| Oct. 10, 2003 #321 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) NEW ENGLAND IDENTIFIED AS HOTBED FOR HEROIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Bush Official Suggests School Drug Testing At Boston Summit | ||||||||||||||||||||
BOSTON -- New England has the worst heroin problem in the nation, and
one possible step to reduce it might be broad-based drug testing in
the schools, President Bush's director of drug policy told the
region's governors Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I think it's an idea that has to be supported in local communities,"
said John Walters, director of the federal Office of Drug Control
Policy. "Unfortunately, communities usually make the decision after
more than one tragic death." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney called the anti-drug summit held in
Faneuil Hall Thursday "unprecedented." It focused largely on how to
deal with epidemic heroin use in New England, which is three times the
national average. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Karen P. Tandy, administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, offered a grim analogy: "It is big business. You might
as well be sitting at the border of Colombia in this New England
region." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) COURT WEIGHS RIGHTS OF RECOVERED ADDICTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- Taking up a key case under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Supreme Court justices grappled Wednesday with whether an employer can refuse to rehire a recovering alcoholic and drug abuser who has beaten his addictions and wants his job back. | ||||||||||||||||||||
A lawyer for Joel Hernandez, a former employee of Hughes Missile
Systems Co., argued that the company's refusal to consider him for a
job after his rehabilitation violated the Americans with Disabilities
Act. He urged justices to affirm a decision by a California-based
federal appeals court that permitted Hernandez to pursue his lawsuit
against Hughes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The purpose of the ADA is not to segregate disabled individuals who can work from the job market," said lawyer Stephen Montoya. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But a lawyer for the company, now part of Raytheon Co., argued that
Hernandez had no legitimate claim. The company had a neutral policy
against rehiring any worker terminated for misconduct, and Hernandez
was treated no differently than a worker fired for harassment or
theft, said attorney Carter Phillips. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Clement, a lawyer for the Bush administration, said the policy
does not single out for unfair treatment people who are addicted, but
instead "treats all people the same." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) SENTENCING PANEL LEAVES JUDGES WITH SOME ROOM FOR LENIENCY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Sentencing Commission, under pressure from
Congress and the Justice Department to restrict judges from handing
down sentences milder than federal guidelines, recommended some new
restrictions -- but stopped short of a blanket ban. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Among the recommendations, which will go to Congress: Guilty pleas or
plea bargains are no longer grounds for a sentence shorter than the
guidelines dictate; nor are restitution to victims by the accused,
community ties, mitigating circumstances or drug or alcohol
dependence. But the Justice Department's representative, Eric Jaso,
rebuked the panel and said the recommendations would have little or no
effect on federal judges who ignore the guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Even as the panel voted, staff members worked to clear pathways in the
aisles of the commission's offices here, which are laden with hundreds
of boxes of judges' sentencing-report records that have been coming in
daily since Congress required more specific record keeping in April.
The office gets about 5,000 new reports each month from judges.
Attorney General John Ashcroft also has directed U.S. attorneys to
file their own reports to Washington when judges depart downward from
the sentencing guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY TOUGHEN MARIJUANA BILL TO APPEASE CRITICS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
OTTAWA (CP) - The Liberal government sent cautious signals Thursday
that it may agree to toughen some provisions of its marijuana
decriminalization bill in response to domestic critics. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But Justice Minister Martin Cauchon stood fast against harsher attacks
from south of the border, rejecting claims by John Walters, the U.S.
drug czar, that Canada's approach is out of step with the rest of the
hemisphere. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The double-barrelled message came as the Liberals moved to fast-track legislation that would eliminate the threat of jail terms and criminal records for anyone in possession of 15 grams or less of pot. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The government is listening and willing to consider amendments to ensure we get it right," Cauchon told the House of Commons. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cauchon bristled, however, when Walters delivered a speech in
Washington describing Canada as "the one place in the hemisphere
where things are going the wrong way." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"He should maybe look in his own backyard," Cauchon retorted, noting
that more than 10 U.S. states have eliminated criminal penalties
for simple possession of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"If it's not correct to move in that direction, maybe he should start
spending some time talking to his own states." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The big news comes out of Canada this week, where national cannabis
policy continues to evolve day by day. The laws seem to be improving
ever so slightly there, and even the Prime Minister appears ready to
toke up, whereas in the U.S. horrible policies remain unmolested
even by judicial review. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court
declined to hear a case from South Carolina where a woman who gave
birth to a still-born baby is serving a 12-year prison sentence
based on the assumption that the mother's cocaine use killed the
baby. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The peculiar morality of the drug war is being dragged into churches in Kentucky, where police are literally preaching to the choir while further demonizing methamphetamine. Members of the congregation may be swayed, but business people in a Tennessee town are starting to realize there's a price to be paid for meth crusade. Pharmacy owners say they simply cannot comply with a new law that requires them to place any products that could be used for meth manufacture behind the counters. Law enforcement appears unsympathetic, and store owners may have to get much bigger counters. Also standing up to the madness is New Jersey Weedman Ed Forchion, who is challenging the ability of the state to collect DNA for a police database. And a federal judge who stood up against plea bargaining is ready to accept pleas again, after some improvements in the system. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) COURT REJECTS APPEAL OF DRUG-USING MOM (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Horry County Woman Was Convicted In 2001 Of Killing Her Fetus By
Using Cocaine | ||||||||||||||||||||
Pregnant women who use illegal drugs likely will not face a new wave
of prosecutions in South Carolina despite a U.S. Supreme Court
ruling Monday clearing the way, state prosecutors said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The nation's top court without comment declined to hear the appeal
of Regina McKnight, an Horry County woman convicted in 2001 of
killing her fetus by using cocaine. The court's decision, in effect,
upholds her conviction. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In May, McKnight asked the high court to overturn a sharply divided
January ruling by the S.C. Supreme Court. | ||||||||||||||||||||
She is serving a 12-year prison sentence for homicide by child abuse
- the stiffest penalty, her lawyers say, for any South Carolina
woman convicted of harming her unborn child. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) OFFICIALS ENLIST CHURCHES FOR WAR ON METH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
ALLEGRE -- Before the lights go down, Bob Gregory makes sure to look
into the eyes of every person sitting before him. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After all, he's there to tell them bad news. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But even worse, he's there to show them something that he hopes they
will never forget. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Tonight, we will talk about your worst nightmare," he told the
congregation at Bellview Baptist Church in the Allegre community.
"Tonight, you will see how methamphetamine destroys the brain and
only leaves the body to wither and die on the vine. It's worse than
any cancer." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gregory, a sheriff's deputy in Logan County, is part of a new
program that partners law enforcement with churches, civic groups
and schools in the fight against what Gregory calls a meth
"explosion" in Todd County. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) METH LAW A PAIN TO STORE OWNERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A new Crossville city ordinance controlling the sale of products
containing an ingredient used in the manufacture of methamphetamine
has some store owners upset. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The business owners said they support efforts to control the sale of
ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine, but do not agree
with the limiting access to products containing a combination of
active ingredients. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"My employer has probably 300 SKUs in combination. There is no way
we can pull all those out and put them behind the counter," said a
member of the group of retailers and pharmacists that met Tuesday
morning. "You don't understand how many products that is. You go
down my cough and cold aisle and there isn't going to be anything
left. If it was single-entity, I could support you." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Crossville Police Chief David Beaty said, "We have an epidemic in
Cumberland County and the Upper Cumberland area in the manufacture
of meth." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) S.J. PAROLEE TRIES TO BLOCK DNA TESTING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
New State Law Forces Convicts To Give Samples For Database | ||||||||||||||||||||
A PembertonTownship parolee is seeking an injunction in the Federal
U.S. District Court (Camden) to block a law that requires anyone
convicted of a crime in New Jersey to provide a DNA sample for a
state database. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The law also requires the 110,000 people already in prison or under
the supervision of either a parole or probation officer to submit
DNA by providing saliva samples. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"It's just another example of the government interfering with
people's lives," said Edward Forchion, who is enrolled in the
state's Intensive Supervision Program. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Forchion, who tried to change his legal name to NJWeedman.com, is
head of the Legalize Marijuana Party. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2000 for
possessing 25 pounds of the drug. He served 17 months before being
admitted to the 20-month parole program in April 2002. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Forchion, who received a letter from the state warning he could be
arrested if he fails to submit to the testing, filed a motion for
the injunction Tuesday in Federal Court on the grounds that the
measure is an ex post facto law. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) FEDERAL JUDGE LIFTS BAN ON PLEA DEALS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Compromise grants defendants more rights to appeal | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Chief District Judge Graham Mullen, who four months ago stopped
accepting most plea agreements, is permitting the deals again
following a compromise that gives federal criminal defendants more
rights to appeal their sentences. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The compromise also gives Mullen -- and the district's three other
federal judges -- the power to decide if issues that come up during
sentencings should be reviewed by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals in Richmond, Va. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mullen described himself as gratified at the compromise reached by
defense lawyers and government prosecutors. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"This compromise protects the rights of defendants when unexpected issues come up that were not the subject of negotiations in plea agreements," Mullen said. "It seems to me to be appropriate that defendants are able to appeal if the issues are unusual enough." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police in Sarasota, Florida have been filling the department coffers by seizing the assets of foreign drug dealers lured to the city. While this operation is clearly designed to make money, other drug war efforts seem destined to waste money. A police anti-drug operation at a Virginia university was analyzed by the school newspaper, which found lots of expenses with very little pay-off. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Meanwhile the Memphis, Tennessee police department is being rocked
by revelations that someone has been stealing drugs and money from
storage areas for years. Any Memphis officers who are worried about
corruption charges might be heartened by the out come of the
"Riders" trial in Oakland, where a group of police were accused of
violent lawlessnes and corruption. A hung jury was unable to bring
convictions against anyone in the group. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) SARASOTA CASHES IN ON FORFEITURES BY LURING DRUG DEALERS TO (Top)AREA | ||||||||||||||||||||
Critics Label Operations As 'Money-Making Scheme' | ||||||||||||||||||||
SARASOTA - Dealers from as far away as England, Venezuela and Panama
are being lured to Sarasota to buy illegal drugs from undercover
detectives posing as dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Police arrest the dealers and seize the cash and vehicles left
behind. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since 2001, more than $1.3 million has flowed into the department
under federal and state forfeiture laws that allow police to keep
money and valuables seized from suspected dealers. Sarasota police
say the drug deals take dangerous people off the street, and the
cash supplements the police budget and helps some charitable causes.
Much of the money was used to perpetuate the undercover operations
and pay for law enforcement conferences and supplies. According to a
Sarasota Herald- Tribune review: | ||||||||||||||||||||
About $240,000 went to pay for conferences for officers, including training trips to Orlando, Panama City Beach and Las Vegas. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since 2001, a confidential informant has been paid about $115,000 to
help with the operations. The department has given $100,000 to
several other informants. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) BREAKING DOWN THE DRUG BUST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drugs are not a problem at the University. Either that or some of Charlottesville's finest should consider a career change. | ||||||||||||||||||||
At a press conference last Friday, local authorities announced the indictment of 33 people on charges of drug distribution and sales and the seizure of marijuana, cocaine, opium, ecstasy and psilocybin mushrooms worth $20,000-22,000. As of Monday afternoon, 15 of those indicted had been arrested, including eight University students. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The arrests mark the conclusion of a 15-month undercover operation
conducted by the Jefferson Area Drug Enforcement (JADE) Task Force.
The investigation, dubbed "Operation Spring Break Down," involved
agents from the Charlottesville, University and Albemarle County
police departments, the Virginia State Police, the Drug Enforcement
Administration, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. These law enforcement officials
were aided in the investigation by several University students and
employees. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
JADE's conduct last week was out of all proportion to the severity
of the suspects' alleged crimes, and it should cause the
Charlottesville community to question the professionalism of its law
enforcement officers. Rather than raiding bars, tricking suspects
and crowing about their menial triumphs in a public press
conference, JADE officials should have made the arrests quietly and
moved on to other projects. The business of the police is law
enforcement, not showmanship. | ||||||||||||||||||||
There are two possible conclusions to be drawn from Operation Spring
Break Down: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Either drugs are not a major problem at the University, or JADE is
not competent to investigate the problem of drugs at the University.
If 33 indictments and $22,000 worth of narcotics are the extent of
the University's drug problem, then our law enforcement resources
could be put to better use. But if those seizures and indictments
are representative of a larger drug problem, they're a sorry prize
for 15 months' work. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) MPD THEFT PROBE GROWS AUDIT INDICATES PROBLEMS AS EARLY AS 1999 (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stolen drugs and other goods may have been going out the back door
of the Memphis Police Department's property and evidence room for
five years or more, with proceeds used to purchase expensive homes
and cars in three states. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Federal indictments unsealed Tuesday say the crimes occurred between
February 2002 and last week, and link three current or former
property room workers to a cocaine ring with ties to Atlanta. And
federal, state and local officials on Wednesday would not comment on
the scope of the investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But as far back as 1999 a state audit of the police Organized Crime
Unit cited inadequate controls over the recording of confiscated
cash in the property room. An internal audit noted "severe storage
and overcrowding problems." Auditors said cash, guns and narcotics
were not removed from the property room on a timely basis and
marijuana was found on the floor. Police promised to fix the
problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And it was learned Wednesday that one of the 16 defendants is a
former property room worker, Patrick D. Maxwell, 32. He faces
federal cocaine charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In 1998, Maxwell worked as an attendant in the property room making
$18,975 a year. His resignation letter that year said he was leaving
for work that put his talents to better use. | ||||||||||||||||||||
On Tuesday, federal agents seized Maxwell's three-story mansion in
Lithonia, Ga., an Atlanta suburb. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) POLICE DEFENDANTS ESCAPE CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Jury in Long-Running Oakland Prosecution Acquits 3 Ex-Officers on 8
Charges, Deadlocks on 27 Others | ||||||||||||||||||||
In a police corruption scandal that sparked outrage and sent
shudders throughout Oakland, jurors Tuesday acquitted three former
officers of eight crimes and deadlocked on most of the 35 charges
that accused the three of terrorizing neighborhoods and making false
arrests during the summer of 2000. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday's outcome ended 56 days of deliberation in Alameda County's
longest criminal trial that began one year ago after a rookie cop
exposed an alleged seedy underworld in which officers, known as the
Riders, lived by their own rules. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Superior Court Judge Leo Dorado declared a mistrial on the other counts after the jurors told him that after exhaustive debate they could not reach unanimous verdicts on the remaining 27 charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeals this week will allow for
the licensing of cannabis dispensaries, effectively putting an end
to the government monopoly on the cultivation and distribution of
cannabis. Although many activists hoped and expected the court to
strike down Health Canada's program as unconstitutional, the changes
to the Marijuana Medical Access Regulations are seen by most as a
slight improvement to the highly criticized program. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Our second story features Canadian Prime Minister Chretien trying to show the world that he and his countrymen do indeed have a sense of humour, quipping to a reporter that he just might take up cannabis smoking after he retires in February. The plan backfired when the joke was lost on members of the opposition and provincial police organizations, who criticized Chretien for sending the wrong message to kids. And one more from Canada this week, where House leader Don | ||||||||||||||||||||
Boudria has reconstituted the non-partisan House of Commons Special
Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs to study the government's
controversial Cannabis Reform Bill. Boudria would like to see the
bill - which would set up a system of high fines for possession of
15 grams or less and doubles the penalty for personal cultivation -
passed by the end of fall. | ||||||||||||||||||||
And from San Francisco, a look at the slow and cautious
implementation of Proposition S, which calls for the city to explore
the possibility of growing and distributing cannabis to those with a
physician's recommendation. Lastly, a comprehensive examination of
Switzerland's stalled cannabis reform. And now, like the Prime
Minister of Canada, I'm going to retire (to my living room) and
smoke a joint. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) OTTAWA'S POT RULES UNCONSTITUTIONAL, COURT RULES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A federal scheme that supplies marijuana to those with serious
medical problems unconstitutionally forces users into the black
market to | ||||||||||||||||||||
obtain a reliable supply, the Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The court said the current federal licensing scheme obliges those
who are ill to act like criminals, obtaining illicit supplies "with
all the risks of tainted product this presents. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Exposing these individuals to these risks does not advance the objective of public health and safety," it said in a 3-0 ruling. "Rather, it is contrary to it. Equally, driving business to the black market is contrary to better narcotic drug control." | ||||||||||||||||||||
The court stopped short, however, of striking down the entire scheme. It opted to tinker with the law to make it comply with the constitutional right to life, liberty and security of the person. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) WORLD WONDERS IF HE'S GONE TO POT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
It was meant as a joke, but that didn't stop Prime Minister Jean
Chretien's quip about possibly smoking pot in retirement from making
headlines around the world yesterday. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Reuters put Chretien's crack on cannabis -- made in an interview
with the Free Press -- on its global wire service. The story was
picked up by the U.S. Internet Web site, the Drudge Report, which
rose to fame with its scoops on the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky
scandal. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Now Canada can understand why Prime Minister Jean Chretien seems to
be in such a hurry to push through a law decriminalizing marijuana,"
the Reuters story said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) BOUDRIA STRIKES NEW COMMITTEE TO STUDY CANADIAN POT BILL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Government House Leader Don Boudria says he remains committed to
getting the Liberals' bill to decriminalize marijuana possession
adopted this fall, adding that he will move to strike a new
committee this week to study the legislation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The Cannabis Reform Bill, C-38, has been languishing on the Order
Paper for weeks amid speculation that its sponsor, Justice Minister
Martin Cauchon, may cave to increasing pressure from both inside and
outside Parliament to scuttle the controversial piece of
legislation. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But last Friday, Mr. Boudria said he secured a deal with the other
parties to start moving the bill again. He said once the bill hits
second reading in the House, expected later this week, he will hand
it to the newly-reconstituted House of Commons Special Committee on
the Non-Medical Use of Drugs, which did a study on the use and
regulation of marijuana last year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(17) LOW PROFILE FOR CITY'S POT PROP (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Voters may have approved Proposition S, the measure that calls on
city officials to explore the possibility of growing and
distributing medical marijuana in The City, but now the tricky part
begins -- actually implementing it. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The key is to keep your head down and avoid city involvement as
much | ||||||||||||||||||||
as possible," said District Attorney Terence Hallinan, who counseled
against using city land to harvest medical marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Instead, The City's role should include authorizing | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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(18) POT STILL HIGH ON LIST OF ILLEGALS FOR SWISS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Philippe, 36, works for that abiding symbol of Swiss respectability -- a bank. He also likes to relax with a joint of marijuana after work. Until very recently, it looked as though his habit might soon cease to be a crime. But then Parliament killed government-backed legislation that would have decriminalized cannabis consumption. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Last month's narrow 96-89 vote was ironic, because it leaves Switzerland -- a pioneer in drug liberalization -- on the "no" side in a gradual European trend toward softening marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Bans on cannabis and alcohol have always proved a failure," said
Pascal Couchepin, Switzerland's straitlaced health minister, arguing
passionately but fruitlessly for passage of the reform. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Incensed over marijuana use in youth, prohibition officials on the
National Drug Commission in Bermuda are launching a campaign against
the "epidemic". Bermuda's Health Minister Patrice Minors urged
people to admit what marijuana does to children, and to "discredit
the current misconceptions surrounding marijuana." Attacking the
idea that marijuana is safe was a priority for the commission.
Reverend Andrew Doughty, chairman of the commission, cast out the
demon of marijuana legalization specifically, and decried attempts
to legalize cannabis. (The reverend did not mention those jailed for
cannabis crimes in Bermuda.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
New Zealand grappled with the issue of drug testing 10,000 staff of Air New Zealand last week as a full bench of three Employment Court judges heard testimony from occupational health experts who criticized the plan as flawed. Noting that tests are unreliable detectors of impaired performance and subject to cheating, health expert Dr Ian Gardner also testified that the planned drug testing was modeled after the punitive U.S. model, not from any real concerns for health or safety. The hearings are part of a union challenge to the proposed drug testing rules. Dr Gardner noted forced referrals to employee assistance programs may be unethical, the training of company "bladder-police" was shoddy, and that informed consent of the patient was questionable in any event. | ||||||||||||||||||||
After a spate of attacks on police in Alberta, Canada, police fear
that methamphetamines may be the reason. Two RCMP officers were sent
to the hospital last week after a suspect believed to have taken
methamphetamines attempted to steal their cruiser. Edmonton
narcotics officer Det. Darcy Strang pinpointed the "skyrocketing"
use of meth as the culprit: "they're finding more meth than ever.
They just seem to be inundated with meth, maybe due to the fact it's
easier to make out there." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Edmonton police Chief Bob Wasylyshen thinks "drugs" are to blame.
Admitting that addicted people "are desperate to commit criminal
acts that would provide them with money to obtain drugs," the police
chief did not mention the effect drug prohibition has on the cost of
prohibited, black-market drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
In an ironic reversal of the usual pattern, a missionary with dual
Canadian-US citizenship is imprisoned in Mexico for smuggling
"drugs" into Mexico from the US. Steve Frey, 48, imprisoned in
Reynosa, Mexico, spoke in an interview last week from his cell to an
Ontario-based TV program. Frey claims he smuggled the donated
medical supplies, including over-the-counter cough syrups and
decongestant tablets, as part of a medical relief effort to
aboriginals in rural Mexico. Mexican officials, pointing to
ingredients that could be used to make meth, countered that Frey did
not file required drug importation permits. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(19) NDC MOUNTS CAMPAIGN AGAINST MARIJUANA 'EPIDEMIC' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The National Drug Commission (NDC) is launching a campaign against
an "epidemic" of marijuana use among the youth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The NDC will also address the public at Harbour Nights next
Wednesday. Health Minister Patrice Minors said: "Marijuana use is an
epidemic. It is time we faced facts about marijuana and what it is
doing to our youth. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We as a community need to discredit the current misconceptions
surrounding marijuana and increase awareness and information
regarding its effect on people." | ||||||||||||||||||||
She said the perception that marijuana was a safe drug was untrue.
The NDC says the campaign aims to reduce the use of the drug and
boost public awareness. NDC chairman Rev. Andrew Doughty said
attempts to legalise marijuana were misguided. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(20) 'BLADDER-POLICE' FLAWED SAYS EXPERT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Air New Zealand's controversial bid to introduce random drug and alcohol testing for its 10,000 staff drew references at a court hearing yesterday to "bladder-police" and urine cheating kits. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Australian occupational health expert Dr Ian Gardner told a full
bench of three Employment Court judges in Auckland that drug-testing
was an unreliable measure of impaired performance, and open to
cheating by hard-core abusers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
This included buying "certified drug-free urine" on the internet for
self-insertion through a catheter to fool even the closest
inspection. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Testifying for six aviation unions in a major legal challenge, Dr
Gardner said Air NZ's proposal leaned heavily on a punitive model
from the United States rather than genuine health and safety
motives. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The model's origins come out of a moral direction of the Reagan
White House to create a drug-free America - it was seen as a good
thing to set the moral tone." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr Gardner, who has worked for IBM and is a consultant to the
Australian Defence Force, said forced referrals to employee
assistance schemes were "not regarded as good industrial or medical
practice, and may be unethical". | ||||||||||||||||||||
He wondered how informed, voluntary consent was possible in such
cases, and pointed to a lack of policy detail about the training of
the "bladder-police" who would collect urine samples. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
There was no evidence of a drug problem at Air New Zealand and he
pointed to an absence of research by ACC into substance abuse as a
cause of workplace accidents. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Dr Gardner conceded a possible case for testing pilots and other
workers such as crane operators if their employers had reasonable
cause to suspect alcohol or drug-related impairment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
But he said alcohol abuse was at least 10 times more | ||||||||||||||||||||
likely than drugs to cause workplace accidents, and criticised a
proposed exemption by the airline for limited liquor consumption for
business purposes if approved at a senior level. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Unions lawyer John Haigh, QC, said Air New Zealand's proposal was
"highly intrusive of some of our most fundamental rights: the right
to privacy and the right to refuse medical treatment". | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(21) DRUG RAGE BLAMED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Drugs - particularly methamphetamines - may be a major factor behind
a recent string of attacks on police, say cops. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Two Mounties were hospitalized Monday after they tried | ||||||||||||||||||||
to stop a suspect from stealing an RCMP cruiser. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Since September, there has been a rising number of incidents where
suspects have tried to ram police cruisers or run down officers with
stolen cars. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Edmonton police Chief Bob Wasylyshen said he believes a lot of the
recent attacks on police officers stem from drugs and drug-related
crime. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"A lot of these people are drug-dependent and are desperate to commit criminal acts that would provide them with money to obtain drugs," he said. "And when they are confronted they are already under the influence of drugs and they resort to desperate measures." | ||||||||||||||||||||
Edmonton police drug-section Det. Darcy Strang said methamphetamine
use is "absolutely skyrocketing" in Edmonton and outside the city.
"Outside of the city, they're finding more meth than ever. They just
seem to be inundated with meth, maybe due to the fact it's easier to
make out there." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
But finding specific reasons why more offenders are | ||||||||||||||||||||
trying to ram police cruisers is elusive, said Edmonton police
spokesman Sgt. Chris Hayden. "Desperation is one, and these guys
trade stories in the Remand," he said. "I think the media certainly
have something to do with it." | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
(22) MEXICO IMPRISONS CANADIAN ON DRUG CHARGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
A Canadian-U.S. missionary credits the "hand of God" for protecting
him while he languishes in a Mexican prison on what he and his
supporters say are trumped-up drug charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"I want to get out of here so bad you wouldn't believe it," Steve
Frey, 48, said from his cell in a federal | ||||||||||||||||||||
prison in Reynosa, Mexico. Although conditions are difficult, Mr.
Frey said, he is not being abused or mistreated. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Frey, a citizen of Canada as well as the United States, spoke by
cellphone in a call arranged and broadcast last week by Listen Up, a
religious television program based in Burlington, Ont. | ||||||||||||||||||||
He was arrested on Aug. 19 in Reynosa and charged with transporting a prohibited, controlled substance, skirting checkpoints and taking items into the country without permission and without paying duties. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
For several years, Mr. Frey, a nurse, has taken medical supplies and
over-the-counter pharmaceuticals to impoverished Huasteca
aboriginals in the Valles region of Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Among the drugs were bottles of cough syrup and decongestant tablets. According to Mr. Frey and his supporters, Mexican authorities are concerned about the drug ingredient pseudoephedrine. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Flor De Liz Vasquez, a spokeswoman for the Mexican | ||||||||||||||||||||
embassy, said there is a permit system for importing donated medication, as well as laws controlling prohibited drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
"The laws have to be appropriately applied," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Frey had a lawyer, who could call witnesses, one of whom
testified that the medications contain no illicit substances. Mr.
Frey had access to Canadian and U.S. consular officials and was
visited by family and friends. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nevertheless, he remains in prison, worried that if convicted, he
could receive a 20-year term. | ||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Outspoken Rush Limbaugh Should Speak Out | ||||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
The Three-and-a-half Years Miracle | ||||||||||||||||||||
Narco News to Suspend Publishing Indefinitely on October 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Al Giordano, Publisher, October 10, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Narco News regrets to inform our readers that your trilingual
online newspaper will suspend publishing new reports on | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Thank You Jeb and Jim | ||||||||||||||||||||
by Stephen Heath, posted DrugWar.com, October 8, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A happy Florida Governor Jeb Bush | ||||||||||||||||||||
Elected officials do jobs that are often thankless. Well we're
here to thank Governor Jeb Bush and his drug czar James | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Upcoming Marsha Rosenbaum Radio Appearance | ||||||||||||||||||||
Marsha Rosenbaum PhD, Director of the Alliance's San Francisco
Office and the Safety First project will be participating in a
discussion of ecstasy and rave culture on the All American
Talk Radio Show which airs on KGOE 1430 AM in Eureka, CA and
KTRC 1260 AM in Santa Fe, NM. | ||||||||||||||||||||
October 10, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Listen Live: http://www.ieamericaradio.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Cauchon Tries To Push Pot Bill Through | ||||||||||||||||||||
CBC coverage of Cauchon's attempt to push his Americanized Decrim
Bill through the House of Parliament. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Raich-v-Ashcroft.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
I wanted to let everyone know about our new website were you can learn
more about the plaintiffs, their attorneys, and you can read all of
the pleadings for the Raich v. Ashcroft. | ||||||||||||||||||||
http//raich-v-ashcroft.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||
Angel McClary Raich | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wasted | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Howard J. Wooldridge | ||||||||||||||||||||
I enjoyed Schoenkopf's piece on marijuana. The only item I would add
regards public safety. As a police officer, I know that every hour
spent looking for pot by officers reduces public safety. This year,
we will spend roughly 10 million hours looking for pot under a kid's
front seat--after we already know that driver is not intoxicated.
Meanwhile, drunk drivers sail past these traffic stops and kill
18,000 innocent people. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Officer Howard J. Wooldridge, (retired) Member, Law Enforcement
Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) Fort Worth, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense recognizes Stan White of Dillon, Colorado for his eleven
letters to the editor published during September, bringing his
career total that we know of to an impressive 121. | ||||||||||||||||||||
You can read all of Stan's excellent letters by clicking this link: | ||||||||||||||||||||
NOTE: This monthly recognition is based strictly on numbers of letters published. The person with the highest count at http://www.mapinc.org/lte/ is recognized. In case of a tie the recognition goes to the person with the largest total career count. But once recognized, a person is not eligible again for a year. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Rush Watch Week 2: The Silence Is Deafening | ||||||||||||||||||||
By Stephen Young | ||||||||||||||||||||
"Get a Rush! Rush Limbaugh on talk radio eight-ninety." - Radio spot promoting Rush Limbaugh's program on Chicago radio station WLS-AM. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The brief, now profoundly ironic, radio promos are becoming more
familiar to me. I've been listening to Rush Limbaugh's broadcast all
week in hopes of learning more about the professional talker's
alleged drug problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The exercise has been disappointing. | ||||||||||||||||||||
If you read this space last week, you may recall my prediction that
the usually verbose Limbaugh wouldn't have much to say about drugs
or drug policy. The prediction, of course, was based more on common
sense than psychic ability. It's understandable that he won't talk
about his own legal situation; no one wants to incriminate
themselves. | ||||||||||||||||||||
As I said last week, though, it's a perfect opportunity to advance
the debate about drug prohibition in general, with or without
discussing his personal situation. All this week on his show
Limbaugh railed against over-reaching government, self-interested
bureaucrats, disingenuous politicians and general threats to
American freedom. The drug war could be raised in association with
any of those phenomena - it is a far bigger fraud than any of the
specific issues he raised. But I doubt we'll ever hear it from
Limbaugh, no matter how true he might believe it to be. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sadly, it looks like Limbaugh is waiting for everyone to forget
about his support for the drug war and his alleged transgressions
against drug laws. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That's not what he said would happen last Friday, the first day he
returned to the microphone after he was accused of buying thousands
of black market pain pills. Near the beginning of the show Limbaugh
mentioned the story about "drugs and me" but he said he couldn't
give any details until he knew more about what was going on. He
promised to explain the whole thing when he had an opportunity. He
posted a statement to that effect on his Web site. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Critics smelled a smokescreen. Some called the statement
"Clintonesque," about the nastiest insult one could hurl at
Limbaugh. Even the Wall Street Journal called for honesty on the
issue, urging Limbaugh to "face his problems like a man." On
Monday's program Limbaugh denied that his earlier statement was
Clintonian. He had to figure out was he was facing legally, he said.
Until then, he would not talk about it. That statement also went up
on the Web site. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Then there was silence. Within about 48 hours the statement about
the need for legal knowledge was removed from the site. | ||||||||||||||||||||
According to interviews with law enforcement authorities conducted
by the Palm Beach Post, the possibility that Limbaugh will ever be
prosecuted is slim. Unless he was caught red-handed with a large
quantity of pills, he's probably safe. But no one appears to know
for sure. | ||||||||||||||||||||
That puts him in legal limbo, and it likely puts the rest of us in information limbo. He may never know what he's facing legally (though his lawyers have surely informed him that it's not much), therefore I don't expect to hear any more about the issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Contrary to the information vacuum surrounding the drug issue,
Limbaugh's web site is still plastered over with images and links
regarding Limbaugh's other controversy - his racially charged
analysis of the abilities of NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Limbaugh's McNabb comments on ESPN, which led to his resignation
from the network, helped to blunt the scandal over the drugs. Since
the McNabb story preceded the pill story, it made the pill story
seem like a weird sideshow to the main event. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Limbaugh could stand the heat on the McNabb story. Indeed, if his
Web site is any indication, he has embraced the heat. That's
essentially all he talked about for the first three-hour show after
the National Enquirer drug story emerged. Perhaps Limbaugh had no
idea his McNabb comments would create such a firestorm. But it's
hard to believe such a perpetual critic of the supposedly
hyperliberal mainstream media couldn't see it coming. Limbaugh's
McNabb comments and their aftermath sure did fill the painful
silence on his other controversy, and created the impression that he
was addressing a personal crisis, even as he completely ignored a
more significant personal crisis. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It looks as if Limbaugh has passed over his opportunity to analyze
the relationship between his own personal drug crisis and the
national crisis of the drug war. Instead he used his words to create
a completely different, and ultimately irrelevant, controversy. Or
maybe it was all a coincidence. | ||||||||||||||||||||
It's too bad either way. Limbaugh could focus a remarkable amount of
attention on the drug war and its opponents. But drug policy
reformers can take some comfort knowing Limbaugh's drug silence will
cut both ways. By this point, he's certainly too ashamed to open his
big mouth in favor of the drug war again. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen Young is an editor with DrugSense Weekly and author of
Maximizing Harm - www.maximizingharm.com | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||
"We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we
practice it." - William Faulkner | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (), Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||
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