Psychotropic
Bluelighter
- Joined
- May 9, 2003
- Messages
- 87
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First US Ibogaine Arrest
http://rgbspecialprojects.blogspot.com/
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What seems to be the first arrest related to ibogaine has occurred in Wyoming, with a couple facing federal charges for conspiracy to import the drug.
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Couple to be held in jail
By ANTHONY LANE
Star-Tribune staff writer
A federal prosecutor and defense attorneys agreed on Thursday afternoon that a man and woman charged with conspiring to import an illegal drug need to begin an addiction treatment program as soon as possible.
They disagreed about whether Jack Brian Hout and Karen Sue Hout should be released from jail in the weeks it could take for them find space in a suitable program.
U.S. Attorney Kelly Rankin said he believed the risk that the husband and wife would use controlled substances if they are allowed to return home outweighs any possible benefit.
The Houts were ultimately denied bond in a case marked by a number of twists. Rankin said a federal investigator spoke with the Houts in 2004 about suspicions they were abusing the prescription painkiller Hydrocodone.
The affidavit filed with the complaint against the Houts describes a pattern of purchasing Hydrocodone on the Internet and swapping the drug, at times, for methamphetamine, hallucinogenic mushrooms and other drugs.
The Houts were then arrested for conspiring to import Ibogaine, a drug some claim to be a sort of panacea for all manner of addictions.
The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Rankin said during Thursday's hearing that he believed the Houts were trying to buy Ibogaine "to ease their drug issues."
Ibogaine, which is derived from an African plant, is legal in some countries. While there is some ongoing research on its use in treating addiction, it is classified a Schedule One controlled substance in the United States.
Dana Beal, who has co-authored a book on Ibogaine and who advocates for its legalization, said he believes the arrest of the Houts may be the first to be associated with the drug.
Friends and family members of the Houts appeared in U.S. District Court on Thursday. They voiced support for keeping the two in jail until they can enter a treatment program.
"We are extremely concerned for their lives and those of their children," one said after U.S. Magistrate Michael Shickich asked for their input.
Thursday's proceeding focused on the issue of detention after the Houts waived their right to a preliminary hearing. It is not clear how any drug treatment programs might interfere with future hearings.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Jack Hout is also charged with violating federal law by possessing firearms in spite of being a "user of a controlled substance," the complaint says.
The latter charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The conspiracy charge stems from an investigation that reportedly revealed efforts to have Ibogaine shipped to the Central American country of Belize, where the Houts have a condominium. From there, an affidavit says, they planned to have the drug carried or sent to the United States.
First US Ibogaine Arrest
http://rgbspecialprojects.blogspot.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What seems to be the first arrest related to ibogaine has occurred in Wyoming, with a couple facing federal charges for conspiracy to import the drug.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Couple to be held in jail
By ANTHONY LANE
Star-Tribune staff writer
A federal prosecutor and defense attorneys agreed on Thursday afternoon that a man and woman charged with conspiring to import an illegal drug need to begin an addiction treatment program as soon as possible.
They disagreed about whether Jack Brian Hout and Karen Sue Hout should be released from jail in the weeks it could take for them find space in a suitable program.
U.S. Attorney Kelly Rankin said he believed the risk that the husband and wife would use controlled substances if they are allowed to return home outweighs any possible benefit.
The Houts were ultimately denied bond in a case marked by a number of twists. Rankin said a federal investigator spoke with the Houts in 2004 about suspicions they were abusing the prescription painkiller Hydrocodone.
The affidavit filed with the complaint against the Houts describes a pattern of purchasing Hydrocodone on the Internet and swapping the drug, at times, for methamphetamine, hallucinogenic mushrooms and other drugs.
The Houts were then arrested for conspiring to import Ibogaine, a drug some claim to be a sort of panacea for all manner of addictions.
The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Rankin said during Thursday's hearing that he believed the Houts were trying to buy Ibogaine "to ease their drug issues."
Ibogaine, which is derived from an African plant, is legal in some countries. While there is some ongoing research on its use in treating addiction, it is classified a Schedule One controlled substance in the United States.
Dana Beal, who has co-authored a book on Ibogaine and who advocates for its legalization, said he believes the arrest of the Houts may be the first to be associated with the drug.
Friends and family members of the Houts appeared in U.S. District Court on Thursday. They voiced support for keeping the two in jail until they can enter a treatment program.
"We are extremely concerned for their lives and those of their children," one said after U.S. Magistrate Michael Shickich asked for their input.
Thursday's proceeding focused on the issue of detention after the Houts waived their right to a preliminary hearing. It is not clear how any drug treatment programs might interfere with future hearings.
In addition to the conspiracy charge, Jack Hout is also charged with violating federal law by possessing firearms in spite of being a "user of a controlled substance," the complaint says.
The latter charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The conspiracy charge stems from an investigation that reportedly revealed efforts to have Ibogaine shipped to the Central American country of Belize, where the Houts have a condominium. From there, an affidavit says, they planned to have the drug carried or sent to the United States.
