ITALY
The national congress of the PDS (Democratic Party of the Left) approved unanimously the order
of the day "Drug Addiction and damage reduction" in which the "usefulness of the legalization of
the so called recreational drugs" was affirmed.
(CORSERA, IL MESSAGGERO 24/02)
GREAT BRITAIN
Growing cannabis for resale is a phenomenon in rapid expansion that allows for high profit margins according to a police report on confiscated cannabis plants.
(THE TIMES 23/03)
GREAT BRITAIN
A group of research scientists have obtained permission from authorities to test the effects of ecstasy on the human brain. The drug is implicated in 60 deaths. Twenty volunteers will be tested.
(THE TIMES 23/02)
ITALY
The government is studying a plan to adopt alternative solutions to imprisonment for drug addicts.
The basic assumption is that prison is no solution to drug addiction.
(IL GIORNALE 23-24/02, LA STAMPA 24/02
MEXICO
A chief anti-narcotics official, Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, has been accused of collaborating with the cocaine king Amado Fuentes. Meanwhile the "New York Times" has revealed that two state governors have been accused of accepting money from the cocaine boss.
(FINANCIAL TIMES, LE MONDE, LIBERATION, SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 20/02, NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 20-21/02,FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE 22-24/02, INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 20-21-24/02, IL MESSAGGERO 21/02, THE ECONOMIST 22/02, LA REPUBBLICA 21-24/02)
WORLD
Its time for hemp. Its blooming all over the world, coming up everywhere from fashion to medicine. It is used for making clothes, pharmaceuticals, beer. The nearly global ban limiting or forbidding its production dates back to the beginning of this century as a result of pressure from the cotton growers.
(PANORAMA 27/02)
GREAT BRITAIN
Glasgow, with its record number of drug addicts, is the background for the recent film "Trainspotting". Reality is harsher than the film, however, as the city is the European capital of heroin abuse.
(PANORAMA 27/02)
FRANCE
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Jean-Louis Debre, declared to the Parliament that there is no possibility that the use or sale of currently illegal drugs will be legalized.
LE FIGARO, 19/02)
ITALY
The Conference on Drugs, organized by the government, will be held in Naples from March 13-15. In Venice, during a preparatory meeting, the rehabilitation communities underline their negative stance on the question of liberalization and accuse the government of approaching the conference with an orientation in favor of liberalization.
(IL MESSAGGERO 25/02, CORSERA, IL GIORNALE, LA STAMPA 02/03)
USA
The use of GHB, a liquid form of Ecstasy, is the latest fad among young Americans. According to the FDA the drug is responsible for numerous cases of coma in the last few months alone. 12 chemical laboratories where the drug was being produced have been shut down.
(IL GIORNALE 20/2)
USA
A group of American scientists have proposed a study of the possible beneficial effects of marijuana on terminally ill patients. The study could act as a starting point for a well founded examination of the medicinal effects of the plant.
(LIBERATION 19/02, EL PAIS 24/02)
ITALY
Magistrates ask for the acquittal of Marco Pannella, the leader of the Reform Movement, with regards to events dating back to Christmas '95 when Pannella gave 200 grams of hashish to a television host during a live show. According to Pannella such an acquittal would be very serious.
(CORSERA 26/02)
USA
As every year the US publishes a list of drug producing countries. For the tenth year in a row, Colombia has been classified as a country subject to possible economic sanctions because of its drug policies together with other countries including Afghanistan, Burma, Iran, Nigeria and Syria. While Mexico has been confirmed as a partner country in the fight against drug abuse.
(THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 19/02, FINANCIAL TIMES 28/02, EL PAIS, INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 02/03, FRANFURTER ALLGEMEINE, SUDDEUTCHE ZEITUNG, LE MONDE 03/03)
USA
Maxi-plan from Washington for the fight against illegal drugs. 16 billion dollars will be destined to cut down on drug use and above all on prevention measures.
(EL PAIS, IL SOLE 24 ORE 26/02)
GERMANY
The head of drug related problems of the Hamburg Senate, Bossong, is favorable towards the controlled distribution of heavy drugs. In disagreement with the governmental official, Linter,
he believes that the Hamburg project is successful in limiting the heath risks and has, as its ultimate objective overcoming drug addiction.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, 19/02)
SPAIN
The "Comision de Drogas" of the College of Lawyers of Barcelona has criticized the Supreme Court with regards to sentences involving illegal drugs. They feel that the Court does not distinguish between addicts who push small quantities of drugs to maintain their habit and big time dealers.
(EL PAIS 18/02)
COLOMBIA
By March 1, US officials will have to decide whether Colombia has taken sufficient measures to fight against illegal drug traffic or if further sanctions are in order. The Samper government is doing its best to pass the exam, but the recent, if light, sentencing of the heads of the Caĺ cartel could be an obstacle.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG, 21/02)
BOLIVIA
The new offensive of the Bolivian government against producers of cocaine has lead to the arrests
of seven farmers and to the breakdown of all dialog channels between the two groups.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG, 21/02)
BRAZIL
Ruthless Drug dealers use European women as drug couriers. They are used to bring Latin American cocaine to markets in London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. These women are often arrested whereas their bosses stay safely undercover.
(DER SPIEGEL, 24/02)
GERMANY
The Germany Army has prepared a video-clip to discourage soldiers, and in particular new recruits,
from using illegal drugs.
(DER SPIEGEL, 24/02)
GERMANY
According to estimates of experts in the field of substance addiction, in Germany, more than
four million people are addicted to alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs. There are 2.5 million
alcoholics, 1.4 million addicted users of prescription drugs and an estimated 200,000-300,000
regular users of heavy drugs like heroin. At present only 1% of addicts are under treatment.
(SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 25/02)
SWITZERLAND
In the Zurich area an experiment involving the controlled distribution of heroin pills to addicts is underway. The pills are being distributed to 25 addicts who previously maintained their heroin
habit by smoking special "lily of the valley" scented cigarettes containing heroin.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 26/02)
GREAT BRITAIN
School inspections ordered by the Office for Standards in Education have revealed that lessons destined towards the prevention of drug abuse are useless because the students are much better informed than their teachers.
(THE TIMES 03/03)
SPAIN
The "Asociaciones por la Normalizacion del Cannabis" have launched a campaign to depenalize
the personal use and growing of marijuana. Their slogan is: "Contra la prohibition, en marzo ....me planto!"
(El PAIS 03/03)
WORLD
The international Council on narcotics control, an organism of the UN, has presented its yearly report. The business of illegal drug traffic world over amounts to an estimated 500 Billion dollars.
The use of synthetic drugs, from Ecstasy to diet pills is increasing rapidly.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE, LA STAMPA 05/03)
FRANCE
"Elephant rose" a militant magazine for the depenalization of cannabis consumption, will not reassume publication as the Parisian Court of Appeals confirmed the sentence that condemned its director for having presented cannabis consumption "under a favorable light".
(LIBERATION 04/03, LE MONDE 05/03)
FRANCE
A Parthenay, a company that organizes concerts has been taken to court because as organizers of a rap concert that they knew would attract drug users and pushers, they failed to check the audience for drugs.
(LIBERATION 04/03)
FRANCE
The Minister of Justice has published a document encouraging police and guards to intensify efforts to limit the introduction of drugs into the prisons. Inspections of all visitors to inmates are required.
(LE MONDE 05/03)
SWITZERLAND
The citizens of the town of Zankt Gallen in a popular referendum confirmed the annual budget of 431,000 francs destined towards the fight to limit the damage caused by drug abuse. Turnout 33%. For:8271. Against: 6313.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 03/03)
GERMANY
The UN organization for narcotics control has invited the German government to prohibit the
Schleswig-Holstein region from carrying out its project for the sale of hashish in pharmacies. Motivation: the project is in contrast with international laws and would open the road to the legalization of cannabis.
(SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 04/03)
