The Week Online with DRCNet, issue #276 (Feb. 28, 2003)
Bong busts, government attacks in Peru, a variety of marijuana stories like Belgium's soon to happen decriminalization of pot, a corrupt cop story of the week, and the ever useful reformers' calendar.

U.S. Diplomat's Letter of Resignation (Feb. 28, 2003)
"But until this Administration it had been possible to believe that by upholding the policies of my president I was also upholding the interests of the American people and the world. I believe it no longer. The policies we are now asked to advance are incompatible not only with American values but also with American interests." So writes John Brady Kiesling, Political Counselor in the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece, in his resignation letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Billionaire Soros blasts Bush, calls on President to honor world opinion (Feb. 28, 2003)
Anti-prohibitionist philanthropist George Soros is not at all happy with the Bush administration.

War on Drugs - it's a state of mind (Feb. 28, 2003)
"Laws for 'consenting adults in private' mean that prostitution, homosexuality and even suicide are no longer criminalised. The sole exception to this rule is the taking of recreational drugs. It is a prohibition maintained by 'The War on Drugs' - a war that not only fails in its objectives, but which has also unleashed an avalanche of criminality on the world. Comment by Howard Marks."

Baghdad labels Bush ‘a maniac’ for plans to depose Saddam (Feb. 28, 2003)
"Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri slammed US President George W. Bush Thursday as “a maniac” a day after the US leader declared that deposing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would help build democracy and peace in the Middle East."

DRUG/ ANDEAN COUNTRIES: CAPPATO AND PERDUCA: "The EU Ought to Intervene Against Peasant Prepression and Fumigations (Feb. 28, 2003)
Hear, hear.

Calif. Highway Patrol Ends Profile Suit (Feb. 28, 2003)
"The California Highway Patrol has settled a major racial profiling lawsuit by agreeing to ban some car searches and requiring that officers articulate a reason for each traffic stop, instead of offering a hunch the driver may be running drugs."

THE CRIMES OF 9/11 (pt. 3): PATRIOT II - 'Get Out of Jail Free' Card for Federal Officers Responsible for "Intelligence Failure" (Feb. 28, 2003)
"Within days of the crime, the White House was hard at work obstructing an independent commission of inquiry, and drafting legislation which would indemnify federal agents for offenses that contributed to the loss of 3,000 innocent lives on September 11, 2001."

Senate approves closing marijuana law loophole (Feb. 28, 2003)
"Hundreds of pounds of marijuana worth millions of dollars have been found in South Dakota in the past few weeks, said Sen. Marguerite Kleven, R-Sturgis. But in each case, people could only be charged with possession of marijuana because they were not caught selling it, she said."

Vermont Lawmakers Favor Medicinal Marijuana (Feb. 28, 2003)
"But Governor James Douglas doesn't support the idea. He says using pot, even for medical reasons, would still be illegal under federal law."

Former Guards Allege Second Mass Beating At Cook County Jail (Feb. 28, 2003)
The US justice system in action. As a result, the Guv puts prison chief on hold, since the "allegations surfaced that Cook County Jail employees beat inmates and covered up their actions four years ago while [Prison Chief nominee] Ernesto Velasco was the jail's top administrator."

Terror Altert Lowered to Yellow (Feb. 28, 2003)
Was it getting all those bong dealers off the streets that raised our level of safety, or lowered our level of threat?

Pot Growers Get Probation—Two Men Used Hydroponics In Douglaston Home (Feb. 28, 2003)
Imagine how that poor kid in Alabama must feel watching these large scale growers getting probation as he gets years in prison for selling a measly 4 ounces of pot to an undercover drug warrior.

Finke sentenced for growing marijuana (Feb. 28, 2003)
Farmer gets probation in Minnesota while that teenager in Alabama recently got years in prison for selling 4 ounces. Not that the famer should have gotten more of a sentence, not at all, but still, where's the sense in any of this war stuff?

Editorial: DEA raids take war on drugs to higher level of absurdity (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Perhaps the worst part of this cartoonishly surreal turn of events is how completely impotent Ashcroft's action is. Getting rid of expensive art glass isn't going to stop anyone from doing drugs. (Focusing on harm reduction, education or rehabilitation might have an effect, but just try telling that to this administration.)"

Alabama Teenager Faces Horrendous Marijuana Prison Sentence (Feb. 27, 2003)
This story reported in early February, but due to its serious nature, and the outright travesty of this sentence, the editor of DrugWar.com felt it necessary traw attention to it. This is yet another reminder of who the real targets of the prohibitionists are- the petty users and sellers, not the bankers who launder the billions in cash, the cartel lords and corrupt governments and companies involved at the high ends of the trade.

United States is losing the war -- the war on drugs (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Of all the wars the United States has fought, the modern-day war at home could be chronicled as the nation's most frustrating and dismal failure."

Kilgore's drug policy actually endangers our kids (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Kilgore's drug policy actually endangers our kids."

Montana- Medicinal marijuana rejected (Feb. 27, 2003)
"House Bill 506, to allow patients to use medicinal marijuana for pain or illness relief, died in the House, 60-40. Opponents said the bill would send the wrong message -- that it's OK to use marijuana."

Are Daredevil Shareholders America's New Action Heroes? (Feb. 27, 2003)
"The little guys have reached the breaking point and are taking matters into their own hands -- stepping into the breach with the one-two punch of proxy resolutions and lawsuits. Corporate evildoers beware."

"Did I Say That?" (Feb. 27, 2003)
The Marijuana Policy Project has put together a brilliant commercial lampooning the ridiculous ONDCP anti-pot commercials equating terrorism with pot sales.

Mistrial? Rosenthal Jurors Say They Received Outside Legal Advice! (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Lawyers for convicted medical marijuana grower Ed Rosenthal say he is entitled to a new trial because two jurors in the case received outside legal advice that compromised their ability to make an impartial judgment."

Commentary: The Surrender Of MSNBC (Feb. 27, 2003)
"The study went on to claim that Donahue presented a 'difficult public face for NBC in a time of war......He seems to delight in presenting guests who are anti-war, anti-Bush and skeptical of the administration's motives.' The report went on to outline a possible nightmare scenario where the show becomes 'a home for the liberal antiwar agenda at the same time that our competitors are waving the flag at every opportunity.'"

Shot by Friendly Fire (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Defense Department Forcing Anthrax Vaccines Without Informed Consent, Covering Up Failed Shot Program."

Poster Company Removes Cigarette from Beatle's Hand (Feb. 27, 20030
"In one of the silliest examples of political correctness in years, a poster company has changed one of the greatest album covers in music history. The cover of the Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road (above left) features Paul McCartney holding a cigarette. In a new poster edition of the cover (above right), it's been removed."

Rebel vote stuns Blair (Feb. 27, 2003)
"Tony Blair's Iraqi war strategy was shaken to the core last night when 121 Labour backbenchers defied a three-line whip to join a cross-party revolt and tell the prime minister that the the case for military action against Saddam Hussein is not yet made."

US troops take 'Monroe Doctrine' global (Feb. 26, 2003)
"United States troops appear suddenly to be deploying everywhere, and with very little notice."

Ventura County case highlights debate over state medical pot law (Feb. 26, 2003)
"A case set to go to trial in two weeks highlights what critics call a flaw in California's voter-approved law allowing medical use of marijuana: The statute doesn't set a statewide possession standard and instead leaves it up to local governments."

Retired Air Force general takes Bush to task on Iraq (Feb. 26, 2003)
"Tony McPeak, a four-star general who headed the U.S. Air Force during Desert Storm, believes that President Bush should publicly admit personal failure and restart diplomatic negotiations for a possible war against Iraq."

Drug Glossary (Feb. 26, 2003)
From this handy dandy new, scientifically compiled glossary of drug lingo- "Marijuana- What it is: Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant, Cannibis sativa. Is it addictive? Yes." Well, perhaps it's not so scientific after all.

Even More War: US Opens New Front in Decades Old Conflict (Feb. 26, 2003)
"It is simply unbelievable, in this day and age of the inevitable war in Iraq; terrorism warnings, duct tape and plastic sheeting, that this mis-direction of law enforcement should spend more than three years, with 9/11 nearly in the middle of this nefarious timeline, on destroying a niche cottage industry in America that is harming no one."

UN board questions Canada's marijuana policy (Feb. 26, 2003)
"An official with the UN drug watchdog questions whether Canada is too hasty in allowing the medical use of marijuana, but praised Ottawa for having legislation in place to control a variety of other narcotics."

Drug takers and testers use technology in their battle (Feb. 26, 2003)
"Type 'beat the drug test' into an Internet search engine, and you come up with more than 100 Web sites devoted to helping foil workplace drug screening."

Nearly 20% of drinking is underage age (Feb. 26, 2003)
"The previous estimate--now discredited--was 25 percent."

America's oldest man dies at 113 (Feb. 26, 2003)
"The oldest living American man has died at the age of 113 after smoking cigars, drinking beer and eating greasy food for much of his life, a news report said on Tuesday."

The high health cost of smoking a joint (Feb. 26, 2003)
"The very name given to the latest disorder associated with cannabis-smoking has a sinister ring to it. Cancer, schizophrenia and impotence have been joined in the litany of ill-effects by vanishing lung syndrome."

Pioneer 10 Spacecraft Sents Last Signal To Earth (Feb. 26, 2003)
An honest to goodness cosmic trip to the outer reaches of time and space.

Norman Mailer: Gaining an empire, losing democracy? (Feb. 26, 2003)
"The dire prospect that opens, therefore, is that America is going to become a mega-banana republic where the army will have more and more importance in Americans' lives...And before it is all over, democracy, noble and delicate as it is, may give way."

Finding Trouble in U.S. (Feb. 25, 2003)
Bernadette Devlin McAliskey was stopped, questioned, threatened, and not allowed to enter the US, the Land of the Free.

Feds weed out drug paraphernalia sites (Feb. 25, 2003)
"Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center said redirecting Web visitors to DEA.gov raises novel legal issues. 'It sounds like this is a concluded drug operation segueing into a new sting operation," he said. "In effect, the defunct Web sites become electronic flypaper for those looking for illegal drug paraphernalia, reporters covering the story, and people who have trouble spelling in Google.'"

OR glass artists netted in nationwide drug paraphernalia bust (Feb. 25, 2003)
Five properties were seized.

'It's medicinal' vies against 'It's illegal' (Feb. 25, 2003)
"The clash pits states rights to define and control criminal issues against the federal government's authority under the Constitution to control the shipment and trafficking of illegal substances."

Feds Smoke Out Chong? (Feb. 25, 2003)
"Chong, once one-half of the high-flying (literally) comedy team, Cheech & Chong, saw his Gardena, California, factory and Pacific Palisades home raided Monday by federal drug agents and other authorities, Los Angeles TV station NBC4 reported." See also This is Not a Pipe for more information on the most recent outrageous waste of taxmoney perpetrated by prohibitionist zealots.

Revealed: 17 British Firms Armed Saddam With His Weapons (Feb. 25, 2003)
"Seventeen British companies who supplied Iraq with nuclear, biological, chemical, rocket and conventional weapons technology are to be investigated and could face prosecution following a Sunday Herald investigation."

Blasts Hit Spanish, Colombian Missions in Venezuela (Feb. 25, 2003)
"Two suspected bombs blasted Spanish and Colombian diplomatic buildings in Caracas on Tuesday, injuring five people less than two days after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the two nations of meddling in his country's crisis."

How the news will be censored in this war (Feb. 25, 2003)
"A new CNN system of 'script approval' suggests the Pentagon will have nothing to worry about."

A Radio Chip in Every Consumer Product (Feb. 25, 2003-Free New York Times registration required)
Orwell, though dead now, must be pleased to have gotten things so right.

Terror and Torture in the Philippines (Feb. 25, 2003)
"In fact, a new report from Amnesty International documents the use of torture in the Philippines, suggesting that U.S. weapons and military aid could increase incidents of terror."

High Court to Review Limits on Searches (Feb. 25, 2003)
"The Supreme Court said Monday that it would consider a government appeal that asks if a SWAT team went too far by breaking down the door of a suspected drug dealer while he took a shower."

New Drugs Promise Treatment for Addicts, Profits for Firms (Feb. 25, 2003)
Another way the prohibitionists make money of their war- by prescribing pharmaceuticals to block the effects of outlawed natural drugs. "Whatever gets you through the night is alright," as John Lennon once sang.

U.S. Charges 55 With Peddling Drug Gear (Feb. 25, 2003)
People engaging in the time-honored US Capitalist way are being prosecuted by Captialist enforcers. What happened to a "free market" economy?

Gulf War Veterans Association Questions Who Started the Oil Well Fires in Kuwait (Feb. 25, 2003)
"One veteran has now stepped forward and given a detailed account of how he and others in special teams, moved forward of the front, (behind enemy lines ahead of US forces) and then set charges on the well heads."

Editor: Bush Cited Report That Doesn't Exist (Feb. 25, 2003)
"There was only one problem with President George W. Bush's claim Thursday that the nation's top economists forecast substantial economic growth if Congress passed the president's tax cut: The forecast with that conclusion doesn't exist."

72-year-old woman recovers from alligator attack (Feb. 25, 2003)
Ouch.

Colombia Slams U.S. on Hostage Decision (Feb. 24, 2003)
"Colombian politicians on Sunday accused Washington of meddling in their country's affairs for sending more U.S. troops to search for three Americans held hostage by rebels."

Fighting Intensifies in Colombia as Rebels Still Hold Americans Hostage (Feb. 24, 2003)
"A Defense Department spokesman said reports that 150 troops are being sent were incorrect. But some Colombian politicians have criticized the U.S. decision to send additional personnel to help with the search. Labor union leader Jairo Galvis called it virtually an invasion of his country."

Judge Tosses Lawsuit Protesting War (Feb. 24, 2003)
"The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by three U.S. servicemen, parents of serviceman and six U.S. congressmen who argued that the resolution Congress approved in October supporting military action against Iraq did not specifically declare war and unlawfully ceded the decision to the president."

War (Feb. 24, 2003)
By Bob Marley.

Sweden Providing Platform for U.S. Officials Cowed by Bush (Feb. 24, 2003)
"Several times a day he'll approach a complete stranger, offer a handshake and a smile, introduce himself as a former CIA analyst from America, and proceed to tell the bewildered Swede all the things he knows that directly contradict President George W. Bush's declarations about Saddam Hussein's intentions and capabilities."

A Death Penalty Duel (Feb. 24, 2003)
"United Nations Court Orders United States of America to Stay Executions."

Genuine US Flags of Hemp (Feb. 24, 2003)
"Welcome to our website, home of the Genuine Hemp US Flag. These classic American flags are handmade with pride in the U.S. using 100% hemp fabric."

2003 Students for Sensible Drug Policy Northeast Regional Conference (Feb. 24, 2003)
See and hear what the DARE generation has to say about the War waged in their names.

2nd Annual Drug War Vigil Film Festival (Feb. 24, 2003)
"We as a group collectively recognize that the militarization of this medical issue and the criminalization of the chronically sick, terminally ill and chemically dependent has resulted in the needless loss of human life, and that this is the true crime."

Interested Persons Memo: Section-by-Section Analysis of Justice Department draft “Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003,” also known as “PATRIOT Act II” (Feb. 24, 2003)
What exactly is in that document? Check it out here.

Prosecutors See Limits to Doubt in Capital Cases (Feb. 24, 2003- Free New York Times registration required)
"After a trial and appeal, many prosecutors say, new evidence of claimed innocence should generally not be considered by the courts." In other words, even if found to be really, honestly innocent, the wrongly convicted should still be executed. Blind justice lives.

These Weapons of Mass Destruction cannot be displayed (Feb. 24, 2003)
"The weapons you are looking for are currently unavailable. The country might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your weapons inspectors mandate."

Swiss move closer to decriminalisation of cannabis (Feb. 24, 2003)
"A parliamentary commission met on Wednesday to discuss the possible liberalisation of the drug in Switzerland. The Senate has already come out in favour of such a move."

State pols confront feds on pot (Feb. 24, 2003)
"California's state and federal leaders are taking steps to make sure that what happened to marijuana activist Ed Rosenthal never happens to anyone else."

Come Hear Uncle Sam’s Band (Feb. 24, 2003)
"The hippie capitalism of the Grateful Dead."

Beyond the cutting edge (Feb. 24, 2003)
Vo-Dinh met recently with Army officials who asked him to test the system's effectiveness in evaluating the presence of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs on the military's prohibited list.

US customs seizes 10 tonnes of marijuana on Mexican border (Feb. 24, 2003)
Wow, that's a lot of pot.

Panel OKs medical marijuana (Feb. 24, 2003)
"The nine plants that sent him to prison, he said, were the same kind of plants that helped him in his fight against the wheelchair — marijuana. Without it, in prison, he lost that battle."

Grammy stars free to sing out on war (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Despite a report that CBS executives had considered blocking politically outspoken rockers, the network said last night it would not pull the plug on anyone protesting a war against Iraq."

Feds Raid Defenseless Naked Women (Feb. 23, 2003)
"But Pentirelli said no one was hurt and the club became quiet and calm a few minutes later when agents and police starting checking everyone's ID and sheriff's cards. 'One by one they took us back to search our lockers to make sure we had nothing illegal.'"

Pot activists want DEA out of Oakland building (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The fight for access to medical marijuana continued Tuesday across the nation and in downtown Oakland, as demonstrators demanded the eviction of the Drug Enforcement Administration from the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building."

Bond denied to father of teen killed during DEA stakeout (Feb. 23, 2003)
As if it weren't already apparent, these federal prohibitionist enforcers are heartless and cruel, inhuman to be frank about it.

Fans support 'Bad Boy' DJ after arrest by the DEA (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The day after the self-proclaimed ''Bad Boy of Radio'' was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute Ecstasy, fans inundated his station's morning show with calls of support."

Do Not Ignore This Warning (Feb. 23, 2003)
"If you ignore what I'm saying and let your government drag us into another Vietnam, then we'll really see this society tear itself apart. And in the long run, maybe that wouldn't be so bad after all. Because this time, we'll go all the way. If enough American bodies come home in boxes, the Colombian War will be the straw that will break the Prohibition's back. It will break it in the streets. Or we could take another route and settle this peaceably. Either way, it's up to you."

Colombian Clashes Kill 29 Near U.S. Special Forces (Feb. 23, 2003)
"At least 29 Marxist rebels and far-right militia members have been killed in a clash in a lawless area of Colombia near where crack U.S. soldiers are training local troops, officials said on Tuesday."

Global Eye -- Chemical Brothers (Feb. 23, 2003)
Six million marched for peace last week, but the Bush Regime and the Blair Regency were unmoved by this outburst from the ignorant rabble. Instead, the righteous leaders of the 'Coalition of the Willing' (or COW) declared that no power on earth will halt their holy quest to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and his chemical weapons. Strange, then, to see one of COW's biggest bovines -- Pentagon warlord Donald 'Squinty' Rumsfeld -- informing the dazed and docile rubber stamps of Congress of his intention to assault Iraq with, er, chemical weapons."

64 ways to practice nonviolence (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Begin Living Your Life For Peace."

Jackson urges audience to keep King's ideas alive with education, involvement (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Greeted by a deafening roar of applause from a standing-room-only audience in the W.V. Middleton Fine Arts Center, the fiery orator brought his audience to their feet several times. But that was not necessarily a good thing. He asked everyone to stand who knew someone in their age group who is dead because of drugs, or is in jail because of drugs, or has abused drugs or attempted suicide. Many stood. 'Let us pray,' Jackson said somberly."

Black clergy to America: War is not the answer, solve problems at home (Feb. 23, 2003)
The editor of DrugWar.com says, "Right On!"

What the People Are Saying (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Kind Reader: Surely you must be wondering, 'Who is in Mérida, getting to listen to all of these courageous and distinguished men and women speaking out, openly, for the first time in Mexico, against drug prohibition?'" All who were there to speak want PEACE!

Youth are targets of drug war (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Utah's drug culture has snatched the Latter-day Saint motto CTR and morphed it from 'Choose The Right' to 'Choose To Rave.' Many in Utah Attorney General's office have concluded that Latter-day Saint youth are becoming the target of a local drug war ranging from club drugs to over-the-counter medications."

U.S. Lawmakers Threaten Rebel Retaliation (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Leftist rebels accused by the United States of seizing three Americans have made a 'very grave error' and face strong retaliation, a U.S. Congressman said Thursday."

America's neglected war (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The capture and murder by narco-guerrillas of U.S. intelligence operatives in Colombia was a disaster waiting to happen."

Coming soon to a school near you (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The group also said treatment is often lacking due to financial constraints and when it's given it's often too late. Another troubling aspect is the high-rate of incarceration over treatment. 'These kids made one bad choice,' Holbrook stressed. 'They need help, not punishment or isolation. That's one reason why the drug problem gets worse.'"

Conscience makes a comeback (Feb. 23, 2003)
"'Political protest' has, for me, traditionally been limited to chronic defiance of this country's marijuana laws, attendance at a couple of pro-rave rallies and public meetings during Toronto's galling crackdown on dance parties a few years ago, and the foul-mouthed haranguing of the televised images of Mike Harris or Ralph Klein or Mel Lastman or Ari Fleischer or Donald Rumsfeld or any other public figures for whom I have zero time or tolerance when they show up on the news."

Targeted, unfairly convicted (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The recent reports on the federal persecution of Ed Rosenthal (" 'Guru of Ganja' convicted of violating marijuana cultivation, conspiracy laws," Feb. 1, and "Jurors, pot advocate say conviction was wrong," Feb. 5) provide us with clear proof of both government lies about cannabis and woefully misdirected law-enforcement priorities, i.e., the War on (some) Drugs."

Colombia Rebels Say Holding Three 'CIA Agents' (Feb. 23, 2003)
Another report about those drug warriors...CIA agents...errr, defense department employees...whoever they are, US citizens anyway working on a military type mission over the jungles of Colombia.

Colombian Vice President Tours U.S. Drug Rehabilitation Center (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Officials representing two countries at the forefront of the war on drugs (Colombia, which produces most of the world's cocaine, and the United States, which is a leading consumer) met face-to-face in a converted Brooklyn waterfront warehouse recently, in an effort to better understand the harrowing nature of drug abuse."

Déjà vu in Afghanistan (Feb. 23, 2003)
"The US-installed ruler of Kabul, veteran CIA ‘asset’ Hamid Karzai, must be protected from his own people by up to 200 US body­guards. Much of Afghanistan is in chaos, fought over by feuding warlords and drug barons."

Drug war doesn't hurt terrorists; it helps them (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Still, it is in the name of the war on drugs that the United States truly excels in showing how poorly equipped it is to act as director of international affairs."

WAR ON DRUGS: UN will examine killings (Feb. 23, 2003)
"United Nations Human Rights Com-missioners will shortly examine Thailand's war against drugs that has killed more then 800 people in the past three weeks, leading human-rights activist Senator Thongbai Thongpao said yesterday."

Former DEA agent pleads guilty to soliciting young boys for sex (Feb. 23, 2003)
"A former DEA agent could get more than 12 years in state prison after pleading guilty to soliciting sex from young Las Vegas boys. But the case against 43-year-old Steven Kinney is expected to be turned over to federal authorities, and could get him three years in federal prison."

Region 2 drug task force is concerned about funding (Feb. 23, 2003)
"Region 2 Narcotics Director Doug McKim said he hopes the federal money will come through because, while the organization should be able to continue its work through two other endowments, the grant amounts are fickle and not nearly enough to operate at full capacity."

Kemba Smith steps up advocacy for students and ex-offenders (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Kemba Smith, whose case became a primary symbol for the struggle against mandatory minimum prison sentences, is now working to associate her name with another cutting-edge issue: the repeal of a section of the Higher Education Act that blocks thousands of college students from receiving federal aid if they’ve ever been convicted of a drug-related offense."

Behind the Great Divide (Feb. 20, 2003)
"There has been much speculation why Europe and the U.S. are suddenly at such odds. Is it about culture? About history? But I haven't seen much discussion of an obvious point: We have different views partly because we see different news." Paul Krugman reports, you decide.

The Bottom Line On Iraq: It's The Bottom Line (Feb. 20, 2003)
"The dots leading from Wall Street to the West Wing situation room are the ones that need connecting. There's money to be made in post-war Iraq, and the sooner we get the pesky war over with, the sooner we (by which I mean George Bush's corporate cronies) can start making it."

US Plan For New Nuclear Arsenal Secret Talks May Lead to Breaking Treaties (Feb. 20, 2003)
"The Bush administration is planning a secret meeting in August to discuss the construction of a new generation of nuclear weapons, including 'mini-nukes', 'bunker-busters' and neutron bombs designed to destroy chemical or biological agents, according to a leaked Pentagon document."

Disturbing Questions (Feb. 20, 2003)
John Cory wants to know why, "when something wicked this way comes" that no one is asking the real disturbing questions he lays out here. Halliburton and Cheney proved a war is unnecessary to make money off Iraqi oil, so what's this war really about?

Oakland to Pay $10.9 Million in Rights Settlement over Riders Case (Feb. 20, 2003)
"City officials have agreed to pay nearly $11 million and implement police reforms to settle civil rights lawsuits brought by more than 100 people who claimed they were victimized by a group of rogue police officers known as The Riders."

Report: Helriggle had weapon (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Sheriff's officials reported Helriggle descended the stairs of the farmhouse with a gun in hand; Helriggle's family and friends continue to contend he held only a blue cup."

U.S. Agents Seize Pot from Fake Border Patrol Cars (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Federal agents on Wednesday seized nearly a ton of marijuana concealed inside two sport utility vehicles painted to resemble U.S. Border Patrol units and intercepted at the Mexican border, authorities said."

Ex-Toledo police officer found guilty in drug case (Feb. 20, 2003)
Imagine, pot smoking police. Too bad she got fired, it would be nice to think there were some stoner cops on the force relaxing with God-made pot instead of man-made beer.

Drug operation leads to 8 arrests in Lafayette (Feb. 20, 2003)
"'People need to know that even if you have a little 'roach' on you, we have zero tolerance and we will charge you,' [Sheriff Doyle] McCall said."

UC Santa Cruz and CNET investigation results in arrest of four students (Feb. 20, 2003)
Druggies still don't deserve an education it seems.

Nogales narcotics figure is killed (Feb. 20, 2003)
Prohibition lives.

Man posing as undercover narcotics agent arrested in Lafayette (Feb. 20, 2003)
"A Lafayette man who allegedly told people he was an undercover narcotics agent and confiscated a bag of marijuana was arrested after real law enforcement agents interrupted a bogus drug bust, said Lafayette Police Cpl. Mark Francis."

State lawmakers craft bill on pot defense (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Three California members of Congress are preparing a bipartisan bill to let medical marijuana users, growers and providers protect themselves from federal criminal conviction -- a bill sure to face an uphill battle."

Garnati to Handle Franklin Pot Case (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Williamson County State's Attorney Charles Garnati has been named special prosecutor in the disappearance of a large quantity of marijuana from a storage facility near the Franklin County Jail."

The Superior Bush (Feb. 20, 2003)
"While the DEA decries the proliferation of the coca crop in militarily-strategic Colombia, they consistently and quietly clear the bureaucratic way for the New Jersey-based Stepan Company’s importation of coca from Bolivia and Peru so that it can be processed into the secret ingredient in Coca Cola (shhh… it’s a secret), as well as pharmaceutical cocaine. Believe it; It’s the Real Thing. It’s not an urban legend; the proof is easily accessible online in the US Federal Register."

Bhutan Aims to be First Country to Ban Tobacco (Feb. 20, 2003)
"The sale of tobacco and tobacco products has already been banned from the beginning of this month in the duty-free outlets in this Himalayan kingdom of 900,000 people, as part of its continuing tobacco-free initiative programme."

A Marijuana Crusader Defends His Healing Mission (Feb. 20, 2003)
"There is no doubt among knowledgeable physicians and researchers that marijuana is a medicine."

Where Does Ebola Hide Between Epidemics? (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Knowing how people may initially have contracted the virus has given medical experts a jumpstart on the epidemic, which has so far killed at least 64 people. But the larger question remains."

Armed Men Capture Venezuela Strike Leader-Witnesses (Feb. 20, 2003)
"Armed men, apparently from the Venezuela state security police, on Thursday captured a business chief who led a strike against President Hugo Chavez after a judge ordered him and a union boss arrested for rebellion, opposition leaders said."

Watch Mexican Soap Operas and Become an Alcoholic (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Soap operas might lead to a very bad habit, which is called hard drinking. This was said by specialists of the center for alcoholism research in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico."

Colombia: Three CIA Agents Taken Hostage by Rebels (Feb. 19, 2003)
"A huge military operation has been launched by the Colombian and army and US officials to rescue three CIA agents presumably captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -FARC-."

Tapes Cast Doubt on Case (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Campaigners for three Irishmen accused in Colombia of training Marxist Farc rebels have more video tapes casting doubt on the case against them."

Stop digging in Colombia (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Last week, rebels allegedly killed an American working for the Defense Department after his plane crashed. The rebels, from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), reportedly also killed a Colombian soldier and kidnapped three other Americans. The plane most likely was mapping coca fields for aerial herbicide spraying."

Three Americans Held Hostage in Colombia (Feb. 19, 2003)
Missing after their planes crashed while on an "intelligence mission" over Colombia, these men are thought to held by FARC. Two of their companions were found shot to death at the crash site.

On the wings of a lie (Feb. 19, 2003)
"I am also very troubled by the way Bush officials have tried to justify this war on the grounds that Saddam is allied with Osama bin Laden or will be soon. There is simply no proof of that, and every time I hear them repeat it I think of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution."

USA: Counter Drugs Strategy Announced (Feb. 19, 2003)
"This year, the focus is on disrupting the drugs trade by greater action against money laundering but also making drugs more expensive (as a result of better policing) and the quality uncertain (expected to be the result of disrupting supply)."

FARC Should Respect Lives of Captives (Feb. 19, 2003)
Colombian guerrillas may have captured three US men whose plane crashed in rebel-controlled land. Two other men on the plane appeared to have been executed when the crash site was reached by rescuers.

Tennessee sheriff fined for lying about public records (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison was fined $300 and held in criminal contempt for lying about public records involving his office's horse stables, helicopters and drug accounts."

Death toll in drugs war nearly 600: ministry (Feb. 19, 2003)
"The figure -- which represents more than 33 deaths per day -- is nearly double the 319 deaths announced by police Monday."

Bolivia may end war on coca (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Bolivia's government may be preparing to abandon its unpopular effort to eradicate coca and allow farmers to grow the raw material from which cocaine is made."

Local drug use on rise (Feb. 19, 2003)
"'We see a lot of cases where people will mix in crack-cocaine with marijuana without telling the people they’re selling it to," [Neighborhood Enhancement Team officer] Adams said. 'They want their stuff to be the best and they want people to come back to them. So a person starts off smoking marijuana and next they’re hooked on crack-cocaine—without even intentionally trying it.'" This clueless fellow is being paid to wage a war on drugs?

Thai anti-drugs war toll jumps (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Nearly 320 people have died in a Thai anti-drugs crusade in its first 15 days, the police said yesterday, but human rights advocates fear over-zealous authorities are using the campaign to commit atrocities."

“The War on Drugs is a War on Press Freedom” (Feb. 19, 2003)
"As the third day of the 'Out from the Shadows' drug legalization conference drew to a close, a panel met to discuss one of the most important aspects of the war on drugs: the media."

War on drugs claims the lives of innocent (Feb. 19, 2003)
"The recent death of 14-year-old Ashley Villarreal in San Antonio at the hands of the DEA is indeed a tragedy. It marks a disturbing trend that is but one of the many unfortunate side effects of our government's failed War on Drugs."

Fishman: Speaker: War on drugs is a hoax (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Nora Callahan, whose brother is serving 27 years for conspiracy to sell drugs, is a crusader. She calls the federal government's war on drugs a hoax 'and a war on ordinary people.'" And there's another view of Callahan's speech as well, "Speaker supports alternatives to the war on drugs."

Don't Militarize the Borders (Feb. 19, 2003)
"The problem with this idea is that the same training that makes U.S. soldiers outstanding warriors makes them extremely dangerous as cops. Lawrence Korb, former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, put it succinctly: The military 'is trained to vaporize, not Mirandize.'"

Nazis Attempted to Make Robots of Their Soldiers (Feb. 19, 2003)
"New research shows that Nazis were going to turn their soldiers to robots with the help of a special chemical. Until recently, the chemical has been kept secret."

The Hard Life and Restless Mind of America's Education Billionaire (Feb. 19, 2003)
"And he enjoys nothing more than sticking it to the powers that be -- whether it's smug academic princes in the ivory tower or zealous antidrug warriors in the Bush administration."

Countering Chemical Detectors (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Wouldn't it be ironic if everyone targeted Drug and Terror Warriors for cannibis and nitrate tagging, just to incriminate them, and let them suffer from the unconstitutional indignities they've laid on us?"

Teen shot by DEA agents dies in hospital (Feb. 19, 2003)
"A teenage girl, shot and killed by federal drug agents, was a victim of excessive force from law officers who were investigating her father, relatives and friends say."

California Representatives Announce Medical Marijuana Defense Bill (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel) will be honored in Sacramento by the families of medical marijuana growers convicted under federal law for his efforts in the struggle to decriminalize medical marijuana."

Thailand: Hundreds Killed In Crackdown On Drug Use In Thailand (Feb. 19, 2003)
"Human rights groups expressed concern yesterday about the unexplained death of more than 300 people during the first fortnight of a Thai government crackdown on drug use."

US needs a regime change too (Feb. 19, 2003)
"For many years I have been a prison reform activist. In the last decade, the US prison population has doubled. We have the highest rate of imprisonment in the world. We imprison two million people currently, more than Russia, more than China."

On The Matrix (Feb. 19, 2003)
Henry Linder takes a very interesting look at The Matrix, both the film and true-to-life one we all live in, together.

The Gospel According To Bush (Feb. 19, 2003)
"By contrast, it is hard to imagine President George W. Bush making a speech on the subject of Iraq - or for that matter, any subject - without mentioning the deity and the war between good and evil in which He or She is apparently enlisted on our side."

A Jolly Good Drug War (Feb. 18, 2003)
Matthew McDaniel gives us an update on Thailand's War on Some Drugs and local tribespeople.

Montesinos tests mettle of Peruvian legal system (Feb. 18, 2003)
"Former spy chief [and recipient of millions of dollars in US taxpayer money given him by the US CIA] Vladimir Montesinos allegedly toyed with Peru's legal system for years, first as a lawyer and then as one of the country's most powerful figures. Now his corruption trial is testing how independent the courts have become."

Judge shopping is claimed (Feb. 18, 2003)
"The 2001 drug charges against 10 law-enforcement officers and the 1998 racketeering indictment of 10 Mexican Mafia members at prosecutors' request also took the same route to U.S. District Judge Edward C. Prado."

Drug cartel loses leaders, but war, killings continue (Feb. 18, 2003)
"Another theory hinges on police involvement. Jesús Blancornelas, editor of the weekly newspaper Zeta, believes rogue police officials who were once controlled by the Arellanos are now fighting for a share of the drug profits."

Mexican Drug Agent Crossed the Line Once Too Often (Feb. 18, 2003- Free NYTimes registration required)
"They all swear that Mr. Calderoni had quite a career back in the 1980's. They say he took a million dollars from one drug lord, Amado Carillo Fuentes, to murder another one, Pablo Acosta." There's also this report from Alternet.org- Slain Mexican drug warrior had planned book.

Ex-judge seeks to quash wiretap evidence (Feb. 18, 2003)
"[Judge] Bodenheimer and Slidell mechanic Curley Chewning were arrested on the drug-conspiracy charges June 5 and were first indicted July 17. Chewning pleaded guilty the same day, agreeing to testify against the judge."

L.B. tangled in murky marijuana law (Feb. 18, 2003)
"Drugs: Officials' mixed approach to Prop 215 leaves many who use medicinal pot not knowing where they stand."

The Terrible Truth (Feb. 18, 2003)
"As you would expect of an early 50s film, misinformation is rampant (a pot high is described as "everything speeds up to 100 miles per hour," every kid who experiments with drugs even a little bit will always end up addicted, etc.)."

Agents Win Suit Vs. Pa. Attorney General (Feb. 17, 2003)
"A federal jury awarded $1.5 million to two narcotics agents who claimed the Pennsylvania attorney general retaliated against them because they uncovered a drug-trafficking ring they said diverted profits to a CIA-backed Dominican presidential candidate."

Drug raids make team proud (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Drug busts have come and gone in Niagara Falls and on Buffalo's Lower West Side, but Thursday's massive operation was no average drug roundup."

Hayward sees growth in pot dispensaries (Feb. 17, 2003)
"A sprouting hub of medical marijuana dispensaries has some people calling the downtown area 'Haysterdam,' a hybrid of Hayward and Amsterdam -- the Dutch city known for its drug tolerance."

Medical marijuana may soon be legal in CT (Feb. 17, 2003)
"The movement across the United States to legalize medicinal marijuana has finally reached Connecticut."

Medical pot growers find no refuge from feds (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Marijuana growers who believed they were protected by the movement in Sonoma County and across California to sanction medicinal marijuana have been targeted by federal agents in a stepped up battle against pot."

Gallegos says medical pot policy in effect (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos said this week he's moving ahead with his new medical marijuana prosecution guidelines, even without full support from area law enforcement."

DEA case troubled by timing (Feb. 17, 2003)
"The stakeout that ended with a 14-year-old girl shot in the head was part of a federal narcotics investigation that had been marked in recent days by several instances of unfortunate timing."

CIA 'Sabotaged Inspections and Hid Weapons Details' (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Senior democrats have accused the CIA of sabotaging weapons inspections in Iraq by refusing to co-operate fully with the UN and withholding crucial information about Saddam Hussein's arsenal."

The opponents of war on Iraq are not the appeasers (Feb. 17, 2003)
"The split at the heart of Nato over George Bush's plans to invade Iraq has triggered an outpouring of charges of 1930s-style appeasement against those resisting the rush to war."

The Osburn Defense Fund (Feb. 17, 2003)
"We are in the fight for our lives and the lives of over 100,000 medical marijuana patients in California."

Medical Marijuana Week (Feb. 17, 2003)
Find out what is taking place in your area, and who to contact.

Walking Along Streets of Peace (Feb. 17, 2003)
Jimmy Breslin describes his view of the peaceful peace protest in NYC this past weekend.

Jeff and Tracy Interview Ed Rosenthal (Feb. 17, 2003)
"Throughout this insightful interview, Ed shares the details of his arrest, how this whole ordeal is affecting him and his family, his own thoughts about how the court case was handled, his response to the historic action taken by jury members, public support, and what you can do to help!"

Enron tax report like 'a conspiracy novel' (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Wall Street banks, acting on the advice of top legal and accounting firms, helped Enron devise shelters that let the company operate tax-free for years while exaggerating its profits by billions of dollars, the Senate Finance Committee was told Thursday."

Dance for Mary Jane at weekend events (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Bay Area activists are planning events throughout the next week to raise awareness and support for medicinal use of marijuana."

Artistic Sign Language: Symbols of the Coming Bush Fall (Feb. 14, 2003)
"To those inclined more to rigid-order mentality, art is a virus that needs to be stamped out, or, at the least, tightly controlled...It's all part of the so-called 'cultural civil war.' Those who control the signs and symbols control the polity. Thus, minions are trotted out to denounce artists and their tendency to look for complexity, ironies, hypocrisies, hidden humor."

Confronting the Empire (Feb. 14, 2003)
This "speech by Noam Chomsky was delivered to the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil on January 27, 2003." In it he says that, "The way to 'confront the empire' is to create a different world, one that is not based on violence and subjugation, hate and fear." He discusses US destruction in Colombia, describing how he "listened to hours of testimony by peasants who were driven from their lands by chemical warfare – called 'fumigation' under the pretext of a US-run 'drug war' that few take seriously and that would be obscene if that were the intent."

Peace rally clogs Melbourne city streets (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Tens of thousands of peace protesters packed Melbourne's city streets tonight in a show of strength against a US-led war in Iraq."

Speed Bombers (Feb. 14, 2003)
"This is Your Military on Drugs."

Delta squad's prosecutor sues Manatee sheriff, 2 employees (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Federal prosecutor Jeffrey Del Fuoco filed the lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court. Del Fuoco led a corruption investigation into the sheriff's Delta squad, an anti-drug unit. In the end, five members of the squad and another former deputy were sent to federal prison."

People of South America vs. Team USA and Bad Boys (Feb. 14, 2003)
"US addictions haunt and terrorize the world: OIL, WEAPONS, DRUGS. US BAD BOYS and their friends in Latin America have held power for decades. Now they are being run out of town by Hugo Chavez, the people of Bolivia and New Ideas. Guns and Money aren’t enough anymore – Hope lives – Struggle Consumes."

“A Path to Dialogue” (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Mexican Congressman Launches Pan-American Battle vs. 'the repressive policies of the U.S.'"

Peruvian Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced for Bribe (Feb. 14, 2003)
"A former congressman has been sentenced to six years in jail for accepting a bribe from ex-spy chief [and former CIA henchman and drugs and arms trafficker] Vladimiro Montesinos in a case that sparked the collapse of former President Alberto Fujimori's government."

Mistrial Request Denied In Cop Corruption Trial (Feb. 14, 2003)
"The officers ... are under indictment for various offenses, including throwing down weapons at police shootings to justify their actions."

States should rule on medical marijuana (Feb. 14, 2003)
"The bulldozer that has become the Bush administration when it comes to states' voter initiatives has rolled over a California man who was growing marijuana for Oakland's medical-marijuana program."

Adverts for cigarettes wheeze to a last gasp (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Yesterday was the last day of cigarette advertising in Britain after six years of lobbying and court action."

Glaxo sued over alleged price fixing (Feb. 14, 2003)
"UK drug giant GlaxoSmithKline and US drug company Pharmacia have been sued by the state of New York, alleging that they inflated drug prices." Also, Italian Police Charge 72 In Alleged Glaxo Drug Company Bribery.

Support the National Day of Action- Evict the DEA (Feb. 14, 2003)
Telling the federal government and its tax money-wasting DEA what some people think of their endless war.

Drug Kingpin May Be Released From Prison (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Convict Assisted Police In Drug Investigations."

Judges criticize Court of Criminal Appeals decision (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Leonard Rojas was executed two months ago, but this week he became the focus of an intensifying debate over the quality of lawyers who stand between condemned inmates and the death chamber."

We Stand Passively Mute (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Frankly many of the pronouncements made by this Administration are outrageous. There is no other word. Yet this chamber is hauntingly silent," said US Senator Robert Byrd in this scathing commentary on current affairs.

Bolivia burning (Feb. 14, 2003)
"The erradication of Coca, privatisation of gas, the FTAA and other US impositions, had already caused campesino roadblocks that were brutally attacked causing the death of at least 14 people."

Investigating The Investigation (Feb. 14, 2003)
"Any fool, e.g. Buzz, can lose keys, but it takes a truly gargantuan boob to mislay an entire criminal investigation. For that, you call on the Dallas Police Department. Those guys, namely Chief Terrell Bolton, can't quite seem to decide whether they ever even started an investigation into that pesky fake-drug scandal."

Judge Rejects D.C. Plan To Treat Drug Offenders (Feb. 14, 2003)
"An initiative passed by D.C. voters last fall that would require the city to offer treatment to scores of nonviolent drug offenders cannot take effect because it illegally dictates how the D.C. government must spend its money, a judge ruled yesterday."

Marijuana Mitzvah? Support Growing for 'Guru of Ganja' (Feb. 14, 2003)
"To the federal government, Ed Rosenthal is simply a drug pusher, an enemy combatant in the war on drugs. To folks like Jane Marcus, however, the Bronx-born Rosenthal is a hero — a Jewish hero, in fact, whose cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes qualifies as a life-saving 'mitzvah.'"

Bill O'Reilly Attacks 9/11 Family Member (Feb. 13, 2003)
"After cutting short the interview Bill O’Reilly threatened Mr. Glick, a professor at Rutgers University and teacher in the state prisons system, with physical violence."

Osama Rallies Muslims, Condemns Hussein (Feb. 13, 2003)
"In very clear words, Osama bin Laden told the people of Iraq to rise up against both American aggression and against 'socialist' Saddam Hussein. If the translations that were provided were reliable, there is no ambiguity in bin Laden's words on the matter. So much, it seems, for Powell's case that Hussein and bin Laden are working together."

UN: Study Stresses Alternative Crops To Dismantle Booming Opium Economy (Feb. 13, 2003)
"A new report by the United Nations drug-control agency calls on the international community to help Afghanistan attack its flourishing opium economy at its roots."

Official: Drug addicts to be rounded up nationwide (Feb. 13, 2003)
Brothers in arms, fighting the scourge of drug users, both Iran and the US have politicies whereby the addicted are rounded up by police.

U.S. to extend drug treatment, target traffickers (Feb. 13, 2003)
"Critics of U.S. drug policies denounced Walters' report, saying it masked problems with prison and law enforcement costs. 'The drug war has always been a money pit, but this is funny math at its worst,' said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance."

Thailand's drug war gets messy (Feb. 13, 2003)
"On the face of it, Thailand's drug traffickers appear to have gone on a killing spree - if you believe the police, that is."

Former Surgeon General Says Addiction Neglected (Feb. 13, 2003)
"Koop, surgeon general from 1981-1989, said that there's too much focus on going after drug dealers, and not enough compassion--or treatment options--for the addicted."

The March (Feb. 13, 2003)
"On Saturday, February 15th, a crowd that organizers believe will be the largest yet, will gather in New York City to march by the United Nations in protest against war on Iraq. This is a massive and powerful outpouring of sentiment that New York City police and the District Court for the Southern District of New York would suppress."

Cannabis cafe 'goes ahead' (Feb. 13, 2003)
"A man who who walked free from Manchester Crown Court after drug charges were dropped, claimed his plans to open an Amsterdam-style coffee-shop in Rhyl would go ahead."

Eugene raises fine to $250 for marijuana possession (Feb. 13, 2003)
"The City Council has voted to more than double the city's marijuana possession fine from $100 to $250. The fine affects people caught with less than 1 ounce of the illegal drug."

Fisherman nets 30kgs of cannabis (Feb. 13, 2003)
"A fisherman caught more than he expected on Monday afternoon when he was out on his boat fishing off Xlendi: the largest ever haul of cannabis resin."

Everage facing marijuana charges (Feb. 13, 2003)
"Misdemeanor charges of unlawful possession of marijuana were filed Wednesday against University of Oklahoma football player Brandon Keith Everage."

The Conviction of Ed Rosenthal for Growing Medicinal Marijuana: Why It Was Wrong to Prosecute (Feb. 12, 2003)
"Because California is not alone in singling out the medical use of marijuana for protection, the Justice Department has apparently decided to make an example of Ed Rosenthal. He is dangerous because he dissents from the Attorney General's position."

Six tons of marijuana seized - largest amount in a decade (Feb. 12, 2003)
"US Customs Service agents have seized more than six tons of marijuana in a single bust. Officials say its the largest amount in more than a decade."

San Diego Allows Cultivation of Medical Marijuana (Feb. 12, 2003)
"The San Diego City Council in California approved a measure that would allow cancer, AIDS, and other patients with chronic diseases to grow and possess marijuana for medical purposes, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Feb. 9."

Alabama Teenager Faces Horrendous Marijuana Prison Sentence (Feb. 12, 2003)
"It is ludicrous in this age of terror threats and increasing US security vulnerabilities that a teenaged boy should be subject to 26 years in prison for the moral equivalent of selling four packs of regular cigarettes obtained from the corner convenience store."

Drug Warriors Trampling Rights of Medical Marijuana Proponents (Feb. 12, 2003)
"It is not every day that a jury apologizes to a man it has just convicted."

Domestic War on Terror Brings Tears and Fears (Feb. 12, 2003)
"Another way to combat terrorism and further the aims of the above campaign is to enlist prosecuting attorneys across the country to pull out all stops against marijuana."

DARE- Public Relations Scam or Anti-Drug Education? (Feb. 11, 2003)
The actual title of this article is "Drug War Stalls," but a sheriff Pussehl is quoted in this piece saying: "We had to cut a great program," he said, adding that DARE helped improve the department's image among residents and children. "I haven't really read the studies, but where I think it was effective was where we had that police-student relationship," Pussehl said. "The students, they remember their DARE officer, and not just for that semester."

UPDATE 1-Serono drug pulled from UK as "mad cow" precaution (Feb. 11, 2003)
"A hormone treatment [fertility drug] made by Switzerland's Serono SEOZ.VX is being withdrawn in Britain as a precaution against the remote possibility it might be infected with the human form of mad cow disease, regulators said on Tuesday."

Mentally Ill Man Eligible For Execution (Feb. 11, 2003)
"A federal appeals court ruled today that a paranoid schizophrenic inmate who is sane only when forced to take medication is eligible for death row."

Will the Rosenthal Case Destroy Federal Medical Marijuana Enforcement? (Feb. 11, 2003)
"Throughout US history unjust verdicts have led to dramatic change. Indeed, the birth of the United States was sparked by a verdict in favor of the crown in Paxton's case challenging the warrantless searches by the King's soldiers of colonial homes and businesses."

Secrecy Surrounds 9/11 Investigation (Feb. 11, 2003)
"A member of the commission investigating the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington said he will push for 'a wide-ranging, aggressive' probe that includes interviews with a less-than-cooperative White House. But how forthcoming will the Bush administration be when the president’s own brother’s name comes up in conversation."

New York Sun suggests treason prosecution for free speech (Feb. 11, 2003)
"Since Sept. 11, 2001, we have documented many instances in which pundits and politicians have tried to demonize dissent, suggesting that it is unpatriotic and even that it aids the enemy. But none has gone so far as to suggest an actual prosecution for treason simply for voicing one's political views - until now."

Dell Dude In Pot Bust (Feb. 11, 2003)
"According to police, Curtis was nabbed after cops spotted him buying a 'small bag of marijuana' from a dealer on Manhattan's Lower East Side (at Ludlow and Rivington for you Gothamites)."

February 12: Day of Poetry Against the War (Feb. 12, 2003)
"Wednesday, February 12, Join us in front of the White House for an anti-war poetry reading beginning at noon. This is in reaction to a reading which was scheduled to be held at the White House. The event was cancelled by White House staff when several of the poets invited to attend expressed that they would read anti-war poetry. We will be reading from the anthology being compiled by Sam Hamill."

'Guru of Ganja' Stirring the Pot (Feb. 11, 2003)
"Judge Charles Breyer refused to allow testimony showing that Rosenthal was growing pot under supervision of Oakland city officials for use by severely ill patients in compliance with both state law and local ordinances. When one witness mentioned Proposition 215, Breyer cut him off and took over the questioning."

Teenager busted for marijuana gets 26-year sentence (Feb. 10, 2003)
"The 'new kid' turned out to be an undercover drug agent. And four sales, together worth about $350, landed Alexander a 26-year prison sentence. It was his first arrest.

'It's a tough fight -- It's a tiring fight' (Feb. 10, 2003)
"When a $1 million government grant shows up on the Northland's economic ledger, it's news. Politicians turn out to take credit, local officials are happy and all predict a brighter future. Though in this case, it wasn't a grant to stimulate growth or start a program but cash to continue the war on drugs."

What 'War-Against-Terrorism'? (Feb. 10, 2003)
"Selective Support For Islamic Terrorism As A Tool Of US and UK Foreign and Economic Policy."

Does Tony Blair have any idea what the flies are like that feed off the dead? (Feb. 10, 2003)
"The things we see — the filth and obscenity of corpses — cannot be shown. First because it is not “appropriate” to depict such reality on breakfast-time TV. Second because, if what we saw was shown on television, no one would ever again agree to support a war."

America used Islamists to arm the Bosnian Muslims (Feb. 10, 2003)
This is a reminder, published last year, that once again US forces not only armed, but supported radical terrorist-types who are now at war with the US, or at least being warred upon by the US.

Milk bottle used as bong (Feb. 10, 2003)
"A man found with 166 grams of cannabis in his house and a bong made out of a plastic milk bottle has been placed on good behaviour bonds."

Feel Like Dancing? Beware of Tom Daschle (Feb. 9, 2003)
"And the 'RAVE Act' reappears too — only this time, the word 'RAVE' never appears in a title. Rather, the 'RAVE Act' language is found in sections 5131-36, under the misleading title 'Crack House Statute Amendments.' The Daschle bill extends the federal 'crackhouse law' — which makes it illegal to maintain a building for purposes of drug consumption — to cover musical performances and other events of a temporary nature, and to make liable even those who make their premises available at no charge."

Revealed: truth behind US 'poison factory' claim (Feb. 9, 2003)
"Luke Harding reports from the terrorist camp in northern Iraq named by Colin Powell as a centre of the al-Qaeda international network."

Bush administration overly aggressive in drug war (Feb. 9, 2003)
"The law enacted by Proposition 215 was put before the voters, not the politicians. The people of the state of California chose to legalize medical marijuana. The proposition stood as a symbol of our democracy, where people made the laws — not politicians."

MI6 and the CIA: The new enemy within (Feb. 9, 2003)
"Britain and America's spies believe that they are being politicised: that the intelligence they provide is being selectively applied to lead to the opposite conclusion from the one they have drawn, which is that Iraq is much less of a threat than their political masters claim."

Conflicting Pot Laws Entangle User (Feb. 9, 2003-Free LATimes registration required)
"If he had kept quiet, nobody would ever have known about the marijuana plants growing in David Basford's living room. In the secrecy of his studio apartment in Los Angeles, he could have harvested the plants without jeopardizing his housing. Instead, honesty won out."

New Anti-Terror Bill: Critics Cry Foul (Feb. 8, 2003)
Will turning the US into even more of an honest-to-goodness police state really make us any safer? Be sure to check out Bill Moyers interviews Chuck Lewis on The Domestic Security Enhancement Act.

Heresies of the 21st Century (Feb. 8, 2003)
Is Ed Rosenthal the Galileo of our times?

Local group says hemp has use (Feb. 8, 2003)
Local Students for Sensible Drug Policy members "presented the video, 'Hemp for Victory,' — a film produced by the [United States] government in 1942 to advocate hemp growth as a show of patriotic support for the war effort — to more than 20 students in Anspach Hall Room 150."

Pass the dutchie, don't sell it, judge tells kids (Feb. 8, 2003)
"Italian teenagers can smoke joints on school trips, as long as they are sharing them rather than selling them, an Italian court has ruled."

On Immigration: What Happens to the Disappeared? (Feb. 8, 2003)
"The reason for Calero's detention and ongoing deportation proceedings was a 1988 conviction for marijuana possession, when he was a high school student in L.A. Calero had freely disclosed his conviction on both his original application for permanent residency and his 2000 renewal; both were granted without incident."

ONDCP Claims 'Joint' Smokers Don't go to Prison (Feb. 8, 2003)
"While it may be a rare case these days that a person is put in prison for nothing more than smoking a joint, there is fairly solid evidence to conclude that at least 2.4% of total prison inmates are in for marijuana possession."

Federal war on marijuana is misguided (Feb. 8, 2003)
"Common sense will tell you that something went terribly wrong in the courtroom of federal Judge Charles R. Breyer. Justice wasn't blind. It was blindsided...Unfortunately, I don't think this is an isolated instance."

Committee approves making intent to distribute marijuana a crime (Feb. 8, 2003)
"People who intend to sell marijuana but are not caught in the act could be prosecuted under a proposal approved Friday by state lawmakers."

Stones put warming on front burner (Feb. 8, 2003)
"It's only rock 'n' roll--with a message--as veteran rockers the Rolling Stones turned a free concert into an effort to raise awareness about global warming."

Fire destroys house where officers found marijuana; sheriff suspects arson (Feb. 8, 2003)
"That second find and seizure apparently led officers to later arrest a former Caswell County deputy sheriff."

San Diego approves medical use of Marijuana (Feb. 7, 2003)
"The Californian city of San Diego will let sick people legally possess up to 450g of marijuana for medical use with a doctor's prescription."

Lawmakers Look To Clear Medical Marijuana Hurdles- Doctors Avoid Prescriptions Because Of Federal Law (Feb. 7, 2003)
"State lawmakers hope they have found a way to get around opposition to legalizing marijuana for medical purposes."

Committee backs medical marijuana (Feb. 7, 2003)
"A bill [in Vermont] that would legalize marijuana use for people with serious illnesses such as cancer or AIDS has cleared its first legislative hurdle but still faces a long — and uncertain — road before it becomes law."

Medical marijuana bill clears committee; chief lobbyist did not live to see moment (Feb. 7, 2003)
"A bill legalizing the medical use of marijuana - named after the man who first brought the issue to the Capitol 25 years ago - cleared a House committee on Thursday."

In Calif., Medical Marijuana Collective Loses Hope, Patients (Feb. 7, 2003)
"Beyond their own mortality, WAMM members worry whether their collective will survive. It exists to dispense marijuana to the sick and dying, which California law allows it to do. Federal law, however, does not, and the Drug Enforcement Administration considers what WAMM does no different from dealing heroin or cocaine."

Medical marijuana bill clears committee (Feb. 7, 2003)
"Every year the bill failed, more often than not during debate by the Senate Judiciary Committee - until now."

The Central St-Lawrence Integrated Border Enforcement Team - Seven million in seized assets in one year (Feb. 7, 2003)
It's no wonder the war continues without respite when police are making this much money for themselves.

Shock and Awe: Guernica Revisited (Feb. 7, 2003)
"Forget Osama. Forget Saddam. The Pentagon's newest target is the city of Baghdad."

City Council Approves Pound Limit For Medical Marijuana (Feb. 6, 2003)
"The San Diego City Council voted 6-3 to direct the city attorney to draw up ordinances that would allow people with a prescription for pot to possess up to a pound of the otherwise illegal weed. So-called caregivers could possess up to 2 pounds."

Truths about marijuana are clouded in smoke (Feb. 6, 2003)
"I find it ironic that such a highly touted, seemingly brilliant generation is so apt to be blatantly brainwashed by highly false propaganda."

Raid leads to arrest of man rolling marijuana cigarettes with Bible pages (Feb. 6, 2003)
A raid at two mobile homes led to the arrest of 31-year-old Jesus Santana, who was caught rolling marijuana cigarettes with pages from a Bible, Limestone County authorities said. "When we arrested him, he made the comment that 'I guess God got y'all to get me,'" said Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely.

Calif. Jurors Convict, Then Decry Marijuana Verdict (Feb. 6, 2003)
"First the jury convicted one of America's most outspoken marijuana advocates on drug charges. Now, just days later, jurors are praising him, expressing unusual regret about their verdict and saying vital evidence was withheld from them."

As It Happens Program- Ed Rosenthal jury comments-audio files (Real Player required)
Listen to what the jury foreman had to say about the conviction of Ed Rosenthal and how angry he and others on the jury are over the behavior of the court.

FDA seeks altered-gene piglets sold as food (Feb. 6, 2003)
"The Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) said Wednesday that it is trying to track down as many as 386 piglets that might have been genetically engineered and wrongfully sold into the U.S. food supply.

Study: Girls' Addiction Risks Different from Boys (Feb. 6, 2003)
"Participants in the briefing included Columba Bush, wife of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and sister-in-law of President Bush. Her daughter, Noelle, has had several run-ins with the law because of drugs."

Take everyone's DNA fingerprint, says pioneer (Feb. 6, 2003)
"Everybody in Europe and the US should have their genetic fingerprints entered into an international database to enable law enforcement agencies to fight crime and terrorism in an unstable world, according to James Watson, the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix."

Vancouver community groups offers tour of pilot safe injection site (Feb. 5, 2003)
"Addicts would then walk through another door into a room with six gleaming stalls, each with a mirror and sink and a kit containing a spoon, tourniquet, alcohol pad and syringe. They would bring their own drugs and inject under the supervision of a nurse."

French Marijuana fan faces jail for promoting drugs (Feb. 5, 2003)
"A key member of a pro-marijuana group which in 1997 mailed hand-rolled joints to French members of parliament now faces jail after finally being netted for selling hemp seeds and pro-cannabis T-shirts."

Vote to Impeach (Feb. 5, 2003)
"Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General during the Johnson Administration has drafted articles of impeachment setting forth high crimes and misdemeanors by President Bush and other civil officers of his administration."

Perhaps Out Culture is Wacko, and not Jacko (Feb. 5, 2003)
"Most worrying, as we advance towards a war to protect Western values, is that Jacko may not be an aberration but their logical outcome."

Embassy Protests Planned to Support Ed Rosenthal (Feb. 4, 2003)
There will be protests in London, Berlin, Paris and more cities around the world in support of Ed Rosenthal and to express outrage over the farce of a kangaroo court that convicted him for growing medical marijuana in a state which has legalized medical marijuana. Rosenthal has a detention hearing scheduled for today, February 4, 2003.

Medical marijuana on agenda; backers unveil billboards (Feb. 4, 2003)
"Medical marijuana advocates unveiled a new series of billboards yesterday, a day before the San Diego City Council considers guidelines for sick and dying patients who seek access to the drug."

No munchies for bears seized in marijuana arrest at Canadian border (Feb. 4, 2003)
"Corky and Pumpkin were impounded and taken to the Sarvey centre a week ago after Customs agents at Blaine, alerted by a drug-sniffing dog, found about 75 kilograms of marijuana worth an estimated $500,000 in a hidden compartment in the trailer in which they were riding."

New Warning On Ephedra (Feb. 4, 2003)
"Ephedra, an herb found in weight-loss and bodybuilding supplements, is unsafe even when taken in recommended doses and should be restricted, according to doctors who studied reports of bad reactions to the herb."

Johnny Philko- Songs to Swear By
This political rock outfit from Cleveland, Ohio, has released their new album, available here.

Editorial: Misguided Marijuana War (Feb. 4, 2003)
The New York Times is editorializing about how wrong-headed the federal war against medical marijuana is, using Ed Rosenthal's case as a glaring example.

Man arrested for selling opium poppy pods on eBay (Feb. 4, 2003)
These federal prohibitionist enforcers seem to be unaware that dried poppy pods are sold all across the US, both online and in flower shops, for decorative purposes.

FCC and Right-Wing Radio Helping U.S. Press Freedom Slip Away (Feb. 4, 2003)
"Now here's a dandy example of the kind of thing that never makes it to the front page or the top of the news broadcast, but that affects absolutely everyone. The Federal Communications Commission, led by Michael ('my religion is the market') Powell, is fixing to remove the last remaining barriers against concentration of media."

Firefighter arrested for growing marijuana (Feb. 4, 2003)
"A Martin County firefighter was arrested on charges he was growing marijuana in a house he rented in the same neighborhood where two other marijuana grow houses were raided last week."

Report: Robbins has bipolar disorder (Feb. 4, 2003)
"Bipolar disorder affects a person's ability to comprehend and reason, and often is accompanied by irrational behavior including the use of alcohol and other substances. Pittman's statement said that alcohol was involved in Robbins' case."

Medical Cannabis Reduces the Need for Prescribed Narcotics and Sedatives (Feb. 3, 2003)
"During the month of January, 2003, the Alliance featured a front page website poll for medical cannabis patients. This is the fourth poll in our series and possibly the most important."

Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for 2003 (Feb. 3, 2003)
Funny, but one might have expected the good old US of A to have made this list, but hey, it's the US administration pointing fingers so it's not much of a surprise.

Frodo Failed! (Feb. 3, 2003)
Frodo, bless his tiny little Hobbit heart, utterly failed it seems.

Kurt Vonnegut vs. the !&#*!@ (Feb. 3, 2003)
"I myself feel that our country, for whose Constitution I fought in a just war, might as well have been invaded by Martians and body snatchers. Sometimes I wish it had been. What has happened, though, is that it has been taken over by means of the sleaziest, low-comedy, Keystone Cops-style coup d’etat imaginable," says Vonnegut in this recent interview.

Defector: Chavez gave $1 million to al-Qaida (Feb. 3, 2003)
In a story some may have missed last month, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is accused of having ties to terrorists, perhaps in preparation of more US interventionism in yet another Latin American country?

George Bush senior to spend luxury holiday with Gustavo Cisneros (Feb. 3, 2003)
"Former US President George P. Bush is heading to the Dominican Republic for a luxury holiday, where he will spend quality time with anti-government Venezuelan media tycoon Gustavo Cisneros, who President Hugo Chavez Frias accuses of leading a push for a coup d'etat to have him forcibly removed from office."

"If You Want To Win An Election, Just Control The Voting Machines" (Feb. 3, 2003)
"...You'd think there would be a paper trail of the vote, which could be followed and audited if a there was evidence of voting fraud or if exit polls disagreed with computerized vote counts. You'd be wrong."

Religious Drug Treatment Plan Irks Some (Feb. 3, 2003)
"President Bush has long preached of the power of prayer to aid drug addicts. Now he's putting dollars behind the rhetoric, asking Congress for $600 million for a new, three-year drug treatment program that would welcome the participation of religious groups."

Bush and Hitler- Compare and Contrast (Feb. 3, 2003)
"Bush, who, during one of the presidential debates, said his favorite philosopher was Jesus Christ, has apparently decided to ignore his teachings. Maybe Bush has decided to turn away from Jesus Christ and instead seek Providence from a tequila bottle, as his State of the Union address with numerous examples of slurred speech would seem to indicate."

A War Crime or an Act of War? (Feb. 3, 2003)
"But the truth is, all we know for certain is that Kurds were bombarded with poison gas that day at Halabja. We cannot say with any certainty that Iraqi chemical weapons killed the Kurds. This is not the only distortion in the Halabja story. I am in a position to know because, as the Central Intelligence Agency's senior political analyst on Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war, and as a professor at the Army War College from 1988 to 2000, I was privy to much of the classified material that flowed through Washington having to do with the Persian Gulf."

"A Threat to Its Neighbors and World Peace" (Feb. 3, 2003)
Just who is it that is most threatening to its neighbors and world peace?

Granny D- Will We Represent Love in the World? (Feb. 3, 2003)
"We cannot have world peace without peace in our own lives. We cannot attack our planet by the way we live, and then go off to a peace rally and hope to set right all the imbalance we have caused. Peace is first a private matter. It cannot grow except from there."

Preemptive rituals enshrining an organized perversion of war (Feb. 3, 2003)
"There are no tombs for the 'unknown civilian' because they're everywhere underfoot, no more remarkable than history's landfill."

Activist Training co-sponsored by UC Berkeley Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) & Americans for Safe Access (ASA) (Feb. 3, 2003)
If you want to learn how to be a more effective activist, plan on attending.

Everybody's High (Feb. 3, 2003)
"When that day comes, perhaps a memorial will go up for every person who suffered or died in prison for smoking or selling an innocent, medicinal herb and to those who devoted their lifetimes to expand the human race's knowledge of marijuana, cannabinoids and anandamides."

Doonesbury- The Sin Lobby Gins Up for Another Year (Feb. 3, 2003)
Mr. Jay and Mr. Butts compare damages while hanging out with the rest of the sin lobby.

Coalition for Medical Marijuana (Feb. 3, 2003)
As someone who could use a medical defense were it legal to do so, the editor of Drugwar.com still feels that focusing on the medical uses for marijuana is only a baby step, one in the right direction but not nearly far enough. Still, every step that direction helps, so support this new outfit.

Dutch to Legalize Medical Marijuana Cultivation March 2003 (Feb. 3, 2003)
"'A change of the Dutch law on controlled substances (Opium Act) will take effect on 17 March 2003. It includes regulations for applications regarding the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes and guidelines for cultivating cannabis.' According to a release from the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) in Germany."

Jury left in dark at marijuana trial (Feb. 3, 2003)
"If we'd known he was hired by the city, I would have said this guy didn't deserve any of this," said Pamela Klarkowski, a Petaluma nurse on the jury. "I feel used. It's horrible. We didn't get the whole picture." At MAPInc.org you can find a huge collection of articles, letters to editors and more on Ed Rosenthal's case and trial.

Cognitive Dissident (Feb. 3, 2003)
"John Perry Barlow, the man who coined the term 'cyberspace', discusses the Total Information Awareness project, online activism, file sharing, and the prospect of a digital counterculture."

Mayoral candidates tell how they'd boost economy (Feb. 3, 2003)
"He proposes eliminating 'wasteful spending on beautification projects such as Exploration Place.' He also favors taxing legalized marijuana or imposing a tax on offenders rather than deferring the cost to taxpayers by putting offenders in jail or treatment centers."

Juvenile Arrested For Cocaine, Marijuana Possession (Feb. 3, 2003)
"Juvenile was arrested on drug charges in New Orleans Wednesday. The rapper, whose real name is Terius Gray, was booked on possession of marijuana and cocaine, along with three other people."

Shuttle Disintegrates in Flames Over Texas (Feb. 1, 2003)
"The space shuttle Columbia, traveling 12,500 miles per hour as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere after a 16-day science mission, disintegrated in flames 200,000 feet above north central Texas today with seven astronauts aboard."

A Wanderer for Peace has Run Out of Road (Feb. 1, 2003- Free New York Times registration required)
"I have something for people. Love," says Reza K. Baluchi, an Iranian who has traveled through some of the most repressive dictatorships without trouble, but landed in jail for immigration violations once he reached the Land of the Free.

Tax from Illegal Drugs Boosts Kansas' Budget (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Kansas received budget aid from unexpected source this year with an increase in state tax collections on marijuana, cocaine, and other illegal drugs, the Wichita Eagle reported Jan. 26."

Ashcroft blocks a deal to avert death penalty (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Attorney General John Ashcroft ordered federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for a murder suspect, even though he had agreed to testify against others tied to a deadly Colombian drug ring in exchange for a life sentence."

Morons in the News: Federal War on Local Control Claims Another Victim (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Now the federal government has convicted Edward Rosenthal of cultivating marijuana, without ever allowing any courtroom discussion of medical marijuana or prop 215. Notably what the judge didn't allow was the fact that Rosenthal was growing medical marijuana for the city of Oakland and their medical marijuana program. DEA spokesman Richard Meyer reasoned 'there is no such thing as medical marijuana'."

More over-30s using heroin (Feb. 1, 2003)
"The number of registered drug users in their early to mid-thirties is increasing. A report released last night revealed that Scotland is making only limited headway in the war against drugs, as it emerged that the number of deaths from class A drugs in 2001 had soared 14 per cent from the previous year to 332."

Freedom For Inmates Affected By Repeal Of Mandatory Minimums (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Convicted of cocaine possession, James DiVietri has spent the past 11 years in prison and expected to spend nearly 10 more years behind bars. But he becomes eligible for parole March 1, along with about 1,250 other first-time, nonviolent drug offenders. As many as 700 of them could be home by September, state prison officials say."

Whalley war on drugs hits roadblock (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum's war on drugs in Whalley has run smack into an angry doctor who runs the area's provincially-funded needle exchange."

Heath Druzin — If you write a column on drugs, the terrorists have won (Feb. 1, 2003)
"...Honesty: the antidrug; I think not. Haven’t you heard? It’s a drug WAR, not a drug drum circle. And, while it may seem like Vietnam right now, just like that war all we need is more manpower and a commitment to win at all costs, even if you have to kill your children to stop their drug use. It’s called tough love."

Looking out for No. 1-Alcohol (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Harry Swift, chemical dependency counselor for Cook County, spoke at the recent Hot Potatoes forum in Grand Marais, where he emphasized the predominance of alcohol as the number one drug of choice among youth."

Bush Cites Growing Problem Of Illegal Drugs From Canada (Feb. 1, 2003)
"President Bush said yesterday he was troubled that Canada had become a source of potent marijuana and a key ingredient to the illegal drug methamphetamine for the United States."

23 nations on Bush's drug list (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Key U.S. allies are on President Bush's list Friday of 23 countries designated as major producers or transit routes of illicit drugs." Another report notes that "Guatemala Objects to US Drug War Certification Process."

Burma, Guatemala, Haiti Failed in Drug War Cooperation, U.S. Says (Feb. 1, 2003)
"The Bush Administration has determined that Burma, Guatemala, and Haiti have "failed demonstrably" over the last year to do what is necessary to counter international narcotics trafficking."

Groundbreaking pot trial wraps up (Feb. 1, 2003)
"The bizarre trial of marijuana advocate Ed Rosenthal ended Thursday just as it had begun: with the judge and the prosecution pounding into the jury's consciousness everything they were not allowed to consider in rendering their judgment."

APD declares war on drugs in city (Feb. 1, 2003)
"America might declare war on Iraq, but the Narcotics Division of the Alexandria Police Department has 'declared war on the drugs in the city,' said Sgt. Newmon Bobb, commander of the division."

Federal prosecutors score victory in war against California marijuana law (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Rosenthal, 58, faces up to 85 years in prison when he goes back to court June 4."

Jury Returns Guilty Verdicts Against 'Guru Of Ganja' (Feb. 1, 2003)
There is no such thing as medical marijuana," said Richard Meyer, a DEA spokesman. "We're Americans first, Californians second." Apparently Meyer is unaware that the US government ships medical marijuana to 7 patients in the US every single month, and has for years. The millions who use marijuana medically know first hand the benefits of marijuana for a multitide of ills, and are sure to be unswayed by such Orwellian statements on the part of federal prohibitionists.

Poets' anti-war views lead to symposium's cancellation (Feb. 1, 2003)
"A burgeoning anti-war movement by poets, started in Port Townsend, has led the White House to postpone a poetry symposium out of concerns it would be politicized by poets who said they wanted to protest military action against Iraq."

Caminiti returning to court after positive drug test (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Former Houston Astros third baseman Ken Caminiti is expected to return to court Monday after authorities said he tested positive this week for drugs, a violation of the terms of his probation."

One Million Prayer Warriors United in Battle (Feb. 1, 2003)
"Put on the full armor of God and fervently pray in spirit and in truth," to battle drug addiction. What more needs to be said?