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Drug War Chronicle

Comprehensive coverage of the War on Drugs since 1997

  • Uruguayan President Jose Mujica as Santa (photo altered by Photomica -- Mujica wasn't really dressed like that)
    Uruguayan President Jose Mujica as Santa (photo altered by Photomica -- Mujica wasn't really dressed like that)

    Merry Christmas! Uruguay President Signs Marijuana Law

    Uruguayan President Mujica has signed that country's groundbreaking marijuana legalization bill into law. The government now has 120 days to craft rules, and then Uruguay's era of legal marijuana commerce will commence.
  • Deputy Adam Sowders was killed executing a no-knock drug raid over some marijuana plants. (http://www.co.burleson.tx.us)
    Deputy Adam Sowders was killed executing a no-knock drug raid over some marijuana plants. (http://www.co.burleson.tx.us)

    Texas Deputy Killed in Dawn No-Knock Drug Raid

    A Texas deputy has been shot and killed in a dawn no-knock drug raid over a few marijuana plants.
  • medical-marijuana COLO DOT_17.jpg
    medical-marijuana COLO DOT_17.jpg

    Chronicle AM -- December 24, 2013

    The first business licenses for legal marijuana shops have been issued in Colorado, dispensaries are delayed in Nevada, hemp is on the agenda in Kentucky, and Uruguay's legalization example is causing reflection in the region. And more.
  • Silkroad4_0.jpg
    Silkroad4_0.jpg

    Chronicle AM -- December 23, 2013

    The marijuana court judge was drunk, Dread Pirate Roberts wants his bitcoins back, Beto O'Rourke wants the Border Patrol to answer some questions, Rand Paul and Cory Booker tweet policy, and more.
  • marijuana bud wikim_4.jpg
    marijuana bud wikim_4.jpg

    Alaska Marijuana Legalization Petition Passes Goal

    The Alaska marijuana legalization initiative signature-gathering campaign has gathered nearly 45,000 signatures. They only need 31,000 to make the ballot, but they need a healthy cushion to account for ones that get invalidated.
  • Krystal Barrows (facebook.com)
    Krystal Barrows (facebook.com)

    Ohio Woman Killed By Errant Shot in Drug Raid

    An Ohio woman sitting on the couch of a mobile home about to be hit in a drug raid is dead after a deputy standing outside the house accidentally discharged his weapon, striking her in the head.
  • And off it goes! Ed Rosenthal & Mickey Martin file the 4th CA marijuana legalization initiative of year. (facebook.com)
    And off it goes! Ed Rosenthal & Mickey Martin file the 4th CA marijuana legalization initiative of year. (facebook.com)

    Fourth California Marijuana Legalization Initiative Filed

    Ed Rosenthal joins an increasingly crowded field of California marijuana legalization initiative filers. The question is: Will any of them be on the California ballot in November 2014?
  • San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon (wikimedia.org)
    San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon (wikimedia.org)

    SF DA and San Diego Police Chief File Defelonization Initiative

    San Francisco's district attorney and San Diego's police chief have filed an initiative that would defelonize most drug possession and other nonviolent crimes. But will they try to get it on the ballot in 2014?
  • Hash is medicine, and the cops have to give it back, the Oregon appeals court ruled. (wikimedia.org)
    Hash is medicine, and the cops have to give it back, the Oregon appeals court ruled. (wikimedia.org)

    Chronicle AM -- December 20, 2013

    A pair of state appeals courts slap down cops who take people's medicine and won't give it back, there are problems with Kansas' drug testing law, Peru is buying shining new toys to prosecute its drug war, and more.