In 2004, Saudi authorities executed 35 people, down from 52 people beheaded in 2003. Most were convicted of drug smuggling.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of drug trafficking, murder, rape and armed robbery can be executed. Beheadings are carried out with a sword in public.

Thank goodness that's not the law here. But temper your sigh of relief. Right now the death penalty for drug offenders is reserved for those that intentionally cause, command or counsel death in connection with their drug enterprises. How big a stretch is it for the government to increase its ambit further, bit by bit? First up might be meth manufacturers who deposit toxic byproducts from the lab by the roadside--then who knows?

Every time you hear Bush, Gonzales or Congress talk about "narcoterrorism," remember that the now dormant Victory Act could raise its head any time:

This bill would treat drug possession as a 'terrorist offense' and drug dealers as 'narco-terrorist kingpins,' " the aide argued. "To say that terrorist groups use a small percentage of the drug trafficking in the United States to finance terrorism may be a fair point, but this bill would allow the government to prosecute most drug cases as terrorism cases."

Concluded the aide: "It really seems to be more about a political agenda to jail drug users than a serious attempt to stop terrorists."

Here's a link to the text of the Victory Act. And if you think this will only apply to drug offenders, check out the expanded records search provisions.

One more story:

In Palm Beach, Florida, 15 high school students face up to 15 years in prison for selling small amounts of drugs -- mostly marijuana -- to undercover agents who befriended them. Some of the teens sold as little as $10 worth of marijuana.