cannabisnews.com: U.S. Drug Chief Warns Against Injection Sites 





U.S. Drug Chief Warns Against Injection Sites 
Posted by CN Staff on November 21, 2002 at 08:11:55 PT
By Robert Matas
Source: Globe and Mail 
U.S. drug czar John Walters warned yesterday that supervised centres for addicts to inject heroin may save some lives but also may lead to more drug users and casualties.Stepping gingerly into one of the most contentious issues in the city of Vancouver, the director of the White House office of national drug control policy said during a visit to the city he was not telling Canada what the country should do.
"But the issue is, why not save people from the fatal disease of addiction and not just from the fatal opportunity for overdose," Mr. Walters said.Limited resources should be used to make people well, he told reporters after speaking at a luncheon to a group of municipal politicians, police from the city's drug-infested Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, business people and marijuana activists."We want to make people well and I do not believe, if you look at reality, that you get to where you want to be by allowing people to continue in their addiction."Health Minister Anne McLellan has announced that by the end of the year, municipalities will be allowed to apply for approval to establish safe injection sites as research projects.Despite a private meeting with the U.S. drug czar, outgoing Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen said he remained convinced that supervised injection centres should be available in the city.Mr. Owen has spearheaded the drive for a national drug strategy that includes safe injection centres. His successor, Larry Campbell, who takes over as mayor in two weeks, was elected on a platform that included a strong commitment to open supervised centres for addicts.Safe injection sites could help bring treatment to addicts who inject drugs on the street, Mr. Owen said. "The status quo is not working. Let's implement this, try it and see if it works. If it doesn't work, we can change it."Mr. Walters was in Vancouver to discuss tighter enforcement of drug laws and tougher security measures at the Canada-U.S. border. He said he has been discussing measures to curtail the flow of marijuana from Canada to the United States and of cocaine in the opposite direction.The RCMP say 95 per cent of British Columbia's $6-billion marijuana crop is shipped into the United States, Mr. Walters said.His speech was interrupted repeatedly by marijuana activists at the luncheon, who booed and shouted. Speaking over the protesters, he said he did not support legalizing marijuana for medical purposes because scientific research has not shown that the drug is effective.Complete Title: U.S. Drug Chief Warns Against Injection Sites for AddictsSource: Globe and Mail (Canada)Author:  Robert MatasPublished: Thursday, November 21, 2002 – Print Edition, Page A16Copyright: 2002 The Globe and Mail CompanyContact: letters globeandmail.caWebsite: http://www.globeandmail.ca/Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmA Would-Be Mayor's Mission: Safe Injection Siteshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14754.shtmlCannabisNews - Narcotics Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/narcotics.shtml
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on November 22, 2002 at 19:23:52 PT
Nuevo Mexican 
Thank you. I too feel the pressure of a society that is getting suffocated. We must use some discretion now if we value our freedom. Freedom is relative. There are only a small number of people who comment compared to the amount of times articles are accessed. We have a large reader base and just because we don't see them posting comments doesn't mean that they aren't trying to read and learn how they can help. This web site is growing so fast and getting so big we must concern ourselves with all the people and be kind and respectful of one another. I'm very happy for the growth we are experiencing and I must look at everyones feeling and can't do more then I am to try to make people understand. I have said this more then once. I don't think I should have to keep begging for people to try to follow a few simple rules. Thanks for understanding. It's been hard for us at home and extra pressure isn't something I can handle under the circumstances.
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Comment #12 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 22, 2002 at 18:46:22 PT
I understand FOM
sorry to get upset, I'm okay now, just feeling the effects of living in the 'good ole boys U.S.A.'. Last person I want to upset is you, especially now that I know what you're experiencing today. Hoping for a smooth transition into the light! The stars brought you an Eclipse in Scorpio, bringing the potential for loss of loved ones into the picture, as you are the ticket taker for people leaving this realm.(You help people make the transformation from this life to the next life! Awesome service your providing!)
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on November 22, 2002 at 12:49:29 PT
Nuevo Mexican 
I don't even want to talk about this today. Let's please leave it be. I'm sorry you are upset. Thank you.
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Comment #10 posted by DdC on November 22, 2002 at 12:46:55 PT
Judge Backs Drug Users in Needle-Exchange Plans
Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 11:35:26 -0600
From: "Tami" Judge Backs Drug Users in Needle-Exchange Plans
By BENJAMIN WEISERFederal judge in Manhattan ruled yesterday that the Police Department may not arrest drug addicts who are carrying syringes containing drug residue if they are participating in a needle-exchange program.The ruling was hailed by advocates of the programs, who say they have become a crucial means of reducing the incidence of H.I.V. infection among drug addicts, who often share dirty needles and spread the disease. The city said it was considering what action it might take in light of the ruling. more at link: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/21/nyregion/21ARRE.html?tntemail1
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Comment #9 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 22, 2002 at 12:40:28 PT
Where are you DANA?
I need to hear your prolific views on the world, it keeps me sane, regardless of profanities. Speaking of profanities, nothing anyone can say with offensive words is as offensive as prohibiting them. We have a pornographic president who is a moron, destroying the economy, our Bill of Rights, the Constitution, etc....That is profane. Nothing in the english language should offend anyone, but the actions of those is power, illegitamely or not, are truly disgusting, and if you are concerned about offensive posts that use profanity, so be it. We at C-news are not about censorship of anykind. I will be pissed if DANA no longer posts due to some idiotic policy that says cuss words are not allowed. I say again, I will be PISSED OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If there is such a policy, please amend it as there is no justification for it. We live in a world that wants you to fear your own shadow, your own thoughts, and fear the repercussions from expressing them. The Bill of Rights and the Constitution do not end at the comment section of C-News. If they do, then the purpose of C-news has already been defeated! Come back DANA! NM
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Comment #8 posted by DdC on November 21, 2002 at 15:44:33 PT
Clean Needle No Disease Spread...Duh!
Waldo and the D.E.A.th mongers Mica, Barr and McCullom have been popagandizing that NE's breed junkies.The reality is addiction is an illness and not attempted suicide. There are herbal alternatives and sometimes mind altercating experiences to cure. Its all in your head anyway. Including pain of the very real physical withdrawal inabling the user to stop on will power alone. Chemical dependency isn't illicit drugs only. Booze and OTC meds addict. Many "junkies" are Vets many on the streets healing a wound protecting crude oil somewhere. The focus would be better served on prevention and aiding the patient not the cops. The ludicrous notion that if your not Jerry Falwellian Christian your life must be fixed. The fact of addicts migrating to safer places is a sign of not wanting to be harmed and not searching for death.
Waldo kills many kids on the street with his lies. Thats the bottom line. He kills kids. Now I hear Portland is taking up the slack and the streets are harsh, especially on those running away from right wingnut Falwellians. He causes adulterated dope. He causes inconsistancies. Shared needles. Bad injections. No medical treatment or monitoring. No health concern. He is D.E.A.th.The homeless also migrate to the simpethetic areas. A small minority are on the streets because they like it. Many are there because their jobs left town or they hit bottom and ain't ready to die. Jobs leave causing city councils to vote out environmental and humanitarian concerns to please and coddle new business. Incentives by the Bushit Chenanigans perpetuating the Ganjawar inbetween Oil Wars. Save the Junkie by Disease campaign. More statistics to always toss in there in a ganja debate. A modern version of the smallpox blankets given to the Indians and the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. The cities acting like Americans share the brunt of tax expenses covering the cost of everyones responsibility. Most towns are happy the junkies and Ganjawar politics isn't a problem for them. But people have to be someplace. And instead of herding we should all deal with it and provide the safest avenues to create an atmosphere sane enough for the addicted to seek treatment. Forced treatment is an oxymoron. But its better than cages which is plain insane. Except for the profits of the prison and Ganjawar, the Keystone of the entire war on some drugs, cultures and growing methods.No one should have to suffer to recieve the basics, especially in the wealthiest country on the planet. With the most nutritionally complete food, strongest natural fiber and wood. Softer without chemicals than cotton dangled like a carrot in 32 countries laughing at the American farmer going bankrupt. Or Rainbow Farmed Forfeitured if the Sheriff needs a retirement spread. Workers have the power to make it right. Especially the farmers and farmworkers sparechanging when a viable alternative could be their salvation. Less toxins means better health dispite the nay sayers like Falwell. AIDs was spread during Rayguns/Bush by hospitals not screening donars properly or effectively enough. The media was censored in agreement of National Security not to alarm the people. Many not in the risk zone died because of it. Not a pretty sight, I've been there till they finally find the last breath. Condemned to die in prison if caught with Ganja instead of morphine. Because of Waldo this exists. Because we don't speak out loud enough he or another Bushit Sentenal will continue spreading D.E.A.th.How can Waldo expect the streets to be safer than clinics? He enjoys the snitches he breeds to turn in and set up Ganjamed users. More statistics. May the cycle be unbroken preached at his pulpit. Check out Ron Mann's grass and listen to Anslinger or Hitler or Nixon or Bushit or read Waldo D.E.A.th's fabrications its hard to tell who's speaking. Control freaks ends justifying worse means for a cult. If they sucked a little blood from the neck everyone would freak out, when they set up an IV and drain the person they change from cult to multibillion dollar religion. Fundamentalist Fascism. Fire the Liars. Peace, Love and Liberty or the Ruthless D.E.A.thhttp://www.endhomelessnessnow.orgGrass: Ron Mann Chronicles Pot Prohibition 
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread14795.shtmlThe Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment Doing Bad Doing Good
http://boards.marihemp.com/boards/politics/media/40/40342.jpgStarving babies and Illegal to grow food...
http://www.hempseed.com
Feed the Hungry 
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Comment #7 posted by goneposthole on November 21, 2002 at 09:46:37 PT
CBC radio one; OT
Not overtime but off topic, kind of.I listen to CBC radio. Never a commercial, never a pitch for money like you here from NPR.They are able to tell it like it is. A story was covered about a strike by auto workers in Canada. The story included the words of an union auto worker shouting at a scab. You heard every expletive that the union worker said over the airwaves and he made it known that the scab worker was not welcome at the auto plant working the union worker's job.CBC radio does not censor content.CBC also covers a wide range of topics, including content of stories from the Bible. Something you never hear in the US on NPR. CBC is unfettered broadcasting.In the prurient/puritanical society that the US gov has engineered does not allow for a complete story to be told. Just half truths that never really are discussed and examined at length.CBC also interviews people at length, the interviewers ask poignant questions and answers are stated at length. 10 second quips are unheard of. They have indepth programming that holds your attention and well worth listening to.No wonder children in the US have short attention spans, everything they hear is 3 to 10 seconds in length. Onto the next 3 to 10 second partial statement. What was the previous 3 to 10 second quip? Doesn't really matter.I write this because I have not seen a post by DANA or dddd for a few days now, and I would hope that his posting rights have not been terminated. I know that profanity is frowned upon, and other verbiage can be used to get the point across.Even though he has a habit of using expletives profusely, I do not believe they were of a malicious intent. The content of what he had to say always held my interest. I dismissed the expletives and forgave the messenger.If he is out there on the sidelines for a while, I understand.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I do not like the idea of people injecting drugs into their bodies. However, it 
is their choice. Safe injection sites are the same as safe, legal abortions. Women are going to have abortions if they so choose. 
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 21, 2002 at 09:28:08 PT
afterburner
Thank you for he results. I wondered how the votes went.
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on November 21, 2002 at 09:16:57 PT:
Vancouver Election Results.
In case anyone's interested in the election details regarding the Vancouver Mayoral race:Lower Mainland Civic ElectionsMonday, November 18, 2002VANCOUVER(COPE = Coalition of Progressive Electors; DPP = Dance Party Party; GREEN = Vancouver Green Party; NPA = Vancouver Civic Non-Partisan Association; vcaTEAM = Vancouver Civic Action Team; VIP = Vancouver Independent Party; VMP = Vancouver Marijuana Party)(For Mayor)Larry Campbell (COPE) 80,772Jennifer Clarke (NPA) 41,936Valerie MacLean (vcaTEAM) 7,843Raymond Chang 2,777Marc Emery (VMP) 2,014Ndyabagyera Anatoli 426Thomas Reekie (VIP) 353Dave Carson 348Beverly Bernardo 279Frank N. D'Agostino 254Golok (B.J.) Buday 222Patrick Britten 188 Andre Paris 133M.G. MacLeod 131Ben Krakowsky 126Trina Ferguson 105
Vancouver - Lower Mainland Civic Elections - canada.com
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Comment #4 posted by Dark Star on November 21, 2002 at 08:54:41 PT
Disgusting
This appearance was a disgrace, an affront to truth and public health.Needle exchange programs are proven life savers. There is not reason not to do them unless you see death and disease as God's wrath for addiction.His viewpoints on medical marijuana are scandalous. I hope that the man is hounded everywhere and forced into seclusion.
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Comment #3 posted by druid on November 21, 2002 at 08:52:53 PT:
another article about walters
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/news/story.asp?id=%7B9DFB06E7-B6DC-4BF6-870F-121F3AA0C028%7D
An article from the Vancouver Sun about the same thing as this plus the REAL reason Walters was in BCWalters said he was in B.C. to discuss issues of border security and the problem of B.C.'s large marijuana industry, estimated at $5-6 billion a year, with 95 per cent of the drugs going to the United States.
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Comment #2 posted by MikeEEEEE on November 21, 2002 at 08:44:55 PT
telling them what to do
"the director of the White House office of national drug control policy said during a visit to the city he was not telling Canada what the country should do."That's BS, the job of the drug czar is clear.
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on November 21, 2002 at 08:26:56 PT
Article from Snipped Source
Local Potheads Shout Down Bush's Drug Czar 
Keith Fraser, The Province Thursday, November 21, 2002
 
 
American drug czar John Walters was heckled repeatedly during a speech to the Vancouver Board of Trade yesterday.The early part of Walters' short speech on U.S. drug policies seemed to be well received but he ran into trouble when he spoke about marijuana.Walters, a member of President George W. Bush's cabinet, told the crowd that of six million Americans requiring treatment for drug abuse, about 60 per cent are dependent on pot. Complete Article: 
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/story.asp?id=4135EA36-3584-4C7B-BC82-A4D88A44034B
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