Drug War Chronicle

Tenaha, Texas, lies between Houston and the casinos of Shreveport across the Louisiana line. The town thought it hit the jackpot with a sleazy policing scheme, but now it may be coming up snake eyes.

Like the Grateful Dead before it, the jam band Phish has legions of loyal fans, many of whom enjoy their music with a little herbal or chemical alteration. It was a field day for cops as the band played a three-night show in Virginia.

The New York Assembly passed a Rockefeller drug law reform bill last week. Now, the Senate has decided to submerge Rockefeller reform within a broader budget package in a bid to avoid having to take individual votes on it. Meanwhile, as if supporters needed any more ammunition for reform, another damning report is out this week.

The Obama administration has named Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske as the new drug czar... or is it Joe Biden?

Ibogaine received concerted attention for its addiction treatment and other properties at a recent conference in Boston. Here's a report.

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"New Drug Czar Appointed, Makes Ridiculous Remark," "Ten Years Later, the United Nations Anti-Drug Efforts Have Accomplished Nothing," "NBC Insults Marijuana Users," "Propaganda Alert: Marijuana Makes You Bad at Video Games," "Are Republicans Turning Against the Drug War?," "Federal Prosecutors Seem Confused About Obama's Medical Marijuana Policy," "Why Are Democrats Barking About Rush Limbaugh's Drug Use?," "Police Officer in Cowboy Hat Talks Drug Legalization on Al Jazeera," "Drug Policy Reform Video and Poster Contest Winners Announced," "Contemplating Marijuana Legalization."

The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) met in Vienna this week to draft a political declaration and plan of action to guide international drug policy for the next decade. While the prohibitionists prevailed in the end, the voices of dissent are growing ever louder and more powerful.

A US congresswoman from California suggested Thursday that it could be time for a marijuana legalization pilot program. Her home state would be an apt place to try it, she said.