Drugs & Prohibition

Canadians call for marijuana referendum after two U.S. states legalize it

"The youth wing of Canada’s third-ranked Liberal Party said in a statement the result of the referendums in Tuesday’s US presidential election 'is an important first step and inspiration to activists in Canada who want to see Canada embrace a smart drug policy.' 'The citizens of Washington and Colorado are sending a clear message to the world today: prohibition isn’t working,' the group’s spokesman David Valentin said in a statement. Valentin and others argued that Canada was losing billions of dollars in potential revenue from taxing marijuana sales while 'wasting' money on enforcement of drug laws." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCanadians call for marijuana referendum after two U.S. states legalize it

DEA Responds to Legal Weed in Colorado and Washington: “Enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged”

"Despite the passage of ballot initiatives in Washington and Colorado legalizing recreational marijuana, 'the Drug Enforcement Administration’s enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged,' a DEA spokesperson told Reason this morning. 'In enacting the Controlled Substances Act, Congress determined that marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance. The Department of Justice is reviewing the ballot initiatives and we have no additional comment at this time.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDEA Responds to Legal Weed in Colorado and Washington: “Enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act remains unchanged”

Preparing for the upcoming federal confrontation on legalized marijuana

"What seems to be pretty much a given is that the DEA will not go after consumers. They simply don’t have the staff to do it. 99% of possession arrests are by state and local police — if they’re not doing it under the new law, then the feds can’t do much about it. So, as with medical marijuana, they’ll go after the big suppliers. That’s almost impossible to defend against — the government’s ability to seize property and the visibility of large suppliers makes it easy picking. So the smart thing would be to push for a lot of small suppliers — make it hard for the DEA to go after them and less of a loss if they do." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPreparing for the upcoming federal confrontation on legalized marijuana

4 police officers arrested for performing rectal searches

"A prosecutor says criminal charges are being filed against four Milwaukee police officers accused of illegally strip searching suspects. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm says Officer Michael Vagnini faces 25 counts of violating the strip search law, misconduct in public office and sexual assault. The investigation into potentially illegal searches began in March. Police Chief Edward Flynn said at the time the department was aware the searches for drugs had possibly crossed the line to sexual assault and civil rights violations. Seven people have filed notices claiming they were illegally searched." Continue reading →

Continue Reading4 police officers arrested for performing rectal searches

Ayahuasca-drinking shamans in Peru give Obama the win

"Using maracas, coca leaves and a hallucinogenic brew, shamans in Peru got down to business Monday using pre-Columbian traditional ceremonies to pick a winner in the US presidential race. Members of the group placed flower petals on photos of the candidates that were also swept over with tobacco smoke. The shamans chewed coca leaves, a traditional ceremonial and medicinal plant since Inca times that helps fight altitude sickness. And the crew took some swigs of ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew used widely among Amazon basin indigenous people." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAyahuasca-drinking shamans in Peru give Obama the win

Marijuana industry in Israel grows with government support

"The medical marijuana industry in Israel is growing rapidly — with no organized government or religious opposition to be found. Today, there are more than 10,000 Israelis who have the government’s go-ahead to use medical marijuana, a major jump from just a few hundred in 2005. Next year, marijuana may be available in pharmacies, a step just a few other countries have made. The lack of opposition means Israel is poised to keep moving forward on research." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarijuana industry in Israel grows with government support

Former Obama drug policy adviser predicts weed war if states legalize

"The Obama administration will not just sit by and watch as up to three states attempt to implement laws legalizing marijuana, one of the president’s former senior drug policy advisers predicted Sunday. Dr. Kevin A. Sabet, who spent three years as a senior adviser to Obama’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, warned that voters in Colorado, Washington and Oregon may just bring fire and brimstone down on their heads if they vote for ballot measures that would legalize marijuana under state law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Obama drug policy adviser predicts weed war if states legalize

Please, for Heaven’s Sake, DON’T CALL THE POLICE

"Michael Kelly of Clayton, Georgia did what he believed to be his duty as a law-abiding citizen. As a result, he and his wife were arrested and spent two days in jail, and nearly lost custody of their 9-year-old son to the department of child services. Michael Kelly’s family has joined the ever-growing roster of innocent victims who can testify that it is NEVER a good idea to call the police for ANY reason." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPlease, for Heaven’s Sake, DON’T CALL THE POLICE

Feds to Bal Harbour: Hand over seized drug loot

"The U.S. Justice Department shut down Bal Harbour’s celebrated federal forfeiture program and ordered the police to return more than $4 million, slapping the agency with crushing sanctions for tapping into drug money to pay for first-class flights, luxury car rentals, and payments to informants across the country. For years, the small coastal town known for speed traps became one of the most successful in Florida, with plainclothes cops jetting across the nation toting bags stuffed with cash from investigations that had no connection to Bal Harbour — and making few arrests." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds to Bal Harbour: Hand over seized drug loot