Phillip S. Smith, Editor
David Borden, Executive Director

make no mistake, our work is cut out for us

• 1. Feature: Obama's Appointees Raise Questions in the Drug Reform Community

  The drug war records of some key Obama picks -- Biden, Emanuel, Holder -- are prompting wailing and gnashing of teeth among some drug reformers, but others suggest it's better to keep working quietly on progress than obsess on the past.

• 2. Feature: No Post-Election Pause in Colorado -- Activists Attend Marijuana Boot Camp

  With national elections just days behind them, some 300 Colorado marijuana reform activists wasted no time getting down to brass tacks as they met in Denver for the 2008 Colorado Marijuana Reform Seminar and Boot Camp.

• 3. Appeal: Tax-Deductible Donations Needed for StoptheDrugWar.org's Educational Work

  Earlier this month we wrote seeking support for StoptheDrugWar.org (DRCNet)'s lobbying programs, to help us lobby the Obama administration and Congress on causes near and dear to the hearts of drug reformers with which the President-Elect has said he agrees. This week we are seeking tax deductible donations to our educational programs, especially our web site, on which readership continues to go up and up.

• 4. Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

  A trio of bad apples from Arizona, including a DARE officer with a penchant for sexual assault, made the news this week, while the city of Berwyn, Illinois, found itself in a bit of hot water over the way it used asset forfeiture funds.

• 5. Marijuana: Narrow Majority of Arkansans Favor Decriminalization, Poll Finds

  Who knew? Marijuana decriminalization is polling above 50% in Arkansas. Arkansas!

• 6. Medical Marijuana: ASA Files Lawsuit Against California DMV Over Patient Drivers' License Revocation

  The California Department of Motor Vehicles is jerking the drivers' licenses of medical marijuana patients, saying they are "drug abusers." Now, Americans for Safe Access has filed a lawsuit to make them cut it out.

• 7. Canada: BC Local Elections Bring Another Drug Reform Mayor to Vancouver, A Drug Reform Mayor Back to Grand Forks, and a Drug Reformer to Victoria's City Council

  There were municipal elections across British Columbia Saturday, and drug reformers continued to hold power in Vancouver, were returned to the mayoralty in Grand Forks, and won a seat on the city council in Victoria.

• 8. Europe: Dutch Mayors Want Regulated Marijuana Production and Sales

  While the conservative Dutch national government would like to see cannabis coffee shops go away, the mayors of the towns that have them beg to differ. In fact, most of them want to see production as well as sales tolerated.

• 9. Australia: Hemp Production Now Legal in New South Wales

  The Australian state of New South Wales has joined Canada, China, and various European countries in allowing the cultivation of industrial hemp. Tough luck, American farmers.

• 10. Latin America: Bolivia's Morales Says Yes to Obama, No to the DEA

  Bolivia's President Evo Morales said yes to Obama, but no to the DEA at the UN this week

• 11. Europe: British Public Opinion Headed in Wrong Direction on Drug Policy, Poll Finds

  British attitudes toward drug users, sellers, and drug reform are heading in the wrong direction, according to a new poll.

• 12. Weekly: This Week in History

  Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.