Drug War Chronicle #747 - August 23, 2012

Hoping to put a human face on the drug war's toll, a cross-border Caravan for Peace has begun its weeks-long, 27-city journey across the US.

Illinois police now have the right to wiretap or record "drug suspects" without a warrant under a new state law. At the same time, they want to arrest you if you do that to them. Some folks are more equal than others.

If you're interested in Colombia, coca and cocaine, and leftist guerrilla armies, we have a book for you.

The feds strike again in California, this time in Orange County, and meanwhile, the battle over the LA dispensary ban heats up. There's plenty more news, too.

The Arkansas Medical Marijuana Act looks set to qualify for the ballot after proponents handed in three times as many signatures as they need to make it for the November election.

New Jersey will become the ninth state to enact a Good Samaritan drug overdose prevention law -- if Gov. Christie signs it into law.

An Iowa City man was shot and killed by undercover members of a drug task force last Thursday after "an altercation ensued and shots were fired."

In a rare event, a police officer has actually been indicted for killing someone during a drug raid. What would be even more rare would be for him to actually be convicted.

Three more people have died in drug war-related incidents in recent days, including a police officer.

Drug prohibition-related police corruption never stops, and there are so many varieties of law enforcement misdoing...