Drug War Chronicle #520 - January 25, 2008
Editorial: Poverty and the Drug Laws
While we take on the drug war's many different currents, it's important to remember our moral and intellectual roots. One of those is the role prohibition plays in fueling poverty. Understanding of this will one day dawn, and legalization will be seen as the wiser course.
Feature: Faced With Slashed Federal Grants, Drug Task Forces Howl... and Plot to Get Their Funding Back
When Congress passed the omnibus appropriations bill a few weeks ago, it slashed funding for the federal grant program that funds local anti-drug task forces. Now the task forces are howling, and they and their allies are plotting a bid to get that money back.
In Memoriam: Judge Eleanor Schockett of LEAP
Jack Cole of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition wrote the following memorial for one of LEAP's most active leaders, Judge Eleanor Schockett. We reprint it from the LEAP web site.
Appeal: DRCNet Made Amazing Progress in 2007 and We Need Your Help for 2008
An outline of DRCNet's plans and recent accomplishments and an appeal for your support to make it all happen.
Weekly: Blogging @ the Speakeasy
"It's Really Easy to Put Innocent People in Jail for Drugs," "Idiot Steals Two Crocodiles and a Monkey, Blames Marijuana," "The Drug Czar's Awesome Plan to Blame Hugo Chavez for Everything," "Our Drug Laws Literally Allow Police to Steal From Innocent People," "Obama Pledges to Continue the Drug War," "Randomly Sad But True."
Students: Intern at DRCNet and Help Stop the Drug War!
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Law Enforcement: Virginia Narcotics Officer Killed Busting Down Door in Marijuana Grow Raid
A Chesapeake, Virginia, narcotics officer was killed last week as he attempted to break down a door during a raid on a suspected marijuana grow operation. His alleged killer now faces first degree murder charges.
Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
Scandal broadens in Brooklyn South, a cop working for a federal drug task force goes bad in California, and a pair of private prison guards in Texas get in trouble.
Law Enforcement: Snitch Culture Gone Bad in Ohio -- 15 Prisoners to Go Free Because of Informant's Tainted Testimony
In the latest installment of an ongoing snitch scandal in northeast Ohio, a federal judge has freed 15 men sentenced to prison on crack conspiracy charges based on perjured testimony from a DEA informant. Now, the informant is in prison, and the DEA agent is in the crosshairs.
Medical Marijuana: Employers Can Fire Users, California Supreme Court Rules
The California Supreme Court has ruled that employers may fire medical marijuana users. The backlash is just getting underway.
Medical Marijuana: New Mexico Paraplegic Sues Over Seizure of Plants, Grow Equipment
Leonard French followed New Mexico's medical marijuana law to the letter, but that didn't stop the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force from seizing his plants and grow equipment and giving it to the DEA. Now he's suing.
Drug Penalties: New York Governor Proposes Tax Stamps -- $200 a Gram for Cocaine
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) has proposed a tax on illegal drugs as part of his budget proposal. $3.50 a gram for marijuana might be -- if it were legal, at least -- but $200 a gram for cocaine!?
Marijuana: New Hampshire Decriminalization Bill Wins Support at Hearing
A bill that would decriminalize the possession of up to 1.25 ounces of marijuana got a first hearing in the New Hampshire legislature this week. Two law enforcement officials spoke out in favor of it.
Marijuana: Burlington, Vermont City Council Rejects Decriminalization Measure
The city council in Burlington, Vermont, has rejected putting a marijuana decriminalization proposal before the voters. But a council committee will study the idea.
Harm Reduction: San Antonio Police Arrest Needle Exchangers, DA Ups the Ante
Last year, the Texas legislature approved a pilot needle exchange program in Bexar County (San Antonio), but a recalcitrant District Attorney has blocked it. Now, after San Antonio police arrested needle exchangers this week, the same DA is trying to hammer them.
Latin America: Mexican Soldiers Raid Police in Drug Fight in Rio Grande Valley Border Cities
The Mexican army has moved into a number of Rio Grande Valley border towns in Tamaulipas state and taken over from local police, whom it is investigating for links to the drug traffic.
Latin America: US Accuses Venezuela of "Colluding" with Cocaine Trade
US drug czar John Walters accused Venezuela of "colluding" in the cocaine traffic, an accusation Venezuela did not take lying down. Meanwhile, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez says he chews coca, much to the dismay of the Miami Herald.
Weekly: This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
Feedback: Do You Read Drug War Chronicle?
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Internship Opportunity: Americans for Safe Access, Washington, DC
Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a national medical marijuana advocacy group, is currently seeking graduate and undergraduate interns for their Washington DC office.
Errata
Source credit for Virginia salvia ban article.
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Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.