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Job Listing: Executive Director, Access Works!

Access Works! is a nonprofit organization providing harm reduction services including a syringe exchange. AW's mission is to improve the health and reduce the harm to people impacted by the use of drugs through support, intervention, education, and disease prevention. Access Works! provides services to individuals in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Area and is based in an inner city Minneapolis neighborhood. The organization is comprised of five staff plus volunteers. The executive director is responsible for the overall direction and leadership of the staff and agency, and for the planning and implementation of all programs.

Blog

McCain and Giuliani Say Terrible Things to a Medical Marijuana Patient

Via MPP, battle lines are being drawn on the campaign trail over medical marijuana. Linda Macia of Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana suffers from nerve damage, fibromyalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy and degenerative arthritis. She's allergic to other medications and has only found relief through medical marijuana.

You'd think that anyone hoping to become president would show some compassion for this unfortunate woman, but alasâ¦

Notice how McCain turns his back to her the moment she utters the phrase "medical marijuana." Words could not better describe his position. McCain goes on to claim he's seen no documentation of medical marijuana's effectiveness, even though Granite Staters' Stuart Cooper had personally presented him with sound scientific evidence.

Will she have better luck with Rudy Giuliani? Let's seeâ¦

Ouch. Giuliani struggles when she explains that she's allergic to the "other medications" he recommends. He also claims not to have lobbied on behalf of OxyContin, which I guess depends on your definition of "lobbying."

Sometimes we don't get the answers we want. That's what happens when you look to the drug war for answers. But at least we're asking the right questions, and asking them often. Perhaps next time we should ask if they've seen the polling on medical marijuana. Maybe that will get their attention.

PS: Also watch McCain insult a New Hampshire student who asks him about medical marijuana, then apologize to him.

Chronicle

Editorial: Yes, the Drug War Really is Still Failing, DEA and ONDCP

One small uptick in cocaine prices after decades of decline has the government bragging for weeks on end. A look at the big picture shows that it doesn't really mean anything.

Event

SAFER Press Conference at Site of the Ricky Williams Billboard

Please join us at this press conference! Just one day after SAFER unveiled a billboard urging Ricky Williams to come play in Denver because marijuana has been made legal here, NFL rushing leader Travis Henry of the Denver Broncos has tested positive for marijuana. Initial reports say he faces up to a one-year suspension. SAFER is demanding the NFL refrain from punishing the star running back.

It's time to consider legalizing marijuana

Paterson: Why a war on drugs just won't work

Webb urges sentencing policy overhaul

Chronicle

Europe: New Agency Created to Battle Booming Cocaine Trade

Faced with a booming trans-Atlantic cocaine trade aimed at insatiable European markets, some European countries have formed an organization to coordinate efforts to block it.

Chronicle

Asia: Nine National Red Cross/Red Crescent Groups Endorse Humanitarian Drug Policies

The national Red Cross/Red Crescent organizations in nine Asian countries have joined a growing number of such groups that have signed onto a consensus statement calling for humanitarian drug policies.

Chronicle

Marijuana: Hawaii Supreme Court Rejects Religious Use Defense

A religious challenge to Hawaii's marijuana law was rejected by the state Supreme Court late last month.

Chronicle

Canada: Vancouver Safe Injection Site Granted Six-Month Extension, Again

Vancouver's safe injection site has won another six-month reprieve from the Canadian government, but supporters are getting tired of jumping through hoops.

Chronicle

Marijuana: Pot Prohibition Costs $41 Billion a Year in Enforcement Costs, Lost Tax Revenues, Study Finds

Marijuana prohibition costs governments in the US more than $10 billion a year in law enforcement and more than $30 billion a year in lost revenues, a new study finds.

Chronicle

Latin America: US Plans to Supersize Mexico Drug War Aid -- $1.4 Billion Package in Works

With the Pentagon sticking $1.4 billion in anti-drug aid for Mexico into its 2008 budget, Washington is preparing to radically ramp up its involvement in the drug war south of the border.

Chronicle

Feature: Supreme Court Weighs Arguments on Limits of Judicial Discretion in Sentencing

The Supreme Court Tuesday heard oral arguments in a pair of cases that will further refine just what discretion federal judges have when it comes to sentencing outside the now advisory sentencing guidelines.

Chronicle

Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Scheming cops, greedy cops, rogue cops ripping off dealers, and, of course, yet another jail guard falls prey to temptation.

Chronicle

Resource: Reformer's Calendar Accessible Through DRCNet Web Site

Visit our new web site each day to see a running countdown to the events coming up the soonest, and more.

Chronicle

Resource: DRCNet Web Site Offers Wide Array of RSS Feeds for Your Reader

A new way for you to receive DRCNet articles -- Drug War Chronicle and more -- is now available.

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Webmasters: Help the Movement by Running DRCNet Syndication Feeds on Your Web Site!

Support the cause by featuring automatically-updating Drug War Chronicle and other DRCNet content links on your web site!

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Feedback: Do You Read Drug War Chronicle?

Do you read Drug War Chronicle? If so, we need your feedback to evaluate our work and make the case for Drug War Chronicle to funders. We need donations too.

Chronicle

Weekly: Blogging @ the Speakeasy

John McCain is Sick of Being Asked About Medical Marijuana," "Obama Comes Out Against Mandatory Minimums," "Does Partnership for a Drug Free America Oppose Random Student Drug Testing?," "Record Marijuana Seizures Mean There's More Pot, Not Less," "Harvard Scientists Build Very Cool Bong," "Drug War to Figure Prominently in Sen. Webb's Incarceration Hearing Tomorrow -- Available by Webcast," "Video of Ron Paul Debate Comments Opposing Drug War," "The Drug War Costs Each Taxpayer $530 a Year."