. The incidents have led to the dismissal of many
cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Mississippi, the unpredictable head of the state bureau of
narcotics is causing another commotion. Now he says he's willing to
give special treatment to some drug offenders, and that he's also
willing to break the law to punish them if they don't live up to his
expectations. Finally, a new report estimates that more than 600,000
people will be released from prison into society this year facing a
tough economy, a lack of drug treatment and the stigma of
incarceration. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) WOMAN DIES AFTER POLICE MISTAKENLY RAID HER APARTMENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A 57-year-old Harlem woman preparing to leave for her longtime city
government job died of a heart attack yesterday morning after police
officers broke down her door and threw a concussion grenade into her
apartment, the police commissioner said. They were acting on what
appeared to be bad information about guns and drugs in the
apartment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly apologized to the family of the woman,
Alberta Spruill, and said he had ordered an investigation of the
entire incident and suspended the use of the grenades, which are
meant to stun and disorient people with a loud noise and a flash. He
said that he had reassigned the lieutenant who made the decision to
use the grenade to administrative duties, pending the investigation,
and that he would review how the grenades were used and search
warrants carried out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Kelly said that the officers were executing what is known as a
no-knock search warrant based on information provided by a drug
dealer, who told the police that his supplier stored guns and drugs
in Apartment 6F at 310 West 143rd Street. The dealer had told the
police that he had seen armed people in the apartment on three
occasions and that there were dogs inside, Mr. Kelly said. But in
the raid at 6:10 a.m., the officers found only Ms. Spruill, and
realized the information was wrong. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) CARSON CITY MAN AWARDED $20,000 FOR BUST MISTAKE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A Carson City man whose apartment was mistakenly raided by drug
agents was awarded $20,000 on Tuesday by the state Board of
Examiners. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Also awarded damages were a man whose rights were violated by Nevada
Division of Investigation officers and a trucker whose trailer was
wrecked at an underpass. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary of State Dean Heller said the damage claims raise serious
concerns whether some agencies know the extent of the legal problems
they create for the state. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It took Tri-Net narcotics agents about 10 minutes to realize they
had broken down the wrong door in attempting to make a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"It was supposed to be a 10-month investigation," Noah said at the
time. "You'd think they can get the address right." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) CHARGES STUN DRUG TASK FORCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Alleged Perjury By Deputy Leads Judge To Toss 3 Cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A former Cole County deputy and member of the Mid-Missouri Unified
Strike Team and Narcotics Group, or MUSTANG, is charged with three
counts of perjury after allegedly lying under oath during the jury
trials of three men. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In his request for an arrest warrant for former Cole County
Sheriff's Department Deputy Michael Isenberg, Cole County
Prosecuting Attorney Bill Tackett alleges that Isenberg, 28, told
juries in three drug cases that he was present during drug buys when
in fact he wasn't present. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The complaint says Isenberg perjured himself on May 7, 2002, Sept.
5, 2002, and April 8, 2003, while testifying in the trials of
Quentin R. Williams, Randall A. Robinette and Roy G. Chism,
respectively. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
All three were convicted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) MBN CHIEF: SOME DRUG USERS GET 2ND CHANCE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bureau of Narcotics Director Frank Melton says he is taking an
unconventional approach to his job, giving some young drug users a
chance to straighten out their lives rather than face criminal
charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"There's a big gap between what's legal and what's right," Melton
said Tuesday to The Associated Press staff in Jackson. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Melton said Tuesday that MBN agents are trying to help three or four
Jackson teenagers straighten out their lives after they were caught
with marijuana. He said some are high school seniors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I didn't put those kids in jail. I put them on Plan B," Melton
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He said under "Plan B," MBN agents check on the young people at odd
hours to make sure they're attending school and are at home when
they're supposed to be. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"I've taken away the possibility of them having a criminal record at 17 years old trying to start their lives off," Melton said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Now, I have told the kids - and this is not legal but I'm going to continue to do it - that if they don't finish high school, that if they're not enrolled in somebody's college in August, I will pull those charges back up and I will prosecute them," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) STUDY WARNS OF RISING TIDE OF RELEASED INMATES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
More than 625,000 former prisoners will be coming back into U.S. society this year, part of a record flow of inmates who will face crushing obstacles in finding work and housing and repairing long-fractured family ties, according to a newly released study. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Sentencing Project, a Washington-based nonprofit agency, found that returning inmates often face so many restrictions after long stretches of incarceration that the conditions amount to more years of "invisible punishment." The study warned that their chances of staying out of prison and remaining crime-free are greatly diminished by laws that were promoted as being tough on crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Denial of welfare benefits for even minor drug-related offenses,
rejection of former inmates for accommodations in public housing, a
lack of drug-treatment programs, restrictions on employment and a
dearth of transitional housing are some of the factors that make it
difficult for former inmates to reenter society, the study's authors
say. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"There's always been an American belief that once you pay your debt,
you are free to rejoin the community, but these policies now form a
sort of permanent second-class citizenship," said Marc Mauer,
assistant director of the Sentencing Project and co-editor of the
report. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (17-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
It was bad news for cannabis activists and actors alike in the U.S. last week. In another chapter in the continuing saga of the Rosenthal trial, Judge Charles R. Breyer upheld Ed's conviction despite receiving letters from 5 of the original jurors apologizing for their guilty verdict and asking the judge to grant a new trial. Rosenthal will appeal the decision to the Ninth Circuit Court. Just to add to this continued American injustice, actor/comedian Tommy Chong has entered a guilty plea on the charges of manufacturing and distributing drug paraphernalia. He is set to be sentenced on September 11th. Has America's sense of Justice gone up in smoke? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
And more news from Canada this week: documents obtained by the Globe
and Mail newspaper suggest that Canada's new Cannabis Reform Bill
will make possession of less than 15 grams a non-criminal offense
with fines of $150 for adults and $100 for teens, and that driving
and smoking will not be a criminal offense. And in Ontario Superior
Justice Steven Rogin has gone even further, ruling that possession
of less than 30 grams of cannabis is no longer against the law in
Ontario. The ruling, which will be appealed by the federal
government, has upheld a lower court decision by Ontario Justice
Phillips. Lastly, the U.S. is told not to bully Canada by Harvard
Law professor Alan Dershowitz, who encourages Canada to pursue a
more rational drug policy and to ignore American attempts to intrude
on its sovereignty. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) JUDGE SAYS JURORS CAN'T RETRY CONVICTED MARIJUANA GROWER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A federal judge has denied a new trial for an advocate of medicinal
marijuana, Ed Rosenthal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In his decision on Friday the judge, Charles R. Breyer of Federal
District Court, upheld Mr. Rosenthal's conviction in February on
charges of growing marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Rosenthal, 58, faces up to 85 years in prison when he is
sentenced on June 4. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
His prosecution underscored the federal government's position that
medical marijuana was illegal, that the drug had no medical value
and that the will of California voters had no effect on federal drug
law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) CHONG PLEADS GUILTY TO U.S. DRUG CHARGE WITH REGIONAL LINK | ||||||||||||||||||||||
His business is up in smoke, but comedian Tommy Chong was all smiles
Tuesday outside federal court after admitting that he and the
California company that bears his name sold illegal drug
paraphernalia over the Internet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Chong, who partnered with Cheech Marin in a string of films about
two ne'er-do-wells who saw the world through a haze of marijuana
smoke, was released on $20,000 bond after he pleaded guilty to a
charge of conspiracy to sell and offering for sale drug | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The paraphernalia -- glass bongs used for smoking -- were made by
his family company, Nice Dreams Enterprises of California, which
does business as Chong Glass. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(19) LIGHTER PENALTIES FOR MINORS IN CANADIAN POT BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Smoking pot while driving would not be a crime and penalties for minors would be lower than for adults, according to draft legislation decriminalizing the possession of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Cannabis Reform Bill was to have been introduced to Parliament
this week, but sources report that Prime Minister Jean Chretien
ordered it delayed until the end of May to give caucus members more
time to consider it, and to let Justice Minister Martin Cauchon
fine-tune its provisions. Details of those provisions have been
obtained by The Globe and Mail. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As currently envisioned, the act would make possession of less than
15 grams of marijuana (the equivalent of about 20 joints) a
non-criminal offence punishable by a fine of $150 for adults.
Minors, however, would be charged only $100, although police would
notify their parents of the offence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(20) NO LAWS BAN POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA IN ONTARIO, COURT RULES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Canada has no laws prohibiting marijuana possession, an Ontario
Superior Court judge said yesterday in a ruling that will be binding
on judges in the province and may soon be picked up across the
country. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Justice Steven Rogin upheld yesterday a lower-court decision,
based on complex arguments, that has already had far-reaching
influence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The new ruling means that proposed federal legislation to decriminalize possession of a small amount of marijuana would actually "recriminalize" it, defence lawyers said yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
While the new law would impose fines for pot possession, yesterday's
ruling effectively eliminated any sanctions for simple pot
possession in Ontario, they said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(21) DON'T BULLY CANADA, U.S. TOLD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Canada shouldn't be "bullied" by the United States into shelving its
proposed drug law changes, says a prominent Harvard University law
professor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Alan Dershowitz added in an interview in Toronto that the White
House czar pushing Ottawa to scrap plans to decriminalize marijuana
possession "should mind his own business. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Our drug czar is causing enough problems in (the United States). He
shouldn't be trying to expand the parameters of his negative effect
into Canada," Dershowitz said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Canada is absolutely right in decriminalizing, or considering
decriminalizing, possession of small amounts of recreational drugs
and the United States has no business telling Canada what to do," he
said. "We have been an utter failure in the United States in our
approach to drug control and we should not be exporting bad
policies." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (22-25) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Vancouver, Canada last week, protesters demanded the opening of a
safe-injection center which had been promised by Mayor Larry
Campbell. Groups of protesters took part in demonstrations at
selected intersections. Drug users in the area are said to have now
opened their own safe injection centers, while waiting for
politicians to act. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
More revelations from North Korea last week as two "high-ranking
defectors" claimed that the North Korean government itself was
making and selling heroin and amphetamines. One defector explained
opium is "processed and refined into heroin under the supervision of
seven to eight drug experts from Thailand." The drug "confession"
was made to the US Congress, which naturally left off any mention of
the role drug prohibition plays in making heroin-smuggling so
lucrative to begin with. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The New Zealand government is trumpeting a "drug action plan," that
will surely stem the tide of prohibited amphetamines, assert
politicians. The "19-point plan" battling "methamphetamine use,"
will be approved next week. It comes on the heels of a recent
parliamentary reclassification of meth as a class A drug. The "new"
policy predictably raises penalties for the use and cooking of meth,
as well as increases police funding. Expect a sharp rise in use of
this drug in New Zealand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In Australia, the government of New South Wales announced the
nation's first medical cannabis trials would start by the end of the
year. The move, which created a media flurry in Australia, was an
effort to stop sufferers from feeling like criminals, explained NSW
Premier Bob Carr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
(22) SIT-INS DEMAND DRUG SITE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
About 50 people in the Downtown Eastside staged a protest Saturday,
demanding that North America's first legal place to shoot heroin be
opened immediately. Chanting, "We're not going to take this
anymore," the group calling itself the Coalition for Harm Reduction
staged brief sit-ins at a number of intersections. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Since April 6, some community groups have been running an
unauthorized safe-injection site in the Downtown Eastside while
waiting for a legal one to open. "It's appalling," said site user
Janis Carr. "All levels of government say they support the opening
of a site, but none have done anything about it. That's why we were
forced to open our own." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell promised to have a safe-injection
site in operation as soon as possible after his election in
November. But it was put on hold while Health Canada develops a
process for applying for a safe-injection site. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(23) N KOREA DEFECTORS DETAIL DRUG RINGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
IN a dramatic confession to the U.S. Congress, two men identified as
high-ranking North Korean defectors today said they had been
intimately involved in test-firing Pyongyang's missiles in Iran and
a state-sponsored drugs ring. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
His compatriot, identified only as defector number one, said he was a former high-level government official in the Stalinist state. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"North Korea must be the only country on earth to run a drug production-trafficking business, on a state level," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He alleged Kim Jong-Il's regime, desperate for hard currency, produced large quantities of heroin and methamphetamines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Opium was sent to a pharmaceutical plant in Chungjin city, and
"processed and refined into heroin under the supervision of seven to
eight drug experts from Thailand", he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"This is all done under the direct control and supervision of the
central government." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(24) GOVT HAS SPEED DRUG ACTION PLAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Government has a 19-point plan to combat methamphetamine use,
Parliament was told yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said it would be approved
next week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"The emphasis is on dealing with drug exploiters who are committing
serious criminal offences by making and supplying the drug, while
also having compassionate treatment facilities for the victims," he
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"We need to rehabilitate those who are on the drug and show no tolerance for those who are manufacturing or selling it." | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Parliament has reclassified methamphetamine as a class A drug,
effective from May 30. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Last week's budget contained $6.6 million over four years for an
additional two police anti-drug teams. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Anderton said last year police located and closed 140
laboratories and they would be even more effective with the new
funding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
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(25) MEDICINAL CANNABIS TRIAL APPROVED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
THE nation's first trial of cannabis for medical relief will begin in NSW by the end of the year, a move that Premier Bob Carr said yesterday would stop decent people feeling like criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mr Carr seized on the pleas from a 62-year-old bowel cancer sufferer and an 80-year-old prostate cancer sufferer, who used the drug to relieve pain and nausea, to push the scheme in parliament. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"No decent government can stand by while fellow Australians suffer
like that, while ordinary people feel like criminals for simply
medicating themselves," he said during question time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Under the four-year plan, the Government will establish a new Office
of Medicinal Cannabis within the Health Department. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Feast of Lies | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Augusto Fernandez C. published by The Narco News Bulletin | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Supposed Reduction in Colombian Coca Crops in 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
US Drug Warrior Tries To Fool Canadians On Cannabis | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sounds Like Canada CBC Radio Show | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Ware, Pierre-Claude Nolin, Marc Emery, Ethan Nadelmann, Eugene
Oscapella and others discuss cannabis issues, on Sounds Like Canada
with Bernard St. Laurent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
About 90 minutes in length and about 10MB in size. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.salvagingelectrons.com/sounds/cbc-slc-20030523-cannabis.rm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Kubby's Bid Fond Farewell To Pot TV | ||||||||||||||||||||||
POT TV News Hosts Steve and Michele Kubby are "making room for
others," and moving on to new projects. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ethan Nadelmann on CTV's Question Period | ||||||||||||||||||||||
One of the more articulate voices in the Drug Law Reform
Movement, Ethan Nadelmann, of the Drug Policy Alliance dispels
American criticism of Canada's plans of decriminalization with
reason and logic. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Oliver North- Drug Trafficking Hero on the Lecture Circuit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Should we forgive and forget, or hold him accountable for his
extensive past drug trafficking ties? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
by Celerino Castillo 3rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
posted at DrugWar.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||
May 22, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
GW and Bayer Announce Marketing Agreement on Pioneering New
Cannabis-based Treatment | ||||||||||||||||||||||
21 May 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
GW Pharmaceuticals plc (GW) and Bayer AG (Bayer) have entered into an exclusive marketing agreement for GW's cannabis-based medicinal extract product, to be marketed under the Sativex(tm) brand name. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Bayer has obtained exclusive rights to market Sativex in the UK.
In addition, Bayer has the option for a limited period of time
to negotiate the marketing rights in other countries in | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
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LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Costly Revenge | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Johnny Wood | ||||||||||||||||||||||
To The Editor: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
In response to Jerry W. Sanders ("Your Views," May 2): I'm in a
minimum security prison serving 12 years for selling $20 worth of
marijuana to a paid informant. The reason he did this was to keep
out of prison on the same charges. The reason I'm in prison is
because I wouldn't do the same to someone else. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I'm 47 years old and in poor health. I've added it up and it's going
to cost Sanders and other taxpayers over $100,000 to take care of me
through my sentence. There is no justice in the "war on drugs." The
public will soon see that this is a war on people, your family and
friends. It's a war on poor and oppressed people. Revenge? Perhaps
it's mine through the high cost of housing me. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Johnny Wood, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A Few Tips on Writing Letters to the Editor | ||||||||||||||||||||||
By Mark Greer | ||||||||||||||||||||||
MAP appreciates and encourage all letter writing efforts on behalf of drug policy reform. We believe it to be one of the most powerful and cost effective methods of drug policy reform advocacy that anyone can engage in. See http://www.mapinc.org/lte/value.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Below are a few tips to hopefully make your efforts even more
productive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Please remember to include your name, city, state, and phone number on all Letters to the Editor (LTEs). This is a requirement to be considered for publication for most newspapers. Your phone number will not be published but is only used occasionally to insure that you wrote it or to notify you if the intent to publish the letter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
We encourage you to forward your LTE to for posting to the sent LTE list. Please DO NOT simply CC Mark Greer. Many papers will not consider any letter that has been copied to others. Instead you should either BCC it or send a separate copy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If you send out a lot of LTEs you might want to consider signing up
to the SentLTE Email list. Subscribing will enable you to watch what
others are writing, share LTE ideas and suggestions, and save me
from forwarding the letters to the list for you ( I don't mind of
course but every bit of time I can save goes to some other important
tasks) To join the Sent LTE list see: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
You may also want to join the MAPTalk chat list if you haven't
already. It's a great place to exchange drug policy info and ideas.
http://www.mapinc.org/lists/index.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||||
There also is a wealth of information and tips on letter writing and
activism at: http://www.mapinc.org/resource/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
If you would like to research and/or copy LTEs that have been
published in the past there is a vast collection of drug policy
related LTEs at http://www.mapinc.org/lte/ We enthusiastically
encourage plagiarism from this valuable archive. Please copy and
paste from this archive and send your version to other papers at
will. The archive can be searched quickly on key words so you can
easily find a previously published LTE on the subject you are
addressing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
One MAP Motto is "A letter a month that's all we ask." We endorse
and appreciate the efforts of our more prolific letter writers, of
course, but if all activists made a habit of writing a bare minimum
of one LTE a month would could have a much more effective Media
Awareness Project. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
So by all means please "write away" and please keep up the great
work! | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
"Nobody can compel me to be happy in his own way. Paternalism is the
greatest despotism." - Immanuel Kant | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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