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Feature: The State of Play -- Federal Drug Reform Legislation in the Congress

With both the White House and Capitol Hill under the control of Democrats, there are signs that the Bush-era blockade of federal drug reform legislation is ending. Here's an update on what's moving -- and what's not -- on Capitol Hill this year.

Sentencing: US Sentencing Commission to Review Mandatory Minimums

For years, Congress never met a mandatory minimum drug sentence it didn't like. But now, with the Democrats in charge and the federal prison population nearly 10 times as large as it was three decades ago, Congress is having second thoughts. It has ordered the US Sentencing Commission to take a look.

Medical Marijuana: American Medical Association Calls for Review of Pot's Schedule I Status

In a historic shift of position, the American Medical Association now says that marijuana is medicine, more research is needed, and its status as a Schedule I drug should be reviewed.

Medical Marijuana: Colorado Judge Blocks Restrictions on Caregivers

To be a caregiver or not be a caregiver? That is the question in Colorado, and the criminal courts, civil courts, state bureaucrats, and the medical marijuana industry are all fighting over it.

Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

A dirty Philly cop gets smacked hard, a dirty St. Louis cop gets his hands slapped, and two more jail and prison guards get caught.

Feedback: Do You Read Drug War Chronicle?

Do you read Drug War Chronicle? If so, we need your feedback to evaluate our work and make the case for Drug War Chronicle to funders. We need donations too.

Students: Intern at StoptheDrugWar.org (DRCNet) and Help Stop the Drug War!

Apply for an internship at DRCNet and you could spend a semester fighting the good fight!

The American Way; Self-Government, Self-Medication!!

President Obama has won the Nobel Prize for Peace on promises of de-nuclearization.

Off to Albuquerque

The 2009 International Drug Policy Reform Conference kicks off tomorrow evening, which means we'll be in Albuquerque for the rest of the week. It also means I probably won't be posting for a few days, because my fingers will be caked with enchilada sauce (and if anyone knows where to get good Mexican food in Albuquerque, please hook me up in comments).

If you're going to the conference, please keep an eye out for me and say hi. I always enjoy meeting readers, so feel free to get all up in my business. The best place to find me is at the premiere of the new Flex Your Rights film 10 Rules For Dealing With Police, which I co-wrote and canât wait to unveil. It's going down on Thursday at 8:45pm. It's so cool, you should really just get in the car right now and start driving to New Mexico.

Anyway, the blog should back in action next week. If anything huge happens in the meantime, I'm sure Pete Guither will be all over it.

American Medical Association Ends Opposition to Medical Marijuana

Enemies of medical marijuana have almost completely run out of talking points, and now they just lost one of their favorite remaining arguments:

HOUSTON --- The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value. The AMA adopted a report drafted by the AMA Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH) entitled, "Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes," which affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research. [Opposing Views]

I wonder how long it will take for the DEA to correct their website.

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