The IRS's use of an obscure provision to deny standard exemptions to medical marijuana dispensaries is causing pain to patients and providiers, and inspiring some creative thinking among law professors. 4 comments
ON THE SPEAKEASY BLOG
Rep. Steve Cohen Grills Eric Holder on Marijuana Prohibition (VIDEO)
In a hearing devoted primarily to the IRS and Associated Press records controversies, one member of Congress pointed to the banning of things people think should be legal as another threat to freedom. 1 comment
No Thank You
The guy who fired bullets at the White House two years ago was angry about marijuana prohibition, prosecutors claim. 6 comments
Congressman Predicts Current Congress Will Legalize Hemp
A senior Democratic congressman has predicted that the current congress will legalize hemp growing. 3 comments Illinois House of Representatives Passes Medical Marijuana Bill
Will Sen. Durbin press federal medical marijuana legislation if his home state approves medical marijuana? 1 comment Sens. Leahy and Paul Introduce Bill to Undo Mandatory Minimum Sentencing
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have introduced S. 619, the bipartisan "Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013," allowing judges to set aside mandatory minimum sentences when they feel appropriate. 6 comments NYPD Marijuana Arrests Scandal Blows Up Again
NYPD spent a million hours on marijuana possession arrests over the past decade, a new report finds. 3 comments Kleiman Addresses His Prop 19 Editorial
Prof. Kleiman has responded to concerns raised over his remarks during the Prop 19 campaign in California, predicting that Prop 19 would cause prices to plummet and that the feds would have had to intervene in ways going beyond how they've dealt with the medical marijuana trade. 5 comments 
Is the International Narcotics Control Board Ignoring Human Rights?
The International Narcotics Control Board stands alone among UN agencies -- even other drug agencies -- in its apparent unconcern with human rights. But the disjuncture may soon become harder to ignore, thanks to a pair of recent reports. 8 comments Drug War Symposium, Cardozo Law, NYC 3/13
I am presenting at a symposium sponsored by the Cardozo Public Law, Policy and Ethics Journal, " 2 comments
More Overreaching Arguments Against Marijuana Legalization by DEA Chiefs and the UN
The International Narcotics Control Board, a UN agency, and eight former DEA administrators came out swinging this week against marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington. Their positions may be legal overreaches. 5 comments HCLU Interview with Former EU Drugs Commissioner Carel Edwards
Former EU Drugs Commissioner Carel Edwards discusses EU efforts to shift drug policy away from the prohibitionist status quo and toward human rights and public health. 2 comments 
HuffPost Live on Mexican Drug War and Security, 11:30am EST TODAY
StoptheDrugWar.org executive director David Borden is participating on a HuffPost Live panel starting at 11:30am EST this morning: Is Mexico's Security Policy Failing? 11 comments
Harborside and the Feds' Failed Medical Marijuana Communications
Harborside is in the news again today. 6 comments The Next Seven States to Legalize Marijuana?
Rolling Stone's Tim Dickinson continues his coverage of marijuana legalization with a not unjustifiably optimistic article, "The Next Seven States to Legalize Pot." 13 comments Legalization and the UN Drug Treaties -- A Minor Obstacle at Worst
I have criticized the ease with which some media outlets and even some reformers have accepted the 14 comments Senate Judiciary Committee to Take Up Legalization Next Year
Huge news this morning from Senate Judiciary Committee chair Pat Leahy (D-VT). 14 comments 
Prohibitionists are Overstating Feds vs. State Marijuana Legalization Case to Media
A mostly great piece in Rolling Stone this weekend, "Obama's Pot Problem," missed the mark on the federal preemption question -- can the feds shut down Washington and Colorado's legalized regulation systems? 10 comments What Happens Next?
We noted this morning that marijuana is now legal in Washington State. But what happens next? 9 comments Prohibition Repealed 80 Years Ago Today -- and Again One Day from Now
A big anniversary today, and a big day tomorrow. 5 comments Protecting Your Rights in a College Dorm
Over at Flex Your Rights, we've been getting a lot of questions lately about how to protect your rights when you're living in a college dorm. I put together this video response that I hope everyone will find helpful (I think a lot of the tips... 4 comments Marijuana Legalization Victories Are Already Ripping the Drug War Apart
Of all the fascinating reactions I've seen to Colorado and Washington's successful marijuana legalization initiatives, this is by far the most extraordinary. 36 comments Will CO and WA Campuses Change Their Marijuana Policies?
A USA Today article predicts colleges in Colorado and Washington won't be changing their marijuana policies soon. That may be true, but it only goes so far. 3 comments 
Another Reason for Mexico to End Its Drug War
Along with catalyzing devastating violence that has claimed 60,000 lives thus far, there's another good reason for Mexico to end its ill-fated drug war -- they are massively abusing the human rights of large numbers of their citizens. 6 comments Feds Unsure What to Do About State Legalization
A Washington Post story by Sari Horwitz reports that federal officials don't know what they are going to do about marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington. 13 comments Colorado Dems to Seek Federal Exemption from Marijuana Prohibition
All three Democratic members of Colorado's Congressional delegation are planning legislation for next year that would exempt states enacting legalization systems for marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, the Colorado Independent has reported. 7 comments Read all Speakeasy Posts
FROM THE CHRONICLE
Federal Appeals Court Panel Extends Crack Sentencing Retroactivity
A panel of the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati has held that the Fair Sentencing Act's reduction in sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine offenses should be extended to all federal crack prisoners, regardless of when their offense took place. 0 comments OAS Releases Historic Report on Drug Policy Alternatives [FEATURE]
The Organization of American States has issued a historic report on drug policy that includes discussion of possible legalization and regulation regimes. It will be the basis for ministerial-level discussions in the region, and could pave the way for discussions at the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs. 1 comment Illinois Legislature Passes Medical Marijuana Bill
Medical marijuana has passed the Illinois legislature. Will the governor sign the bill into law? Stay tuned. 2 comments CA Police Chase of Pot Car Ends in Fatal Crash
A high-speed police chase on I-80 in California's Sierra Nevada mountains Monday left one man dead and the highway strewn with containers and jars of marijuana. 1 comment DC Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Likely Coming
The Washington, DC, city council could take up a decriminalization bill this summer. If the council doesn't act, reformers are considering an initiative, maybe even a legalization initiative. 1 comment Donations Needed This Month for Drug War Chronicle
StoptheDrugWar.org needs your support to continue our work during the most important time in drug reform we've ever seen. We have gifts to send you too, with donations of $15 or more. 0 comments StoptheDrugWar.org Internships: Legislative, Writing/Research, Web, IT, Admin/Finance, Communications
Interns are making an important difference fighting the good fight with us at StoptheDrugWar.org. 0 comments The IRS War on Medical Marijuana Providers [FEATURE]
The IRS's use of an obscure provision to deny standard exemptions to medical marijuana dispensaries is causing pain to patients and providiers, and inspiring some creative thinking among law professors. 4 comments Harm Reduction Makes Strides in North Carolina [FEATURE]
After several years of laying the groundwork, North Carolina harm reductionists have successfully shepherded one bill through the legislature already this year. Another one sailed through the House this week. 1 comment Medical Marijuana Update
The feds stay on the attack in California, and fallout from last week's state Supreme Court decision allowing local dispensary bans mounts. There's news from other states as well. 2 comments This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
If it weren't for crooked cops in the Land of Lincoln, this space would be blank this week. Instead, we have an Illinois corrupt cops twofer. 0 comments NYC Marijuana Arrests Declining, But Still Sky High
New York City arrested around 50,000 people for small-time marijuana possession a couple of years ago. This year, the number looks to be around 30,000, thanks to changes in policy and heightened public scrutiny. 0 comments East Bay Cops Shoot, Kill Fleeing Drug Suspect
There has been a questionable drug war killing in California's East Bay. An unarmed drug suspect was shot and killed as he fled police, who claimed they feared for their safety. 1 comment VT Marijuana Decriminalization Heads to Governor
Vermont is about to become the 17th state to either decriminalize or legalize marijuana. 2 comments China, Southeast Asia Vow More Better Drug War
China and Southeast Asian nations have renewed their vows in the fight against illegal drug use and the drug trade. The UNODC officiated. 5 comments Republic of Georgia Could Legalize Marijuana
Legal cannabis in the Caucausus? It could happen if some politicians in Georgia have their way. 1 comment Colorado Legislature Passes Sentencing Reform
Colorado has taken another step down the path of drug sentencing reform with the passage of Senate Bill 250. The governor is expected to sign it into law. 0 comments Donations Needed This Month for Drug War Chronicle
StoptheDrugWar.org needs your support to continue our work during the most important time in drug reform we've ever seen. We have gifts to send you too, with donations of $15 or more. 2 comments StoptheDrugWar.org Internships: Legislative, Writing/Research, Web, IT, Admin/Finance, Communications
Interns are making an important difference fighting the good fight with us at StoptheDrugWar.org. 0 comments Colorado Marijuana Commerce Bills Approved
It went down to the wire, but on the last day of the session, the Colorado legislature passed bills to regulate the state's looming legal marijuana market. 8 comments Medical Marijuana Update
Marijuana rescheduling is headed for the US Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court upheld local dispensary bans, the feds strike again in Berkeley and Washington state, and there is action in state legislatures, too. 1 comment This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
Something is still rotten along Utah's Wasatch Front, a DC cop gets popped for money-laundering, a Detroit-area cop pleads to running protection for traffickers, and a South Texas cop heads for prison for shipping guns to Mexico. 0 comments Congress Forms "Over-Criminalization" Task Force
Remember when we used to say "You don't have to make a federal case out of it?" Well, we did. Now, we have more than 4,500 federal criminal laws, and some members of Congress are ready to do something about it. 6 comments Louisiana Man Swallows Drugs, Dies During Search
A drug search turned fatal for a Louisiana man last Thursday night, with police saying he died after swallowing crack cocaine. He's number 11 for the year. 0 comments California Supreme Court Rules Localities Can Ban Medical Marijuana Dispensaries [FEATURE]
The California Supreme Court has ruled that cities and counties can indeed ban medical marijuana dispensaries. That means your access to medical marijuana depends on where you live in the state. A fix could be coming from the legislature, but it's not here yet. 5 comments Idaho Seizes Medical Marijuana Activists' Kids [FEATURE]
Three Idaho medical marijuana activists are now caught up in a child endangerment battle after authorities seized their kids when a schoolmate got sick from what is alleged to have been marijuana that allegedly came from one of their homes. 10 comments New Hampshire Marijuana Decrim Bill Defeated in Senate
The next state to decriminalize marijuana won't be New Hampshire, at least not this year. 5 comments California Senate Passes Drug Defelonization Bill
A bill that would give California prosecutors the option of charging hard drug possession as a misdemeanor instead of a felony has passed the state Senate and now heads to the Assembly. 3 comments Colorado Harm Reduction Bills Pass
Separate overdose prevention and syringe exchange bills were approved by the Colorado legislature this week. They now go to the governor's desk. 2 comments StoptheDrugWar.org Internships: Legislative, Writing/Research, Web, IT, Admin/Finance, Communications
Interns are making an important difference fighting the good fight with us at StoptheDrugWar.org. 0 comments 
