Drug War Chronicle #480 - April 6, 2007
Editorial: Things Are Gradually Moving in the Right Direction
A bill to repeal some mandatory minimum sentences in Maryland by restoring parole has gotten further so far than any similar attempt to date. But winning even when our case is the clearest is still a struggle.
Feature: Among Architects, a Prison Design Boycott Gains Steam
Architects are among those who profit from policies that lead to mass incarceration, but one professional grouping is leading a Prison Design Boycott Campaign.
Drug War Chronicle Book Review: "Policing the Globe: Criminalization and Crime Control in International Relations," by Peter Andreas and Ethan Nadelmann. (2006, Oxford University Press, 333 pp., $29.95 HB)
The war on drugs is one part of a web of international crime control regimes that have developed over centuries. But past definitions of crime and today's are not all the same.
Book Offer: Lies, Damn Lies, and Drug War Statistics
An important new book debunks literally years of statistical legerdemain by the nation's central drug policy office -- and is DRCNet's latest premium for our members.
Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
A Georgia fire captain gets caught peddling coke, a pair of New Haven narcs lose their jobs, a former Mississippi police chief cops a plea, and a former Ohio cop goes back to prison.
Medical Marijuana: New Mexico Becomes Twelfth State to Approve It
With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Bill Richardson has made New Mexico the 12th medical marijuana state.
Methamphetamine: Feds Make First Cold Medicine Bust Under Combat Meth Act
A New York state man has earned the dubious distinction of being the first person arrested under the federal Combat Meth Epidemic Act, which restricts access to cold medicines containing methamphetamine precursor chemicals.
Harm Reduction: New Mexico Governor Signs Overdose Death Reduction Measure
With Gov. Bill Richardson's signature on the 911 Good Samaritan Act, New Mexico becomes the first state to provide limited immunity from prosecution to people who seek emergency medical treatment for overdose victims.
Voting Rights: Florida Clemency Board Votes to Restore to Most Felons
Acting at the behest of Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, the state of Florida has moved to restore voting rights to most ex-felons.
The Presidency: Past Drug Use Would Disqualify Nominee for Only 19% of Americans, Poll Finds
Past drug use by a presidential candidate is close to the bottom of the list of concerns for voters, a Gallup poll has found.
Methamphetamine: Nevada Governor's Working Group Issues Preliminary Report
A Nevada governor's panel on methamphetamine is calling for more money for treatment, prevention, and policing, but lacks even a mention of harm reduction.
Information: NIDA Drug Library Closed Due to Budget Woes
The NIDA drug library has been closed for budget reasons. The historic collection of more than 12,000 journal volumes and 8,000 books will be dispersed.
Web Scan
Prison litigation, NPR, MPR, medical marijuana patients, FyR interviews, Bulletin of Cannabis Reform, Alternet, Marc Mauer on the "crime wave," DrugTruth radio, restore federal parole petition, National Drug Court Month.
Weekly: This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
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Three Job Openings at the Harm Reduction Coalition, NY and CA
Three positions are now available at the nation's leading harm reduction organization.
Announcement: New Format for the Reformer's Calendar
Visit our new web site each day to see a running countdown to the events coming up the soonest, and more.
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