Drug War Chronicle #507 - October 26, 2007
Editorial: Enough Already -- Stop Funding the Taliban Through Opium Prohibition
Whatever direction the drug war compass points, one way or its opposite, it never points anywhere good.
Feature: Bush Reveals Plan Mexico, Proposes $1.4 Billion Anti-Drug Aid Package
The Bush administration Tuesday officially asked Congress to fund a $1.4 billion anti-drug package for Mexico and Central America, but there are lots of questions and criticisms emerging.
Feature: San Francisco Ponders a Safe Injection Site, Would Be the Nation's First
Last week, San Francisco took the first tentative steps toward creating a safe injection site for drug users. It would be the first in the United States, but don't hold your breath -- there's a long way to go and many obstacles to overcome.
Weekly: Blogging @ the Speakeasy
"DEA Director Resigns, Says She Had an Awesome Time," "Drug Czar Opposes Effort to Reduce Drug Overdoses," "This Man Receives 300 Marijuana Joints a Month from the Federal Government."
Students: Intern at DRCNet and Help Stop the Drug War!
Apply for an internship at DRCNet for this fall (or spring), and you could spend the semester fighting the good fight!
Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
This week, we have our mandatory greedy jail guards, and another case that's a little stickier. Are the people in our first story corrupt cops or desperate pain patients or junkies or pill peddlers or some combination of the above? You be the judge.
Sentencing: Ohio Senate Passes Bill to Equalize Crack/Powder Cocaine Disparity By Raising Sentences
Marching boldly backward, the Ohio State Senate has voted to reduce the disparity in sentencing for powder and crack cocaine offenses by raising those penalties for powder -- not reducing those for crack.
Marijuana: Florida Bill Would Toughen Penalties for Growing
Faced with a wave of indoor marijuana growing operations, Florida drug warrior Attorney General Bill McCullom and his law enforcement and legislative allies are fighting back with a bill proposing tougher penalties and new criminal offenses.
Law Enforcement: Karen Tandy Resigns As DEA Chief
Karen Tandy's four-year tenure as head of the DEA is coming to an end. She announced Monday she would resign to take a position with Motorola.
Death Penalty: Iran Executes Five More Drug Traders, Australian Faces Ultimate Sanction Over Half Ounce of Hash in Bali
The world's drug laws continue to create new victims for the executioner. In Iran, five more are hanged, while in Indonesia, prosecutors ask for the death penalty for an Australian over a few grams of hash and weed.
Southwest Asia: Opium Accounts for Maybe Half of Taliban Funding, US Commander Says
Drug prohibition is proving to be a bonanza for the Taliban, according to the top US military commander in Afghanistan.
Latin America: Ecuador President Jerks Washington's Chain Over Manta Air Base
The lease on the US anti-drug air base at Manta, Ecuador, runs out in 2009. Ecuador's President Correa says no way he will renew it -- unless Washington lets him put a base in Miami.
Web Scan
Marc Emery, student drug testings, economics of cocaine, GAO, DrugTruth, more...
Weekly: This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
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Jobs in Harm Reduction: Harm Reduction Coalition and PreventionWorks!
HRC is hiring a CBA Specialist for its African American Capacity Building Initiative, and Prevention Works is hiring an executive director.
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