Drug War Chronicle

The DEA's federal emergency ban on synthetic cannabinoids may be stalled, but bills are moving in a half-dozen states. Retailers are beginning to organize to fight back.

In a bid to repress the home manufacture of methamphetamine, a number of states are moving to require prescriptions for over-the-counter cold and allergy medications containing psuedoephedrine. Cold sufferers, take heed!

Which state on which coast will be the first to legalize marijuana? There are now bills filed in Massachusetts and Washington.

An Illinois sheriff goes down hard, a Massachusetts police chief parties too hard, a Massachusetts cop gets nailed for helping out his local pot dealer, and a Florida motorcycle cop gets caught stealing a bud in his helmet.

Can the Border Patrol fire an agent for saying he supports drug legalization? The federal courts will decide.

A leading advocacy group for pain patients has essentially been driven out of business by a federal prosecutor and the federal courts. The Pain Relief Network will be missed.

Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.

Prince Georges County, Maryland, cops messed with the wrong guy when their SWAT team hit the home of the mayor of Berwyn Heights and killed his dogs in a botched drug raid. Now they have to change their ways.

Add Virginia to the list of states where imposing drug testing on recipients of public assistance is on the legislative agenda.

The fight over medical marijuana in Montana has moved to the state house, some trying to repeal it but most debating what are the best regulations.