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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 1997 / Notices6165policies dictating that these companiesrefuse to accept for shipment ScheduleI controlled substances and that theynotify law enforcement officials of suchactivities. Federal investigations andprosecutions will be institutedconsistent with appropriate criteria.B. Objective 2—Ensure the Integrity ofthe Medical-Scientific Process byWhich Substances are Approved asSafe and Effective Medicines in Orderto Protect Public HealthThe Controlled Substances Actembodies the conclusion of theCongress, affirmed by DEA and HHS,that marijuana, as a Schedule I drug, has‘‘high potential for abuse’’ and ‘‘nocurrently accepted medical use intreatment in the United States.’’ Toprotect the public health, all evaluationsof the medical usefulness of anycontrolled substance should beconducted through the Congressionallyestablished research and approvalprocess managed by the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH) and the Foodand Drug Administration (FDA).Currently there are a few patients whoreceive marijuana through FDAapproved investigations.HHS to ensure the continuedprotection of the public health will: (a)examine all medical and scientificevidence relevant to the perceivedmedical usefulness of marijuana; (b)identify gaps in knowledge and researchregarding the health effects ofmarijuana; (c) determine whetherfurther research or scientific evaluationcould answer these questions; and (d)determine how that research could bedesigned and conducted to yieldscientifically useful results.HHS will undertake discussions withmedical organizations throughout thenation: (a) to address the‘‘compassionate use’’ message; and (b)to educate medical and public healthprofessionals by underscoring thedangers of smoked marijuana andexplaining the views of NIH that avariety of approved medications areclinically proven to be safe and effectivein treating the illnesses for whichmarijuana is purported to provide relief,such as pain, nausea, wasting syndrome,multiple sclerosis, and glaucoma.C. Objective 3—Preserve Federal Drug-Free Workplace and Safety ProgramsTransportation Workers: Departmentof Transportation (DOT) has issued aformal advisory to the transportationindustry that safety-sensitivetransportation workers who test positiveunder the Federally-required drugtesting program may not under anycircumstance use state law as alegitimate medical explanation for thepresence of prohibited drugs. DOT isencouraging private employers to followits example.General Contractors and Grantees:Under the Drug-Free Workplace Act, therecipients of Federal grants or contractsmust have policies that prohibit the useof illegal drugs. Each Federal agencywill issue a notice to its grantees andcontractors to remind them: (a) of theirresponsibilities; (b) that any use ofmarijuana or other Schedule I controlledsubstances remains a prohibitedactivity; and (c) that the failure tocomply with this prohibition will makethe grantee or contractor subject to theloss of eligibility to receive Federalgrants and contracts. Further, Federalagencies will increase their efforts tomonitor compliance with the provisionsof the Act, and to institute suspensionor debarment actions against violators—with special priority given to statesenacting drug medicalization measures.Federal Civilian Employees: HHS willissue policy guidance to all 130 FederalAgency Drug-Free Workplace programcoordinators, the 72 laboratoriescertified by HHS to conduct drug tests,and trade publications that reachmedical review officers. This policyguidance states that the Propositions donot change the requirements of theFederal Drug-Free Workplace Program,which will continue to be fully enforcedfor federal civilian employeesnationwide. Medical Review Officerswill not accept physicianrecommendations for Schedule Isubstances as a legitimate explanationfor a positive drug test.Department of Defense (DOD) and theMilitary Services: DOD will instructcivilian employees and militarypersonnel in the active, reserve andNational Guard components, that DODis a drug-free organization, a fact that isnot changed by the Propositions. Therequirement that all DOD contractorsmaintain drug-free workplaces willcontinue to be enforced.Nuclear Industry Workers: TheNuclear Regulatory Commission willcontinue to demand drug-freeemployees in the nuclear powerindustry, and will develop a formaladvisory to emphasize that its drug freeworkplace regulations continue toapply.Public Housing: The Propositions willnot affect the Department of Housingand Urban Development’s (HUD)continued aggressive execution of the‘‘One Strike and You’re Out’’ policy toimprove the safety and security of ournation’s public housing developments.HUD’s principal tool for implementing‘‘One Strike’’ will be the systematicevaluation of public housing agenciesscreening and evictions efforts throughthe Public Housing ManagementAssessment Program. This program willgive HUD a standard measurement ofthe progress of all public housingauthorities in developing effective lawenforcement, screening, and occupancypolicies to reduce the level of drug use,crime, and drug distribution and salesin their communities.Safe Work Places: Department ofLabor (DOL) will continue to implementits Working Partners Initiative,providing information to smallbusinesses about workplace substanceabuse prevention programs, focusingspecific attention on trade and businessorganizations located in California andArizona. DOL will accelerate its effort topost its updated Substance AbuseInformation Database (SAID) on theInternet. SAID will provide informationto businesses about workplacesubstance abuse and how to establishworkplace substance abuse preventionprograms. DOL will give priority to itsefforts in California and Arizona.DOL’s Occupational Safety andHealth Administration (OSHA) willsend letters to the California andArizona Occupational Safety and HealthAdministrations reiterating the dangersof drugs in the workplace and providinginformation on programs to helpemployers address these problems.DOL’s Mine Safety and HealthAdministration will continue to strictlyenforce the prohibition on the use ofalcohol and illegal drugsnotwithstanding these Propositions.D. Objective 4—Protect Children fromIncreased Marijuana Availability andUseHHS and the Department of Educationwill educate the public in both Arizonaand California about the real and provendangers of smoking marijuana. Amessage will be tailored for preteens,teens, parents, educators, and medicalprofessionals. Research demonstratesthat, marijuana: (a) harms the brain,heart, lungs, and immune system; and(b) limits learning, memory, perception,judgment, and the ability to drive amotor vehicle. In addition, researchshows that marijuana smoke typicallycontains over 400 carcinogeniccompounds and may be addictive. Themessage will remind the public there isno medical use for smoked marijuanaand will educate the public aboutstrategies to prevent marijuana use. Themessage will also remind the public thatthe production, sale, and distribution ofmarijuana for medical uses notapproved by DEA violates the
6166 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 1997 / NoticesControlled Substances Act and theFederal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.HHS will analyze all available data onmarijuana use, expand ongoing surveysto determine current levels of marijuanause in California and Arizona, and trackchanges in marijuana use in those states.HHS will develop the survey capacityto assess trends in drug use in all stateson a state-by-state basis.The Department of Education(Education) will use provisions of theSafe and Drug Free Schools Act toreinforce the message to all localeducation agencies receiving FederalSafe and Drug Free School funds thatany drug possession or use will not betolerated in schools. This affectsapproximately 95% of school districts.Notwithstanding the passage of the twoPropositions, local education agenciesmust continue to: (a) develop programswhich prevent the use, possession, anddistribution of tobacco, alcohol, andillegal drugs by students; (b) developprograms which prevent the illegal use,possession, and distribution of suchsubstances by school employees; and (c)ensure that programs supported by andwith Federal Safe and Drug FreeSchools funds convey the message thatthe illegal use of alcohol and otherdrugs, including marijuana, is wrongand harmful.Education will review with educatorsin Arizona and California the effectPropositions 200 and 215 will have ondrug use by students. They will alsocommunicate nationally with schoolsuperintendents, administrators,principals, boards of education, andPTAs about the Arizona and CaliforniaPropositions and the implications fortheir states.Education will develop a modelpolicy to confront ‘‘medical marijuana’’use in schools and outline actionseducators can take to prevent illicitdrugs from coming into schools.Education will develop model drugprevention programs to discouragemarijuana use. These models will bedisseminated to the states at a Spring1997 conference.ONDCP and DOT will providerecommendations pursuant to theOctober 19, 1996 Presidential directiveto deter teen drug use and druggeddriving through pre-license drug testing,strengthened law enforcement and othermeans. The recommendations willunderscore the point that the use ofmarijuana for any reason endangers thehealth and safety of the public.Legislative Enactments: ONDCP, HHSand DOJ will work with Congress toconsider changes to the Federal Food,Drug, and Cosmetic Act and theControlled Substances Act, asappropriate, to limit the states’’ abilityto rely on these and similar medical useprovisions. The Administration believesthat working with Congress is the courseof action that will affirm the nationalpolicy to control substances that have ahigh potential for abuse and no acceptedmedical use. The objective is to providea uniform policy which preserves theintegrity of the medical-scientificprocess by which substances areapproved as safe and effectivemedicines. We will also consideradditional steps, including conditioningFederal funds on compliance with theControlled Substances Act and theNational Drug Control Strategy.Signed at Washington, D.C. this 15th dayof January, 1997.Barry R. McCaffrey,Director.[FR Doc. 97–3334 Filed 2–10–97; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 3180–02–PDesignation of New High IntensityDrug Trafficking AreasAGENCY: Office of National Drug ContolPolicy, Executive Office of thePresident.ACTION: Notice.SUMMARY: This notice lists the five newHigh Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas(HIDTAs) designated by the Director,Office of National Drug Control Policy.HIDTAs are regions identified as havingthe most critical drug traffickingproblems that adversely affect theUnited States. These new HIDTAs aredesignated pursuant to 21 U.S.C.1504(c), as amended, to promote moreeffective coordination of drug controlefforts. The additional resourcesprovided by Congress enable task forcesof local, State, and Federal officials toassess regional drug threats, designstrategies to combat the threats, developinitiatives to implement the strategies,and evaluate effectiveness of thesecoordinated efforts.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Comments and questions regarding thisnotice should be directed to Mr. RichardY. Yamamoto, Director, HIDTA, Officeof National Drug Control Policy,Executive Office of the President, 75017th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.20503, (202) 395–6755.SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1990,the Director of ONDCP designated thefirst five HIDTAs. These originalHIDTAs, areas through which mostillegal drugs enter the United States, areHouston, Los Angeles, New York/NewJersey, South Florida, and theSouthwest Border. In 1994, the Directordesignated the Washington/BaltimoreHIDTA to address the extensive drugdistribution networks serving hardcoredrug users. Also in 1994, the Directordesignated Puerto Rico/U.S. VirginIslands as a HIDTA based on thesignificant amount of drugs entering theUnited States through this region.In 1995, the Director designated threemore HIDTAs in Atlanta, Chicago, andPhiladelphia/Camden to target drugabuse and drug trafficking in thoseareas, specifically augmentingEmpowerment Zone programs.The five new HIDTAs will build uponthe effective efforts of previouslyestablished HIDTAs. In Fiscal Year1997, the HIDTA program will receive$140 million in Federal resources. Theprogram will support more than 150 colocatedofficer/agent task forces;strengthen mutually supporting local,State, and Federal drug trafficking andmoney laundering task forces; bolsterinformation analysis and sharingnetworks; and, improve integration oflaw enforcement, drug treatment, anddrug abuse prevention programs. Thestates and counties included in the fivenew HIDTAs are:(1) Cascade HIDTA: State ofWashington; King, Pierce, Skagit,Snohomish, Thurston, Whatcom, andYakima counties;(2) Gulf Coast HIDTA: State ofAlabama; Baldwin, Jefferson, Mobile,and Montgomery counties; State ofLouisiana; Caddo, East Baton Rouge,Jefferson, and Orleans parishes; andState of Mississippi; Hancock, Harrison,Hinds, and Jackson counties.(3) Lake County HIDTA: State ofIndiana; Lake County.(4) Midwest HIDTA: State of Iowa;Muscatine, Polk, Pottawattamie, Scott,and Woodbury counties; State ofKansas; Cherokee, Crawford, Johnson,Labette, Leavenworth, Saline, Seward,and Wyandotte counties; State ofMissouri; Cape Girardeau, Christian,Clay, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Ray,Scott, and St. Charles counties, and thecity of St. Louis; State of Nebraska;Dakota, Dawson, Douglas, Hall,Lancaster, Sarpy, and Scott’s Bluffcounties; State of South Dakota; Clay,Codington, Custer, Fall River, Lawrence,Lincoln, Meade, Minnehaha,Pennington, Union, and Yanktoncounties.(4) Rocky Mountain HIDTA: State ofColorado; Adams, Arapahoe, Denver,Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield,Jefferson, La Plata, and Mesa counties;State of Utah; Davis, Salt Lake, Summit,Utah, and Weber counties; and State ofWyoming; Laramie, Natrona, andSweetwater counties.
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