-------------------------------------------------------------------
Purer, Cheaper Snortable Heroin Floods US (Interdiction Fails -
Colombia Gains Lion's Share Of Market, With New England's
Growing Fastest, Admits DEA)
Subj: WIRE: Purer, Cheaper Snortable Heroin Floods U.S.
From: David Hadorn and Marcus-Mermelstein Family
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 15:15:27 -0800
Source: Reuters
Pubdate: Wed, December 31, 1997
Author: Leslie Gevirtz
PURER, CHEAPER SNORTABLE HEROIN FLOODS U.S.
BOSTON (Reuters) - Purer product, cheaper prices and savvy marketing have
given deadly Colombian heroin the lion's share of the U.S. market with New
England the fastest growing segment, Drug Enforcement Administration
officials said Wednesday.
George Festa, the DEA special agent in charge of New England, attributed
the resurgence of heroin to "a lack of memory on the part of youth,
celebrity heroin chic and the fact that you no longer have to inject it.
The purity is so incredible, you can snort it.
"The ability to snort heroin like cocaine means that it eliminates needles
and the risk of AIDS. So its use is spreading. These people don't realize
that heroin is not cocaine. Heroin is not a recreational drug," Festa said.
The Colombians use their well-established cocaine distribution networks to
offer free samples of the drug and make it available in smaller, cheaper
quantities.
The result is that after decades of a market once dominated by Southeast
and Southwest Asian drugs, Colombian heroin now accounts for more than 60
percent of the heroin smuggled into the country, the DEA said.
"The purity of the product is what really concerns us," Festa said. "We've
made street buys with a purity of 95 percent, even 97 percent."
When blues singer Billie Holiday died from an overdose of heroin, purity
levels were about 7 percent; when rocker Janis Joplin overdosed, purity
levels hovered about 20 percent; and when rock group Smashing Pumpkins'
keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died, purity levels had already reached more
than 60 percent.
"There is still a heroin chic thing, too," Festa said.
He pointed to Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr., who was sent to
prison for six months earlier in December. The actor was caught with heroin
and cocaine in violation of his probation on an earlier charge of drug use.
Bags of Colombian heroin can be bought on Boston streets for $4. The price
rises a bit by the time it gets to Vermont where the same quantity costs
about $15, Festa said. The wholesale price of a kilo (2.2 pounds) of heroin
has remained pretty stable in the last few years, averaging between
$125,000 and $180,000 depending on the source, he said.
The comparable cost for a kilo of cocaine has gone down to $25,000 from
$60,000, DEA
statistics show.
Nationally, the number of people receiving emergency treatment for drug
overdoses in U.S. hospitals declined in 1996, but for the main illegal
drugs, the overall trend remained upward, according to the U.S. Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The DEA's drug abuse warning network in 1995 found Boston, Baltimore, New
York and Newark, N.J., were the regions of the country with the most
striking increases in heroin use.
Kilo shipments are no longer the rule. "What we're seeing is people driving
to New York and bringing back bundles (50 bags) and gram and ounce
quantities," Festa said.
Dominican traffickers are wiring their proceeds out of the country in
varying amounts of no more than $2,000, the DEA reported. Conversely, the
DEA said, Colombians seem to prefer to ship the funds back to New York
concealed in the same cars that transported the drugs.
REUTERS
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Letters To The Editor On California Court Of Appeals Ruling
(That Dennis Peron's San Francisco Cannabis Cultivators' Club
Does Not Meet The Criteria For A 'Primary Caregiver' Under 11362.5 -
Laura Kriho's Letter, 'Lungren Vs. Prop. 215,' Includes Addresses
For Some State Officials)
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 16:55:08 EST
From: AMMO
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: E-mail Lungren
San Francisco Bay Guardian
520 Hampshire
San Francisco, CA 94110
E-mail: letters@sfbg.com
Web: http://www.sfbg.com
December 31, 1997
Two Letters to the Editor on California Court of Appeals Ruling
E-mail: letters@sfbg.com
Dealers and cops, rejoice
The California Court of Appeals has offered a rare opportunity for law
enforcement and large-scale marijuana traffickers to celebrate together.
The ruling closing cannabis buyers' clubs has been cheered by
law-enforcement officials. The reaction is predictable, since their job has
been resimplified. They won't have to distinguish between a caregiver and a
drug dealer; there will only be drug dealers again. Subtle nuances do not
help to increase arrests or asset forfeitures.
Those people who profit obscenely from marijuana sales on the street also
have reason to be happy. Several old customers (and their money) will
return. As a bonus, these businessmen can expect some of the heat to be
taken off their own operations, since the police will now be authorized to
wreck the life of anyone weak-willed enough to grow marijuana for a sick
friend.
Medical marijuana patients say they feel as if they are being kicked while
they are already down. How typical -- thinking only of themselves. If they
had any real empathy, they wouldn't let allow their misery to rain on the
parade of rejoicing cops and dealers.
STEPHEN YOUNG Roselle, Ill.
***
Lungren vs. Prop. 215
A recent California appellate court ruling, which reinstated an injunction
to shut down the San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club, may have chilling
consequences. The court ruling was specifically directed at Dennis Peron
and the San Francisco club, but I worry that Attorney General Dan Lungren
may use it as an excuse to shut down clubs throughout California. In a Dec.
12 Associated Press story, Lungren said he believes the ruling "gives
proper guidance throughout California and we will so advise the law
enforcement." In the same article, Gov. Wilson's spokesperson said, "The
state needs to do everything in its power to limit the distribution of
potentially dangerous drugs."
That sounds to me like the state government is getting ready to fight with
patients and caregivers throughout California to thwart access to their
medicine. Was that the intent of Prop. 215?
In a dissenting opinion from the appellate court, Justice J. Anthony Kline
said the majority ruling would make marijuana unavailable for many
seriously ill Californians.
Was that the intent of Prop. 215?
Justice Kline said, "The right to obtain marijuana is ... meaningless if it
cannot legally be satisfied." I agree with Justice Kline. I think the
majority on the appellate court got this one wrong. The intent of Prop. 215
was to allow seriously ill patients to have safe access to a medicine that
is beneficial to them.
What is to protect the patients and caregivers from the police? The court
of law has failed them, though hopefully only temporarily. In the meantime,
we have only the court of public opinion.
I urge you to call your local law-enforcement agencies, the attorney
general, and the governor and tell them that you will strongly object to
any attempt to shut down buyers' and cultivators' clubs statewide. State
law enforcement should not be using your tax dollars to fight your sick
family and friends. Prop. 215 was about compassion, not control.
Stop arresting sick people!
LAURA KRIHO Nederland, Colo.
***
Governor Pete Wilson
State Capitol, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 445-4633
Email: PeteWilson@ca.gov
Lieutenant Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol, Room 1114
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-8994
Fax: (916) 323-4998
Email: gray.davis@ltg.ca.gov
Attorney General Daniel E. Lungren
1300 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-9555
Fax: (916) 324-5205
Attorney General's Office Public Inquiry Unit
Web: http://caag.state.ca.us/piu/mailform.htm
E-mail: piu@hdcdojnet.state.ca.us
Re-distributed as a public service by the:
Colorado Hemp Initiative Project
P.O. Box 729, Nederland, CO 80466
Hotline: (303) 784-5632
Email:
Web: http://www.welcomehome.org/cohip.html
"Fighting 60 years of lies and dis-information
with 10,000 years of history and fact."
To be added to or removed from our mailing list,
send email with the word SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE in the title.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bus Driver Involved In Chase Gets Jail Term (Houston, Texas, Man
Just Wanted A 'Couple Of Rocks')
Subj: US TX: Bus Driver Involved in Chase Gets Jail Term
From: Art Smart
Source: Houston Chronicle
Contact: viewpoints@chron.com
Pubdate: Wed, 31 Dec 1997
URL: http://www.chron.com/content/
Author: Jo Ann Zuniga
page 17A
BUS DRIVER INVOLVED IN CHASE GETS JAIL TERM
A Metropolitan Transit Authority bus driver who led police on a 90-mile
chase earlier this month was sentenced Tuesday to 280 days in the Harris
County Jail.
Joshua Burgos, 34, pleaded no contest to charges of evading arrest in the
Dec. 11 chase and to criminal mischief in connection with a domestic
dispute Sunday when he purposely damaged his girlfriend's car.
Harris County Court at Law No. 14 Judge Jim Barkley handed down the stiff
sentence because Burgos had been arrested over the weekend while awaiting
sentencing in the bus chase.
His attorney, Lynn Alan Shepherd, said, "He has said he was sorry for what
happened. He apologizes to Metro."
"He's going to take full advantage of getting help while in jail for his
domestic problems and any drug problems he has," Shepherd said.
Burgos led pursuers on a two-hour, low-speed chase on several area freeways
before ending east of Baytown on Interstate 10. At one point, he told Metro
dispatchers that all he wanted was a "couple of rocks" -- slang for crack
cocaine.
Though his tires had been flattened by spikes deployed by police, Burgos
continued on for several miles as sparks flew from the wheel rims. Dozens
of patrol cars from several different agencies joined in the pursuit.
"It was a panic situation. He was off his route and was afraid of losing
his job," Shepherd said.
After being suspended from work with pay immediately after being taken into
custody, he was fired the following week, said Metro spokeswoman Julie
Gilbert.
Burgos was hired by Metro in September 1994, resigned for personal reasons
in March 1995, and was rehired in September 1995.
Officials said he was suspended for three days last year when he took a
two-month leave for health reasons, but could not produce a doctor's note
on his return.
Burgos' record includes citations for attendance problems and tardiness,
and he took a leave of absence from Sept. 12 to Oct. 8 this year,
apparently for personal problems, Gilbert said.
Until Dec. 11, his record showed no accidents or complaints from
passengers, and, Gilbert said, he had passed four Metro drug tests.
Burgos submitted to a breath analysis after his arrest, and no alcohol was
found in his system.
After Burgos' sentencing Tuesday, Gilbert said, "In light of this incident,
we are re-evaluating the entire process (of drug tests). But we have no
details to release yet."
On Dec. 11, just before 10 p.m., when Burgos should have been driving to
the Metro station at Polk and Wayside to turn in his bus, two Houston
Police Department gang officers spotted the vehicle in the 1900 block of
Scott, which is not on a bus route.
The bus nearly hit a pedestrian, and the officers tried to pull it over.
When the bus took off instead, it was first thought to have been stolen and
the chase began.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest Column - A Cop's Plea To Decriminalize Drugs (In The Vancouver,
British Columbia, 'Sun,' Joining Perry Kendall, President Of The Canadian
National Addiction Research Foundation, Former Canadian Premier
Mike Harcourt, And Ken Higgins, A Deputy Police Chief Of Vancouver)
Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 23:08:26 +1300 (NZDT)
To: flydoc@xtra.co.nz
From: David.Hadorn@vuw.ac.nz (David Hadorn)
Subject: Acop's plea to decriminalize
X-Mailing-List: archive/latest/3962
X-Loop: mattalk@listserv.islandnet.com
Source: Vancouver Sun
Date: Dec. 31, 1997
Page: FORUM: A19
Guest column: A cop's plea to decriminalize drugs
A Vancouver police officer doesn't want to tell one more mother of a
son's overdose death. He writes that a public-health crisis, not a
law-enforcement challenge, is besieging us all.
WOULD WE RATHER COUNT BODIES?
Gil Puder Vancouver Sun
Recently, I had to tell a woman her son had died from a drug overdose.
Leaving her world shattered by tragedy, I asked myself what our society is
doing to help other mothers whose children are at risk. Absolutely nothing,
I'm embarrassed to say. And with seven Vancouver residents dying in one
24-hour period from drug overdoses - nine in less than two weeks - that's not
good enough.
Rather than constructive action, however, lawmakers frantically rearrange
deck chairs on the modern social Titanic. My hope for 1998 is that Santa
has left a large measure of courage and wisdom in a number of stockings, so
that our children can mark this year as the one when we finally began
treating drug abuse as a health issue, rather than a criminal industry.
We face no greater threat to the health and safety of our communities than
the drug problem. Illicit drugs are driving an HIV epidemic, perpetuating
systemic crime that has swamped the criminal justice system and providing
limitless business opportunities which bankroll biker gangs and other
criminal organizations.
The hollow rhetoric of a "war" on drugs has become believable only when
applying Clausewitz's definition - it's definitely an extension of
politics. This contrived contest is the creation of its beneficiaries, who
predictably cast themselves as winners in a rather one-sided game.
Politicians build a law and order image by demonizing drugs and marginalize
abusers as the epitome of moral decay. Unfortunately, victims such as a
recently murdered 14-year- old New Westminster high school student just
don't fit the rabid junkie stereotype.
"Tough" new programs and laws are regularly announced, despite
policy-makers knowing full well that there is no real money for
enforcement. The time-honoured practice of sneaking offenders out the back
door of parole and early release is the best evidence of the dearth of funds.
Any hope of "winning" with this plan is laughable and Team Western Society
is literally getting killed. Suggesting the status quo is flawed risks
portrayal as a "loser", however, and politicians quake at the thought of
challenging the myth that drugs require a law-enforcement solution.
There's plenty of blame to go around. The top is as good a place as any to
start: After all, the federal government retains jurisdiction over drug
laws and prosecution.
- Allan Rock, when he was the justice minister, brought in the Controlled
Drugs and Substances Act; he ducked decriminalization then. Now that he's
health minister, he says he can't get involved in drug issues; they're
criminal matters. This guy wants the PM's job?
- Attorney-General Dosanjh has declined to publicly endorse
decriminalization; his ministry has received a lengthy report from a former
chief coroner recommending just that. And it's "diverting" drug-related
offences from the justice system, pretending a problem doesn't exist. I
guess he would rather talk tough and count the bodies.
- Our prison managers have allowed drug abuse to flourish behind bars. Any
reader contemplating tougher sentences for narcotic possession, should
first talk to a guard.
- Police officers have no incentive to explore anything other than the
status quo. The Hollywood version of the war on drugs casts us as the good
guys. The only thing more addictive than a narcotic is public adulation -
and, maybe, all that overtime pay the singular pursuit of drug-users can
generate for individual officers.
- The silence of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police makes me
wonder how many senior officers built careers in drug enforcement.
At some point the policing profession must live up to its image, place
public safety ahead of careers and take up the leadership challenge
abdicated by elected officials. Our Keystone Kops raid on a downtown hemp
cafe doesn't indicate that this will happen anytime soon.
Decriminalization would not result in heroin sold at corner stores
alongside the penny candy. Various drugs require different forms of
regulation, which could be phased in slowly once appropriate legislation
and management programs are in place.
Provincial jurisdiction could allow for regional differences. As in dress,
what is appropriate for Wreck Beach might not work in Labrador. In B.C.,
low-risk substances like marijuana could be regulated under a revised
provincial liquor act.
The benefits to government would be immediate. (I would rather see pot
revenues building schools than fortifying biker clubhouses.) The windfall
savings on law-enforcement dollars could be plowed into health care,
education and rehabilitation, which are the only methods proven to correct
substance abuse. Participation would be much easier to encourage when sick
people are not stigmatized by criminalizing their addiction.
Policing would be a huge beneficiary. Resources could be redirected towards
systemic public-safety problems. Enforcement against the few dealers who
remained might actually make a difference.
High-risk narcotics and pharmaceuticals would be managed by the medical
community, with guidelines. Trafficking, importation and exporting should
remain criminal offences, since these activities would subvert the
necessary social controls.
The clarion call for decriminalization advocates, is the ludicrous nature
of the arguments opponents advance. Drugs in schools? There already. Health
concerns? Got an epidemic now. Government's moral responsibility? Yeah,
right, just like booze, gambling and honest budgets.
In 1984, an armed addict robbed a bank; I fired a fatal round that cost
that man his life. Two years later, another junkie with a gun took the life
of a friend of mine, Sgt. Larry Young. I don't dislike the drug problem; I
hate it.
While millions of public dollars are squandered, people continue to die.
I'm tired of bringing their families the bad news. I don't care whether we
justify decriminalization fiscally or morally, but isn't 1998 about time
for a change?
Among those who have called for the decriminalization of drug use in this
newspaper recently are Perry Kendall, president of the National Addiction
Research Foundation, Nov. 18; former premier Mike Harcourt, Oct. 11; and
Ken Higgins, a deputy police chief of Vancouver, Oct. 8.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
CORA Antiprohibitionist Action Report 23 (Italian Summary Of Global News)
Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 09:50:17 EST
From: Cora.Belgique@agora.stm.it
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: ANTIPROHIBITIONISTS OF THE ENTIRE WORLD...#23
Antiprohibitionist action report
December 31, 1997 - (Year 3) #23
CO.R.A. |
|
Radical | Association federated with
Antiprohibitionist | the Transnational
Coordination | Radical Party
OLD - Observatory of laws on drugs
PAA - PARLAMENTARIANS FOR
ANTIPROHIBITIONIST ACTION
European campaign for the revision
of international conventions
CORA-ITALY
Via di Torre Argentina 76
00186 ROME
Tel:+39-6-68.97.91
Fax:+39-6-68.80.53.96
E-mail: cora.italia@agora.stm.it
CORA-BELGIUM
Rue Belliard 97
c/o European Parliament
Rem 5.08
1040 BRUSSELS
Tel:+32-2-230.41.21 - 646.26.31
Fax:+32-2-230.36.70
E-mail: cora.belgique@agora.stm.it
*CORAnet http://www.agora.stm.it/coranet (in Italian)
Director: Vincenzo Donvito
All rights reserved
NEWS FROM CORA
ITALY/BEST WISHES FOR THE HOLIDAYS TO THE PREMIERE AND THE PRESIDENTS OF
THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES AND THE SENATE FROM CORA
In its letter to the main Italian political figures, CORA points out the
fact that the Government has only given the impression of reforming Italy's
policies on drugs, but that has not started any actual revision. The
Parliament has been unable (or unavailable) of taking into consideration a
debate that is growing among the public. Only very recently, the Chamber of
Deputies has decided to discuss the bills proposed in the last few years on
the matter - included those presented by CORA in 1994, and endorsed by
over 50,000 citizens. A positive fact that could radically change the
Italian situation.
CORA takes into account the Government's neutral position on the matter,
and its decision to rely on the Parliament on this issue, but reminds the
necessity of the enforcement of the 1993 referendum on the
decriminalization promised at the Naples Conference last year.
"The controlled distribution of heroin in Switzerland and the partial
decriminalization of the Netherlands experience" write the Secretary and
the Treasurer of CORA, Mr. Picard and Mr. Cappato, "demonstrate that
courageous and pragmatic policies are able to obtain positive results
supported by consolidated scientific evidence; other European States and
cities are considering with interest these two examples. The time has come
for Italy to start doing the same, and give a concrete answers to these
harm reduction proposals". In the letter it is also underlined how
legalizing means reducing harms, particularly those imposed on the
community by the escalation of criminal powers' profits, "against those
harms and offences neither 'solidarity' nor the simple decriminalization of
consumption can be definitive. [...] if we take all this into
consideration, effective harm reduction policies should absolutely include
the controlled distributions of hard drugs and principles of legalization".
These are the reasons why CORA is trying to open new forum for
confrontation, particularly with the initiatives of 25 citizens that have
decided to disobey the laws on drugs in order to have better ones. The
Secretary and the Treasurer of CORA conclude their message confiding in the
Italian Parliament and Government and in their willingness of confronting
the choice of those who have decided to become "conscientious objectors" to
the prohibition on drugs in order to start the reform process.
UN/ARLACCHI APPRENTICE WIZARD
In l'UNITA', the newspaper of the Democratic Party of the Left, UNDCP
Under-Secretary General, Sen. Pino Arlacchi (former member of that same
party), has restated the "good" reasons of his Afghani crop eradication
project that will cost the UN $250 million in 10 years. The money will be
given to the religious militia of the Talibans that will be asked to
implement the project.
Mr. Arlacchi candidly seems to believe in what he says; he is convinced
that an army that has built its political and military success on the
profits of opium, will be ready to renounce to that same money and willing
to implement an ambitious UN program in a country with a devastated economy
that, after 20 years of war, also lacks a public system and civil servants.
Mr. Arlacchi thinks that UN money can win the competition with a product
that, when sold, can augment its value over 100 times. It is not necessary
to be an internationally well-acclaimed sociologist to understand how these
"materialistic" reasons, and the geopolitical importance of Afghanistan and
the region in which drugs are cultivated can suggest a different approach
to the problem. Last but not least, if one considers the fact that the deal
should be struck with some assassins (that Mr. Arlacchi calls "young people
that express their people's feeelings", the picture is perfect.
Pino Arlacchi is an apprentice wizard, but he won't pay the price of his
apprenticeship
NEWS FROM THE WORLD
FRANCE
The Committee on Information and Research on Cannabis (CIRC) has sent via
mail to 577 MPs, 577 small packages containing a joint as a symbol request
for the opening of a parliamentary debate on the matter. (LIBERATION 10-12/12,
LE MONDE, 11-12/12, DIE PRESSE, SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, 11/12)
THE NETHERLANDS
The municipality of Amsterdam has decided to regulate the selling of MDMA
pills, produced mainly in the country. The spokesperson for the Mayor has
declared that the current lack of controls on the variety and the quality
of the product constitutes a serious danger for consumers' health.
(EL PAIS, FRANKFURTER ZEITUNG, SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, 12/12)
ITALY
In her answer to an article published in the Sole 24 Ore, Carla Rossi,
Professor of Statistics and member of CORA, states that the increase in
deaths by OD in 1994/1995 is not related to the decriminalization of
drug-related crimes after the 1993 referendum promoted by the lista
Pannella. The increase in deaths is due to the active principle contained
in heroin bought on the streets and to the average age of the consumers.
(IL SOLE 24 ORE, 12/12)
GREAT BRITAIN
In a document sent to every school issued by the National Association of
Head Teachers, it is stated that elementary schools should provide pupils
with phone numbers of support center on drugs. In the text it is pointed
out how children aged five have more information on the matter than their
teachers. The majority of the pupils live in communities where drug abuse
is the norm, and where they become addicted to solvents at 8 or 9.
(THE TIMES, 11/12)
SPAIN
The Supreme Court has condemned to four months in jail, and to a 500,000
pesetas fine, four directors of the Asociacion Ramons Santos de Estudios
sobre Cannabis. In 1993, the four members cultivated cannabis for personal
use. This last sentence overrules a previous one that absolved the
indicted.
(EL PAIS, 11/12)
ITALY
Being "alternative" and having a lifestyle similar to those of the Jamaican
Rastafarians, can be a help for impunity for marihuana consumption. With
this justification the prosecutor of Forl¨ (a small city near Bologna) has
asked for the dismissal of a case regarding a "follower of Bob Marley"
denounced for having been caught with a kilo of marihuana at home. The
judge has stated that there was no evidence of dealing and that the quality
of the pot was not good. (CORSERA, IL MESSAGGERO, LA REPUBBLICA, 12/12)
GREAT BRITAIN
There has been an increase in the number of girls raped after having been
forced to assume "legal" tranquilizers sold in pharmacies. These girls hunt
pubs searching for MDMA, but they are sold medicines like Roipnol and then
raped. (THE TIMES 16/12)
GREAT BRITAIN
British politicians and physicians favor experiments on the medical aspects
of hashish, so that, before its commercialization, strict and severe
controls on the quality can be done. This position has been announced by
David Evans, a Tory MP, who has, on the other hand, refused the proposal of
his Italian colleague EuroRadical Gianfranco Dell'Alba on the
liberalization. (SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, 13/12)
BOLIVIA
The Third Drugs Report has been recently issued: 70,000 Bolivian farmers
live out of coca leaves. In over 10,000 laboratories the crop is refined
and turned into cocaine. A German officer has been appointed to hinder the
trafficking to Germany. His only hope is that everything that starts will
have an end; this struggle started 60 years ago and has never stopped.
(DER SPIEGEL 15/12)
SWITZERLAND
Zurich - with 99 votes in favor and 58 against, the Regional Assembly of
the Zurich canton has adopted a resolution in which it is asked to delete
cannabis derivatives from the Swiss list of "soft drugs".
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 16/12)
SWITZERLAND
After the failure of the initiative "Youths Without Drugs" the 4 parties
that support the Government have decided to work together on the revision
of narcotic laws. As a first step the working group has suggested the
update of the controlled distribution of heroin in order to reach 800 new
addicts. The experiment will expire at the end of the year.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 16/12)
BOLIVIA
During last weekend, at the presence of the Bolivian President, Mr. Banzer,
farmers of the Chapare region have destroyed 7,000 hectares of cocaine
field. The governmental program sets a reimbursement of $2,500 for each
hectare. (FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE 22/12)
GERMANY
Schwerin - Paedagogium is the name of a private institute that has
recently introduced an anti-drug test among its 80 students from 13 to 20.
Every week a student is chosen for the urinal test. The initiative has
ignited a debate in Maclenburg with the exception of the parents of the
youngster, they all have given their written permission to the test.
(SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 27/12)
FRANCE
A survey by IFOP on 1,000 people, recently published in the "Quotidien du
medicin", states that 87% of French people is of the opinion that
drug-addicts are ill; 88% thinks that they should be mandatory treated.
(LIBERATION 17/12)
ITALY
Researchers at the Universita' Cattolica Sacro Cuore of Rome have
experimented a new method of rapid rehabilitation from opium derivatives, a
UROD-like therapy prolonged for a few days in order to fight abstinence.
The experiment has proved effective in 40% of the patients treated, while
UROD was in 25% of the cases.
(IL GIORNALE 17/12)
U.S.
Dennis Peron, Ethan Nadelman and the Nobel for Economics Milton Friedman,
are apparently leading a moderate antiprohibition movement in the States.
They all have appealed to President Clinton requesting the legalization of
soft drugs and the regulation of hard ones. Their interventions against
prohibition as the cause of criminality and health problems are starting to
leave a trace in the public opinion.
(CORSERA 29/12)
U.S.
The Clinton administration is launching an anti-drug campaign with
commercials broadcast on all media: radio, TV, Internet etc. Cost of the
campaign $195 million.
(IHT, 23/12)
SWITZERLAND
There is a decrease in the number of victims of drugs. In 1997, according
to police statistics, there has been a drop of 1/3. Police and experts
agree both on the positive influence of the controlled distribution of
heroin to chronic addicts and the use of methadone. The President of the
Italian Parliamentary Committee on Justice, Hon. Giuliano Pisapia
(communist) has said that this could become an example that should be
followed also in Italy. (CORSERA 28-29/12, IL GIORNALE 28/12)
ITALY
According to the final report of the Minister of Internal Affairs on the
national public order situation, marijuana imports from Albania have become
a multinational trafficking: five tons have been confiscated in 1996, 42
this year. The national anti-mafia prosecutor has recently launched the
biggest campaign against illicit trafficking of Italian-Albanian Mafias.
The transnational mobs buy and sell drugs, weapons and immigrants.
(LA REPUBBLICA 24-29/12, LA STAMPA 29/12)
U.S.
California - Despite the result of Proposition 215 (the referendum for the
legalization of medical marijuana), the local Appeal Court has decided to
prohibit the selling of the substance.
(LIBERATION 15/12)
PORTUGAL
Like the President of the Republic and other Socialist MPs, the mayor of
Lisbon, Mr. Joao Soares, favors the universal decriminalization of soft
drugs. Mr. Soares has proposed a meeting of representatives of big cities
at a European level in order to address the issue throughout the continent.
(EL PAIS 28/12)
GREAT BRITAIN
The "Independent on Sunday" is campaigning for the decriminalization of
cannabis targeting Tony Blair. The initiative started almost a year ago,
and promoted by its editor in chief, Rosie Boycott, former alcoholic and
addict, has increased the number of issues sold up to 15,000.
(PANORAMA 29/12)
GREAT BRITAIN
After a phone call denouncing the dealing activities of a son of an
undersecretary of the Labor Government from the director of The Mirror, the
case "Joints of the Government" is dividing the political scene. The guy is
17, and his name will not be published for legal reasons, but the episode
has re-ignited the antiprohibition campaign of the "Independent on Sunday",
pointing out the hypocrisy of the whole situation.
(THE TIMES 24-28/12, CORSERA 29/12)
SPAIN
A decision of the Court of the Bilbao province states that the interruption
of rehabilitation treatments by sending "criminal" patients to prison, has
a perverse effect in the social rehabilitation of convicted people. The
sentence criticizes the national Penal Code on alternatives to prison
considering the current Code as more restrictive than the previous one and
goes against the jurisprudence of the Supreme Tribunal.
(EL PAIS 21/12)
FRANCE
Paris - On December 12-13, the Ministry of Health has convened 300 experts
on drug abuse issues. All experts agree on the depenalization. Secretary of
State for Health, Bernard Kouchner, has said that the reform of the 1970
law on drugs is not a taboo and can be taken into consideration.
AMERICAS
U.S. and Panama have agreed on the creation of an international anti-drug
center in Panama City. The institution will allow the States to maintain a
military presence in the county even after 1999 when the channel will be
handed over to Panama. Other nations like Brazil and Mexico will be asked
to participate in the operation.
(FINANCIAL TIMES 29/12)
MEXICO
CIA is training some Mexican military officials in order to establish an
effective network of anti-drug troops all over the country. Despite
criticism about its possible effects on the most respected Mexican
institution and the risk of corruption, the initiative is proceeding.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, 30/12)
ITALY
Rome - After the campaign launched by Marco Pannella, leader of the Italian
antiprohibition movement, the mayor of the Italy's capital, Francesco
Rutelli (member of the Transnational Radical Party) has agreed to
experiment the controlled distribution of heroin to chronic heroin addicts.
(L'ESPRESSO, 8/1)
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