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Houston Deputies Kill Man Fleeing Drug Warrants

A Houston man attempting to evade arrest on drug and other charges was shot and killed by Harris County deputies after he did -- or did not -- hit one of them with his vehicle while trying to flee. That's US drug war death #33 for the year.

Chronicle

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British Lib Dems to Call for Drug Decriminalization

Britain's Liberal Democrats, junior partners in a governing coalition with the Conservatives, are set to call for drug decriminalization, a regulated marijuana market, and heroin maintenance.

Chronicle

Could this man be the Rosa Parks of the marijuana legalization movement? (Image: Dana Walker)

WA Man Refuses Marijuana Fines, Chooses Jail

Marijuana civil disobedience came to a Washington state courthouse last week. That's an idea that needs to spread!

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One-Year Anniversary of the Fair Sentencing Act

[image:1 align:left]The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 was signed a year ago today, providing the first relief for federal crack cocaine defendants. Sentencing reform, civil rights and racial justice advocates had worked on the issue for nearly 20 years.

Chronicle

Congress never met a new drug it didn't want to ban. (image via Wikimedia)

New Drugs Get Same Old Response on Capitol Hill [FEATURE]

Confronted with new synthetic drugs, Congress is poised to do what it always does: ban them. But there is a better way, say advocates.

Chronicle

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This Week in History

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

Chronicle

All the drug busts in Mexico don't seem to make a difference. (image via Wikimedia)

Mexico Drug War Update

You know things are messed up when the federal police are shooting at the head of the Ciudad Juarez police. Oh, and 216 more people were killed there in the drug wars last month.

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Chronicle Update -- Book Review, Mass. MedMj Init, This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Phil has published a Drug War Chronicle book review, "Drugs and Drug Policy," published by so

Chronicle

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Chronicle Book Review: Drugs and Drug Policy

A trio of academic experts have come up with a drug policy book you're going to want to read, even if only to argue with it. Especially to argue with it.

Chronicle

If the legislature won't make medical marijuana happen, the voters might do it for them. (image via Wikimedia)

Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative Filed

Massachusetts activists have taken the first formal step toward putting a medical marijuana initiative before the voters next year.

Chronicle

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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Cops cutting corners to make arrests, a cop caught providing protection for a load of cocaine, and a police force fired for its misbehavior make this week's rogues' gallery.

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Chronicle Stories: New Zealand "Spice" Ban, Chicago to Stop Jailing Marijuana Users?

[image:1 align:left]Phil has two new stories in the Chronicle since last update.

Chronicle

Synthetic cannabinoids like Spice will be banned in Kiwiland this week. (image via Wikimedia)

New Zealand to Ban Synthetic Marijuana This Week

Stymied by drug laws that make the government actually prove something is harmful before banning it, New Zealand is instituting an emergency ban on synthetic cannabinoids while it figures out what to do.

Chronicle

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Chicago to Stop Jailing Marijuana Users?

The Cook County Board president wants police to quit wasting time jailing small-time marijuana offenders, and the police may just take a half-step in that direction.

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lime powder container (used traditionally in coca chewing), 1st-7th-century, Colombia (Quimbaya), Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

Going Through the Motions

[image:1 align:left caption:true]Bolivia's government has announced it plans to allow "excess

Chronicle

Cultivating coca in the Chapare. (photo by the author)

Bolivia to Buy Up Excess Coca Production

The Bolivian government is laying plans to buy some legally produced coca -- up to a certain point -- if there is not sufficient licit use for it.

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What Were Florida's Legislators, Prosecutors and Judges Thinking?

[image:1 align:right caption:true]A federal judge in Orlando, Florida, did something good and important this week.

Chronicle

The federal courthouse in Orlando, where a judge threw out Florida's drug law. (image via Wikimedia)

Federal Judge Throws Out Florida's Drug Law

Florida's drug law has been found unconstitutional because it did not require proof of criminal intent. Tens or hundreds of thousands of cases could be affected.

Blog

Obama Says Drug Users Must Be Treated as Criminals

No, those weren't his exact words, but his exact words don't sound much better. My latest piece at Huffington Post explores the inherent contradictions that spring forth from the president's most recent contribution to the drug policy debate. Check it out.

Chronicle

Two different initiative efforts are underway in Ohio, and there's pending legislation, too. (image via Wikimedia)

Medical Marijuana on the Move in Ohio [FEATURE]

Ohio medical marijuana patients are growing increasingly tired of waiting for the legislature to act, so they are now planning two different initiative campaigns aimed at November 2012.