In another stinging blow to the reprehensible prohibition of medical marijuana, the Canadian government has just authorized the use of cannabis for the treatment of pain and a number of debilitating conditions, including multiple sclerosis. Last Tuesday, Canada approved the prescription sale of a natural marijuana compound produced by GW Pharmaceuticals of Britain called Sativex -- a whole-plant extract nicknamed "liquid marijuana." "It is nothing like Marinol, the synthetic THC sold in the U.S. and sometimes falsely touted as an adequate substitute for marijuana," the national Marijuana Policy Project said in a recent press release. "In short, the Canadian government has just certified that virtually everything our own government has been telling us about marijuana is wrong. [continues 551 words]
District Attorney Terry McEachern declined comment Monday on his appearance before a State Bar Association committee last week over a grievance filed against him in connection with the 4-year-old Tulia drug cases. McEachern, 54, acknowledged appearing before a 3-member grievance committee in Amarillo on Dec. 19 but is precluded by law from commenting on the proceedings. The grievance was filed by an unidentified party in July over the 1999 Swisher County undercover drug operation by discredited freelance officer Tom Coleman that ultimately led to 35 defendants being pardoned by Gov. Rick Perry. [continues 198 words]
Rush Limbaugh really is "show prep for the rest of the media" - at least he has been for the past few weeks. I said some time ago that I'd say no more about the Prince of Pompous because he was self-destructing quite well and needed no outside help. But I thought it'd be his incessant bragging and haughty, cigar-puffing ways that would ultimately disgust even the most ardent dittohead. Who'd have believed "your epitome of morality and virtue" was feeding a black-market drug habit, of all things? There's an old saying about gods and heroes having feet of clay. There's also one about people in glass houses throwing stones. [continues 445 words]
TULIA - Attempting to recover from an international avalanche of negative news generated by the 1999 drug sting that saw most of the 46 primarily black suspects pardoned last week, Swisher County has formed a Civilian Review Board that will address community needs and another panel that will work to bring much-needed jobs to the area. Announcement of the formation came during a news conference Thursday afternoon outside the courthouse where many of the arrestees were convicted and sentenced to prison on questionable testimony from former undercover drug agent Tom Coleman, who has since been indicted for perjury in the case. [continues 377 words]
A massive, 40-page federal lawsuit has been filed in connection with the infamous 1999 Tulia drug raid that ultimately backfired and ended in pardons last week for most of the suspects. The suit seeks monetary damages for alleged civil rights violations and was filed Friday in U.S. District Court Amarillo by Amarillo attorney Jeff Blackburn on behalf of Tonya White and Zuri Bossett - two of the 46 mostly black suspects arrested on the word of undercover agent and reputed racist Tom Coleman, who has since been indicted for perjury in the case. [continues 503 words]
Lockney should be ashamed of itself for not coming to the side of Larry Tannahill, whose son stands to be branded with a big orange "D" because of a well-intentioned but totally misguided battle in the drug wars that are tearing this country apart and filling our prisons with people who commit victimless crimes. Last week, Lockney students from grade six through 12 began submitting to mandatory drug, alcohol and tobacco tests at random - along with administrators and teachers. How humiliating. [continues 780 words]
A Plainview man was among 11 people named in drug indictments handed down by the Floyd County grand jury this week. Still being held in the Lubbock County jail this morning under $20,000 bond was 29-year-old Roberto Mireles of Plainview, no street address available. He and 10 Lockney suspects were rounded up Tuesday in Floyd and Lubbock counties - capping a 2-year investigation by the South Plains Narcotics Taskforce, which included Plainview officers and the department's drug dog, Dak. [continues 260 words]