-------------------------------------------------------------------

OLCC Finds One In Three Businesses Sell Alcohol To Minors ('Associated Press'
Says An Investigation Of More Than One Year's Duration
By The Oregon Liquor Control Commission Showed Taverns And Restaurants
Were More Likely To Check Identification Than Markets And Convenience Stores)

Associated Press
found at:
http://www.oregonlive.com/
feedback (letters to the editor):
feedback@thewire.ap.org

OLCC finds one in three businesses sell alcohol to minors

The Associated Press
5/7/98 5:46 PM

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Not quite old enough to buy beer or liquor? No problem.
One in three Oregon businesses that sell alcohol will sell it to minors.

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission said sales to minors were surprisingly
common during the agency's 1{-year investigation involving secret visits to
convenience stores, grocery outlets, liquor stores, taverns and other places
booze is sold or served.

Underage volunteers would go into a store and attempt to buy a six-pack of
beer or a bottle of liquor while an adult OLCC inspector watched.

Between 30 percent and 35 percent of the time, the sale would be completed,
said OLCC administrator Pamela Erickson.

"What we thought at the outset was this would be a typical enforcement
problem, maybe 5 percent" of stores selling to minors, Erickson said. "We
found it was much more of an industry-wide problem."

Typically, a clerk failed to ask for ID, asked for it but didn't look at it,
or looked at it and made the sale anyway, even though the license indicated
the customer was under 21.

"There was a lot of carelessness," Erickson said. "I started watching clerks
myself and found they aren't real attentive."

Since beginning the sting operation, OLCC teams made about 500 visits to 350
establishments, according to computer documents provided to The Register-Guard.

The agency issued 52 criminal citations during the 1{-year investigation,
according to the records provided to the newspaper. It could have issued a
lot more, Erickson said.

Most of the visits were to markets and convenience stores. Taverns and
restaurants were more likely to check IDs and refuse sales to minors,
Erickson said.

The computer printouts listed the results of decoy operations in several
areas of the state, including the Portland metro area, the Salem area,
southern Oregon and Bend.

Concern about widespread sales of beer, wine and liquor to minors comes at a
time when adult consumption of alcohol is on the decline nationally, but
juvenile drinking is on the upswing. Erickson cited recent surveys that
showed 43 percent of 11th-graders reporting they'd had a drink in the last
month.

Youngsters interviewed in Eugene acknowledged that it's relatively easy to
obtain alcohol, although few actually try to buy it themselves.

"Overage friends, 21 and over, buy it for you," said Jeff Aldrich, 19. "I
know a couple of friends who know places to buy it. There aren't really very
many stores that will sell it, though."

Industry representatives say they are aware of the OLCC's concerns but don't
necessarily share them.

"There's a sense of frustration for many of the owners who are licensees,"
said Steve McCoid, a Salem lobbyist who represents the Oregon Grocery
Industry Association.

"They're doing the training, and they are stressing this with their
employees. They're sort of pulling their hair out, saying, `What more can I
do?"'

McCoid and Erickson said OLCC officials and industry representatives plan a
series of meetings about this issue beginning next month.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Men Wrongly Imprisoned For Murder Settle For $2 Million ('Associated Press'
Notes Two Innocent Men Released In 1994 After Spending Eight Years In Prison,
Settled Their Lawsuit Against The City Of Springfield, Oregon,
And Two Springfield Cops, Jerry Smith And Donald Bond,
Who Allegedly Violated The Two Men's Civil Rights By Intimidating Witnesses
Into Giving False Testimony)

Associated Press
found at:
http://www.oregonlive.com/
feedback (letters to the editor):
feedback@thewire.ap.org

Men wrongly imprisoned for murder settle for $2 million

The Associated Press
5/7/98

By BOB BAUM

Associated Press Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Two men who spent eight years in prison for a murder
they did not commit have settled their lawsuit against the city of
Springfield and two police officers for $2 million.

Eric Proctor and Christopher Boots were released in 1994 after police
determined someone else had committed the execution-style killing of
19-year-old convenience store clerk Raymond John Oliver.

"This settlement represents our vindication, finally after all these years,"
Proctor and Boots said in a statement released by their attorneys. "No
amount of money can give us back what we lost."

Proctor, 33, has been employed as a sheet rock worker in Portland. Boots,
34, has worked in a sawmill in Eugene.

The settlement was announced Thursday, just five days before the case was to
go to trial in federal court in Eugene.

"We have always maintained our complete innocence, and now that the
defendants have settled with us, we can really try to start our lives over
again," the men said in the statement. "We want this nightmare for ourselves
and our families to be over forever."

The city admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement. City Council President
Greg Shaver said the decision to settle was pushed by insurance companies
that represent the city.

"The city was not in the driver's seat," he said. "I think if you read
between the lines this was a business decision by the insurance companies
involved."

Shaver said the city stands behind its police department and the officers
named in the lawsuit.

"We did an excellent investigation to begin with given the circumstances and
the same with the investigation that eventually led to their release,"
Shaver said. "I don't think you need to apologize for good police work."

The lawsuit, filed in late 1995, sought $42 million from the city and the
two Springfield officers, Jerry Smith and Donald Bond. The state and its
criminologist initially were named as defendants but were later removed by
order of the judge.

Attorneys Elden Rosenthal and fellow attorney Sanford Rosen issued a
statement saying the case is a lesson "that horrible mistakes can happen in
the criminal justice system unless everyone, the police, the prosecutor, the
judge and the jury do their jobs well. We should be thankful that we live in
a country where mistakes can be eventually undone."

The lawsuit contended police violated the two men's civil rights either
intentionally or through negligence.

Among other things, the lawsuit contended investigators intimidated
witnesses into false testimony and gave incorrect information on lab tests.

Oliver's body was found early June 7, 1983, in the walk-in cooler at a
Springfield 7-Eleven store. His hands had been bound with tape and he'd been
shot three times in the head with a .22-caliber handgun.

In 1994, an unnamed informant told Springfield police and the Lane County
prosecutor that Ricky Kuppens had killed Oliver and that others were present
at the killing.

Following up on the tip, police found a weapon that turned out to be the one
used in the shooting. Police used an informant to tape Kuppens admitting he
killed Oliver. But before police could arrest him, Kuppens committed
suicide. Later, Kuppens' fingerprint was found to match one discovered on
the inside of the tape used to bind Oliver's hands.

Investigators said they had no evidence Proctor and Boots knew Kuppens.

Boots admitted going into the store on the night of the killing while
Proctor waited outside. Boots said he found no clerk in the store, so he
left. Boots said he returned to the store after taking Proctor home, and
notified police when he found the body.

The case against the men was mostly circumstantial, although prosecutors
pointed to what they said was microscopic residue of gunpowder and blood on
Proctor's shirt. The lawsuit alleged that the crime lab test results were
wrong, either through negligence or on purpose.

Claudia Page, Boots' mother, said no amount of money could compensate for
what her son and Proctor went through.

"It's been 16 years in hell," she said. "I don't want any mother to see her
son come to his father's funeral in chains. I never want to see two boys
come out of prison without counseling. My husband died, but thank God I
lived long enough to see Chris out."

(c)1998 Oregon Live LLC

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Lungren Denies Pressuring Landlord To Evict Pot Club ('Bay Area Reporter'
Says California Attorney General Dan Lungren Allegedly Sent 10 Cops
And State Lawyers To Coerce The 94-Year-Old Landlord
Of The San Francisco Cannabis Healing Center
Into Evicting The Dispensary)

Newshawk: Mira Ingram
Pubdate: Thursday, 07 May 1998
Source: Bay Area Reporter
Contact: ebar@logx.com
Website: http://www.ebar.com/
Author: Mark Mardon

LUNGREN DENIES PRESSURING LANDLORD TO EVICT POT CLUB

Cops Allegedly Sent to Coerce Eviction; Club Remains Open

Having failed to obtain a court order permanently shutting down the
medical marijuana facility now known as the Cannabis Healing Center,
California Attorney General Dan Lungren reportedly has tried a new
hard-ball tactic: pressuring the elderly landlord of the pot club's
building to evict his tenants.

According to club founder Dennis Peron, who has stepped down from
running the operation to devote himself full time to running for
governor, Lungren recently sent 10 state narcotics police and lawyers
from his office to the home of 94-year-old Victor Zachariah, who
owns the building at 1444 Market Street where the healing center has
been located since 1995, "and coerced him to sign a statement saying
he didn't want me in the building. They threatened him, saying they'd
take the building."

In the note, according to Peron, Zachariah wrote that "I didn't know
he [Peron] was selling illegal drugs there [at the Cannabis Healing
Center] and I ordered him to vacate the property."

When contacted by telephone on Monday, Zachariah (whose number
was obtained from the phone book after center volunteers declined to
give it out) confirmed he had written a note saying he no longer
wanted the Cannabis Healing Center as a tenant. When asked whether
anyone had asked him to write the note, Zachariah declined to say,
replying curtly that "that's my business."

A spokesman for the Attorney General, who claimed to be very
familiar with the state's proceedings against the pot club, denied his
boss had sent any agents to Zachariah's home.

"If we have to move, we'll move," said Peron. He added, however,
that "when you sign a thing under duress, when it comes out in court,
the judge is not going to like it. A jury wouldn't like knowing the
cops threatened him [Zachariah] with forfeiture."

Peron said that on a personal level, he and "Mr. Zach" (as he calls his
landlord) get along very well. "He really likes me," Peron said.

No restraint

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, April 29, Superior Court Judge William
Cahill denied a renewed request by Lungren for a new temporary
restraining order against Hazel Rodgers and the Cannabis Healing
Center she now runs (having assumed leadership after Peron stepped
down on April 20).

Cahill ruled that newspaper articles submitted as evidence of the illegal
activities within the building constitute only "inadmissible hearsay."

"There is insufficient evidence as to what is occurring inside the Center
for this court to issue an order closing the Center without a full
preliminary injunction hearing," Cahill wrote in his decision.

The judge ordered such a hearing to take place on June 4, at which
time Rodgers, who is 79, will be expected "to show cause, if any, why
you, your agents, employees and others should not be restrained and
prohibited from conducting, maintaining, occupying or in any way
permitting the use of the premises at 1444 Market Street, San
Francisco, for the purpose of selling, storing, serving, distributing,
keeping, or giving away controlled substances."

Meanwhile, at Cahill's order, volunteers from the Healing Center are
now patrolling the premises outside of the building, ensuring the
sidewalks are kept free from litter, loiterers, and pot smokers.
Neighbors in the vicinity had complained to Lungren about the
activities outside the center.

"If this nuisance is not immediately controlled," wrote Cahill, "upon a
proper showing, the plaintiff [Lungren] may return to this court to
renew its request for an immediate Temporary Restraining Order."

"We're happy to do that," said Geo, one of the center's volunteers. She
explained that the area is now patrolled by people with walkie-talkies
who ensure the club stays in compliance with the order. She then
noted the center's new summer hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday
through Thursday; Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

A Dopey Law (Letter To Editor Of 'Orange County Register'
From A Member Of The Orange County Narcotic Officers Association
Says Cops Shouldn't Have To Explain Or Uphold Proposition 215
Because They Didn't Write It - And Vows Not To)

Date: Fri, 08 May 1998 00:30:33 -0400
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
Subject: MN: US CA: LTE: A Dopey Law
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk:John W.Black
Pubdate: Thu, 07 May 1998
Source: Orange County Register (CA)
Contact: letters@link.freedom.com
Website: http://www.ocregister.com/

A DOPEY LAW

Why should police or prosecutors be expected to explain Proposition 215, the
medical marijuana initiative ["Pot grower runs afoul of ill defined law,"
Metro, May 3]? We didn't write it- it was drafted by marijuana advocates. In
their zeal to legalize "pot" possession, they ignored the details: growing,
harvesting, transporting and furnishing marijuana remain unlawful. Police
and prosecutors statewide opposed this law in part because it was so poorly
reasoned and constructed.

Instead, we'll gladly explain, and continue to enforce, the clear and
unaltered mandate in the Health and Safety Code that makes cultivating and
selling marijuana a crime.

Jeffrey M.Ferguson, Santa Ana

Officer Ferguson is a member of the Orange County Narcotic Officers Association.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Monthly Monday March To End Prohibition (Schedule Of Public Rallies
And Demonstrations To Be Organized By Washington State Reformers
In June Through November In Seattle)

From: "Tim Crowley" (music@hemp.net)
To: (hemp-talk@hemp.net)
Subject: HT: Monthly Monday March To End Prohibition!
Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 12:57:24 -0700
Sender: owner-hemp-talk@hemp.net

ANNOUNCEMENT

Monthly Monday March To End Prohibition!

Prohibition has failed. It is time for a new approach. Join us for a series of
educational protests aimed at hastening an end to prohibition.

This notice is an announcement of times and dates. Press releases for each
event will follow.

June 8th 6PM- Global Days against The Drug War
Meet at Westlake Park for March to Convention Center

July 6th 6PM - INDEPENDENCE from prohibition
Meet at Hammering Man - March down Harbor Steps

August 3rd 6PM- Family's March to End Prohibition
Meet at Alki Statue of Liberty - march along Alki

Sept 7th - 6PM Prison Labor Days
March around Denny Park - Ring the park with signs

Oct 5th - 6PM Marijuana IS Medicine
Meet at Harborview Hospital for march to Swedish

Nov 2nd - 6PM November March to end Prohibition
Meet at King County Court House march to Pioneer Square

For more info contact:
music@hemp.net
http://seattlemusicweb.com/protest/

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Lungren Honors People's Will - Sometimes (Letter To Editor
Of 'San Francisco Chronicle' Says California Attorney General
And Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Lungren
Is Given To Willful Interpretations Of Law)

Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 12:18:11 -0400
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: Melodi Cornett 
Subject: MN: US CA: PUB LTE: Lungren Honors People's Will -- Sometimes
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com
Pubdate: Thu, 07 May 1998
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Contact: chronletters@sfgate.com
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/

LUNGREN HONORS PEOPLE'S WILL -- SOMETIMES

Editor -- From the proud heritage of California Republicans (Nixon, Reagan,
Dornan, Wilson) now comes Dan Lungren. Mr. Lungren is outspoken in his glee
that the U.S. Supreme Court has overruled California authority in setting
the execution for Thomas Thompson. But when it comes to having the federal
government respect the wishes of California voters to implement Proposition
215, he is doing all he can to deny the mandate granted by these voters, and
insists that federal law must prevail.

Mr. Lungren's proclivity toward willful interpretation of the law does not
bode well for the people of California, should he become governor.

RICHARD FREEMAN

San Francisco

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Voters In Prohibition Town End Dry Spell ('Associated Press' Article
In 'Seattle Times' Notes Voters Easily Approved The Regulated Sale
Of Alcohol In Part Of Westerville, Ohio, A Columbus Suburb Once Known
As The 'Dry Capital Of The World' - Losers Blame Outsiders For Meddling)

Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 19:46:40 -0800
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
Subject: MN: US OH: Voters In Prohibition Town End Dry Spell
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: John Smith
Pubdate: Thu, 07 May 1998
Source: Seattle-Times (WA)
Contact: opinion@seatimes.com
Website: http://seattletimes.com/
Author: Charley Gillespie, The Associated Press

VOTERS IN PROHIBITION TOWN END DRY SPELL

WESTERVILLE, Ohio - A group of temperance activists based here helped bring
Prohibition to the country. And when the constitutional amendment banning
alcohol was repealed, Westerville just shook its head and stayed dry.

But beer and booze will soon be flowing in this Columbus suburb, which was
once known as the "dry capital of the world."

Voters in the newer, largely undeveloped northern part of town on Tuesday
approved four measures allowing liquor sales. The rest of town, which lies
in a different county, will remain alcohol-free.

One community leader in the city of 24,000 blamed the vote on developers
who want to build hotels and restaurants in the area.

"It bothers me that outside business interests came in and convinced 250
Westerville residents to overturn a 150-year-old tradition that served the
city well for a long time," said Amy Pressler, a spokeswoman for Select
Tradition Over Profits, a citizens group.

The four measures all passed easily.

-- Residents voted 261-180 to allow sales of beer for on- and off-premises
consumption.

-- Sales of wine and mixed beverages for on- and off-premises consumption
passed, 271-173.

-- Sales of liquor by the glass for on-premises consumption passed, 284-160.

-- Sale of liquor in restaurants between 1 p.m. and midnight on Sundays
passed, 255-187.

It's quite a change for a city that's had dry laws on the books since 1858.

When Henry Corbin challenged the laws in 1875 and opened a saloon on Main
Street, he was the target of several demonstrations that included the
town's leading citizens.

The protests escalated into acts of vandalism in what became known as
"Westerville's Whiskey War." The Main Street saloon and another that Corbin
tried to open four years later were both destroyed by dynamite.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Flowerpot Lands On Two Officers As They Make Arrest In Bronx
('New York Times' Says The Two Cops Were Arresting A Man On Drug Charges
Outside A Bronx Apartment Building Yesterday, When They Were Slightly Injured
By The Fleur De Mal)

Date: Fri, 08 May 1998 23:11:09 -0400
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
Subject: MN: US NY: Flowerpot Lands on 2 Officers as They Make Arrest in
Bronx
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: emr@javanet.com (Dick Evans)
Source: New York Times (NY)
Contact: letters@nytimes.com
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Pubdate: May 7, 1998
Author: Kit R. Roane

FLOWERPOT LANDS ON 2 OFFICERS AS THEY MAKE ARREST IN BRONX

Two police officers who were trying to arrest a man outside a Bronx
apartment building yesterday were slightly injured when they were hit by a
flowerpot that had been tossed from a sixth-story window, the police said.
The pot was thrown from a window of an apartment building at 3300 Bailey
Avenue in the Kingsbridge section shortly before 6 P.M., as two narcotics
officers and a housing officer were arresting the man, Master Hawkins, 18,
the police said.

A 44-year-old woman and six teen-agers were later taken into custody,
though no one was immediately charged, said Chief of Department Louis R.
Anemone. Their names were being withheld pending charges, Chief Anemone
said. The narcotics officers had followed Hawkins from a building where
drugs were known to have been sold, said Sgt. Cory Cuneo, a police
spokesman. When the officers approached, Hawkins struggled and a housing
officer who was nearby ran over to help subdue him, Sergeant Cuneo said.

The flowerpot was thrown from the sixth floor as the officers handcuffed
Hawkins, Chief Anemone said.

"It was absolutely no accident," he said. "They dropped a 10-pound
flowerpot. It was a well-placed shot."

The pot hit the housing officer, Eamon Farrell, on the side of the head and
shoulder, Chief Anemone said. One of the narcotics policemen, Officer
Robert Horneman, was struck on the shoulder, said Mark Watin, a Fire
Department paramedic. The injured officers were taken to Jacobi Medical
Center, where they were treated for head, neck and back pain.

"They were very lucky," Watin said. "If it had hit them flush on the head,
they would be dead right now."

Housing officers are trained to watch for debris thrown from above -- a
fairly common occurrence, according Timothy L. Nickels, a spokesman for the
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association. In 1993, a housing police officer was
killed when a man hurled a 30-pound bucket of spackling from a building in
Washington Heights.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dangler's Drug Approach Is A Failure (Letter To Editor Of 'The Daily Record'
In Morris County, New Jersey, Says County Prosecutor John Dangler
And Other Drug Warriors Are Addicted To Zero Tolerance, Arrests
And Confiscation Scare Tactics - The More Drug Use By Teens,
The More We Resort To The Unsuccessful Policies That Led To Such Drug Use)

Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 18:27:31 EDT
Originator: drctalk@drcnet.org
Sender: drctalk@drcnet.org
From: Peter Webster 
To: Multiple recipients of list 
Subject: PUB: LTE by Stanton Peele
Newshawk: Peter Webster
Source: Daily Record (Morris County), NJ
Contact: letters@dailyrecord.com
Website: http://www.dailyrecord.com/
Author: Stanton Peele

Daily Record (Morris County), May 7, 1998, p. A18

Dangler's Drug Approach is a Failure

My ten-year-old daughter recently returned home with a forbidding
looking document from the Morris County Prosecutor, John Dangler. It
reported that "40-55 percent of all of the high school seniors
throughout Morris County are regularly using alcohol and/or drugs" and
that, "in 1997, 21 Morris County residents died as a result of fatal
overdoses of drugs," a number of them teenagers.

In response to this cascading dug and alcohol use, the Prosecutor
reviewed New Jersey laws that penalize adults for serving alcohol to
children in their homes; requiring parents to report to police any drugs
they find in their homes or cars; forfeiture of property by parents if
they knew their children were using drugs on their property; etc.

However, all of these laws were in place prior to the 1997 data on
drug overdoses and high school senior drug and alcohol use. Moreover,
we have been hearing for some time about the great success of D.A.R.E.,
the drug prevention program administered by the police in our schools.
If the laws and programs are so effective, then why are the results so
bad? Without questioning this, the Prosecutor and others will push for
still sterner laws, more arrests, and more scare programs about the
dangers of drugs.

It would seem that we have gone as far as we can with
zero-tolerance, arrest and confiscate, scare tactics with drugs. Yet we
are addicted to such approaches. The more drug use by teens, the more
we resort to the unsuccessful policies that led to such drug use.

Stanton Peele
Morris Township

-------------------------------------------------------------------

An Open Letter To The Next Prime Minister Of Canada (Letter To The Editor
Of The Kingston, Ontario, 'Whig-Standard,' By A Ph.D. Writing A Book
On Canadian Drug Prohibition, Says Canada's Current Drug Strategy
Is Bankrupt And Anyone Familiar With History Would Have Recognized
That Drug Prohibition Could Not Work)

Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 12:36:20 -0400 (EDT)
To: mattalk@islandnet.com
From: jonesc@qsilver.queensu.ca (Dr. Craig Jones)
Subject: LTE
Source: Kingston Whig-Standard
Contact: kinwhig@southam.ca
Pubdate: Thursday, 7 May 1998
Section: Front A7
Author: Craig Jones
Newshawk: Craig Jones

An open letter to the next Prime Minister of Canada

Prime Minister:

Canada's current drug strategy is bankrupt. Anyone familiar with history
would have recognized that drug prohibition could not work for the same
reasons -- and with the same deleterious consequences -- as prohibition of
alcohol. After nearly 25 years of a "war on drugs" we have more drugs, not
less; we have drugs of greater purity and many more sources of supply than
we had only 10 years ago. Furthermore we now have an epidemic of HIV
infection in our major cities that is a direct consequence of
prohibitionist social engineering.

Police crackdowns simply multiply sources of supply and only temporarily
drive up costs. Drug prohibition, just like alcohol prohibition, has fueled
a powerful underground economy presided over by some of the most
violent-prone individuals in our society whose enormous profits --
guaranteed by prohibition -- are directly subsidized by taxpayers. Yet even
the most dramatic evidence of failure (more drugs, better quality) only
encourages prohibitionists to demand more police, more draconian laws, more
non-violent people in jail. From the standpoint of prohibition, nothing
succeeds like failure.

Only Canada and the US have refused to apply a calm cost-benefit analysis
to their drug policies. Europe, Australia and New Zealand are slowly
awakening from this nightmare -- albeit in the teeth of US resistance.
Canada can lead the US, which is deeply implicated in the prohibitionist
death-grip, out of irrationality and into sanity and humane public policy.

Here's my proposal for your "first hundred days" regarding the so-called
"war on drugs":

Phase 1: Win a general election, of course, preferably with a sizable majority.

Phase 2: Visit the US president as soon as politically possible -- make no
mention (or as little as possible or only in the strictest confidence if
you have his trust) of the so-called "war on drugs". The US is also looking
for a way to de-escalate but is stymied by the entrenched interests of
prohibition, on the right, and the stranglehold of drugs-mythology in the
public generally. US leaders know that their drug policy is in the same
dead-end situation, but are terrified -- having painted themselves into a
corner -- of now appearing to be soft on drugs and crime. Currently there
is no escape but more of the same, irrespective of the demonstrated failure
of the last 25 years to either stem the tide of drugs coming into the
country or reduce demand within their population.

Phase 3: Announce in your first Speech from the Throne that you are
declaring victory in the war on drugs, and will immediately implement
federally-funded medicalization and harm reduction strategies -- as experts
on social and drug policy around the world have been advocating for years.
Don't leave it to the provinces because they are weak-willed and too easily
captured by ultra-conservative interests. Withdraw from international
treaties that restrict your freedom of action in this regard -- do not be
bullied into passivity by US congressional pressure that Canada persist in
a futile strategy. Use the advantage of surprise to catch your opponents
flat-footed. Then move quickly to implement.

Phase 4: You have now captured the high ground, both morally and from the
standpoint of rational public policy. The opposition (domestic but
particularly US) will be ferocious -- all the more important that it be
done early so that you can reap the rewards (lower crime, reduced influence
of criminal gangs, arrested rate of spread of HIV) before your first
mandate expires. It is quite possible that were Canada not so
geographically close to the US we might have made some fundamental changes
years ago, as LeDain and others urged and as Australia and New Zealand are
currently doing. The time is now. One must not make bold changes in public
policy in a half-hearted manner but with great and imaginitive leaps across
political divides. This means coming clean with the Canadian people.

Great leaders are seldom recognized for what they do in their time but
because of what they set in motion. Only the US and Canada among the
industrialized economies are still entrapped in the prohibitionist black
hole that affords no solution but more prisons, more cops and more social
damage and continued ignorance of the real issues. Our European allies and
trading partners are extracting themselves from unworkable policies, having
finally taken account of the enormous unintended consequences of a policy
that did not and could not work.

Prohibition is futile and counterproductive and no one even knows how
wasteful and destructive because many of the costs are hidden, particularly
in the loss to social productivity of people with criminal records who may
have been non-violent offenders when they were first incarcerated.

Holland and Switzerland are leading the world on drug policy. There is a
lot of information that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (and the
RCMP too) would probably you rather not know about the success of their
programs for the health of drug users, the slowed rate of HIV infection,
and the drop in user-related crime, the ability of ordinary people to hold
jobs and be productive members of their communities while maintaining their
heroin addiction. They have proven that, compared to drug prohibition, drug
use itself is a small and comparably manageable social problem once
pragmatic considerations displace black and white moral declarations.
Prohibition gives incentives to all the wrong political actors and cannot
deliver under any circumstances short of totalitarian rule.

The strategy demands a leader with vision and conviction: the short term
rewards will be small, the long term rewards will only materialize if this
strategy is accompanied by a vigorous education campaign. Your predecessors
have invested a lot of political capital in the mythology of drugs and drug
use -- so you will have a lot of damage to undo. But you have powerful
allies too, in places like the Addiction Research Foundation and in the
experience of other countries where pragmatic approaches to the drug
problem were from the outset preferred over hysteria.

If, after three or four years, you are not rewarded with a dramatic drop in
drug-related crime, a more tolerant (because informed) public opinion about
the drugs-crime nexus, fewer young people being destroyed by a criminal
justice system that is compelled to do what it knows is wrong and
counteproductive, you can always reverse yourself and return to the status
quo ante.

I see very little likelihood of your having to reverse course.

You can put Canada on the international map. You can give the United States
a face-saving way to wind down their own insane drug strategy and you can
reverse 80-odd years of bad, racist and counter-productive public policy.

It is not risk free: The opposition from the usual quarters will be
ferocious. But it is the right thing to do.

I hope that you're enough of a visionary to consider some version of this
strategy. I, and many other reformers and progressives, could vote for such
a leader.

Sincerely, Craig Jones

Craig Jones holds a Ph.D. in politics from Queen's University and is
currently preparing a book on Canada's experience with drug prohibition
tentatively entitled "Democracy, Power and Marijuana: The Unintended
Consequences of Prohibition in Canada."

***

Craig McLeod Frank Jones, Ph.D.
Researcher: Ice Study '98 
Research Coordinator: The Freedom of Information Project
Department of Political Studies, Queen's University at Kingston, ON., K7L 3N6
Tel: 613.545.6237, Fax: 613.545.2135, E-mail: jonesc@qsilver.queensu.ca
The Freedom of Information Project: http://qsilver.queensu.ca/~foi/

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Marijuana Plants Seized From Barn ('The Record' In Kitchener-Waterloo
Doesn't Say How Ontario Provincial Police Uncovered 842 Plants
In Maryborough Township Or How They Estimated Their Value At $168,000 -
One Man In Waterloo Charged)

From: "Starr" 
To: "mattalk" , "maptalk" 
Subject: Marijuana Plants Seized From Barn
Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 02:24:24 -0400
Source: The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo)
recordletters@southam.ca
Date: May 7, 1998

A Waterloo man has been charged after police seized 842 marijuana plants in
Maryborough Township on Tuesday.

The OPP found the plants in a barn on what appeared to be an abandoned
farm. They said they also seized growing equipment.

The estimated value of the marijuana is $168,000. Charged with producing a
controlled substance is George Blancke, 51.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dog's Bark Puts End To Pot Garden ('The Record' Says Waterloo Regional Police
Investigating A Complaint About A Family Dog Barking
At A Downtown Kitchener Address Somehow Discovered
A Large Hydroponic Operation And Eradicated 132 Small Cannabis Plants
Which They Supposed Would Be Worth About $70,000 - One Man Arrested)

From: "Starr" 
To: "maptalk" (maptalk@mapinc.org), "mattalk" (mattalk@islandnet.com)
Subject: Dog's Bark Puts End to Pot Garden
Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 02:18:14 -0400
Souce: The Record (Kitchener-Waterloo)
recordletters@southam.ca
Date: May 7, 1998

DOG'S BARK PUTS END TO POT GARDEN

A family dog blew the whistle on a hydroponic marijuana operation in
downtown Kitchener.

At 2 a.m. Wednesday, Waterloo regional police investigating a complaint
about barking at 45 Eby St. S. discovered a large hydroponic operation in
an upstairs room, said Staff Sgt. Matt Torigian.

Police seized 132 small plants which, once fully grown and cultivated,
would have a street vaue of about $70,000. A 23-year-old Kitchener man has
been charged with possession of a narcotic.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Acclaimed Cali Drug Cartel Documentary Called A Fake ('Chicago Tribune'
Article In 'Seattle Times' Says 'The Guardian' Newspaper In Britain
Has Challenged The Authenticity Of An Award-Winning
British Television Documentary, 'The Connection,'
Which Won Eight National And International Awards And Has Been Shown
In 15 Countries, Including The United States, And Purported To Give
An Inside Look At The Cali Drug Cartel In South America)

Date: Fri, 08 May 1998 21:45:37 -0400
To: DrugSense News Service 
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
Subject: MN: UK: CORRECTION: Acclaimed Cali Drug Cartel Documentary Called
A Fake
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: John Smith
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Contact: opinion@seatimes.com
Website: http://www.seattletimes.com/
Pubdate: Thu, 07 May 1998
Author: Ray Moseley, Chicago Tribune
Editors note: As posted to this service yesterday, this item showed three
sources. Only the source above is correct. It is the one our newshawk
posted to editor@mapinc.org Thank you to those who sent us a note about
it! - Richard Lake, Sr. Editor

ACCLAIMED CALI DRUG CARTEL DOCUMENTARY CALLED A FAKE

LONDON - An award-winning British television documentary, which was
shown in the United States and purported to give an inside look at the
Cali drug cartel in South America, was a fake, the Guardian newspaper
claimed.

The film, shown here in October 1996 and later on HBO in the United
States, purported to show a drug courier swallowing packets of heroin
to be smuggled into Britain. It included an interview with a man
alleged to be No. 3 in the cartel.

The program, called "The Connection," has won eight national and
international awards. It has been shown in 15 countries.

The Guardian reported yesterday that, after a six-month investigation
in Britain and South America, it had determined that the people
portrayed in the film were not part of the Cali cartel but considered
themselves actors who were paid for their work by the film makers, that
the courier did not have drugs in his stomach when he flew to London
and that his air ticket was paid for by the program's producer.

The newspaper also said the program makers claimed they filmed the
interview with the so-called cartel member after being blindfolded and
taken to an unknown location, but in fact they filmed it in the
producer's hotel room. The Guardian said the courier's journey,
presented as a continuous 24-hour trip, was actually filmed in two
legs, six months apart.

The program said the courier entered Britain successfully, but The
Guardian said he was stopped at London's Heathrow Airport and deported.

The documentary was made by Marc de Beaufort, who is part Colombian,
and was shown by Carlton TV, which since 1991 has had the license to
operate Britain's main independent television channel.

Carlton Communications issued a statement promising to investigate The
Guardian's allegations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Makers Deny Faking Drugs Documentary (Britain's 'Times'
Says Film-Maker Marc De Beaufort Dismissed The Accusations Of 'The Guardian'
And Alleged That Its Claims Were Based On The Testimony
'Of A Convicted Drug Trafficker And A Disgruntled Former Employee
Of Carlton Television' And Stood By The Integrity Of His Work)

Date: Mon, 11 May 1998 11:48:26 -0700
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
Subject: MN: UK: Makers Deny Faking Drugs Documentary
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: mjc1947@cyberclub.iol.ie ((Zosimos) Martin Cooke)
Source: Times The (UK)
Contact: letters@the-times.co.uk
Website: http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Pubdate: Thu, 7 May 1998

MAKERS DENY FAKING DRUGS DOCUMENTARY

Raymond Snoddy and Carol Midgley on claims over Carlton TV film

THE film-makers behind a controversial award-winning documentary on the
Colombian drugs trade yesterday denied newspaper allegations that they had
faked the programme. They are considering legal action.

Roger James, executive producer of The Connection, said last night that he
would continue to back Marc de Beaufort, the film-maker, until he saw
convincing evidence to the contrary. "Allegations of a conspiracy at
Carlton were absolute rubbish," he added.

Mr de Beaufort dismissed The Guardian's allegations, saying that he had
given full co-operation to its inquiries during the past eight months and
that its claims were based on the testimony "of a convicted drug trafficker
and a disgruntled former employee of Carlton Television". He insisted that
he stood by the integrity of his work.

The Guardian alleged that drug "mules" seen in the film had been fakes who
did not have drugs in their stomach when they came into Britain and that
the man interviewed as the number three in the Cali drugs cartel had in
fact been a retired bank cashier with low-level connections to the drug
trade. The paper also said that the journey from Colombia to London
presented as a continuous 24-hour trip was filmed in two legs six months
apart.

The Independent Television Commission and Carlton Television have launched
investigations into the claims which, if proved, could result in a heavy
fine for the broadcaster.

The irony behind The Guardian's allegations is that they were published the
day after the Independent Television Commission made some of its most
favourable comments on the quality of Carlton Television programmes. In
1993, Carlton's first year on air after ousting Thames Television from the
London weekday franchise, the commission - commercial television's
regulatory body - was scathing about the company's performance.

It said that it had been "well below expectation" and that the company's
offerings to the ITV network had been neither distinctive nor of notably
high quality.

Since then Carlton's reputation as a programme-maker has improved
considerably and on Tuesday the commission praised its high-quality
programmes and singled out its strong contributions on social action
themes.

The Connection, the documentary complained of, did not come from
inexperienced independent producers but was an in-house production from
Central, the second largest ITV company, which is owned by Carlton.

Six days before the film's transmission Mr James, its executive producer,
and Don Christopher, head of legal affairs at Carlton, had a meeting with
Adriana Quintana, the Colombian researcher on the programme. According to
those there, including a translator, she spent two hours complaining that
she had not received enough money for risking her life in making the
programme. She left a document that contained a number of allegations about
the programme-making process. But both Mr James and Mr Christopher formed
the opinion that her allegations were contradictory and motivated mainly by
money. They decided to take no further action.

Neither decided to refer the issue to senior editorial management and the
documentary went ahead as scheduled. Apart from winning prizes, the
programme was sold to 14 countries.

Mr de Beaufort said last night of the Guardian journalists involved: "I
have repeatedly invited them to interview me and view all my film's rushes
in the face of their constantly changing allegations."

The Carlton board decided to make no new statement until the second part of
The Guardian's report is published today. Nigel Walmsley, Carlton director
of broadcasting, said the company had not been able to substantiate the
newspaper's allegations but that the issues involved would be fully
investigated and the result made public.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Cocaine And The High Cost Of Helicopters ('Washington Post'
Says Most Of Colombia's Aging Fleet Of 36 American 'Hueys'
Provided By The United States Has Been Grounded Over The Past Two Months
Because Of Mechanical Problems, Stalling Interdiction Efforts - The Grounding
Of The Helicopters Has Fanned An Acrimonious Debate Between The White House
And Congressional Republicans Over The Kinds Of Anti-Drug Aid
That The United States Should Be Giving Colombia,
And A Congressional Freeze On $36 Million That The Administration
Wanted To Spend In Bolivia And Colombia To Pay For Drug Eradication)

Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 12:13:57 -0400
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: Melodi Cornett 
Subject: MN: US: Cocaine and the High Cost of Helicopters
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: kevzeese@laser.net
Pubdate: Thu, 07 May 1998
Source: Washington Post
Section: A25
Contact: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Author: Douglas Farah

COCAINE AND THE HIGH COST OF HELICOPTERS

White House, Congress Feud Over Extent of U.S. Anti-Drug Support for Colombia

SAN JOSE DEL GUAVIARE, Colombia-On a government airstrip here in the
sweltering heart of a no man's land roamed by Marxist guerrillas,
drug traffickers and right-wing death squads, sits a row of six UH-1H
helicopters, the primary weapon Colombian police have to combat both the
flow of drugs to the United States and the spread of lawlessness here.

But the helicopters can't fly. They are part of an aging fleet of 36 "Hueys"
provided to Colombia by the United States -- most of which have been
grounded over the past two months because of mechanical problems, seriously
eroding the ability of police to find and destroy cocaine and heroin
laboratories, detect clandestine airstrips and interdict drug shipments
flowing northward.

"Virtually all our interdiction activities have been halted, from moving
troops to destroying labs and landing strips," said a senior official of
Colombia's anti-drug police. "There are 140 troops here with nothing to do.
The narcos are moving more stuff than ever because they know we can't do
anything about it. This situation is unprecedented for us."

Helicopters are vital to drug interdiction because there are no roads
through the jungle, distances are vast, detection of laboratories from the
ground is virtually impossible and access by river is slow and dangerous.
But virtually all 36 Hueys here have been grounded by structural flaws
brought on by age; most were used by U.S. forces in the Vietnam War. In the
past 10 days, 15 have undergone emergency repairs that allow them to resume
flying temporarily, State Department officials said, but for how long is
unclear.

In addition to stalling interdiction activities, the grounding of the
helicopters has fanned an acrimonious debate between the White House and
congressional Republicans over the kinds of anti-drug aid that the United
States should be giving Colombia, which produces 80 percent of the world's
cocaine and a growing portion of its heroin.

The dispute has led to a congressional freeze on $36 million that the
administration wanted to spend in Bolivia and Colombia to pay for drug
eradication and crop substitution efforts. Senior administration officials
say the freeze will undercut programs that have helped sharply reduce the
cultivation of coca leaf -- the raw material for making cocaine -- in both
Peru and Bolivia.

The debate is one element of a broad battle involving the White House,
Congress and the Pentagon over what role the United States should play in
Colombia. Not only do drug traffickers exercise considerable economic and
political influence here in southern Colombia, but some are closely allied
with Marxist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, while
others are closely allied with right-wing paramilitary groups that operate
with the tolerance and support of the army and have little regard for human
rights.

The Clinton administration is trying to walk a fine line, aiding the
Colombian police and army in combating drug trafficking without becoming
involved in the government's counterinsurgency efforts -- a line senior
administration officials concede is often blurred at best. Many in Congress,
especially on the Republican side, are pressing the administration to take a
more active role in Colombia's anti-guerrilla campaign and increase aid to
the military and police because there is now little distinction between
rebel forces and drug suppliers.

Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (R-N.Y.), who chairs the House Committee on
International Relations, has been demanding that the administration upgrade
Colombia's police helicopter fleet by spending the $36 million on three
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters because they can carry more troops, fly higher
and are less susceptible to ground fire than the Hueys. Non-binding language
urging the purchase was included in the fiscal 1997 budget.

The State Department argues that the older Hueys can be upgraded and
repaired much more cheaply and that the Colombian police do not have the
training or budget to maintain the Black Hawks.

"A Huey costs $1.4 million [to buy] and $925 an hour to fly," said a senior
administration official. "That is versus $8 million for a Black Hawk with an
operating cost of $2,250 an hour. Black Hawks are not cost effective, and
the Colombians don't need that much capability."

Earlier, Barry McCaffrey, the Clinton administration's anti-drug policy
chief, said that the administration opposes buying the Black Hawks because
"this massive diversion of scarce resources would result in a 75 percent cut
in U.S. support to Bolivia and huge decrements for our counter-drug programs
in the Caribbean, Mexico and Peru. The cost of procuring and operating three
Black Hawk helicopters would degrade our ongoing anti-drug efforts in
Colombia and undermine regional success against the cocaine trade."

On Friday, the State Department notified Congress and Gilman that it would
not purchase the Black Hawks. Gilman, in a letter sent Monday to Thomas R.
Pickering, undersecretary of state for political affairs, accused the
administration of "trying to fight the war on drugs on the cheap" and said
that upgrading the existing fleet of Hueys had been promised by the
administration for the past two years but never carried out.

"It makes no sense to merely upgrade 40-year-old equipment that is already
grounded or not operating and cannot survive crashes or ground fire as well
as the Black Hawk," Gilman wrote. "Let's get serious and fight this scourge
with the tools and equipment our good friends . . . want and need to fight
our fight, at its source."

On Monday, Gilman exercised his power as committee chairman to place a hold
on the $36 million, meaning that if the money is not spent on Black Hawks,
it cannot be spent at all.

There is no end in sight to the stalemate. "The tragedy is that nothing is
flying in Colombia, and if the State Department would have upgraded when we
asked them to they could be flying now," said a Republican congressional
aide. "This administration is quickly losing any and all credibility
fighting the war on drugs in Colombia."

"We have offered Gilman briefings on our alternative proposals, which he has
not accepted," an administration official countered. "The situation in
Colombia is very serious. We will try to work with others on the Hill who
are more supportive of our position."

Colombia's Anti-Drug Drive Bogs Down

Cocaine producers in Colombia recently have been able to move drugs and
other material practically unimpeded because aging U.S.-provided police
helicopters have been grounded due to mechanical problems and there are not
enough funds for new ones.

The cultivation area for coca leaf in Colombia has grown steadily over the
past few years . . .

(This graphic was not available)

. . . and last year Colombia became the largest producer of coca leaf, the
raw product for cocaine.

Peru 36.5%

Bolivia 24.3%

Colombia 39.2%

SOURCE: Drug Enforcement Agency

(c) Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Heavy Fine For Man Who Sent Drugs To French MPs ('Reuters'
Says A French Court On Wednesday Levied A 125-Day Jail Term
Unless It Receives A Fine Of 50,000 Francs From Jean-Pierre Galland,
Head Of The Paris-Based Collective For Information And Research
On Cannabis, Or CIRC - The Paris Criminal Court Found Him Guilty
Of Drugs Trafficking, Encouraging Drug Use And Presenting Drugs
In A Favourable Light For Sending One Joint To Each Member
Of French Parliament Along With A Plea For An Open And Honest Discussion
Of France's Tough Laws Against Cannabis)

Date: Thu, 07 May 1998 08:56:22 -0300
From: Keith Alan 
To: "global@legalize.org" 
CC: "mattalk@islandnet.com" 
Subject: Heavy fine for man who sent drugs to French MPs.

Heavy fine for man who sent drugs to French MPs

May 7, 1998

PARIS, Reuters [WS] via NewsEdge Corporation : A French court on Wednesday
slapped a fine of 50,000 francs ($8,450) on the leader of a group that mailed
a marijuana cigarette to every French MP along with a plea to ease France's
tough drug laws.

The fine against Jean-Pierre Galland, head of the Paris-based Collective for
Information and Research on Cannabis (CIRC), will be converted into a
prison term of 125 days if he refuses to pay it, the court said.

Galland was also ordered to pay a symbolic one franc in damages to each of
11 deputies who had joined the suit as civil plaintiffs, and to pay an
additional 3,000 francs to each of two anti-drug associations that
participated in the case.

During his March 25 trial, Galland said the
hand-rolled joints, made exclusively from
marijuana grown in France, had been sent to
parliamentarians solely to encourage debate
about decriminalising marijuana use.

But the Paris criminal court found him guilty
of drugs trafficking, encouraging drug use
and presenting drugs in a favourable light.

State prosecutor Bernard Pages, accusing
Galland of a serious crime, had recommended
an 18-month jail sentence, one year of it to
be suspended.

Some seven million of France's approximately
60 million inhabitants have tried marijuana at
least once and about two million are regular
users, according to official estimates.

Hundreds of French residents are jailed each
year and thousands are fined for use,
possession or sale of marijuana, according to
the organisation.

Copyright 1998, Reuters

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Africa's Drug Problem Likely To Increase - Study (Panafrican News Agency
Says A New Report By The United Nations Drug Control Programme
Released Yesterday In New York Predicts Sub-Saharan Africa's Drug Problem
Is Likely To Increase In The Next Few Years)

Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 12:04:39 -0800
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: Olafur Brentmar 
Subject: MN: Senegal: Africa's Drug Problem Likely To Increase -Study
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com (Frank S. World)
Pubdate: Thu, 7 May 1998
Sorce: Panafrican News Agency
Contact: quoiset@sonatel.senet.net
Tel: (221) 24-13-95 | Fax: (221) 24-13-90
Website: http://www.africanews.org/
Author: Jerome Hule, PANA Correspondent

AFRICA'S DRUG PROBLEM LIKELY TO INCREASE -STUDY

NEW YORK, (PANA) - Though currently insignificant in global terms,
sub-Saharan Africa's drug problem is likely to increase in the next few
years, a study by the United Nations Drug Control Programme has indicated.

The study carried out in ten countries between last November and February
this year, was unveiled by the UNDCP study team in New York Wednesday, as a
lead-up event to the special session of the United Nations General Assembly
scheduled for New York between June 8 and 10.

The study identified sub-Saharan Africa's drug problems in the areas of
production, trafficking and consumption with their other ramifications.

Its prognosis of an increase in Africa's drug problem is based on the fact
that the continent has weak law enforcement structures, acute economic,
social and political problems as well as the strengthening of legal
controls in other regions of the world.

Already, South Africa, Kenya and various West African countries are being
used as springboards for international trafficking syndicates from Latin
America and Asia, the UNDCP stated.

Citing figures, the study pointed out that in 1996, Africa accounted for
321,292 kilogrammes or 12 percent of worldwide cannabis seizures.

But cocaine seizures amounted to only 386 kilogrammes in 1996 while heroin
seizures totaled 169 kilogrammes in 1997 as compared to 10,425 kilogrammes
for Western Europe alone.

The study noted that the weakness in South Africa's policing of the drug
problem has made it vulnerable to international trafficking groups from
Nigeria and Latin America.

A major crackdown on drug crime in Nigeria in recent years resulting in the
tripling of arrests, has forced drug traffickers to use other West and East
African countries like Ethiopia as transit points for entering the European
and North American countries, the study pointed out.

In Mozambique, a country just emerging from decades of civil war, many
ex-soldiers have already become involved in drugs, either as dealers or
users.

In terms of production, the study found that cannabis and khat were the
main drugs produced in Africa, though crack cocaine was also found to be
produced in such cities as Lagos and Johannesburg.

The study also found that cannabis was the most widely used drug in both
rural and urban centres in Africa, with its prices less expensive than beer
and local bus fares.

Heroin was only slightly more expensive and cocaine was the most expensive
drug, except in cities such as Johannesburg, where it appears that
tremendous spill-over from the drug trafficking taking place in these
cities has allowed cocaine prices to fall below those of heroin, the UNDCP
observed.

In coping with the drug problem, the UNDCP suggested that it be reognised
as being underpinned by economic, social and political problems. This
understanding would lead to the development of new models of dealing with
the problem, the agency stated.

In addition, it stressed the need for the enhancement of the skills of
personnel in charge of monitoring the drug trend through donor assistance,
while at the same time ensuring that public policy shifts illicit drug
consumption to high income groups where monitoring would be relatively more
feasible.

In a similar vein, the UNDCP advised that control measures be focussed on
areas where drug transactions can be more easily monitored and controlled,
like the ports of entry.

The UN body further called for assistance to farmers and generation of
urban employment as key elements in drug control on the continent.

Recognising that non-governmental organisations can also play a significant
role in the control efforts, the UNDCP stressed the need for their
involvement, especially in prevention and rehabilitation activities such as
education programmes for rehabilitated addicts.

The credibility of the state also need be strengthened to infuse greater
willingness of the civil society to abide by drug laws, the UNDCP advised,
adding that this would require the reform of the judiciaries, criminal and
penal legislation and accountability.

Copyright (c) 1998 Panafrican News Agency. All Rights Reserved.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Attention - Important Message (CORA In Italy Will Publish
A 'Weekly Action Report' Instead Of The Twice-Monthly
'Antiprohibitionist Action Report')

Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 10:43:39 EDT
Originator: drctalk@drcnet.org
Sender: drctalk@drcnet.org
From: cora.belgique@agora.stm.it
To: Multiple recipients of list 
Subject: ATTENTION! IMPORTANT MESSAGE!

ATTENTION! IMPORTANT MESSAGE!

ANTIPROHIBITIONISTS OF THE WHOLE WORLD

>From next week on the fortnight international press release CORAFAX
will become weekly and will be in French, Italian, English and Spanish.

We decided to make this further effort - in organisational and
economical terms - in the view of the CORA Congress that will take
place in Paris, 5/7 June 1998.

The Congress slogan will be "Prohibitionism on drugs: a crime against
the human race". The Congress will also decide wether to promote the
presentation of "antiprohibitionist lists" for next European
Parliament elections of June 1999.

The Congress will welcome the participation of all citizens, while ALL
the members of CORA of 1998 will have the right to speak and vote.
For organizational reasons the non-members are asked to inform the
organizers about their intention to participate and follow the works
of the Congress.

For security reasons the location of the Congress will be revealed in
the next weeks.

ATTENTION!

We regret to have to replace the German version with the Spanish one,
but we had to take this decision because of the scarce financial
resources we have at our disposal.

To the readers receiving the GERMAN version, please let us know in
which other language you would like to receive it. To the readers of
the French, Italian or English version, please let us know wether you
would prefer to receive the CORAFAX in SPANISH. All the readers - in
case of no communication - will keep receiving the usual language
version.

The weekly press release will be FREE until we will have enough
resources to produce it. We renew our appeal to all readers to help
us, either by supporting or becoming a member of CORA, or sending a
financial contribution for the production of CORAFAX.

For information, suggestions or impressions:

mail to:cora.belgique@agora.it

or

http://www.agora.stm.it/coranet/news.htm

***

CORA

***

-COORDINATION RADICALE ANTIPROHIBITIONNISTE
-ANTIPROHIBITIONIST RADICAL COORDINATION
-COORDINAMENTO RADICALE ANTIPROIBIZIONISTA

Federated with the Transnational Radical Party NGO
with category I consultative status at the UN

Emailto:cora.belgique@agora.it
http://www.agora.stm.it/coranet

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Weekly Action Report On Drug Policies, Year 4, Number 9 (Summary For
Activists Of International Drug Policy Reform News, From CORA In Italy)

From: cora.belgique@agora.stm.it
Comments: Authenticated sender is (cora.belgique@agora.stm.it)
To: "CORAFax -EN- (cora.news@agora.it)
Date: Fri, 8 May 1998 18:48:27 +0000
Subject: CORAFax 9 (EN)
Sender: owner-hemp@efn.org

ANTIPROHIBITIONIST OF THE ENTIRE WORLD ..
Year 4 #9, May 7 1998

***

Weekly Action Report on Drug Policies
Edited by the CORA - Radical Antiprohibitionist Coordination, federated to
- TRP-Transnational Radical Party (NGO, consultive status, I)
- The Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War

***

director: Vincenzo Donvito
All rights reserved

***

http://www.agora.stm.it/coranet
mailto:cora.news@agora.it

NEWS FROM THE CORA

9.0 CORA'S CONGRESS IN PARIS

The Cora congress will meet in Paris from the 5th to the 7th of June. The
congress will propose the opening of a campaign called "Prohibitionism on
drugs: a crime against mankind", and will examine if and how
antiprohibitionists should run in the next European elections. The meeting
will take place in a hall of the National Assembly.

***

ITALY/UN/DEPENALIZATION OF CANNABIS

A decree of the Italian government was supposed to abolish sanctions and
depenalize cultivation and personal and/or group use of cannabis. It seems
instead that minimum coercive policies will be substituted by very heavy
fines. Cora sees this as a political swindle, and wonders if the government
intends to bring this stance in front of the U.N. General Assembly on drugs,
where it would come in conflict with French and Swedish extremism.

***

ITALY/FREE DISTRIBUTION OF HASHISH

Action of this kind has been carried out by members of the Lista Pannella
and of the Radical Transnational Party in order to promote a new law. In
addition to Marco Pannella, who has already been condemned in the past, also
Olivier Dupuis, secretary of the RTP and member of the EP, Gianfranco
Dell'Alba, member of the PE, and Eric Picard, secretary of the Cora are
being now heard by the Magistrate.

***

RTP/MARIJUANA MARCH/NEW YORK

The Radical Transnational Party has participated in the "Marijuana March" in
New York to stop the actual war that has been launched for fifteen years
against cannabis consumers and to fight the "War On Drugs".

***

ITALY/CORA/SECRETARY OF PDS

The secretary of the PDS Massimo D'Alema declares that "The conditions are
today still premature to follow a non-prohibitionist policy". The Cora
answers that in politics conditions have to be created.

***

PRT/ERADICATION OF DRUG CULTIVATION

While on one side the EU expresses lack of faith in the agreement between
the UNCDP and the Talebanis, on the other Pino Arlacchi, in charge of drug
policies for the UN is carrying out, as said in a RTP press release, his
hypocritical, violence and corru
ption generating project of extirpating drug cultivations from Bolivia to
Afghanistan.

***

ITALY/TALEBANI

The Italian Senate asks that the Arlacchi plan in Afghanistan become
effective only if the Talebanis accept to respect human rights. The Cora is
wondering what the "Anti-drug Tzar" will do now. Will he complain to the
President of the Senate as he did with the President of the European
Commission about the antiprohibitionist views of European commissar Emma Bonino?

***

ITALY/DEPENALIZATION

The Justice Commission of the Italian Senate has decided to depenalize
cultivation for personal use and group consuming of cannabis. The Cora
values this as a positive fact, but is still prudent because there is still
no word about "free exchange" , which is the real core of the question, and
hopes that parliament will confront such an absence.

***

NEWS FROM THE WORLD

***

000001 29/04/98
E.U. / F
ASSOCIATIONS
L'EVENEMENT DU JEUDI

The State Audit Court is going to publish a first resume on wealth
accumulated by 'Le Patriarche', an association for social reintegration of
drug-addicts. In only two years its wealth in real estate has gone from 0 to
41 millions of French F. Responsible for this situation are also those
public authorities that have continued to finance the association ever since
1993.

***

000007 22/04/98
E.U. / GB
DRUG ADDICTION
THE TIMES

A study of the Home Office reveals that upon ten arrested six are drug
consumers, above all on heroin, crack and amphetamines. The relationship
between drugs and crime is augmenting constantly, and the government should
keep this fact present if it intends to effectively fight crime.

***

000008 22/04/98
EUROPE / SWITZERLAND
DRUG ADDICTION
NEUE ZUERCHER Z.

The Glarona Canton is adopting a drug policy that is in line with the
government one. Such a policy stands on four principles: prevention,
reduction of drug damage on society, therapy and repression. Its strategy
lies in distribution of sterile hypodermic needles, offering targeted jobs
to drug victims and in the creation of a central multi-functioning public
health service.

***

000009 27/04/98
EUROPE / RUSSIA
DRUG ADDICTION
FRANKFURTER

The Council For Foreign Policy And Defense says that drug addicts have
tripled in the past five years, forseeing that they will become three
million by 1998. Drug addiction is most frequent among the very young in
degraded areas, students, in the army and in jails. Drug traffic is able to
recycle a billion dollars a year through restaurants and casinos, but above
all in telecommunications and energy resources.

***

000002 23/04/98
E.U. / I
INFORMATIONS
LA REPUBBLICA

The Italian government will invest eight billion lire in an anti-drug
campaign which should reach millions of people through all media and, above
all, discotheques. Nonetheless, some people dislike 'Be sharp, don't get
hurt', which is the slogan used by the campaign, on the basis of its
ambiguity. Others, instead, just think it's ugly.

***

000003 26/04/98
E.U. / GB
INFORMATIONS
THE TIMES

The government has instituted a new anti drug plan which represents a
radical turning point, going from coercion to prevention. A greater part of
funding will go to informing drug- attics and taking care of their health.
The resources destined to persecute hashish and marijuana consumers will,
instead, be reduced.

***

000004 23/04/98
E.U. / I
LAW
CORRIERE DELLA SERA

The government is going to present a project for a new law on drugs wich
will include the depenalization of group use of hashish and marijuana and
their cultivation for personal use. This announcement has caused bitter
criticism on the part of the Partito Popolare, Forza Italia and Alleanza
Nazionale.

***

000011 06/05/98
E.U. / ITALIA LAW
CORRIERE DELLA SERA

The Justice Commission of the Senate has voted in favour of depenalization
of cultivation for personal use and group consuming of hashish and
marijuana, although sanctions like suspension of driver's licence remain.
Center-right parties voted against.

***

000005 23/04/98
AMERICAS / COLOMBIA
NARCOMAFIA
LIBERATION

The chief of police forces claims that drug traffickers do not operate any
more in criminal organizations of the 'Pablo Escobar' kind, but in
structures which are smaller and more difficult to isolate, and that the
drug question will have no solution if countries don't take a stance against
those who receive and distribute the drugs.

***

000006 29/04/98
ASIA / AFGHANISTAN
PRODUCERS
LE NOUVEL OBSERVATEUR

The Talebanis, through the use of money from drug traffic, are at one time
financing the war inside Afghanistan and becoming independent of the aide of
the only countries which have given them recognition, namely Saudi Arabia
and Pakistan. The United States also are eager to find a point of contact
with the Talebanis, greatly because of Afghanigas and oil resources.

***

000010 30/04/98
WORLD
WAR ON DRUGS
DIE PRESSE

39 countries have met in Vienna under the presidency of U.N.'s commissar for
anti-drug policies Pino Arlacchi to debate on illegal traffic and on the
theme of organized crime, in order to find common strategies of action.

***

000012 06/05/98
E.U. / I
WAR ON DRUGS
LA STAMPA / LA REPUBLICA

The Senate has voted against the UN antidrug plan for Afghanistan, which has
been prepared by the UNDCP under the guidance of Pino Arlacchi, with two
motions inspired by the criticisms expressed by European Commissar Emma
Bonino who calls for a suspension of the plan until respect of human rights
is reached in Afghanistan.

***

CORA
-COORDINATION RADICALE ANTIPROHIBITIONNISTE
-ANTIPROHIBITIONIST RADICAL COORDINATION
-COORDINAMENTO RADICALE ANTIPROIBIZIONISTA

Federated with the Transnational Radical Party NGO with category I
consultative status at the UN

Emailto:cora.news@agora.it

http://www.agora.stm.it/coranet

Emailto:cora.belgique@agora.it

-------------------------------------------------------------------

[End]