Drug WarRant

Just announced

CHICAGO — The five-week search for a Republican U.S. Senate candidate is down to two contenders: two-time presidential hopeful Alan Keyes and former Bush administration deputy drug czar Andrea Grubb Barthwell.

State party chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka announced Tuesday night that Republican leaders would interview Keyes and Barthwell on Wednesday and then choose one to take on Democratic rising star Barack Obama, almost assuring that Illinois will produce only the fifth black U.S. senator in history.

Many of us in the drug policy reform community have been offended by the Drug Czar’s and Administration’s distortion of treatment numbers to claim that they somehow prove marijuana is addictive, or that today’s marijuana is more dangerous than before.
Jim at Vice Squad gives some additional rebuttal based on the limited information that SAMHSA released publicly.
However, while the government likes to release information only in ways that support their contentions, the underlying data is public information if you know how to wade through it.
I have run the government’s data myself here so that it’s available in a convenient form (and shows clearly that the Drug Czar is lying). Let me know if you’d like to see other data comparisons in the treatment data.
The sad fact is that the data can provide useful information that should inform a national discussion, but it’s been hijacked in the Drug Czar’s desire to demonize marijuana to the detriment of any other policy.
See the data for yourself.

“bullet” There’s still hope in Nevada.

U.S.æ District Judge James Mahan issued a temporary restraining order Friday stopping the state from taking any further action on the marijuana initiative petition that is short of the necessary signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.

Mahan has set Aug.æ 13 as the date for oral arguments on the suit by the Nevada chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the groups supporting the petition to allow adults to possess and use one ounce of marijuana.

There are a number of legal arguments being considered regarding the petition and the legality of the requirements. The state claims that the initiative has 50,088 valid signatures and needs 51,337 to qualify for the ballot.
“bullet” Libby at Last One Speaks has a ton of interesting stuff to read, including the anniversary of the signing of the Marijuana Tax Act, comments on an article by Amanda L. Stevens on legalizing marijuana, and a report of a good review of the new book by Martin Booth called Cannabis – A History.
“bullet” Vice Squad continues to have some of the most fascinating material in the world of Vice. Check out Michael’s post on the war on drugs in Russia (I was particularly taken by the story of the veterinarian who was charged with “trafficking” for supplying ketamine to a cat by injection — they must have gotten training from U.S. prosecutors). Jim notes that drug selling in Iraq is one of the nine activities that qualifies for the unofficial death penalty administered by radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his army of devotees. The nine include theft, kidnapping, robbery, spying ‘for the Wahabis, al-Qaeda and Saddamists’, trafficking in women, and selling alcohol, pornographic CDs and drugs.

Last week I mentioned that I was working on a new project for voting and drug policy reform activism. I now have the beginnings of that project to show you.
While I am going to continue to look at the Presidential race, I’m shifting the focus of this site’s activism in attempt to have greater impact. The recent Hinchey amendment votes in the House of Representatives got me thinking that the drug policy reform community might be able to make a real difference by swinging some U.S. House races.
Most of the focus, therefore, will be on House races, with the goal of tipping the balance on such issues as not interfering with the states when it comes to medical marijuana, repealing the HEA drug provision, reducing the drug war support in Colombia, etc.
As time permits (and depending on the help I get from readers), I’ll have recommendations in a large range of U.S. House races.
Recommendations will be entirely on what’s best for drug policy reform, and not any other issues. Endorsements will also be made regardless of party affiliation.

• Illinois Candidate Details by U.S. House District

Right now, I only have Illinois up, but plan to add additional states. I’m looking for volunteers to help out in gathering the information. You don’t need to know anything about the candidates. I’ll provide you with everything you need and specific instructions. It’s just a matter of taking a couple of hours to cross reference some statistics.
The next states I would like to add are California, Nebraska, and Maryland.
Also, if you have additional information to add on any race that I’m profiling, please let me know.
Drug WarRant Featured Race
Drug WarRant also has a featured race for 2004.

It is, interestingly enough, my own district – Illinois 11. It is a competitive race, with a real good chance of removing Weller and replacing him with someone clearly on our side. Weller has voted in lock step with his friend (and drug warrior) Mark Souder. He’s voted against the Hinchey amendment twice (which would have prevented the feds from interfering with states on medical marijuana), and has spoken out to support increased funding for the drug war in Colombia.
Tari (pronounced “Terry”) Renner is in favor of medical marijuana and also supports decriminalizing marijuana — a very dramatic change from Weller. Senator Durbin strongly supports Renner (and Durbin has been a friend to drug policy reform), so Renner will have some additional advantages in getting connected in Washington.
Over the next few months, I may add several more featured races. If you have suggestions, let me know.

“bullet” Check out D’Alliance. Baylen is reporting from Bolivia.
“bullet” Patriot Act being used for busting marijuana smuggling.
“bullet” More Stupid Drug Task Force Tricks

… about a dozen law enforcement officers from several agencies banged on the front door of Stone’s house between 6:45 a.m. and 7 a.m. July 20, so hard that it knocked pictures off the wall.

The officers would not let him put his clothes on after he got out of bed, demanding that he come outside immediately just as he was, Stone told The Paris News. When he said no one was there by the name of the female defendant they sought, they demanded his wife come outside.

Stone said he and his wife were traumatized by about a dozen officers who kept rifles pointed at their heads. He said his mailbox was off its hinges because of the force with which the officers had hammered on his door. The officers threw his lawn chairs in the yard and stepped all over his flowers, he said.

At first, Stone said, the officers refused to believe him when he said the woman they sought was not there and hadn’t lived there — in his father’s rent house — for two years. Finally, they left, he said, after laughing at him because he was wearing raggedy drawers. They left without an apology, he said.

(Thanks to commenter sister geoff)

In the HoustonChronicle (via FARK):

Landscape contractor Blair Davis was in his northwest Harris County home around 2 p.m. Tuesday when there was a knock at his door.

Davis said he hadn’t even gotten his hand on the doorknob when it flew open and he was looking at the barrel of a pistol.

Behind the gun were about 10 members of the Harris County Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force, who burst into the home, guns drawn, and began shouting at him to get down on the floor.

There on the floor, Davis said, it took a while to figure out that what had caused the swarm of lawmen to descend upon him was the hibiscus in his front yard …

But: “It’s got white buds on it,” Davis said. “Hello.” …

Davis said the team of narcotics officers combed his house for about an hour, at one point discussing whether red and gold bamboo growing in his window might be marijuana. They also asked what he did with the watermelons and cantaloupes growing in his back yard.

“What would I do with them?” Davis said.

Finally the officers gave up and left, leaving Davis only a “citizen’s information card” with “closed-report” written on it.

Again, Drug Task Forces are completely out of control. Citizens need to start getting together and disbanding these entities now.
Hibiscus? And does a dangerous drug trafficker (who needs to be subdued by an armed 10-man task force) grow marijuana in their front yard? With white flowers? And what if Blair Davis had been legally armed? Would he be dead now?
Update: Just read Libby’s coverage of the same story (she had me beat by a few hours). We do think alike.

Via an anonymous reader (I believe from New Zealand) comes this news about New Zealand spraying herbicide on marijuana plants. Although the herbicide turns the plant blue, some unscrupulous dealers have been apparently spraying them green and selling them.
From AP story

“I have heard stories of people suffering headaches, throat damage and coughing blood. There needs to be proper research but we can’t achieve this until police come clean on the chemicals it (the herbicide) uses,” he said.

The situation made a mockery of the police duty to protect the public, with people’s health being placed at risk by the spray program, he added.

New Zealand Herald:

Waikato police spokeswoman Kris McGehan said the police would not disclose any operational information such as when or how the plants were sprayed.

Ms McGehan said she had not heard of people getting sick from smoking poisoned drugs “but we are probably unlikely to for obvious reasons”.

“If you are going to buy or consume illegal drugs that is the risk you take.æ Obviously it is a criminal activity that we have no control over.”

This brings back memories of the late 60s/early 70s when the US government was involved in spraying marijuana in Mexico with paraquat.

Keep the kids doped up and avoid pesky thoughts and feelings.
Ritalin, Prozac, and now…
From The Independent (via Last One Speaks)

A radical scheme to vaccinate children against future drug addiction is being considered by ministers, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.
Under the plans, doctors would immunise children at risk of becoming smokers or drug users with an injection.
Childhood immunisation would provide adults with protection from the euphoria that is experienced by users, making drugs such as heroin and cocaine pointless to take. Such vaccinations are being developed by pharmaceutical companies and are due to hit the market within two years.

Wouldn’t want the zombies becoming euphoric.
This is what happens when the drug companies own the politicians.
Note: This isn’t exactly new news, but I hadn’t had a chance to comment on it before. See the full report by the Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics called PHARMACOTHERAPY
AND THE FUTURE OF THE DRUG WAR.

In the last couple of days, I’ve heard from several people regarding this Kansas revenue page on drug tax stamps.
This isn’t particularly new – 23 states have similar stupid laws (and Kansas has had theirs for 18 years). So I’m recycling a post from December when Missouri was considering such a tax:

---

Missouri Senator Proposes Taxing Illegal Drugs.

Each gram of marijuana would be subject to a $3.50 tax.æ Other controlled substances would be taxed $200 for each gram or portion of a gram.æ For drugs not sold by weight, such as Ecstasy, every 50 doses would be taxed $2,000.

Note: for those of you who haven’t converted to metric yet, for marijuana that’s about $100 tax per ounce.
Keep in mind that this is not an easing of penalties — it is adding an additional penalty on top of criminalizing drugs. The idea is, once you’re arrested for possession of drugs, not only do you get the jail time and fines for the charge, but they also go after you for tax evasion because you probably haven’t bought the stamps (they don’t really expect you to).

A similar bill was passed in Kansas in 1987.æ Last year it collected $883,846 in revenue from people arrested in possession of drugs without stamps and $370 in stamp sales.

Most drug tax stamps are purchased by collectors, not drug dealers (the Texas one is quite entertaining).
These taxes are really a kind of dishonesty on the part of legislatures. If you want a tougher penalty for something illegal, then make that part of the legal penalty — don’t go around looking for some other hook.
Many of these taxes have run into legal trouble. Some of them have been termed unconstitutional due to the prohibition against self-incrimination. Others, if providing a serious enough penalty, have been determined to constitute double jeopardy (some Texas drug dealers in 1996 were getting off of their drug charges in court by putting a deposit down on their tax liability).
Protesters of an Iowa version of this tax came up with the memorable line:

No taxation without legalization.

---

If anybody has some drug tax stamps (expired is fine) that they no longer need, I’d love to add some to my stamp collection.
Update: I just got from a reliable source that Ben Masel was responsible for the “No Taxation without Legalization” slogan throughout the midwest, including Iowa.
Also, the 7th Circuit recently struck down Wisconsin’s drug tax stamp law as an unconstitutional double jeopardy. See also Vice Squad.

One year ago today, I ventured forth in the land of blogs, thinking that I’d maybe write a post per week or so about the drug war. Considering this is post 497, I think I overshot my plans. It’s been a very full year, and seems longer. I had a reader, in fact, assure me that he has read my blog daily for 2-3 years, maybe more.
Certainly, it’s been a success beyond my wildest dreams. In one year, Drug WarRant has moved up to 21st in Salon Blogs popularity all-time, with close to 120,000 views. Got nominated for a Koufax. And I’ve found tremendous support from all areas in the political spectrum.
A huge thanks to all those wonderful folks in this crazy community who have been such a help (and I know I’m going to be leaving important ones out), including Libby, Jeralyn, Jeff, Walter, Sukoi, Patrick, Dave, David, Scott, Jim, Desert Cat, Serial Catowner, Brutal Hugger, Steve, Harmony, Baylen, Ben, Loretta, Elmer, Chris, disgusted vet, jackl, Matt, Matthew, Tad, Yan, Richard, and all the regular posters at MAP, SSDP, DPFIL, etc.
There were some light moments during the year, including

• If I Were Contrarian King of the United States
• Increase in Burger Abuse Seen
• Who is the Drug Czar? (humorous, but sadly true)

And there was some serious education going on, as these items have been spread widely across the internet.

• Why is Marijuana Illegal?
• Drug War Victims
• and to a lesser degree Frequently Asked Questions section

(If you haven’t read any of the above, you should.)
Other highlights of the year included taking on the DEA’s Karen Tandy and Michele Leonhart, covering the Hinchey amendment debates (in 2003 and 2004), The Great Debate, Clowns on C-Span and A Story for Thanksgiving.
What’s next? In addition to continuing to “look at the front lines of the drug war, with news, analysis, and the occasional rant,” I’m very much aware that this is an election year. Look for some detailed analysis of some of the smaller races, where the drug reform community can really make a difference. I’m going to be asking for your specific help in affecting the outcome of some elections. It’ll be fun! Drug WarRant will be endorsing candidates and getting readers to actively work for a few of them. More on this in a few days.
But right now, I thought I’d give you a one-year anniversary present. Some inspiring quotes that appeared on the pages of Drug WarRant during its first year. This is not a comprehensive list, nor does it follow any logical rules, but these are quotes from reformers, newspaper editors, judges, and others that appeared here. Taken together, they give you a sense that perhaps drug policy reform is not such a fantasy — that there are many people who recognize the faults of the drug war, and are willing to push for change.
Read “A Year of Inspirational Quotes”