Drug War Chronicle #1118 - December 22, 2020

Issue #1118, Phillip S. Smith, Editor - David Borden, Executive Director

We had an unexpected big victory today -- see item #11
just added to our Top Ten Domestic Drug Policy Stories of 2020
to read about it! (And check back for the Top Ten
International Drug Policy Stories of 2020 too!)

Check out our Zoom event tomorrow morning,
or check back to watch the video!

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1. Drugs and the Year from Hell: The Top Ten Domestic Drug Policy Stories of 2020 [FEATURE]

What a year! But it wasn't a bad one when it comes to drug reform.

2. EVENT: International Responses to Extrajudicial Drug War Killings -- Leverage and Limitations

We continue our series of events at international meetings -- online for the moment -- with another focusing on extrajudicial killings in the drug war and options for the international community to respond.

3. Medical Marijuana Update

Both chambers of Congress have passed bills to ease barriers to medical marijuana research, the Mississippi Health Department joins a lawsuit trying to overturn the voter-approved medical marijuana initiative, and more.

4. This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

An Alabama cop gets arrested for meth dealing for the second time in two weeks, a former Virignia police detective is heading to prison for giving a snitch's name to drug dealers, and more.

5. Santa Cruz Needle Exchange Hit With NIMBY Lawsuit, Mexico Supreme Court Okays Legalization Vote Delay, More... (12/11/20)

The Mexican Supreme Court grants another extension on its deadline to end marijuana prohibition, the Oakland city council will next week take up a measure calling on the state to decriminalize psychedelics, and more.

6. Patrick Kennedy Wants to Be Drug Czar, NJ MJ Implementation Bill Heard, More... (12/14/20)

Jostling over who will be named Joe Biden's drug czar has begun, Arizona gets working on rules for the nascent legal marijuana industry, more cartel conflict in Mexico, and more.

7. NJ Legal MJ Implementation Bill Advances, MS Health Dept Joins Lawsuit to Block MedMJ, More... (12/15/20)

Medical marijuana bills are coming in Kentucky and South Carolina, a bill to implement voter-approved marijuana legalization in New Jersey is advancing, and more.

8. Senate Approves Marijuana Research Bill, ICC Philippines Examination Progresses, More... (12/16/20)

A California bill wound put an end to mandatory minimum sentences for some drug offenses, Toronto is moving to open safe injection sites in select homeless shelters, and more.

9. Oregon's Largest County Ends Drug Possession Prosecutions, New Jersey MJ and Psilocybin Bills Pass, More... (12/16/20)

The DEA has published a rule that will finally allow for an end to the government monopoly on marijuana grown for research purposes, the Mexican congress slaps back at the US, limiting the activities of DEA agents inside the country, and more.

10. CDC Says Drug ODs Hit Record High Amid Pandemic, NJ Legalization Lacks Home Grow Provision, More... (12/21/20)

Another Mexican politican gets gunned down, the Scottish public health minister has been fired over record overdose deaths, and more.

11. Congress Restores Financial Aid for Students with Drug Convictions, CA Fentanyl Task Force Bill Filed, More... (12/22/20)

Illinois' Cook County prosecutor talks expunging marijuana sales convictions and heroin and cocaine possession convictions, one of the co-petitioners of the Oregon psilocybin therapy initiative has died, and more.

Permission to Reprint: This issue of Drug War Chronicle is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Articles of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.