Sniper
'blamed' for Marijuana shortage (Oct. 26, 2002)
"A marijuana shortage in New York is being partly blamed
on the Washington sniper case. Medical groups which use the drug
say they are having to seek emergency supplies from across the
US."
Police
seize more than one thousand hydroponic marijuana plants (Oct.
26, 2002)
Some Americans would say this is not good news at all.
Shortage
of marijuana (Oct. 26, 2002)
"Drug Task Force agents in Mitchell County also applaud all
local law enforcement for keeping mid level dealers and buyers
behind bars. Having them in jail disrupts their network to distribute
marijuana."
Two
Men Busted For Drying Marijuana, Right Under Cop's Nose (Oct.
26, 2002)
Medical
research 'often flawed' (Oct. 26, 2002)
"Clinical trials of many new drugs and treatments are flawed
and possibly unethical, a study suggests. Experts in the United
States have found that many researchers fail to follow international
guidelines when they are carrying out studies funded by the pharmaceutical
industry,"reports the BBC. Also see DNN's report, Survey
finds drug company research raises suspicion.
Wellstone's
death stuns Minn., Senate (Oct. 26, 2002)
"Sen. Paul Wellstone, a passionately liberal Democrat whose
re-election campaign was vital to control of the Senate, was killed
in a plane crash in northern Minnesota on Friday along with his
wife, daughter and five others," reports the Associated Press
about the only US Senator to vote against waging war on Iraq.
Marines
Ordered into Colombia- February 2003 is Target Date (Oct.
26, 2002)
"Two battalions of US Marine Jungle Expeditionary Forces
have recently received deployment orders for insertion into Colombia,"
reports Peter Gorman.
International
A.N.S.W.E.R. [Act Now to Stop War and End Racism] (Oct. 26,
2002)
Mass protests planned world-wide today, Saturday, October 26,
2002. Show the world where you stand today, and everyday.
The Four That Got Away, and Political
Kids Arrested for Drugs (Oct. 26, 2002)
Check out the US politicians who support prohibition, but not
for themselves and their families.
The Week Online with DRCNet, issue #260
(Oct. 26, 2002)
Smoking pot to counter chemical warfare effects, Virginia drug
sweeps underway, a couple commits suicide when facing prosecution
and asset forfeiture for pot and mushrooms, these stories and
lots more, plus the every useful Reformers' Calendar.
Tri-State Drug Policy Forum- Events
Oct. 29, Oct. 30 (Oct. 26, 2002)
Get involved.
Paul
Wellstone: America Loses A Bold Leader (Oct. 26, 2002)
"'Something died in America,' said civil rights leader Rep. John
Lewis of Robert F. Kennedy's untimely death. 'Something died in
all of us.' Paul Wellstone's entire political career was dedicated
to bringing that something -- that soul -- back to American politics.
From his out-of-nowhere populist election to the Senate in 1990
to his courageous, polls-be-damned vote against the president's
Iraq invasion resolution, Wellstone always let his conscience
guide the votes he cast and the policies he espoused," writes
Arianna Huffington.
Hemp
seed: A cure for the common cold? (Oct. 26, 2002)
"MotherHemp, the UK’s leading supplier of hemp oil and food
products, announces latest clinical trial results on hempseed
oil."
9/11
Relatives Push for Commission (Oct. 26, 2002)
"For months the Bush Administration has worked in the background
to thwart the formation of an independent panel to investigate
the events leading up to the attacks on September 11th. Now as
election day approaches they have 'modified' their public position
-- end result, same thing -- they are still blocking the probe.
Why?" ask the editors of TruthOut.org.
DEA
Steals 1st Known Oregon State-Licensed Medical Marijuana Garden
(Oct. 26, 2002)
Watch this most disturbing video interview with one of the latest
victims of federal insanity. Read the story here.
Trial
Ordered in Case of Hallucinogenic Plants (Oct. 26, 2002)
More prohibitionistic, anti-nature, drug hysteria, this time in
Georgia.
MPP/SSDP
2002 Conference (Oct. 26, 2002)
"The Marijuana Policy Project and Students for Sensible Drug
Policy will hold a combined conference on Veterans Day Weekend,
November 8-10, in Anaheim, California. This is the first weekend
after Election Day, and the results of key congressional, gubernatorial,
and state legislative races will be a major topic of discussion;
as will the results of the drug policy initiatives that will be
on the ballot in a handful of states and Washington, D.C."
Judges
throw out odor-based drug bust (Oct. 26, 2002)
"Where there's smoke, there may not be fire, the Court of
Criminal Appeals concluded Wednesday in ruling that the odor of
marijuana didn't give Abilene police officers probable cause to
enter a home," reports Janet Elliott about this unusual Texas
court ruling.
Radio
Free America (Oct. 26, 2002)
"This radio station is my personal contribution to Drug Policy
Reform. The music I play here is a mixture of music that I like
but all the songs here are cannabis friendly. Since I like many
types of music you will find everything here from alternative
rock, hip-hop, country and classic rock," notes program host
Mary Jane Flores.
Study:
Anti-drug coalitions don't work (Oct. 25, 2002)
It took a study to figure this out? All one needs to do is look
around and see the endless stream of illegal drugs to know that
the decades long war by Anti-Druggies simply isn't working...unless
one is trying to insure the cartels remain powerful and rich.
Guatemala
probes officers' ties to organized crime (Oct. 24, 2002)
"Guatemala launched an investigation on Wednesday into five
high-ranking retired officers, one of whom is considered a close
ally of President Alfonso Portillo, following accusations they
run an organized crime network with links to the government,"
reports Greg Brosnan for Reuters.
Colombia
investigates rebels for drug trafficking (Oct. 24, 2002)
"Colombia's chief prosecutor has for the first time opened
an investigation into senior commanders of the country's largest
leftist rebel force for alleged drug trafficking, a judicial source
said on Wednesday," according to this report by Luis Jaime
Acosta for Reuters.
Urban
Anti-Rebel Raid a New Turn in Colombian War (Oct. 24, 2002)
Yet more US supported death and destruction in Colombia.
Feds
Pushing Toxic Anthrax Drug? (Oct. 24, 2002)
Remember as you read this that the very same government forcing
its servicement to take this toxic vaccine is at the very same
time waging a war on pot and other drug users. Hmmm, seems something
is not quite right here in the Land of the Free and very expensive
vaccination-making drug companies.
Cuba
(Oct. 24, 2002)
"The White House has rebuffed Cuban overtures to assist U.S.
drug interdiction efforts, most recently fabricating charges that
Cuba was obstructing the drug war. It earlier spurned Havana's
offer to facilitate the U.S. detention of Al-Qaeda prisoners at
Guantánamo, and sheepishly stood behind invented claims that Cuba
had exported biological weapons to 'axis of evil' nations,"
write Morris Morley & Chris McGillion in this opinion piece.
Decriminalize
Drugs (Oct. 24, 2002)
"The violence in Mexico is fueled to a large degree by the
drug war, like so much of the violence in the United States and
other countries that have a military approach to drug use. As
described in the Washington Times in September, drug lords will
likely spend $500 million this year in bribes and payoffs to the
Mexican military and police for their assistance (and often their
escort services) in ensuring that illicit drugs reach their destinations.
Bribing policemen and turf warfare are minor costs compared to
the wealth that traffickers reap as a direct result of drugs being
illegal and yielding massively inflated profits," writes
Carla Moquin in the Salt Lake Tribune.
Medical
marijuana patients sue Ashcroft, federal government (Oct.
24, 2002)
These patients are sick and tired of Ashcroft's prohibitionist
War on them, and want it ended, now.
Nolte
charged with drug driving (Oct. 24, 2002)
What in the heck was Nolte thinking, getting behind the wheel
of a car under the influence of GHB?
Diaries
of Nirvana Star Reveal Cobain Felt Tortured by Pain, Drugs
(Oct. 24, 2002)
The editor of DrugWar can't help but still feel bad for Kurt Cobaine.
Salvia
Divinorum Legal Status Information (Oct. 24, 2002)
Check this site frequently for updates on the legal status of
Salvia Divinorum, an herb the Congress, in it's infinite prohibitionist
hysteria, is now planning on outlawing.
CIA
Is Expanding Domestic Operations- More Offices, More Agents With
FBI (Oct. 24, 2002)
These intel folk did such a great job pre-September 11 that they've
been given yet more powers to now spy on the very citizens they're
supposed to be protecting while propping up drug trafficking despots,
fanatical religious extremists, as well as blood thirsty terrorists
around the world.
Terror Slight
School Owner's Plane Seized for Heroin Trafficking (Oct. 24,
2002)
"Even stranger, both Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Secretary
of State Katherine Harris were providing celebrity endorsements
to Hilliard's operation well after the company's Lear (N351WB)
had been busted by DEA agents armed with machine guns," writes
Daniel Hopsicker in this, the most recent installment in this
investigative series on the September 11 terror training that
took place in various small cities and airports around sunny Florida.
Why was Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris giving endorsements to a
flop of an airline that had already had a plane seized in a heroin
bust by DEA?
Ex-porn
star Gannon jailed Receives three months for insider trading
(Oct. 24, 2002)
"John Pollok, Gannon's lawyer, asked U.S. District Judge
Richard Owen to sentence her to home detention. But Owen refused,
saying the punishment should send a message to the investment
community," reports the Associated Press. What would that
message be, that like Martha Stewart, if one is a woman, and not
a rich white good old boy, you'd better expect to do jail time
for your financial shenanigans?
Authorities
seize large marijuana amounts (Oct. 24, 2002)
Got
Oil? (Oct. 23, 2002)
"The Bush team's ridiculous and wildly inflammatory anti-drug
ads are still running in heavy rotation. You know the ads I'm
talking about -- the ones where innocent-looking, middle-class
teens admit their culpability for the consequences of the drug
trade. 'I helped blow up buildings,' says one doe-eyed youth.
So if that is legitimate logic, and our president says that it
is, I wonder if we might turn the tables on him by starting a
little ad campaign of our own to sabotage another misguided Bush
campaign: the War on Conservation," writes national treasure
Arianna Huffington.
A
Lesson In Testifying- High Court Hang-Ups (Oct. 23, 2002)
"A most extraordinary trial is going on in the High Court
at the moment in which a man named Chrysler is accused of stealing
more than 40,000 coat hangers from hotels round the world. He
admits his guilt, but in his defence he claims that – well, perhaps
it would be simpler just to bring you a brief extract from the
trial," writes Miles Kington with obvious pleasure.
'Cocaine
smuggler' claims CIA link (Oct. 23, 2002)
This wouldn't be the first guy who got busted shipping CIA cocaine.
Drug
war's new front: Ballot box (Oct. 23, 2002)
"So the feds cede nothing. Walters figures that if legalization
wins Round One in Nevada, he can still work to defeat it in 2004.
And even if it wins twice, he says the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
would move in and shut down any sales operation," reports
Dick Polman, a Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer, about John
P. Walter's love of the democratic process.
U.S.
drug czar critical of State Issue 1 (Oct. 23, 2002)
Head prohibitionist John P. Walters bleats out more insulting,
misleading, and very dangerous opinions, this time in Ohio, while
making his grand national "anti-democracy" tour.
Pot
in Humboldt County: Climate attracts many growers (Oct. 23,
2002)
Believe it or not, Humbolt County, California, USA, is a great
place to grow marijuana.
Parents
Charged With Smoking Marijuana In Van With Son (Oct. 23, 2002)
"A police report says the couple admitted to smoking marijuana
in a van with their nine-month-old son in the back seat."
Guinn
against marijuana, same-sex marriage (Oct. 23, 2002)
Pot users and gay people in love aren't "a problem"
for the Governor of Nevada, but he's still publically against
them.
Comedian,
lawmaker in Denver spy files (Oct. 23, 2002)
"The list includes former South Dakota Sen. James Abourezk,
who once headed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; entertainer
George Carlin; Wilma Mankiller, who was awarded the Medal of Freedom,
the nation's highest civilian honor, in 1998 for her work as the
principal chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma; and historian
Vine Deloria, who wrote, 'Custer Died for Your Sins.'"
Salvia
Divinorum Action Center - HR 5607 (Oct. 23, 2002)
In a typical prohibitionist move, the US Congress is preparing
to outlaw yet another plant. What in the hell is wrong with the
people? The Editor here at DrugWar really wants to know.
Yet
Another 'Oops, Wrong House' Raid (Oct. 23, 2002)
"Sandy Cohen raised her arms defensively and told the armed
cops they were in the wrong house, according to her son. 'That's
what everyone says,' one officer scoffed, according to the 55-year-old
Cohen, a journalist who was general manager of WCAU-TV from 1983
to 1990." This according to Stu Bykofsky, Philaedlphia Daily
News columnist.
Guatemalan
anti-drug agency axed (Oct. 22, 2002)
"The authorities in Guatemala have dissolved the country's
anti-drug agency, just a week after a senior US official accused
the government of involvement in corruption and drug trafficking,"
reports the BBC. According
to the US State Department, in 2001, US taxpayers gave $3
million, in 2002 we will give an estimated $3.5million, and in
2003, $3.4 is the requested amount to be handed over to this US
ally in the War on Some Drugs and Users, which disbanded in disgrace
last week. How many more times is this going to happen before
it sinks into the heads of US Congressfolk who keep appropriating
ever more money to these allies that this War is not only not
working, it will never work?
Can
Elections End U.S-Ecuador Frustration? (Oct. 22, 2002)
"High-ranking Ecuadorian officials insist their country is
most threatened by the spread of Colombia's civil war and regional
drug problems. U. S. officials say they don't see the evidence.
Instead, early this year, the State Department's anti-terrorism
report pointed the finger at Ecuador, urging it to tighten its
own borders, and to deal with its reputation as a 'strategic corridor'
for munitions 'destined for Colombian terrorist groups.'" So reports
Marcela Sanchez in this special report for the WashingtonPost.com.
This paragraph raises the ugly spector of Cambodia, and the pretexts
used by Nixon and Kissinger to secretly and illegally send US
troops to invade that country during the Vietnam travesty.
Indonesian
forces' corruption exposed (Oct. 22, 2002)
More US allies in the War on Some Drugs and Users struggling with
corruption and worse, directly engendered by prohibition.
Russia
afloat in heroin (Oct. 22, 2002)
"Hidden inside cabbages, hollowed walnuts, even the bellies
of desperately poor pregnant women, Afghan heroin steadily flows
into Russia, joining a stream of illegal drugs that officials
warn is a growing threat to the nation's stability," reports
Judith Ingram for the Washington Times.
Rebels'
grip on Medellin loosens (Oct. 22, 2002)
An update on the War in Colombia.
Spending
may boom: Military industry ready for growth (Oct. 22, 2002)
"Atlantic Marine Holding Company temporary leadman Ruby Cook
stands under the belly of the U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts. She ensures
co-workers have prime painting conditions. They're prepping the
frigate to work with South American naval forces fighting drug
operations," reports Jessica Gellady for the Business Journal.
A
Reporter Scrutinizes War and Its Myths (Oct. 22, 2002- Free
New York Times registration required)
"Despite a profound abhorrence of war, Mr. Hedges also acknowledges
a strange attraction. 'The rush of battle is a potent and often
lethal addiction,' he writes, 'for war is a drug, one I ingested
for many years,'" writes Robert Mann for the NYTimes.
US
Diplomat Discusses Trade, War on Drugs with Bolivian President
(Oct. 22, 2002)
"Speaking after their meeting Wednesday, U.S. Assistant Secretary
of State for the Western Hemisphere, Otto
Reich denied reports the purpose of his visit was to pressure
the Bolivian government to continue its policy of eradication
of illegal coca plants; the raw material from which cocaine is
derived. But Mr. Reich said the elimination of the coca plants
is extremely important and that the United States would continue
helping Bolivia destroy the crop." So reports the Voice of
America. Under Reagan, Reich ran the pro-Contra Office of Public
Diplomacy for Latin America and the Caribbean, which was shoveling
propaganda by the bucketload for US public consumption. The OPD
was found to be an illegal operation in 1987 after an investigation
by the U.S. Comptroller General.
Teach-in
at C.U. on Guerrilla War Informs (Oct. 22, 2002)
"Roldan argued that the organization of paramilitaries is
no different from American Pentagon outsourcing in Afghanistan
and Vietnam," writes Melissa Korn in this report for the
Cornell Daily Sun on a teach-in at Cornell University.
US
drugs budget is cut to fight war on terror (Oct. 22, 2002)
"The Pentagon is to scale back its £800m-a-year war on the
narcotics trade to free up special forces troops, reconnaissance
aircraft and satellites for the battle against international terrorism,"
reports Ian Bruce for The Herald UK. The US military apparently
has not been paying attention to the ONDCP advertisements tying
illegal drug taking to terrorism.
Nevada
takes up referendum on pot (Oct. 22, 2002)
"Federal drug czar John Walters, who is making marijuana
a major target because of its widespread use, has made his position
on Western reefer referendums clear. During a swing through Arizona
and Nevada this month, Walters called the Arizona ballot initiative
a 'stupid, insulting con.' In Nevada, he chastised proponents
of pot legalization, saying that he didn't think Nevada should
become a 'center for drug tourism,'" reports Bob Keefe COX News
Service. In other words, nuclear waste shipped from all over the
US into Nevada is good, but legalizing pot smoking is bad. What
a "stupid and insulting con" prohibitionistic feds such
as Walters are trying to pull.
Investigation
takes down marijuana, cocaine network (Oct. 22, 2002)
"'98 tip led to years-long multi-agency probe with wiretaps,
high-tech surveillance," reports David Doege for the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel.
'Marijuana
factory' targeted by New West (Oct. 22, 2002)
"A legal marijuana grow operation operating out of a two-storey
home in Queensborough is fighting efforts by the city of New Westminster
to shut it down," reports Canada Now.
7
pounds of marijuana found on Texas woman (Oct. 22, 2002)
This 20-year old woman apparently said "yes" to these
cops' request to search her belongings, which lead to them finding
one heck of a lot of pot.
Cocaine,
Marijuana Found On Kid Rock's Tour Bus (Oct. 22, 2002)
Prohibitionist cops in Florida have momentarily gotten one oh
so dangerous pot head coke sniffer of the streets while acting
on a tip that there were drugs on Kid Rock's tour bus.
Trio
charged after police seize cannabis (Oct. 21, 2002)
Police steal...uh, confiscate, $2 million worth of marijuana.
Pot
in Humboldt County: Both sides of the story (Oct. 21, 2002)
"'Humboldt is the nexus point of the whole growing movement,'
said Steve Bloom, senior editor of High Times Magazine, a New
York City-based publication distributed worldwide and dedicated
to the complete coverage of marijuana," writes Chris Durant
for the Eureka Times.
San
Francisco may explore growing medical marijuana (Oct. 21,
2002)
"Will San Francisco soon start growing and distributing its
own marijuana for medical purposes? An initiative on an upcoming
ballot is asking local voters to decide whether the city should
explore the idea," reports the Associated Press.
'NY
Times' Takes Hit On Marijuana Booklet (Oct. 21, 2002)
"Times officials declined to address the allegation that
the booklet distorted facts. But, in a statement sent to E&P Friday,
the paper defended its practice of providing such educational
materials, which are used in conjunction with the daily paper.
'Our main goal ... is to foster development of critical thinking
skills through newspaper reading,' the statement read. 'We are
able to do this in part by helping teachers to integrate newspapers
into their curriculum," which has exactly nothing to do with
their passing off propaganda and lies as educational material.
Read more of this report by Joe Strupp for Editor and Publisher.
Then download and read the propaganda...I mean, handbook, at the
New
York Times.
Meet
the most potent natural hallucinogen -- and it's legal (Oct.
21, 2002)
A shrill, prohibitionist-slanted article about Salvia Divinorum,
beating the fears drums loudly.
US
Military Is Easing Its War on Drugs (Oct. 21, 2002)
The very expensive taxpayer-funded ONDCP television ads equating
Drugs with Terrorism don't seem to have convinced the US military,
which wants to scale back its anti-drug operations, to the consternation
of some in Congress.
When
the Bullet Meets the Bone- Ari Fleischer's Single Bullet Doctrine
(Oct. 21, 2002)
"Unpalatable to most Americans is the fact that in promoting
and marketing the US 'way of life' here and abroad, painful side
effects include extraordinary violence, mayhem and suffering,"
writes John Stanton in this editorial for the News Insider.
N.
Korea Issue Irks Congress (Oct. 21, 2002)
"Key Democrats Kept in Dark On Admission Before Iraq Vote"
report Mike Allen and Karen DeYoung for the Washington Post. The
Bush administration will even lie to Congress, so what hope do
we regular citizens have of getting the truth out of this administration,
or any US administration for that matter? Oh, hold on, these administrations
have been lying about their War on Some Drugs and Users for decades,
so the fact the Bush administration lied about North Korea isn't
exactly surprising news.
War
plans under fire as even Bush heartland talks peace (Oct.
21, 2002)
"Dissent is coming from all quarters - even in Bush's own
church," Ed Vulliamy reports from Washington for the Guardian
Unlimited Observer.
Ex-officials
accused of corruption (Oct. 21, 2002)
"Two former high-ranking Pentagon officials in the Clinton
administration were arrested yesterday on charges of extortion,
bribery, money-laundering and witness tampering in a suspected
scheme involving the awarding of contracts to minority firms,"
writes Jerry Seper for the Washington Times.
Czechs
retract terror link (Oct. 20, 2002)
What Iraqi terrorist link was that again?
Spy
planes used to hunt drug suspects enter search for sniper
(Oct. 20, 2002)
"RC-7 surveillance planes, based in far West Texas and South
Korea and used primarily to hunt drug smugglers in South and Central
America, is now being recruited into the hunt for the Washington-area
sniper," reports Dave Montgomery for Knight Ridder Newspapers.
The THC Foundation
(Oct. 20, 2002)
"THC-Foundation is working to educate the public about the
truth concerning hemp and cannabis, and helping medical marijuana
patients. Our mission is to promote justice, freedom, and peace
with political action and education. Our goal is to restore hemp
and end adult cannabis prohibition."
Big
Kick, Plain Scrap: History of the Drugs in the War on Stronger
pot, upgraded 'speedballs,' purer heroin: all victories for ...
somebody (Oct. 19, 2002)
"We're just beginning this lexicographic and chemical mindfuck.
First, let's get the 'war on drugs,' as this particular war is
called, out of the way. It's about money. Just like all wars.
As politically incorrect (and still alive) comedian Bill Maher
once noted, after denouncing the war on drugs for going on too
long and containing too many hidden agendas: 'Prozac versus marijuana?
Prozac's going to lose.''' So writes Greg Baker in this often
funny yet quite honest appraisal of the War on Some Drugs and
Users.
Officers
Say U.S. Aided Iraq in War Despite Use of Gas (Oct. 19, 2002)
Hiding
knowlege of North Korean nuclear capabilites for at least the
last 2 years, and assisting Saddam Hussein acquire chemical
and biological agents, one US administration after another has
engaged in murderous hypocricy around the world, and expect the
young US men and women who pay taxes and vote them into office
to support and even sometimes die as a result of their criminal
insanity.
Mary
Jane's Army Raising Awareness (Oct. 19, 2002)
Letter writers urging marijuana law reforms sent letters across
four time zones to this small paper, impressing Tait Simpson,
the Opinions Editor at The Gazette in London, Ontario.
Homeland
effort may have beneficial side effects (Oct. 19, 2002)
"The homeland-security push could result in a tighter border
that keeps out not only terrorists, but more illegal drugs and
many foreigners with criminal backgrounds. At all levels, law
enforcement is likely to be more coordinated as police and federal
agents work jointly to piece together the clues terrorists left
behind. That will mean cooperation in solving nonterrorist crime
cases as well," write Tamara Lytle and Jim Leusner for the
Orlando Sentinel. We all know how well the War on Some Drugs has
worked in stopping drug trafficking and abuse, so imagining the
benefits of the War on Terror sends chills of anticipation through
the editor of DrugWar.com.
Actor
Sean Penn Lashes Bush over Iraq War Drums (Oct. 19, 2002)
In an open letter to Bush taking up most of a page in the main
section of the daily newspaper, the Oscar-nominated star of "I
Am Sam" and "Dead Man Walking," urged the president to stop a
cycle where 'bombing is answered by bombing, mutilation by mutilation,
killing by killing,'" reports Reuters. Penn is but one more
unhappy US actor voicing his concerns as Hollywood
takes on White House.
Inmate
freed by governor does ad for Pataki foe (Oct. 19, 2002)
Joel Stashenko, as Associated Press writer, seems to be implying
that Anthony Papa should be more grateful to Governor Pataki since
he granted him amnesty after Papa served 12 years of a 15 year-to-life
sentence for a single drug offence.
War
Worries- Support for Attacking Iraq Begins to Wane Across the
U.S. (Oct. 19, 2002)
"As the administration prepares for war with Iraq, a new
mantra has emerged in the campaign to win the hearts and minds
of Americans and, in effect, put Saddam Hussein on notice. 'America
speaks with one voice,' says President Bush. In Washington, Bush,
having been empowered by both houses of Congress to use force,
seems to face very little opposition on Iraq. On the streets of
America, nothing could be further from the truth," reports
Bill Redeker for ABCNews.
War
on drugs that may be fuelling terror (Oct. 19, 2002)
"The enormity of the 2002 [poppy] crop as well as Afghanistan’s
porous borders may well provide further funding for groups with
links to terrorist organisations, particularly as al-Qaeda is
thought still to be operating within the region. But now even
more damaging facts about the compensation scheme have come to
light as it seems that British money could have been diverted
directly to al-Qaeda," writes Lucy Morgan-Edwards in Kabul
for the Scotsman.
Explosive
'linked to CIA' (Oct. 19, 2002)
"The explosive used in the Bali bomb attack could have come
from supplies handed over to the Mujahideen by the CIA during
the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan," reports Michael Smith,
Defence Correspondent for The Telegraph. "The same plastic
explosive, known as C4, was used in the attack on the USS Cole
off Yemen in October 2000 in which 17 people died, suggesting
a possible link to al-Qa'eda."
Australians
turn on government over US alliance (Oct. 19, 2002)
"Next in the line of fire were the intelligence services,
which appear to have deliberately buried warnings of a possible
terrorist attack on Bali. Such debate, part and parcel of Australian
political life, seems refreshingly frank and a little disorientating
when compared with the reaction in the United States after the
September 11 attacks," writes Andrew Gumbel in Sydney, for
The Independent.
LISD
celebrates Red Ribbon Week (Oct. 19, 2002)
"Red Ribbon Week is an annual, nationwide event commemorating
the life and sacrifice of Drug Enforcement Administration agent
Enrique 'KiKi' Camerena who was murdered in 1985 while working
undercover in Mexico," reports David A. Smith. The prohibitionists
quoted in this article are missing the point that it is their
War that directly lead to murderous, powerful cartels such as
the one that killed Camerena, not drug use as they imply here.
Proposition
203 requires state to give away marijuana (Oct. 19, 2002)
Arizona is just one among many states with a common sense drug
war reform initiative on the ballot this November, 2002.
Medical
pot not guaranteed under charter, court told (Oct. 19, 2002)
"The right to smoke marijuana for medicinal reasons is no
more enshrined in the Charter of Rights than the right to smoke
crack cocaine, lawyers for the federal government argued yesterday."
That's according to this report by James McCarten, CP, for the
London Free Press, on Canadian prohibitionist arguments against
marijuana law reform.
The Week Online With DCRNet, issue# 259
(Oct. 19, 2002)
MADD sues DAMMADD over the remarkable similarities in names, election
updates, California medical marijuana guidline info online, election
updates, the Journey for Justice, Colombian, Mexican and US Drug
War corruption, and more election updates are among the many topics
covered in this week's issue. Be sure to check the Reformers'
Calendar for events happening near you.
Police
make a record seizure of marijuana (chamba) (Oct. 19, 2002)
"The dangerous drugs section of the police service has seized
7,589.5 kilograms of chamba from January to September this year,"
reports Muyanga Ziba for Malawihere.com.
More
lies about marijuana (Oct. 19, 2002)
"Regarding DEA Director Asa Hutchinson's column last Saturday,
"Legalizing drugs is simply surrender": Methamphetamine use is
at epidemic levels throughout the United States. If "drug warriors"
like Hutchinson and drug czar John Walters want to know the reason
why, tell them to look in a mirror," writes Kirk Muse in
this letter fo the editors at The Arizona Republic.
Medical
marijuana provider arrested (Oct. 19, 2002)
This guy is facing up to 17 years in prison for possessing a bunch
of flowers.
Marijuana
received in mail; man arrested (Oct. 19, 2002)
"The marijuana had been shipped up from Texas, and the suspect
received it through a parcel service at his apartment building
on the south side of Two Rivers," reports the Manitowoc Herald
Times Reporter.
S.D.
city panel OKs medical pot rules (Oct. 19, 2002)
"Medical marijuana guidelines that would allow sick people
to keep up to 3 pounds of the drug and grow up to 72 plants for
their own use was approved by a San Diego City Council committee
yesterday," writes Ray Huard for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Drug
Czar (Oct. 19, 2002)
"Virtually everybody believes we need to protect children
from dangerous addictive substances. If we do that, we'll have
fewer people who we have to treat, and we'll have a kind of realization
of the opportunities in this country that we all want for everyone,
and our children especially," said US Drug Czar John P. Walters
in this interview with D. Brian Burghart for the Reno News and
Review. Fewer people we need to treat? How about fewer people
we have to jail?
Government
lawyers say they haven't read all Cheney documents they argued
should be kept secret (Oct. 19, 2002)
"U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered task force
documents to be made public by Nov. 5 and said he was shocked
the Justice Department attorneys had not examined all the documents
after asserting for more than a year that each of them involved
confidential information," reports John Heilprin for the
Associated Press. Also see this notice from Judicial Watch, currently
suing to force disclosure of Cheney's secret meetings, Judge
orders White House to turn over energy task force documents.
Police
Admit Lying in Dallas Drug Convictions (Oct. 18, 2002)
Anti-Drug Warriors running amok in Dallas. Texas. "NPR's
Wade Goodwyn reports on the FBI investigation into allegations
that the Dallas Police Department wrongfully arrested and charged
Mexican immigrants with drug trafficking. As a result, many spent
years in jail on drug convictions. Police informants have admitted
to lying, and several new trials have been ordered, and a judge
has ordered another man released. (7:26)"
Fire
victims told of checks (Oct. 18, 2002)
"The Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday tried to
reassure victims of the 62,000-acre Pines fire that restitution
checks will not be delayed by the agency taking over the handling
of claims from the California National Guard," notes the
Union-Tribune.
Drug Traffickers Pose Threat
to National Security, Says White House (Oct. 18, 2002)
Drug traffickers are scary and threatening, but US
and British arms merchants showing off their death wares in
Jordan, to such countries as Syria, Libya, Iran and yes, Iraq,
these warpigs pose no threat to US National Security or the Bush
regime, nor to the US citizenry and soldiers who will die in attacks
utilizing US weaponry, not at all. Something about these priorities
seems off somehow to the editor here at DrugWar.com.
Canadian
pot plan a trade risk (Oct. 18, 2002)
Exporting US cigerettes and threatening sanctions against those
countries who don't want them is fine with official US prohibitionists,
but God forbid some country like, say, Canada decides that anti-marijuana
prohibition is idiotic, wasteful and destructive. These very same
officials are now threatening Canada for contemplating liberalizing
their anti-pot laws.
U.S.
Drug Czar: Policy could hurt state efforts (Oct. 18, 2002)
"The U.S. Drug Czar said a statewide ballot initiative meant
to reform Ohio drug policy could actually hurt the state's efforts
to curb drug addiction. In Columbus Wednesday, John Walters, director
of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, joined
what he called growing opposition in Ohio to the proposed constitutional
amendment on the November ballot. If Issue 1 succeeds, it would
force judges to send thousands of eligible non-violent drug offenders
to treatment instead of jail," reports Nathan Leaf for the
Gannett News Service.
Florida-Based
Researchers Receive $5.85 Million Federal Contract to Study Drug
Addiction (Oct. 18, 2002)
"Imagine a day when taking a pill cures or prevents drug
addiction. That goal is what drives research by The Roskamp Institute
and James A. Haley VA Hospital scientists who have just received
sponsorship for their project from the White House Office of National
Drug Control Policy's research unit, the Counterdrug Technology
Assessment Center (CTAC)." In other words, the way our brains
are wired isn't right, God must have made a drastic mistake that
only the prohibitionists can fix by altering the very makeup of
those brains that won't buy into the prohibitionist hysteria.
Hollis:
Drug-Free Troops Key to All Military Success (Oct. 18, 2002)
"It's paramount to mission success that service members remain
drug-free –- especially as America continues the war against global
terrorism, DoD's senior anti-drug official said here," writes
Gerry J. Gilmore for the American Forces Press Service. Is he
serious? Can the US military really be printing fatuous articles
like this one, when it came out just a few months ago that the
US military is pumping pilots full
of methamphetamines and downers too?
Cannabis
society planning downtown rally (Oct. 18, 2002)
"Calling it a rally and march to "stop the casualites of
the marijuana war," the Ohio Cannabis Society will hold a downtown
rally and march beginning noon Saturday at Dave Hall Plaza, Main
and Fifth streets. The march will begin at 4 p.m. at the plaza
and proceed to the Montgomery County Courthouse. An after-party
will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at El Diablo Lounge, 135 E. Second St.,"
reports Cathy Mong for the Dayton Daily News.
Family's
death sends chilling signal (Oct. 18, 2002)
It begins with Angela Dawson, a neighborhood crusader and mother
of six, taking a stand against drugs. It ends with Dawson and
her five youngest children burning to death in an engulfed bedroom
and a young man from down the street in jail," reports Jeffrey
Gettleman for the New York Times.
Art
students chalk out war protest (Oct. 18, 2002)
"It is the second time in three weeks that anti-war sentiments
have been drawn on Capitol grounds."
Bush
Co-Chair Blasts McBride for Refusing to Condemn Remarks From Supporter
Who Compared the Bush Family to Bin Laden and Called the Bush’s
“Godless” and “Neo-Nazis” (Oct. 18, 2002)
A shrill official press release from the Jeb For Governor website.
Does this press release protest too much?
Marijuana
Petition (Oct. 18, 2002)
"A petition by some University of Missouri students wants
the City Council to lower marijuana possession charges from criminal
to misdemeanor. That way if students are caught with marijuana,
they won't lose their financial aid," reports Jodie Shpritz.
A
parent asks: Why was Jeb not at hearing? (Oct. 18, 2002)
"So why wasn't Jeb Bush standing with his daughter when the
bailiffs slapped the cuffs on her and led her off to prison? Couldn't
he have set aside his campaign for at least a morning?" That's
what Mike Thomas of the Olando Sentinel wants to know.
Golisono Blows Smoke at Medical Marijuana
(Oct. 18, 2002)
Tom Leighton, running for NY Governor as the Marijuana Reform
Party candidate, is not impressed with Golisano's pro-medical
marijuana position. Find out why, and see the recent NY gubernatorial
debate with all 7 leading candidates. Would would the elections
look like were our Presidential debates this inclusive?
Tom
Golisano for New York Governor (Oct. 18, 2002)
The editor of DrugWar.com is NOT endorsing Golisano's candidacy
by posting this, but does find Golisano's pro-medical marijuana
commercial, which can be viewed here, refreshing and worth posting
simply for its uniqueness. US politicians publically coming out
in favor of marijuana use in any form is something the editor
has dreamed up, but is still pleasantly surprised to see it become
a reality.
Gov.
Jeb Bush's daughter ordered to jail (Oct. 17, 2002)
There she goes again to jail, poor woman. But at least she's only
facing 10 days rather than the years others less fortunate than
she often get for their piddly drug offenses.
I'm
an American tired of American lies (Oct. 17, 2002)
"I give in to Woodman, and we stop for a few beers. He asks
me what I'd do in Bush's shoes. Easy: I'd honour Kyoto. Join the
world court. I'd stop subsidising earth rapers like Monsanto,
Dupont and Exxon. I'd shut down the nuclear power plants. So I
already have $200bn saved from corporate welfare. I'd save another
$100bn by stopping the war on non-corporate drugs. And I'd cut
the defence budget in half so they'd have to get by on a measly
$200bn a year. I've already saved half a billion bucks by saying
no to polluters and warmongers," writes Woody Harrelson in
this editorial for the Guardian Unlimited.
Red
Tape Delays Payments To Pines Fire Victims New Government Agency
Takes Over Claims Process (Oct. 17, 2002)
"Victims of a summer wildfire that
was sparked by a National Guard helicopter will have to wait
longer than expected for damage payments because the Drug Enforcement
Administration is taking over the claims process," reports
NBCSanDiego.com "The helicopter was on a drug-surveillance
patrol when it clipped a power line on July 29 and started a fire
that burned 62,000 acres near the town of Julian. The Guard took
responsibility for the fire and has been in the process of approving
damage claims for people who suffered property and financial losses.
But victims were told this week that the DEA is taking over the
handling of claims because it, too, was involved in the patrol."
Journey for Justice- The Law Made
You a Criminal- Reflections on the First Stop (Oct. 17, 2002)
Nora Callahan, Executive Director of the November Coalition, sends
us a report on the first stop on the Journey for Justice, adding
much to Kevin Zeese's initial report. These people deserves all
the kudos and support they can get, or so that's the opinion of
the editor here at DrugWar.
Barbara
Starr: Military joins sniper probe (Oct. 17, 2002)
"Under the posse comitatus law, which dates back originally
to 1878, no military involvement [is allowed] in law enforcement.
And that means they can't pursue, they can't target, they have
no powers of arrest. But in recent years, what has come to happen
is the military can provide assistance, and of course, the best
example is the drug enforcement issue, drug interdiction. Military
aircraft, military assets are often regularly used to conduct
surveillance and reconnaissance and look for suspected drug flights
into the United States, especially across the southern border,"
according to this CNN report. Does the fact that the military
is often used in drug operations make it right? This was something
the editor heard other says, and said many times himself, that
the War on Some Drugs was the foot-in-the-door for the eventual
shredding of the Constitution and our basic rights as US citizens.
The War on Terror is simply the next (il)logical step.
Police
Chief Appointed To International Drug Committee (Oct. 17,
2002)
"The committee is chaired by Hutchinson,
who nominated Keck at the association's convention last week in
Minneapolis. DEA spokeswoman Tara DeGarmo said Keck will serve
a three-year term on the committee. She said the position will
allow Keck to keep informed on national and international drug
issues. He will then advise the association on drug-enforcement
policies."
Mexico-
Military's Role in Drug War Questioned (Oct. 17, 2002)
Things are looking bleak for the corrupt military stooges taking
their cut from the drug trade in Mexico.
Panhandle
Losing Ground in Drug War (Oct. 17, 2002)
Not only can Florida Governor Jeb Bush NOT
keep illegal drug abuse out of his own family, he cannot keep
them out his state either, no matter how many lives and however
much money he wastes on the War on Some Drugs and Users.
Frightful
risk for medical pot users (Oct. 17, 2002)
"A bold, daytime home-invasion robbery targeting a marijuana
garden in El Dorado County has alarmed law-enforcement officials
and highlighted risks for growers of medicinal pot. Four gunmen
dressed as FBI and ATF agents forced their way into a family's
rural Lotus home last week and took 20 plants -- which the homeowner
told authorities were for medicinal purposes -- and about $300
in cash," report Sacramento Bee staff writers Ralph Montaño
and Niesha Gates. It's getting more and more difficult to tell
the narcotics cops from the criminals these days.
Pot
use brings red tape (Oct. 17, 2002)
"User of medical marijuana can't regain his driver's license,"
reports Doug Mattson for the Union.
City
Leaders Push Action On Medical Marijuana (Oct. 17, 2002)
"A plan to regulate the use of marijuana for medical purposes
is a first step in resolving a dispute over implementation of
Proposition 215, two San Diego City Council members said Wednesday."
Partnership for Drug-Policy
Facts and Alternatives (Oct. 17, 2002)
The Partnership for a Drug Free america was apparently not too
happy with this site when it came out, and it is easy to see why.
Press Release from the White
Men's Public Relations Department to DrugWar.com (Oct. 17,
2002)
So can the White Men really be stopped, or is it too late? Are
they really in total control while hiding from public scrutiny
from behind closed doors? The White Men seem to think so, and
thank us here at DrugWar for adding to their deceptive smokescreen.
Cannabis
Study is Full (Oct. 17, 2002)
"Recruitment began in January 2001 and on Monday, consultant
neurologist Dr John Zajicek will announce the study now has its
quota of 667 patients."
Colombia
Asks Neighbors to Join Drug War (Oct. 17, 2002)
"Colombian President Alvaro Uribe called on fellow South
American nations on Tuesday to join his twin wars on drugs and
terrorism, warning cocaine-fueled violence could spread throughout
the region," apparently missing the point that his war is
driving that exact same violence. Why is this so difficult for
voters all over the world to understand, that these warmongering
Drug Warriors are the root cause of the drug violence, and that
as long as the voters keep putting these maniacs in office, the
violence will continue?
Ryder
Drug Count Dropped (Oct. 17, 2002)
"But she'll go to trial on three felony charges in shoplifting,"
notes this report from the Associated Press.
As
Bush Marshals America for War Against the Axis of Evil, American
and British Arms Companies are Showing Them Our Weapons (Oct.
16, 2002)
Ah, the pleasures and profits of having warmongers and warpigs
leading the most free nation on Earth. This is one hell of a shock
to the editor of DrugWar.com, who perhaps naively wonders why
this event isn't getting much airplay on US television news. Iraq
is one of the 46 countries with a delegation attending this "exceptional
and comprehensive" military and law enforcement arms show,
along with Syria, Jordan, and yep, the United States. Also see
Outrage
as Iraq views UK arms from the Guardian Unlimited Observer.
"Shallow
Throat" Savages Dem Leaders and Reveals Bush Strategy (Oct.
16, 2002)
You remember the flap when the German justice minister compared
Bush's tactics with those of Hitler -- of mesmerizing the population
with war-talk while the real issues are swept under the rug? The
Bushies got enraged because she hit too close to the mark. The
administration's propaganda policy is, who said it?, a weapon
of mass distraction -- and it's working. Look at how the Congress
caved, look at the absence of major coverage on the shaky economy
and the various Bush&Co. scandals." So writes Bernard Weiner of
his interview with GOP stalwart "Shallow Throat".
Enron's
legacy lives on (Oct. 16, 2002)
"'The executives have yet to be disgorged of their ill-gotten
gains,' he says. 'That broad sense that there will be some level
of holding them accountable no longer exists.' Unsurprisingly,
America's investors are more than a little reluctant to get their
fingers burnt again. 'It's akin to terrorism,' says Alan Reynolds,
an expert on corporate governance at the Cato Institute. 'One
set of people deliberately plotted to break all the rules and
commit a terrible crime.'"
An
'out-of-state' campaign- Federal drug czar meddles in an issue
Nevadans must decide (Oct. 16, 2002)
The Las Vegas Review Journal is not buying US Drug Czar John P.
Walters' scare tactics and lies, going so far as to call him on
his duplicity and empty promises in this editorial. Saying that
Nevadans are adults, the paper notes they do not need help from
their "betters" from Washington DC, like Walters, flying
into Nevada more than once at taxpayers' expense to fight against
Question 9, a citizens' initiative that will legalize responsible
marijuana use in their state if it passes.
Nearly
80 Percent Of Coast Guard Cocaine Seizures In Pacific (Oct.
16, 2002)
"The Coast Guard seized 93,417 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern
Pacific Ocean. The total amount seized was 117,280 pounds, officials
said in a statement."
What
Bombing People Really Does to Them (Oct. 16, 2002)
For all the folks calling for bombings in Iraq, take a quick visit
to this site, and see exactly what happens to people when just
one bomb (so far as is known at this time) goes off in their vicinity.
This site is NOT for the weak at heart or stomach, so be forewarned.
Catch the terrorists, don't bomb indiscriminately in relatiatory
terror attacks, as in say, Iraq, where it will do no good and
will only maim, anger, and murder, instilling more anti-West hatred.
DrugWar's editor does not necessarily subscribe to the theory
promoted at this site, but feel the photos should be viewed by
everyone calling for bombings.
Pickens
students below state average in marijuana usage survey (Oct.
16, 2002)
Greg Oliver reports that despite having the lowest marijuana use
rates in the state, the prohibitionists in Pickens County are
insisting that more prohibition is needed. "We go in and do drug
lessons with students in all classes and do teacher in-service,
where we do risk and protective factors for teachers to demonstrate
to students who are high-risk," said Reese. "We talk about the
things we can do to protect students."
Task
Force Recommends 3-Pound Limit For Medical Marijuana (Oct.
16, 2002)
"Patients Should Be Able To Grow 72 Plants, Group Says"
Men
charged with marijuana possession (Oct. 16, 2002)
"Antonio O. Ramirez, 39, of Los Angeles and Jose O. Ramirez,
27, of Hollywood, Calif., were each charged with possessing marijuana
with the intent to distribute and not having a drug tax stamp,
Nebraska State Patrol Lt. Chris Kolb said." So reports Sarah
Schulz for Independent.com. A Drug Tax stamp? If they'd had one,
would that have helped them?
Canada's
marijuana laws worry U.S. (Oct. 16, 2002)
CNN reports on the 800 legal pot smokers in Canada, and on Canada's
proposed reforms of anti-pot laws.
Anti-War
Protests Get Louder In California (Oct. 16, 2002)
"Most Americans -- about 61 percent, according to a recent
Washington Post-ABC News poll -- support using force to remove
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but anti-war activists contend
that is true only when people are asked the question in the broadest
terms. When voters in the Post-ABC poll were asked whether the
United States should launch an attack over the opposition of its
allies, for example, support dropped to 46 percent," writes
Evelyn Nieves, a Washington Post Staff Writer.
The Akha Weekly Journal- Subscribe Today
(Oct. 16, 2002)
The Journal is up and running. Get your subscription today.
Man
faces drug charges over South American jungle vines (Oct.
16, 2002)
"'This is a very dangerous hallucinogen,' he said. 'We will do
whatever we can to keep it out of our district and prosecute anyone
who tries to bring it in.'" So said U.S. Attorney Bill Duffey,
according to this ASsociated PRess report, who wouldn't know a
genuine religious experience if it bit him right on the....
America's
For-Profit Secret Army (Oct. 16, 2002)
"With the war on terror already a year old and the possibility
of war against Iraq growing by the day, a modern version of an
ancient practice -- one as old as warfare itself -- is reasserting
itself at the Pentagon. Mercenaries, as they were once known,
are thriving -- only this time they are called private military
contractors, and some are even subsidiaries of Fortune 500 companies.
The Pentagon cannot go to war without them," reports Leslie
Wayne for the New York Times. These same killers for hire are
hard at work in South America, and all sorts of other corners
of the globe.
Fla.
Gov. Daughter's Hearing Opened (Oct. 16, 2002)
"'Drug court status hearings must be open to all participants
so that all participants can observe each other's successes and
failures,' the judge wrote." So Noelle and her family cannot
hide behind privacy.
Colombians
flee campaign of terror- Survivors describe bloody massacres by
paramilitaries (Oct. 15, 2002)
Mike Ceaser reports for the Globe and Mail on the harrowing situation
facing the peasant inhabitants along the Venezuela/Colombia border,
with robbery, kidnapping and murders of the most horrific sort
being perpetrated upon the campesinos by right-wing paramilitaries
alleged to be allied with the Colombian military.
No:
Addictive drug has no medical value (Oct. 15, 2002)
As the sharp-eyed reader who pointed out this article to the Editor
here at DrugWar.com notes, "This DEA loon must have just
dropped off the turnip truck, he seems well fastened to 1938.
You gotta read this." So, the editor passes on the link to
this incredible editorial. Let the Seattle Times know what you
think of this guy's opinion.
War
Cry (Oct. 15, 2002)
"Making the case for United Nations intervention against
the United States, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami told the
organization yesterday that military action will be "unavoidable"
unless the U.S. agrees to destroy its weapons of mass destruction.
In a much-anticipated speech to a special session of the U.N.
General Assembly held in Brussels, Khatami launched a blistering
attack against American leader George W. Bush, accusing him of
defying U.N. resolutions and using his country's wealth to line
the pockets of wealthy cronies at a time when the people of his
country make do without such basic social programs as national
health insurance." So wrote Ted Rall in this disturbingly
funny but hitting ever too close to home spoof of the Bush warmongers
and their plans for world dominance.
Mexican
army 'torturing' soldiers (Oct. 15, 2002)
"A human rights group in Mexico says more than 600 soldiers
have been detained at their barracks for the past 11 days and
subjected to torture in an investigation into drug trafficking,"
reports the BBC.
Drugmakers'
gifts to doctors finally get needed scrutiny (Oct. 15, 2002)
What about drugmakers' gifts to lawmakers and government regulators?
Will this topic also be covered by this scrutinizing?
Censorship
In Paradise: New Zealand Thought Police Seize Books From Loompanics
(Oct. 15, 2002)
"Let's emphasize one of the lessons we've learned about New
Zealand: If you get caught with three marijuana plants, you will
pay a $350 fine. If you get caught with three books about marijuana,
you will pay a $6,000 fine. Kiwi tokers, if they're prudent, may
want to stick to just smoking the stuff rather than reading about
it. As if all this weren't twisted enough, it should be noted
that although the magazines High Times, Cannabis Culture, and
Heads are all legally on sale in New Zealand, books about illegal
drugs are verboten. (It was through ads in these magazines that
the Setters found out about Loompanics and Dope Fiends.)"
So notes Russ Kick in this scathing report about New Zealand's
thought police and their victims.
UR
hears Bennett, Rushdie (Oct. 15, 2002)
"In his travels as drug czar, Bennett met a Charleston, S.C.,
police chief -- Rubin Greenberg -- who reduced drug crime by evicting
public housing tenants who fed or sheltered drug dealers. “That’s
what a great leader can do,” he said. 'Change the whole psychology
of what’s going on.'" Bennett is the guy who really gets
credit for inspiring in the editor of DrugWar.com thoughts that
all was not right in the Land of the Free, way back when the editor
was attending a Florida Junior High School and heard then-US Education
Secretary Bennett spouting what were even to his young mind and
ears obvious idiocies and falsehoods. Bennett certainly helped
change the editor's psychology.
Canada's
Pot Proposal Worries U.S. (Oct. 15, 2002)
"U.S. drug policy experts say decriminalizing marijuana in
Canada will increase drug use in America and trafficking by organized
crime elements on both sides of the border. Washington would respond
with tighter border checks that could hinder trade crucial to
the Canadian economy. 'We intend to protect our citizens. We would
have no choice,' said John P. Walters, director of the Office
of National Drug Control Policy." So reports the Associated
Press. What Walters probably meant to say was "Boy, these
Canadians are so far ahead of us in terms of smarts and compassion,
not to mention common sense, that we are looking like the evil
meanies we are." Or maybe he didn't mean to say that, but
that's the reality of the situation regardless.
Wasted:
the Drought That Drugs Made (Oct. 15, 2002)
The drought problems in Afghanistan are the direct result of marijuana
farming, at least according to this report from Time magazine.
Golisano
calls for repeal of Rockefeller drug laws (Oct. 15, 2002)
"'To take young people and incarcerate them for 15 to 20 years
or longer for this type of offense in my opinion is almost unconstitutional,'
Golisano said at a Harlem news conference," reports Karen
Matthews for the Associated Press. What does he mean, "almost?"
Nevada's
Question 9 (Oct. 15, 2002)
Check out these commercials in favor of Nevada's marijuana legalization
initiative to be voted on this coming November 2002.
Hatch
Hails Anti-Addiction Drug (Oct. 15, 2002)
"Two new buprenorphine preparations, marketed as Subutex
and Suboxone, will now be available to Drug Enforcement Agency-certified
physicians treating heroin addicts. Under development and U.S.
study for more than a decade, buprenorphine already is being administered
in France, where it is credited with reducing heroin arrests by
57 percent and heroin overdose deaths by 80 percent," writes
Christopher Smith for the Salt Lake Tribune.
5
years in jail for marijuana dealers (Oct. 15, 2002)
Not the most cheerful news, but when reporting on a War, how often
is the news really cheerful news?
Cheney:
Investigators, Keep Out (Oct. 14, 2002)
"Dick Cheney played a behind-the-scenes role last week in
derailing an agreement to create an independent commission to
investigate the 9-11 attacks. Last month the White House endorsed
the formation of the panel. But on Thursday, hours after congressional
negotiators hailed a final deal over the scope and powers of a
9-11 panel, Cheney called House Intelligence Committee chairman
Rep. Porter Goss, sources told NEWSWEEK." So report Michael
Isikoff and Tamara Lipper for Newsweek.
UK-
Campbell privacy case thrown out (Oct. 14, 2002)
"Naomi Campbell was dealt a body blow today after the Daily
Mirror succeeded in its appeal against a high court ruling over
reports about her drug addiction, leaving her with a £750,000
bill in costs," report Claire Cozens and Dan Milmo for the
Guardian Unlimited.
Colombia
Top Cop to Fight Corruption (Oct. 14, 2002)
Ho-hum, yet another Colombian prohibitionist insists he will fight
the bad apples amongst the good prohibitionist enforcers in the
various Colombian police departments. How many more times are
we going to read this exact same story? This is a really old story
that gets repeated every so often every few years or so, only
some of the names change with each new telling. On September 26,
2002, 71 Colombian cops, including the general formerly in charge
of anti-drug operations, were accussed of stealing millions in
US-supplied anti-narcotics aid money.
Why the
CIA thinks Bush is wrong (Oct. 14, 2002)
"The president says the US has to act now against Iraq. The
trouble is, his own security services don't agree." Neil
Mackay reports for the Sunday Herald.
Drug
Forfitures Going To Local Agencies (Oct. 14, 2002)
"Clearing the streets of drug operations is now paying off
for local law enforcement agencies. The Drug Enforcement Administration
is sharing the wealth of assets taken in local drug raids handing
out money to the agencies that help them fight the war on drugs."
No wonder it is often the police and feds who insist that the
War is going great guns and should continue not only unabated,
but at ever increasing speed and destructive power. They're pulling
in great money to further fund their agencies and buy more cop
toys. Why would they want to give all that free money up? For
an example of this "more War" stance on the part of
prohibitionist cops, see US
Drug Officials Support 'Rave' Crackdown Law.
Ritalin
on the rise (Oct. 14, 2002)
Tomhas Caywood reports for the Daily News Tribune that "While
the controversy over medicating disruptive children may have slacked
off in recent years, psychotropic drugs such as Ritalin continue
to fly off pharmacy shelves, according to U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration statistics and a recent study."
Man
says the snack caused a positive result on drug test (OCt.
14, 2002)
This fired US Border Patrol agent is most likely full of malarkey,
not hemp bars, food he claims caused a false positive drug test
leading to his firing. For lots more information on the federal
war against hemp-based food products, see DEA
Hemp Ban Put on Hold.
Federal
Contracts (Oct. 14, 2002)
"Computer & Hi-tech Management of McLean won an $11.7 million
contract from the Drug Enforcement Administration for records
management support for the narcotics and dangerous drugs information
system." The Washington Post has published this list of incredibly
expensive fedearl contracts, many of which are military, and not
one of which seem to be to assist in stabilizing US civilian domestic
infrastructure. For more background info on pork spending, please
see Warpigs
Gorge on Military Pork.
Hospitalized
border agent returns home (Oct. 14, 2002)
So when does the War on Prohibition begin? This is just one more
example of harms associated not with drug use, but drug prohibition.
As gang and police violence are the main damages engendered by
marijuana trafficking, the drug discussed here, the solution would
logically be legalizing the flowers instead of waging war and
handing sundry cartels ever more reasons to traffick in drugs
and shoot prohibitionist enforcers.
House
may make rave promoters liable for Ecstacy use (Oct. 14, 2002)
Jesse J. Holland of the Associated Press writes about yet more
zany and outright un-American activities by federal prohibitionist
lawmakers. "Lawmakers want to go after organizers and hosts
of dance parties called "raves" in an attempt to halt the fast-rising
use of the drug Ecstasy, which has been linked to damage to the
brain, heart and kidneys in American teen-agers."
Drug
Lord Files UN Complaint Over Prison Treatment (Oct. 14, 2002)
"Benjamin Arellano Felix, an alleged member of one of Mexico's
most ruthless drug gangs, has filed a complaint with the UN Human
Rights Commission alleging abuse at Mexico's maximum security
La Palma prison, a newspaper reported Sunday," notes the
Associated Press.
Drugs:
Recipe for An Arrest (OCt. 14, 2002)
"The U.S. Attorney General isn’t the only one who wants citizens
to keep a closer eye on their neighbors. In John Ashcroft’s home
state of Missouri, a local drug task force announced plans to
get store clerks to turn in customers they suspect of buying the
raw ingredients to make the stimulant methamphetamine—everyday
substances like nail-polish remover, cold medicine, coffee filters
and matches." This according to a report in Newsweek.
Security
is priority at new drug enforcement building (Oct. 14, 2002)
"The $23 million-plus building replaces the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration's 16-year-old digs in the UMB Bank Building on
Forsyth Boulevard in Clayton, giving the agency double the space
and an environment where security is much tighter," reports
Bill Bryan for the Post-Dispatch. What else could that 23 million
dollars in taxpayer money have been used for?
Ed
Thompson: I Just Want People To Know Who I Am (Oct. 14, 2002)
"It's insanity! The 'drug war' is supporting terrorism. There
are more drugs on the streets than ever. The "drug war" is not
working. It's taking up our courts and prisons. We can do something
about it! And it's time we had the courage to do it." So
declares Ed Thompson, the Libertarian candidate for Governor of
Wisconson.
Daily
urges int'l community to be more supportive of Iran's anti-drug
war (Oct. 14, 2002)
"A morning daily on Monday focused on the 37th annual gathering
of the Middle East coalition against illicit drugs due to open
in Tehran today, and urged more support from the international
community to Iran as the vanguard of efforts to eliminate the
traffick in drugs. Drug trafficking is the fourth largest and
most lucrative business in the world run by a powerful global
mafia, the English-Language daily `Iran News' pointed out."
So notes this report for the Islamic Republic News Agency.
Nigeria
does not produce or consume hard drugs -NDLEA boss (Oct. 14,
2002)
Is this true or wishful thinking? What is the definition of hard
drugs noted in this claim? This prohibition claims that Nigeria's
main "problem" drug is cannabis.
Smith
and O'Connell disagree about drug war (Oct. 14, 2002)
"Smith was one of the 21 original signers of the resolution.
Others included prominent national figures who have called for
the legalization of drugs, including economist Milton Friedman,
Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray and former Secretary
of State George Shultz," notes Timm Herdt for InsideVC.
Drug
czar blasts marijuana issue on Nev. ballot (Oct. 14, 2002)
"The nation's drug czar said that Nevada's ballot issue to
legalize possession of marijuana is ludicrous and that the measure's
supporters are relying on distortions and voter naivete,"
reports Tom Gardner for the Associated Press. The Drug Czar and
his ilk are getting more desperate, bleating out hysterical yet
increasingly dangerous prohibitionist rhetoric as election day
draws nigh.
National
drug control director talks about marijuana initiative (Oct.
14, 2002)
Organized and well-funded campaigns lobbying for the legalization
of marijuana pose one of the biggest threats to the safety and
health of the nation’s teenagers, said the nation’s drug czar
said Thursday night in Reno," writes Redro Morales for the
Reno Gazette-Journal while reporting on Drug
Czar Asa Hutchinson's most recent brainless statements to
the voters of Nevada.
Village
police officer says teens traded berries for marijuana (Oct.
14, 2002)
A glimpse into exciting and adventurous small-town life, as well
as petty crime, in Alaska.
Debate's
Lighter Moments (Oct. 14, 2002)
Thomas Leighton, candidate for New York Governor on the NY Marijuana
Reform Party ticket, suggested a logical alternative to NYC cops
arresting pot smokers.
Slovakia-
Drum full of marijuana (Oct. 14, 2002)
The planned smoking and enjoyment will not be taking place, as
more than a kilo of hashish was discovered in two handmade drums
before reaching their intended recipient.
Glaucoma
patient calls for legalizing marijuana (Oct. 14, 2002)
"Elvy Musikka, 63, says she's one of only seven people in
the nation to receive legally prescribed medicinal marijuana from
the federal government. She earned that distinction after being
arrested for growing pot at her Hollywood, Fla., home in the late
1980s." This is a fascinating conversation with Musikka,
well worth reading and sending those who support marijuana prohibition
to read as well.
Sammy
Sosa's former business partner arrested (Oct. 14, 2002)
"Sammy Sosa's agent says the slugger no longer has any business
relationship with a man who's charged with conspiring to sell
drugs and launder money," reports ABC7Chicago.com.
FDA
Approves New Drugs to Treat Heroin Addiction (Oct. 14, 2002)
Some pharmaceutical companies stand to make yet more money off
of prohibition by selling these newly approved anti-addiction
drugs.
The Week Online with DRCNet #258 (Oct.
13, 2002)
More bad news on the War on Pain Relief front, a couple in Wisconson
commits suicide after being busted for pot and shrooms, then being
served with a forfeiture notice, and lots more horrific news on
the War front.
DrugSense
Weekly, issue #271 (Oct. 13, 2002)
This is a publication well worth checking out on a weekly basis
for all kinds of news and updates related to the War on Some Drugs.
McWilliams
out on bail after federal charges (Oct. 13, 2002)
In a truly insane move on the part of federal officials, "Medical-marijuana
activist Steven McWilliams was arrested on federal drug charges
yesterday [Friday, Oct. 11] morning, with law enforcement officers
quietly taking him into custody outside his Normal Heights home
as he walked his dogs," write Jeff McDonald and Marisa Taylor
for the Union-Tribune. According to Dale Gieringer of California
NORML in an email alert sent out after the arrest, "This
is the smallest known marijuana case [20 plants] to be criminally
prosecuted by the federal government in its crackdown on medical
marijuana in California."
San
Jose officers pulled off federal drug task force (Oct. 13,
2002)
"Citing a 'clear conflict between federal and state law,'
San Jose Police Chief William Lansdowne has pulled his officers
from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration task force that
raided a medicinal marijuana farm in Santa Cruz County last month.
'It's an issue of priority,' Lansdowne said. 'The problem in California
and in San Jose is clearly methamphetamine, and that's where we
intend to put our resources.''' So reports Roxanne Stites for
the San Jose Mercury News.
Colombia
drug-spraying 'hits weakest' (Oct. 13, 2002)
"The top human rights official in Colombia has urged the
government to suspend the US-backed aerial fumigation of illegal
coca crops in the south of the country," reports Jeremey
McDermott for the BBC.
U.S.
secretly tested bioweapons (Oct. 10, 2002)
Not only did they test these poisons and bioagents on US soil,
they tested them on US citizens both in and out of the military.
Remember, doing drugs on your own is bad for you, but having your
government secretly spray you with chemical and biological agents
as they simultaneously lock up bad druggies is good for you.
DA's
Drug Cartel Remark Angers Pot-Initiative Official (Oct. 10,
2002)
"A chief deputy district attorney in Clark County has suggested
a drug cartel is behind the effort to legalize possession of up
to 3 ounces of marijuana in Nevada. But a spokesman who is pushing
approval of the constitutional amendment called the statement
of prosecutor Gary Booker 'an outright lie, slanderous and libelous,'"
reports Cy Ryan for the Las Vegas Sun. The source for this assertion
was Lyndon LaRouche's Executive Intelligence Review, a hysterical
and demented shill for increased War on Drugs and Users is ever
there was one. Turns out that because of these idiotic comments,
Booker has been put to pasture. See Nevada
marijuana legalization foes replace spokesman.
Rewards
reap tips about pot growers (Oct. 10, 2002)
"It's high season for New Jersey's pot growers, and a marijuana
tip line run by the state police is ringing off the hook. A daughter
turns in her mother. A suspicious neighbor tattles on the guy
next door. One grower rats out another," reports Amy Klein
for the North Jersey News. That these people are turning in friends
and family for a measly thousand dollars obviously means that
money is more corrupting that any drugs are.
Medical
marijuana users sue federal officials (Oct. 10, 2002)
"Two medical marijuana users filed suit Wednesday against
federal authorities in an effort to try to stop government raids
on pot used by sick patients," reports the Associated Press.
See also, Lawsuit
claims U.S. government blocks use of medical marijuana.
New
Anti-Marijuana Campaign Launched by Drug Czar (Oct. 10, 2002)
What in the hell is wrong with these people? "The White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is launching a
new multi-media advertising campaign to better inform teenagers
about the dangers of marijuana use, according to an October 7
press release from the ONDCP." They just spent more than
a billion on a very similar campaign that Drug Czar John Walters
said was not only not effective in keeping kids away from drugs,
but very well could be driving more kids to experiment with illegal
drugs. Again, what in the hell is wrong with these people?
Report:
Manhattan DA to appeal ruling in marijuana case (Oct. 10,
2002)
"The Manhattan district attorney said he plans to appeal
a judge's decision to bar evidence in the case of a man who was
found with a mouthful of marijuana after a police officer pinched
his cheeks," reports Newsday.
Australia-
Group wants marijuana rethink (Oct. 10, 2002)
"A national parliamentary group on drug reform has urged
the South Australian Government to rethink its proposed ban on
hydroponically-grown cannabis. Federal Labor MP Duncan Kerr said
it again would create a situation where the courts were clogged
with minor offenders," writes Chief political reporter for
the Herald Sun in Canberra.
No
Marijuana Charges Against British Officer Behind No-Arrest Strategy
(Oct. 10, 2002)
"A police commander who pioneered a program to end arrests
of those possessing a small amount of marijuana will not be prosecuted
for allegedly smoking the drug himself, prosecutors said Wednesday,"
reports the Associated Press.
Australia-
Aust cannabis use highest in Arnhem Land: report (Oct. 10,
2002)
"A new report shows that Aboriginal communities in Arnhem
Land have the highest rate of cannabis use in the country."
Canada's
first marijuana study to begin (Oct. 10, 2002)
One can only say, it is about time.
OverExposed: Youth
a Target of Alcohol Advertising in Magazines (Oct. 10, 2002)
"America's youth saw far more alcoholic beverage ads in magazines
in 2001 than did people of legal drinking age. This pattern of
the alcohol industry exposing youth to more advertising than adults
cut across beverage types and brands, with the notable exception
of wine. In effect, young people under the legal drinking age
of 21 were a major target audience for the industry's magazine
advertising in 2001, despite the industry's claims to the contrary."
Chemical
Warfare: The RAVE Act (Oct. 10, 2002)
"It's a scene partygoers have become familiar with. Searches,
pat-downs, and confiscations of 'paraphernalia' have become SOP
at many venues, courtesy of the War on Drugs. And the pressure
put on promoters to keep their events substance-free is about
to ratchet up a notch, as congress ponders the controversial Reducing
Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act, adorably nicknamed the
RAVE Act," writes Will Doig, Metro Weekly.
AVAM
exhibit takes on addiction 'High on Life' art thought-provoking
(Oct. 10, 2002)
"In such a situation, art may have as much to teach about
our inability to extricate ourselves from a disastrous state of
affairs as all the official policy studies and political sloganeering.
And, so, in a city where one out of six inhabitants is addicted
to alcohol or drugs, it is entirely fitting that this season's
show at Baltimore's American Visionary Art Museum should focus
on the age-old problem of addiction and humanity's tragic thrall
to the temptations of substance abuse," writes art critic
Glenn McNatt for the Sun.
The
Article Salon Won't Run About a Film PBS Won't Air (Oct. 10,
2002)
"In a typical understatement, The New York Times called the
2000 vote in Florida the most “flawed and fouled up election in
American history.” Everyone knows who won, but few realize that
a whopping 175,000 ballots went uncounted in balloting, which
turned on 537 votes when the Supreme Court stepped in. Even fewer
know about purges from the voter rolls or how the recount in key
counties was undermined, if not deliberately delayed, and, in
effect, sabotaged," reports Danny Schecter, Editor for MediaChannel.org.
FBI
memo details surveillance lapses in terror, spy cases (Oct.
10, 2002)
Hmmm, really?
The
Madness Of America (Oct. 10, 2002)
"Since September 11th - no, since Election Day 2000 -- people
are not thinking clearly. The world is turned upside-down and
we still think things are right-side-up. This fuzzy thinking is
being capitalized on by our current leaders, who are so good at
drumming up enemies that one wonders who their friends are --
other than themselves. Think about what our leaders are saying.
More and more of the world is being designated a dark force by
our leaders. Does anyone wonder where all these dark forces suddenly
came from?" So ponders Jennifer Van Bergen in this editorial
for TruthOut.org.
10-year
sentence in medical pot case (Oct. 9, 2002)
"Bryan James Epis, the first person associated with a California
medical marijuana dispensary to be tried in federal court for
growing pot, was sentenced Monday in Sacramento to a mandatory
10 years in prison," reports Denny Welsh for the Sacramento
Bee.
Snoop
Dogg Stops Smoking Marijuana (Oct. 9, 2002)
"In the Access Hollywood interview, Snoop says every minute
you smoke marijuana, you're "taking a minute off your life that
you could have been here doing something special." More power
to him, but this last sentence here is straight out of the prohibitionist
handbook of stupid comments. The editor of DrugWar.com is curious
just what it is that Snoop Dog thinks he could be doing that's
more special than what he's already accomplished, beyond turning
into a prohibitionist mouthpiece, but as noted, that's his business.
Couple
raises money for medical marijuana defense (Oct. 9, 2002)
"Martin and Lavonne Victor and a few of their friends made
about $50 in 20 minutes as they stood along the offramp at the
Highway 79 South exit of Interstate 15. They all held signs detailing
the couple's arrest and need for money to pay their attorney,"
writes Teri Figueroa for the North County Times.
After
chase, suspect ditches tractor-trailer, 1 ton of marijuana near
Douglas (Oct. 9, 2002)
This title says it all.
Ex-BSU
student sentenced for selling marijuana (Oct. 9, 2002)
This kid only got 90 days in jail for 6 pounds of pot and two
sales to undercover cops. Are the prohibitionist judges coming
slowly to their senses? Any jail for marijuana offenses seems
offensive to some, including the editor of DrugWar.com, but 90
days seems like good luck in this day and age, or the work of
a damn good lawyer.
New
Zealand- Cannabis law reform could ease police crisis (Oct.
9, 2002)
"The Green MP says it is crazy to spend 280,000 sworn police
hours investigating cannabis offences when burglary response times
are increasing."
Wales-
Ill man can smoke cannabis, says bench (Oct. 9, 2002)
Welsh magistrates have made legal history by acquitting a man
who smoked cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Mistaking
okra plants for marijuana leads to internal affairs investigation
(Oct. 9, 2002)
"While the officers seized a pipe, catalogs and High Times
magazines, they found no marijuana. The plants the officer identified
in the backyard turned out to be okra in Hensley's garden,"
reports Robert Crowe for the Houston Chronicle.
Chicoan
gets 10 years for growing marijuana (Oct. 8, 2002)
Bryan Epis was put in prison MOnday, for 10 years, for growing
medical marijuana where it is LEGALIZED by a vote of the citizens
of California, 6 years ago.
MP
dobs in cannabis-smoking colleague (Oct. 8, 2002)
A member of Winston Peters' anti-immigration New Zealand First
party, Mr McNair took it upon himself to put a stop to his fellow
MP's dope smoking and reported him to the police. 'The reality
of the situation is that a member of parliament has openly said
he used drugs and broke the law,' said the 27-year-old MP after
making his written complaint." This prohibitionist is an
asshole, no two ways about it.
Marijuana
factory to sue paper for publishing grow-op street name (Oct.
8, 2002)
"A group of people licensed by Health Canada to grow marijuana
for medicinal purposes plans to sue a newspaper for publishing
the street name of the home where the pot is being cultivated."
Major
Marijuana Bust Lands Teen in Jail (Oct. 8, 2002)
"Jeffrey Jones is charged with manufacturing a controlled
substance and police say Jones claimed some else must have been
growing marijuana in his garage."
NZ
soft on cannabis says addiction expert (Oct. 8, 2002)
"A woman giving cannabis to two teenagers in her care reflects
New Zealand's soft attitude to the drug, an addiction expert says."
1.5
Million Take to the Streets in Italy to Protest Bush War Plans
(Oct. 7, 2002)
"More than 1.5 million Italians took to the streets of dozens
of cities Saturday afternoon and evening to protest possible U.S.
military action against Iraq -- a surprise show of discord that
could be fervent enough for the Italian government to re-think
its support of Washington," writes Eric J. Lyman for UPI
International.
CIA-
Support to Law Enforcement- Director of Central Intelligence Annual
Report of the United States Intelligence Community (Oct. 7,
2002)
"Organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorist acts are
no longer insular, distinct activities that can be contained and
eradicated through traditional enforcement. Instead, they are
integrated activities which through their very commission have
a reverberating impact on our national interests," testified
Steven C. McCraw, Deputy Assistant Director, Investigative Service
Division, FBI, before the House Judiciary Committee way back in
December 2000.
Increase
the Harm says Daft Hope Taft- Ohio's first lady against Issue
1 Taft against drug treatment instead of jail (Oct. 7, 2002)
We all know that drugs, and even drug trreatment, are a lot worse
for one's health than a good jail sentence. Right? That's apparently
what Ohio's first lady thinks. She wants to insure there's even
more harm resulting from drug abuse than any possible harms actually
engendered by drug abuse.
Drug
abusers are not the enemy (Oct. 7, 2002)
"The political response to drug abuse in America has for
too long been characterized as a matter of war, and this case
helps illustrate the limitations of that military model. Drugs
are produced because a market exists for them, and the people
who abuse drugs in their lives are not the enemy. Most of them
are people who live and work among us, people like Noelle Bush,
a young woman who needs help and compassion," notes this
St. Petersburg Times article. It's too bad that it took a well
known politician's daughter having troubles with drugs to bring
this issue to such national attention, seeing as how the war has
been waged on and destroyed less known, less powerful people around
the world for decades.
Thousands
protest against war with Iraq (Oct. 7, 2002)
"Thousands of Americans opposed to war gathered at protest
rallies where they demanded that the White House abandon its military
plans for Iraq." Never let anyone tell you all Americans
are happy with War plans.
America's
pot penalties need a second look (Oct. 7, 2002)
"The Bush administration and other U.S. officials are concerned
with good reason: If pot smoking is no longer a crime in Canada,
it will make America's war on drugs substantially more difficult.
That said, Canada's pending marijuana review has value,"
notes the Times Herald in this article, an article that still
perpetuates DrugWar myths and hysteria, even while pointing out
that Canada's idea to decriminalize, or even legalize marijuana
is a good one.
Ex-Soviet
Leaders Agree on Crime (Oct. 7, 2002)
Yet more leaders deciding that waging war on thier own citizens
is a good idea, one that needs more money and necessitates the
use of myriad weaponry, not to mention propaganda and corruption.
Teach-ins
question U.S. policy (Oct. 7, 2002)
"During the teach-in scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 16, Blain,
along with Louis Simon, a BSU professor of English, will host
a panel on the drug war and its relationship to the war on terrorism.
Blain said the U.S. is already deeply involved in chemical warfare
on Columbia and will soon pursue Columbia in the war on terrorism."
Brazil-
Ex-labor leader has big lead in Brazil presidential race (Oct.
7, 2002)
"Lula's opposition to U.S. policy in Latin America, from
U.S. aid in Colombia's drug war to the embargo against Fidel Castro's
Cuba, has also set off alarms in Washington. His populist campaign
and promises to defend domestic industry from foreign competition
echoed widespread frustrations here over high unemployment and
lingering social inequality after a decade of U.S.-backed free
market reforms," writes Anthony Faiola for the Washington
Post.
Scotland-
Executive is Accused of Losing Drugs War in Courts (Oct. 7,
2002)
"There were calls last night for urgent funding in Scotland's
justice system after Government figures revealed drug crime is
soaring while convictions continue to fall. Up to one in five
cases fails to even reach the courts according to Scottish Executive
statistics," reports Caroline Page for the Press and Journal.
DEA
Speaks Out Against Legalization (Oct. 7, 2002)
Be sure to periodically check in here to read what the prohibitionists
are doing to counter Drug War reform movements around the US and
world.
Vote
to Keep DARE Out of Onondaga Country, New York (Oct. 7, 2002)
Actually, this NY sheriff is appealing for votes to keep the ineffective
for anything but turning kids into snitches and enticing them
into trying drugs DARE program alive and funded by the citizenry
of his community. Hopefully his citizenry will be smart enough
to vote NO.
Going
out with a bong (Oct. 7, 2002)
"In considering the decriminalisation of marijuana, Canada's
outgoing prime minister may make a hash of US relations, writes
Anne McIlroy" in the Guardian Unlimited.
Statement
on Agenda Items 100 and 101: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
and International Drug Control, UN Third Committee (OCt. 7,
2002)
"The international community has responded with concrete
initiatives and visible cooperation against specific threats.
Successful international counternarcotics and anti-crime efforts
have gradually narrowed the field of action for illicit syndicates
that once operated with impunity. Efforts in response to specific
threats such as the drug cartels and terrorism have helped to
build the foundations for long-term international law enforcement
cooperation. Collectively, we can take some pride in how far we
have come together, with the realization of how important our
continued and united effort will be to getting to where we need
to go."
Harvest
Festival allows voice for marijuana defenders (Oct. 7, 2002)
"The annual Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival was
held Saturday and Sunday, attracting thousands of people to downtown
Madison to inform the public about why marijuana should be legalized,"
reportsAdam Edelman for the Badger Herald Online.
Latin
American Diplomats Ponder a Regional Military Force (Oct.
7, 2002)
"The latest debate in Latin American diplomatic circles is
whether to step up regional military cooperation -- and perhaps
even create a South American military force -- to help defeat
Colombia's drug-funded rebel groups and deal with similar internal
threats in the future," reports Andres Oppenheimer for the
Knight Ridder News Service.
Aggressive
Colombian Drug Spraying Pleases U.S. (Oct. 7, 2002)
"Colombia's new government is stepping up its U.S.-backed
campaign to spray cocaine crops, pleasing U.S. officials previously
frustrated by delays caused by fears of peasant unrest,"
reports Jason Webb for Reuters. It appears those worries over
pesky peasant unrest weren't important enough to permanently stop
this destructive and incredibly nasty drug warrior practice. See
also this Progess
Report from Ohio University's The Post, giving a failing grade
to US spraying efforts in Colombia.
U.S.
Forces to Train Colombia Army (Oct. 7, 2002)
"The U.S. officials insisted that the training of the new
commando battalion is part of the war on drugs, known as Plan
Colombia. They said approval from U.S. Congress for the training
of the commando battalion was not needed," notes Andrew Selsky
for Newsday.
Drug
abuse key ingredient in violence (Oct. 7, 2002)
Alcohol is one of the leading causes of domestic violence, which
is pointed out in this otherwise illegal drug-scare piece.
Actor
Jude Law's Daughter, 2, in Ecstasy Scare (Oct. 7, 2002)
She apparently picked up a tab of ecstasy off a club floor during
a childrens' party.
Iraq
Has a Lot of Nerve! - Part I (Oct. 6, 2002)
"Will Congress Permit Bush 43 to Place Soldiers in Harm’s
Way, With Questionable Protective Equipment, Against Same Chemical
Weapons that Bush 41 Officials Allowed to be Shipped Illegally
to Iraq?" That is the burning question posed by Tom Flocco.
Global
Sunday Poll- Should Marijuana be Legalized in Canada (Oct.
6, 2002)
"Just say yes to marijuana... that's the message from Canada's
Senate, legalize it and tax it. The Chretien government says they'll
consider decriminalization, making possession the equivalent of
getting a parking ticket. Meanwhile, the White House wonders what
Canadian politicians are smoking. Join in this week's debate,
with Toronto law professor Allan Young and John P. Walters, Director
of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy."
Join in voicing your opinion today.
Wanted:
More corrupt cops behind bars (Oct. 6, 2002)
"It is not just a coincidence that despite the government’s
all-out war on drugs, the illegal drug trade is defying concerted
efforts to stamp it out. Police corruption is a big part of this
problem. The illegal drug trade is one of the few growth industries
the Philippines has right now, and a lot of police officers just
can’t resist the temptation to siphon off a share of the loot
for themselves."
With
Friends Like These (Oct. 6, 2002)
"The war on drugs has many victims. Few in my opinion were
as undeserving as Ruth Wyner. She ran a hostel for the homeless
in Cambridge and was jailed along with a colleague for failing
to prevent heroin dealing on her premises," writes Nick Cohen
for the Guardian Unlimited Observer.
How
to be a Republican (Oct. 6, 2002)
This list could just as easily apply to Democrats too. The two-party
system's political leaders in the US all belong to one party-
the Greedhead Party. So keep in mind while reading this that Republican
and Democrat are readily interchangeable appellations. Otherwise,
this is a great list.
Brauchli:
Unhealthy weapons in the war on drugs (Oct. 6, 2002)
"The antinarcotics director for the Colombian National Police
said: 'We did not spray on the people or on the senator.' When
contradicted by someone who observed the episode he said: "What
hit him was because of the wind, not because they had the intention."
So writes Christopher Brouchli for the Daily Camera when writing
about US spraying Colombians and their crops with glyphosate,
a nasty herbicide.
4th
National Harm Reduction Conference Agenda Day 1: Sunday, December
1, 2002 4th National Conference Agenda (Oct. 6, 2002)
Find out what plans are being laid, and what steps are being taken
to impliment harm reduction strategies in the US War on Some Drugs.
The
Emperor Within The Empire (Oct. 6, 2002)
"On Iraq, the Pentagon has waged a quiet war against the
State Department and the CIA for months over the role of the Iraqi
National Congress (INC), an opposition group long championed by
Perle and the neo-cons, in any effort to oust Iraq's Saddam Hussein.
Despite the two agencies' long-standing view that the INC is corrupt,
incoherent and unreliable, Rumsfeld managed to pry loose millions
of dollars from the State Department for the group, even as the
two other agencies work with other rival dissident groups,"
writes Jim Lobe for The Black World Today.
Hmong
set up drug network via post office (Oct. 6, 2002)
"A post office at Wat Tham Krabok in Phra Phutthabat district
has been used by Hmong drug traffickers to send illicit drugs
hidden in parcels to customers overseas," reports Anucha
Charoenpo for the Bangkok Post.
Police
raid 'magic' mushrooms, marijuana farm (Oct. 6, 2002)
One of these poor arrested Americans is the brother of murdered
actor Phil Hartman. Do you suppose he was supporting terrorism
by growing magic mushrooms?
Sanchez
Admits Smoking Marijuana (Oct. 6, 2002)
Yet another lying, hypocritical US political candidate who admits
he used marijuana "as a youth" but apparently still
thinks waging War on the rest of the marijuana experimenters is
a good idea.
Court
Reverses Marijuana Ruling (Oct. 6, 2002)
"Congress had the right to block District of Columbia residents
from voting on whether to legalize marijuana for medical use,
a federal appeals court ruled Friday," reports the Associated
Press.
Health
board opposes Nevada marijuana question (Oct. 6, 2002)
"Board members said Friday that a 'clear and present danger'
to the health and safety of Nevadans would exist if voters approved
Question 9," completely ignoring the 'clear and present dangers
to the health and safety of Nevadans' as long as prohibition continues
its destructive path. What is worse for pot smokers and society
at large, capricious jailing for use of a flower, or the simple
use of said flower by adults? These idiots also allege that marijuana
will be "more available" to children if Nevada's legalization
initiative passes, as though marijuana is not already widely available
to children.
Marijuana
activist runs for seat in Ohio House (Oct. 6, 2002)
"An outspoken advocate of lessening criminal sanctions for
marijuana says a vote for him in his race for an Ohio House seat
is a vote for legalizing the drug for medical use," reports
the Associated Press.
Noelle
Bush's lawyers request closed hearings (Oct. 6, 2002)
"Noelle Bush's attorneys have asked a judge to bar the public
from court hearings on their client's drug treatment, saying media
attention violates her right to privacy, according to court records,"
notes CNN.
The
Drug War Goes Prime Time (Oct. 5, 2002)
"While most such series allude to the broader politics that
drive law enforcement, Wire takes the next step. Here the agencies
are portrayed not as zealous guardians of the public good, but
rather as political entities pursuing their vested interests -
whose actions often have unjust and cruel consequences,"
reports Bobbi Murray for AlterNet.org.
Survey
indicates juvenile drug use down in Florida (Oct. 5, 2002)
Randolph Pendleton writes for the Associated Press that, "Bush
did not mention his 25-year-old daughter's problems at Friday's
news conference, but said the state has good rehabilitation facilities.
'It's hard to get that addiction out of you,' he said."
Nevada
Not the Fertile Ground Pot Pushers Were Seeking (Oct. 5, 2002)
"Yes, Nevada still has the gambling, the prostitution, the
smoking and, soon, the nuclear waste. But it also has a growing
and increasingly powerful right-wing movement. And that is why
the marijuana legalization effort will almost surely be voted
down come November," writes Jimmy Boegle for Newsday..
Who
Mailed the Anthrax? (Oct. 5, 2002)
Check out this incredibly scary advertisement that ran in the
Washington Times, detailing the advertiser's suspicions as to
who it may have been that mailed those killing letters.
The
Forever War How long can an emergency last? (Oct. 5, 2002)
"What was left looked less like World War II, and more like
the war on drugs: an intermittently violent campaign against an
amorphous enemy that can never be decisively vanquished,"
writes Jacob Sullum for Reason while discussing the latest endless
war for the US, this one on terror.
Madison
students may see drug tests (Oct. 5, 2002)
"The Madison County School District is considering random
drug testing of students involved in extra-curricular activities,"
reports Peggy Matthews for Mississippi's Clarion-Ledger.
Philip
Morris Told to Pay Smoker $28B (Oct. 5, 2002)
Amazing is all that can be said about this jury's decision.
NATO
Soldiers from Europe to Sue USA (Oct. 5, 2002)
"NATO soldiers from Europe suffering from cancer are going
to open a court case next week against US firms, which did not
warn them that the equipment they were handling was dangerously
radioactive," reports Pravda. And it is not about Depleted
Uranium, it is about radar systems made by Raytheon Company, General
Electric, ITT-Gilfillan Inc, and Lucent Technologies.
Controversial
book asks the 'hard questions' about 9/11 (Oct. 5, 2002)
The title here pretty much says it all.
Police
arrest seven more on drug charges (Oct. 5, 2002)
"Beckley police arrested seven more people on drug-related
charges Friday, continuing a citywide series of raids that began
Thursday," writes Jessica Shifflett for the Register-Herald.
Rush
to War Ignores U.S. Constitution (Oct. 5, 2002)
Senator Robert C. Byrd is not happy with the Bush push for yet
more war on and in Iraq.
NSA
to Upgrade Monitoring Abilities (Oct. 5, 2002)
Keep in mind, "it can never happen here," as you read
this report by Seth Hettena for the Associated Press, about how
"The largest U.S. intelligence agency will spend millions
to upgrade the technology it uses to sift through the huge volume
of telephone conversations, e-mail and other worldwide communications
chatter it monitors, under a new contract."
Senators
Say CIA Withholding Info (Oct. 5, 2002)
"In the latest dispute between intelligence agencies and
Congress, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Thursday
the CIA has been withholding information it requested on U.S.
military action in Iraq," reports the Associated Press.
Student
Drug Tests (Oct. 5, 2002- Free NYTimes registration may be
required)
This is a short and to the point letter to the editors at the
New York Times.
Project
Censored 2003 (Oct. 5, 2002)
Get the new book now.
The Week Online With DRCNet (Oct. 5,
2002)
The head of the DEA tell California patients to drop dead, a new
ecstasy study is full of holes, a MOntana Drug Task force calls
for more treatment and prevention, Colombia's President Uribe
wants to recriminalize personal drug possession, and a lot more
stories can be read in this week's issue. Be sure to check the
Reformers' Calendar for events and actions near you.
DrugSense
Weekly (Oct. 5, 2002)
A lot of information on marijuana, incarceration and law enforcement,
meth, and the War on Some Drugs in general. You can also listen
to an audio version of the newsletter here.
Crash
victim had Vermont ties (Oct. 3, 2002)
Wesley J. Liebeler, 71, was counsel to the Warren Commission which
"investigated" the assassination of President Kennedy.
He was killed during a training flight last week, Sept. 25, 2002,
crashing into a lake in New Hampshire along with his instructor.
DEA
Busts Alleged 'Club Drug' Ring (Oct. 3, 2002)
"A federal grand jury in Miami indicted 10 people Wednesday
on charges related to the importation and distribution of a popular
club drug. The international drug trafficking ring allegedly distributed
the drug Ketamine, which is also known as 'Special K,' across
the United States," notes this report by the NBC 6 News team.
Sheriffs,
police chiefs oppose marijuana question (Oct. 3, 2002)
It really shouldn't be surprising to anyone that folk whose livelihood
and even much of their police budget depends on arresting druggies,
particularly marijuana users, and forfeiting their cash and property.
It seems logical if more than a wee bit wrong-headed to this editor
that most police are not happy with drug law reform.
FBI
investigates deputy's teen arrest (Oct. 3, 2002)
"At the hospital, the teen-ager whispered to his father that
Henderson had pistol-whipped him, according to Christopher Grant's
attorney, Patrick Geraghty. The FBI launched its investigation
after another narcotics agent tipped the agency off to the alleged
abuse, according to the boy's attorney, Geraghty said," according
to this report in the Florida's Sun-Herald.
Man
who opened marijuana cafe found guilty of drugs offenses (Oct.
3, 2002)
"Colin Davies, 44, a multiple sclerosis sufferer who uses
marijuana, or hemp, to ease his symptoms, was arrested after smoking
a joint during a launch party at his store, The Dutch Experience,
on Sept. 15, 2001," reports AP News.
Poll:
Majority of voters say they favor medical marijuana proposition
(Oct. 3, 2002)
"Fifty-three percent of likely voters polled said they will
vote in favor of [Arizona's] Proposition 203, while 33 percent
said they would cast ballots against it. About 15 percent said
they were undecided on the issue."
Key
player in Scott case admits role (Oct. 3, 2002)
"A 28-year-old Norristown man on Wednesday became the first
of 10 suspects arrested as part of a former Norristown councilman's
alleged drug and fraud ring to plead guilty in Montgomery County
court," reports Stephen O'toole for the Times Herald.
Officers
Accused of Taking Aid Money (Oct. 3, 2002)
"Prosecutors [in Bogota, Colombia] Thursday accused 71 police
officers, including a former top anti-drug official, of taking
more than $2 million in U.S. aid," reports Sushannah A. Nesmith
for the Associated Press.
The
mayor, the addict and the filmmaker (Oct. 3, 2002)
"There's a revolution brewing in Vancouver and it's the subject
of a controversial documentary, Alexandra Gill reports" for
the Globe and Mail.
War
On Blacks Never Ends! (OCt. 3, 2002)
"We do not need another war. We still haven't overcome the
war waged against our communities by the drug king-pins, and members
of the U.S. Government, a war who's weapon was Crack Cocaine,"
writes Joe Williams III for The Black World Today.
How
To Know You Are Brainwashed (Oct. 3, 2002)
"Serial liar Drug czar John Walters is readying another billion
dollar campaign aimed at teenagers to convince them that the pot
they buy is funding narco killers. This will backfire. Even teenagers
are logical enough to understand that it is the black market in
illegal drugs that provides terrorist profits and guarantees violent
turf wars just as alcohol prohibition did," says a small
portion of this editorial.
Orphaned
By the Drug War (Oct. 3, 2002)
"Reform advocates see Tulia as a high-relief example of the
way the war on drugs is prosecuted nationally," notes Bobbi
Murray for Boston's WeeklyDig.com.
U.S.,
Colombia to Track Drug Flights (Oct. 3, 2002)
"Eighteen months after an American missionary plane was accidentally
shot down, the United States will resume a campaign to help Colombia
track and force down drug flights, officials from both countries
said Wednesday." Read more of this report at the Guardian
Unlimited.
Colombia
seeks Europe's help in war against drug terrorism (Oct. 3,
2002)
"Colombia's foreign minister on Wednesday stressed the need
for a more active European role in the nation's decades-old struggle
against guerrillas," writes Tal Abbady for the Associated
Press.
Iran-
Police seize 12 tons of drugs in Khorassan province in six months
(Oct. 3, 2002)
The police commander in charge of this area said for this article
for the Islamic News Service that "the haul has increased
by three tons over the figures for the same period last year.
He added that haul included 6.329 kg of opium, 4.189 tons of hashish,
132 kg of heroin, 512 kg of morphine with the remaining opium
residue. Over 3,804 smugglers have also been arrested in the same
period, the police commander remarked." Be sure to also read
Heroin
trade gets boost from US invasion, from the Independent Online.
Opium
glut in Hamid Karzai’s Afghanistan (Oct. 3, 2002)
"Europe is about to be inundated by a tidal wave of cheap
heroin from Afghanistan, which will reach the cities of the Old
Continent via Turkey and Albania. Since the Taleban regime was
ousted and the US-backed regime of Hamid Karzai was installed
in Kabul, opium production has risen by one thousand, five hundred
tonnes. In one year." So reports Russia's Pravda.
'Drug
czar' promises no end to war (OCt. 3, 2002)
"There will be no letup in the country's battle against drug
abuse, 'drug czar' John P. Walters said Tuesday in Denver,"
reports Mike Patty for the Rocky Mountain News.
DEA
chief tells state to expect more pot raids (Oct. 2, 2002)
Standing on his rooftop in lower Manhattan while watching the
WTC burn and fall down on Sept. 11, 2001, for just a fleeting
moment the editor of DrugWar.com entertained thoughts that perhaps
the prohibitionists would see the error of their ways, and realize
their priorities were in need of drastic shift in focus. Alas,
these thoughts were merely pipe dreams, as the feds propose, nay,
threaten yet more raids on sick people and not so sick people
too in California, simply for using and growing marijuana.
Peru
FM Backs Anti-Drug Flights (Oct. 2, 2002)
Foreign Minister Allan Wagner said Tuesday that Peru's war on
drugs will not succeed without U.S.-backed interdiction efforts
including renewing a program to shoot down planes used for drug
smuggling," reports the Associated Press.
DEA
denies sanctuary for family of drug informant (Oct. 2, 2002)
"The Drug Enforcement Administration has formally rejected
a request by prosecutors to protect the family of a key informant
in the U.S. war on drugs from attacks by vengeful drug dealers
in Colombia," writes Tom Hays for the Associated Press.
UK-The
spy who loved me (Oct. 2, 2002)
"But then came George's last posting. A big British anti-narcotics
operation had been running in Colombia since 1993. Teams of British
customs drug liaison officers, backed up by SAS and SBS soldiers,
had worked with MI6 to infiltrate the cocaine barons, set up smuggling
runs to Europe, follow the fast boats with sophisticated tracking
devices, and arrest the smugglers." Read more of this Guardian
Unlimited report detailing the travails of this spy's wife getting
proper medical care from an ungrateful government. After reading
this article, be sure to read a
letter from Cristin McCauley, the wife of an Irishman this
now-dead British spy put into a Colombian jail in august 2001,
where he languishes still awaiting trial.
Substance
prevention grant given to local club Teens, youths target of national
program (Oct. 2, 2002)
"The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gardiner was awarded
a nearly $100,000 grant to prevent substance abuse among teenagers
and other area youths," reports Keith Edwards. This club
stands to receive the same amount for the next two years as well,
as long as they stick to the government's rules.
Editorial
Reinforcements always welcome in war on drugs (Oct. 2, 2002)
This editorial is calling for more federal involvement and local
law enforcement cooperation at all levels in the War on Drugs.
Citizens
dig pot plants (Oct. 2, 2002)
Get your shovel and help the local authorities harvest illegal
pot! Of course, it is doubtful that the authorities will allow
the citizenry to keep what they reap.
BERARDINO:
Marlins' McRae foils pot plot (Oct. 2, 2002)
A pot smuggling try by jocks is stopped in its tracks by other
jocks.
County
Goes Against City's Pot Plans City Of San Diego Developing Medical
Marijuana Guidelines (Oct. 2, 2002)
More destructive silliness from public officials.
U.S.
warns against liberalizing laws on pot (Oct. 2, 2002)
"A move toward possibly decriminalizing marijuana brought
warnings yesterday from U.S. officials and lawmakers, who cautioned
that Canada should not succumb to "myths" and warned of new disruptions
to border trade," reports Campbell Clark for Canada's Globe
and Mail.
Alcohol
is leading 'date rape' drug: world forum (Oct. 2, 2002)
"A world forum on drugs and addiction has been told alcohol
is by far the leading 'date rape' drug. At the forum, in the Canadian
city of Montreal, experts have stressed that alcohol is the primary
substance involved in rape, not the spiking of drinks with the
drug, GHB," reports the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Life
during Wartime Our man in D.C. How Dubya's making the world safe
for biowarfare (Oct. 2, 2002)
The US appears to have been breaking international treaties governing
research and developement of biowar and chemical agents for years,
under both Republican and Democratic Presidents. Certain circles
are aching to bring back the bad old days of MK-ULTRA, testing
out dangerous pharmaceuticals to be used "to temporarily
incapacitate enemy combatants," or perhaps even protestors.
Small
town jots: Pot spots too hot (Oct. 2, 2002)
When asked back in September why her newspaper pulled these pro-medical
marijuana ads in a state "with a bill to legalize medical
marijuana coming up for discussion in an interim legislative committee...
Daily Independent publisher Suzanne Reed, wasn't forthcoming as
to why her paper refused to run the ads. "I don't think you can
assume anything [about why the ads were refused] unless you know
the facts, and I'm not going to tell you them,' Reed said. 'We
rejected it, and I don't have to tell you why we rejected it.
… I'm telling you that we're not going to tell you why, and you'd
better not jump to conclusions about why we did or did not.'"
So reports David Koon for the Arkansas Times.
Moss
charged with possession of pot (Oct. 2, 2002)
This NFL player, already apparently mandated into treatment for
his pot use, has now been charged for possessing one joint, just
under one gram of pot, as well as wracking up some other misdemeanor
charges including driving his car into a traffic cop. He could
end up being suspended and/or fined by the NFL. For his pot use,
not apparently for striking the officer.
A
Letter from Cristín McCauley (Oct. 2, 2002)
"Since August 11, 2001, three Irish citizens have been languishing
in the prisons of the narco-state of Colombia. On October 4, they
will begin a long trial that may end in decades-long prison sentences
for each." Get the background on this disturbing case here.
Drug
enforcement receives federal funding (Oct. 2, 2002)
"The Office of National Drug Control Policy announced six
Oklahoma counties as High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas. The
new designation will grant more money for curbing the drug problem
in Cleveland, Comanche, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Sequoyah and Oklahoma
counties," reports Justin Noel Shimko for the Oklahoma Daily.
Privacy
laws apply in rehab, judge in Noelle Bush case rules (Oct.
1, 2002)
"In a case that has captured the attention of legal scholars
across the nation, a judge ruled Monday that Noelle Bush's drug
therapists won't have to testify in court about the crack cocaine
found in her shoe," report Peter Wallsten and Phil Long for
the Miami Herald.
Growing
epidemic (Oct. 1, 2002)
This small US town in New Hampshire has seen a "huge"
increase in the amount of heroin seized in the last year, coincidentally
during the exact same time US troops have gone into Afghanistan
and Afghan farmers have reaped a 1400 percent increase in poppies.
Is there a correlation here? Are other US cities and town seeing
similar increases in heroin on their streets?
Marijuana
Factory opens (Oct. 1, 2002)
"There are many houses in British Columbia home to marijuana
grow operations. Few of them offer media tours. But the people
behind the Marijuana Factory, which officially opened yesterday
on a quiet suburban Vancouver street, say they are doing nothing
wrong growing marijuana and processing it into potent pot pellets."
So writes CP for the London Free Press News.
Northern
Command Ready For Homeland Role (Oct. 1, 2002)
Northcom, which will be officially launched Tuesday at Peterson
Air Force Base, was created to provide command and control of
the military's homeland defense and to coordinate military support
for natural disasters and the drug war.
Ottawa
considers decriminalizing marijuana (Oct. 1, 2002)
"Ottawa — The federal government signalled in yesterday's
Throne Speech that it will move toward decriminalizing marijuana,
but left enough wiggle room to elude controversy," reports
Campbell Clark for the Globe and Mail.The fact that Relaxed
marijuana laws [are] to be 'explored' by government officials
in Canada illustrates the increasing isolation of Washington,
DC which continues to insist that marijuana users deserve jail
time and/or drug treatment.
Fresh
evidence that cannabis reduces pain (Oct. 1, 2002)
"The prospects for for a cannabis-based medicine to help
patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions
has improved with the publication of new evidence that the drug
helps to reduce pain," writes Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
for the Independent UK.
The
making of an American quagmire (Oct. 1, 2002)
"On the drug-war front, Britain's Independent reported that
production of opium has grown from 185 tons in 2001 to more than
2,700 tons this year, a 1,400 percent increase. According to the
Independent, Afghanistan's drug growers are back in business big
time - the country is the source of 75 per cent of the world's
heroin and 90 per cent of Britain's supply," notes Bill Berkowitz
for WorkingForChange.com when reporting on Bush, Afghanistan and
other related news.
Political
activism group addresses global, local issues (Oct. 1, 2002)
"When professor David Andrus mentioned in class that he planned
to attend a joint American and Colombian conference on the effects
of the drug war, several students asked if they could join,"
writes Didier Diels in this report on Peace and Conflict Scholars,
a new political activist group at the University of Southern California.
My
Turn: Random drug tests undermine trust (Oct. 1, 2002)
Hayden Kaden is not at all happy with recent moves by schools
to randomly test students for drug use.
Peru
Changes Tack in Drug War, Says Coca on Rise (Oct. 1, 2002)
"Peru, the world's No. 2 cocaine producer, has changed tack
in its war on drugs, offering farmers cash and job benefits to
eradicate crops voluntarily, but officials admit illicit cultivation
still is on the rise," reported Jude Webber for ABCNews last
week. In other news, Peru's rebel army Shining
Path [is] on [the] prowl but a shadow of [its] former self.
Student
group waiting to see OU's next step on pot rules (Oct. 1,
2002)
"The committee is in the midst of reviewing proposed amendments
to OU's Student Code of Conduct, including a controversial stiffening
of penalties for student possession of small amounts of marijuana,"
reports Athens News Senior Writer Jim Phillips.
Group
Works To Legalize Medicinal Marijuana (Oct. 1, 2002)
Jeff Niese reports in the Morning News that "A Nevada ballot
initiative legalizing the use of marijuana could help efforts
to legalize medical marijuana in Arkansas, said a local legalization
proponent."
Drug-ring
suspect may avoid prison (Oct. 1, 2002)
"One of the five defendants in a central Wisconsin cocaine
and marijuana trafficking case may avoid prison time after reaching
a plea bargain with prosecutors," writes Paul Chronis for
the Stevens Point Journal.
6
Scholarships in Authentic Journalism (Oct. 1, 2002)
Take a 10-day journey studying revolutionary journalism in Merida
Yucatan, and the Mexican Caribbean, this coming February, 2003.
There are partial scholarships available as well.