Is the Office of the Pardon Attorney, which recommends to the president who should win pardons or commutations, doing its job? The case of Clarence Aaron suggests it is not, and advocates are crying foul. 1 comments
ON THE SPEAKEASY BLOG
Penn Jillette Slams Obama's Marijuana Hypocrisy
Here's one hell of an indignant rant against the drug war. No disagreement here. 0 comments New Poll: 56% of Voters Say Legalize Marijuana
Everywhere you look, the public is turning further against the war on marijuana and towards reform. The latest Rasmussen poll is another big indication of where we're headed: 0 comments 74% of Americans Oppose Obama's War on Medical Marijuana
The latest polling data on medical marijuana is striking and ought to shock some sense into the Obama Administration. Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks has great analysis. 1 comment France's New President to Invest Heavily in Marijuana Arrests
Instead of siding with science and data and common sense, France's new president has instead picked the meanest and stupidest marijuana policy he realistically could have. 13 comments Would Romney be Worse for Medical Marijuana Than Obama? Ctd
Andrew Sullivan responds to my statement that, regarding medical marijuana, "I honestly doubt Romney could be any worse than [Obama] if he tried."I don't. The man doesn't even drink coffee. His impulse when seeing a man with muscular dystrophy in... 14 comments New York Police Stop Every Young Black Man in the City…For Safety
The latest data on stop and frisks in New York City is nothing short of horrifying. Kristen Gwynne at AlterNet reports. 4 comments Mitt Romney's Crazy Comments on Medical Marijuana
The instant I write something suggesting that Romney wouldn't be any worse than Obama on medical marijuana, along comes Romney flipping out on a reporter for merely asking about it. The fun starts at 2:10: 17 comments What's the REAL Reason for Obama's Medical Marijuana Crackdown?
There's an interesting article at The Week looking at some different theories regarding the reasons behind Obama's medical marijuana crackdown. You can choose from one of more of the following:1. He's trying to look tough because he believes –... 26 comments Would Romney be Worse for Medical Marijuana Than Obama?
My latest Huffington Post piece takes a look at the argument that medical marijuana advocates should support Obama, despite what he's done, because Romney would be so much worse. Check it out and let me know what you think. 10 comments
What Happens AFTER You Refuse a Police Search?
Flex Your Rights has been working for many years now to educate everyone we can about the importance of refusing police searches and otherwise knowing and asserting your constitutional rights when confronted by police. Unfortunately, even if you... 6 comments MSNBC.com Article on DEA "Lost Prisoner"
I'm quoted, fairly extensively, in an article appearing on msnbc.com about Daniel Chong, the student who almost died handcuffed in a detention cell after DEA personnel forgot about him for five 5 comments
Nancy Pelosi Condemns Federal Attacks on Medical Marijuana
Yesterday we reported that advocates had presented House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi with a petition asking her to help end the federal crackdown on medical marijuana. 6 comments Drug Czar Denies that Marijuana Users Are Arrested and Forced into Treatment
On Tuesday, I had a chance to question the drug czar about his enthusiasm for drug treatment at an event in D.C. Mike Riggs at Reason has good coverage of the exchange. 11 comments This is Maria. She Will end the War on Drugs.
I saw this at DrugWarRant and had to pass it along. Very powerful. Watch the whole thing. 3 comments Jimmy Kimmel Gets the Entire American Press to Admit Smoking Pot
I don't think we've posted this anywhere yet, and I don't want our negligence to be the reason anyone misses what might be the coolest thing I've seen this year, so better a little late than never: 5 comments The Drug Czar's False Statement About Marijuana and Hemp Should be a Bigger Scandal
My latest Huffington Post rant calls out the drug czar's preposterous excuses for the ban on industrial hemp cultivation. Check it out. 1 comment The Ugly Truth About Obama's War on Medical Marijuana
As the media turns up the heat on Obama's medical marijuana crackdown, one of the excuses he's giving is that they're just going after businesses that are violating state laws. 50 comments Attorney General Admits Obama Was Wrong About Medical Marijuana Laws
Obama's recent claim that he can't do anything about the illegality of medical marijuana has drawn plenty of criticism, but this ought to take the cake. 3 comments
Obama Defends War on Medical Marijuana With Lame Excuses
Finally, finally, finally, someone in the press has managed to corner the President on the question of why the war on medical marijuana is getting worse under his watch. Here you go folks, the answer we've been waiting for… 31 comments 4/20: Party or Protest?
The chancellor of Colorado University in Boulder is totally not down with the school's famous annual 4/20 celebration, this year going so far as to shut down the campus to outsiders and even hiring Wyclef Jean to draw students away from the quad... 15 comments
4/20 Protest at Obama Oaksterdam-area Headquarters
There is a Bay Area 4/20 demonstration against the Obama administration's war on medical marijuana. It's starting a short time from now at the federal building in Oakland, followed by a march at noon Pacific time to Oaksterdam and Obama campaign... 3 comments Happy 4/20
It has been one hell of a year since we last celebrated the increasingly official holiday of the cannabis community. It's been a bumpy ride for marijuana reform, but no one said this struggle was supposed to be easy. The challenges of 2012 are... 5 comments
We're Winning Any Time the President is Forced to Say the Word "Legalization"
This MSNBC footage is pretty exciting to see. 7 comments Can Obama Win Votes by Waging War on Medical Marijuana? I Don't Think So.
I have a piece at Huffington Post today reminding everyone that Obama isn't making any friends with his escalating war on medical marijuana. It amazes me that it's still necessary to point out that republicans don't support this madness either.... 14 comments
5 Ways to Avoid Getting Busted for Pot
The activist-media badasses at AlterNet let me do a big front page story today on how to avoid a pot bust. You might have seen it already, cause this thing got a good amount of traffic, but if you missed it and you aren't yet sick of my... 2 comments
If homophobes are secretly gay, do anti-pot fanatics secretly wanna get high?
A widely-publicized (and totally awesome) new study suggests that hating gay people is a sign that you might just be a bit gay yourself. 10 comments Will Strip-Searches Stop Terrorism and Save America?
I've got a post up at Flex Your Rights talking smack about the Supreme Court's icky new ruling on strip-searches. Check it out. 6 comments
Read all Speakeasy Posts
FROM THE CHRONICLE
This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
Philadelphia pays for police misbehavior, more cops get caught pilfering the evidence, one gets caught helping a heroin dealer, and another goes down hard for helping drug traffickers. 1 comment Rasmussen: Marijuana Legalization Polls 56%
A new Rasmussen poll has national support for marijuana legalization and regulation at 56%, up significantly from a poll just two months ago. It's in line with most other recent national polls. 1 comment DEA Facing Fallout from Deadly Honduras Raid
US backing for and involvement in Honduras' war against drug trafficking is under increasing scrutiny after a DEA-involved raid that left four innocent people dead. 0 comments DEA Now Ensnared in Colombia Prostitute Scandal
The Secret Service Colombia prostitution scandal has now ensnared at least two DEA agents in Cartagena. An investigation is proceeding. 0 comments Did You Know? Historical Timeline of Marijuana and Medicine
ProCon.org is a set of in-depth web sites presenting information and views from on current issues, several with relevance to drug policy. The Chronicle is currently running a series of info items from ProCon.org -- this one from medicalmarijuana.procon.org -- and we encourage you to check it out. 1 comment Why Is Clarence Aaron Still in Federal Prison? [FEATURE]
Is the Office of the Pardon Attorney, which recommends to the president who should win pardons or commutations, doing its job? The case of Clarence Aaron suggests it is not, and advocates are crying foul. 1 comment New Jersey Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Advances
A New Jersey marijuana decriminalization bill has passed its first hurdle, advancing out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee. 3 comments Harsh Cameron Douglas Sentence Sparks Appeal, Support
After Cameron Douglas got caught with heroin and Suboxone in federal prison, he got hammered with an additional 4 1/2 years. That harsh sentence has sparked an effort not only to overturn that sentence, but also to highlight the lack of drug treatment for addicted prisoners. 1 comment Oklahoma Governor Signs Welfare Drug Test Bill
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) has signed a bill that requires welfare applicants to be screened for drug use and drug tested for "reasonable cause." If they test positive, they lose their benefits. 13 comments Chronicle Book Review: Home Grown
We review an important new book on the history of marijuana in Mexico that demands a revisionist look at the origins of Reefer Madness in America. 0 comments Did You Know? Historical Timeline of Drugs and Sports
ProCon.org is a set of in-depth web sites presenting information and views from on current issues, several with relevance to drug policy. The Chronicle is currently running a series of info items from ProCon.org -- this one from sportsanddrugs.procon.org -- and we encourage you to check it out. 0 comments This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past. 0 comments Medical Marijuana Update
The biggest medical marijuana news this week has to be the Oregon election that saw a pro-medical marijuana attorney general candidate win against a former interim US Attorney, but there was plenty of other news, as well. 0 comments This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
We inadvertently missed a week last week, but the corrupt cops didn't. 0 comments Medical Marijuana Ally Wins Oregon AG Race
Oregon's medical marijuana community and national drug reformers helped defeat a former interim US Attorney in favor of a medical marijuana-friendly challenger in the Oregon Democratic Party attorney general race Tuesday. They hope the victory sends a signal across the country. 6 comments Colorado Drugged Driving Bill Dies -- Again
Like a vampire risen from the dead, Colorado's drugged driving bill came back to life during a special session of the legislature, only to have a stake driven through its heart once again. 2 comments Drug Sentencing Reform Bill Passes in Kansas
A bill awaiting the Kansas governor's signature would increase judges' discretion in sentencing small-time drug offenders, although it increases penalties for some major drug offenses. 0 comments Danish Government Rejects Legal Marijuana
The Copenhagen city council had requested that the Danish government allow it to experiment with legal cannabis sales, and now the government has replied with a resounding "no." 1 comment Marking Mother's Day With Calls for Reform [FEATURE]
On Mother's Day, mothers speak out against the drug war, in the United States and Mexico. 1 comment 
Colombia Bill to Decriminalize Drug Crops Advances
A bill that would decriminalize drug crop cultivation in Colombia has passed a first reading in the lower house, but the government opposes it. 1 comment Jacksonville Cop Kills Unarmed Drug Suspect
An unarmed Florida drug suspect who made a furtive movement during a traffic stop was shot and killed by a Jacksonville police office who unloaded seven shots at him. 3 comments False Testimony: How Prosecutors Leave Justice Behind [FEATURE]
Prosecutors across the country are misbehaving -- and getting away with it. And among the common forms of misconduct are hiding exculpatory evidence and knowingly using false testimony to win convictions. 2 comments House of Representatives Votes Down Defunding Medical Marijuana Raids [FEATURE]
In a bid to snuff out the federal medical marijuana crackdown, four US congressman have introduced an amendment that would bar the Justice Department from spending money to do so. Late Wednesday, it failed, but the issue went to the House floor. 18 comments Colorado Per Se Drugged Driving Bill Dies
A bill that would label drivers impaired if they have more than five nanograms of THC per milliliter in their blood even if they are not actually impaired has passed the Colorado Senate and a House committee, but the clock ran out on it Wednesday. 0 comments Congress Voting on Medical Marijuana THIS WEEK!
For the past 16 years states have called for safe access to medical marijuana. But Congress has failed to act, to the detriment of patients and providers. That could change this week. 2 comments Medical Marijuana Update
The national battle over medical marijuana is heating up, Connecticut is about to become the 17th medical marijuana state, and state and local battles continue. And so do the DEA raids. Busy, busy, busy. 2 comments Charlottesville Says Decriminalize or Regulate Marijuana
The city council in the Virginia college town of Charlottesville had adopted a resolution calling on the state to consider decriminalizing or regulating marijuana, but balked at adding lowest law enforcement priority language. 2 comments Dutch "Weed Pass" Plan Hitting Bumps
The Dutch move to bar foreigners from cannabis cafes on the southern border has been met by coffee shop closures in protest, legal action, and police who seem to have better things to do. Meanwhile, the drug tourists are simply driving deeper into the country. 6 comments Connecticut Bill to Strengthen Racial Profiling Ban Passes
A bill that will revive and strengthen Connecticut's largely dormant racial profiling law has passed the legislature, and Gov. Malloy says he will sign it into law. 0 comments Did You Know? Legal Drinking Age 138 Countries, from ProCon.org
ProCon.org is a set of in-depth web sites presenting information and views from on current issues, several with relevance to drug policy. The Chronicle is currently running a series of info items from ProCon.org -- this one from drinkingage.procon.org -- and we encourage you to check it out. 1 comment Connecticut to Become 17th Medical Marijuana State
Connecticut is about to join the ranks of the medical marijuana states, but in a bid to fend off the feds, its new law is one of the most tightly-drawn yet. 6 comments DEA Forgets Student in Cell, Pols Want Answers
DEA agents arrested a San Diego college student in a drug bust, then forgot about him, leaving him in a holding cell for five days. Now, the California congressional delegation wants answers, and his lawyer wants the DEA to pay big bucks. 12 comments 
