Drug War Chronicle #703 - October 6, 2011

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

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.

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.

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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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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