Drug War Chronicle #636 - June 11, 2010
Editorial: DEA's "Project Deliverance" Will Undoubtedly Fail to Deliver
The DEA has announced another massive anti-drug operation, this one involving thousands of agents, hundreds of law enforcement agencies, thousands of arrestees, millions of dollars and tons of drugs. In law enforcement terms, it's big. But it's tiny compared with the scale of drug use and the drug trade in the US, and it won't reduce the use or availability of drugs in the US.
Feature: Medical Marijuana Madness in Montana
Fire bombs. Graffiti attacks. Anonymous anti-medical marijuana flyers handed out to school children. Whether medical marijuana has gone too far is a hot issue in Billings, Montana, and it's simmering all over Big Sky Country as "ganja-preneurs" push the envelope.
Feature: Pennsylvania Lawmakers' Aim at Reducing Methadone Deaths, But Shoot Wide
There has been a dramatic increase in methadone overdose deaths in Pennsylvania and the nation in recent years. Keystone State legislators are misguidedly aiming at the state's methadone maintenance treatment clinics.
Latin America: Mexico Drug War Update
Ciudad Juarez passed a grim milestone this week as it marked its one thousandth prohibition-related killing of the year.
Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
It was judgment day for two crooked cops and a jail guard this week, and another jail guard just found out his judgment day is coming. Meanwhile, new corrupt cop cases showed up at a rate of one a day this week.
Law Enforcement: Dog-Killing SWAT Raid Continues to Reverberate in Missouri College Town
The now infamous SWAT raid in Columbia, Missouri, in February that left a family traumatized and a family dog dead keeps on generating citizen activism there. Now, a new group formed because of the raid is calling for permanent reforms.
Prisons: Marc Emery in Solitary Confinement for Podcast of Prison Phone Call
Canadian "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery has already run up against US federal prison rules, and is sitting in solitary confinement as a result.
Marijuana Legalization: With No Cash, Doubts Grow Over Whether Washington State Initiative Will Gather Enough Signatures
The Washington state marijuana legalization initiative campaign took a serious hit this week when a union it had been courting decided not to help fund signature-gathering. Now, with only three weeks left, Sensible Washington has less than half the signatures it needs and no money. Can a heroic volunteer effort save it?
Drugged Driving: Michigan Supreme Overturns Itself on Marijuana Metabolites Issue
In 2006, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that people could be prosecuted as drugged drivers based solely on the presence of marijuana metabolites in their bodily fluids. Now, a more liberal Supreme Court has overturned that decision, holding that marijuana metabolites are not controlled substances and the states drugged driving law can thus not be applied to them.
Africa: Rwanda Moves to Legalize Medical Marijuana
The UN says Rwanda needs a drug law. Rwanda agrees, and it's going to include medical marijuana.
Death Penalty: Iran Goes On Drug Offender Execution Binge
Iranian hangmen have been keeping busy in recent weeks as some 30 drug offenders have been executed since May 23. Maybe it's time to ramp up that campaign against the death penalty for drug offenses.
Weekly: This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
Appeal: 2010 is Important in Drug Policy -- And So Are You
2010 is a critical year in the effort to end prohibition and the war on drugs. The StoptheDrugWar.org (DRCNet) "Changing Minds, Changing Laws, Changing Lives" campaign is asking for you to pitch in -- your support is more important now than it has ever been before!
Conference: New Directions: A Public Health and Safety Approach to Drug Policy, June 17, Capitol Hill, DC
A coalition of organizations -- StoptheDrugWar.org is a partner in it -- is presenting the first full-day conference on drug policy reform on Capitol Hill. And it's free.
Weekly: Blogging @ the Speakeasy
"This Week's Dumbest Drug War Quote," "Police Department Teaches Citizens How to Flex Their Rights," "High School Censors Marijuana Legalization Editorial in School Newspaper," "Everyone Loves to Read About Marijuana Legalization," "Marc Emery Calls Out Selfish Marijuana Growers for Opposing Legalization."
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