Portland NORML News - Wednesday, November 25, 1998
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US Drug Policy is Sound, Despite What Molly Ivins Might Think
(A factually challenged and intellectually tortured op-ed in The Oregonian
by a shill from the White House drug czar's office responds to
the syndicated columnist's recent apostasy on the drug war.)

Date: Fri, 27 Nov 1998 07:28:25 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US: OPED: U.S. Drug Policy is Sound, Despite What Molly Ivins
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: DrugSense
Source: The Oregonian
Copyright: 1998 The Oregonian
Pubdate: 25 Nov 1998
Contact: letters@news.oregonian.com
FAX: 503-294-4193
Mail: 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
Website: http://www.oregonlive.com/
Author: Lynda Bayer
Note: Linda Bayer, a Harvard-trained psychologist who has worked with
youngsters suffering from substance abuse, is senior writer and stategic
analyst at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Also note: This is in response to columnist Molly Ivins column which
appeared in a number of newspapers. Newshawks, if you spot either the
column or this response in another newspaper, please send it to
editor@mapinc.org The column, as it appeared in two newspapers, is at:
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98.n1059.a04.html
and
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98.n1060.a06.html

U.S. DRUG POLICY IS SOUND, DESPITE WHAT MOLLY IVINS MIGHT THINK

The language of Molly Ivins' column, "Politicians lag behind the people on
drug issues," in the Oregonian on Nov. 18 rings nostalgically from the
mid-1960's.

She speaks of the "poor frozen political establishment" and a misbegotten
"war we're losing." The times are changing, says Ivins, and the proverbial
"emperor is wearing no clothes."

Ivins calls for an end to the disparity in the sentencing between crack and
powder cocaine. Although the claim that these two forms equal "the same
drug" misses the enormous addictive potential of crack compared to powdered
cocaine, the point is still well taken. In fact, Barry McCaffrey, director
of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and Attorney General Janet
Reno have called on Congress to reduce this disparity.

Likewise, the column criticizes "the establishment" for advocating more
prisons and longer sentences. The fact is, McCaffrey helped double the
number of drug courts that offer treatment rather than imprisonment for
first-time non-violent offenders.

Likewise, McCaffrey is calling for expansion of drug treatment in prisons
so that every inmate who seeks help - and even those who don't but need
it - can be cured from the addiction that fuels the cycle of drugs and
crime.

For more than two years, McCaffrey has been repeating that the effort to
reduce drug abuse in America is not a "war." This man knows war, having
nearly lost an arm in combat and having led the famed " left hook" that won
the Persian Gulf War. Instead of fighting, McCaffrey speaks of prevention
and treatment in medical terms akin to the search for a cancer cure.

As much as we'd like to think otherwise, 30 years have passed and this is
not Vietnam. We need to open our eyes and see what's going on.

The medical marijuana referenda that have passed in several states,
including Oregon, are something of a hoax because Marinol, --- the real
"medical marijuana" --- has been available for 15 years. The active form of
cannabis, THC, can be prescribed legally by physicians and taken in
measured doses as well as guaranteed purity. It isn't prescribed often
because new and better medications --- such as ondansetron and denisetron,
which have fewer side effects --- have been invented, but that's beside the
point.

No one argues that patients should have the right to bypass pure forms of
penicillin so they can grow it on moldy bread at home. We don't need to
endanger our pure food and drug system, which has made American medicine
among the safest in world, for a drug that is already available.

Mike Gray's book might be "lively"...polemic," as Ivins put it, but it's
short on science and facts. Prohibition worked in terms of reducing rates
of alcohol consumption and alcoholism; it wasn't repealed because it was a
flop but because the country wanted liquor to be legal. When substances are
sanctioned and available, use goes up --- including abuse by children.

The hard truth here is that legalizing a psychoactive substance would
increase abuse among young people, and the age of initiation has dropped
steadily, so we're talking about teens and preteens.

The overwhelming majority of America don't want to pay that price, so they
oppose legalizing pot.

Two good books on this subject are Dr. Avrum Goldstein's "Addiction: From
Biology to Drug Policy" and Jill Jonnes's Hepcats, Narcs, and Pipe Dreams:
A History of America's Romance with Illegal Drugs." These authors are a
medical doctor and professor of pharmacology at Stanford University and
Johns Hopkins University, respectively --- not a Hollywood movie maker.

The National Drug Control Strategy elaborates on the country's sound,
balanced, long range plan. Read it, you'll like it.
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Cigarette Price Hikes May Ignite Inflation Surge
(According to The San Jose Mercury News, an economist at the federal
Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday's 45-cent-per-pack increase
in the price of cigarettes probably will push up consumer inflation
about 0.2 percentage points in December.)

Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 14:19:09 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US CA: Cigarette Price Hikes May Ignite Inflation Surge
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: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Copyright: 1998 Mercury Center
Contact: letters@sjmercury.com
Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/

CIGARETTE PRICE HIKES MAY IGNITE INFLATION SURGE

The tobacco industry's $206 billion health care settlement -- to be
financed through higher cigarette prices -- probably will push up
consumer inflation about 0.2 percentage points in December, according
to an economist at the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Philip
Morris Cos. and RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp., the nation's two largest
tobacco companies, increased wholesale cigarette prices Tuesday by 45
cents a pack to raise money for their share of the record-setting settlement.

Compiled from reports by Mercury News staff, Bloomberg News, Dow Jones
and the New York Times.
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Viagra Gets Expanded Health Warnings (The San Jose Mercury News
says the Food and Drug Administration is adding new labels warning that men
with heart problems and very high or very low blood pressure should be
carefully examined before getting a prescription for Pfizer's new
anti-impotence drug. Since it was approved in April, 130 deaths have been
linked to Viagra out of 3 million men who have used it. The FDA said Tuesday
it still considers Viagra "safe" - the problem is the sexual activity
it facilitates.)

Date: Thu, 26 Nov 1998 07:16:02 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: US DC: Viagra Gets Expanded Health Warnings
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: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Contact: letters@sjmercury.com
Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/
Copyright: 1998 Mercury Center

VIAGRA GETS EXPANDED HEALTH WARNINGS

Caution: FDA considers popular anti-impotence drug safe, but acts in wake of
130 deaths linked to medicine.

WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration is adding serious new health
warnings to the label on bottles of Viagra, the wildly popular
anti-impotence drug that has been prescribed for 3 million men since it was
approved for general use in April.

In expanded labels, the government warns doctors and patients that men with
heart problems and very high or very low blood pressure should be carefully
examined before getting a prescription for Viagra.

Patients with retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease, also are at risk. And
the new description warns about the rare occurrence of priapism, a dangerous
condition involving painful, prolonged erections that can last more than
four hours.

The government still considers Viagra safe and effective, the Food and Drug
Administration said Tuesday. But it is sending a letter to doctors as well
as expanding the information printed on the labels by Pfizer, the drug
manufacturer.

The problem is not Viagra itself but the sexual activity it facilitates. Of
the 130 deaths reported to the FDA among men taking the drug, none has been
directly blamed on the drug. Instead, the FDA believes that many of those
who died -- whose average age was 64 -- had serious health problems that
were aggravated by sexual activity, resulting in heart attacks or strokes.

``The people who died had underlying cardiovascular problems,'' said Dr.
Lisa Rarick, director of the FDA division of reproductive and urologic drug
products.

She said the FDA is advising patients with serious heart problems to discuss
with their doctors whether sexual activity would be wise.

Many men with heart disease may be impotent because of their medical
condition. And the FDA is now emphasizing that sex for these patients
``carries a potential cardiac risk.''

If sex itself might be risky because of a patient's health problems, then
impotence treatments such as Viagra should be avoided, the FDA said in its
three-page announcement of the expanded warnings.

Viagra is prescribed for men who are unable to have erections. More than 6
million prescriptions have been written for 3 million men.

Currently, the Viagra label warns that the drug should not be used by people
taking heart medicine containing nitrates. The combination of nitrates and
Viagra can cause a dangerous, sometimes life-threatening drop in blood
pressure.

The new label will advise that Viagra be prescribed with caution in patients
who:

Had a heart attack, stroke, or a ``life-threatening arrhythmia'' (irregular
heartbeat) in the past six months.

Have a ``history of cardiac failure or coronary artery disease causing
unstable angina.''

Had ``significant'' low blood pressure or hypertension (high blood pressure
above 170/110).

Warning label and notifications are added as a drug increases in popularity
and more is learned about reactions. The changes are coming much faster
because of Viagra's explosive popularity. Usually, it would take a new drug
three to five years to reach Viagra's sales level, the FDA said.

One of Viagra's rare side effects, occurring in 3 percent of the men tested,
is visual disturbance. Its use is now suspected as a possible cause of a
plane crash Saturday that killed an actor, William Gardner Knight, who died
when his light plane crashed in Edgewater, Md. The Federal Aviation
Administration said the state medical examiner was asked to determine
whether Knight had been using Viagra.
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Court Awards Smuggler $50,000 (The New Brunswick Telegraph Journal
says a New Brunswick court has awarded a convicted cocaine smuggler
nearly $50,000 because of injuries he suffered when the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police cruiser carrying him to court smashed into another police car
four years ago.)

Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 14:18:59 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: Canada: Court Awards Smuggler $50,000
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: creator@mapinc.org
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Source: New Brunswick Telegraph Journal (Canada)
Contact: tjetg@nbnet.nb.ca
Website: http://www.telegraphjournal.com/
Author: Andrew Veniot - The Telegraph Journal

COURT AWARDS SMUGGLER $50,000

Man Injured When RCMP Cruiser Crashed

MONCTON - A New Brunswick court has awarded a convicted drug smuggler
nearly $50,000 because of injuries he suffered when the RCMP cruiser
carrying him to court smashed into another police car four years ago.

Pierre Duguay of Lamque never made any money from trying to smuggle
$1.2-billion worth of cocaine into Canada. In fact, he got caught and
eventually received a lengthy prison sentence.

But his law-breaking has padded his bank account, thanks to some bad
RCMP driving.

Mr. Duguay, along with four others, tried to smuggle 710 kilograms of
cocaine into the country but were caught near Sheet Harbour, N.S. in
February, 1994.

As he was being driven to court from Renous Penitentiary on Feb. 24
that year, the RCMP car carrying him smashed into the rear of another
RCMP vehicle.

"This case has very strange circumstances surrounding it. The RCMP are
all roaring to the courthouse because of the biggest drug bust in
Canadian history. What happens is like the Keystone Kops," said
Michael Murphy, Mr. Duguay's lawyer.

"The RCMP guy in front slammed on his brakes - there was snow and ice
involved and they were going very fast toward the court house for this
big media event - and the RCMP car with my client smashed into him,"
said Mr. Murphy.

Mr. Duguay was taken to hospital before his court appearance.

"He had blood on him and his arm was in a sling," said his
lawyer.

Three doctors, including two orthopedic surgeons, examined Mr. Duguay
and testified at his civil trial that he suffered whiplash.

While on bail pending trial and later when he was an inmate at both
Dorchester and Springhill penitentiaries, the failed smuggler
underwent more than 50 sessions of physiotherapy.

And once he was released, Mr. Duguay's injury prevented him from
earning any money as a fisherman for 21 months.

"Lobster fishing is heavy work as it involves the daily lifting of 350
lobster traps weighing approximately 80 pounds each," said Mr. Justice
Alfred Landry in his judgement.

Sylvie Goguen, Mr. Duguay's common-law wife, testified that after the
accident he complained of pain every day and "that he had to sell his
boat as he could no longer fish, that he had to take medication every
night before going to bed, but despite that his sleep was very
agitated," wrote Judge Landry.

The judge ruled the accident was "a substantial cause of the injury
[and] that the defendant is liable for the full loss."

The defendants were the two RCMP officers, Daniel Quirion, Gerald
Moffett and the Attorney General of Canada.

Mr. Duguay's average income as a lobster fisherman for the two years
prior to his ill-fated smuggling career was $19,500.

Mr. Murphy claimed for pain and suffering and for the loss of Mr.
Duguay's wages while he was on bail for the year and a half awaiting
the final outcome of Mr. Duguay's trial.

In all, Judge Landry awarded Mr. Duguay $48,792.04.

Mr. Duguay is now in a halfway house and the judgement has been sent
to him.

"I don't have the cheque in hand but I expect it in a couple of weeks
and then give it to him," said Mr. Murphy.

The lawyer doesn't expect the RCMP to appeal since they've already
admitted liability and the trial dealt solely with the assessment of
damages.

"Mr. Duguay made money by getting into that van, and I'm saying to
myself, just maybe the RCMP is a little sore about this one. It adds a
little salt to the wounds and probably doesn't help the RCMP image,"
said Mr. Murphy.
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Blitz Fails To Halt Drug Flow (According to The Herald Sun,
Mick Palmer, the Australian federal police commissioner, admitted yesterday
that the country's biggest-ever heroin haul last month had not dented
local supply of the drug, or increased its price.)

Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 08:14:57 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: Australia: Blitz Fails To Halt Drug Flow
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: kenbo01@ozemail.com.au (Ken Russell)
Source: Herald Sun (Australia)
Contact: hseditor@hwt.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
Copyright: News Limited 1998
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Page: 22
Author: Kelly Ryan

BLITZ FAILS TO HALT DRUG FLOW

AUSTRALIA'S biggest ever heroin haul had not dented local supply of the
drug, Australian Federal police Commissioner Mick Palmer admitted yesterday.

The seizure last month of 400kg of heroin with a street value of $400
million led to the arrests of 18 people and was among the largest heroin
hauls in the world, Mr Palmer said.

But despite the size of the seizure, heroin prices had not risen and there
did not appear to be shortage of the drug in Australia, he said.

Mr Palmer said it would have been optimistic to have expected the seizure to
have impacted in Australia.

"But to give up because you don't see in the first instance an impact would
be stupidity," Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer discussed the issue of drugs after giving the keynote speech on
the third and final day of the International Conference on Drugs and Young
People held in Melbourne.

The nation's police chief could not say if the heroin seized from a NSW
beach on October 14 had already been replaced in Australia.

"Certainly, the indications are we haven't made much dent on the market," he
said.

"I don't think there is much sign of stockpiling in this country, but there
is a sign it is pretty easy to replace lost stock and that's a challenge for
us."

Mr Palmer said he was confident law enforcement efforts would impact on
Australia's drug problem.

"This is a real market with real suppliers and real users," he said.

"Like any other market, if you keep cutting away at supply, particularly in
regard to heroin, you obviously have to make a difference, just as if you
cut supply of any other commodity."
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Melbourne Mayors Call For ACT Heroin Trial (The Canberra Times
says mayors from 10 inner Melbourne communities called yesterday
for the Australian Capital Territory's proposed heroin maintenance trial
to proceed as part of a plan to minimise the harm caused by illegal drugs.
The plan signed by the mayors also sought the "gradual spread" of the caution
system, under which small-time cannabis users receive warnings rather than
criminal charges.)

Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 03:26:44 -0800
From: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org (MAPNews)
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
Subject: MN: Australia: Melbourne Mayors Call For ACT Heroin Trial
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Organization: Media Awareness Project http://www.mapinc.org/lists/
Newshawk: Ken Russell (kenbo01@ozemail.com.au)
Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 1998
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Contact: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au
Website: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/

MELBOURNE MAYORS CALL FOR ACT HEROIN TRIAL

MELBOURNE: Mayors from 10 inner Melbourne communities called yesterday for
the ACT's proposed heroin trial to proceed as part of a plan to minimise
the harm caused by illegal drugs.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Ivan Deveson said the plan, signed by the mayors, also
sought the "gradual spread" of the discretionary caution system, under
which small-time cannabis users received warnings rather than immediate
criminal charges.

"We are calling on Australia and the Prime Minister [John Howard] to
reconsider the ACT heroin trial early next year," Councillor Deveson said.

The ACT trial, in which addicts would be given heroin in a strictly
controlled rehabilitative environment, has been supported by Victoria and
South Australia but is likely to proceed only if backed by all states and
the Federal Government.

Earlier, Federal Police Commissioner Mick Palmer refused to comment on the
heroin trial specifically, but expressed his support for new initiatives
against drugs. "If something sounds like it might make sense and it's
something we can afford to do, why not give it a go?" Mr Palmer said.

Councillor Deveson said while the councils still supported tough penalties
for drug traffickers, radical efforts were required to reduce the harm done
to Melbourne communities by illegal drugs.

By signing the "anti-drug accord" yesterday, the mayors had committed their
communities to sharing information, communicating regularly and
experimenting with new initiatives.

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[End]

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