Drug War Chronicle #774 - March 7, 2013

As Attorney General Eric Holder prepared to appear before a congressional committee Wednesday, former drug warriors Tuesday called on him to enforce federal marijuana laws. The International Narcotics Control Board chimed in with criticism of legalization, too.

In a case that could have important implications for US drug war tactics abroad, a federal appeals court has thrown out the convictions of four Panamanians tried in the US after being seized on Panamanian territory.

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Support for marijuana legalization is at the highest levels ever recorded by the venerable Field poll, but not high enough to make potential initiative campaigners or contributors relaxed.

Legislatures are in session across the land, and that's reflected in our update this week. Bills are moving, generally, but not, always in the right direction. Meanwhile, Arkansas looks ahead to 2014, and Oakland wants back in the Harborside case.

The Hawaii House earlier this session rejected marijuana legalization; now, it will have a chance to vote on decriminalization after a bill passed the state Senate.

Oregon becomes the latest state to see a marijuana legalization bill this year.

Have you ever worked in an industry where there is drug testing? If so, that's "reasonable suspicion" you are a drug user, according to a public benefits drug testing bill that has passed the Kansas Senate.

The Norwegian government wants to decriminalize heroin smoking as a harm reduction measure in a bid to reduce overdoses.

An Oklahoma City man was killed by undercover police after bumping an officer with his car as he attempted to flee a drug bust. That's the sixth death this year in US domestic drug law enforcement operations.

The Tulsa police corruption scandal is the gift that keeps on giving, Jackson, MS, cops head to prison, and more cops want pills too badly for their own good.