Drug War Chronicle #820 - February 6, 2014

The DC city council has voted to approve marijuana decriminalization. There's still one more vote to go, and some bad amendments, but marijuana reform is coming to the nation's capital.

Historic sentencing reform legislation has advanced in the Senate, as the Judiciary Committee today approved the Smarter Sentencing Act. Companion legislation is also pending in the House.

In an unprecedented move, the Justice Department today called on defense attorneys to suggest more inmates who could apply for clemency. The call came in a speech from Deputy Attorney General James Cole.

In a CNN interview Friday, President Obama elaborated on his recent remarks on marijuana policy. He declined to say whether he supported rescheduling it, but said the criminalization of users was a big concern.

Project CBD takes on the skeptics on cannabidiol, medical marijuana bills move in Guam, but not in Michigan, and California counties continue to slug it out over dispensaries and grows.

Two Southern California men have been killed in the past week by police officers waging the war on drugs.

Police in San Diego County last Friday shot and killed a drug suspect they feared had a gun. He didn't.

Some cops like to party too hearty. Others just want a little pocket change. This week, we have four law enforcement miscreants.

Big news on a couple of fronts regarding federal sentencing and federal prisoners, the DC council is set to approve decriminalization, Minnesota's welfare drug testing law gets some pushback, and more.

The president makes some delphic comments on marijuana policy, some of his congressional critics get ready to go after him for such comment next week, Dutch cities want legal marijuana growing, the Welsh government funds a harm reduction drug testing program, and more.

Short-sighted Tories slam a Welsh harm reduction drug testing program, DC could decriminalize marijuana possession tomorrow, Oregon's governor thinks the legislature should legalize it, South Dakota legislators get busy with bad bills, and a South Dakota Indian reservation is thinking about legalization, and more.

Legalization proves profitable for Colorado's coffers, decrim moves closer in DC, more drug test bills get filed, Vermont attempts to do something about its opioid problem, a crime lab scandal brews in Florida, and more.

Alaska will vote on marijuana legalization this summer, the DC council gives preliminary approval to a decriminalization bill, the farm bill with the hemp amendment intact passes Congress, advocates urge India's parliament to act on access to pain medications, and more.