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ON THE SPEAKEASY BLOG

Against Jeff Sessions for Attorney General

(by David Borden, Nov 22)
The president-elect's nominee for Attorney General is a big-time drug warrior who could derail both sentencing reform and marijuana legalization. Please write your Senators in opposition to this nomination. 21 comments

Massachusetts Legalizes It, Arkansas Okays Medical Marijuana

(by Phillip Smith, Nov 09)
More marijuana victories tonight. 0 comments

AP: California Legalizes Marijuana!

(by Phillip Smith, Nov 09)
The Associated Press has called it early. 0 comments

North Dakota Okays Medical Marijuana

(by Phillip Smith, Nov 09)
With most of the votes counted, Measure 5 is cruising toward victory. 0 comments

Partial Initiative Results: Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, North Dakota

(by Phillip Smith, Nov 08)
Florida has already won. Now returns are coming in from four more initiative states. 0 comments

Florida Passes Medical Marijuana!

(by David Borden, Nov 08)
First southern state, and a big one. 3 comments

Myths, Moralism, and Hypocrisy Drive the International Drug Control System

(by , Mar 18)
Our international drug policies reflect a bias towards the global north, with damaging consequences for the south. 13 comments

Will UNGASS 2016 Be the Beginning of the End for the War on Drugs?

(by , Mar 16)
Held this April, will the United Nations General Assembly Special Session be the turning point for the international drug control system? 13 comments

David Borden -- Remarks at the United Nations, February 10, 2016

(by David Borden, Feb 16)
Last week the UN held an NGO meeting in New York, as part of a series events leading up to this April's major drug session. 12 comments

BREAKING: Another Senate Pro-Medical Marijuana Vote

(by David Borden, Jun 11)
The Senate Appropriations Committee just voted to extend the ban on DOJ spending funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. 12 comments

New York Medical Marijuana Program Brings in $3 Million from Application Process

(by Jimi Devine, Jun 05)
New York has closed it application process for those wishing to get one of the state's 5 permits to open a medical cannabis dispensary. Each permit would entitle the holder to open four dipsnsaries. In total, 20 dispensaries would be opened in a state with a population of over 19 million people. 0 comments

URGENT: Congressional Vote on Permitting State Marijuana Laws!

(by David Borden, Jun 02)
Last year's legislation protecting state medical marijuana laws from federal interference is expiring soon. A vote coming as soon as tonight could extend it, while expanding it to include state legalization laws too. 7 comments

CT Lawmakers Push to Add Children and Hospital Patients to Medical Marijuana Program

(by Jimi Devine, May 27)
Both houses of the Conneticut legislature are preparing their final votes on a bill that would add children and hospital patients to the state's medical marijuana program. The bill would restrict children from smoking or vaping their medical marijuana. 8 comments

Three Marijuana Reform Bills Filed in Louisiana

(by Jimi Devine, May 27)
Three seperate marijuana reform bills have been filed in the Louisiana State Capitol. They include a restrictive medical marijuana bill supported by law enforcement, and two seperate efforts to reform the state's harsh sentencing laws. 9 comments

Write and Call Congress TODAY for Vets' Access to Medical Marijuana!

(by David Borden, Apr 29)
An important amendment is coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives late this afternoon or early evening. Our two web forms will help you to both email and call your member of Congress to support it. 11 comments

What Does Congress's Medical Marijuana Legislation Actually Mean?

(by David Borden, Dec 14)
The controversial "CRomnibus" bill passed by the House and Senate includes language barring the Dept. of Justice from using taxpayer funds to interfere with state medical marijuana laws. 10 comments

Washington Sheriff Tells Oregon Voters: Legalization Is Already Working

(by David Borden, Oct 21)
King County Sheriff John Urquhart has recorded a message letting Oregon voters know that legalization in Washington State has seen wasteful arrests decrease, DUIs decrease, taxes going to schools and police, and drug prevention programs getting funding. 14 comments

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day

(by David Borden, Aug 29)

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. 4 comments

DC Marijuana Initiative Qualifies for Ballot

(by David Borden, Aug 06)

More info later today, see @DCMJ2014 in the meanwhile...

3 comments

Summer Reading Assignment for Congress

(by David Borden, Jul 29)
Dean Becker of the Drug Truth Network is in Washington today to give copies of his book, "To End the War on Drugs," to every member of the House and Senate. 3 comments

House Votes to Let Banks Take Deposits from Marijuana Businesses

(by Phillip Smith, Jul 16)
In a historic vote this afternoon, the US House has approved an amendment to the Treasury Department appropriations bill barring the agency from spending any money to punish financial institutions that provide services to marijuana businesses where it is legal. 3 comments

One of the Worst Ideas to Come Out of the War on Drugs: Sentencing Enhancement Zones

(by David Borden, Jun 30)
A video from the Prison Policy Initiative on what is indeed one of the worst ideas to come out of the war on drugs. 10 comments

House Committee Votes to Block DC Decrim

(by Phillip Smith, Jun 25)
The GOP-dominated House Appropriations Committee stuck a thumb in the eye of democratic governance in the nations capital this morning. The committee voted to prevent the District of Columbia from implementing marijuana decriminalization approved by the District government. 6 comments

Senate Could Vote to Cut DEA Funds as Soon as Tonight

(by Phillip Smith, Jun 19)
In a historic vote late last month, the House moved to cut funding for the DEA to go after medical marijuana in states where it is legal. Now, the Senate is preparing to vote on a similar measure. 17 comments

DEA Leaning On Massachusetts Docs with Dispensaries Ties

(by Phillip Smith, Jun 06)
The Boston Globe is reporting today that the DEA has been visiting Massachusetts doctors involved with yet-to-open medical marijuana dispensaries and giving them an ultimatum: Cut your ties with the dispensary or lose your DEA-issued license to prescribe drugs. And it's working. 12 comments

There Were Several Drug Policy Amendments to the CJS Bill

(by David Borden, May 30)

Reformers have mostly been talking about the 13 comments

House Passes Historic Medical Marijuana Amendment

(by Phillip Smith, May 30)
Late Thursday night, the House of Representatives told the DEA to butt out of medical marijuana states by approving a budget amendment barring the use of taxpayer funds to do so. 12 comments

Kentucky Gets its Hemp Seed as DEA Backs Off

(by Phillip Smith, May 23)
It's a done deal. A UPS truck delivered more than 250 pounds of hemp seed to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture this afternoon. It took a lawsuit and a lot of political pressure on DEA head Michele Leonhart, but the agency has backed away from its initial refusal to allow the seeds to be imported. 5 comments

The Largest Marijuana March Ever? 150,000 Protest in Buenos Aires!

(by Phillip Smith, May 05)
Good Golly, Miss Mary Jane! I've been watching marijuana legalization marches for a long time and I've never seen a crowd like this. 13 comments

Uruguay's Mujica is the Grumpy Old Man of Global Marijuana Legalization

(by Phillip Smith, May 03)
Uruguay formally rolls out its marijuana legalization rules next week, but President Mujica shows he's no Captain Cannabis. 7 comments

Read all Speakeasy Posts

FROM THE CHRONICLE

Chronicle

Chronicle AM: House GOP Reps Will Try to Block Sessions Asset Forfeiture Expansion, More... (9/1/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Sep 01)
The Massachusetts legal pot commission is being top-loaded with legalization foes, Obama's former drug czar comes out for a ban on high-potency prescription opioids, House GOP members prepare amendments to a budget bill to block expanded asset forfeiture, and more. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: MA Gov Wants Harsh Sentences for Drug Deaths, More... (8/31/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 31)
Connecticut continues to grapple with opioids, the Massachusetts governor and cops want mandatory minimums and a possible life sentence for dealers whose clients die, and more. comments
Chronicle

Supervised Injection Sites Could Be Coming Soon to California [FEATURE]

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 30)
The controversial harm reduction intervention may win its first foothold in the US. comments
Chronicle

Medical Marijuana Update

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 30)
A group of federal representatives tell Attorney General Sessions to quit blocking marijuana research, the White House wants data on Massachusetts medical marijuana patients, and more. 1 comment
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: Anti-Marijuana Group Urges DOJ to Shut Down Legalization, More... (8/30/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 30)
As the summer doldrums draw to an end, it's pretty quiet on the drug reform front, but the political battle continues to rage over marijuana legalization, and more. 1 comment
Chronicle

This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 30)
Yee-haw! A Philly drug task force officer gets nailed for exchanging drugs for sex, a Pennsylvania cop gets busted after being found ODing on stolen drugs on the evidence room floor, and more. comments
Chronicle

The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, October 11-14, Atlanta

(by David Borden, Aug 29)
The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is the major biannual gathering of drug policy reformers from around the world. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: SF Gets Cannabis Czar, CBP Reminds Mainers It's Still Illegal, More... (8/29/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 29)
San Francisco gets a cannabis czar, the Border Patrol reminds Mainers it's still federally illegal, Maryland's medical marijuana grower picture is getting clarifiied, and more. 1 comment
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: White House Seeks MA MedMJ Data, Ecstasy for PTSD Advances, More... (8/28/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 28)
The White House is sniffing around Massachusetts medical marijuana patient data, the FDA has granted breakthrough drug status for MDMA as a treatment of PTSD, the DEA warns of a looming tide of cocaine, the State Department's top anti-drug official calls it quits, and more. comments
Chronicle

California Could Be the First State to Legalize Magic Mushrooms

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 27)
A voter initiative to do just that has been filed with state officials. 4 comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: Fed Reps Poke Sessions on MJ Research, CO Gov Says MJ Law Working, More (8/25/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 25)
A bipartisan group of congressmen call on the attorney general to quit being an obstacle to medical marijuana research, the Colorado governor defends the state's pot law from Sessions, the Minnesota governor just says no to legalization, and more. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: CA Has Pot Regulator Job Openings, MI Seeks MedMJ Stakeholders, More... (8/24/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 24)
California is hiring pot regulators, Michigan is looking for medical marijuana stakeholders to craft new dispensary regulations, Oregon's governor and top cop stick up for legal weed in a letter to Attorney General Sessions, and more. comments
Chronicle

The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, October 11-14, Atlanta

(by David Borden, Aug 24)
The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is the major biannual gathering of drug policy reformers from around the world. comments
Chronicle

This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 23)
A dirty Des Moines cop goes down for planting evidence, plus more jail guards gone bad. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: Federal Judge Slams Indianapolis PD Car Seizures, More... (8/23/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 23)
It's slow in the dog days of August, but there is a bit of news out there: Indianapolis cops have to revise their vehicle seizure practices, Alaska regulators are seeking public comment on proposed on-site marijuana consumption regulations, and more. 1 comment
Chronicle

Sessions/Trump Pull Off an Amazing Feat -- Making the DEA Look Reasonable [FEATURE]

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 22)
In a sign of our strange times, DEA officials are issuing clarifications, criticisms, even leaks about the hardline and distorted approach of the Trump administration. 2 comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: AZ Forfeiture Challenge Advances, Paraguay MJ Production Surges, More... (8/22/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 22)
There is a boycott against a Los Angeles marijuana business expo over the presence of Roger Stone, Seattle safe injection site supporters sue to block a NIMBY initiative, a federal judge rules that an Arizona case challenging civil asset forfeiture can proceed, and more. 1 comment
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: First India MedMJ Research Grow License, Filipino Drug War Slammed, More... (8/21/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 21)
Philippines bishops and citizen demonstrators alike take aim at Duterte's lethal drug war, the US Civil Rights Commission takes aim at the Trump administration's embrace of federal civil asset forfeiture, and more. comments
Chronicle

Marijuana Becomes a Player in California Politics and It's Putting Its Money on Gavin Newsom [FEATURE]

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 20)
The marijuana industry is maturing as a political player in California, and some of its advocacy methods are downright old-fashioned. 1 comment
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: Global NGOs Concerned About Forced Coca Eradication in Colombia, More... (8/18/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 18)
Global NGOs have written to the Colombian president to express concerns about forced eradication of coca crops, a Nevada judge removes a marijuana sales bottleneck, Massachusetts has a new police force aimed at "extremists and drug traffickers," and more. comments
Chronicle

The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, October 11-14, Atlanta

(by David Borden, Aug 18)
The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is the major biannual gathering of drug policy reformers from around the world. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: BC Calls for Radical Opioid Response, 2nd MI MJ Init, More... (8/17/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 17)
BC health officials present some revolutionary recommendations for dealing with the opioid crisis, Alaska officials defend marijuana legalization, a second Michigan legalization initiative is okayed for signature gathering, and more. comments
Chronicle

This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 16)
A Texas border town cop tries an innovative method of financing his campaign for elected office, a Chicago cop on a DEA task force gets nailed for telling childhood friends a bust was coming, and more. comments
Chronicle

Medical Marijuana Update

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 16)
NIH awards a grant to study marijuana and opioid addiction, the head of the NBA hints at a more relaxed approach to pot, Utah activists are ready to begin signature-gathering for a medical marijuana initiative, and more. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: OR Defelonizes Drug Possession, Iran Could Cut Drug Executions, More... (8/16/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 16)
Oregon is the latest state to decriminalize drug possession, Iran moves to reduce drug trafficking executions, Philippines President Duterte cheers on cops killing drug suspects, and more. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: FDA Opens Public Comment on International Scheduling of New Drugs, More... (8/15/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 15)
It's the mid-August doldrums, but he FDA has opened public comment on whether and where to schedule a bunch of new drugs -- and CBD! -- under the international drug control treaties, the NBA's commissioner hints he's softening his stance on marijuana, and more. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: NIH Awards Grant to Study MedMJ and Opioids, Hawaii Dispensary Woes, More... (8/14/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 14)
The National Institute of Health is ready to see what impact medical marijuana can have on opioid use, Hawaii's first dispensary hits a (temporary) regulatory hurdle, human rights groups warn on the Philippines and Indonesia, and more. 1 comment
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: CA Judge Rules for Growers, CT Judge Rules for Patient, More... (8/11/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 11)
Federal judges stuck up for California marijuana growers and a Connecticut medical marijuana patient, another Seattle suburb goes NIMBY on safe injection sites, and more. 2 comments
Chronicle

The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, October 11-14, Atlanta

(by David Borden, Aug 10)
The 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference is the major biannual gathering of drug policy reformers from around the world. comments
Chronicle

Chronicle AM: Trump Says He Will Declare National Emergency on Opioids, More... (8/10/17)

(by Phillip Smith, Aug 10)
The president says he will formally declare a national emergency on the opioid crisis, Latino legislators embrace marijuana legalization, Utah medical marijuana supporters can begin signature-gathering for their initiative, and more. comments

Read all Chronicle Posts

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