July 2002

War on Drugs, War on Ourselves- Is it Time to End the War on Drugs? (July 31, 2002)
Despite the initial reservations about how impartial this special report would turn out to be after speaking with John Stossel at the NYC Million Marijuana March in May, the editor of drugwar.com is more than happy to note that this report was one of the very best examinations of the War on Drugs aired on national tv in the US he's seen to this date.

Prison rapes spreading deadly diseases (July 31, 2002)
"Prison rape has become such a common occurrence in federal and state prisons across the United States that it could have deadly consequences for the inmate population as well as the public at large, experts in the field told United Press International," writes UPI Medical Correspondent Steve Mitchell.

Going to Pot (July 31, 2002)
"San Francisco Voters to Decide if City Should Grow Marijuana," reports Francine Vida for ABC News.

UK- Why there are record numbers in prison (July 31, 2002)
"The largest increases in prison numbers has been seen among young offenders (those aged between 15 and 20) as home secretaries have acted to lock-up those involved in drugs-related crime," notes the BBC.

Drug raids net 2,127 arrests on Mexican border (July 31, 2002)
"The United States and Mexico worked together to target 'major narcotics criminals who had substantial resources to fund new identities and frequent movements,' the Marshals Service announced Tuesday," reports CNN.

States’ Right to Prescribe Weed in Dispute (July 31, 2002)
"Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, all believe in the medicinal benefits of marijuana and stand behind new controversial legislation that would make it legal to prescribe to patients in pain. But Drug Enforcement Agency Director Asa Hutchinson disputes the usefulness of medical marijuana and reaffirmed it as an important target of the war on drugs," reports Newsmax.com.

Donahue- July 29, 2002 Program on Drugs Audio Files (July 30, 2002)
Hear what was asserted by the various guests of Phil Donahue about drugs and users, and the War waged upon them.

Subscribe to the Million Marijuana March 2003 Email List (July 30, 2002)
"Now it's time to keep the drums beating for marijuana peace and justice," writes the Pieman, aka Aron Kay.

March 2002 Congressional Research Service Report- 'Medical Use of Marijuana- Policy and Regulatory Issues' (July 30, 2002)
"The first edit of the March 2002 congressional Research Service report 'Medical Use of Marijuana: Policy and Regulatory Issues' is online and available."

Why Do Terrorists Keep Picking on the United States? (July 30, 2002)
"Washington's war on terrorism is as doomed to failure as its war on drugs has been," notes William Blum in this excerpt from his book, "Rouge State- A Guide to the World's Only Superpower".

Perry ad ties Sanchez, drug funds (July 28, 2002)
"Gov. Rick Perry, in a 30-second TV ad based on a selective reading of court records, on Monday will accuse Democratic challenger Tony Sanchez of being involved in international laundering of drug money," writes Ken Herman of the American-Statesman staff.

Indicted judge ordered to testify in trial (July 28, 2002)
"Suspended Jefferson Parish Judge Ronald Bodenheimer, battling federal drug conspiracy charges, has been subpoenaed to testify in state court next week in the trial of a Metairie man facing a marijuana charge, after the defense learned Bodenheimer was a confidential informant in the case," reports Joe Darby of the West Bank bureau of The Times-Picayune.

Week Online with DRCNet issue #247 (July 28, 2002)
"It's not clear which group of people gets more silly from the influence of illegal drugs, users or lawmakers. But on this count, I'm afraid the editorialists at the Wall Street Journal have both of them beat." So notes David Borden, Executive Director on DDRCNet in this week's editorial. There's a lot more stories here, updates and the always informative and ever useful Reformer's Calendar.

CIA Official Calls for "Sending SWAT Teams into Journalists’ Homes" (July 28, 2002)
"'We’ve got to do whatever it takes – if it takes sending SWAT teams into journalists’ homes – to stop these leaks,' admonished James B. Bruce, vice chairman of the CIA's Foreign Denial and Deception Committee." So reports Dave Eberhart for Newsmax.com. Remember, we in the US live in a country that has a "free press" and a government of and by the people. Sometimes some of these employees of the US citizenry forget that.

Ecstasy as cheap as a bar of chocolate for children (July 28, 2002)
There's no reason whatsoever for the "for children" part of this title to be there except to inflame prohibition hysteria. That said, ecstasy appears to be really cheap in England nowadays.

Gunman Trained in US Charged With Killing Colombian Archbishop (July 28, 2002)
Although the murder of Colombian Archbishop Isaias Duarte was initially blamed on FARC guerillas, it turns out that "John Fredy Jiménez, picked up by police on Saturday, is one of 60,000 graduates of the controversial School of the Americas at Fort Benning in Georgia, where counterterrorism techniques are taught." So reported Kevin Dowling back in June, 2002, for Globe-Intel.net.

Mexican Security Agent Slain (July 27, 2002)
"A regional director of Mexico's main intelligence agency was slain in the border city of Tijuana, the 11th person killed this week in what authorities say is an escalating drug war." reports the Associated Press.

In Tajikistan, a Gateway for Heroin (July 27, 2002)
Seems that since the US took over, or "liberated" depending upon one's view, Afghanistan, the poppies have flourished, the trade routes are full of traffick, with the various derivatives pouring into and through the surrounding countries. Nearly everywhere the US goes miilitarily and/or covertly, the illegal drug trade explodes in size and damage, not to mention profits.

BUSH-CHENEY WHITE HOUSE OBSTRUCTS HALLIBURTON LAWSUIT (July 27, 2002)
Equal protection under the law in the United States is a bit of a sick joke when it comes right down to it.

Bolivia's likely leader seeks coca grower's support (July 27, 2002)
"The man likely to become Bolivia's next president said Wednesday he would seek to bolster his support in Congress by negotiating with a candidate opposed to a U.S.-led anti-drug program," reports Reuters three days ago. The BBC reports today, (July 27, 2002), that coca grower Evo Morales will not be sidelined by a new Deal struck over Bolivian presidency by the other two leading candidates for President.

Drug czar skirts S.F. proposal to grow its own (July 27, 2002)
"Moment worthy of Cheech and Chong: Thursday morning the Bush administration's drug czar, John Walters, pulled up in front of The Chronicle with a CHP and Secret Service escort. Two minutes after the drug czar went into the building, a homeless guy staggered by smoking a joint. The CHP and Secret Service guys didn't bat an eye," reports Rob Morse for the SFGate.com.

Drug Sense Weekly #260 (July 27, 2002)
A comprehensive weekly update of War on Drugs news from all around the world. There's also an on-line radio broadcast of much of this news.

Israel To Extradite Ecstasy Ring Suspects To U.S. (July 27, 2002)
"Move Is First Ever Criminal Extradition Of Israeli Citizens"

Dana Beal Wins Lifetime Achievement Award (July 26, 2002)
Come to NYC on the 28th of July to help Dana Beal celebrate his Lifetime Achievement Award, to be given by the Marijuana Reform Party of New York.

DRUG SENTENCES OVER 54 YEARS: 'RINGLEADER' WOODALL TO SERVE 27 (July 26, 2002)
"Among the men were three former vice/narcotics officers from the Davidson County Sheriff's Office ( DCSO ), a former Archdale police sergeant, and two Lexington area residents," reports Kristen Johnson of the Thomasville Times in North Carolina. Drug prohibition destroys lives. Just Say No to Prohibition!

PORTSMOUTH TO HOST DEA PROGRAM DESIGNED TO RID OUR NEIGHBORHOODS OF DRUGS (July 26, 2002)
Director Asa Hutchinson To Keynote Drug Summit in Portsmouth

Marijuana measure may be superfluous, some officials say (July 26, 2002)
"Some state and local officials say a proposed initiative intended to free police resources for serious crime by relaxing marijuana-law enforcement would do just the opposite, creating burdensome reporting requirements for possession laws that already receive low priority," reports Brian Moore for the Seattle Times.

School Sued for Drug Sniffing Dog (July 26, 2002)
"The German shepherd got off its leash in a kindergarten classroom at the Wagner Community School and chased students during the May search, the court papers allege. They claim some students started crying and at least one urinated involuntarily," notes the Associated Press, reporting on how safe these little kids felt with a drug dog running pell mell about their classrooms protecting them from drugs.

Seeking Data on the Drug War's Child Casualties (July 26, 2002)
"With an estimated half-million American adults currently behind bars on drug charges, child welfare and prison reform activists have long warned that the War on Drugs is inflicting enormous collateral damage on tens of thousands of innocent bystanders: the children of prisoners. Now, for the first time, a new study attempts to determine just how many such children there are in at least one state," writes George Sanchez for Mother Jones.

Colo. Inmates Are Fed Recalled Beef (July 26, 2002)
"Hundreds of inmates were served meatloaf that prison officials knew was made with beef recalled because of E. coli contamination, state officials acknowledge," reports the Associated Press.

Akha.org is Back Online (July 25, 2002)
"There are numerous links which are not connected yet, so please bear with me as I get this done as fast as I can," report Daniel McDaniel from his ground eye view of the Akha people's situation in Thialand.

HOUSE PASSES FUNDING BILL BARRING OGILVY PAYMENT Amended Measure Aims at White House Drug Office Controversy (July 25, 2002)
"In a stinging slap to Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, the House of Representatives this afternoon passed an appropriation bill amended to bar the WPP Group agency from being paid for its White House drug office work after Oct. 1," write Ira Teinowitz for AdAge.com.

Poll Shows Nevada Marijuana Initiative in Dead Heat (July 25, 2002)
"A statewide public opinion poll in Nevada -- released yesterday by the Las Vegas Review-Journal -- shows that the Marijuana Policy Project's ballot initiative campaign is in a dead heat!" So reports this Marijuana Policy Project press release. Find out how you can help with the initiative to allow responsible adults in Nevada to possess and even use marijuana. DEA head Asa Hutchinson actually told Nevadans recently to consider what sort of tourists legal pot would bring to the city of Las Vegas, which was founded by the mob to allow legal gambling, rampant bad stages shows, interspersed with nublie, sultry, mostly naked women to titilate the tourist men to such states of frenzy they feel compelled to use the state licensed brothels. How can people like Asa Hutchinson make comments like this with a straight face? He must be a mean poker player.

THE GRASS IS GREENER (July 25, 2002)
"When Canada accepted the medical use of marijuana for pain relief last summer, it made no friend of the U.S. government. The Bush administration views any relaxation of the war against drugs, even for medicinal purposes, as anathema, and was already unhappy over the amount of marijuana being smuggled into the U.S. from this country," reports Canada's Globe and Mail.

Odd Bedfellows Join Fight for Medical Marijuana (July 25, 2002)
"An unusual trio of lawmakers — one conservative Republican, one libertarian-leaning Republican, and one liberal Democrat — joined forces Wednesday to offer their support for legislation that would give states the option to distribute marijuana for medicinal purposes without intervention by the federal government," writes Kelly Beaucar Vlahos for Fox News.

Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll, 1000 BC - 200 AD (July 24, 2002)
"Imagine being pulled over by a nasty cop who asked: 'Why aren't you getting all fucked up on cheap wine and drugs, worshipping giant penises and fertility goddesses with huge breasts and bellies, and having sex with dozens of people?' That was what you got busted for in 100 A.D," writes Elmer Elevator in response to Liquid Light.

San Francisco May Grow Its Own Pot (July 24, 2002)
"Frustrated by the government's determination to shut down medical marijuana clubs, San Francisco is thinking about growing its own," writes Kim Curtis for the Associated Press.

U.S. marijuana users seek Canadian haven (July 24, 2002)
"They say they're the political casualties of America's so-called war on drugs, and they want Canada's Immigration Department to make it official," reports Jane Armstrong of Canada's Globe and Mail.

'Spy files' won't be destroyed (July 24, 2002)
"The Denver Police Department's 'spy files' won't be destroyed, cops won't be punished and people will get to see their own files, Mayor Wellington Webb said Monday," writes Peggy Lowe of the Rocky Mountain News.

US Tobacco Discusses Its 9-Year-Old Customers (July 24, 2002)
Check out this 1980 industry document discussing the tobacco chewing habits of a 12-year old boy, and how the Hawken brand of chew is mainly used by young people and adults, beginning at age nine. Then read a list of ingredients added to the cigerettes sold to smokers.

Sharpton: FBI tape part of 'smear campaign' (July 23, 2002)
"The Rev. Al Sharpton has criticized a 19-year-old FBI surveillance tape of him discussing a drug deal, claiming the recording is part of a campaign to smear his name," reports the Associated Press. Could this be a return to the bad old days of COINTLPRO and Operation Mockingbird? Reading Sharpton's version of the conversation taped by the FBI, it appears this is exactly what is going on here, that the feds are conducting a "smear" campaign against a well-known, outspoken black American.

Lebanese authorities destroy cannabis fields (July 23, 2002)
"Police and soldiers uprooted and destroyed cannabis fields Monday in and around this eastern Bekaa Valley city, beginning the second phase of a government campaign to wipe out drug farms in Lebanon," notes the Associated Press.

Irish police seize biggest consignment of marijuana (July 23, 2002)
"Irish authorities made what they believe is their biggest ever seizure of marijuana on Monday as smugglers tried to bring an estimated 15 million euros (dlrs 15 million) worth of the drug into the port of Dublin," reports the Associated Press.

US Business and Money Laundering (July 23, 2002)
"The government has undertaken hundreds of civil actions to seize portions of bank accounts of US companies because money in those accounts was linked to the laundering of drug proceeds. In some instances the government has been successful in holding on to the money; in others, the companies have been able to get their money back after arguing in court that they couldn't have known about the source of the funds."

20 years of marijuana flyovers called useful, safe (July 23, 2002)
Three more needless deaths directly resulting from the War on Some Drugs, in this case three cops who crashed during their anti-drug flight. The prohibitionist authorities are still super positive about the whole idea though, insisting the flights are really honestly useful.

Drug officers storm the wrong house outside North Pole (July 23, 2002)
"'They looked like storm troopers,' said Goodale, 51. 'All I saw was these assault rifles and I thought 'Oh, my God' and headed to the other room and ducked behind the freezer. Next thing I know is a barrage of men, or storm troopers, ran into the house.'," reports the Associated Press.

Liquid Light (July 23, 2002)
Thoughts on anti-aging, stupid evil anti-drug laws, and GHB.

President Doesn't Have Absolute Military Authority Over Americans (July 23, 2002)
"No citizen shall be imprisoned or otherwise detained by the United States except pursuant to an Act of Congress. Congress passed this law in 1971 in response to concerns the executive branch could overstep its authority during a national emergency and hold, without charge, Americans deemed dangerous or disloyal." reports Robyn E. Blumner for the St. Petersburg Times.

The Lady and the Snake (July 23, 2002)
"Amid this blizzard of fraud, economic woe, looming indictments, shredded freedoms and dead civilians, George W. Bush has made an executive decision to spend the entire month of August on vacation down in Crawford, Texas." William Rivers Pitt does it again, writing in clear and uncompromising terms to describe just what a bunch of snakes we have running our country into the ground, just in case anyone missed it.

FBI: UConn Student Kept Anthrax (July 23, 2002)
"A University of Connecticut student was charged Monday with keeping anthrax in a campus laboratory but authorities said he will not be prosecuted if he completes a pretrial diversion program," writes Matt Sedensky for Newsday. Now re-read this article about how the US military and CIA are also in possession of, and even missing scores of samples of various deadly and illegal specimens of Ebola, Anthrax, and other pathogens. Then take a gander at Who is stonewalling the US anthrax investigation? by Patrick Martin.

Voters split on marijuana issue (July 22, 2002)
"Nevadans are divided on whether they would vote for a constitutional amendment to legalize possession of 3 ounces or less of marijuana, a new statewide poll shows," reports Ed Vogel for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

U.S. Mulls Military's Domestic Role (July 22, 2002)
"Homeland security chief Tom Ridge says the threat of terrorism may force government planners to consider using the military for domestic law enforcement, now largely prohibited by federal law," reports Scott Lindlaw. Now read the following article linked below on the US military missing a bunch of its highly illegal germ warfare specimens. Do we really want these people involved in any law enforcement, domestic or otherwise?

Case of the Missing Anthrax (July 22, 2002)
"It's bad enough that we can't find Iraqi anthrax hidden in the desert. But it turns out that we also misplaced anthrax and Ebola kept in a lab outside Washington D.C. Internal Army documents about the U.S. biodefense program describe missing Ebola and other pathogens, vicious feuds, lax security, cover-ups and a 'cowboy culture' beyond anyone's scrutiny. Moreover, germ warriors in the C.I.A. and the Defense Department decided -- without bothering to consult the White House -- to produce anthrax secretly and tinker with it in ways that arguably put the U.S. in violation of the Biological Weapons Convention," reports Nicholas D. Kristof in this scathing and extremely disturbing and harrowing editorial for the New York Times. Remember, while users of pot and other currently illegal drugs are being arrested and sentenced to prisons and jails around the US, the US military and other assorted entities are creating lethal and highly illegal germs and other pathogens. So who is it really that should be in prison? Seems a rhetorical question to the editor of Drugwar.com.

Judge Adjourns Pot Exiles Life and Death Hearing (July 22, 2002)
U.S. pot exile Steve Kubby says he'll have to keep buying marijuana on the black market to stay alive after B.C. Supreme Court adjourned his request for a 'temporary exemption' to drug laws until next month," writes Jane Seyd of the Coast Reporter.

Yungas- Paradise Regained (July 22, 2002)
"'If you go to Yungas to reinforce the work of the coca growers there, we will prevail,' one of his closest collaborators also told him… and that's how it went. The poorest, most insurrectionist, people in Bolivia, awaited the candidate in dozens of towns and communities, among the coca fields, at all hours, to see him and say that the Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of Peoples, the MAS party, was theirs, and that they were ready to triumph," writes Luis Gomez. Be sure to check out Parts 1 and 2 in this amazing series.

2nd California Officer Removed From Duty in Videotaped Beating Case (July 22, 2002)
"Officer Bijan Darvish will remain on paid administrative leave while the July 6 incident is investigated; Officer Jeremy Morse was suspended earlier. Darvish does not appear on the video, which was shot by a bystander across the street. But in a police report, he acknowledged punching Donovan Jackson twice in the face after the 16-year-old allegedly grabbed his shirt," reports the Associated Press and the New York Times while discussing yet another pig...I mean, officer who punched this poor handicapped teenager.

Files: Bush Knew Firm's Plight Before Stock Sale (July 22, 2002)
This whole corporate mess currently tearing apart the US economy strikes the editor of drugwar.com as much more serious to the well-being of the United States than any drug use ever could be. This article illustrates quite clearly the sort of lying stinkers, such as G.W. Bush, at the top of our heap, continuing to wage a War on Drugs on their own fefllow American citizens while stealing every penny they can get their hands on, utilizing that oh so honorable method of Generally Accepted Accounting Practices.

C.R.A.C.K. targets Methadone Maintenance Patients (Jully 21, 2002)
"C.R.A.C.K.- Children Requiring a Caring Kommunity otherwise known as is mailing form letters to U.S. Opiate Treatment Programs. C.R.A.C.K. is targeting methadone maintenance patients for coercive sterilization or limited birth control options. Please help prevent this violation of human and civil rights that threatens reproduction freedom." for more on this horrorshow topic, see National Advocates for Pregnant Women Condemns C.R.A.C.K. Campaign Targeting Methadone Clinics.

Survey: Teen drug, alcohol use lowest in decade (Jully 21, 2002)
This is one of those situations whereby the rabid money-grubbing, rights-repressing prohibitionists can claim their War efforts are working. Therefore they need yet more money to continue their War. If focus were paid to the facts that drug use has risen in other sectors, that incarceration rates have skyrocketed, and that the flow in and out of this country of all drugs legal and not continues unabated, then they could and would claim that their efforts would be working if only they had more money to wage their War. Either way, the only winners are the dogmatic prohibitionistic zealots building their prisons, increasing their budgets and police force sizes, shredding the US Constiution and Bill of Rights, and generally creating mayhem and destruction through their never ending War completely lacking of an exit strategy . Remember, the government no longer even makes the pretense that they aim to completely eradicate drugs. Now their stated goal is to reduce drug use by a certain percent, and that is all. This means they will be assured a profitable War of Some Drugs and Users for years to come, if we the voters don't do something soon.

New allegations face brother of former Mexican president (July 21, 2002)
"Salinas insisted Friday that about $130 million found in his Swiss and British bank accounts in 1995 came from Mexican businessmen who had entrusted him with an investment fund. Swiss officials have argued the money came from drug traffickers, while Mexican prosecutors said it probably came from political corruption," reports CNN and the Associated Press.

Jeb Bush’s daughter released from jail President’s niece back in drug program (July 21, 2002)
"Noelle Bush, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s daughter and niece of the president, was released from jail Friday and allowed back into a drug rehabilitation program, two days after she was locked up for violating the terms of her court-ordered treatment program." The Associated Press reports that Governor Jeb Bush's daughter Noelle, who stole pills from a nurses cart in the rehab facility, has been allowed back into treatment. Is this special treatment for the governor's daughter, or simply a compassionate judge hwo doesn't want to see a young woman do jail time for a stupid law?

Navy gets OK for controversial sonar (July 21, 2002)
"Environmentalists’ fears are partly based on the Navy’s deployment of a powerful mid-range sonar in March 2000 during a submarine detection exercise in the deep water canyons of the Bahamas. At least 16 whalees and two dolphins beached themselves on the islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama and North Eleuthera within hours. Eight whales died." Read and access numerous links to yet more info on this horrific "new" technology in drugwar.com editor's article Blinded by the Sound.

Thai Army Implicated- Akha Weekly Journal (July 21, 2002)
"Witnesses flee for their lives. List of killings go on and on. A genocide is in the works." Matthew McDaniel reports on the ongoing terror committed against the indigenous Akha peoples.

Government's kingpin-sting tactic may threaten airline safety (July 21, 2002)
"The flaw being exposed by Duke relates to a practice called "controlled delivery." The practice is used by law enforcement to snare high-ranking members of drug trafficking organizations. In such a delivery, a law enforcement agency allows a shipment of drugs to be transported from one location to its destination, under close surveillance, in an effort to catch drug-syndicate kingpins with their hands in the cookie jar," reads in part this shocking report by Bill Conroy for the San Antonio Business Journal.

18.6 million pounds of ground beef recalled (July 21, 2002)
"Federal health officials announced Friday the recall of 18.6 million pounds of potentially contaminated ground beef blamed for at least 16 cases of illness in Colorado." CNN Correspondents Kathleen Koch and Rea Blakey contributed to this story. The most disturbing part of this story is that "much of the recalled beef may already have been eaten."

Downey's drugs charges dismissed (July 20, 2002)
"A judge in Los Angeles has dismissed drugs charges against Robert Downey Jr after ruling that the Hollywood actor had stayed clean and sober for a year of his three-year probation," reports the BBC. This guy has gotten beaten all the hell by prohibitionist creeps, and hopefully he will be able to stay out of their grasp in the furture. The editor os drugwar.com does not believe he deserved this harassment and abuse at the hands of the Warriors.

The Week Online with DRCNet, Issue #246 (July 20, 2002)
This week's issues covers Maylaysian cow dung sniffers, the Dutch government talking about cracking down on coffefe shops and harm reduction programs in an insane move to emulate insane US anti-drug policies, and all sorts of citizens' initiatives on marijuana around the country receiving flack. And of course, that ever handy and informative Reformers' Calendar.

Gamma-OH (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate) : The First Authentic Antidepressant (July 20, 2002)
A website dedicated to the history and propaganda surrounding GBH.

The Origins of the Overclass (July 20, 2002)
"The origins of this machine, interestingly enough, can be traced back to the CIA. This is not to say the machine is a formal CIA operation, complete with code name and signed documents. (Although such evidence may yet surface — and previously unthinkable domestic operations such as MK-ULTRA, CHAOS and MOCKINGBIRD show this to be a distinct possibility.) But what we do know already indicts the CIA strongly enough." This is a most disturbing and interesting report by Steve Kangas.

Nigerians get high on lizard droppings (July 19, 2002)
"Scattered around are various ingredients that go into the mixture: Clothing dye powder, medicinal herbs and seeds and most bizarre of all, lizard droppings. In a nutshell, this is the source of the new 'high' sweeping northern Nigeria," reports the BBC.

Bush's niece jailed over drugs (July 19, 2002)
"The niece of US President George Bush has been jailed in connection with drug offences," notes the BBC, illustrating quite clearly that the rich and powerful also do drugs, even illegally obtaining legal ones. Should the Governor of Florida do something to help his daughter stay out of jail? Of course he should, along with helping everyone else's children currently doing jail time for drug offenses. The War is wrong, whether it hits the poor, the minorities, or even the children of the rich and powerful who continue to support the War through their insane anti-drug policies.

Cauchon admits he smoked pot; questions possession law (July 19, 2002)
"Canada's top lawmaker admitted yesterday [Tuesday] that he smoked pot in his youth and questioned the suitability of a possession law that can play havoc with an offender's employment," reports Brian Laghi for Canada's Globe and Mail. Also see High Office.

Saudi prince faces drug charges (July 19, 2002)
"A Saudi prince is being sought by US drug enforcement agents on charges of smuggling cocaine from Venezuela to France, US authorities have revealed," reports the BBC.

Junior Homeland Security Fun Kit (July 19, 2002)
Tom Tomorrow put the new TIPS program into perspective in his This Modern World comic strip.

White House Drug Czar Sees Hopeful Signs in Annual PRIDE Survey (July 19, 2002)
"John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy, commended the National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education, Inc. (PRIDE) for their research efforts and continuing commitment to help meet President Bush's goals of reducing drug use in America. The 2001-2002 PRIDE survey is one of several instruments used by the government to monitor youth drug use and surveys grades 6 through 12 from August to June."

FDA OKs GHB for Narcolepsy (July 18, 2002)
"The notorious date-rape drug GHB won government approval Wednesday to treat a rare but dangerous complication of the sleep disorder narcolepsy — but it will be sold under some of the most severe restrictions ever imposed on a medicine," reports Associated Press Medical Writer, Lauran Neergaard.

Jeb Bush's daughter fails drug program (July 18, 2002)
The Editor of Drugwar.com would like to extend his heartfelt compassion and sympathy for Noelle Bush, just another victim now of US War on Some Drug hysteria. For Gov. Jeb Bush to not be expressing more outrage, to not be waking up to the realization of how hopelessly flawed the entire War approach is, is dumbfounding. While the editor doesn't want to see Noelle Bush get special treatment not afforded other victims of the War and targets of the oppressors, the thought of anyone doing jail time for mere drug offenses is offensive. On a related note: Has anyone considered that perhaps Noelle Bush NEEDS Xanax, and should be given a prescription instead of a jail sentence?

Secret U.S. Biopharms Growing Experimental Drugs (July 18, 2002)
"'Just one mistake by a biotech company and we'll be eating other people's prescription drugs in our corn flakes,' said Larry Bohlen, director of health and environment programs at Friends of the Earth, a member of a coalition of consumer and environmental groups that produced the report, released late last week." The report deals with the fact that "experimental plants engineered to produce pharmaceuticals are being grown at over 300 secret locations nationwide."

Sheriff suspects cruisers deliberately set ablaze Cars burned as deputies seized marijuana plants (July 18, 2002)
Did fed up marijuana growers exact a bit of retribution for the destruction of their very expensive crops by these prohibitionist enforcers? With a destroyed crop of flowers estimated by police to be worth $150,000 in exchange for two destroyed police crusiers worth $70,000, it appears the police still got the upper hand here. Will it make these police any more amenable to reform? Probably not, but at least they too are paying a financial cost for this stupid War, costs seemingly being the issue that rasises most Americans' passions and gets them thinking better than any other issue whatsoever.

U.S. Agency Won't Be Part of Program (July 18, 2002)
"A government program promoted as a tip service for authorities concerned with terrorism won't be getting help from the Postal Service," reports the Associated Press about the Bush Administration's proposed national informant program, Operation TIPS.

A Group Collects Votes for Marijuana (July 18, 2002)
"Members of the Transnational Radical Party held what they called a 'street referendum' on Pushkin Square, extolling the virtues of legalizing light drugs and asking people whether they favor it," reports this article from the Moscow Times.

Police photo policy gets minor changes (July 18, 2002)
"The Civil Liberties Union believes that if this is the case, why not photograph everybody, including the police, because unlawful behavior might occur in the future?” Mr. Madnick asked. “Why would one believe that people who take part in peaceful, lawful, constitutionally protected demonstrations are more likely to commit crimes than those who don't partake in those activities? If the chief believes that peaceful events may become nonpeaceful, the best way to prevent that would be the physical presence of police officers." Ronald C. Madnick, executive director of the local ACLU chapter, had more to say as well about this continuing policy of photographing peaceful protestors by Worcester police.

Amusing Development from DEA regarding UMass Amherst project (July 17, 2002)
"For the last several years, MAPS has been working with Prof. Lyle Craker, UMass Amherst Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences, in an effort to obtain a DEA license to establish a small facility to produce high-potency marijuana for FDA-approved research. If we can break NIDA's monopoly on the supply of marijuana (low-potency) that can be used in FDA-approved research, medical marijuana research will move forward with a substantially greater chance of success," writes Rick Dobblin Ph.D. of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.

US planning to recruit one in 24 Americans as citizen spies (July 17, 2002)
"The Terrorism Information and Prevention System, or TIPS, means the US will have a higher percentage of citizen informants than the former East Germany through the infamous Stasi secret police. The program would use a minimum of 4 per cent of Americans to report 'suspicious activity'," writes Ritt Goldstein for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Tecumseh reinstates policy (July 17, 2002)
"The Tecumseh School Board on Monday night reinstated a controversial drug testing policy for students participating in extracurricular activities, Superintendent Tom Wilsie said." So notes Robert Medley for The Oklahoman.

Police raid festival linked to illegal drug sales (July 17, 2002)
"The FudaFest in Maine was raided by a load of heavily armed federal agents. This is a peaceful pro-pot gathering in Maine, for crying out loud. People get naked, listened to music, smoke some pot and have a good time...on private land!" Read the Associated Press article about the raid that the outraged Bob Doyle of San Diego NORML is talking about.

Government Mind Games - A CIA Mickey (July 17, 2002)
"Lawsuit claims LSD was put in veteran's drink in 1957," asserts this report by Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer.

Bolivia's leftwing upstart alarms US (July 17, 2002)
"Mr Morales is leader of the country's coca-growers and is opposed to the coca eradication programme sponsored by the US as part of the 'war on drugs' on the continent," reports Duncan Campbell for the Guardian. If Morales becomes President of Bolivia, the US is warning it will cut off finanaical aid because of his anti-War on Drug stance.

GM genes found in human gut (July 17, 2002)
"British scientific researchers have demonstrated for the first time that genetically modified DNA material from crops is finding its way into human gut bacteria, raising potentially serious health questions," reports John Vidal for the Guardian.

Dinner With Joanee Freedom and Garrick Beck (July 17, 2002)
"This is info on 3 rainbow family members doing 90 days federal time for defending the bill of rights," writes Aron Kay, the Pieman.

An Array Of New Drugs Shows Promise In Fighting Addictions (July 16, 2002)
"Could people be inoculated against drug addictions the way they can against some infectious diseases?" asks Gautam Naik in the Wall Street Journal. In a rare instance in US news stories, ibogaine is mentioned as a possible anti-addiction treatment, highly illegal at this time in the US but in use in a few other countries. After reading this article, be sure to read Cletus Nelson's article for Drugwar.com, "Headshrinking the American Addict" for more disturbing information on many of the anti-drug addiction vaccination ideas.

Heroin threatens recent drug gains (July 16, 2002)
"Big heroin seizures in recent weeks confirm the warnings of drug agents and experts for more than two years. Burma-based drug traffickers have forged closer alliances to make and ship heroin through Thailand to third countries.

As pot growers move indoors, police find quality is higher, and profits, too (July 16, 2002)
Not only are the profits greater for those with large grow operations, but also for the police departments waging this senseless War on Drugs, though that is not actually discussed in this what will be to some a very depressing report.

Libertarian Party Seeks Medical Marijuana Patients for TV ads (July 16, 2002)
"As part of its Drug War Focus Strategy, the Libertarian Party will produce and run TV ads on the issue of medical marijuana. These ads will be used by the LP to raise public awareness of the issue, and to help defeat the worst Drug Warriors in Congress and State legislatures. We will produce ads that can be used by our 50 state parties, and that can also be customized for our more than 1,300 candidates running this year."

Britain turns on to new approach- ANALYSIS / CHANGING THE LAWS ON DRUGS (July 16, 2002)
"Britain is the latest nation to reconsider its prohibitionist approach to dealing with drugs. Just as with the total ban on alcohol in the US last century, the ban on drugs is blamed for making their use more popular," reports Gwynne Dyer for the Bangkok Post.

SUPREME COURT ADJOURNS "LIFE OR DEATH" APPEAL UNTIL AUG 6TH (July 16, 2002)
"The appeal, filed on behalf of Steve Kubby, carefully documents how cannabis protects him from a certain heart attack or stroke if he is deprived of access to cannabis. Mr. Kubby suffers from the deadliest form of cancer known and has undergone chemotherapy, radiation and surgery without success. Cannabis is the only medicine that works for him, according to testimony of medical experts from the University of Southern California Medical Center."

Jailed American in Peru gets one more chance (July 16, 2002)
"An Organization of American States court says it will reopen the case of a 32-year-old American woman, serving 20 years after being found guilty by Peruvian courts of aiding leftist rebels. Lori Berenson, now more than five years into a 20-year prison term, could be freed or retried in Peru, her lawyer said Monday."

U.S. Marines choppers in deadly collision (July 16, 2002)
"Two U.S. Marine helicopters were damaged and a local technician was killed after an airfield accident in Singapore, the Pentagon said."

Who's running Colombia? (July 16, 2002)
First, there's this article by Robert Novak for the Chicago Sun Times about "Pedro Juan Moreno, a shadowy figure who had run-ins with U.S. and Colombian authorities over importing precursor chemicals of a kind that produce illegal narcotics" being awarded a prominent post in the new Colombian government, then read this biting expose on who and what Juan Moreno is and all about.

Robberies, Rice, and Coffe for Sale- Akha Weekly Journal (July 15, 2002)
Matthew McDaniel gives an update on the Akha Hilltribe being continuously harried and bullied by army troops. McDaniel also offers locally grown, fresh roasted Akha Mountain coffee for sale.

US identifies key Sept 11 terrorist (July 15, 2002)
"The September 11 plot was initiated in Malaysia after the turn of the Millennium and finalised in Spain at a gathering attended by two of the eventual hijackers, according to US intelligence sources," reports the Telegraph UK. So, when is the US going to bomb Spain and Malaysia? For that matter, when is the US going to bomb Venice, Florida?

Canadian hashish profits go to Middle East terrorist groups: RCMP (July 15, 2002)
"A portion of the $20 million US worth of hashish imported into Canada annually financed terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to RCMP," reports Dene Moore.

Police, NATO destroy marijuana plants in Kosovo (July 15, 2002)
What with all the killing and other horrors that have taken place in Kosovo, one would think the cops there had better things to do with their time.

A century of corporate crime - Comment & analysis (July 15, 2002)
"George W. Bush vowed this week to restore confidence in American capitalism by putting more federal police on the Wall Street beat and jailing "dishonest individuals". American journalists, encouraged by White House attitudes, have already likened Mr Bush's plan to Theodore Roosevelt's centre-right crusade against business corruption, which also began by targeting a few infamous wrongdoers. But Roosevelt quickly discovered that playing cops-and-robbers with white-collar crooks did little to limit corporate crime, " writes Eric Rauchway for the Financial Times.

Officer deserves due process, mayor says Mayor Dorn: May be 'some bad apples in the department' (July 15, 2002)
Yeah, just like the due process 16 year old Donovan Jackson got with his hands cuffed behind his back from that violent dangerous cop Jeremy Morse. For these cops to rationalize this, and worse, to urge due process for this cop caught on film punching a handcuffed, underaged, handicapped prisoner is beyond disgusting. There is no reason this cop had to puch this kid, no matter what his excuse. Cops are not judges nor juries, nor are they responsible for metting out punishment.

The Memory Hole keeps scarce knowledge alive (July 14, 2002)
Russ Kick, the widely published author and editor, launches a new website. "In George Orwell's novel 1984, news articles containing inconvenient facts were thrown down a memory hole to be incinerated. Now The Memory Hole Website rescues knowledge in danger of being forgotten, ignored, or suppressed."

The Other Harken Energy Scandal Oil, Death Squads and Corruption in Colombia (July 14, 2002)
"Financial irregularities at Harken Energy during President Bush's tenure at the Texas oil company have dominated headlines in recent days. But the press has ignored a much bigger scandal: how Harken Energy has benefited from war and terror in Colombia," reports Sean Donahue for Counterpunch.

U.S. DEA takes its war on drugs to Hollywood producers, directors and writers (July 14, 2002)
"About 40 people, including film directors Michael Mann and Arthur Hiller and people behind such TV series as Third Watch and E.R.," met with DEA officials on July 10th. The industry representatives were "briefed...on the connection between drug trafficking and terrorism, and [DEA officials] offered to consult on movies and TV programs," reports the Associated Press. Does the American public want to pay $10 bucks or more to see a film innundated with propaganda they've already paid for?

LP targets races in Drug War strategy (July 14, 2002)
This is a reminder that back in June, 2002, the Libertarian Party declared they were launching a concerted campaign to remove the top five most rabid Drug Warriors running for re-election. Which ever party you vote for, the War won't end if your selection includes supporters of the War on Some Drugs and Users.

Fleeing North (July 14, 2002)
"It's a different war, but it's having the same old consequences. In the 1960s, Americans fled to Canada to avoid fighting in Vietnam. Four decades later, American medical marijuana patients are crossing the border again, claiming they're political refugees from the U.S. government's war on drugs," reports Ross Crockford for AlterNet.org.

Warpigs Update- In Tough Times, a Company Finds Profits in Terror War (July 14, 2002)
"The Halliburton Company, the Dallas oil services company bedeviled lately by an array of accounting and business issues, is benefiting very directly from the United States efforts to combat terrorism," write Jeff Gerth And Don Van Natta Jr. of the New York Times.

Willoughby took group's $80,000, warrant alleges (July 14, 2002)
"The state attorney general's office has charged the former head of Pennsylvania's D.A.R.E. program with stealing more than $80,000 from the anti-drug program and using his position to obtain free booze, food and rooms worth $32,000 from an area hotel," reports Pete Shellem of The Patriot-News.

Why Marijuana is Illegal (July 14, 2002)
For a little history lesson as to possible reasons marijuana is illegal, visit this website. Also see the film Reefer Madness, and a colorful selection of racist anti-drug posters.

The Mix Is the Message V: Drug War Explosions (July 14, 2002)
"What a mess. Saner countries like our neighbor Canada and our former colonial master, England, along with other European countries, are able to make rational judgments between dangerous drugs and benign ones. Here in the U.S. however, a hysterical anti-intellectualism and a philosophy that views all drugs as equally bad, continues to astound many Americans by its fundamental stupidity," writes Don Hazen of Alternet.org in this well presented report on the current state of the War on Drugs, primarily marijuana, around the world.

Drug Justice (July 13, 2002)
S1874, co-sponsored by Sens. Sessions and Hatch, would recognize these truths and raise, to 20 grams from 5 grams, the amount of crack that would trigger a mandatory five years. The Sentencing Commission has recommended a 25-grams trigger.

High Times (July 13, 2002)
Check out High Times' new online web look, with tons of content supplying informative tips of all kinds, plus in-depth hard news articles, and commentary by and about some of the leading lights of the Counter-Culture.

The Week Online With DRCNet Issue #245 (July 13, 2002)
This week's issue contains an editorial by David Borden, founder of the Drug Reform Coordination Network in which he ruminates on the necessity for activists to occaisionally get out into the streets and talk to other people face to face. There's articles about Britian's semi-decriminalization of cannabis, Bryan James Epis, founder of the Chico Medical Marijuana Caregivers in California being convicted on federal marijuana production charges, a new suit by Ed "New Jersey Weedman" Forchion, an update on the prohibition-brainwashed Junior ROTC student who turned in his Dad for growing marijuana in their garage, Canada comes out strongly against workplace drug testing, and lots more too. As usually, there's the very useful reformers' calendar.

UnansweredQuestions.org Proposes Citizens' Commission & Activism (July 13, 2002)
"UnansweredQuestions.org, the citizens' group behind June 10th 9/11 Conference at the National Press Club, proposes Citizens' Investigative Commission on 9/11 and launches Activism Campaign," says this press release. There are a good number of US citizens who are not satisfied with what their government is telling them about much of anything these days.

More Harken Documents (July 13, 2002)
" The Center for Public Integrity, as a public service, is posting a second round of the documents that we obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Freedom of Information Act. The first batch can still be read here."

Crime And The President's Restatement Of Yearnings (July 12, 2002)
"And now we have corporate America's glittering contribution: "restatement of earnings." It sounds so innocuous and benign. Possibly even a good thing. Earnings are good after all. And "restating" is just the boardroom equivalent of asking for a do-over on the playground. It connotes a slip of the tongue, a wrongly chosen word, a failure to carry the 1 when doing your math homework. What it doesn't sound like is, well, what it is: out-and-out fraud involving the fleecing of billions of dollars from shareholders and pension funds." So writes Arianna Huffington while editorializing about the almost incomprehensible amounts of money stolen from the American people by a variety of corporations, many extremely close to the Bush 2 Administration.

Crack Cocaine Takes Center Stage (Need Adobe Reader) (July 12, 2002)
There is more focus being paid to the disparencies in federal sentencing between powder and crack cocaine offenses. Visit the Families Against Mandatory Minimums' (FAMM) website here.

New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson blasts failed drug war, compliments Libertarians (July 12, 2002)
"The War on Drugs is an absolute miserable failure. I don't think there is a bigger issue facing us today," New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson told 600 Libertarian delegates at a recent National Libertarian Party convention.

SENATE COMMITTEE LASHES OUT AT OGILVY & MATHER (July 11, 2002)
This Senate appropriations committee is upset over Ogilvy's bilking the government and taxpayers over falsified time sheets and billing hours, and "Demands 40% Cut in White House Anti-Drug Ad Budget". By Ira Teinowitz for Ad Age.

First synthetic virus created (July 11, 2002)
"Responding to criticisms that such research could lead to bioterrorists engineering new lethal viruses, the scientists behind the experiment said that only a few people had the knowledge to make it happen," reports the BBC. These unnamed quoted scientists are seemingly oblivious to the similarities between this sort of research, and super high tech, highly secretive research into Anthrax that only a few people can make, yet other people have now died from inhaling in attacks using said Anthrax. "'The reason we did it was to prove that it can be done and it now is a reality,' said Dr Eckard Wimmer, leader of the biomedical research team and co-author of the study published in the journal Science." How constructive and postive for humanity, and for the poor mice who died to prove this stuff is real and active. Meanwhile US law enforcement continues its War on Growers, Users, and Dealers of Pot and Other Illicit Substances.

OGILVY DRUG OFFICE WIN ROUSES LEGISLATORS:
Congressman Demands Documents; Other Scrutiny Expected (July 11, 2002)
"The surprise award of the White House drug office advertising contract to WPP Group's Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide -- the same agency that paid out $1.8 million to settle allegations that it overbilled the government -- is starting to draw congressional attention," writes the ever diligent Ira Teinowitz of Ad Age about the ONDCP Media Campaign and the shady contracting and business practices going on in the Campaign. Lie to Congress about drugs and users all one wants, but mess with the money and one MIGHT get a slap on the wrist.

Bolivia: The Power of the People (July 11, 2002)
"Read it well, kind readers: The top coca growers' leader of Bolivia could occupy the presidential seat in less than a month," notes this report by Luis Gómez.

Take Action! Property Rights and Right to Dance Under Attack (July 11, 2002)
"The Senate should reject S. 2633 (the RAVE Act), which is a threat to property rights and the right to dance. The bill is moving very quickly and your Senators need to hear from you, right away. We encourage you to modify the letter so your legislators hear 'your' voice," says this alert from the Drug Policy Alliance. Read more about this action and what exactly is at stake here.

OGILVY KEEPS WHITE HOUSE ANTI-DRUG ACCOUNT (July 11, 2002)
This "surprise move comes despite criminal investigation", reports Ira Teinowitz for Ad Age last week.

Sell Me Pot, Please! (July 10, 2002)
"OK, Walters, visualize this: My left hand is holding a panoply of a dozen or more illegal drugs. My right hand is giving you the one-finger salute. Now complete the picture by imagining what I'm saying." So writes John deLaubenfels in his take on heavy-handed villifying of marijuana and other illegal drug users in general by US Drug Czar John P. Walters and Walters' fellow prohibitionist Anti-Drug Warriors.

Medical Marijuana 'Initiative' for New York Election (July 10, 2002)
Thomas K. Leighton, the Marijuana Reform Party of New York's candidate for Governor of New York, is asking for voters' help in getting onto the ballot for 2002, petitioning voters throughout this summer to garner the necessary signatures. Find out how you can help by reading this press release from the MRP.

D.C. medical marijuana drive collects 39,000 signatures (July 10, 2002)
Rabid anti-drug warrior Rep. Bob Barr is not going to happy with this news. As a matter of fact, according to this Marijuana Policy Project press release, he's not. Check out FOX News' take on this issue as well at "Washington Won't Give Up on Medical Marijuana".

Petition to ease Nevada's marijuana laws under review (July 10, 2002)
"County clerks confirmed Monday that they received 109,048 signatures on a petition to ease Nevada's marijuana laws. But state election officials were hazy on whether the petition qualifies for the November ballot," reports the Associated Press.

An Invitation to Join the "Big W is Watching You" Campaign (July 10, 2002)
"Simply Go to our "WHY WAR SUCKS" website, click on the "Big W is Watching You" link, print out the poster (R Click), then be creative. Photocopy, post, decorate, embellish, apply projectiles. Then send a digiphoto to us, and we will create a gallery to show the world what Orwell means to you," suggests the Why War Sucks crew.

UK- Softer line for cannabis laws (July 9, 2002)
"The home secretary is expected to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug on Wednesday but ignore calls for Ecstasy to be downgraded," reports the BBC.

Merck 'exaggerated' revenue in accounts (July 9, 2002)
"A subsidiary of the US drugs maker Merck has recorded $12.4bn (£8.4bn) in revenue which was never collected," reports the BBC. This legal drug company is missing three times as much money as is WorldCom. How many African American faces have we seen testifying in these recent corporate scandals? How many African Americans are in US prisons for petty drug offenses? What is going on here, one might be tempted to rhetorically ask, why are there these odd imbalanced repercussions for the different "crimes" committed, and why is it so much easier for the African-American, (and other poor Americans too) to go to jail for drug use and/or sales, but it is extremely difficult to even prosecute, much less incarcerate someone, usually rich and white, for corporate crime?

Video of arrest sparks investigations (July 9, 2002)
Having been on the receiving end of violent cops more than once, the editor of drugwar.com feels stongly for this kid. Of course, there's not yet been any trial, but the cop who beat this kid while a tourist shot it on video has been suspended with pay until further investigation. See the videotape here of the arrest, and decide for yourself if the cop punching what appears to be an already nearly unconcious 16 year old full in the side of the head is using "justifiable force", which the Inglewood Police Department is saying is still too early to decide.

Ruling spurs drug testing queries (July 9, 2002)
"The U.S. Supreme Court ruling that it's OK to conduct random drug tests of students involved in extracurricular activities already has sparked interest among Wisconsin school officials. 'We have a lot of inquiries,' said Ken Cole, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. 'There are a lot of people taking a look at it,'" reports Anne Davis of the Journal Sentinel.

Panel says Denver should destroy police 'spy files' (July 9, 2002)
"The Denver Police Department's 'spy files' on thousands of people should be destroyed, but police officers shouldn't be punished for violating their own policy on intelligence gathering. That's the recommendation a three-judge panel will offer Mayor Wellington Webb today in response to the ongoing uproar over DPD's intelligence files on noncriminal protesters," report Peggy Lowe and Sarah Huntley for the Rocky Mountain News.

Device could detect overdose drugs (July 9, 2002)
"Scientists are developing a hi-tech device which could help casualty doctors treat patients who have taken an overdose," reports the BBC.

Homeland Security, Homeland Profits (July 9, 2002)
"Under the provisions of the inaptly named anti-terrorism act, 'USA-PATRIOT,' the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Security Agency (NSA), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and a number of other smaller law enforcement agencies are looking for ways to monitor the Internet and mine useful intelligence from it. And new technology makes it easier than ever to spy on the Internet. Although law enforcement and intelligence agencies claim they are merely looking for information to counter future acts of terrorism, the definition of 'terrorism' is being expanded to cover non-violent groups that have traditionally used the Internet to marshal resistance to corporate-inspired globalization. Politicians are already painting dissent as 'unpatriotic' and therefore somehow linked to terrorism. Meanwhile, a phalanx of software companies, consultants, and defense contractors stand to reap billions of dollars over the next few years by selling surveillance and information-gathering systems to government agencies and the private sector," writes Wayne Madson way back in December 2001 for CorpWatch.org.

Mexican troops seize two tons of marijuana (July 8, 2002)
"Mexican troops seized about 5,000 pounds of marijuana at three sites in the Tijuana area, including almost a ton they found inside two small airplanes abandoned on a desert air strip, officials said Saturday." CNN reports on what some people might find a most saddening seizure by Mexican authorities.

Scotland- MS victim faces jail over cannabis (July 8, 2002)
"A Wheelchair-using multiple sclerosis sufferer is facing a year in prison following allegations she baked cannabis-laced chocolates and sent them to fellow MS patients. Biz Ivol, 54, whose condition has left her house-bound in her Orkney home, has been charged with supplying cannabis. If found guilty, she could face up to 12 months in jail," reports Murdo MacLeod for the News-Scotsman.

Afghans Seek Help in Tracking VP’s Killers International Peacekeepers Asked for Help; Drug Ties Suspected (July 8, 2002)
ABCNews' story of the assassination of this Afghan Vice-President and the on-going investigation.

Afghan Killing May Be Linked to Drug Trade (July 8, 2002- requires New York Times registration)
"KABUL, Afghanistan — As Afghans around the country mourned the killing of a vice president, Afghan officials said today that they were investigating the possibility that he had been killed by drug lords who had been double-crossed during a Western-backed campaign to destroy the country's poppy crop," reports Dexter Filkins for the New York Times.

Drug Refugees (July 8, 2002)
"Canada's softball narcotics laws are drawing a new type of immigrant."

Gangsters in Power, Lawbreakers Making Rules (July 8, 2002)
A blast from the past by Carla Binion, illustrating quite clearly that corrupt, immoral, Mafia-like overt and covert actions by the US government and its intelligence forces are normal operating procedure.

Venezuela and Argentina: A Tale of Two Coups (July 8, 2002)
Greg Palast outlines two recent South American coups, one successful, one not-so.

Sandcastles and vengeance (July 8, 2002)
"If everyone truly wished to avoid war, "war" would be avoidable. Wow. What a novel and simple thing to posit for consideration," writes Susan Norman for Online Journal.

The Last Defender of the American Republic? An interview with Gore Vidal (July 8, 2002)
This is quite an interview, by Marc Cooper. "For every action there's a reaction," notes Vidal, noting that various US military and covert actions around the world are the likely reason so many people might be really pissed off at the US.

Bolivia's pro-cocaine Presidential candidate rides high in polls (July 7, 2002)
"When the US ambassador to Bolivia, Manuel Rocha, warned that Washington could cut off aid if Bolivians chose a candidate such as Mr Morales, popularity for the outsider soared. This was despite the fact that more than $100m a year goes to Bolivia in exchange for coca eradication. The diplomat was criticised for interfering with the elections, but his comments bolstered Mr Morales' standing as a radical anti-US candidate," reports Jan McGirk for the Independent UK.

Succeeding in Business (July 7, 2002)
"That's exactly what happened at Harken. A group of insiders, using money borrowed from Harken itself, paid an exorbitant price for a Harken subsidiary, Aloha Petroleum. That created a $10 million phantom profit, which hid three-quarters of the company's losses in 1989. White House aides have played down the significance of this maneuver, saying $10 million isn't much, compared with recent scandals. Indeed, it's a small fraction of the apparent profits Halliburton created through a sudden change in accounting procedures during Dick Cheney's tenure as chief executive. But for Harken's stock price -- and hence for Mr. Bush's personal wealth -- this accounting trickery made all the difference. Oh, and Harken's fake profits were several dozen times as large as the Whitewater land deal -- though only about one-seventh the cost of the Whitewater investigation," write Paul Krugman in this New ," write Paul Krugman in this New York Times commentary.

Fatal Innocence, Ours (July 7, 2002)
The White House has been hijacked. We have been terrified into supporting a war-for-profit, because, as Hermann Goering put it, 'they have told us we are being attacked.' Our economy is being bled dry, the constitution has been shredded and the only ones profiting are the Bush gang and their wealthy backers. The harsh reality is; Mr. Bush and the shadowy bunch to whom he answers, do not respect elections, do not respect Congressional oversight, do not respect constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, do not respect Democrats and do not respect Republicans. In short they operate entirely above and beyond the law.

All the President's Enrons (July 7, 2002)
"It's not that Democrats are clean. When Al Gore blasted Mr. Pitt last weekend for having led the accounting industry's drive "to open up loopholes" in the 1990's, he could have been describing his own ticket mate, Joe Lieberman, who was second to none in doing the accounting industry's bidding. But the Democrats don't have the power to undo the damage anyway. It is Mr. Bush who is C.E.O. If he doesn't bring zero tolerance of corporate cheating to his own White House, it's hard to imagine Americans rushing back into the market trusting that his administration will enforce it anywhere else," notes Frank Rich in this piece for the New York Times.

'Magic Dutch Boy' Escapes Firey Plane Crash (July 6th, 2002)
"The owner of one of the two Venice, FL. flight schools at which Mohamed Atta and his terrorist cadre learned to fly barely survived the crash of a private plane last Wednesday when it nose-dived to earth after taking off from the Venice Airport. The MadCowMorningNews has learned that subsequent events have left local aviation experts wondering if Arne Kruithof's near brush with death was just accident, or something more sinister," reports the intrepid Daniel Hopsicker. His new video investigation, Mohamed Atta and the Venice Flying Circus is a must see, and will be reviewed shortly here at drugwar.com. In the meantime, take our word for it that this is a very important video presentation, clips and ordering information for which can be found at theconspiracychannel.com

The Week Online With DRCNet issue #244 (July 6, 2002)
The folks at DRCNet cover a lot of group this week, reporint on the trouble the US is facing promiting their War on Some Drugs and Peasant farmers, The Universalist Unitarians coming out strongly against the War in a written declaration, an informant sues the FBI for his cut of stolen...I mean, forfeitured assets, and lots more, including their ever useful reformer's calendar.

Colombia Must Declare War on Rebels, Official Says (July 6, 2002)
"Otto J. Reich, assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere affairs, said in an interview that the new Colombian government will need to intensify military action against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels, who have adopted a 'perverse strategy ... of trying to destroy the government from the lowest level up,'" reports Paul Richter for the Los Angeles Times. Be sure to see the numerous links to more information on this warmongering madman Otto Reich.

Drug Planes a U.S. Target Again (July 6, 2002)
"President Bush is expected to approve the resumption of a program to force down or shoot down airplanes suspected of ferrying drugs in Latin America, a year after the program was halted by the mistaken downing of a plane carrying American missionaries in Peru, American officials say," reports James Risen for the New York Times. This is one sure fire way of stopping the tons and tons and even more tons of drugs that flow across all borders twenty-fuor hours a day, every single day of the years. Who are these people making these decisions, and can they really be so mean spirited and outright stupid? Seems they can be both.

Blast from the Recent Past- US Turns to Drug Baron to Rally Support (July 6, 2002)
The US government hates drug traffickers, remember that. Unless of course they can be useful to whatever cause the US governmnet is pushing. then by golly drug trarffickers are "the only game in town." This is nothing unusual for the US governmnet, to on the one hand lock up millions of it's own citizens for ingesting drugs while the very same governmnet works hand in glove with murderous drug trafficking cartels overlords. Of course, some might even say that the US government and murderous drug trafficking cartel overlords are one and the same.

The Return of COINTELPRO (July 6, 2002)
Is unleashing the FBI to engage in its old un-American, facistic tactics really such a groovy idea?

A terrorist manifesto? (July 4, 2002)
Ed Quillen writes a scathing satire on the most famous terrorist manifesto in US history, one written by the US forefathers, originally on hemp paper.

Absolute Wealth Corrupts Absolutely (July 4, 2002)
"The companies in today's headlines are hardly alone in representing this arrogance, but they have come to symbolize the various styles of financial corruption. Political corruption also rises with stock markets and the concentrations of great wealth." Kevin Phillips puts the sudden attention being paid to the rampant, endemic, and out right blatant culture of greed and criminality amongst the richest of the "elites" running the US corporations, who in turn run the US government and much of the "free" Americna press.

Byrd Challenges Bush's Ideas on War
West Virginia Senator Warns of Another Vietnam (July 4, 2002)
"Shrouded in ambiguity and cloaked in deep secrecy, this administration continues to suddenly, and sometimes unexpectedly, drop its decisions upon the public and Congress, and expect obedient approval, without question, without debate, and without opposition," says Senator Robert Byrd, (D-W.Virginia- and a man who recently stood up in Congress and swore he would not allow the US to be run by a bunch of atheists as he pounded on his bible in the Senate chambers) about the Bush administration's excessive warmongering.

Student Drug Testing Implimentation (July 4, 2002)
"Rep. Peterson is a member of the Speaker's Task Force for a Drug Free America, and is currently involved in funding initiatives to help support student drug testing. Rep. Peterson is a long-time advocate of student drug testing and his efforts and commitment have substantially impacted student drug testing and prevention and treatment initiatives for children and young adults." Doug McVay of Common Sense for Drug Policy forwarded us this message, which should be read and then read again on this, the anniversary of US independence.

Marines, Sailors Nabbed In Drug Bust (July 4, 2002)
Ahhh, "We'll expect you US servicemen and women to die for our corporate wars while surviving on subsistence wages that require many of you to apply for food stamps, but heaven forbid you imbibe in illicit substances," appears to be the thinking of these horrid military leadership types. What hypocrisy, what hubris, what assinine attitudes and policies.

Bolivian vote puts dent in U.S. clout (July 3, 2002)
"The unexpectedly strong showing of radical Indian agitator Evo Morales in Bolivian elections promises to deal a serious blow to the Andean nation's successful U.S.-backed efforts to halt cocaine production,' reports The unexpectedly strong showing of radical Indian agitator Evo Morales in Bolivian elections promises to deal a serious blow to the Andean nation's successful U.S.-backed efforts to halt cocaine production,'reports Kevin G. Hall for the Mercury News Rio De Janeiro Bureau.

Akha Weekly Journal- Progress, War, Drugs, Press, Coffee, Weenies (July 3, 2002)
There's never a dull moment for Matt McDaniel and the Akha people he lives with in Thailand. Check out the latest installment of the never ending adnventures and misadventures too.

The Technology Secrets of Cocaine Inc. (July 2, 2002)
"Colombian cartels have spent billions of dollars to build one of the world's most sophisticated IT infrastructures. It's helping them smuggle more dope than ever before," reports Paul Kaihla for Business 2.0.

UK- Idle and High on Drugs? Not Us, Say Today's Youth (July 2, 2002)
"The average young person is sober, career-minded and disinclined to experiment with any drug stronger than cannabis. Few complain of being badly educated," reports the Daily Telegraph.

CIA Lackey Vladamir Montesinos Convicted in Peru (July 2, 2002)
The "only game in town" for a decade, receiving at least $10 million from the CIA as he sold machine gun to FARC guerillas in Colomiba, worked with traffickers and arranged the murder and torture of Peruvian citizens, Montesinos has been convicted and setenced to prison for illegally taking over the Peruvian National Intelligence Service.

Judge Rules U.S. Death Penalty Violates the Constitution (July 2, 2002)
"A federal judge in New York declared the death penalty unconstitutional today, saying evidence has shown that there is an 'undue risk' that a meaningful number of innocent people have been executed," reports Jerry Gray of the New York Times.

Pentagon Program Promotes Psychopharmacological Warfare (July 2, 2002)
The first press release at the top of this page deals with the Pentagon's testing of special "calmative" weapons that use drugs to put down crowds and unruly citizens.

DEA INVESTIGATION LINKS FORMER LEHMAN BROTHERS ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE WITH MEXICAN CARTEL ACCUSED OF LAUNDERING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NARCOTICS PROCEEDS (July 1, 2002)
The DEA is looking to seize approximately $45 million currently held in accounts, allegedly drug proceeds laundered by an account representative at Lehman Brothers for politically connected Mexican drug traffickers.

Risk-Benefit Profile of Commonly Used Herbs - Legal & Otherwise (July 1, 2002)
While comparing 7 legal herbs, and one illegal herb, all generally accepted to be medically beneficial, Dr. Rick Bayer reports on recent findings that, "If the action of the cannabinoid is blocked with an antagonist drug, the newborn pups do not suckle and thus die. Therefore, not only is the internal cannabinoid system important for pain control but it also regulates important appetite areas in the brain that are essential for life in newborn mammals." This brings to mind Cletus Nelson's recent article for drugwar.com, "Headshrinking the American Addict- Recovery in the 21st Century", which dealt with recent advances in vaccinations and antagonists designed to permanently block the ability of humans to get high. Scary stuff.

The New Nuclear Danger: Bush and the Myth of Nuclear Disarmament (July 1, 2002)
Guerrilla News Network's Anthony Lappé interviews legendary anti-nuke activist Dr. Helen Caldicott about her new book. GNN is one of drugwar.com's favorite websites, and is therefore highly recommended.

System Failure- Ethical Meltdown Burns Wall Street (July 1, 2002)
"'Phony earnings, inflated revenues, conflicted Wall Street analysts, directors asleep at the switch--this isn't just a few bad apples we're talking about here,' writes Fortune magazine."

A TIME FOR DISSENT IN AMERICA (July 1, 2002)
"The presidency seems to be going to George Bush's head. With each morning's paper or evening's news, depending on your preference, our leader is jumping up and saying truly extraordinary things, some of them preposterous, some stupid, some terrifying," writes Richard Reeves.