Alternative News and Information. en-us http://www.alternet.org/rss/button.gif http://www.alternet.org/ AlterNet http://www.alternet.org/ Copyright 2013 Independent Media Institute. All rights reserved. http://www.alternet.org/story/156399/_will_compliance_with_state_medical_pot_laws_finally_be_admissible_in_federal_prosecutions_/ A bipartisan effort has reintroduced the Truth in Trials Act again -- but will unprecedented federal crackdowns help push it through the House? Fri, 20 Jul 2012 19:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -dc0d2febb41656537cd27f24992d4b5c http://www.alternet.org/story/156400/7_states_moving_toward_drug_sentencing_reform/ These states are not undertaking a radical rethinking of the rote resort to incarceration, but they are nibbling at the edges, particularly when it comes to drug offenders. Fri, 20 Jul 2012 11:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -97ace8ab7da54df7f5ccdd947651766d http://www.alternet.org/story/156346/lawsuit_challenges_oregon%27s_signature-invalidating_crusade_to_keep_legal_pot_off_the_ballot/ The Oregon Marijuana Policy Initiative (OMPI) has filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Kate Brown over her office's invalidation of tens of thousands of signatures. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 17:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -ceadb21a7a87998b11c220be588b1a24 http://www.alternet.org/story/156297/the_top_3_summer_weed_reads/ Here are some good reads about one of our favorite subjects. Thu, 12 Jul 2012 10:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -b3cc50c7ed44c683807258c361f8c181 http://www.alternet.org/story/156254/obama_signs_knee-jerk_ban_on_synthetic_drugs_like_%26quot%3Bbath_salts%26quot%3B_and_%26quot%3Bfake_weed%26quot%3B_/ Because basement and garage chemists can tweak the formulas to create similar, legal drugs, we may be entering an endless loop of prohibition. Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -a5a4baac0e160aa64f0d51a80ad73bab http://www.alternet.org/story/156063/how_the_drug_war_exacerbates_the_global_hiv_pandemic_/ The Global Commission on Drugs has released a report explaining how drug war enforcement raises barriers to HIV treatment -- and what we can do to stop it. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 13:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -b822b4489faf93c1af8bcd662320fb75 http://www.alternet.org/story/156020/uruguayan_government_may_legalize_--_and_sell_--_weed/ By selling marijuana to registered users, the Uruguayan government hopes to take profits away from drug dealers and weaken crime in the country. Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -e2c6e0e8e227d0ffc5644fa0198c8dad http://www.alternet.org/story/155945/u.s._and_mexico%27s_%26quot%3Bcaravan_of_peace%26quot%3B_gearing_up_to_end_the_drug_war/ Groups concerned with the border, immigrant rights, human rights, racial justice, and labor are all coming on board to end the war on drugs. Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -01b664e574d2db9d3a57abc02655b615 http://www.alternet.org/story/155894/sick%3A_la_hospital_denies_life-saving_organ_transplant_to_medical_pot_user_%28again%29/ Cedars-Sinai hospital told medical marijuana users they must test negative for six months to re-qualify for the wait list, and also take drug abuse counseling for the same period. Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -0e57259ef347f219e8ea02bfce32c395 http://www.alternet.org/story/155936/chicago_mayor_rahm_emanuel_wants_to_decriminalize_pot/ With the backing of Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D), Chicago's council will vote later this month on an ordinance that would decriminalize the possession of up to 15 grams of marijuana. Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -17c90a459d2a3dbffd87cef43e4faca1 http://www.alternet.org/story/155839/lies%3A_how_eric_holder_defended_the_crackdown_on_medical_pot/ Pot advocates called Holder out for being a liar when he said the Justice Department only busts people or organizations violating state laws. Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -6bdba1cec90089c562367fe7c4a4fba7 http://www.alternet.org/story/155787/rhode_island_legislature_approves_marijuana_decriminalization/ If numbers are to be trusted and the will of the legislature is to be respected, Governor Chafee has an easy call of signing Rhode Island's decriminalization bill into law. Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -6c7acd763f22d8f11202266eebf1aed9 http://www.alternet.org/story/155787/rhode_island_legislature_approves_marijuana_decriminalization/ If numbers are to be trusted and the will of the legislature is to be respected, Governor Chafee has an easy call of signing Rhode Island's decriminalization bill into law. Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -6c7acd763f22d8f11202266eebf1aed9 http://www.alternet.org/story/155606/is_legalization_around_the_corner_4_states_mobilizing_to_radically_reform_pot_policy/ 2012 could be the year that legalization actually wins, and voters in at least two states -- Colorado and Washington -- will have the chance to make that happen. Fri, 25 May 2012 14:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -389e134e226834c8219e49f14b29560c http://www.alternet.org/story/155561/after_dea%27s_drug_raid_horrors_erupt_in_honduras%2C_human_rights_groups_demand_answers_for_dead_innocents/ May 11th, Honduran police and DEA agents engaged in a disastrous series of heavy-handed tactics, mistakenly killing four innocent Hondurans before inspiring a machete-yielding mob. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -ca6190a885072bb9403d4b79940bab3b http://www.alternet.org/story/155550/cameron_douglas_case_brings_calls_for_treatment%2C_not_prison/ Doctors and organizers say it is unfair to give Douglas, who already did five years on a drug charge, additional time instead of a chance at treatment. Tue, 22 May 2012 15:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -14e64344d0a2fdeb83b926a894614a8c http://www.alternet.org/story/155304/under_the_influence_%26quot%3Bper_se%26quot%3B_how_colorado%27s_%26quot%3Bdrugged-driving%26quot%3B_bill_would_slam_pot-smokers_with_unfair_duis/ Drivers found with a certain amount of THC in their blood are automatically presumed to be driving under the influence of drugs, even if they can show they were not impaired. Mon, 07 May 2012 09:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -e74815fb48307680a380e58f2bf460d7 http://www.alternet.org/story/155324/victory%3A_connecticut_becomes_17th_state_to_legalize_medical_pot/ Governor Malloy will sign the medical marijuana bill that would carefully regulate and monitor pot use to avoid problems encountered in other medical marijuana states. Sun, 06 May 2012 11:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -994b873ab5a00652ff87e5e1d7afdd21 http://www.alternet.org/story/155250/dutch_government%27s_absurd_new_%26quot%3Bweed_pass%26quot%3B_rule_prompts_big_storm_of_resistance/ Dutch cannabis coffee shop owners aren't banning foreigners or going "members only" without a fight. Wed, 02 May 2012 12:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -f0414a2f18d28c45d30e8ceef30e9a27 http://www.alternet.org/story/155183/why_the_ridiculous%2C_mandatory_drug_test_laws_flooding_the_country_are_struggling_to_pass/ The bills are finally being recognized as targeting the most downtrodden and disadvantaged -- the poor, the sick, the jobless -- in the guise of helping them. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -9c5f8677487e73a816c65d200fde1c66 http://www.alternet.org/story/155091/oakland_4_20%3A_%26quot%3Bobama%2C_you%27re_alienating_your_base%26quot%3B/ Demonstrators in Oakland Friday put the campaign on notice that the administration is losing friends in California with its attacks on medical marijuana. Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -45e9edcafe26997112c6b246bf2141c7 http://www.alternet.org/story/154975/heads_of_state_considering_alternatives_to_the_drug_war/ Obama's heading to Colombia for a summit with Latin American leaders--and for the first time, alternatives to drug prohibition are on the agenda. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -ed127e75cf7cf1a093f56c6d08d758ea http://www.alternet.org/story/154904/san_francisco_responds_to_oaksterdam_raid_with_pro-pot_protest/ Those federal dollars are better spent on programs that actually help people, and people are concerned about this having a deleterious impact on the state's economy. Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -dfa71f220eb1885225c04ca0aa767cd0 http://www.alternet.org/story/154816/feds_raid_oaksterdam_marijuana_university%2C_the_beating_heart_of_the_oakland_cannabis_revival/ The country's first "cannabis college" is raided and taped off by federal marshalls; the DEA and IRS continue their "ongoing investigation" as marijuana supporters mobilize. Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -109b1afec4a8b130e017bb848bb635ee http://www.alternet.org/story/154785/colombian_congress_debates_new_bill_that_decriminalizes_cocaine_and_marijuana_cultivation/ The United States have spent billions on coca plant busts; if passed, the bill would eliminate the threat of prison for illicit crop production in Colombia. Sat, 31 Mar 2012 19:00:01 PDT Phillip Smith, Drug War Chronicle -f478cd7e6f77acafcb9959fc5cf14ec2