| April 9, 2004 #345 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) PEASANTS PAY THE COST OF 'WAR ON DRUGS' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Colombian Peasant Leader Addresses Detrimental Costs Of U.S.-Backed
"Plan Colombia" | ||||||||||||||||||
When Miguel Cifuentes returns to the Middle Magdalena region of
Colombia in May, his fate will be questionable. | ||||||||||||||||||
As the executive secretary of the Cimitarra River Valley Peasant
Association, Cifuentes could be in a dangerous position due to the
public stance he has taken in speaking out about human rights
violations occurring throughout Colombia . | ||||||||||||||||||
Cifuentes spoke to a group of OSU students, faculty and Corvallis community members on Wednesday afternoon. His focus was on "Plan Colombia," a U.S.-funded program that supplements the "War on Drugs." | ||||||||||||||||||
The program entails fumigating coca fields; however, rice, corn and
vegetable crops meant for peasant consumption are not immune to the
fumigation, thus results of this plan have done more harm than good,
according to Cifuentes. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Because of this, more than 25,000 people have come together through
the peasant association to protest the fumigation of their land.
However, their calls for justice have not been well received by the
government or the paramilitary. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Because we speak out in contradiction to these policies, we are
accused falsely," Cifuentes said. According to Cifuentes, two members
of the board have been killed and another six have warrants out for
their arrest. | ||||||||||||||||||
Those who speak out are threatened by the paramilitary through
messages sent via local TV and radio stations or telephone calls.
This is the case not only for members of his group, but for all
social and political groups, such as the Coca-Cola workers union
and student organizations, who oppose government policies,
Cifuentes said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(2) WHITE HOUSE PUSHES SCHOOL DRUG TESTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Visitors To Denver Say Random Checks Are 'Dirt Cheap' | ||||||||||||||||||
White House drug policy officials came to Denver on Thursday, saying
random drug testing of students can survive legal challenges and is
"dirt cheap." | ||||||||||||||||||
"You can protect an entire high school for about $1,000 a year," said David Evans, with the Drug-Free Schools Coalition, who was invited by the White House to speak about the issue on a multicity tour. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mary Ann Solberg, deputy director of National Drug Control Policy, convened the meeting with community leaders and school officials. | ||||||||||||||||||
Speakers said random drug testing of one in 10 students typically reduces use of marijuana and other drugs by 30 percent to 40 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||
They said schools that follow the right formula have won most of the legal challenges posed by the American Civil Liberties Union, which opposes drug testing in the name of privacy and personal freedoms. | ||||||||||||||||||
The essentials, according to Evans: | ||||||||||||||||||
Give students a way out of testing. | ||||||||||||||||||
Courts have said schools can randomly test athletes and those in extracurricular activities, but not all students. The reasoning is that schools must maintain a balance between ensuring safety and respecting privacy, but sports and clubs tip the balance toward safety. | ||||||||||||||||||
Students in sports and clubs make up about 80 percent of most student
bodies. A school can test more if it also includes anyone who parks a
car in the student lot. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(3) HAIR, SPIT COULD BE TESTED FOR DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Proposal Adds Options for Federal Agencies, Industry Regulators | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - The hair, saliva and sweat of federal workers could be tested for drug use under a new government policy proposed Tuesday that eventually will set a standard for private companies. | ||||||||||||||||||
The planned changes, long sought by the testing industry, reflect
government efforts to be more precise in its drug screening and to
bypass attempts to cheat on urine-based tests. The testing of hair,
saliva and sweat will not be required, but would be available as
an option to government agencies that screen workers and job
applicants. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We believe that drug testing provides a powerful deterrent to the
destructive and dangerous conditions drug use creates," said Charles
Curie, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. | ||||||||||||||||||
The agency is soliciting public comment on the plan for the next 90
days. A final rule would be issued afterward. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Saliva testing, done using a swab that looks much like a toothbrush
but with a pad instead of bristles, is best at detecting drug use
within the past one or two days. | ||||||||||||||||||
Hair testing, in which a sample about the thickness of a shoelace
is clipped at the root from the back of the head, allows detection
of many drugs used as far back as three months. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sweat testing, in which workers are fitted with a patch that is
worn for two weeks, is used to screen people who have returned to
work after drug treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(4) DRUG CONSPIRACY LAWS PASS TEST WITH GUILTY VERDICTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
In this test, federal prosecutors walked away with an A. | ||||||||||||||||||
A jury in U.S. District Court delivered a sweeping series of guilty
verdicts Tuesday in the region's first-ever federal conspiracy case
involving a methamphetamine lab. | ||||||||||||||||||
It was a test case of sorts on the U.S. Attorney's Office's ability
to use drug conspiracy laws to battle what has been deemed a meth
epidemic in East Tennessee's rural communities. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The precedent-setting case stemmed from a November 2002 search at a
ramshackle trailer and shed owned by Ernie Miller, who was convicted
Tuesday along with his wife, Mary Miller; his stepdaughter, Samantha
Moreno; and family friend, Richard "Rambo" Ramsey. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Monroe County Sheriff's Department had been investigating the clan
for more than a year, according to testimony. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We're pleased with the verdict," Assistant U.S. Attorney James Brooks
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Brooks outlined each of the four defendants' roles in the conspiracy
in his closing arguments Tuesday. Ernie Miller, he said, was the
leader, while Mary Miller supplied materials to make the drug and
doled out the finished product to meth users. | ||||||||||||||||||
Moreno was the chief materials supplier, using her employee discount
at the Wal-Mart where she worked to get the ordinary household
products used to brew the drug, he said. Ramsey was "the cook," Brooks
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Defense attorneys contended prosecutors were trying to build a conspiracy case where none existed. Their clients, the attorneys argued, were a ragtag bunch of meth users, not drug barons. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Here sits the grand mogul of the methamphetamine empire of Monroe
County," attorney Roland Cowden said in a mocking tone as he pointed
to Ernie Miller. "We're talking about country people. We're talking
about people who are uneducated, and they get along the best they
can." | ||||||||||||||||||
Attorney Beth Ford told jurors Mary Miller was a victim of meth
addiction and bad taste. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-9) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Will police be able to let drug-sniffing dogs nose around cars without reasonable cause? The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up the case. The state of Illinois, which is pushing the case, argues that letting dogs sniff the exterior of cars is "Fourth Amendment non-event." A state judge in Louisiana apparently agrees with such reasoning, after he upheld the conviction of a motel guest who's car was sniffed by a police dog without a warrant in the hotel parking lot. The story also suggests that anyone staying in a hotel might find themselves under increased scrutiny from law enforcement. | ||||||||||||||||||
If a story from Slate can be believed, LSD has virtually disappeared
in the U.S. How long will that last? Also last week, a Washington,
D.C. judge announced that two drug policy reform activists will be
fined indefinitely as they protest drug laws by refusing to appear
for jury duty, while another study showed the unreliability of take
home drug tests. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) HIGH COURT TAKES SEARCH CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Use of Drug-Sniffing Dog Led to 12-Year Sentence | ||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will decide whether
the Constitution requires police to have clear reasons for using
drug-detection dogs to sniff vehicles they have pulled over for
traffic violations. | ||||||||||||||||||
In a brief order, the court said it will hear an appeal by the state
of Illinois, which is seeking to overturn an Illinois Supreme Court
ruling last year that said the Fourth Amendment prohibition against
unreasonable searches means police must have "specific and
articulable" facts to justify a canine sniff. | ||||||||||||||||||
The state argues that the U.S. Supreme Court has said in two past
decisions that a dog sniff is not a search under the Fourth
Amendment. In addition, the state argues in its petition to the
court, a sniff of the car's exterior adds nothing to whatever
invasion of privacy the traffic stop itself might cause, and is
therefore a "Fourth Amendment non-event." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(6) DRUG DOG DIDN'T VIOLATE RIGHTS, COURT DECIDES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A drug-sniffing dog's random inspection of a Slidell parking lot
that led to the discovery of heroin, cocaine and marijuana didn't
violate a motel guest's Fourth Amendment rights, a state judge ruled
Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Judge Larry J. Green in Covington ruled against the motel guest's request to suppress evidence of drugs collected after a detective was tipped off by his dog as they walked through the lot last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
John Val Popoff, 42, of Midland, Mich., was later charged with
possession of heroin and cocaine and possession with intent to
deliver marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
On Aug. 20, Detective James McIntosh of the St. Tammany Parish Drug
Task Force walked his drug-detecting dog, Lucy, next to cars parked
outside the Comfort Inn, 2010 Old Spanish Trail. | ||||||||||||||||||
When the dog alerted on a red 2001 Ford Mustang, McIntosh determined
the owner's name and asked motel management for his room number,
police said. McIntosh knocked on Room 130, and Popoff agreed to let
the detective search his room. McIntosh found heroin and cocaine in
the room and marijuana in his car, police said. | ||||||||||||||||||
McIntosh testified during a Feb. 18 hearing that he learned of the technique at a law enforcement convention in El Paso, Texas. A seminar speaker advised police to consider hotels and motels prime spots to find stolen cars, prostitutes, runaway juveniles and drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(7) WHO'S GOT THE ACID? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
These Days, Almost Nobody. | ||||||||||||||||||
Researchers at the University of Michigan started tracking the
illicit drug habits of America's high-schoolers in 1975. Despite the
inherent difficulty of conducting such surveys--kids are excellent
liars and exaggerators--the Michigan team has established
"Monitoring the Future" as the most reliable guide to drug-use
trends in the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||
MTF has documented the rise and decline of many drugs, but lead
researcher Dr. Lloyd Johnston says the group has never seen such a
dramatic drop in the use of an established illicit drug as they're
seeing now with LSD. In both the 2000 and 2001 surveys, 6.6 percent
of high-school seniors reported that they'd used LSD in the previous
year. In 2002, the figure dropped to 3.5 percent. And in the most
recent survey, from 2003, only 1.9 percent of high-school seniors
claim to have dropped acid. (The standard error for this LSD survey
is 0.25 percentage points.) | ||||||||||||||||||
Evidence of acid's decline can be found practically everywhere you
look: in the number of emergency room mentions of the drug; in an
ongoing federal survey of drug use; in a huge drop in federal
arrests; and in anecdotal reports from the field that the once
ubiquitous psychedelic is exceedingly difficult to score. In major
cities and college towns where LSD was once plentiful, it can't be
had at all. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(8) D.C. DRUG LEGALIZATION ACTIVISTS FACE $100-A-DAY FINES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Two advocates for the legalization of drugs who have refused to
report for jury service in the District were found in contempt of
court yesterday and soon could be facing hefty fines. | ||||||||||||||||||
David Borden and David A. Guard, leaders of an advocacy group that
runs the Web site StoptheDrugWar.org, say they will not participate
in a criminal justice system that makes drugs illegal. Yesterday
they found out the consequences at a hearing called by Rufus G. King
III, the chief judge of D.C. Superior Court. | ||||||||||||||||||
Starting Monday, Borden, the group's executive director, and Guard, the associate director, will each have to pay $100 a day for every court day they refuse to report for jury duty. The ruling by King stunned the two men, who said they expected that they might be sent to jail for a few days and even fined -- but not indefinitely. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) STUDY: HOME DRUG TEST KITS MOSTLY UNRELIABLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Home testing kits commonly sold on the Web are not the best route
for anxious parents trying to find out if a child has a drug
problem, says a Children's Hospital pediatrician who recently
studied several popular kits. | ||||||||||||||||||
``Drug testing is too complicated to do at home,'' said Dr. Sharon
Levy, who directs the adolescent substance abuse program at
Children's. | ||||||||||||||||||
``Parents may end up misinterpreting a drug test and make problems
worse for the child,'' she said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Concerned about the large amount of products on the Internet that have not been regulated or scientifically reviewed, Levy decided to study eight popular home drug testing kits that require parents to collect a sample of their child's urine, hair or saliva. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (10-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
More states with overcrowded prisons are looking at ways to get
non-violent offenders out earlier. In Massachusetts the effort is
aimed directly at drug offenders. If results of a program in Alabama
to reduce prison overcrowding through early parole is any
indication, recidivism rates for such parolees might be surprisingly
low. Also this week, the "Sheetrock scandal" fake drugs case in
Dallas hasn't been forgotten. The Dallas Morning News is still
asking important questions about how early police officials became
aware of the injustice and whether they took appropriate measures to
stop it. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(10) SUPPORTERS PUSH BILL TO ALLOW PAROLE FOR SOME DRUG OFFENDERS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
BOSTON- Sean Glynn readily admits his brother deserved to be punished after being busted with cocaine, but Glynn says the five-year mandatory sentence is too much for a man who admits his mistake, has cleaned up his habit and had no prior record. | ||||||||||||||||||
"He is the first person to admit he broke the law," Glynn said of
his 29-year-old brother, Patrick, who has served about a year of his
sentence at Baystate Correctional Center. "We just think he's the
ideal candidate for parole." | ||||||||||||||||||
Under current sentencing laws, Patrick Glynn is not eligible for
parole. That could change under legislation being pushed on Beacon
Hill that would allow drug offenders serving mandatory minimum
penalties to seek parole after serving two-thirds of their
sentences. | ||||||||||||||||||
Supporters say the state is late in catching a national trend toward
reforming mandatory sentencing rules. Allowing parole for these
inmates could save the state $10 million to $15 million a year,
while ensuring the drug offenders wouldn't be released back to the
streets without supervision, said sponsor Sen. Cynthia Creem,
D-Newton. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(11) PANEL OKS BILL TO LET INMATES GET OUT SOONER (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A bill that would ease prison overcrowding by giving inmates more time off for good behavior is a step closer to becoming law. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee
approved the measure by a unanimous vote late Wednesday, after a
contentious series of hearings. | ||||||||||||||||||
Supporters say the bill would ease crowding in the state's prison
and probation systems by allowing prisoners who take part in work,
education and rehabilitation programs to reduce their time behind
bars. | ||||||||||||||||||
Critics argue that it would solve a budget problem by putting
convicted criminals out on the street. | ||||||||||||||||||
But for the 13 members of the committee, it is a necessary response
to a serious problem. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(12) EARLY PAROLEES BEHAVING SELVES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Of 3,637 Freed Early Starting A Year Ago, 155 Are Back In Prison | ||||||||||||||||||
One year after the state began speedy paroles to relieve prison
crowding, most of the thousands of prisoners freed early appear to
be staying out of trouble. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles has paroled 3,637 people
through so-called "special dockets" for nonviolent offenders. Of
those, 155 or 4 percent, have returned to prison, either for new
crimes or parole violations. Only about half of those are back for
new crimes, according to statistics provided by Cynthia Dillard,
assistant executive director of the Alabama Board of Pardons and
Paroles. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We were surprised at the low number," Dillard said. "Pleasantly
surprised." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) TIMELINE STILL FUZZY IN FAKE-DRUG CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Testimony Differs On When DA Raised Concerns Over Evidence | ||||||||||||||||||
More than two years after a series of bogus drug arrests in Dallas, two key players in the district attorney's office and Police Department still don't agree on when prosecutors first expressed concern about the problem, according to recent testimony. | ||||||||||||||||||
Two men who oversaw narcotics officers and prosecutors in the fall of 2001 - when more than two dozen felony drug cases unraveled into a scandal - gave conflicting accounts in recent depositions for a federal lawsuit of when and how the agencies communicated. | ||||||||||||||||||
Transcripts of the depositions, which are not yet public, were
recently obtained by The Dallas Morning News. | ||||||||||||||||||
The dispute centers on when Assistant District Attorney Gregg Long,
who oversaw drug courts at the time, told Lt. Craig Miller, a
narcotics supervisor, that the district attorney's office had
concerns about several big cases. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Long testified that his warning came a month before Lt. Miller
remembers receiving it. | ||||||||||||||||||
The depositions of Mr. Long and Lt. Miller suggest that, even with
intense questioning under oath, the full truth about how top
prosecutors and narcotics supervisors dealt with the unraveling of
the bad cases in late 2001 remains unclear. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Good news for California physicians who issue medicinal cannabis
recommendations, late last week Justice Lawrence D. Rubin ruled that
the Medical Board of California must present more than just
"speculations, unsupported suspicions, and conclusory statements" to
violate the right of doctor/patient confidentiality when
investigating a physician under the suspicion of indiscriminately
prescribing cannabis. Our second story this week looks at a more
modest court victory: a judge has ruled that Bob Martin - the owner
of 2 San Francisco compassion clubs =96 must pay Ed Rosenthal $4500
for cannabis clones seized during a federal raid in 2002. Martin
plans to appeal the decision. | ||||||||||||||||||
Our third story is by Bruce Mirken, Director of Communications for
MPP. Through polling he and MPP have discovered an interesting
juxtaposition in regards to medicinal cannabis: although a majority
of voters in both Vermont and Rhode Island support legal access to
medicinal cannabis by legitimate patients (71% and 69% | ||||||||||||||||||
Lastly from New Zealand this week, Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos has
come out in support of 68-year-old Dawn Willis, who was sentenced to
community work for growing cannabis in order to help her husband,
who is a stroke victim. Tanczos has sponsored a private members Bill
supporting the legalization of medicinal cannabis that is currently
before Parliament. With the news of doctors, priest and old women
being persecuted for cannabis crimes worldwide, this drug war should
be won in no time! | ||||||||||||||||||
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(14) C.A. REJECTS SUBPOENA FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA RECORDS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Medical Board of California must present more than | ||||||||||||||||||
Justice Laurence D. Rubin of Div. Eight said Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs erred in ordering Dr. David Louis Bearman to comply with an administrative subpoena seeking records of his treatment of a patient identified by the court only as "Nathan." | ||||||||||||||||||
The board sought the records after park rangers found marijuana and smoking pipes in Nathan's possession at the Lake Piru Recreation Area. Nathan presented Bearman's letter stating he was medically certified to use marijuana to control his migraine headaches. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(15) 'GURU' WINS POT SUIT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Perhaps only someone as audacious as the "Guru of Ganja" Ed Rosenthal would file a small-claims lawsuit over a pot deal gone awry -- and maybe only in San Francisco could he win such a case. | ||||||||||||||||||
On Friday, San Francisco Superior Court Commissioner Catherine Lyons
ruled that pot club owner Bob Martin must pay Rosenthal $4,500 for
medical marijuana plants confiscated by the federal government in
February, 2002 during a Drug Enforcement Administration raid at a
Sixth Street medical pot club. | ||||||||||||||||||
The case has divided The City's medical-marijuana community. While
Rosenthal is one of the most famous marijuana advocates in the
country, Martin is a popular figure here in San Francisco, where he
owns two medical-pot dispensaries. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) THE TROUBLE WITH MARIJUANA AND LEGISLATORS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
For a long time many of us have puzzled over why overwhelming public support for legal access to medical marijuana has not translated into legislative action. A new Zogby poll conducted in Vermont and Rhode Island, released March 29, may have solved the mystery. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Asked if they support legal access to medical marijuana for seriously ill patients, the results from voters in both states were consistent with previous polling: 71 percent yes to 21 percent no in Vermont, and 69 percent yes to 26 percent no in Rhode Island. | ||||||||||||||||||
But the new poll added a question that has not often been asked: "Regardless of your own opinion, do you think the majority of people in [Vermont or Rhode Island] support making marijuana medically available, or do you think the majority opposes making marijuana medically available?" Here the results were very different: | ||||||||||||||||||
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Rhode Island: Think majority supports 26.5 percent Think majority
opposes 55.9 percent Not sure 17.6 percent | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(17) PRIEST PLEADS GUILTY TO GROWING MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The former pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church accused of
growing marijuana in the church rectory in Norton pleaded guilty
Tuesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Rev. Richard Arko was given a suspended prison sentence and was
placed on probation for two years. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Arko, 40, was arrested in January by Norton police after an
informant purchased a small amount of marijuana from a man living at
the rectory. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) TANCZOS SUPPORTS WAIMATE WOMAN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Green MP Nandor Tanczos spoke out yesterday in support of the
68-year-old Waimate woman sentenced to community work after she grew
cannabis to assist with pain relief for her husband's medical
condition. The MP called on supporters of medicinal cannabis to make
their voices heard in support of Dawn Willis. She was sentenced to
community work for cultivating and possession of cannabis, after
being discovered with 80 plants and a variety of baked goods
containing cannabis butter which she prepared for her husband who is
a stroke victim. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
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International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-23) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug prohibition, like the failed U.S. prohibition of alcohol before
it, regularly corrupts the police tasked to catch and jail those
involved with prohibited drugs. This week, more police officials were
arrested in Mexico, charged with protecting major Mexican drug
traffickers. The latest in a parade of prohibition-corrupted police,
federal authorities announced that those arrested (two top directors
of the investigative police in the central Mexican state of Morelos)
were helping the so-called "Juarez Cartel." | ||||||||||||||||||
In Afghanistan, a series of government raids on heroin labs and
opium storage facilities were intended to underline the US-installed
Afghan president's resolve to fight drugs, after his pleas to
western governments for more money. Calling for a "jihad" against
drugs, the secular and US-educated president Hamid Karzai praised
secret police for a job well done. Foreign press reported labs were
raided in northern Badakhshan, southern Kandahar, and eastern
Nangarhar provinces. Raids typically involved some "500 to 600
troops," while "owners and drug traffickers had fled the area,"
according to reports. | ||||||||||||||||||
In the Northern Territory, Australia, proposals to criminalize the
sniffing of petrol were denounced by health researchers last week.
Country Liberal Party (CLP) politicians, anxious to garner precious
media time, want the huffing of gasoline to be a punishable offense.
Pat Anderson of the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal
Health stated that the already "extensive research" into gas huffing
had been done and needs to be at the center of the debate. Suggested
Anderson: "the various camps or points of view might like to inform
themselves." Don't hold your breath. | ||||||||||||||||||
In a stunning admission this week, Londonderry police chief (Foyle
DCU District Commander) Richard Russell confessed problems caused by
illegal drugs were "nowhere near" near those caused by alcohol. "At
least 50% of all crime is drink-related," admitted chief Russell.
"Marijuana and ecstasy seem to the most widespread drugs used here
and a small amount of cocaine." If they wish to keep and enhance
their already bloated budgets, other police chiefs are advised to
play up drug problems for all they are worth. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(19) TOP STATE POLICE OFFICIALS ARRESTED FOR TIES TO MEXICAN DRUG (Top)ORGANIZATION | ||||||||||||||||||
MEXICO CITY - Two top officials of the investigative police in
central Morelos state were arrested for protecting a branch of a
major Mexican drug organization, a federal authority announced
Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
Raul Cortes, and Jose Agustin Montiel, operating director and
general director, respectively, are accused of protecting a cell of
the Juarez Cartel, so-named for the northern border city where the
organization conducts its business. | ||||||||||||||||||
The two officers were part of a network of police officials
dedicated to providing protection for the cartel and worked with
cartel leader Vicente Carrillo, federal organized crime prosecutor
Jose Vasconcelos told a news conference. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
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(20) AFGHAN POLICE RAID HEROIN LABS, SEIZE TONS OF OPIUM POPPY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Afghan anti-narcotics police have demolished four heroin
laboratories in northern Badakhshan province and seized 10 tons of
opium poppy used to make heroin, a senior interior ministry official
said Wednesday. | ||||||||||||||||||
President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday called for a "jihad" against
narcotics in Afghanistan which is the world's leading producer of
opium. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Secret counter-narcotics police raided poppy stocks | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The operation in Badakhshan follows the destruction of poppy fields
in southern Kandahar on Tuesday and the demolition of some 40 drugs
labs in eastern Nangarhar province earlier this week as part of the
government's crackdown on the illicit trade. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(21) SOLDIERS DESTROY 38 HEROIN FACTORIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Kabul, Afghanistan | ||||||||||||||||||
Afghan soldiers yesterday demolished nearly 40 heroin factories in
the remote mountainous province of Nangarhar which borders Pakistan
in a large-scale anti-drugs operation, officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Recently we were informed of a large number of newly-built heroin
factories near the border with Pakistan in the Achin area of
Shinwari district," close to the Khyber Pass, Nangarhar governor
Haji Din Mohammed said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Some 500 to 600 troops, mainly from the border patrol, were sent to
the area, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
"They surrounded the area overnight and early this morning they
started the operation to seize and destroy the factories," Mohammed
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Mohammed said the owners and drug traffickers had fled the area,
possibly into Pakistan, shortly after the operation started but a
"large number" of workers had been arrested. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We have arrested a large number of labourers, some of them are teenagers who had gone to these factories to work," Mohammed said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(22) POLITICIANS WARNED AGAINST CRIMINALISING PETROL-SNIFFING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health | ||||||||||||||||||
The Northern Territory CLP wants petrol sniffing criminalised so the legal system has greater power to impose conditions on sniffers. | ||||||||||||||||||
The research centre's Pat Anderson says extensive research into
petrol sniffing has already been carried out and should be the focus
of the debate. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"All I'm suggesting is the various camps or points of view might
like to inform themselves about this research and others that have
been done." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(23) DRINK LINK TO CITY'S CRIME WORSE THAN DRUGS PROBLEM: POLICE (Top)CHIEF | ||||||||||||||||||
Crime in Londonderry will never significantly decrease until the
city deals with a deepening alcohol crisis, Foyle's police chief has
warned. | ||||||||||||||||||
In a bleak and frank assessment, Foyle DCU District Commander
Richard Russell said the drug problems were "nowhere near" as
prevalent as those associated with alcohol. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"At least 50% of all crime is drink-related, be that getting drunk and getting into the car and driving, going home and beating up partners or street violence. Alcohol is usually in there somewhere." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
He added that addressing drunken violence, such as that displayed during recent St Patrick's Day celebrations, was now a priority. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"Marijuana and ecstasy seem to the most widespread drugs used here
and a small amount of cocaine. It is very rare to see anything other
than that." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
GREEN TRUTH - THE GREEN TIDE SHADOW SUMMIT | ||||||||||||||||||
In response to recent sensational anti-cannabis lobbying by the
Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (among others), their
self-contradictory Green Tide Report, and their plans for a blatantly
one-sided 'marijuana grow operation eradication summit,' Canadian
activists held a Green Tide Shadow Summit in Toronto. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT VIP CAMPAIGN | ||||||||||||||||||
The Marijuana Policy Project is working with actors, musicians, producers, directors, professional athletes, former and current public officials, and other VIPs to educate the American people about the need to take marijuana out of the criminal market and regulate it. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
ABC SPECIAL, ECSTASY RISING, ONLINE | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
BREAKING THE CHAINS CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||||||||
On April 1, 2 and 3 the "Breaking The Chains" conference on racial
bias in the drug war was held on the campus of Texas Southern
University in Houston, Texas. Hundreds of people from Tulia, Hearne,
Dallas and across America gathered to discuss the distorted policy of
drug prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.kpftx.org/archives/special/breakingchains040401/breakingchains.html | ||||||||||||||||||
Please be advised; Keith Cylar, AIDS activist and co-founder of
Housing Works, Dead at 45. He spoke to Congresswoman Lee on April 3
during the BTC conference. He passed away on April 5. An extract of
his discussion is here: | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
BATTLE FOR CANADA #22 | ||||||||||||||||||
With Richard Cowan | ||||||||||||||||||
More Secrets and Lies From The War on Weed! | ||||||||||||||||||
Marijuana Use By BC Teens Declines, Mexican Production Soars, So
DEAland Pleased With Mexico Unhappy With Canada. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DUTCH CABINET MOVES TO BAN SUPER-STRONG CANNABIS | ||||||||||||||||||
9 April 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
AMSTERDAM - The Dutch cabinet decided on Thursday to ban the sale of
super-strong homegrown cannabis if a commissioned study reveals that
the soft drug has become too powerful. | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=19&story_id=6511 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
A HEALTH CARE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF FEDERAL INMATES IN CANADA | ||||||||||||||||||
Canadian Journal of Public Health, Volume 95, Supplement 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
A report on the health of inmates in federal prisons paints a grim
picture of disease rates that vastly outstrip those in the general
population. | ||||||||||||||||||
PDF: http://www.cpha.ca/english/cjph/inmates/CJPH_95_Suppl_1_e.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS | ||||||||||||||||||
How safe and effective are antidepressants in children and
adolescents? The authors of this review have found disturbing
shortcomings in the methods and reporting of trials of newer
antidepressants in this patient group. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
ANTI-POT TAX DOLLARS GO AGAINST PEOPLE'S WILL | ||||||||||||||||||
By Jeanne M. Ferguson | ||||||||||||||||||
The story in the March 18 Mercury about John Walters [Democracy in
Peril], the federal drug bureaucrat, was illuminating. The fact
that the federal government will continue to pour my tax dollars
into a bottomless pit and insist I follow the rules is tantamount to
a dictatorship. Mr. Walters ought to resign from office if he is
unwilling to allow the people to choose their own laws. Spending my
tax dollars on interference in state policies and campaigns goes
against my will. Mr. Walters and federal authority ought to realize
that NO LAW will be respected or can be enforced unless supported by
the moral sense and the common conscience of the communities
affected by it. | ||||||||||||||||||
I am convinced that prohibition, wrong in principle, has been
equally disastrous in consequences in the hypocrisy, the corruption,
the tragic loss of life and the appalling increase of crime that
have attended the abortive attempt to enforce it. Allowing Mr.
Walters to be above state laws contributes to the weakening of the
sense of solidarity between citizen and the government, which is the
only sure basis of a country's strength. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jeanne M. Ferguson,
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH - MARCH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
We recognize activist, newshawk and prolific Letter to the Editor writer Kirk Muse of Mesa, Arizona. During March we archived 11 published letters by Kirk, bringing his total in our published letter archives to 348. You can review his published letters at: | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Unlucky Eric | ||||||||||||||||||
By James E. Gierach | ||||||||||||||||||
The headline --- "Teens arrested on felony drug charges," (The Free
Press Advocate, 3/31/04) --- caught my eye as I curbed my motorcycle
for a lunch break in Wilmington on Wednesday. The news story was
about another drug-war failure. | ||||||||||||||||||
According to the story and charges, 19-year-old Eric M. Friddle, a
former local high school football player was caught selling 1 gram
or more and less than 15 grams of cocaine to another. Too bad for
Eric, he happened to be standing within 1,000 feet of a school
making his commonplace infraction of Illinois drug laws a Class-X
felony, the equivalent in seriousness of armed robbery, calling for
mandatory penitentiary time. | ||||||||||||||||||
Unbelievably, bail was set at $500,000, requiring the deposit of $50,000 in order for Eric to be released on bond. And assuming Eric the-19-year-old or his friends and relatives can post $50,000, ten percent of the bond, $5,000, will automatically be forfeited to the government for acting as "bail bondsman" under Illinois law. | ||||||||||||||||||
Drug dealing in a prohibition world is the most profitable business
on Earth but $500,000? The day after my motorcycle ride, I picked up
the Chicago Tribune and read the storyline ("$750,000 bail set for
man in slaying," Chicago Tribune, 4/8/04). A bail similar to Eric's
bail was set for Christopher Kartzmark, 18, in a routine gang murder
in Chicago. Something is amiss, I thought, when the bail for murder
and petty-ante drug-dealing so nearly equate killing another and
drug dealing between consenting adults. | ||||||||||||||||||
The prohibition of drugs has failed young Eric, as it has failed all of us. Assuming for the sake of discussion before trial that Eric messed up, maybe Eric had an ineffective D.A.R.E. instructor, or maybe D.A.R.E. itself is ineffective, as numerous studies have found. No defense. Or maybe the lawmakers who enacted prohibition laws that make drugs unreasonably valuable and put more drugs everywhere, tempting good kids to go bad, should be on trial with Eric for aiding and abetting drug-dealing everywhere. Won't happen. | ||||||||||||||||||
Too bad Eric. Bad luck. Most people don't get caught. But the police
claim they caught you and, now, prohibition has a good chance of
destroying your life. Ironically, drug prohibition is supposed to
save the kids. But not you Eric. Not you. | ||||||||||||||||||
James E. Gierach is a former drug prosecutor in Cook County, a
practicing attorney, a former primary candidate for Cook County
State's Attorney who sought to end prohibition to prevent crime and
reduce other drug prohibition harm. He is a speaker for L.E.A.P.,
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"The goal of this subcommittee, under its current leadership, is
not to adopt a true scientific approach to the subject of marijuana.
If that were the case, the authors of the Institute of Medicine
report and physicians and patients from the eight medical marijuana
states would have been invited. Or a representative from the
American Nurses Association. Or a representative from the American
Public Health Association." - Rob Kampia of the Marijuana Policy
Project, appearing before U.S. Subcommittee on Criminal Justice,
Drug Policy, and Human Resources on April 4, 2004. More details at
http://www.mpp.org/hearing/ | ||||||||||||||||||
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