Judge Finds Police Officers Lied In Court And Violated Constitutional Rights Of Four Men Arrested After Long Investigation A former boxer accused of heading an international drug trafficking ring has been acquitted of all charges after a judge found two senior RCMP officers lied to the court. The lies occurred when Cpl. Martin Stoner and Staff-Sgt. Peter Lea appeared in court to explain errors, false statements and omissions in affidavits used to get authorization from another judge for wiretaps against the accused. [continues 955 words]
MORGANTON - A tip and one helicopter ride later, Burke County Narcotics Task Force investigators found 35 marijuana plants with a street value of $91,000. Sgt. Rick Hasson said investigators found the plants on N.C. 18 South near Catawba County. With the assistance of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the investigators took to the air to look for the marijuana plants. Hasson said investigators not only spotted the plants, but several people at the location. Charges are pending. The task force has found more than 200 marijuana plants in Burke County since January, Hasson said. He speculated that job losses are contributing to the number of people willing to grow the illegal substance. Hasson said some growers can no longer afford to buy marijuana or see it as a way to supplement their income. [end]
RED BLUFF - After failing to pass an ordinance that would limit the size and location of medical marijuana gardens, Tehama County supervisors Tuesday will consider forming a committee to study the issue. The ordinance, stalled this week by a 3-2 vote, was proposed by Supervisor Bob Williams after constituents complained about a pot-growing operation in an El Camino-area neighborhood, Supervisor Ron Warner said Wednesday. Complaints about gardens in other residential areas followed. "These things are starting to pop up all over the place," said Warner, who joined Williams in supporting the measure. [continues 331 words]
Those seeking a job with Bartow County Schools may soon have a test to pass before they are allowed to work in or around the classroom. School board members next week will consider the first reading of Board Policy GAMA-B, which would require job applicants to submit to pre-employment, post-offer drug tests. Those tested under the policy would include new applicants and current employees who apply for a vacancy in the district, and would apply to all professional and non-professional, regular full-time and regular part-time positions, including summer school teachers and paid non-teacher coach/adviser positions. The tests would be administered within 48 hours after an offer of employment is made. [continues 167 words]
Venezuela is fast becoming a major hub for cocaine trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, according to a report written by the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress. The report from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office is sure to raise tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. at a delicate moment in the two countries' often testy relations. The report, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, blames widespread government corruption for increases in cocaine transshipments through Venezuela. Such shipments have soared more than fourfold to 260 metric tons in 2007 from 60 metric tons in 2004 as the government of President Hugo Chavez has systematically slashed its antinarcotics cooperation efforts with the U.S., according to the report. [continues 497 words]
Seeking new revenue for the city, Councilwoman Janice Hahn proposed Wednesday that the council consider imposing a tax on sales of medical marijuana. Los Angeles has hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries. As California's local and state governments look to plug their budget deficits, attention has started to focus on marijuana as an untapped source. Oakland voters will decide Tuesday on a medical marijuana tax. "In this current economic crisis, we need to get creative about how we raise funds," Hahn said in a statement. "A tax on medical marijuana could enable the city to continue providing services we might otherwise have to cut." Hahn's motion was supported by Councilmen Dennis Zine and Bill Rosendahl. [end]
High Court Requires Scientists to Testify The predictions are dire. In New York, murderers could walk free. In Fairfax County, drunken driving cases could be dismissed. And nationwide, thousands of drug cases might have to be thrown out of court annually. Legal experts and prosecutors are concerned about the results of last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires lab analysts to be in court to testify about their tests. Lab sheets that identify a substance as a narcotic or breath-test printouts describing a suspect's blood-alcohol level are no longer sufficient evidence, the court ruled. A person must be in court to talk about the test results. [continues 1128 words]
Look, I know Barack Obama has a lot on his mind. I said that before, when his Justice Department filed a brief favoring the Defense of Marriage Act, even though thecandidate Obama had come out solidly against it. Obama's stance on issues of interest to the LGBT community has always been a little iffy - yes, he says the right things, but it sounds darned pro forma to me. Well, pro forma is OK as long as the forma takes the form of form, but so far it hasn't. [continues 704 words]
Request Shot Down By Council Because They're Not Yet Ready The Vancouver Island Health Authority gained permission to distribute crack-pipe kits in Victoria last week, but a request for a similar program in Nanaimo was shot down because city staff and politicians are not ready to move ahead with that particular harm-reduction method. VIHA's medical health officer, Dr. Lorna Medd asked members of the city's Safer Nanaimo Working Group to discuss a crack-pipe distribution program in recent weeks, but those members quickly said that council is not prepared to discuss such an initiative just yet. [continues 501 words]
Laguna Woods For Medical Cannabis Sponsors The Meeting. "This is an historic meeting," began Laguna Woods resident Dr. Bill Schwied to a growing crowd in the Community Center's Elm Room Friday, July 10 for "A Discussion on Medical Cannabis." "We're in our 70s, 80s, 90s. We're trying to fill medical needs with whatever will help we can get." Minutes earlier United Director Gail McNulty had introduced Schwied to a group of about 30 for the meeting sponsored by the group, Laguna Woods for Medical Cannabis. Now she was setting up more chairs as more people continued to stream in and Dr. Schwied struggled to make himself heard. As the throng grew a decision was made to transfer to the nearby Board Room. By the time the meeting reconvened—a sign posted near the Elm Room's entrance announcing "Mary Jane" had moved—more than 70 people were present. [continues 249 words]
