Drug War Chronicle #584 - May 8, 2009

The Mexican Congress has passed a bill that would decriminalize the possession of "personal use" amounts of illegal drugs. Some of the other provisions in the measure are not so nice.

If it's the first week in May, it must be time for the Global Marijuana March. Thousands took to the streets across the globe last weekend, and thousands more will do the same next weekend.

Marijuana's rise in the polls continues... and now we have a national poll showing majority support for legalization.

Thanks to your help, our "Changing Minds, Laws & Lives" 09 campaign has gotten off to a great start! Your support is still needed -- two exciting new t-shirts about drug prohibition are among the gifts we'd like to send you as our thanks.

La semana pasada fue una de esas ocasiones impresionantemente raras en que no topamos con ningún artículo sobre policías corruptos. ¡No hay por qué preocuparse! Esta semana han regresado de lo lindo. Cae otro alguacil fronterizo, quiebra una comisaría de policía de Carolina del Norte, un policía de Arizona se pone codicioso y pillan a otros dos agentes penitenciarios emprendedores.

There's been another California medical marijuana dispensary raid with the DEA involved, but so far, it looks like the real culprit is a crusading sheriff in Bakersfield.

Bryan Epis, one of a handful of people convicted in federal court for supplying medical marijuana under California's Proposition 215, is facing 10 years in prison. A three-judge panel of the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that should stick, but an appeal is pending.

In 2006, South Dakota became the only state to reject a medical marijuana legalization initiative. This year, the legislature ignored its opportunity to do something, so now proponents are gathering signatures for a retry in 2010.

Two-thirds of British Columbia voters favor marijuana legalization, according to a new poll. Now, if only someone would clue in the political parties that claim to represent them.

It's getting harder and harder to get prosecuted for drug possession in Argentina. The Argentine courts' slow drift toward decriminalization continued this week.

Jimmy Carter once let Evo Morales pick some peanuts on his Georgia farm. Now, Morales has invited Carter to pick some coca leaves on his farm in Bolivia's Chapare.

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

"Obama No Longer Supports Needle Exchange Programs That Reduce AIDS," "Gil Kerlikowske is the New Drug Czar," "The Drug Czar's Office Doesn't Know What to Say about Marijuana Legalization," "Will Legalization Actually Reduce the Black Market? Of Course," "Another Medical Marijuana Raid in California," "Arnold Schwarzenegger Calls for Marijuana Legalization Debate," "Ethan Nadelmann vs. Steven Colbert, Round Three," "Support for Marijuana Legalization is Huge in Canada," "Support for Marijuana Legalization Continues to Grow in America," Phil Smith previews: "Hello? Mexico on the Verge on Decriminalizing Drug Possession..."

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