Consequences of Prohibition
Drug War Issues
Politics & Advocacy
An MJ decrim bill moves in Alabama, an asset forfeiture reform bill moves in Kansas, a new report tallies the toll of rising drug, alcohol, and suicide deaths, another report warns of problems in Colombia, and more.
There's trouble in the coca fields of Colombia (dea.gov)
Alabama Senate Committee Advances Marijuana Decriminalization Bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to approve Senate Bill 251, which would decriminalize the possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. But at the same time, the House Judiciary Committee defeated a similar bill, House Bill 272. The Senate bill now heads for a Senate floor vote.
Medical Marijuana
Ohio Bill to Block Awarding of Medical Marijuana Business Licenses Filed. State Sen. Bill Coley (R-West Chester) has filed a bill to temporarily halt the issuance of licenses for growers, processors, and testers to allow fixes with what he has identified as problems with the system. The move comes as lawsuits by entities not awarded licenses are underway and as others have criticized aspects of the selection process. Coley's bill is not yet available on the legislative web site.
Asset Forfeiture
Kansas House Approves Asset Forfeiture Reform Bill. The House on Thursday gave final approval to House Bill 2459, which doesn't end civil asset forfeiture, but would impose stricter reporting requirements on all law enforcement agencies. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Public Health
Report: Alcohol, Drug, Suicide Deaths Hit New High. A new report shows that 2016 saw the highest-ever number of US deaths tied to alcohol, drugs and suicide. Deaths attributed to the three causes rose by 11%, according to the "Pain in the Nation" report, to total a record-high 142,000. Alcohol related deaths have increased at a rate of 40% over the past decade, while deaths from synthetic opioids roughly doubled between 2015 and 2016, to nearly 20,000.
International
Criminal Violence Threatens Colombia Drug Crop Substitution: Report. A new report from Colombian Ideas for Peace Foundation warns that homicide rates have jumped substantially in municipalities that are taking part in coca eradication program. The killings highlight the fragility of the government's eradication plan in the face of intensified violence among the country's fragmented criminal groups.
Time Runs Out on British Parliament Debate on Marijuana Reform. Labor MP Paul Flynn's bill on marijuana law reform, which was set for parliamentary debate Friday, didn't get it. Instead, his colleagues on both sides of the aisle took so long debating other private members' bills that they ran out of time to take up the issue. An astounded Flynn accused MPs of filibustering, sparking an angry retort from the speaker's chair. Flynn was pushing especially for a way to make medical marijuana available in the country.
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Comments
The Colombian government is
The Colombian government is forcing people to stop growing a leaf which is native to the country. Think of how completely insane and destructive that is to people, animals and the environment.
Exactly what I'd expect from government of not so Great Britain
and the not so United Kingdom. Nothing but stonewalling, an utter and utterly irresponsible refusal to deal seriously with the subject. Pathetic excuses for a human being like May enjoy the feeling of being drenched in innocent blood, that taste for sadism has been a character defect of the British ruling class for a long, long time.
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