Drug War Chronicle #674 - March 10, 2011

Issue #674, Phillip S. Smith, Editor - David Borden, Executive Director

1. Kentucky Cuts Drug Sentences [FEATURE]

Faced with a staggering corrections budget, Kentucky has become the latest state to enact substantive sentencing reforms.

2. New Jersey's Medical Marijuana Muddle [FEATURE]

It's been more than a year since medical marijuana became the law of the land in New Jersey, but the fight goes on.

3. Mexico Drug War Update

A former Mexican governor admitted that the previous PRI government negotiated deals with drug cartels to keep the peace. Was that a better strategy than what Calderon is doing now?

4. Support for Marijuana Legalization Creeping Up

Here's yet another public opinion poll showing a rising trend-line for freeing the weed.

5. Washington Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Dispensary Bill

Washington could be the next medical marijuana state to allow dispensaries after a bill to do so passed the state Senate. It now goes to the House.

6. Did You Know? Medical Marijuana Regs in 15 States and DC, on ProCon.org

MedicalMarijuana.ProCon.org, part of the ProCon.org family, is an in-depth web site presenting information and views from a variety of perspectives on the medical marijuana issue. The Chronicle is running a series of info items from ProCon.org over the next several weeks, and we encourage you to check it out.

7. US Marshal, Drug Fugitive Die in St. Louis Fire-Fight

A second deputy US marshal has been killed trying to apprehend a drug suspect this year. The fugitive was also killed. They are the year's 14th and 15th deaths related to drug law enforcement.

8. Massachusetts Man Dies as Police Execute Drug Search Warrant

Being the subject of a drug search warrant proved fatal for a young Massachusetts man last Friday.

9. This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

It's a veritable cornucopia of drug-related law enforcement corruption! We don't even know where to begin -- just jump in, but don't forget to take a shower after you're done.

10. Council on Foreign Relations Report Urges US Embrace Drug Reform

The disaster that is Mexico's drug war has moved a Council on Foreign Relations scholar to call for the US to rethink its failed drug policies.

11. Scottish Liberal Democrats Back Prescription Heroin

Scotland's Liberal Democrats want to reduce the harm to users and society alike by making heroin available through prescription.

12. 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.