Thursday, May 3, 2007

Bring me some more leeches Parts of England and Ireland apparently have an archaic coroner's inquest system, which seems to involve the use of some kind of local witch doctor who just makes shit up. Cannabis Can Trigger Fatal Heart Conditions The inquest was told that Mr Kelly, who was very health-conscious, collapsed and died in front of his girlfriend, Stephanie. He was an occasional user of cannabis and a post mortem found tiny traces of the drug in his system. He was rushed to the Mercy University Hospital ( MUH ) but he died despite frantic efforts by doctors to save him. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said David died because the rhythmic electrical pulse in his heart misfired, causing it to stop beating almost immediately. She pointed to a growing body of medical evidence which shows links between the triggering of similar heart conditions and the use of drugs like cannabis and cocaine. Drugs like cannabis and cocaine? Witchdoctor Bolster then pointed to a series of scratches on a victim and said that they were from probably caused by animals like chipmunks and elephants. [Note: A couple of previous coroner's inquest stories I've reported on are here and here.] 1:03:51 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Pathetic I don't think I've ever seen such a blatant and pathetic effort to justify drug war funding... From the State of Kentucky (as in the state government) comes this press release: State police, local law enforcement, sheriff's offices, HIDTA and multi-jurisdictional drug task forces throughout the nation collectively conducted undercover investigations, search warrants, consent searches, marijuana eradication efforts, drug interdiction and arrest warrants for a period of one week. This collective effort, Operation Byrne Drugs II, was conducted from April 23-29 to highlight the need and effectiveness of the Byrne grant funding and the impact cuts to this funding could have on local and statewide drug enforcement. [emphasis added] That's right. They're admitting that they put together a week of drug arrests for the sole purpose of making a case for getting money. Statewide, last week's operation resulted in 491 arrests, 30 search warrants and the seizure of 287 marijuana plants, approximately 965 pounds of marijuana, approximately 12 pounds of cocaine, 266 hydrocodone tablets, 950 other prescription tablets, 467 grams of methamphetamine, six meth labs, four drug endangered children, 26 guns, 14 vehicles and $148,201 in cash. Cabinet for Health and Family Services also removed 12 children from homes during arrests and a female was charged with Wanton Endangerment First Degree when she and her newborn tested positive for Cocaine. "The number of arrests and seizures that each drug task force made is representative of what Kentucky's law enforcement can accomplish when resources are pulled together to take illegal drugs off the streets," stated Tommy Loving, executive director of the Bowling Green/Warren County Drug Task Force and president of Kentucky Narcotics Officers Association. "As a statewide organization, KNOA is hopeful that congress will see the value of intensive drug enforcement efforts like this one, and consider the benefits that could be derived by reinstating previous funding levels in the future." Again, the appeal to Congress: "Look at us! We got some drugs. Give us money." Do they really think that that mix of crap they seized and the small-time busts is going to have any real effect? They want us to put more tax payer money into that? Laurie Dudgeon, the executive director of the Office of Drug Control Policy, said statistics from the one-week sweep "is symbolic to the dangers and hard work that these units and agents do all year." Do you have any idea what you're saying Laurie? Because it doesn't make a bit of sense -- in grammar or content. Perhaps in addition to eliminating the Byrne grant program, we should be eliminating the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, since all you seem to know how to do is beg for money poorly. 12:15:44 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []