Pubdate: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW) Website: http://www.drugsense.org HOT OFF THE 'NET DRUG CZAR: MILTON FRIEDMAN'S DRUG-WAR CRITIQUE 'DEMONSTRABLY UNTRUE' I've looked forward to interviewing the U.S. drug czar for years, and Tuesday afternoon I finally got the chance when current czar John Walters visited with the U-T editorial board. http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/afb/archives/015076.html - ---------------------------------- CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES SURGE IN THE WAR ON DRUGS Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced a two-pronged anti-drug campaign, focusing on prevention for users and harsher penalties for producers. At the heart of the announcement was the introduction of mandatory sentences for people convicted of serious drug charges. Video: http://tinyurl.com/yt4ljn - ---------------------------------- 10 MILLION AMERICANS BUSTED FOR POT: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH By Paul Armentano Since 1990, over 10.4 million Americans have been busted for pot. When will we recognize it's time to stand up to the war on harmless pot smoking? http://alternet.org/drugreporter/63988/ - ---------------------------------- THE SUCCESS OF PLAN COLOMBIA ESSENTIALLY LIES IN ITS FAILURE http://www.colectivodeabogados.org/article.php3?id_article=1140 - ---------------------------------- WOMEN, HARM REDUCTION, AND HIV For women who inject drugs, the stigma of injection drug use is added to gendered discrimination; these factors combined can push women into behaviors that increase their risk of HIV, according to this report published by OSI's International Harm Reduction Development Program. http://tinyurl.com/34vx7k - ---------------------------------- CULTURAL BAGGAGE RADIO SHOW 10/03/07: Dr. Joel Hochman Dir Natl. Foundation for Treatment of Pain Audio: http://drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/FDBCB_100307.mp3 09/28/07: Sanho Tree on the situation in Colombia plus Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project Audio: http://drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/FDBCB_092807.mp3 Listen Live Tuesdays 12.30 PM ET, 11:30 AM CT, 10:30 MT & 9:30 AM PT at www.KPFT.org - ---------------------------------- CULTIVATING COMPASSION Operating in a legal no-man's-land and facing criminal action at any time, dedicated activists at compassion clubs across Canada are working to make medicinal marijuana available to any PHA who needs it. Derek Thaczuk explores how they work and why they are so important. http://tinyurl.com/yvk2hq - ---------------------------------- LOST TAXES AND OTHER COSTS OF MARIJUANA LAWS by Jon Gettman http://www.drugscience.org/bcr/index.html - ---------------------------------- THE FEDERALIZATION OF MEDICINE The pain issue shows why medical policy should be left to the states. By Maia Szalavitz http://reason.com/news/show/122800.html - ---------------------------------- NYC HAS THE MOST MARIJUANA ARRESTS IN THE WORLD (But Don't Worry, White People, It Won't Be You) By Ezekiel Edwards One has to wonder, what on earth are the police and the Mayor smoking? http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/edwards/64438/ ****************************************** WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK NORML'S 36TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE Cannabis, Creativity and Commerce Los Angeles, California, October 12-13, 2007 http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7250 - ---------------------------------- 250,000 FACEBOOK USERS VOICE THEIR SUPPORT FOR ENDING POT PROHIBITION Nearly 250,000 online subscribers to the online social networking website Facebook have voiced their support for marijuana law reform by joining NORML's newly launched 'Cause' group. http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7381 - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake