We are publishing a lot of stuff on our new web site -- read about it here -- but it was a really big week for drug policy reform in Washington, and we want to make sure that the very latest big news does not drive the really really big news too far down on the screen for people to notice. And so, a brief wrap-up of the biggest news of the week:
- Congress, before going on recess, after almost 25 years of criticism finally enacted a reform, though only partial, to the infamous crack/powder cocaine sentencing disparity.
National Mall, Washington, DC - Medical marijuana is now legal in Washington, DC. Well, sort of. The Congressional review period for the local initiative legislation that enacted this has expired, which means it's clear to go. The city council still has some work to do before the regulations go into effect and before dispensaries can actually open, but it's happening.
- A companion bill to Sen. Jim Webb's legislation to convene a National Criminal Justice Commission has passed the House of Representatives.
Word also has it that the ONDCP's ad campaign, which research has demonstrated to be ineffective, is finally getting zeroed out, but we'll have more on that later. Also from Washington, the Veterans Administration is now allowing veterans with authorization to use medical marijuana under state law to do so without getting thrown out of VA pain treatment programs. Nationally, marijuana legalization polls continue to shift in our direction, and the latest poll on California's Prop 19 marijuana legalization initiative is encouraging.
Have a good weekend. I am now going to join some reform friends to celebrate a big week in Washington.
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