Our new drug czar, John Walters, is very concerned about the mounting opposition to the federal government's war on drugs ("Don't Legalize Drugs," editorial page, July 19). He notes that several European nations, such as Portugal and Britain, have recently liberalized their drug laws. But we should welcome, not fear, these developments. It is interesting to note how markedly the drug policy debate has changed over the past 10 years. During the 1980s, Nancy Reagan said casual drug users were accomplices to murder. William Bennett made headlines with talk of executing drug dealers. No one speaks in those terms today. Nowadays, drug warriors like to give speeches about drug courts and mandatory treatment programs. Despite the softer tone, however, police agents continue to wiretap and raid and arrest hundreds of thousands of people. Most notably, there has been no retreat from the proposition that drug users are criminals who must be punished. Only a lamentable lack of jail space prevents Mr. Walters from ordering a more widespread crackdown on people who choose to ingest marijuana, steroids or cocaine. [continues 572 words]
The protection of millions of Americans' lives is continuing at this very moment, thanks in part to the fact that millions of Americans are arrested for illegal drug offenses every year. I am writing in response to Asa Cooney's July 26 letter stating he felt marijuana laws steal his liberty and stifle his pursuit of happiness and his interest in expanding his mind. I feel certain that if Cooney is really interested in expanding his mind, surely he could find a more constructive, non-illegal, non-threatening way to do so. I will even help him out with a few suggestions: He could go to college to earn a degree, or he could read encyclopedias, or even watch CNN. And if Asa were really interested in standing up for himself, he could simply vote. [continues 211 words]
Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Challenger Differ In Their Approaches FORSYTH - The two-way race for prosecuting attorney pits incumbent Rodney Daniels against political newcomer Eric Eighmy for a four-year term with a salary that will jump from $55,000 a year to $96,000. The prosecutor's salary and other court positions including judges are set by state statutes. The pay increase reflects Taney County's elevation last year to first-class status. No Democrat filed for the position. One of the most pressing problems faced by the prosecutor's office - with a current staff of 16 - is the proliferation of methamphetamine production and use in Taney County. In one recent month, Daniels filed more than 25 meth-related charges, he says. About two months ago, nine people were sentenced on meth charges in eight days. [continues 397 words]
A U.S. Border Patrol agent exchanged fire with a gunman Saturday in the same area where an agent was fired upon two months ago. A Border Patrol spokesman, Ryan Scudder, confirmed the Saturday incident but provided few details, deferring to the investigating agencies. Scudder said the agent fired on someone during the incident and that the agent was fired upon. No one was hit during the exchange, which took place near Papago Farms, a village in the southwestern Tohono O'odham Nation. [continues 110 words]
The controversial experiment in the south London borough of Lambeth which saw a "softly, softly" approach to the possession of cannabis ends at midnight Wednesday. Police say from Thursday 1 August people openly smoking the drug in public face arrest. Scotland Yard says the experiment has been successful with officers' time being freed to concentrate on the fight against hard drugs. But critics say it has led to more users and dealers being drawn into Lambeth from other boroughs. 'Aggravating circumstances' [continues 225 words]
Stan Wawzonek Rode Bike Across Canada With an Anti-Drug Message It's taken three months, but Stan Wawzonek is closing in on the end of his coast-to-coast trip dedicated to raising awareness about the Drug Awareness Resistance and Education program. The DARE program is taught in schools, usually by a police officer, over a 17-week period. Youths learn to recognize the risks associated with drug use and strategies to refuse being involved with drugs. Wawzonek, 60, from Brantford, Ont., started peddling his bicycle from St. John's, NL., April 30. [continues 169 words]
FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III said yesterday that the war on terrorism demands that the FBI pull agents away from narcotics task forces and no longer make drug enforcement a top priority. The comments, which came at the 20th anniversary celebration for the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, followed statements by Attorney General John Ashcroft reaffirming that the drug war would be reorganized but not abandoned. Mr. Ashcroft said law enforcement agencies have created a "most wanted list" of 54 drug organizations that must be toppled here and abroad. The list will allow crime fighters to focus their resources. [continues 390 words]
About 125 parents and students attended a meeting Tuesday at the Seneca Valley Senior High School to learn more about the district's new drug testing policy. The district next week will begin testing students who participate in fall sports or who drive to school for 10 drugs, including alcohol, marijuana and opiates. In addition to those drugs, students will be tested for chemicals used to cover the presence of drugs or alcohol in their urine. Some parents were skeptical, asking questions about confidentiality. Most, however, voiced their support. [continues 96 words]
WASHINGTON-FBI director Robert Mueller said Tuesday that the war on terrorism demands that the FBI pull agents away from narcotics task forces and no longer make drug enforcement a top priority. The comments, which came at the 20th anniversary celebration for the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, followed statements by Attorney General John Ashcroft reaffirming that the drug war would be reorganized but not abandoned. Ashcroft said law enforcement agencies have created a "most wanted list" of 54 drug organizations that must be toppled here and abroad. The list will allow crime fighters to focus their resources, Ashcroft said. [continues 616 words]
The Marijuana party's office has been condemned and declared unfit for habitation after a sleeping area in the building was found to be unsafe. Capital Health received a complaint about the 10253 97 St. office and store last Thursday and declared it unsafe the next day because the commercial space is connected to residential accommodations without a fire-separation wall. As well, there were no windows that could be opened or a smoke alarm in the sleeping area. Environmental health officer Glenn Jenkins said the sleeping area has to be separate from the business - that could be done by adding a living area to the back and installing a separate door, so anyone living inside could escape in the case of a blaze. [continues 155 words]
A Memphis police officer critically wounded a man during a drug raid Tuesday at the home of the caretakers for the Baron Hirsch Cemetery in South Memphis. Insp. Richard Sojourner said members of a team of vice and narcotics officers served a search warrant at the house at 1523 Rozelle after receiving a tip that drugs were being sold there. When officers knocked on the door at about 12:15 p.m., the people inside refused to let them in. The officers kicked in a back door and found a man and a woman in the living room. They also found that one of the bedrooms was locked. [continues 275 words]
Undercover operations by the Project Longarm police drug unit will continue in North Hastings, senior officers are saying in the wake of last week's undercover blitz. The announcement comes in conjunction with the release of local statistics for the joint-forces unit, which covers from Kingston to Trenton and Prince Edward County to North Hastings. "Initially we targeted producers of marijuana, and this year we refocused our attention on the people who are selling illegal drugs to our children, resulting in the arrests of numerous people last week," said Staff Sergeant Ray Westgarth, commander of the Bancroft OPP detachment. "We will continue to target these people." [continues 156 words]