Drug War Chronicle #865 - December 18, 2014
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On Marijuana, Congress Giveth and Congress Taketh Away [FEATURE]
Passage of the omnibus spending bill was good news and bad news for marijuana reform advocates. A big win for medical marijuana, but a nasty move to block voter-approved legalization in DC, too.
President Obama exercises his clemency powers. (whitehouse.gov)
Obama Commutes Sentences for Eight Drug Offenders
The president has commuted the sentences of eight drug offenders and issued pardons for four more who have already done their time.
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DC Legalization Still Alive? Democrats Think So
Despite the confusion, leading Democrats involved in negotiations over DC marijuana reforms in the "CRomnibus" budget bill say that Initiative 71 still lives.
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Medical Marijuana Update
Big news out of Washington and, for a change, most of our medical marijuana news is out of the Midwest this week.
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Indiana Man Pursued By DEA Kills Self, Huge Stash Found
An Indianapolis man being pursued by the DEA and local cops crashed his vehicle, then killed himself. That's the year's 38th drug war death.
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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
The beat goes on. A Texas drug dog officer snorts the training dope, a pair of married Indiana deputies get wrapped up in the new synthetics, and a Georgia judge goes down for trying to set up a woman who accused him of making advances on her.
A New Mexico Indian reservation. There could be a new cash crop coming. (wikipedia.org)
Chronicle AM: DC Marijuana Muddle, Feds OK Pot Growing on the Rez, More (12/11/14)
There are conflicting views on the fate of DC's legalization initiative, the Justice Department okays marijuana growing on Indian reservations, Spaniards now support marijuana legalization, and more.
Indonesian police will begin enforcing the ban on magic mushrooms next month. (wikipedia.org)
Chronicle AM: Obama on DC Pot Laws, WI "Cocaine Moms" Law Challenged, No More 'Shrooms in Bali, More (12/12/14)
The president weighs in on congressional moves to block DC marijuana legalization, Oklahoma could be joining the cannabis oil medical marijuana club, a Wisconsin woman sues over the "cocaine moms" law, the ACLU is looking to sue a Connecticut housing agency over mandatory drug tests, and more.
The Kentucky legislature will try to deal with heroin again this year. The bill has good and bad elements. (wikimedia.org)
Chronicle AM: TX Pot Bill Filed, Another MO Legalization Initiative, KY Heroin Bill, More (12/15/14)
Texas begins heading down the path of marijuana reform, a Missouri legalization initiative seeks to really free the weed, Rep. Andy Harris isn't very welcome in DC these days, Kentucky tries to deal with heroin again this year, and more.
If Walid Jumblatt has his way, this Lebanese hash field could be legal. (cannabisculture.com)
Chronicle AM: Teen Pot Use Not Up, Federal Police Killings Bill Filed, Mexico Mayhem, More (12/16/14)
The Monitoring the Future teen drug use survey is out, the "cromnibus" bill also killed highway drug use surveys, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) wants better information on police killings, a damning report is released in Mexico, and more.
An execution in Iran. The Islamic Republic has executed more than 300 drug offenders this year. (iranhr.net)
Chronicle AM: A Century of Drug War, Yet Another Drug War Bill, Iran Drug Executions Slammed, More (12/17/14)
It's the 100th anniversary of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act, a GOP senator chides Obama for "pro-marijuana" messages, human rights groups urge the UNODC to quit funding Iranian drug enforcement because of its resort to the death penalty, and more.
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