OR Tambo - rolling in his grave

Drugs and the name OR Tambo are becoming synonymous. The poor old freedom fighter must be rolling in his grave. Somehow I don't think that it's hat the "re-namers" of the airport had in mind.

Ephedrine worth an estimated R15,6-million on the street was seized at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park on Friday, said police. (from IOL)

The haul comes just days after airport police intercepted a 565kg consignment of the same drug, expected to fetch R170-million on the street.

Interpol and Crime Intelligence spokesperson Tummi Golding said the powder appeared to have been destined for an address in Johannesburg, which police were investigating. (Sherlock Holmes on the case here - it's not like they are expecting us now!)

The drug itself was taken to a forensic laboratory in Pretoria to be destroyed. (Interesting!!!! - that will make any prosecution for smuggling it impossible as the police will not be able to produce the evidence)

Alcohol worse for adolescents than Cannabis

Abnormalities have been seen in brain structure volume, white matter quality, and activation to cognitive tasks, even in youth with as little as 1-2 years of heavy drinking and consumption levels of 20 drinks per month, especially if > 4-5 drinks are consumed on a single occasion. Heavy marijuana users show some subtle anomalies too, but generally not the same degree of divergence from demographically similar non-using adolescents. (only because the scientists said so...)

CNN - Legalize drugs!

Prohibition creates violence because it drives the drug market underground. This means buyers and sellers cannot resolve their disputes with lawsuits, arbitration or advertising, so they resort to violence instead. (from CNN - would you ever?)

It is impossible to reconcile respect for individual liberty with drug prohibition. The U.S. has been at the forefront of this puritanical policy for almost a century, with disastrous consequences at home and abroad.

The right policy, therefore, is to legalize drugs while using regulation and taxation to dampen irresponsible behavior related to drug use, such as driving under the influence. This makes more sense than prohibition because it avoids creation of a black market. This approach also allows those who believe they benefit from drug use to do so, as long as they do not harm others.

Johannesburg schools follow Cape Town's, but is it SAFER

ABOUT 30 of Johannesburg’s top schools are taking a stand against alcohol and drug abuse with the formation of a coalition that asks parents and teenagers to sign a pledge against abusing alcohol. (from the Business Day)

The Cape Town Concerned Communities Coalition has produced a booklet for parents and children giving some statistics on the dangers of teenage alcohol use and abuse, written by Bishop’s psychologist Jason Bantjies and sponsored by the Industry Association of Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA). (The ARA - representing the alcohol industry which has created the problem is "helping" the schools with this? It's a bit like looking for advice on tik from the smokkie on the corner where you got it!)