Drug War Chronicle #724 - March 8, 2012

There are four marijuana legalization initiative campaigns under way in Oregon, but only two of them look to have a serious chance at making the ballot. One would be enough.

Canada appears set to march boldly backward as the Senate has passed a Conservative crime bill that includes mandatory minimums for growing as few as six marijuana plants.

We continue our newest offer for donating members, the drug policy classic reprint: "The Marijuana Conviction: A History of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States." This is one is available for donations of just $22 or more.

Even though Sen. Rand Paul is blocking federal legislation to ban fake marijuana (and "bath salts"), the DEA has just extended its emergency ban for another six months.

Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla has joined Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina in calling for serious discussion of drug legalization.

US Vice President Joe Biden was quick to fight back against the rising clamor for a debate on drug legalization as he landed in Mexico City Monday on a two-day trip to meet with Mexican and Central American leaders.

Iran executed nearly 500 people for drug crimes last year, according to a new report from Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO. Drug executions made up more than 70% of all executions in the Islamic Republic.

Nevada's legislature has failed to provide a way for medical marijuana patients to buy their medicine, and that's unconstitutional, a state district court judge has ruled.

The Florida legislature is one vote away from approving the mandatory, suspicionless drug testing of state employees. The courts may have something to say about that.

Bills are being considered in some states, busts are going on in others, and local governments grapple with medical marijuana from Washington state to New Jersey.

Marijuana legalization got a hearing in the Massachusetts legislature Tuesday. While even the bill's sponsor doubts it will pass, it helps pave the way for a legalization initiative in the future.

The year's 13th domestic drug war death occurred last Tuesday on a South Carolina highway.

Bad cops pay out big in New York, a sheriff cleans house in Florida, a sticky-fingered cop gets in trouble in North Carolina, and a California cop gets caught with his fingers in the dope jar.