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

Measure 67 - Medical marijuana splinters doctors (The Oregonian
says the lack of consensus among Oregon physicians about medical marijuana
is so deep that the Oregon Medical Association's governing body voted
in April to remain neutral on Measure 67. Dr. Rick Bayer, chief petitioner
for the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, suggests more doctors would voice
support, but "Most are afraid to come out of the closet because of fears
about the DEA." Dr. Charles Hofmann, president of the OMA, says the debate
is a replay of the physician-assisted suicide campaign in 1994 - "The
overwhelming arguments in both are compassion and respect for individual
rights.")

The Oregonian
letters to editor:
letters@news.oregonian.com
1320 SW Broadway
Portland, OR 97201
Web: http://www.oregonlive.com/

Measure 67: Medical marijuana splinters doctors

* Some Oregon physicians support Measure 67, which would legalize the drug
for a variety of ailments, but others are concerned about its effects

Thursday, October 15 1998

By Patrick O'Neill
of The Oregonian staff

The question of whether to legalize marijuana for medical purposes has
divided Oregon's doctors.

Some laud marijuana as a cheap, effective way to reduce the nausea and pain
of serious illness. Others warn that it's untested, unnecessary and open to
abuse.

The disagreement is so deep and widespread that the Oregon Medical
Association's governing body voted in April to remain neutral on the issue
-- neither supporting nor opposing Measure 67, which would make smoked
marijuana legal for a variety of medical purposes.

Doctors are drawn by sympathy for patients and the desire for their methods
to be scientifically valid, said Dr. Charles Hofmann, president of the OMA,
which represents 5,800 of the state's 8,300 physicians.

During its April meeting, Hofmann proposed adoption of the American Medical
Association's view on medical marijuana - in essence, that more research is
needed before doctors give patients the drug.

The outcome of the debate was a replay of one in 1994, when the OMA decided
to take no position on physician-assisted suicide, another contentious
medical issue that went before Oregon voters. In both instances, the state
organization was at odds with the national association, which strongly
opposes assisted suicide and medical marijuana.

"Those two issues are so similar," Hofmann said. "The overwhelming arguments
in both are compassion and respect for individual rights."

He characterized the attitudes of Oregon doctors as a reflection of people
in general. A recent poll indicated that almost 60 percent of Oregon voters
would cast ballots in favor of Measure 67. The measure, on the Nov. 3
ballot, would legalize marijuana for patients with cancer, glaucoma,
HIV/AIDS, seizures and muscle spasms, pain, nausea and wasting.

Hofmann, a Baker City internist, opposes legalization. "I am concerned that
the amount of controlled scientific evidence that says smoked marijuana is
better for these specific conditions is lacking," he said. "I fully believe
that it is a step down the road to the legalization of other drugs."

Dr. Richard Bayer disagrees. Bayer, a Portland internist and a chief
petitioner for the medical marijuana initiative, said he has seen numerous
patients who have benefited from smoking marijuana.

One of his patients, he said, had lost both legs to a land mine in Vietnam
and suffered the phantom pains that plague many amputees. "He had morphine,
but he said he liked marijuana better because it didn't give him the
hallucinations and constipation of morphine," Bayer said.

Bayer said he considered suggesting other patients try marijuana, "but I
never engaged in that discussion because I was too frightened that I might
lose my medical license."

When California voters approved legalization of medical marijuana in 1996,
Bayer became involved in trying to make the drug available to Oregonians.

However, few doctors have publically aligned themselves with him, despite
the OMA's lack of opposition. "Most are afraid to come out of the closet
because of fears about the DEA," Bayer said of the Drug Enforcement
Administration. Physicians who recommend marijuana fear the DEA will revoke
their permits to prescribe drugs.

Harbinger or harmless?

Some doctors say the medical arsenal has enough drugs against pain and
nausea without including marijuana.

Dr. Marshall D. Bedder, a pain management specialist with Advanced Pain
Management Group, a Portland physicians' group, said modern drugs eliminate
the need for smoked marijuana.

Bedder, whose practice includes treating drug addicts, sees medical
marijuana as another slip down the slope of drug abuse.

"Addicts uniformly tell us that marijuana was a gateway drug," he said. "We
have such a problem with substance abuse that to legalize yet another
substance is the absolute wrong direction to go. Physicians now have the
availability of the active ingredient in marijuana -- THC -- that we
prescribe every day."

Other doctors see marijuana as a relatively harmless substance. Dr. Charles
M. Grossman, a Portland internist since 1950, said that, on balance, the
medical marijuana measure "is something that is worth passing."

In 1972, Grossman was chairman of a City Club of Portland committee that
considered the issue of decriminalizing possession of small amounts of
marijuana. Grossman said he searched medical literature for evidence of
marijuana's ill effects. "All the scientific literature I read indicated
that the effects of marijuana on people -- even young people who smoked a
number of joints a day -- was far less harmful than alcohol and tobacco," he
said.

Compassion for patients outweighs concerns about the possible side effects
of medical marijuana, Grossman said.

He acknowledged that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't confirmed
the safety and effectiveness of smoked marijuana. But FDA approval is a
secondary matter, he said. "You can't argue with patients who say they get
relief from their pain or nausea."

Concerns about lack of control

Dr. Susan McCall, vice president of the Oregon Society of Addiction
Medicine, a doctors' group, said the society opposes the measure, and she
sees many hidden pitfalls. "The initiative circumvents the normal
drug-approval process," she said.

Unlike other drugs, she said, marijuana's safety and effectiveness would be
enshrined in law. If science later found that marijuana was harmful for some
patients, there would be no way, short of legislative action, to force its
withdrawal from use, she said.

A big drawback of the measure, she said, is that it does not provide for the
kind of evaluations that, for example, caused the wildly popular diet drug
Redux to be taken out of circulation in September 1997. Redux was taken off
the market by the FDA when it was found to be associated with heart-valve
abnormalities.

McCall also said the measure would prohibit the Oregon Board of Medical
Examiners, the licensing board for physicians, or anyone else from
overseeing a physician's recommendations for marijuana use.

"The recommending physician would be the only one eligible to review it,"
she said. "There's no requirement for that physician to be skilled in the
treatment of the condition for which it's recommended. You may have it
recommended for treatment of (multiple sclerosis, for example), but the
physician could be a psychiatrist."

Before using a drug that might have undesirable side effects, she said,
doctors should ask whether all traditional medications have been tried.

"We do encourage the study of the potential impact of making cannabis
available for medical use," she said. "We support the legitimate use of
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol." That substance, a derivative of marijuana, is
used in Marinol, a prescription drug used for nausea.

Dr. Grant Higginson, Oregon health officer and deputy administrator of the
state Health Division, prepared a fiscal impact statement estimating that
about 500 Oregonians would use marijuana annually if the measure passes. He
estimated it would cost $140,000 to $295,000 annually to fulfill the
agency's responsibilities under the law.

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

Schools Drop DARE Program (The Statesman Journal in Salem, Oregon,
says the Salem-Keizer School District, following a national trend, has
abandoned the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program for fifth graders
in half of its schools, and the other half are evaluating the effectiveness
of the police-taught program. According to a 1998 study by Salem-Keizer
Together, a community drug-prevention network, the number of sixth graders
who use drugs at a moderate to high rate rose to an all time high
of 6.1 percent in 1998.)

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 04:34:17 -0700
From: Paul Freedom (nepal@teleport.com)
Organization: Oregon Libertarian Patriots
To: "libnw@circuit.com" (libnw@circuit.com),
Cannabis Patriots (cannabis-patriots-l@teleport.com),
"nwlibertarians@teleport.com" (nwlibertarians@teleport.com),
Oregon Commonlaw (oregon-commonlaw-l@teleport.com), drcnet@drcnet.org,
Subject: CanPat - SCHOOLS DROP D.A.R.E. PROGRAM!
Sender: owner-cannabis-patriots-l@smtp.teleport.com

SCHOOLS DROP D.A.R.E. PROGRAM!

The Statesman Journal
10-15-98
Transcribed by Paul Freedom
(the Stateman doesn't have the luxury of an active news page to copy the
article :-)

THE SALEM-KEIZER SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS THE ANTI-DRUG
PROGRAM CUT TOO MUCH INTO CORE CURRICULUM

by Kristin Green
The Statesman Journal

Following a national trend , the Salem-Keizer School District has
abandoned the well-know Drug Abuse Resistance Education program
in half of its schools.

The other half of the schools are evaluating the effectiveness of the police-
taught program, once touted as a national model for keeping kids drug-free.

Many teachers in those elementary schools have said they don't have
time in their busy classroom schedules for the program; they want DARE
to be offered after school.

Defenders of DARE say it builds self-esteem while teaching while teaching
kids to say no to drugs and alcohol. But a growing body of studies suggests that
the benefits don't last.

"Most kids probably aren't going to listen," said Serena Dahl, 10, a fifth grader
at Liberty Elementary School.

State schools chief Norma Paulus believes DARE is ineffective. She thinks
schools should re-evaluate the role of the program in the school day.

"It's intrusive on instructional time and the studies don't show it works,"
she said. "I think the better alternative ... is to have a strong health program."

According to a 1998 study by Salem-Keizer Together, a community drug-
prevention network, the number of sixth graders who use drugs at a moderate
to high rate rose to an all time high of 6.1 percent in 1998.

Thirteen percent of eight-graders and 19.2 percent of 11th-graders reported
drug use at that level.

DARE is taught one hour a week over sixteen weeks to fifth graders. A
police officer encourages kids to say no to drugs by telling them the effects of
drugs on their bodies, the potential consequences of using drugs and specific
ways to say no. The program also works on building self-esteem and teaching
children to be assertive.

Salem-Keizer students already learn the skills taught in DARE from teachers
and counselors, said Wink Miller, the school district's director of elementary
education.

"We'll continue to focus on kids living healthy lifestyles. We think that will
help us do the same things DARE will do for us," Miller said.

But John Stackhouse, a Salem police officer who teaches DARE in Salem
elementary schools, said teachers can't present lessons the same way he does.

"We walk in and have immediate credibility based on our background," said
Stackhouse, who was a narcotics officer in Salem for three years. "Every
working cop is going to have a different perspective on the effects of drugs."

Sarah Killian, a fifth-grader, said police officers tell stories of real-life
experiences that make her want to stay away from drugs. She doubts her
regular teacher could do the same thing.

"It's nice to have the police officer come because he's more experienced",
she said.

DARE also allows police officers to develop rapport with students
and their parents, said Marion County Sheriff Raul Ramirez, a staunch
DARE supporter.

Marion County deputies who taught DARE in Salem-Keizer schools were
reassigned a year ago. The deputies, paid with school district funds, became
full-time school resource officers. But deputies still teach DARE in 12
elementary schools outside the Salem-Keizer School District.

"It's allowed us to bond with the community. We see that as a manner of
reinforcing values," he said. "I wish we could be in every school."

Keizer elementary school teachers asked a year ago to eliminate the DARE
program, in part because officers weren't available to teach at the same time
every week. The officers' unpredictable schedules sometimes meant that DARE
interrupted class time devoted to core classes.

"It's more important for kids to learn to read and write," Paulus said.

But officers can teach the basics while doing the DARE lessons, supporters
say. Without the DARE program, children don't connect with police in a meaningful
way.

"We're disappointed," said Keizer Police Lt. Kent Barker. "It's unfortunate
because we're going to lose the contact with grade school kids."

Whiteacre Middle School in Keizer planned to teach DARE when it was
cut from the elementary schools, but administrators decided their wasn't time.

Courtney Brooks, a fifth-grader at Liberty, said middle school is the time
when she thinks she'll feel pressure to use drugs or drink alcohol.

"When you're in middle school, it's like, I need to make some friends,"
she said.

Amber Hames, 10, said, "I don't think one year is enough."

The commitment of good intentioned police officers makes it difficult for
school administrators to reject DARE.

"It's almost sacred. Sometimes it's hard to let go," said Larry Austin, a
spokesman for the Oregon Department of Education.

But Salem-Keizer school officials are feeling pressure from the state to
drop DARE, and they're concerned about the state's new instructional
standards and the schools' low test scores. As a result. they're rethinking
the way they use teaching time.

"It's not a movement away because we value the service of the program,
but it's our need to capture more time to intensify instruction," said Marlin
Herb, executive assistant to the superintendent of Salem-Keizer schools.

Carla Moyer, a prevention specialist for the school district, said DARE's
dose of refusal skills to fifth-graders isn't enough to keep children drug-free
throughout middle and high school.

"Is it more effective than what a good teacher would do? I don't think so,"
Moyer said. "It reinforces what we do."

But Carl Goodard, a Salem Police officer assigned to teach DARE, believes
in the program's ambitions.

"I can't say whether it's going to put a stop to kids using drugs, but it's a start,"
Goodard said. As long as we can be in the classrooms teaching DARE, why
yank out a tool that the kids enjoy and the teachers enjoy?"

Goodard said he even offers to spend time one-on-one with students who
need advice about something in their lives.

"How can you say we don't need that anymore?"

***

STATESMAN JOURNAL-- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR- INSTRUCTIONS

Length: Up to 150 words for letters, 500 words for guest opinions. Longer items
may be considered, returned for revision or published at our option. All items are
subject to editing and publication deadlines.

Include: Your signature, first and last name, town and for verification( not for
publication), day and evening phone and home street address. Guest opinions
are published with a photo and information about the writer.

Mail: Letters to the Editor (or Guest Opinions), to Statesman Journal, PO Box
13009, Salem, Oregon 97309-1015
E-mail: letters@statesmanjournal.com
Fax: 503-399-6706
Office Address: 280 Church St.NE in downtown Salem
Guidelines: 503-399-6699 or 800 556-3975, Ext. 6699

***

Cannabis Patriots
http://www.teleport.com/~nepal/canpat.htm

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

The Columbian newspaper has an online medical marijuana forum
(A list subscriber invites activists to lobby for reform at the web site
of the Vancouver, Washington, daily.)

Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 16:55:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: bc616@scn.org (Darral Good)
To: hemp-talk@hemp.net
Subject: HT: The columbian newspaper has an online medical MJ forum
Reply-To: bc616@scn.org
Sender: owner-hemp-talk@hemp.net

www.columbian.com
just click on "discussion forums"
in the "Currents" section and add your 420 cents worth!

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

Yelm police number improperly listed in voter pamphlet
(The Tacoma News Tribune, noting Washington state law bars the use
of any public office or facility to support or oppose a ballot measure,
says the Yelm Police Department's telephone number was improperly listed
in 1.9 million copies of the state voters' guide as a source of information
for opponents of Initiative 692, the ballot initiative to legalize
medical use of marijuana.)

Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 17:48:55 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ben (ben@hemp.net)
To: hemp-talk@hemp.net
Subject: HT: News Tribune reports Yelm Police number in voter pamphlet
Sender: owner-hemp-talk@hemp.net

For this and MORE, visit Hemp.Net's I-692 page at
http://www.hemp.net/news/initiative.html

Title: Yelm police number improperly listed in voter pamphlet
Pubdate: October 15, 1998
Source: Tacoma News Tribune
Contact: leted@p.tribnet.com

The Yelm Police Department's telephone number was improperly listed in the
state voters guide as a number to call for information opposing a ballot
initiative to legalize medical use of marijuana.

The department's nonemergency number, printed in 1.9 million copies of the
pamphlet, mistakenly was provided to Secretary of State Ralph Munro, whose
office produced the pamphlet, Yelm Police Chief Glenn Dunnam said.

Dunnam helped write the pamphlet's statement opposing the initiative.
State law bars using any public office or facility to support or oppose
ballot measures.

Susan Harris, assistant director of the Public Disclosure Commission, said
her office was looking into the matter.

Callers to the Yelm police number who ask about Initiative 692 are
referred to the Seattle number of Mike Suydam, who is running the campaign
to defeat the marijuana initiative.

"I know the rules, and I make sure I follow them - unless there is human
error, and that is what this is," Dunnam said.

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

Pot Club To Fight Court Ruling (The San Jose Mercury News
says the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative vowed Wednesday to fight
a federal court ruling that would prevent it from providing medical marijuana
to patients in accordance with Proposition 215, pledging an appeal
or the possibility of the group breaking up into smaller, independent cells.
Another dispensary in Ukiah remains open and US District Court Judge
Charles Breyer ruled that the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana could also
remain open until a jury trial.)

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 15:30:11 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US CA: Pot Club To Fight Court Ruling
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Marcus/Mermelstein Family (mmfamily@ix.netcom.com)
Pubdate: Thu, 15 Oct 1998
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 1998 Mercury Center
Contact: letters@sjmercury.com
Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/
Author: E. Mark Moreno with contribution from Rodney Foo

POT CLUB TO FIGHT COURT RULING

Medicinal Marijuana: Oakland Cooperative Considers Several Options For
Remaining Open.

The Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative vowed Wednesday to fight a
federal court ruling that would prevent it from providing medical
marijuana, either through an appeal or perhaps by breaking up into
smaller, independent groups.

In his Tuesday ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer rejected the
club's arguments that the federal government's ban on medical
marijuana violates patients' constitutional rights to relieve pain.
His ruling allows federal marshals to close the 2,200-member club by 5
p.m. Friday.

But at a news conference Wednesday, club attorney Robert Raich said he
intended to file a motion with Breyer to extend the deadline or modify
it to allow the cooperative to remain open. If the judge refuses or
does not respond by today, Raich said, he will seek a temporary stay
of the order from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

If a stay is granted, club officials -- who had sought a jury trial on
the matter -- will then file an appeal with the 9th Circuit.

Raich also said the club could break into smaller groups operating
outside the cooperative, ``little pieces too small for the government
or anyone else to stop.''

If the stay is not granted, executive director Jeff Jones said, he
does not know what the club will end up doing. He listed three
options: close the club, wait for federal marshals to close it or
organize members into smaller groups outside the cooperative.

Club members said whatever happens with the cooperative, they will
still provide seminars on how to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.

If the cooperative closes, Oakland City Councilman Nate Miley said
Wednesday, he will ask the city to declare a state of emergency and
examine whether the city ``has to take up this role'' as a dispenser
of medical marijuana. City officials have been behind the operation
ever since its founding two years ago.

The U.S. government filed civil lawsuits in January against six
Northern California buyers clubs that provided medicinal marijuana.
This came despite the passage in 1996 of state Proposition 215, which
legalized the medicinal use of pot. The Justice Department contended
that federal law banning marijuana distribution overrides the
California law.

The outcome in California could have nationwide impact. Similar
initiatives are on the ballots of six other states in the November
elections.

Three clubs -- in San Francisco, Santa Cruz and San Jose -- have been
shut down.

The Santa Clara County Medical Cannabis Center closed after San Jose
police raided its office in March. Co-founder Peter Baez was charged
with five counts of illegally selling marijuana and one count each of
maintaining a drug house and grand theft.

No trial date has been set for Baez, who has pleaded not guilty,
Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker said.

A club in Ukiah remains open.

Another cooperative, the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, was
granted the right to a jury trial because evidence of sales there
after the injunction came down was insufficient. On Tuesday, Breyer
ruled that the Marin club could remain open until an upcoming trial.

However, Breyer denied the Oakland cooperative the chance to seek a
jury trial, which club members had wanted.

The judge recognized the ``human suffering'' a shutdown would cause
but said that ``federal law prohibits the distribution of marijuana to
seriously ill persons for their personal medical use.''

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

Judge Orders Cannabis Club Closed (The Chicago Tribune version
says federal judge Charles Breyer for some reason claimed that closing
the Oakland co-op would not cause imminent harm or death to patients -
patently false in many cases.)

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 19:09:55 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US CA: Judge Orders Cannabis Club Closed
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Steve Young
Pubdate: 15 Oct, 1998
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Contact: tribletter@aol.com
Website: http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Copyright: 1998 Chicago Tribune Company
Author: V. Dion Haynes

JUDGE ORDERS CANNABIS CLUB CLOSED

LOS ANGELES -- A federal judge has ordered marshals to shutter a cannabis
buyers club in Oakland on Friday, two months after the Oakland City Council
took the controversial step of making the medical marijuana distributor an
official government agency.

In his Tuesday night ruling, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer rejected
arguments from lawyers representing the 2,000-member Oakland Cannabis
Buyers' Cooperative that the federal government's ban on medical marijuana
violates patients' constitutional rights to relieve excruciating pain.

Breyer acknowledged that closing the club would increase suffering, but he
ruled that the action would not cause imminent harm or death to the
patients. Club officials, who sought a jury trial on the matter, said they
plan to appeal the decision.

The Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative was among six such clubs in
northern California that had been sued by the U.S. Justice Department for
violating federal marijuana distribution laws.

Breyer ruled that another club, Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in
Fairfax, could remain open until a jury in an upcoming trial settles the
narrow issue of whether it dispensed marijuana the day a federal agent
conducted surveillance of it.

A third cannabis club, in Ukiah, has remained open and three others have
closed.

California voters approved in November 1996 a statewide ballot measure that
allowed seriously ill patients to grow and smoke medical marijuana under
certain circumstances.

But that measure is in direct conflict with federal law. The Justice
Department and California Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren, the Republican nominee for
governor, have battled to close the clubs.

In August, the Oakland City Council approved a measure making the club an
"agent of the city," attempting to use a clause in the Federal Controlled
Substances Act that shields from federal prosecution undercover agents who
sell drugs in their official capacity with the police.

Oakland officials on Wednesday said they plan to stage a protest of the
judge's ruling at the club's office Friday.

"I'm angry and depressed," said Joe DeVries, an aide to Oakland Councilman
Nate Miley.

"The federal government says that marijuana has no medical benefit, but I'd
like them to talk to a 70-year-old chemotherapy patient who says marijuana
saved his life, or AIDS patients who would tell them that marijuana is the
only thing that will bring back their appetite," DeVries said.

Robert Raich, a lawyer for the Oakland cannabis club, said: "We're
disappointed with the ruling. . . . We're concerned that this will cause a
public health and safety problem for these patients, who will have to go to
the streets to get their marijuana."

Under Lungren's interpretation of the state law, seriously ill patients
could grow and smoke the medical marijuana only with a doctor's
recommendation. If the patients were unable to grow it on their own, Lungren
said, they could obtain it from a "primary care giver," such as a doctor,
nurse or relative.

The cannabis clubs contended they were primary care givers and therefore
acting within the law.

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

US Orders California Marijuana Club Closed (The Reuters version
in The Washington Post)

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 00:42:05 -0600 (MDT)
From: Citizens for Compassionate Cannabis (cohip@levellers.org)
To: "Colo. Hemp Init. Project" (cohip@levellers.org)
Subject: Judge Orders Closure of Oakland Cannabis Cooperative

U.S. Orders California Marijuana Club Closed
Reuters
Thursday, October 15, 1998; Page A09

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 14 -- The end may be near for California's embattled
medical marijuana movement.

In a surprise injunction, a federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Oakland
Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative to close by Friday for violating federal
narcotics laws.

Two other clubs still struggling to distribute the drug under the terms of
California's 1996 state law that legalized medical marijuana use are under
similar pressure.

In a news conference today, Oakland city officials and patients of the
cooperative said U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer's decision against the
club would have a devastating effect.

"Closing the cooperative will force patients with AIDS, cancer and other
debilitating diseases to turn to street dealers for the medicine they
need," said Oakland City Council member Nate Miley.

Breyer, while noting that closing the club would likely cause "human
suffering," said club lawyers had failed to demonstrate that enforcing a
federal ban on marijuana distribution would violate the constitutional
right of sick people to relieve pain -- a cornerstone of the medical
marijuana movement's legal strategy. Lawyers for the club said they would
appeal.

Ten of the original 13 clubs have closed under federal pressure.

(c) Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company

***

Call the President & Congress to protest on behalf of Oakland's patients:
President	(202) 456-1111
Senate		(202) 224-3121
House		(202) 225-3121

***

EMAIL THE WHITE HOUSE:
president@whitehouse.gov
vice.president@whitehouse.gov
first.lady@whitehouse.gov

***

Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative
Web: http://www.rxcbc.org

***

Distributed by:
Colorado Citizens for Compassionate Cannabis
P.O. Box 729
Nederland, CO 80466
Phone: (303) 448-5640
Email: cohip@levellers.org
Web: http://www.levellers.org/cannabis.html

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

Closure of Cannabis Club Ordered (The Los Angeles Times version)

Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 15:35:51 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US CA: Closure of Cannabis Club Ordered
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Jim Rosenfield
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Contact: letters@latimes.com
Fax: 213-237-4712
Website: http://www.latimes.com/
Pubdate: Thu, 15 Oct 1998
Copyright: 1998 Los Angeles Times.
Author: Mary Curtius, Times Staff Writer

CLOSURE OF CANNABIS CLUB ORDERED

Judge tells U.S. marshals to shut down Oakland cooperative, the largest
remaining in the state. Medical marijuana supporters say they will appeal.

SAN FRANCISCO--A federal judge has authorized U.S. marshals to close the
state's largest still-functioning cannabis club Friday evening. Club
operators said they will appeal the ruling. U.S. District Judge Charles
Breyer rejected the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative's argument that for
some people, marijuana is an irreplaceable drug that relieves their pain
and even saves their lives.

In a ruling issued Tuesday evening, Breyer found the club in contempt of
his May ruling that six Northern California clubs must close because their
sale of marijuana violates federal drug laws.

The Oakland cooperative and another, much smaller club in Marin County had
defied Breyer's ruling and continued to sell marijuana. The judge spared
the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana on Tuesday from immediate closure.
Instead, he said he will allow a jury trial on the narrow question of
whether the Marin club actually distributed marijuana on the day that it
was under a federal agent's surveillance.

But the judge offered no such reprieve to the Oakland club, despite its
strong backing from the Oakland City Council.

In August, the council tried to protect the Cannabis Buyers Cooperative by
naming the club's operators "officers" of the city. The move made Oakland
the first city in the nation to become directly involved in distributing
medical marijuana. In an earlier ruling, Breyer rejected the city's
reasoning.

The club, which has 2,000 members, was open for business Wednesday in
downtown Oakland. Jeff Jones, the executive director, held a news
conference on the steps of City Hall to denounce Breyer's ruling.

"We've gotten a lot of frantic patients calling us and a lot coming in from
great distances to get their medicine because they know we might not be
open by the weekend," Jones said in a telephone interview.

"Patients are very scared that they are going to have to go back on the
streets." The club was allowing patients to stock up Wednesday, according
to Jones. "We have a normal limit of one-quarter ounce per day, but we are
allowing people with a statement of need from a physician to alter that
today to an ounce a day," he said.

The Justice Department's reaction to Breyer's ruling was subdued Wednesday.

"I can't say much, except that we were gratified that the judge ruled as he
did," said spokesman Gregory King. "We expect to enforce the court's order.
We have said in the past that the federal government was taking a measured
approach to ensure that federal law continued to be enforced. We feel that
that is what we tried to do and that is what is being done." Cannabis clubs
sprang up across the state after California voters approved Proposition
215, the November 1996 initiative allowing patients with a doctor's
recommendation to grow and use marijuana for a variety of illnesses,
including AIDs and cancer. At one point, as many as 28 clubs were
functioning openly, selling marijuana to thousands of people.

Most of the clubs have since closed. Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren won a ruling
from a state appellate court that Proposition 215 did not legalize medical
marijuana clubs. Lungren closed the largest club, Denis Peron's San
Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club, earlier this year. The club said it was
serving 8,000 people.

Other clubs--including ones in San Jose and in Orange County--closed after
their operators were arrested on suspicion of illegally selling or
possessing marijuana.

If the Oakland cooperative is closed Friday, the largest remaining club in
the state will be the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center in West
Hollywood, with 521 members. The center was not a target of the federal
action against the Northern California clubs.

"I hate that idea that we are the biggest one in the state now," said Scott
Imler, director of the West Hollywood club.

"I feel sad for the whole medical marijuana movement," he said. "It is
going to be two years ago this election day that Proposition 215 passed.
One year ago, there were 28 community-based groups that had small to large
medical marijuana programs. Now, there are three of us left. The movement
is in chaos." In a friend-of-the-court brief to
Breyer on behalf of the club this summer, the city of Oakland argued that
under the federal Controlled Substances Act, city officers enforcing local
drug ordinances are immune from prosecution for possessing, buying and
selling illegal drugs in the course of their work.

Breyer rejected that argument in an Aug. 31 hearing, describing the city's
argument as "creative, but not persuasive." However, at the time he refused
the Justice Department's demand that the clubs be immediately found in
contempt of court and closed.

Instead, Breyer took under submission the clubs' request for a jury trial
on the question of whether they could operate under a "medical necessity"
finding.

Defense attorney James Brosnahan, representing the Oakland club, argued at
the hearing that medicinal marijuana is an irreplaceable drug for some
patients.

In his latest order, Breyer rejected that defense.

The judge ruled that there was no evidence that imminent harm would befall
patients denied medical marijuana.

"Even though our members testified that medical cannabis has actually saved
their lives, they didn't say they would die tomorrow without medical
cannabis," said Robert Raich, attorney for the Oakland club. "As a result,
over 2,000 patients may lose their access to a necessary and lifesaving
medicine."

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

Judge Grants Medical Pot Club Three-Day Reprieve (The Oakland Tribune
notes that just hours before US Marshals were to come knocking Friday,
US District Court Judge Charles Breyer granted a stay that allows the Oakland
Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative to stay open until 5 pm Monday, giving attorneys
time to appeal the case to the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Several
patients, in declarations to the court, have stated that cutting off their
marijuana supply would be a "death sentence.")

Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 07:39:20 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US CA: Judge Grants Medical Pot Club Three-Day Reprieve
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Jerry Sutliff
Pubdate: Oct 15, 1998
Source: Oakland Tribune (CA)
Contact: triblet@angnewspapers.com
Author: Kathleen Krikwood

JUDGE GRANTS MEDICAL POT CLUB THREE-DAY REPRIEVE

Co-Op Has Until 5 P.M. Monday To Keep Doors Open To Members

OAKLAND - Just hours before U.S. Marshals were to come knocking Friday, a
federal judge granted Oakland's embattled medical marijuana club a three-day
reprieve from a court-ordered shutdown.

U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer granted a stay that allows the
Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative to stay open until 5 p.m. Monday, giving
attorneys time to appeal the case to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Breyer had ordered the club closed at 5 p.m. Friday, for violating this
previous order to stop distributing marijuana. Club attorneys submitted an
appeal and Breyer gave the club a brief stay.

Cooperative staff had been preparing to close down and leave peacefully
early Friday afternoon, to be out of the way when marshals arrived to
inventory marijuana supplies and padlock the doors.

"I'm delighted," said Jeff Jones, the cooperative's executive director,
shortly after the stay was granted. " feel (Breyer) is giving the
alternative to pursue our case in court."

The low-key club on Broadway in downtown Oakland is the largest such
dispensary in the state, and was opened after the passage of California's
medical marijuana initiative, Proposition 215.

About 2,200 members, suffering from illnesses and physical disabilities,
obtain marijuana there in the form of starter plants, dried bulk form or
baked into cookies or brownies.

Despite efforts to keep a low profile, the Oakland club has been thrust into
the limelight because it has remained open while other facilities, such as
the San Francisco Cannabis Club, have been shuttered after intensive efforts
by state Attorney General Dan Lungren.

Following on the heels of Breyer's temporary stay of a shutdown order,
attorneys for the club quickly filed an appeal with the higher court.

Attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department sought an injunction in January
to close the club, arguing it is a violation of federal law to distribute
marijuana, defined as an illegal controlled substance in the same category
as heroin or cocaine.

But attorney Robert Raich, representing the club, said Breyer had
misinterpreted federal law when he issued the shutdown order earlier
Tuesday.

"We feel the judge missed some important facts and misapplied the law,"
Raich said.

The club, Raich argues, is not in violation of federal controlled substances
acts and imminent harm will come to patients if they are not able to obtain
marijuana.

"It is not at all an exaggeration that people would die as a result of
this," Raich said.

Several patients, in declarations to the court, have stated that cutting off
their marijuana supply would be a "death sentence."

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

California voters guide enhanced (A bulletin from DrugSense points you
to the California NORML web site highlighting candidates' positions
on cannabis-related issues.)

Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 12:06:07 -0700
To: "dpfca@drugsense.org" (dpfca@drugsense.org)
From: Mark Greer (MGreer@mapinc.org)
Subject: DPFCA: The CA voters guide enhanced
Cc: drctalk@drcnet.org, maptalk@mapinc.org
Sender: owner-dpfca@drugsense.org
Reply-To: dpfca@drugsense.org
Organization: DrugSense http://www.drugsense.org/dpfca/

Matt Elrod did a real nice job of enhancing the California voters guide that
CA-NORML and Dale G. put together. Very nice work by all. The enhanced
edition gives you color coded "at a glance" evaluation of any candidate as
it relates to drug policy issues.

All CA residents should be sure to review this page before voting.

http://www.drugsense.org/dpfca/elect2.htm

A long term objective of creating a nationwide version of such a page is
worth considering probably next election though.

DISCLAIMER

The text of this page does not necessarily reflect the views of DrugSense,
its board, staff, or members.

Mark Greer
DrugSense
MGreer@mapinc.org
http://www.DrugSense.org/
http://www.mapinc.org

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

Drug court clerk under investigation in Nevada (The Las Vegas Sun
says Janice Hampton, a clerk for a local drug court, was placed on
administrative leave after $34,460 assessed against drug offenders
turned up missing.)

From: "Bob Owen @ WHEN, Olympia" (when@olywa.net)
To: "-News" (when@hemp.net)
Subject: drug court clerk is being investigated in NV
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 20:56:14 -0700
Sender: owner-when@hemp.net
Newshawk: ccross@november.org
Source: Las Vegas SUN
Pubdate: October 15, 1998
Online:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/text/1998/oct/15/507873296.html

Las Vegas news briefs

DRUG COURT -- A drug court clerk is being investigated in connection with
$34,460 in missing fees that were assessed against drug offenders.

Janice Hampton, a clerk in District Judge Jack Lehman's Drug Court, has been
placed on administrative leave with pay while charges are being
investigated. Hampton was a cashier and clerk in the court and was
responsible for giving first-time, nonviolent offenders receipts for their
payments. She also entered the transactions in a computer.

County Clerk Loretta Bowman became suspicious when a client asked for a
refund and the money couldn't be found in the computer.

Drug court offers offenders the chance to have felony charges dropped in
return for completing a year-long drug treatment program. Those in the
program pay from $5 to $30 a week.

A county audit showed that there were 719 instances between July 1996 and
November 1997 when money was not entered into the computer.

Hampton became a deputy county clerk in December 1995.

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

Teacher Charged With Possession (The San Antonio Express-News
says campus police arrested a 7th-grade English teacher a Heritage Middle
School after they found a marijuana cigarette in his truck during a "routine"
canine drug and weapons search. "He's doing an excellent job in the
classroom," said Dan Lyttle's superintendent.)

Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1998 00:47:37 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US TX: Teacher Charged With Possession
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: adbryan@onramp.net
Pubdate: Thu, 15 Oct 1998
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Contact: letters@express-news.net
Website: http://www.expressnews.com/
Copyright: 1998 San Antonio Express-News
Author: Lucy Hood, Express-News Staff Writer

TEACHER CHARGED WITH POSSESSION

Campus police arrested a Heritage Middle School teacher after finding what
they say was a marijuana cigarette in his truck while it was parked on
campus.

Dan Lyttle, 35, was arrested last Friday on a misdemeanor charge of
possession of marijuana, according to court records.

He was released on a $400 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 2.

The school district has suspended him with pay while the case is under
investigation.

An offense report said East Central police conducted a routine canine drug
and weapons search. An officer noticed the cigarette in the ashtray of a
white Ford Ranger.

A field test showed the cigarette tested positive for marijuana, the report
said.

The truck, which was impounded, belongs to Lyttle, who is in his second
year as a seventh-grade English teacher at Heritage.

In a brief phone conversation, Lyttle said he had been teaching for seven
years, but declined to comment about his arrest.

East Central Superintendent Anthony Constanzo praised Lyttle's teaching
abilities.

"He's doing an excellent job in the classroom," Constanzo said.

Thursday, Oct 15, 1998

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

ICLU files suit to halt police roadblocks (The Associated Press
says the Indiana Civil Liberties Union will try to bring a halt to the
Indianapolis Police Department's practice of setting up random
anti-drug roadblocks.)

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 19:15:05 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US IN: Wire: ICLU files suit to halt police roadblocks
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: aslinn@indy.net (aslinn)
Pubdate: Thu, 15 Oct 1998
Source: Associated Press

ICLU FILES SUIT TO HALT POLICE ROADBLOCKS

Staff Report Indianapolis Star/News INDIANAPOLIS (Wed, Oct 14, 1998) -- The
Indiana Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court
against the Indianapolis Police Department seeking to stop police from
setting up anti-drug roadblocks.

John Krull, executive director of the ICLU, said the lawsuit asked the court
to issue an injunction preventing the roadblocks.

Krull said "there is a constitutional way to do roadblocks, but I don't
think IPD and city have found that way."

He pointed out court decisions have ruled that you cannot use subjective
standards, such as stopping only young black males, in the roadblocks.

Krull also said courts have ruled that roadblock cannot create traffic
hazards or unnecessary delays.

The roadblocks violated the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which
limits searches and seizures by police, he said.

Police Chief Michael Zunk has said the Police Department had worked to keep
the stops from violating drivers' constitutional rights.

Zunk and Mayor Stephen Goldsmith said they were pleased with the results of
the roadblocks, and the department was planning to stage more anti-drug
stops.

To act against trafficking in street drugs, police in August set up
roadblocks for the first time to search vehicles.

Most traffic kept flowing during the roadblocks, but small groups of
drivers, from three to six at a time, were stopped by police, asked for
their identification and then asked if they were carrying drugs or guns.

During the stops, police dogs trained to detect drugs sniffed around the
stopped vehicles, and if they indicated they smelled drugs, police checked
the vehicles.

In Fort Wayne, Mayor Paul Helmke ordered police to stop such roadblocks
because he was concerned about their constituionality.

Leaders of the Fort Wayne NAACP had called the city police department's plan
to use roadblocks to check cars for drugs unconstitutional and an
embarrassment to innocent citizens.

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

Marijuana seizure totals nearly $1.8 million (The Kalamazoo Gazette
says sheriff's deputies in Van Buren County, Michigan, burned 1,780
marijuana plants discovered in a rural section of Bangor Township Wednesday,
sending approximately $1.8 million of the leafy herb up in smoke. Anyone with
information about suspicious or drug-related activity
can call 616-657-3101 . . . .)

From: "Bob Owen @ WHEN, Olympia" (when@olywa.net)
To: "-News" (when@hemp.net)
Subject: Marijuana seizure totals nearly $1.8 million
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 20:55:14 -0700
Sender: owner-when@hemp.net
Newshawk: ccross@november.org
Source: The Kalamazoo Gazette
Pubdate: Thursday, October 15, 1998
Online: http://kz.mlive.com/news/index.ssf?/news/stories/drugbu$01.frm
Writer: Mark Fisk

Marijuana seizure totals nearly $1.8 million

BANGOR - Van Buren County sheriff's deputies burned 1,780 marijuana plants
discovered in a rural section of Bangor Township Wednesday, sending
approximately $1.8 million of the green leafy drug up in smoke.

"We destroyed the plants all last night," said Detective Bryan Stump. "We
get a hot fire going and stand upwind."

Acting on a tip from hunters scouting a rural, wooded area, police searched
a stretch of cleared forest in the 68000 block of 38th Avenue at 5 p.m.,
Stump said.

"It's right out in the middle of the country," Stump said. "It's farmland.
It was in a wooded area with high weeds. It appeared somebody had come out
and chain-sawed trees and cleared a secton of the forest.

"That number of plants was one of the biggest (busts) in the last couple
years. A month or so ago near the western part of Bangor we found 50 or 60
plants 12 feet tall and those were some of the best I've ever seen."

Stump said no suspects have been identified, but the road patrol has been
made aware of the marijuana activity.

The value of comparable marijuana plants from Wednesday's bust is estimated
at $1,000 per plant, Stump said. The plants ranged from 3 to 9 feet in
height, Stump said.

Anyone with information about suspicious or drug-related activity can call
(616) 657-3101.

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

Big mystery - What causes addiction? Drunks beget drunkards, Plutarch noted,
but is it destiny? (MSNBC examines what little science knows so far about why
some of us are prone to addiction and others aren't. Generally, a
predisposition to abuse one drug applies to almost all other drugs. But no
addiction gene has ever been identified, and, even among men who carry a
hereditary load, predisposing physical factors don't doom them to a sodden
or chemically dependent lifestyle. There's no such thing as a pre-addictive
personality, experts say. Some people, particularly those addicted
to opiates, may have deficiencies in their brain reward systems. Other drug
users gravitate toward their "drug of choice" to "self-medicate." Heroin,
for instance, is remarkably effective at "normalizing" people who suffer
from delusions and hallucinations - mostly schizophrenics. Cocaine can
quickly lift a depression, or enable a person with attention-deficit disorder
to become better organized and focused.)

From: "Bob Owen@W.H.E.N." (when@olywa.net)
To: "_Drug Policy --" (when@hemp.net)
Subject: Big mystery: What causes addiction?
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1998 19:35:47 -0800
Sender: owner-when@hemp.net

Newshawk: ccross@november.org
Source: MSNBC
Online: http://www.msnbc.com:80/news/205650.asp

Big mystery: What causes addiction? Drunks beget drunkards, Plutarch
noted, but is it destiny?

By Michael Segell. NBC's Robert Bazell contributed to this report.

Oct. 15 - Drunks beget drunkards, Plutarch noticed, summarizing what
has been observed anecdotally for at least a couple of millennia. But why
are some of us prone to addiction - be it alcohol, drugs or food - and
others aren't?

Cocaine does not just make users feel euphoric, but it simultaneously
releases brain chemicals related to fear and stress - bad feelings that
linger after the euphoria fades. - DR. GEORGE KOOB Scripps Research
Institute

THOUGH THE exact mechanisms haven't been identified, experts in alcoholism
widely agree that some people are genetically vulnerable to developing the
disorder. Sons of alcoholic fathers, for instance, are at three to four
times the risk of abusing the drug. Generally, a predisposition to abuse one
drug applies to almost all other drugs. Alcoholism, for instance, may be
present in as many as three-fourths of cocaine addicts.

Still, no gene has ever been identified, and, even among men who
carry a hereditary load, predisposing physical factors don't doom them to a
sodden or chemically dependent lifestyle. There's no such thing as a
pre-addictive personality, experts say.

So why do some people become addicted? Addictionologists have
theorized that some people, particularly those addicted to opiates, may have
deficiencies in their brain reward systems - fewer natural opiates
circulating, for instance, or fewer receptor sites. In addicts, the question
eventually becomes moot, for years of abuse desensitizes their receptors,
and they end up with altered pleasure thresholds.

Other drug users gravitate toward their "drug of choice" to
"self-medicate." Heroin, for instance, is remarkably effective at
"normalizing" people who suffer from delusions and hallucinations (mostly
schizophrenics). Cocaine can quickly lift a depression, or enable a person
with attention-deficit disorder to become better organized and focused. For
these people, addiction is a troubling side effect to their adaptive
attempts to relieve their own suffering.

WHAT DO THE SHRINKS SAY?

According to psychiatrists who have
studied psychodynamic causes of drug addiction, the motivation to use
psychoactive substances can often be traced to critical passages early in
life. Says Edward J. Khantzian, a Harvard psychiatrist and author of the
"self-medicating" hypothesis of drug addiction, many substance-dependent
people who make it into therapy show a profound inability to calm and soothe
themselves when stressed. The ability to self-regulate mood - to maintain
psychic homeostasis - is a task learned between the ages of 1 and 3, when a
toddler normally internalizes such a function from caring parents. Mothers,
and no doubt many fathers, of frequent drug users have been described as
"relatively cold, unresponsive and underprotective." Regarding their
children's accomplishments, they send a very mixed message: They're
pressuring and overly interested in their children's performance, yet rarely
offer them encouragement.

Eating disorders, which are considered addictions and primarily
affect women, offer a clear illustration of the self-regulation mechanism
gone haywire. If the inability to soothe oneself is due to a distant or
rejecting parent, compulsive eating is an attempt to make up for the loss,
to construct a substitute attachment to a nurturing parent, with a primitive
form of self-medication - food - one of the few things (in addition to love)
that can calm a distressed child.

According to Robert B. Millman, a renowned addiction expert at New
York Hospital-Cornell Medical School, locus of control is another
influential factor in addiction vulnerability. "Addicts tend to believe that
they are not the masters of their own fate, that control lies outside of
them," he says.

Narcissists are also well represented within drug-addicted
populations: their self-absorption is so profound they don't understand that
the world outside them, which includes drugs, is real - and dangerous.
Risk-takers are also vulnerable. "But there's no way to tell which
adrenaline junkie will get hooked on bungee jumping, venture capitalization
or heroin," says Millman.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES

While positive reinforcement - pleasure, getting high - entices a person to use a
drug again after experimenting with it, continued use is often a function of
so-called negative reinforcement. Tobacco smokers and opiate users
experience this the most: Their motivation to use the drug is not to
experience pleasure, but to relieve uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Drug use is also often thought of as an escape - but becomes so in
ways the abuser hadn't planned on. Just as a compulsive gambler's
hyper-involvement in the betting process blocks out his personal problems,
an addict's pursuit of his drug becomes so monomaniacal that everything
else, including the psychological pain that drove him to the drug, is
forgotten.

ENTER FEAR AND STRESS

Dr. George Koob of the
Scripps Research Institute has a surprising new finding, cocaine does not
just make users feel euphoric, but it simultaneously releases brain
chemicals related to fear and stress - bad feelings that linger after the
euphoria fades. "The only way to treat the bad feelings," explains Koob, "Is
to take the drug that makes you feel good again. But this becomes a vicious
cycle."

Even worse, changes in their brain make addicts crave drugs long
after they have stopped using them. Dr. Anna Rose Childress, of the
University of Pennsylvania, says the craving response can be triggered
easily - even by watching films. "And the person is then again vulernable,"
says Childres, "And that kind of vulernability is probably as long as the
person's memory."

Researchers are still trying to figure out why some people undergo
these brain changes and become addicted while others do not. The ultimate
goal: to develop medicine to control the craving.

While there are still many unknowns, scientists believe they're
making progress.

"The biological knowledge is going to give us an
edge that we simply couldn't have had before now," says Childress, "And that
is very exciting."

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

FCC to propose resolving digital wiretap debate (Reuters
says the Federal Communications Commission next week will propose
requiring telephone companies to make a series of changes to give
law enforcement agencies additional wiretapping capabilities.)

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 09:08:20 -0400
From: Scott Dykstra (rumba2@earthlink.net)
Reply-To: rumba2@earthlink.net
To: "rumba2@earthlink.net" (rumba2@earthlink.net)
Subject: CanPat - Telephone Companies Helping
with Phone Tap Capabilities (NICE AIN'T IT?)
Sender: owner-cannabis-patriots-l@smtp.teleport.com

03:52 PM ET 10/15/98

FCC to propose resolving digital wiretap debate

By Aaron Pressman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission
next week will propose requiring telephone companies to make a
series of changes to give law enforcement agencies additional
wiretapping capabilities, people familiar with the plan said
Thursday.

The proposal, which will only be issued for comment and
could be changed, seeks to resolve the long-running dispute
between the telephone industry, privacy advocates and the FBI
over terms of the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law
Enforcement Act.

The law was intended to preserve the FBI's ability to
conduct wiretaps as telephone carriers introduced new digital
technology making traditional alligator clip-and-wire approaches
obsolete. But the law also sought to maintain the existing
limits on wiretapping authority that protect the privacy of
ordinary citizens.

Much to the chagrin of privacy groups, the FCC's preliminary
proposal would require wireless telephone carriers to turn over
to law enforcers the location of a mobile phone user at the
beginning and end of a tapped call, people familiar with the
plan said.

``From a privacy protection perspective, the tracking
question is tremendously important,'' said Jim Dempsey, senior
staff counsel at the Center for Democracy and Technology, a
nonprofit privacy group in Washington.

``Congress never would have passed this legislation if they
thought they were turning cell phones into tracking devices,''
added Dempsey, who as a congressional staffer helped draft the
law.

But, heeding the call of privacy advocates, the FCC proposal
will urge further study concerning the way digital calling
information is turned over to law enforcers.

Under current law, the police must give a judge evidence of
probable cause of criminal activity to get permission to tap a
call. But to get basic routing information, such as what numbers
were called from a particular phone, the police need show only
that the information might be relevant to an investigation, a
much lower standard.

In digital calling networks, however, a call is split up
into tiny data packets that contain both the voice transmission
and routing and signaling information.

An industry proposal last year would have turned over to
police entire packets of information, including both the routing
data and the actual call itself, when just basic routing
information was authorized.

The FCC proposal will seek to determine if a more limited
method of handing over just routing information would be
feasible.

The FBI has already rejected as inadequate the industry
proposal that included the cell phone location and full packet
disclosure provisions. The agency asked the FCC to require
carriers to add another nine capabilities, such as the ability
to continue listening to a conference call even if the caller
being tapped hangs up.

The FCC proposal recommends some but not all of the nine
items should be added to phone networks, but also asked for
further comments on all nine items.

The industry fears refitting existing equipment to add those
capabilities will cost billions of dollars. Their fears were
confirmed in a recent letter from Attorney General Janet Reno
and FBI Director Louis Freeh to Congress, dated Oct. 6, and
obtained by Reuters, that conceded the costs could reach $2
billion.

Industry participants were pleased that the FCC was moving
to address the issues, though. ``We have not seen the details
yet but we're pleased the FCC is moving forward,'' Jeff Cohen, a
spokesman for the Personal Communications Industry Association,
said.

REUTERS

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

Government to get $690 million more to stop drug smugglers (The Associated
Press says US government spending to stop the inflow of illegal drugs would
jump by about $690 million under a compromise announced Thursday that will be
included in the 1999 budget bill. Backed by the White House drug czar,
General Barry McCaffrey, the legislation would mandate the use of foreign aid
as leverage against other countries' drug polices; upgrade prohibition
agents' technology and intelligence tools; provide high-tech aircraft and
helicopters to Bolivia, Colombia and Peru; increase penalties for
methamphetamine offenders; add money to prevention, education and treatment
programs that include incentives for businesses to run anti-drug programs;
and expresses opposition to proposals to legalize marijuana for medical use.)

Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 23:58:30 -0500
From: Margi Crook (margi@flash.net)
Reply-To: margi@flash.net
To: lpa-list@advicom.net, cannabis-patriots-L@teleport.com
Subject: CanPat - Spending bill
Sender: owner-cannabis-patriots-l@smtp.teleport.com

Government to get $690 million more to stop drug smugglers

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. government spending to stop the inflow of illegal
drugs would jump by about $690 million this fiscal year under a compromise
announced Thursday.

Republican lawmakers immediately pronounced the agreement a major victory for
their goal of changing the course of U.S. drug policy. Republicans have long
criticized the Clinton administration for what they believe is a lax policy that puts
too much emphasis on education and prevention and not enough on enforcement
and punishment.

An aide to retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the White House's drug policy
coordinator, called the compromise a bipartisan achievement in which
McCaffrey was intimately involved.

McCaffrey has defended current drug policy vigorously, contending money spent
on interdiction has increased in recent years and is being spent more
efficiently than a decade ago.

The compromise, which specifies reductions of illegal drug use and
drug-related crime by 50 percent over five years, will be included in the
1999 budget bill.

The anti-drug legislation includes provisions that:

* Mandates the use of U.S. foreign aid as leverage to urge other countries
to keep up anti-drug efforts.

* Upgrades some technology and intelligence tools that American law
enforcement officers use to intercept illegal drugs.

* Provides U.S. aircraft and helicopters to Bolivia, Colombia and Peru to help
eradicate drug crops.

``While the administration has fought the Congress tooth and nail over the
last few years to prevent the provision of badly needed high
performance . . . helicopters to the Colombians, we Republicans have
prevailed,'' said Rep. Benjamin Gilman, a Republican from New York. "None too
early, I might add, as the heroin crisis in America grows out of control.''

The bill also includes provisions that increase penalties for manufacturing,
trafficking or possessing methamphetamines. The measure adds money to
prevention, education and treatment programs that include incentives for
businesses to run anti-drug programs for their employees.

The measure also expresses opposition to proposals to legalize marijuana for
medicinal use, saying that it is a dangerous and addictive drug with no
proven medical uses.

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

Rights Report Blames Paramilitary Forces in Colombia (The New York Times
says a report by Human Rights Watch/Americas catalogs the massacre
at Mapiripan, Colombia, in July 1997, and dozens of similar incidents,
concluding the ravaging of Mapiripan was unique only in the size
of the operation and the logistics involved. Right-wing paramilitary troops
arrived on a charter flight at San Jose del Guaviare airport, which shares
an airstrip with a US-financed anti-narcotics base. Colombian soldiers
usually record the arrivals, but that day they waved the visitors through.)

Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 22:30:37 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: Colombia: Rights Report Blames Paramilitary Forces in Colombia
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Paul_Bischke@datacard.com (Paul Bischke)
Pubdate: 15 October 1998
Source: New York Times (NY)
Contact: letters@nytimes.com
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Copyright: 1998 The New York Times Company
Author: Diana Jean Schemo

RIGHTS REPORT BLAMES PARAMILITARY FORCES IN COLOMBIA VIOLENCE

BOGOTA, Colombia -- As gruesome and dependent on army officers'
connivance as it was, the ravaging of the town of Mapiripan was unique
only in the size of the operation and the logistics involved, a report
by a human rights group says.

Right-wing paramilitary troops arrived on a charter flight at San Jose
del Guaviare airport, which shares an airstrip with a U.S.-financed
anti-narcotics base. Colombian soldiers usually record the arrivals,
but that day they waved the visitors through, said the report, by
Human Rights Watch/Americas. The study catalogs the massacre at
Mapiripan, in July 1997, and dozens of other incidents.

After having passed several checkpoints unimpeded, the paramilitary
forces reached Mapiripan, torturing and killing at least 14 peasants
accused of organizing protests against the aerial spraying of drug
crops, witnesses told government investigators.

Two men were decapitated, their heads kicked like soccer balls down
the street, the report says. The body of another was hanged and
quartered. A local judge who called the military base and police
station at San Jose eight times for help during the five-day siege was
ignored.

Soon after the action, residents fled, joining 1.2 million refugees
from the longest-running guerrilla war in Latin America.

The wide-ranging report issued in Bogota says the violence once
largely committed by the military has been taken over by right-wing
paramilitary forces. But the ties between the two are so close that
they may as well be one, the report says.

"Although the government and Colombia's military leaders deny that
they promote or even tolerate paramilitaries, abundant evidence is
consistent and terrifying," said the 222-page report, which was issued
here a few days ago.

Two civilians and two army officers have been arrested for the
massacre, though witnesses said 200 people carried out the attack.

The report also details torture, murder and mutilation by the three
leftist rebel groups. Like the military and the paramilitary forces,
the rebels unilaterally designate civilians as "military objectives,"
the report said, and commit most kidnappings. Last year the conflict
killed 2,183 people, including rebels, soldiers and civilians.

The report was issued as the United States kick-starts military aid,
which it cut severely in 1994 over human rights concerns, and as a new
president, Andres Pastrana, prepares for talks with the rebels.

The chief of military forces, Gen. Fernando Tapias, said the military
had no policy of violating human rights and that it was committed to
prosecuting cases of collusion with paramilitary forces.

The human rights report details many examples of army connivance with
paramilitary death squads and of top army commanders, including Gen.
Manuel Jose Bonett, former chief of the combined armed forces,
thwarting investigations.

"The army's use and tolerance of paramilitaries has not reduced the
overall number of violations recorded in Colombia or their effect,"
the report said. "Yet it has allowed high-ranking officers to claim
that soldiers are directly implicated in fewer abuses than in years
past."

Bonett did not answer repeated requests for comment.

The government says it is trying to stamp out the paramilitary groups.
In December 1996 it announced a $1 million reward for the capture of
the top paramilitary leader, Carlos Castano, who says he has army
protection.

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

Heroin ship arrives in Sydney, Australia, under guard; Private prison in
Shelby, Montana, has a name; three Mexican nationals arraigned in Helena,
Montana, after methamphetamine bust (Three items from ninemsn.com
lead with an article about a freighter carrying a record 400 kilograms
of high-grade heroin docking in Sydney Harbour under heavy guard.)

From: "Bob Owen @ WHEN, Olympia" (when@olywa.net)
To: "-News" (when@hemp.net)
Subject: 3 - Misc - Drug policy notes
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 20:59:39 -0700
Sender: owner-when@hemp.net
Newshawk: ccross@november.org
Source: ninemsn
Pubdate: Thurs Oct 15 1998
Online: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/National\19981015_130254_000_1632.htm

Heroin ship arrives in Sydney under guard

A freighter which carried a record 400 kilograms of high-grade heroin into
Australia has docked in Sydney Harbour under heavy guard.

The ship, flanked by two customs boats and a Royal Australian Navy frigate,
arrived at HMAS Platypus Naval Base at Neutral Bay around 12.30pm.

Police say the 18 people arrested during Australia's largest-ever drug
haul -- three of them still on board -- will appear in a Sydney Central
Local Court tomorrow.

Federal police, Customs and the Navy joined forces yesterday to seize the
heroin with a street value of $400 million at a beach on the New South Wales
mid-north coast.

The 18 arrested people include seven Hong Kong Chinese nationals and 11
Indonesians. --

***

Newshawk: ccross@november.org
Source: MSNBC
Online: http://www.msnbc.com/ local/KULR/44497.asp

Private prison has a name

SHELBY - Corrections Corporation of America has decided on a name for
Montana's first private prison. The facility, currently under construction
near Shelby, will be called Crossroads Correctional Center. Local officials
say they're pleased with the name, noting Shelby itself is somewhat of a
crossroads. The town lies at the junctions of rail lines and two federal
thoroughfares, U.S. 2 and Interstate 15.

The private prison is scheduled to open next September with cells for
500 prison. Future expansions could increase the prison population to
150-hundred. It's expected to employ about 170 people.

CCA spokesperson Chris Bell says the prison expects to spend about $2
million a year with area merchants, buying supplies such as soap and towels.
The company also has a history of contributing to civic clubs and youth
programs. ---

***

Illegal aliens being arraigned after drug bust

HELENA - Two illegal aliens from Mexico are being arraigned Thursday on
felony drug possession charges. Jefferson County officials say Arnuflo
Martinez and Arturo Sarrato were pulled over late Sunday night, while driving
on Interstate 90 near the Mulligan Canyon exit. After obtaining a search
warrant and searching the car, authorities found an estimated $300,000
dollars worth of methamphetamine.

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

Flying Squad Officers Admit Crime Career (The version in The Guardian
says the two guilty former police officers admitted carrying out a series
of crimes ranging from setting up robberies to perverting the course
of justice. The pair are in safe houses helping the Metropolitan police's
anti-corruption drive.)

Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 19:19:56 -0700
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: UK: Flying Squad Officers Admit Crime Career
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Martin Cooke (mjc1947@cyberclub.iol.ie)
Pubdate: October 15, 1998
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Contact: letters@guardian.co.uk
Website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Copyright: Guardian Media Group 1998
Author: Duncan Campbell

FLYING SQUAD OFFICERS ADMIT CRIME CAREER

Two former Flying Squad officers have admitted carrying out a series of
crimes ranging from setting up robberies to perverting the course of
justice, it emerged yesterday. The pair are in safe houses helping the
Metropolitan police's anti-corruption drive.

Details of their life of crime can be published for the first time, at the
conclusion of the first trial resulting from the Met's crackdown. A third
former Flying Squad officer was cleared at the Old Bailey yesterday of
aggravated burglary and conspiracy to supply cannabis.

His former colleague's admissions represent an important breakthrough for
Sir Paul Condon's anti-corruption operation. The commissioner has said that
up to 250 officers in his force could be corrupt. Forty-nine have been
suspended and 12 serving and former officers have been charged.

After the verdicts, John Stevens, the Met's deputy commissioner, said:
"Corruption will not be tolerated." Former and serving officers who engaged
in crime would continue to be targeted.

Terry McGuinness, aged 40, from Forest Gate, east London, a serving
detective constable, pleaded guilty to nine offences between 1991 and 1997.
He admitted conspiring to steal, handling stolen cash and perverting the
course of justice.

His former colleague Kevin Garner, aged 38, from Brentwood, Essex, who left
the force as a detective constable before his arrest, pleaded guilty to 14
offences between 1992 and 1997 including conspiring to rob, conspiring to
steal, handling stolen cash, perverting the course of justice and handling a
stolen car. They will be sentenced later.

Keith Green, aged 41, from Newbury Park, Essex - also a former Flying Squad
officer - was acquitted yesterday. He told the jury he had believed he was
acting lawfully on behalf of the Argentinian embassy in a debt collection
exercise when he entered a flat with McGuinness and Garner.

He said he had no idea that the bags which he later helped to remove
contained cannabis.

McGuinness and Garner were caught as the result of a classic sting last
December set up by Scotland Yard's complaints investigation bureau. Within
48 hours of a trap being baited with 175lb of cannabis worth UKP400,000, the
two detectives had been hooked.

Anti-corruption squad officers had suspicions about Garner and McGuinness
but needed evidence against them. They acquired the two-year-old cannabis
from the police forensic laboratory, marked blocks of the drug with
indelible ink and hid them in a flat in Silvertown, east London. Video
cameras were concealed inside and outside the flat. They then let the
information about the cannabis filter back to Garner and McGuinness, who was
then stationed at Limehouse police station.

When McGuinness and two of his former Flying Squad colleagues, Garner and Mr
Green, arrived at the flat, everything was captured on film. The men were
not arrested until a few days later. About 120lb of cannabis were recovered
at a flat in Leyton, east London, on December 16 but the rest has never been
found.

McGuinness and Garner decided to co-operate with investigators. The news
that two of their own were about to 'go QE' (Queen's evidence) sent shivers
down the spines of corrupt fellow detectives. The pair have been assigned
police minders and moved to safe houses.

Mr Green told the jury he had had no idea what was in the bags. As the
foreman delivered its not guilty verdict yesterday, members of his family
and jurors wept.

Later Mr Green, who has worked as a rugby coach and a private detective
since his retirement from the police on grounds of ill health, said: "I
still believe in the Metropolitan police."

But he said he had been treated insensitively. He has been receiving
treatment for a depressive illness which, the court heard, resulted from an
incident in 1993 when he was nearly hit by a shot fired accidentally by
McGuinness during an armed police operation.

Mr Green told the court that as a result of this incident, over which he is
suing the Metropolitan police, he had suffered from depression and
flashbacks and was unable to watch police drama series on television.