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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Hey, cops: Don't give crack to hookers' boyfriends, don't rip people off and traffic dope, don't seize dope without turning it in, and don't get wasted on meth you stole and crash your cruiser. If only this week's crew had followed those simple instructions.

Scientists Suggest Fresh Look at Psychedelic Drugs

Swiss scientists suggest that mind-altering drugs like LSD, ketamine or magic mushrooms can be combined with psychotherapy to treat people suffering from depression, compulsive disorders or chronic pain.

Colombia Court Declares Military Base Deal With U.S. Unconstitutional

The U.S. was denied greater access to Colombian military bases when a joint base deal aimed at combating drug trafficking among other things was deemed unconstitutional by Colombia's Constitutional court. The deal was reached after Ecuador refused to renew the lease on the US military base of Manta almost three years ago. During his refusal, President Rafael Correa said, "If there's no problem having foreign soldiers on a country's soil, surely they'll let us have an Ecuadorian base in the United States."

Marijuana Policy Project Insider Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 6

 

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Obama upholds Leonhart nomination despite calls for withdrawal

alt="Newsletter V1_I4 Leonhart" border=0>The Obama administration has affirmed that it believes Michele Leonhart is the right person for the job as head of the DEA, despite a unified effort led by MPP to withdraw her nomination. Leonhart has shown that she is more interested in carrying out Bush-era raids on medical marijuana patients than she is in following a more reasonable policy of non-interference laid out by the DOJ last year.Read more...

Prohibition victim's family receives $4.9M in settlement

Newsletter V1_I6 JohnstonNearly four years after she was killed by police officers in an illegitimate raid on her home, the family of Kathryn Johnston is set to receive $4.9 million from the city of Atlanta. Though this is only a small consolation to the family who lost their grandmother in November of 2006, it may be a sign that major cities like Atlanta will need to rethink the human costs of carrying out these types of raids.Read more...

Update: Detroit's fight to make marijuana legal

Newslettter - DetroitIn an update to a story we brought to you in our very first issue of the Insider, activists in Detroit are now fighting to keep on the ballot a measure that would make marijuana legal for adults. Locals collected more than 6,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot, but in a shocking development, the city's election commission voted 3-0 to remove the measure. Supporters are now appealing the decision in an attempt to get the measure reinstated so that voters in Detroit can have their say in November. Read more...

Mexican leaders call for drug reform

alt="Newsletter V1_I6 Calderon">The endless cartel violence in Mexico and on our southern border has convinced Mexican President Felipe Calderon to call for a debate on ending prohibition, while two of his predecessors say the time has already come, and U.S. officials sadly continue to deny reality. More than 28,000 Mexicans have died in prohibition-fueled violence since 2006, and the cartels now make more than 60 percent of their revenue from selling marijuana in the United States.Read more...

YouTube, MPP, and You!

alt="Newsletter V1_I4 YouTube">Did you know that MPP has a YouTube channel? We do! In fact, we put all of the latest MPP Insider videos, our television appearances, and lots of other great content up all the time. Check it out and be sure to subscribe to our channel to be the first to know when we've added new content!Read more...

 

The MPP Insider - Video Edition

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Featured Person

alt="Newsletter V1_I5 Victim">Peter McWilliams, stricken with both cancer and AIDS, died because the federal government prevented him from using the one thing that controlled his nausea.
Hear his story...

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MPP will be able to tackle all of the projects in our 2010 strategic plan if you help us meet this challenge.


To contact MPP, please click here. Our mailing address is Marijuana Policy Project, 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20002. Any donations you make to MPP may be used for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates for federal office.


 

Corrupt, Insecure Prisons Undermine Mexico Drug War

Experts say Mexico's President FelipeCalderon needs to get entrenched problems in the penal and judicial system under control if he is to have any chance of winning a war that has claimed more than 28,000 lives since late 2006 and sparked fears that drug trafficking organizations could turn Mexico into a lawless narco state.

Kidnapped Mexican Mayor Found Dead

Yet another Mexican politican falls prey to drug prohibition violence. Security forces have found the handcuffed and blindfolded body of kidnapped mayor Edelmiro Cavazos of the northern Mexican city of Santiago. Cavazos was taken from his home by armed men on Sunday night.

Obama: Fix U.S. Drug Policy! (Petition)

 

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About this Petition:

As he prepares his new administration, Obama has the opportunity to appoint a "Drug Czar" who will shift drug policy toward a public health model and away from a criminal model. Please sign this petition and let our new president know that a change in drug policy is needed!

The Desired Outcome of this Petition:

Obama appoints a "Drug Czar" who will treat drug abuse as a health issue rather than a criminal issue and will move away from a "War on Drugs" paradigm.

To sign, follow this link: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/petitions/show/15?m=85799a5f

The Forgotten Ban: Obama Sticks with DEA Nominee Michele Leonhart Despite Criticism of Raids

Michele Leonhart, a DEA deputy administrator appointed by President George W. Bush and the acting administrator since the resignation of Karen P. Tandy in 2007, has consistently ignored a Justice Department directive not to “waste resources” by raiding medical marijuana dispensaries and growers operating legally in states that allow the sale of medical marijuana. Now, seemingly backtracking on his marijuana policy, President Obama is sticking with the Bush appointee and DEA-head nominee Leonhart despite massive criticism.

Wait for Medical Marijuana in NJ Frustrates Terminally Ill Patients

Legislation approving at least six non-profit alternative treatment centers to dispense medical marijuana in New Jersey was approved in January. Politicians have delayed the implementation date until January 2011. Meanwhile, terminally ill patients are in pain and dying.