Drug War Chronicle #769 - January 31, 2013

The smart money is saying hold off on a California marijuana legalization initiative until 2016, but some will pay the price for waiting.

A federal magistrate in Massachusetts has slapped down a federal government effort to seize a motel because of limite drug activity there. That's a blow against asset forfeiture abuse.

FelonVoting.ProCon.org, part of the ProCon.org family, is an in-depth web site presenting information and views from a variety of perspectives on the issue felony disenfranchisement. The Chronicle is running a six-part series of info items from ProCon.org, of which this week's is the fourth.

The Czech parliament has approved a medical marijuana bill, and the Czech president is expected to sign it, but patient advocates have some problems with some of its provisions.

The agonizingly slow pace of implementing medical marijuana laws is causing problems in several states, while in California, the never-ending battles continue.

It's drug testing bill time in state legislatures again, and a measure to drug test welfare recipients now awaits a Senate floor vote in Virginia.

It may soon be harder for patients to get access to hydrocodone-based pain relievers like Vicodin after an FDA advisory panel recommended moving them from Schedule III to Schedule II in an effort to prevent overdoses and addiction.

A bipartisan marijuana legalization bill has been rolled out in New Hampshire. That's one of at least six states where similar bills have been or will be filed this year.

College athletes who like to toke up, take note! The NCAA is making it easier for you to test positive and, while it will lower the penalty, that lower penalty won't take effect for another year.

"What are you in for?" "Possession of Marlboros." That could be the case under a new bill filed in Oregon.

Narcs gone bad, evidence gone missing, cops gone over to the other side, and another jailer in trouble. Just another week in the drug war.