Punkerslut writes:

"Better Living Through Chemicals"
Punkerslut

An Introduction to the Drug Situation in America

"Marihuana is that drug — a violent narcotic — an unspeakable scourge — The Real Public Enemy Number One! Its first effect is sudden, violent, uncontrollable laughter; then come dangerous hallucinations — space expands — time slows down, almost stands still.... fixed ideas come next, conjuring up monstrous extravagances — followed by emotional disturbances, the total inability to direct thoughts, the loss of all power to resist physical emotions... leading finally to acts of shocking violence... ending often in incurable insanity. In picturing its soul-destroying effects no attempt was made to equivocate. The scenes and incidents, while fictionized for the purposes of this story, are based upon actual research into the results of Marihuana addiction. If their stark reality will make you think, will make you aware that something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace, then the picture will not have failed in its purpose... Because the dread Marihuana may be reaching forth next for your son or daughter... or yours... OR YOURS!" — "Reefer Madness", 1939

The concept of drugs and drug use has come a considerably far distance since the early days of "twenty years for possession and life for sale." The days of imprisonment for decades and decades for marijuana possession is a thing of the past, as much as the scarlet letter is considered a relic of a barbaric and cruel people. Most liberal cities, and even conservative cities that have libertarian judges, are now seeing that there is no solution in imprisoning a smoker of marijuana. Instead, many cities have seen a better policy in giving out tickets to those caught smoking marijuana. In most cities and states, these tickets are comparable to the traffic tickets that drivers sometimes incur. Policy has even been liberalized for those who use heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Instead of thinking that imprisonment will heal them, it is understood that many of these people suffer from an addiction that is beyond their control, and that they are seeking help for their problems. Finally, society is starting to accept the idea that drugs are something that people go to when they are in search of a good, and many people survive lifestyles that involve frequent drug use, but there are some people who become addicted junkies that always suffer for their substance. Every year, it seems that sentences and punishments for drug possession and drug use are becoming more lenient; they are becoming more ethical. I look forward to the day when I can go to my local grocery store and a buy the top-brand, high-quality, imported marijuana in bulk packaging, the way they sell one pound tobacco bags. I am looking forward to this day, but I know in my heart, that with people like these, it may very well take some time.

"Paramilitaries 'Disarm' In Colombia"

Reuters

BOGOTA, Colombia — More than 2,600
far-right Colombian paramilitaries have turned in
their guns, the biggest one-day demobilization since
the illegal groups started peace talks with the
government in 2003.

The disbanding of the Miners Block, a paramilitary
group in the northern province of Antioquia named
after nearby gold mines, brought to 16,500 the number
of militiamen who had turned in their arms so far,
government officials said Friday.

That left fewer than 4,000 in operation, according to
government figures.

The disbanding of the paramilitary groups, which were
formed in the 1980s by drug smugglers and cattle
ranchers trying to protect their property from Marxist
rebels, is key to President Alvaro Uribe's plan for
retaking Colombia from the control of various illegal
armed groups tied to the cocaine trade.

Matthew McDaniel writes:

Who Are the Cowards at US Immigration?

We'd like to know who the cowards are at the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS). After getting deported by the US from Thailand, the family getting left behind, small children and their mother left to fend for themselves, we wonder who these faceless Nazis are?

Deported for Human Rights Activism. Deported because SOMETHING we were doing for the Akha hill tribe was SO important and upsetting the US SO bad that they had to tell the Thai government what to do.

The Ibogaine Alternative

Paul DeRienzo

Imagine a drug that could eliminate a scourge that impacts the lives of more than three million Americans and more than a million western Europeans — drug addiction — with one pill.

Ibogaine was isolated from the root-bark of a plant known as Tabernanthe iboga that grows in a forested area of West Africa in Cameroon and Gabon. In Africa the plant is central to a religion known as Bwiti, one of the most resilient indigenous belief system in Africa. An initiate into the religion must eat the iboga root to induce intense visions and to "meet their ancestors."

Czech Republic Will Decriminalize Growing of Cannabis for Personal Use

Bushka Bryndova, Legalizace

This week the lower chamber of the Czech Parliament approved a new text of the Penal Code decriminalizing growing of psychoactive cannabis and of magic mushrooms (very popular in the Czech Republic) for personal use. The new law still needs to be approved by the Senate and signed by the President. It is almost sure that the Senate will vote for it and that President Klaus would approve it too.

The new law makes a clear distinction between soft (cannabis and magic mushrooms) and hard drugs, and stipulates different penalties for their possession and for the growing of cannabis and mushrooms, which have been since a long time demanded by drug experts and activists. The penalties for hard drugs remain practically unchanged.

"Overgrowing the Government" Campaign

Marc Emery and the British Columbia Marijuana Party

The BCMP needs your help. The ongoing struggle against the extradition of the BC Three (Marc Emery, Michelle Rainey and Greg Williams) is of critical importance to the future of cannabis policy reform in Canada. With your help, we can win the fight and Canada can become an example of tolerant, compassionate and fact-based cannabis policy. Please help us Overgrow the Government!

Marijuana Might Cause New Cell Growth in the Brain

Kurt Kleiner, New Scientist

A synthetic chemical similar to the active ingredient in marijuana makes new cells grow in rat brains. What is more, in rats this cell growth appears to be linked with reducing anxiety and depression. The results suggest that marijuana, or its derivatives, could actually be good for the brain.

greenfever writes

UK To Host 2006 Global Marijuana Music Awards

GET READY to ROCK & ROLL at the 2006 GLOBAL MARIJUANA MUSIC AWARDS!!

The 2006 GMMA is open to all music across the globe with a marijuana
theme. Winners announced at 2006 Cannabis Rally, London. Entries
accepted in English, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, German, Japanese, Greek,
French, Hebrew & Arabic. With 14 music categories to choose from
including Poetry & Video and a cash prize for Pot Song of Year,
marijuana is something to sing about!
Wanna be a Potstar? Check out here to enter the
2006 GMMA!

U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Use of Medical Marijuana

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a setback to the
medical marijuana movement, ruling that federal narcotics laws make
it a crime to grow and use the drug even when it never crosses state
lines and is used only to relieve pain or nausea.

The justices today said Congress's power over interstate commerce is
broad enough to let it ban locally grown and used medical marijuana.

The 6-3 ruling, issued in Washington, overturns a lower court
decision that had let two California women use cannabis to treat
pain, nausea and other symptoms.

California and nine other states exempt seriously ill people from
laws banning cultivation and use of marijuana. Today's ruling means
people in those states nonetheless will face the risk of federal
prosecution if they use or distribute marijuana.

The case is Ashcroft v. Raich, 03-1454.

"U.S. Supreme Court Broadens Police Search Authority:

Justices Rule 6-2 that Dogs Can Sniff Cars at Traffic Stops"

Hope Yen, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that police can have dogs check out motorists' vehicles for drugs even if officers have no reason to suspect illegal activity.

The 6-2 opinion, written by Justice John Paul Stevens, stipulates police dogs may sniff only the outside of a car after a motorist is lawfully stopped for a traffic violation.

But privacy rights advocates said the ruling would lead to far more traffic stops as a way to find drugs.