Vice President Leni Robredo of the Republic of the Philippines recorded a dramatic video for our side event this month at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs meeting: "Human Rights Challenge: Responding to Extrajudicial Killings in the Drug War." The video has sparked a raging political firestorm in the Philippines about whether she should have made the video, and we need your help to steer the discussion back to the drug war. 10 comments
ON THE SPEAKEASY BLOG
Against Jeff Sessions for Attorney General
The president-elect's nominee for Attorney General is a big-time drug warrior who could derail both sentencing reform and marijuana legalization. Please write your Senators in opposition to this nomination. 21 comments Massachusetts Legalizes It, Arkansas Okays Medical Marijuana
More marijuana victories tonight. 0 comments
AP: California Legalizes Marijuana!
The Associated Press has called it early. 0 comments
North Dakota Okays Medical Marijuana
With most of the votes counted, Measure 5 is cruising toward victory. 0 comments
Partial Initiative Results: Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, North Dakota
Florida has already won. Now returns are coming in from four more initiative states. 0 comments
Florida Passes Medical Marijuana!
First southern state, and a big one. 3 comments
Myths, Moralism, and Hypocrisy Drive the International Drug Control System
Our international drug policies reflect a bias towards the global north, with damaging consequences for the south. 13 comments Will UNGASS 2016 Be the Beginning of the End for the War on Drugs?
Held this April, will the United Nations General Assembly Special Session be the turning point for the international drug control system? 13 comments David Borden -- Remarks at the United Nations, February 10, 2016
Last week the UN held an NGO meeting in New York, as part of a series events leading up to this April's major drug session. 12 comments BREAKING: Another Senate Pro-Medical Marijuana Vote
The Senate Appropriations Committee just voted to extend the ban on DOJ spending funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. 12 comments New York Medical Marijuana Program Brings in $3 Million from Application Process
New York has closed it application process for those wishing to get one of the state's 5 permits to open a medical cannabis dispensary. Each permit would entitle the holder to open four dipsnsaries. In total, 20 dispensaries would be opened in a state with a population of over 19 million people. 0 comments URGENT: Congressional Vote on Permitting State Marijuana Laws!
Last year's legislation protecting state medical marijuana laws from federal interference is expiring soon. A vote coming as soon as tonight could extend it, while expanding it to include state legalization laws too. 7 comments CT Lawmakers Push to Add Children and Hospital Patients to Medical Marijuana Program
Both houses of the Conneticut legislature are preparing their final votes on a bill that would add children and hospital patients to the state's medical marijuana program. The bill would restrict children from smoking or vaping their medical marijuana. 8 comments Three Marijuana Reform Bills Filed in Louisiana
Three seperate marijuana reform bills have been filed in the Louisiana State Capitol. They include a restrictive medical marijuana bill supported by law enforcement, and two seperate efforts to reform the state's harsh sentencing laws. 9 comments Write and Call Congress TODAY for Vets' Access to Medical Marijuana!
An important amendment is coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives late this afternoon or early evening. Our two web forms will help you to both email and call your member of Congress to support it. 11 comments What Does Congress's Medical Marijuana Legislation Actually Mean?
The controversial "CRomnibus" bill passed by the House and Senate includes language barring the Dept. of Justice from using taxpayer funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. 10 comments Washington Sheriff Tells Oregon Voters: Legalization Is Already Working
King County Sheriff John Urquhart has recorded a message letting Oregon voters know that legalization in Washington State has seen wasteful arrests decrease, DUIs decrease, taxes going to schools and police, and drug prevention programs getting funding. 14 comments Summer Reading Assignment for Congress
Dean Becker of the Drug Truth Network is in Washington today to give copies of his book, "To End the War on Drugs," to every member of the House and Senate. 3 comments House Votes to Let Banks Take Deposits from Marijuana Businesses
In a historic vote this afternoon, the US House has approved an amendment to the Treasury Department appropriations bill barring the agency from spending any money to punish financial institutions that provide services to marijuana businesses where it is legal. 3 comments One of the Worst Ideas to Come Out of the War on Drugs: Sentencing Enhancement Zones
A video from the Prison Policy Initiative on what is indeed one of the worst ideas to come out of the war on drugs. 10 comments House Committee Votes to Block DC Decrim
The GOP-dominated House Appropriations Committee stuck a thumb in the eye of democratic governance in the nations capital this morning. The committee voted to prevent the District of Columbia from implementing marijuana decriminalization approved by the District government. 6 comments Senate Could Vote to Cut DEA Funds as Soon as Tonight
In a historic vote late last month, the House moved to cut funding for the DEA to go after medical marijuana in states where it is legal. Now, the Senate is preparing to vote on a similar measure. 17 comments DEA Leaning On Massachusetts Docs with Dispensaries Ties
The Boston Globe is reporting today that the DEA has been visiting Massachusetts doctors involved with yet-to-open medical marijuana dispensaries and giving them an ultimatum: Cut your ties with the dispensary or lose your DEA-issued license to prescribe drugs. And it's working. 12 comments There Were Several Drug Policy Amendments to the CJS Bill
Reformers have mostly been talking about the 13 comments
House Passes Historic Medical Marijuana Amendment
Late Thursday night, the House of Representatives told the DEA to butt out of medical marijuana states by approving a budget amendment barring the use of taxpayer funds to do so. 12 comments Kentucky Gets its Hemp Seed as DEA Backs Off
It's a done deal. A UPS truck delivered more than 250 pounds of hemp seed to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture this afternoon. It took a lawsuit and a lot of political pressure on DEA head Michele Leonhart, but the agency has backed away from its initial refusal to allow the seeds to be imported. 5 comments The Largest Marijuana March Ever? 150,000 Protest in Buenos Aires!
Good Golly, Miss Mary Jane! I've been watching marijuana legalization marches for a long time and I've never seen a crowd like this. 13 comments Uruguay's Mujica is the Grumpy Old Man of Global Marijuana Legalization
Uruguay formally rolls out its marijuana legalization rules next week, but President Mujica shows he's no Captain Cannabis. 7 comments Read all Speakeasy Posts
FROM THE CHRONICLE
Chronicle AM: MA Drug Lab Scandal Redux, PA MJ Support Strong and Rising, More... (9/22/17)
Pennsylvania support for marijuanalegalization is strong and rising, Attorney General Sessions mixes drug and immigration policy, another federal court rules against Stingray, a second Massachusetts drug lab scandal could see thousands more cases dismissed, and more. comments Chronicle AM: CVS to Limit Opioid 'Scrips, Sessions Slams Legal Pot (Again), More... (9/21/17)
The attorney general makes clear yet again that he doesn't like legal weed, a Kentucky court throws out a medical marijuana lawsuit, one of the nation's largest pharmacy chains is moving to tighten up on opioid prescriptions, Rodrigo Duterte is ready to kill his own kid for the sake of the drug war, and more. comments The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, October 11-14, Atlanta
The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is the major biannual gathering of drug policy reformers from around the world. comments You Won't Believe Alphonse D'Amato's New Gig
The hardcore conservative and former Republican senator is going to be a paid marijuana lobbyist. 1 comment This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
A Louisiana cop gets nailed for having sex and peddling dope on the job, a sticky-fingered Pennsyvlania cop gets nailed for stealing drug money, a South Carolina cop gets nailed -- nine years after the fact -- for lying on a drug search warrant, and more. comments Chronicle AM: Las Vegas MJ Lounges Hit Snag, Utah MedMJ Init Polling Well, More... (9/20/17)
The Bay State's highest court just made it harder for cops to charge people with pot-impaired driving, Las Vegas-area county commissioners put a stop to talk of pot lounges anytime soon, Colombia's president speaks out against the drug war (again) at the United Nations, and more. comments Chronicle AM: CA Safe Injection Site Blocked for Now, No Toronto Pot Lounges, More... (9/19/17)
The California safe injection bill came up two votes short of passing this year, Toronto authorities ignore the pleas of pot lounge operators for a place under legalization, Virginia's Democratic attorney general comes out with a plan to fight opioid overdoses, and more. comments Colorado County's Marijuana Tax Program Will Provide $420,000 in College Scholarships This Fall
Marijuana legalization is bringing economic and educational benefits to the people of Pueblo County. comments New Hampshire Just Decriminalized Marijuana Possession
Now there is nowhere left in New England where possession of a small amount of weed will get you arrested and thrown in jail. comments Chronicle AM: Bill to End Federal Man Mins Filed, CA Calls for Pot Rescheduling, More... (9/18/17)
Bostonians celebrate marijuana legalization, California calls for its rescheduling, state attorneys general urge health insurers to reduce opioid prescriptions, Maxine Waters files a bill to end mandatory minimums for drug sentences, and more. comments The Only Legal Marijuana State to Ban Personal Pot Grows Could Be About to Change Its Mind
Some northwest reformers were disappointed that Washington's marijuana initiative only legalized industry sales, not home growing by individuals -- some even opposed the initiative for that reason. But Washington may soon add home growing to the legalization regime that I-502 got started. 2 comments Chronicle AM: WA Ponders Personal NJ Grows, Trump Chastises Colombia Over Coca, More... (9/15/17)
The only legal marijuana state that doesn't allow personal cultivation will revisit the issue, the president chides Colombia and Colombia reacts, there's strong support for pot legalization in New Jersey, and more. comments While Trump Moves Backward on Drug Sentencing, California Heads for More Reforms
The federal government may be in the hands of law and order Republicans, but the Golden State goes its own way. 1 comment The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, October 11-14, Atlanta
The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is the major biannual gathering of drug policy reformers from around the world. comments Chronicle AM: Orrin Hatch Punningly Files MedMJ Bill, DOJ #2 Speaks Out on Pot, More... (9/14/17)
What got into Orrin Hatch? Plus, Nevada could be the first state to allow pot lounges, the US Deputy AG says DOJ is still pondering marijuana policy, and more. comments This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
An Illinois DA gets indicted for asset forfeiture abuses, a Boston cop pleads guilty to extorting cocaine from a drug dealer, and more. comments Medical Marijuana Update
Medical marijuana is getting some attention in Congress, Arizona PTSD patients are still out of luck, Michigan dispensaries have three months to shut their doors and get licensed, and more. comments Chronicle AM: House Blocks Sessions Civil Asset Forfeiture Move, More... (9/13/17)
The House votes to defund Attorney General Sessions' newly revived Equitable Sharing asset forfeiture program, Maine lawmakers want a 20% sales tax on weed, Duterte allies in the Philippines vote to defund the country's human rights commission over its critique of the drug war, and more. comments Surprise! House Votes to Curb Sessions' Asset Forfeiture Revival
It was strange bedfellows as progressive Democrats teamed up with the House Freedom Caucus to slap down the attorney general. comments Roger Stone Yanked as Cannabis Conference Keynoter
Although he's a marijuana legalization advocate, Stone's provocations don't sit well with many in the industry. 1 comment Chronicle AM: Democratic Senators Call Out Trump on Opioid Inaction, More... (9/12/17)
Democratic senators want Trump to do more than say pretty words about the opioid epidemic, California's second largest city gets on board with marijuana legalization, Canadian cops seek a delay in rolling out legalization north of the border, and more. comments Chronicle AM: Ontario Goes With State-Owned Pot Shops, DEA Agent's Sordid Affair, More... (9/11/17)
Canada's most populous province is going with a state monopoly on legal marijuana sales, the CARERS Act is back, last week's surprise budget deal preserves protections for legal medical marijuana states for a few more months, and more. comments Chronicle AM: Trouble in the Philly Narc Squad, TN Cops Misused Seizure Funds, More... (9/8/17)
We're seeing progress on pot policy in gubernatorial candidates in Minnesota and Virginia, Tennessee cops get scorched for asset forfeiture spending abuses, black Philly narcs charge their bosses are racist and corrupt, and more. comments Chronicle AM: House GOP Leaders Block MedMJ Vote, Roger Stone Out at Pot Expos, More... (9/7/17)
It's all marijuana news today, with Delaware and Illinois lawmakers pondering legalization, the Vermont governor setting out a two-year road map to legalization, the House leadership blocking a vote on an amendment protecting medical marijuana, and more. comments Trump BS Alert: The Border Wall Won't Stop Drug Smuggling [FEATURE]
The fabulist-in-chief was at it again. 1 comment Debunking a Republican Myth About Medicaid and Opioids
No, the expansion of Medicaid is not driving the opioid epidemic. comments Medical Marijuana Update
The feds poking about in California and Colorado is raising hackles, Maryland's first commercial medical marijuana grows get underway, Montana's largest city bans dispensaries, and more. comments Chronicle AM: Angela Merkel in No Rush to Free the Weed, MD MedMJ Grows Underway, More... (9/6/17)
The feds continue to seek marijuana data from states, a Philippines senator stands up to Duterte, Angela Merkel isn't worrying too much about weed, and more. comments The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, October 11-14, Atlanta
The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is the major biannual gathering of drug policy reformers from around the world. comments Chronicle AM: Fed MJ Amendments Coming, Trump to Name Marino as Drug Czar, More... (9/5/17)
Trump nominates a drug czar, federal drug prosecutions are down, Obama's clemency program barely scratched the surface, British nitrous oxide prosecutions get laughed out of court, and more. comments 