Drug War Chronicle #849 - August 28, 2014

Canada's "Prince of Pot" is finally out of prison in the US, back in Canada, and raring to go. The Chronicle interviewed him Monday.

A pair of strange political bedfellows have introduced a bill to reduce incarceration and help young offenders get past their youthful mistakes. Sens. Cory Booker and Rand Paul are sponsoring the REDEEM Act.

Now more than ever, StoptheDrugWar.org needs your financial support to continue to provide this crucial informational tool -- the Drug War Chronicle newsletter -- that builds and empowers the movement.

Popular hydrocodone-based pain relieving opiates such as Vicodin are being moved from Schedule III to Schedule II, which is going to significantly tighten up access to them.

ProCon.org is a series of in-depth web sites presenting information and views from on current issues, several with relevance to drug policy. The Chronicle is currently running a series of info items from ProCon.org -- this one from
dare.procon.org -- and we encourage you to check it out.

A study finds medical marijuana may reduce opiate overdose rates, a California appeals court decision is good news for dispensary operators, Connecticut gets its first dispensary, and more.

A Puerto Rican police drug agent shot and wounded in a raid last week died yesterday.

Sixteen dirty Puerto Rico cops take plea deals, a cocaine-dealing New Jersey prison guard goes to prison, a Houston cop gets busted in a cocaine deal, and a Massachusetts cop gets caught trying to fill a Ritalin prescription using a false identity.

Oregon Dems just say yes, Connecticut's first dispensary opens, the DEA tightens the screws on Vicodin, guess who's more likely to get busted for marijuana in Ferguson, Missouri, and more.

It's back to the drawing board for an Arkansas legalization initiative, we have a pair of Minnesota court cases, the Michael Brown killing starts bleeding into drug-policy related areas, Israel bans new synthetics, and more.

The Oregonian says legalize it, so do Vermont GOP gubernatorial candidates, LEAP founder says legalize heroin, a Pennsylvania court throws out mandatory minimums, Vancouver's SALOME participants will get their heroin, and more.

Medical marijuana's link to opioid overdose death rates, International Overdose Awareness Day is coming, the drug war claims another victim, new studies from the NIJ, and more.

Local marijuana initiatives move forward, the Oregon initiative is set to get a high-profile endorsement, a lot of people want to start medical marijuana businesses in Nevada, ISIS is burning pot fields in Syria, there's a harm reduction pre-event ahead of NYC's Electronic Zoo festival this weekend, and more.

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