News From The Ial

[Digit]

Bulletin of the International Antiprohibitionist League on the world campaign for the reform of the UN Conventions on Drugs

#.22 - YEAR I - 04 June 2003

NEWS FROM THE IAL

U.S.A.
High Time magazine has proclaimed Euro-MP Marco Cappato 'Freedom Fighter for June' for his dedicated struggle against prohibitionism.

ITALY
Radicali Italiani president Rita Bernardini and Radicali member for Romagna Andrea Turchetti presented a little marijuana plant to the mayor of Ravenna by way of civil disobedience in the cause of legalisation of therapeutic cannabis -- but neither His Honour nor the police were there, so they left it with the concierge. It isn't known whether anyone called the police, but if they did, no-one came, nor charged Bernardini Turchetti and afterwards, even though they were in flagrante delicto and their identites were known.

ITALY
Radicale in Romagna Andrea Turchetti has gone on a fast to speed up a dialogue with president of the Emilia-Romagna Region. A year has passed since two Orders of the Day were tabled for discussing therapeutic cannabis, but nothing has happened since then.

NEWS FROM THE WORLD :



2969 25/05/2003
THAILAND
CORRUPTION
BANGKOK POST
According to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, some personages with high and influential national profiles, including politicians, are at the centre of the drug business and the ancillary corruption. This is said to be one of the main obstacles in the government's fight against drugs, poverty and corruption.

2962 23/05/2003
UNITED KINGDOM
INITIATIVES
THE BBC
HM's government have launched a new anti-drug campaign called "Talk to Frank". It is aimed not at drug users directly but at persons near them, e.g. parents, to make these understand the problem a bit better. According to health minister Hazel Blears, traditional be-smart-don't-take-drugs campaigns are antiquated and don't work.

2971 26/05/2003
CANADA
INITIATIVES
THE VANCOUVER SUN
In Vancouver, construction of the first do-it-yourself clean-injections room has begun. Success, however, will depend on the attitude of the police, who recently proclaimed their 'diffidence' toward such institutions.

2963 23/05/2003
U.S.A. (Maryland)
LAWS
THE WASHINGTON POST
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Republican, has signed into law a measure that reduces the penalties for cancer patients and other sufferers who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes. This, notwithstanding strong opposition and pressure within his own party and from the White House.

2967 27/05/2003
CANADA
LAWS
THE CBC
The new marijuana law has been presented to Parliament. Possession up to 15g would bring only a fine of CAN$400 (246 euros, US$290) without leaving a criminal record, but the penalties for pushing and illegal cultivation would be doubled.

2972 28/05/2003
THE NETHERLANDS (Amsterdam)
LAWS
REUTERS
Traditional "coffee shops" may soon have reasons to fear for their existence. The new anti-smoking law being considered by the government would forbid smoking in work places so as to protect others from passive smoking. That would include coffee shop personnel.

2966 27/05/2003
THAILANDIA
OPINIONS
THE BBC
The UN General Secretary's special representative for human rights, Hina Jiliani, expressed serious doubts during a visit to Thailand about the efficacy of the Thai government's war-on-drugs. He suggested that in reality it was all about hitting hard at minority ethnic groups in the country.

2965 27/05/2003
MOROCCO
STATISTICS
THE GUARDIAN
If hash were legal it would be the nations prime export. Total land under hemp cultivation has risen from 5,000 hectares in 1956 to 50,000 in 1994 and then to 250,000 this year. Total turnover is estimated at 2.75 billion euros (3.23 billion US dollars).

2968 27/05/2003
SPAIN
STATISTICS
ANSA / EUROPA PRESS
Requests for treatment for cocaine-caused ailments have quadrupled in Spain since 1996, and now amount to 34% of all aid requests: thus Gonzalo Robles, a functionary of the state's National Anti-Drug Plan.

2964 26/05/2003
AFGHANISTAN
TRAFFIC
ANSA
According to the Central Asia office of the UN anti-drug plan, by the end of this year about 400 metric tonnes of heroin will have passed along the 'Afghan route'. One kilogram costs US$300 to produce but is worth US$20,000 when it arrives in Kazakistan. Annual yield: 2.3 billion US$ a year.

2970 27/05/2003
U.S.A.
THE WAR ON DRUGS
EL TIEMPO
Democratic senator Joseph Biden has asked that anti-drug aid be redistributed -- it is currently concentrated almost exclusively on Colombia. He wants it spread to areas where terrorists of Al Quaeda stamp derive benefits from the drug business.


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Editor in Chief: Marco Perduca
Director: Vincenzo Donvito
Layout & Distribution: C.E.D. Roma

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