HOT OFF THE 'NET

OPIUM BRIDES OF AFGHANISTAN

By Pete Guiter at Drugwarrant.com

http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/2008/03/31.html#a2777

REPORT OF THE UN/NGO CONSULTATION HELD IN FLORIDA

The report below is a fascinating read from the Florida NGO
Consultation. They did not invite drug policy reformers to
participate in their forum, and the report below reflects their
mindset. It was a completely different experience from the Vancouver
NGO Consultation. (See http://carbc.ca/portals/0/resources/Beyond2008.pdf )

http://www.spcollege.edu/central/collaborative/08/DFAF/DFAF_RTR.HTM

THE SCHOOL CROTCH INSPECTOR

Fighting the Advil menace, one strip search at a time

By Jacob Sullum

http://www.reason.com/news/show/125786.html

BATTLE OVER POT POSSESSION IN ALASKA IS BACK IN THE COURTS

By Phillip S. Smith, Drug War Chronicle

They won't give up -- Alaska Supreme Court hears oral argument in
state's bid to overturn legal marijuana at home.

http://alternet.org/drugreporter/81118/

CLERGY SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE "WAR ON DRUGS"

A new mini-documentary produced by Mike Gray, http://mike-gray.org/,
of Common Sense for Drug Policy, http://csdp.org/, with assistance
from Chuck Thomas and Tyler Smith of the Interfaith Drug Policy
Initiative, http://idpi.us/

http://www.idpi.us/clergy_dvd/

DEA VS. HEROIN KINGPIN - FULL PREMIERE EPISODE

DEA agents put their lives in the hands of a drug and weapons
trafficker turned informant as they mount an operation to burrow deep
into Detroit's drug underworld. Each undercover buy and daring raid
brings them one step closer to a deadly showdown with a violent drug kingpin.

http://www.spike.com/episode/26482/st/2967221

REGULATING COMPASSION

An overview of Canada's federal medical cannabis policy and practice.

By Philippe Lucas, Vancouver Island Compassion Society

In response to a number of court challenges brought forth by Canadian
patients who demonstrated that they benefited from the use of
medicinal cannabis but remained vulnerable to arrest and persecution
as a result of its status as a controlled substance, in 1999 Canada
became the second nation in the world to initiate a centralized
medicinal cannabis program. Over its six years of existence, this
controversial program has been found unconstitutional by a number of
courts, and has faced criticism from the medical establishment, law
enforcement, as well as the patient/participants themselves.

http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/pdf/1477-7517-5-5.pdf

HOW MCCAIN STAYS POPULAR DESPITE SUPPORTING DISASTROUS WARS

By Ira Chernus

The strange nature of McCain's appeal is directly tied to the
distractions of the unwinnable Iraq occupation and the "War on Drugs."

http://alternet.org/drugreporter/80822/

DRUG TRUTH NETWORK

Century of Lies - 04/01/08 - Paul Wright

Mass Imprisonment extract from KUOW in Seattle featuring Paul Wright
of Prison Legal News

http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/1826

Cultural Baggage Radio Show - 04/02/08 - Drugs and Pregnancy

Pregnant Women, another casualty in the drug war with Dutch
Chatenberg, Lynn Paltrow and Susan Boyd

http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=node/1827

WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK

FIRST AID GUIDELINES PROJECT: PROBLEM DRINKING

We would like to invite consumers and carers to participate in our
project developing first aid guidelines for problem drinking.

First aid for problem drinking is the help provided to a person
developing a drinking problem or in an alcohol-related crisis (e.g.
alcohol poisoning). The first aid is given until appropriate
professional treatment is received or until the crisis resolves. At
present, there are conflicting views about how to support a person
with drinking problems. Thus, the aim of this project is to get
consensus between experts (consumers, carers and clinicians) on the
best way to help.

Once developed, the Guidelines will direct the Mental Health First
Aid (MHFA) training program. The MHFA training program was developed
in 2000 in an attempt to provide basic knowledge to people on how to
help someone who is experiencing mental health difficulties (see
www.mhfa.com.au for more details). The course has been very
well-received by the Australian public and has now been taught in
Scotland, the USA, Hong Kong, Canada, Ireland, Finland, and the UK.

We are currently recruiting clinicians, consumers and carers to
complete our survey.

See link below for more information.

http://www.mhfa.com.au/surveymonkey/Problem_drinking_info_sheet.html

CALL THE SENATE ON THE CRACK/POWDER DISPARITY

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/040208crack.cfm