This is my last Drug War Roundup for a little while. My commentary this week is posted here. It describes why I've been doing this and why I think this issue is so important. I'm taking a break as I know I won't have enough time to do this over the next several months. I want to thank everyone who's been reading this diary and recommending it.
For the last two weeks...
Major News
Opinions and Blogposts
Regional News - U.S. and Canada
- U.S. Government officials are trying to claim that marijuana is more dangerous than ever before. They probably hope it will distract people from the drop in the price of cocaine.
- The FDA is now going after the makers of the new energy drink called Cocaine. So is Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
- Some recent studies show the benefits of using vaporizers as a way to inhale THC without any of the harmful effects for normal smoking.
- It was revealed that three top NFL prospects in this weekend's draft admitted past marijuana use in what was supposed to be a confidential interview.
- The rate of HIV is very high among gay men who use crystal meth.
- A Washington State man won a settlement in a case where he brought charges against police officers who tampered with evidence in an attempt to convict him of drug dealing.
- The LA Times wants more support for the voter-initiated Proposition 36.
- The California Supreme Court granted review for a case where a medical marijuana patient is required to take his THC in capsule form.
- Lab tests done on Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap showed that Orange County police arrested Don Bolles of punk band The Germs for no reason at all. Pete Guither has more on this ridiculous case.
- The Orange County Register reports on the debate over issuing medical marijuana IDs in the county.
- More suburban communities around Los Angeles are discovering that homes in their neighborhoods are being used for marijuana grows.
- Ten Arizona counties are collaborating on an anti-meth ad campaign similar to the one in Montana.
- Denver police arrested 78 people at a 4/20 rally meant to honor the recently murdered medical marijuana advocate Ken Gorman.
- A bill has been introduced to the Texas legislature to ban salvia divinorum. A bill to allow needle exchanges is also moving through.
- Six men were arrested in Lubbock, TX for allegedly running a cocaine distribution ring.
- Dallas school officials say that they have a big problem with a heroin and cold medicine mixture called "cheese." Since 2005, 17 Dallas County teenagers have died from overdoses.
- Editorials in St. Joseph, MO debate the pro and con of marijuana decriminalization.
- An Iowa man is still trying to keep his church alive, one which has used marijuana as part of its rituals.
- A medical marijuana bill passed out of Senate committee in Minnesota.
- A Presbyterian pastor in Rockford, IL supports the state's efforts to enact a medical marijuana law. Among clergy, he is not alone. The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board agrees with their view.
- A new law in Peoria Heights, IL gives law enforcement the leeway to just write citations for marijuana possession.
- Loretta Nall had the charges against her from a 2002 raid on her home dismissed on 4/20. Phillip Smith has more. Loretta also reminds people what not to do whenever you see a narcotics checkpoint sign on the highway.
- A 7-year-old in Tampa found $9,000 worth of crack in his jacket pocket. I challenged anyone to explain how that could ever happen without prohibition.
- Three people died in the Florida Keys after a plane crashed into the wire tether for a blimp used to monitor drug flights.
- Federal officials say that Miami International Airport has been a major drug distribution hub since 2002.
- The father of the family that was executed along the Florida Turnpike was allegedly part of a large cocaine-distribution ring.
- South Carolina is seeing more of its drugs coming from Mexico rather than the Caribbean.
- The Maryland legislature passed a sentencing reform bill.
- The Police Chief in Jersey City, NJ is pushing back against the plan of a city councilman to seize the cars of johns and drug buyers.
- The New York state Assembly passed more reforms to the Rockefeller Drug Laws.
- A researcher from Oregon spoke to a crowd in Rockland County, NY about her theory that drug addiction in the black community is due to post-slavery trauma.
- Ulster County (NY) officials conducted a drug raid across the street from where local legislators were holding an awards ceremony.
- Trey Anastasio from Phish pled guilty to felony drug charges, but will avoid jail.
- Stamford, CT officials are worried that two recent overdose deaths are from tainted heroin.
- Former Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee spoke to Students for Sensible Drug Policy in Providence about the need to rethink the drug war.
- A Vermont store-owner is challenging the attempts to get him to stop selling salvia divinorum.
- The Canadian government is significantly marking up the cost of the medical marijuana it grows in northern Manitoba.
- Senator and former Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell reiterated his support for legalizing marijuana.
- A judge in the Yukon Territories threw out a bunch of evidence in a case against some indoor marijuana growers. Tanya Derbowka has more.
- Senator Ted Stevens is asking for more resources to be spent combatting meth use in Alaska.
Regional News - International
Fun Stuff and Pop Culture