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Drug War Chronicle #711 - December 1, 2011

Phillip S. Smith, Editor - David Borden, Executive Director
Gov. Gregoire's press release about the petition
Gov. Gregoire's press release about the petition

Two Governors Call on DEA to Reclassify Marijuana for Medical Use [FEATURE]

Two medical marijuana state governors, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, on Wednesday called on the federal government to reschedule marijuana. In a joint 106-page petition to the DEA, they said states that have passed medical marijuana laws need to be able to regulate its distribution without fear of federal prosecution.
Reduces nausea, spasms -- and traffic accidents? (image courtesy Laurie Avocado via wikimedia.org)
Reduces nausea, spasms -- and traffic accidents? (image courtesy Laurie Avocado via wikimedia.org)

New Study Finds Traffic Fatalities Decline with Medical Marijuana Laws [FEATURE]

In what could be an important intervention in the debates over medical marijuana and pot legalization, the first study to examine the relationship between medical marijuana and traffic deaths found they declined in medical marijuana states.
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The Future of Drug War Chronicle

As drug policy reform continues into its most consequential stage in decades, StoptheDrugWar.org plays a crucial role for leaders and organizations in the movement. But we need your help, more perhaps than ever, to keep the most important StoptheDrugWar.org service, the Drug War Chronicle newsletter, at full strength.
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Supreme Court Takes Up Crack "Pipeline" Sentencing Cases

Should people convicted of federal crack offenses before the Fair Sentencing Act was in effect, but sentenced after it was in effect, be sentenced under the new law or not? The US Supreme Court says it will decide.
Barney Frank at press conference calling for repeal of a law that denies financial aid to students because of drug convictions
Barney Frank at press conference calling for repeal of a law that denies financial aid to students because of drug convictions

Drug Reform Ally Barney Frank Retiring from Congress

The drug reform movement is losing a key congressional ally. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) announced Monday he will retire at the end of this term.
Free the weed, say Vancouver mayors (image courtesy the author).
Free the weed, say Vancouver mayors (image courtesy the author).

Vancouver Mayors Say Legalize Marijuana

Four of Vancouver's last five former mayors are calling for marijuana legalization, and they have been joined by the city's current mayor.
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Drug_bust_mexican_cartel_10.jpg

Mexico Drug War Update

Mexican human rights activists have filed a complaint in the Hague against President Calderon for human rights violations committed by Mexican security forces, also mentioning crimes committed by drug cartels. That and the killings and arrests continue, with no apparent impact on the flow of drugs north.
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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

It's prison guards gone wild this week, plus a really sleazy deputy gets a sweet deal and a 'roided cop takes a plea deal.
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This Week in History

Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.