BLOG
Money Laundering
This "Prohibition in the Media" post is not tied to a particular article. If you do a Google News search on "drug money laundering," you'll get a list of over 1,400 articles. These are only the ones that the news outlets still have online -- the global financial system is virtually "awash" in illicitly-generated revenues, much of it from the drug trade.
Framing the Issue
re: framing the issue: in the recent article on Ireland the term "re-legalisation" was used, and i thought that was a good term. we could frame it in the context of "restoring constitutional freedoms" or "restoring basic American freedoms to disenfranchised populations", both of which speak subconsciously to conservatives' nostalgic longing for "the good old days" as well as tapping into the Pavlovian response Bush has created to sell his agenda by repeated use of the word "freedom" in conjuction with even the most oppressive activities.
Crossing the Border
I'm off to Spokane, Washington, in a few minutes, which means I will be crossing the US-Canadian border at one of the remote ports of entry above Spokane. I'm coming from BC Bud country, which means the border crossing is always, um, interesting. You never know whether they are going to wave you through in a matter of a few seconds, or tear your vehicle apart, make you empty your pockets, and maybe even do a strip search. It always makes me feel so wanted by my homeland.
Talent Campaign Filled Quota of Pro-Drug Supporters
A guy from Jim Talent's office called me a couple days ago to tell me that they had received my resume and while they were impressed, they had all the help they needed and I just send my resume again in the future.
Karen Tandy Speaks the Truth...But Doesn't Mean it
USA Today's coverage of DEA's new pain medicine regulations (also blogged here) contains this unbelievable quote from DEA Administrator Karen Tandy:
Attention Night Owls: Your Editor Will Be on the Radio Sunday Night
Chronicle editor Phil Smith (that's me) will be the guest on Kootenay Co-op Radio's "Fane of the Cosmos" program Sunday night. Based in Nelson, BC, Kootenay Co-op Radio is the independent voice of the Kootenay counterculture.
DEA Feeling the Pain
The DEAâs war on pain doctors got a facelift today as explained in their ironically titled press-release âWorking Together: DEA and the Medical Communityâ.
Welcome Okies
Working for drug policy reform in Oklahoma can be interesting...want to help?Norma Sapp/[email protected]
Not Asking the Basic Questions
The North Hunterdon district in Clinton Township in southern New Jersey is debating their substance abuse policy, according to the Courier News.
book review of "Psychedelic Horizons"
This book review was originally posted in the Speakeasy Reader Blogs, http://stopthedrugwar.org/speakeasy/reader. With thanks to Tripzine 'Psychedelic Horizons', by Tom Roberts
Canadian Federal Government Demands More Research on Safe Injection Site, But Won't Pay For It
The Canadian federal government -- relatively hostile to harm reduction measures like safe injection sites since the Conservative Party took power in the last elections -- will not fund further research for Vancouver's InSite safe injection site, Health Ministry spokesman Eric Waddell told the Drug War Chronicle this afternoon. That was news to the site's operator, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, whose spokesperson Viviana Zonacco said she had not been informed of that aspect of the ministry's decision.
Home Town Bust
Huron, South Dakota, is nothing special. It's a town of about 12,000 people on the plains of Eastern South Dakota. The biggest employers are the meat packing houses, the railroad, and the hospital. It's nothing special, but it's my home town--as much as anyplace is. I grew up there, I have family there, I own property nearby. I don't spend a lot of time there, bu it's where I register to vote and where I register my vehicle. It's where I was sent to prison for nearly three years over a quarter-pound of marijuana. It holds a special place in my heart.
DEA Issues Policy Statements on Pain Management, Prescribing Practices
Here are the links to the two DEA policy statements. I tried pasting them into this blog, but that crashed it. Sorry about that. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-14517.pdf
Going All the Way for Legalization
Many reformers are comfortable to say that they want to end drug prohibition. Why, then, are many major players in drug policy reform eager to avoid the big L word? Apprehension about legalization may be due in large part to the absence of a vision of our world without the drug war. But leaders and grassroots advocates can no longer blame this lack of vision on a scarcity of professional research and effective pro-legalization public outreach. There are great resources available to reformers today that will enable our movement to advance legalization and finally answer the great question: âand replace drug prohibition with what?â
Crafty Smuggler for Hire
What do you do when youâve been out of the workforce for quite awhile and potential employers wonât stop asking about your massive felony convictions?Try being upfront about it.
The Afghanistan Debacle
On Saturday, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime released its estimate of the 2006 Afghan opium crop, and the numbers are astoundingly bad. According to the UNODCO, this year's crop is 60% larger than last year's and will yield an all-time record 6,100 tons of opium. Afghan opium will account for a whopping 92% of global illicit opium production.
linking in posts and comments
Friends,This note is just to provide some information on how best to do linking in your blog posts and comments here. If you put a http:// at the beginning of your URLs (or at least a www.) then our system should change them to hyperlinks automatically. For example, StoptheDrugWar.org won't be hyperlinked automatically, but http://stopthedrugwar.org will. Making the links live rather than just text should increase the benefit that posting here will have for your own efforts.
Mexican Drug Trade Violence Approaching "Record Levels"
Sunday saw another article on the worrisome level of drug trade violence plaguing Mexico. (The link is to the Arizona Daily Star -- the web page attributes to the Dallas Morning News, but I could not find it on the DMN web site -- let us know if you spot it there.) The tone was ominous: The scale of the lawlessness, its geographical reach, and the apparent inability of the government to keep it in check threaten Mexico's political stability, some analysts warn. Analyst Javier Ibarrola of the Milenio newspaper says it is worse than it has ever been: "I have never seen anything like this, ever," Ibarrola said.
What's a Guy Gotta Do to Get Some Justice Around Here?
In 2003, Harrison County (Mississippi) Sheriff George Payne got a tip from a confidential informant (that's law-speak for "snitch") that marijuana plants were being grown on land leased to the Boarhog Hunting Club. Payne led a crew of lawman onto the property and chopped them all down, even though a field test on a sample plant didn't identify it as marijuana.
Keep on Keepin' On!!
Good work everyone! Santa Monica's lowest law enforcement priority initiative is going full steam ahead! Vote YES on Measure Y! If you're in in So.Cal, hit up our website and get involved! go to: voteyesony.com!