Phillip S. Smith, Editor
David Borden, Executive Director

drugs in the prisons -- and everywhere

• 1. Feature: What About the Clinton and Bush Era Medical Marijuana Prisoners and Defendants?

  Whether the Obama administration has ushered in a new era when it comes to the federal government and medical marijuana is arguable. One thing that isn't is that victims of Clinton and Bush era raids remain behind bars or facing prosecution. There are beginning to be moves afoot to right that lingering wrong.

• 2. Feature: Federal Needle Exchange Funding Ban Battle Continues

  The House has passed a measure that would end the federal ban on funding needle exchange programs, but it includes a provision barring them from operating within a thousand feet or schools, parks, and other public places. Advocates are working to ensure that a good bill comes out of the House-Senate conference committee at the end of the appropriations process.

• 3. Latin America: Mexico Drug War Update

  Another week, another grim death toll in Mexico. September was the bloodiest month this year.

• 4. Feedback: Do You Read Drug War Chronicle?

  Do you read Drug War Chronicle? If so, we need your feedback to evaluate our work and make the case for Drug War Chronicle to funders. We need donations too.

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

  Cops busted for testilying, a deputy arrested for demanding a bribe from a pot grower, a jail guard arrested for smuggling pot into the prison, and a Michigan town still doesn't know who stole drug buy money from the police department.

• 6. Sentencing: New York's Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms Now in Effect

  As many as 1,500 Rockefeller drug law prisoners could walk out of prison early after reforms passed in April went into effect this week. But that still leaves 12,000 more behind bars in the Empire State.

• 7. Marijuana: Massachusetts Legalization Bill Set for Hearing Next Week

  All of the attention has been on California, but it's Massachusetts where the state legislature will hold a hearing on a marijuana legalization bill next week.

• 8. Law Enforcement: Veteran Activist Dana Beal Busted in Nebraska -- Supporters Rallying to Help

  Global Marijuana March organizer Dana Beal and two friends are in hot water after being busted while heading east through Nebraska last week.

• 9. Asset Forfeiture: Texas DA Seeks to Use Seized Funds to Defend Herself in Lawsuit Over Unlawful Seizure of Same Funds

  First, the Texas DA collaborated in a racially discriminatory and lawless asset forfeiture rip-off scheme directed at innocent motorists. Now, facing a civil lawsuit, she wants to use the very money she helped rip-off to pay for her defense. The ACLU has cried foul.

• 10. Southwest Asia: Russia Says US, NATO Anti-Drug Efforts in Afghanistan "Inadequate," Urges Aerial Eradication of Poppy Crops

  The Obama administration earlier this year gave up the delusion that eradication of poppy crops was a viable response to widespread Afghan opium production. But now the Russians, with soaring addiction rates because of Afghan heroin, are urging that the poppy fields be sprayed.

• 11. Pacific Islands: Head of Fiji NGO Calls for Debate on Marijuana Legalization

  Marijuana production and consumption has been a bone of contention in the South Pacific island republic of Fiji for years. Now, some comments from a leading NGO are heating up the controversy again.

• 12. Weekly: This Week in History

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

• 13. Announcement: The 2009 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, November 12-14

  Every two years drug policy reformers from across the United States and around the world come to the International Drug Policy Reform Conference to listen, learn, network and strategize together for change. This year the conference is in Albuquerque, in November, and StoptheDrugWar.org is a partner.

• 14. Weekly: Blogging @ the Speakeasy

  "Drug Czar's Office Reevaluating Marijuana Policy: 'We're trying to base stuff on the facts,'" "Washington Post Punches Marijuana Prohibition in the Teeth," "Irony Alert: Drug Czar Complains About Media Bias," "A Lesson in Etiquette for Drug Policy Activists," "1000 Feet from Everywhere," "Hearings on Massachusetts 'Tax and Regulate' Bill in Boston Next Week," "New York Rockefeller Drug Law Reforms Go Into Effect Today."

• 15. Students: Intern at StoptheDrugWar.org (DRCNet) and Help Stop the Drug War!

  Apply for an internship at DRCNet and you could spend a semester fighting the good fight!