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Drug War Chronicle #785 - May 23, 2013

Issue #785, Phillip S. Smith, Editor - David Borden, Executive Director
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1. OAS Releases Historic Report on Drug Policy Alternatives [FEATURE]

The Organization of American States has issued a historic report on drug policy that includes discussion of possible legalization and regulation regimes. It will be the basis for ministerial-level discussions in the region, and could pave the way for discussions at the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs.

2. Federal Appeals Court Panel Extends Crack Sentencing Retroactivity

A panel of the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati has held that the Fair Sentencing Act's reduction in sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine offenses should be extended to all federal crack prisoners, regardless of when their offense took place.

3. Illinois Legislature Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

Medical marijuana has passed the Illinois legislature. Will the governor sign the bill into law? Stay tuned.

4. LA Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Dispensary Regulation, Cap

A Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensary regulation initiative that would cap their number at about 135 was approved by voters Tuesday.

5. Hemp Legalization Amendment Introduced for Farm Bill

An amendment to allow industrial hemp planting has been added to the omnibus farm bill. Both Oregon senators and both Kentucky senators support it, and so does Vermont Sen. Pat Leahy.

6. Hatch Adds Marijuana Grow Amendment to Immigration Bill

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has added an amendment to the immigration reform bill that would create enhanced penalties for marijuana grows on federal public lands -- no matter what your citizenship status.

7. DC Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Likely Coming

The Washington, DC, city council could take up a decriminalization bill this summer. If the council doesn't act, reformers are considering an initiative, maybe even a legalization initiative.

8. Medical Marijuana Update

From the US Supreme Court to the local city council chambers, medical marijuana continues to be a contentious issue. Here's the latest.

9. Spending Cuts Hurting Cocaine Interdiction, Admiral Says

Sequestration is hobbling the military's ability to catch cocaine-smugglers headed for the US, the commander of the Joint Interagency Task Force complained Wednesday.

10. CA Police Chase of Pot Car Ends in Fatal Crash

A high-speed police chase on I-80 in California's Sierra Nevada mountains Monday left one man dead and the highway strewn with containers and jars of marijuana.

11. This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

New York City seems indifferent to the costs imposed on it by rogue narcs, a Florida deputy gets popped for growing weed, a US Virgin Islands environmental cop gets popped for cocaine trafficking, and a rogue California narc heads for prison.

12. Donations Needed This Month for Drug War Chronicle

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Permission to Reprint: This issue of Drug War Chronicle is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Articles of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

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