Five Models for Regulating Drug Supply

Transform:

There are five basic models for regulating drug supply. We describe them below, starting with the most restrictive and moving to the most open. Variants on these models already exist and function across the world, supporting the entirely legal distribution of a range of medical, quasi-medical and non-medical psychoactive drugs.

Of course, the precise nature of the respective regulatory frameworks and enforcement infrastructure varies from country to country.

There is also some degree of boundary blurring between these models. This leads to a certain amount of generalisation, but also helps emphasise that such models will inevitably operate differently in different locations.

We have also made some basic suggestions as to how to adapt these basic models to cater for the challenges of non-medical drug supply in the future.

This is a superb breakdown of various models for regulating drugs. In my opinion, it’s a must-read for any psychonaut searching for the most effective ways to reform drug policies.

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Syracuse Cops Push St. Joe’s to Probe Man’s Rectum for Drugs

Douglass Dowty, writing for Syracuse.com:

Syracuse police, a city court judge and St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center worked together last year to conduct a highly unusual drug search.

They collaborated to sedate a suspect and thread an 8-inch flexible tube into his rectum in a search for illegal drugs. The suspect, who police said had taunted them that he’d hidden drugs there, refused consent for the procedure.

At least two doctors resisted the police request. An X-ray already had indicated no drugs. They saw no medical need to perform an invasive procedure on someone against his will. […]

The hospital’s top lawyer got pulled in. He talked by with the judge who signed the search warrant, which was written by police and signed at the judge’s home.

When they were done, the hospital lawyer overruled the doctors. The lawyer told his doctors that a search warrant required the doctors to use “any means” to retrieve the drugs, records show.

So St. Joe’s medical staff knocked out the suspect and performed the sigmoidoscopy, in search of evidence of a misdemeanor or low-level felony charge, records show.

Shit like this really pisses me off. But just when you thought that ignoring X-ray evidence and invading a man’s butt against his will was bad enough, the story gets even worse.

So, was it worth the risk? The X-ray was right. The scope found no drugs.

And when they were done, St. Joe’s sent the suspect a bill for $4,595.12.

So after being treated horribly at the hospital, the “suspect” (who was treated more like a victim) was asked to pick up the tab. Being told to pay more than $4.5k for having a surveillance tube shoved up your ass—against your will, no less—sounds like a raw deal to me.

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Go Take the 2019 Global Drug Survey

The Global Drug Survey has been collecting useful and enlightening drug usage data at the end of each and every year since 2014. And it’s already that time again—the 2019 survey launched just last month.

From the organization’s About Us page:

"GDS is an independent research company based in London. We produce reports for global media, public health and corporate organisations. GDS use its data and expertise to create digital health applications delivering screening and brief interventions for drugs and alcohol. We create free online harm reduction resources and anonymous, confidential self-assessment tools. GDS also produces a range of drug education materials for health and legal professionals, the entertainment industry and the general public.

GDS aims to make drug use safer, regardless of the legal status of the drug, by sharing information with individuals, communities, health and policy organisations.

Using anonymous online research methods Global Drug Survey runs an annual survey in 10 languages, which is hosted by partners in over 20 countries. We work with global media giants around the world who act as hubs to promote our survey and our findings, ensuring that the first people to see the results are the general public.

Survey findings are frank, honest, and revealing. GDS explores the positives and negatives of drug use and detects new drugs trends as soon as they appear. GDS has a unique insight into personal decision-making about drug use . Our international networks of researchers and specialists have extensive experience in data analysis and report writing."

I submitted my survey over the weekend and would love it if you do the same by clicking here. It will take about 15 or 20 minutes for the average person to fill out, but if you’re an experienced psychonaut like me it may take you closer to an hour (or two) to finish, because you’ll likely need to answer additional questions.

Fortunately there is a “Save and Continue” option that you can use if you are partway through and find yourself needing to take a break. I can vouch that this feature works properly, as I had to use it a couple times myself!

The survey period will remain open until the end of the year, so make sure you finish filling yours out before then! And stay tuned—results will be published May 16, 2019.

Image by JuralMin, courtesy of Creative Commons licensing.

Did the FDA Just Say Kratom Is Illegal?

Troy Farah, reporting from the excellent Narcocast podcast:

A new announcement by the Food and Drug Administration today says “Kratom is not legally marketed in the U.S. as a drug or dietary supplement.” This is a distinction that the FDA has made before, but never so blatantly. This puts kratom in a precarious position and invites police departments across the country to now raid anyone who sells it. We spoke to Drew Turner, a longtime kratom advocate from Washington, D.C., about the changes this will make.

The FDA issued this statement just yesterday. Does Tuesday, November 27th really mark the day that kratom was made illegal? Listen to this (relatively short) episode to find out.

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The Bunk Police Is Looking to Destroy Dishonesty in the Drug Market

Russell Hausfeld, writing for Psymposia:

Psymposia spoke with Bunk Police’s Founder and CEO Adam Auctor about the beginnings of his company, their current research, and the range of experiences he has had distributing test-kits at events like Burning Man, You Are So Lucky, and Gathering of the Juggalos.

This is an excellent interview. The antibody-based test kit capable of identifying several different substances in one sample would be absolutely revolutionary for drug checking.

As a reminder, contaminated drug supplies happen to all sorts of people at all kinds of events, regardless of one’s gender, race, class, or status. Bunk Police brought hidden cameras to a ritzy party in Manhattan to find out what type of drugs the 1% has access to:

The results of this little incident were that the substances that these people were taking were terrible. Most of the MDMA was actually meth. The cocaine was cut with meth. That was definitely the substance of the night, methamphetamine posing as whatever else. And to be honest, they had some of the worst drugs I’ve seen at an event.

Taking that and comparing it to something like Gathering of the Juggalos, where there is community and people care about each other, Gathering of the Juggalos had just a few samples that were contaminated. Where the You Are So Lucky crowd — most of the samples were contaminated. That was a bit of a shocker.

It just goes to show that no matter who or where you are, you need test it before you ingest it. In fact, this might be even more important for those who are rich and famous.

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