NEWSBRIEFS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
July 1997
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LAW ENFORCEMENT
18-Year Old Texan, Herding Goats, Killed by U.S. Marine Corps Anti-Drug Patrol; Criminal Investigation of Shooting Underway
S.W.A.T. Team Use In U.S. Law Enforcement Dramatically Increases
Orlando Area Drug Squad Disproportionately Searches Black Drivers
HARM REDUCTION
AMA Calls on Congress to Lift Ban on Federal Funding for Needle Exchanges
End Federal Ban on Needle Exchanges, Says U.S. Conference of Mayors
Needle Exchange Advocates Send Letter to Clinton
Two U.S. Representatives Try to Eliminate HHS Secretary's Authority to Waive Ban on Funding of Needle Exchanges
Needle Exchange Programs Are Needed, Say
Los Angeles Times
and
Washington Post
New "AIDS Czar" Appointed by President Clinton
Allow Maintenance Prescription of Heroin and Cocaine, Says Canada's National Task Force on HIV-AIDS
CAPITOL HILL
"Compromise" Civil Forfeiture Bill Passes House Judiciary Committee
Community Anti-Drug Funding Act Signed by Clinton
Gingrich Reveals New Agenda for Social Change, Top Priority: Drug-Free by 2001
WHITE HOUSE
Massachusetts Governor Weld Nominated to Be Ambassador to Mexico
Clinton Condemns "Heroin Chic" in Fashion Industry Following
New York Times
Story
TREATMENT
Kickapoo Tribe in Texas Fighting Inhalant Addiction
FDA Approves Nicotine Addiction Treatment Pill
SPECIAL REPORT
The "Militarization" of the Anti-Drug Effort
, by Chad Thevenot
IN THE COURTS
2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Condemns Jury Nullification
Supreme Court to Consider Forfeiture Case
Drug Courts Provide Effective Alternative to Incarceration, Report Says
Drug Cases Piling Up While Federal Judgeship in Texas Remains Vacant for Two Years
Texas Judge Trades Leniency for "Donations"
DRUG USE TRENDS
Teen Experimentation With Cigar Smoking on the Rise, Says CDC Report
PRISONS
Prison Population Growth Rate Slows, Number Reaches Record High
STATE LAWS
Connecticut Legislature Passes Revised Drug Bill
Politician-Touted Maryland Drug Law Is Not Used
CRIME RATES
Violent Crime Rate Down in 1996, According to FBI Uniform Crime Reports
LEGAL DRUGS
Dieting Drug Redux® May Cause Brain Damage; Related Weight Loss Drugs Linked to Heart Ailments
FDA Proposes More Regulation of Ephedrine
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Medical Marijuana Research Program Approved by California Senate
Paper Discounts Medical Marijuana Use
MARIJUANA
Marijuana Affects Brain Similarly to Opiates and Alcohol, Says Two New Marijuana Studies
Austin Blues Legend Indicted on Federal Marijuana Charges
INTERNATIONAL
China Will Strengthen Its Control of Caffeine
Vietnam Drug Trial Ends in Eight Death Sentences
Seven Mexican Law Enforcement Agents Charged in Half-Ton Cocaine Theft