| Feb. 4, 2005 #386 | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) OUTCRY OVER CLAIMS HEROIN USERS CAN LEAD NORMAL LIFE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Drugs campaigners have condemned research which claims heroin can be taken for an extended period without a negative health or social impact. | ||||||||||||||||||
Researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University say some users of the
class-A drug are able to gain and keep employment and achieve
educational qualifications comparable with non-addicts. | ||||||||||||||||||
The study, by Dr David Shewan and Phil Dalgarno, focused on 126
long-term heroin users who were not receiving treatment for their drug
use. | ||||||||||||||||||
Dr Shewan said: "The study shows while there are heroin users with
problems, there are also users without problems." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Edinburgh-based drug support worker David Pentland, a former heroin
addict, condemned the research. | ||||||||||||||||||
He said: "This could encourage those who may otherwise have shied
away from heroin to think it?s OK. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(2) CANNABIS: PRESCRIBING THE MIRACLE WEED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The drug can be a lifeline, and a fortunate few may soon get it on
prescription. But why has it taken so long? | ||||||||||||||||||
I have had patients commit suicide because they said life had no
meaning for them any more," says William Notcutt, an anaesthetist at
James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on England's east
coast. Notcutt specialises in treating patients in severe long-term
pain. The causes are varied, ranging from spinal injuries to multiple
sclerosis, but most of the patients have one thing in common:
existing medicines don't help them. | ||||||||||||||||||
"It's not just the pain, it's also what it does to your life," Notcutt
says. "You've lost your job, you have financial problems, your spouse
is fed up. I hear these heart-rending stories of people whose lives
are crap." | ||||||||||||||||||
If there is one thing more frustrating for a doctor than being unable
to deal with a patient's problem, perhaps it is knowing that there is
a drug that could help - but they are not allowed to prescribe it.
For Notcutt that drug is cannabis. Many patients with | ||||||||||||||||||
But in the next few weeks Canadian regulators will decide whether to
approve an under-the-tongue cannabis spray called Sativex for multiple
sclerosis (MS) patients. As the world's first prescription
pharmaceutical made from marijuana, it would at last allow patients
to get their therapy in a safe and consistent formulation. The product
could become available in the UK in a year or so, and its British
manufacturer, GW Pharmaceuticals, is expected to file for approval
soon in Australia and New Zealand. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(3) WA GOVERNMENT, OPPOSITION ARGUE OVER DRUG POLICY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The Western Australia Government and the Opposition have spent the day
sniping at one another over who is softer on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
Opposition Leader Colin Barnett says the Government has failed the
community by easing laws on the possession of cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Not only is the possession of cannabis no longer a criminal offence,
Dr Gallop has actually allowed people to grow cannabis in their
backyard," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr Barnett says the Government has been too soft on cannabis, ignoring
its links to mental health problems, organised crime, and the use of
harder drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
The Australian Medical Association's West Australian president Paul Skerritt agrees, saying cannabis users often develop mental problems, costing the health system tens of millions of dollars a year. | ||||||||||||||||||
"You get a little bit of a slap on the hand, an on-the-spot fine and
therefore the Government is endorsing the totally incorrect idea that
these drugs are soft," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(4) CRACKDOWN ON DINNER PARTY DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Casual Cocaine Use Angers New Met Chief | ||||||||||||||||||
The new head of Scotland Yard took a swipe at London's white collar
and celebrity drug culture yesterday by threatening to arrest weekend
consumers of cocaine at dinner parties and in clubs and bars. Sir Ian
Blair, who took over as the UK's most senior police officer yesterday,
said there were an increasing number of people who saw no harm in
having the odd "wrap of charlie" at the weekend. | ||||||||||||||||||
But he promised to make an example of casual users in an attempt to
show that no one is above the law. "I think there are a group of
people in the capital who believe they are in some way taking
harm-free cocaine," said Sir Ian. "I'm not interested in what harm it
is doing to them personally. But the price of that cocaine is misery
on the streets of London's estates and blood on the roads to Colombia
and Afghanistan. | ||||||||||||||||||
"People think it is okay to use cocaine but I do not think it is okay.
We will have to do something about it by making a few examples of
people so that they understand." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Petra Maxwell, press officer for independent drugs information
organisation, DrugScope, said the price of illegal drugs, including
cocaine, had dropped dramatically in the past few years as the number
of casual users rose. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
"It's not cheap but many young people earning decent salaries would
easily spend that on drinks on a night out in London," she said.
"Cocaine is a harmful drug. It can cause heart problems and other
illnesses and while it is psychologically rather than physically
addictive, trying to come off can bring on anxiety attacks and
associated symptoms. | ||||||||||||||||||
"However, you could argue that casual cocaine users are often people
who can afford their drug habit and the only crime they are guilty of
is drug-taking, and that the police might be better off concentrating
on dealers and some other class A drug users of crack cocaine and
heroin, who are associated with all sorts of crime." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
This week, we have three rather unusual stories, and one rather
serious one. In a Dallas neighborhood, local kids thought they were
lucky when they found a pile cash, until representatives from the
underworld demanded it back. In New York, guns were stolen from a
DEA exhibit which allegedly draws the connection between drugs and
terror. In the world of international curling, a very small drug
scandal erupted after a top athlete refuses to take a drug test. And
finally, the DEA is seeking comments from doctors on pain drug
enforcement policies. Will the DEA listen? | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(5) DALLAS NEIGHBORHOOD TERRIFIED AFTER KIDS FIND PILE OF CASH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A convince store owner in one of Dallas's poorest neighborhoods was amazed when she started seeing children from the elementary school across the street buying candy and chips with $100 bills. | ||||||||||||||||||
"One boy came in here with a $100 bill and asked for change,"
Charlene Williams said of an incident last Saturday. When she told
the boy he needed to be careful with his "mama's money," he told he:
"This ain't my mama's money." | ||||||||||||||||||
It turned out that a youngster had apparently found tens of
thousands of dollars in suspected drug money and was handing it out
to others. | ||||||||||||||||||
Soon, though, some men came looking for the money, spreading fear
through the South Dallas neighborhood. | ||||||||||||||||||
Over the past few days, parents have told police that men had come to their doors, threatening their children and demanding their money back. The elementary school was so rife with rumors and threats of a drive-by shooting that it was locked sown for an hour on Wednesday, and about 200 of the 600 children stayed home the next day. | ||||||||||||||||||
On Thursday night, a man was arrested and accused of abducting and
beating a 12-year-old boy who had some of the money. The boy was
later returned home. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(6) 3 GUNS STOLEN FROM DEA DISPLAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Three inoperable handguns have been stolen from displays in the Drug Enforcement Agency Museum in Times Square, police said Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||
DEA agents reported that two Sig Saur 40-caliber handguns and a Rueger 45-caliber handgun were missing from the three-story museum at 1 Times Square on Wednesday. The thefts, however, may have occurred as far back as Dec. 17, according to the police report. | ||||||||||||||||||
Two of the weapons were stolen from a simulated cocaine laboratory
on the museum's first floor, and the other was taken from a
re-created methamphetamine hotel cook room display on the second
floor, said Bill Grant, a DEA spokesman. Grant said the guns, which
have been disabled so they can't fire, were secured by screws and
metal clasps to furniture in the displays. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(7) U.S. CURLER SUSPENDED FOR REFUSING TO TAKE DRUG TEST (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Curling has officially hit the big time in Olympic | ||||||||||||||||||
The curlers don't have a fat TV contract yet, and Nike isn't
trotting out ads featuring them and their brooms. But seven years
after making its debut as a medal sport at the Nagano Olympics,
curling has what's become a rite of passage these days: its first
doping violation. | ||||||||||||||||||
Now put the stones and brooms down, it's not quite what it sounds.
Mitchell Marks, a promising young curler, was suspended for two
years because he refused to take an out-of-competition drug test in
October, an automatic violation. | ||||||||||||||||||
But his suspension has caused quite the stir because it's believed to be the first in the sport's history and he's, well, a curler. | ||||||||||||||||||
"I really can't believe it's gotten this much attention," Marks
said. "Knowing all the stuff going on now, I probably would take it
if they knocked on my door because of all the negative publicity on
my name." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Marks insists he had no reason other than principle to refuse the
test. He's not taking any kind of drugs, he said, pointing to his
recent application to the Madison Police Department. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Obviously I wouldn't be doing (drugs) if I'm applying for that
job," he said. "I really can't change some people's minds. People
are going to think what they want to think, regardless of what you
tell them." | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(8) DEA SEEKS COMMENTS ON PAIN MED QUESTION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Pain Medicine Experts Seek Balance in Policies on Prescribing
Controlled Substances. | ||||||||||||||||||
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is preparing a document
that will address its role as defined by the Controlled Substances
Act. The DEA has invited physicians and others to submit comments on
what they would like the document to address. | ||||||||||||||||||
According to the announcement, published in the Jan. 18 Federal Register, those interested have until March 21 to submit comments. | ||||||||||||||||||
The announcement was the latest in a series of notices about a
frequently-asked-questions document on prescribing controlled
substances for pain treatment that was posted on the DEA Web site in
August 2004 and then withdrawn in October. | ||||||||||||||||||
The document took more than two years to finish and was co-authored
by the DEA, the University of Wisconsin Pain & Policy Studies Group
and the Last Acts Partnership, with Russell K. Portenoy, MD, serving
as the panel's lead expert on pain treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Portenoy, chair of the Dept. of Pain Medicine and Palliative
Care at New York's Beth Israel Medical Center and faculty member for
the AMA online series on pain treatment, said he had little
enthusiasm for going through the process again. | ||||||||||||||||||
But PPSG Director David Joranson said it appeared that there were
new people at the DEA working on prescription drug diversion, and
they need to be educated on the issues. "I think everyone in the
pain field - clinicians, administrators and patients - should take
the DEA request very seriously," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-12) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A Marlyland woman was killed in a drug raid where no arrests were
made last week, while a Texas district attorney who ran on a strong
anti-drug platform was arrested for possession of illegal drugs and
guns. In another pair of contrasting cases, an Oklahoma convenience
store owner was jailed and held on $250,000 bond because he carried
144 boxes of psuedophedrine on his shelves, while some Louisiana
police don't keep any records about the money they use for drug
buys. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(9) BALTIMORE CO. OFFICER FATALLY SHOOTS WOMAN DURING NARCOTICS RAID (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Police Say Victim Pointed a Handgun at Them During Search of Dundalk
House | ||||||||||||||||||
A Baltimore County police officer shot a woman during the search of a house in Dundalk early yesterday, police said, and she was later pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting occurred about 5 a.m. as police were executing a narcotics search warrant in the 8100 block of Del Haven Road, said Officer Shawn Vinson, a police spokesman. | ||||||||||||||||||
The warrant was being served as part of an investigation involving
that residence, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||
When police arrived, Vinson said, officers set off a device that
makes a loud noise and a flash to distract the occupants of a home.
Police also identified themselves, Vinson said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Officers detained two people found on the first floor of the
townhouse while two other officers approached a closed bedroom door
on the second floor. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
A gun was recovered, but Vinson said he did not know whether the
woman had shot at the officers. | ||||||||||||||||||
No one else in the house was injured. | ||||||||||||||||||
Three other people from the house were in police custody yesterday
afternoon, but no charges had been filed, police said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(10) MORE THAN 30 WEAPONS FOUND AT DA'S OFFICE, HOME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
When West Texas District Attorney Rick Roach was arrested at the
Gray County courthouse on methamphetamine charges, federal agents
found two handguns in his brief case. | ||||||||||||||||||
A search of his courthouse office, home and an apartment, all in
Pampa, turned up 35 more guns, along with what appeared to be a
stash of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, according to search
warrant inventory lists obtained by The Associated Press. The
weapons included shotguns, revolvers and semi-automatic pistols and
rifles. | ||||||||||||||||||
Federal prosecutor Christy Drake wouldn't discuss whether Roach owned the guns legally, whether they were evidence from criminal cases Roach's office handled, or why Roach had so many guns. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The origin of those guns I can't really comment on, other than to
say they traveled in interstate commerce," Drake said. | ||||||||||||||||||
Roach, who was elected in 2000 after running on a tough-on-drugs
campaign, is accused of possessing methamphetamines, possession of
one ounce each of methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to
distribute, and unlawful possession of weapons by a drug addict. If
convicted on all counts, he faces up to 51 years in prison and $2.5
million in fines. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(11) STORE BOSS JAILED IN METH CASE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Police Say Tahlequah Owner Was Selling Pseudoephedrine | ||||||||||||||||||
A Tahlequah convenience store owner was arrested Friday in
connection with pseudoephedrine being stocked on his store's
shelves, said Richard Gray, district attorney for Cherokee, Adair,
Sequoyah and Wagoner counties. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sonny Patel, 30, owner of Super Mart at First Street and Bertha
Parker Bypass, was arrested about 2 p.m. after investigators
received a tip that pseudoephedrine was being sold at his
convenience store. | ||||||||||||||||||
"He had 12 cases. Each case had 12 boxes in it. Each box had 36 tablets," Gray said. "They're not even supposed to sell it at a convenience store. He still had name-brand stuff on the shelf." | ||||||||||||||||||
He was booked into the Cherokee County Jail on complaints of
possession of a precursor (the pseudoephedrine) and operating a head
shop. | ||||||||||||||||||
His bond has been set at $250,000. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(12) UNACCOUNTED DRUG-BUY MONEY RIPE FOR ABUSE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Caillier's Use of Funds Still Under Question. | ||||||||||||||||||
OPELOUSAS - Opelousas Police Chief Larry Caillier has been
unapologetic in his response to auditors' concerns about $44,379 in
"drug-buy" money, saying the expenses aren't documented because of
the confidential nature of undercover narcotics work. | ||||||||||||||||||
But other law enforcement agencies have developed procedures for
tracking these kinds of funds without compromising their
investigations or informants. | ||||||||||||||||||
Laura Balthazar, chief deputy of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's
Office, said the Sheriff's Office has had a written policy in place
since the creation of its narcotics unit in 1988. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We went to the Lafayette narcotic unit and other agencies and
designed our policy after their plans," Balthazar said. | ||||||||||||||||||
The drug-buy money, which comes from a city appropriation, is among
the largest amounts of any of the findings cited in the audit, which
was released Monday. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The Police Department maintains no records or documentation of any kind on how these funds are expended," the audit report stated. | ||||||||||||||||||
The auditors argue such a lack of documentation creates a serious
potential for abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (13-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Some long overdue good news from Nevada this week, as a federal
judge has overturned a lower court ruling by allowing a cannabis
legalization petition to be put before the state legislature. The
petition, which would legalize the personal possession of 1 ounce of
cannabis for adults, is likely to be put to voters during the
November 2006 mid-term elections. Kudos to MPP and all of the others
who showed such great tenacity in keeping this petition alive in the
face of so much bureaucratic resistance. | ||||||||||||||||||
In other, less jubilant news, the South Dakota Health and Human
Services Committee has deferred a medicinal cannabis bill introduced
by Rep. Gerald Lange to the very end of the legislative session,
effectively letting the bill die on paper. The private members bill
would have allowed medical users to legally possess up to 5 ounces
of cannabis. In yet another incredible display of willful ignorance,
Missouri Senator Chuck Gross has filed a bill preventing cities in
his state from hosting "K to12" athletic events if they support
either the medical use of cannabis or decriminalization of
recreational use. The bill is aimed at the city of Columbia, which
has passed bills in support of both. I suppose that Senator Gross is
right to keep students away from a city that has shown compassion,
tolerance and commons sense, lest these same empathetic sentiments
should spread throughout the state of Missouri. Rumor has it that
Senator Gross is considering an additional bill which wo! uld ban
hugging and the medical use of insulin. | ||||||||||||||||||
And from England this week, the story of a brave 65-year-old widow charged with trafficking for supplying cannabis to her 16-member pensioners group. Patricia Tabram has no regrets about teaching her fellow retirees about the many therapeutic uses of cannabis, and is currently working on a book called "Grandma Eats Cannabis". In other news from abroad, the trial of Australian surfer Shapelle Leigh Corby for allegedly smuggling 4.2kg of cannabis into Indonesia has begun. The Australian government has announced plans to appeal for clemency if she is found guilty and given the death penalty. We at DrugSense wish both of these ladies long life and good luck. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(13) FEDERAL JUDGE GIVES NEW LIFE TO NEVADA MARIJUANA PETITION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
A federal judge ruled Friday that the Nevada Secretary of State was
wrong to disqualify a petition to legalize marijuana possession,
giving new life to the initiative and two proposed anti-smoking
measures. | ||||||||||||||||||
An aide said Nevada Secretary of State Dean Heller would comply with
the judge's order in the marijuana case and would concede a state
court case challenging his decision to reject the two anti-smoking
initiative petitions. | ||||||||||||||||||
"We will move to drop the other court case and move the three
petitions forward to the Legislature," Heller's spokesman Steve
George said. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(14) SOUTH DAKOTA MEDICINAL POT MEASURE KILLED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Patients might prefer pot to popping pills, but they won't be doing
that legally in South Dakota. | ||||||||||||||||||
The House Health and Human Services Committee deferred a bill that
would have legalized the medicinal use of marijuana to the 41st day
of the legislative session, effectively killing it. | ||||||||||||||||||
Rep. Gerald Lange, D-Madison, introduced the bill, which lacked any
co-sponsors. Lange said that he introduced the bill at the request
of one of his constituents who is suffering from a debilitating
disease. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(15) MISSOURI BILL WOULD HURT COLUMBIA FOR ITS POT PENALTIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Columbia got national attention in November after voters approved two ordinances easing penalties for marijuana possession. | ||||||||||||||||||
Now Missouri Sen. Chuck Gross wants to penalize the city. Gross, a
St. Charles Republican, filed a bill last week that would prevent
Missouri cities from hosting kindergarten through 12th-grade
athletic events if they have laws that decriminalize small amounts
of marijuana or allow the drug to be used medically. | ||||||||||||||||||
Columbia is the only city in Missouri with both laws. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(16) I'M READY TO GO TO JAIL FOR THE RIGHT TO EASE MY ACHES AND (Top)PAINS, SAYS THE GRANNY WITH CANNABIS IN HER COCOA | ||||||||||||||||||
For Patricia Tabram, known to the children of her home village of
Hums-haugh, in Northumberland, as Grandma Pat, the ailing pensioner
who always has time for a kind word, it was a rather surreal moment.
"There I was, dear, grey as a badger, tubby as a conference pear,
with my hearing aid turned up and my walking stick in my hand,
sitting in the police station listening to the nice policeman
telling me I was being charged with possession of cannabis with the
intent to supply. It was rather an experience I can tell you," she
says. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Some cake with your coffee?" she asks solicitously. It is best, one
believes, to say no. | ||||||||||||||||||
It is best because Mrs Tabram, a 65-year-old widow, has the dubious
honour of becoming the first British pensioner to admit possessing
the drug and intending to distribute it among her 16-strong
pensioners' group. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(17) AUSTRALIAN STUDENT GOES ON TRIAL FOR SMUGGLING DRUGS TO BALI (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
An Australian student accused of smuggling a large bag of cannabis
into Indonesia's Bali resort island went on trial yesterday on
charges for which she could face the death penalty. | ||||||||||||||||||
Schapelle Leigh Corby, 27, was arrested at the island's main airport
in Denpasar last October after police said she was found with 4.2kg
of the drug concealed inside a surfer's bodyboard bag. | ||||||||||||||||||
Authorities have said it was the largest quantity of cannabis ever
seized being taken into Bali. | ||||||||||||||||||
The beauty therapy student from the Gold Coast in Australia's
Queensland state, who appeared in court has maintained her
innocence. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The vigilante executions of drug offenders continues in the
Philippines, as some there speak out against the extra-legal
"salvaging." Lawyers, civil rights activists, and church-based
groups in Cebu City have formed an alliance to study and speak out
against the killings. "Our purpose is to be united in denouncing
these summary killings," said Democrito Barcenas, leader of the
alliance, and president of a Cebu Bar association. Philippine
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo meanwhile heaped praises on
Philippine National Police for their "drug" fighting activities. "I
bid you to continue your good work," gushed President Gloria. No
mention was made of the recent spate of summary executions of drug
suspects in the Philippines, believed to be the work of police.
Macapagal-Arroyo earlier praised the handiwork of Davao City Mayor
Duterte, mayor of a city notorious for recent death squad activity
against former and suspected drug users. | ||||||||||||||||||
The city of Vancouver, Canada is about to embark on an controversial heroin trial, where some 158 (at latest count) heroin addicts will receive heroin and/or methadone. The heroin trials, sponsored by the North American Opiate Medication Initiatives, will also be done later in Toronto and Montreal. These North American heroin trials follow similar successful heroin trials in Switzerland and Holland. | ||||||||||||||||||
And finally this week, if provincial justice ministers get their
way, justice in Canada may be less blind and more profit-driven.
Justice ministers in the provinces want Ottawa to change laws to
make it easier for police to seize the property of citizens accused
of crimes. Canadian police and prosecutors, eyeing U.S. laws that
make it easy for police to take money and property from citizens on
accusation alone, want the same for themselves, too. Currently,
police must prove assets were illegally obtained. "Our proposal
would reverse the burden of proof," chirped Quebec Justice Minister
Jacques Dupuis. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(18) UNITED V. KILLINGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Multisectoral Alliance Formed Against Vigilante Murders | ||||||||||||||||||
A multisectoral alliance against the recent spate of vigilante-style
killings in Cebu City was formed yesterday, with lawyers and civil
society at its forefront. | ||||||||||||||||||
Lawyer Democrito Barcenas, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
Cebu City chapter president, said the alliance, created during a late
afternoon conference, is made up of nongovernment organizations and
cause-oriented groups, other lawyers' associations and church-based
bodies. | ||||||||||||||||||
"Our purpose is to be united in denouncing these summary killings,"
Barcenas said in an interview after the conference. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Lito Vasquez of the Freedom from Debt Coalition is the lead convenor for the alliance, which, he said, will grow bigger as the initial member groups "touch base" with other people's organizations that have independently also raised their objections to the executions. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Twenty people died and one individual was wounded as a team of
unidentified persons went on a 34-day execution rampage all over Cebu
City. Most of the fatalities had criminal records. | ||||||||||||||||||
The last reported incident was on Jan. 24. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
He had a drug and firearm possession case in 1999. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(19) GLORIA CITES DRUG CZAR - 20,000 PUSHERS ARRESTED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Kudos and Keep Up the Good Work. | ||||||||||||||||||
The "anti-drug czar" of the Philippine National Police and his men
received a pat on the back from President Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday
as she praised them for their success in the campaign against drugs
last year. | ||||||||||||||||||
"The number of innocent lives saved by your cutting the illegal
trade by half is immense and I bid you to continue your good work,"
Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo told Deputy Director General Ricardo F. de
Leon, chief of the PNP's Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task
Force. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
Last year, the AIDSOTF played a significant role in the arrest of
20,328 drug pushers and users nationwide. A total of 16,263 cases
for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002 were filed against the offenders. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(20) CALIBER .45 CLAIMS 45 LIVES IN JANUARY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
The month of January saw the most number of deaths by summary execution in the city. All of them were felled by bullets of .45 caliber pistol by armed men aboard plateless motorcycles. | ||||||||||||||||||
There were 45 people who were killed this month and no single arrest
was made by law enforcement agencies. The lack of witnesses was the
reason cited by police authorities on its failure to solve the
killings. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
By the second week of the month, Director Simeon Dizon, regional
police director, issued a statement that the spate of summary
executions was due to a 'drug war' and told the public to expect
more killings before the month ends. | ||||||||||||||||||
Dizon said the raid of the shabu laboratory in Dumoy, Toril district
on December 31, 2004, resulted to the 'drug war' since there were
unfinished transactions and undelivered items that went awry due to
the raid. | ||||||||||||||||||
Police investigators interviewed by media at the scene of the crime
was consistent in saying that the victims were involved in illegal
drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(21) HEROIN STUDY IS WORTH A TRY FOR THE SAKE OF ADDICTS AND SOCIETY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Instead of prostituting themselves or breaking into homes and cars,
some heroin addicts will soon be able to attend a clinic, where, as
a result of a bold experiment, they will be provided with free
heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||
Needless to say, the study is controversial and researchers need to
iron out a few ethical problems, but the experiment is worthwhile
all the same. | ||||||||||||||||||
The study, part of the North American Opiate Medication Initiatives, will begin in Vancouver and then expand to Toronto and Montreal. | ||||||||||||||||||
In Vancouver, 158 heroin addicts will take part and will be randomly
assigned to two groups: 88 will get heroin along with methadone,
while 70 will receive methadone only. A small number of subjects in
the heroin group will be given hydromorphone, which is similar to,
but distinguishable from, illegal heroin. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
In fact, although Vancouver is the first city in North America to
conduct such an experiment, similar trials have been completed in
Switzerland and the Netherlands and the results suggest that heroin
treatment can be effective for this small group of hard-core
addicts. | ||||||||||||||||||
The European experiments found that a significant percentage of
addicts receiving heroin improved their health and the quality of
their lives. Many entered abstinence programs, some found employment
and there was a drastic reduction in the criminal activity of those
on heroin maintenance. In fact, the Swiss experiment was so
successful that Swiss voters chose, in two referendums, to continue
heroin maintenance as part of a permanent program. | ||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
(22) PROVINCES WANT OTTAWA TO EASE SEIZURE OF PROPERTY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
Quebec -- The provinces are urging Ottawa to change the Criminal
Code to make it easier for governments to seize the properties of
criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||
The amendment would force criminals to prove to the courts that
their properties were not derived from the profits of criminal
activities. | ||||||||||||||||||
Quebec Justice Minister Jacques Dupuis has argued that the current law requires prosecutors to undertake "a lengthy and painstaking process," and that "our proposal would reverse the burden of proof." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
SUPREME COURT GIVES DRUG DOGS FREE REIN | ||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
WHO LET THE DOGS IN? | ||||||||||||||||||
The Supreme Court did, by declaring a sniff is not a search | ||||||||||||||||||
by Jacob Sullum, Reason Magazine | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DRUG WAR PROPAGANDA BOOK BY DOUG SNEAD NOW IN PRINT | ||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense staff member Doug Snead, who compiles and comments on
International drug policy news for DrugSense Weekly, has published a
new book called "Drug War Propaganda." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
PRAIRIE PLANT SYSTEMS CANNABIS QUALITY-CONTROL EXPOSE | ||||||||||||||||||
David Malmo Levine interviews Philippe Lucas of the Vancouver Island
Compassion Society about his research on the Flin Flon PPS irradiated,
metal/pathogen-rich, low-potency, comes-with-its-own-return-form
"medicinal" marijuana, and Health Canada's plans to use this suspect
material for it's "safety and efficacy" tests. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
MAP ANNOUNCES MAF | ||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense and The Media Awareness Project (MAP) are pleased to announce a new range of services available to drug policy reform activists! The Media Activism Facilitator project (MAF) is a newly funded effort at DrugSense that helps activists and organizations increase their media exposure - print, radio and television. | ||||||||||||||||||
Filling the lead role will be Stephen Heath of Clearwater FL. If you did not see last week's DrugSense Weekly, you can go here and read more on Steve and the project in the DSW Feature Article: (Top)http://www.drugsense.org/dsw/2005/ds05.n385.html#sec5 | ||||||||||||||||||
For more information on the DrugSense MAF project, go | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
CANADA IS SMALL POTATOES AMONG POT EXPORTERS | ||||||||||||||||||
By Eugene Oscapella | ||||||||||||||||||
Re: Canada net exporter of drugs, official says, Jan. 26 | ||||||||||||||||||
The article cites "top customs official" George Webb as saying that
Canada is now the largest single supplier of pot to the United
States. This is utter nonsense. | ||||||||||||||||||
U.S. government officials, and now apparently Canadian, have often
made claims that Canada is a major supplier of cannabis to the U.S.
However, the available evidence, including reports from the auditor
general of Canada, the RCMP, the U.S. and the United Nations, shows
just the opposite -- that Canada is in fact only a minor supplier of
cannabis to the U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
The most recent report was produced jointly by Canadian and American
government agencies. The report concluded that Canadian-produced
marijuana accounts for only about two per cent of overall U.S.
marijuana seizures at its borders. This and other studies refuting
claims that Canada is a major exporter of cannabis to the U.S. are
at: http://www.cfdp.ca/export.htm | ||||||||||||||||||
Eugene Oscapella | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
LETTER WRITER OF THE MONTH - JANUARY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
DrugSense recognizes Stephen Heath for his six letters published
during January, bringing the total number of published letters
archived by MAP to 129. Besides writing letters to the editor, Steve
does volunteer work in support of the LEAP Speakers Bureau
http://www.leap.cc/speakers/ and is a volunteer editor at MAP. Steve
leads MAP's Media Activism Facilitator project | ||||||||||||||||||
You may read all of Steve's published letters at | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE | ||||||||||||||||||
PROPAGANDA, COVERT AND OVERT | ||||||||||||||||||
By Steve Fox | ||||||||||||||||||
Much noise has been made -- and rightly so -- about the Bush
administration's habit of secretly paying pundits and columnists to
tout the White House line in the guise of independent journalism or
commentary. But as we sound the alarm over covert propaganda,
shouldn't we also be concerned about the overt kind? | ||||||||||||||||||
The federal government spends enough scarce tax dollars on overt
propaganda to make the $241,000 paid to Armstrong Williams look like
chickenfeed, and that ought to be cause for real outrage. After all,
in a democracy, the people are supposed to tell the government what
to think, not vice versa. Only in dictatorships do governments tell
their people what opinions are acceptable. | ||||||||||||||||||
On just one issue -- our policy toward marijuana and illegal drugs -
- the federal government has spent over a billion dollars in recent
years telling Americans what to think. Every time a proposal to
allow seriously ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes
under their doctors' supervision comes before voters or legislators,
officials from the White House Office of National Drug Control
Policy stream into town, repeating dire and often misleading
warnings. That those warnings often have little effect (Montana
voters ignored the White House and gave 62 percent approval to a
medical marijuana proposal last November) does not make the practice
any less inappropriate. | ||||||||||||||||||
Perhaps even more pernicious are those ONDCP anti-drug ads on
television, radio and in print. Though officially aimed at curbing
teen drug abuse, independent evaluations of the campaign have
consistently failed to find any such effect. Business Week got it
right last October when it reported, "The ads' main focus is
anti-marijuana messages aimed at state ballot initiatives for
drug-policy reform." | ||||||||||||||||||
Here the White House is having it both ways: Overt propaganda aimed
at kids that also serves as covert political propaganda targeting
adults. Worse, the ads are misleading and very likely | ||||||||||||||||||
In recent years ONDCP's commercials have focused overwhelmingly,
almost obsessively, on marijuana. But marijuana is well documented
to be far less toxic or addictive than alcohol and tobacco, much
less cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. A scientific review by
Oxford University researcher Leslie Iversen in the February issue of
Current Opinion in Pharmacology concludes, "Overall, by comparison
with other drugs used mainly for 'recreational' purposes, cannabis
[marijuana] could be rated a relatively safe drug." | ||||||||||||||||||
But you would never know that from those government ads, which
suggest that if you smoke a joint you will shoot your friends, run
down little girls on bicycles and end up a homeless derelict. Far
more dangerous substances are rarely mentioned in this ad blitz,
whose White House origins are typically disclosed in a minimal,
easy-to-miss fashion. | ||||||||||||||||||
There are clear signs that this distorted emphasis, driven by
politics instead of science, is hurting our kids. According to the
latest, federally-funded Monitoring the Future survey of U.S.
teenagers, adolescent use of marijuana declined slightly last year
while use of potentially lethal inhalants and cocaine went up. And
teens rated occasional use of marijuana as being more dangerous than
trying crack cocaine, drinking nearly every day or taking LSD
regularly. | ||||||||||||||||||
Amazingly, White House Drug Czar John Walters called the survey's
results "good news for American parents and teens." One can only
wonder what he thinks bad news would look like. Sen. Tom Harkin
(D-IA) is preparing to introduce legislation requiring all
government-purchased ads to state that they were bought at taxpayer
expense. Such truth-in-labeling is an essential, if minimal, step in
the right direction. | ||||||||||||||||||
An even better idea is for our government to get out of the
propaganda business entirely. | ||||||||||||||||||
Steve Fox, a father of two, is director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., www.mpp.org. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||
"The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is
Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility." | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
DS Weekly is one of the many free educational services DrugSense
offers our members. Watch this feature to learn more about what
DrugSense can do for you. | ||||||||||||||||||
TO SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, OR UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: | ||||||||||||||||||
Please utilize the following URLs | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by
Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection
and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International
content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (),
Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO DRUGSENSE ON-LINE | ||||||||||||||||||
-OR- | ||||||||||||||||||
Mail in your contribution. Make checks payable to MAP Inc. send your
contribution to: | ||||||||||||||||||
The Media Awareness Project (MAP) Inc. |
 | current issue | this issue |