Weekly:
This
Week
in
History
2/3/06
February 3, 1987: Carlos Lehder is captured by the Colombian National Police at a safe house owned by Pablo Escobar in the mountains outside of Medellin. He is extradited to the US the next day. On May 19, 1988 Lehder is convicted of drug smuggling and sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus an additional 135 years. February 4, 1994: An unpublished US Department of Justice report indicates that over one-third of the drug felons in federal prisons are low-level nonviolent offenders. February 4, 2003: Jurors who had convicted Ed Rosenthal hold a press conference, saying they were deceived by the withholding of information about Rosenthal's involvement in medical marijuana, that they would not have convicted him had they known, and calling for a new trial. February 5, 1988: A federal grand jury in Miami issues an indictment against Panamanian General Manuel Noriega for drug trafficking. Noriega had allowed the Medellin cartel to launder money and build cocaine laboratories in Panama. February 6, 2004: The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejects the DEA's ban on hemp foods. February 7, 1968: In a move likely spurred on by the Nixon campaign's "law and order" rhetoric, President Lyndon Johnson creates the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) by combining the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) with the Bureau of Drug Abuse Control. By 1972, the BNDD is 1,361 agents strong. February 7, 1985: Enrique Camarena, an aggressive DEA agent stationed in Mexico who discovered that drug traffickers there were operating under the protection of Mexican police officials, is kidnapped outside of his office in Guadalajara. His body is found several weeks later bearing marks of brutal torture. February 7, 2001: After a contentious confirmation process, new Attorney General John Ashcroft declares, "I want to escalate the war on drugs. I want to renew it. I want to refresh it, re-launch it, if you will." He said this despite of the fact that under President Clinton's two terms in office the number of jail sentences nationwide for marijuana offenders was 800% higher than under the Reagan and Bush administrations combined. February 8, 1914: In an example of the role of racial prejudice in the genesis of US drug laws, The New York Times publishes an article entitled "Negro Cocaine 'Fiends' New Southern Menace." February 9, 1909: Congress passes the Opium Exclusion Act. February 9, 2000: Deborah Lynn Quinn, born with no arms or legs, is sentenced to one year in an Arizona prison for marijuana possession and violating probation on a previous drug offense, the attempted sale of 4 grams of marijuana to a police informant for $20. Quinn requires around the clock care for feeding, bathing, and hygiene. ================ 13. Job Opportunities:
Drug Policy Alliance, Full-Time Legislative Assistant and Part-Time Office
Manager
The LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT is responsible for tracking and analyzing federal legislation and executive branch policies pertaining to the war on drugs, developing lobbying materials, researching issues, planning events, assisting other staff and coordinating special projects. Qualifications include some legislative or advocacy experience; excellent research and writing skills; and strong attention to detail. Qualified applicants should fax or e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and salary requirements by February 15 to Bill Piper at (202) 216-0803 or [email protected]. The PART-TIME OFFICE MANAGER/RECEPTIONIST oversees the daily operations of the Alliance's Washington, DC office. Duties include, but are not limited to, answering the telephone, meeting and greeting visitors, tracking and ordering office supplies, processing mail, handling office maintenance issues, and assisting staff. Applicants should be organized, friendly, thoughtful, and have excellent phone skills. Commitment to drug policy reform preferred, but not essential. Qualified applicants should fax or e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and salary requirements by February 15 to Bill Piper at (202) 216-0803 or [email protected]. ================ 14. Job Opportunity:
Publications Coordinator for Students for Sensible Drug Policy and DanceSafe
In a collaborative effort, Students for Sensible Drug Policy and DanceSafe and hiring a Publications Coordinator to disseminate both the SSDP and DS message to youth through the production and distribution of literature, materials, and resources. Through the production and distribution of SSDP and DS literature, materials, and resources, the Publications Coordinator will grow and strengthen the existing chapters and activists of both organizations, as well as inspire others to take interest in the important fields of reform and harm reduction. Generally, through his or her artistry and creativity the Publications Coordinator will advance both the SSDP and DS mission to educate the public about drugs, drug laws and policies. Visit http://www.dancesafe.org for a full job description and information on how to apply. The application deadline is March 3.
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