Drugism Dispatch #6
Narcopolitics in Ecuador, Portugal's new synthetic drug decrim, Morocco's first legal cannabis crop, + more...
It’s been a busy summer. Here are 5 recent or ongoing events to consider:
1. A NYC doctor was found guilty of sexually assaulting multiple patients; cops found coke, ecstasy, fentanyl, ketamine, + LSD in his home in a raid
2. Los Lobos gang allegedly framed for assassination of Ecuadoran presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio
3. Portugal passed a law decriminalizing synthetic drugs
4. Morocco prepares for its first legal cannabis crop
5. A recent trade law has sparked concern for India’s sugar market
First, a quick update: Drugism recently topped 400 subscribers! Thank you so much for reading and subscribing. It means the world to me. :)
I’m also happy to report that the second printing of Drugism has finished production, and I shipped out the first batch of orders yesterday. Big thanks to my customers for your patience over the last couple weeks as I tended to the second printing.
As usual, you can get a copy with a monthly or annual subscription to this Substack, or purchase it directly from my website.
Now let’s get to the news!
1. LSD, ketamine, + fentanyl found in home of NYC doctor who sexually assaulted multiple patients
A doctor from Queens, New York was recently found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple patients, all while filming the heinous acts. When his home was raided by police, they found cocaine, ecstasy, fentanyl, ketamine, and LSD, as well as the sedatives propofol and sevoflurane.
2. Los Lobos gang allegedly framed for assassination of Ecuadoran presidential candidate Villavicencio
Earlier this month, Ecuadoran presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated as he was leaving a campaign rally. Villavicencio was known for his stance against corruption, and he had plans to seriously address organized crime in Ecuador.
The following morning, a video surfaced on the internet depicting a room full of people who claimed to belong to the Los Lobos gang insisting that they were responsible for the assassination. But that afternoon another video surfaced, this one of a different group of people claiming that they, in fact, were Los Lobos (“the Wolves”) and that they were not responsible for the murder.
A few days later, another Ecuadoran politician, Pedro Briones, was assassinated. These events mark a nation in turmoil as Ecuador, like other Latin American countries, struggles against the power of the various cartels that use the region as a corridor for trafficking drugs, guns, and people.
3. Portugal decriminalizes synthetic drugs
Portugal decriminalized drugs in 2000—something many drug nerds will already be well aware of. But the law that did this was written to apply to the drugs that were in use at the time. In recent years, however, relatively newer, synthetic substances such as fentanyl have emerged. Portugal, instead of cracking down on these new substances, has continued its progressive approach to drug policy.
In July, Portugal passed a new law that decriminalized the various synthetic drugs that have proliferated on the world market since their renowned decrim law in 2000. People can still get arrested for distributing drugs, however, and many substances remain in a legal gray area.
Some folks have argued recently that Portugal’s decrim policy is failing. But the Portuguese government thinks otherwise, and this new move should be a clear sign to the rest of the world that Portugal knows what the science has demonstrated time and time again—that decriminalizing drugs saves lives and resources.
4. Morocco prepares for its first legal cannabis crop
Earlier this year, farmers in Morocco planted the country’s first legal cannabis crop. The country has long been known for its high-quality hashish, a product renowned by stoners across the globe.
The crop, however, will be used strictly for medical and industrial purposes. Cultivation of marijuana for recreational use is still illegal in Morocco. This has left open the country’s most lucrative cannabis market—hashish exported for recreational use—to drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) who have thrived in the region for years. It will be interesting to see how Morocco handles the situation going forward.
5. A recent trade law has people worried about the fate of India’s sugar market
India recently placed a ban on the export of certain rice products in an effort to regulate prices in the country’s domestic market. This has prompted some to worry whether sugar may be next. India’s sugar is widely consumed throughout the world and an export ban could potentially have serious implications for the global sugar industry. Climate issues have only further exacerbated these concerns.
Before you go, check out this recent interview I did on Word Up with Dani Katz. Dani’s keen wit took the conversation to the next level as we discussed the numerous connections between psychedelia and the military industrial complex. Watch it here:
