Drug War Chronicle, Issue #484 -- 5/4/07
Phillip S. Smith, Editor, psmith@drcnet.org
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484

A Publication of Stop the Drug War (DRCNet)
David Borden, Executive Director, borden@drcnet.org
"Raising Awareness of the Consequences of Drug Prohibition"

DRCNet Book Offer -- Lies, Damn Lies, and Drug War Statistics:
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/lies_damn_lies_and_drug_war_statistics_b...

Alert: Write Congress to End the Crack/Powder Cocaine Sentencing
Disparity!
http://stopthedrugwar.org/crack_sentencing

Do You Live in AK, CO, CT, GA, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, NH, NM, NY,
NC, OH, OK, RI, TN, UT, VT, WA or WY? If So, We Need Your Help:
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/help_repeal_drug_conviction_financial_ai...

Table of Contents:

1. FEATURE: BLACKS, HISPANICS MORE LIKELY TO BE SEARCHED AT
TRAFFIC STOPS -- BUT THAT IS NOT PROOF OF RACIAL PROFILING,
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS
The Bureau of Justice Statistics has released a report showing
black and Hispanic drivers are more likely to be subjected to
vehicle searches than whites, but it says it can't conclude
racial profiling is to blame. It also lacks some key numbers
that could make the case.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/blacks_hispanics_more_likely_searched_tr...

2. FEATURE: US SENTENCING COMMISSION ANNOUNCES REDUCTION IN
CRACK COCAINE SENTENCES
The US Sentencing Commission has adjusted sentencing guidelines
to allow crack offenders to get a little less time in federal
prison. Meanwhile, the pressure mounts for Congress to address
the infamous crack-powder cocaine sentencing disparity.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/sentencing_commission_cuts_crack_sentenc...

3. FEATURE: GUILTY PLEAS ONLY THE BEGINNING IN AFTERMATH OF
ATLANTA "DRUG RAID" KILLING OF 92-YEAR OLD
Two Atlanta narcotics officers have pleaded guilty in the
November drug raid death of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston, but it
looks like that's just the beginning of problems for the Atlanta
narcotics squad.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/atlanta_killer_narcs_plead_guilty_invest...

4. WEEKLY: THIS WEEK'S CORRUPT COPS STORIES
It's a real motley crew this week: a small-town police chief
gone bad, cops escorting drug shipments, and, of course, more
crooked prison guards.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/drug_police_corruption

5. PAIN MEDICINE: DR. HURWITZ CONVICTED OF 16 COUNTS IN RETRIAL
In a victory for federal prosecutors waging war on pain doctors
they consider little more than drug dealers, Northern Virginia
pain specialist Dr. Bill Hurwitz was found guilty of 16 counts
of drug distribution in his second trial.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/pain_doctor_hurwitz_convicted_in_second_...

6. RESOURCE: NEW WEB SITE PROVIDES IN-DEPTH PRO AND CON
INFORMATION ON FELON VOTING ISSUE
One of the hot topics in the criminal justice reform arena these
days is felony disenfranchisement. An in-depth web site launched
this week now provides pro and con arguments on the issue from
more than 80 authorities.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/felon_voting_pro_con_dot_org

7. ALERT: DO YOU LIVE IN AK, CO, CT, GA, IL, IA, KS, MD, MA, NH,
NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, RI, TN, UT, VT, WA OR WY? IF SO, WE NEED
YOUR HELP
E-mails and phone calls are urgently needed to certain US
senators to help repeal a bad law at the juncture of drug policy
and education.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/help_repeal_drug_conviction_financial_ai...

8. WEEKLY: BLOGGING @ THE SPEAKEASY
In addition to the weekly reporting you see here in the
Chronicle, DRCNet also features daily content in the way of
blogging, news links, redistributed press releases and
announcements from our allies and more.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/blogging_at_the_speakeasy_every_day

9. BOOK OFFER: LIES, DAMN LIES, AND DRUG WAR STATISTICS
An important new book debunks literally years of statistical
legerdemain by the nation's central drug policy office -- and is
DRCNet's latest premium for our members.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/lies_damn_lies_and_drug_war_statistics_b...

10. METHAMPHETAMINE: SENATORS FEINSTEIN AND GRASSLEY INTRODUCE
BILL TO HEIGHTEN PENALTIES FOR METH DEALERS WHO FLAVOR THEIR
PRODUCT
Reacting to reports of flavored methamphetamine entering the
market, two senators have introduced a bill that would increase
prison sentences for anyone who flavors a drug to lure children.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/flavored_meth_dealers_face_heightened_pe...

11. MEDICAL MARIJUANA: BY A VETO-PROOF MARGIN, RHODE ISLAND
LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL TO KEEP IT
Rhode Island is set to make its medical marijuana law permanent,
after a bill to do so passed both houses of the legislature this
week by veto-proof margins.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/rhode_island_medical_marijuana_bill_pass...

12. MEDICAL MARIJUANA: MINNESOTA BILL PASSES SENATE, HOUSE
VERSION MOVING TOO
The Minnesota medical marijuana bill has passed the state Senate
and is moving in the House, but the Republican governor is
vowing a veto.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/minnesota_medical_marijuana_bill_passes_...

13. MARIJUANA: IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN -- MARIJUANA MARCHES SET FOR
SATURDAY IN MORE THAN 200 CITIES WORLDWIDE
If it's the first Saturday in May, it's time for the annual
global marijuana marches. This year, people in 231 cities will
take to the streets to free the weed.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/global_marijuana_marches_this_saturday_2...

14. WEEKLY: THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of
years past.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/drug_war_history

15. ANNOUNCEMENT: DRCNET CONTENT SYNDICATION FEEDS NOW AVAILABLE
FOR YOUR WEB SITE!
Support the cause by featuring automatically-updating Drug War
Chronicle and other DRCNet content links on your web site!
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/drug_policy_content_syndication_feeds_no...

16. ANNOUNCEMENT: DRCNET RSS FEEDS NOW AVAILABLE
A new way for you to receive DRCNet articles -- Drug War
Chronicle and more -- is now available.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/drug_policy_RSS_feeds_now_available

17. ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW FORMAT FOR THE REFORMER'S CALENDAR
Visit our new web site each day to see a running countdown to
the events coming up the soonest, and more.
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/484/drug_reform_calendar

(Not subscribed? Visit http://stopthedrugwar.org to sign up
today!)

================

Oh by the way follow-ups are set to talk.politics.drugs so
if anyone in the drug discussion newsgroups want to raise any
issues about the posting of this newsletter that is where
to direct your objection or other remarks.

later
bliss -- C O C O A Powered... (at california dot com)

--
bobbie sellers - a retired nurse in San Francisco

"It is by will alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of cocoa that the thoughts acquire speed,
the thighs acquire girth, the girth become a warning.
It is by theobromine alone I set my mind in motion."
--from Someone else's Dune spoof ripped to my taste.