Drug War Chronicle

A new report from Human Rights Watch finds that deportations for drug offenses are on the increase, with more than a quarter million in five years, including more than 34,000 for marijuana possession alone.

A legislative compromise would let Oregon counties where voters opposed legalization ban pot shops, the Colorado Supreme Court rules in favor of employers over medical marijuana patients, two big eastern cities are on the verge of shifting their drug enforcement policies, and more.

There's a new report on the impact of pot legalization in Ohio, the CDC sounds the alarm on "Spice," a CBD cannabis oil for kids bill passes in Delaware, and more.

The Senate is following the House's lead in telling the DEA not to interfere in medical marijuana, two Michigan initiatives get the go-ahead for signature-gathering, a package of heroin bills passes the New York Senate, Vancouver gets tired of Cannabis Day, and more.

Just a week after similar votes in the House, the Senate Appropriations Committee told the DEA to butt out of medical marijuana states.

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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 medicalmarijuana.procon.org -- and we encourage you to check it out.

New York has closed it application process for those wishing to get one of the state's 5 permits to open a medical cannabis dispensary. Each permit would entitle the holder to open four dipsnsaries. In total, 20 dispensaries would be opened in a state with a population of over 19 million people.

Cops hauling pot, cops protecting loads of cocaine, cops selling ecstasy, and a whole bunch of cops with apparent prescription pill problems.

It's getting a bit quieter on the medical marijuana front as state legislative sessions wind down, but there is still some action.