| Jan. 6, 2006 #431 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Table of Contents
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THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) FORMER PLACER MEDIPOT ACTIVIST MAY LOSE REFUGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ordered Expulsion From Canada Could Lead to Jail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Steve Kubby, a fugitive from Placer County and internationally known
medical-marijuana activist, is fighting to stay in Canada despite a
court order to leave the country by Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Monday we're going to request a stay based on legal motions that we
filed in court," Kubby said in a telephone interview from his home
Thursday. "We remain hopeful that it will be granted." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kubby fled to Canada with his family in an effort to avoid
incarceration after a 2000 conviction in Placer County on charges of
possession of mescaline and psilocybin. Placer County deputies
reportedly found a small amount of peyote button and magic mushroom
during a 1999 raid of Kubby's Olympic Valley home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I must confess that I really fear for my husband's life," Michelle
Kubby said. "He must have cannabis constantly to survive the deadly
threat posed by his adrenaline-secreting tumors." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Canadian Border Services rejected the Kubby family's bid for protection Dec. 9. Kubby returns to a Canadian court Monday to argue that a stay of the departure order must be granted, his wife said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(2) DRUG CONFLICT DISPLACES EVER MORE COLOMBIANS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PEREIRA, Colombia - Armando Garces was reluctant to leave his mountain village even after right-wing militia members had gone door to door telling residents they had 48 hours to evacuate, or else. He didn't like being ordered to abandon the only home he had ever known. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Then a daylong gun battle erupted between the paramilitary fighters and
leftist guerrillas over control of nearby coca crops and transit
routes. Garces' town -- Bajo Calima, nestled in Colombia's Pacific
coast rain forest -- was caught in the cross fire between the rebels
above the town and militia members below it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We hid under our beds all day, and the next morning we were gone,"
said Garces, recalling the terrifying day in June when his township
became a battleground in the nation's long-running drug wars. "Everyone
agreed it was time to look for some other future." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
So the 25-year-old woodcutter, his wife, two children and 500 other
residents joined Colombia's swelling ranks of the internally displaced.
More than 3 million people have been driven from their homes by the
longstanding civil conflict between Colombian armed groups vying for
political dominance and control of crops related to the nation's drug
trade as well as of other agricultural products. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Only Sudan has more internally displaced citizens than Colombia,
according to the Norwegian Refugee Council, a human rights group that
has tracked the displaced around the globe for the Office of the U.N.
High Commissioner for Refugees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(3) CANNABIS MOVE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis Was Downgraded to Class C Two Years Ago | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A decision on whether to reclassify cannabis as a more serious drug
will be taken in the next few days, Home Secretary Charles Clarke has
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was "worried" about new
studies linking it with mental health problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis was downgraded from class B to class C two years ago, but Mr
Clarke ordered a review of that last year and said the move had
confused the public. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Experts and charities are divided over the drug's possible
reclassification. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dame Ruth Runciman, who chaired the initial inquiry that recommended
downgrading cannabis, said reclassification would confuse the public
even more. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I think it is very ill-judged thing to do and that it actually puts
cannabis where it does not belong in the scale of relative harm," she
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But John Henry, a clinical toxicologist at St Mary's Hospital in
London, told BBC News there was a "strong link" between cannabis and
schizophrenia. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"It's probably about four times commoner in people who smoke cannabis
regularly," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(4) TOP 10 DRUG WAR STORIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1) Don't Bogart My Closeup: The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and its fearless leader, drug czar John Walters, got slapped by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office in January when the GAO reported that Walters' band of merry narcos had violated a government ban on "covert propaganda" with its release of prepackaged video news stories, ready to air on broadcast news programs, that failed to identify the ONDCP as the source of the "news." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2) Man-Min Madness ... : In a 5-4 decision delivered Jan. 12, the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional the federal mandatory-minimum
sentencing schemes enacted by Congress in the mid-Eighties in reaction
to an increase in drug crimes, opining that, as currently applied, man-
mins violate the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In order to pass constitutional muster, the court said, the sentencing
schemes should be downgraded to just an advisory tool for judges to
consider. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3) ... And More Madness: Apparently U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R- Wis., didn't get the memo concerning the Supremes' ruling. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He went on his merry drug warrior way and, in April, filed the uber-
draconian Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug
Treatment and Child Protection Act (HR 1528). This wolf in sheep's
clothing would create a whole host of stricter man-mins - including a
mandatory 10-year sentence for any adult over 21 who sells more than
five grams of pot to anyone under 18, and a mandatory three years for
parents who are aware of drug-trafficking activities near their
children but fail to report the alleged activity to police within 24
hours. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2006 arrived without a federal meth bill, thanks to Congressional
wrangling. Will "voluntary" drug tests for public officials in small
towns become a trend in 2006? It seemed to be at the end of 2005.
And, the widow of a state trooper killed in a drug raid is suing
makers of drugs used to make methamphetamine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(5) FEDS' ANTI-METH BILL DIES WITH PATRIOT ACT EXTENSION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hopeful that more federal money will still come in 2006 to help
fight crime related to methamphetamine abuse, Blaine County Sheriff
Walt Femling's hopes were temporarily dashed last week as Congress
adjourned for the holidays. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Scheduled as a rider on the USA Patriot Act renewal bill,
legislation geared toward regulating the production of ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine was killed when the U.S. Senate voted to extend the
Patriot Act for six months. Methamphetamine legislation that was
approved by the House of Representatives earlier in the month was
stricken from the bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Femling, who sits on the board of the National Association of
Counties ( NACo ), said the organization has adopted methamphetamine
addiction as its top priority in the near term. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Young people's lives are being destroyed by meth," Femling said. "[Police] are taking children out of "meth lab" houses ... For those reasons communities are stepping up to get something done." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The legislation would have limited purchases of cold medicine that
contains ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to about 120 pills per day and
would have required retailers to store off-the-shelf medicine like
Sudafed, NyQuil and Benadryl behind the counter. The bill was also
geared to monitoring manufacturers of the base ingredients used for
making meth. The goal to prevent shipments of large quantities to
"superlabs" is expected to be a top order of business when the
Senate reconvenes this winter. It will be for NACo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(6) DRUG TESTS OF GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS OK'D (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JACKSON -- Less than a month after Township Committeeman Michael
Kafton pleaded guilty to drunken driving and was charged with
possession of a toxic chemical, the Township Committee voted to
provide voluntary, random drug testing for its members. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I believe that the Jackson Township Committee should take the lead,
set an example, and subject themselves to random drug testing to
prove that Jackson's elected officials are willing to hold
themselves up the highest standards of personal conduct," Republican
Committeeman Mark Seda said Tuesday night. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Seda, who had called on Democrat Kafton to resign, proposed the
resolution setting up the drug testing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(7) UNION GAP RESIDENTS CLAIM DELAY IN DRUG TESTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UNION GAP -- Some residents is this small town wonder what's taking so long for elected officials to complete voluntary drug tests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"If they were serious about showing us that they had it together, then they would have done it all at once. But them lingering gives the appearance that they are cleaning something out of their system," said Union Gap resident and activist Andrea Vasquez. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mayor Aubrey Reeves gave council members the option last week of
taking a voluntary drug test at the city's expense. His offer came
after Councilman Dale Glaspey's Dec. 13 arrest for allegedly selling
cocaine to an informant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Some ( council members ) asked me to make it available because they
didn't want to be labeled as drug users," Reeves said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Testing is being offered at Valley Medi-Center in Union Gap. The
cost is $42.50 per test or $340 for all seven council members and
the mayor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To date only three elected officials -- Reeves and Councilmen Jim Lemon and Glenn Bateman -- have taken urine tests. So far Lemon is the only one to receive his results, which showed he's clean. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The remaining council members support the idea of drug testing for elected officials and all say they plan on being tested this week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I think it's a great thing, and it's long overdue. If we expect our
employees to do it, then we should be doing it," said Councilman
Dave Butler, who planned on taking his test this week. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(8) WIDOW OF SLAIN TROOPER SUES MAKERS, SELLERS OF METH INGREDIENT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WALTERS - The widow of a slain trooper filed a wrongful-death
lawsuit Tuesday against those who make and/or sell pseudoephedrine.
Linda Green claims in the Cotton County lawsuit that drug companies
and suppliers -- including Pfizer, Wal-Mart, Walgreen, Dollar
General and United Supermarkets -- knew methamphetamine addicts were
buying the drug to get high and not to treat a cold. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
She also charges makers knew how to make the pseudoephedrine tablets
without allowing drug addicts to extract the ingredients needed to
make methamphetamine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The reason for filing this suit is to hold those people accountable for what they've done, not just to Nik Green and his family ( but for ) every other person in the United States who's been impacted," said Gary James, an Oklahoma City attorney representing Linda Green. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The suit also names Ricky Ray Malone, who was convicted of murdering
Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Nikky Joe Green. Malone was high on
methamphetamine during the December 2003 shooting. A mobile
methamphetamine lab was found in Malone's car. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Public school officials in Kansas are still upset that state police officials aren't sharing enough drug money with them. Instead of insisting that the police change their ways, a new proposal would remove protections for those targeted by asset forfeiture seizures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Also last week, a college student gets incarcerated for carrying flour as a stress reliever; a Missouri county acknowledges that it routinely prosecutes women who give birth to babies with illegal drugs in their systems; a law-abiding 68-year-old Wisconsin man is assaulted by unrepentant cops in another botched drug raid; and Louisiana officials are charging drug suppliers with murder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(9) SCHOOLS FAIL TO GET CONFISCATED CASH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Missouri officials are attempting once again to overhaul state laws
so that millions of dollars of cash confiscated in suspected drug
crimes goes to public education. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
State law requires that proceeds from fines and forfeitures be spent
on public education. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But only $10 million of the $71 million in suspected drug money that
law enforcement agencies have seized since 1999 has ended up in
school coffers, according to government records. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Instead, Missouri law enforcement agencies have used a strategy
allowing them to keep drug money by handing it off to a federal law
enforcement agency. A series of news articles in 1999 and 2000
revealed how the federal government kept a portion, 20 percent or
more, and then sent the rest back to the seizing agency to be spent
under federal guidelines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
That was a strategy being used not only in Missouri, but in many
other states. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Missouri, state legislators thought they fixed the problem in 2000 with new legislation. The fix didn't take, they now say. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One reason law enforcement officials say they are continuing to send the money to the federal government or not seizing drug money at all is because Missouri laws are too protective of criminal suspects. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Now a task force of law enforcement and education officials, brought together by Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman a year ago, believes it finally may have an answer with legislation it has drafted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"It's good for kids, it's good for law enforcement," said Doug
Gaston, deputy treasurer and a former prosecutor, who led the task
force. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The bill would eliminate the requirement that property can be
forfeited only after a person has been convicted of a crime. It also
would be quicker to take someone's property - 30 days after a
seizure in many cases. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In addition, the bill would: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
# Allow law enforcement agencies to keep up to 50 percent of a
forfeiture to pay for the cost of their investigation. In order for
an agency to recoup its expenses, rules would be set up requiring
the agency to submit its expenses, most likely to the judge
overseeing the forfeiture, officials said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
# Send the rest - 50 percent or more - to a state school fund. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
# Require that once the school fund has a balance of $6 million, additional money go to increase minimum salaries for teachers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
# Require that once minimum salaries for teachers have been taken
care of, the rest of the money would be used for safe school grants
providing for school resource officers, metal detectors, fences and
other safety programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(10) FLOUR IN CONDOMS SENT HER TO JAIL (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A College Student Spent 3 Weeks in Jail After a Field Test Said She
Was Carrying Drugs. She Filed a Lawsuit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
She was a freshman on an academic scholarship at Bryn Mawr College, preparing to fly home to California for Christmas, sleep-deprived, with questions from a calculus exam still racing through her head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the space of a few hours on Dec. 21, 2003, Janet Lee landed in a Philadelphia jail cell, where she would remain for three weeks, held on $500,000 bail and facing 20 years in prison on drug charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All over flour found in her luggage. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I haven't let myself be angry about what happened, because it would
tear me apart," Lee said. "I'm not sure I can bear to face it... .
I'm amazed at how naive I was." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(11) PREGNANT WOMEN WHO USE DRUGS COULD SEE JAIL TIME (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's not that he doesn't care, but Newton County Prosecutor Scott
Watson can't understand what all the fuss is about. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Making headlines recently, Greene County has lately implemented a
policy of prosecuting mothers whose newborn babies are born with
illegal drugs in their system. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But despite the added media attention surrounding the issue, Watson
metaphorically shrugs his shoulders. After all, Newton County has
done the exact same thing for years now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"It's nothing new to us," he said. "We've had that policy in place
for as long as I can remember." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Watson explained that if a baby is born in Newton County and tests
positive for illegal drugs it constitutes endangering the welfare of
a child. If convicted, the mother could face a Class C felony charge
( if in the first degree ) and possibly be sent away to prison for
up to seven years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Although unsure of how many women Newton County has actually prosecuted in this type of case, Watson said that it has, nevertheless, happened in the past, although admitting that prosecution may sometimes depend on the circumstances involved. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(12) MAN SAYS HE WAS MISTAKENLY TARGETED IN DRUG RAID (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Police Broke Through Wrong Door On House, Man Says | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PEWAUKEE - Police officers serving a search warrant in a drug raid
last week went to the wrong address, waking a 68-year-old man from
his sleep in a pre-dawn raid that left the man fuming. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Victor Buerosse, 68, a retired attorney, said police intended to
target the rental unit above his office at 150 Park Ave., which is
connected to his 148 Park Ave. residence, before dawn last Friday
morning. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Instead, they broke into his residence, a single-story addition
connected to but different from the two-story structure described in
the warrant, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I said, 'You guys are in the wrong place,"' Buerosse said. "All (
the sergeant ) would say is, 'We have a valid search warrant.' I
said, 'You don't have a valid search warrant, you dumb S.O.B., if
you are in the wrong place.'" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Despite identifying himself, Buerosse said, "they threw me on the ground, into a closet door, hit me in the head with a shield, not that it was that hard, but it was hard enough to knock me down." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It took the arrival of a local sergeant who knew Buerosse for officers on the scene to accept that they had the wrong man, Buerosse said. The officers left without an apology, he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I thought, 'I'm 68 years old. What if I had a heart condition? What
if I am one of those guys who sleeps with a gun under the pillow?
What if I was one of those guys who keeps a large dog?'" Buerosse
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(13) MURDER BY DRUG DEALING CHARGE REVIVING (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutors Turn to Little-Known Law | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When a jury determined earlier this year that Jake Johnson had been
murdered, it had seen no weapon. Prosecutors didn't even try to
establish intent, and they conceded the victim played a key role in
his own death. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yet the second-degree murder conviction brought the killer the same mandatory life-without-parole sentence handed out routinely to shooters and stabbers. All prosecutors had to establish was that defendant Jeanie Hano, 42, had sold methadone to the 16-year-old victim and that the same pills contributed to his death by overdose. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-17) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rhode Island policy makers kicked off the political year with a bang
(bhang?) by overriding Gov. Carcieri's veto of a state medical
cannabis bill, making RI the 11th U.S. state to allow the
compassionate use of cannabis by those with recommendations from
their physicians. The law will allow registered users to grow up to
12 plants or to possess 2.5 ounces of dried cannabis. In an
interesting follow-up article, the Providence Journal examines the
problems of access for medical users who can now legally obtain
therapeutic cannabis, but must do so through the illegal black
market. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our third story is a Rocky Mountain News editorial on SAFER's attempt to translate their recent success in legalizing the adult use of cannabis in Denver into a statewide legalization effort. The group is currently gathering the 68,000 signatures necessary to place a legalization question before Colorado voters on next fall's electoral ballot. And lastly this week, a column from the Colorado Springs Gazette condemning recent DEA raids on medical cannabis dispensaries in California, and wondering if Colorado's medical cannabis program might suffer from similar federal interference. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(14) HOUSE OVERRIDES CARCIERI'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA VETO (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rhode Island on Tuesday became the 11th state to legalize medical
marijuana and the first since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June
that patients who use the drug can still be prosecuted under federal
law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
House lawmakers voted 59-13 to override a veto by Gov. Don Carcieri,
allowing people with illnesses such as cancer and AIDS to grow up to
12 marijuana plants or buy 2.5 ounces of marijuana to relieve their
symptoms. The law requires them to register with the state and get a
photo identification card. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal law prohibits any use of marijuana, but Maine, Vermont, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington allow it to be grown and used for medicinal purposes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(15) SUPPORTERS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL CONCEDE PROBLEMS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The medical marijuana law that passed yesterday allows doctors to
recommend that patients obtain from illegal sources a drug of
unknown potency and unknown purity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This is not how doctors normally prescribe treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But if the longstanding support of the Rhode Island Medical Society
is any indication, many are willing to go this route -- because of
the potential benefits to patients who can't get relief from pain,
nausea, muscle spasms and other problems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Even supporters of the concept, however, admit that it's "weird." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(16) MARIJUANA WARS SET TO CONTINUE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Legalize possession of marijuana? Denverites said yes to that
proposition last fall, but after surprisingly little debate. It was
almost as if opponents didn't take the group Safer Alternative for
Enjoyable Recreation and its misleading campaign seriously - and so
ignored the measure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Needless to say they won't make that mistake again. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last week SAFER officials said they'll gather signatures to put a
measure on next fall's ballot to legalize marijuana statewide
because Denver is still issuing tickets for possession under state
law. And while we don't exactly welcome the prospect, the initiative
at least will provide a chance for voters to consider serious
arguments for and against legalization in a context that actually
makes some sense. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(17) REEFER MADNESS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's something of a mystery why federal Drug Enforcement
Administration agents raided HopeNet, a medical cannabis dispensary
said to serve about 30 patients a day in San Francisco, on Dec. 20.
It followed a series of raids in San Diego on Dec. 12 that closed 13
cannabis dispensaries. No arrests were made in any of the raids, but
some patients are concerned that these raids are a prelude to a
major effort to close down cannabis clubs statewide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
That seems unlikely, at least any time soon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The backdrop to all this is the fact that California law and federal law are different regarding the medical use of cannabis, or marijuana. This could have repercussions in Colorado, as we also have a state law that allows possession of small amounts of marijuana for medical use if a person has the approval of a doctor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Especially since the Supreme Court ruling last June in Raich v.
Ashcroft, federal law prohibits growing, possessing or using
marijuana, even for medical purposes, and even if such activities
occur entirely within the borders of a state that authorizes the use
of marijuana through the recommendation of a licensed physician, as
California and Colorado voters have since approved measures in those
and nine other states. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (18-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Haiti, as elsewhere, U.S. DEA officials show they can interfere
with elections by alleging "links" to drugs. In the upcoming elections
in Haiti, at least three candidates have been tainted by DEA leaks of
links to "drugs". U.S. officials say traffickers want to keep the
Haitian government "weak and corruptible." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. officials allege the Mexican military is corrupted with drug
money also. Mexican soldiers, earning only about $300 a month, are
easily bought by drug traffickers. Arresting drug traffickers is not
the traditional duty of the army, but is a task pressed upon them by
prohibitionists in Washington. "We're the ones who pushed the
Mexican military into fighting narcotics," said Armand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ten police officers in the commonwealth nation of New Zealand were
convicted on corruption charges last year, including convictions of
selling or using methamphetamine, the Central Leader newspaper
reported. An even great number of police corruption cases were not
resolved by the year's end. Although police wrongdoing is
investigated by other police, New Zealand Police Association
President Greg O'Connor nonetheless asserts police do "not hide
anything." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Taiwanese government officials are ready to get ever tougher on drug
users, this time around with sweeping new laws that let government
detain marijuana users for up to three years of forced "treatment."
New "treatment centers" (read: concentration camps) opened on Jan. 1
having a capacity to hold 4,000 drug users undergoing the
forced-treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bermuda's legislature made the drug laws more severe last summer,
and petty drug peddlers are now going to jail for longer terms.
Bermuda, in an effort to curry favor with a prohibitionist U.S.
regime, made their laws more harsh, increasing the jail terms for
drug offences. Expect drug use to rise in Bermuda, as a clueless
government packs jails with an endless line of replaceable
small-time dealers. We've seen it all before. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(18) HAITIAN CANDIDATES ARE UNDER SUSPICION (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Several Are Linked to Illicit Drugs by DEA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- At least three candidates in Haiti's elections scheduled for Jan. 8 have links to a cocaine-trafficking industry that wants to ensure the next government is weak and corruptible, a half-dozen Haitian and U.S. officials say. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Two of Haiti's best-financed presidential candidates -- Guy Philippe and Dany Toussaint -- have long been linked to cocaine trafficking by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials. A Senate candidate who is a nephew of interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has close links to a gang that controls drug smuggling in the port of Gonaives, according to the Haitian and U.S. officials. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diplomats and counterdrug agents have expressed particular concerns
about Youri Latortue -- the security chief for his uncle, the prime
minister, and a senate candidate for the Gonaives region, a major
drug-smuggling area. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Youri Latortue, meanwhile, has struck a political alliance with Guy
Philippe, one of the leaders of the rebellion that ousted Aristide
and now a candidate for the presidency. The two apparently knew each
other when they served in the Haitian police. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The DEA suspected Philippe was involved in drug trafficking when he
was police chief in the northern port of Cap Haitien, Haiti's
second-biggest city. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Philippe has vehemently denied such allegations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(19) MEXICAN MILITARY CAUGHT UP IN DRUG CORRUPTION, OFFICIALS SAY (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WASHINGTON - U.S. officials and analysts say there are new signs that drug corruption is spreading within the Mexican military, an institution long regarded as more professional and less prone to criminality than the country's law enforcement agencies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In interviews, four senior U.S. officials, a senior Mexican
intelligence official and three independent analysts all expressed
concern about the expanding role of the Mexican military in the drug
war. Some pointed to low pay among the middle and lower ranks as
making military personnel vulnerable to offers from cartel leaders
who may double or triple their pay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Corruption is more serious in the Mexican military than just about any other Latin American military," said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The reason is not that the Mexicans are any more venal; it's that we're talking about huge amounts of money because drugs flow into Mexico and that makes them more vulnerable." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spokesmen for the Mexican Embassy in Washington and for Los Pinos,
the presidential residence, declined to comment, referring questions
to the military. Military officials requested questions in writing
but said there would be no reply for now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The concerns were underscored in a video sent to The Dallas Morning News in October and described in a Dec. 1 article. The video shows four men, bound and bloodied and prodded by an unseen interrogator, talking about their work for a drug cartel. Two of the four identified themselves as former military men and said that their job was to recruit for the cartel from Mexico's special forces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We're the ones who pushed the Mexican military into fighting
narcotics," said Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, head of the Mexico
Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in
Washington. "We've pushed them into narco corruption." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The military - historically a rallying point of Mexican nationalism
- was long viewed as relatively free of the kind of corruption that
has engulfed the country and many of its institutions. For example,
this month the Mexico attorney general's office said that 1,493
federal agents - about one of every five members of an elite force
of 7,000 working for an agency modeled after the FBI - were under
criminal investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. officials and analysts stressed that low pay among the rank and
file makes them especially vulnerable to drug traffickers. Soldiers
make about $300 a month, compared with $5,000 for lieutenant
colonels and about $28,000 for the defense secretary, according to a
salary scale on the military's Web site. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(20) TEN POLICE OFFICERS CONVICTED LAST YEAR (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Twenty-six police officers appeared in court in the past year for
crimes that included selling methamphetamine, indecent assault and
fraud. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Papers released to The Press under the Official Information Act show
10 officers were convicted, two were acquitted and one discharged,
and 13 cases were continuing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Police human resources general manager Wayne Annan said the charges
against officers in the past year included several assaults, an
indecent assault, fraudulently obtaining $500 and selling P, pure
methamphetamine. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Manukau constable had allegedly given away the methamphetamine
seized in a drugs bust. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the fact police misconduct still made the news showed it was not a big problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
O'Connor said police did not hide anything when it came to
wrongdoing by their own. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(21) DRUG USERS FACE STIFFER PENALTIES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forced Treatment at One Of Several Centers Around the Nation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is amending a law which will enable
the agency to detain people who use minor drugs and force them to
undergo treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The proposed amendment will help teenagers and youths give up
taking minor drugs such as ketamine, MDMA [ecstasy] or flunitrazepam
frequently used in pubs or KTVs, and also be a punishment to deter
people from using these kinds of drugs," Vice Minister of Justice
Wang Tian-sheng said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wang said drug use by teenagers and youths is rampant. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The new law will be approved and put into practice next year, Wang
added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
According to the Violation of the Narcotics Endangerment Prevention
Act, while selling or transporting third-class, or minor, drugs is a
criminal offense, those who caught using minor drugs do not face
criminal charges and cannot be forced to undergo treatment for drug
abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The MOJ found that minor drugs frequently taken in pubs and KTVs
have caused health and social problems among teenagers and youths,
so the [government] decided to send them to the MOJ's drug
abstention and treatment centers, which are charged with detaining
drug abusers and giving them forced treatment," the vice minister
said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wang added that students would be suspended from their studies if
they receive treatment for narcotics abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wang said that to house the drug users, four drug abstention and
treatment centers in Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Taitung would
be opened on Jan.1, which will be able to accommodate more than
4,000 people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Under the current law, those arrested for using "first-class" drugs
such as heroin and cocaine, or "second-class" drugs such as
amphetamines and marijuana, must undergo narcotic treatment at drug
abstention and treatment centers for a maximum of one month. Those
who are seriously addicted and fail an exam after the one-month
treatment must undergo a second treatment, lasting up to a maximum
of one year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The vice minister said that in the proposed amendment the MOJ has
suggested extending the one-month limit on treatment to two-months,
and the one-year treatment to three-years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He said that more than 3,600 people are currently receiving narcotic
treatment at centers at 19 detention houses and 18 Juvenile
Detention and Classification Houses nationwide. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(22) IMPRISONED: FIRST OFFENDERS FALL FOUL OF NEW DRUGS LAW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Drug Dealers Sentenced To 16 Years In First Case Under Tougher
Regime | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The hard new drug regime claimed its first traffickers on Monday
when a local man and two Americans all went to jail for a total of
16 years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2005, which passed into law in
August, now provides for maximum penalties of 10 years in jail and
fines of half a million dollars or three times the value of the
drugs seized. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What's more, it's retroactive -- something that sent Steven Javon
Evans to jail for six years even though he committed his offences
before the new law went into effect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
THE BIG CHILL - INSERTING THE DEA INTO END-OF-LIFE CARE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From the New England Journal of Medicine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JUSTICE, TEXAS STYLE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Sarah Shemkus, The American Prospect | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reporter Nate Blakeslee's new book describes what can happen if you're
arrested in Tulia, Texas -- and you're young and black. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NORML'S 2006 NATIONAL CONFERENCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 5, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Washington, DC: NORML's 2006 annual conference will once again be held
in the great city of San Francisco, California at the Holiday Inn Golden
Gateway. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listen Live Fridays 8:00 PM, ET, 7:00 CT, 6:00 MT & 5:00 PT at
http://www.KPFT.org/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CENTURY OF LIES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/06/06 - Exit Strategy from War on Drugs Conference with Eric
Sterling, Sanho Tree and Graham Boyd. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WHITE HOUSE DRUG POLICY OFFICE LAUNCHES PODCAST | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
White House "Drug Czar" to Share Latest Information Regarding National and Community Anti-Drug Efforts to Fight Drugs via new Internet Feed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press06/010306.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HELP REVIEW THE YEAR WITH DRUGSENSE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A DrugSense Focus Alert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HOW TO INCREASE DRUG POLICY REFORM IN YOUR LOCAL MEDIA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tue. January 10 /06, 09:00 p.m. ET | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Join leading hearts and minds from the drug policy reform movement as
we discuss ways to write Letters to the Editor that get printed. We'll
also discuss ways to get notable OPEDS printed in your local and in
state newspapers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LETTER OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STREET NURSE TELLS IT LIKE IT IS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Beth Wehrman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
To the editor: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Re: "VANDU not worth coverage," Letters, Dec. 7. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
When I respond to a situation which I know only peripherally, I
often speak with lack of knowledge. Such is the case with persons
outside the realm of harm reduction and drug use. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I am a mother and a gramma. I'm a street nurse. I work with drug
users. I provide information about safer ways to use drugs. I
provide sterile injection equipment. I teach people how to recognize
and respond to opiate overdoses. I provide counselling and testing
for HIV and hepatitis C and vaccines against hepatitis A & B. I am
not a drug dealer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
But if and when an individual who uses drugs decides to make a
change in his/her life, I am a trusted ally-a person they can call
for reliable, accurate information and referrals. I cannot make the
decision for you to change your drug use. You make that choice. I
can support your decision. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If and when that happens, I may have helped you to take those steps without becoming infected with HIV or hepatitis. That is my goal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VANDU is an invaluable resource for individuals who often receive
little support or understanding from the community at large. They
deserve our support, as do VANDU participants. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beth Wehrman, Vancouver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PUBLISHED LETTER TO THE EDITOR WRITER OF THE YEAR - 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Richard Lake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Again this year two letter writers are so close in their total
number of published letters for the year that DrugSense wishes to
recognize both for their accomplishments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Sharpe had 241 letters published last year that we know of,
raising his career total to an amazing 1,421 published. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 1999 Robert started writing letters as a student at George
Washington University and a member of their Students for Sensible
Drug Policy ( http://www.ssdp.org ). Then he often used his SSDP
chapter membership in his signature block to improve his chances of
being published. We first recognized Robert's letter writing
accomplishments in May, 2000 as you can see in this photo
http://www.mapinc.org/images/Robert.jpg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Today Robert writes as a volunteer for CSDP ( http://www.csdp.org ).
He signs his letters "Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense
for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C." Robert tells us that he is
spending about an hour a day after work sending out letters, and
yes, many more are not published than are. Robert has provided us
with his tips for letter writing success at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You may read all of Robert's published letters at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kirk Muse of Mesa, Arizona had 212 letters published during 2005
that we know of, bringing his career total to 627. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kirk also supports the Media Awareness Project of DrugSense by
newshawking news clippings, well over a thousand in the past year.
By newshawking Kirk sees targets and frequently sends his letters to
the editor to the newspapers before others are even aware of the
news clipping. Kirk is pictured, with MAP editor Beth Wehrman, at
last November's Drug Policy Alliance conference here | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kirk sends copies of his letters to MAP's sent letter email list
where they can be seen at the list's archives at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Like Robert, Kirk sends many more letters than are ever published. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You may read all of Kirk's published letters at | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Every drug policy reform organization encourages writing letters to
the editor. It is one of the most cost effective ways for activists
to keep our issues before the public. DrugSense recognizes the
efforts of all our letter writing activists, giving recognition
through links from this webpage http://www.mapinc.org/lteaward.htm
We also provide a graphic display of the Top 100 Letter Writers here
http://www.mapinc.org/lte/topwrit.htm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thank You Robert and Kirk for all you do for our reform efforts!
This recognition is well earned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"There is no greater fallacy on earth than the doctrine of force, as
applied to government." - Walt Whitman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Policy and Law Enforcement/Prison content selection and analysis by
Stephen Young (), Cannabis/Hemp content selection
and analysis by Philippe Lucas (), International
content selection and analysis by Doug Snead (),
Layout by Matt Elrod () | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
We wish to thank all our contributors, editors, NewsHawks and letter writing activists. Please help us help reform. Become a NewsHawk See http://www.mapinc.org/hawk.htm for info on contributing clippings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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