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Philip Seymour Hoffman at the 81st Academy Awards (courtesy Chrisa Hickey, flickr.com/photos/chrisahickey/, via wikimedia.org)

Could Different Drug Policies Have Saved Philip Seymour Hoffman?

The tragic death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman yesterday has prompted expressions of grief and of praise for his talent.

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Gov. Kitzhaber

Oregon Governor Calls for Marijuana Legalization, Legislature to Act

[image:1 align:right]Gov.

Chronicle

Don't know what's in your drugs? The Welsh government wants to help.

Chronicle AM -- January 31, 2014

The president makes some delphic comments on marijuana policy, some of his congressional critics get ready to go after him for such comment next week, Dutch cities want legal marijuana growing, the Welsh government funds a harm reduction drug testing program, and more.

Chronicle

President Barack Obama (whitehouse.gov)

Obama Elaborates on Marijuana Policy

In a CNN interview Friday, President Obama elaborated on his recent remarks on marijuana policy. He declined to say whether he supported rescheduling it, but said the criminalization of users was a big concern.

Chronicle

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Chronicle AM -- January 30, 2014

Big news on a couple of fronts regarding federal sentencing and federal prisoners, the DC council is set to approve decriminalization, Minnesota's welfare drug testing law gets some pushback, and more.

Chronicle

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Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Smarter Sentencing Act

Historic sentencing reform legislation has advanced in the Senate, as the Judiciary Committee today approved the Smarter Sentencing Act. Companion legislation is also pending in the House.

Chronicle

Deputy Attorney General James Cole (usdoj.gov)

Justice Dept. Wants More Drug Clemency Applicants

In an unprecedented move, the Justice Department today called on defense attorneys to suggest more inmates who could apply for clemency. The call came in a speech from Deputy Attorney General James Cole.

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Dept. of Justice Requesting Drug Clemency Petitions?

Update: Here's the news. Potentially sounds really big.

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US Capitol

House Farm Bill Does Not Have Food Stamps Drug Testing!

[image:1 align:right]Phil reported yesterday that the House version of the US Farm Bill in

Blog

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Smarter Sentencing Act Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

[image:1 align:right]The Smarter Sentencing Act has just passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee,

Blog

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Smarter Sentencing Act in Committee Right Now!!!

Update: It has passed the committee!

Chronicle

hemp field at sunrise (votehemp.com)

In Breakthrough, Farm Bill Includes Hemp Amendment [FEATURE]

An amendment to the food bill that would allow universities and state agriculture departments to do research on hemp has been approved by conference committee negotiators and is set to become law.

Chronicle

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Medical Marijuana Update

The Colorado Supreme Court will take up an important medical marijuana employment rights case, Connecticut selects marijuana producers, Massachusetts gets ready to announce who gets dispensaries, California localities keep moving to restrict cultivation, and more.

Chronicle

MPP's Superbowl billboards take advantage of the hoopla to challenge the NFL.

Chronicle AM -- January 29, 2014

Superbowl-linked banners chiding the NFL on marijuana policy go up, drug testing of students, workers, and welfare recipients is in the news, a federal sentencing reform bill picks up support, Guatemalan peasants pick up rocks and sticks to chase off eradicators, and more.

Blog

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Another Poll Confirms Emerging Marijuana Majority

They just keep on coming -- polls showing a majority nationwide in favor of marijuana legalization. The latest is from NBC News and the Wall Street Journal.

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Ted Cruz Likens Obama Drug Policy to Imperialism

[image:1 align:right]Ted Cruz included drug laws among his examples of "imperialism" on the part President Obama, in remarks on CNN following the State of the Union address tonight.

Chronicle

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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Two cops go down for providing info to drug dealers, a DARE officer who ripped off the program gets a slap on the wrist, a Philly narc entangled with a snitch gets entangled with lies, and another prison guard gets popped.

Chronicle

Destiny Hoffman sat in jail for 154 days after a drug court judge forgot about her. (Clark Co. Jail)

Chronicle AM -- January 28, 2014

The hemp amendment gets included in the farm bill, Colorado's Supreme Court will review medical marijuana patients' employment rights, we have a couple of drug war horror stories, Mexico's security apparatus is joining forces with anti-cartel vigilantes, and Saudi Arabia's premarital drug testing program isn't working, and more.

Blog

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Hemp Amendment Included in Federal Farm Bill

The massive federal farm bill, soon to be voted on by both houses of Congress, includes an amendment allowing for research into the industrial uses of hemp.

Chronicle

Drug War Chronicle takes no position on the game.

Chronicle AM -- January 27, 2014

Florida's medical marijuana initiative will go to the voters in November, the DEA administrator is being both jeered and cheered for her criticism of President Obama's remarks on marijuana, the Supreme Court makes it harder to punish drug dealers for deaths related to their wares, and much more.