Drugs & Prohibition

Pot smoking to be reduced to ticketing offence in Switzerland

"A revision of the country’s drug laws, set to take effect on October 1st, will allow police officers to issue 100-franc ($105) tickets for people caught smoking a joint. On-the-spot fines will replace a court appearance in cases of cannabis possession involving amounts of 10 grams or less. The federal government issued a reminder of the planned change on Friday. It follows amendments to drug laws adopted by the senate and the house of representatives (national council) on September 28th 2012. If the person ticketed agrees to pay the fine, he or she can avoid appearing in court." Continue reading →

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‘Synthetic pot’ cases hard to prosecute, but family businesses lose everything anyway

"In March, police raided Dennis and Christie England's shop on the fringes of historic downtown Norman and effectively shut the business down, accusing the pair of selling dangerous synthetic marijuana to the public. Police seemed confident even though XLR-11 — the chemical compound present in the hundreds of grams of synthetic marijuana seized at the Englands' shop in March — wasn't even on Oklahoma's ban substance list. Yet after a June 24 preliminary hearing before a judge in Cleveland County District Court, the case against the couple — who has since lost everything — was dismissed." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Synthetic pot’ cases hard to prosecute, but family businesses lose everything anyway

Oregon Prosecutors Still Wasting Resources on Medical Cannabis

"There has been hope throughout the Oregon cannabis community that the passage of House Bill 3460 would end the wasteful and harmful prosecutions of medical cannabis providers that have plagued certain parts of Oregon. Unfortunately, according to The Oregonian, two prosecutors have already stated that they will continue to move forward with these costly and harmful prosecutions. If these cases go to trial, hopefully jury members will know that House Bill 3460 passed, providing the rules and regulations necessary for medical cannabis dispensaries to clearly operate within the law. These cases scream for 'jury nullification' to me." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOregon Prosecutors Still Wasting Resources on Medical Cannabis

Indiana Supreme Court Upholds Drug Stop For Legally Tinted Windows

"Photographs of of the vehicle taken by police show the car's steering wheel and windshield wiper could be seen through the rear window. Officer Minch confirmed at trial that this matched what he saw but that it was 'kind of gloomy' that day and he was unable to verify Sanders' age, sex and ethnicity through the back window. Sanders is black. Officer Minch did not try to identify the driver through the front or driver's and passenger side windows, which were untinted. An expert's measurement determined the tint was well within the standard, allowing 38 percent of light to pass through. That was not enough to allow Sanders to walk." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIndiana Supreme Court Upholds Drug Stop For Legally Tinted Windows

College Girls, Bottled Water and the Emerging American Police State

"Public outcry has gone viral over an incident in which a college student was targeted and terrorized by Alcohol Beverage Control agents (ABC) after she purchased sparkling water at a grocery store. The girl and her friends were eventually jailed for daring to evade their accosters, who failed to identify themselves or approach the young women in a non-threatening manner. What makes this particular incident significant is the degree to which it embodies all that is wrong with law enforcement today, both as it relates to the citizenry and the ongoing undermining of our rule of law." Continue reading →

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Radley Balko: “Once a town gets a SWAT team you want to use it”

"For decades, the war on drugs has empowered police to act aggressively. More recently, 9/11 and school shootings enforced the notion that there’s no such thing as too much security. Since 9/11, Homeland Security has distributed billions in grants, enabling even some small town police departments to buy armored personnel carriers and field their own SWAT teams. Once you have a SWAT team the only thing to do is kick some ass. There are more than 100 SWAT team raids every day in this country. They’re not chasing murderers or terrorists. For the most part they go after nonviolent offenders like drug dealers and even small time gamblers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRadley Balko: “Once a town gets a SWAT team you want to use it”

U.S. eyes high-tech security boost at Canadian border

"A U.S. senator said a low-cost, high-tech sensor system could be installed along the U.S.-Canada border to increase security without harming business. Blue Rose, based on fiber-optic technology, is an in-ground perimeter defense and security system developed by the Naval Undersea Warfare, CBC News said. The system detects sound and vibration of intruders moving near the sensor. Surveillance technology could monitor who's approaching the border, helping to prevent drug smuggling and terrorism, Tester said, and could be particularly effective in areas such as Montana." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. eyes high-tech security boost at Canadian border

Oregon: Jesus Malverde Medallion Did Not Justify Traffic Stop

"The Oregon Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected the argument that an image of Jesus Malverde in an automobile is suspicious enough to warrant a search for drugs. When Trooper Wells came to the window to ask Manuel Meza-Garcia for his license and registration, the trooper's suspicion was heightened after he noticed something near the windshield. The appellate judges refused to consider the medallion as evidence and instead rejected the other assertions police used to search Meza-Garcia. The trooper insisted it was inherently suspicious to have two people driving with two cell phones north on I-5 without visible luggage." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOregon: Jesus Malverde Medallion Did Not Justify Traffic Stop

Oregon: Jesus Malverde Medallion Did Not Justify Traffic Stop

"The Oregon Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected the argument that an image of Jesus Malverde in an automobile is suspicious enough to warrant a search for drugs. When Trooper Wells came to the window to ask Manuel Meza-Garcia for his license and registration, the trooper's suspicion was heightened after he noticed something near the windshield. The appellate judges refused to consider the medallion as evidence and instead rejected the other assertions police used to search Meza-Garcia. The trooper insisted it was inherently suspicious to have two people driving with two cell phones north on I-5 without visible luggage." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOregon: Jesus Malverde Medallion Did Not Justify Traffic Stop