WSNIA - The Educator

INFORMATION ♦ EDUCATION ♦ ENFORCEMENT

THE EDUCATOR - Winter 2004

Educating Voices
Tracking the news that impacts drug prevention

From EVI E-News (www.educatingvoices.org/EVINews.asp)

Through EVI’s vast network you will be able to access drug information and news that you might not otherwise find. Important, accurate and timely information delivered directly to network members.

What Is Life Like For Children Of Drug and Alcohol Abusers?

Up to 350,000 children in the United Kingdom are estimated to have parents who are drug abusers and over a million have parents with drinking problems, according to the Drug Agency’s Hidden Harm Report It says such abuse can and does cause serious harm to children at every age — from conception to adulthood. -- BBC News, November 10,
2004.

Is a Sniff a Search?

The Supreme Court Justices will decide whether people who have given police no reason to suspect illegal activity have a constitutional protection against dog searches. A lawyer for an Illinois man who was stopped for speeding, argued that the $250,000 worth of marijuana found in his client’s trunk resulted from an illegal search when a K-9 drug-sniffing dog alerted the police. Illinois officials told the justices that a sniffing dog isn’t really a search, at least not as far as the Constitution is concerned. -- Associated Press, November 10, 2004.

Decriminalization Will Cause Pressure On the Canadian, U.S. Border

Paul Cellucci, the American ambassador to Canada waned that Ottawa’s plan to decriminalize marijuana would exacerbate already dire congestion problems at the U.S. Border. The increased inspection and questioning of certain people coming into the U.S. would slow up crossing points already bogged down with security-related screening. More than $1 .2-billion in trade crosses the Canada-U.S. border every day, the largest bilateral trade flow in the world. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce said in a recent study that border delays are already costing the Canadian and U.S. economies $13.6-billion a year. -- Canada.com, November 10, 2004.

The Marijuana Policy Project Trying For Legalization In Nevada

In their quest for the legalization of marijuana, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is backing a Nevada initiative that would legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana by adults in the state. The Committee to Regulate and Control Marijuana has filed 84,665 signatures in 5 counties. They need a minimum of 51,337 signatures of registered voters to qualify. If the signatures are verified, state lawmakers would have to consider passing the initiative during the first 40 days of the 2005 session. It they don’t pass it, it automatically goes on the 2006 ballot. -- Reno Gazette Journal, November 9, 2004.

Software Will Aid In Studying Drug Deaths

5 teens and young adults have overdosed and died in the Tri-Cities since the start of summer. Kane County Illinois Judge James Doyle, who created and oversees the drug court, has joined forces with the Kane County Coroner to study the latest deaths and how local leaders and law enforcement might put up roadblocks for others on paths to destruction. By analyzing the software data, they hope to soon be in a better position to identify the beginning of trends. -- The Daily Herald, November 8, 2004.

It Is Possible To Develop New Brain Cells During Alcohol Abstinence

Scientists at the University of North Carolina’s Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies have reported a burst in new brain cell development during abstinence from chronic alcohol consumption. The study showed that during alcohol dependency there was an inhibition of brain cell development. However, within 4 to 5 weeks of abstinence, new brain cells started to develop, there was a return of metabolic activity, and cognitive tests showed a return of function. -- Eureka Alert, November 5, 2004.

Police In Ann Arbor Won’t Change Enforcement Practices

City Attorney Stephen Postema said that Ann Arbor’s new medical marijuana initiative is invalid. Although the initiative was legally and appropriately placed on the ballot after a petition drive, Postema said 27-year-old case laws dictates that city officials can refer complaints for prosecution under state law even though it would be contrary to the city’s new charter language. Police Chief Dan Oates has directed his officers to continue enforcement of all marijuana sale and possession offenses as they did before the vote. -- Ann Arbor News, November 4, 2004.