Weekly News Round-Up for 11/27 – 12/4

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Scott Cuthell

Drug Policy News Weekly Round Up

11/27 – 12/4

Compiled and Edited By Scott Cuthell

Send News Stories to columbia-ssdp-tips@googlegroups.com

Columbia News

  • Columbia Spectator’s Editorial Board Calls For Columbia To Cut Ties With CASA[1]
    • The Spec’s Editorial Board called for Columbia to remove its support of the National Center on Addiction and Drug Abuse at Columbia after numerous experts and media outlets called into question the findings of the group. The Board described the findings as “misleading and sensationalized”.

National News

  • Governors Chaffee (I-RI) and Gregoire (D-WA) Call For DEA to Reschedule Marijuana[2]
    • Both Governors come from states in which Medical Marijuana is currently legal, and both cite the tensions between Federal and State Laws as motivation for the rescheduling. Marijuana is currently classified as Schedule I which means it is considered to have no medical uses.
  • DEA Found to Facilitate Mexican Cartel Money Laundering[3]
    • The New York Times reports that the DEA routinely participates in money laundering operations on behalf of Mexican Drug Cartels. While he extend and frequency of the activities is alarming, DEA and law enforcement officials argue that it is a necessary part of their operations against the cartels.

  • Effects of Federal Crackdown in California Become Noticeable as Dispensary Numbers Plummet[4]
    • The Sacramento Bee reports a decline in Dispensaries from as many as 99 stores in the county previously to only eight now. The United Food and Commercials Workers Union, which attempted to Unionize Marijuana Workers, estimates the drop as around 20% statewide.

  • New Study Finds Correlation Between Medical Marijuana and Drops In Traffic Deaths[5]
    • The study, done by University of Colorado Denver, compared traffic death statistics across the nations between 1990 and 2009, and found that states that had some form of Medical Marijuana had a noticeable drop in traffic deaths. The study hypothesized that the drop in deaths was an indirect effect of the legislation caused by a drop in alcohol consumption by 20 to 29 year olds, a by-product of Medical Marijuana Legislation.

  • New Trend in Drug Smuggling Across The Border Appears to Be Illegal Immigrants[6] 
    • Recent reports indicate a new strategy for cartels in recruiting or forcing illegal immigrants to smuggle drugs with them over the border. Immigrants are approached before attempting a crossing and often forced to carry drugs across the border. If they are caught they fear potential repercussions when they are returned to Mexico.

  • The Huffington Post Investigates Drug Reform Policy Under Obama[7]
    • With the recent Federal crackdown in California it is easy to forget some of the recent steps that have been taken to reform drug laws and sentencing.

 


[1] http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2011/11/28/cut-ties-casa

[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/us/federal-marijuana-classification-should-change-gregoire-and-chafee-say.html?_r=3

[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/world/americas/us-drug-agents-launder-profits-of-mexican-cartels.html

[4] http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/04/4098206/crackdowns-force-some-california.html

[5] http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-11/uocd-ssm112911.php

[6] http://www.npr.org/2011/12/04/143025654/migrants-say-theyre-unwilling-mules-for-cartels

[7] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rafael-lemaitre/drug-policy-reform-_b_1126225.html

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Weekly News Round-Up for 11/13 – 11/20

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Scott Cuthell

Drug Policy News Weekly Round Up

11/13 – 11/20

Compiled and Edited By Scott Cuthell

Send News Stories to columbia-ssdp-tips@googlegroups.com

National News

  • Georgia Steps Up Moves To Shut Down Pill Mills[1]
    • With a recent spike in pain clinics, from around a dozen to over ninety in the past two years, Georgia is taking steps to combat the spread of prescription drug abuse. On Tuesday officials charged dozens of people with racketeering, as well as raided 19 businesses and homes in attempt to shut down two pain clinics and the pharmacies that supplied them.
  • Massive Drug Smuggling Tunnel Discovered Across US-Mexico Border[1]
    • The 400-yard tunnel was discovered after officials spotted a non-descript truck leaving a warehouse near the border. Roughly 17 tons of Marijuana was seized at the site (worth close to 385 million dollars if distributed in New York City). The tunnel is one of a handful of tunnels discovered in along the Tijuana San Diego border run by one Mexico’s most powerful cartels, The Sinaloa.
  • Drug Czar to Speak on Shifts in Enforcement[3]
    • The expected reforms, which most notably include the recognition of drug addiction as a disease, are advertised as a shift towards prevention and treatment rather than incarceration and enforcement.


  • NORML Breaks Down Recent Polling Information[4]
    • The National Organization for The Reform of Marijuana Legislation recently delved into the information provided by public opinion polls. Some statistics from a recent CBS Poll are more troubling than others, including the 71% support for Medicinal Marijuana coupled with only 31% that currently believe Medicinal Marijuana is being used to treat the illnesses it is designed for, as well as the 11 point disparity between male proponents (46%) and female proponents (35%).

International News

  • Former British Public Officials Step Forward and Call for Drug Policy Reform[5]
    • On Thursday former MI5 head, Baroness Manningham-Buller, called for reform of drug policy based on evidence and facts. In addition to MI5’s former head, former Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth has recently called for decriminalization of many drugs, including heroin and cocaine.


  • British and American Voices Speak Up In Support of Columbia’s President[6]
    • Both the Former British Ambassador to Columbia and a representative of Common Sense for Drug Policy have spoken out in support of President Santos’ call for drug legalization, their consensus being that the high demand for illegal drugs in the US and Britain directly lead to issues for drug producing South America.

[1] http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-trying-to-control-1233110.html

[2] http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1117-drug-tunnel-20111117,0,7083551.story

[3] http://www.afro.com/sections/news/national/story.htm?storyid=73133

[4] http://blog.norml.org/2011/11/18/cbs-news-poll-confirms-troubling-data-for-legalization-and-medical-marijuana-proponents/

[5] http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/20/legalise-drugs_n_1103613.html

[6] http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2011/nov/20/observer-big-issue-colombia-drugs?newsfeed=true

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Columbia SSDP Goes West

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Scott Cuthell

Last week four of our members made the journey out to Los Angeles for the International Drug Policy Reform Conference. The conference, which lasted from November 2nd to 5th, included presentations and panels from an assortment of drug policy advocates, activists and politicians. Hosted by the Drug Policy Alliance, the conference attracted an estimated 2200 people, and including California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, and of course our very own Columbia SSDP members. While much of the discussion focused on the recent crackdown on Medical Marijuana in California, the conference includes a variety of topics relating to drug policy. Our President Katharine Celentano was involved in a panel discussing the recovery movement and its involvement in ending the drug war, and all four members attending got involved in a discussion on diversifying the ranks of SSDP nationwide. In addition to our four members, Columbia University was also present in the form of presentations by Professor Carl Hart of the Psychology and Psychiatry departments, whose research at The New York State Psychiatric Institute has focused on ecstasy, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

Once again Columbia SSDP would like to thank everyone involved in helping our members attend the conference.

For more information on Katharine’s Panel check out the ReForm website.  http://www.reformconference.org/program/sessions/program/recovery-movement-and-its-role-ending-failed-war-drugs

 

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Weekly News Round-Up for 10/23 – 10/30

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Scott Cuthell

Drug Policy News Weekly Round Up

10/23 – 10/30

Compiled and Edited By Scott Cuthell

Send News Stories to columbia-ssdp-tips@googlegroups.com

National News

  • Drug Take Back Days Heralded As Success
    • Across the country Drug Take Back locations, which take back prescription drugs no questions asked, have been met with resounding success. Local newspapers around the country reported yields in the pounds, up to 431 pounds in the Atlanta area.[1] Other locations decided their Take Back Day was so successful that they would turn locations into full time turn in centers.[2]
  • New Task Force Announced For Florida Prescription Control
    • Attorney General Holder announced this week, in the wake of sweeping drug raids in Florida, that a new permanent task force would be based in Orlando. The task force would be charged with investigating doctors who write prescriptions for addicts or dealers in return for cash.[3]

International News

  • Ecuador Considers Decimalization
    • A new proposal in Ecuador would decriminalize small amounts of recreational drugs. The limits would be 10g of marijuana and hash, 4g of opium, 5g of cocaine, and 100mg of heroin. The proposal would also make the sale and trafficking of large quantities, defined as 1000 times the personal limits.[4]
  • China Cracks Down on Drug Dealing Chat Room
    • The Chinese police arrested more than 12,000 individuals and seized more than 660 pounds of drugs after targeting an online chat room that operated as a drug distribution network. Individuals required a personal invitation to the chat room, and once in they could coordinate drug purchases.[5]
  • Mexican Presidential Candidate Vows to End Direct War On Drug Cartels
    • Santiago Creel, a candidate for President in Mexico announced that if elected he would pull the Mexican Army out of the regions in which they have been battling the cartels since 2006. He says that the direct frontal assault on the cartels would be phased out over a two-year period, and new methods of attacking the operations of the cartels indirectly would be used. He points to monetary and prison reform as means of attacking cartel money laundering schemes as well as shutting down the cartel’s ability to operate from within the prison system.[6]
  • Columbia President Calls for Global Marijuana Legalization
    • Columbia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has joined the growing number of political figures who support Marijuana Legalization. Like many others he cites the need to address more serious drugs as a primary reason for legalizing marijuana.[7]

Marijuana News

  • California U.S. Attorneys Claim Responsibility for Crackdown
    • The four U.S. Attorney’s in California have claimed that they alone were responsible for the recent federal crackdown on Medical Marijuana in their state. The only official in Washington who allegedly was connected to the crackdown was Deputy Attorney General James Cole. While other individuals were aware of the planned crackdown, the California U.S. Attorneys emphasized a lack of approval of their actions from within the Obama Administration.[8]
  • Colorado Approves First Statewide Business Licenses for Dispensaries.
    • Emphasizing the isolated nature of California’s recent crackdown, Colorado issued its first state-level business licenses to dispensaries. Previously licenses had been distributed at local levels, the new licenses demonstrate Colorado’s continued dedication to implementing the policies the people have voted for.[9]
  • White House Answers Nine Marijuana Related Petitions on Their “We The People Website”
    • The response came from Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske and it did not directly address any of the specific issues raised by the original petitions. Many organizations like NORML and LEAP have responded to the response and criticized its lack of real answers.[10][11]

 

[1] http://www.wtoc.com/story/15905944/prescription-drug-take-back-nets-431-pounds

[2] http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20111030/NEWS01/110300312/Drug-Take-Back-Day-launches-permanent-collection-site

[3] http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/28/2477318/holder-touts-crackdown-on-drugs.html

[4] http://idpc.net/alerts/ecuador-to-discuss-decriminalisation

[5] http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/chinese-authorities-arrest-12000-people-in-online-narcotics-crackdown/2011/10/29/gIQANsREUM_story.html

[6] http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/27/us-mexico-election-creel-idUSTRE79P8DS20111027

[7] http://www.theweedblog.com/president-of-columbia-calls-for-global-marijuana-legalization/

[8] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/obama-administration-medical-marijuana-crackdown-california_n_1033482.html

[9] http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/medical-marijuana-colorado-state-business-licenses-california.html

[10] http://www.drugwarrant.com/2011/10/white-house-answers-pot-petitions-leap-responds/

[11] http://blog.norml.org/2011/10/29/white-house-response-to-normls-we-the-people-marijuana-legalization-petition/

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Weekly News Round-Up for 10/16 – 10/20

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Scott Cuthell

Compiled and Edited By Scott Cuthell

Send News Stories to columbia-ssdp-tips@googlegroups.com

National News

  • MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell Attacks American Politicians Over Marijuana Policy[1]
    • During his Rewrite segment O’Donnell attacked the politicians involved in the continuation of Marijuana Prohibition, particularly the hypocrisy of opposing Marijuana while personally indulging in alcohol.
  • DEA Makes “Bath Salts” Illegal[2]
    • The DEA responded to the recent rise in synthetic stimulants abuse by classifying the chemicals as schedule 1 drugs on Friday. The stimulants, advertised as “Bath Salts”, can be highly dangerous and their abuse as been higher among teenagers and youths.
  • Gallup Poll Finds 50% of Americans Support Legalization[3]
    • When first polled in 1969 12% supported it, 30% in 2000 and now 50%.
  • Rochester, MI Announces Drug “Drop Off” Program[4]
    • The program is designed to allow residents to drop off any unwanted prescription drugs with no questions asked.
  • Study Finds Many Pop Songs Promote Alcohol Consumption[5]
    • A University of Pittsburgh study found 1 in 5 songs contain references to alcohol, and 25% of those mention certain brands by name.

International News

  • Former Mexican President claims, “US must legalize drugs to stop violence”[6]
    • Vicente Fox, who was President for 2001-2006, says that US legalization is the only way to stop drug violence within Mexico and along the boarder.
  • China Passes Law to Protect Rehabilitation Patients[7]
    • The law focuses on limiting patients’ potential work hours to six a day, and ensuring that any money made goes to paying their wages and improving their living conditions.

[1]http://stopthedrugwar.org/speakeasy/2011/oct/19/msnbc%E2%80%99s_lawrence_o%E2%80%99donnell_slams

[2] http://www.telegram.com/article/20111023/NEWS/110239826/-1/NEWS05

[3] http://www.golocalprov.com/news/medical-pot/

[4] http://rochester.patch.com/articles/take-back-drug-initiative-encourages-prescription-drop-off-in-rochester

[5] http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/alcohol/many-songs-popular-with-teens-promote-alcohol

[6] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15379360

[7] http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-10/18/content_13920587.htm

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