------------------------------------------------------------------- Dennis Peron's San Francisco Cannabis Club Ordered To Close In Five Days - Oakland Club Defies Feds, Rejects DEA Infiltrator (News Release From California NORML) Subject: DPFCA: SF Cannabis Club Shutdown Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 01:45:50 -0800 Dennis Peron's S.F Cannabis Club Ordered to Close in Five Days; Oakland Club Defies Feds, Rejects DEA Infiltrator San Francisco, May 21, 1998: Superior Court Judge William Cahill issued a temporary restraining order to close Dennis Peron's San Francisco cannabis club within five days, marking the likely end of the road for the nation's largest medical marijuana club after nearly two years of legal battles. The TRO was granted after narcotics agents posing as patients made undercover buys at the club following its recent reorganization under the directorship of Hazel Rodgers. The closure of Peron's club, which currently counts some 8,000 members, by far the largest in the state, threatens to seriously disrupt the availability of medical marijuana to thousands of Bay Area patients suffering AIDS, cancer, and other serious diseases. Meanwhile, across the bay, the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Club has defied federal threats to shut it down, apprehending a DEA agent redhanded as he tried to gain access under false pretenses. The agent, who presented an invalid identification under the name of "Brian Zanza," tried to gain entry during a press conference, but was forced to beat a hasty retreat, hiding his face in speechless shame as reporters' cameras cornered him in an elevator. Oakland CBC director Jeff Jones vowed to continue distributing medical cannabis to needy patients despite a federal injunction by Judge Charles Breyer ordering the club to desist from distribution and manufacture of marijuana. "Being a patient, I'm really afraid" declared Oakland CBC member Ken Estes, a quadriplegic who relies on marijuana for pain relief, "If the club closes, I'll have to go back to the streets." Defense attorney Gerald Uelmen argued that the Oakland C.B.C. was not engaged in illegal distribution, but in lawful "joint possession" justified by medical necessity, and would be vindicated by a jury. California NORML views the threatened closure of California's medical marijuana clubs as a threat to public health and safety, and urges concerned citizens to support the Medical Marijuana Patients' and Caregivers' Fund, a legal defense fund opposing the federal shutdown. Contact: Dale Gieiringer, Cal NORML, (415) 563-5858, canorml@igc.org. ---- // canorml@igc.apc.org 2215-R Market St. #278, San Francisco CA 94114
------------------------------------------------------------------- Pot Club Ordered Closed By San Francisco Superior Court ('San Francisco Chronicle' Version) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 11:40:23 -0400 To: DrugSense News ServiceFrom: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: Pot Club Ordered Closed By S.F. Superior Court Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com (Frank S. World) Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Contact: chronletters@sfgate.com Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Authors: Henry K. Lee, Jaxon Van Derbeken, Torri Minton, Chronicle Staff Writers POT CLUB ORDERED CLOSED BY S.F. SUPERIOR COURT A San Francisco Superior Court judge yesterday declared the nation's largest medical marijuana club a ``public nuisance'' and ordered it shut down. The Cannabis Healing Center was infiltrated by undercover agents this month and must close by Tuesday, stated Judge William Cahill. Even with voter approval of Proposition 215, Cahill found that the center's sale, possession and cultivation of cannabis violates state law. ``There is no legal defense to selling marijuana,'' Cahill ruled. His order came a day after a federal order was announced, barring six Northern California pot clubs from selling medical marijuana. Yesterday, business continued as usual at many of the clubs, including the Cannabis Healing Center. The center remained open into the evening, and staff vowed to continue serving an estimated 8,000 patients while their lawyer appeals the Superior Court decision. Cahill's ruling marked the third time in two years that a medical pot club founded by Dennis Peron was ordered closed. ``This is just a small battle in the war,'' said registered nurse and Cannabis Healing Center volunteer Lynne Barnes. ``We think patience and compassion will win in the end.'' The state attorney general's office, however, was ``very pleased,'' said spokesman Matt Ross. He said the ruling ``will shut down that whole operation.'' ``We argued that the law allows for a patient to have a primary caregiver to care for their needs on a consistent basis,'' he said. ``That was not what was happening here. . . .'' Judge Cahill noted that three times in May, undercover agents bought marijuana at the center after submitting phony prescriptions with no verification. On May 1, an agent went to the center with a phony doctor's recommendation for pot, completed the form, and was taken to the third floor where four lines of six people each stood before a counter with a marijuana ``menu board on it,'' Cahill stated. That agent allegedly bought one-quarter ounce of marijuana for $20. Agents visited the Market Street club again on May 3 and 5, each time buying pot, Cahill said. ``The evidence shows that marijuana can be purchased in practically any quantity by anyone willing to fill out the Cannabis Healing Center's forms and to designate (director) Hazel Rodgers as their `exclusive' caregiver for the purposes of obtaining medical marijuana,'' Cahill found. Meanwhile, the federal order barring California pot clubs from selling medical marijuana in violation of federal law seemed to have little effect. In Oakland, a club openly defied the federal court order -- even kicking out an undercover agent wearing a shirt with the word ``cannabis'' on it. Staff at the 2-year-old cooperative on Broadway hawked pot brownies, Rice Krispies and muffins. They made sure everyone had valid identification and doctor's permission. ``The marijuana has been such a godsend for me,'' said Yvonne Westbrook, 45, of Richmond, a multiple-sclerosis patient and wheelchair user who received one-eighth of an ounce of ``mid-grade'' marijuana in a baggie. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has ordered six Northern California pot clubs from growing or distributing marijuana -- two in San Francisco and one each in Oakland, southern Marin County, Santa Cruz and Ukiah. The state has more than 30 medical marijuana clubs. ``What kills me is that the people have already spoken -- since when does the law mean nothing?'' said Westbrook, who uses the marijuana to reduce leg spasms. As a news conference was about to start at the center, a security guard stopped a plainclothes Drug Enforcement Administration agent who tried to get in with a phony doctor's note and driver's license. The long-haired agent did not respond to questions and hid his face with his hand. Attorney Gerald Uelmen, a Santa Clara University law professor who is defending the Oakland club, said the ruling exempts the distribution of marijuana for medical purposes. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Sheriff's Department intends to carry out the order against the Cannabis Healing Center by no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, said Eileen Hirst, the sheriff's chief of staff. ``This is not your average everyday eviction,'' Hirst said. ``We need to do some planning, and we'll do it within the time the judge ordered.'' The order calls for the sheriff to change all the locks, to arrange to remove property that does not belong to the owner of the building and to remove all unauthorized people, including 79-year-old Rodgers, the center's director, and founder Dennis Peron. (c)1998 San Francisco Chronicle
------------------------------------------------------------------- Pot Distributors Stay Open In Defiance Of Court Order ('Oakland Tribune' Version Notes All Is Still Quiet On The Oakland CBC Front) Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 00:55:05 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: Pot Distributors Stay Open In Defiance Of Court Order Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: Jerry Sutliff Source: Oakland Tribune Contact: triblet@angnewspapers.com Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Author: Monica Gyulai, Staff Writer POT DISTRIBUTORS STAY OPEN IN DEFIANCE OF COURT ORDER Authorities mull options It was business as usual Thursday at the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, where people with multiple sclerosis, AIDS and other illnesses bought small bags of marijuana, despite a court order prohibiting clubs from distributing the drug. "I smoke marihuana every day," said Yvonne Westbrook, 45, a Richmond resident with multiple sclerosis, who moved around the club on a motorized scooter. "It allows me to cut back on prescription drugs and reduce my pain." In defying U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, the Oakland co-operative and other medical marijuana clubs in the Bay Area risked forced closure by growing plants under heat lamps and distributing the drug the day after a preliminary injunction was publicized. Owners cite referendum Club owners believe their actions are legal because Californians passed Proposition 215 in 1996, allowing seriously ill patients to use marihuana to ease the pain and side effects of debilitating diseases and their treatment. But Breyer said federal drug laws that ban marijuana would remain in effect. U.S. Attorney Michael Yamaguchi said the government "intends to take action and is considering all possible options," but he would not specify the next move. "It's unacceptable to defy a court order," he added. Westbrook said she will be sorry if the clubs are shut down, but she won't stop using marihuana. "It's the easiest thing in the world to get," she said, referring to widespread street sales. "But in here, you know what you're getting. Here you buy the best you can afford instead of taking your chances." Free 'care packages' Several poor patients, including Rodney Wilson of Oakland, received free "care packages" of 1.5 grams of marijuana. "I'm on disability," said 51-year-old Wilson, who has AIDS and lost 57 pounds before he began using marijuana. "I smoke it for relaxation and as an appetite stimulant."
------------------------------------------------------------------- Marijuana Sales Continue Despite Ruling By Judge ('Orange County Register' Version) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 21:18:27 -0800 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: Marijuana Sales Continue Despite Ruling By Judge Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: John W.Black Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Source: Orange County Register(CA) Contact: (letters@link.freedom.com) Website:(http://www.ocregister.com/) MARIJUANA SALES CONTINUE DESPITE RULING BY JUDGE It was business as usual at many of California's medical marijuana clubs Thursday despite a court order prohibiting them from distributing the drug. At Oakland's Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, clerks defied U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer's ruling, made public Wednesday, by selling baggies full of the drug to members who could show a doctor's recommendation and current identification. The Cannabis Healing Center in San Francisco did the same. Clubs in Ukiah, the Marin County town of Fairfax and West Hollywood also opened and distributed the drug as usual. In his ruling, Breyer said Proposition 215, the November 1996 initiative that legalized medical marijuana under California law, did not and could not override the federal ban on the drug.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Mendocino Race Heats Up Over Pot (The Santa Rosa, California 'Press Democrat' Says Marijuana Is The Only Issue Of Note In The Race For Mendocino County Sheriff - The Major Point Of Contention Centers On The Recent Attempt To Stop Accepting Money For The CAMP Outdoor Marijuana Eradication Program)Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 20:59:06 -0800 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: Mendocino Race Heats Up Over Pot Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: rose@sonic.net (Rose Ann Fuhrman) Pubdate: Fri, May 22, 1998 Source: Press Democrat, The (CA) Contact: letters@pressdemo.com Website: http://www.pressdemo.com/ Author: Mike Geniella staff writer MENDOCINO RACE HEATS UP OVER POT Marijuana, that pervasive weed synonymous with Mendocino County, has sprouted as the only issue of note in an unusually quiet three-way race for sheriff. It's not that the three veteran law enforcement candidates - sheriff's Sgt. Ron Caudillo and sheriff's Lieutenants Phil Pintane and Tony Craver - differ sharply on their views. All three support use of pot for approved medical uses, and they concur that as long as marijuana is illegal, local law enforcement must work to curb its use and production. They're also in agreement that large-scale commercial pot growers and not "mom-and-pop" operations should be the target of local and state enforcement efforts. Their differences center around department attitudes, underscored by the contents of a controversial grant application for continued state funding for the county's local anti-marijuana unit. The state grant provides $250,000 annually, covering the costs of local deputies involved in anti-marijuana operations and easing overall demands on a 46-deputy department responsible for providing public safety in one of the state's geographically largest counties. The application, written by Caudillo more than a year ago, unexpectedly surfaced as an issue a few weeks ago during a board debate over continued county participation in the program. Supervisor Charles Peterson, a proponent of legalization of marijuana, became irate about statements in the application citing "pro-marijuana stances of many elected officials" and "predominant no-growth philosophies of those in political power." In addition, remarks about the growing role of illegal Mexican aliens and their work as armed guards for marijuana growers have been publicly labeled "racist" by local Latino activists. For Caudillo, who's making his first bid for public office, the flap has been unnerving. As a native of Potter Valley's Hispanic community, Caudillo is surprised to find himself being accused of racist comments. During the past 12 years Caudillo has headed the local anti-marijuana unit, an especially tough job in a rural county where deep divisions exist over impacts from the county's biggest cash crop. Illicit marijuana production in Mendocino County is estimated by authorities to be worth five times the nearly $200 million annual value of the county's legitimate agricultural production. Until now, Caudillo has been given high marks for keeping the local pot unit immune from controversies surrounding the state's handling of a nearly 20-year pot war. As a sheriff's candidate he's earned the endorsement of many rank-and-file deputies who like the way he manages. He's also backed by the county's top defense lawyers, who praise his understanding of complex marijuana issues, and hi skilled handling of major marijuana cases the unit brings to prosecutors. Caudillo accepts responsibility for the controversial remarks in the disputed grant application. He said they were in response to queries from state officials about why Mendocino County still needs additional money for its marijuana enforcement efforts. "I talked to at least 20 different people within the department and from outside before I responded. The remarks reflect a consensus about the realities we face," said Caudillo. Caudillo said he suspects political posturing is behind the attempt to turn the year-old document into a campaign issue. He and his supporters note that Peterson, as chairman of the Board of Supervisors, approved and signed the application without then making any comments about its contents. Caudillo acknowledged he's stung by allegations that his written remarks reflect a departmental bias against Latinos. "Anyone who knows the work I've done over the past 27 years knows I'm a very fair, honest and humane person," said Caudillo. Pintane and Craver concur that Caudillo is a popular, hard-working department veteran, who is not the racist that some critics have depicted. Pintane said, however, that he was among readers appalled by the politically laced comments in the grant application. "We need to get away from that kind of thing. We need to bring a professionalism to the department so that won't happen again," he said. Craver said by grant application standards, he also would be considered "pro-marijuana." "In general, I think we're wasting a lot of money on the whole marijuana issue. It's been illegal for 63 years, but we have more people smoking marijuana than ever before. All we've succeeded in doing is driving the price sky high and attracting the criminal element," said Craver. Craver said he believes "creative solutions" are needed to solve the marijuana problem, and "not the same old rhetoric." Beyond the marijuana issue, the three candidates share basic law enforcement philosophies, although they differ on how to implement them. They all agree that the Sheriff's Department needs to recapture the respect of community leaders and the average citizen. "In this county, people still want to know the sheriff personally. They want to have access to him. They want to be able to tell their problems to him face to face," said Caudillo. Caudillo said individual deputies need to understand "they are there to deliver a service, and not pass judgment." Craver said he's trying to avoid rhetoric about what'd needed to regain the department's credibility among county residents. "I've had broad experiences and responsibilities. I know I can do the job," he said. Craver said he won't make promises he can't keep. "Other candidates have ideas that look great on paper, but frankly the proof is in what works," he said. For Pintane, leadership is the issue. "The Sheriff's Department is the largest law enforcement agency in the county. It should also be the most progressive and innovative," he said. Pintane said the major task a new sheriff faces is reshaping attitudes about public service within the department. "Law enforcement should be seen as a protector and not an aggressor. To win back public confidence, I think that means getting deputies out of their cars, off their butts and into the community where they belong," said Pintane.
------------------------------------------------------------------- San Francisco Tops All Counties In Drug Care And Deaths ('San Francisco Chronicle' Says California's First-Ever Report Comparing How Well The State's 58 Counties Provide Various Services, Available In Full Online, Shows San Francisco Has The Highest Rate Of Deaths From Alcohol And Other Drugs, But Also Offers More Treatment To Alcohol And Other Drug Addicts Than Any Other Large County - The Average Waiting Period For Treatment Is 19 Days In San Francisco Compared To 50 Days In San Mateo County) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 23:10:51 -0400 To: DrugSense News ServiceFrom: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: S.F. Tops All Counties In Drug Care And Deaths Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com (Frank S. World) Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Contact: chronletters@sfgate.com Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Authors: Greg Lucas, Yumi Wilson, Chronicle Staff Writers S.F. TOPS ALL COUNTIES IN DRUG CARE AND DEATHS When it comes to drugs and alcohol in San Francisco, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that San Francisco offers more treatment to drug and alcohol addicts than any other large county, according to a new state study released yesterday. The bad news is that San Francisco has the highest rate of death from drugs and alcohol in California. ``The bottom line is we all know what to do, but no one has the political guts to stand up to it,'' said Supervisor Gavin Newsom, who believes that the government must take the billions of dollars spent on punishment and redirect that money to prevention. ``For every dollar we invest in prevention, taxpayers in San Francisco save more than $7.'' The findings come from the state's first-ever comparison of how each of California's 58 counties performs in various areas, such as collecting child support, keeping libraries open, caring for foster children and treating cases of drug and alcohol abuse. Overall, the nine Bay Area counties rated higher in delivering services to their citizens than most other counties in the state. Singled out were San Mateo and Santa Clara, which generally ranked the highest in performance. Although there was less information available for Marin and San Francisco, they, too, ranked near the top. The report noted that the residents of those counties are some of the wealthiest in the state, therefore providing the counties more revenue. However, the report added that the generally high ratings in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Marin might stem partly from low numbers of social service and criminal justice cases within their borders. ``Many Bay Area counties do better than other counties around the state,'' said Marianne O'Malley, who coordinated the survey for the state Legislative Analyst's Office. ``But even so, a lot of county services are not being provided at a level people would expect. These counties are trying mightily, but they're still forced to do triage,'' O'Malley said. Generally, most Bay Area roads are safe. Napa and Sonoma had a high rate of injury traffic accidents. A high rating means that the county is 10 percent or more above the state's average accident rate of one injury accident per million miles traveled. Marin and Santa Clara had low accident rates. Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin and Solano were at the statewide average. Foster care performance was spottier. San Mateo was able to place 89 percent of children it served in permanent foster homes within four years. Santa Clara could do so for 86 percent. But both San Francisco and Alameda were below the statewide average of 75 percent. San Francisco was at 60 percent, the lowest rate in the Bay Area. Alameda was at 63 percent. Some counties excelled in one area but fared poorly in others. Sonoma County, for example, has the best record in the state for collecting child support for families involved in the CalWORKS welfare program. San Mateo was the next highest-ranking Bay Area county, with a rate of collection that was 80 percent of Sonoma's. Santa Clara, San Francisco and Solano followed with rates that were, respectively, 73, 64 and 59 percent of Sonoma's collection rate. Even though San Francisco has the most beds, people needing drug or alcohol treatment must wait 19 days before they get it. In San Mateo, the wait is 50 days. San Mateo keeps its 13 libraries open more hours of the week than any other county. But San Francisco has the most staff per 10,000 residents. Alameda has more sheriff's deputies per 10,000 residents than any other county. Yet from 1986 to 1996, the county crime rate fell only 1.4 percent. The complete findings can be viewed at the Legislative Analyst's Web site, www.lao.ca.gov. BC: ASSESSING COUNTY PERFORMANCE In the first statewide assessment of how well California's counties are doing their jobs, the state Legislative Analyst's Office compared each county in various areas. The full results of the report can be viewed on the Legislative Analyst's Web site at www.lao.ca.gov. Below is a look at how the nine Bay Area counties fared on child support collections, the safety of their roads and highways and the number of libraries they operate and how many hours a week they stay open. BC: CHART: Child Bay Area Support Accident Number of libraries Counties Collections(x) Rate(y) and hours open(z) . Alameda 61% Medium 12/7 hours Contra Costa 64% Medium 26/10 hours Marin Not available Low 12/26 hours Napa Not available High Not available San Francisco 64% Not available 29/14 hours San Mateo 80% Medium 13/19 hours Santa Clara 73% Low 11/13 hours Solano 59% Medium 6/6 hours Sonoma 100% High Not available (x) - Child support collections for families on welfare only. County percentages are based on how well they did compared to best performing county, Sonoma. (y) - Accident rate calculated based on average statewide accident rate of one injury accident per 1 million miles traveled. A ``high'' rating is 10 percent or more above statewide average. ``Low'' is 10 percent or more below. (z) - Hours of operation are per 10,000 county residents. . Source: Legislative Analyst's Office (c)1998 San Francisco Chronicle
------------------------------------------------------------------- At Church Memorial To Slain San Francisco Teen, Her Image Is Fresh In Mourners' Hearts ('San Francisco Examiner' Covers The Funeral Of The 17-Year-Old Girl Shot In The Head As She And Her Fugitive Boyfriend Made Their Getaway From 10 Prohibition Agents In San Francisco)Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 01:01:43 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: At church memorial to slain S.F. teen, her image is fresh in mourners' hearts Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com (Frank S. World) Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA) Contact: letters@examiner.com Website: http://www.examiner.com/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Author: Anastasia Hendrix of The Examiner Staff AT CHURCH MEMORIAL TO SLAIN S.F. TEEN, HER IMAGE IS FRESH IN MOURNERS' HEARTS Orange was everywhere. Sheila would have loved it. There were bouquets of tinted carnations and roses, flickering candles, flowing scarves and ribbons of remembrance -- all in the 17-year-old's favorite hue. But for the hundreds who filled Holy Name of Jesus Church Thursday morning to remember Sheila Patricia Detoy, who was killed in a police stakeout gone awry, it was a heartbreaking reminder of the girl who colored their lives so vibrantly. "I once asked Sheila why she liked the color orange so much," said her friend Tara Kitami, choking back tears as she spoke before the crowd. "She said, "Take a look around, Tara, do you see orange? I am your blessing, you can always remember me because I brought the orange color into your world,' " Kitami said. The mourners sat in the same wooden pews where Detoy often prayed during her years at the adjacent Holy Name elementary school, where she received the sacraments of confession, first communion and confirmation into the Catholic Church and where she became one of the first girls ever to be an altar server at the church. They remembered her as a free spirit who loved to watch sunsets at the beach, swim in the Russian River and vacation in Hawaii, and who was planning a summer trip to the brilliant beaches of Cabo San Lucas. Although her body had already been interred, her presence radiated from the pictures and collages erected on easels. With her hallmark elbow-length cascade of hair and petite frame, the image was so familiar, so fresh, that it was still difficult for many at the memorial service to come to terms with the fact that she was really gone. "She hasn't died," said her step-uncle, Ron Amiot. "She lives with all of us. She's a typical little teenager, the sweetest girl. There are no words to express what happened." In more than half a dozen eulogies, friends and relatives described her as smart, sensitive and athletic, especially when it came to team sports like basketball and volleyball. They also spoke of her pride in being born a Scorpio and of her desire to open an ice cream shop someday. And they tried to make sense of the tragic circumstances surrounding her death May 13. Detoy was in the passenger seat of a gray Mustang when police cornered the car in an attempt to arrest on drug charges one of the two men she was with. Believing that the driver was trying to run them over, police fired into the car. One of the bullets hit Detoy in the head, killing her instantly. After a chase, the car came to a crashing stop on Sloat Avenue, where the men carjacked another vehicle and fled, police said. One was later arrested; another remains at large. "She was at a point in life where most teenagers are confused," Frank D'Alfonsi, a family friend and lawyer, said in his eulogy. "Mistakes are the rule, not the exception. She was trying very hard to succeed, and she wanted to do it on her own. She wanted to stand on her own two feet. Unfortunately, she never got the chance." Bouquets and blossoms were in abundance at the church -- which was filled to standing room only -- serving as a perfect reminder of the themes of spiritual resurrection, said the Rev. William Quinn, who conducted the memorial Mass. "Sheila has gone on before us, but the fragrance of her life remains behind," Quinn said. Robert Vernon, who worked with her at the Java Beach Cafe, said Detoy would have been touched by the outpouring of love -- and orange -- in her honor. "With her personality, I think she's probably enjoying all of this in her own way," he said. The principal of Holy Name School allowed teachers and the seventh- and eighth-grade classes to attend the service because many of them still remember Detoy, who graduated from the school in 1995. Detoy was accepted and enrolled at St. Ignatius College Preparatory school, but was unhappy there. Friends said she felt self-conscious because she came from a working-class family and her father died when she was very young. She transferred to the Immaculate Conception Academy in the middle of her sophomore year, but stopped attending classes after that. She eventually earned her general equivalency diploma. (c)1998 San Francisco Examiner
------------------------------------------------------------------- San Francisco Called Soft On Drug Crimes ('San Francisco Chronicle' Says Police, Prosecutors And Frustrated Merchants Spoke At A Meeting Of The San Francisco City/County Board Of Supervisors Yesterday Called By Supervisor Jose Medina, Who Said He Plans To Introduce Resolutions Before The Supervisors Next Week Urging The Superior Court To Raise Bail Rates) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 23:17:06 -0400 To: DrugSense News ServiceFrom: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: S.F. Called Soft On Drug Crimes Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com (Frank S. World) Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Author: Jason B. Johnson, Chronicle Staff Writer Contact: chronletters@sfgate.com Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 S.F. CALLED SOFT ON DRUG CRIMES Low Bail Rates Blamed For Attracting Criminals To City San Francisco's lax attitude toward drug dealers and other criminals attracts offenders from counties throughout the Bay Area, where bail is higher and justice swifter. That was the message police, prosecutors and frustrated merchants gave at a Board of Supervisors committee hearing yesterday. Several witnesses talked of suspects being busted for major crimes, only to end up back on the streets before the ink dried on the arrest blotter. ``Many times they're home before the officer is finished writing the report,'' said Vernon Grigg III, assistant district attorney in charge of narcotics prosecutions. ``If the officer is injured, we've had cases where they are home before the officer is out of the hospital.'' The hearing to consider the consequences of San Francisco's bail rates was called by Supervisor Jose Medina, chairman of the board's Housing and Neighborhood Services Committee. Medina said he plans to introduce resolutions before the supervisors next week urging the Superior Court to raise bail rates. The board does not have the authority to mandate such changes. ``Some of these bail rates look more like traffic fines,'' Medina said. ``I (also) see the need to expand this beyond drug-related offenses.'' Speakers told the supervisors that criminals consider San Francisco ``the place to go'' to sell drugs. Someone arrested in the city for selling cocaine can post bail for $2,500. A person busted for the same offense in San Mateo County must post $20,000 bail, while in Alameda County the offense carries a $15,000 bail. ``San Francisco is far and away the lowest bail of any of the contiguous counties in the region,'' Grigg said. ``I would ratchet it up by a factor of two to three.'' Along the Geneva Avenue border with Daly City, Grigg said, many dealers will not make a sale unless they are on the San Francisco side. San Francisco's overloaded system also results in criminals being released on bail before authorities discover they are wanted on other offenses, sometimes committed under an alias, officials told the committee. Once a suspect is out on bail or personal recognizance, he or she can delay resolution of a case for a year or more. Suspects in custody are much more eager to get cases settled. ``Our caseload never lightens,'' said Lieutenant Kitt Crenshaw of the police narcotics division. ``That's why drug dealers prefer to do business here.'' Crenshaw said drug dealers come here to deal from as far as San Pablo, Richmond and Pittsburg. Business groups said something has to be done to keep repeat offenders out of their neighborhoods. ``Our area is the most blighted area in San Francisco. Some of us are just barely able to hold on,'' said Steve Raymond of the U.N. Plaza/Mid-Market Merchants Association. Raymond said several foreign countries have ``red-lined'' the area, warning its citizens not to go there when vacationing in San Francisco. ``The people are afraid to do business in our area, and for good reason,'' said Raymond, sales manager at the Renoir Hotel. ``Guests are afraid to come to our hotel.'' (c)1998 San Francisco Chronicle
------------------------------------------------------------------- Call To Raise Bail Of San Francisco Crack Suspects ('San Francisco Examiner' Version Also Fails To Compare The Typical Costs Of Bail For Acts Of Violence, Theft And Other Real Crimes) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 19:42:10 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: Call To Raise Bail of S.F. Crack Suspects Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com (Frank S. World) Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Source: San Francisco Examiner (CA) Contact: letters@examiner.com Website: http://www.examiner.com/ Author: Chuck Finnie and Rachel Gordon, Examiner Staff CALL TO RAISE BAIL OF S.F. CRACK SUSPECTS Lenient bail decisions by San Francisco judges lure crack dealers to The City and plague residents with revolving-door justice, police and prosecutors say. Law enforcement officials appeared before a Board of Supervisors committee Thursday to urge City Hall to press judges to get tougher. They called on the courts to increase the bail that suspects must post in San Francisco to be released from custody. The City generally has the lowest bail schedule in the Bay Area, which critics contend makes San Francisco a magnet for lawbreakers. "We keep arresting some of these same subjects over and over, and we do see this infusion of out-of-town dope dealers who find it far less risky to deal narcotics in San Francisco than in other cities," said San Francisco police Capt. Dennis Martel, commander of Southern Station. "Not only do we suffer frustration, my heart goes out to the residents of this city and the commercial districts in this city that suffer from a concentration of narcotics trafficking because they see these dope dealers on their street corners, in front of their homes, in front of their business, creating extremely unsavory conditions." The presiding judge of the Municipal Court said she's heard similar complaints in discussions with community groups since she took over the court's leadership post last summer. Judge Donna Little said, however, that individual judges decide on a case-by-case basis what the bail should be. "We look at several issues," she said. "Do they have a prior record? How long ago since their last arrest? Was there violence or weapons involved?" Privately, other judges grumbled that they weren't given the courtesy of an invitation to appear at the hearing called by Supervisor Jose Medina to explain in general terms just how they decide these matters. Little, however, struck a conciliatory tone, saying she intends to ask her colleagues to focus specifically on crack cases when they hold an annual meeting this year on the court's bail schedule. Medina vowed to step up pressure on the courts, and plans to introduce a nonbinding measure to the full board Tuesday that would put the supervisors and mayor on record supporting higher bail for some drug offenses. "We are a bargain basement when it comes to bail," he said. The bail schedule, set by the judiciary, is used as a guideline for judges when a defendant first appears in court. All counties must have one, according to state law, and all defendants, except in capital murder cases, are entitled to the setting of bail. In San Francisco, for example, the bail schedule is comparatively soft in cases of crack cocaine sale and possession. The schedule calls for a bail of $2,500 for each count, although judges are free to depart from that figure, setting either more or less bail. In Alameda County, for the same offenses, the schedule calls for a bail of $20,000. In Santa Clara County, it is $15,000. In Contra Costa County, it is $30,000. To illustrate the problem, local police and prosecutors cited examples of drug dealers at the Daly City-San Francisco border near the Cow Palace scrambling to make sure that if they do get arrested, they're popped in San Francisco territory. "A lot of the narcotics dealers that we would encounter even on the larger-scale deals say they would much rather do the deal in San Francisco than outside the county," said police Capt. Greg Suhr of Mission Station. Law enforcement authorities said the benefit of forcing suspects to post higher bail in San Francisco would be immediate. "If we were able to rewrite the bail schedule, we would eliminate the incentives, we would be able to keep people in custody, we would have fewer cases as a result and the standard of living for citizens of this county would be dramatically improved," said Vernon Grigg, managing attorney for the San Francisco district attorney's narcotics unit. But the proposal has its foes. In an interview, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Brown ripped the critics of the status quo, calling their accusations politically expedient. "It is very easy to make judges the whipping boy," Brown said. "But police and prosecutors have ready access to the courts, and frankly I have not heard the district attorney complaining until now." To the contrary, Brown said, District Attorney Terence Hallinan has been an advocate of alternatives to incarceration, including a program that gets young dealers out of jail and into intensive counseling, educational and job training. John Shanley, Hallinan's spokesman, said the district attorney agrees with police, but didn't mean to blindside the courts, either. While the office disputes bail in individual cases, it has not raised the overall issue with the judges. Shanley said there may be blame to be shared on that score. Shanley said San Francisco's low bail schedule is, in large part, a product of inertia from earlier in the decade when the entire criminal justice system was looking for answers to jail overcrowding -- a problem that has waned since a new lockup opened three years ago. Brown added he doesn't believe "bail policies in San Francisco are lenient" and in fact the "decisions appropriately reflect the dangers the defendants pose and the likelihood they will return to court" when their cases are called. But hotelier Steve Raymond, representing the U.N. Plaza-Mid-Market Merchants Association, disagreed, saying that firsthand experience shows him that change is needed. "Many of the drug pushers that stand in front of our doorways all day come into San Francisco on BART from other cities around the Bay Area," said Raymond, marketing director for the Renoir Hotel on McAllister Street. "When the dealers are arrested, they are always immediately able to post bail or they are released on their (own recognizance) and by the following day have returned to our doorsteps. The effect of this policy is to put us all out of business." Raymond noted that at least two foreign governments, Japan and the United Kingdom, have warned their citizens to steer clear of the area because of the illegal drug activity. (c)1998 San Francisco Examiner
------------------------------------------------------------------- People In The News ('San Jose Mercury News' Says Malibu, California, Actor Charlie Sheen Overdosed On An Unspecified Drug And Is Expected To Be In The Hospital For At Least Two Days)Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 22:19:55 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US CA: People In The News [Charlie Sheen O.D.] Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: Marcus-Mermelstein FamilySource: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Contact: letters@sjmercury.com Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Actor Charlie Sheen, 32, was hospitalized in stable condition Thursday after he overdosed on an unknown drug or drugs, a hospital spokeswoman said. Los Angeles County paramedics took Sheen, accompanied by his personal trainer, from the actor's Malibu home and arrived at Los Robles Medical Center in Thousand Oaks about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. His father, Martin Sheen, choked back tears when confirming the overdose. ``I'm sorry Carroll didn't get the chance that we have,'' Martin Sheen said. ``This is not an easy moment in our lives, but it's a necessary one. Our hope is that he will accept recovery and be fine.'' He referred to Carroll O'Conner, whose son, Hugh, 32, struggled for years with a cocaine addiction and committed suicide in 1995. Sheen was being treated for a drug overdose, but a hosptial spokeswoman said she didn't know what kind of drugs he used. Sheen was expected to be in the hospital for at least two days.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Four Austin Officers Convicted, Face Stiff Prison Sentences ('Chicago Tribune' Notes The Four Prohibitionists From The Suburban Chicago Community Of Austin, Illinois, Were Convicted Yesterday Of Selling Their Loyalty To People In The Illegal Drug Industry - Three Other Drug Warriors Copped Pleas Before Trial)Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 00:58:32 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US IL: 4 Austin Officers Convicted, Face Stiff Prison Sentences Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: Steve Young Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Contact: tribletter@aol.com Website: http://www.chicago.tribune.com/ Pubdate: 22 May 1998 Author: Matt O'Connor 4 AUSTIN OFFICERS CONVICTED, FACE STIFF PRISON SENTENCES Four West Side Chicago police officers who prosecutors say sold their loyalty to gang bosses and showed more interest in profiting from drug sales than protecting citizens were convicted Thursday in the Austin 7 corruption scandal. The lead officer, Edward Lee "Pacman" Jackson Jr., identified by prosecutors as a ranking member of the Conservative Vice Lords street gang, faces a staggering minimum sentence of 126 years in prison, authorities said. Jackson and two other officers, M.L. Moore and Alex Ramos, were convicted on all counts by the nine-man, three-woman federal jury, while the fourth officer, James P. Young, was convicted on two counts and acquitted of six others. Deliberations lasted parts of three days. U.S. Atty. Scott Lassar told reporters that the convictions bring an end to the Operation Broken Star probe of Chicago's Austin Police District, but law-enforcement sources said the investigation is continuing. Three additional Austin District officers pleaded guilty to corruption charges before trial. The Austin probe represents the worst case of corruption in the Chicago Police Department since 1990, when seven Wentworth District officers were convicted of taking protection payoffs from gamblers and drug dealers. Three other officers pleaded guilty in that case. The Austin District convictions come just five months after three Gresham District officers were convicted in federal court on similar charges of robbing drug dealers. According to prosecutors, the Austin officers brazenly ripped off drug dealers of cash and narcotics, confident their victims would be too fearful to report the crimes or that they wouldn't be believed if they did. Testimony indicated the officers traveled outside their district when opportunities to make money arose. In one case, Jackson drew up a phony warrant to search a drug house, stole a large quantity of crack cocaine and gave the narcotics to the chief of the Traveling Vice Lords faction of the gang to sell on the street. He then shared in the profits. Tape-recordings showed Jackson concealing his conduct from a police superior but taking orders from gang leaders. The highest ranking Conservative Vice Lord street leader was captured on tape instructing Jackson to interfere in the questioning of a suspect in a stabbing, authorities said. According to federal prosecutors Brian Netols, Mark Filip and Ryan Stoll, three of the convicted Austin officers face unusually stiff sentences. In addition to Jackson's minimum 126-year prison term, Moore faces at least 106 years and Ramos a minimum 53 years in prison, they said. Under federal sentencing laws, the defendants will serve 85 percent of those sentences. The stiff sentences result primarily from the officers' convictions for using their service weapons during the shakedowns of suspected drug dealers. The gun charges carry a 5-year prison term for the first count and additional 20-year sentences for each subsequent count, to run consecutive to other convictions. The convictions marked both a blight and a success for the Chicago Police Department. It was, after all, the department's own Internal Affairs Department that launched the investigation of the corrupt officers--after numerous citizen complaints--and enlisted the help of the FBI. The Chicago police "didn't sweep it under the carpet," said John P. Johnson, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in Chicago. In addition, Chicago Police Sgt. Eugene Shepherd, a 27-year veteran, played a critical and dangerous undercover role in the probe, posing as "Silky," a major West Side cocaine dealer. Shepherd was unable to wear a hidden recorder because of fears the officers would search him. Indeed, Jackson once suspected Shepherd of being "a fed," and another officer hustled him to a bathroom at the Austin District station, ordered him to undress and strip-searched him. Without undercover tapes of the shakedowns to play, Shepherd's credibility became even more important, but he withstood cross-examination. According to prosecutors, Jackson, 27, was a renegade, out-of-control officer who robbed drug dealers, planted dope on others and did the bidding of gang bosses. Jackson still faces separate charges of teaming up with a gang leader to rip off other drug dealers. Moore, 49, and Ramos, 32, were found guilty of taking cash to protect what they thought were Silky's deliveries of large quantities of cocaine around the Chicago area. Moore also was convicted of shaking down Silky. Jackson was convicted on all 15 counts, Moore on all 19 counts and Ramos on all 10 counts, including racketeering, extortion and gun charges. Young, 31, was convicted of joining Moore in one shakedown of Silky only days after he joined the tactical unit, which is comprised of plainclothes officers who work the streets to combat gangs and drugs. But Young was acquitted of home invasion of a drug dealer. In that incident, testimony relied in part on the testimony of informants, some of them convicted drug dealers. U.S. Atty. Lassar speculated that jurors didn't trust the informants but found Shepherd's testimony about the first shakedown to be credible. Also, Young was the only officer who wasn't captured on undercover taped conversations; he also testified in his own defense. Young faces an 11-year prison sentence. Following the verdict, Ramos' wife and family wept as he was taken away by federal deputy marshals after U.S. District Judge Ann Williams revoked his bond at the request of prosecutors. Williams, though, allowed Young to remain confined to his home, in part so he can be with a seriously ill daughter. Jackson and Moore have been in custody since they were arrested in December 1996. Joan Hill McClain, Jackson's lawyer was critical of the verdict, saying she didn't think the officers would not have been convicted if they were white. Jackson, Moore and Young are black; Ramos is Latino. Even though nine of the jurors were minorities, and seven were black, McClain said: "Look at the foreperson." He was white. Stanley Hill, Moore's attorney, vowed an appeal, while Young's lawyer declined to comment. Ramos' lawyer couldn't be reached for comment.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Farmer Sues Over Hemp, Drug Laws - Rep. Owen Wants Right To Grow Plant ('The Associated Press' Says The New Hampshire Hemp Council Of Keene Is Joining New Hampshire Farmer And State Representative Derek Owen Of Hopkinton In Suing The DEA, Saying Congress Exempted Hemp When It First Outlawed Marijuana In 1937 And Again In 1945, So The DEA Has No Authority Over It) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 1998 03:47:50 -0500 From: Paul Chang (jahemp@DAFFODIL.InfoChan.COM) Reply-To: pfx@DAFFODIL.InfoChan.COM To: Cannabis Patriots (cannabis-patriots-l@teleport.com) Cc: Rob/Nga Otto (alme@muskoka.com), Mary Otto Chang (miochang@passport.ca) Subject: CanPat - [Fwd: NH vs DEA] Sender: owner-cannabis-patriots-l@teleport.com Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 09:35:50 +0100 To: Recipient List Suppressed:;@wco.com From: "C. Penn" (hempstrs@wco.com) Subject: NH vs DEA From: "Karl D. Bond" (thnkhemp@worldpath.net) Subject: NH vs DEA Date: Sat, 30 May 1998 Farmer sues over hemp, drug laws Rep. Owen wants right to grow plant Friday, May 22, 1998 By MICHELLE EMERY The Associated Press Hopkinton, NH - The U.S. Justice Department says a state representative who wants to grow hemp has no legal grounds to stand on. Hopkinton Rep. Derek Owen has filed a lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Agency saying it has no legal authority to regulate the growing of hemp. The New Hampshire Hemp Council of Keene is joining Owen, who is also a farmer, in his lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on April 30. Owen wants the court to issue a restraining order barring the agency from using marijuana laws to ban hemp farming. A hearing is scheduled for today. Justice Department lawyers defending the agency say in their response, filed yesterday, that the marijuana laws do apply to hemp. Owen's bill to legalize hemp production lost by 11 votes in the Legislature in February. Owen's lawsuit notes that marijuana and hemp belong to the same species, cannabis sativa. But it says where marijuana plants are grown to produce high levels of THC, the chemical that produces a high, hemp's levels are too low to have the same effect. Hemp is grown for its fiber, which can be used for clothing, rope, paper and building materials. Oil from its seeds can be used for fuel and to make plastic. The suit says Congress exempted hemp when it first outlawed marijuana in 1937 and did so again in 1945, so the DEA has no authority over it. But Justice Department lawyers defending the agency say marijuana is defined as all parts of the cannabis sativa plant, meaning hemp is included in Congress's definition of marijuana. "Because there is not a dispute that hemp is a form of the cannabis plant, or that marijuana is a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act, it necessarily follows that hemp is a controlled substance," the lawyers say in their response. The lawyers say cultivation is therefore illegal without DEA registration and approval, which they said Owen did not seek. The Justice Department says the issue is moot because hemp growing is illegal under New Hampshire law as well. Owen has argued that if the court grants the injunction, he could push the legislation again before the session ends. He said a court decision in his favor could increase the bill's chance of passage, and blamed its defeat on testimony from a DEA agent who said legalizing hemp sends the wrong message to children. "We badly need to support small-scale, local agriculture. It's a suffering sector of our economy," said Owen's lawyer, Gordon Blakeney. "Owen hopes to plant hemp at his farm this season, if a restraining order is granted." The Justice Department also argues that the court doesn't have jurisdiction to hear the case. Lawyers said Owen's claims of injury are speculative, rather than the result of concrete government action, so claims of his First Amendment and Fifth Amendment rights being violated are invalid. The lawyers accuse Owen of trying to silence the DEA for speaking out against his bill. The department argues an injunction would hurt police efforts to crack down on marijuana. Opponents to hemp crops say hemp fields would only provide a smoke screen for marijuana growers, or that legalizing hemp would lead to legalizing marijuana. Blakeney said Owens' lawsuit is the first of its kind, filed two weeks before a group of farmers filed a similar suit in Kentucky. "I'm anxious that New Hampshire be first," he said. "I'm anxious that New Hampshire get going on it because I think it is a huge cash crop." *** Candi Penn, Board of Directors - Secretary HIA - Hemp Industries Assoc. PO Box 1080, Occidental, CA 95465 1-500-HIA-HEMP & 707 874-3648 FAX: 707 874-1104 Email: info@thehia.org Websites: http://thehia.org & http://hempstores.com
------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Fear' Is Gonzo All The Way ('San Francisco Chronicle' Review Of The Movie Adaptation Of Hunter S. Thompson's Book, 'Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas')Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 15:10:04 -0700 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US: Review: 'Fear' is Gonzo All the Way Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com (Frank S. World) Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Contact: chronletters@sfgate.com Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Author: Edward Guthmann, Chronicle Staff Critic `FEAR' IS GONZO ALL THE WAY Depp's altered state gets tiresome FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS: Farce. Starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro. Directed by Terry Gilliam. Written by Terry Gilliam, Tony Grisoni, Tod Davies and Alex Cox. (R. 119 minutes. At Bay Area theaters.) In 1971, when Hunter S. Thompson wrote ``Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,'' drug humor was commonplace in pop culture. Cheech and Chong turned pot jokes into a mini-industry, rock stars celebrated chemical experimentation and movies equated casual drug use with hipness and rebellion. Today, more than a decade after Nancy Reagan's ``Just Say No'' campaign made drug humor disappear, it's amazing that Thompson's rude, brilliant blast of a novel has been transferred to the screen --with all its psychedelic humor, baroque language and excessive drug use intact. ``Fear and Loathing,'' opening today at Bay Area theaters, stars Johnny Depp as Thompson's alter ego, wildcat journalist Raoul Duke, and features Benicio Del Toro (``The Usual Suspects''), who gained 40 pounds for the role, as Dr. Gonzo, Thompson's attorney and fellow prankster. Both men give mischievous, out-on-a-limb performances, and the movie is directed with tremendous visual imagination by Terry Gilliam, whose earlier films, ``Twelve Monkeys,'' ``The Fisher King'' and ``Brazil,'' also dealt with illusion and madness, social transgression and altered states. But even with such gifted creators, brilliant production design and several moments that capture the wobbly sensations of an acid trip better than anything since Oliver Stone's ``The Doors,'' ``Fear and Loathing'' is disappointing, pointless and repetitive. It's really a one-gimmick movie that declares its intentions in the first scene, as Depp and Del Toro rage down a desert highway, top down on their fire-engine red Chevy convertible, a ``whole galaxy'' of drugs and -- booze, ``uppers and downers, laughers and screamers'' stashed inside. ``We were somewhere around Barstow,'' Depp says in voice-over, ``when the drugs began to take hold.'' From that moment until the movie ends two hours later, we get one warped, druggy, filmed-through-a-funhouse-mirror sequence after another. Checking into a Las Vegas hotel, where Depp is supposed to cover an off-road car race for Sports Illustrated, he hallucinates swirls in the carpet patterns, sees lizard heads sprouting from gamblers' necks and imagines the desk clerk morphing into an eel. Later scenes, which blur in hindsight, have a zonked Del Toro flailing fully clothed in a filthy bathtub, puking in a toilet and mumbling incoherently. The men go tripping at a circus-theme casino; attend a district attorneys' anti-drug confab; stumble through a series of pink-on-pink, tacky-surreal Vegas tableaux with piped-in Perry Como and Debbie Reynolds; and meet a teenage innocent (Christina Ricci) who paints kitschy Barbra Streisand portraits. Depp spent months following Thompson around so he could play the fabled journalist -- and the results show in his detailed mimicry and crazed-savant delivery. But underneath all his buggy gestures and tics, he doesn't show us a personality; he gives us a burlesque, not a performance. If ``Fear and Loathing'' had any sense of moving toward something or being about something, Depp might have fared better. But it's really a series of sketches on one theme. Even with Gilliam's cheeky visual flights -- a series of Richard Nixon heads spinning through a hotel room, for example -- it's dated and surprisingly slight. 1998 San Francisco Chronicle
------------------------------------------------------------------- Deaths Of Six Viagra Users Reported By Drugmaker ('San Francisco Chronicle' Says The Food And Drug Administration Confirmed Yesterday That Six Patients Who Had Taken Pfizer's Wildly Popular Impotence Pill Have Died Since The Drug Hit The Market Last Month - FDA Says The Deaths May Be Coincidental, But The Main Concern Is Interactions With Nitroglycerine - What Goes Unexplained Is How The FDA Is Coping With Laws That Prevent It From Following Up On The Harmful Side Affects Caused By New Prescription Drugs) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 19:11:18 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US: Deaths Of Six Viagra Users Reported By Drugmaker Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: compassion23@geocities.com (Frank S. World) Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Contact: chronletters@sfgate.com Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Author: Sabin Russell, Chronicle Staff DEATHS OF SIX VIAGRA USERS REPORTED BY DRUGMAKER Six patients who had taken the wildly popular impotence pill Viagra have died since the drug hit the market last month, the Food and Drug Administration confirmed yesterday. It remains uncertain, however, whether the medication played a role in the deaths or if it was coincidental that victims had taken the pill. The fear is that a combination of Viagra and the heart medication nitroglycerin, used routinely to treat chest pain, can lead to a fatal drop in blood pressure. It was a drug interaction that Viagra maker Pfizer Inc. had warned of, but that patients might not have taken seriously in the giddy popular embrace of the new treatment. ``I knew this was coming,'' said Dr. Myron Murdock, director of the Impotence Institute of America, an organization of impotence patients and their doctors, located in Bowie, Maryland. Murdock said he hoped that the deaths -- if confirmed to be related to Viagra -- will not lead the FDA to pull the drug from the market, because it has proven itself so effective for its intended use. His clinic was involved in the initial testing of Viagra, and it currently writes 50 prescriptions a day for it. Nationwide, an astonishing 570,000 prescriptions for Viagra were filled in the month of April, turning the impotence pill into an instant pop culture phenomenon, the object of intense curiosity as well as the subject of potential abuse. ``The public has to realize that this is a serious drug,'' said Murdock. FDA spokeswoman Lorrie McHugh told the Associated Press that the agency will look into death reports to determine if added warnings are needed. The reports are so recent that the FDA has not had time to determine whether or not the deaths are related to Viagra use. Pfizer is required to report any adverse affects to the FDA, whether or not they are thought to be related to the medication. The FDA has warned about Viagra's potential heart-medication interactions since the drug's approval on March 27, and for now, the ``FDA continues to believe the drug is safe and effective'' when used in the appropriate patients, McHugh said. Pfizer spokesman Brian McGlynn said yesterday that the company ``reports all adverse events to the FDA on a timely basis.'' He observed that, during the clinical trial of the drug among 4,000 men, there were eight deaths, none of which were attributable to the drug. In the wake of the latest reports, however, ambulance crews and emergency room doctors throughout the nation began revising their procedures. San Francisco paramedics and city Emergency Department staffers will now ask patients with heart pain -- both male and female -- if they have taken the impotence pill within the past 24 hours. In a press statement issued earlier in the day, Pfizer cautioned that the drug has not been approved for women, and that clinical trials for women have not yielded conclusive results. ``We routinely ask patients what medications they are on, but Viagra is a medication that patients might not be forthcoming in telling a stranger they are on it,'' said Dr. Marshal Isaacs, Emergency Medical Services director for the San Francisco Fire Department. Isaacs noted that nitroglycerine is routinely administered to patients complaining of chest pain, who may be suffering from angina or a heart attack. The drug dilates blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and easing the workload of the heart. The problem with Viagra is that it, too, dilates blood vessels, although the activity is restricted primarily to the pelvic region. The drug was originally tested as a medication to lower blood pressure, but it didn't work for that. (c)1998 San Francisco Chronicle Page A18
------------------------------------------------------------------- Business Briefing - Pfizer ('Chicago Tribune' Notes The Stock Of The Company Manufacturing Viagra Dipped A Little On The News That The Drug-Maker Was Issuing New Warnings About It) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 19:36:18 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US: Business Briefing: Pfizer Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: Steve Young Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Contact: tribletter@aol.com Website: http://www.chicago.tribune.com/ Author: From Tribune News Services: Compiled by Steven Morris BUSINESS BRIEFING: PFIZER Pfizer Inc. said Thursday it will warn paramedics and emergency-room physicians not to treat patients on its impotence pill Viagra with nitroglycerin. The warning sent Pfizer shares down $3.69, to $109.12. Nevertheless, Pfizer shares have more than doubled in the last year on prospects for Viagra. It reached an all-time high of $121.75 on April 21. Viagra's label already contains a warning that it shouldn't be used by those taking organic nitrates such as nitroglycerin, primarily used to treat angina, or chest pain. Pfizer said it will send out 10,000 letters this week to emergency-room personnel who might not realize they're treating Viagra users. Viagra, which is easier to use than other impotence remedies on the market, became one of the best-selling U.S. drugs after its April introduction. Meanwhile, the nation's leading discount chains are vying in a Viagra price war. Kmart Corp. has taken out national newspaper ads to promote its price of $39.99 for a five-tablet prescription.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Anti-Smoking Bill Hits Snag In Senate ('Chicago Tribune' Says Backers Of Anti-Smoking Legislation Suffered A Setback Yesterday In The US Senate As Lawmakers Voted 67-31 To Oppose Liability Protection For Cigarette-Makers, Considered Important Because It's Assumed That Would Give Companies An Incentive To Voluntarily Accept Restrictions On Cigarette Advertising And Marketing - The So-Called Anti-Smoking Legislation Was Stopped, At Least Until Congress Returns From Recess Next Month, By An Unusual Coalition Of Liberals Seeking Tougher Anti-Tobacco Laws Joined By Conservatives Trying To Scuttle The Legislation) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 19:24:54 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US: Anti-Smoking Bill Hits Snag In Senate Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: Steve Young Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Contact: tribletter@aol.com Website: http://www.chicago.tribune.com/ Author: Mike Dorning ANTI-SMOKING BILL HITS SNAG IN SENATE WASHINGTON -- Backers of anti-smoking legislation suffered a setback Thursday in the Senate as lawmakers signaled their opposition to liability protection for cigarette-makers. Limits on liability awards are considered important by the architects of the tobacco package because they would give companies an incentive to voluntarily accept restrictions on cigarette advertising and marketing. If the tobacco industry were to fight the restrictions in court, they might be ruled unconstitutional. The liability ceilings, which the Clinton administration supports, failed as a result of an unusual coalition of liberals seeking tougher anti-tobacco laws and conservatives trying to scuttle the legislation. By a 67-31 vote, lawmakers rejected a procedural move to block an amendment striking an $8 billion annual limit on payments tobacco companies would have to make on lawsuits brought by smokers. Because the Senate has not voted on the amendment, technically the liability limits have not yet been deleted from the legislation. But "for all intents and purposes it's been decided," said Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), a key supporter of the package. After the defeat, the Senate shelved the legislation until at least next month, after lawmakers return from their weeklong Memorial Day recess. The delay means "it will be harder" to gain approval for the legislation by the House, said its sponsor, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). "Today, we had a defeat," McCain said. But "we will continue to push forward." Tobacco companies have said the price tag on the tobacco bill is too high--estimates on its cost to the companies range from $500 billion to $800 billion--and have refused to support it. Convinced that the industry position is a negotiating ploy, backers of the legislation would like to retain the liability limits as an incentive for cigarette-makers to accept the legislation. The liability ceiling would be available only to companies that voluntarily comply with all provisions of the package, including a ban on all advertisements except black-and-white "tombstone" ads, and refrain from court challenges. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-Vt.) argued that the liability limits were a "special protection for an industry which produces a product that kills you, which is addictive and which was targeted on kids. "The devil walked away from the table," Gregg added, referring to the tobacco companies. "Now, we have the unseemly situation of the United States Congress chasing after the devil, pleading with the devil to take our plan." The vote on the liability limits offered one more illustration of how strongly public sentiment has turned against the tobacco lobby, which long has been one of Washington's most powerful political players. The vote was considered close until it became clear the liability ceilings would fail--then a number of senators switched their votes at the last moment to record public opposition to any concession on tobacco liability. "Members either had a blinding flash or decided it was safer to say they voted against the tobacco companies," McCain said. The tobacco legislation grew out of a $368.5 billion national settlement that cigarette-makers reached with state attorneys general last June to end a series of lawsuits seeking to hold the companies responsible for smoking-related expenses incurred by state health insurance programs. The cost of the settlement package rose substantially as lawmakers sought stricter terms, including a $1.10-per-pack tax on cigarettes. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), a longtime tobacco foe who voted to strip out the liability limit, asserted the more stringent bill could draw tobacco-makers back into negotiations. A liability limit could be put back in the legislation at a later point in the lawmaking process if the cigarette-makers chose to support the package, he added. The House has yet to take up tobacco legislation, and House Republican leaders are hinting they will push for a narrow bill that focuses on strengthening laws prohibiting cigarette sales to minors. Dr. C. Everett Koop, a former surgeon general, joined David Kessler, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration, and House Democratic leaders Thursday for a news conference at the Capitol to call for House GOP leaders to schedule action on a comprehensive bill.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Tobacco Bill Suffers Setback Over Liability-Limit Vote (Knight Ridder Newspapers Version In 'Seattle Times') Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 10:15:44 -0700 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US: Tobacco Bill Suffers Setback Over Liability-Limit Vote Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: John Smith Source: Seattle Times (WA) Contact: opinion@seatimes.com Website: http://www.seattletimes.com/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Author: Robert A. Rankin, Knight Ridder Newspapers TOBACCO BILL SUFFERS SETBACK OVER LIABILITY-LIMIT VOTE WASHINGTON - A bipartisan Senate majority uniting liberals and conservatives stripped a key provision from the sweeping tobacco-control bill yesterday, raising new doubts about Congress' ability to pass any tobacco measure this year. The Senate, in a 61-37 vote, in essence eliminated the legal protections from damage suits for the tobacco companies that were included in the tobacco bill sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., The protections would have placed an $8 billion-a-year limit on liability payments by the tobacco companies under pending lawsuits. Proponents said such a limit was essential if the tobacco companies were to meet some of the severe restrictions the bill places on them. Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., voted in favor of retaining the $8 billion limit; Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., voted against it. The setback appears to have left the legislation in critical condition. Its sponsors had hoped to complete Senate action on it this week, before Congress begins a weeklong Memorial Day recess. Instead, the measure was to be pulled off the Senate floor today for more urgent legislation. Plans are to take it up anew at some unspecified time in June, and many contentious amendment battles are still ahead. The Senate's June schedule is already crowded with many must-pass appropriations bills. McCain conceded that delay serves the bill's opponents. The House, whose Republican leaders are determined to scale back any tobacco-control bill, has yet to begin work on legislation, and won't until the Senate finishes. House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., called yesterday for Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., to schedule a House vote on tobacco legislation before July 4, but that now appears unlikely. The quest to kill the liability cap united liberal Democrats outraged at tobacco companies and conservative Republicans seeking to undermine McCain's bill. McCain got support from only 16 other Republicans and 20 Democrats in this key test of strength. Sens. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Pat Leahy, D-Vt., led the effort to strip the liability cap. They argued that the companies do not deserve "immunity" or "protection" from liability. "It is just beyond comprehension that an industry that produces a product that kills people, which they designed to addict kids, would be chosen as the industry to which we are going to give immunity protection. It makes absolutely no sense," Gregg said. "Nobody is running up to me in the streets of Vermont and saying, `Oh, please, whatever you do, be sure to give a lot of liability protection to the tobacco companies,' " Leahy said. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., led defenders of the liability cap. He denied that it gives the tobacco companies any immunity or protection from lawsuits. "No protection. None. Zero protection. There is no immunity in this bill. Zero. None," Kerry emphasized. All the liability cap would do, Kerry said, is set an $8 billion limit on the amount the companies would have to pay in any single year to cover penalties they incur from lawsuits. If they owe more than that, the amount owed above $8 billion would roll forward to be paid in ensuing years, but still must be paid in full.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Smoking Becomes Habit For One-Third Of Students Who Try It ('Associated Press' Account In 'The Orange County Register' Of A Survey Of More Than 16,000 Students Nationwide By The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention - Previous Studies Had Estimated That 33 Percent To 50 Percent Of People Who Experiment With Cigarettes Become Regular Smokers) Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 12:50:05 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US: Smoking Becomes Habit For One-Third Of Students Who Try It Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: John W. Black Source: Orange County Register (CA) Contact: letters@link.freedom.com Website: http://www.ocregister.com/ Pubdate: 22 May 1998 Author: Russ Bynum, Associated Press SMOKING BECOMES HABIT FOR ONE-THIRD OF STUDENTS WHO TRY IT Addiction: Seventy three percent of those teens said they had tried to quit. ALANTA - More than a third of high school students who try cigarettes develop a daily smoking habit before they graduate, the government said today. In a survey of more than 16,000 students nationwide, nearly 36 percent who had ever smoked said their smoking escalated to at least a cigarette per day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Nearly 73 percent with a daily habit said they had tried to quit. But only 13.5 percent successfully stopped, the CDC said. "That's strictly a testimony to the power of nicotine," said Michael Eriksen, director of the CDC's Office of Smoking and Health. "We were really struck by how this little drama of tobacco addiction really is completely played out before high school graduation." The CDC report was released as Congress debates anti-smiling legislation that would raise taxes on cigarettes and levy stiff fines against tobacco companies if teen smoking rates fail to drop significantly. The Tobacco Institute, the lobbying arm of the tobacco industry, had no immediate response to the study. Seventy percent of students surveyed said they had tried cigarettes at least once. The percentage is probably higher among teens overall because the survey did not include dropouts, Eriksen said. Previous studies had estimated that from 33 to 50 percent of people who experiment with cigarettes become regular smokers. But now researchers can show that smokers develop a pattern of nicotine addiction and a desire to quit in their teens, Eriksen said. Students in all 50 state were surveyed in 1997. Students were considered daily smokers if they had ever smoked at least once a day for a period of 30 days. The report counted former smokers as those who had quit for at least 30 days before they were surveyed.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Mexican Politicians Criticize US Undercover Drug Operation (According To An 'Associated Press' Article In 'The Orange County Register,' Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretariat Said It Had Filed A Formal Protest Over US Agents In 'Operation Casablanca' Violating Mexico's Sovereignty And US-Mexico Agreements) Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 10:26:05 -0700 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: Mexican Politicians Criticize US Undercover Drug Operation Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: John W.Black Source: Orange County Register (CA) Contact: letters@link.freedom.com Website: http://www.ocregister.com/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Author: John Rice-The Associated Press MEXICAN POLITICIANS CRITICIZE US UNDERCOVER DRUG OPERATION They say the money laundering sting violated their nation's sovereignty and U.S.-Mexico agreements. MEXICO CITY - Mexico accused the United States on Thursday of using undercover agents on its territory during a highly touted operation against drug-money laundering, possibly in violation of Mexican law. Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretariat said it had filed a formal protest over the actions of U.S. agents in "Operation Casablanca." The secretariat also indicated Washington had not properly informed the government about the three-year undertaking until a number of Mexican citizens had been lured to the United States and arrested. The announcement was a dramatic reversal from the government's earlier acceptance of the operation, which U.S. Justice Dept. officials called the biggest money-laundering case ever. U.S. officials said they did not tell Mexico about the massive sting because it might have endangered its undercover agents. In a statement to reporters, Attorney General Jorge Madrazo Cuellar said U.S. officials initially gave Mexico the false impression the U.S. agents had not carried out probes inside Mexico. President Ernesto Zedillo ordered his diplomats to deliver the protest after he determined that the conducting of a hidden operation on Mexican soil violated the terms of several agreements between the two countries as well as the spirit of the close bilateral relationship, officials said. U.S. officials said they did not inform their Mexican counterparts about the operation, which involved more than 200 undercover agents, until less than two hours before they announced its results. Mexican justice officials also believe that these undercover agents and confidential informants who worked in Mexico broke several Mexican laws, Madrazo said. Justice officials here are analyzing court documents with an eye to preparing legal action against people involved in the operation, Madrazo said. He also said Mexican authorities had arrested four of the 26 Mexican bankers cited in the U.S. indictments announced Monday. The four, he said, admitted their participation in operations "related to money laundering" and offered to cooperate with Mexican prosecutors. As part of money-laundering probes, Madrazo said, Mexico has seized 129 bank accounts of 85 people, with a value of about $1.6 million. All together, about 150 people were indicted under Operation Casablanca. Mexican prosecutors endorsed the three-year operation as soon as it was announced Monday, and they vowed to cooperate with the U.S. investigation. But the Permanent Commission, which represents Mexico's congress when it is not in session, voted unanimously Wednesday to demand an investigation into Casablanca and criticized possible "intervention" by U.S. agents. "It is true that all Mexicans are against drug trafficking," said Sen. Eduardo Andrade of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party. "But we are also against foreign intervention and attempts to destabilize Mexican institutions." Andrade said U.S. agents apparently lured Mexican bankers into criminal acts. "They did not succumb to the corrupting power of drug traffic. They succumbed to the corrupting power of the government of the United States." Mexico's largest opposition party, National Action, published newspaper ads calling the operation "a sneak attack" and "a criminal operation" that violated agreements to exchange information on drug-fighting operations.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Secret Drug Operation Draws Protest ('Chicago Tribune' Version) Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 10:33:20 -0700 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: Mexico: Secret Drug Operation Draws Protest Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: Steve Young Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Contact: tribletter@aol.com Website: http://www.chicago.tribune.com/ Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 SECRET DRUG OPERATION DRAWS PROTEST MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Mexico said Thursday it formally will protest a U.S. undercover operation that exposed the laudering of more than $110 million in drug money through 12 Mexican banks. It charged that the agents acted secretly in Mexico without informing the government. Atty. Gen. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar accused Washington of deceiving Mexico by making officials believe the entire three-year undercover operation, known as Casablanca, had been conducted inside the U.S. President Ernesto Zedillo ordered his diplomats to deliver the protest after he determined that conducting a hidden operation on Mexican soil violated several agreements between the countries, officials said. U.S. officials said they did not inform their Mexican counterparts about the operation, which involved 200 undercover agents, until less than two hours before they announced its results Monday. Officials also believe the agents and confidential informants who worked in Mexico broke several Mexican laws.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Military Authorized To Return To Border Patrol Duty ('Associated Press' Notes The US House Of Representatives Commemorated The First Anniversary Of A Texas Teen-Age Goatherder's Homicide At The Hands Of Camouflaged Marines By Voting To Again Allow Military Assistance To Civilian Law Enforcement Along The Border) Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 01:09:03 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US Wire: Military authorized to return to border patrol duty Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: isenberd@DynCorp.com (Isenberg, David) Source: Associated Press Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 (AP) - The House voted Thursday to authorize enlisting the military to help patrol U.S. borders in the war against drug smuggling and illegal immigration. Opponents said the plan could turn the U.S.-Mexican border into an armed corridor. The 288 to 132 vote approving the experiment came as the House neared completion of a $270 billion defense spending bill for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The overall legislation includes $1.9 billion to keep U.S. forces in Bosnia and provides a 3.6% pay raise for the military - half a percentage point more than the Clinton administration requested. It also includes a ban on further exports of high-technology to China. And it is notable for one thing it doesn't include: another round of base closings sought by the Clinton administration. Lawmakers sparred over whether the Pentagon could or should be called upon to deploy forces for monitoring and patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border. Rep. James Traficant, R-Ohio, sponsor of the amendment, told the House the legislation only authorizes such a deployment and doesn't require it. First, the Immigration and Naturalization Service or the Customs Service would have to request the help and the defense secretary would have to approve it. The Defense Department opposes the measure.
------------------------------------------------------------------- House Backs Military Patrols Of US Borders (Lengthier 'Associated Press' Version In 'Orange County Register') Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 12:47:43 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US: House Back Military Patrols of US Borders Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: John W.Black Source: Orange County Register (CA) Contact: letters@link.freedom.com Website: http://www.ocregister.com/ Pubdate: 22 May 1998 Author: Tom Raum, Associated Press Politics: Opponents in the $270 billion defense bill, is a waste of scarce resources. Washington-The House passed a $270 billion defence bill Thursday that includes authorizing the military to help patrol U.S. borders in the war against drug smuggling and illegal immigration. Opponents said the plan - an amendment approved 288-to-132 - could turn the U.S. Mexican border into an armed corridor. The overall bill, covering military programs and spending for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, was then passed on a 357-60 vote. The Senate is expected to vote on its aversion next month. The total price tag on the legislation is roughly the same as this year's Pentagon spending, and many members complained the lack of growth in the budget was hurting military readiness. The legislation includes $1.9 billion to keep U.S. forces in Bosnia and a 3.6 percent pay raise for the military - half a percentage point more than the Clinton administration had requested. The overall bill is also notable for one thing it doesn't include: another round of base closings sought by the Clinton administration. In an emotional debate, lawmakers sparred over whether the Pentagon could - or should - be called upon to deploy forces for "monitoring and patrolling" the U.S. Mexican border. Rep. James Traficant, R-Ohio, sponsor of the amendment, told the House the legislation only authorizes such a deployment - and doesn't require it. First, the Immigration and Naturalization Service or the Customs Service would have to request the help - and the defense secretary would have to approve it. The Defense Department opposes the measure. "Maybe the Pentagon doesn't want it," said Traficant. "The American people not only want it, they need it." But opponents said that border patrolling was not a legitimate function of an already resource strapped Defense Department. "We shouldn't put thousands of Army soldiers on the border of Texas," said Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas. He said it would "make the Texas-Mexican border look like East Berlin after World War 11." But Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., said, "It is time this country did something about drugs. Put the 82nd Airborne on maneuvers down there if you want to stop drugs." The annual defense bill authorizes $270.4 billion for fiscal 1999, roughly the same amount as last year. The bill provides $3.8 billion for ballistic missile defense and $417 million to assist in removing military and nuclear threats from the former Soviet Union. House members rejected, by a 251 to 167 vote, an attempt by Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Tom Campbell, R-Standord, to force to the floor an amendment that would require the 8,500 U.S. troops now in Bosnia to be brought home by year's end.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Helicopter Giants Battle Over Colombian Drug Missions ('Helicopter News' Notes Two Military Suppliers Are Disputing The Appropriate Mix Of Helicopters Needed To Fly Counter-Drug Operations In The Beleaguered Nation)Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 01:11:43 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: US: Helicopter Giants Battle Over Colombian Drug Missions Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: isenberd@DynCorp.com (Isenberg, David) Source: Helicopter News Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 HELICOPTER GIANTS BATTLE OVER COLOMBIAN DRUG MISSIONS While Congress and the State Department quarrel over the release of $36 million to equip the Colombian National Police (CNP) with three UH-60L Black Hawk utility helicopters, Sikorsky [UTX]--the manufacturer of the UH-60--and Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT] are scuffling over the appropriate mix of helicopters needed to fly counter-drug operations in the beleaguered nation. Though the issues related to helicopter support for the CNP's counter-drug operations were supposed to have been resolved late last year, the State Department's current reluctance to spend the $36 million Congress earmarked for the CNP has led to another round of acrimonious debate (Helicopter News, Jan 2). On Capitol Hill, a vocal and powerful segment of Congress is adamant that the money be spent on the purchase of the three Black Hawks and all that has been deemed necessary for their support. Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.), Chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, sent Thomas Pickering, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, a letter late last month both imploring him to provide the CNP with Black Hawks and warning him of serious consequences should the administration refuse. In the letter Gilman plainly urged Pickering to provide the CNP with helicopters that are more capable than the Bell UH-ls currently in use in Colombia. "It makes no sense to merely upgrade 40-year-old equipment that is already grounded or not operating, and which cannot survive crashes or ground fire as well as the Black Hawk," he wrote. Additionally, Gilman warned Pickering and the Clinton administration that the $36 million would have no other use if it is not to be expended on the Black Hawks. According to Gilman, "[uf the Administration continues to block the delivery of Black Hawk Helicopters, I will exercise my option to hold the obligation of any State Department reprogramming requests dealing with $36 million provided in the FY 1998 foreign operations appropriations bill." One Congressional source close to the debate is confident that the impasse will be resolved in favor of fielding the Black Hawks- -because he believes the UH-60s are the best equipment for the task and that the American people will pressure the administration into taking what he deems is the appropriate action. "When you have a limited number of good men who are trained and capable of flying in hostile combat conditions, fighting our fight for our kids, we ought to give them the best equipment we can," the source said. Despite Hueys having played a major role in shutting down a right-wing paramilitary drug production lab last week- -the lab was believed to be capable of producing 70 tons of cocaine annually- -there are many that feel that in any configuration the single engined UH-1 lacks the power and durability to afford the CNP an adequately broad range of operations. Though not opposed to fielding Hueys, particularly in the improved Huey II configuration, many people close to the issue contend there are too many missions that tax the Hueys to the edge of their performance envelopes. The Huey II is the product of a combined Bell and Allied Signal [ALD) effort that upgrades the UH-lHs engine from the problematic T-53-L-13B configuration to that of the T-53-L-703. The Huey II also derives better performance from corresponding upgrades to the transmission, gearbox, rotor blades, tail boom and drive system (Helicopter News, Oct 24). Once modified the Huey II improves its maximum weight from 9,500 to 10,500 pounds and provides an increase of 400 shaft horsepower (shp) to reach a sum of 1 ,8OOshp. In contrast the UH-60L is equipped with two General Electric [GE] T700-701C engines that provide 1,89Oshp each and can operate at a maximum weight of 22,000 pounds. However, procuring the more powerful Black Hawk is also a more expensive proposition than purchasing the upgrade kits for the Hueys--a point Bell has seized upon in an attempt to reap benefits from the latest governmental impasse. Recently a briefing document with the heading of "Huey II the 7-to-1 advantage" was obtained by Helicopter News. In that document Bell advocated the procurement of seven Huey us for each of the three UH-60s sought by the CNP and the leadership of the House Committee on International Relations. Bell contends that both the Huey II and the Black Hawk are capable of flying the same counter-drug missions. Furthermore, Bell promotes the procurement of 21 Huey us as being the more cost effective solution to the problems faced by the CNP. According to Bell, Huey us offer a 7:1 advantage in procurement costs and a 5:1 advantage in operating costs (figures disputed by Sikorsky). Concluding "[i]t all adds up. The Huey II meets all operational requirements at one-seventh the cost of the Black Hawk." Sikorsky and other sources close to Congress, however, see major differences in the capabilities of the two aircraft. According to a Sikorsky response to Bell's 7:1 document, "Bell Helicopter's attention to the issue of price in its competition with Sikorsky is the only tactic available to them, since the topics associated with function/performance all favor the BLACK HAWK. Further, when lower price delivers equipment with limited capabilities such as the Huey II~quipment that is incapable of meeting the scope of CNP mission requirements-then Bell's argument is one of false economy." One contention of Sikorsky's is that Bell is said to have attempted to "limit" debate by giving consideration only to operations requiring Hover In Ground Effect (HIGE) takeoffs. "If Hover Out Of Ground Effect (HOGE) takeoffs are considered, both the UH-1H and the upgraded Huey II lose a substantial portion of their useful load (fuel + payload capability). The BLACK HAWK will also have a lower useful load capability, but it still retains enough payload and fuel capability to do the mission," Sikorsky said. As an example, Sikorsky maintains that in operations requiring HOGE takeoffs the Huey II would only be able to fly seven troops a distance of 120 nautical miles, while the UH-60 could carry twice as many troops the same distance. A further contention of Sikorsky's, and an important consideration for those hearing the debate on Capitol Hill, is that the UH-60 provides greater crashworthiness and ballistic protection. According to Sikorsky, "[a]n upgraded Huey II helicopter still suffers from the same combat deficiencies inherent in the original UH-1 discovered in Vietnam at a high cost in human lives. These deficiencies led to the US Army's fielding of the BLACK HAWK to replace the UH1." Specifically, Sikorsky touts the UH-60's crashworthiness by citing that it provides crashworthy seats for the CNP whereas Huey II does not and that the Black Hawk is "survivable" in crashes with impact occurring at 50 ft/sec as opposed to 35 ft/sec for the UH-1. Additionally, Sikorsky lauds the ballistic resistance of the UH-60. According to Sikorsky, "[b]oth the UH-1 and Huey II are incapable of providing the levels of battlefield survivability that the BLACK HAWK offers in the hostile environment in which the CNP perform their drug interdiction mission. The BLACK HAWK is the first US Army production helicopter designed from its inception to minimize ballistic vulnerability. The designed-in ballistic survivability has been optimized and proven through extensive testing and actual combat damage." In a "vulnerable area comparison," provided by Sikorsky, the UH-60 is shown to be 100 percent less vulnerable than the UH-1 to 7.62mm munitions, 94 percent less vulnerable to 12.7mm threats and 82 percent less vulnerable to threats posed by weapons firing projectiles as large as 23mm. In the estimation of one Capitol Hill insider, the survivability of the UH60 is its most endearing quality--particularly as 40 percent of CNP helicopter missions are said to draw ground fire. For now, the debate is likely to amount to little more than a scrimmage between Bell and Sikorsky, as sources close to both Congress and Sikorsky consider the most plausible course of action being the fielding of the three Black Hawks. However, even if the State Department opts to give the CNP the three UH-60s they are asking for, the debate is likely to resurface in the near future. Bell, it would seem, is correct in stating that three UH-60s will not be enough to meet the needs of the CNP. Both Sikorsky and the CNP have stated that six Black Hawks would be far better for the war on drugs than a mere three.
------------------------------------------------------------------- People Think Murder Rate Is Rising, But It Isn't ('The Toronto Star' Says A New Survey Of 1,000 Ontario Residents Shows Most Think The Crime Rate Is Going Up And Punishments Are Too Soft - But They Would Still Rather Spend Money On Prevention And Alternatives To Jail Than Build More Prisons) From: creator@islandnet.com (Matt Elrod) To: mattalk@listserv.islandnet.com Subject: People think murder rate is rising, but it isn't Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 10:29:33 -0700 Lines: 58 Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org Source: Toronto Star Contact: LetterToEd@thestar.com Pubdate: May 22, 1998 People think murder rate is rising, but it isn't By Elaine Carey Toronto Star Demographics Reporter Most Ontario residents think crime is going up and punishments are too soft, but they would rather spend money on prevention and alternatives to jail than build more prisons, a new study finds. More than two-thirds think crime in general and the murder rate - particularly for youths - are rising even though they're not, according to the survey of 1,000 Ontario residents released yesterday. As well, a large proportion of those surveyed overestimate the amount of violent crime. When given no other choices, most call for harsher sentences. But, when questioned more deeply, most prefer alternatives, said University of Toronto criminologist Anthony Doob. He designed the survey and analyzed the results for Springboard, a community agency working with adult and young offenders. ``Contrary to what people would lead you to believe, residents of Ontario are more enthusiastic about doing something sensible about crime than in simply punishing more people - adults or youth - by locking them up,'' he told a news conference. More than 85 per cent said they would rather spend money on crime prevention than build more prisons and three-quarters prefer spending money on the development of alternatives to imprisonment. When asked the best way of controlling crime, few chose to make sentences harsher. More than half called instead for either reducing unemployment, increasing social programs or using punishments other than prison. ``This is not an issue of being soft or tough on offenders,'' Doob said. ``What they want is a sensible response to crime.'' The survey found Ontario residents also underestimate the maximum penalties available. ``When they say that they want the laws to be tougher, one has to remember that they do not know what the laws are,'' the study says. The public thinks crime is going up ``because most people tell them it is,'' Doob said. The survey is considered accurate 95 per cent of the time within 3.1 percentage points plus or minus.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Tonner's 'Truth' A Sore Point For Some Readers (Vancouver, British Columbia, Cop And 'Province' Columnist Mark Tonner Is Taken Aback By A Rash Of Confrontations With Drug Policy Reform Advocates) Date: Mon, 25 May 1998 06:40:39 -0700 (PDT) To: mattalk@listserv.islandnet.com From: arandell@islandnet.com (Alan Randell) Subject: Tonner's 'truth' a sore point for some readers Newshawk: Alan Randell Pubdate: May 22, 1998 Source: Province, The (B.C., Canada) Contact: provedpg@pacpress.southam.ca Author: Mark Tonner Tonner's 'truth' a sore point for some readers Mark Tonner - Out of The Blue Lately, the ratio between insulting and supportive mail has taken a contrary turn. Last week's article, on poetry I'd seen on skid-row walls, extended the trend. Deb Harper wrote electronically to question my comment that police are encouraged to examine the root of problems. Harper asks "on which planet" this was encouraged, insisting that such soul-searching should be left to psychiatrists, support groups and friends. Alan Randell took time to protest, saying my insight was merely part of a good-cop bad-cop routine. I was, of course, dubbed a bad cop and "parliament's willing whore" for enforcing unjust and ineffective laws. As a drug "war criminal" my comeuppance was inevitable, once the feds came to their senses and put me and my kind on trial. Drug laws, according to Randell, were enacted to repress Oriental culture, protect white manufacturers and grant privileges to the medical profession. The state was said to have no right to ban any drug and my "rinky-dink little management-sanctioned column" to have no purpose other than to persuade the public that all laws are good. I was portrayed as a smirking fiend, bent on throwing innocent, poor and non-whites into drug-infested prisons. Randell sends me regular e-mail, outlining the latest in decriminalization thought, much of it interesting and none of it (until now) abusive. The only reply I'd ever sent was a plea for peaceful disagreement, along with a request to keep the e-mail messages flowing and a promise to read them with an open mind. One of the few civil comments came in the form of a poem, written by Lisa Hoolselma, for a terminally ill friend. She felt its message applied equally to helpless addicts. "My child's cry of torment falls upon deaf ears, but rings throughout the heavens, your pain seen through my tears. Although you do not see me, my spirit comes from above. "To hold you in my tender arms, and fill you with my love. Fear not of being alone my child, I whisper in our ear. For I have taken you under wing. The Comforter is here. Please open up your heart to me, and you will clearly see. I have far greater things for you. Life eternally" Nice touch. I ran into green-haired David Malmo-Levine outside a Vancouver hemp shop this week. Having attacked this column in print some months ago, he recognized me and the marijuana activist asked: Why do you hate us so much?" I replied: Don't assume I hate you - I actually care more than you know." David launched into a tirade so frenzied that I realized that rational exchange was impossible. He followed me to my car and continued his rant even though I'd powdered up the window. Doubtless the man's lips are still moving. It IS possible to feel for addicts, yet oppose legalization of narcotics. It seems, however, impossible to speak such opinion without facing a barrage of political power words. I've heard enough cries of "hurtful," "hateful," "mean-spirited" and "offensive" to last a lifetime. Is it mean-spirited or offensive to hope that, somewhere in that lifetime, the truth will be back in style? Const. Mark Tonner is a Vancouver police officer. The opinions contained in this column are those of the writer, not necessarily the Vancouver police department or the police board. Tonner may be reached at the Province or at marcuspt@direct.ca
------------------------------------------------------------------- Re - Puder Just Biting The Hand That Feeds Him (A Letter Sent To The Editor Of 'The Province' In Vancouver, British Columbia, Says Vancouver Police Constable And Drug Policy Reform Advocate Gil Puder Is A Better Public Servant Than His Detractor, Fellow Cop And 'Province' Columnist Mark Tonner) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 08:12:10 -0400 To: mattalk@islandnet.com From: Dave Haans (haans@chass.utoronto.ca) Subject: SENT LtE Re: Puder just biting the hand that feeds him Hey, all. I sent this in today, even though the article is old. I figure it might influence the editor in running more stories of this type. Cheers, Dave. To the editor, Re: Puder just biting the hand that feeds him, Friday, May 8, 1998 There seems to be two important differences between Constables Mark Tonner and Gil Puder. For one, Gil Puder has read up on the subject of drug policy, and found current enforcement-based efforts to curb to drug abuse completely lacking, while Mark Tonner seems content to think that the ineffective "Just Say No" policies are the only way to go -- even though it's clear that this approach hasn't worked in 90 years, and isn't about to work now. Mark Tonner also suggests that Puder's impressive writings shouldn't be tolerated because if he were in the private sector, he'd be out of a job. However, he fails to realize that by being in the public sector, both officers are not working solely for their own interests, or the interests of the police force. Gil Puder seems to intuitively grasp that he works for the public, and is ultimately responsible to them. Who does Mark Tonner think he works for, and who does he think he's responsible to? The public wants to know. Dave Haans Toronto Contact info: [snip]
------------------------------------------------------------------- On Sending Messages (Letter To The Editor Of Britain's 'Sun' Wonders What Sort Of Message President Clinton Meant To Send When He Consumed A Deadly Drug In Public During His Recent Stay In England) Date: Sat, 23 May 1998 00:53:22 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: UK: PUB LTE: On sending messages Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: webbooks@paston.co.uk (CLCIA) Source: Sun, The (UK) Contact: news@the-sun.co.uk Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Comment: Title by Editor Section: Have Your Say Both the UK and USA Governments say that to legalise cannabis would send out the wrong message. I wonder what message President Clinton wanted to send out about the beer and chips he had in a pub on his recent UK visit? Perhaps he treated that "dangerous drug" beer the same way as his experiments with cannabis - by not swallowing! Alun Buffry Norwich
------------------------------------------------------------------- Top Chefs Are Going To Pot (Britain's 'Sun' Says An 'Investigation' By 'Caterer And Hotelkeeper' Magazine Alleges Senior Cooks At Some Of Britain's Top Restaurants Are Encouraging Young Staff To Take Pot, Ecstasy And Cocaine To Help Them Deal With Working Conditions) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 19:41:16 -0400 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: UK: Top Chefs Are Going To Pot Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: webbooks@paston.co.uk (CLCIA) Source: Sun, The (UK) Contact: news@the-sun.co.uk Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 TOP CHEFS ARE GOING TO POT Chefs at some of Britain's top restaurants are turning to drugs, an investigation revealed yesterday. Senior cooks are encouraging young staff to take pot, Ecstasy and cocaine. Chefs take drugs to help them deal with long, unsociable hours and the high pressure in kitchens, they told Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine. Experts warned that staff and customers are at risk unless owners take action to stamp out the problem.
------------------------------------------------------------------- New Study On Mandatory Drug Tests For Prisoners ('Irish Times' Says A Survey Of 148 Prisoners In Britain By An Oxford Criminologist, Dr Kimmett Edgar, And The Director Of The Irish Penal Reform Trust, To Be Presented In Dublin Tomorrow, Showed That Three Quarters Of Prisoners Use 'Drugs' In Prison - After Mandatory Testing Was Instituted In 1996, More Than A Quarter Of Those Using Drugs Said They Stopped As A Result, But Just Over 50 Per Cent Said They Had Not Changed Their Habits - One In 10 Using Cannabis Said They Tried Heroin To Evade Detection) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 21:15:55 -0800 To: mapnews@mapinc.org From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews) Subject: MN: Ireland: New Study On Mandatory Drug Tests For Prisoners Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org Newshawk: Martin CookePubdate: Fri, 22 May 1998 Source: Irish Times (Ireland) Contact: lettersed@irish-times.ie Author: Catherine Cleary NEW STUDY ON MANDATORY DRUG TESTS FOR PRISONERS Mandatory drug testing of prisoners works best if treatment is integrated into the system, according to a study to be presented in Dublin tomorrow. A survey of 148 prisoners in Britain by Oxford criminologist Dr Kimmett Edgar and the director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, Dr Ian O'Donnell, found that some prisoners had switched to hard drugs to avoid detection. Britain introduced mandatory drugs testing of all prisoners in 1996. Under the scheme 10 per cent of prisoners are tested at random every month. Those who test positive face a loss of privileges such as open visits and days are added to their sentences. According to the survey, three quarters of prisoners use drugs in prison and more than a quarter of those using drugs said they had stopped as a result of mandatory testing. Seventeen prisoners said they had reduced their drug use and just over 50 per cent said they had not changed their habits. One in 10 of prisoners using drugs said they tried heroin to evade detection. Cannabis residue stays in the body for up to a month, whereas heroin remains for only three days. "Some inmates felt that if they took heroin there was less of a chance of being caught," Dr Edgar said. "There was a fear that many prisoners would move to hard drugs, but the 11 people who had tried to evade detection did so by altering the balance of their drug use. Most were already multi-drug users," he said. The study will be presented at an open forum on "Drugs in Prison" at the James Joyce Centre, 33 North Great George's Street, Dublin.
------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Release - Global Days Against The Drug War (Amsterdam Activists Give URL And Outline Events Organised By 90 Reform Group In 40 Cities Worldwide June 10-15 - Discussion Forums, Demonstrations, Seminars, Press Conferences, Street Parties, Publications, Concerts, A Congress, And More) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 13:38:15 -0700 (PDT) From: Legalize! Alliance (alliance@shaman.lycaeum.org) Subject: PRESS RELEASE: Global Days against the Drug War Sender: alliance@shaman.lycaeum.org Reply-To: coalition@stopthedrugwar.org P R E S S R E L E A S E THE GLOBAL DAYS AGAINST THE DRUG WAR, JUNE 10-15 Events in 40 cities worldwide - 90 reform organisations unite AMSTERDAM (May 22) - Drug policy reform groups all over the world will declare the 'Global Days against the Drug War', to take place from Friday June 5th through Wednesday 10th. Events for alternative drug policies will be held in more than 40 cities, at the occasion of the United Nations Special Session of the General Assembly on Drugs, UNGASS, which starts Monday June 8th. More than 90 organisations have recently united to form the 'Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War'. They insist that it is of great importance that proposals for drug policy reform are heard during the coming UN session. The coalition is issuing a declaration that will be presented in New York at the Non-Governmental Organisations conference that is part of UNGASS, and that will be published widely in the coming weeks. UNGASS was originally conceived as a critical examination of worldwide anti-drug policy. Under the guidance of repressive forces inside the UN, the focus of the session has been narrowed, however. According to the new guidelines, only the expansion of existing policies will be open for discussion. "In terms of crime, economic and financial damage, and social and personal harm, repressive drug policy is turning into a worldwide crisis. Now the United Nations aims to escalate drug repression tactics in a misguided quest towards a drug free society", says Arno Adelaars, one of the speakers at a forum in Amsterdam on Sunday June 7th, and a member of the Recreational Drugs Committee, one of the coalition member organisations. He continues, "To anyone who is aware of the damage, fysical and emotional, inflicted by drug prohibition, it is obvious that what is needed is not an escalated drug war, but reform policies aimed at reducing the damage currently done". The Global Days against the Drug War will feature discussion forums, demonstrations, seminars, press conferences, street parties, publications, concerts, a congress, and other types of events. A street party in Amsterdam on June 6th is expected to attract thousands to state their desire for an end to the drug war in a joyful way. A congress will be held in Paris, Friday 5th and Saturday 6th, with a demonstration at the Paris UN delegation on Sunday 7th. An event hosting many well-know speakers will take place in San Francisco on the 6th. A large demonstration is planned to take place in New York on Monday 8th, and the 'Global Coalition' will hold a forum inside the UN on Tuesday June 9th, in cooperation with the European Council on Drugs and Development, an organisation that has established a coalition of 50 organisations working in the field of north-south relations. Other organisations all over the planet are planning their own version of the Global Days against the Drug War. "It is heartening to see how many individuals and organisations are ready to stand up and express themselves; many concerned people have taken this chance to make an unequivocal statement that enough harm has been done, that it is time to stop and think again", according to Adelaars. He adds, "An impressive number of reform organisations exists. If UNGASS will have one positive effect, it will be that the drug policy reform movement is going to stand united and become stronger because of it. More and more people are convinced that drug prohibition has been a tragic mistake. Politicians should finally find the courage to admit that as well." The Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War currently consists of more than 90 organisations. Among them are the Drug Reform Coordination Network, the National Organisation for Reform of Marijuana Laws, Coordinamento Radicale Antiprohibizionista, the November Coalition, the Campaign for Equity-Restorative Justice, the Transnational Radical Party, Common Sense for Drug Policy, the Legalize! Initiative, the Media Awareness Project, the American Society for Action on Pain, Compassionate Care Alliance, the Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp, FORUM DROGHE, the National Alliance of Methadone Advocates, Mothers against Misuse and Abuse, and many other organisations. During the Global Days against the Drug War events take place in Alsfeld, Amsterdam, Auckland, Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Christchurch, Colville, Dallas, Dunedin, Eugene, Fort Lauderdale, Hamburg, Houston, Ilmenau, Jena, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Marbella, Melbourne, Munich, New Orleans, New York, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Schengen, Seattle, Sidney, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, Trier, Tucson, Washington, Wellington, and Winnipeg. The declaration of the Global Coalition against the Drug War, information about the coalition member organisations, about the events taking place, about the UN panel, and event contact information, is available at: http://www.stopthedrugwar.org/globalcoalition/ For further information please contact: Kevin B. Zeese, Common Sense for Drug Policy, phone: 703-354-5694 fax: 703-354-5695 e-mail: kevzeese@laser.net Adam Smith, Drug Reform Coordination Network, phone: 202-293-8340 e-mail: ajsmith@intr.net or write to: coalition@stopthedrugwar.org P R E S S R E L E A S E *** Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 09:33:11 -0400 To: mattalk@islandnet.com, maptalk@mapinc.org, hemp-talk@hemp.net november-l@november.org, drctalk@drcnet.org From: Richard Lake (rlake@mapinc.org) Subject: HT: The coalition: 85 organisations (FWD) Sender: owner-hemp-talk@hemp.net From: Harry Bego (hbego@knoware.nl) Hi all, for those of you who dislike checking web sites, here's the current list of 85 organisations that have joined the Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War so far; for information about all these organisations, check http://www.legalize.org/events/ The list isn't complete yet - even more organisations will be added soon. Note that the coalition has submitted a proposal for a forum to be held during UNGASS; together with ENCOD/ICN, a coalition of over 50 organistions, with which we work together; the UN doesn't seem to particularly like our forum, though ... which makes sense, since it is supported by over 140 organisations - maybe we're coming on a little strong for them. Marco Cappato, of Transnational Radical Party in New York, and Ken Bluestone, of ENCOD, are fighting hard to get the forum accepted. Harry *** American Antiprohibition League, Arthur Livermore, board member, Portland, Or. American Society for Action on Pain (ASAP), Skip Baker, president, Williamsburg, VA Antiprohibicni Liga (AL), Richard Stockar, general secretary, Prague, Czech Republic Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP), Brandon Hutchison, secretary, Canterbury, New Zealand. Arkansas Law Reform Group, T.E. Kezele, representative, Fayetteville, AR Association for Emancipatory Drug Policy (DEBED), Martine Hutsebaut, chair, Brussels Auto Support des Usagers de Drogues (ASUD), Jimmy Kempfer, porte parole, Paris A Better Way to Fight Drugs & Crime, Sara Sikes, chair, Connecticut British Columbia Anti-Prohibition League (BCAPL), Joanne Oake, representative, Victoria, B.C., Canada California NORML, Dale Gieringer, coordinator, San Francisco/Oakland, CA Campaign for Equity-Restorative Justice (CERJ), John Wilmerding, general secretary, Brattleboro, VT Campaign for the Restoration and Regulation of Hemp (CRRH), D. P. Stanford, coordinator, Portland, Or. Campaign to Legalise Cannabis International Association (CLCIA), Alun Buffry, coordinator, Norwich Cannabis Action Network, Debby Goldsberry, national coordinator, Berkeley, CA The Cannabis Freedom Fund, Chuck Conrad, director, Los Angeles Christians For Reform, Kent Watson, co-founder, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Citoyens Comme Les Autres, Bernard Luypaert, administrateur, Bruxelles Collectif d'Information et de Recherche Cannabique (CIRC), Jean-Pierre Galland, president, Paris Collectif pour l'abrogation de la loi 70, Yves Tévessin, porte parole, Paris Common Sense for Drug Policy (CSDP), Kevin Zeese, president, Falls Church, VA Compassionate Care Alliance, Ann McCormick, chair, Darlington, Rhode Island Coordinamento Radicale Antiproibizionista (CORA), Eric Picard, secretary, Brussels Detroit Organizational Needs In Treatment (DONT), Aaron Rolnick, Davison, MI Dogwood Center, Dawn Day, director, Princeton, NJ Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii (DPFH), Donald Topping, president, Honolulu, Hawaii Drug Policy Forum of Texas (DPFT), G. Alan Robison, executive director, Houston Drug Policy Reform Group of St. Paul, Paul Bischke, coordinator, St. Paul, Minnesota Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet), Adam Smith, associate director, Washington Drug Users Rights Forum (DURF), Andria Efthimiou-Mordaunt, coordinator, London Dutch Drug Policy Foundation, Freek Polak, board member, Amsterdam El Cogollo, Revista Cannábica, Esteban Escobar, coordinator, Zaragoza Entheogen Awareness Committee, Michael Silva, public relations, Los Angeles Fachforum Drogen des GAJB, Daniela Noll, Christian Schlicht, coordinators, Mannheim Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform, Brian McConnell, president, Canberra, Australia Forum Droghe, Grazia Zuffa, president, Rome Green Prisoners Release, Henk Poncin, founder, Amsterdam HANF! Magazine, Jörg Jenetzky, chief editor, Bielefeld Hanfparade, Martin Müncheberg, coordinator, Berlin Help End Marijuana Prohibition SA (Hemp SA), Andrew Duffy, representative, Adelaide, Australia HempWorld, Mari Kane, publisher, Forestville, California HighLife, opinie en lifestyle magazine, Cliff Creemer, chief editor, Amsterdam Houston NORML, Steve Nolin, vice-president, Houston, Tx Human Rights and the Drug War Exhibit Project, Mikki Bach, coordinator, El Cerrito, Cal. INitiative for a New drug policy (INN), Frank Lorvik, co-ordinator, Oslo, Norway Instituto de Documentación e Investigación del Cannabis (IDIC), B. de Tudela, coordinator, Zaragoza JEJUNE Magazine, Gwendolyn Albert, editrix, Prague, Czech Republic Kansas State Lobbyists for Cannabis Law Reform, Debby Moore, founder, Wichita "Kne Bossem" - The NPO for Changing Israeli Drug Laws, Shlomi Sandak, chair Legalise Cannabis!, Derek Williams, coordinator, Norwich, UK. The Legalize! Initiative, Harry Bego, coordinator, Utrecht Libertarian Party of Kosciusko County, Michael Houze, chair, Pierceton, Indiana The Libertarian Party of San Francisco, Starchild, county chair, San Francisco Media Awareness Project (MAP), Mark Greer, executive director Medical Cannabis Advocates of Key West, Zvi Baranoff, founder, Key West, Fl. Medical Marijuana Advocating Coalition, Toni Leeman, president, Fort Lauderdale, FL The Medical Marijuana Magazine, Peter McWilliams, publisher, Los Angeles Mothers Against Misuse and Abuse (MAMA), Sandee Burbank, director, Mosier, OR National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA), Joycelyn Woods, executive vice president National Organisation for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Keith Stroup, executive director New South Wales Users & AIDS Association, Susan McGuckin, information officer, Sydney NORML New Zealand, Chris Fowlie, board member, Auckland November Coalition, Nora Callahan, director, Colville, WA Old Grove Neighborhood Alliance, Marcello Aurelio Lanfranchi, chair, Oakland, California Orange County Hemp Council (OCHC), Dave Myers, coordinator, Orange County, California Oregonians for Personal Privacy (OPP), George Stephano-Rose, coordinator, Eugene, Oregon Pikes Peak Hemp Coalition, Patrick L. Lilly, newsletter editor, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA The Positive Solutions Group, Don Duncan, director, Berkeley, CA Quad City Hemp Coalition, James Getman, coordinator, Quad Cities, Iowa and Illinois Recreational Drugs Committee, Erik van Ree, chair, Amsterdam. Republican Party of New Haven, Thomas Fagan, Chairman, New Haven, CT The SF Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Peter Franck, representative, San Francisco San Francisco Medical Research Foundation, Da Vid, MD, director, Mill Valley, CA. San Miguel County, Colorado, Art Goodtimes, county commissioner, Telluride, CO. Sons and Daughters of Suburbia, Samuel O. Simpson, founder, Blacksburg, Virginia Suffolk County Libertarian Organization, Chris Garvey, candidate governor, Suffolk County, NY Swedish Cannabis Association (SCA), Mikael Linden, coordinator, Malmö Swedish National Association for the Rights of Drug Users, Thomas Gilek, president, Stockholm Transform, Danny Kushlick, director, Bristol Transnational Radical Party (TRP), Olivier Dupuis, secretary general, Brussels Tri Tec GmbH, Frank Zander, director, Bochum, Germany Vermont Grassroots Party, Dennis Lane, chair, Waitsfield, Vt. Washington Hemp Education Network, David L. Edwards, representative, Olympia, Washington, *** The Legalize! Initiative is the international action forum for all people concerned about the effects of current drug policy. Join us at http://www.legalize.org. global@legalize.org is our general discussion list. For introductory information, send mail to legalize-info@legalize.org. To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to majordomo@legalize.org, with unsubscribe global as text of the message.
------------------------------------------------------------------- The Week Online With DRCNet, Issue Number 43 (The Drug Reform Coordination Network's Original News Summary For Activists, Including 'Operation Casablanca' - Feds' Big Money Laundering Bust Amounts To Chump Change; 40 Events Scheduled For Global Days Against The Drug War; Another Bad Raid, Another Lawsuit For The City Of New York; Reverend Calvin Butts Calls Rudolph Giuliani 'Racist'; House Amendment To Higher Education Bill Bars Marijuana Smokers From Receiving Student Aid; Bolivian Anti-Drug Squadron Eats Disabled Peasant's Fruit Crop, Leaving Her Without Income; Quote Of The Week - Milton Friedman On Colombia; Media Alert - 'Brandweek' Takes On The Partnership; Link Of The Week - Oregonians For Medical Rights; New Book - 'Dark Alliance' By Gary Webb Tells The Whole CIA-Crack Story) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 15:31:41 EDT Originator: drc-natl@drcnet.org Sender: drc-natl@drcnet.org From: DRCNet (manager@drcnet.org) To: Multiple recipients of list (drc-natl@drcnet.org) Subject: The Week Online with DRCNet, Issue #43 THE WEEK ONLINE WITH DRCNet, ISSUE #43 -- MAY 22, 1998 -- PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE -- (To sign off this list, mailto:listproc@drcnet.org with the line "signoff drc-natl" in the body of the message, or mailto:drcnet@drcnet.org for assistance. To subscribe to this list, visit http://www.drcnet.org/signup.html.) (This issue can be read on our web site at http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html.) HELP BUILD THE MOVEMENT: If you are interested in accelerating the growth of the reform movement, and if you like to talk to people, DRCNet needs your help. Are there events coming up in your area this summer? Can you get a table at this event, or would you be willing to spend a couple of hours carrying a clip-board? If so, please let us know and we will send you some email sign-up sheets and brochures. Just tell people about our free e-zine and legislative alerts, and urge them to become part of the solution. It's a great way to get out and talk to people about the issue. You'll be surprised at how many of them already agree with us, but just didn't know how to make their voices heard. Send requests for sign-up sheets to drcnet@drcnet.org and indicate how many you'd like (there are 20 spaces on each sheet), or we can send just one for you to copy to your heart's content. Thanks. SPECIAL OFFERS FOR NEW YORK AND TEXAS SUBSCRIBERS: In partnership with our allies, the ReconsiDer Forum on Drug Policy in New York state and the Drug Policy Forum of Texas, we are offering special discounted memberships for those wishing to join multiple groups. Along with canvassing for e-mail addresses for DRCNet, working with one of these quality state groups is a great way to get involved in local activism. If you live in one of these states but didn't receive the appropriate bulletin last Wednesday, please let us know, so we can put you on the right state distribution sublist. In the meantime, the offers are posted at http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-20-1.html and http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-20-2.html. COUNTDOWN TO DRUG CRAZINESS: Mike Gray's new book from Random House, Drug Crazy, continues to get rave reviews from everyone we talk to who has seen it. You can help Drug Crazy go big by simply visiting or calling bookstores in your area and asking them if they have it. You don't even need to place an order or leave your name (though doing so is even better, and you may as well, because the book is fantastic). Your calls will make the stores look twice at Drug Crazy and get the book displayed more prominently in more places. DRCNet is lauded and featured in the intro to the book's appendix, so supporting Drug Crazy will build the movement as well as educate the public. Some book chains that may be in your area: Crown, Barnes & Noble, B. Dalton, Border's, Doubleday, Brentano's, Scribner's, Waldenbooks, Pyramid -- let us know if we've missed any, so we can add them next week. Call, call, call! (Set your web browser to http://www.drcnet/org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#drugcrazy to check out Drug Crazy's striking book cover.) (Though we urge our readers to call stores and/or buy the book in person, if you're just not going to do that, you can order the book through amazon.com -- DRCNet will earn a 15% commission if you order the book via our link from http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#drugcrazy. The book will be shipped out to you by amazon as soon as it becomes available.) LAST CHANCE FOR FREE COPIES OF MARIJUANA MYTHS, MARIJUANA FACTS: After nearly half a year, we are getting ready to wind up our MMMF membership premium offer and move on. To get your free copy, and a one-year DRCNet membership send $30 or more, and make sure it gets postmarked or submitted online by May 31. Please use our online registration form at http://www.drcnet.org/drcreg.html, or just send your check or money order to: DRCNet, 2000 P St., NW, Suite 615, Washington, DC 20036. Please note that donations or membership dues paid to DRCNet are not tax-deductible. *** TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. "Operation Casablanca": Feds' Big Money Laundering Bust Amounts to Chump Change http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#chumpchange 2. 40 Events Scheduled for Global Days Against the Drug War http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#globaldays 3. Another Bad Raid, Another Lawsuit for the City of New York http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#badraid 4. Reverend Calvin Butts Calls Rudolph Giuliani "Racist" http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#calvinbutts 5. Medical Marijuana Summit Scheduled in California http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#mmjsummit 6. House Amendment to Higher Education Bill Bars Marijuana Smokers from Receiving Student Aid http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#studentaid 7. Bolivian Anti-Drug Squadron Eats Disabled Peasant's Fruit Crop, Leaving Her Without Income http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#bolivia 8. Quote of the Week: Milton Friedman on Colombia http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#quote 9. Media Alert: Brandweek Takes on the Partnership http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#brandweek 10. Link of the Week: Oregonians for Medical Rights http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#omma 11. New Book: Dark Alliance by Gary Webb tells the whole CIA-Crack Story http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#garywebb 12. Job Announcement: DPF Hiring an Assistant Communications Director http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#opportunity 13. Editorial: Bad raids http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#editorial *** 1. FEDS' BIG MONEY LAUNDERING BUST AMOUNTS TO CHUMP CHANGE This Monday, the US Treasury Department announced the results of "Operation Casablanca," a three year investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering that has culminated in indictments against three Mexican banking institutions and the arrest of more than two hundred individuals, many of them mid-level banking officials representing twelve of Mexico's nineteen largest banks. In addition to the indictments, seizures of more than a hundred bank accounts in the US and Europe are expected to net more than 130 million dollars. In a press release, Treasury Department Under Secretary for Enforcement Raymond Kelly noted that the success of Operation Casablanca was "extremely significant, because of the sheer volume of the amounts of money involved," and because "it exposes a link between the Cali and Juarez Cartels and their relationship with Mexican banks." At a press conference, Kelly was asked whether the Mexican authorities had cooperated with Operation Casablanca. He responded, "We had a lot of undercover officers involved who were at great risk, so this information was not shared with the Mexican government." Attorney General Janet Reno added, "When I talked with the Attorney General of Mexico today, they indicated that they wanted to cooperate in every way possible." So far, most of those arrested are Mexican citizens. No US citizens have been charged with any crime, nor have any US banking institutions been implicated in the sting--although one of the Mexican Banks, Banca Confia, was recently purchased by Citibank, and many of the seized accounts were located in US banks. Spokespersons for Citibank have said that Citibank was not aware of Confia's involvement in illegal activities. The Week Online asked Ian Vasquez, Director of the Cato Institute's Project on Global Economic Liberty, whether Operation Casablanca had made a dent in the cartels. "Unfortunately," he said, "seizing a few million or even a hundred million dollars is not going to have much of an effect on a 50 billion dollar industry. In fact, it is more likely that attacking the drug problem from the money laundering side will result in an even greater profit motive for the traffickers, more violence, and stronger incentives for institutional corruption." *** 2. 40 EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR GLOBAL DAYS AGAINST THE DRUG WAR The Global Days Against the Drug War is an international series of events to be held June 5-10 in response to the United Nations Special Session on Narcotics. As of this writing, forty separate events are planned, meaning there's likely to be one in a city near you. We urge you to participate and to make the Global Days a turning point in the international debate over an increasingly global and militaristic Drug War. For those who have asked about the New York event, there will not be a demonstration at the UN due to several logistical and strategic factors. But there will be a large demonstration in favor of syringe exchange taking place at Bryant Park (42nd and 6th) at 5 PM on Monday, June 8th. This event is not yet officially part of the Global Days, although that may change. Further announcements may be forthcoming. Events in cities other than New York, however, are all of the public-attendance variety! Event and contact information, as well as the Declaration (please sign it, if you haven't already) can be found at http://www.stopthedrugwar.org/globalcoalition/. Participating cities include: Alsfeld, Amsterdam, Auckland, Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Christchurch, Colville, Dallas, Dunedin, Eugene, Hamburg, Houston, Ilmenau, Jena, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Munich, New Orleans, Paris, Rome, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Schengen, Seattle, Sidney, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, Trier, Tuscon, Washington, Wellington, and Winnipeg. *** 3. ANOTHER BAD RAID, ANOTHER LAWSUIT FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK In New York last week (5/12), the victim of yet another "wrong apartment" raid filed suit against the city. The plaintiff, a 29 year-old Latino woman with four young children, is seeking $20 million in damages. The raid occurred on June 5, 1997 at 8:30 AM when 15 narcotics agents stormed the Brooklyn apartment, pulled the nearly-naked woman from her bed, held a gun to her head and repeatedly demanded to know where the guns and drugs were. Susan Karten, the plaintiff's attorney, told United press International that the police refused to let her client comfort her 2 year-old child, and that other officers interrogated her 7 year-old about the woman and her boyfriend. Karten also claims that her client was told to "shut up" when she asked to see a warrant. The warrant, which the police apparently did have in their possession at the time of the raid, indicates that the wrong apartment was being searched, and, upon closer inspection, that the officer who swore to its contents was either indifferent to, or unaware of the facts to which he attested. Attorney Susan Karten spoke with The Week Online. "The warrant, which was issued on a tip from a confidential informant, of whom the officer states he has had 'personal knowledge and conversation'. In the warrant, the officer states that he has 'observed the premises' at 396 New Jersey Avenue, and that it is a 'four-story brown brick building.' In fact, 396 New Jersey is a three-story gray brick building." "The warrant also reads, 'I am informed that apartment 2-M can be reached by ascending the stairs at the front of the building to the second floor and turning left,' and that it is the only gray door in the building. Well, first of all, the apartment that my client lives in, that the police kicked in the door of, with guns drawn, was apartment 2-L, and it has a red door. In fact, there is no apartment 2-M in the building at all. However, if you follow the directions in the warrant, ascending the stairs in the front and turning left, you will find apartment 1-L which, coincidentally, has the only gray door in the building, and which, according to published reports, was raided, and heroin was found there, a month later." Karten continued, "My question is, someone, apparently operating under NYPD guidelines, made the decision to kick in the door anyway. We, and by 'we' I mean the citizens of New York City, have a right to see those guidelines and to evaluate why it is that these obvious mistakes were ignored, and a door was kicked in by fifteen officers with guns drawn, and an innocent family was terrorized." New York City police commissioner Howard Safir, addressing reporters, claimed that "it was the correct apartment as designated by the search warrant." Safir also dismissed the recent rash of "bad raid" lawsuits, saying, "It's just like a number of other cases that are popping up as people line up to see if they can sue the city for big dollars." Neither the NYPD Press Office, nor the NYPD Commissioner's Office responded to requests for comment on this story. *** 4. REVEREND CALVIN BUTTS CALLS RUDOLPH GIULIANI "RACIST" On Tuesday (5/19) during an appearance on "Inside City Hall" a local cable television program on news station "New York 1," Reverend Calvin Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, one of New York City's most powerful and well- respected African American leaders, said of New York City's Mayor, "I don't think he likes black people." Then, on Wednesday, speaking at a news conference along with other religious leaders and several Harlem residents who say they've been harassed by police, Butts added "People say 'Reverend, why are you speaking out? The city is cleaner and safer.' What I want to tell people is that it's not happening in our community." Reverend Butts claimed that Giuliani's leadership has led to an atmosphere among police whereby more young blacks and Harlem merchants are being harassed and brutalized. He also stated at the press conference that he would "be big enough to admit I was wrong about calling you a racist" if the mayor would address his concerns. In response, Mayor Giuliani told the Associated Press "I think it's really a shame for him to be name-calling like that, particularly since he's a religious person. So I think this is a reflection on Calvin Butts." *** 5. MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUMMIT SCHEDULED IN CALIFRONIA - Barrington Daltrey for DRCNet Sen. John Vasconcellos, chair of the California State Senate Committee on Public Safety, has responded to the need for a reliable medical marijuana distribution system by scheduling a "summit" on Tuesday, May 26, 1998 in Sacramento. The meeting, officially entitled "Medicinal Marijuana Distribution Summit," was announced by teleconference Monday, May 18, 1998, and further specifics have now been made available by Vasconcellos' office. Speakers will include representatives of law enforcement organizations, district attorney's offices, the medical profession, and cannabis providers. Vasconcellos is promoting statewide participation. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation and responding to the will of a majority of Californians expressed in Proposition 215, Vasconcellos released a press advisory with the following statement: "Pursuant to Californians declaring via Proposition 215 our will to allow medical uses of marijuana, a number of courageous, passionate Californians have endeavored to fill a void left by the inability, unwillingness of government to address the issue of distribution. To varying degrees of success, they provide the essential service to otherwise law-abiding citizens whose only other option is to purchase marijuana from street dealers. However, many of these courageous citizens have become targets of the state and federal criminal justice system." Consistent with their antagonistic stance toward the California law, federal law enforcement and Dept. of Justice officials have reportedly declined to participate. Nevertheless, notable speakers are scheduled from around the state. Among the many announced speakers are George Kennedy, President of the California District Attorneys' Association; Terence Hallinan, San Francisco County District Attorney; Glen Craig, Sacramento County Sheriff; Dr. Neil Flynn, UC Davis Medical Center; Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Los Angeles County Health Officer; Peter McWilliams, author/publisher; and Scott Imler, Los Angeles Cannabis Buyers Club. The agenda reflects an apparent "pro-medical marijuana" stance, in accord with the goals stated in the press advisory. Among the topics are, "What County Health Directors are Doing and Need to Do," "Implementing Prop. 215 Without Jeopardizing Public Safety," and "What Needs to Happen after Marijuana is Recommended." The summit will be open to the public and will include a public comment period. It is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room 112, State Capitol building, Sacramento. 6. HOUSE AMENDMENT TO HIGHER EDUCATION BILL BARS CONVICTED DRUG OFFENDERS FROM RECEIVING STUDENT AID (reprinted from the NORML Weekly News, http://www.norml.org) May 21, 1998, Washington, DC: The House overwhelmingly approved legislation this month denying convicted marijuana offenders from receiving federal student loan assistance. The language, introduced by Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) as House Amendment 582 to the Higher Education Programs Authorization Extension Bill (H.R. 6), mandates that "An individual student who has been convicted of any offense under any Federal or State law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance shall not be eligible to receive any [federal] grant, loan, or work assistance." NORML National Campus Coordinator Aaron Wilson said that the legislation unfairly punishes marijuana users. "It is outrageous that Congress would pass this law denying financial aid to students for minor non-violent drug offenses, while a felony conviction for a serious violent crime brings no such penalty," he said. "What kind of message is Congress sending?" Souder's amendment suspends first time drug offenders from receiving student aid for a period of one year. Second time offenders will be ineligible for two years, and multiple repeat offenders will be barred indefinitely. Drug sellers will be ineligible for two years after their first conviction, and indefinitely prohibited from receiving aid upon a second conviction. Students may resume eligibility before the completion of their suspension if they participate in a drug rehabilitation program and pass two random drug tests. Wilson questioned how fairly the new law would apply to marijuana offenders. "In many states, marijuana possession is decriminalized (a civil violation punishable by payment of a small fine), while in others it's a misdemeanor or a felony. Depending on which state students live in, this legislation may or may not apply to you." The House approved H.R. 6 by a vote of 414 to 4, far exceeding the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto by President Clinton. The bill now awaits action from the Senate. For more information, please contact either Keith Stroup, Esq. at (202) 483-5500 or Aaron Wilson at (212) 362-1964. *** 7. BOLIVIAN ANTI-DRUG SQUADRON EATS DISABLED PEASANT'S FRUIT CROP, LEAVING HER WITHOUT INCOME Felipa Mamani, a peasant farmer in Shinahota, in the Chapare region of Bolivia, lost her leg after being wounded on November 15, 1995, in a confrontation between the UMOPAR (Bolivia's DEA) and townspeople. The UMOPAR had occupied a hall, preventing a cocalero (coca growers union) meeting, as well as a campaign meeting for a local mayoral candidate, from taking place. During the several hour confrontation, the UMOPAR used large quantities of tear gas and rubber bullets and fired off warning rounds with automatic weapons. About 20 people were arrested and nine police were wounded, although none by gunfire. Mamani, who was one of six civilians wounded, was hit in the right thigh by a bullet which severed her femural artery. A doctor at the local clinic determined that she needed specialized medical care and would have to be transported to a larger clinic in a nearby town. While the doctor was looking for transportation to the other clinic his clinic was surrounded by UMOPAR agents and bombarded by gas delaying the removal of patients for at least half an hour. In the hospital in Ibuelo it was determined that Mamani needed to go to Cochabamba due to the severity of her wound. She waited more than two weeks in the public hospital while the coca growers union and the Permanent Assembly of Human Rights negotiated with the government to pay for the treatment of her leg. By the time the government had agreed, the leg had to be amputated. In agreeing to pay for Mamani's medical costs, the government assumed no responsibility for the incident in Shinahota and refused to pay for any of the medical follow up that she needed. (The incident is described in reports by Human Rights Watch -- see http://www.hrw.org/hrw/summaries/s.bolivia965.html and http://www.hrw.org/hrw/summaries/s.bolivia957.html.) Earlier this year, the Andean Information Network, an organization that monitors and disseminates information on the impact of the anti-narcotics effort in Bolivia, raised funds for Mamani to purchase a new prosthesis to replace her old artificial leg that had become non-functional after three years of use. According to AIN's appeal, "Felipa has been an invaluable resource not only for AIN but for international human rights organizations as well. She has always been willing to allow interviews, photos and countless retellings of the fateful events of that day. We have found her to be a tireless defender of human rights in the Chapare." On April 29, AIN's Lee Cridland visited Mamani at the union headquarters to let her know that they had raised sufficient funds and that she was now on the company's waiting list. Mamani told her that on the previous day, government soldiers, now installed in the Chapare to forcibly eradicate coca, had entered her property and eradicated all of her coca plants. The soldiers had also eaten all of the fruit that was ready for picking, leaving her with no source of income. Says Cridland, "I could hardly believe what she was saying and you can imagine her fear as the soldiers entered the property from the back and she could not get back there to see what they were doing. Once she calmed down a bit we took her back to her land 15 kilometers away and confirmed with our own eyes what she had told us." (Those of you who have been with us for awhile might recall the alert we redistributed for AIN last year, archived at http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1997/4-23-1.html. AIN can be contacted at paz@pino.cbb.entelnet.bo. *** 8. QUOTE OF THE WEEK "The available evidence indicates that our attempt to deprive individuals of the freedom to use drugs such as heroin and cocaine has done far more harm than good. It has filled our jails, corrupted our police, deprived people of their civil liberties and imposed unbelievable horrors on other countries such as Mexico and Colombia. On just this last issue -- the effect of our drug policy on other countries -- I have never found anyone able to give me a plausible answer on what right the U.S. has to destroy a country like Colombia just because we can't enforce our own laws. If we could enforce our laws, there would be no drug cartel there, no black market, no endless string of drug killings and less instability in the government. Because we can't enforce our laws, the country is being destroyed." - Milton Friedman, San Jose Mercury News, 5/17, "Leading Question" weekly feature *** 9. MEDIA ALERT Brandweek, the sister publication to Adweek, the advertising industry's leading trade publication, featured an analysis of the effectiveness of anti-drug advertising in its April 27 issue. The discussion decried an absence of evidence for the campaigns' efficacy, and scolded the ONDCP and the Partnership for a Drug Free America for taking shortcuts and not doing the research that any company embarking on a multi-billion dollar ad campaign would perform. Senior Editor David Kiley points out that there is a lot at stake - - keeping kids off drugs and making effective use of taxpayer money -- and that the standards for planning should therefore be higher than they are for private clients' accounts, not lower. Reportedly, Kiley and Brandweek have since received an onslaught of negative criticism about their coverage. Please send letters of support to: David Kiley, Senior Editor, Brandweek, 1515 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036, fax: (212) 536-1416, dkiley@brandweek.com. The articles can be accessed on the web in full at http://www.marijuanamagazine.com/toc/051898.htm. *** 10. LINK OF THE WEEK: Oregonians for Medical Rights The proponents of the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act have created a web site with the full text of the legislation and an extensive set of links to informational resources. Check OMMA out at http://www.teleport.com/~omr/. *** 11. NEW BOOK: Dark Alliance In August 1996, the San Jose Mercury News published a series of articles by reporter Gary Webb, titled "Dark Alliance", discussing evidence of possible connections between the CIA, the Nicaraguan Contras, and cocaine trafficking rings operating between Central America and inner-city Los Angeles. Webb, who is no longer with the Mercury, has written a book with the same name, detailing the rest of the information that the Mercury, under pressure, declined to publish. Though the CIA has denied engaging in drug trafficking, earlier this year they acknowledged that they did work with drug traffickers and did not report them to the DEA or other law enforcement agencies. You can order Dark Alliance by going to our site at http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#darkalliance and following the amazon.com link. DRCNet will earn a 15% commission on your purchase. Another important book of relevance to the cocaine problem is Crack in America, edited by sociologists Craig Reinarman and Harry G. Levine, a compilation of 17 essays by renowned experts (including the editors) providing a comprehensive look into the latest "demon drug". Follow the link from http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#crackinamerica to earn DRCNet a commission. Land of Opportunity: One Family's Quest for the American Dream in the Age of Crack, by William Adler, narrates the gripping history of a family that made it big in the crack world only to fall later. A revealing look at the real world behind the rhetoric. Follow the link from http://www.drcnet.org/rapid/1998/5-22.html#opportunity to earn DRCNet 15%. *** 12. JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: DPF Seeks Communications Associate/ Assistant Editor The Drug Policy Foundation seeks a media-savvy person to assist Communications Director to generate media coverage, produce policy journal, monitor news sources, and post Web info. Applicants must be detail-oriented, write clearly/ concisely, know standard proof-reading and editing practices, and possess talent for layout/artistic design. Media experience a must; knowledge of drug policy reform a plus. BA with 2+ yrs exp. Duties and Responsibilities: * Responsible for assisting Communications Director and Foundation senior staff in identifying public policy, legislative, and grassroots activities that warrant publicity/media attention. * Assists the Communications Director in developing and maintaining media relationships and database. * Coordinates media interviews for DPF representatives and acts as logistical liaison for DPF press conferences and briefings. * Conducts research, writes, edits, provides design assistance for DPF press releases, op-ed columns, letters to the editor, DPF's quarterly Drug Policy Letter, and other in-house publications including the Web site. Assists in the coordination and distribution of DPF releases and publications. * Monitors print and electronic news and media sources and coordinates DPF responses. Covers and reports on other newsworthy events for DPF publications. * Assists in the continuing development and maintenance of the Foundation's Web site and in responding to public correspondence including email. Full benefits, mid-$20s starting salary. Send resume, writing sample to: Comm Search, The Drug Policy Foundation, 4455 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite B-500, Washington, DC 20008- 2328. No emails please. *** 13. EDITORIAL... Bad Raids It's 8 AM, your family is up and about, the kids are getting ready for school, someone's in the shower, and your mind is already focused on all that awaits you at work today. Suddenly -- your front door explodes inward -- there's an explosion and a flash of light, and smoke, and men, men with guns are everywhere, rushing into your home screaming and cursing and pointing their weapons -- grabbing everyone in the house -- putting them on the floor -- screaming orders - - questions -- demands -- your children! Where are the children?! You hear them screaming and crying "don't shoot my mommy!! Don't shoot!! Daddy, Help!! Help!! But you can't help. You've been pinned to the floor by three of the men and there's a gun pressed up against the back of your neck. It is not until the first few agonizing minutes of terror have passed that you realize that these are not outlaws, these are the police. You, apparently, are the outlaw. At least as far as they're concerned. So you sit helpless as you are all handcuffed, and screamed at, and threatened, and cursed and manhandled. As your children are interrogated. And for hours that seem like days you watch as your residence, and your belongings, and your life are torn apart, and broken, and scattered across the floors of this place that up until this morning was your home... and your castle. Over the past three years, in cities all across the United States, a very curious thing has happened: crime rates have dropped precipitously. There are many reasons for this trend. Demographics have changed for one, meaning that there has been a dip in the number of 15-24 year-old males, a trend which will soon reverse itself with a vengeance. There is also the fact that after watching a generation of their elders suffer through the misery of crack dependence, fewer young people in poor neighborhoods will touch the stuff. And yes, community policing, at its best, has had an impact as well. But there is one factor, perhaps the most important of all, which has been little remarked upon. Over the past three years, the drug trade, be it cocaine or heroin or marijuana, has, to a large extent, undergone an important change in its standard operating procedure. Over the past three years, in most large cities across America, the drug trade has moved indoors. Open air drug markets, persistent throughout the seventies and eighties, have given way to beepers and cell phones. Transactions which used to be done out in the open are now done, to a large extent, behind closed doors. Orders are placed, deliveries are made, and business is transacted out of public, and police view. This has made a tremendous difference in the quality of life of many communities. In parts of Los Angeles, in Manhattan's Washington Heights, children can play outside without the constant threat of erupting gunfire. People walk their streets without having to negotiate a phalanx of street dealers and their customers. It hasn't happened everywhere, and drugs are still sold on the streets in some neighborhoods, but to a large extent, in a lot of places, it has changed. But with this change in the drug trade has come a change in the policing of the drug trade. Narcotics officers used to be able to appear in certain neighborhoods, put everyone on the ground and begin making arrests. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. And while all of those arrests did little or nothing to limit the availability of drugs in the community, at least there were statistics, body counts, tangible evidence that the police were doing something. So, soon after it became apparent that the drug trade had moved in off of the street, the police followed. And if watching a street sweep, with dozens of neighborhood residents lying spread-eagle on the pavement, was troubling to those Americans still enamored of freedom and liberty, the sound of doors being kicked in at private residences by armed narcotics squads is truly heartbreaking. In 1991, the New York City police department executed 1,174 narcotics search warrants. Less than five months into 1998, they have already executed 1,357. In narcotics cases, a large percentage of warrants are granted, and executed, on the word of confidential informants. These are usually people who have been charged with crimes of their own, and who have decided, often under enormous pressure, to turn snitch. In fact, in many jurisdictions it is standard procedure to offer to drop charges in exchange for five names, with the alternative being near a certain long-term prison sentence. Not surprisingly, reports are beginning to surface in New York about a growing number of "bad" raids. Either the wrong door was kicked in, or the informant took a guess, or perhaps the he simply had a grudge against someone living in the apartment. Whatever the reason, it doesn't much matter to those whose homes and lives have been irreparably violated. In recent months, at least six lawsuits have been filed against the NYPD for bad raids. These are just the ones who have come forward. And there are doubtless numerous other cases where the raid netted but a small amount of a banned substance, an eighth of an ounce of marijuana perhaps, thus legally justifying the invasion and eliminating any chance of civil recourse. There is very little to compare with the abject terror of a family whose home is suddenly invaded by a large group of angry, armed men. And it makes little difference who they are working for when they come. The process of search and destroy, the verbal and physical abuse, the broken possessions and shattered sense of security are a judgment, and a punishment of their own. And the aftermath, even for the innocent, can be a long and enduring nightmare. Children who are afraid to go to sleep, bumps in the hall that make entire families jump, and the sense that the police, paid with your tax dollars, are agents of harm. And if you should be so unlucky as to have anything suspicious in your home; too many Ziplock sandwich bags, a scale that weighs in grams or ounces, or perhaps even a gun to protect your family from "real" invaders, charges are likely to be held over your head for a good long while. Perhaps until you have signed away your right to sue. Howard Safir, the commissioner of the NYPD said recently, "the drug trade has moved inside, and we're going to go in and get it." But the innumerable consensual transactions that make up "the drug trade" will not be eliminated by kicking in even hundreds of thousands of doors, any more than it was eliminated by hundreds of thousands of street- corner arrests over the past twenty years. We will simply slide steadily down the path toward even greater police powers, and even less regard for the sanctity of the home against incursion by the sovereign. That sanctity was once a very important concept for Americans. But that was a long time ago. Before the war. Adam J. Smith Associate Director *** DRCNet needs your support! Donations can be sent to 2000 P St., NW, Suite 615, Washington, DC 20036, or made by credit card at http://www.drcnet.org/drcreg.html on the web. Contributions to DRCNet are not tax-deductible. *** DRCNet *** JOIN/MAKE A DONATION http://www.drcnet.org/drcreg.html DRUG POLICY LIBRARY http://www.druglibrary.org/ REFORMER'S CALENDAR http://www.drcnet.org/calendar.html SUBSCRIBE TO THIS LIST http://www.drcnet.org/signup.html DRCNet HOME PAGE http://www.drcnet.org/ STOP THE DRUG WAR SITE http://www.stopthedrugwar.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------
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