Lethal Sting: How the War on Drugs Killed a College Student
The Tallahassee Police Department isn't getting any medals; they're the targets of a massive lawsuit. And Rachel Hoffman is dead, shot with the very gun the cops sent her to buy.
Doctor Calls Ontario's Methadone Program Oppressive and Discriminatory
A Toronto doctor says Ontario's methadone program for addicts is "oppressive" in the way it discriminates against patients and forces them to give up their privacy. Patients who are prescribed methadone for addiction to drugs such as heroin or morphine are shackled to the health-care system and must sign away their privacy rights in exchange for treatment, Dr. Philip Berger told a legislative committee.
Top Victorian Cop Says Public Should Decide on Legalizing Drugs
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones said the public should be informed about the costs such as higher insurance premiums and delays to elective surgery because of hospital waiting lists caused by illicit drug use. "There are people in academia, in public policy and law enforcement who are challenging us and saying the current approach is not working. I'm hearing it come up a lot...I'd love to have a debate at some point about legalization" he said.
Las Vegas Group Looks to Legalize Marijuana
The Las Vegas chapter of NORML says keeping marijuana illegal hurts patients in the long run because many are forced to acquire the drug illegally. They are seeking to raise awareness about the medicinal benefits of marijuana.
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Does the Obama Administration Really Care if California Legalizes Marijuana?
Attorney General Eric Holder says he will "vigorously enforce" federal marijuana laws in California if Prop 19 passes, and he's taking a lot of well-deserved heat for it. To even suggest that he could somehow bust every pot-smoker in California is just ridiculous on its face, and reeks of desperate last-minute political manipulation. But after watching this event unfold and reading the statement itself, I'm less concerned about federal interference with Prop 19 than ever before.
Governor Christie, NJ Senator Scutari Spar Over Medical Marijuana Rules
A sponsor of the stateâs medical marijuana law introduced a resolution that would repeal what he called ârestrictiveâ proposed rules for the program if Governor Chris Christie does not make them resemble the original legislation. The action spurred angry words between Christie and State Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union), the sponsor.
lioness statue, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (courtesy wikipedia.org)
Drug Policing Not a Very Dangerous Job, Stats Again Show
Some 48 law enforcement officers were murdered doing their job last year, according to the FBI. None of them died enforcing drug laws, despite how scary police like to make the drug war sound.
Maryland Legislators Ponder Medical Marijuana Law
Maryland Senator David Brinkley said that if re-elected, he plans to introduce a bill that would legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. A similar bill passed the Senate during the last session, but the House version failed.
Former Surgeon General Calls for Marijuana Legalization
Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders told CNN she supports legalizing marijuana. "What I think is horrible about all of this, is that we criminalize young people. And we use so many of our excellent resources ... for things that aren't really causing any problems," said Elders. "It's not a toxic substance."
Libertarian Party Chair Endorses California Prop 19
Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle has endorsed Proposition 19 on the November ballot in California. Hinkle said, "I urge Californians to vote for Proposition 19. The War on Drugs has created tremendous damage in California and throughout America, and this will help stop that damage. A vote for Prop 19 is a vote for justice and common sense."