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Drug War Chronicle #668 - January 27, 2011

Issue #668, Phillip S. Smith, Editor - David Borden, Executive Director
fired for believing in legalization

1. Retailers Fight Efforts to Ban "Fake Marijuana" [FEATURE]

The DEA's federal emergency ban on synthetic cannabinoids may be stalled, but bills are moving in a half-dozen states. Retailers are beginning to organize to fight back.

2. State Drug Warriors Want Prescription Requirement for Sudafed [FEATURE]

In a bid to repress the home manufacture of methamphetamine, a number of states are moving to require prescriptions for over-the-counter cold and allergy medications containing psuedoephedrine. Cold sufferers, take heed!

3. Agent Fired for Legalization Views Sues Border Patrol

Can the Border Patrol fire an agent for saying he supports drug legalization? The federal courts will decide.

4. Mexico Drug War Update

We present two weeks worth of Mexican drug war mayhem, and we review the death toll year by year since Calderon sent in the troops in 2007. The total has passed 35,000.

5. This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

An Illinois sheriff goes down hard, a Massachusetts police chief parties too hard, a Massachusetts cop gets nailed for helping out his local pot dealer, and a Florida motorcycle cop gets caught stealing a bud in his helmet.

6. Did You Know? Drug Testing Research Results, on DrugWarFacts.org

DrugWarFacts.org is an in-depth compilation of key facts, stats and quotes on the full range of drug policy issues, excerpted from expert publications. The Chronicle is running a series of info items from DrugWarFacts.org, and we encourage you to check it out.

7. Ex-World Leaders Form Global Drug Policy Commission

Some global heavyweights have taken on the international drug control system and how to come up with a better one.

8. Settlement Reached in Maryland Mayor's SWAT Raid Lawsuit

Prince Georges County, Maryland, cops messed with the wrong guy when their SWAT team hit the home of the mayor of Berwyn Heights and killed his dogs in a botched drug raid. Now they have to change their ways.

9. Leading Pain Patient Organization Shuts Down Under Federal Pressure

A leading advocacy group for pain patients has essentially been driven out of business by a federal prosecutor and the federal courts. The Pain Relief Network will be missed.

10. Montana Medical Marijuana Hearing Draws Crowd

The fight over medical marijuana in Montana has moved to the state house, some trying to repeal it but most debating what are the best regulations.

11. Marijuana Legalization Bills Filed in Massachusetts, Washington

Which state on which coast will be the first to legalize marijuana? There are now bills filed in Massachusetts and Washington.

12. Welfare Drug Testing Bills Filed in Virginia

Add Virginia to the list of states where imposing drug testing on recipients of public assistance is on the legislative agenda.

13. This Week in History

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

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