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Drug War Chronicle

Comprehensive coverage of the War on Drugs since 1997

  • Amsterdam cannabis coffee shop (wikimedia.org)
    Amsterdam cannabis coffee shop (wikimedia.org)

    Fight Against Dutch Cannabis Café Restrictions Heats Up

    The Dutch government plans to implement its Dutch-only "weed pass" system for cannabis coffee houses on the border on May 1, but it faces growing legal and political challenges. Not to mention, it just lost a vote of confidence.
  • Delivering a message to the Obama campaign: Back off!
    Delivering a message to the Obama campaign: Back off!

    Oakland 4/20: "Obama, You're Alienating Your Base" [FEATURE]

    4/20 in Oakland was aimed squarely at the Obama administration and its attacks on medical marijuana distribution. Obama is alienating his base, protestors said, as they delivered a message to his local campaign headquarters.
  • Drug war spending continues to exceed treatment and prevention spending (ONDCP)
    Drug war spending continues to exceed treatment and prevention spending (ONDCP)

    Obama's 2012 Drug Strategy: The Same Old Same Old [FEATURE]

    The 2012 National Drug Control Strategy is out. It looks much like the 2010 strategy or the 2005 strategy or the 2000 strategy. There are a few new wrinkles, but nothing much has changed.
  • drugtest2_11.jpg
    drugtest2_11.jpg

    Georgia Welfare Drug Testing Bill Signed Into Law

    Georgia has now followed Florida's lead in passing a bill requiring that welfare applicants undergo mandatory, suspicionless drug testing. Florida's law has been stymied by a legal challenge, and one is coming in Georgia, too.
  • federal_drug_control_spending_2012.jpg
    federal_drug_control_spending_2012.jpg

    Obama Releases 2012 National Drug Control Strategy

    The new national drug strategy is out and it looks very much like the old national drug strategy, retaining the seemingly eternal 60:40 split between law enforcement and interdiction on one hand and treatment and prevention on the other.
  • parthenon_73.gif
    parthenon_73.gif

    This Week in History

    Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
  • MMJ leaf and stethoscope KY ODCP_28.jpg
    MMJ leaf and stethoscope KY ODCP_28.jpg

    Medical Marijuana Update

    It's taken ever so long, but it now looks like dispensaries will soon be operating in New Jersey and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, the battles over medical marijuana continue across the country.
  • pile-of-cash_63.jpg
    pile-of-cash_63.jpg

    This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

    This week, we have a grab bag of crooked law enforcement types, including a big city cop, a probation officer, a prosecutor, and a TSA agent.