http://www.csdp.org/index.htm News and information from Common Sense for Drug Policy en-us Copyright 2007, Common Sense for Drug Policy dmcvay@csdp.org info@csdp.org 27 Mar 1500 GMT -0400 08 May 2008 GMT -0500 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 22 23 24 01 02 03 04 05 06 Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Hand-Crufted Using Wetware 60 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/garon_050808.htm Timothy Garon was a Seattle-area man suffering from Hepatitis C who had a recommendation for medical marijuana from his physician for pain relief and nausea and also as an appetite stimulant. He was denied a spot on the transplant list at two of his local hospitals, allegedly largely because of his medical marijuana use, Shortly afterward, Tim Garon died. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Douglas McVay Thu, 08 May 2008 14:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/appeals_050508.htm The 8th Circuit US Court of Appeals has rejected a suit challenging Higher Education Act's restriction on aid for students with a drug offense. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Douglas McVay Mon, 05 May 2008 11:20:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/ukbrown_050508.htm The UK's Labour government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown is still pushing for recriminalization of marijuana in spite of the recommendation of his own drug advisory council. The government's move may on the other hand not be fully implemented by the nation's police as the UK's Association of Chief Police Officers has declared its support for the current "confiscate and warn" approach. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Douglas McVay Mon, 05 May 2008 10:50:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/ukjohnson_050508.htm The newly-elected mayor of London, Conservative politician and celebrity Boris Johnson, has expressed his support for medicalization of marijuana. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Douglas McVay Mon, 05 May 2008 10:35:00 GMT -0500 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5749538/Police-union-chairman-wants-cannabis-legalised From the story: "The chairman of the Dutch police union NPB Hans van Duijn says it is pointless to fight against the supply of cannabis. He thinks it only leads to more crime and he would much rather see soft drugs legalised in The Netherlands." www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Radio Netherlands Worldwide Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:05:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/crack4_22_08.htm Adjustments to crack cocaine sentences are being greatly hindered by financial inability to hire a lawyer. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:05:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/insite_041408.htm Canada's federal health ministry, Health Canada, published a new review of Insite, the sanitary injection center in Vancouver, BC, showing several positive and no negative impacts. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/clergydvd.htm Common Sense for Drug Policy Chairman Mike Gray, an author and film maker, in cooperation with the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative, has created a documentary titled "Protestant, Catholic and Jewish Clergy Speak Out Against The War On Drugs." www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/obama_032408.htm Barack Obama, asked by the Medford, OR Mail-Tribune about his position on medical marijuana, specifically regarding state laws allowing access and whether the federal government should interfere with these laws, responded: "I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue." www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/frankdecrim_032308.htm US Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) is to introduce legislation to decriminalize marijuana possession. Rep. Frank made the announcement on national TV late Friday March 21. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Sun, 23 Mar 2008 10:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/radio_031808.htm CSDP Director of Research Doug McVay is the guest host for the March 18th, 2008 edition of the Drug Truth Network's Century of Lies program. This half-hour weekly show is produced at station KPFT-fm in Houston, TX and syndicated to 60-70 stations throughout North America. COL and its sister program, Cultural Baggage, are also available for download or as podcasts from the Drug Truth Network website. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/thai_030408.htm Statements by Thai officials have raised fears of a another bloodbath as that nation's so-called "drug war" is renewed. Under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, more than 2,500 people – only a fraction of whom were involved in drugs – were killed allegedly by police authorities working from official blacklists. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/fedplan_030308.htm The 2008 White House drug control strategy was finally released on Saturday, March 1. As expected, no new policy initiatives or innovative approaches are being proposed. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/newresearch2_29_08.htm Another study has been released demonstrating the absurd number of individuals incarcerated in the United States. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/publicservice/acp_medmj.htm The American College of Physicians, the nation's largest organization of Internists, is calling for protection of both doctors and patients from criminal and civil penalties in states that have adopted medical-marijuana laws. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:15:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/balto_022808.htm A federal court issued a ruling recently allowing restrictions on methadone clinics in Baltimore County to remain in place. The ACLU and a treatment provider had filed suit to have the county-imposed restrictions thrown out because, they claimed, such restrictions are violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, however the court failed to rule on that issue. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/afghan_022708.htm The International Monetary Fund has issued an analysis of the Afghanistan economy which estimates that opium production is worth $1 billion to Afghan farmers. Meanwhile the United Kingdom, the nation which leads international anti-drug efforts in Afghanistan, has cut back its funding for the Afghan anti-narcotics ministry. This move comes as international development experts estimate that development efforts to eliminate the opium economy there will cost at least one billion pounds and take some 20 years. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/CarSearch2_26_08.htm The Supreme Court will soon clarify the circumstances in which police officers, who do not have a warrant, can conduct a vehicle search of an arrestee. The Court will consider the case of Rodney Gant, who was convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek and Doug McVay Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:35:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/nhdecrim_022508.htm The New Hampshire legislature is considering a measure which would "decriminalize" possession of small amounts of marijuana by creating a civil penalty instead. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/ohio_022508.htm More than a dozen residents of Mansfield, OH, have returned home from prison after being freed when an informant's lies came to light. The drug sting operation, which yielded 26 prosecutions, is now the focus of a grand jury investigation and a special prosecutor appointed by the US Justice Department. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/crack_022208.htm An analysis by the US Sentencing Commission reveals that most of the inmates in the federal prison system who may be eligible for a reduction in sentence due to the recent reforms of the crack versus powder cocaine penalty disparity are nonviolent, low-level offenders. This directly refutes assertions being made by US Attorney General-for-the-moment Michael Mukasey as he argues for legislation to repeal the reforms. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/colo_022108.htm Fifteen soldiers in the Colombian Army, including a colonel, have been convicted in the deaths of a squad of anti-drug police. The killings took place in May 2006, allegedly on the order of drug traffickers. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/israel_022108.htm The city of Tel Aviv, Israel, is considering a plan to provide heroin maintenance treatment to hardcore opiate addicts who have not stabilized with other available treatment modalities. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:50:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/newyork_022008.htm New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is pushing a tax on illegal drugs as a way to help close the huge budget gap his administration faces. The proposal though seemingly serious has been widely mocked. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:40:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/buffalo_021908.htm The US Attorney's office in Buffalo, NY, has decided to not try enforcing waivers that would deny inmates serving federal time for crack offenses the ability to apply for a reduction in sentence now that Congress and the US Sentencing Commission have allow such a reduction. The office was one of only two in the country which used such waivers. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:05:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/mdma2_18_08.htm With hundreds of thousands of returning soldiers, rates of the serious mental health condition PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) have grown exponentially. Few successful treatment options are available, but promising research trials are well underway. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/UKcannabis2_18_08.htm Currently most of Britain's regular cannabis smoking individuals go unpunished, with no record, or potentially face a formal civil penalty warning. The government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown is pushing a plan to increase penalties for cannabis. At the same time, authorities around the nation are reporting an increase in cocaine availability. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek and Doug McVay Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:05:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/acp_021508.htm The American College of Physicians has endorsed easing restrictions on medical marijuana. From their webpage: "Additional research is needed to further clarify the therapeutic value of cannabinoids and determine optimal routes of administration. Unfortunately, research expansion has been hindered by a complicated federal approval process, limited availability of research-grade marijuana, and the debate over legalization. ACP believes the science on medical marijuana should not be obscured or hindered by the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana for general use." www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/frederick_021508.htm A rally is planned for Feb. 23, 2008, in Chesapeake, VA, to protest the indictment of Ryan Frederick for the death of a police officer killed when a SWAT team raided Frederick's home. The raid was based on an informant's incorrect claim that Frederick was growing marijuana. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/cocaine_021308.htm An attempt by the US Attorney General to roll back recent revisions to the sentencing guidelines which were enacted to address the crack vs. powder cocaine sentencing disparity has been denied. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/indiana_021308.htm The state of Indiana is considering restrictions which would limit access to effective drug treatment. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/researchnews2_12_08.htm New Zealand research shows a possible link between smoking marijuana and gum disease but notes other factors may be at play. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 13 Feb 2008 07:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/mandmin_021208.htm Federal rules now allow many who had been sentenced to harsh mandatory minimum sentences for crack to apply for a reduction in their sentences. A waiver of this potential right which had been routinely included in some federal plea agreements is expected to prevent some from applying. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/canada_021108.htm The Conservative government of Stephen Harper is pushing crime policy to the forefront as it attempts to replicate a US-style drug war. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/afghan_020808.htm Afghanistan will produce yet another massive opium crop this year, according to the The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Their latest rapid assessment survey projects an "overall slight decrease" from last year's record cultivation of 193,000 hectares of opium poppies. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/salvia2_7_08.htm A plant which produces an approximate half hour hallucinogenic feeling is being slated to the Controlled Substance List by more and more states. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:05:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/youth2_1_08.htm The Super Bowl will once again feature the waste of millions of dollars in the form of ONDCP's proven ineffective advertisements. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:50:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/vthemp_020108.htm Legislation to allow Vermont farmers to cultivate hemp passed an important committee in the state House. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/mjcancer_020108.htm Research from New Zealand underscores the need for vaporizers and development of alternative consumption methods which minimize the harms from smoking. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/njnex_013108.htm The first legal syringe exchanges in the state of New Jersey began operation recently. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 31 Jan 2008 13:55:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/medmj_013108.htm Legislators in the state of Kansas will have the opportunity to consider a bill granting limited protection to some medical cannabis patients. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 31 Jan 2008 09:15:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/medicalmarijuana1_30_08.htm A new vending machine product is now available in California: medical marijuana. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/un_013008.htm The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has explicitly endorsed harm reduction programs including syringe exchange and substitution treatment. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:05:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/nex_012809.htm The Texas state legislature authorized creation of the state's first legal needle exchange, as a pilot project, in San Antonio. Local officials are blocking the plan and now harm reduction workers involved in a needle exchange there have been arrested. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/medmj_012608.htm The California Supreme Court has ruled that a positive drug test arising from medical marijuana use can be grounds for termination of employment. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Sat, 26 Jan 2008 06:15:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/researchnews1_24_08.htm Could modified cocaine treat individuals who are diagnosed with cocaine addiction? www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:15:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/border_012308.htm The US Border Patrol lost a 6-year veteran agent in an incident in southern California when he was run down by a suspected drug smuggler attempting to flee pursuit. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/ohio_011808.htm Residents of Lima, OH, are protesting the recent killing of a young woman and wounding of her 14-month-old child during a police SWAT-team raid. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 18 Jan 2008 08:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/medmj_011708.htm A Ft. Collins, CO couple are suing police over medical marijuana which was seized and destroyed. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/emery_011708.htm Canada's self-styled "Prince of Pot," Marc Emery, has reportedly accepted a deal offered by US prosecutors and will serve five years in prison on cannabis-related charges. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:50:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/teachers_011608.htm Two school districts in Pennsylvania are considering adoption of a drug testing policy for new teacher hires following the 2007 arrest of a principal in a nearby district for drug trafficking. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/commonsenseblog.htm The state of California is considering a plan by that state's governor to ease prison overcrowding through the early release of more than 22,000 inmates. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/commonsenseblog.htm A Canadian Federal Court ruling has struck down a provision of that country's medical marijuana law which required approved users to get their medicine from a government supplier. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/commonsenseblog.htm The city of Cleveland, OH, is bracing for the possibility of heightened violence as its mayor, Frank Jackson, announces a crackdown by law enforcement. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/commonsenseblog.htm Young people would not likely be deterred from trying marijuana if the penalties for possession were increased, researchers in England say. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:25:00 GMT -0500 http://commonsensedrugpolicy.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default The CSDP site is being revamped, a blog is being added, and the RSS feed is shifting. Please update your news reader to http://commonsensedrugpolicy.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default or http://www.csdp.org/news/news/commonsenseblog.htm www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:15:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/nexcd_122707.htm Legislation recently signed by the President contained a provision lifting the ban on local funding for syringe exchanges in the District of Columbia. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.drugwarfacts.org/ Drug War Facts 6th edition available in PDF, International section updated, more updates on the way. Site improvements planned for 2008 include enhanced PDA access and section syndication. www.drugwarfacts.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 26 Dec 2007 10:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/pris06_121207.htm The US Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics released its Prisoners 2006 report in mid-December 2007. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:55:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/afghanistan111907.htm The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released its 2007 Afghanistan Opium Survey in mid-November 2007. The UNODC estimated that Afghanistan produced approximately 8,200 metric tonnes of opium — nearly double the estimate of global annual consumption. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:40:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/publicservice/coleman.htm When Florida Attorney Norm Kent received a form letter from Sen. Norm Coleman condemning marijuana, Kent fired off this note to his former Hofstra University smoking buddy. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Sat, 17 Nov 2007 20:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/swisspot_110607.htm Research published in the AMA's Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine shows that occasional use of marijuana may not be problematic for young people. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/cocaine_110207.htm Amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines which went into effect Nov. 1, 2007, have gone a long way toward resolving the disparity in sentencing for offenses involving powder versus crack cocaine. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:20:00 GMT -0400 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/researchnews10_13_07.htm A recent Chicago Tribune study demonstrated that drug arrests reveal a racial gap. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:00:00 GMT -0400 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/safe_injection_site10_25_07.htm The Tenderloin, a notorious San Francisco dwelling of injection drug users, is an obvious choice for a city-funded, legal center where intraveneous drug users can receive free needles and consume drugs in a safe environment. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:50:00 GMT -0400 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/profiling10_13_07.htm Racially biased enforcement of drug free enhancement penalty zones gained media attention in Oregon and no longer are on the books. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Jennifer Janichek Sat, 13 Oct 2007 21:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/gao_101007.htm The Government Accountability Office released a report on Oct. 10, 2007 examining thousands of allegations of abuse at residential treatment programs for young people around the US. The report provides horrific detail of a number of specific cases including several deaths. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/mexico_100807.htm The US and Mexico have nearly finalized negotiations for a $1.4 billion dollar drug control funding package. Legislation to approve the deal is reported to be included in a much larger military spending bill. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/canada_100407.htm The Canadian federal government has finally announced its long-awaited shift in drug control policies from an effective, evidence-based strategy to a more US-style drug war. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/canada.htm#extendinsite Insite, the safe injection site in Vancouver, BC's Downtown Eastside neighborhood, has been given another six-month reprieve from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government. In spite of this, later this week the Harper government is expected to announce a new US-style drug strategy -- coordinated by the Dept. of Justice rather than Health Canada. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/drugtruth.htm Original airtimes and days have changed for the Drug Truth Network's half-hour programs. The Cultural Baggage show will now be broadcast at 11:30am Central time on Tuesdays, and the Century of Lies will be broadcast at 11:30am Central on Wednesdays. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/heareform.htm Scholarships offered by schools are helping to bypass federal aid restrictions imposed by the HEA ban on loans due to a student's drug conviction. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/mexico_092007.htm The Government Accountability Office issued a report criticizing US anti-drug efforts in Mexico. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/cocaine_091907.htm The US government asserts that recent fluctuations in the domestic cocaine market are being caused by successful law enforcement efforts and heightened seizures. A simpler and more likely explanation is that traffickers are expanding into new markets. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/numbers_091407.htm The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently released the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. NSDUH is the survey formerly known as the Household Survey. I was looking over the data and a few things leapt out ... www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/nsduh_091407.htm The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health on Sept. 6, 2007. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/thailand_091207.htm The government of Thailand has established an independent commission to examine the killings of thousands of citizens during the rule of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/colocorruption_091007.htm New reports have emerged detailing high-level corruption within the Colombian military. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:20:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/colovote090507.htm Voters in Denver, CO will decide on a measure to make marijuana possession the lowest priority for city law enforcement officers. The issue hit the council just after reports hit the media about past drug use by current Denver City Council members and the mayor. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/afghanistan.htm#unreport07 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2007 in late August 2007. According to the UNODC, "The area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan increased by 17% in 2007, from 165,000 hectares in 2006 to 193,000 hectares. As a result of the upsurge in opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, global opium poppy cultivation rose by 17% in 2007 to over 234,000 hectares. Afghanistan's share of global cultivation remains 82%." www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:20:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/afghanistan.htm#recordcrop0807 The United States delivered a new plan to curb Afghan opium production on Thursday August 9. Despite the limited success of the previous poppy eradication efforts, are the most recent U.S. goals for eradicating Afghan opium poppies realistic? www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 09 Aug 2007 23:25:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/publicservice/booker.htm The Mayor of Newark, Cory Booker, speaks out about the destructive, counterproductive "war" on some drug users. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/ukupdate.htm#50million Plans by the Gordon Brown government to cut funding for drug treatment programs have been leaked to the press. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:40:00 GMT -0500 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/080107dnmetcheese.2dd9314.html US Drug Czar John Walters will visit Dallas, TX on Wednesday, August 2, 2007, for a packaged media opportunity in an effort to pump up flagging support for the Bush administration by faking concern over local drug problems. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Tue, 31 July 2007 23:10:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/family.htm#njlabs The New Jersey Board of Education is considering adopting rules which would require schools to use state-certified labs for student drug testing programs rather than leaving these tests in the hands of a school nurse. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Sat, 21 July 2007 22:55:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/ukupdate.htm#minsmoke Youthful indiscretions are making trouble for Gordon Brown's new government. Following announcement of the newly-appointed Prime Minister's decision to consider recriminalizing marijuana, several members of his cabinet have come out of the closet as former marijuana users. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 20 July 2007 23:50:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/ukupdate.htm#minsmoke Youthful indiscretions are making trouble for Gordon Brown's new government. Following announcement of the newly-appointed Prime Minister's decision to consider recriminalizing marijuana, several members of his cabinet have come out of the closet as former marijuana users. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Fri, 20 July 2007 00:00:01 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/ukupdate.htm#brownpot Newly-Appointed Prime Minister Gordon Brown is moving to change the UK's cannabis laws, increasing the penalties. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 18 July 2007 22:50:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/fedplan.htm#czarcampaigns The Office of National Drug Control Policy appears to have been used by Karl Rove to promote Republican candidates for political office. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 18 July 2007 22:15:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/marijuan.htm Research shows that in the last decade the city of New York has experienced a massive increase in the number of minor marijuana possession arrests. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 18 July 2007 15:20:00 GMT -0500 http://www.medicalmj.org/losangelesdea.htm The US Drug Enforcement Administration is threatening landlords in Los Angeles with seizure of their property and possible prison terms for renting to cannabis dispensaries. www.medicalmj.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 18 July 2007 14:55:00 GMT -0500 http://www.managingpain.org/hurwitz57months.htm The re-trial of Doctor William Hurwitz came to an end in July 2007. The doctor's sentence was reduced to less than five years. He was originally given 25 years. www.managingpain.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 18 July 2007 10:35:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/family.htm#mayors07 The US Conference of Mayors held its 75th annual meeting June 22-26, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA. One of the resolutions they adopted at the conference urges an end to the status quo "war on drugs" and calls for a "New Bottom Line" in US drug policy. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 11 July 2007 09:20:00 GMT -0500 http://newsblaze.com/story/20070710083845tsop.np/newsblaze/NEWSWIRE/NewsBlaze-Wire.html The US Drug Czar, John Walters, will visit a marijuana eradication site and will hold a news conference in Redding, CA on July 12, 2007 at 2pm. www.newsblaze.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Some Anonymous White House Press Flack Wed, 11 July 2007 08:30:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/canada.htm#bustsurge Minor arrests for possession of marijuana have increased in Canada since the Conservative government came to power in 2006. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 09 July 2007 14:15:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/mexico.htm#testmex Mexican President Felipe Calderon has announced plans to institute drug testing in schools throughout Mexico. Leaving aside concerns about the effectiveness of student drug testing in general, the question is begged as to whether the Mexican government can afford such an initiative. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 05 July 2007 11:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/publicservice/justicejps.htm The Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens takes the long view in his dissenting opinion in the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 05 July 2007 11:45:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/aidsupdate.htm#nexdc07pt2 The federal ban on funding of syringe exchange services in the District of Columbia is edging closer to an end. The full US House of Representatives agreed to drop the ban from the DC budget bill. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Mon, 02 July 2007 11:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/family.htm#nobong The US Supreme Court ruled against student free speech in the "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Thu, 28 June 2007 15:00:00 GMT -0500 http://www.csdp.org/news/news/canada.htm#reidpoll07 A public opinion by Angus Reid Strategies found that a majority of Canadians favor legalization of marijuana. www.csdp.org Society/Issues/Health/Drugs/Illegal/War_on_Drugs/ Doug McVay Wed, 27 June 2007 23:20:00 GMT -0500