Thursday, November 30, 2006

Hopes for the Dem Congress Grits for Breakfast wonders whether the new Congress will consider John Conyers' "No More Tulias" legislation. That bill would require corroboration for undercover testimony in drug stings using federal grant money, similar to Texas' legislation that required corroboration for informants, signed by Gov. Perry in 2001 after receiving bipartisan support in both chambers. Even though the Kathryn Johnston case doesn't directly apply, the interest generated from it could help encourage such a bill. I also have hopes for Truth in Trials Act (allowing federal defendants to mention medical marijuana in court), and the Hinchey Amendment (cutting off funds for federal intervention in States that have passed medical marijuana laws). There has also been some talk recently of Democratic Congress considering a shift in the Colombian funding away from eradication and military efforts and toward economic development (but I'm not holding my breath). 10:08:52 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Awareness I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 30, 2006, as National Methamphetamine Awareness Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities. OK. Well, let's see, I assume the Drug Czar will be observing this in some way... Oh, yes. ... it is an opportunity to reaffirm a commitment to a drug-free future... Look! It's the mythical drug-free bird. Catch it - quick! Dang. Since he's got the drug-free part covered, I figured I'd mention a few things he isn't... Meth Epidemic? There's been very little change (and maybe even a decrease) in first-time users of methamphetamines from the early 1970s to the present. The U.S. Government dispensed methamphetamine to our soldiers in World War II and Korea and even today, U.S. fighter pilots in Afghanistan were given amphetamines (a milder chemical relation) to stay awake on bombing runs. ..."The term 'meth addicted baby' is no less defensible. Addiction is a technical term that refers to compulsive behavior that continues in spite of adverse consequences. By definition, babies cannot be 'addicted' to methamphetamines or anything else. The news media continues to ignore this fact. "In utero physiologic dependence on opiates (not addiction), known as Neonatal Narcotic Abstinence Syndrome, is readily diagnosable and treatable, but no such symptoms have been found to occur following prenatal cocaine or methamphetamine exposure." (Open letter from 93 medical and psychological researchers) Much like the dangerous alcohol stills in the first prohibition, clandestine meth labs are a product of drug prohibition. Unfortunately, the American strategy of drug control since the early 20th Century has emphasized an approach of prevention based on instilling fear about a substance through dramatized descriptions and images of the consequences of use coupled with a notion of treating people with harsh punishments out-of-step with the harm caused by the drug. Historically, the domestic response to drug use has been to demonize the drug and the people who use it while exaggerating the impact of its use ("You'll be hooked the first time you try it"). This strategy has been complemented in the past two decades with mandatory minimums, sentencing enhancements, and a ban on access to services such as public housing, income assistance, and federal educational aid as the result of a drug conviction. (Link) And some stupid meth tricks... If you listened to government drug propaganda, you'd think that millions of teens were about to die from meth. It's not true. A U.S. Attorney in Hawaii lied about the prevalance of the meth problem to try to convince lawmakers to amend the state constitution to expand wiretapping and search/seizure provisions. A prosecutor in North Carolina tried to charge meth lab defendants with two counts of manufacturing a nuclear or chemical weapon (a judge later laughed him out of court). For more on meth, visit the Vaults. Update: I almost forgot the biggest stupid meth trick -- arresting 32 convenience clerks named Patel for not understanding American drug slang. 9:49:12 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []