9th National Conference on Drug Policy
Next July 5 in the auditorium of the Chamber of Representatives of the Nation the ninth National Conference on Drug Policy will take place, organized by Intercambios Civil Association, which each y
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The California Senate chamber. There's not a lot of good news coming out of Sacramento this year. (Image via Wikimedia.org)
Not a Good Year for Marijuana So Far in Sacramento
A bill-killing deadline came and went Friday in Sacramento, and it ain't looking especially pretty for marijuana reform so far.
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Lake Parc Place residents let CHA CEO Lewis Jordan know what they thought of his bright idea. (Image courtesy CHA)
CHA Gets Angry Earful Over Drug Testing Proposal
New Chicago Housing Authority CEO Lewis Jordan has floated a plan to require drug testing of all adult residents. Thursday night, he got a taste of what residents think of his bright idea.
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Attorney General Holder says yes to retroactivity only for some federal crack prisoners. (Image courtesy DOJ)
AG Holder Backs Early Release for Crack Cocaine Prisoners
The Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced disparities between crack and powder cocaine sentences, could be about to get even fairer. The US Sentencing Commission is pondering making it retroactive, and Attorney General Holder agrees.
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Marijuana Policy Project lobbyists and patient advocates watch SB 17 signed into law. (Image courtesy MPP)
Vermont Becomes Eighth Medical Marijuana Dispensary State
Vermont's Democratic governor has stood up to threats from the US attorney, signing into law the state's medical marijuana dispensary bill.
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Every Major News Outlet is Talking About Legalizing Drugs
To get a sense of the magnitude of the discussion that's happening right now, just try entering the phrase "Drug War FAIL" into Google. Pretty impressive, huh? This story from the Associated Press is showing up everywhere you look:
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Richard Branson blogs about being invited onto the global commission, on virgin.com.
Big Name Panel Calls Global Drug War a "Failure" [FEATURE]
The Global Commission on Drug Policy, made up of former heads of state and other international dignitaries, is calling for fundamental reform of the international drug control system.
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World Leaders Say End the Drug War
Not all of them just yet, but it's a start:
On Thursday the former presidents of several countries, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, former U.S. secretary of state George Shultz, former U.S. Fed chairman Paul Volcker and other luminaries will release a report calling the global "war on drugs" a failure and encouraging nations to pursue legalizing and regulating drugs as a way to put a stop the violence inherent in the illegal drug market. (LEAP)
Chronicle
Drug prohibition funds the bloody mayhem in Mexico (Image via Wikimedia.org)
Mexico Drug War Update
No end in sight for the prohibition-related violence plaguing Mexico. The hit men just keep on coming.
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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
More narcs get rowdy at a narc convention and a pair of cops who couldn't keep their paws off the pills.
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Rising to the Challenge -- Seizing the Opportunity
Legalization is an important battle to fight for the country, but victory is not a foregone conclusion. Which way things go depends on the actions that YOU take at this point in time -- the future depends on you.
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Florida state workers, be prepared to submit one of these if Gov. Scott has his way. (Image via Wikimedia.org)
ACLU Sues Florida Governor on State Employee Drug Tests [FEATURE]
Florida's Republican Gov. Rick Scott thinks he can make state employees pee in a cup for him with the stroke of a pen. The ACLU of Florida disagrees and is suing him in federal court.
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Chronicle Book Review: The Power of the Poppy
"The Power of the Poppy: Harnessing Nature's Most Dangerous Plant Ally" is reviewed and found most interesting.
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This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
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The CHA wants you to pass a drug test if you live in the Kenmore or any other CHA properties. (Image courtesy CHA)
Chicago Housing Authority Wants to Drug Test Residents
Drug testing mania has arrived at the Chicago Housing Authority, which is now proposing to require drug tests of all adult residents, with evictions if they fail.
Chronicle
Gov. Rick Scott (R) scores political points on the backs of the poor. (Image courtesy state of Florida)
Florida Welfare Drug Testing Bill Signed Into Law
Under a Florida law signed by Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday, welfare recipients must undergo drug tests. It looks like the ACLU will challenge it in court.
Chronicle
medical marijuana containers with vaporizer (image via Wikimedia.org)
A Million Medical Marijuana Patients in California?
California NORML's Dale Gieringer crunches the numbers and finds a whole lot of medical marijuana patients in the Golden State.
Chronicle
The hangman has been -- and will be -- getting a real work out in Iran. (Image via Wikimedia.org)
Iran to Hang 300 for Drug Trafficking
Iran has already executed more than 125 people for drug trafficking so far this year, and more than 300 await the hangman. It claims that's the only way to stop the flow of drugs destined for Europe.
Chronicle
Jose Guerena survived two tours in Iraq, but not his encounter with a Pima County SWAT team.
No Drugs in Home of Ex-Marine Killed By SWAT Team
Police found no drugs in the home of a veteran they shot and killed in a May 5 drug raid in Tucson.
Chronicle
An Amsterdam cannabis coffee shop. If you want to check it out yourself, you better hurry. (Image via Wikimedia.org)
Dutch to Ban Foreigners from Cannabis Cafes
If you want to experience the cannabis coffee shops of Amsterdam, book your ticket now. Next year will be too late, as Holland gives the finger to pot-loving visitors.