Breaking News:Dangerous Delays: What Washington State (Re)Teaches Us About Cash and Cannabis Store Robberies [REPORT]

Drug War Chronicle #703 - October 6, 2011

1. Canada Supreme Court Okays Safe Injection Site [FEATURE]

In a landmark decision, the Canadian Supreme Court has blocked the Canadian government from shutting down the country's only safe injection site.

2. Chronicle Film Review: Prohibition

The new documentary "Prohibition," by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, aired this week on PBS. We thinks it's well worth watching, especially for drug reformers.

3. Call-In: The National Criminal Justice Commission Act

Please take action by phone and online to pass the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, important bipartisan legislation calling for a thorough review of the criminal justice system and reform recommendations.

4. Do You Read Drug War Chronicle?

Do you read Drug War Chronicle? If so, we need your feedback to evaluate our work and make the case for Drug War Chronicle to funders. We need donations too.

5. Mexico Says "No Thanks" to Perry's US Troops Idea

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's suggestion that the US could deploy troops to Mexico to help fight the cartels was not well received by the Mexican government.

6. IRS Rules Against Oakland Marijuana Dispensary, Demands Millions

In a blow that could cripple the medical marijuana dispensary business, the IRS has ruled that Harborside Health in Oakland cannot deduct standard business expenses because it involved in "drug trafficking."

7. No Evidence Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Cause Crime, RAND Study Finds

A study of medical marijuana in Los Angeles found that when dispensaries were shut down, crime went up. The results are preliminary, but suggest law enforcement has constructed a bogeyman argument about crime and dispensaries.

8. Rhode Island Governor Nixes Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Bowing before federal threats, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee has put plans to open three state-registered and -regulated medical marijuana dispensaries in the deep freeze. Next step for advocates -- the courts.

9. Montana to Feds: Let Our Medical Marijuana Patients Have Guns

Montana's entire congressional delegation and its attorney general have stepped to oppose the ATF's contention that medical marijuana patients cannot possess firearms or ammunition.

10. Montana Medical Marijuana Initiative Makes Ballot

Montana voters will get a chance to weigh in at the polls on the legislature's trashing of their medical marijuana program.

11. Mexico Drug War Update

Mexican authorities capture more high-ranking cartel figures, but that doesn't seem to change anything. The killing continues unabated.

12. This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

The allure of prohibition's filthy lucre snags four more officers.

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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