| July 23, 2004 #359 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) UK: EX-PC'S CANNABIS PLEA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A former drug squad officer suffering from excruciating MS yesterday
pleaded with the Home Office to end years of delays and finally give
the go-ahead to the therapeutic use of cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
Her move came as political pressure grew on the government to explain
the delays. An early-day motion tabled by Peter Bradley, the Labour
MP for the Wrekin, said the government had a moral duty to give
sufferers the right to choose to use the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Home Office has been examining the issue for more than four years and is still not able to say when a decision will be made. | ||||||||||||||||||
Kate Bradley - who is not related to the MP - yesterday pleaded with
the Home Office to allow doctors to prescribe cannabis to relieve the
pain that often makes her double up in agony. | ||||||||||||||||||
Speaking slowly, reflecting her fragile condition, she said: "Smoking
cannabis is the only thing that works. I get terrible spasms that go
from my toe to my head. They can last for anything up to half an
hour."
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[snip]
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(2) CANADA: POT USE DOUBLES DURING 13 YEARS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Highest Rates Of Use Of Marijuana Or Hashish Were With Canadian
Teens. | ||||||||||||||||||
TORONTO -- It seems more Canadians than ever are going to pot --
smoking up, toking up and generally embracing the sweet weed. In fact,
the proportion of Canadians who admit to indulging in marijuana or
hashish almost doubled over 13 years -- and the highest rates of use
were among teens, a report released yesterday by Statistics Canada
suggests. | ||||||||||||||||||
That translates into about three million Canadians, or 12.2 per cent,
who used cannabis at least once in the previous year, the federal
agency said in its 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey. In 1989, the
figure was 6.5 per cent. | ||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister Paul Martin said in Ottawa that his government is
committed to marijuana decriminalization and will reintroduce
legislation after Parliament resumes in October. | ||||||||||||||||||
And Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said while he is concerned about the reported rise in drug use, he doubts the arguments of those who say decriminalization would further boost the use of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
"My view is that, if you make something illegal, some people are more
attracted to it," he said. "It's just the high in getting something in
a stealth(y) fashion . . . If you allow people to possess it in small
quantities for personal use, the allure kind of disappears for some
people."
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[snip]
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(3) DETROIT VOTERS CAN OK POT FOR PAIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Every other day, Rochelle Lampkin injects medication into her hip that is widely used to ease the chronic pain of multiple sclerosis. | ||||||||||||||||||
But she said it's not enough to stop the blinding pressure around her
eyes that feels as if her eyeballs will explode out of their sockets.
And it doesn't end the crippling ache brought on by her MS that saps
the energy from her arms and legs. | ||||||||||||||||||
So Lampkin turns to a few puffs of a marijuana cigarette when she
needs some extra relief. | ||||||||||||||||||
"This affords me a better quality of life," Lampkin, 45, said. "I
don't think anyone should be refused that."
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On Aug. 3, the battle between the rights of seriously ill patients and
antidrug forces in Detroit could be settled -- barring almost certain
legal challenges -- when voters decide whether to allow the use of
medical marijuana. If it passes, Detroit would be the first city in
the Midwest to pass such a law. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Detroit City Council will hold a hearing today to debate the issue. And Lampkin said she plans to be there to make her case. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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(4) US: METH PRESENCE SURGES 68% IN WORKPLACE DRUG TESTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
As states try to restrict sales of over-the-counter cold and allergy medicine to keep it from being cooked into methamphetamine, there is evidence meth is becoming the workplace's latest drug headache. | ||||||||||||||||||
Meth use by workers and job applicants soared 68% last year, according
to data that will be released today by Quest Diagnostics from the 7.1
million drug tests it administered for employers in 2003. If use
continues to rise at this pace, meth will pass cocaine this year as
the illegal stimulant of choice. | ||||||||||||||||||
No end is in sight. Meth labs are migrating east and churning out
increasingly pure and addictive drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
In the past, meth recipes were passed by word of mouth between drug
lab operators, said Ed Childress, special agent with the Drug
Enforcement Administration. But the Internet has put meth recipes
within anyone's reach. | ||||||||||||||||||
The number of DEA meth lab seizures has risen from fewer than 8,000 in
1999 to 10,000 last year. "It's pushed its way like a firestorm across
the United States," Childress said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The trend is ominous in light of fresh research by UCLA brain mapping
expert Paul Thompson. He found that regular meth users lose about 1%
of their brain cells each year, a loss comparable to that associated
with Alzheimer's. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Domestic News- Policy
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COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Continued uncertainty over federal sentencing rules are forcing the
U.S. Justice Department to approach the Supreme Court to try and
maintain current guidelines in two drug cases. | ||||||||||||||||||
In California, there seems to be serious soul-searching over
conducting the drug war in public schools. The first of two stories
from the Los Angeles Times explained why the state PTA is opposing
efforts to bring urine testing to schools. The LAT also reported on
a study being done in one district on undercover police operations
in schools, and whether those operations are singling out special
education students. | ||||||||||||||||||
Also, methamphetamine is eating away at people's brains, according
to the New York Times. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(5) JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SEEKS COURT RULING TO RESTORE SENTENCING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department Solicitor General's Office is expected to ask the Supreme Court as early as today to rule on two cases it hopes will restore the status quo to a federal sentencing system that has been in chaos since a June high-court ruling. | ||||||||||||||||||
Several circuit courts have ruled the federal sentencing guidelines
are unconstitutional since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against
state guidelines in the Blakely v. Washington case. In that 5-4
decision, the court said that any factor increasing a criminal
sentence must be admitted by the defendant in a plea deal or proved
to a jury, effectively barring a judge from using information in
increasing a defendant's sentence that wasn't heard or decided by
the jury. The ruling was related to guidelines used in Washington
state, but the ramifications of the ruling have been most acutely
felt in the federal system. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Justice Department had sought cases it could push to the Supreme
Court to support the department's belief that the guidelines are
constitutional. | ||||||||||||||||||
The two cases are prosecutions of Ducan Fanfan of Massachusetts, and Freddie J. Booker of Wisconsin. The cases, previously identified in the New York Times, both include drug convictions where federal judges ruled that the Blakely decision limited the information judges could use to impose harsher sentences on the men. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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(6) STATE PTA BACKS BAN ON RANDOM DRUG TESTING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SACRAMENTO - Across America, the PTA has long fought to prevent
student drug use, but last month its California leaders found
themselves sparring with federal drug officials in the state
Capitol. | ||||||||||||||||||
The two sides squared off in an Assembly hearing over a bill that
would outlaw "suspicionless" drug testing. A handful of schools in
California and nationwide have begun testing students without any
evidence of drug use, and the PTA opposes it. | ||||||||||||||||||
"As parents, we're certainly concerned about addressing issues of
student drug abuse," said Kathy Moffat, a spokeswoman for the
California State PTA. "But a random drug-testing program implies
there is no trust."
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[snip]
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With more than 1 million parent, teacher and student members, the
state PTA also opposes zero-tolerance policies under which students
can be removed from school for any violation of drug rules. The
organization sees its effort to block random drug testing as another
way to protect children. | ||||||||||||||||||
PTA officials say the money used to conduct random drug tests would
be better spent going after root causes of substance abuse with
education and treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||
Opponents also fear that arbitrary tests could discourage students
who take birth control pills, antidepressants or other prescription
medications from participating in activities that require students
to accept random drug testing. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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(7) DISTRICT TO EVALUATE DRUG BUSTS IN SCHOOLS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Critics Say Undercover Officers Catch Small-Time Offenders And
Special-Ed Students. Proponents Say It's The Best Way to Fight
Dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||
The Los Angeles Unified School District has decided to launch a
review of the police program of sending undercover officers into
high schools to buy drugs amid questions over whether the busts are
fair and effective. | ||||||||||||||||||
The School Buy program, which is conducted by the Los Angeles Police
Department on campuses across the city, caught 252 students selling
drugs over the last year. Police officials declared the campaign a
success, noting that it caught 105 more students than last year's
program. | ||||||||||||||||||
But critics said success should not be measured by the number of
students caught. They question whether the officers are actually
targeting serious dealers. They also point to the rise in
special-education students caught in recent years. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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Special-education students made up about 15% of the 191 students referred for expulsion this year, roughly the same percentage of special-education students in the district high schools. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We're finding that more and more special-education kids are being
caught," said Fonna Bishop, principal of Hollywood High School,
where about a third of the students caught this year were in special
education. "These are young people who have problems, learning
disabilities, emotional trouble. They want to make friends, they
want to be cool. They don't think about consequences."
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[snip]
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(8) THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON METH: A 'FOREST FIRE' OF DAMAGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
People who do not want to wait for old age to shrink their brains
and bring on memory loss now have a quicker alternative - abuse
methamphetamine for a decade or so and watch the brain cells vanish
into the night. | ||||||||||||||||||
The first high-resolution M.R.I. study of methamphetamine addicts
shows "a forest fire of brain damage," said Dr. Paul Thompson, an
expert on brain mapping at the University of California, Los
Angeles. "We expected some brain changes but didn't expect so much
tissue to be destroyed."
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The image, published in the June 30 issue of The Journal of
Neuroscience, shows the brain's surface and deeper limbic system.
Red areas show the greatest tissue loss. | ||||||||||||||||||
The limbic region, involved in drug craving, reward, mood and
emotion, lost 11 percent of its tissue. "The cells are dead and
gone," Dr. Thompson said. Addicts were depressed, anxious and unable
to concentrate. | ||||||||||||||||||
The brain's center for making new memories, the hippocampus, lost 8
percent of its tissue, comparable to the brain deficits in early
Alzheimer's. The methamphetamine addicts fared significantly worse
on memory tests than healthy people the same age. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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Law Enforcement & Prisons
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COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
More allegations of crime and corruption within the drug law
enforcement world last week, while the prosecution of seven Detroit
police officers for drug-related corruption appears to be ending
without any convictions. | ||||||||||||||||||
Some more admirable law enforcement out of Oregon, where a District Attorney has recognized budget limitations and is polling constituents about what types of crimes they really want pursued. We're guessing non-violent drug offenders won't top the list. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(9) INQUIRY IN DRUG SLAYINGS TURNS TO 4 U.S. AGENTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Officials Had Oversight Of Informant Suspected In Ju=E1rez Killings | ||||||||||||||||||
EL PASO - Four more U.S. Customs special agents are being
investigated for their role overseeing activities of an informant
who allegedly participated in killing suspected drug traffickers
across the border in Ciudad Ju=E1rez, according to U.S. government
officials. | ||||||||||||||||||
Raul Bencomo, Todd Johnson, David Ort=EDz and Lu=EDs Rico of the
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, face questioning
by the agency's Office of Professional Responsibility over their
close relationship with the U.S. informant, who is said to have
"supervised" the killings of at least five suspected drug
traffickers last year, the officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The agents declined comment, and ICE officials would neither confirm
nor deny the expanded probe. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It's our longstanding policy not to comment on pending criminal
cases," said ICE El Paso spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa. "We will
follow that policy in this case."
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[snip]
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(10) LAWSUIT CLAIMS OFFICIALS 'OUT OF CONTROL' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
MUSKOGEE - A husband and wife filed a federal civil lawsuit against
the Muskogee County district attorney, his chief investigator and
several law enforcement officials Friday. In their lawsuit, Kimm and
Ruth Bushey accuse District Attorney John David Luton and other
officials and officers of wrongful seizures, extortion, intimidation
and violation of employment rights, said Robert Haupt, the Busheys'
attorney. | ||||||||||||||||||
"This is a situation where we have law enforcement officers just out
of control, and that is what this lawsuit is going to be about," he
said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Luton said he would not comment while the lawsuit is pending. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I can't respond to anything because there in fact is a lawsuit. I'm
not in a position to be able to respond until the lawsuit is
completed," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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(11) U.S. FAILS TO MAKE CORRUPTION CASE AGAINST DETROIT COPS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Seventeen Detroit police officers and two former officers were
charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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DETROIT The U.S. Attorney's Office asked a federal judge to dismiss charges against seven Detroit Police officers accused of falsifying evidence and framing suspects, defense lawyers said Monday. | ||||||||||||||||||
The decision, which all but assures the officers will be cleared, is
an embarrassing outcome to a case that was touted by the Justice
Department as one of the largest single indictments of corrupt
police officers in Detroit. | ||||||||||||||||||
Seventeen officers and two former officers were charged last year, following a yearlong joint investigation by the FBI and the Detroit Police Department. On May 20, eight of the officers were acquitted on all counts. Earlier, three officers pleaded guilty to lesser charges and charges were dismissed against another officer. | ||||||||||||||||||
All the officers remain suspended without pay, awaiting the outcome
of internal disciplinary proceedings. | ||||||||||||||||||
The seven officers who were indicted in June 2003 were to stand trial Oct. 18 on charges that they conspired to violate the civil rights of citizens by planting drugs and guns on suspects, illegally searching homes and writing false police reports. Most of the victims had prior felony convictions for drug or gun use. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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(12) DA PUTS PROSECUTION TO PUBLIC (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The voters have spoken, but Lane County District Attorney Alex
Gardner wants them to speak again. | ||||||||||||||||||
This time, instead of hearing they don't want to pay more taxes to
fight crime, he wants to hear which crimes they prefer to fight
less. | ||||||||||||||||||
The question arises from a $425,000 cut in the district attorney's
budget, now a little over $7 million. Doug Harcleroad, the former
district attorney, announced in April that the office won't be able
to handle about 2,000 nonviolent misdemeanor crimes this year among
the approximately 7,800 cases it will file. | ||||||||||||||||||
Gardner, who was appointed district attorney following Harcleroad's
retirement two weeks ago, says he wants public involvement to help
set priorities for which misdemeanor property crimes get filed,
which are filed as violations, and which simply fall through the
cracks. | ||||||||||||||||||
"At this point, we're looking for information. Once we get the data,
we'll see if we can put together a coherent policy that fits,"
Gardner says. | ||||||||||||||||||
Gardner emphasizes the office will continue to handle all
person-to-person crimes and drunk driving cases, offenses that
endanger public safety. | ||||||||||||||||||
But reductions may come in prosecution of cases where the main
charge is drug possession, property theft, criminal mischief, or
vice and public disorder. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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Cannabis & Hemp-
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COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Last things first this week: our fifth story is an Op-Ed by
Christopher Largen (co-author of "Prescription Pot") from the
Ventura County Star elucidating the absurdity of the U.S. federal
prohibition on medicinal cannabis, and is a must read for all
compassionate Americans. | ||||||||||||||||||
But first off this week, news that 2 lawsuits have been filed
against the federal government for obstructing legitimate research
into medicinal cannabis in the U.S.. Lyle Cracker, director of the
Medicinal Plant Program at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst,
has been joined by Rick Doblin (of MAPS) and uber-activist Valerie
Corral in this important and long-overdue legal action. This author
wishes these brave, patient folks good luck. | ||||||||||||||||||
Our second story is news that a Nevada initiative that would allow
for the limited use, possession and cultivation of cannabis by
medical users has been approved. While higher profile campaigns in
Nevada and Arkansas have received more notice, Montana's I-148
quietly made it onto the November ballot. | ||||||||||||||||||
Our third story shows Governor Arnold terminating a California bill
that would have eased restrictions on allowable limits of cannabis
for medicinal users. This issue "will be back" on his desk sooner
than later, no doubt. And fourth this week we've got a story from
Canada indicating that cannabis imports from up North only amount to
a tiny percentage of the U.S. supply, especially when compared to
Mexico (2003 interdiction rates from Canada: 15,700kg; Mexico:
406,000kg). Sorry to say this to my American friends, but that
crystally "B.C. bud" that you save in the freezer for special
occasions was most likely grown in upstate New York or outside of
Tijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(13) SCIENTISTS SAY MARIJUANA RESEARCH BLOCKED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The government is violating federal law by obstructing medical
marijuana research, scientists contend in lawsuits seeking faster
action on applications to grow the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
In lawsuits to be filed Wednesday, researchers assert that
Washington is refusing to act on legitimate research projects and
delaying studies that could lead to marijuana's use as a
prescription drug. | ||||||||||||||||||
"There is an urgent need for an alternative supply of marijuana for
medical research," said Lyle Cracker, director of the Medicinal
Plant Program at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the main
force behind the lawsuits. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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Joining Cracker in filing the suit are Rick Doblin, president of the
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, and Valerie
Corral, co-founder of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana in
Santa Cruz, Calif., who uses marijuana to control epileptic
seizures. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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(14) TOBACCO TAX, MARIJUANA QUALIFY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Initiatives to more than double the taxes on most tobacco products
and legalize marijuana for medical purposes qualified for the
November ballot Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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The medical marijuana measure, known as I-148, had 22,059 certified
signatures and qualified in 28 counties. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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I-148 would allow Montanans to grow, possess and use limited amounts
of marijuana to treat certain medical conditions and combat related
pain, nausea, seizures and muscle spasms. Patients could use
marijuana, under medical supervision, to alleviate symptoms related
to such diseases as cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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(15) SCHWARZENEGGER VETOES MEDICAL MARIJUANA CHANGES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill on Tuesday that would have
eased rules on how much medical marijuana patients could possess in
California. | ||||||||||||||||||
State voters approved a measure in 1996 to allow medical marijuana,
but the initiative has been subject to a continuing battle pitting
it against federal rules. | ||||||||||||||||||
The bill that Schwarzenegger vetoed would have removed quantity
limits on the drug for California patients. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Reasonable and established quantity guidelines allow medicinal
marijuana patients to seek relief from symptoms free from legal
questions and permit law enforcement to carry out the law,"
Schwarzenegger wrote in a note to the State Senate explaining his
veto. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Enactment of this bill would create uncertainty in this area of the
law thereby making it more difficult for law enforcement to
determine when a person was in possession of marijuana for medicinal
purposes."
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Schwarzenegger has previously spoken out in favor of medical
marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(16) LOTS MORE MARIJUANA GETS INTO U.S. FROM MEXICO THAN FROM CANADA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada's budding reputation as America's pot pusher is getting a shakedown from some new figures that tell a different tale. | ||||||||||||||||||
Far from being the major exporter of marijuana to the United States as many might think, Canada accounts for only a small fraction of the American supply, a newly released report indicates. | ||||||||||||||||||
The RCMP's annual assessment of the drug situation in Canada, citing
the latest seizure statistics, points out that most U.S. marijuana
is homegrown or smuggled in from Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||
While the amount of pot detected moving south from Canada has
increased steadily since 2000, to almost 15,700 kilograms last year,
it was dwarfed by the 406,000 kilograms of Mexican marijuana seized
at the U.S. border in 2003.
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In addition, American authorities continue to report that their primary source of marijuana remains the U.S., the RCMP report says. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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(17) PRESCRIPTION POT? ONLY FROM BAYER AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The truth really is stranger than fiction. My best friend and
co-author, George McMahon, is one of only seven citizens who can
legally smoke marijuana in every state of the union. In fact, the
U.S. government has provided George with 300 prerolled marijuana
cigarettes each month for 14 years, through a program called
Investigational New Drug, administered by the National Institute of
Drug Abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||
Our government has grown and distributed medical marijuana since
1978. The federal patients use marijuana to treat diverse symptoms
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Of course, officials won't yet admit their appointed "demon weed" is
a medicinal herb. They call the IND program a "research" project
instead. However, in 26 years of the program's existence, no
government research has been conducted regarding the recipients of
the federal marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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http://www.prescriptionpot.com/ Photo of George McMahon with 300 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes http://www.mapinc.org/images/geo_tin_4.8.00.jpg
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International News
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COMMENT: (18-21) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Suspected drug users continue to be mown down in cold blood by death
squads in Davao City, Philippines. Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte,
who had earlier praised Davao Death Squad (DDS) executions of
suspected drug offenders, last week denounced unnamed "NGOs" as
corrupters of youth, spurring kids to commit crimes. Untroubled by
the summary executions themselves, the mayor was instead concerned
that observers should correctly note the victims' ages. "What I do
not like in particular is when these NGOs lie by claiming that some
of the [DDS] victims as minors when in fact they are already of
age." The mayor then threatened to unleash the death squad on youth
tempted by drugs: "You just might be the names in the latest police
blotter report." Vigilantes in Davao, who are believed to be the
police themselves, have killed at least 44 suspected drug offenders
so far this year. Meanwhile in the Philippine republic, drug agents
are hot under the collar over a text message circulated around the
Philippines which warns citizens to beware of drug agents who plant
drugs on victims and then demand bribes. | ||||||||||||||||||
The big MDMA busts just keep rolling in from Canada. Ontario police
last week announced the breakup of a ten-million dollar Ecstasy lab,
discovered when the home in which the operation was contained,
caught on fire. No one was hurt in the chemical blaze, which alarmed
neighbors who had not suspected the house contained an MDMA lab.
When it was legal, MDMA was manufactured by licensed drug companies
and done in properly zoned areas. But under drug prohibition, the
price of MDMA is black-market high. Such a situation regularly
tempts people to manufacture it in unsafe locations. In a regulated
market, also, drugs are of known purity and strength. Under
prohibition, illegal drugs can contain impurities; there is no
recourse for buyers. Our last item this week is a warning from
police in Canada that tablets of so-called Ecstasy (supposedly MDMA)
often contain methamphetamines or MDA as well. Problems with
adulterated MDMA under drug prohibition are similar to problems
encountered in the failed U.S. Prohibition of alcohol in the early
1900s. Bootleg liquor was often found to be adulterated with poisons
like methanol. | ||||||||||||||||||
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(18) NGOS TO BLAME FOR DEATHS OF YOUTH OFFENDERS: MAYOR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
DAVAO CITY -- Non-government organizations that "trivialize" crimes are as guilty for the deaths of young criminals as the vigilantes who kill them, claimed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. | ||||||||||||||||||
A day earlier, the shadowy vigilante group that has come to be known as the Davao Death Squad (DDS) claimed its 44th victim, a fruit vendor identified as Celito Rugay, 49, of Barangay Tugbok here. | ||||||||||||||||||
Rugay was shot twice in the head by a man on a motorcycle late
afternoon on Saturday. | ||||||||||||||||||
In explaining his contention, Duterte said in his television program
"Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa (From the Masses, For the Masses)" that
organizations that trivialize crimes committed by minors encourage
the commission of crimes. He did not name any NGO.
| ||||||||||||||||||
He accused some NGOs of being shams and whose intention in involving
themselves in the issue is to make money out of it. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Dili lang mo bakakon, mga bastos mo. Hain man ang inyong mga
kwarta? Giunsa ninyo paggamit sa inyong funding?" Duterte asked.
(You're not just liars, you are also uncouth. Where's your money?
How are you using your funds?)
| ||||||||||||||||||
The mayor claimed the NGOs are getting funds from international
organizations and are making an issue out of the series of summary
executions in Davao City to get more money from their foreign
donors. | ||||||||||||||||||
"What I do not like in particular is when these NGOs lie by claiming
that some of the victims as minors when in fact they are already of
age," Duterte said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Youth offenders
| ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
| ||||||||||||||||||
Brothers Michael, 17, and Mark Maraya, 19, were gunned down by
motorcycle-riding gunmen last July 4 at around 10 am in Barangay
Duterte. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Kamong mga NGOs, paminaw mo kay mangamatay ni kung dili ninyo
tabangan. Mga NGOs unsa'y ginahimo ninyo ani? Panarbaho mo. (NGOs,
listen, because these boys will die if you will not help them. What
are you doing about this? You do your work). I know you have
millions in funding," Duterte said. | ||||||||||||||||||
At the same time, the mayor warned youth offenders to reform now or
suffer a fate similar to the Maraya brothers. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Kay basi sa ulahing police blotter kamo na ang nahimong biktima
didto (You just might be the names in the latest police blotter
report)," Duterte ended. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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| ||||||||||||||||||
(19) ANTI-PDEA TEXT MESSAGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
There is a text message being circulated throughout the country by
still unidentified persons. The message goes this way:
| ||||||||||||||||||
"Beware of PDEA cops. They block your front back and both side of
your car. Approach you with gun and warrant. If you open your door
or window he will blindfold you and plant shabu and ask ransom in
exchange for your freedom. Please pass if you`re a concerned
citizen."
| ||||||||||||||||||
The said text message is a part of smear campaign against the image
of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and is designed to
destroy the unblemished reputation of a credible agency amidst the
effort to accelerate war against illegal drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
The text message is a product of the sender's fertile
| ||||||||||||||||||
We would like to inform the public that PDEA personnel did not
conduct checkpoints and every anti-narcotics operation was covered
by a pre-operation plan duly registered in the blotter so regularity
in the performance of duty can be emphasized. | ||||||||||||||||||
PDEA officials are very particular with discipline and never
tolerate nefarious activities of any personnel. | ||||||||||||||||||
And the public is encouraged to report to higher authorities any
form of abusive conduct and illegal activities of any PDEA personnel
so that drastic action can be taken right away. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(20) YORK POLICE BUST $10M ECSTASY LAB (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Chemicals used to make drug found in Markham residence
| ||||||||||||||||||
Firefighters found garage lab after putting out fire,
| ||||||||||||||||||
York Region police have busted a huge ecstasy manufacturing
operation at a Markham home, seizing chemicals and drugs worth an
estimated $10 million. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
| ||||||||||||||||||
York fire crews discovered the lab on Saturday after responding to
reports of smoke coming from the house. | ||||||||||||||||||
The fire was quickly extinguished and disaster narrowly avoided,
according to police. | ||||||||||||||||||
"As with any chemical, you have to treat it with care or there could
be a major explosion," said Sergeant Joanne Waite of York Region
police. "These industrial-grade chemicals are very highly
flammable."
| ||||||||||||||||||
Investigators found various equipment and chemicals used to make the
drug ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
| ||||||||||||||||||
Police and fire crews were dismantling the drug lab yesterday. A
Health Canada cleanup unit was also called in to decontaminate the
house of chemicals. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(21) ECSTASY USERS WARNED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
ECSTASY USERS should be aware that they may be unknowingly exposed
to a potentially more dangerous drug cocktail, a new study has
found. The research shows people who request pure Ecstasy from drug
dealers in Toronto are often receiving tablets that contain two or
more other drugs, most notably MDA (methlenedioxyamphetamine) and
methamphetamine (speed). | ||||||||||||||||||
"Even though the drug users in our study didn't ask for those two
drugs and only asked for pure Ecstasy, one third of our participants
received MDA and meth (speed)," said lead investigator Dr. Stephen
Kish, professor of psychiatry for the Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
LAW PROFESSOR'S WEB LOG IS JURISTS' MUST-READ
| ||||||||||||||||||
For the nation's federal judges and the defense lawyers and convicts who come before them, June 24 was a momentous day. For Douglas Berman, a 35-year-old law professor at Ohio State University in Columbus, the day marked the beginning of his Warholian moments of fame. | ||||||||||||||||||
On that date, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tough sentencing
guidelines used in Washington state. The high court said any factor
increasing a criminal sentence must be admitted by the defendant
in a plea deal or proved to a jury. Since then, Mr. Berman has
become the chronicler of the sweeping effect of the Blakely v.
Washington ruling on the nation's courts. | ||||||||||||||||||
As the creator of a Web log, or blog, called Sentencing Law and Policy, http://sentencing.typepad.com/, Mr. Berman has established himself as the go-to guy for all things Blakely for federal and state judges, defense lawyers, prosecutors and prisoners' relatives. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip]
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| ||||||||||||||||||
USE OF CANNABIS AND OTHER ILLICIT DRUGS / STATISTICS CANADA
| ||||||||||||||||||
Michael Tjepkema, Health Reports, Vol. 15, No. 4, July 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.statcan.ca/english/ads/82-003-XPE/pdf/15-4-04.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
JOHN WALTERS CANADIAN RADIO INTERVIEW
| ||||||||||||||||||
Peter Warren of CKNW interviews John Walters, the US drug czar. Afterward,
a call-in segment where listeners disagree with his arguments. Thanks to
Tim Meehan. | ||||||||||||||||||
http://www.salvagingelectrons.com/drugradio/cknw-warren-20040719-walters.mp3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DRUGS AND TERRORISM? HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT
| ||||||||||||||||||
The 9/11 Commission Report, released yesterday, is a disturbing and
voluminous account of the strategies employed by Al Qaeda and the U.S.
government in the months and years preceding the horrible tragedies of
Sept. 11, 2001.
| ||||||||||||||||||
While the report spreads blame for the attacks around various U.S.
government agencies and both the Clinton and Bush II administrations,
the report makes clear two things of particular interest to the
drug-policy reform community. | ||||||||||||||||||
http://blog.drugpolicy.org/2004/07/drugs-and-terrorism-highlights-from.html | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
UPDATED REPORT EXAMINES MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS
| ||||||||||||||||||
MPP Releases Definitive Resource on Legal, Medical, Political Issues | ||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Marijuana Policy Project recently released an
updated version of its landmark report on state medical marijuana laws,
"State-by-State Medical Marijuana Laws: How to Remove the Threat of
Arrest." With new information about recent court decisions and
recently passed laws, the report is the definitive resource regarding
state medical marijuana laws. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW
| ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesdays 6:30 PM CDT 29:00
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D., is associate professor of psychology at
the University of Southern California and author of "Understanding
Mariijuana" (Oxford University Press); Bruce Mirken is
communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project, based in
Washington, D.C.
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Frank Levine a journalist reports on experiences in Central America
and Mexico on the drug war. Dr. Rick Doblin reports on a suit filed
to allow for testing of medical marijuana.
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SEEKING TRUTH IN THE DRUG WAR
| ||||||||||||||||||
By Jerry Epstein
| ||||||||||||||||||
Ending prohibition is not about drugs, but about ending the evil empire of the drug lords and their network of drug dealers. | ||||||||||||||||||
As one who has researched the failures of our drug policy for much
of the past 10 years, I want to thank the Trib, Ethan Nadelmann of
the Drug Policy Alliance, and National Review magazine for more
dialogue about ending the prohibition on marijuana ( "Protesting the
drug war," Q&A with Bill Steigerwald, July 10). | ||||||||||||||||||
Prohibition is an economic system that inevitably enriches criminals
who use their profits to make the drug problem worse. Ending
prohibition is not about drugs, but about ending the evil empire of
the drug lords and their network of drug dealers. Right now we are
financing our worst enemy. | ||||||||||||||||||
My suggestion is to revisit the old call of Walter Cronkite and
numerous experts at the Hoover Institution for a much-needed
independent federal commission on marijuana -- we haven't had one
since 1982 -- to provide scientific information and ideas to the
public that are free of political spin. It would provide a focus for
media attention. | ||||||||||||||||||
The public should have easy access to little-known government-funded
reports, including those that show that:
| ||||||||||||||||||
* Prohibition has surrendered control and made marijuana easier for most of our young to get than alcohol -- and involved them in sales. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Marijuana is markedly safer than alcohol. | ||||||||||||||||||
* The immense burden of 700,000 annual marijuana arrests on the criminal justice system -- more than for murder, rape, robbery and armed assault combined -- makes it far less effective, detracting from prosecution of violent crime and homeland security. | ||||||||||||||||||
* Enormous fiscal costs could be replaced with substantial tax
revenues. | ||||||||||||||||||
Jerry Epstein
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
THE "POTENT POT" MYTH
| ||||||||||||||||||
By Mitch Earleywine and Bruce Mirken
| ||||||||||||||||||
Recently, the media have repeated dire warnings about alleged "super
pot." In an attempt to frighten parents who may have dabbled in
their day, our government claims that new strains of potent
marijuana are far more dangerous than the innocuous grass of the
1960s or '70s. | ||||||||||||||||||
Many media reports repeat these claims uncritically. For example, a
July 19 Reuters story warned, "Pot is no longer the gentle weed of
the 1960s and may pose a greater threat than cocaine or even
heroin."
| ||||||||||||||||||
Such claims are utter nonsense, and may create more harm than good. | ||||||||||||||||||
First, high-potency marijuana has always existed. The average
potency has increased slightly, but only because higher-potency
marijuana has become a little more common. It is not a new
phenomenon. | ||||||||||||||||||
Second, there is precisely zero evidence that marijuana with a
higher level of THC -- the component that produces the "high" -- is
more dangerous. Indeed, a close look at the news accounts shows that
claims of greater danger are based on speculation piled on top of
conjecture. | ||||||||||||||||||
To put this in perspective, the average potency of marijuana that
that has fueled this fire is seven percent THC. This is the
marijuana that White House Drug Czar John Walters warns is horribly
dangerous because of its super-strength. In contrast, Dutch
government standards require medical marijuana sold in pharmacies in
the Netherlands to be more than twice that strong. So a country
where teens are actually less likely to use cocaine and heroin than
in the U.S. wouldn't even use our marijuana to heal their sick. A
recent report from the European Union noted that "a slight upward
trend" in potency means little because the potency of U.S. marijuana
"was very low by European standards."
| ||||||||||||||||||
Third, unlike the speculative claims of increased danger,
peer-reviewed scientific data show that higher potency marijuana
reduces health risks. Just as with alcohol, people who smoke
marijuana generally consume until they reach the desired effect,
then stop. So people who smoke more potent marijuana smoke less --
the same way most drinkers consume a smaller amount of vodka than
they would of beer -- and incur less chance of smoking-related
damage to their lungs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Official warnings about "super pot" often accompany claims that huge
numbers of teens are in treatment for marijuana "dependence and
abuse," and that those numbers have risen dramatically. Such claims
are utterly misleading. According to the U.S. government's own
statistics, most teens in marijuana treatment are there because they
were arrested, not because of actual evidence of abuse or
dependence. Virtually all of the vaunted increase in marijuana
treatment admissions stems from these arrests. | ||||||||||||||||||
So, we arrest kids for smoking marijuana, force them into treatment,
and then use those treatment admissions as "proof" that marijuana is
addictive. Somewhere, George Orwell is smiling.
| ||||||||||||||||||
This wave of marijuana treatment has nothing to do with actual
dependence. According to the latest government report on drug
treatment, called the Treatment Episode Data Set, more than a third
of these marijuana "abusers" did not use marijuana at all in the
month prior to admission. Another 16.1 percent used it three times
or less. | ||||||||||||||||||
So more than half of marijuana "abusers" used marijuana three times
or less in the month prior to entering treatment -- and this, we are
told, is proof that we must be fearful of highly addictive "super
pot"!
| ||||||||||||||||||
There is a real story here, but it's not about the dire effects of
potent marijuana. The real story is the misuse of science by
government officials seeking to justify current policies and hold
onto their jobs. The administration's misuse of science in this area
is, if anything, more blatant than in fields that have generated far
more controversy, such as reproductive health. | ||||||||||||||||||
And with the administration now talking openly about shifting
prevention and law enforcement resources toward marijuana and away
from drugs like heroin and cocaine, which actually kill, this
dishonesty is putting America's young people at risk. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D., is associate professor of psychology at the
University of Southern California and author of "Understanding
Mariijuana" (Oxford University Press, 2002); Bruce Mirken is
communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project, based in
Washington, D.C. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"There is no calamity which a great nation can invite which equals
that which follows a supine submission to wrong and injustice." -
Grover Cleveland
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