HOT OFF THE 'NET

BMJ ATTEMPTS TO TACKLE THE DRUG LAW REFORM DEBATE

The British Medical Journal, which along with the Lancet, is arguably
the UK's most prestigious medical journal, has this week run two
articles in its regular Head to Head section, entitled 'Should drugs
be decriminalised' (with a cover teaser titled: 'Should street drugs
be decriminalised'). The two articles, printed on facing pages, were
produced by Dr Kailash Chand, a General practitioner arguing the
'Yes' position, and Joseph A Califano from the The National Center on
Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University arguing the 'No' position.

http://drugsense.org/url/224cKfpR

CANNABIS AND CANNABINOIDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The video "Cannabis and Cannabinoids in the 21st Century: Medical
Marijuana" is now live. You can view it at:

http://videos.med.wisc.edu/videoInfo.php?videoid=1107

CANADIAN CANNABIS ACTIVISTS HAIL COURT VICTORY

Canada's prohibition of the possession of marijuana has once again
been declared to be constitutionally invalid and of no legal force or
effect. In a judgment released last Tuesday of a decision he
rendered in Oshawa on October 19, Justice Edmondson of the Ontario
Court of Justice dismissed charges against three young men accused of
simple possession of marijuana, declaring that "there is no offence
known to law which the accused have committed."

http://thepotlawhasfallen.ca/

NEW DRUG WAR DEBATE VIDEO AT LEAP

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition speaker Rusty White, author and
columnist Jacob Sullum and a former Dallas, Texas drug intelligence
officer, Phil Jordan, debate the "war on drugs" on the McCuistion show.

http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Web_Links&l_op=visit&lid=122

DRUG TRUTH NETWORK

Cultural Baggage Radio Show

11/14/07 - Karen Garrison, mother of two sons in Fed prison on
mandatory minimums of 15 and 19 years + Marc Mauer of the Sentencing Project

Audio: http://drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/FDBCB_111407.mp3

Century of Lies

11/13/07 - Jerry Epstein, founding member of Drug Policy Forum of Texas

Audio: http://drugtruth.net/007DTNaudio/COL_111307.mp3

RAT TRAP - WHY CANADA'S DRUG POLICY WON'T CHECK ADDICTION

by Robert Hercz

http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2007.12-health-rat-trap/1/

CANNABINOID CHRONICLES - NOVEMBER

The November issue of Cannabinoid Chronicles is now available online at:

http://www.thevics.com/publications/vol5/VICSNews5_3.pdf

NATIONAL DRUG THREAT ASSESSMENT - 2008

National Drug Intelligence Center, U.S. Dept. of Justice

"This interagency assessment provides a strategic overview and
predictive outlook of the threat to the United States from the
illicit trafficking and use of cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana,
heroin, pharmaceutical drugs, and other dangerous drugs."

http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs25/25921/25921p.pdf

WHAT YOU CAN DO THIS WEEK

HOUSE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE AVOIDS HEA REFORM

Late Wednesday night Congress turned its back on students with drug
convictions. When the House Education and Labor Committee debated
the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill Wednesday night,
Chairman George Miller (D-CA) prevented a vote on an amendment
offered by our friends in Congress who are actively working to repeal
the harmful and unfair aid elimination penalty.

While we are extremely disappointed that the Democratic leadership
refused to allow a vote on such an important issue, those who spoke
in favor of the amendment proved that support for repealing this
penalty is strong and growing in Congress. You can watch clips of
this historic debate at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDu-5qzj1NI

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1FFvdYT7k

While the committee's inaction is undoubtedly a major setback, it is
clear that this fight isn't over yet. There's still a chance we can
win a vote on an amendment on the House floor or shepherd a good
outcome through the House-Senate conference committee, so if you
haven't already, please send a letter to your member of Congress now
at http://www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com/help/