Congress: Budget Deal Includes Series of Drug Reform Victories
Congressional budget negotiators have approved a conference committee bill that ends the ban on federal funding of needle exchange programs, ends the ban on the District of Columbia funding of needle exchange programs, and ends the ban on the District enacting a medical marijuana law approved by voters a decade ago. Oh, and it also slashes funding for the drug czar's ineffective youth anti-drug media campaign.
Good Stuff to Read
An Alternet story about the DEA's continuing failure to update their website in accordance with the AMA's new position on medical marijuana seems to have gotten results. DEA made another update here, noting the new position and replacing bad info. Â
Also at Alternet, 10 Signs the Failed Drug War Is Finally Ending by Tony Newman. This has been an incredible year for drug policy reform and Tony's piece was published before this week's incredible news on Capitol Hill.
An outrageous medical marijuana prosecution in New Jersey. It's really time to get this legislation passed.
A new poll finds 53% support for legalizing marijuana. Other interesting stuff in there too.
The worst anti-marijuana editorial I've seen in awhile. The dude even mixes up North and South Korea.
Drug war robots! I've been warning about this for years now. It's just a matter of time before the cartels build robots too (if they haven't already).Â
And finally, Prisoner dupes guards, grows pot in cell. Seriously. He told them it was tomatoes. And he only got busted because another inmate ratted him out. Although I suppose it would have caught up with him eventually, because at some point the guards might notice that he doesnât ever seem to have any tomatoes.
Also at Alternet, 10 Signs the Failed Drug War Is Finally Ending by Tony Newman. This has been an incredible year for drug policy reform and Tony's piece was published before this week's incredible news on Capitol Hill.
An outrageous medical marijuana prosecution in New Jersey. It's really time to get this legislation passed.
A new poll finds 53% support for legalizing marijuana. Other interesting stuff in there too.
The worst anti-marijuana editorial I've seen in awhile. The dude even mixes up North and South Korea.
Drug war robots! I've been warning about this for years now. It's just a matter of time before the cartels build robots too (if they haven't already).Â
And finally, Prisoner dupes guards, grows pot in cell. Seriously. He told them it was tomatoes. And he only got busted because another inmate ratted him out. Although I suppose it would have caught up with him eventually, because at some point the guards might notice that he doesnât ever seem to have any tomatoes.
Latin America: Mexico Drug War Update
The Mexican government scored a victory this week with the killing of Beltran Leyva cartel head Arturo Beltran Leyva, but will it turn out to be a pyrrhic victory? Knocking off cartel heads in the past has typically led to renewed infighting as rivals vie to replace them.
Alert: Tell Congress to Repeal Unjust Crack Cocaine Sentences
A rare window of opportunity has opened for addressing one of the drug war's most glaring injustices.
Appeal: Did You Know That We Are WINNING?
Unprecedented developments have us more optimistic than ever before at the prospects for significant change in drug policy.