Drug War Chronicle #730 - April 19, 2012
Pres. Obama with Colombian Pres. Juan Manuel Santos, Brazilian Pres. Dilma Rouseff, and MSNBC's Chris Matthews (whitehouse.gov)
Obama Addresses Drug Legalization at Cartagena Summit [FEATURE]
The Cartagena summit saw an historic discussion of drug legalization this weekend, with President Obama conceding that the topic is a legitimate one even as he reiterated US opposition to legalization.
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Oaksterdam University Will Carry On, But Without Richard Lee [FEATURE]
Oaksterdam University is bouncing back from the federal raid two weeks ago, but Richard Lee is stepping down to prepare for legal troubles and campaign for drug law reform.
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Obama Releases 2012 National Drug Control Strategy
The new national drug strategy is out and it looks very much like the old national drug strategy, retaining the seemingly eternal 60:40 split between law enforcement and interdiction on one hand and treatment and prevention on the other.
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Medical Marijuana Update
It's taken ever so long, but it now looks like dispensaries will soon be operating in New Jersey and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, the battles over medical marijuana continue across the country.
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Colorado Democrats Endorse Marijuana Legalization Initiative
The Colorado Democratic Party has endorsed Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act.
Some cocaine is still more equal than other under a Missouri bill, but there is less of a sentencing disparity. (wikimedia.org)
Missouri House Approves Crack Cocaine Sentencing Reform
Missouri has the most extreme crack vs. powder cocaine sentencing disparity in the nation, but a bill that passed the House Thursday would reduce it. The bill still has to get through the Senate.
Vancouver's InSite (BCCHA)
Report Calls for Safe Injection Sites in Toronto, Ottawa
A long-awaited study has recommended supervised drug injection sites in Toronto and Ottawa, but that's just the first step in what looks to be a long and contentious process.
City Hall, Greenville (wikimedia.org)
Most of North Carolina Grand Jury's Cases Are Drugs
If grand jury indictments earlier this month are any indication, there's not enough real crime in Pitt County, North Carolina, to keep cops and prosecutors busy. The most common grand jury charge: possessing marijuana with intent.
Clouds of smoke hover over the crowd estimated at 10,000 at last year's rally. (NORML)
UC-Boulder Moves to Quash 4/20 Marijuana Rally
University of Colorado Boulder officials are pulling out all the stops in a bid to squash the school's unofficial annual 4/20 rally. The ACLU is objecting, and the performer the school hired to divert students with a concert says pot ought to be legalized.
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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
This week, we have a grab bag of crooked law enforcement types, including a big city cop, a probation officer, a prosecutor, and a TSA agent.
Greenland, NH, Police Chief Michael Maloney (Greenland PD)
New Hampshire Police Chief Killed in Drug Raid
A drug raid gone bad has left a New Hampshire police chief dead, four other members of a drug task force wounded, and, early Friday morning, the suspect still holed up in his home with a woman, surrounded by a SWAT team.
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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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