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Iran Executed Nearly 500 Drug Offenders Last Year
Iran executed nearly 500 people for drug crimes last year, according to a new report from Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO.
Pat Robertson Demands Marijuana Reform and Blames the Drug War on Liberals
Update: Robertson has now made it official -- he's for legalization of marijuana, and supports the Colorado and Washington initiatives: NYTFor the second time now, televangelist Pat Robertson has gone off on our drug laws in a big way. This time he has an entire segment on his Christian Broadcasting Network program attacking over-incarceration and generally saying cool stuff that you never thought you'd hear on a hardcore Christian cable channel (except the liberal-bashing, of course).
The Drug War Is Bad For Business
[inline:cashmoney.jpg align=right]Eric Sterling has an interesting piece at Forbes looking at the big picture economic impact of the War on Drugs.
In Mexico, Biden Rejects Drug Legalization Talk
US Vice President Joe Biden was quick to fight back against the rising clamor for a debate on drug legalization as he landed in Mexico City Monday on a two-day trip to meet with Mexican and Central
Florida House Passes State Worker Drug Test Bill
The Florida legislature is one vote away from approving the mandatory, suspicionless drug testing of state employees.
Judge Challenges Nevada Medical Marijuana Restrictions
In a ruling Friday, a Nevada district court judge ruled that the state's laws for the distribution of medical marijuana were unconstitutional because they seemed designed to thwart their ostens
Costa Rica Joins Call for Drug Legalization Debate
Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla has added her voice to the rising clamor for discussions on drug legalization as an alternative to the current state of affairs, in which Central American nat
Canadian Senate Passes Harsh Crime Bill
Canada appears set to march boldly backward as the Senate has passed a Conservative crime bill that includes mandatory minimums for growing as few as six marijuana plants.
DEA Extends Ban on Fake Marijuana Chemicals
The DEA has extended for another six months its emergency ban on five synthetic cannabinoids used to manufacture "fake weed" p
South Carolina Man Killed in Drug Traffic Stop
A South Carolina man was shot dead and a Kershaw County sheriff's deputy injured during a narcotics investigation traffic stop that turned violent Tuesday night.
Another Dumb Drug War Idea: Banning Hidden Compartments in Cars
[inline:carsearch.jpg align=right]Frequent visitors to this site should know by now that there is no idea so absurd, no strategy so stupid, as to be rendered ineligible for introduction into the War on Drugs. There is nothing these people won't try, and by nothing I mean that literally, as in every bad idea that the human mind can possibly produce will eventually be attempted by amped-up narc-mongering nutjobs hellbent on bending our legal system to hell.
Video: 5 Reasons You Should Never Agree to a Police Search
Steve Silverman and I recently started a new YouTube show called How to Deal with Cops. This is my first episode, which goes over the major points from my Huffington Post piece last week.
U.S. Tells South America to Shut Up About Legalizing Drugs
[inline:legalizedrugs.jpg align=right]Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has a message for everyone who thinks the drug war is bad: you're wrong, it's awesome.
Opponents of Marijuana Legalization Finally Noticed They're Losing the Debate
[inline:marijuanaforsale.jpg align=right]I pointed out recently how silly it is for anyone to continue aggressively fighting back against marijuana legalization, given that the polls show public support increasing significantly every year. I've argued a few times now that our opponents' time would be better spent accepting that our laws have to change and joining the discussion of what legalization should look like.
Anti-Meth Prescription Pseudoephedrine Bills Defeated
Lawmakers trying to stop meth labs by forcing people get to a prescription for popular pseudoephedrine-based cold medications l
LEAP Urges Canada to Reject Harsh Crime Bill
LEAP has intervened in the Canadian debate over the Tories' harsh crime bill. So far at least they're not listening, to LEAP or others, but the pressure mounts.
Seattle Mayor Says It's Time to Legalize Marijuana
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn (D) used his state of the city address Tuesday night to make a heartfelt plea for marijuana legalization.
Drug Cops Hatch Foolproof Plan to Arrest Every Teenager in America
[inline:marijuanaheart.jpg align=right]In case you haven't heard the news yet, it looks like police are going to win the drug war after all. Violence and corruption are bad enough, but if they're capable of something as sickeningly devious as this, I'm not sure I see the point in dragging things out any further.
Medical Marijuana Update
From Alabama to Washington, medical marijuana continues to be a burning issue. Chronicle story here.
This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past, in this week's Drug War Chronicle.