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Sentencing: US 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals Throws out Crack Cocaine Sentence

A federal appeals court has thrown out a long crack cocaine sentence, saying the sentencing guidelines that call for tougher sentences for crack than cocaine are no longer mandatory, but only advisory since last year's US Supreme Court ruling in Booker.

Latin America: Colombia's FARC Guerrillas Say End Drug Prohibition

In an unusual communique, Colombia's leftist FARC guerrillas called for the global legalization of drugs.

Feature: California Activists Look for Triple Play in November

"Lowest law enforcement priority" marijuana initiatives are on the ballot in three California cities, and organizers say the prospects for victory look good.

Feature: The DEA's New Proposed Policy Statement on Pain Prescribing -- What Does It Mean?

The DEA last week issued a new policy statement on prescribing opioid pain medications, and we try to figure out what it means.

Retired Sheriff's Deputy Jay Fleming of LEAP Joins DRCNet Blogging Team -- Drugs, Crime and Conservation First Topic

DRCNet is pleased to welcome Jay Fleming to the Speakeasy. Fleming was for many years a deputy sheriff and narcotics officer in Washington, Montana & Idaho. He is now retired in the US southwest (Arizona) and is a speaker with the organization Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). Fleming has graciously agreed to serve as a regular, featured guest blogger here in the Speakeasy, focusing on the impact of drug prohibition on the western United States.

Judge Throws Out Marijuana Proponents Challenge (Colorado ballot language)

Making Sense of the DEA's New Proposed Policy Statement on Pain Prescribing

There are definitely mixed feelings in the pain medicine community when it comes to the DEA's new proposed policy statement on prescribing pain medications. While everyone is pleased that the agency has loosened up its prescribing rulesâallowing doctors to write three one-month pain med prescriptions at a timeâthere is some dispute over whether the DEA's latest policy statement represents anything other than the agency doing business as usual.