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Sexist Violence Invisible in War on Drugs

Yosmireli and Griselda, two and four years old, died by bullets to their heads from soldiers' guns -- their mother, aunt and seven-year-old brother Joniel were also killed, on a rural road in northwest Mexico. The killings became the first known case of civilians gunned down by soldiers in the prohibitionist war on drug traffickers declared by the government of conservative Felipe Calderón, which tipped the country into a spiral of violence. One very clear effect is "the invisibility of violence against women...If a girl is found dead on the street and the body shows signs of violence, whether she has a bullet wound, is tied up, or there is a dead man next to her, her death is recorded in the category of 'organized crime'...By recording the cases in the catch-all category of organized crime, the victims' families no longer have access to the case file and cannot pressure the authorities to solve the crime," said David Peña of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers.
California's next attorney general, Kamala Harris (Wikimedia)
California's next attorney general, Kamala Harris (Wikimedia)

Medical Marijuana Foe Concedes in CA AG Race

It only took three weeks from Election Day, but California medical marijuana foe and Republican attorney general candidate Steve Cooley has finally conceded defeat to Democrat Kamala Harris.
Banned in 30 days (Image courtesy Wikimedia)
Banned in 30 days (Image courtesy Wikimedia)

DEA Bans Synthetic Marijuana

Synthetic marijuana products sold as incense or potpourri under brand names like K2 and Spice have been banned in an emergency move by the DEA. You have 30 days before the ban takes effect.
US Senate
US Senate

National Call-In Alert: The National Criminal Justice Commission Act

Sen. Jim Webb's bill to create a bipartisan National Criminal Justice Commission has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Your phone calls to US Senators could be what passes the bill this year and gets the top-to-bottom review of the criminal justice system started.
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Donate Today for a Brighter Future Beyond Prohibition

We in the drug reform movement are filled with optimism after a historic year and campaign, and we are getting the anti-prohibitionist message out to more and more people than ever. But your help is needed to allow it to continue.
Edgar "La Barbie" Villarreal, after capture
Edgar "La Barbie" Villarreal, after capture

Mexico Drug War Update

An ex-governor is assassinated, and Ciudad Juarez sees its 130th police officer killed this year. Just another week in the prohibition-related violence plaguing Mexico.
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Colorado Collects Millions in Marijuana Tax Revenue

Opponents of marijuana legalization are habitually dishonest and wrong about all sorts of things, but one of their most recklessly fraudulent claims is that legal marijuana won't generate significant tax revenue. This isn't even a matter of speculation. It's already happening.