WASHINGTON - More than 60 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that the police were not entitled to enter a residence without a warrant merely because they smelled burning opium. On Wednesday, at the argument of a case about what the police were entitled to do on smelling marijuana outside a Kentucky apartment, two justices voiced concerns that the court may be poised to eviscerate the older ruling. "Aren't we just simply saying they can just walk in whenever they smell marijuana, whenever they think there's drugs on the other side?" Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, considering what a decision against the defendant would signal to the police. "Why do we even bother giving them a warrant?" [continues 577 words]
Re: "Innovators one step ahead in drug war -- Cities on the front lines of the fight against K2, say Geralyn Kever and Tony Dale," last Saturday Viewpoints. Unfortunately, the prevalence of K2 is a prime example of the law of unintended consequences. As a substitute for marijuana, a substance less harmful than alcohol, youths seem to have easier access to these far more dangerous alternatives, and adults feel they can skirt drug tests at work. The endless stream of new replacements even suggest a rumored "K3." This is comparable to the rise of dangerous and highly addictive methamphetamine as a substitute for cocaine use during the 1990s. The problem is not the next new drug so much as the big picture. [continues 52 words]
Today many people believe that marijuana should be legalized, and among those who disagree, the majority believe it is the least harmful of the illegal drugs. Marijuana is the most easily detected drug by far, it gives itself away by its smell, which is universally recognized. It is that factor that causes the more susceptible to use cocaine rather than marijuana. Consider a bar or coffee shop, where pot smokers join the other smokers outside, in the toilets, or in other designated smoking areas they are strongly discouraged and probably asked to leave. [continues 168 words]
With a Rise in Dealer-Related Killings, Special Unit Goes After Those With Gun Records Sergeant Detective Al Terestre stood before four police officers inside the Dorchester district station on a recent December morning and explained the day's mission. Their target was Victor Kipping - 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, with a gun record - who, according to one of Terestre's informants, was dealing marijuana out of his home. "He's no slouch," Terestre warned the drug unit officers crowded in the squad's cramped office. "He's a big guy. He's got a violent past." [continues 1451 words]
Legislation filed this week by Rhode Island Rep. John Edwards, D-Tiverton, to decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana has already gotten quite a bit of attention. Edwards says that he filed the legislation, which would be similar to the marijuana decriminalization law approved by Massachusetts voters in 2008, in order to save the state money and to save lives from being destroyed as a result of a youthful - and relatively harmless - indiscretion. Enactment of this legislation would bring Rhode Island's laws into parity with those in neighboring Massachusetts. Currently, if someone were to be caught with an ounce or less of pot in Taunton, they would receive a $100 ticket. If they were caught over the state line in, say, East Providence, they would be charged with a misdemeanor, have to go to court, fined between $200 and $500 and could even be thrown in jail for up to a year. Those convicted may also be sentenced to drug education classes and up to 100 hours of community service for a first offense. [continues 540 words]
Defendants and Law Enforcement Officials Discuss Recent Medical Marijuana Mobile Dispensary Raids San Luis Obispo County has what one might call a turbulent relationship with medicinal marijuana. While qualified patients depend on medical cannabis to soothe their pain, stimulate their appetite, or allow them to sleep, cities across the county have banned dispensaries through city ordinances. Since Morro Bay businessman Charles Lynch became a national figure following the high profile DEA raid instigated by former Sheriff Pat Hedges, cities and unincorporated communities have taken a NIMBY approach to medical marijuana dispensaries. [continues 4001 words]
LIHU'E - Pending marijuana bills that could decriminalize possession and open the door for island dispensaries have spurred county officials to host an anti-drug rally Thursday. Intended to raise awareness about the legislation and possible associated dangers, the demonstration is being led by the Kaua'i Police Department, County of Kaua'i Anti-Drug Program, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, among others. It's set for 4 p.m. in front of the Historic County Building on Rice Street and will include speakers from local law enforcement, drug treatment providers and community leaders. [continues 488 words]
In his last months alive, Senior Airman Anthony Mena rarely left home without a backpack filled with medications. He returned from his second deployment to Iraq complaining of back pain, insomnia, anxiety and nightmares. Doctors diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder and prescribed powerful cocktails of psychiatric drugs and narcotics. Yet his pain only deepened, as did his depression. "I have almost given up hope," he told a doctor in 2008, medical records show. "I should have died in Iraq." Airman Mena died instead in his Albuquerque apartment, on July 21, 2009, five months after leaving the Air Force on a medical discharge. A toxicologist found eight prescription medications in his blood, including three antidepressants, a sedative, a sleeping pill and two potent painkillers. [continues 2639 words]
I'm writing about the not-so-thoughtful letter from Louise Van Antwerp-Brown: "Drug cartels, local news rejoice over Prop. 203" (1-22-11). I thought Ms. Van Antwerp-Brown was a conservative and that true conservatives oppose nanny-state policies. Obviously, I was wrong. What could be more pro-nanny-state than marijuana prohibition? Beyond the fact that marijuana prohibition is counterproductive and a complete waste of money, what about the right of adult citizens to be left alone - especially in the privacy of our own homes? [continues 126 words]
MARIJUANA should be legalized, regulated and taxed. The push to repeal federal prohibition should come from the states, and it should begin with the state of Washington. In 1998, Washington was one of the earliest to vote for medical marijuana. It was a leap of faith, and the right decision. In 2003, Seattle was one of the first places in America to vote to make simple marijuana possession the lowest police priority. That, too, was a leap of faith, and the right decision. A year ago, City Attorney Pete Holmes stopped all prosecutions for simple possession: the right decision. [continues 596 words]
Although he's incarcerated in an American prison far from his family and friends, Marc Emery is in good spirits, according to a B.C. MLA who visited him this month. "He didn't appear too despondent," said Delta North NDP MLA Guy Gentner. "He has a pretty positive attitude." Gentner was visiting family for the holidays in Gainesville, Fla., and decided to go see Emery on Jan. 2 at the D. Ray James Correctional Facility in Folkston, Ga., one state over. [continues 463 words]
MEXICO CITY Mario Vargas Llosa, recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature in 2010, said on Thursday that countries across Latin America will eventually suffer the same type of organized crime-related mayhem currently battering Mexico unless a decision is made to legalize drugs. "Repressive policies are not going to do away with drug trafficking," the Peruvian novelist said here at a press conference, which he gave to coincide with the Mexico premiere of his theatrical adaptation of "One Thousand and One Nights." [continues 329 words]
Freeport, Ill. - Area drug agents seized a number of cannabis plants on Friday, shutting down an apparent growing operation in rural Freeport. A suspect [redacted] is still at large. The State Line Area Narcotics Team in conjunction with the Stephenson County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at a rural Freeport home, [redacted] on Friday. As a result of the search, agents seized 39 cannabis plants, drug paraphernalia and all the necessary equipment used in an indoor cannabis growing operation. [continues 195 words]
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. My husband and I have brought our four children to Breckenridge for family vacation for five years. We have so enjoyed the majesty of God's creation, the precious people of Breckenridge and the safe, family environment. We travel with several other families and have treasured memories of our time in Breckenridge. Sadly, we will search for a new place to ski for our spring breaks. Due to the legalization of marijuana, it is no longer a safe place for our children. They were exposed to marijuana on several occasions. There were skiers skiing while high and putting other skiers at risk. The reason we began this tradition of a family ski trip during spring break was to keep our children with us and away from places like South Padre Island. Now, it appears, Breckenridge is the new South Padre. [continues 101 words]
With a Supreme Court of Canada case looming this summer that could decide its future, Vancouver's safe-injection drug site has received an extra shot in the arm from a new report that says it has helped reduce the number of fatal overdoses by 35%. The report, compiled by Canadian scientists from the Urban Health Research Initiative, the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and St. Paul's Hospital, goes on to argue that Vancouver's Insite - the country's first safe-injection facility - should be replicated in other North American cities where drug use is a common problem. [continues 445 words]
To the Editor: Regarding your April 7 editorial, if health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents. The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican immigration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been counterproductive at best. White Americans did not even begin to smoke pot until a soon-to-be entrenched federal bureaucracy began funding reefer madness propaganda. [continues 70 words]
More than 2,000 drugs arrest were made across East Anglia last year, new figures have revealed, as police warn substance abuse fuels crime at all levels of society. Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show there were 1,073 arrests - including 256 for drug dealing - in Norfolk last year. Offences range from possession of cannabis to drug production and dealing class A substances. In Suffolk 596 arrests were made and in Cambridgeshire officers made 585 arrests. Over the same period 19 drug factories have been shut down in Norfolk and 37 in Suffolk. Criminals assets worth well over UKP1m have been seized through the courts. [continues 607 words]
So cannabis-supplier Martin Saunders was given a suspended sentence for UKP270 of cannabis and UKP190 cash (Drug dealer avoids jail after arrest, April 30) A step in the right direction? The cost of taking Mr Saunders to court was far in excess of the value of the cannabis and the money together - not counting the cost of the arrest itself, forensics etc. Had he be sent to prison direct, it would cost us hundreds of pounds extra each week he served. All a burden carried by the taxpayer. [continues 177 words]
Drug workers in Krakow have welcomed national moves towards a liberalisation of laws on possession, but warned that the government needed to clarify the new position and make further amendments to the law. The Polish parliament voted to allow public prosecutors to waive charges against anyone caught in possession of some banned substances, such as cannabis, as long as it was a first arrest, and it was a "small amount" for personal use. But the amendment also provided for tougher sentences for drug dealers. [continues 603 words]
Norwood Town Board Still Undecided While almost 20 citizens turned out to comment on=20 the issue, it became clear rather quickly at last=20 Thursday's work session that members of the Town=20 Board of Trustees were concerned about being put=20 in legal jeopardy if the board chose to allow the=20 operation of medical marijuana businesses. Recent memorandums from the Federal Government=20 warn that officials "would consider civil and=20 criminal penalties for large-scale operations," said Town Attorney Herb= McHarg. [continues 692 words]
For years Jodie Emery was a constant at the side of her husband Marc Emery at Vancouver press conferences and marijuana rallies as he fought his extradition to the United States for selling cannabis seeds across the border. While Marc worked to inform Canadians that their government had arrested him in 2005 on behalf of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of its controversial 'War on Drugs', Jodie's presence seemed to remind people what his loss of freedom would mean on a personal level. [continues 2020 words]
You may not like the conclusions of a recent study by Motherisk, which suggests children found in homes containing cannabis growing operations should not automatically be torn from their families, but there is nothing questionable about their reasoning. According to a study on the characteristics of cannabis grow ops in British Columbia, 2.1 per cent contain hazards like booby traps, explosives and dangerous chemicals, 3.5 per cent cause fires and 5.9 per cent contain firearms - well below the national household average. [continues 77 words]
The Kern County Board of Supervisors is destroying local residents' rights to health-care choices. Supervisors will kill more than 300 jobs, give over $500,000 of tax revenue to crime, drive $5 million in spending underground and force 20,000 patients to back alleys. Those patients now legally get their medicinal marijuana from a lawful collective. That may change in 30 days. Lawful patient transactions turn into drug trafficking. Instead of preventing crime and protecting residents, the supervisors will spawn crime and expose patients to great risk. Why would they act irresponsibly? [continues 617 words]
Georgia College students might think twice now before they puff, puff and pass. The student body received an email on Sept. 6 from university officials notifying it of new measures in place for dealing with marijuana on campus due to the increased number of violations. Scott Beckner, police chief of Public Safety, says that the officers of Public Safety have responded to the increase in marijuana usage with a "proactive police response." We are gathering better information from sources around campus, which allows our officers to intercept and confront marijuana violators on a more regular basis, thus creating more marijuana charges this year than in the past," Beckner said. [continues 404 words]
The Ohio Ballot Board approved a medical-marijuana ballot issue yesterday, clearing the way for supporters to begin gathering signatures to place it on the statewide ballot in November 2012. The backers of the bill must now gather at least 385,000 valid signatures of Ohio registered voters to submit to the secretary of state in order to qualify for next year's fall ballot. The Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment would allow qualified practitioners to prescribe marijuana for patients at least 18 years old with a "qualifying medical condition." Patients could obtain up to 3.5?ounces of marijuana at a time. [continues 127 words]
The New York Police Department, already saddled with corruption scandals, saw its image further tainted on Tuesday with the conviction of a detective for planting drugs on a woman and her boyfriend. Metro Twitter Logo. The bench verdict from Justice Gustin L. Reichbach in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn stemmed from acts committed in 2007 by the defendant, Jason Arbeeny, a 14-year veteran of the department who worked in the Brooklyn South unit. Before announcing the verdict, Justice Reichbach scolded the department for what he described as a widespread culture of corruption endemic in its drug units. [continues 477 words]
The all-candidates forum for the City of Grand Forks took place last Wednesday (Nov. 9) and there were 12 candidates vying for six councillor positions and three for mayor. City council incumbents Joy Davies, Michael Wirischagin and Cher Wyers will be seeking another term while Everett Baker, Jocelyn Cowie, Lorraine Dick, Zak Eburne-Stoodley, Bob Kendel, Neil Krog, Patrick O'Doherty, Bob Smith and Gary Smith will be aiming for election to the next council. Questions asked to candidates ranged from downtown revitalization to homelessness to a location for the fall fair. [continues 207 words]
In an effort to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ottawa, researchers and health professionals are taking a hands-on approach to minimize the impact of crack cocaine use. In 2008, the Safer Inhalation Program was launched at the Somerset West Community Health Centre with the intention to put an end to risky drug use. Their goal was clear; if crack cocaine users are provided with clean pipes, the spread of HIV and hepatitis C would decline. After the initiative was in place, Dr. Lynne Leonard, research scientist and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, examined the factors that contributed to the high levels of infection among drug users in Ottawa. [continues 165 words]
Toronto police admit they got the wrong address when they raided an east Hamilton apartment this week and encountered a hysterical Sharon McCrudden. Officers entered the 68-year-old woman's 14th floor Melvin Avenue apartment Tuesday morning as part of a nationwide sweep of suspected drug dealers and gang members. "That was an incorrect address," Constable Tony Vella said Friday. "It was actually the next-door neighbour." He said officers visited McCrudden Friday to speak to her and dropped off documents outlining how reimbursements can be sought for damage. [continues 680 words]
Five local harm reduction centres have begun distributing crack pipes as part of a Vancouver Coastal Health pilot program announced in August. About 3,000 kits, consisting of a pipe, filter screens, alcohol swabs, mouth pieces and push sticks, are being assembled each month by the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. The packages are then distributed to partner agencies. The kits are part of a harm-reduction strategy sponsored by VCH aimed at reducing the spread of disease among inhalation drug users. [continues 253 words]
Points to New Jersey Decision BAY RIDGE - State Senator Diane J. Savino, (D-Staten Island/ Bay Ridge), recently praised New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's decision to implement his state's medical marijuana program and urged New York to follow the lead of its cross-Hudson neighbor. "Anyone who has watched a loved one struggle with a debilitating illness would do almost anything to help alleviate their pain," Savino said. "New Jersey showed real compassion for Garden State residents who are suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis and other life-threatening diseases. We need to follow this example and pass legislation to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana when no other option is available." [continues 165 words]
Recently the Rome Police Department, with the assistance of several other agencies was able to successfully execute a search warrant that led to the discovery of a methamphetamine lab and the arrest of two individuals. This is unfortunately an increasingly common occurrence around the country as methamphetamine related arrests are on the rise, and the demand for the drug is increasing. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that is highly addictive and powerfully activates certain systems in the brain. Although it does have some medical uses (such as in some extreme cases of obesity) those uses are very limited. The chemicals that are used in the manufacture of methamphetamines are often diverted from legal sources, such as cold medicines, fertilizer, refrigerants and even matches. [continues 498 words]
Since she was a child, April Watkins has suffered from seizures, the result of a very serious medical condition. "It started with juvenile epilepsy and developed into the adult kind," Watkins said. She also has degenerative disc disease in her back, a condition that causes debilitating pain. After years of taking "just about everything" to control the conditions, she said she's finally found something that works. "Medical marijuana is making my life livable," she said. "You should see my pharmacy printouts of a few years ago," Watkins said. To control her pain and seizures, she was put on a number of different drugs. "You name it, I took it," she said. [continues 476 words]
Medical marijuana is a touchy subject across the state of Colorado. Since it is a relatively new advent, especially in Colorado Springs, it comes with a lot of strings attached. People carrying legal medical marijuana licenses can still be fired, removed from school or banned from housing foster children for using the prescription drug. It's easy for many people to say that marijuana users are drug users and should face these consequences. Marijuana has been illegal for so long that it's a natural and easy conclusion. [continues 610 words]
After a mass grave's 218th body was discovered in Mexico on May 15, Americans buzzed over newspapers' latest headlines: The Terminator's sex scandal. Violence in Mexico is as energized as ever and Americans have barely batted an eye. It's their war, not mine. We know of the drug war. We know of the drug cartels, the torture, the political assassinations, the mass graves brimming with murder, and executions posted on YouTube. This is the drug war we know. This is the Mexico we know. [continues 939 words]
Those behind a planned local medical marijuana dispensary recently sought an endorsement from the City of Seaside in establishing the facility in town. The medical marijuana club will "be patterned after the one in Astoria," said Seaside Mayor Don Larson. He referred to the Nature's Choice Alternative Medicine club, located at 229 West Marine Drive, Suite C, in Astoria. Both local clubs are franchises of Club Pit Bull, an arm of medical marijuana education provider Portlandsterdam University, of Happy Valley, Ore. Owners Mike Mullins and his wife Jennifer Valley also operate Stoney Girl Gardens, a marijuana breeder. [continues 267 words]
Reading Mary Ann Sieghart's fine article "A war we should fight no longer" (30 May) I remembered a quote from the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, who said, "We know what to do, but we don't know how to get re-elected once we have done it". One hopes that the publication of the Global Commission on Drug Policy report will create more than a ripple in the prohibition force. For the good of my mates who keep getting incarcerated for cannabis, for the good of the suffering Mexicans, for the good of the Afghans, and indeed for all of us, let this report fall on open ears. Jay Bergstrom [continues 3 words]
