Lowest Priority Policies
Heroin Lifers, DEA Pain Guidance, California Lowest Priority Initiatives
Those are the feature stories I think I will be doing this week. It doesn't always happen that way, though. Some readers may recall that I was going to do the Louisiana heroin lifer story last week, but I didn't manage to get ahold of any of the people critical to the story. I'm back on it again this week. Similarly, something may break during the week. This typically happens on Thursday, the day we're supposed to be wrapping up the Chronicle.
Marijuana: Denver to Move to $1 Fine for Pot Possession?
Who has the lowest marijuana possession fine in the nation? Denver is poised to take that honor.
Feature: Seattle Hempfest Bigger Than Ever in 2009, But Gaining Critics
Last weekend's Seattle Hempfest is likely to have been the biggest one yet, as multitudes swarmed the waterfront for the two-day bash. But there are critics aiming at it, including a leading drug reformer and a former Hempfest organizer.
Marijuana: Pot Prohibition Causes Harm While Not Achieving Goals, Report Finds
Marijuana prohibition doesn't achieve its stated goals, it costs a lot of money, and use levels would be similar under a relaxed regime, a pair of University of Washington researchers report.
Marijuana: Kalamazoo Next for a Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Initiative
Activists in Kalamazoo, Michigan, are laying the groundwork for making it the next town or city to pass an ordinance making adult marijuana possession offenses the lowest law enforcement priority.
Feature: Big Day for Pot -- Decriminalization Wins in Massachusetts, Medical Marijuana in Michigan, All Local Initiatives Win, Too!
Marijuana won big in Tuesday's election. Every state and local initiative on the ballot won, and by impressive margins, despite the best efforts of cops, prosecutors, and the drug czar.
Feature: Drug Policy Reform and Sentencing Initiatives on the November Ballot
With the elections a few days from now, we reprint our review from four weeks ago of drug policy and sentencing reform initiatives going to the ballot in several different states.
Feature: Drug Policy Reform and Sentencing Initiatives on the November Ballot
Election day is just over a month away. Here's a breakdown of drug policy reform and sentencing initiatives (not all of them good) on various state and local ballots November 4.
Marijuana: It's Official -- Fayetteville Lowest Law Enforcement Priority Initiative Makes November Ballot
It's official -- An initiative making adult marijuana possession offenses the lowest law enforcement priority in Fayetteville, Arkansas, will be on the November 4 ballot. But local prosecutors and law enforcement officials say it doesn't matter.