Drug War Chronicle #815 - January 2, 2014
Thank you to our supporters who donated last year and have made this work possible.
Our daily "Chronicle AM" roundup took a week off for the holidays, but will return tomorrow.
Welcome to our new contributor, Denver-based journalist Rebecca Chavez.
Adam Hartle and Anthony Hasham made the pilgrimage from Jacksonville, FL, to be first in line. (Rebecca Chavez)
Colorado Makes History with First Legal Retail Marijuana Sales [FEATURE]
It has been a historic day in Denver, with the first legal retail sales of marijuana having taken place early this morning. It's a new era.
Walking Raven's Luke Ramirez is making the transition from dispensary to adult sales retailer. (Kim Sidwell, cannabiscamera.com)
Legal Marijuana No Simple Matter for Colorado Retailers [FEATURE]
Adult marijuana sales become legal tomorrow in Colorado, but would-be retailers are having to deal with some bumps in the road.
Uruguayan President Jose Mujica as Santa (photo altered by Photomica -- Mujica wasn't really dressed like that)
Merry Christmas! Uruguay President Signs Marijuana Law
Uruguayan President Mujica has signed that country's groundbreaking marijuana legalization bill into law. The government now has 120 days to craft rules, and then Uruguay's era of legal marijuana commerce will commence.
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Federal Judge Throws Out Florida Welfare Drug Test Law
Florida's law mandating the suspicionless drug testing of welfare applicants has been found unconstitutional by a federal district judge. Gov. Rick Scott (R) says he will appeal.
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Medical Marijuana Update
The dispensary and cultivation wars continue in California, dispensaries are delayed in Nevada, a bill moves in New Jersey, and more.
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Alaska Marijuana Legalization Petition Passes Goal
The Alaska marijuana legalization initiative signature-gathering campaign has gathered nearly 45,000 signatures. They only need 31,000 to make the ballot, but they need a healthy cushion to account for ones that get invalidated.
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon (wikimedia.org)
SF DA and San Diego Police Chief File Defelonization Initiative
San Francisco's district attorney and San Diego's police chief have filed an initiative that would defelonize most drug possession and other nonviolent crimes. But will they try to get it on the ballot in 2014?
And off it goes! Ed Rosenthal & Mickey Martin file the 4th CA marijuana legalization initiative of year. (facebook.com)
Fourth California Marijuana Legalization Initiative Filed
Ed Rosenthal joins an increasingly crowded field of California marijuana legalization initiative filers. The question is: Will any of them be on the California ballot in November 2014?
Deputy Adam Sowders was killed executing a no-knock drug raid over some marijuana plants. (http://www.co.burleson.tx.us)
Texas Deputy Killed in Dawn No-Knock Drug Raid
A Texas deputy has been shot and killed in a dawn no-knock drug raid over a few marijuana plants.
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San Diego Man Busted for Marijuana Dies in Border Patrol Custody
A San Diego man detained by the Border Patrol after being caught carrying three pounds of marijuana died in a holding cell Christmas Eve.
Krystal Barrows (facebook.com)
Ohio Woman Killed By Errant Shot in Drug Raid
An Ohio woman sitting on the couch of a mobile home about to be hit in a drug raid is dead after a deputy standing outside the house accidentally discharged his weapon, striking her in the head.
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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
A probation officer gets caught growing marijuana, a task force commander is accused of stealing $90,000, more cops get nailed for spilling the beans to drug suspects, and more.
Hash is medicine, and the cops have to give it back, the Oregon appeals court ruled. (wikimedia.org)
Chronicle AM -- December 20, 2013
A pair of state appeals courts slap down cops who take people's medicine and won't give it back, there are problems with Kansas' drug testing law, Peru is buying shining new toys to prosecute its drug war, and more.
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Chronicle AM -- December 23, 2013
The marijuana court judge was drunk, Dread Pirate Roberts wants his bitcoins back, Beto O'Rourke wants the Border Patrol to answer some questions, Rand Paul and Cory Booker tweet policy, and more.
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Chronicle AM -- December 24, 2013
The first business licenses for legal marijuana shops have been issued in Colorado, dispensaries are delayed in Nevada, hemp is on the agenda in Kentucky, and Uruguay's legalization example is causing reflection in the region. And more.
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