Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
It's jail guards gone wild this week, plus a very sleazy Texas sheriff, some entrepreneurial Fresno narcs, and the latest problems with the evidence room in Galveston.
Canada: BC Judge Rules Medical Marijuana Restrictions Unconstitutional
Canada's medical marijuana laws have been declared unconstitutional in part, and now Health Canada has one year to get it right, a British Columbia judge has ruled.
Marijuana: Vermont Legislators Introduce Decriminalization Bill
Marijuana decriminalization will be on the Vermont legislature's agenda this session. A bill was filed Tuesday.
Marijuana: New Hampshire Legislator Introduces Decriminalization Bill
The New Hampshire legislature will once again decide on marijuana decriminalization. Last year, it passed in the House, but died in the Senate.
Pain Relief: FDA Panel Urges Ban on Darvon, Related Drugs
An FDA panel has advised removing Darvon and its generic relatives from the market, citing safety and effectiveness issues. But banning the widely used opioid pain reliever could cause more problems than it solves.
Weekly: This Week in History
Events and quotes of note from this week's drug policy events of years past.
Cut the crap and the bill will pass
I don't mean to bring the whole political gambit to this site..... but . I just saw the news tonight and part of this incentive bill is 400 mill to the prevention of STD's... 400 mill...
The Drug Czarâs Blog Should be Used for Good Instead of Evil
I noted last week that the drug czarâs blog deleted all of its old posts, essentially destroying the single best record of former drug czar John Waltersâs "achievements" during the Bush Administration. Only three items have been posted since, none of which are particularly noteworthy.
Meanwhile, the Obama Administration is pushing a handful of notable criminal justice and drug policy reforms, including racial profiling legislation, sentencing reform, needle exchange and an end to medical marijuana raids. We donât know yet who Obama will select to fill John Waltersâs stinky boots, but wouldnât it be nice if that person used the blog to keep us updated on efforts we can actually support? Iâd cherish any opportunity to link approvingly to that site.
Having already been bombarded by drug policy reformâs vast web-based army, itâs only logical for the new administration to now reach out to us through a familiar medium and spark positive discussion of the changes we all agree are needed.
Meanwhile, the Obama Administration is pushing a handful of notable criminal justice and drug policy reforms, including racial profiling legislation, sentencing reform, needle exchange and an end to medical marijuana raids. We donât know yet who Obama will select to fill John Waltersâs stinky boots, but wouldnât it be nice if that person used the blog to keep us updated on efforts we can actually support? Iâd cherish any opportunity to link approvingly to that site.
Having already been bombarded by drug policy reformâs vast web-based army, itâs only logical for the new administration to now reach out to us through a familiar medium and spark positive discussion of the changes we all agree are needed.
White House Says Medical Marijuana Raids Will End
Friends, this is a moment weâve been anticipating for a long time:
It looks like weâre on the verge of a major victory for state medical marijuana laws. For over a decade, this battle has raged from the hills of California to the Nationâs Capital. It has been a defining cause, not only for the medical marijuana community, but for drug policy reform as a whole.
There is no question that a great many challenges remain in our path, but letâs all take a moment to reflect on the fact that our president is poised to order the DEA to stand down. That is not something that happens easily or often. Todayâs news suggests the pending culmination of a substantial effort by a broad coalition that is frequently perceived to lack meaningful political leverage. The political landscape is changing before our eyes and I believe we have much to look forward to.
(Please participate in our online action alert and our Facebook petition on this issue.)
The White House said it expects those kinds of raids to end once Mr. Obama nominates someone to take charge of DEA, which is still run by Bush administration holdovers.
"The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws, and as he continues to appoint senior leadership to fill out the ranks of the federal government, he expects them to review their policies with that in mind," White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said. [Washington Times]
It looks like weâre on the verge of a major victory for state medical marijuana laws. For over a decade, this battle has raged from the hills of California to the Nationâs Capital. It has been a defining cause, not only for the medical marijuana community, but for drug policy reform as a whole.
There is no question that a great many challenges remain in our path, but letâs all take a moment to reflect on the fact that our president is poised to order the DEA to stand down. That is not something that happens easily or often. Todayâs news suggests the pending culmination of a substantial effort by a broad coalition that is frequently perceived to lack meaningful political leverage. The political landscape is changing before our eyes and I believe we have much to look forward to.
(Please participate in our online action alert and our Facebook petition on this issue.)
Protest Rally Against DEA Raids
While the DEA continues to stage medical marijuana raids in California, nearly three-quarters (72%) of voters think President Obama should honor his campaign pledge to end the raids, according to a po