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1US SC: Editorial: Kick The Drug War HabitMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:Post and Courier, The (Charleston, SC)          Area:South Carolina Lines:Excerpt Added:03/16/2009

In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared a "war on drugs." Seven presidents later, the drugs are still winning. That doesn't mean outlawed drugs should be legalized. It does mean, however, that a thorough re-examination of how to deter illegal-drug use and counter the vicious criminal enterprises that thrive on it is long overdue.

President Barack Obama sent a clear signal last week of a comprehensive shift on this front by naming Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske head of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy. Mr. Kerlikowske has long emphasized prevention and treatment over punishment. After being introduced in his new role, Mr. Kerlikowske accurately stressed that we can't reduce the grim costs of illegal drug use, and the huge profits of the illegal drug trade, without reducing America's massive appetite for dope.

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2 US FL: Column: Science-Based Policy Not Just A Pipe DreamMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Author:Page, Clarence Area:Florida Lines:67 Added:03/16/2009

When Charles Lynch asked for permission to sell an herbal medicine in Morro Bay, Calif., local officials gave it to him, although the medicine was marijuana.

That's because marijuana recommended by a doctor has been legal in California since 1996. A dozen other states have passed similar laws.

So Lynch applied for a business license, joined the Chamber of Commerce, talked to lawyers and even called the Drug Enforcement Administration before opening his medical marijuana dispensary.

Unfortunately for Lynch, none of this prevented him from being arrested in March 2007, when federal authorities raided his home and small business.

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3US WI: Column: Drug Traffic May Lead Obama to Call Out the Guard to Quell ViolenMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:Green Bay Press-Gazette (WI) Author:Navarrette, Ruben Jr. Area:Wisconsin Lines:Excerpt Added:03/16/2009

SAN DIEGO -- Events on the U.S.-Mexico border were already creepy. Now they're eerily familiar.

Ninety-three years ago this month, Mexican outlaw-turned-revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa led more than 500 men on a raid of the U.S. Army garrison in Columbus, N.M., killing soldiers and stealing machine guns and ammunition. Villa was pursued into Mexico -- unsuccessfully -- by 10,000 troops under the command of Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing. The raid was recently re-enacted in Columbus, as it is every year, by Mexican riders dressed as bandits. Greeted by Luna County sheriff's deputies and riders on the U.S. side of the border dressed as cavalrymen, the faux "Villistas" later joined their American hosts at a picnic complete with mariachis.

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4 US OR: Column: The Drug War Body CountMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:Bend Weekly (OR) Author:Saunders, Debra J. Area:Oregon Lines:110 Added:03/16/2009

"The war on drugs is a failure," Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Cesar Gaviria and Ernesto Zedillo - the former presidents of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico - wrote in the Wall Street Journal last month. "Prohibitionist policies based on eradication, interdiction and criminalization . simply haven't worked," they wrote.

In Mexico, an estimated 6,290 drug-related murders occurred last year. On Feb. 20, Roberto Orduna Cruz had to resign as chief of police of Cuidad Juarez after drug traffickers announced they would kill a police officer for every 48 hours Orduna remained on the job - and made good on the threat. As Cardoso, Gaviria and Zedillo warned, "The alarming power of the drug cartels is leading to a criminalization of politics and a politicization of crime." Their countries have received billions in U.S. aid for drug interdiction, yet the former presidents suggested "the possibility of decriminalizing the possession of cannabis for personal use."

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5Mexico: Drug War May Hurt Mexico's Ruling PartyMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) Author:Hawley, Chris Area:Mexico Lines:Excerpt Added:03/16/2009

Voters Growing Tired Of Violence

MEXICO CITY - Taxi driver Francisco Arroyo rues the day he voted for Mexican President Felipe Calderon in 2006.

Back then, promises by Calderon's National Action Party, known as the PAN, to crack down on drug cartels sounded like a good idea, Arroyo said. But now, as Mexico staggers under a wave of drug-related violence and with congressional elections looming, he and other Mexicans are having their doubts.

"Calderon shook up the beehive, and millions of bees came swarming out," said Arroyo as he ate lunch in a Mexico City park on Friday. "I'm not voting for the PAN this time."

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6 UK: PUB LTE: Black-Market DrugsMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:Independent (UK) Author:Sharpe, Robert Area:United Kingdom Lines:28 Added:03/16/2009

Regarding Ed Howker's 9 March column, there is a reason the number of hard-drug addicts in Britain has gone up from 1,000 thirty years ago to 270,000 today. The practice of prescribing pharmaceutical heroin to addicts was standard in England from the 1920s to the 1960s. In response to political pressure from the United States, prescription heroin maintenance was effectively discontinued in 1971. The loss of a controlled distribution system and subsequent creation of an unregulated black market allowed the number of heroin users to skyrocket.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC

[end]

7 US CT: Column: Ending Pot Raids Only A First Step Toward SanityMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:New Haven Register (CT) Author:Page, Clarence Area:Connecticut Lines:96 Added:03/16/2009

When Charles Lynch asked local officials for permission to sell an herbal medicine in the central California town of Morro Bay, they granted it to him, even though the medicine was marijuana.

Marijuana recommended by a doctor has been legal in California since 1996. A dozen other states have passed similar laws. Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and New Hampshire are among about 10 states that have been debating similar measures.

Lynch applied for a business license, joined the Chamber of Commerce, talked to lawyers and even called the federal Drug Enforcement Administration before opening his medical marijuana dispensary with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony.

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8 US PA: Edu: Column: Legalizing Marijuana Can Help EconomyMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:Daily Collegian (PA Edu) Author:Miceli, Margaret Area:Pennsylvania Lines:94 Added:03/16/2009

Welcome back, Penn Staters. While you were gone, the locals crawled out of their holes for one student-free week of revelry, the world discovered we had a basketball team, and -- news flash -- we're still in a recession.

As the recession continues to stick around, it seems clear that we need some creative ways to raise revenue in failing states. One California assemblyman should be applauded for an innovative, forward-thinking way to raise money for the state government. The legislator introduced a bill last month that would legalize marijuana (only in California, sadly) and allow the state to regulate and tax its sale. The federal government gave as close to a stamp of approval as it ever does, with the U.S. attorney general announcing that states should be able to make their own rules for medical marijuana, and that federal raids on pot dispensaries in California, common under the past administration, would stop.

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9 CN BC: Delta To Start Grow-Op InspectionsFri, 13 Mar 2009
Source:Now, The (Surrey, CN BC) Author:Gyarmati, Sandor Area:British Columbia Lines:83 Added:03/16/2009

Delta is going to make it tougher on those who have marijuana grow-ops and drug labs.

Delta council approved a proposal Monday to follow the lead of several other municipalities and create a public safety team to target grow-ops by conducting inspections.

Saying they will look at what has worked and what mistakes have been made in cities, such as Coquitlam and Surrey, that have already established teams, fire chief Dan Copeland and deputy chief Byron Funnell outlined the Public Safety Initiative, a plan to create a Delta team involving the fire department and municipal hall staff.

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10 CN BC: Drug Properties TargetedFri, 13 Mar 2009
Source:South Delta Leader (Delta, CN BC) Author:Thiessen, Kristine Area:British Columbia Lines:23 Added:03/16/2009

Delta wants to send a message that grow-ops and meth labs will not be tolerated. On Monday council approved a Public Safety Initiative that will see the creation of a multi-agency team to initiate inspections of properties based on complaints and other indicators of potential safety hazards, such as building structure modified without proper authorization or records of unusually high power consumption. The team of fire inspectors, building inspectors, bylaw enforcement officers and an electrical contractor takes its cue from a similar program in Surrey. Delta staff reported revenues generated through inspection fees could offset the staffing costs to run the program.

[end]

11 CN BC: PUB LTE: Get Real On Drugs And Crime, Take Control Of DistributionMon, 16 Mar 2009
Source:Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Author:Carvish, Barry Area:British Columbia Lines:36 Added:03/16/2009

Build government housing for the people living on the street. Allow access to the substances they are addicted to through government-controlled outlets. This will reduce the demand for the illicit drug trade and reduce crime and violence.

Drugs don't cause most of the violence and crime we are seeing, it is the desperation of the users and territorial control by the distributors. It will never go away unless you take the distribution from the gangs and control it through legal means.

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