Drug War Chronicle #460 - November 3, 2006

With the 2006 elections just days away, here's a look at drug reform issues and drug reformers on the ballot.

Less than a week out, initiatives to legalize marijuana possession in Colorado and permit regulated sales and possession in Nevada face an uphill battle, but organizers remain hopeful.

Loretta Nall didn't set out to be the "cleavage" candidate when launching her campaign, but she recognized a good strategy when a newspaper columnist thrust it upon her.

This important new documentary about the medical marijuana movement is DRCNet's latest membership premium.

A Virginia sheriff and most of his department goes down for reselling seized drug and guns, a Border Patrol guard gets caught turning a blind eye in exchange for sex and cash, dope is missing from the Boston Police evidence warehouse, a small town police chief pleads guilty to protecting crack dealers, and two cops are going to prison for dealing drugs.

DEA head Karen Tandy refused to meet with medical marijuana patients in San Diego Wednesday, the patients refused to leave, seven were arrested, and Tandy got to feel the heat for the actions of her agency.

In a debate last week, Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick said he could support marijuana legalization, and in the next breath, vowed to veto a marijuana decriminalization bill if it crossed his desk.

A South Dakota federal court judge has dismissed a challenge to the consitutionality of the Higher Education Act's drug provision.

An unintended consequence of last summer's war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is a steep spike in hashish prices paid by Israeli consumers due to increased border security.

The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is seeing increased marijuana use and cultivation. While the usual suspects raise concerns, at least one member of parliament is sticking up for growers.

Faced with falling commodity prices, Swazi farmers are turning to marijuana as a cash crop. Now there's talk of growing hemp.

Legalization, prison overcrowding, forfeiture, initiatives, more...

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

Visit our new web site each day to see a running countdown to the events coming up the soonest, and more.