Stories by Kevin Nelson
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This week, a BC journalist editorializes about the extreme absurdity of the U.S. war on drugs, the New York Times slams John Walters for his flimsy policies, and casting doubt on a basic principle of U.S. anti-drug policies, an independent study concluded on Monday that marijuana use does not lead teenagers to experiment with hard drugs like heroin or cocaine.
Posted on Dec 6, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, the 1966 Miranda ruling that established the rights of people who are held for questioning by police is challenged, more than 30 drug defendants have charges dismissed after officers investigating their cases were charged with distributing drugs, a fifteen year old boy takes his life after being caught with marijuana, and A BC judge has ordered the return of a batch of marijuana to American refugee claimant Steve Kubby.
Posted on Nov 29, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, Health Canada produces inadequate medical marijuana which had to be destroyed, the newly formed Drug Policy Forum of Massachussetts responds to the passage of their decriminalization initiative, Canada looks into hiring a drug czar, and Irv Rosenfeld marks his twelfth anniversary of receiving medical marijuana from the feds.
Posted on Nov 22, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a new study is released that finds that marijuana is not among the top ten health hazards world wide, coca crops make a comeback in Peru despite a U.S. proclaimed victory in the war on drugs, British researchers find that smoking pure cannabis harms lungs as much as tobacco, federal agents in Detroit will begin randomly stopping traffic, looking for illegal immigrants, terrorists and drugs, and an immigrant in Texas accused of a drugs-for-weapons deal believes the U.S. government backed the operation.
Posted on Nov 14, 2002, Source: AlterNet
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Posted on Nov 10, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, Feds raid the home of a 52 year old Oregon quadriplegic medical marijuana user, London police shoot and kill a family dog during a botched drug raid, a man shot during an illegal police raid is awarded $2 million by a federal jury, the FBI's annual Uniform Crime Report is released, and a federal appeals court rules that the government cannot revoke the prescription licenses of doctors who recommend medical marijuana to sick patients.
Posted on Oct 31, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a Nevada newspaper chides the Drug Czar for spending taxpayer money to lobby against their state's marijuana legalization initiative; the Drug Czar threatens to slow down Canadian border traffic if their government decriminalizes marijuana; two New York gubernatorial candidates support medical access to marijuana; a Maryland woman and her 5 children are killed by a local drug dealer/arsonist for tipping off police; and President Bush's niece is sent to prison for 10 days for possession of crack cocaine.
Posted on Oct 24, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a medical marijuana class action lawsuit is launched against the U.S. federal government; a British man becomes the first in his country to be cleared on marijuana possession charges by a medical necessity defense; Canadian police are ordered to return 51 marijuana plants to a patient; and drug "Czar" John Walters visits Nevada to campaign against the marijuana legalization initiative.
Posted on Oct 16, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a federal appeals court rules that Congress had the right to block a democratic vote on medical marijuana in the District of Columbia; the UK Independent reports on progress in medical marijuana research; and Bryan James Epis, co-founder of Medical Marijuana Caregivers in Chico, is sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison.
Posted on Oct 10, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a Canadian Senate special committee calls for the legalization of marijuana; and 20 armed DEA agents raid a Santa Cruz, CA, medical marijuana cooperative, arresting the two founders of the co-op, and seizing over 100 plants.
Posted on Sep 11, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, Kentucky’s prison budget outpaces their higher education budget by 500%; a Missouri Senator supports medical marijuana after witnessing suffering first hand; the Drug Czar recommends treating rather than expelling students caught with drugs at school; and American Drug War refugee Steve Kubby is granted permission by the Canadian government to grow his own marijuana.
Posted on Sep 4, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, Hawaiian County Council members urge local police chief to focus on methamphetamine and stop wasting time on medical marijuana cases; US officials ask Colombian president to shield US military trainers from prosecution by the International Criminal Court for human rights abuses, as a condition of receiving US aid; 150,000 people attend Seattle Hempfest to protest the cannabis laws; and Congressional drug warrior Bob Barr in unseated in the primaries.
Posted on Aug 22, 2002, Source: AlterNet
Among the totals released late last week by the Walworth County Sheriff's Department's drug enforcement unit were: 269 county citations for marijuana possession, which usually means a $407 fine for less than an ounce; 80 arrests for 132 state violations, which carry heavier penalties than county citations; and 10 people charged with possessing hallucinogenic mushrooms and referred to the district attorney.
Posted on Aug 14, 2002, Source: AlterNet
U.S. Air Force pilots flying combat missions in Afghanistan, are reported to be using both amphetamines and depressants; a new study from Germany suggests that smoking marijuana may help the brain erase bad memories; and the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs vote 9-0 to support the upcoming statewide initiative to legalize adult marijuana possession and sales.
Posted on Aug 7, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a former Reagan aide publicly supports ending the federal ban on medical marijuana; a National Institute of Drug Abuse report finds that Hawaiian marijuana eradication efforts have contributed to a dramatic rise in methamphetamine use; a coroner reports that the Who's bass player, John Entwistle, died from a heart attack caused by cocaine use; and the Tijuana drug war claims its 11th victim in one week.
Posted on Jul 31, 2002, Source: AlterNet
Canada's Justice Minister, a former marijuana smoker, considers following Britain's lead in decriminalizing adult marijuana use and possession; President George Bush's niece goes to jail over a drug charge; the California Supreme Court rules unanimously in favor of protecting medical marijuana patients from prosecution; three North Carolina law enforcement agents are killed in a marijuana surveillance plane crash; San Francisco may begin growing medical marijuana in defiance of federal law; and a Hawaiian newspaper chastises police for ignoring the state's medical marijuana law.
Posted on Jul 26, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, Nevadans are one step closer to voting on legalized marijuana in their state; Bill Clinton admits he was wrong to maintain a federal ban on needle-exchange; Canadian Justice Minister Martin Cauchon considers decriminalizing marijuana; and a Canadian newspaper considers the impact of US pressure on Canada's marijuana laws.
Posted on Jul 17, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a Louisiana judge faces FBI charges of planting drugs on a whistleblowing personal enemy; over 80 Marines are indicted in an illegal drug investigation; President Bush favors the resumption of a program to shoot down suspected drug carrying planes in the Amazon; a wheelchair-bound MS patient in Scotland faces a year in prison for distributing marijuana chocolates to other patients; and Britain relaxes their law on marijuana possession.
Posted on Jul 10, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, the head of a California medical marijuana club faces the heat of a federal court after he is accused of warning the jurors they have the right to acquit a defendant, no matter what a judge instructs them; the Supreme Court opens the door to drug testing half of all public school students; a man is sentenced to death in the Philippines for marijuana; and Vancouver, BC, is voted the best city in the world for marijuana enthusiasts.
Posted on Jul 3, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a 1960s Black Panther, once sentenced to 30 years in prison for passing a joint to an undercover officer, has died; Rolling Stone magazine reports on European countries defecting from the Drug War; a California newspaper reports on Bill Mahers speech at the NORML conference in San Francisco in April; and the city of Modesto, CA, pays $2.55 million dollars to the family of an 11-year-old child killed by a SWAT agent during a drug raid.
Posted on Jun 25, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, Massachusetts prison guards are given bonuses for passing drug tests; US Drug Czar John Walters scolds Canada for moving towards decriminalizing marijuana; an Australian paper reports on a cannabis 'coffeeshop' currently in operation, while a Scottish paper reports on a cannabis 'coffeeshop' soon to open; the US Supreme Court rules in favor of expanding police powers during bus searches; and Reuters reports on Australia's increasing marijuana consumption.
Posted on Jun 19, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, following a DEA raid on the Santa Rosa medical marijuana club, activists protest at over 50 DEA offices across America; New York's Governor George Pataki proposes a revamping of his state's three decade old drug laws; and 19 people die from drinking cologne in Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is banned.
Posted on Jun 12, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, the FBI head admits the attacks of 9/11 may have been preventable, and reassigns 3% of his agents from narcotics work to antiterrorism; six DEA agents raid a medical marijuana club in Santa Rosa, CA; an Australian grandmother with Leukemia is convicted for growing two marijuana plants for her quadriplegic daughter; and Arianna Huffington skewers the American government's Drug War addiction in the face of terrorist threats.
Posted on Jun 5, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, UK Home Secretary David Blunkett discusses the projected decriminalization of cannabis; and Fox News reports on the tortures and scandals committed by Straight, Inc, a youth drug "rehab" organization founded by Mel and Betty Sembler, Republican stalwarts and friends of President Bush.
Posted on May 29, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, San Mateo, CA, researchers complain of the poor quality of government supplied "medical-grade" marijuana; 60 North Carolina high-school students rally for a fellow student expelled for marijuana possession; Santa Cruz, CA, installs needle-disposal boxes in public restrooms; a South Carolina anti-drug program leader is arrested for embezzlement; and a group of British parliament members recommend marijuana decriminalization.
Posted on May 22, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, New York's Governor Pataki pushes for a rewrite of the Rockefeller Drug Laws; the head of Colombia's anti-narcotics police is removed after alleged embezzling charges; the Correctional Service of Canada proposes turning a blind eye to marijuana use in prison; singer Dionne Warwick is arrested for marijuana possession; and Drug Czar John Walters calls the federal government's anti-drug advertising campaign a failure.
Posted on May 15, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a D.A.R.E. officer is arrested for a D.U.I.; hardline drug-war supporter, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, cries while addressing his daughter's substance abuse problem at a drug summit; declassified documents reveal House Speaker Dennis Hastert's past support of Colombian death squads; and a Canadian Senate report debunks many established myths about marijuana.
Posted on May 8, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, an Iowan newspaper speaks out against US Attorney General John Ashcroft; US Drug Czar John Walters visits the border crossing at Blaine, WA, to rally the troops in the drug war; a California medical marijuana case is dismissed; and the former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam calls for the legalization of all drugs.
Posted on Apr 30, 2002, Source: AlterNet
Ninth Circuit questions fed actions; Colorado protects privacy; New York sheriff faces imprisonment; Yale reimburses students; Wisconsin puts blacks behind bars; Ontario pot industry riding high.
Posted on Apr 17, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a former marijuana smoker, found himself the center of a new NORML ad campaign; Holland's lower Parliament approves medical marijuana access, paving the way for the first government-sponsored pot-growing operations in Europe; and West Virginia Governor Bob Wise signs the Industrial Hemp Act.
Posted on Apr 16, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week: Supreme Court approves "One Strike and You're Out" ... Maryland's House of Delegates passes support for medical marijuana; French presidencial candidate in favor of decriminalizing marijuana.
Posted on Apr 5, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week: A bill to curtail police forfeiture powers ... 39:1 racial disparity in drug sentencing ... Pot helps you drive ... What was Nixon smoking on those tapes?
Posted on Mar 27, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, New Mexico's Governor, North Wales (UK) Police Chief, the British Government, and Canadas National Post favor the decriminalization of marijuana, attributing the majority of drug problems to prohibition. Meanwhile, half of UK police officers admit having used marijuana in their lives.
Posted on Mar 20, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, despite US aerial fumigation/eradication efforts, coca production increased by 25 percent in Colombia last year; a Dutch police officer addressing the Scottish Police Drugs Conference predicts the opening on cannabis cafes in one to two years; and the San Francisco Chronicle calls for the legalization of hemp cultivation in the U.S.
Posted on Mar 13, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, the Libertarian Party accuses drug warriors of supporting terrorism; the UN's Int'l Narcotics Control Board accuses marijuana-tolerant European countries of diminishing the drug war; the Vermont Legislature supports a medical marijuana bill; and opium fields return to Afghanistan with the elimination of the Taliban.
Posted on Mar 6, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, World Net Daily reports on a series of drug raids gone awry; Ontario police begin seizing the homes of marijuana growers; and a Mississippi police officer is sentenced for protecting the shipments of cocaine dealers.
Posted on Feb 27, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, a 14-year-old boy is tortured to death in a "tough love" drug treatment boot camp in Arizona; the Philippine government proposes the death penalty for possession of Ecstasy; and the US Supreme Court mulls the application of "One Strike and You're Out" laws regarding public housing.
Posted on Feb 20, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, the village of West Milwaukee, WI, pays a $700,000 settlement to Jackie Paasch, 20, shot through the leg in an early morning SWAT raid on her home, by officers executing a warrant for simple marijuana possession; and on the day when the FBI warns of possible terrorist attacks, DEA agents raid a medical marijuana club in San Francisco.
Posted on Feb 13, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, the United States plans on resuming a program of shooting down suspected drug transport planes in Peru; drug law reform advocates challenge Florida Governor Jeb Bush after his daughter is caught in a prescription drug fraud case; and the US government spends a record $3.5 million tax dollars on two 30-second anti-drug Super Bowl ads.
Posted on Feb 7, 2002, Source: AlterNet
This week, newly declassified documents reveal that U.S. drug war intelligence continued working with a Peruvian spymaster despite his known links to death squad killings; the husband of a Mississippi anti-drugs crusader is sentenced to prison on four separate drug charges; a Detroit student surveying his fellow students finds that DARE grads are more likely to use drugs than those who did not participate in the program; and American doctors consider the implications of a recent ruling by Attorney General Ashcroft, regarding end-of-life pain management.
Posted on Jan 30, 2002, Source: AlterNet
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