Medical Marijuana: New Jersey Senate to Vote on Bill Monday
Is New Jersey poised to become the next medical marijuana state? The state Senate will vote on it on Monday.
News Brief
Federal Budget: Economic Stimulus Bill Stimulates Drug War, Too
The economic stimulus bill will be stimulating the drug war, too. There's more than $3 billion in there for law enforcement, and much of that is destined for enforcing drug prohibition.
ONDCP: Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske Named New Drug Czar
The drug reform community was hoping for a public health person -- not a cop or soldier -- to be named as drug czar. A cop is what we got, but a cop from a liberal town. Will an (arguably) progressive police chief as drug czar be as good?
Medical Marijuana: Minnesota Bill Passes Senate Committee
Medical marijuana is moving again in Minnesota. A bill this week passed a Senate committee, despite crazed testimony from LaRouchites and Christian conservatives.
Europe: Dutch Banks Must Deal With Cannabis Cafes, Minister Says
Dutch banks have been snubbing coffee house accounts, closing existing ones and refusing to open new ones. Now, the Dutch government says the coffee houses are legal businesses and the banks must deal with them.
Pain Management: FDA to Tighten Regulation of Extended-Release and Patch Opioid Meds
The FDA is moving to tighten prescribing rules for extended-release and patch opioid pain medications. That means it could be harder for patients to obtain drugs like OxyContin and Duragesic, but it's not a done deal yet.
Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
There may be something rotten in the dope squad in Philly, something definitely was rotten in Beantown, and yes, another jail guard goes down.
Europe: British Drug Advisory Panel Recommends Downgrading Ecstasy, Government Says No
Once again, the British government has ignored the recommendations of its own advisory committee to down-schedule a drug. Last year, it was marijuana. This time, it's Ecstasy. And it looks like next time, the same thing will happen with LSD. It's making some wonder whether the government wants evidence-based drug policies or not.
Europe: Danish Heroin Maintenance Program to Commence Next Month
Denmark is about to become the latest European country to cut to the chase and embrace heroin maintenance for particularly recalcitrant smack users.
Incarceration: Federal Judges Order California to Free Tens of Thousands of Prisoners
California has been addicted to mass incarceration for the past quarter-century. Now, it looks like some federal judges are going to make the state go cold turkey. Tens of thousands of prisoners could be set free because California can't or won't pay to treat them as the Constitution requires.