Drug War Chronicle #1074 - July 31, 2019
Despite some setbacks, marijuana reform continues its progress across the US in 2019.
Marijuana Still Has Momentum in 2019 [FEATURE]
Despite only one state legalizing marijuana so far this year, for the Marijuana Policy Project, the glass is half full. We think so too.
Rodrigo Duterte's Philippines drug war is drawing the ire of Amnesty International. (Creative Commons)
Philippine Drug War Killings Reach Level of Crime Against Humanity, Amnesty International Says [FEATURE]
The pressure is mounting on the United Nations to do something about the bloody drug repression in the Philippines.
The popular Blue Dream strain is available for $2 gram or $45 an ounce in one Oregon shop. That's not unusual (CP/Flickr)
Oregon's Pot Glut: Great for Consumers, Not So Much for Producers [FEATURE]
Oregon's wide-open marijuana licensing system has created a mountain of marijuana, and that's driving prices down, down, down.
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Medical Marijuana Update
A federal bill to clear the way for more medical marijuana research has been filed, a fight is brewing over Utah's grower licensing decisions, and more.
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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
A Florida sheriff's deputy breaks bad, a New Jersey cop probably shouldn't have done heroin on the job, and more.
Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman gets life in prison, but somebody has already replaced him. (SEDENA}
Chronicle AM: CDC Says Drug ODs Declined Last Year, El Chapo Gets Life in Prison, More... (7/18/19)
The CDC reports that the overdose crisis may have peaked in 2017, El Chapo is sentenced to life in prison for exporting tons of cocaine and other drugs to the US, North Carolina lawmakers want to ban smokable hemp, and more.
There's a bit more room in the federal prisons today after 2,200 inmates walked free under the First Step Act. (Supreme Court)
Chronicle AM: First Step Sentence Cut Prisoners Walk Free, Drug Czar Touts OD Decline, More... (7/19/19)
More than 2,000 federal drug prisoners walk free today under First Step Act reforms, the drug czar touts declining drug overdose numbers and blames Obama, Texas prosecutors balk at low-level pot prosecutions now that hemp is legal, and more.
Joe Biden seeks to make political amends for his past criminal justice history. (Creative Commons)
Chronicle AM: Biden Criminal Justice Plan, Kamala Harris Pot Bill, Vancouver Call for Safe Drug Supply, More... (7/23/19)
Democratic presidential contenders stake out marijuana and criminal justice positions, a North Dakota legalization initiative is approved for signature-gathering, Vancouver wants a safe drug supply of illicit opioids, and more.
Drug reform and criminal justice scholar Mark Kleiman has died at age 68. (Creative Commons)
Chronicle AM: VA Pot Arrests at Record High, Brazil Guts Drug Council, Mark Kleiman RIP, More... (7/22/19)
A leading academic voice on drug and criminal justice policy has left us, skyhigh Virginia pot arrests prompt calls for reform, Brazil's rightist government moves to silence critical voices on drug policy, and more.
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Chronicle AM: Marijuana Banking Bill Gets Senate Hearing, Juneau OKs On-Site Consumption, More... (7/24/19)
A marijuana banking bill gets a Senate committee hearing, a new poll finds pot is popular progressive policy plank, Juneau approves on-site marijuana consumption, and more.
Colombian legislators want to block President Duque's plan to dump herbicides on coca fields (and farmers). (DEA)
Chronicle AM: FL Pot Initiative Nears Early Mile Post, Colombia Drug Reform Push, More... (7/25/19)
Arkansas sees yet another marijuana legalization initiative filed, the Florida legalization initiative campaign nears a milepost, Colombian legislators seek to block their rightist president's repressive drug policies, and more.
Burlington, VT, is the latest jurisdiction to report massive declines in traffic stops after marijuana legalization. (CC)
Chronicle AM: FL Hemp Law Screwing Up Marijuana Prosecutions, Traffic Stops Drop With Legalization, More... (7/26/19)
Traffic stops in Vermont's largest city declined precipitously after marijuana legalization, a broad coalition urges the FDA to limit a ban on felons participating in the hemp industry, Florida's hemp legalization law is making it almost impossible to prosecute pot possession offenses, and more.
Andrew Cuomo (D) couldn't get legalization through the legislature, but he has now signed a decrim bill. (Creative Commons)
Chronicle AM: Cuomo Signs Decriminalization Bill, UK MPs See Legalization Within Five Years, More... (7/29/19)
New York's governor signs a bill deepening pot decriminalization, a new congressional bill would let students with marijuana possession convictions get access to federal aid -- if they complete drug treatment -- and more.
Federal employees will see prescribing of opioids tightened up in a bid to reduce abuse. (Creative Commons)
Chronicle AM: Ohio Becomes 46th Hemp State, Federal Employees to See Pain Prescribing Tightened, More... (7/30/19)
Hemp and CBD are now legal in Ohio, a federal agency has proposed letting people with low-level drug convictions work in credit unions, the Trump administration moves to tighen up opioid prescribing for federal employees, and more.
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