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Drug War Chronicle #687 - June 9, 2011

Issue #687, Phillip S. Smith, Editor - David Borden, Executive Director
ALERT: Support New Medical Marijuana Bills!

1. Big Name Panel Calls Global Drug War a "Failure" [FEATURE]

The Global Commission on Drug Policy, made up of former heads of state and other international dignitaries, is calling for fundamental reform of the international drug control system.

2. Poland Approves Drug Decriminalization -- Sort Of [FEATURE]

Poland is moving toward the decriminalization of drug possession, but it's not quite there yet.

3. ALERT: Support New Medical Marijuana Bills in Congress

Last month a bipartisan group of US Representatives introduced three new bills to protect medical marijuana patients, providers and businesses. Please visit our action alert web site to take action in support.

4. Vermont Becomes Eighth Medical Marijuana Dispensary State

Vermont's Democratic governor has stood up to threats from the US attorney, signing into law the state's medical marijuana dispensary bill.

5. AG Holder Backs Early Release for Crack Cocaine Prisoners

The Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced disparities between crack and powder cocaine sentences, could be about to get even fairer. The US Sentencing Commission is pondering making it retroactive, and Attorney General Holder agrees.

6. Connecticut Legislature Passes Marijuana Decriminalization Bill

Connecticut is only a stroke of the governor's pen from becoming the latest decrim state.

7. CHA Gets Angry Earful Over Drug Testing Proposal

New Chicago Housing Authority CEO Lewis Jordan has floated a plan to require drug testing of all adult residents. Thursday night, he got a taste of what residents think of his bright idea.

8. Not a Good Year for Marijuana So Far in Sacramento

A bill-killing deadline came and went Friday in Sacramento, and it ain't looking especially pretty for marijuana reform so far.

9. Mexico Drug War Update

As prohibition-related violence continues unabated, peace marchers are heading for Ciudad Juarez.

10. This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Criminal cops -- they just keep coming. Oh, and prison guards and Customs agents, too.

11. 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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