Legalization: Vermont States Attorney Calls for Decriminalization of All Drugs
A Vermont states attorney has spoken out publicly against the drug war. All drugs should be "decriminalized" and drug abuse considered as a public health issue, he says.
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Chronicle
Chronicle
Feature: World Bank-UN Report Offers Grim Assessment of Afghanistan Opium Battle, Says Winning Will Take Decades, Not Years
A new report from the World Bank and UN is just the latest to warn of the difficulties facing drug warriors in Afghanistan. The report is comprehensive, exacting, and grim.
Blog
How Did You Celebrate Meth Day?
Meth is the worst drug since marijuana, a fact worth considering on National Methamphetamine Awareness Day, which weâll be celebrating every November 30th until everyone is aware, or we find something else to be hugely concerned about.
Meth was invented during the summer of 2004 by Al Qaeda bio-terrorists and quickly made headlines nationwide, mainly because it was cynically designed to only affect white people. When the Office of National Drug Control Policy got wind of the problem in 2005, they launched a three-prong strategy of creating a national holiday, arresting convenience store clerks who sell "cooking" materials, and campaigning against ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana, which causes meth use in children.
Bill Piper at the Drug Policy Alliance celebrated Meth Day with a great editorial. Itâs kinda long though, so you might wanna pop an Adderall before attempting to read the whole thing.
Event
January is Drug Prohibition Month at W-S Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship
January 2007: The Social Action Committee of the Winston-Salem UU Fellowship, 4055 Robinhood Road (http://www.uufws.net) will highlight the problems of drug prohibition. The 9:00 forum January 21 will discuss drug use in other countries.
Chronicle
Feature: Medical Marijuana Gets a Hearing in Michigan
Medical marijuana came to the state legislature in Michigan this week, for the first time -- and made an unexpectedly strong showing.
Event
Visionary Art Gallery Exhibition and Auction
Sunday, December 10, 6p.m â 9p.m.
Dulcenea - 1431 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
The world's largest traveling visionary art exhibition featuring work by Robert Venosa, Martina Hoffmann, Oliver Vernon, J Garcia, Kris Davidson, Roman Villagrana, Mark Hensen and many others.
In The Trenches
SALT LAKE CITY CONFERENCE CONFRONTS THE METH CRISIS: National Conference brings all sides together to address the realities of methamphetamine use in America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2006
PRESS CONTACT: Luciano Colonna, 801-635-7736
SALT LAKE CITY CONFERENCE CONFRONTS THE METH CRISIS: National Conference brings all sides together to address the realities of methamphetamine use in America
Event
Prison Arts and Crafts Show
*** Prison made jewelry, clothing, leathercrafts and more at our special prison craft shows ***
Join us at First Trinity Lutheran Church for our holiday Prison Arts and Crafts Show on Saturday, December 16, from 10 AM to 5 PM. You'll find the perfect holiday gift at prices you can afford, from jewelry, craft items, and art -- all created by prison inmates across America. Also enjoy live music by MudPie jazz trio and other musicians. Don't miss this free events sponsored by the Prison Art Gallery. Mastercard, Visa, Amex and Discover welcome. First Trinity Lutheran Church, 309 E Street NW, Washington DC (half block from the Judiciary Square metro). Call 202-393-1511
In The Trenches
It's Just a Plant - New Edition on Sale
An e-mail we received from the author of the controversial book "It's Just A Plant."
Hello Gentle Reader,
"It's Just a Plant," the children's book about marijuana that has been called "a glimpse of what enlightened drug education could be" (Dr. Andrew Weil) is on sale now for the winter holiday.
In The Trenches
Drug Truth Network Update: Cultural Baggage, Century of Lies, 4:20 Drug War NEWS + DTN "Unvarnished TRUTH" Released
Half Hour Programs, Live Fridays... at 90.1 FM in Houston & on the web at www.kpft.org.
Cultural Baggage for 11/24/06 Kris Krane of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. MP3
MP3 Link: http://www.drugtruth.net/cbaudio06/FDBCB_112406.mp3
In The Trenches
Stop the Blunt Ban!
A bulletin distributed by our friends at Philadelphia NORML:
Dear NORML members:
Previously, we had emailed you asking to help stop this Bill on November 16. We got lucky, and it did not pass unanimously as was previously thought. The Bill itself was merely amended.
Chronicle
Sentencing: Correctional Supervision At All-Time High With Over Seven Million People Tied to the System
In its latest annual studies on the prison and probation/parole population in the US, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports the numbers are at an all-time high. Again.
In The Trenches
Job Opening: Students for Sensible Drug Policy Hiring a Legislative Director
Application Deadline: December 15, 2006
Students for Sensible Drug Policy is seeking applications for the position of Legislative Director. The responsibility of the Legislative Director is to increase SSDP's influence on Capitol Hill to promote non-punitive drug policies that reduce the harms associated with drug use, and oppose proposed drug war legislation that would have a negative impact on young people and students. The Legislative Director is also responsible for assisting college chapters of SSDP in developing strategies to reform punitive campus and local drug policies.
Event
The Effectiveness of Syringe Exchange as an HIV Prevention Strategy
For this partners' forum, the Global Health Council will bring together experts working on or knowledgeable about HIV prevention through syringe exchange. We will hear both from advocates for syringe exchange and from those who oppose it. This forum will examine evidence of the impact of these programs on HIV transmission and drug use. We will additionally examine the barriers to implementing and scaling up this prevention approach, especially in US programs overseas.
Blog
Seven Million -- and Counting
The Bureau of Justice Statistics annual report on use of the criminal justice system has come out, and there is landmark grim news: There are now seven million people under criminal justice control -- in prison or jail, on probation, or or parole -- in the United States.
I am having trouble finding a link to the report -- maybe it's not posted yet -- but Phil will be covering this in Drug War Chronicle tonight. So check back for more details on the bad news...Chronicle
Marijuana: Michigan Legalization Initiative Gets State Okay to Gather Signatures for 2008
A Michigan group has won approval from the State Board of Canvassers to begin a signature gathering drive for an initiative that would legalize the possession of marijuana by adults.
Chronicle
Southeast Asia: New Thai Government to Begin Investigating 2,500 Murders Committed During Thaksin's Drug War
While he was Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra unleashed a drug war in which more than 2,500 were killed. Now that he has been deposed, the new government is promising to investigate the murders.
Chronicle
Southeast Asia: Myanmar Military Turns Blind Eye to Allied Ethnic Militias' Opium Trade
The military junta in Myanmar has been crowing about how it's cooperating in the fight against opium production, but a report from the Shan States suggests the military is turning a blind eye to production and trading by allied ethnic militias.
Chronicle
Medical Marijuana: California Supreme Court Rules Patients Can Transport It
The California Supreme Court has ruled that qualified medical marijuana patients can transport their medicine -- as much as they need -- without being subjected to arrest and conviction.
Chronicle
Search and Seizure: US Supreme Court Lets State Rulings Barring Drug Dog House Searches and Restricting Traffic Stop Drug Searches Stand
The US Supreme Court Monday refused to hear appeals of state court decisions limiting law enforcement's ability to conduct searches in two states.