Palm-sized scales and four-inch glass stems with red roses sit among the tobacco products behind a thick window pane at the Noori Convenience store at 25th North and Hillside.

The Wichita Branch NAACP considers them drug paraphernalia -- the stems can be used to smoke or snort drugs; the scales can weigh tiny amounts of drugs -- and is working on a proposal to outlaw their sale.

Irshad Kazia, the store's owner, said it's not his business what people use the items for.

[continues 747 words]

Study Calls Plant 'Untapped Source Of Revenue'

Kansas is the land of wheat, sorghum and ... weed?

A new study that's raising eyebrows around the country suggests that the nation's top cash crop isn't corn or wheat, but marijuana. The report, published in the "Bulletin of Cannabis Reform," puts the value of the nation's marijuana crop at $35.8 billion, compared with $23.3 billion for the nation's corn crop and $7.4 billion for wheat.

The study, by Virginia-based consultant Jon B. Gettman, found Kansas to be 31st among the states in marijuana production, with a crop value estimated at $64 million.

[continues 456 words]

Switzerland already has program in place Prescription heroin maintenance, as well as the legalization of marijuana, would deprive organized crime of a core client base. This would render illegal drug trafficking unprofitable and spare future generations addiction.

Regarding McKay Stangler's Nov. 28 editorial on the late Milton Friedman, there is a middle ground between drug prohibition and free market legalization. Switzerland's heroin maintenance program has been shown to reduce disease, death and crime among chronic users.

Providing addicts with standardized doses in a clinical setting eliminates many of the problems associated with heroin use. Heroin maintenance pilot projects are underway in Canada, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

[continues 154 words]

Recent Changes Make the Debate Relevant to Students

The death of an influential economist who advocated decriminalizing drugs has prompted the need to revisit the United State's War on Drugs.

The recent death of famed economist Milton Friedman has prompted an avalanche of essays about his influential monetary writings. Friedman was indeed a driving force behind many of today's fundamental economic policies, and his ideas deserve the laudatory nature of these tributes. But in the rush to sanctify Friedman's fiscal faculty, another aspect of his impressive career, of special import to students, may be overlooked. Friedman was a vocal advocate for the decriminalization of drugs, and his passing reminds us that the time to re-evaluate the War on Drugs is long overdue.

[continues 317 words]

Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437 has fired an [redacted] teacher suspected of having drug paraphernalia on school property.

[redacted], who had taught at [redacted] schools for four years, was terminated by school board members Monday night for "apparent possession of drug paraphernalia on school property." [redacted] was removed from his teaching duties Oct. 25.

The teacher isn't currently facing criminal charges. However, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office investigated the case and has turned its findings over to the office of Shawnee County District Attorney Robert Hecht, said sheriff's spokeswoman Martha Lutz. Hecht said he expects to review the case next week before deciding if charges will be filed.

[continues 152 words]

Laura Green is to be commended for raising awareness of the Higher Education Act's denial of student loans to youth convicted of drug offenses. Instead of empowering at-risk students with a college degree, HEA limits career opportunities and increases the likelihood that those affected will resort to crime. Speaking of crime, convicted rapists and murders are still eligible for federal student loans.

Most students outgrow their youthful indiscretions involving illicit drugs. An arrest and criminal record, on the other hand, can be life-shattering. After admitting to smoking pot (but not inhaling), former President Bill Clinton opened himself up to "soft on drugs" criticism. And thousands of Americans have paid the price in the form of shattered lives.

[continues 118 words]

Many of you may be surprised to learn that students with drug convictions have been blocked access to federal financial aid as a result of a little known provision of the Higher Education Act (HEA) called the Aid Elimination Penalty, or Drug Provision.

To date, nearly 200,000 students have been denied or had their federal loans, grants and work-study delayed because of the HEA Aid Elimination Penalty.

Until early in 2006, this penalty was applied to any drug conviction a person had received whether or not they were in school when the offense occurred. Due to the efforts of the organization Students for Sensible Drug Policy (www.ssdp.org), who worked with Congress to scale back the law, now only people who are convicted while in college and receiving financial aid can have their eligibility taken away.

[continues 459 words]

Many of you may be surprised to learn students with drug convictions have been blocked access to federal financial aid as a result of a little known provision of the Higher Education Act (HEA) called the Aid Elimination Penalty, or Drug Provision.

To date, nearly 200,000 students have been denied or had their federal loans, grants and work-study delayed because of the HEA Aid Elimination Penalty. Until early 2006, this penalty was applied to any drug conviction a person had received, whether or not they were in school when the offense occurred. Due to the efforts of the organization Students for Sensible Drug Policy (ssdp.org) who worked with Congress to scale back the law, now only people who are convicted while in college and receiving financial aid can have their eligibility taken away.

[continues 421 words]

At De Soto High School, it's still uncertain whether drug testing of students will take effect.

Earlier this month, De Soto High School principal Dave Morford and Mill Valley High School principal Joe Novak asked the board about a task force to study random drug testing of students participating in school activities. Both principals said that drugs and alcohol are a problem at the schools -- as with most schools -- and random drug testing of students could help deter negative lifestyle choices.

[continues 395 words]

Emporia sixth-grade students raised nearly $16,000 to support drug prevention programs in their schools and community this month. Approximately 350 students participated in the 16th annual Walk to Be Drug Free on Oct. 6.

Students from Lowther North Intermediate School and Sacred Heart School collected $15,790.44 for the walk, surpassing the goal of $14,000, according to Valerie Ringler, a literacy coach at Lowther North.

Students in Vickie Dinkel and Stephanie Bosiljevac's classrooms were the top team, raising $2,705 as a group. Students in Christina Lienemann and Cindy Hadicke's classrooms walked the most laps at Welch Stadium with an average of 21.4 per student. These four classrooms will have an ice-cream party as a reward.

[continues 127 words]

Active ingredient, THC, shown to prevent formation of harmful plaque in the brain THC was more effective than the two leading drugs for treating Alzheimer's, donepezil and tacrine. It almost completely reduced AChE from forming harmful plaques, whereas donepezil and tacrine did so only 22 percent and 7 percent of the time. The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, may be the most effective drug for treating the declining effects of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study done by the Scripps Research Institute.

[continues 420 words]

Each Monday, The Eagle highlights a government record that is open to the public.

The record: Drug statistics from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Why you'd want them: To learn more about drug trends in Kansas.

Where you get the records: The KBI's Web site, www.kansas.gov/kbi/, contains statistics about methamphetamine seizures and marijuana eradication for 2005 and this year. You may see numbers for each Kansas county as well as each state across the country. For example, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 this year, investigators have made 128 meth seizures across the state, two in Sedgwick County.

How much it will cost: The information is free online.

[end]

A rumor that De Soto USD 232 would implement random student drug testing at the high school level gave the principals an idea.

At Monday's board meeting, De Soto High School Principal Dave Morford and Mill Valley High School Principal Joe Novak asked the board to consider a task force or study committee to explore the idea of random drug testing for students involved in extracurricular activities.

Novak said although a rumor the school would implement the plan this year was not true, it made him think about the possibility.

[continues 537 words]

This week, Senators Derek Schmidt and Dwayne Umbarger, announced legislation that would required makers and sellers of methamphetamine to register on the state's offender list.

Currently the list has about 4,300 names. According to the Associated Press, 95 percent are sex offenders, the other 5 percent have been convicted of other serious crimes such as murder.

Currently Montana, Tennessee, Minnesota and Illinois require this type of registration. Schmidt said six others are considering this legislation.

We support the southeast Kansas senators efforts, but ask why they are singling out methamphetamine crimes. When the legislature reconvenes in January, we call on them to consider registration for anyone who had been convicted of growing, manufacturing or selling any illegal drug.

[continues 63 words]

Officer Randy Wiler of the Leawood Police Department, a nationally recognized expert on bullying prevention, has been chosen as the International D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year.

The city recognized Wiler's accomplishments and award during its Aug. 21 meeting.

"This award did not come easy," Police Chief Sid Mitchell said.

D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, has more than 50,000 officers nationwide.

Wiler said he simply helped officers reach more children and the award is a surprise.

[continues 290 words]

El Dorado, Kan.- Random drug testing of student athletes has become as routine as study hall and lunch at many high schools across the country. But this factory town outside Wichita is taking testing to the extreme.

It is instituting random drug screening for all middle and high school students participating in - or even just attending - any extracurricular activity. That includes sports, clubs, field trips, driver's education, even school plays.

Those who don't sign consent forms cannot attend games, go to school dances, join a club or so much as park their car on school property.

[continues 325 words]

El Dorado, Kan.- Random drug testing of student athletes has become as routine as study hall and lunch at many high schools across the country. But this factory town outside Wichita is taking testing to the extreme.

It is instituting random drug screening for all middle and high school students participating in - or even just attending - any extracurricular activity. That includes sports, clubs, field trips, driver's education, even school plays.

Those who don't sign consent forms cannot attend games, go to school dances, join a club or so much as park their car on school property.

[continues 325 words]

EL DORADO, Kan. - This factory town outside Wichita is instituting random drug screening for all middle and high school students participating in -- or even just attending -- any extracurricular activity. That includes sports, clubs, field trips, driver's education, even school plays.

Those who don't sign consent forms cannot attend games, go to school dances, join a club or park a vehicle on school property.

Administrators insist that the district does not have a drug problem, and say the new policy, one of the toughest in the nation, is aimed at keeping it that way.

[continues 208 words]

Hidden Cameras Helped In Drug Bust

Hidden, high-dollar equipment helped police crack down on drug dealing at this years Wakarusa Festival.

A new article in a trade journal, Government Security News, describes the roughly $250,000 worth of hidden-camera, night-vision and thermal- imaging equipment used by police throughout the festival grounds. The equipment was courtesy of a California company that agreed to give a free demonstration of its wares for marketing purposes.

The company estimated that they were able to cover 85 percent of the festival grounds with about a half dozen hidden cameras. One camera, for example, was mounted atop a light tower and used on Shakedown Street, a bustling area viewed as a problem spot for drug dealing.

[continues 776 words]

Drug Testing Policy, Which Isn't Restricted To Athletes, Is Among The Toughest In U.S.

EL DORADO - Students attending El Dorado High School must agree to submit to random drug testing before they can participate in any extracurricular activity, attend a ball game or even park their car in the school lot.

Since the policy was instituted this school year, at least 425 students out of the 600 who attend the public high school in this small town outside Wichita have signed forms consenting to the random urine tests, which screen for alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use, said Principal Bret McClendon. The district, which adopted the policy for middle schoolers as well as high schoolers, sees early intervention as the best way to prevent addiction.

[continues 676 words]