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Chronicle

The USS Gravely is headed for Venezuelan waters as part of Trump's war on cartels. (defense.gov)

US Sends Warships to Venezuelan Waters in Cartel Fight, U Michigan Bans Entheofest, More... (8/22/25)

Oklahoma police chiefs unsurprisingly oppose a marijuana legalization initiative, a drone attack on a helicopter kills eight Colombian anti-drug police, and more.

Chronicle

Trump's mass deportation push is sweeping up pot smokers and other minor offenders. (dhs.gov)

ICE Deporting People for Pot, KY Bans "Designer Xanax," More... (8/20/25)

The Supreme Court has granted a group of marijuana companies an extension in their bid to be heard by the high court, Trump's "worst of the worst" immigrants apparently include marijuana users, and more.

Chronicle

Phil receiving the Brecher Award for Journalism, 2013 International Drug Policy Reform conference

Drug War Chronicle Restart Update

Thank you to those who generously donated last week to help us continue restarting the Drug War Chronicle newsletter. We still need help, and so are reaching out again.

Chronicle

NYC Mayor Adams talks tough on drugs and homelessness in a desperate bid for electoral relevance. (nyc.gov)

TX GOP Hemp THC Fight Continues, AK Natural Psychedelic Init Approved for Signature-Gathering, More... (8/18/25)

New York Mayor Eric Adams wants to forcibly remove drug users from city streets, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujuan Grisham declares a drugs and crime emergency in Rio Arriba County, and more.

Chronicle

Rep. Greb Steube (R-FL) has again filed a bill to reschedule marijuana legislatively. (congress.gov)

Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Bill Filed, FL Bans Kratom Concentrate 7-OH, More... (8/15/25)

A new study blames COVID and fentanyl -- not drug decriminalization -- for Oregon overdoses and crime increases, and more.

Chronicle

The US Supreme Court. Will it take us the issue of marijuana and gun bans? (Creative Commons)

Trump DOJ Asks Supreme Court to Uphold Weed Gun Ban, Court Rules for UT Psilocybin Church, More... (8/13/25)

Mexico City allows public pot-smoking sites, and now it's relocating some of them; the North Carolina Supreme Court ponders marijuana odor and probable cause for searches, and more.

Chronicle

President Trump threatens to sic the US military on drug cartels. (Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons)

Trump Directs Military to Go After Cartels, Massachusetts Init Would End Legal Pot Sales, More... (8/11/25)

Mexico's president says no US troops will operate in her country, Trump considers marijuana rescheduling after $1 million-a-plate fundraiser with pot investors, more.

Chronicle

This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

A Massaachusetts sheriff is arrested for extorting a legal marijuana business, a pair of Customs and Border Patrol agents cop to letting dope through their port of entry lanes, and more.

Chronicle

Phil Smith reporting live from Afghanistan, 2005

Phil reporting live from Afghanistan, 2005

Restarting Drug War Chronicle (Phil is Back!)

The Chronicle was on a bit of a hiatus for much of this year, but is now restarting. To continue, though, we need your help.

Chronicle

A medical marijuana dispensary. Coming soon to the Bluegrass State. (Sandra Yruel/DPA)

Trump Takes Aim at Harm Reduction, KY First MedMJ Dispensary Approved, More... (8/8/25)

Delaware saw nearly a million dollars worth of cannabis sales on the first weekend of adult-use sales, Slovenian lawmakers push for legal marijuana, and more.

Chronicle

Another marijuana legalization bill gets filed in Austin. (Creative Commons)

DE Legal Weed Sales Begin, OK MJ Init Signature Campaign Commences, More... (8/6/25)

Germany's legal marijuana-growing collectives are taking off, a legalization bill gets filed in Texas, and more.

Chronicle

Richard Lee during the 2010 Prop 19 campaign. (Oaksterdam University)

Regressive Fentanyl Bill Becomes Law, Oaksterdam's Richard Lee Dies, More... (8/4/24)

The Drug War Chronicle is back! So let's start catching up.

Chronicle

Chronicle Book Review: The Devil's Drug: The Global Emergence of Crystal Meth

Despite the sensationalist title, and the author coming across as a bit of a grumpy old man, this is an important and fascinating book about today's methamphetamine scene.

Chronicle

The Corrupt Cops Stories Are Back

We may have gone on hiatus, but police drug war corruption didn't. Here's a full month's worth to get you restarted.

Chronicle

ALERT: Save Congressional Medical Marijuana Protections!

Dear reformer: Since 2014, Congress each year has included language in the annual CJS (Commerce-Justice-Science) appropriations prohibiting the government from using any of the funds to prevent states from

Chronicle

Virtual Registration for #HR25Bogotá Is Open

Can’t attend the Harm Reduction International Conference 2025 in Bogotá? HR25 Virtual brings the full experience to you -- wherever you are!

Blog

The International Harm Reduction Conference Program Is Out!

The program for the Harm Reduction International Conference 2025 (HR25) is out!

Chronicle

Statement on Arrest of Rodrigo Duterte for Extrajudicial Drug War Killings

StoptheDrugWar.org commends the arrest by Philippine authorities this morning of former President Rodrigo Duterte, under an International Criminal Court warrant served by Interpol. But there is more urgent work to be done.

Blog

EVENT: Shared Mistakes: Societies Address Mass Incarceration, the Death Penalty and Extrajudicial Killings

Across the world, many countries have imposed draconian legal sanctions, and sometimes illegal sanctions, in response to real or alleged drug law violations. "Shared Mistakes" will focus on the issues of mass incarceration, the death penalty, and extrajudicial killings, with speakers from Malaysia, the Philippines and United States discussing the policies and achieved or hoped-for reforms.

Blog

The CIA is already operating Reaper drones like this one over Mexico. (Air Force)

Report: Trump Admin Actually Considering Mexico Attack

Dear friends,

Last month Phil wrote about the administration designating Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups, and the possibility that could be a prelude to staging military attacks inside Mexico. Last week, the New York Times reported they are actually considering it.