Drug War Chronicle #790 - July 3, 2013

Issue #790, Phillip S. Smith, Editor - David Borden, Executive Director

StoptheDrugWar.org needs your support this month -- author-signed copies of three exciting new books are our thanks for donations of $50 or more

1. Author-Signed Copies of Three New Books for Our Members!

We are excited to announce that authors of three important new works have each agreed to sign at least 25 copies for our newest membership offer, which comes at a time when the organization needs your support.

2. Chronicle Book Review: High Price

Dr. Carl Hart went from the mean streets of Miami to the halls of academe. His new book, High Price, tells his story -- and delivers a blistering critique of drug policy, drug science and how it's understood, and race and class bias along the way. It's a gripping read, too.

3. Internships: Legislative, Writing/Research, Web, IT, Admin/Finance, Communications

Interns are making an important difference fighting the good fight with us at StoptheDrugWar.org.

4. Medical Marijuana Update

At least the DEA didn't raid anybody this week, but some Michigan cops did. That and more in this week's update.

5. Vermont Decriminalizes Marijuana Starting Monday

Marijuana decriminalization goes into effect Monday in Vermont, leaving New Hampshire as the odd man out when it comes to decriminalization in the region.

6. Colorado Releases Temporary Marijuana Sales Rules

State revenuers in Colorado have released temporary rules for governing the state's looming legal marijuana commerce, but at this point, they are only a sketch of what is to come.

7. Oregon Bills Easing Marijuana Penalties Become Law

Two bills reducing penalties for marijuana offenses have been signed into law in Oregon. They take effect immediately.

8. Malaysia Minister Talks Drug Decriminalization

A Malaysian government minister has said the Southeast Asian nation is shifting toward decriminalizing drug use, but her remarks suggest drug users could just trade jail cells for treatment beds.

9. Los Angeles Deputies Kill Armed Man, 80, in Marijuana Raid

An LA County Sheriff's Department "narcotics" raid on a marijuana grow in a rural property ended with an 80-year-old shot to death after police encountered him holding a gun in his own home. That's the fourth drug war death in a week.

10. SWAT Team Kills Armed Homeowner in Dawn Drug Raid

A DEA drug raid in West virginia turned deadly Wednesday morning when state troopers shot and killed a man holding a rifle on them after they burst through his door at dawn.

11. This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Thuggery in Philly, protecting drug shipments in Houston and Detroit, sticky fingers in Los Angeles, and that's not all.

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.