-------------------------------------------------------------------
Volunteer Help Needed/OCTA Mailout Tuesday Night (Update On
Oregon Cannabis Tax Act Ballot Initiative)
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 1998 06:32:56 -0600 (CST)
From: wbruceh@ix.netcom.com
Subject: Volunteer Help needed/OCTA mailout Tues Night/AAL meeting 7:30pm
To: octa99@crrh.org
Hello All,
We need help Tuesday Night 7:30pm, 2/3/98, at the _Weekly_ Meeting of
the Anti-Prohibition League at 3125 SE Belmont to continue working on a
1,300 piece mailout. Floyd Landrath, Director of the ALL, has
generously offered to help OCTA in this way tomorrow night again.
If anyone has time during the day, we are always needing help in the
OCTA office located near SE Hawthorn and 33rd. Please call us at
235-4606 if you want to make opportunities happen!
The people need an _opportunity_ to vote for peace, and an education as
to why peace is better than war. We _can_ give it to them with OCTA.
Non-Violently.
Also, Thank you Portland NORML for helping start on the next 1,300
piece mailout last Wednesday, as the ALL had started on it last
Tuesday.
Thank all of you who showed up at the Rollings Stones Concert to gather
some signatures on the freshly printed OCTA petitions!
I'll give an UPDATE on the signature count soon.
Last week our volunteer Bill called people the whole 5 days while I
kept the electric copier pumping out 1,000 sheets an hour. Thanks to
volunteer printers using a real press, I didn't have to do all of it
with the copier.
Paul Stanford would be a better source for an update on his work, he's
been making allot of contacts - and personal donations - etc... - and
thats' what we need - he's got lots in the works and I'll try and
remind him to make an update to this list of his work!)
With Peace,
Bruce House
OCTA Office - 235-4606
OCTA Website
http://www.crrh.org
give peace a chance,
work on it!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Shootout House Yields Small Arsenal ('The Oregonian' Says Portland Marijuana
Task Force Cop Lost Her Life For 51 Cannabis Plants - Video Surveillance Camera
May Have Captured Warrantless Breakin)
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 01:57:38 -0800
From: Paul Freedom
Organization: Oregon State Patriots
To: Cannabis Patriots
Subject: CanPat> SHOOTOUT HOUSE YIELDS SMALL ARSENAL???
Sender: owner-cannabis-patriots-l@teleport.com
THE OREGONIAN
February 3, 1998
Shootout house yields small arsenal
A video camera aimed at the front porch may have
recorded last week's tragic event, police say
By David R. Anderson
of The Oregonian staff
A video surveillance camera was aimed through reflective
glass at the front porch of a house where a police officer
was shot and killed last week. The house also contained a
grenade launcher and at least five grenades, according to
court documents unsealed Monday afternoon in Multnomah
County Circuit Court.
The house where Steven Douglas Dons, 37, lived also had
a manual on military booby traps and a set of body armor in
an upstairs closet.
Police also found marijuana
inside a wood stove and a grow
operation of 51 marijuana plants
at the house, at 2612 S.E. 111th
Ave., according to search
warrant affidavits and returns.
The video surveillance camera was hooked to a monitor in
Dons' bedroom, with equipment to record video. Portland
Police Bureau detectives said in the documents that the
equipment might contain evidence of the crime, raising the
possibility that the shooting was captured on videotape.
Court employees still were transcribing audiotapes Monday
evening, so those documents might contain additional
information.
Officials would not comment Monday evening on the
contents of the search warrant documents or other aspects
of the investigation, said Capt. Greg Clark, head of the
Detective Division.
The house contained a small arsenal of shotguns, rifles and
handguns. The long guns, apparently numbering at least 10,
included a Polytech M-14 assault-style rifle, an Enfield
30-06 rifle, a Remington Sportsman 30-06 rifle with scope,
a .22-caliber Marlin semiautomatic rifle with scope, four
12-gauge shotguns and two SKS 7.62mm semiautomatic
assault rifles. The house apparently had at least two
handguns: a .357-magnum with three speed loaders and a
.45-caliber pistol.
Police also seized a laser sight, a gas mask canister, at least
one bayonet, at least one crossbow with darts, several air
rifles and BB-guns, and a pair of nunchuks -- a martial arts
weapon of two pieces of wood connected with a short
chain. They also found "firearms propaganda" and a book
titled "Confirmed Kill."
Clark said last week that Dons did not appear to be in a
survivalist movement or militia organization.
The house and a shed on the property also contained
hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including a
100-round-capacity magazine with 80 rounds inside. Police
also found reloading equipment.
In addition to the marijuana grow, police found
"cocaine/methamphetamine inhaling paraphernalia," the
documents said, but apparently neither of those drugs.
Police seized 51 marijuana plants -- 17 that were 4 feet tall,
17 that were 3 feet tall and 17 that were 1 foot tall. They
also seized many pieces of equipment related to marijuana
growing, including two 1,000-watt grow lights, timers,
several books on marijuana horticulture, scales and
marijuana seeds.
The documents did not explain what information led police
to knock on the door initially. Dons lived at the house with
Jeffrey H. Moore, 44, who rented the property. Moore has
not been charged with a crime.
Officer Nathan Shropshire, Officer Brian Schmautz and a
detective arrived at the house about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.
When they knocked on the door, no one answered.
Schmautz then smelled growing or freshly cut marijuana,
and the two other investigators smelled it, too, the
documents state.
Shropshire also observed condensation and mold on
upstairs windows, which are signs of marijuana growing, he
said.
Investigators then checked with Portland General Electric
and found that the house had used an average of 2,622
kilowatt hours a month in the past 13 months. That amount
was enough to sustain a marijuana grow operation,
especially because the house also had a wood stove,
Shropshire wrote. A typical grow light uses about 360
kilowatt hours a month.
Police used the evidence to seek a search warrant from
Multnomah County Circuit Judge Michael Marcus. But
before they had the warrant, officers saw smoke, which
smelled like burning marijuana, coming out of the chimney.
Fearing that someone inside was destroying evidence,
officers yelled "Portland police" six times and broke down
the front door with a paving stone.
Dons allegedly fired at least 10 rounds from an SKS
semiautomatic rifle, killing Officer Colleen Waibel, 44.
Officer Kim Keist, 39, was critically wounded, and Sgt. Jim
Hudson, 42, was wounded slightly in the hand. Keist is now
in fair condition at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
The documents do not make it clear at what point Waibel,
Keist and Hudson arrived.
After a 2 1/2-hour standoff, Dons surrendered. He had
been shot once in the upper left chest, the documents said,
apparently during the initial exchange of gunfire. Dons was
upgraded to fair condition Monday at OHSU Hospital and
moved out of intensive care, said Lisa Godwin, a hospital
spokeswoman.
Police also found a rifle bullet embedded in a brick wall in
front of apartments across from Dons' house.
They seized from the house a personal computer, 45
"assorted" videos and 22 adult videos. Police also took an
answering machine with 12 messages, many of them
presumably from police trying to contact Dons during the
standoff, the documents state.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Cameras May Have Caught Shootout - Court Documents List 'Arsenal' Of Weapons,
Drugs Found On Site (Newscast By KOIN, Portland's CBS Affiliate,
Ignores The Issue Of Whether There Was Any Evidence The Target
Of The Marijuana Task Force's Warrantless Break-In Was Indeed Attempting
To Destroy 51 Marijuana Plants In His Fireplace,
Or Whether Police Lied About That In Order To Break Down His Door)
KOIN Channel 6
Portland, Oregon
http://www.koin.com/
letters to editor:
c6knews@koin.com
Cameras May Have Caught Shootout - Court Documents
List 'Arsenal' of Weapons, Drugs Found On Site
Associated Press
PORTLAND, Posted 8:11 a.m. February 03,
1998 -- Last week's fatal shootout of a police
officer might have been caught on video tape
by a surveillance camera on the front porch of
the house where the tragedy occurred.
The Oregonian reports a video surveillance
camera was hooked up to a monitor in Steven
Douglas Dons' house. The monitor was in his
bedroom, with recording equipment attached,
according to Portland Police Bureau detectives. The
detectives were quoted in court documents unsealed
Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
The documents said Dons' house contained a marijuana grow-operation and an
arsenal that included a grenade launcher. The cache of shotguns, rifles and
handguns included a Polytech M-14 assault-style rifle, a .22-caliber Marlin
semi-automatic rifle with scope and two Russian SKS 7.62mm semi-automatic
rifles.
The house and a shed on the property contained hundreds of rounds of
ammunition, including a 100-round-capacity magazine with 80 rounds inside.
Police also seized a laser sight, a gas-mask canister, at least one bayonet,
a crossbow and a martial arts weapon. Also found was a manual on military
booby traps and a set of body armor in an upstairs closet.
Police seized 51 marijuana plants, growing equipment, literature and
marijuana seeds. In addition to the marijuana operation, police found
"cocaine/methamphetamine inhaling paraphernalia," the documents said.
Officials would not comment Monday on the contents of the search warrant
documents or other aspects of the investigation, said Capt. Greg Clark, head
of the Detective Division.
The documents did not explain what led police to knock on the door. Dons, 37,
lived at the house with Jeffrey H. Moore, 44, who rented the property. Moore
has not been charged with a crime.
The documents state Officers Nathan Shropshire and Brian Schmautz arrived
at the house with a detective about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. When they knocked
on the door, no one answered. But they smelled marijuana. Shropshire observed
condensation and mold on upstairs windows, which are signs of marijuana
growing, he said.
Investigators checked with Portland General Electric and found electricity
usage over the past 13 months sufficient to sustain a grow operation,
Shropshire wrote. A typical grow light uses about 360 kilowatt hours a month.
Police used the evidence to seek a search warrant, but before it arrived,
officers saw smoke coming out of the chimney.
Fearing that someone inside was destroying evidence, officers yelled
"Portland police" six times and broke down the front door with a concrete
stepping stone, according to the documents.
Dons allegedly fired at least 10 rounds from an SKS rifle, killing Officer
Colleen Waibel, 44. Officer Kim Keist, 39, was critically wounded, and
Sgt. Jim Hudson, 42, was wounded in the hand.
Keist was listed in fair condition Monday at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, where
she has been recovering.
The documents do not make it clear at what point Waibel, Keist and
Hudson arrived.
After a two-hour standoff, Dons surrendered. He had been shot once
in the upper left chest, the documents said, apparently during the initial
exchange of gunfire.
Dons was in fair condition Monday at OHSU Hospital. He faces charges of
aggravated murder, of attempted aggravated murder and first- and
second-degree assault.
Copyright 1998 by The Associated Press
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Police Violated Rights Of Portland Suspect (Letter To Editor
Of Salem 'Statesman Journal' Regarding Victim Of Marijuana Task Force
Warrantless Break-In)
Date: Tue, 03 Feb 1998 22:56:31 -0800
From: Paul Freedom (nepal@teleport.com)
Organization: Oregon State Patriots
To: Anti-Prohibition Lg (aal@inetarena.com),
Cannabis Patriots (cannabis-patriots-l@teleport.com),
"libnw@circuit.com" (libnw@circuit.com)
CC: Portland OR City Council -- Comish Charlie Hales (hales@ci.portland.or.us),
Comish Erik Sten (Esten@ci.portland.or.us),
Comish Gretchen Kafoury (gkafoury@ci.portland.or.us),
Commish Jim Francesconi (jfrancesconi@ci.portland.or.us),
Mayor Vera Katz (mayorkatz@ci.portland.or.us),
Portland Police Chief Charles Moose (police@teleport.com)
Subject: Stop the violence, end Prohibition, AGAIN!
Sender: owner-cannabis-patriots-l@teleport.com
Letter To Editor
Statesman Journal
Salem, Oregon
February 3, 1998
POLICE VIOLATED RIGHTS OF PORTLAND SUSPECT
On Jan. 27, Portland police violated
the 4th, 5th, and 14th articles of the U.S.
Constitution and were horrified when a
U.S. citizen put his life on the line to
protect his inalienable rights as described
in the Declaration of Independence.
Well shame on him. Who the heck
does he think he is, and doesn't he know
that the president, hoping to be dictator,
said, " When personal freedom's being
abused, you have to move to limit it."
Sorry, Steven Dons, the police did
not like the way you were using your
personal freedom in the privacy of
your own home. Haven't you heard
that our government has declared God's
law to be illegal and is trying to find our
creator to file a charge of government
interference?
The U.S. Constitution is the sovereign
citizen's contract that allows the government
to exist so long as it does not violate God's
laws as set forth in the New Testament.
Bill Mayhar
Salem, Oregon
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Oakland's Hidden Pot Club ('San Francisco Chronicle' Update
On Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative,
One Of California's Largest Dispensaries Of Medical Marijuana)
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 13:47:38 -0800
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: jwjohnson@netmagic.net (Joel W. Johnson)
Subject: MN: US CA: Oakland's Hidden Pot Club
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: "Frank S. World"
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Contact: chronletters@sfgate.com
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Pubdate: Tue, 03 Feb 1998
Author: Chip Johnson
OAKLAND'S HIDDEN POT CLUB
But a discerning nose can pinpoint location
Under the watchful eye of a security guard, a few people gathered one day
last week outside an Oakland office front that blends in with its
surroundings on Broadway.
The absence of signage marking the building as the home of the Oakland
Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative is by design. Still, to some the location is
no secret. Federal agents, local police and the city officials who endorse
the club know where it is. Citizens are informed on a need-to-know basis.
Just because California voters made medical marijuana the law two years
ago, and the group enjoys the full backing of Oakland City Council, doesn't
mean you have to flaunt it.
The organization is so low-key that some residents who need such treatments
don't know it exists.
Oakland resident Keith Davis, 41, went to a San Francisco pot club until he
discovered that Oakland had one of its own.
``It took a while to find this place, and I had to go through a friend in
the health care field,'' said Davis, a registered nurse who is HIV
positive.
It is a far cry from the rebellious, in-your-face tactics of Dennis Peron,
the vocal and brash director of one of San Francisco's two pot clubs.
The Oakland cooperative's low-profile approach reflects both the East
Bay's less flamboyant style and the character of Jeff Jones, the marijuana
dispensary's executive director.
The organization boasts more than 1,000 card-carrying members. Another 500
have applied since it opened in July 1996 -- four months before state
voters approved Proposition 215 and medical use of marijuana -- but they
failed to provide adequate personal or medical documentation needed to
become a member.
In spite of the club's best efforts, some people, including federal drug
agents, have beaten the security measures. A federal case against all six
Bay Area clubs is scheduled to start March 24 in U.S. District Court in San
Francisco.
Jones said that in one case, the Oakland club was taken in by an agent
posing as a primary caregiver in dire need of a one-day supply for a
patient too ill to come in. The club gave in and sold him a small amount.
Jones argued that a pharmacist would do the same thing. That may be true,
if you were a regular customer. Otherwise, it sounds unlikely.
Still, the straight dope is that federal drug agents don't give a hoot
about Proposition 215, and are eager to see the pot clubs closed.
In spite of the generic look, the skunky smell of potent pot in the Oakland
cooperative's third-floor offices is a dead giveaway.
Down the hall from the elevator sits another security guard. He requires
identification, in this case a membership card, before granting permission
to enter the next room, because that's where the smell is coming from.
Glass cases in the members-only room are filled with various strains of
cannabis, papers, pipes -- everything needed to light up and get your
impulse engines to kick in.
Maui Wowie, Humboldt Green, Mexican, hash oil and Canna-Med, concentrated
pot in pill form, are all inside. The atmosphere is casual and remarkably
quiet. One member sits on an old couch and rolls a joint on a small table
in front of him. Six feet to his left, marijuana plants flourish under a
horticultural high-intensity light. Jones urges self-sufficiency, learn to
grow, just in case the law is repealed one day.
Unlike Peron's Cannabis Cultivators' Club, where members are encouraged to
light up at their leisure, the cooperative's office lease prohibits it,
Jones said.
``I wouldn't put it past one of our members to smoke in the streets''
outside the building, Jones said.
Jones' approach is mild compared to Peron, who has been criticized by
colleagues for bringing the wrath of law enforcement down on all the Bay
Area pot clubs.
Nonetheless, Peron is Jones' guru, a founder father of the movement. The
gangly 23-year-old met Peron four days after arriving here from South
Dakota in 1994.
``I would never step away from Dennis and the work he's done in the past,''
Jones said. ``If it wasn't for Dennis, there would be no 215.''
In at least one instance, Peron's sometimes outlandish and verbose style
has proved to be a benefit.
``I had no idea it was available until Peron got busted,'' Davis said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Oakland Impounds 14 Autos In Drug Sting ('San Francisco Chronicle' Notes
In June, Oakland Became First California City To Allow Police
To Confiscate Vehicles Of Illegal-Drug Buyers And Sell Them -
Regardless Of Any Conviction)
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 13:43:53 -0800
To: mapnews@mapinc.org
From: jwjohnson@netmagic.net (Joel W. Johnson)
Subject: MN: US CA: Oakland Impounds 14 Autos in Drug Sting
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: "Frank S. World"
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Contact: chronletters@sfgate.com
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Pubdate: Tue, 03 Feb 1998
Author: Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
OAKLAND IMPOUNDS 14 AUTOS IN DRUG STING
First test of law enacted last summer
A new Oakland law that allows police to impound the autos of those
suspected of being drug buyers or the customers of prostitutes led to the
seizure of 14 cars -- including one with a Utah registration, authorities
said yesterday.
The Saturday night sting, the first enforcement action since the City
Council approved the law last summer, netted 28 suspects, 20 of whom came
from outside the city.
Among the confiscated cars were a 1998 Chevy S-10 pickup, a flatbed truck,
a Cadillac coupe and a Pontiac Grand Am from Utah. Only one car was from
Oakland.
At a City Hall news conference, police and city officials cited the success
of ``Operation Beat Feet'' as proof that the ordinance would encourage
miscreants passing through town to keep on going.
``We want to send a message in no uncertain terms that Oakland is not a
drugstore,'' said City Councilman Nate Miley, who heads the city's Public
Safety Committee.
Or as Mayor Elihu Harris put it, drug and prostitution suspects better have
a ``good pair of walking shoes'' while their cars find ``new and happier
homes.''
In June, Oakland became the first city in California to enact a law letting
police confiscate the vehicles of drug buyers and prostitutes' clients and
sell them -- regardless of whether the person gets convicted of a crime.
The city pockets the proceeds.
The owner has 10 days to file a claim to fight the seizure in an Alameda
County Superior Court civil hearing, which is independent of the criminal
proceeding.
The city spent months setting ground rules in hopes of surviving any court
challenges.
``We are confident this is a legally sound program,'' City Attorney Jayne
Williams said.
The council passed the law in response to residents' complaints and
estimates showing that as many as 60 percent of the people who buy drugs in
the city come from elsewhere.
On Saturday night, undercover police officers on foot masqueraded as drug
dealers, selling artificial ``rock'' cocaine near 98th Avenue and Walnut
Street in East Oakland.
Once purchases were made, uniformed officers were called in to arrest the
buyers on suspicion of attempted possession of narcotics, a felony.
Eight of those arrested were from Oakland. Others came from Fort Bragg,
Hayward and San Leandro. Of those arrested, eight were women.
Besides the cars, police confiscated a gun, a hypodermic needle kit and two
drug pipes.
The sting transactions were videotaped and monitored by representatives
from the city attorney and Alameda County district attorney's office.
Russ Giuntini, a senior deputy district attorney, said officials from a
number of other cities, including San Francisco, Hayward, San Jose and one
in Connecticut, have called about the program.
More stings throughout the city are planned. ``We've only just begun,''
Giuntini said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Lungren - Medical Pot Spurs Teen Drug Use ('Sacramento Bee' Quotes
California Attorney General's Final 'State Of The Public Safety' Address)
Date: Fri, 06 Feb 1998 07:43:10 -0500
To: DrugSense News Service
From: Richard Lake
Subject: MN: US CA: Lungren: Medical Pot Spurs Teen Drug Use
Cc: maptalk@mapinc.org, medmj@drcnet.org
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: "Frank S. World"
Pubdate: 3 Feb 1998
Source: Sacramento Bee
Author: Dan Bernstein, Bee Capitol Bureau
Contact: opinion@sacbee.com
Webform: http://www.sacbee.com/about_us/sacbeemail.html
Website: http://www.sacbee.com/
Editor's note: This story was also on one of the wire services. It is the
subject of the Focus Alert from DrugSense this week. Thanks, Frank, for
finding the article after the heads up on MAPTALK. If anyone can find it
published in any other newspaper, please send it to editor@mapinc.org
Thank you!
LUNGREN: MEDICAL POT SPURS TEEN DRUG USE
California Attorney General Dan Lungren said Monday that drug abuse by
juveniles is on the rise, and he blamed part of it on the passage of the
medical marijuana initiative approved by voters in 1996.
In his seventh and final "State of the Public Safety" address, Lungren
touted a steady decline in California's crime rate during the past four
years. He pointed to statistics released Monday showing that the number of
serious reported crimes in selected cities and counties was down by 7.4
percent during the first nine months of 1997, compared to the same period
in 1996.
But Lungren, a Republican who is running for governor, said in a speech to
the Comstock Club that drug use among young people has "risen dramatically,
threatening the drop in crime that California has achieved."
Lungren noted that he strongly opposed Proposition 215, which legalized
marijuana use for medical purposes when approved by a physician, and he
said the measure sent a "damaging signal" to both adults and young people.
"As a result," Lungren said, "Here in California our young people are using
marijuana more than at any other time during the last 10 years."
According to Lungren, the only other state that experienced an increase in
illegal drug use by minors last year was Arizona, which also approved a
medical marijuana initiative in 1996.
Saying he also is very concerned about methamphetamine use by youths in
California, Lungren said he plans to spend more than $2 million from a new
$18.2 million federal grant to launch a public-awareness campaign about the
adverse health and safety effects of that drug, commonly known as crank.
"To kids who think crank is cool, we will show them that meth users are
nothing but tremendous time bombs," the attorney general said.
But in a press conference after his speech, Lungren said he would not favor
a proposal advanced last month by Lt. Gov. Gray Davis, a Democratic
candidate for governor, to allow random drug tests of high school students.
"I don't see the great need for that right now," Lungren said. "We need to
get our cultural focus back on track."
Lungren covered a lot of ground during his 45-minute speech: He credited
the three-strikes-and-you're-out sentencing law for the sharp drop in
violent crimes. He advocated adding home burglars to a new sentencing law
that calls for a minimum 10-year prison term for carrying a gun while
committing certain crimes. And he renewed his call for making public the
names of juveniles who have been arrested for serious crimes.
But Lungren became most passionate when he spoke on one of his favorite
topics -- decaying "cultural attitudes." Lungren recited the violent lyrics
of a best-selling video game, and he decried the marketing of marijuana
"trading cards" to youths.
"Whatever happened to character development?" Lungren asked, straying from
his prepared remarks. "People hide behind the First Amendment by saying we
can't do anything against them legally, and I agree. But we can
re-interject the notion of shame in our society."
Answering a question from the audience after his speech, Lungren declined
to criticize federal prosecutors for striking a plea bargain with Unabomber
Ted Kaczynski that spared him the possibility of the death penalty.
However, he suggested that the jury easily could have imposed capital
punishment.
"Virtually every day in California courts state prosecutors are prosecuting
death penalty (cases) against individuals who have real or imagined mental
problems as great or greater than Mr. Kaczynski," Lungren said.
But he added, "Every case is unique and it's tough to put yourself in the
shoes of anybody who made that decision."
Lungren then returned to his theme of cultural values.
"I just don't want to see Kaczynksi become a big hero now, and I hope the
press will not give him any publicity for any future writings he might
have," he said, prompting loud applause.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Lungren Says Marijuana Law Sparks Rise In Teen Drug Abuse (Scripps-McClatchy
News Service Also Shows Its Inability To Check Facts Or Ask The Other Side
For Comment)
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 19:10:41 -0500
To: DrugSense News Service
From: Richard Lake
Subject: MN: US CA: Wire: Lungren Says Marijuana Law Sparks Rise In Teen
Drug Abuse
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: Marcus-Mermelstein Family
Source: Scripps-McClatchy News Service
Pubdate: Tue, 3 Feb 1998
Author: Dan Bernstine
Editor's note: If this story was picked up by any newspaper besides The Bee,
could you please send it to editor@mapinc.org
LUNGREN SAYS MARIJUANA LAW SPARKS RISE IN TEEN DRUG ABUSE
SACRAMENTO -- Attorney General Dan Lungren said Monday that drug abuse by
juveniles is on the rise, and he blamed part of it on the passage of the
medical marijuana initiative approved by voters in 1996.
In his seventh and final "State of the Public Safety" address, Lungren
touted a steady decline in the state's crime rate during the past four
years. He pointed to statistics released Monday showing the number of
serious reported crimes in selected cities and counties was down by 7.4
percent during the first nine months of 1997, compared to the same period
in 1996.
But Lungren, a Republican running for governor, said in a speech to the
Comstock Club that drug use among young people has "risen dramatically,
threatening the drop in crime that California has achieved."
Lungren noted he strongly opposed Proposition 215, which legalized
marijuana use for medical purposes when approved by a physician, and he
said the measure sent a "damaging signal" to both adults and young people.
"As a result," Lungren said, "Here in California, our young people are
using marijuana more than at any other time during the last 10 years."
According to Lungren, the only other state that experienced an increase in
illegal drug use by minors last year was Arizona, which also approved a
medical marijuana initiative in 1996.
Saying he also is very concerned about youth methamphetamine use, Lungren
said he plans to spend more than $2 million from a new $18.2 million
federal grant to launch a public-awareness campaign about the adverse
health and safety effects of that drug, commonly known as crank.
"To kids who think crank is cool, we will show them that meth users are
nothing but tremendous time bombs," he said.
But in a press conference after his speech, Lungren said he would not favor
a proposal advanced last month by Lt. Gov. Gray Davis, a Democratic
candidate for governor, to allow random drug tests of high school students.
"I don't see the great need for that right now," Lungren said. "We need to
get our cultural focus back on track."
Lungren covered a lot of ground during his 45-minute speech: He credited
the three-strikes-and-you're-out sentencing law for the sharp drop in
violent crimes. He advocated adding home burglars to a new sentencing law
that calls for a minimum 10-year prison term for carrying a gun while
committing certain crimes. And he renewed his call for making public the
names of juveniles who have been arrested for serious crimes.
But Lungren became most passionate when he spoke on one of his favorite
topics -- decaying "cultural attitudes." Lungren recited the violent lyrics
of a best-selling video game and decried the marketing of marijuana
"trading cards" to youths.
"Whatever happened to character development?" he asked, straying from his
prepared remarks. "People hide behind the First Amendment by saying we
can't do anything against them legally, and I agree. But we can
re-interject the notion of shame in our society."
Answering a question from the audience after his speech, Lungren declined
to criticize federal prosecutors for striking a plea bargain with Unabomber
Ted Kaczynski that spared him the possibility of the death penalty.
However, he suggested the jury easily could have imposed capital punishment.
"Virtually every day in California courts, state prosecutors are
prosecuting death penalty (cases) against individuals who have real or
imagined mental problems as great or greater than Mr. Kaczynski," Lungren
said.
But he added, "Every case is unique and it's tough to put yourself in the
shoes of anybody who made that decision."
Lungren then returned to his theme of cultural values.
"I just don't want to see Kaczynski become a big hero now, and I hope the
press will not give him any publicity for any future writings he might
have," he said, prompting loud applause from the crowd of about 200.
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Fetal Crack Exposure Effects Questioned ('Reuters' Says New Report
In February 'Pediatrics' From University Of Florida In Gainesville Concludes
'None Of The Findings In The Current Study Point To Extreme Damage')
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 16:48:10 -0500
To: DrugSense News Service
From: Richard Lake
Subject: MN: US: Wire: Fetal 'Crack' Exposure: Effects Questioned
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: Marcus-Mermelstein Family
Source: Reuters
Pubdate: Tue, 3 Feb 1998
Author: E.J. Mundell
Reuters source: Pediatrics (1998;101(2):229-237, 237-241)
FETAL 'CRACK' EXPOSURE: EFFECTS QUESTIONED
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Initial reports of permanently damaged "crack babies"
may have been greatly exaggerated, according to pediatric researchers.
However, they caution that the long-term impact of fetal cocaine exposure
upon child development still remains largely unknown.
Research involving over 300 newborns led experts at the University of
Florida in Gainesville, to conclude that "we have few data to warrant the
alarm that grew out of earlier reports, often fueled by the media, of the
possible devastating effects of prenatal cocaine-exposure."
Their research, which appears in the February issue of the journal
Pediatrics, compared the physical and psychological condition of 154 babies
born to cocaine-addicted mothers to that of 154 infants born to healthy
mothers of matched ethnicity, background and age.
The researchers found that newborns born to mothers with a history of crack
use during their third trimester had slightly smaller heads (on average) as
well as slightly shorter bodies compared with children of
non-cocaine-abusers. These effects remained even after the scientists
adjusted for maternal use of other drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, and
nicotine.
Study lead author Dr. Fonda Davis Eyler noted, however, that these physical
differences were barely noticeable to the naked eye: "if you looked at two
different children (one from each group), you wouldn't be able to tell,"
she said.
Standard psychological testing revealed no significant differences in
overall intellectual performance among the two groups of newborns. However,
according to Eyler, more subtle behavioral differences emerged during
subsequent testing. Drug-exposed babies "would be in their alert state less
often," she explained, "or they would cry more, or they would just be more
difficult to keep in the kind of state to be available, to do the testing."
Still, Eyler, a psychologist, notes that these behavioral differences were,
again, less than immediately obvious. "It wouldn't be a baby that you would
say, 'Oh my goodness, this mother's going to take (the baby) home and have
lots of problems, and everyone's going to notice,"' she said.
However, the Florida researchers caution that no one yet understands the
long-term implications of subtle drug-related alterations in physical or
mental development. "If, as a group, (the fetally exposed babies) all had a
little more difficulty, it makes you wonder if this is a red flag for
something that will come out later," Eyler said.
In an effort to discover the long-term effects, if any, of fetal cocaine
exposure on child development, she and her colleagues plan to follow the
developmental progress of this same cohort of children over their first 8
years of life.
The good news, she says, is that none of the findings in the current study
point to extreme damage. "While we don't know what that means long-term,
that gives us more hope that these children aren't doomed to be forever
disabled," she said. Eyler notes that the very act of naming a child a
"crack baby" can, in itself, bring about great harm. She believes all
stigmatizing labels "can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. We think they're
going to do poorly, we don't expect for them to do well, (and) so we don't
push for that."
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Medicinal Use Of Marijuana Isn't Drug Abuse (Letter To Editor
Of 'Tacoma News Tribune' From Washington State Senators
Kohl And Thibaudeau, Co-Sponsors Of SB 6721)
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 17:28:11 -0500
To: DrugSense News Service
From: Richard Lake
Subject: MN: US WA: PUB LTE: Medicinal Use Of Marijuana Isn't Drug Abuse
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: Robert Lunday
Source: Tacoma News Tribune
Pubdate: February 03, 1998
Contact: leted@p.tribnet.com
Website: http://www.tribnet.com/
MEDICINAL USE OF MARIJUANA ISN'T DRUG ABUSE
Your Jan. 26 editorial ("Leave medical pot issue to science") seems to
imply that our bill to allow limited medicinal use of marijuana is in some
way a rushed effort to beat the scientific odds. We have no doubt, as
preliminary results have shown, that further federal research will also
prove that there are significant therapeutic benefits of marijuana for many
people.
But while we support medical research, we also believe that we can't wait
years for yet another study to prove what so many patients with serious
medical conditions already know: Smoking marijuana can alleviate pain and
suffering. Shouldn't our loved ones who are gravely ill - indeed, dying -
be able to use a drug known to provide some respite from their plight
without being turned into criminals?
The editorial noted the overwhelming defeat of Initiative 685 by the
voters. In fact, we voted against it. But Senate Bill 6271 is a far cry
from the initiative. I-685 would have decriminalized many drug offenses and
would have allowed patients to use LSD, heroin, PCP and methamphetamine. It
went too far, and the people said so.
Our proposal, on the other hand, reasonably provides for marijuana use only
for limited, serious medical conditions and only with a doctor's
recommendation after finding no relief with conventional methods.
Marinol, a synthetic form of marijuana, is an important addition to the
medication choices available. But for many patients, it just doesn't work.
Its pill form is difficult for some to swallow and keep down, especially
when experiencing severe nausea from the effects of chemotherapy. Other
people experience side effects not present when smoking marijuana. Also,
Marinol is expensive, costing as much as 10 to 20 times more than marijuana.
The bottom line is that hundreds of Washingtonians are suffering from AIDS,
cancer, mulitple sclerosis and other diseases. Our concern is helping them
get some relief when it's medically warranted and with their physician's
authorization. The medicinal use of marijuana is not drug abuse. It's
compassionate care.
JEANNE KOHL State senator , 36th District
PAT THIBAUDEAU State senator, 43rd District
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Actor Daniel Baldwin Hospitalized ('Associated Press' Says Actor Who Played
Detective On 'Homicide,' Brother Of Actors Alec, Billy And Stephen,
In Stable Condition After 'Apparent Drug Overdose' In New York)
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 14:46:23 -0500
To: DrugSense News Service
From: Richard Lake
Subject: MN: US NY: Actor Daniel Baldwin Hospitalized
Sender: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Reply-To: owner-mapnews@mapinc.org
Newshawk: Marcus-Mermelstein Family
Source: Associated Press
Pubdate: Tue, 3 Feb 1998
ACTOR DANIEL BALDWIN HOSPITALIZED
NEW YORK (AP) -- Actor Daniel Baldwin was in stable condition today after
an apparent drug overdose in which he reportedly went on a naked rampage
and trashed a room at the Plaza Hotel. His brother Billy denied those reports.
``I did speak to a police officer ... and he said to me that there
certainly was no rampage and his hotel room was not trashed,'' Billy
Baldwin said.
``His condition continues to improve every hour,'' he said, adding that his
brother could be released in a day or so ``after more observation and
testing.''
A hospital spokeswoman said only that Daniel Baldwin's condition had been
upgraded from critical to stable overnight.
Police sources said that Daniel Baldwin, at 37 the second-oldest of four
actor brothers, was rushed to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital on Monday
morning after suffering a drug overdose at the posh hotel.
Officers were called to the Plaza at 7:30 a.m. after the hotel reported a
disturbance, police said.
The police sources, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity, said Baldwin had overdosed on cocaine and had damaged his hotel
room.
Newspaper reports said Baldwin was naked and hallucinating when police
arrived and that he put up a struggle and had to be handcuffed.
Asked if his brother had a drug problem, Billy Baldwin said at the hospital
this morning, ``That's my family's business, quite honestly.''
He said he was most concerned about his mother, Carol, who he said was
``overwhelmed by the media response to this.''
Daniel Baldwin, who once portrayed a detective on the TV series
``Homicide,'' has been called the black sheep of an acting family that
includes brothers Alec, Billy and Stephen.
He worked as a sports-betting handicapper before joining his brothers in
Hollywood.
In a 1994 magazine interview he said he missed his father's 1983 funeral
because he was in jail for driving without insurance and with switched plates.
``It was horrible, the guilt I felt,'' he said. ``Soon afterward, I became
a father myself. I realized you have to be responsible.''
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Say No To Dope (Letter To Editor Of 'Lethbridge Herald' In Alberta
By 17-Year-Old Favors Continuing Cannabis Prohibition Because Such A Stance
Shows Youth Today 'Have Values')
From: creator@islandnet.com (Matt Elrod)
To: mattalk@listserv.islandnet.com
Subject: LTE Leth Herald:Say no to dope (fwd)
Date: Tue, 03 Feb 1998 09:03:17 -0800
Lines: 33
-------- Forwarded message --------
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 1998 07:49:37 -0800 (PST)
From: Kathy galbraith
Date: Feb.3,Tues.
Lethbridge Herald (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada)
Contact: lherald@lis.ab.ca
Editor:
I read the letter by John Van Liere and applauded
him. If marijuana was legalized, it would have many disastrous
consequences, that the country is not prepared to face.
The youth of today are surrounded by negative things.
If you don't believe me take a look through your newspaper.
What kind of world are the adults of this country planning to
give the youth and children? If marijuana is legalized, where
will it stop?
As a 17-yr.old youth I've grown up hearing the public
service announcements, telling me drugs are bad. Many adults
think that teenagers have no values anymore. Well we do. My
friends and I don't want to see marijuana legalized. The teens
of today care about what happens around them. For the teens like
me I voice my opinion, please don't legalize marijuana.
Erica Street
Glenwood
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[End]
to 1998 Daily News index for January 29-February 4