The MORE Act is back, and the effort to end federal marijuana prohibition in Congress this year is now underway. 13 comments
ON THE SPEAKEASY BLOG
Our Work on Medical Marijuana at the UN
This post is the first of a series explaining our organization's current work and strategy. One part of that is work at the United Nations. 18 comments
The MORE Act has passed the House!
The MORE marijuana legalization with social justice act has passed the US House of Representatives! This is a big day for drug policy reform.
5 commentsInitiatives 2020 -- Legalization Sweep, Psychedelic Sweep, Medical Marijuana, Decrim
November 3rd was a good day for drug reform ballot initiatives. 14 comments 
Philippine Democracy and Human Rights Face a Critical Test This Week
Our ally Senator Trillanes is facing possible jailing, maybe as soon as tomorrow, for opposing Duterte's drug war killing campaign. 9 comments Trillanes Gets Reprieve, for Now
One of the few outspoken leaders opposing Rodrigo Duterte's mass murder campaign in the Philippine drug war, Senator Antonio Trillanes, is likely be jailed tomorrow. He will be the second opposition senator and Duterte critic suffering this fate. 2 comments EVENT: Human Rights Challenge: Judicial and Extrajudicial Drug War Killings, in a Time of Authoritarianism
The rise of authoritarian or authoritarian political figures has been accompanied by calls for both sanctioned and extra-legal government violence in their crime and drug policies. This event, held in association with the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, will focus primarily but not exclusively on the situation in the Philippines. We will also examine the ramifications of President Trump's call to administer the death penalty for drug trafficking. 2 comments VIDEO: Our Protest at the Philippine Embassy Today
There are nearly 40,000 v 38 comments Statement of ICC Prosecutor on Opening Preliminary Investigations in the Philippines and in Venezuela
The ICC is a long and uncertain road. But this is an important first step for stopping the drug war killings, restoring rule of law, and seeking justice. 7 comments Save Marijuana Legalization
Jeff Sessions is trying to turn back marijuana legalization and medical marijuana. Don't let him do it. 17 comments Action Alerts, #GivingTuesday, Issue 1000, Remembering Rep. Hinchey
As issue #1000 of the Drug War Chronicle newsletter approaches, we ask you to take advocacy actions, we ask for your financial support, and we stop to remember one of reform's best allies. 1 comment ALERT: Medical Marijuana Is Under Threat -- Tell Congress to Act!
For the first time since becoming law in 2014, the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment (formerly known as the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment) is in danger of not being renewed. 5 comments CONGRESS: Pass S. 1055 for Philippines Human Rights Accountability
This bill responds to the Philippines drug war killings, in which well over 10,000 people have been killed extrajudicially without trial by police and vigilantes. The legislation would place human rights conditions on law enforcement assistance to the Philippines. It would also fund positive public health programs for substance use issues, as well as the work of Philippine human rights defenders. 6 comments 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. 25 comments Massachusetts Legalizes It, Arkansas Okays Medical Marijuana
More marijuana victories tonight. 6 comments
Read all Speakeasy Posts
FROM THE CHRONICLE
CA Safe Injection Site Bill Delayed to Next Year, Drug Czar's Office Seeks Input on Harms of Drug Policies, More... (7/7/21)
The punishment of Olypmic athlete Sha'carri Richardson for testing positive for marijuana draw intense interest and criticism, New Mexico drug dogs are getting laid off in the wake of legal pot, and more. comments This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
A South Carolina prison guard gets caught smuggling dope in a Rice Krispies treat, a Birmingham cop is facing some problems, and more. comments Medical Marijuana Update
South Dakota steps into the age of medical marijuana, governors in New Jersey and Pennsylvania sign bills easing the burden on patients, and more. comments NJ Governor Signs MedMJ Telehealth Bill, SD Activists Prepare 2022 Legalization Initiatives, More... (7/6/21)
A Rhode Island marijuana legalization bill gets a hearing but appears doomed this year, a South Dakota Native American reservation opens the state's first medical marijuana dispensary, and more. 1 comment RI Legislature Passes Safe Injection Site Bill, CA Coerced Treatment Bill Advances More... (7/2/21)
The Mississippi Supreme Court continues to smack down the will of the people on medical marijuana, a coerced drug treatment bill advances in California to the dismay of reformers, and more. comments ME Senate Defeats Drug Decrim Bill, House Approves Marijuana Research Language, More... (7/1/21)
Medical marijuana is now legal in South Dakota, Austin activists roll out a municipal marijuana decriminalization initiative, and more. 1 comment CA Psychedelic Decrim Bill Advances, Marijuana Gets Legalized in Three States This Week, More... (6/30/21)
The Rhode island legislature is on the verge of passing a bill allowing drug checking and safe consumption sites, Mexico's Supreme Court again declares marijuana prohibition unconstitutional, and more. 1 comment Clarence Thomas Questions Federal Marijuana Prohibition, ONDCP Reports on Colombia Coca, More... (6/28/21)
A major pharmaceutical company settles with the state of New York over opioid distribution, Minnesota lawmakers are on the verge of passing policing reforms, and more. 3 comments This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
A DEA agent and his task force buddy get convicted of thievery, a Louisiana town cop gets busted for taking bribes from a drug dealer, and more. 3 comments Medical Marijuana Update
Medical marijuana is making progress in the South, employment rights for medical marijuana patients remain an issue, and more. comments RI Marijuana Legalization Push Hits Bump, UN Warns Pandemic Could Propel Drug Use, Cultivation, More... (6/25/21)
There's progress on medical marijuana this week in the South, a key Rhode Island lawmaker slams the brakes on a marijuana legalization push, and more. 1 comment House Democrats Advance Marijuana Banking, DC Pot Sales Bill, NC MedMJ Bill Advances, More... (6/24/21)
The Veterans Administration comes out against a medical marijuana research bill for veterans, House Democrats move a bill that would provide protection to banks doing business with marijuana firms and allow pot sales in DC, and more. 1 comment Federal Appeals Court Taps the Brakes on Drug Induced Homicide Prosecutions of Drug Users [FEATURE]
Prosecuting drug users for murder when they score together and one of them overdoses just isn't right, a federal appeals court has ruled. 2 comments CT Becomes Latest State to Legalize Marijuana, DEA Denies FL Church's Ayahuasca Exemption, More... (6/23/21)
House Democrats look to end the ban on legal marijuana sales in the nation's capital, the Rhode Island Senate approves a marijuana legalization bill, and more. 2 comments White House Supports Bill Ending Crack/Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity, Mexico Marijuana Mess, More... (6/22/21)
A New York City DA drops thousands of pending marijuana cases, an Ohio's judge's courtroom temper tantrum will get him off the bench for a year, and more. 2 comments FL Supreme Court Strikes Down Second Pot Initiative, ME Legislature Passes Drug Trafficking Reform Bill, More... (6/21/21)
Possession of more than two grams of heroin or fentanyl would no longer be considered prima facie evidence of drug trafficking in Maine after the legislature passes a reform bill, the Decriminalize Nature movement gets a Vermont chapter, and more. comments Marijuana Equity Advocates Propose Changes in MORE Act, CT Governor Ready To Sign Legal Pot Law, More... (6/18/21)
Legislation to make it easier for scientists to get access to marijuana for research purposes is moving in Congress, marijuana equity advocates suggest changes in the MORE Act, and more. comments CT Set to Become 19th Marijuana Legalization State, Another Filipino "Narco Politician" Gunned Down, More... (6/17/21)
A minor civil asset forfeiture bill advances in Michigan, another new poll has strong support for drug decriminalization, and more. 2 comments CT Senate Passes Marijuana Legalization Bill, CA Bill to End Drug Mandatory Minimums Advances, More... (6/16/21)
Connecticut edges ever closer to marijuana legalization, Texas sees a modest expansion in its medical marijuana program, and more. comments Federal Drug Decriminalization Bill Filed, LA Governor Signs Marijuana Decriminalization Bill, More... (6/15/21)
An historic federal drug decriminalization bill is filed, the AMA speaks out for better drug treatment access in jails and prisons, and more. 2 comments Historic Federal Drug Decriminalization Bill Introduced [FEATURE]
For the first time, a federal drug decriminalization bill will be filed in Congress. 1 comment Supreme Court Rejects Reduced Charges for Low-Level Crack Offenders, ICC Prosecutor Seeks to Open Philippine Drug War Investigation, More... (6/14/21)
Connecticut lawmakers will meet in special session this week in a bid to get marijuana legalization done, Wyoming activists began initiative campaigns for marijuana decriminalization and medical marijuana, and more. comments ICC Prosecutor Announces Request to Authorize Philippines Investigation
Amid increasing warnings from officials of the International Criminal Court about insufficient resources and a need to prioritize, the ICC's Chief Prosecutor on the second-to-last day of her term sought authorization from the court's pretrial chamber to proceed with an investigation into the Philippine drug war killings. 1 comment Idaho Activists Ponder Two Marijuana Initiatives for 2022, Asian Meth Boomed During Pandemic, More... (6/11/21)
Brazil's lower chamber of parliament approves a hemp and medical marijuana bill, a federal appeals court hears arguments in marijuana rescheduling case, and more. 3 comments NY Syringe Legalization Passes Senate, Portugal Ponders Marijuana Legalization, More... (6/10/21)
Marijuana legalization bills in Delaware and Rhode Island get delayed, Morocco's parliament has approved the legalization of hemp and medical marijuana, and more. 1 comment This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
A dope-slinging Michigan detective gets popped, a Tennessee constable was seizing drugs and training his drug dogs with it instead of turning it in, and more. 1 comment Medical Marijuana Update
Mississippi's Republican governor says the legislature should create a medical marijuana program, a Pennsylvania court upholds the unemployment claims of a patient fired for off-the-job medical marijuana use, and more. comments National Poll Find Majority Supports Drug Decrim, CT Legal Pot Bill Delayed, More... (6/9/21)
Connecticut's marijuana legalization bill gets bumped to a special session later this month, Washington state marijuana regulators allow pot shops to hand out free joints to people who get vaccinated in-store, and more. 2 comments CT Senate Votes to Legalize Marijuana, VT Governor Signs Marijuana Social Equity Bill, More... (6/8/21)
Louisiana is one signature away from marijuana decriminalization, Colorado's governor signs a bill tightening up medical marijuana regulations, and more. comments CT Marijuana Legalization Vote Coming This Week, British MPs Call for Festival Pill Testing, More... (6/7/21)
Connecticut is poised to become the fourth state to legalize marijuana this year, Mississippi's governor calls on the legislature to create a medical marijuana program, and more. 3 comments 