Drugs & Prohibitions

Abuse at Ecuadorian ‘gay conversion’ drug rehabs shocks authorities

"The country of 15.8 million people has at least 80 unlicensed drug and alcohol rehab clinics, many that are also used for anti-gay conversion therapy, Health Minister Carina Vance, who is openly gay, said. Two people died last year at the clandestine centers, she told foreign reporters. Authorities say the inhumane practice is a wide-ranging problem that has ensnared even government officials — such as the health ministry official who was recently the subject of a criminal complaint after it emerged she owned a clandestine clinic offering therapy against homosexuality. Ecuadoran law authorizes forced treatment for addicts with approval from a judge." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAbuse at Ecuadorian ‘gay conversion’ drug rehabs shocks authorities

Oklahoma prosecutors return $21,227 more to Interstate 40 travelers

"District Attorney Jason Hicks agreed Thursday to return the funds in the three cases, dropping efforts to have the money forfeited to law enforcement use. Hicks is under fire for hiring a private company, Desert Snow LLC, to assist in his drug interdiction effort. After hiring the Guthrie company in January, his task force seized more than $1 million in the stops, mostly along a 21-mile stretch of I-40 in Caddo County. Hicks agreed to pay the company 25 percent of all forfeited proceeds from stops involving its trainers. Hicks said he does not plan to return nearly $850,000 seized in one stop in May. No one was arrested in that stop." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOklahoma prosecutors return $21,227 more to Interstate 40 travelers

Eyewitnesses describe the terror of DWI checkpoint shooting

"Jarred and Rose Cleerdin found themselves right in the middle of a shootout at what should have been a routine DWI checkpoint. Days after the dramatic shootout in Brunswick County, they are still shaken by what they saw. 'Every cop turned around and started unloading like super trigger happy as if their training was coming into full effect and they were being able to utilize it,' said Cleerdin. 'Everybody was just blasting this car to pieces. It was absolutely terrifying.' They were stunned with what was happening, as officers reportedly shot dozens of rounds - in the direction on-coming traffic." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEyewitnesses describe the terror of DWI checkpoint shooting

Las Vegas woman sexually assaulted by court officer, then arrested for reporting it

"Contreras was approached by Court Marshal Ron Fox, who ordered her into a side room for a random drug search. Fox allegedly groped her breasts and buttocks, then ordered Contreras to expose her breasts, at which point she fled into the open courtroom and requested a female marshal. On courtroom video, a confrontation can be seen in which Marshal James Kenyon arrests Contreras on charges of making false accusations against a police officer. Judge Patricia Donninger watched and took no action as Kenyon and Fox hectored Contreras into recanting her story, then arrested her when she refused to repeat it over the courtroom public address system." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLas Vegas woman sexually assaulted by court officer, then arrested for reporting it

Too Stoned to Drive? There’s an App for That.

"CheckPlusBalance was developed specifically to help people who want to be confident that they can perform at a safe level after taking medication, alcohol, recreational drugs, or who have any reason to confirm their current level of functioning. The test takes about two minutes to complete and it provides an accurate snapshot of the subject’s memory, balance, reaction time and time perception. Individuals can create their own personal sober 'baseline' when they feel 'okay.' The baseline can be reset anytime and standard baselines are included. The app is currently available free as a public service to anyone who wants it." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingToo Stoned to Drive? There’s an App for That.

Marijuana ad pulled from jumbotron at NASCAR Brickyard 400

"The Marijuana Policy Project said in a news release that Grazie Media, the company that owns the huge billboard at the entrance to the raceway, had approved the content of the ad and accepted payment for it. The ad was supposed to air over the weekend. The Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. had complained that the ad promoted drug abuse. Though 19 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of marijuana, Indiana has not. The ad noted that smoked marijuana contained no calories, didn’t result in hangovers or overdoses, and wasn’t linked to violent behavior." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarijuana ad pulled from jumbotron at NASCAR Brickyard 400

Baton Rouge sheriff’s office targets gay men under ‘crimes against nature’ law

"A sheriff’s office task force in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has been conducting undercover investigations that target gay men under the state’s defunct sodomy law. At least a dozen gay men have been arrested for agreeing to have sex with undercover officers, according to the report. The District Attorney Hillar Moore III told the Baton Rouge Advocate his office refused to prosecute the cases because they found no criminal violation had occurred. The Baton Rouge sheriff’s office, meanwhile, told the Baton Rouge Advocate that it would continue to prosecute all laws currently on the Louisiana books." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBaton Rouge sheriff’s office targets gay men under ‘crimes against nature’ law

Big Marijuana lobby fights legalization efforts

"Medical marijuana is a billion-dollar industry — legal in 18 states, including California, Nevada, Oregon and Maine — and like any entrenched business, it’s fighting to keep what it has and shut competitors out. Dispensary owners, trade associations and groups representing the industry are deeply concerned — and in some cases actively fighting — ballot initiatives and legislation that could wreck their business model. That pits them against full legalization advocates, who have been hoping to play off wins at the ballot box last fall in Colorado and Washington state that installed among the most permissive pot laws in the world." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBig Marijuana lobby fights legalization efforts

Pope Francis condemns ‘culture of individualism’ for economic inequality

"On Thursday, the pontiff unleashed the most powerful and politically loaded rhetoric of his trip, attacking the 'culture of selfishness and individualism' and urging more efforts to fight hunger and poverty. The throngs were largely kept at bay by security barriers, but the pope kissed babies and shook hands with well-wishers. Police helicopters buzzed overheads, and police snipers watched the crowd from rooftops. He also gave a sharply worded condemnation of moves to legalise drug use during a visit on Wednesday to a rehabilitation centre in Brazil." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPope Francis condemns ‘culture of individualism’ for economic inequality

UK Porn Filter: Censorship Extends Beyond Pornography, But One ISP Is Fighting Back

"One U.K. ISP, TalkTalk, already has 'The HomeSafe System,' which was singled out for praise by David Cameron when announcing the new policy. It gives another good idea of the kind of Internet censorship the British government is looking to implement. HomeSafe is actually operated by Huawei, a Chinese company that both the U.K. and the U.S. accused of having close ties with the Chinese government. The U.S. has branded Huawei a threat to national security. ISPs will be able to use whatever filter system they like, so many may not choose to be associated with Huawei. Others are refusing to take place in the filters at all." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUK Porn Filter: Censorship Extends Beyond Pornography, But One ISP Is Fighting Back