| Jan. 20, 2006 #433 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
THIS JUST IN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) CITY THROWS OUT POT CHARGE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prosecutor Says He's Going After Other Marijuana Cases | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The city on Wednesday dismissed a pot possession charge against the
first person arrested after Denver voters backed a measure legalizing
small amounts of marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Defendant Eric Footer, 39, learned of the decision to throw out the
case when he appeared at a hearing with plans to plead not guilty to
the charge. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Footer, a real estate consultant, was cited Nov. 17. Voters passed
Initiative 100 on Nov. 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We view this as a real victory for Denver voters and a validation of
what happened in November," said Footer's lawyer, Brian Vicente, who
also is executive director for Sensible Colorado. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Denver voters spoke loudly and clearly on this issue, and it looks
like Denver officials are listening," he said. "The city has recognized
there is better use of resources and taxpayers' money than prosecuting
these cases. We hope this will send a message to police that the city
attorney views this as futile." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
But prosecutor Greg Rawlings said the dismissal of charges against
Footer means no such thing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rawlings said he dismissed the case because of problems with the search
of Footer's car. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) WIRETAP WHISTLEBLOWER OR DEA DUPE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Local Assistant U.S. Attorney's Explosive Justice Department
Allegations Make National Waves | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The seven-page document reads like the screenplay for Scarface, had it
been written by a Justice Department attorney instead of Oliver Stone.
U.S. Drug Enforcement agents in Bogota, Colombia, help local drug lords
traffic narcotics. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
When a confidential informant tips off DEA agents in Florida about the
illegal actions of their Bogota counterparts, a Florida agent alerts
DEA higher-ups and is put on administrative leave. Meanwhile, DEA
agents in Bogota summon an informant to a meeting; as he leaves, he is
murdered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's not Scarface. It's a December 2004 memo written by Thomas M. Kent,
a lawyer then working in the Justice Department's Narcotic and
Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) who is now an assistant U.S. attorney in
the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the middle
district of Tennessee. It was first reported this week by The Narco
News Bulletin, an online newsletter that publishes Latin American and
U.S. news about the war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent, whom present and former colleagues praise as smart and honest,
sent the whistleblower memo to NDDS Chief Jodi Avergun and deputy chief
Michael Walther with the subject line, "Operation Snowplow-
Dissemination of information on corruption within the DEA and the
mishandling of related investigations by OPR to the Public Integrity
Section." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The memo, which is stamped "Confidential," contains explosive allegations. Corrupt DEA agents stationed in Bogota allow U.S.-friendly informants to be locked up, kidnapped and killed because they're disrupting the narco-trade that lines the agents' pockets. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) SWEEP YIELDS NO DRUGS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
GREAT BARRINGTON - State and local police found no drugs or evidence of
them during a surprise search yesterday at Monument Mountain Regional
High School, where officers did a sweep of lockers and parked cars with
a drug-sniffing dog. Assistant Principal Howard Trombley said it was
"excellent" that the dogs turned up no drugs, paraphernalia or residue.
Individuals were not searched. "It was time," he said, as he watched a
police officer leading a German shepherd through the parking lot.
"There has been a perception out there. ... Some kids say there's
dealing going on - we don't know if it is at school or in the parking
lot. It may be happening off campus." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We're clean," said another school staffer yesterday. The search did
not result from a specific investigation, but the results of the search
should not leave the wrong impression, two sources said yesterday.
"Kids are being smarter, or using other ways of hiding things, or they
are not bringing it to school," said a local police officer. "We know
(the school community) isn't clean." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I would not interpret this to mean there's no drug problem," said Sheela Cleary, director of the South Berkshire Youth Coalition, which surveyed local students about risky behaviors last spring. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Having heard (the search turned up nothing), I don't think for an
instant that the problem has lessened or changed in the community," she
said. "It's a community-wide issue, and this is what the coalition is
focusing on. ... It's no doubt there are drugs in school; but at this
day and time, there were not." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The school was "locked down" after classes began yesterday, and parents who saw police cars outside while dropping off their children were worried. One parent, who heard about the police and dogs at the school, said he was distressed that an emergency was under way inside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"It was alarming," he said in a call to The Eagle. Another parent, who
asked not to be named, was unhappy with the "overkill" approach,
calling it a "military-like situation." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"I'm surprised that the school administration hasn't reached out to
parents to have a conversation, dialogue or something before turning to
these extreme measures," she said. "I think you should first try to
deal with it as a community." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON AGENDA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In an unforeseen move, Gov. Bill Richardson on Wednesday night said he
will include a medical-marijuana bill on his agenda this legislative
session. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The governor's decision surprised drug-law-reform advocates, who had
been disheartened by Richardson's statement earlier this week that
there wouldn't be enough time in an already packed 30-day session to
take on the measure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
House Speaker Ben Lujan, DNambe, said before the session started that
he had asked Richardson not to include medical marijuana on his call,
saying there wasn't enough time. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
But on Wednesday night, Richardson said in a news release, "After speaking with many seriously ill New Mexicans, I have decided to include this bill on my call. This issue is too important, and there are too many New Mexicans suffering to delay this issue any further." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We're so thrilled and so grateful," said Reena Szczepanski, director
of the state chapter of The Drug Policy Alliance, a national advocacy
group that has been pushing the proposed bill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"We're proud to have a governor who will stand up for compassion. We
know it was a hard decision," she said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
This week, the group advertised in newspapers urging readers to contact
officials about the issue. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
An e-mail from Szczepanski to supporters this week said, "Thanks to
public outcry from supporters like you, we've had hundreds of letters
from our members sent to the governor." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
WEEKLY NEWS IN REVIEW (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic News- Policy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (5-8) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A screaming headline out of Maine warns that "Drugs Kill More Than
Car Wrecks" and the Governor is blaming it on receding federal
funds. A more likely explanation appears in an Iowa article which
shows most drug deaths are caused by the adulterants found in an
unregulated market. A well written Florida OPED reveals another
consequence of our drug war - the loss of voting rights from
treating a medical/social problem with incarceration. Finally, an
Idaho writer questions the difference between a drug and a
medication. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) DRUGS KILL MORE THAN CAR WRECKS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
State Officials Alarmed by Grisly '05 Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
AUGUSTA - Grisly and somber statistics released by state officials
Wednesday indicate that last year for the first time in modern Maine
history, drug-related deaths outnumbered motor vehicle casualties.
Preliminary figures show there were 178 drug-related deaths in Maine
in 2005 while 168 people died in motor vehicle accidents in the
state. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
As the grim statistics were revealed during a press conference, Gov.
John Baldacci took aim at the Bush White House, saying it continued
to turn its back on the suffering of Maine families. He noted that
federal funding to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has been cut by
40 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) WINNING THE DRUG PEACE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Harm-Reduction Strategies Could Cure Drug Dependency, Crime | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brent Shapiro, son of the powerful southern California attorney Robert Shapiro, was a college student. His life was tragically cut short, however, after ingesting a half tablet of the drug Ecstasy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shapiro's death sheds light on what is wrong with the drug war. The
Ecstasy tablet that killed him was likely impure - and it's most
likely the impurity is what killed him. It is hard to believe
otherwise. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration reports nearly 25 million Ecstasy tablets are
consumed every year in the United States. In 2001 those 25 million
tablets resulted in just 76 deaths, only nine of which involved
Ecstasy only. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nine deaths out of 25 million pills makes any death from pure,
unadulterated Ecstasy highly suspect. To put this in perspective,
alcohol kills 50 out of every 100,000 users. To reach that
magnitude, Ecstasy would have to kill over 12,000 people every year
- 1,250 percent more than it does today. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
This sobering fact begs the question, if most deaths from illicit
drugs are due to adulterants that would not be in legal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Libertarian advocate Dr. Mary Ruwart, a former research | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Ruwart explains how the drug war actually causes more deaths
than would occur with drug legalization. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
She states that, "80 percent of drug overdose deaths (5,600 of 7,000
annually ) are due to impurities and other factors that would not be
present in legal preparations." She goes on to explain how 3,500 new
HIV cases could be prevented every year if the U.S. government did
not oppose clean needle programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) OPED: RECONSTRUCTION AND THE WAR ON DRUGS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The unfolding story of ex-felons voting rights in context of the war
on drugs parallels the history of African Americans fight for voting
rights during reconstruction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
There are over 600,000 disenfranchised voters in Florida who are ex-
felons. The civil turbulence that surrounded the march to Selma is
not a road we need to travel again. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reconstruction marked a period where exploitive cultures struggled to regain and then maintain political power after losing it in the Civil War. The tools of the struggle included poll taxes, literacy tests and criminal disenfranchisement enshrined in state constitutions. The Ku Klux Klan and public lynching were the underlying forces behind institutional bigotry and segregation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The blatant abuse of illegal drugs appeared to be one of the main threads woven through the civil unrest. A war on drugs held the promise as a simplistic solution to the civil discontent erupting across the country. But what appeared to be a simple solution to difficult problems morphed into a problem in its own right. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
But the crime wave associated with illegal drugs was artificial in
that it took what was largely a medical problem with social and
spiritual dimensions and turned it into a legal problem. Trying to
fix a medical problem with the rule of law is analogous to sending a
SWAT team into a hospital to wipe out a virus. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida's felon voting laws date back to 1838 when they were used to
limit the number of freed slaves who were eligible to vote. Today,
there are an estimated 600,000 ex-felons of which 60 percent were
convicted of drug related or drug inspired crimes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) MYSTERIES OF GETTING HIGH (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Even as our community raises the methamphetamine alarm, a great deal
of confusion persists about drug use in general. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Young people in flight from uncomfortable emotions, or facing the
challenges of adulthood--like serving in wars overseas, or joining a
consumptive society which is apparently destroying the planet with
gusto--seem to follow the motto, "Just Say Maybe," or "Why the Hell
Not?" Whether kids are storming heaven or just plain bored, they
still deserve some straight talk on drugs. The decision to take or
not take is largely a spiritual one, causing us to reflect upon what
it means to be human. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Drugs aren't all illegal, and they aren't all the same. It is true that meth in small doses is sold in pharmacies to treat chronic obesity, that cocaine was once an ingredient in Coca-Cola, and dental patients regularly get blasted into a wonderland of numbness by nitrous oxide while listening to I-pods. Psychedelics are considered by some to be a shortcut to God. Would we have Bob Marley without ganja, or war protests without hippies on LSD. And what about the growing number of school children and their parents who take "medications" for Attention Deficit Disorder, depression, shyness, distraction and other features of what were once considered personality? What's the difference between a drug and a medication? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Law Enforcement & Prisons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (9-13) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our first two articles reinforce the idea that prohibition does not
stop drug use but does give plenty of opportunities for greedy
people - no matter what side of the law they are on. The next two
articles reveal states who join many others by placing band-aids
over the symptoms of our drug war. A 1995 Illinois prison drug
treatment program will now segment 200 of their "beds" to
specifically meet the needs of meth addicts. Wisconsin officials
have just figured out that locking up more women leaves a bunch of
children without mothers. The Christian Science Monitor reports a
more brutal result of our drug war as law enforcement concentrate on
drug arrests instead of violent criminals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(9) WIRETAP WHISTLEBLOWER OR DEA DUPE? (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Local Assistant U.S. Attorney's Explosive Justice Department
Allegations Make National Waves | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The seven-page document reads like the screenplay for Scarface, had
it been written by a Justice Department attorney instead of Oliver
Stone. U.S. Drug Enforcement agents in Bogota, Colombia, help local
drug lords traffic narcotics. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
When a confidential informant tips off DEA agents in Florida about
the illegal actions of their Bogota counterparts, a Florida agent
alerts DEA higher-ups and is put on administrative leave. Meanwhile,
DEA agents in Bogota summon an informant to a meeting; as he leaves,
he is murdered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
It's not Scarface. It's a December 2004 memo written by Thomas M.
Kent, a lawyer then working in the Justice Department's Narcotic and
Dangerous Drug Section ( NDDS ) who is now an assistant U.S.
attorney in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for
the middle district of Tennessee. It was first reported this week by
The Narco News Bulletin, an online newsletter that publishes Latin
American and U.S. news about the war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kent, whom present and former colleagues praise as smart and honest,
sent the whistleblower memo to NDDS Chief Jodi Avergun and deputy
chief Michael Walther with the subject line, "Operation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Just as important as Kent's allegations of corruption in Colombia,
though, is his contention that the Justice Department covered it up.
"The first allegation was brought to OPR," he wrote, referring to
the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility. "By
all accounts OPR did nothing about it. When confronted with the
allegations, the investigators at OPR treated the reporting agents
as if they had a disease and did not want anything to do with them
or the evidence they amassed." Kent wrote that one agent was fired
and another was retaliated against after blowing the whistle on
corruption; he also claimed that OPR failed to transmit damning
documents to the Inspector General's office. Furthermore, he wrote,
an informant with incriminating information against Bogota DEA
agents passed a polygraph test, but the examiner was "instructed by
OPR not to report on the test. He was instructed that the test never
took place." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sounds pretty Orwellian. But is it true? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In response to media requests, a branch of the Justice Department is
looking into it. "DEA takes very seriously any allegations of
misconduct, abuse of position or criminal action," says agency
spokesman Garrison K. Courtney, in a statement provided to the
Scene. "The allegations that are reported in the Narco News Bulletin
are extremely serious. DEA's Office of Professional Responsibility
is reviewing the allegations that have been made." Courtney says the
Justice Department's Inspector General is in charge of any
investigation that may or may not be conducted in response to the
memo's disclosure. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(10) OUR SOUTHERN SIEVE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Of course. Yet that's exactly what Mexican soldiers have done,
according to the Homeland Security Department. In documents obtained
by several news outlets, the department details 216 crossings of the
U.S.-Mexico border since 1996. Roughly 35% of them have taken place
in California, 29% in Arizona and 36% in Texas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. border agents complain of being shot at by uniformed Mexican
troops, with the violence growing over the past two years. Things
have gotten so bad that the Border Patrol has told agents in Arizona
to be on the lookout for Mexican soldiers "trained to escape, evade
and counterambush" if discovered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
For its part, Mexico claims drug smugglers are dressing as soldiers
to gain access to the border, and that its own army has "strict"
orders not to go within a mile of the border. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
American border agents don't buy it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Intrusions by the Mexican military to protect drug loads happen all
the time and represent a significant threat to the agents," T.J.
Bonner, head of the National Border Patrol Council and a 27-year
veteran of the agency, told The Washington Times. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In short, the violations don't appear to be "accidental." And if
Mexican army units are working in cahoots with drug smugglers, it
marks a nasty escalation in America's war on drugs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(11) PRISONS TO TREAT METH ADDICTS (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
State Plans To Open 2 Facilities Devoted To Drug Treatment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The state will open two 200-bed prison units devoted entirely to
treating methamphetamine addicts over the next two years, aides to
Gov. Rod Blagojevich said last week . | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
One unit will open this year at Southwestern Illinois Correctional
Center in East St. Louis, which Blagojevich also plans to turn into
a center dedicated to drug treatment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The other unit will open next year at the Sheridan Correctional
Center in Sheridan, a drug-treatment prison that the governor plans
to expand to its full capacity of 1,300 next year. That will make it
the largest inmate drug-treatment program of its kind in the nation,
according to Blagojevich's office. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(12) STATE PUTS MORE FOCUS ON FEMALE INMATES (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
FOND DU LAC, Wis. - As the number of female prison inmates in
Wisconsin increases, state officials are developing and enhancing
programs meant to help them change their lives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin's prison system includes nearly 1,300 female inmates, a
number that has increased fivefold in the past 15 years, according
to the state Department of Corrections. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Woman account for 6 percent of the nearly 22,000 adults serving
prison terms in Wisconsin. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationally, the number of female inmates jumped from about 12,000 in
1980 to about 105,000 in 2004, according to the U.S. Department of
Justice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The war on drugs and tougher sentencing laws helped cause the
increase, according to criminologists, sociologists and advocates.
More female inmates has meant more children left behind, and often
more problems for those kids. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(13) OPED: QUESTIONING U.S. ARREST STATISTICS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
But discussions of police performance often fail to note another
important but overlooked trend, apparently unrelated to the falling
crime rate: Federal statistics reveal that the nation's "clearance
rate" - the percentage of cases for which police arrest or identify
a suspect - has fallen dramatically. And this shift is fraught with
implications. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The arrest clearance rate for reported homicides recently dropped to
about 60 percent compared with about 90 percent 50 years ago. This
means that a murderer today has about a 40 percent chance of
avoiding arrest compared with less than 10 percent in 1950. The
record for other FBI Index Crimes is even more dismal: The clearance
rates have sunk to 42 percent for forcible rape, 26 percent for
robbery, and 13 percent for burglary and motor vehicle theft, all
way down from earlier eras. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
So, if reported crime has been going down and arrests have gone up, what accounts for the plummeting arrest clearance rates for murder, robbery, rape, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Part of the answer must involve drug law enforcement - victimless
offenses that aren't reported to the police or included as FBI Index
Crimes. Instead of arresting suspects for burglaries and other
serious reported crimes, cops today spend much of their energy going
after illegal drugs. Their arrest rate for drug possession (
especially marijuana ) has shot up more than 500 times from what it
was in 1965. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cannabis & Hemp- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (14-18) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
This week we begin with a very good AP story examining the problem
of access to medical cannabis under Rhode Island's new medical
cannabis law. Of the 11 states that have legalized the medical use
of cannabis, only California has tolerated distribution to patients
through private dispensaries, leaving far too many legal medical
users no choice but to obtain their medicine from the black-market.
Our next story takes us up North for a look at the upcoming Canadian
federal election (Jan. 23rd). There is a growing concern amongst
Canadian drug policy reformers that a Stephen Harper/Conservative
federal government would lead to an increase in drug enforcement and
associated legal penalties in Canada, which is supported by this
Globe and Mail article detailing their proposed drug strategy,
including old favorites like mandatory minimums for production,
distribution and possession of over 3kg (almost 7lbs). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In another story from up north, Vancouver Sun columnist Ian Mulgrew
updates us on med-cannabis refugee Steve Kubby's ongoing fight to
avoid extradition to the U.S. And in our fourth story, the U.K.'s
Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs recommends that Tony
Blair's government not increase the penalties for personal cannabis
possession, despite recent studies suggestion a possible causal link
with mental illness in a very small percentage of the population.
The article includes a brief synopsis of some of this research. And
finally this week, a great article from the Seattle Times about a
bill currently before the Dutch parliament that would legalize the
large scale production of cannabis for distribution through existing
coffee shops. Perhaps Rhode Island's cannabis access problem could
be solved by simply going "Dutch"... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(14) R.I. MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW LEAVES PROBLEMS UNSOLVED (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
When Debra Nievera went before lawmakers to ask them to legalize
medical marijuana, she envisioned a program that would let her
safely acquire the drug to alleviate the painful symptoms of the
intestinal disorder Crohn's disease and other ailments. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
She will probably be disappointed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rhode Island this month became the 11th state to allow sick people to use marijuana as medicine. But federal law still bans the drug, and none of the states where medical use is allowed have found a way for patients to legally, conveniently and safely acquire the drug. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In some states, passage of a medical marijuana law has had little
effect because there is no system set up to get pot to sick people.
In others, dozens of people have been arrested for providing
medicinal marijuana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(15) CONSERVATIVES WON'T DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The familiar odour on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver and the furtive $20 transactions are unlikely to be affected by a Conservative election victory, but on a broader scale, a reduction in marijuana possession penalties now appears extremely unlikely. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
If elected Jan. 23, the Conservatives will not decriminalize
marijuana, a party spokesman confirmed, and they will not
reintroduce a Liberal bill that would fine people caught possessing
less than 15 grams of cannabis, instead of imposing criminal
sentences. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Conservatives are also promising to impose mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted in marijuana grow operations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Anyone caught with more than three kilograms of marijuana (which has a street value of about $20,000, based on a price of $6,600 a kilogram, according to the testimony of police in B.C. courts), would receive a sentence of at least two years in prison. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(16) FATE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER RESTS IN HANDS OF FEDERAL COURT (Top)JUDGE ... FOR NOW | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A federal court judge continued over the weekend to mull an 11th-hour plea from American refugee Steve Kubby and his family, prolonging their four-year struggle with immigration authorities. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A former gubernatorial candidate in California for the Libertarian Party and international icon of the medical marijuana movement, the long-term cancer patient was tAo have departed Canada last Thursday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
But his fate is in the hands of Judge Yvon Pinard, who heard a
tearful, last-ditch appeal from Kubby's wife Michele, who said she
feared for her husband's life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"To remove him from Canada is like removing a diabetic from his
insulin," she cried. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(17) PANEL SAYS LINK WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IS 'VERY SMALL' (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
New scientific evidence suggests a causal link between cannabis use
and long-term psychotic symptoms, according to the government's top
drug advisory committee. But in a draft report to the home
secretary, Charles Clarke, seen by the Guardian, the committee says
that the risks are not high enough to support reclassification as
class B. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The report says: "The [committee] considers that cannabis products
should remain class C. At worst, the risk to an individual of
developing a schizophreniform illness as a result of using cannabis
is very small. The harmfulness of cannabis, to the individual,
remains substantially less than the harmfulness caused by substances
currently controlled under the act as class B." A source close to
the committee said only one member out of 36 voted to shift cannabis
back to class B. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(18) DUTCH POT LAWS UNDER A CLOUD (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last month, the Dutch parliament began debating a proposal to change
that by launching a pilot project to regulate marijuana growing. It
was the brainchild of the mayor of Maastricht, a city near the
German and Belgian borders that is plagued by gangs of smugglers.
Proponents argue that legalizing growing will drive out most of the
criminal element and boost responsible purveyors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The current policy is schizophrenic," Wilhelm said. "Under the
rules, we can only keep 500 grams in the shop at any one time, so
that means I have to have more delivered every few hours. And if the
delivery guy gets stopped, they take everything, and he gets
arrested." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
For years, that odd state of affairs seemed to work well, because it
allowed the Dutch to tolerate marijuana without having to risk the
opprobrium that would come from legalizing it. But organized crime
has come to play an increasing role in production, the government
has found. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A majority in parliament has come out in favor of the bill to
decriminalize growing, reflecting widespread Dutch comfort with a
liberal marijuana policy. But the ruling Christian Democratic Party,
which has increasingly tightened the rules on coffee shops, opposes
it. Analysts expect the government to block implementation even if
the measure passes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
International News | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
COMMENT: (19-22) (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. prohibitionists are confused. Why, after throwing all those
billions at the problem, does it not go away? Here they went and
invaded little landlocked Afghanistan -- to deliver truth, freedom,
and liberty, of course -- and what do the Afghani people do? They go
right on growing their opium, just as they have done for thousands
of years! Invading their land only made it worse: now they lead the
world in growing a plant righteously hated by Washington. In Europe,
tumbling prices for heroin made in Afghanistan are making junkies of
youth, say officials. And just think how far the Bush regime has
come, since it sent Colin Powell to Afghanistan to personally thank
the Taliban in the spring of 2001. There he gave the Taliban some 50
million dollars, for their fine job of fighting drugs. Times sure
have changed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the Philippines, the summary executions of drug "suspects" continues, but those killed are mourned by their loved ones even as many cheer on the killers. Police, who are widely believed to be responsible for the extra-legal executions, won't investigate. While police won't investigate, they are happy to announce the victims were suspected of involvement with drugs, however. In Davao City, the mayor has publicly proclaimed his support for death squads that kill drug suspects. If "you're a drug leader, if you come to our country and manufacture drugs and destroy the youth of the land, you put your life on the line," thundered Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The Mindanao Times newspaper reported the good Mayor's threats were far from idle: "His threats proved to be ominous as last year, more than 120 suspected criminals were killed by men on motorcycle." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Thailand, foreigners are reportedly shocked to see drug addicts shackled to walls along with mental patients and those found to be "HIV-positive." Drug users "mentally deranged from prolonged drug abuse," and the "HIV-positive," are chained to treat and rehabilitate them; to save society. "Suffering caused by being chained will make them stay away from drugs," explained Muhammad Soreh Kiya, director of one such rehabilitation center. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(19) HEAVY TRAFFIC IN AFGHANISTAN, HEROIN TRADE SOARS DESPITE U.S. AID (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Threat To Fragile Democracy, The Drug Spreads Death On Its Route
To Europe Just Three Euros For A Shot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clandestine labs churn out so much product that the average heroin
price in Western Europe tumbled to $75 a gram from $251 in 1990,
adjusted for inflation, according to the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime. In Hamburg, Germany, a single hypodermic shot of
Afghan heroin goes for just three euros, or about one-third the
price a decade ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 2005, Afghanistan earned $2.7 billion from opium exports, which
amounts to 52% of the country's gross domestic product of $5.2
billion, according to UNODC estimates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Afghanistan, people have grown poppies since ancient times,
originally for purposes ranging from medical use as a painkiller to
making cooking oil and soap. In the northeast Argu district of the
Northern Badakshan province, heaps of dry poppy stalks -- already
emptied of opium -- are piled on top of nearly every mud hut,
serving both as roofing material and as firewood. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
As in Europe, the purity of heroin on American streets has increased
and the price has fallen in stride with production increases in
Afghanistan, according to UN and U.S. government statistics. Most of
the heroin on the U.S. market still comes from South America. But
Afghan heroin increasingly is being brought in by Pakistani, West
African and Eastern European traffickers, says the Justice
Department report. "It is often smuggled through Central Asia and
Europe," says the report, and often comes in "via air cargo and
express mail services." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(20) PLEA OF DEAD MAN'S KIN (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
If the police cannot solve the killing of Wilfredo "Lawlaw" Cabanit,
the least they can do is to respect the dead. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
This, in essence, was the plea of Cabanit's widow Brenda and his
elder sister Rebecca to officials of the Cebu City Police Office who
could not stop mentioning Cabanit in the same breath as the illegal
drug trade in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
At a time when the activities of so-called vigilantes are being
applauded and calls to respect of human life are easily dismissed by
a big chunk of the populace, the plea of Cabanit's kin may no longer
fall on receptive ear or is even derided. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
But this is a natural concern involving not only Cabanit, the 106th
victim of vigilante-style killings in Cebu City, but also the other
suspected criminals gunned down supposedly to stem the tide of
criminality. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The summary execution of suspected criminals has already taken its
toll on our concept of human rights and due process; let it not
destroy also our age-old values. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(21) CITY WELCOMES TOURISTS, BUT... (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
His welcome remarks during Tuesday night's opening ceremonies of the
Asean Tourism Forum defined the city's tourism strategy, his second
speech was interspersed with dire warnings on tourists who come to
the city cloaked with bad intentions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's speech yesterday morning drew mixed
reactions from a crowd of delegates, government officials,
journalists, and tour operators during the ASEAN Tourism Forum
conference. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chucking out his prepared speech as he reached the rostrum, the mayor gave a half-hour spontaneous address with less subtlety this time, as he warned abusive tourists and drug peddlers against setting foot in the city. He also carped on the "arrogance of Americans" as well as the weakness of the United Nations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The mayor also took a jab at abusive foreigners, criminals and drug
pushers, claiming that they won't leave the city alive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"If you're an abusive tourist, if you're a drug leader, if you come
to our country and manufacture drugs and destroy the youth of the
land, you put your life on the line," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duterte is known for his unorthodox attitude against criminals,
especially drug pushers, constantly threatening them over the media.
His threats proved to be ominous as last year, more than 120
suspected criminals were killed by men on motorcycle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
He would deny involvement in the vigilante-style killings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(22) UNSHACKLING THE DRUG HABIT (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sight of addicts, mental patients chained to walls of rehab centre
accepted by locals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The sight of men chained to trees and walls at a ponoh school in Mayo district may shock strangers, but not local people. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
These men have been diagnosed as mentally deranged from prolonged
drug abuse, or are HIV-Aids positive. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most patients are young Muslim men, all are shackled to prevent them escaping. Some had gone berserk and smashed everything around them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The herbal treatments are said to cure drug addicts, the mentally
ill and those in the early stage of HIV-Aids. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Drug addicts, the mentally ill and hallucinating patients here must
follow our rules. Their relatives must allow us to chain patients to
prevent them from escaping, damaging things and attacking other
people," he said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Suffering caused by being chained will make them stay away from
drugs. People criticise us for chaining them, but it's our rule to
confine them for 3-6 months depending on the severity of their
condition." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
[snip] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
HOT OFF THE 'NET (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DRUG TESTING GETS FAILING GRADE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Marsha Rosenbaum, AlterNet. Posted January 19, 2006. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
When it comes to random student drug testing, educators and parents
should proceed with extreme caution -- it may be doing more harm than
good. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
JESUS AND CANNABIS MAKES FOX NEWS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Burning Shiva with Pot-TV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rev. Chris Bennett, former Pot TV manager, talks about Jesus and
cannabis on the Fox News syndicated national call-in radio program
The Alan Colmes Show. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PROHIBITION PROMOTIONAL VIDEO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Filmed and narrated by Mike Gray. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Produced by Common Sense for Drug Policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
WITH CONSERVATIVES POISED TO TAKE POWER, CANADIAN DRUG REFORM PONDERS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug War Chronicle, Issue #419 -- 01/20/06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
SURVEY OF MEDICINAL CANNABIS USE AMONG CHILDBEARING WOMEN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Patterns of its use in pregnancy and retroactive self-assessment of
its efficacy against 'morning sickness', Rachel E. Westfall, Patricia
A. Janssen, Philippe Lucas, Rielle Capler, Complementary Therapies in
Clinical Practice (2006) 12, 27-3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BRITAIN - NO REVERSAL ON CANNABIS CLASSIFICATION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
January 19, 2006 - London, UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
London, United Kingdom: British officials have rejected an appeal to
reclassify cannabis as a Class B prohibited substance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Become a MAP Editor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
WHO: Media Awareness Project, Inc (MAPinc.org) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
WHY: REFORM DRUG POLICY! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our Drug News Archive grows by 40-90 articles per day using a well-tuned, semi-automated process. Our Editors are the dedicated people who process the hundreds of articles which are sent to us. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
We are planning to start an Editor training session at the beginning
of February and are currently collecting a list of volunteers
interested in becoming a part of our team. Our web-based, self-paced
training course makes it easy to learn the few steps it takes to
receive and process articles. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Please contact Jo-D Harrison, , if you would like
more details. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
JOIN US FOR "HOW TO INCREASE DRUG POLICY REFORM IN YOUR LOCAL MEDIA" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tue. January 24 /06, 09:00 p.m. ET | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Presented by DrugSense and MAP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
FEDERAL PROHIBITION ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS CRIMINAL GOVERNMENT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Allan Erickson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
To the editor: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Again, the Review-Journal steps up to the plate with the solid Jan.
5 editorial, "Medical marijuana." Your restraint is admirable. I
would have worded things a bit differently. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The federal government flat out lies, steals medicine from some of
our most suffering neighbors and ( in the minds of many ) exhibits
criminal behavior in its exhaustive pursuit of maintaining a
prohibition on cannabis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In light of cannabis' place in our nation's history -- grown by
former presidents, used to make parachute lines and rope for our
soldiers and sailors in World War II -- there is a distinct
absurdity to its relegation as a demon weed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Under what logic do SWAT teams raid homes and terrorize citizens for gardening or possessing a once-common garden herb and farm staple? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prohibition in its second incarnation -- aka the War On ( some )
Drugs - -- is a failure. A failure in fact, practice and principle.
End it now. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allan Erickson, Drug Policy Forum of Oregon, Eugene, Ore. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
FEATURE ARTICLE (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Student Drug Testing Summit: Urine Trouble With The Follicle Follies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Stephen Young | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Editor's Note: This report was first published in March, 2004 during the first round of federally-sponsored "drug testing summits," which encouraged school administrators to investigate drug testing programs. Since the drug testing meetings have started up again this year, it seemed like a good time to re-run the previous article. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Public school students without hair may not participate in extracurricular activities in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zero tolerance for hairlessness may sound arbitrary and silly. It
may function as a literal drag on competitive swimmers, who
sometimes shave their bodies to improve times. But for proponents of
school drug testing, it's a logical extension of the quest for
chemical integrity in student bodies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A few chuckles could be heard in the audience at the Office of
National Drug Control Policy's "Student Drug Testing Summit" in
suburban Chicago earlier this week when the issue of follicle
policing was raised. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Jefferson Parish school district, you see, uses hair testing to
check students for traces of drug use. After the program was
implemented, some athletes arrived at school without any hair to
test. Such tactics were quickly confronted with the no-hair/no-play
rule, which does not apply students with medical conditions that
cause hairlessness. Such young people are graciously offered the
opportunity to have their urine inspected instead. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul Connick was at the student
drug testing summit. He pushed to the implement hair testing policy
in his local school district. Connick told of the lengths he went to
get the program in place, including forcing the issue during a
school board election. Connick said he approached school board
members in the race and said they needed to vote in favor of student
drug testing in order to have the District Attorney's support in the
election. He said all the incumbents did go on to vote for the drug
testing policy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"You gotta use whatever trick you can," said Connick, coining what
could be an apt new motto for the ONDCP ( particularly since the
office is now officially authorized to spread disinformation, see
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n447/a05.html ). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
There was lots of information at the so-called summit, but it hardly
seemed complete. I didn't attend every session throughout the day,
but I didn't hear any talk about a federally-funded 2003 study
published in the Journal of School Health. Described in the New York
Times as the biggest study of its kind, the research indicated that
school districts with drug testing had similar drug use rates
compared with schools that didn't test for drugs ( see | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
At the time of the study's release, some ONDCP reps argued about different interpretations of the data, but one of the study's authors did not mince words when he commented on the results. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"It suggests that there isn't really an impact from drug testing as
practiced," researcher Lloyd D. Johnston told the New York Times.
"It's the kind of intervention that doesn't win the hearts and minds
of children. I don't think it brings about any constructive changes
in their attitudes about drugs or their belief in the dangers
associated with them." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Views like Johnston's were not readily apparent at the drug testing summit. A handout from the ONDCP distributed at the summit featured answers to frequently asked questions, but the Journal of School Health study is not mentioned in response to the question, "Are student drug testing programs effective at deterring use?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
To make things worse, the answer begins with misleading certainty:
"Yes, random student drug testing is effective at deterring drug
use." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
So the summit was far from objective, but I did enjoy one presentation by Bryan S. Finkle, a drug-testing authority with an impressive page-long bio that included stints at Scotland Yard and as past president of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists. Finkle gave a talk and answered questions on current drug testing technology. Much of the conference seemed to advocate student drug testing as a clearly good option, and Finkle didn't explicitly contradict that notion, but he did lay out some of the controversies and consequences in a straight forward manner. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"If you get into this business, there will be a lawsuit sooner or
later," Finkle told school administrators who were considering
student drug testing programs. He said competent drug testing labs
can be found, but not all labs are equally competent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
All types of drug testing, from urine testing to hair testing, carry
positive and negative attributes, he said, as well as weaknesses
that can be exploited. And if school districts expect accurate
results, they can't cut corners with cheap tests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Add these issues to questions of privacy, trust and constitutional
rights, it's difficult to see how any possible benefits outweigh the
costs of student drug testing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
But I didn't hear other discussion of the ambiguities, flaws and
risks of drug testing students at the summit. I did hear many
speakers say that drug testing isn't about drawing young people into
the criminal justice system. No, no, they insisted, it's all about
saving the kiddies from brushes with the law. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Here in Illinois, where the summit was held, don't be so sure. Right
now a bill is making its way through the state legislature that
would criminalize the act of attempting to defraud a drug test ( see
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n402/a05.html ). If that bill
becomes law, one could imagine a situation where an enterprising
chemistry club member educates himself about ways to create false
negatives on drug tests. If he decides to experiment on himself, he
will be breaking the law. Is it farfetched to envision his
prosecution? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Perhaps, but active students in the Jefferson Parish school district
probably never imagined they could be blackballed for excessive
shaving. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen Young is an editor with DrugSense Weekly and author of the
new edition of Maximizing Harm, which just underwent a further
reduction of its already minuscule chances of being mentioned on the
Oprah show. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
QUOTE OF THE WEEK (Top) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Once a newspaper touches a story the facts are lost forever, even to
the protagonists." -- Norman Mailer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
Jo-D Harrison (), 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 |