Thursday, November 29, 2007

Drug Czar Toppled By Drug Bolsheviks Onion Radio News 8:22:57 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

DEA gets court approval to continue intimidating farmers Link Two North Dakota farmers, who filed a federal lawsuit in June to end the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) ban on commercial hemp farming in the United States, had their case dismissed by federal Judge Daniel Hovland yesterday. In a 22-page decision, Judge Hovland wrote that the problem facing state-licensed hemp farmers David Monson and Wayne Hauge needs to be addressed by Congress if they hope to ever grow the versatile crop which is used in everything from food and soap to clothing and auto parts. They're considering an appeal. 7:40:40 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

2007 International Drug Policy Reform Conference I'm really looking forward to the conference next week. Starting to plan out the workshops I want to attend and blog about (a couple of them, unfortunately, are at the same time as the one I'm co-presenting with David Guard). Lots of interesting ones, and lots of people I'm looking forward to seeing again, or meeting in person for the first time. I didn't realize until today that next Thursday's keynote session features Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He's a diehard prohibitionist and propagandist (here's an example of his writing). Having him at an international drug policy reform conference should be... interesting, to say the least. He is balanced by Kasia Malinowska-Sempruch, Director of the International Harm Reduction Development program at the Open Society Institute (OSI). I'll be sure to pass on all the fireworks to you. 12:39:18 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Hackery, part two. Yesterday, Allan noted that a letter of his had been commented on by Drug Watch International. That threw me. The name Drug Watch International had a slightly familiar ring, but I couldn't place it and knew nothing about it. That in itself was startling. An international prohibitionist group that has gone unmentioned in my blog in the four years I've been writing? How is that possible? So I looked them up. Not much there there. Most of the pages haven't been updated in years, and it seems that all they really do is release a newsletter one to four times a year. Their principles include such things as: Support strong laws and meaningful legal penalties that hold users and dealers accountable for their actions. Support efforts to prevent availability and use of drugs, and oppose policies and programs that accept drug use based erroneously on reduction or minimization of harm. Support International Treaties and Agreements, including international sanctions and penalties against drug trafficking, and oppose attempts to weaken international drug policies and laws. Support efforts to halt the legalization/decriminalization of drugs. Yep. They're hard core. They had one newsletter this year (the only one I looked at). Most of it was regurgitating propaganda from other sources, but they seemed to start with a couple of feature articles. First was a special article about the presentation of the Drug Watch... FREEDOM award! On March 18, 2007, they presented this special Freedom plaque (there's a picture of it) to Dr. Gabriel Nahas for a book he wrote in 1986 about the hazards of marijuana called "Keep Off the Grass." Nahas' wife was also there... Marilyn Nahas read several congratulatory cards and letters from people who recalled important milestones in her husband's life and his crusade against drug abuse. She reminded everyone that "Gabby" often was fiercely and ruthlessly attacked for his views by those seeking to legalize drugs, especially marihuana, and that in the early years he often stood alone, backed only by parents and early activists in what we call today the preventionists' movement. Freedom award! Then there was the Hemp Report from the chair of Drug Watch International's Hemp Committee with a host of catchy slogans: "It's the stalks, stupid!" Hemp: Where there's rope, there's dope. NO state or country in the world has scientifically established the safety of food products made from hemp. North Dakota officials have been convinced to jeopardize what they hold most dear -- the safety of their children, families, communities, and even their country. ...safeguards can't be put on fatty human cell walls to protect them from toxic, fat-loving THC found in food, cosmetic, and other products made of Cannabis hemp/marijuana. Potential harm to children from chemicals in hemp/marijuana is reported in national and international official government documents, which say that the toxic, bioactive cannabinoids in hemp/marijuana can affect and/or delay the growth and development of children. Wow. These folks are really 'round the bend. 12:16:19 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []