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Budget Crunch: Tennessee Could Free 4,000 Prisoners in Bid to Cut Costs

Like other states, Tennessee is feeling the effects of the bad economy, and so is the state's budget. Now, the governor is seeking a 9% across-the-board budget cut, and that could mean -- God forbid! -- that the state might have to let some nonviolent prisoners get out a few months early.

Chronicle

Prohibition: Kansas Politician Hears of New Drug, Responds with Plan to Ban It

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Chronicle

Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

One New Jersey prison guard gets indicted and another gets sentenced. There's also another Customs officer lured by lucre, a meth-slinging Indiana cop, and a Colorado cop turned pill provider.

Chronicle

Medical Marijuana: Battle Over Regulating Los Angeles Dispensaries Drags On, But Council Rejects Prosecutor's Advice

Los Angeles has been trying to regulate its mushrooming medical marijuana dispensaries for four years. It could be coming down to the wire next week, but storm clouds loom as city and county prosecutors argue that any medical marijuana sales are illegal.

Chronicle

Latin America: Former Mexican Foreigner Minister Accuses Army of Extra-Judicial Executions in Drug War

At a conference last week, former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge CastaÃ±eda bluntly accused the Mexican military of murdering members of the so-called drug cartels to avenge its own losses in the country's bloody wave of prohibition-related violence.

Chronicle

Weekly: This Week in History

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

Chronicle

Feature: Medical Marijuana in State Legislatures -- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Getting medical marijuana bills passed in state legislatures is a long, hard slog. So far this year, only one bill has passed into law, the Rhode Island dispensary bill, which builds on an existing medical marijuana law. Two states' legislatures, Minnesota and New Hampshire, passed bills, only to have them vetoed. But there's still hope in a few places. Here's a rundown of medical marijuana at the statehouse this year.

Chronicle

Feature: Fired Up in Albuquerque -- The 2009 International Drug Policy Reform Conference

The Drug Policy Alliance's 2009 International Drug Policy Reform Conference took place in Albuquerque last weekend. It was quite a show. Here's a scene report.

Chronicle

Europe: Fired British Drug Advisor Calls for Royal Commission on Marijuana Decriminalization

If the British government thought it could shut up David Nutt, the head of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, by firing him, it thought wrong. Now, the newly liberated drug expert is calling for a Royal Commission to examine decriminalizing marijuana.

Chronicle

Sentencing: Era of Mandatory Minimums for Drugs Comes to an End in Rhode Island

The era of mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses has come to an end in Rhode Island. But that's just a start -- you can still get up to 50 years for 10 pounds of pot.

Chronicle

Weekly: Blogging @ the Speakeasy

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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.

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In The Trenches

Marijuana Policy Projectâs 15th Anniversary Gala to Celebrate â15 States in 15 Yearsâ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

Marijuana Policy Projectâs 15^th Anniversary Gala to Celebrate â15 States in 15 Yearsâ

Celebrity guests and other prominent figures will help celebrate MPPâs remarkable passage of improved marijuana laws in 15 states in 15 years

CONTACT: Mike Meno, MPP assistant director of communications â¦â¦ 202-905-2030 or [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. â The Marijuana Policy Project, Americaâs largest marijuana policy reform organization, will look back on 15 productive years of improving marijuana laws at a January 13 gala that will feature guest speakers such as talk show host Montel Williams. The star-studded host committee includes Melissa Etheridge, Tom Robbins, Bill Maher, Ben Taylor, Steve Buscemi, Susan Sarandon, Lewis Black, Nicole Atkins, Margaret Cho, Mark Leno, Hal Sparks, Ani DiFranco, Garry Trudeau, and Medeski, Martin and Wood, along with many other prominent supporters. Â Â Â Â

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â When MPP was founded in 1995, medical marijuana was illegal in all 50 states.Â Since then, 13 states have passed medical marijuana laws, with Michigan becoming the 13th state in November 2008, when Michigan voters passed MPP's ballot initiative by a 63% to 37% margin.Â By the end of 2010, MPP is hopeful that medical marijuana will be legal in 15 states (with passage in New York and New Jersey).

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â At the same time, marijuana possession is now decriminalized in 13 states, with Massachusetts becoming the 13th state in November 2008, when Massachusetts voters passed MPP's ballot initiative by a 65% to 35% margin.Â In 2010, MPP is hopeful that marijuana will be decriminalized in 15 states (with Rhode Island and Vermont becoming the 14th and 15th states).

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â WHAT: The Marijuana Policy Projectâs 15th Anniversary Celebration

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â WHEN: January 13, 2010. Press Availability from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reception from 6:30 â 7:30 p.m. Dinner from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â WHERE: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 20001

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tickets cost $250 each, or $2,000 for a table.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â With more than 29,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.

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